love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is brought low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways, Jam.i. 9-11. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? ii. 6. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth, v. 1—4. b See on chap. iii. ver. 2. clause 2. VER. 24. Πάλιν δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, εὐκοπώτερόν ἐστι κάμηλον διὰ τρυπήματος ῥαφίδος διελθεῖν, ἢ πλούσιον εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰσελθεῖν. And again I say unto you, a It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. a But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible, ver. 26. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil, Jer. xiii. 23. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, Mark x. 24, 25. | A. D. 33. For it is easier for a camel to go, through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, Luke xviii. 25. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John v. 44. VER. 25. ̓Ακούσαντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα, λέγοντες· Τίς ἄρα δύναται σωθῆναι ; When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amased, saying, Who then can be saved? VER. 26. Εμβλέψας δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Παρὰ ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο ἀδύνατόν ἐστι, παρὰ, de Oe wávra Súvatá kσTI. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; " but with God all things are possible. LORD? At the time appointed I will a Is any thing too hard for the return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son, Gen. xviii. 14. And the LORD said short? thou shalt see now whether my unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed word will come to pass unto thee or not, Num. xi. 23. I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee, Job xlii. 2. Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jer. xxxii. 27. Thus saith the Lonp of hosts ; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts, Zech. viii. 6. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things God nothing shall be impossible, are possible, Mark x. 27. For with Luke i. 37. And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God, xviii. 27. VER. 27. Τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος, εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ιδού, ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα, καὶ ἠκολουOnoaμév σor rí ăpa šoтai hpïv; Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, a we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? a See on chap. iv. verses 20. 22. b But when the first came, they supposed that they should have re 356 A. D. 33. MATT. XIX. 27, 28. ceived more; and they likewise re- VER. 28. · Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ̓Αμὴν λέγω And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, ain the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. C a For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind, Isa. lxv. 17. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain, lxvi. 22. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, 2 Pet. iii. 13. And he that sat upon the throne, said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful, Rev. xxi. 5. b For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works, Matt. xvi. 27. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit A. D. 33. upon the throne of his glory, xxv. 31. c And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom, Matt. xx. 21. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Luke xxii. 28-30. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us, 2 Tim. ii. 12. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father, Rev. ii. 26, 27. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne, iii. 21. VER. 29. Καὶ τὰς ὃς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας, ἡ ἀδελφοὺς, ἡ ἀδελφὰς, ἡ πατέρα, ἢ μητέρα, ἡ γυναῖκα, ἢ τέκνα, ἢ ἀγροὺς, ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται, καὶ ζωὴν αἰώ νιον κληρονομήσει. And every one that hath forsaken houses, bor brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. c a For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it, Matt. xvi. 25% And Jesus answered and said, Verily say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life, Mark x. 29, 30. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting, Luke xviii. 29, 30. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead, Matt. viii. 21, 22. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me, x. 37, 38. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, A. D. 33. and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple, Luke xiv. 26. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more, 2 Cor. v. 16. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Phil. iii. 8. revile you, and persecute you, and Blessed are ye, when men shall shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake, Matt. v. 11. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved, x. 22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake, Luke vi. 22. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you, John XV. 19. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, Acts ix. 15. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part be is glorified, 1 Pet. iv. 14. Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles, 3 John 7. d See on chap. vi. ver. 33. clause 4. e See on ver. 16. clause 3. VER. 30. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι, ἔσχατοι· καὶ ἔσχατοι, πρῶτοι. But many that are first shall be last ; and the last shall be first. a And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, Matt. viii. 11, 12. So the last shall be first, and the first last for many be called, but few chosen, xx. 16. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the Publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the Publicans and the harlots believed him and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him, xxi. 31, 32. But many that are first, shall be last; and the last, first, Mark x. 31. And all the people that heard him, and the Publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him, Luke vii. 29, 30. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last, xiii. 30. And the Publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted, xviii. 13, 14. What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone, and rock of offence: and whosoever be lieveth on him shall not be ashamed, Rom. ix. 30-33. CHAP. XX.VER 1. Oμara yap Boriv i Bacinela Tav ovga τῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότη, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωί μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ. For a the kingdom of heaven is like unto ba man that is an householder, | A. D. 33. which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. a See on chap. iii. ver. 2. clause 3. b Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest, Matt. ix. 37, 38. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out, to husbandmen, and went into a far country, xxi. 33. Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein : and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes, Îsa. v. 1, 2. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman, John xv. 1. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings! and ye would not, Matt. xxiii. 37. From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early, and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear, Jer. xxv. 3, 4. d For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch, Mark xiii. 34. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. xv. 58. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, work ing in you that which is well-pleasing VER. 2. Συμφωνήσας δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἐργατῶν ἐκ δηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν, ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. a But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? ver. 13. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, Exod. xix. 5, 6. Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we. will hear it, and do it. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they .A. D. 33. have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Go say to them, Get you into your tents again, Deut. v. 27-30. VER. 3. Καὶ ἐξελθὼν περὶ τὴν τρίτην ὥραν, εἶδεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἀργούς· And he went out about the third hour, and saw others a standing idle in the marketplace. a Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer Behold, this hunger, Prov. xix. 15. was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy, Ezek. xvi. 49. VER. 4. Κακείνοις εἶπεν· Ὑπάγετε καὶ ὑμεῖς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ὅ' ἐὰν ᾗ δίκαιον, δώσω iμiv. And said unto them; a Go ye also into the vineyard, band whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. a Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousnes. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life, Rom. vi. 16–22. And |