heaven is like unto a net that | ed from 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad just; among the among 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of 8 ver.42. 49. At the end of the world, the angels shall sever or separate the wicked from among the just (See 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21).——¶T THE JUST are the justified-the true disciples. The wicked shall be separated from them, because there shall not enter into the heavenly church, any thing that defileth. They shall be cast out. "Thy people shall be all righteous." "Without are dogs." able represents not only the present mixture of good and evil members in the church (as the parable of the tares), but further, the final separation. "As there was a Ham in the ark, and a Judas among the twelve, so there should be a Babylon even within the bosom of the spiritual Israel. Esau shall contend with Jacob even in the church's womb" (Gen. 25. 22.). -T Net. The word in the original—sagene— means a draw-net, 50. The furnace of fire. Not a furfrom which (says Trench) our word nace, but THE furnace. By this is seine or sean is a corruption. It is meant that place of torment that is so sometimes half a mile in length, with definitely spoken of in scripture as sinkers at the bottom, and corks at the abode of lost spirits.- -T Wailthe top, so as to be stretched over a ing. Bitter, despairing lamentations. great extent of the waters, and to Definitely, in the Greek, the wailsweep all the fish, of all kinds, that ing, and the gnashing of teeth, which are there. So Christ's kingdom, or are deserved, and which belong there. church on earth, will be spread, by The agony of the lost will spring the preaching of the gospel, all over from self-reproaches at having negthe world. The field is the world, lected the great salvation, and now but in the sea is the net, "a world finding, when too late, that there is no within a world.". When it was escape. They had not heeded the refull-when the number of God's elect peated warnings. These seven paris made up, and His purposes for Hisables "have a certain unity, succhurch are fulfilled.- T They drew ceeding each other in natural order, to shore. The time of final separation and having a completeness in themis not yet, but at the consummation, selves." when all things will be closed up, and the last judgment will be held then it shall be. T Sat down. This represents the sitting in judgment. Christ's ministers are the "fishers of men." But the angels shall come forth to the office work of final separation, and Christ with them shall come to judgment. In the church, this work is very partially done. 51. Have ye understood? With infinite tenderness our Lord makes this inquiry, whether His explanations had fully enlightened them.- ¶ These things. That is, the meaning of the parables which He had just spoken; the truths pertaining to the kingdom of God which they set forth. 52. Every scribe, &c. A scribe was, among the Jews, one learned in the heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old," 53 ¶ And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence, ↑ Pr.10.21; 15.7; 18.4. u Ca.7.13. law, and an expounder of it. These favoured disciples, who sat under all these teachings of Christ, were instructed scribes. The term means, literally, DISCIPLED-made fully acquainted with, or "instructed unto the kingdom, to show forth the praises of Him who called them." He now shows to what they are properly like, as to their position and obligation. They were to be teachers of others. An householder. The teachers of the church are to have stores of knowledge laid up, as those at the head of a house have provisions stored for their families. verbial expression, taken from the ingathering of the year (Sol. Songs, 7. 13). Compare vs. 35. 53. These parables. These SEVEN spoken here in connexion, and containing a series of truths most important for them to know. (See Trench on the Parables.) Here it must be observed from the Harmony, that af ter finishing the parables near Capernaum, Jesus re-crossed the lake, and healed the demoniacs at Gadara, on the south-east coast, came back to Capernaum, attended Levi's (Matthew's) feast, raised Jairus' daughter, and then He appeared again at "Nazareth, where He had been brought up." [ý 61. JESUS AGAin at Nazareth, Matt. 13. 54-58 Mark. 6.1-6 54. His own country. That is Nazareth, where He dwelt, until He en tered on His public work. Though He was born at Bethlehem, He lived at Nazareth, whither Joseph had returned from Egypt. Hence in fulfilment of prophecy, He was called a Nazarene. Mark says: "And when the sabbath-day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue.' This He often did, as when He was before rejected at Nazareth. The syna His treasure. His storehouse, closet, or treasury of provisions. From this he was to bring out the various supplies, suited to each individual want, and for every occasion; giving to each a portion in due season," and "rightly dividing the word of truth"-just as a housekeeper brings forth the various stores for each day's meal, and for all. Every teacher and preacher should come before the people with rich stores of useful learning. "Let no man despise thee." "The priest's lips should keep knowledge," that the law may be sought at his mouth. For about three years our Lord gave special instructions to His disciples. He gave here, also, a pattern of gospel teaching, tender and copious in the doc-gogues of the Jews were the parish trines of the kingdom. Every well- churches, where they worshipped in instructed, or discipled scribe, should their various quarters, for ordinary thus bring out of his treasure things occasions when they need not go up new and old. We must be able to to Jerusalem. We read of the minteach others also. And those who ister and of the rulers of the synahave received of God's free spirit, gogue. According to the Jewish Taland the joys of His salvation, should mud, wherever there were ten Batteach transgressors His ways. (Psalm lanim, or men of leisure, who would 61.) ——¶ Things new and old, is a pro- be responsible for the synagogue ser 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? vice, there a synagogue might be erected. Here again the people brought up against His claims the fact of His low extraction, as known to them, His poor family origin, and His being a common man among them, whose brothers were well known. 55. The carpenter's son. Mark has it -the carpenter. It would seem clear that our Lord had regularly wrought at this trade, under His father Joseph, until He left Nazareth. ↑ Mary. Mark has it the son of Mary." Though neither of the Evangelists speak of Joseph's death, yet it may be plainly inferred, that Christ was now called "the son of Mary" (see Mark 6. 3), because of her being A WIDOW. (See Luke 8. 19. John 2. 12, and 19. 25-27.) 56. Whence then? Here the people of Christ's own town testified that He had had no uncommon advantages. They knew His family well, and knew that they were common people. This was their witness that He could not have received His wisdom from man. The very condescension of our Lord prejudiced_the proud against Him. He stooped to save, and His very stooping offended them. They drew from it an argument against His claims. So many make Christ's true and proper humanity an argument to disprove His Divinity. But the scripture equally asserts both. And men beg the question altogether, when they assume this union of the two natures in one person to be incompatible and impossible with God. Behold the Infinite condescension of our Redeemer! The Creator of the Universe a carpenter! | 57 And they were offended ▾ in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. i Is.49.7; 53.3. Îno.6.42. This dignifies every honest employment of the mechanic, and makes day labour honourable in all. 57. Offended in Him. These things, in His case, were an offence or stumbling-block to them. They rejected Him on these grounds. They argued that He could not be any such person as He claimed, because He had grown up among them. They were envious, too, of such superior pretensions by one of their townsmen. Alas, they knew not the wondrous plan of God, in redemption.-¶ A prophet. This proverb Christ here applies as suiting His own case. He was rejected on natural principles, that belong to the carnal heart. We read that even His brethren believed not on Him. 58. Mighty works miracles. Mark says, "And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them." According to His plan of grace that required faith, their stubborn unbelief restrained the blessing. This was true, though faith is the gift of God. Obstinate opposers thus even keep back the miracles! Such prejudice, like that of the Gadarenes, besought Him rather to depart out of their coast. Christ would not thrust His benefits upon them unasked. These sick folk, likely, had such a sense of need, as He could properly minister to, and relieve. OBSERVE, (1.) Unbelief now, is equally sinful, and stands equally in the way of His wondrous works. 2.) Only a spiritual eye can discern beauty in an humbled Saviour.' Burkitt. (3.) We have seen the fulfilment of His word, and the infallible proofs of His gospel, as they had not. This is more than to have seen Him in the flesh, and so our guilt is greater. (4.) He will not visit Zion with the wonder-working power of the Spirit unless for these things He be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them. "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." Hardened unbelief will seem to stay His gracious hand. We are not authorized to expect a blessing from God, if we have not faith in Christ as the Divine Redeemer. CHAPTER XIV. 1. This Herod was one of three sons of Herod the Great, and was surnamed Antipas. He ruled over Galilee and Perea; his father, at his death, shortly after Christ's birth, having left his kingdom in three different parts to the three Herods.- T Tetrarch. Literally, the ruler of a fourth, is a title not confined to this meaning, but denotes also the ruler of any infe rior part. He was called Herod the king also, as we find from vs. 9. He heard of the fame of Christ, who had now been engaged the better part of two years in His public ministry, and had twice traversed Galilee, where He had now set out again. But the preaching of the apostles had now made Christ more known, and Herod had in his own house some followers of Christ. (Luke 8. 3, and Acts 13. 1.) Herod was a bad man, of loose character. He was at length banished by Caligula to Spain, and died in exile'; and his tetrarchy was given by the same emperor to Herod Agrippa (see Acts 12.), who "was eaten up of worms. "While the twelve are absent preaching in the name of Christ, Herod causes John the Baptist to be beheaded in the castle of Machærus, at the southern extremity of Perea, near the Dead Sea. In consequence of the preaching of the apostles, Herod hears the fame of Jesus-is consciencestricken, and declares him to be John risen from the dead. The disciples of John come and tell Jesus, and the twelve also return with the same intelligence-upon which Jesus retires to the north-east coast of the Lake, not far from the northern Bethsaida, 2. Herod found that Christ was a or Julias. All these events seem to remarkable person, and heard that he have taken place near together. Mat- was possessed of supernatural powers; thew and Mark narrate the death of and his conscience smote him with the Baptist in explanation of Herod's this idea, that it was John the Baptist, declaration. According to John 6. 4, whom he had beheaded, risen from the Passover was now at hand, viz., the dead. A sense of guilt, mingled the third during our Lord's ministry. with superstitious fears, had awakenJohn therefore had lain in prison noted this impression in his mind.far from a year and six months, and ¶ His servants-or courtiers. was beheaded about three years after thew alone mentions, and without any entering upon his public ministry.". apparent reason for such minuteness, Robinson's Harmony. See ý 62. ch. 10. that Herod addressed his remark to his servants. Luke, in the parallel passage, says he heard of all that was done by him. But by referring to Luke 8. 3, and Acts 13. 1, we find that Christ had followers from among the household of this prince, with whom Herod was likely to converse on a subject in which they were better in. 63. HEROD HELD JESUS TO BE JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHOM HE HAD JUST BEFORE BEHEADED.-Galilee ?- Perea. Matt. 14. 1-12 Mark. Luke. 6. 14-16 9.7-9 16. 21-29 John. "Mat formed than himself."-Blunt's Veracity.——¶Mighty works. Literally, powers or miracles operate in Himare wrought by Him. Though Herod was a Sadducee, and did not believe in a resurrection or spirit, his conscience here prevailed over his infidel creed. (See ch. 3. 7, note.) 3. John had been in prison, it would seem, about a year and a half. The Evangelist digresses now to narrate that cruelty. When it occurred, we remember Christ opened His public ministry (see notes on ch. 4. 12); and all the time of Christ's preaching until John's beheading, was about two years and a half. 4. Not lawful. Herodias, whom this Herod married, was an ambitious and vicious woman, the grand-daughter of Herod the Great, and niece of this man, and was now living in marriage with his own brother, Herod Philip. They had a daughter Salome, who is referred to probably in vs. 6. Of course it was not lawful for Herod to marry this woman, though Philip was his brother by a different mother. It was adultery in the first place-and it was besides a case of incest, forbidden in Levit. 18. 16-" brother's wife." Christian faithfulness will sometimes cost men their lives. 5. He would have put him to death on account of his reproving him faithfully for this crime. But he feared the multitude, who had great respect for John as a prophet. Good men will gain respect, that will sometimes save them from their enemies. 6. Herod's birthday. A great occasion among kings at that time (see Mark 6. 21-29). It was probably kept in the castle of Machærus, where John was imprisoned. T The daughter of Herodias danced before them—or, in their midst, on this festive occasion; and it was part of the custom, at such times, for the king to express his special approbation (Esther 5. 6). He made an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. Mark adds, even to the half of my kingdom-a form of royal promise. It was a rash and wicked promise, such as is oftenest made in the company of the gay and revelling. Gay amusements often lead to such crimes. It was such a promise as was wicked in itself, and should therefore have been broken. It was more wicked to keep it than to break it. 8. Being before instructed of her mother. This is referred to Herodias, to whom it belonged to instigate the crime. "She went forth and said unto her mother " (Mark). "She came in straightway with haste unto the king" (Mark). "Give me by-andby "-that is, now, immediately, as is the old English sense. This shows us the malignant and depraved character of Herodias, living in sin with Herod, and now ready to call for John the Baptist's head! They wished John put out of the way, that their crimes |