1912 lines
92 KiB
Plaintext
1912 lines
92 KiB
Plaintext
|
<HTML>
|
||
|
|
<HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Luke XXII].</TITLE>
|
||
|
|
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="description" content=
|
||
|
|
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
||
|
|
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
|
||
|
|
</HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
|
||
|
|
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
|
||
|
|
on the Whole Bible</h1>
|
||
|
|
<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
|
||
|
|
</h3>
|
||
|
|
</center>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42021.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42023.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<CENTER>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L U K E.</B></FONT>
|
||
|
|
<BR>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXII.</FONT>
|
||
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
|
||
|
|
</CENTER>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All the evangelists, whatever they omit, give us a particular account
|
||
|
|
of the death and resurrection of Christ, because he died for our sins
|
||
|
|
and rose for our justification, this evangelist as fully as any, and
|
||
|
|
with many circumstances and passages added which we had not before. In
|
||
|
|
this chapter we have,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The plot to take Jesus, and Judas's coming into it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Christ's eating the passover with his disciples,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:7-18">ver. 7-18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The instituting of the Lord's supper,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. Christ's discourse with his disciples after supper, upon several
|
||
|
|
heads,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:21-38">ver. 21-38</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. His agony in the garden,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:39-46">ver. 39-46</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. The apprehending of him, by the assistance of Judas,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:47-53">ver. 47-53</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VII. Peter's denying him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:54-62">ver. 54-62</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VIII. The indignities done to Christ by those that had him in custody,
|
||
|
|
and his trial and condemnation in the ecclesiastical court,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:63-71">ver. 63-71</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
</FONT>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_6"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Treachery of Judas.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called
|
||
|
|
the Passover.
|
||
|
|
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill
|
||
|
|
him; for they feared the people.
|
||
|
|
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the
|
||
|
|
number of the twelve.
|
||
|
|
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and
|
||
|
|
captains, how he might betray him unto them.
|
||
|
|
5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
|
||
|
|
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto
|
||
|
|
them in the absence of the multitude.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The <I>year of the redeemed</I> is now <I>come,</I> which had been from
|
||
|
|
eternity fixed in the divine counsels, and long looked for by them that
|
||
|
|
waited for the consolation of Israel. After the revolutions of many
|
||
|
|
ages, it is at length <I>come,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:4">Isa. lxiii. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And, it is observable, it is in the very <I>first month</I> of that
|
||
|
|
year that the redemption is wrought out, so much in haste was the
|
||
|
|
Redeemer to perform his undertaking, so was he <I>straitened</I> till
|
||
|
|
it was <I>accomplished.</I> It was in the same month, and at the same
|
||
|
|
time of the month (in the <I>beginning of months,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:2">Exod. xii. 2</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that God by Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, that the Antitype might
|
||
|
|
answer the type. Christ is here delivered up, <I>when the feast of
|
||
|
|
unleavened bread drew nigh,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
About as long before that feast as they began to make preparation for
|
||
|
|
it, here was preparation making for our Passover's being offered for
|
||
|
|
us. Here we have,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. His sworn enemies contriving it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>the chief priests,</I> men of sanctity, and the scribes, men of
|
||
|
|
learning, <I>seeking how they might kill him,</I> either by force of
|
||
|
|
fraud. Could they have had their will, it had been soon done, but they
|
||
|
|
<I>feared the people,</I> and the more for what they now saw of their
|
||
|
|
diligent attendance upon his preaching.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. A treacherous disciple joining in with them, and coming to their
|
||
|
|
assistance, Judas surnamed <I>Iscariot.</I> He is here said to be <I>of
|
||
|
|
the number of the twelve,</I> that dignified distinguished number. One
|
||
|
|
would wonder that Christ, who <I>knew</I> all men, should take a
|
||
|
|
traitor into <I>that number,</I> and that one of <I>that number,</I>
|
||
|
|
who could not but <I>know Christ,</I> should be so base as to betray
|
||
|
|
him; but Christ had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a
|
||
|
|
disciple, and how he who knew Christ so well yet came to betray him we
|
||
|
|
are here told: <I>Satan entered into Judas,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was the devil's work, who thought hereby to ruin Christ's
|
||
|
|
undertaking, to have broken his head; but it proved only the bruising
|
||
|
|
of his heel. Whoever betrays Christ, or his truths or ways, it is Satan
|
||
|
|
that puts them upon it. Judas knew how desirous the chief priests were
|
||
|
|
to get Christ into their hands, and that they could not do it safely
|
||
|
|
without the assistance of some that knew his retirements, as he did.
|
||
|
|
He therefore went himself, and made the motion to them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's
|
||
|
|
kingdom by the power and policy of its open enemies, or by the
|
||
|
|
treachery and self-seeking of its pretended friends: nay, without the
|
||
|
|
latter its enemies could not gain their point as they do. When you see
|
||
|
|
Judas communing with the <I>chief priests,</I> be sure some mischief is
|
||
|
|
hatching; it is for no good that they are laying their heads
|
||
|
|
together.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The issue of the treaty between them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Judas must <I>betray Christ to them,</I> must bring them to a place
|
||
|
|
where they might seize him without danger of tumult, and this they
|
||
|
|
would be <I>glad of.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They must give him a sum of money for doing it, and this he would
|
||
|
|
be glad of
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They covenanted to give him money.</I> When the bargain was made,
|
||
|
|
Judas sought <I>opportunity to betray him.</I> Probably, he slyly
|
||
|
|
enquired of Peter and John, who were more intimate with their Master
|
||
|
|
than he was, where he would be at such a time, and whither he would
|
||
|
|
retire after the passover, and they were not sharp enough to suspect
|
||
|
|
him. Somehow or other, in a little time he gained the advantage he
|
||
|
|
sought, and fixed the time and place where it might be done, <I>in the
|
||
|
|
absence of the multitude,</I> and <I>without tumult.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_7"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_8"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_9"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Keeping of the Passover.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must
|
||
|
|
be killed.
|
||
|
|
8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the
|
||
|
|
passover, that we may eat.
|
||
|
|
9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
|
||
|
|
10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the
|
||
|
|
city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water;
|
||
|
|
follow him into the house where he entereth in.
|
||
|
|
11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master
|
||
|
|
saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the
|
||
|
|
passover with my disciples?
|
||
|
|
12 And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there
|
||
|
|
make ready.
|
||
|
|
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they
|
||
|
|
made ready the passover.
|
||
|
|
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve
|
||
|
|
apostles with him.
|
||
|
|
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat
|
||
|
|
this passover with you before I suffer:
|
||
|
|
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until
|
||
|
|
it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
|
||
|
|
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this,
|
||
|
|
and divide <I>it</I> among yourselves:
|
||
|
|
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the
|
||
|
|
vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
|
||
|
|
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake <I>it,</I> and gave
|
||
|
|
unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this
|
||
|
|
do in remembrance of me.
|
||
|
|
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup <I>is</I>
|
||
|
|
the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
What a hopeful prospect had we of Christ's doing a great deal of good
|
||
|
|
by his preaching in the temple during the feast of unleavened bread,
|
||
|
|
which continued seven days, when the people were <I>every</I> morning,
|
||
|
|
and <I>early</I> in the morning, so attentive to hear him! But here is
|
||
|
|
a stop put to it. He must enter upon work of another kind; in this,
|
||
|
|
however, he shall do more good than in the other, for neither Christ's
|
||
|
|
nor his church's suffering days are their idle empty days. Now here we
|
||
|
|
have,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The preparation that was made for Christ's eating the passover with
|
||
|
|
his disciples, upon the very <I>day of unleavened bread, when the
|
||
|
|
passover must be killed</I> according to the law,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ was made under the law, and observed the ordinances of it,
|
||
|
|
particularly that of the passover, to teach us in like manner to
|
||
|
|
observe his gospel institutions, particularly that of the Lord's
|
||
|
|
supper, and not to neglect them. It is probable that he went to the
|
||
|
|
temple to preach in the morning, when he sent Peter and John another
|
||
|
|
way into the city to <I>prepare the passover.</I> Those who have
|
||
|
|
attendants about them, to do their secular business for them in a great
|
||
|
|
measure, must not think that this <I>allows</I> them to be <I>idle;</I>
|
||
|
|
it <I>engages</I> them to employ themselves more in <I>spiritual</I>
|
||
|
|
business, or service to <I>the public.</I> He directed those whom he
|
||
|
|
employed whither they should go
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>they must follow a man bearing a pitcher of water,</I> and he must
|
||
|
|
be their guide to the house. Christ could have described the house to
|
||
|
|
them; probably it was a house they knew, and he might have said no more
|
||
|
|
than, Go to such a one's house, or to a house in such a street, with
|
||
|
|
such a sign, &c. But he directed them thus, to teach them to depend
|
||
|
|
upon the conduct of Providence, and to follow that, <I>step by
|
||
|
|
step.</I> They went, not knowing <I>whither they went,</I> nor <I>whom
|
||
|
|
they followed.</I> Being come to the house, they must desire the master
|
||
|
|
of the house to show them a room
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and he will readily do it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Whether it was a friend's house or a public house does not appear; but
|
||
|
|
the disciples found their guide, and the house, and the room, just as
|
||
|
|
he had said to them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for <I>they</I> need not fear a disappointment who go upon Christ's
|
||
|
|
word; according to the orders given them, they got every thing in
|
||
|
|
readiness for <I>the passover,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The solemnizing of the passover, according to the law. When <I>the
|
||
|
|
hour was come</I> that they should go to supper <I>he sat down,</I>
|
||
|
|
probably at the head-end of the table, and <I>the twelve apostles with
|
||
|
|
him,</I> Judas not excepted; for it is possible that those whose hearts
|
||
|
|
are filled with Satan, and all manner of wickedness, may yet continue a
|
||
|
|
plausible profession of religion, and be found in the performance of
|
||
|
|
its external services; and while it is in the heart, and does not break
|
||
|
|
out into anything scandalous, such cannot be denied the external
|
||
|
|
privileges of their external profession. Though Judas has already been
|
||
|
|
guilty of an <I>overt act</I> of treason, yet, it not being publicly
|
||
|
|
known, Christ admits him to sit down with the rest at the passover. Now
|
||
|
|
observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How Christ <I>bids this passover welcome,</I> to teach us in like
|
||
|
|
manner to welcome his passover, the Lord's supper, and to come to it
|
||
|
|
with an appetite
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>With desire I have desired,</I> I have most earnestly desired, to
|
||
|
|
<I>eat this passover with you before I suffer.</I>" He knew it was to
|
||
|
|
be the prologue to his sufferings, and <I>therefore</I> he desired it,
|
||
|
|
because it was in order to his Father's glory and man's redemption. He
|
||
|
|
<I>delighted</I> to do even this part of the <I>will of God</I>
|
||
|
|
concerning him as Mediator. Shall we be <I>backward</I> to any service
|
||
|
|
for him who was so <I>forward</I> in the work of our salvation? See the
|
||
|
|
love he had to his disciples; he desired to eat it <I>with them,</I>
|
||
|
|
that he and they might have a little time together, themselves, and
|
||
|
|
none besides, for private conversation, which they could not have in
|
||
|
|
Jerusalem but upon this occasion. He was now about to leave them, but
|
||
|
|
was very desirous to <I>eat this passover with them before he
|
||
|
|
suffered,</I> as if the comfort of that would carry him the more
|
||
|
|
cheerfully through his sufferings, and make them the easier to him.
|
||
|
|
Note, Our gospel passover, eaten by faith with Jesus Christ, will be an
|
||
|
|
excellent preparation for sufferings, and trials, and death itself.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How Christ in it <I>takes his leave of all passovers,</I> thereby
|
||
|
|
signifying his abrogating all the ordinances of the ceremonial law, of
|
||
|
|
which that of the passover was one of the <I>earliest</I> and one of
|
||
|
|
the most <I>eminent</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>I will not any more eat thereof,</I> nor shall it by any more
|
||
|
|
celebrated by my disciples, <I>until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of
|
||
|
|
God.</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It was fulfilled when <I>Christ our Passover was sacrificed for
|
||
|
|
us,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:7">1 Cor. v. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And <I>therefore</I> that type and shadow was laid aside, because now
|
||
|
|
in the <I>kingdom of God</I> the substance was come, which superseded
|
||
|
|
it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It was fulfilled in the <I>Lord's supper,</I> an ordinance of the
|
||
|
|
gospel kingdom, in which the passover had its accomplishment, and which
|
||
|
|
the disciples, after the pouring out of the Spirit, did frequently
|
||
|
|
celebrate, as we find
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:42,46">Acts ii. 42, 46</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They ate of it, and Christ might be said to eat with them, because of
|
||
|
|
the spiritual communion they had with him in that ordinance. He is
|
||
|
|
said to <I>sup with them</I> and <I>they with him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20">Rev. iii. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The complete accomplishment of that commemoration of liberty will
|
||
|
|
be in the kingdom of glory, when all God's spiritual Israel shall be
|
||
|
|
released from the bondage of death and sin, and be put in possession of
|
||
|
|
the land of promise. What he had said of his eating of the paschal
|
||
|
|
lamb, he repeats concerning his drinking of the <I>passover wine,</I>
|
||
|
|
the cup of <I>blessing,</I> or of thanksgiving, in which all the
|
||
|
|
company pledged the Master of the feast, at the close of the passover
|
||
|
|
supper. This cup <I>he took,</I> according to the custom, and <I>gave
|
||
|
|
thanks</I> for the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, and the
|
||
|
|
preservation of their first-born, and then said, <I>Take this, and
|
||
|
|
divide it among yourselves,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is not said afterwards of the sacramental cup, which being
|
||
|
|
probably of much more weight and value, being the <I>New Testament in
|
||
|
|
his blood,</I> he might give into every one's hand, to teach them to
|
||
|
|
make a particular application of it to their own souls; but, as for the
|
||
|
|
paschal cup which is to be abolished, it is enough to say, "<I>Take</I>
|
||
|
|
it, and <I>divide it among yourselves,</I> do what you will with it,
|
||
|
|
for we shall have no more occasion for it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I will not drink of the fruit of the vine any more,</I> I will not
|
||
|
|
have it any more drank of, <I>till the kingdom of God shall come,</I>
|
||
|
|
till the Spirit be poured out, and then you shall in <I>the Lord's
|
||
|
|
supper</I> commemorate a much more glorious redemption, of which both
|
||
|
|
the deliverance out of Egypt and the passover commemoration of it were
|
||
|
|
types and figures. The kingdom of God is now so near being set up that
|
||
|
|
you will not need to eat or drink any more till it comes." Christ dying
|
||
|
|
next day opened it. As Christ with a great deal of pleasure took leave
|
||
|
|
of all the legal feasts (which fell of course with the passover) for
|
||
|
|
the evangelical ones, both spiritual and sacramental; so may good
|
||
|
|
Christians, when they are called to remove from the church militant to
|
||
|
|
that which is triumphant, cheerfully exchange even their spiritual
|
||
|
|
repasts, much more their sacramental ones, for the eternal feast.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The institution of the Lord's supper,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The <I>passover</I> and the <I>deliverance</I> out of Egypt were
|
||
|
|
<I>typical</I> and <I>prophetic signs</I> of a Christ to come, who
|
||
|
|
should by dying deliver us from sin and death, and the tyranny of
|
||
|
|
Satan; but they shall no more say, <I>The Lord liveth, that brought us
|
||
|
|
up out of the land of Egypt;</I> a much greater deliverance shall
|
||
|
|
eclipse the lustre of that, and therefore the Lord's supper is
|
||
|
|
instituted to be a commemorative sign or memorial of a Christ already
|
||
|
|
come, that <I>has</I> by dying delivered us; and it is his death that
|
||
|
|
is in a special manner set before us in that ordinance.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The <I>breaking of Christ's body</I> as a <I>sacrifice for us</I> is
|
||
|
|
here commemorated by the <I>breaking of bread;</I> and the sacrifices
|
||
|
|
under the law were called the <I>bread of our God</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+21:6,8,17">Lev. xxi. 6, 8, 17</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>This is my body which is given for you.</I> And there is a feast
|
||
|
|
upon that sacrifice instituted, in which we are to apply it to
|
||
|
|
ourselves, and to take the benefit and comfort of it. This bread that
|
||
|
|
was given for us is given <I>to us</I> to be food for our souls, for
|
||
|
|
nothing can be more <I>nourishing</I> and <I>satisfying</I> to our
|
||
|
|
souls than the doctrine of Christ's making atonement for sin, and the
|
||
|
|
assurance of our interest in that atonement; this bread that was
|
||
|
|
<I>broken</I> and <I>given for us,</I> to satisfy for the guilt of our
|
||
|
|
sins, is <I>broken</I> and <I>given to us,</I> to satisfy the desire of
|
||
|
|
our souls. And this we do in <I>remembrance</I> of what he did for us,
|
||
|
|
when he died for us, and for a <I>memorial</I> of what we <I>do,</I> in
|
||
|
|
making ourselves <I>partakers of him,</I> and joining ourselves to him
|
||
|
|
in an everlasting covenant; like the stone Joshua set up for a
|
||
|
|
<I>witness,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+24:27">Josh. xxiv. 27</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The <I>shedding</I> of <I>Christ's blood,</I> by which the atonement
|
||
|
|
was made (for <I>the blood made atonement for the soul,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+17:11">Lev. xvii. 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as represented by the wine in the cup; and that cup of wine is a sign
|
||
|
|
and token of the New Testament, or new covenant, made with us. It
|
||
|
|
<I>commemorates</I> the purchase of the covenant by the blood of
|
||
|
|
Christ, and <I>confirms</I> the promises of the covenant, which are all
|
||
|
|
<I>Yea</I> and <I>Amen</I> in him. This will be reviving and refreshing
|
||
|
|
to our souls, as wine that <I>makes glad the heart.</I> In all our
|
||
|
|
commemorations of the shedding of Christ's blood, we must have an eye
|
||
|
|
to it as shed for us; we needed it, we take hold of it, we hope to have
|
||
|
|
benefit by it; <I>who loved me, and gave himself for me.</I> And in all
|
||
|
|
our regards to the New Testament we must have an eye to the <I>blood of
|
||
|
|
Christ,</I> which gave life and being to it, and seals to us all the
|
||
|
|
promises of it. Had it not been for the blood of Christ, we had never
|
||
|
|
had the New Testament; and, had it not been for the New Testament, we
|
||
|
|
had never know the meaning of Christ's blood shed.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_36"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_37"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_38"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Disciples Admonished; Peter's Frailty Predicted.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me <I>is</I> with me
|
||
|
|
on the table.
|
||
|
|
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but
|
||
|
|
woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
|
||
|
|
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it
|
||
|
|
was that should do this thing.
|
||
|
|
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should
|
||
|
|
be accounted the greatest.
|
||
|
|
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise
|
||
|
|
lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them
|
||
|
|
are called benefactors.
|
||
|
|
26 But ye <I>shall</I> not <I>be</I> so: but he that is greatest among
|
||
|
|
you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that
|
||
|
|
doth serve.
|
||
|
|
27 For whether <I>is</I> greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he
|
||
|
|
that serveth? <I>is</I> not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among
|
||
|
|
you as he that serveth.
|
||
|
|
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
|
||
|
|
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath
|
||
|
|
appointed unto me;
|
||
|
|
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit
|
||
|
|
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
|
||
|
|
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired
|
||
|
|
<I>to have</I> you, that he may sift <I>you</I> as wheat:
|
||
|
|
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
|
||
|
|
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
|
||
|
|
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both
|
||
|
|
into prison, and to death.
|
||
|
|
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow
|
||
|
|
this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest
|
||
|
|
me.
|
||
|
|
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and
|
||
|
|
scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
|
||
|
|
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let
|
||
|
|
him take <I>it,</I> and likewise <I>his</I> scrip: and he that hath no
|
||
|
|
sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
|
||
|
|
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be
|
||
|
|
accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors:
|
||
|
|
for the things concerning me have an end.
|
||
|
|
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here <I>are</I> two swords. And he
|
||
|
|
said unto them, It is enough.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples after supper, much
|
||
|
|
of which is new here; and in St. John's gospel we shall find other
|
||
|
|
additions. We should take example from him to entertain and edify our
|
||
|
|
family and friends with such discourse at table as is good and to the
|
||
|
|
use of edifying, which may minister grace to the hearers; but
|
||
|
|
especially after we have been at the Lord's table, by Christian
|
||
|
|
conference to keep one another in a suitable frame. The matters Christ
|
||
|
|
here discoursed of were of weight, and to the present purpose.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. He discoursed with them concerning him that should betray him, who
|
||
|
|
was now present.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He signifies to them that the traitor was now among them, and one of
|
||
|
|
them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
By placing this after the institution of the Lord's supper, though in
|
||
|
|
Matthew and Mark it is placed before it, it seems plain that Judas did
|
||
|
|
receive the Lord's supper, did <I>eat of that bread</I> and <I>drink of
|
||
|
|
that cup;</I> for, after the solemnity was over, Christ said,
|
||
|
|
<I>Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the
|
||
|
|
table.</I> There have been those that have eaten bread with Christ and
|
||
|
|
yet have betrayed him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He foretels that the treason would take effect
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Truly the Son of man goes as it was determined,</I> goes to the
|
||
|
|
place where he will be betrayed; for he is delivered up by the counsel
|
||
|
|
and foreknowledge of God, else Judas could not have delivered him up.
|
||
|
|
Christ was not driven to his sufferings, but cheerfully <I>went to
|
||
|
|
them.</I> He said, <I>Lo, I come.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He threatens the traitor: <I>Woe to that man by whom he is
|
||
|
|
betrayed.</I> Note, Neither the patience of the saints under their
|
||
|
|
sufferings, nor the counsel of God concerning their sufferings, will be
|
||
|
|
any excuse for those that have any hand in their sufferings, or that
|
||
|
|
persecute them. Though God has <I>determined</I> that Christ shall be
|
||
|
|
betrayed and he himself has cheerfully submitted to it, yet Judas's sin
|
||
|
|
or punishment is not at all the less.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. He frightens the rest of the disciples into a suspicion of
|
||
|
|
themselves, by saying that it was one of them, and not naming which
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They began to enquire among themselves,</I> to interrogate
|
||
|
|
themselves, to put the question to themselves, <I>who it was that
|
||
|
|
should do this thing,</I> that could be so base to so good a Master.
|
||
|
|
The enquiry was not, <I>Is it you?</I> or, <I>Is it such a one?</I>
|
||
|
|
but, <I>Is it I?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Concerning the strife that was among them for precedency or
|
||
|
|
supremacy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. See what the dispute was: <I>Which of them should be accounted the
|
||
|
|
greatest.</I> Such and so many contests among the disciples for dignity
|
||
|
|
and dominion, <I>before</I> the Spirit was poured upon them, were a sad
|
||
|
|
presage of the like strifes for, and affections of, supremacy in the
|
||
|
|
churches, after the Spirit should be provoked to depart from them. How
|
||
|
|
inconsistent is this with that in the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:23">verse before</A>!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There they were enquiring which would be the traitor, and here which
|
||
|
|
should be the prince. Could such an instance of humility, and such an
|
||
|
|
instance of pride and vanity, be found in the same men, so near
|
||
|
|
together? This is like <I>sweet</I> waters and <I>bitter</I> proceeding
|
||
|
|
at the same time out of the same fountain. What a self-contradiction is
|
||
|
|
the deceitful heart of man!</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. See what Christ said to this dispute. He was not sharp upon them, as
|
||
|
|
might have been expected (he having so often reproved them for this
|
||
|
|
very thing), but mildly showed them the sin and folly of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) This was to make themselves like the <I>kings of the Gentiles,</I>
|
||
|
|
who affect worldly pomp, and worldly power,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They <I>exercise lordship</I> over their subjects, and are ever and
|
||
|
|
anon striving to exercise lordship too over the <I>princes</I> that are
|
||
|
|
about them, though as <I>good</I> as themselves, if they think them not
|
||
|
|
<I>so strong</I> as themselves. Note, The <I>exercising of lordship</I>
|
||
|
|
better becomes the <I>kings of the Gentiles</I> than the ministers of
|
||
|
|
Christ. But observe, <I>They that exercise authority,</I> and take upon
|
||
|
|
themselves to bear sway, and give law, they are called
|
||
|
|
<I>Benefactors</I>--<B><I>Euergetas</I></B>, they call themselves so,
|
||
|
|
and so their flatterers call them, and those that set themselves to
|
||
|
|
serve their interests. It is pretended that they have <I>been</I>
|
||
|
|
benefactors, and upon <I>that</I> account they should be admitted to
|
||
|
|
<I>have rule;</I> nay, that in exercising authority they are
|
||
|
|
benefactors. However they may really serve themselves, they would be
|
||
|
|
thought to <I>serve their country.</I> One of the Ptolemies was
|
||
|
|
surnamed <I>Euergetes--The Benefactor.</I> Now our Saviour, by taking
|
||
|
|
notice of this, intimates,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] That to <I>do good</I> is much more honourable than to <I>look
|
||
|
|
great;</I> for these princes that were the <I>terror of the mighty</I>
|
||
|
|
would not be called so, but rather the <I>benefactors of the needy;</I>
|
||
|
|
so that, by their own confession, a benefactor to his country is much
|
||
|
|
more valued than a ruler of his country.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] That to <I>do good</I> is the surest way to be great, else they
|
||
|
|
that aimed to be <I>rulers</I> would not have been so solicitous to be
|
||
|
|
called <I>Benefactors.</I> This therefore he would have his disciples
|
||
|
|
believe, that their greatest honour would be to do all the good they
|
||
|
|
could in the world. They would indeed be <I>benefactors</I> to the
|
||
|
|
world, by bringing the gospel to it. Let them value themselves upon
|
||
|
|
that title, which they would indeed be <I>entitled</I> to, and then
|
||
|
|
they need not strive which should be the greatest, for they would all
|
||
|
|
be <I>greater-</I> treater blessings to mankind than the kings of the
|
||
|
|
earth, that exercise lordship over them. If they have that which is
|
||
|
|
confessedly the <I>greater</I> honour, of being benefactors, let them
|
||
|
|
despise the less, of being rulers.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It was to make themselves unlike the disciples of Christ, and
|
||
|
|
unlike Christ himself: "<I>You shall not be so,</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"It was never intended that you should <I>rule</I> any otherwise than
|
||
|
|
by the power of truth and grace, but that you should <I>serve.</I>"
|
||
|
|
When church-rulers affect external pomp and power, and bear up
|
||
|
|
themselves by secular interests and influences, they debase their
|
||
|
|
office, and it is an instance of degeneracy like that of Israel when
|
||
|
|
they would have a king like the nations that were round about them,
|
||
|
|
whereas the Lord was their King. See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] What is the rule Christ gave to his disciples: He that is
|
||
|
|
<I>greater among you,</I> that is <I>senior,</I> to whom precedency is
|
||
|
|
due upon the account of his age, let him be as the <I>younger,</I> both
|
||
|
|
in point of <I>lowness of place</I> (let him condescend to sit with the
|
||
|
|
younger, and be free and familiar with them) and in point of
|
||
|
|
<I>labour</I> and <I>work.</I> We say, <I>Juniores ad labores, seniores
|
||
|
|
ad honores--Let the young work, and the aged receive their honours.</I>
|
||
|
|
But let the elder take pains as well as the younger; their age and
|
||
|
|
honour, instead of warranting them to take their ease, bind them to
|
||
|
|
double work. And he <I>that is chief,</I> <B><I>ho
|
||
|
|
hegoumenos</I></B>--<I>the president</I> of the college or assembly,
|
||
|
|
let him be <I>as he that</I> serves, <B><I>hos ho
|
||
|
|
diakonon</I></B>--<I>as the deacon;</I> let him stoop to the meanest
|
||
|
|
and most toilsome services for the public good, if there be occasion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] What was the example which he himself gave to this rule:
|
||
|
|
<I>Whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth?</I>
|
||
|
|
he that attendeth or he that is attended on? Now Christ was among his
|
||
|
|
disciples just like one that waited at table. He was so far from
|
||
|
|
<I>taking state,</I> or <I>taking his ease,</I> by commanding their
|
||
|
|
attendance upon him, that he was ready to do any office of kindness and
|
||
|
|
service for them; witness his <I>washing</I> their feet. Shall those
|
||
|
|
take upon them the form of princes who call themselves followers of him
|
||
|
|
that <I>took upon him the form of a servant?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) They ought not to strive for worldly honour and grandeur, because
|
||
|
|
he had better honours in reserve for them, of another nature, a
|
||
|
|
<I>kingdom,</I> a <I>feast,</I> a <I>throne,</I> for each of them,
|
||
|
|
wherein they should all share alike, and should have no occasion to
|
||
|
|
strive for precedency,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:28-30"><I>v.</I> 28-30</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Where observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ's commendation of his disciples for their faithfulness to
|
||
|
|
him; and this was honour enough for them, they needed not to strive for
|
||
|
|
any greater. It is spoken with an air of encomium and applause: "<I>You
|
||
|
|
are they who have continued with me in my temptations,</I> you are they
|
||
|
|
who have stood by me and stuck to me when others have deserted me and
|
||
|
|
turned their backs upon me." Christ had his temptations; he was
|
||
|
|
despised and rejected of men, reproached and reviled, and <I>endured
|
||
|
|
the contradiction of sinners.</I> But his disciples continued with him,
|
||
|
|
and were afflicted in all his afflictions. It was but little help that
|
||
|
|
they could give him, or service that they could do him; nevertheless,
|
||
|
|
he took it kindly that they <I>continued with him,</I> and he here owns
|
||
|
|
their kindness, though it was by the assistance of his own grace that
|
||
|
|
they did continue. Christ's disciples had been very defective in their
|
||
|
|
duty. We find them guilty of many mistakes and weaknesses: they were
|
||
|
|
very dull and very forgetful, and often blundered, yet their Master
|
||
|
|
passes all by and forgets it; he does not upbraid them with their
|
||
|
|
infirmities, but gives them this memorable testimonial, <I>You are they
|
||
|
|
who have continued with me.</I> Thus does he praise at parting, to show
|
||
|
|
how willing he is to make the best of those whose hearts he knows to be
|
||
|
|
upright with him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The recompence he designed them for their fidelity: <I>I
|
||
|
|
appoint,</I> <B><I>diatithemai</I></B>, <I>I bequeath, unto you a
|
||
|
|
kingdom.</I> Or thus, <I>I appoint to you, as my Father has appointed a
|
||
|
|
kingdom to me, that you may eat and drink at my table.</I> Understand
|
||
|
|
it, <I>First,</I> Of what should be done for them in this world. God
|
||
|
|
gave his Son a <I>kingdom among men,</I> the gospel church, of which he
|
||
|
|
is the living, quickening, ruling, Head. This <I>kingdom</I> he
|
||
|
|
<I>appointed</I> to his apostles and their successors in the ministry
|
||
|
|
of the gospel, that they should enjoy the comforts and privileges of
|
||
|
|
the gospel, help to communicate them to others by gospel ordinances,
|
||
|
|
sit on thrones as officers of the church, not only declaratively, but
|
||
|
|
exhortatively <I>judging the tribes of Israel</I> that persist in their
|
||
|
|
infidelity, and denouncing the wrath of God against them, and ruling
|
||
|
|
the gospel Israel, the spiritual Israel, by the instituted discipline
|
||
|
|
of the church, administered with gentleness and love. This is the
|
||
|
|
honour reserved for you. Or, <I>Secondly,</I> Of what should be done
|
||
|
|
for them in the other world, which I take to be chiefly meant. Let them
|
||
|
|
go on in their services in this world; their preferments shall be in
|
||
|
|
the other world. God will give them <I>the kingdom,</I> in which they
|
||
|
|
shall be sure to have,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The <I>richest dainties;</I> for they shall <I>eat and drink at
|
||
|
|
Christ's table in his kingdom,</I> of which he had spoken,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:16,18"><I>v.</I> 16, 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They shall partake of those joys and pleasures which were the
|
||
|
|
recompence of his services and sufferings. They shall have a full
|
||
|
|
satisfaction of soul in the vision and fruition of God; and herein they
|
||
|
|
shall have the best society, as at a feast, in the perfection of love.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The <I>highest dignities:</I> "You shall not only be provided for at
|
||
|
|
the royal table, as Mephibosheth at David's, but you shall be preferred
|
||
|
|
to the royal throne; shall <I>sit down with me on my throne,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:21">Rev. iii. 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In the great day you shall <I>sit on thrones,</I> as assessors with
|
||
|
|
Christ, to approve of and applaud his judgment of the <I>twelve tribes
|
||
|
|
of Israel.</I>" If the <I>saints shall judge the world</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:2">1 Cor. vi. 2</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
much more the church.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Concerning Peter's denying him. And in this part of the discourse
|
||
|
|
we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The general notice Christ gives to Peter of the devil's design upon
|
||
|
|
him and the rest of the apostles
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The Lord said, Simon, Simon,</I> observe what I say; <I>Satan hath
|
||
|
|
desired to have you,</I> to have you all in his hands, <I>that he may
|
||
|
|
sift you as wheat.</I> Peter, who used to be the <I>mouth</I> of the
|
||
|
|
rest in speaking to Christ, is here made the <I>ear</I> of the rest;
|
||
|
|
and what is designed for warning to them all (<I>all you shall be
|
||
|
|
offended, because of me</I>) is directed to Peter, because he was
|
||
|
|
principally concerned, being in particular manner struck at by the
|
||
|
|
tempter: <I>Satan has desired to have you.</I> Probably Satan had
|
||
|
|
<I>accused</I> the disciples to God as mercenary in following Christ,
|
||
|
|
and aiming at nothing else therein but enriching and advancing
|
||
|
|
themselves in this world, as he accused Job. "No," saith God, "they are
|
||
|
|
honest men, and men of integrity." "Give me leave to try them," saith
|
||
|
|
Satan, "and Peter particularly." He desired to have them, <I>that he
|
||
|
|
might sift them,</I> that he might show them to be chaff, and not
|
||
|
|
wheat. The troubles that were now coming upon them were <I>sifting,</I>
|
||
|
|
would try what there was in them: but this was not all; Satan desired
|
||
|
|
to sift them by his temptations, and endeavoured by those troubles to
|
||
|
|
draw them into sin, to put them into a loss and hurry, as corn when it
|
||
|
|
is sifted to bring the chaff uppermost, or rather to shake out the
|
||
|
|
wheat and leave nothing but the chaff. Observe, Satan could not sift
|
||
|
|
them unless God gave him leave: He <I>desired to have them,</I> as he
|
||
|
|
begged of God a permission to try and tempt Job.
|
||
|
|
<B><I>Exetesato</I></B>--"<I>He has challenged you,</I> has undertaken
|
||
|
|
to prove you a company of hypocrites, and Peter especially, the
|
||
|
|
forwardest of you." Some suggest that Satan demanded leave to sift them
|
||
|
|
as their punishment for striving who should be greatest, in which
|
||
|
|
contest Peter perhaps was very warm: "Leave them to me, to sift them
|
||
|
|
for it."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The particular encouragement he gave to Peter, in reference to this
|
||
|
|
trial: "<I>I have prayed for thee,</I> because, though he desires to
|
||
|
|
have them all, he is permitted to make his strongest onset upon thee
|
||
|
|
only: thou wilt be most violently assaulted, <I>but I have prayed for
|
||
|
|
thee, that thy faith fail not,</I> that it may not totally and finally
|
||
|
|
fail." Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) If faith be kept up in an hour of temptation, though we may fall,
|
||
|
|
yet we shall not be utterly cast down. Faith will quench Satan's fiery
|
||
|
|
darts.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Though there may be many failings in the faith of true believers,
|
||
|
|
yet there shall not be a total and final failure of their faith. It is
|
||
|
|
their seed, their root, remaining in them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is owing to the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ that
|
||
|
|
the faith of his disciples, though sometimes sadly shaken, yet is not
|
||
|
|
sunk. If they were left to themselves, they would fail; but they are
|
||
|
|
<I>kept by the power of God</I> and the prayer of Christ. The
|
||
|
|
intercession of Christ is not only general, for all that believe, but
|
||
|
|
for <I>particular</I> believers (I have prayed for <I>thee</I>), which
|
||
|
|
is an encouragement for us to pray for ourselves, and an engagement
|
||
|
|
upon us to pray for others too.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The charge he gives to Peter to help others as he should himself be
|
||
|
|
helped of God: "<I>When thou art converted, strengthen thy
|
||
|
|
brethren;</I> when thou art recovered by the grace of God, and brought
|
||
|
|
to repentance, do what thou canst to recover others; when thou hast
|
||
|
|
found they faith kept from failing, labour to confirm the faith of
|
||
|
|
others, and to establish them; when thou hast found mercy with God
|
||
|
|
thyself, encourage others to hope that they also shall find mercy."
|
||
|
|
Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Those that have fallen into sin must be <I>converted from it;</I>
|
||
|
|
those that have turned aside must <I>return;</I> those that have left
|
||
|
|
their first love must do their first works.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Those that through grace are converted from sin must do what they
|
||
|
|
can to strengthen their brethren that stand, and to prevent <I>their
|
||
|
|
falling;</I> see
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:11-13,1Ti+1:13">Ps. li. 11-13; 1 Tim. i. 13</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Peter's declared resolution to cleave to Christ, whatever it cost
|
||
|
|
him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.</I>
|
||
|
|
This was a great word, and yet I believe no more than he meant at this
|
||
|
|
time, and thought he should <I>make good</I> too. Judas never protested
|
||
|
|
thus against denying Christ, though often warned of it; for his heart
|
||
|
|
was as fully set in him to the evil as Peter's was against it. Note,
|
||
|
|
All the true disciples of Christ sincerely desire and design to
|
||
|
|
<I>follow him, whithersoever he goes,</I> and whithersoever he leads
|
||
|
|
them, though into a prison, though out of the world.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Christ's express prediction of his denying him thrice
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>I tell thee, Peter</I> (thou dost not know thine own heart, but
|
||
|
|
must be left to thyself a little, that thou mayest know it, and mayest
|
||
|
|
never trust to it again), <I>the cock shall not crow this day before
|
||
|
|
thou even deny that thou knowest me.</I>" Note, Christ knows us better
|
||
|
|
than we know ourselves, and knows the evil that is in us, and will be
|
||
|
|
done by us, which we ourselves do not suspect. It is well for us that
|
||
|
|
Christ knows where we are weak better than we do, and therefore where
|
||
|
|
to come in with grace sufficient; that he knows how far a temptation
|
||
|
|
will prevail, and therefore when to say, <I>Hitherto shall it come, and
|
||
|
|
no further.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. Concerning the condition of all the disciples.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He appeals to them concerning what had been,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He had owned that they had been faithful servants to him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now he expects, at parting, that they should acknowledge that he had
|
||
|
|
been a kind and careful Master to them ever since they left all to
|
||
|
|
follow him: <I>When I sent you without purse, lacked you any thing?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He owns that he had sent them out in a very poor and bare
|
||
|
|
condition, barefoot, and with no money in their purses, because they
|
||
|
|
were not to go far, nor be out long; and he would thus teach them to
|
||
|
|
depend upon the providence of God, and, under that, upon the kindness
|
||
|
|
of their friends. If God thus send us out into the world, let us
|
||
|
|
remember that better than we have thus begun low.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Yet ye will have them own that, notwithstanding this, they had
|
||
|
|
<I>lacked nothing;</I> they then lived as plentifully and comfortably
|
||
|
|
as ever; and they readily acknowledged it: "<I>Nothing, Lord;</I> I
|
||
|
|
have all, and abound." Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It is good for us often to review the providences of God that have
|
||
|
|
been concerning us all our days, and to observe how we have got through
|
||
|
|
the straits and difficulties we have met with.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Christ is a good Master, and his service a good service; for
|
||
|
|
though his servants may sometimes be brought low, yet he will help
|
||
|
|
them; and though he <I>try</I> them, yet will he not leave them.
|
||
|
|
<I>Jehovah-jireh.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] We must reckon ourselves well done by, and must not complain, but
|
||
|
|
be thankful, if we have had the necessary supports of life, though we
|
||
|
|
have had neither dainties nor superfluities, though we have lived from
|
||
|
|
hand to mouth, and lived upon the kindness of our friends. The
|
||
|
|
disciples lived upon contribution, and yet did not complain that their
|
||
|
|
maintenance was precarious, but owned, to their Master's honour, that
|
||
|
|
it was sufficient; they had wanted nothing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He gives them notice of a very great change of their circumstances
|
||
|
|
now approaching. For,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He that was their Master was now entering upon his sufferings,
|
||
|
|
which he had often foretold
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Now <I>that which is written must be fulfilled in me,</I> and this
|
||
|
|
among the rest, <I>He was numbered among the transgressors--</I> he
|
||
|
|
must suffer and die as a malefactor, and in company with some of the
|
||
|
|
vilest of malefactors. This is that which is <I>yet to be
|
||
|
|
accomplished,</I> after all the rest, and then <I>the things concerning
|
||
|
|
me,</I> the things written concerning me, will have an end; then I
|
||
|
|
shall say, <I>It is finished.</I>" Note, It may be the comfort of
|
||
|
|
suffering Christians, as it was of a suffering Christ, that their
|
||
|
|
sufferings were foretold, and <I>determined</I> in the counsels of
|
||
|
|
heaven, and will shortly <I>determine</I> in the joys of heaven. They
|
||
|
|
were <I>written</I> concerning them, and they <I>will have an end,</I>
|
||
|
|
and will end well, everlastingly well.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) They must therefore expect troubles, and must not think now to
|
||
|
|
have such an easy and comfortable life as they had had; no, the scene
|
||
|
|
will alter. They must now in some degree suffer <I>with</I> their
|
||
|
|
Master; and, when he is gone, they must expect to suffer <I>like</I>
|
||
|
|
him. The servant is not better than his Lord.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] They must not now expect that their friends would be so kind and
|
||
|
|
generous to them as they had been; and therefore, <I>He that has a
|
||
|
|
purse, let him take it,</I> for he may have occasion for it, and for
|
||
|
|
all the good husbandry he can use.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce upon
|
||
|
|
them than they had been, and they would need magazines as well as
|
||
|
|
stores: <I>He that has no sword</I> wherewith to defend himself against
|
||
|
|
robbers and assassins
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:26">2 Cor. xi. 26</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
will find a great want of it, and will be ready to wish, some time or
|
||
|
|
other, that he had sold his garment and bought one. This is intended
|
||
|
|
only to show that the times would be very perilous, so that no man
|
||
|
|
would think himself safe if he had not a sword by his side. But the
|
||
|
|
<I>sword of the Spirit</I> is the sword which the disciples of Christ
|
||
|
|
must furnish themselves with. <I>Christ having suffered for us,</I> we
|
||
|
|
must <I>arm ourselves</I> with the same mind
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:1">1 Peter iv. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
arm ourselves with an expectation of trouble, that it may not be a
|
||
|
|
surprise to us, and with a holy resignation to the will of God in it,
|
||
|
|
that there may be no opposition in us to it: and then we are better
|
||
|
|
prepared than if we had sold a coat to buy a sword. The disciples
|
||
|
|
hereupon enquire what strength they had, and find they had among them
|
||
|
|
<I>two swords</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
of which one was Peter's. The Galileans generally travelled with
|
||
|
|
swords. Christ wore none himself, but he was not against his disciples'
|
||
|
|
wearing them. But he intimates how little he would have them depend
|
||
|
|
upon this when he saith, <I>It is enough,</I> which some think is
|
||
|
|
spoken ironically: "Two swords among twelve men! you are bravely armed
|
||
|
|
indeed when our enemies are now coming out against us in great
|
||
|
|
multitudes, and every one with a sword!" Yet two swords are sufficient
|
||
|
|
for those who need none, having God himself to be <I>the shield of
|
||
|
|
their help and the sword of their excellency,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:29">Deut. xxxiii. 29</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_39"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_40"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_41"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_42"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_43"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_44"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_45"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_46"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Agony in the Garden.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of
|
||
|
|
Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
|
||
|
|
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that
|
||
|
|
ye enter not into temptation.
|
||
|
|
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and
|
||
|
|
kneeled down, and prayed,
|
||
|
|
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
|
||
|
|
nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
|
||
|
|
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
|
||
|
|
strengthening him.
|
||
|
|
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his
|
||
|
|
sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the
|
||
|
|
ground.
|
||
|
|
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his
|
||
|
|
disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
|
||
|
|
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye
|
||
|
|
enter into temptation.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here the awful story of Christ's <I>agony in the garden,</I>
|
||
|
|
just before he was betrayed, which was largely related by the other
|
||
|
|
evangelists. In it Christ <I>accommodated himself</I> to that part of
|
||
|
|
his undertaking which he was now entering upon--the making of <I>his
|
||
|
|
soul an offering for sin.</I> He afflicted his own soul with grief for
|
||
|
|
the sin he was to satisfy for, and an apprehension of the wrath of God
|
||
|
|
to which man had by sin made himself obnoxious, which he was pleased as
|
||
|
|
a sacrifice to admit the impressions of, the consuming of a sacrifice
|
||
|
|
with fire from heaven being the surest token of its acceptance. In it
|
||
|
|
Christ entered the lists with the powers of darkness, gave them all the
|
||
|
|
advantages they could desire, and yet conquered them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. What we have in this passage which we had before is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That when Christ went out, though it was in the night, and a long
|
||
|
|
walk, <I>his disciples</I> (eleven of them, for Judas had given them
|
||
|
|
the slip) <I>followed him.</I> Having continued with him hitherto in
|
||
|
|
his temptations, they would not leave him now.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That he went to the place <I>where he was wont</I> to be private,
|
||
|
|
which intimates that Christ accustomed himself to retirement, was often
|
||
|
|
alone, to teach us to be so, for freedom of converse with God and our
|
||
|
|
own hearts. Though Christ had no conveniency for retirement but a
|
||
|
|
garden, yet he retired. This should particularly be our practice after
|
||
|
|
we have been at the Lord's table; we have then work to do which
|
||
|
|
requires us to be private.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. That he exhorted his disciples to <I>pray</I> that, though the
|
||
|
|
approaching trial could not be avoided, yet they might not in it
|
||
|
|
<I>enter into temptation</I> to sin; that, when they were in the
|
||
|
|
greatest fright and danger, yet they might not have any inclination to
|
||
|
|
desert Christ, nor take a step towards it: "Pray that you may be
|
||
|
|
<I>kept from sin.</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. That he withdrew from them, and prayed himself; they had their
|
||
|
|
errands at the throne of grace, and he had his, and therefore it was
|
||
|
|
fit that they should pray separately, as sometimes, when they had joint
|
||
|
|
errands, they prayed together. He withdrew about a <I>stone's cast</I>
|
||
|
|
further into the garden, which some reckon about fifty of sixty paces,
|
||
|
|
and there he <I>kneeled down</I> (so it is here) upon the bare ground;
|
||
|
|
but the other evangelists say that afterwards he <I>fell on his
|
||
|
|
face,</I> and there <I>prayed</I> that, if it were the will of God,
|
||
|
|
this cup of suffering, this bitter cup, might be <I>removed from
|
||
|
|
him.</I> This was the language of that innocent dread of suffering
|
||
|
|
which, being really and truly man, he could not but have in his nature.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. That he, knowing it to be his Father's will that he should suffer
|
||
|
|
and die, and that, as the matter was now settled, it was necessary for
|
||
|
|
our redemption and salvation, presently withdrew that petition, did not
|
||
|
|
insist upon it, but resigned himself to his heavenly Father's will:
|
||
|
|
"<I>Nevertheless not my will be done,</I> not the will of my human
|
||
|
|
nature, but the will of God as it is written concerning me in the
|
||
|
|
volume of the book, <I>which I delight to do,</I> let that be done,"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:7,8">Ps. xl. 7, 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. That his disciples were <I>asleep</I> when he was at prayer, and
|
||
|
|
when they should have been themselves praying,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When he <I>rose from prayer,</I> he <I>found them sleeping,</I>
|
||
|
|
unconcerned in his sorrows; but see what a favourable construction is
|
||
|
|
here put upon it, which we had not in the other evangelists--they were
|
||
|
|
<I>sleeping for sorrow.</I> The great sorrow they were in upon the
|
||
|
|
mournful farewells their Master had been this evening giving them had
|
||
|
|
exhausted their spirits, and made them very dull and heavy, which (it
|
||
|
|
being now late) disposed them to sleep. This teaches us to make the
|
||
|
|
best of our brethren's infirmities, and, if there be one cause better
|
||
|
|
than another, charitably impute them to that.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7. That when he awoke them, then he exhorted them to pray
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Why sleep ye?</I> Why do you allow yourselves to sleep? <I>Rise
|
||
|
|
and pray. Shake off</I> your drowsiness, that you may be <I>fit to
|
||
|
|
pray,</I> and <I>pray for grace,</I> that you may be able to <I>shake
|
||
|
|
off</I> your drowsiness." This was like the ship-master's call to Jonah
|
||
|
|
in a storm
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jon+1:6">Jon. i. 6</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Arise, call upon thy God.</I> When we find ourselves either by our
|
||
|
|
outward circumstances or our inward dispositions entering into
|
||
|
|
temptation, it concerns us to <I>rise and pray,</I> Lord, help me in
|
||
|
|
this <I>time of need.</I> But,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. There are three things in this passage which we had not in the
|
||
|
|
other evangelists:--</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That, when Christ was in his agony, <I>there appeared</I> to him
|
||
|
|
<I>an angel from heaven, strengthening him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It was an instance of the deep humiliation of our Lord Jesus that
|
||
|
|
he <I>needed</I> the assistance of an angel, and would <I>admit</I> it.
|
||
|
|
The influence of the divine nature withdrew for the present, and then,
|
||
|
|
as to his human nature, he was for a little while <I>lower than the
|
||
|
|
angels,</I> and was capable of receiving help from them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) When he was not delivered from his sufferings, yet he was
|
||
|
|
<I>strengthened</I> and supported under them, and that was
|
||
|
|
<I>equivalent.</I> If God proportion the shoulders to the burden, we
|
||
|
|
shall have no reason to complain, whatever he is pleased to lay upon
|
||
|
|
us. David owns this a sufficient <I>answer to his prayer,</I> in the
|
||
|
|
day of trouble, that God <I>strengthened him with strength in his
|
||
|
|
soul,</I> and so does the son of David,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:3">Ps. cxxxviii. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The angels ministered to the Lord Jesus in his sufferings. He
|
||
|
|
could have had legions of them to rescue him; nay, this one could have
|
||
|
|
done it, could have chased and conquered the whole band of men that
|
||
|
|
came to take him; but he made use of his ministration only to
|
||
|
|
<I>strengthen him;</I> and the very visit which this angel made him now
|
||
|
|
in his grief, when his enemies were awake and his friends asleep, was
|
||
|
|
such a seasonable token of the divine favour as would be a very great
|
||
|
|
strengthening to him. Yet this was not all: he probably <I>said
|
||
|
|
something</I> to him to strengthen him; put him in mind that his
|
||
|
|
sufferings were in order to his Father's glory, to his own glory, and
|
||
|
|
to the salvation of those that were given him, represented to him the
|
||
|
|
joy set before him, the seed he should see; with these and the like
|
||
|
|
suggestions he encouraged him to go on cheerfully; and what is
|
||
|
|
comforting is strengthening. Perhaps he <I>did something</I> to
|
||
|
|
strengthen him, wiped away his sweat and tears, perhaps ministered some
|
||
|
|
cordial to him, as after his temptation, or, it may be, took him by the
|
||
|
|
arm, and helped him off the ground, or bore him up when he was ready to
|
||
|
|
faint away; and in these services of the angel the Holy Spirit was
|
||
|
|
<B><I>enischyon auton</I></B>--<I>putting strength into him;</I> for so
|
||
|
|
the word signifies. <I>It pleased the Lord to bruise him</I> indeed;
|
||
|
|
yet <I>did he plead against him with his great power?</I> No, but he
|
||
|
|
<I>put strength in him</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+23:6">Job xxiii. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as he had promised,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:21,Isa+49:8,50:7">Ps. lxxxix. 21;
|
||
|
|
Isa. xlix. 8; l. 7</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That, <I>being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As his sorrow and trouble grew upon him, he grew more importunate in
|
||
|
|
prayer; not that there was before any coldness or indifferency in his
|
||
|
|
prayers, but there was now a greater vehemency in them, which was
|
||
|
|
expressed in his voice and gesture. Note, Prayer, though never out of
|
||
|
|
season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony; and
|
||
|
|
the stronger our agonies are the more lively and frequent our prayers
|
||
|
|
should be. Now it was that Christ <I>offered up prayers and
|
||
|
|
supplications with strong crying and tears, and was heard in that he
|
||
|
|
feared</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:7">Heb. v. 7</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and in his fear <I>wrestled,</I> as Jacob with the angel.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. That, in this agony, <I>his sweat was as it were great drops of
|
||
|
|
blood falling down to the ground.</I> Sweat came in with sin, and was a
|
||
|
|
branch of the curse,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:19">Gen. iii. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And therefore, when Christ was made sin and a curse for us, he
|
||
|
|
underwent a grievous sweat, that <I>in the sweat of his face</I> we
|
||
|
|
might eat bread, and that he might sanctify and sweeten all our trials
|
||
|
|
to us. There is some dispute among the critics whether this
|
||
|
|
<I>sweat</I> is only <I>compared to</I> drops of <I>blood,</I> being
|
||
|
|
much <I>thicker</I> than drops of sweat commonly are, the pores of the
|
||
|
|
body being more than ordinarily opened, or whether <I>real</I> blood
|
||
|
|
out of the capillary veins mingled with it, so that it was in colour
|
||
|
|
like blood, and might truly be called a <I>bloody sweat;</I> the matter
|
||
|
|
is not great. Some reckon this one of the times when Christ shed his
|
||
|
|
blood for us, <I>for without the shedding of blood there is no
|
||
|
|
remission.</I> Every pore was as it were a bleeding wound, and his
|
||
|
|
blood stained all his raiment. This showed the <I>travail of his
|
||
|
|
soul.</I> He was now abroad in the open air, in a cool season, upon the
|
||
|
|
cold ground, far in the night, which, one would think, had been enough
|
||
|
|
to strike in a sweat; yet now he breaks out into a sweat, which
|
||
|
|
bespeaks the extremity of the agony he was in.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_47"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_48"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_49"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_50"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_51"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_52"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_53"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Treachery of Judas.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was
|
||
|
|
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near
|
||
|
|
unto Jesus to kiss him.
|
||
|
|
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of
|
||
|
|
man with a kiss?
|
||
|
|
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they
|
||
|
|
said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
|
||
|
|
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and
|
||
|
|
cut off his right ear.
|
||
|
|
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he
|
||
|
|
touched his ear, and healed him.
|
||
|
|
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the
|
||
|
|
temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out,
|
||
|
|
as against a thief, with swords and staves?
|
||
|
|
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth
|
||
|
|
no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of
|
||
|
|
darkness.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Satan, finding himself baffled in his attempts to terrify our Lord
|
||
|
|
Jesus, and so to put him out of the possession of his own soul, betakes
|
||
|
|
himself (according to his usual method) to force and arms, and brings a
|
||
|
|
party into the field to seize him, and Satan was <I>in them.</I> Here
|
||
|
|
is,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The marking of him by Judas. Here a numerous party appears, and
|
||
|
|
Judas at the head of them, for he was <I>guide to them that took
|
||
|
|
Jesus;</I> they knew not where to <I>find him,</I> but he brought them
|
||
|
|
to the place: when they were there, they knew not which was he, but
|
||
|
|
Judas told them that whomsoever he should kiss, that same was he; so he
|
||
|
|
<I>drew near to him to kiss him,</I> according to the wonted freedom
|
||
|
|
and familiarity to which our Lord Jesus admitted his disciples. Luke
|
||
|
|
takes notice of the question Christ asked him, which we have not in the
|
||
|
|
other evangelists: <I>Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a
|
||
|
|
kiss?</I> What! Is this the signal?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Must the Son of man be <I>betrayed,</I> as if any thing could be
|
||
|
|
concealed from him, and a plot carried on against him unknown to him?
|
||
|
|
Must one of his own disciples betray him, as if he had been a hard
|
||
|
|
Master to them, or deserved ill at their hands? Must he be betrayed
|
||
|
|
with a kiss? Must the badge of friendship be the instrument of
|
||
|
|
treachery? Was ever a love-token so desecrated and abused? Note,
|
||
|
|
Nothing can be a greater affront or grief to the Lord Jesus than to be
|
||
|
|
betrayed, and betrayed with a kiss, by those that profess relation to
|
||
|
|
him and an affection for him. Those do so who, under pretence of zeal
|
||
|
|
for his honour, persecute his servants, who, under the cloak of a
|
||
|
|
seeming affection for the honour of free grace, give a blow to the root
|
||
|
|
of holiness and strictness of conversation. Many instances there are of
|
||
|
|
Christ's being betrayed with a kiss, by those who, under the form of
|
||
|
|
godliness, fight against the power of it. It were well if their own
|
||
|
|
consciences would put this question to them, which Christ here puts to
|
||
|
|
Judas, <I>Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?</I> And will he
|
||
|
|
not resent it? Will he not revenge it?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The effort which his disciples made for his protection
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>When they saw what would follow,</I> that those armed men were come
|
||
|
|
to seize him, they said, "<I>Lord, shall we smite with the sword?</I>
|
||
|
|
Thou didst allow us to <I>have</I> two swords, shall we now make use of
|
||
|
|
them? Never was there more occasion; and to what purpose should we have
|
||
|
|
them if we do not use them?" They asked the question as if they would
|
||
|
|
not have drawn the sword without commission from their Master, but they
|
||
|
|
were in too much <I>haste</I> and too much <I>heat</I> to stay for an
|
||
|
|
answer. But Peter, aiming at the head of one of the servants of the
|
||
|
|
<I>high priest,</I> missed his blow, and <I>cut off his right ear.</I>
|
||
|
|
As Christ, by throwing them to the ground that came to take him, showed
|
||
|
|
what he could have done, so Peter, by this exploit, showed what he
|
||
|
|
could have done too in so good a cause if he had had leave. The other
|
||
|
|
evangelists tell us what was the check Christ gave to Peter for it.
|
||
|
|
Luke here tells us,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How Christ excused the blow: <I>Suffer ye thus far,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Dr. Whitby thinks he said this to his enemies who came to take him, to
|
||
|
|
pacify them, that they might not be provoked by it to fall upon the
|
||
|
|
disciples, whom he had undertaken the preservation of: "<I>Pass by</I>
|
||
|
|
this injury and affront; it was without warrant from me, and there
|
||
|
|
shall not be another blow struck." Though Christ had power to have
|
||
|
|
struck them down, and struck them dead, yet he <I>speaks them fair,</I>
|
||
|
|
and, as it were, <I>begs their pardon</I> for an assault made upon them
|
||
|
|
by one of his followers, to teach us to give good words even to our
|
||
|
|
enemies.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How he cured the wound, which was more than amends sufficient for
|
||
|
|
the injury: <I>He touched his ear, and healed him;</I> fastened his ear
|
||
|
|
on again, that he might not so much as go away <I>stigmatized,</I>
|
||
|
|
though he well deserved it. Christ hereby gave them a proof,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Of his power. He that could <I>heal</I> could <I>destroy</I> if he
|
||
|
|
pleased, which should have obliged them in interest to submit to him.
|
||
|
|
Had they returned the blow upon Peter, he would immediately have healed
|
||
|
|
him; and what could not a small regiment do that had such a surgeon to
|
||
|
|
it, immediately to help the <I>sick</I> and <I>wounded?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Of his mercy and goodness. Christ here gave an illustrious example
|
||
|
|
to his own rule of <I>doing good to them that hate us,</I> as
|
||
|
|
afterwards he did of <I>praying for them that despitefully use us.</I>
|
||
|
|
Those who render good for evil do as Christ did. One would have thought
|
||
|
|
that this generous piece of kindness should have overcome them, that
|
||
|
|
such coals, heaped on their heads, should have <I>melted them,</I> that
|
||
|
|
they could not have bound him as a malefactor who had approved himself
|
||
|
|
such a benefactor; but their hearts were hardened.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Christ's expostulation with the officers of the detachment that
|
||
|
|
came to apprehend him, to show what an absurd thing it was for them to
|
||
|
|
make all this rout and noise,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:52,53"><I>v.</I> 52, 53</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Matthew relates it as said to <I>the multitude.</I> Luke tells us that
|
||
|
|
it was said to the <I>chief priests and captains of the temple</I> the
|
||
|
|
latter commanded the several orders of the priests, and therefore are
|
||
|
|
here put between the <I>chief priests</I> and <I>the elders,</I> so
|
||
|
|
that they were all ecclesiastics, retainers to the temple, who were
|
||
|
|
employed in this odious piece of service; and some of the first rank
|
||
|
|
too disparaged themselves so far as to be seen in it. Now see here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How Christ <I>reasons</I> with them concerning their proceedings.
|
||
|
|
What occasion was there for them to come out in the dead of the night,
|
||
|
|
and <I>with swords and staves?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They knew that he was one that would not <I>resist,</I> nor raise
|
||
|
|
the mob against them; he never had done any thing like this. Why then
|
||
|
|
<I>are ye come out as against a thief?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) They knew he was one that would not <I>abscond,</I> for he was
|
||
|
|
daily with them in the temple, in the midst of them, and never sought
|
||
|
|
to conceal himself, nor did they offer to lay hands on him. Before his
|
||
|
|
hour was come, it was folly for them to think to take him; and when his
|
||
|
|
hour was come it was folly for them to make all this ado to take
|
||
|
|
him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How he reconciles himself to their proceedings; and this we had not
|
||
|
|
before: "<I>But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.</I> How
|
||
|
|
hard soever it may seem that I should be thus exposed, I submit, for so
|
||
|
|
it is determined. This is the hour <I>allowed you</I> to have your will
|
||
|
|
against me. There is an hour <I>appointed me</I> to reckon for it. Now
|
||
|
|
the <I>power of darkness,</I> Satan, <I>the ruler of the darkness of
|
||
|
|
this world,</I> is permitted to do his worst, to bruise the heel of the
|
||
|
|
seed of the woman, and I resolve to acquiesce; let him do his worst.
|
||
|
|
<I>The Lord shall laugh at him, for he sees that his day,</I> his hour,
|
||
|
|
<I>is coming.</I>"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:13">Ps. xxxvii. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Let this quiet us under the prevalency of the church's enemies; let it
|
||
|
|
quiet us in a dying hour, that,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It is but an <I>hour</I> that is permitted for the triumph of our
|
||
|
|
adversary, a short time, a limited time.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is <I>their hour,</I> which is appointed them, and in which
|
||
|
|
they are permitted to try their strength, that omnipotence may be the
|
||
|
|
more glorified in their fall.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is <I>the power of darkness</I> that <I>rides master,</I> and
|
||
|
|
darkness must give way to light, and the power of darkness be made to
|
||
|
|
truckle to the prince of light. Christ was willing to wait for his
|
||
|
|
triumphs till his warfare was accomplished, and we must be so too.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_54"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_55"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_56"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_57"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_58"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_59"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_60"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_61"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_62"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Fall of Peter.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>54 Then took they him, and led <I>him,</I> and brought him into the
|
||
|
|
high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
|
||
|
|
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall,
|
||
|
|
and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
|
||
|
|
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and
|
||
|
|
earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
|
||
|
|
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
|
||
|
|
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art
|
||
|
|
also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
|
||
|
|
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently
|
||
|
|
affirmed, saying, Of a truth this <I>fellow</I> also was with him: for
|
||
|
|
he is a Galilæan.
|
||
|
|
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
|
||
|
|
immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
|
||
|
|
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter
|
||
|
|
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before
|
||
|
|
the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
|
||
|
|
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here the melancholy story of Peter's denying his Master, at the
|
||
|
|
time when he was arraigned before the high priest, and those that were
|
||
|
|
of the <I>cabal,</I> that were ready to receive the prey, and to
|
||
|
|
prepare the evidence for his arraignment, <I>as soon as it was day,</I>
|
||
|
|
before the <I>great</I> sanhedrim,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:66"><I>v.</I> 66</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But notice is not taken here, as was in the other evangelists, of
|
||
|
|
Christ's being now upon his examination before the high priest, only of
|
||
|
|
his being brought into <I>the high priest's house,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But the manner of expression is observable. They <I>took him, and led
|
||
|
|
him, and brought him,</I> which methinks is like that concerning Saul
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:12">1 Sam. xv. 12</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He is gone about, and passed on, and gone down;</I> and intimates
|
||
|
|
that, even when they had seized their prey, they were in confusion,
|
||
|
|
and, for fear of the people, or rather struck with inward terror upon
|
||
|
|
what they had seen and heard, they took him the furthest way about, or,
|
||
|
|
rather, knew not which way they hurried him, such a hurry were they in
|
||
|
|
in their own bosoms. Now observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Peter's falling.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It began in <I>sneaking.</I> He <I>followed Christ</I> when he was
|
||
|
|
had away prisoner; this was well, and showed a concern for his Master.
|
||
|
|
But he followed <I>afar off,</I> that he might be out of danger. He
|
||
|
|
thought to trim the matter, to <I>follow Christ,</I> and so to satisfy
|
||
|
|
his conscience, but to follow <I>afar off,</I> and so to save his
|
||
|
|
reputation, and sleep in a whole skin.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. It proceeded in keeping his distance still, and associating himself
|
||
|
|
with the high priest's servants, when he should have been at his
|
||
|
|
master's elbow. The <I>servants kindled a fire in the midst of the
|
||
|
|
hall</I> and <I>sat down together,</I> to talk over their
|
||
|
|
night-expedition. Probably Malchus was among them, and <I>Peter sat
|
||
|
|
down among them,</I> as if he had been one of them, at least would be
|
||
|
|
thought to be so. His fall itself was disclaiming all acquaintance with
|
||
|
|
Christ, and relation to him, disowning him because he was now in
|
||
|
|
distress and danger. He was charged by a sorry simple maid, that
|
||
|
|
belonged to the house, with being a retainer to this <I>Jesus,</I>
|
||
|
|
about whom there was now so much noise. She <I>looked wistfully</I>
|
||
|
|
upon him as he <I>at by the fire,</I> only because he was a stranger,
|
||
|
|
and one whom she had not seen before; and concluding that at this time
|
||
|
|
of night there were no neuters there, and knowing him not to be any of
|
||
|
|
the retinue of the high priest, she concludes him to be one of the
|
||
|
|
retinue of this Jesus, or perhaps she had been some time or other
|
||
|
|
looking about her in the temple, and had seen Jesus there and Peter
|
||
|
|
with him, officious about him, and remembered him; <I>and this man was
|
||
|
|
with him,</I> saith she. And Peter, as he had not the courage to
|
||
|
|
<I>own</I> the charge, so he had not the wit and presence of mind to
|
||
|
|
<I>turn it off,</I> as he might have done many ways, and therefore
|
||
|
|
flatly and plainly denies it: <I>Woman, I know him not.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. His fall was repeated a second time
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:58"><I>v.</I> 58</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>After a little while,</I> before he had time to recollect himself,
|
||
|
|
<I>another saw him,</I> and said, "<I>Even thou art one of them,</I> as
|
||
|
|
slyly as thou sittest here among the high priest's servants." <I>Not
|
||
|
|
I,</I> saith Peter; <I>Man, I am not.</I> And a <I>third</I> time,
|
||
|
|
<I>about the space of an hour after</I> (for, saith the tempter, "When
|
||
|
|
he is down, down with him; let us follow the blow, till we get him past
|
||
|
|
recovery"), <I>another</I> confidently affirms, <I>strenuously</I>
|
||
|
|
asserts it, "<I>Of a truth this fellow also was with him,</I> let him
|
||
|
|
deny it if he can, for you may all perceive <I>he is a Galilean.</I>"
|
||
|
|
But he that has once told a lie is strongly tempted to persist in it;
|
||
|
|
the <I>beginning of</I> that <I>sin is as the letting forth of
|
||
|
|
water.</I> Peter now not only denies that he is a disciple of Christ,
|
||
|
|
but that he knows any thing of him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Man, I know not what thou sayest;</I> I never heard of this
|
||
|
|
Jesus."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. <I>Peter's getting up again.</I> See how happily he recovered
|
||
|
|
himself, or, rather, the grace of God recovered him. See how it was
|
||
|
|
brought about:--</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The <I>cock crew</I> just as he was the third time denying that he
|
||
|
|
knew Christ, and this startled him and put him upon thinking. Note,
|
||
|
|
Small accidents may involve great consequences.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. <I>The Lord turned and looked upon him.</I> This circumstance we had
|
||
|
|
not in the other evangelists, but it is a very remarkable one. Christ
|
||
|
|
is here called <I>the Lord,</I> for there was much of divine knowledge,
|
||
|
|
power, and grace, appearing in this. Observe, Though Christ had now
|
||
|
|
his back upon Peter, and was upon his trial (when, one would think, he
|
||
|
|
had something else to mind), yet he knew all that Peter said. Note,
|
||
|
|
Christ takes more notice of what we say and do than we think he does.
|
||
|
|
When Peter disowned Christ, yet Christ did not disown him, though he
|
||
|
|
might justly have cast him off, and never looked upon him more, but
|
||
|
|
have denied him before his Father. It is well for us that Christ does
|
||
|
|
not deal with us as we deal with him. Christ <I>looked upon Peter,</I>
|
||
|
|
not doubting but that Peter would soon be aware of it; for he knew
|
||
|
|
that, though he had denied him with his lips, yet his eye would still
|
||
|
|
be towards him. Observe, Though Peter had now been guilty of a very
|
||
|
|
great offence, and which was very provoking, yet Christ would not
|
||
|
|
<I>call to him,</I> lest he should <I>shame</I> him or <I>expose</I>
|
||
|
|
him; he only gave him <I>a look</I> which none but Peter would
|
||
|
|
understand the meaning of, and it had a great deal in it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It was a <I>convincing</I> look. Peter said that he did not
|
||
|
|
<I>know Christ.</I> Christ <I>turned, and looked upon him,</I> as if he
|
||
|
|
should say, "Dost thou not know me, Peter? Look me in the face, and
|
||
|
|
tell me so."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It was a <I>chiding</I> look. We may suppose that he looked upon
|
||
|
|
him and <I>frowned,</I> or some way signified his displeasure. Let us
|
||
|
|
think with what an angry countenance Christ justly looks upon us when
|
||
|
|
we have sinned.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It was an <I>expostulating</I> upbraiding look: "What, Peter, art
|
||
|
|
thou he that disownest me now, when thou shouldest come and witness for
|
||
|
|
me? What thou a disciple? Thou that wast the most forward to confess me
|
||
|
|
to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never
|
||
|
|
disown me?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) It was a <I>compassionate</I> look; he looked upon him with
|
||
|
|
tenderness. "Poor Peter, how weak is thine heart! How art thou fallen
|
||
|
|
and undone if I do not help thee!"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) It was a <I>directing</I> look. Christ <I>guided him with his
|
||
|
|
eye,</I> gave him a wink to go out from that sorry company, to
|
||
|
|
<I>retire,</I> and bethink himself a little, and then he would soon see
|
||
|
|
what he had to do.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(6.) It was a <I>significant</I> look: it signified the conveying of
|
||
|
|
grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent; the crowing of the
|
||
|
|
cock would not have brought him to repentance without this look, nor
|
||
|
|
will the external means without special efficacious grace. Power went
|
||
|
|
along with this look, to change the heart of Peter, and to bring him to
|
||
|
|
himself, to his <I>right mind.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. <I>Peter remembered the words of the Lord.</I> Note, The <I>grace of
|
||
|
|
God</I> works in and by the <I>word of God,</I> brings that to mind,
|
||
|
|
and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul a happy
|
||
|
|
turn. <I>Tolle et lege--Take it up, and read.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Then <I>Peter went out, and wept bitterly.</I> One look from Christ
|
||
|
|
melted him into tears of godly sorrow for sin. The candle was newly put
|
||
|
|
out, and then a little thing lighted it again. Christ looked upon the
|
||
|
|
chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter, who
|
||
|
|
had the divine seed remaining in him to work upon. It was not the look
|
||
|
|
from Christ, but the grace of God with it, that recovered Peter, and
|
||
|
|
brought him to-rights.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_63"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_64"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_65"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_66"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_67"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_68"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_69"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_70"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_71"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec7"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Abused and Insulted.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote <I>him.</I>
|
||
|
|
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the
|
||
|
|
face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
|
||
|
|
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
|
||
|
|
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the
|
||
|
|
chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into
|
||
|
|
their council, saying,
|
||
|
|
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I
|
||
|
|
tell you, ye will not believe:
|
||
|
|
68 And if I also ask <I>you,</I> ye will not answer me, nor let <I>me</I>
|
||
|
|
go.
|
||
|
|
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the
|
||
|
|
power of God.
|
||
|
|
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he
|
||
|
|
said unto them, Ye say that I am.
|
||
|
|
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we
|
||
|
|
ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We are here told, as before in the other gospels,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. How our Lord Jesus was <I>abused</I> by the servants of the high
|
||
|
|
priest. <I>The abjects,</I> the rude and barbarous servants,
|
||
|
|
<I>gathered themselves together against him.</I> They that <I>held
|
||
|
|
Jesus,</I> that had him in custody till the court sat, they <I>mocked
|
||
|
|
him,</I> and <I>smote him</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:63"><I>v.</I> 63</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they would not allow him to <I>repose</I> himself one minute, though he
|
||
|
|
had had no sleep all night, nor to <I>compose</I> himself, though he
|
||
|
|
was hurried to his trial, and no time given him to prepare for it. They
|
||
|
|
made sport with him: this sorrowful night to him shall be a merry night
|
||
|
|
to them; and the blessed Jesus, like Samson, is made the fool in the
|
||
|
|
play. They <I>hood-winked</I> him, and then, according to the common
|
||
|
|
play that young people have among them, they <I>struck him on the
|
||
|
|
face,</I> and continued to do so till he named the person that smote
|
||
|
|
him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:64"><I>v.</I> 64</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
intending hereby an affront to his prophetical office, and that
|
||
|
|
knowledge of secret things which he was said to have. We are not told
|
||
|
|
that he said <I>any thing,</I> but <I>bore every thing;</I> hell was
|
||
|
|
let loose, and he suffered it to do its worst. A greater indignity
|
||
|
|
could not be done to the blessed Jesus, yet this was but one instance
|
||
|
|
of many; for <I>many other things blasphemously spoke they against
|
||
|
|
him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:65"><I>v.</I> 65</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They that condemned him for a blasphemer were themselves the vilest
|
||
|
|
blasphemers that ever were.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. How he was accused and condemned by the great sanhedrim, consisting
|
||
|
|
of the <I>elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes,</I>
|
||
|
|
who were all up betimes, and got together <I>as soon as it was day,</I>
|
||
|
|
about five of the clock in the morning, to prosecute this matter. They
|
||
|
|
were <I>working this evil upon their beds,</I> and, as soon as ever the
|
||
|
|
<I>morning</I> was <I>light, practised</I> it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1">Mic. ii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They would not have been up so early for any good work. It is but a
|
||
|
|
short account that we have here of his trial in the ecclesiastical
|
||
|
|
court.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They ask him, <I>Art thou the Christ?</I> He was generally believed
|
||
|
|
by his followers to be the Christ, but they could not prove it upon him
|
||
|
|
that he had ever said so <I>totidem verbis--in so many words,</I> and
|
||
|
|
therefore urge him to own it to them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:67"><I>v.</I> 67</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If they had asked him this question with a willingness to admit that he
|
||
|
|
was the Christ, and to receive him accordingly if he could give
|
||
|
|
sufficient proof of his being so, it had been <I>well,</I> and might
|
||
|
|
have been for ever <I>well with them;</I> but they asked it with a
|
||
|
|
resolution not to believe him, but a design to ensnare him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He justly complained of their unfair and unjust usage of him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:67,68"><I>v.</I> 67, 68</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They all, as Jews, professed to expect the Messiah, and to expect him
|
||
|
|
at <I>this time.</I> No other appeared, or had appeared, that pretended
|
||
|
|
to be the Messiah. He had no competitor, nor was he likely to have any.
|
||
|
|
He had given amazing proofs of a divine power going along with him,
|
||
|
|
which made his claims very well worthy of a free and impartial enquiry.
|
||
|
|
It had been but just for these leaders of the people to have taken him
|
||
|
|
into their council, and examined him there as a <I>candidate</I> for
|
||
|
|
the messiahship, not at the bar as a <I>criminal.</I> "But," saith he,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) "<I>If I tell you that I am the Christ,</I> and give you ever such
|
||
|
|
convincing proofs of it, you are resolved that <I>you will not
|
||
|
|
believe.</I> Why should the cause be brought on before you who have
|
||
|
|
already prejudged it, and are resolved, right or wrong, to run it down,
|
||
|
|
and to condemn it?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) "<I>If I ask you</I> what you have to object against the proofs I
|
||
|
|
produce, <I>you will not answer me.</I>" Here he refers to their
|
||
|
|
silence when he put a question to them, which would have led them to
|
||
|
|
own his authority,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+20:5-7"><I>ch.</I> xx. 5-7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They were neither fair judges, nor fair disputants; but, when they were
|
||
|
|
pinched with an argument, would rather be silent than own their
|
||
|
|
conviction: "<I>You will neither answer me nor let me go;</I> if I be
|
||
|
|
<I>not</I> the Christ, you ought to <I>answer</I> the arguments with
|
||
|
|
which I prove that I am; if I be, you ought to <I>let me go;</I> but
|
||
|
|
you will do neither."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He referred them to his second coming, for the full proof of his
|
||
|
|
being the Christ, to their confusion, since they would not now admit
|
||
|
|
the proof of it, to their conviction
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:69"><I>v.</I> 69</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Hereafter shall the Son of man sit,</I> and be seen to sit, <I>on
|
||
|
|
the right hand of the power of God,</I> and then you will not need to
|
||
|
|
ask whether he be the Christ or no."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Hence they inferred that he set up himself as the Son of God, and
|
||
|
|
asked him <I>whether he were so</I> or <I>no</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:70"><I>v.</I> 70</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Art thou then the Son of God?</I> He called himself the <I>Son of
|
||
|
|
man,</I> referring to Daniel's vision of the <I>Son of man</I> that
|
||
|
|
<I>came near before the Ancient of days,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:13,14">Dan. vii. 13, 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But they understood so much as to know that if he was <I>that Son</I>
|
||
|
|
of man, he was also <I>the Son of God.</I> And art thou so? By this it
|
||
|
|
appears to have been the faith of the Jewish church that the Messiah
|
||
|
|
should be both <I>Son of man</I> and <I>Son of God.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. He owns himself to be the Son of God: <I>Ye say that I am;</I> that
|
||
|
|
is, "I am, as ye say." Compare
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:62">Mark xiv. 62</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Jesus said, I am.</I> This confirms Christ's testimony concerning
|
||
|
|
himself, that he was the Son of God, that he stood to it, when he knew
|
||
|
|
he should suffer for standing to it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. Upon this they ground his condemnation
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:71"><I>v.</I> 71</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>What need we any further witness?</I> It was true, they needed not
|
||
|
|
any further witness to prove that he said he was <I>the Son of God,</I>
|
||
|
|
they had it from <I>his own mouth;</I> but did they not need proof that
|
||
|
|
he was not so, before they condemned him as a blasphemer for saying
|
||
|
|
that he was so? Had they no apprehension that it was possible he might
|
||
|
|
be so, and then what horrid guilt they should bring upon themselves in
|
||
|
|
putting him to death? No, <I>they know not, neither will they
|
||
|
|
understand.</I> They cannot think it possible that he should be the
|
||
|
|
Messiah, though ever so evidently clothed with divine power and grace,
|
||
|
|
if he appear not, as they expect, in worldly pomp and grandeur. Their
|
||
|
|
eyes being blinded with the admiration of that, they rush on in this
|
||
|
|
dangerous prosecution, as the horse into the battle.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42021.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC42023.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Luke_XXII.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
|
||
|
|
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<br>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
</BODY>
|
||
|
|
</HTML>
|