said unto them, Elias truly shall | stood that he spake unto them first come, and restore all things. of John the Baptist. 12 But I say unto you, that T Elias is come already, and they 14 And when they were knew him not, but have done come to the multitude, there unto him whatsoever they listed. came to him a certain man Likewise shall also the Son of kneeling down to him, and sayman suffer of them, 13 Then the disciples under h c.16.21. scribes were writers and teachers of the law, and familiar with the Old Testament scriptures, they were quoted as good authority. They held, however, that the prophet Elijah would personally re-appear. 11. Elias truly shall first come. That is, this is true as it was prophesied.— ing, 15 Lord, have mercy on my i Mar.9.14,&c. Lu.9.37,&c. He is gradually bringing them into the light. OBSERVE, (1.) Christ manifests Himself and His work to His peowork to His people, as their case demands, and as their training will bear. (2.) The thrice reiterated testimony from the Father is that in Christ and not in the sinner God is well pleased. Hence Christ is all in all to us-His vica And restore all things, as was predicted by Malachi, "turning the hearts of the fathers unto the chil-rious sacrifice, His perfect obedience, dren," &c., reforming the people in their scriptural views, and in their relations to the covenant made with their fathers, and doing this thoroughly, as the parallel form of expression imports, fathers to children and children to fathers, His finished work. (3.) How fearful yet delightful is the presence of God in Christ! how ample is Christ's revealing of Himself in His word and works, yet how slow are we at best, to understand or believe the glorious reality! 76. THE HEALING OF A DEMONIAC, whom the disciples could not heal. -Region of Cesarea Philippi. Matt. Mark. Luke. 17.14-21 9. 14-29 9.37-43 John. 12. Elias is come already, i, e., John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elias" (Luke 1. 17), and who was the one prophesied as to come in the character of Elijah of old. So Christ had declared, ch. 11. 14, that John was the Elijah men- 14. To the multitude. It is to be tioned by Malachi.¶ Knew him remembered that only three of the not, did not recognize or acknowledge | twelve had gone up into the mount him. ¶ Whatsoever they listed, or of transfiguration with Christ. The chose. They had treated John accord-rest had remained below where they ing to their inclinations, reckless of were now found, "the next day, his character and office. They had Luke 9. 37, surrounded by a crowd imprisoned and beheaded him, Matt. of people, and by scribes questioning 14. 10, "as it is written of him." with them, as we learn from Mark Mark. •¶ Likewise. What is more 9. 15. They ran to Him amazed to amazing, He Himself, their Lord, see Him, and saluted Him. Jesus should share of the people a similar asked them why they questioned thus treatment! So He afterward did! with the disciples, involving them (See Mark 9. 12. Isa. 53d ch.) probably in disputes and puzzling queries. 13. That He spake unto them of John the Baptist. Their question was fairly answered. Christ passed through all these scenes in order to establish them in the faith, and we see how 15. My son. An "only child" (Luke) possessed with a devil, “ hath à dumb spirit." Mark. So that he was lunatic or crazy, and sore vexed-in a son; for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him : rage, mad, furious. Mark adds: "wheresoever he taketh him he teareth him, and he foameth and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away." Luke also adds other symptoms, as that the devil tore him, bruised him, &c., "hardly departed from him." 16. To thy disciples. Their failure during Christ's absence, doubtless gave the scribes ground to gainsay and reproach them and their Master. This accounts for Christ's rebuke, not of the man but of His disciples. 17. O faithless! Addressing the multitude He asked how much longer He must give them evidence of His Messiahship which yet the scribes were disputing, and which all were so slow fully to believe. So with Philip (John 14. 9). So Moses was shocked at the weak Israelites when he came down from the mount. the account in Mark for fuller particulars. See and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? k 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: i for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth j He.3.19. k c.21.21. Mar.11.23. Lu.17.6. 1Cor. 13.2. I believe, help thou mine unbelief." Only he who truly believes (though in the smallest measure) conceives aught of the unbelief of his heart. 19. To Jesus apart. The disciples who had been baffled in an effort to cast out this evil spirit, came now to Christ apart, or in private, to inquire the cause of their failure. Mark says, "when He was come into the house." And they sought a private interview because they were abashed and would have a familiar explanation of the case, as it might even involve some secrets of His plan. 20. Because of your unbelief. This faith here alluded to is the faith of miracles. It was something more than a common belief in Christ, and was peculiar to the Apostles' age. It was a faith for such miraculous works as they were commissioned to perform. If they had this in the smallest degree, or in the proverbial phrase, "as a grain of mustard-seed," they should accomplish the most difficult things, or proverbially, should remove mountains. 21. This kind of difficulties expressed by the term mountains, or this kind of evil spirits, so malignant, departs not, removes not, but by prayer and fasting. The most special religi ous exercises were needed for so special a purpose. OBSERVE: Great degrees of devo not out, but by prayer and fast- | to Peter, and said, Doth not 17. 22-23 9.30-32 19.43-45 John. 22, 23. While they abode in Galilee. The term rather means, as they were travelling," &c., on their way to Capernaum, and thence to Jerusalem The country called Galilee, it should be remembered, stretched about equally above and below (north and south) of the Sea of Galilee. Shall be betrayed. This is the first disclosure of the means by which He should fall into cruel and deadly hands. He should be handed over-delivered up -by a friend. Who would think it should be a disciple, an apostle! All that was now hinted to them of this, further than had been before, was, that He should be delivered up to death by a most criminal breach of confidence. ¶ Exceeding sorry. Mark and Luke add that they understood not that saying, and it was hid from them and they were afraid to ask Him. 24. Tribute-money, literally, the didrachmas, the name for the yearly temple-tax, being a coin equal to a half shekel, or about twenty-five cents. This was allowed in the Mosaic law (Exod. 30. 11-16). It resembles the stated church collections for expenses, as it was additional to the regular church rates or tithes. 25. Prevented, anticipated him-be gan to speak of it before Peter had this question. Christ knew what had told Him. He was beforehand with all things, "and needed not that any should testify to Him of man, for He been said to Peter, because He knew knew what was in man.-¶ Trib ute. (kenson, Gr.) Latin census, a tax. "Custom" was for lands, tribule their sons and daughters of their own for persons. -T Their own children, royal family. -TStrangers, those not of their own family. ing that kings do not tax their own 26. Peter replied, Of strangers, mean sion to Himself, that then the children sons. And Christ applies the concluare free. The temple is His Father's house (John 2. 16), and as He is the Son, and greater than the temple (ch. 12. 6), why should He be taxed for the service? It was only another assertion of His Divine SONSHIP, with which He would make them every way familiar. 27. Lest we should offend them. He the sea, and cast a hook, and | Who is the greatest in the kingtake up the fish that first cometh dom of heaven? up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee. A a CHAPTER XVIII. Ta the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, 1 A stater, which was half an ounce of silver. a Mar.9.33,&c. Lu.9.46,&c.; 22.24, &c. pays, under a protest, for expediency's sake (1 Cor. 8. 13); and lest a scandal should be put upon the temple service and upon Himself among the people, He would pay what He was not bound to, of right.-¶ Go to the sea of Galilee, near by.-—TA piece of money, a stater, a Roman coin, equal to a shekel, enough, of course, for the tax of two. The miracle consisted in His so ordering all the circumstances as to show a power over all things equal to that of creation itself. If He could make one of the numberless fish in the sea come first to Peter's hook, with a piece of money in its mouth, and just such a piece of money, He could as well have created the money and the fish for the purpose. 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, b and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall b Ps.51.10-13. Jno.3.3. c 1 Cor.14.20. 1 Pe.2.2. most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions, can help in every extremity. CHAPTER XVIII § 79. THE DISCIPLES CONTEND WHO JESUS SHOULD BE THE GREATEST. EXHORTS.-Capernaum. 1. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This may have arisen from the preference just shown, at the transfiguration, for Peter, James and John (see Luke 7. 46), and from Christ's allusion to His royalty in the tribute. They were thinking of the kingdom as one of earthly kind, and were now speculating about its preferments and OBSERVE, (1.) Christ meets the offices. But it is a kingdom that law's demands for Himself and for "cometh not with observation" (Luke His people. He pays for Himself 17. 20), and one which is not meat and for Peter, "for me and for thee." and drink, but righteousness (Rom. Christ would put Himself in the dis- 14. 17). It appears from Mark and ciples' place, to pay the law's price Luke, that they had disputed about it for them. He came under the same among themselves on the way to Cayoke with men, that men might en- pernaum, and that Christ had perter into the same freedom as His.ceived the thoughts of their hearts, My father and your Father, my God and your God." John 20. 17. (2.) Christ confirms His gracious words by His gracious works. He protests His rightful exemption from the ceremonial tax, as much by the mode of His furnishing the money, as by His express declaration. In the miracle He proves Himself the Divine Being whom He claimed to be in words. (3.) We see how God's แ and questioned them, so as to elicit this distinct query from themselves. They often started such inquiries. 2,3. A little child. He taught them by this symbol, for such was the method of teaching in the East.- ¶ Be converted-changed, turned from such tempers, in such a thorough way as to become, instead of aspirants, like little children. It is the lowly, dependent, simple disposition of a little humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. e 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend f one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him d Lu.14.11. Ja.4.10. e Mat.10.42. ƒ Mar.9.42. Lu.17.1,2. child, that is set forth as the symbol of piety. It is not as a pattern, but as an image or figure, that a child is set forth. It is not that children are patterns of innocence, for they are depraved, but that they are pictures of it to the eye. We must become as such, having a child-like spirit, happy in our dependence on God, our heavenly Father. They had asked for high places and proud stations, and had enviously inquired which of them should be first (see Mark 9. 34). This showed in them a worldly, ambitious, unhumbled character, and Christ, instead of encouraging them with such expectations, set before them a little child. Humility, teachableness, trustfulness of spirit, are necessary, because so only can we enter in at the strait gate, and by the living way. 4. Shall humble himself, in true humility-whosoever shall come down to this level of a little child, in the unaspiring temper of his heart-he shall be greatest, or, the greater, among Christians. The deepest humility is the highest honour and joy. Lowly thoughts of self, as to merit, and sufficiency and ability, coupled with a hearty trust in Christ, make up the true Christian characteristics. that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the 5. Whoso shall receive one such. One of this character may be despised among men; Christ therefore makes this special provision for such, and for those who favour such. -¶ In my name-on Christ's account, because he is Christ's, and resembles Him (ch. 7. 22; 10. 22); for it is the nature of true piety to love this childlike disposition, wherever it is found; sea. 7 Wo unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but b wo to that man by whom the offence cometh! g 1Cor.11.19. Jude 4. h Jude 11. while vain men often treat it with contempt. Christ not only regards such as His, but regards Himself as received and favoured in them (Matt. 25. 40); "Ye have done it untò me. Those who love Christians for their Christian temper, as like Christ, shall be rewarded accordingly. Mark and Luke here record a conversation omitted by Matthew. John told Him that they had seen one casting out devils in His name, and they forbade him, because he was not of their company. Jesus answered that there was a principle by which all such should be judged. If they did such things as He alone could have instigated and produced, and if so they wrought with Him, they were of needs His. that is not against us is for us. (See Mark and Luke.) These are proverbial sayings, like Prov. 26. 4, 5. "He 6. Shall offend one- shall put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way-shall tempt to sin any of these Christian, child-like ones" disciples "-" that believe in ones-"disciples me" (Mark 9. 42), he is worthy of severest punishment. He sins against the Holy Spirit's work in the heart. ¶ Millstone. The term means a millstone large enough to be turned by an ass-not the hand-stones. 7. Offences. Occasions of sin. temptations to do wrong, as a hand or foot even may be, are a wo to the world, and wo to any one by whom they may come. It must needs be —¶ it is necessary or unavoidable, as things are, that such temptations come. But wo—that is, curse or condemnation on that man by |