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A.D. 32.

MATT. XVII. 21-27

A. D. 32.

ἀπὸ τίνων λαμβάνουσι τέλη, ἡ κήνσον; ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν, ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ;

He saith, Yes. a And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, say

* And I set my face unto the Lord | God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, Dan. ix. 3. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Ho-ing, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom ly Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas do the kings of the earth take custom or and Saul for the work whereunto I tribute? of their own children, or of have called them. And when they strangers? had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away, Acts xiii. 2, 3. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed, xiv. 23. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency, 1 Cor. vii. 5. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, 2 Cor. xi. 27. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching | thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, Eph. vi. 18.

VER. 22.

̓Αναστρεφομένων δὲ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Μέλλει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοσθαι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων·

And while they abode in Galilee, Je. sus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: VER. 23.

Καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτὸν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέ βᾳ ἐγερθήσεται. Καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα. And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

a See on chap. xvi. ver. 21. VER. 24.

Ἐλθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς Καπερναούμ, προσῆλθον οἱ τὰ δίδραχμα λαμβάνοντες τῷ Πέτρα, καὶ εἶπον· Ο διδάσκαλος ὑμῶν οὐ τελεῖ τὰ δίδραχμα ;

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tribute?

*Gr. didrachma, value 1s. 3d.
VER. 25.

Λέγει, Ναί. Καὶ ὅτε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, προέφθασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, λέγων· Τί σοι δοκεῖ, Σίμων; οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς

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a He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that areGod's, Matt. xxii. 20, 21. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour, Rom. xiii. 6, 7.

VER. 26.

Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος ̓Απὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ̓́Αραγε ἐλεύθεροί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοί.

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

VER. 27.

Ἵνα δὲ μὴ σκανδαλίσωμεν αὐτοὺς, πορευθεὶς εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, βάλε ἄγκιστρον, καὶ τὸν ἀναβάντα πρῶτον ἰχθῦν ἄριν· καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, εὑρήσεις στατῆρα ἐκεῖνον λαβὼν, δὸς αὐτοῖς ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ

σου.

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast cometh up; and when thou hast opened an hook, band take up the fish that first his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

* Or, a stater, 1⁄2 oz. silver.

a It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended,

or is made weak, Rom. xiv. 21. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. xv. 19. But take

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heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend, 1 Cor. viii. 9. 13. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law. To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some, ix. 19-22. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved, x. 32, 33. Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed, 2 Cor. vi. 3. Abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thess. v. 22. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you, Tit. ii. 7, 8.

A. D. 32.

faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? James ii. 5.

CHAP. XVIII.—VER. 1.

Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ προσῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ Ἰησοῦ, λέγοντες· Τίς ἄρα μείζων ἐστὶν iv Tỹ Baosheia Täv oùgavāv`;

At a the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, b Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

a And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? Mark ix. 33.

b Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 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. But Jesus answered and said, ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them And God blessed them, and God unto him, and said, Ye know that the said unto them, Be fruitful, and multi- princes of the Gentiles exercise doply, and replenish the earth, and sub-minion over them, and they that are due it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth, Gen. i. 28. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there, 1 Kings xvii. 4. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land, Jon. ii. 10.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in

great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many, Matt. xx. 20-28, and Mark x. 35-45. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant, Matt. xxiii. 11. But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest, Mark ix. 34. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them

est.

A. D. 32.

MATT. XVIII. 1-3.

A. D. 32.

should be greatest. And Jesus, per-bExcept ye be converted, and become as ceiving the thought of their heart, took little children, ye shall not enter into the a child, and set him by him, And said kingdom of heaven. unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great, Luke ix. 46-48. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatAnd he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth, xxii. 24-27. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another, Rom. xii. 10. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves, Phil. ii. 3.

a For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled, Matt. v. 18. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward, vi. 2. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward, 5. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward, 16. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man, John i. 51. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ὁ Ἰησοῦς παιδίον, he cannot see the kingdom of God, ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν,

See on chap. iii. ver. 2. clause 2.
VER. 2.

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

a Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven, Matt. xix. 13, 14. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever

shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me, Mark ix. 36, 37.

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iii. 3.

b For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of bearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them, Matt. xiii. 15. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee, Psal. li. 13. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed, Isa. vi. 10. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them, Mark iv. 12. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,

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Luke xxii. 32. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, Acts iii. 19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, James v. 19.

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God, Luke xviii. 15, 16. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men, 1 Cor. xiv. 20. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2.

d See on chap. iii. ver. 2. clause 2.

VER. 4.

Ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώση ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Whosoever therefore shall a humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

a And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted, Matt. xxiii. 12. LORD, my heart is not, haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child, Psal. cxxxi. 1, 2. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones, Isa. lvii. 15. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble, 1 Pet. v. 5.

A. D. 32.

a He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward, Matt. x. 40-42. And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, xxv. 40. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me, 45. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward, Mark ix. 41. And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me; for he that is least Luke ix. 48. It were better for him among you all, the same shall be great, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones, xvii. 2.

b Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me, Mark ix. 37. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he

that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me, John xiii. 20. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus, Gal. iv. 14.

VER. 6.

Ὃς δ ̓ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων, τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμὲ, συμφέ ρει αὐτῷ, ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς ἐπὶ Καὶ ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται παιδίον τοιοῦτον ἓν τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐμὲ δέχεται.

VER. 5.

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τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.

But whoso shall a offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were

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better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

a Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm, Psal. cv. 15. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye, Zech. ii. 8. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea, Mark ix. 42. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones, Luke xvii. 2. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks, Acts ix. 5. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his

brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died, Rom. xiv. 13-15. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak, 21. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me, IV. 1-3. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols? And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin

A. D. 32.

so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore if meat make

my

brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend, 1 Cor. viii. 9-13. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved, x. 32, 33. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, 2 Thess. i. 6-9.

VER. 7.

Οὐαὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ἀπὸ τῶν σκανδάλων· πλὴν οὐαὶ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐκείνῳ, δι ̓ οὗ τὸ ἀνάγκη γάρ ἐστιν ἐλθεῖν τὰ σκάνδαλα σκάνδαλον ἔρχεται.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

a And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land, Gen. xiii. 7. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD, 1 Sam. ii. 17. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD

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