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2648 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [John XVIII].</TITLE>
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"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">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC43017.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC43019.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O H N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Hitherto this evangelist has recorded little of the history of Christ,
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only so far as was requisite to introduce his discourses; but now that
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the time drew nigh that Jesus must die he is very particular in
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relating the circumstances of his sufferings, and some which the others
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had omitted, especially his sayings. So far were his followers from
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being ashamed of his cross, or endeavouring to conceal it, that this
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was what, both by word and writing, they were most industrious to
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proclaim, and gloried in it. This chapter relates,
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I. How Christ was arrested in the garden and surrendered himself a
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prisoner,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:1-12">ver. 1-12</A>.
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II. How he was abused in the high priest's court, and how Peter, in the
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meantime, denied him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:13-27">ver. 13-27</A>.
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III. How he was prosecuted before Pilate, and examined by him, and put
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in election with Barabbas for the favour of the people, and lost it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:28-40">ver. 28-40</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Joh18_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh18_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ in the Garden; The Treachery of Judas; The Ear of Malachus Cut Off; Christ Yields Himself a Prisoner.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his
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disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the
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which he entered, and his disciples.
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2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus
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ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
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3 Judas then, having received a band <I>of men</I> and officers from
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the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and
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torches and weapons.
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4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon
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him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
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5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them,
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I am <I>he.</I> And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
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6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am <I>he,</I> they went
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backward, and fell to the ground.
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7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus
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of Nazareth.
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8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am <I>he:</I> if therefore
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ye seek me, let these go their way:
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9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them
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which thou gavest me have I lost none.
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10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high
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priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name
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was Malchus.
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11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the
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sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink
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it?
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12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took
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Jesus, and bound him,
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The hour was now come that <I>the captain of our salvation,</I> who was
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to be <I>made perfect by sufferings,</I> should engage the enemy. We
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have here his entrance upon the encounter. The day of recompence is in
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his heart, and <I>the year of his redeemed is come, and his own arm
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works the salvation,</I> for he has no second. <I>Let us turn aside
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now, and see this great sight.</I></P>
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<P>
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I. Our Lord Jesus, like a bold champion, takes the field first
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>):
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<I>When he had spoken these words,</I> preached the sermon, prayed his
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prayer, and so finished his testimony, he would lose no time, but
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<I>went forth</I> immediately out of the house, out of the city, by
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moon-light, for the passover was observed at the full moon, <I>with his
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disciples</I> (the eleven, for Judas was otherwise employed), and <I>he
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went over the brook Cedron,</I> which runs between Jerusalem and the
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mount of Olives, <I>where was a garden,</I> not his own, but some
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friend's, who allowed him the liberty of it. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. That our Lord Jesus entered upon his sufferings <I>when he had
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spoken these words,</I> as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:1">Matt. xxvi. 1</A>,
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<I>When he had finished all these sayings.</I> Here it is intimated,
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(1.) That our Lord Jesus took his work before him. The office of the
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priest was to teach, and pray, and offer sacrifice. Christ, after
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teaching and praying, applies himself to make atonement. Christ had
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said all he had to say as a prophet, and now he addresses himself to
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the discharge of his office as a priest, to <I>make his soul an
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offering for sin;</I> and, when he had gone through this, he entered
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upon his kingly office.
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(2.) That having by his sermon prepared his disciples for this hour of
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trial, and by his prayer prepared himself for it, he then courageously
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went out to meet it. When he had put on his armour, he entered the
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lists, and not till then. Let those that suffer according to the will
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of God, in a good cause, with a good conscience, and having a clear
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call to it, comfort themselves with this, that Christ will not engage
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those that are his in any conflict, but he will first do that for them
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which is necessary to prepare them for it; and if we receive Christ's
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instructions and comforts, and be interested in his intercession, we
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may, with an unshaken resolution, venture through the greatest
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hardships in the way of duty.</P>
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<P>
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2. That <I>he went forth with his disciples.</I> Judas knew what house
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he was in in the city, and he could have staid and met his sufferings
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there; but,
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(1.) He would do as he was wont to do, and not alter his method, either
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to meet the cross or to miss it, when his hour was come. It was his
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custom when he was at Jerusalem, after he had spent the day in public
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work, to retire at night <I>to the mount of Olives;</I> there his
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quarters were, in the skirts of the city, for they would not make room
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for him in the palaces, in the heart of the town. This being his
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custom, he could not be put out of his method by the foresight of his
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sufferings, but, as Daniel, did then just <I>as he did aforetime,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+6:10">Dan. vi. 10</A>.
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(2.) He was as unwilling that there should be <I>an uproar among the
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people</I> as his enemies were, for it was not his way <I>to strive or
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cry.</I> If he had been seized in the city, and a tumult raised
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thereby, mischief might have been done, and a great deal of blood shed,
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and therefore he withdrew. Note, When we find ourselves involved in
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trouble, we should be afraid of involving others with us. It is no
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disgrace to the followers of Christ to fall tamely. Those who aim at
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honour from men value themselves upon a resolution to sell their lives
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as dearly as they can; but those who know that their blood is precious
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to Christ, and that not a drop of it shall be shed but upon a valuable
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consideration, need not stand upon such terms.
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(3.) He would set us an example in the beginning of his passion, as he
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did at the end of it, of retirement from the world. <I>Let us go forth
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to him, without the camp, bearing his reproach,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:13">Heb. xiii. 13</A>.
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We must lay aside, and leave behind, the crowds, and cares, and
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comforts, of cities, even holy cities, if we would cheerfully take up
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our cross, and keep up our communion with God therein.</P>
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<P>
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3. That he went <I>over the brook Cedron.</I> He must go over this to
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go to <I>the mount of Olives,</I> but the notice taken of it intimates
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that there was something in it significant; and it points,
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(1.) At David's prophecy concerning the Messiah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:7">Ps. cx. 7</A>),
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that <I>he shall drink of the brook in the way;</I> the brook of
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suffering in the way to his glory and our salvation, signified by
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<I>the brook Cedron, the black brook,</I> so called either from the
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darkness of the valley it ran through or the colour of the water,
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tainted with the dirt of the city; such a brook Christ drank of, when
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it lay in the way of our redemption, and <I>therefore shall he lift up
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the head,</I> his own and ours.
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(2.) At David's pattern, as a type of the Messiah. In his flight from
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Absalom, particular notice is taken of his <I>passing over the brook
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Cedron, and going up by the ascent of mount Olivet, weeping,</I> and
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all that were with him in tears too,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+15:23,30">2 Sam. xv. 23, 30</A>.
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<I>The Son of David,</I> being driven out by the rebellious Jews, who
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would <I>not have him to reign over them</I> (and Judas, like
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Ahithophel, being in the plot against him), passed over the brook in
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meanness and humiliation, attended by a company of true mourners. The
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godly kings of Judah had burnt and destroyed the idols they found at
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<I>the brook Cedron;</I> Asa,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:16">2 Chron. xv. 16</A>;
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Hezekiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+30:14">2 Chron. xxx. 14</A>;
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Josiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+23:4,6">2 Kings xxiii. 4, 6</A>.
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Into that brook the abominable things were cast. Christ, <I>being now
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made sin for us,</I> that he might abolish it and take it away, began
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his passion by the same brook. Mount Olivet, where Christ began his
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sufferings, lay on the east side of Jerusalem; mount Calvary, where he
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finished them, on the west; for in them he had an eye to such as should
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<I>come from the east and the west.</I></P>
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<P>
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4. That he entered into a garden. This circumstance is taken notice of
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only by this evangelist, that Christ's sufferings began in a garden. In
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the garden of Eden sin began; there the curse was pronounced, there the
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Redeemer was promised, and therefore in a garden that promised seed
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entered the lists with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a
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garden.
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(1.) Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion thence to
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meditate on Christ's sufferings in a garden, to which we owe all the
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pleasure we have in our gardens, for by them the curse upon the ground
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for man's sake was removed.
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(2.) When we are in the midst of our possessions and enjoyments, we
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must keep up an expectation of troubles, for our gardens of delight are
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in a vale of tears.</P>
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<P>
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5. That he had his disciples with him,
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(1.) Because he used to take them with him when he retired for prayer.
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(2.) They must be witnesses of his sufferings, and his patience under
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them, that they might with the more assurance and affection preach them
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to the world
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:48">Luke xxiv. 48</A>),
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and be themselves prepared to suffer.
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(3.) He would take them into the danger to show them their weakness,
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notwithstanding the promises they had made of fidelity. Christ
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sometimes brings his people into difficulties, that he may magnify
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himself in their deliverance.</P>
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<P>
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6. That Judas the traitor <I>knew the place,</I> knew it to be the
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place of his usual retirement, and probably, by some word Christ had
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dropped, knew that he intended to be there that night, for want of a
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better closet. A solitary garden is a proper place for meditation and
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prayer, and after a passover is a proper time to retire for private
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devotion, that we may pray over the impressions made and the vows
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renewed, and clench the nail. Mention is made of Judas's knowing the
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place,
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(1.) To aggravate the sin of Judas, that he would betray his Master,
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notwithstanding the intimate acquaintance he had with him; nay, and
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that he would make use of his familiarity with Christ, as giving him an
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opportunity of betraying him; a generous mind would have scorned to do
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so base a thing. Thus has Christ's holy religion been <I>wounded in the
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house of its friends,</I> as it could not have been wounded any where
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else. Many an apostate could not have been so profane, if he had not
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been a professor; could not have ridiculed scriptures and ordinances,
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||
|
|
if he had not known them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) To magnify the love of Christ, that, though he knew where the
|
||
|
|
traitor would seek him, thither he went to be found of him, now that he
|
||
|
|
knew his <I>hour was come.</I> Thus he showed himself willing to suffer
|
||
|
|
and die for us. What he did was not by constraint, but by consent;
|
||
|
|
though as man he said, <I>Let this cup pass away,</I> as Mediator he
|
||
|
|
said, "<I>Lo, I come,</I> I come with a good will." It was late in the
|
||
|
|
night (we may suppose eight or nine o'clock) when Christ went out to
|
||
|
|
the garden; for it was not only his <I>meat and drink,</I> but his rest
|
||
|
|
and sleep, <I>to do the will of him that sent him.</I> When others were
|
||
|
|
going to bed, he was going to prayer, going to suffer.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. <I>The captain of our salvation</I> having taken the field, the
|
||
|
|
enemy presently comes upon the spot, and attacks him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Judas with his men comes thither, commissioned by the chief priests,
|
||
|
|
especially those among them that were Pharisees, who were the most
|
||
|
|
bitter enemies to Christ. This evangelist passes over Christ's agony,
|
||
|
|
because the other three had fully related it, and presently introduces
|
||
|
|
Judas and his company that came to seize him. Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The persons employed in this action--<I>a band of men and officers
|
||
|
|
from the chief priests, with Judas.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Here is a multitude engaged against Christ--<I>a band of men,</I>
|
||
|
|
<B><I>speira</I></B>--<I>cohors, a regiment,</I> a Roman band, which
|
||
|
|
some think was five hundred men, others a thousand. Christ's friends
|
||
|
|
were few, his enemies many. Let us therefore <I>not follow a multitude
|
||
|
|
to do evil,</I> nor fear a multitude designing evil to us, <I>if God be
|
||
|
|
for us.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Here is a mixed multitude; the band of men were Gentiles, Roman
|
||
|
|
soldiers, a detachment out of the guards that were posted in the tower
|
||
|
|
of Antonia, to be a curb upon the city; the <I>officers of the chief
|
||
|
|
priests,</I> <B><I>hyperetas</I></B>. Either their domestic servants,
|
||
|
|
or the officers of their courts, were Jews; these had an enmity to each
|
||
|
|
other, but were united against Christ, who came to <I>reconcile both to
|
||
|
|
God in one body.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is a commissioned multitude, not a popular tumult; no, they
|
||
|
|
have received orders <I>from the chief priests,</I> upon whose
|
||
|
|
suggestion to the governor that this Jesus was a dangerous man, it is
|
||
|
|
likely they had a warrant from him too to take him up,<I> for they
|
||
|
|
feared the people.</I> See what enemies Christ and his gospel have had,
|
||
|
|
and are likely to have, numerous and potent, and therefore formidable:
|
||
|
|
ecclesiastical and civil powers combined against them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:1,2">Ps. ii. 1, 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ said it would be so
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:18">Matt. x. 18</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and found it so.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) All under the direction of Judas. He <I>received</I> this <I>band
|
||
|
|
of men;</I> it is probable that he requested it, alleging that it was
|
||
|
|
necessary to send a good force, being as ambitious of the honour of
|
||
|
|
commanding in chief in this expedition as he was covetous of <I>the
|
||
|
|
wages of</I> this <I>unrighteousness.</I> He thought himself
|
||
|
|
wonderfully preferred from coming in the rear of the contemptible
|
||
|
|
twelve to be placed at the head of these formidable hundreds; he never
|
||
|
|
made such a figure before, and promised himself, perhaps, that this
|
||
|
|
should not be the last time, but he should be rewarded with a captain's
|
||
|
|
commission, or better, if he succeeded well in this enterprise.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The preparation they had made for an attack: They came <I>with
|
||
|
|
lanterns, and torches, and weapons.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) If Christ should abscond, though they had moonlight, they would
|
||
|
|
have occasion for their lights; but they might have spared these; the
|
||
|
|
second Adam was not driven, as the first was, to hide himself, either
|
||
|
|
for fear or shame, <I>among the trees of the garden.</I> It was folly
|
||
|
|
to light a candle to seek the Sun by.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) If he should resist, they would have occasion for their arms.
|
||
|
|
<I>The weapons of his warfare were spiritual,</I> and at these
|
||
|
|
<I>weapons</I> he had often beaten them, and <I>put them to
|
||
|
|
silence,</I> and therefore they have now recourse to other <I>weapons,
|
||
|
|
swords and staves.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. Our Lord Jesus gloriously repulsed the first onset of the enemy,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:4-6"><I>v.</I> 4-6</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How he received them, with all the mildness imaginable towards them,
|
||
|
|
and all the calmness imaginable in himself.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He met them with a very soft and mild question
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Knowing all things that should come upon him,</I> and therefore not
|
||
|
|
at all surprised with this alarm, with a wonderful intrepidity and
|
||
|
|
presence of mind, undisturbed and undaunted, he <I>went forth</I> to
|
||
|
|
meet them, and, as if he had been unconcerned, softly asked, "<I>Whom
|
||
|
|
seek you?</I> What is the matter? What means this bustle at this time
|
||
|
|
of night?" See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ's foresight of his sufferings; He <I>knew all those things
|
||
|
|
that should come upon him,</I> for he had bound himself to suffer them.
|
||
|
|
Unless we had strength, as Christ had, to bear the discovery, we should
|
||
|
|
not covet to know what shall come upon us; it would but anticipate our
|
||
|
|
pain; <I>sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof:</I> yet it will
|
||
|
|
do us good to expect sufferings in general, so that when they come we
|
||
|
|
may say, "It is but what we looked for, the cost we sat down and
|
||
|
|
counted upon."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Christ's forwardness to his sufferings; he did not run away from
|
||
|
|
them, but went out to meet them, and reached forth his hand to take the
|
||
|
|
bitter cup. When the people would have forced him to a crown, and
|
||
|
|
offered to make him a king in Galilee, but he withdrew, and hid himself
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+6:15"><I>ch.</I> vi. 15</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but, when they came to force him to a cross, he offered himself; for he
|
||
|
|
came to this world to suffer and went to the other world to reign. This
|
||
|
|
will not warrant us needlessly to expose ourselves to trouble, for we
|
||
|
|
know not when our hour is come; but we are called to suffering when we
|
||
|
|
have no way to avoid it but by sin; and, when it comes to this, let
|
||
|
|
<I>none of these things move</I> us, for they cannot hurt us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He met them with a very calm and mild answer when they told him
|
||
|
|
whom they were in quest of,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They said, <I>Jesus of Nazareth;</I> and he said, <I>I am he.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It should seem, <I>their eyes were held, that they could not know
|
||
|
|
him.</I> It is highly probable that many of the Roman band, at least
|
||
|
|
the officers of the temple, had often seen him, if only to satisfy
|
||
|
|
their curiosity; Judas, however, to be sure, knew him well enough, and
|
||
|
|
yet none of them could pretend to say, <I>Thou art the man</I> we seek.
|
||
|
|
Thus he showed them the folly of bringing lights to see for him, for he
|
||
|
|
could make them not to know him when they saw him; and he has herein
|
||
|
|
shown us how easily he can infatuate the counsels of his enemies, and
|
||
|
|
make them lose themselves, when they are seeking mischief.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] In their enquiries for him they called him <I>Jesus of
|
||
|
|
Nazareth,</I> which was the only title they knew him by, and probably
|
||
|
|
he was so called in their warrant. It was a name of reproach given him,
|
||
|
|
to darken the evidence of his being the Messiah. By this it appears
|
||
|
|
that they knew him not, whence he was; for, if they had known him,
|
||
|
|
surely they would not have persecuted him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] He fairly answers them: <I>I am he.</I> He did not improve the
|
||
|
|
advantage he had against them by their blindness, as Elisha did against
|
||
|
|
the Syrians, telling them, <I>This is not the way, neither is this the
|
||
|
|
city;</I> but improves it as an opportunity of showing his willingness
|
||
|
|
to suffer. Though they called him Jesus of Nazareth, he answered to the
|
||
|
|
name, for he despised the reproach; he might have said, <I>I am not
|
||
|
|
he,</I> for he was <I>Jesus of Bethlehem;</I> but he would by no means
|
||
|
|
allow equivocations. He has hereby taught us to own him, whatever it
|
||
|
|
cost us; not to be <I>ashamed of him or his words;</I> but even in
|
||
|
|
difficult times <I>to confess Christ crucified, and manfully to fight
|
||
|
|
under his banner. I am he,</I> <B><I>Ego eimi</I></B>--<I>I am he,</I>
|
||
|
|
is the glorious name of the blessed God
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:14">Exod. iii. 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and the honour of that name is justly challenged by the blessed Jesus.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] Particular notice is taken, in a parenthesis, <I>that Judas stood
|
||
|
|
with them.</I> He that used to stand with those that followed Christ
|
||
|
|
now stood with those that fought against him. This describes an
|
||
|
|
apostate; he is one that changes sides. He herds himself with those
|
||
|
|
with whom his heart always was, and with whom he shall have his lot in
|
||
|
|
the judgment-day. This is mentioned, <I>First,</I> To show the
|
||
|
|
impudence of Judas. One would wonder where he got the confidence with
|
||
|
|
which he now faced his Master, and <I>was not ashamed, neither could he
|
||
|
|
blush;</I> Satan in his heart gave him a whore's forehead.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> To show that Judas was particularly aimed at in the
|
||
|
|
power which went along with that word, <I>I am he,</I> to foil the
|
||
|
|
aggressors. It was an arrow levelled at the traitor's conscience, and
|
||
|
|
pierced him to the quick; for Christ's coming and his voice will be
|
||
|
|
more terrible to apostates and betrayers than to sinners of any other
|
||
|
|
class.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. See how he terrified them, and obliged them to retire
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They went backward, and,</I> like men thunder-struck, <I>fell to the
|
||
|
|
ground.</I> It should seem, they did not fall forward, as humbling
|
||
|
|
themselves before him, and yielding to him, but backward, as standing
|
||
|
|
it out to the utmost. Thus Christ was declared to be more than a man,
|
||
|
|
even when he was trampled upon as <I>a worm, and no man.</I> This word,
|
||
|
|
<I>I am he,</I> had revived his disciples, and raised them up
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+14:27">Matt. xiv. 27</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but the same word strikes his enemies down. Hereby he showed
|
||
|
|
plainly,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) What he could have done with them. When he struck them down, he
|
||
|
|
could have struck them dead; when he spoke them <I>to the ground,</I>
|
||
|
|
he could have spoken them to hell, and have sent them, like Korah's
|
||
|
|
company, the next way thither; but he would not do so,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Because the hour of his suffering was come, and he would not put
|
||
|
|
it by; he would only show that his life was not forced from him, but
|
||
|
|
<I>he laid it down of himself,</I> as he had said.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Because he would give an instance of his patience and forbearance
|
||
|
|
with the worst of men, and his compassionate love to his very enemies.
|
||
|
|
In striking them down, and no more, he gave them both a call to repent
|
||
|
|
and space to repent; but <I>their hearts were hardened,</I> and all was
|
||
|
|
in vain.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) What he will do at last with all his implacable enemies, <I>that
|
||
|
|
will not repent to give him glory; they shall flee, they shall fall,
|
||
|
|
before him.</I> Now the scripture was accomplished
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+21:12">Ps. xxi. 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou shalt make them turn their back,</I> and
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+20:8">Ps. xx. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And it will be accomplished more and more; <I>with the breath of his
|
||
|
|
mouth he will slay the wicked,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:8,Re+19:21">2 Thess. ii. 8; Rev. xix. 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Quid judicaturus faciet, qui judicandus hoc facit?</I>--<I>What will
|
||
|
|
he do when he shall come to judge, seeing he did this when he came to
|
||
|
|
be judged?</I>--Augustine.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. Having given his enemies a repulse, he gives his friends a
|
||
|
|
protection, and that by his word too,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:7-9"><I>v.</I> 7-9</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How he continued to expose himself to their rage,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They did not lie long where they fell, but, by divine permission, got
|
||
|
|
up again; it is only in the other world that God's judgments are
|
||
|
|
everlasting. When they were down, one would have thought Christ should
|
||
|
|
have made his escape; when they were up again, one would have thought
|
||
|
|
they should have let fall their pursuit; but still we find,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They are as eager as ever to seize him. It is in some confusion
|
||
|
|
and disorder that they recover themselves; they cannot imagine what
|
||
|
|
ailed them, that they could not keep their ground, but will impute it
|
||
|
|
to any thing rather than Christ's power. Note, There are hearts so very
|
||
|
|
hard in sin that nothing will work upon them to reduce and reclaim
|
||
|
|
them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He is as willing as ever to be seized. When they were fallen
|
||
|
|
before him, he did not insult over them, but seeing them at a loss,
|
||
|
|
asked them the same question, <I>Whom seek you?</I> And they gave him
|
||
|
|
the same answer, <I>Jesus of Nazareth.</I> In his repeating the
|
||
|
|
question, he seems to come yet closer to their consciences: "Do you not
|
||
|
|
know <I>whom you seek?</I> Are you not aware that you are in error, and
|
||
|
|
will you meddle with your match? Have you not had enough of it, but
|
||
|
|
will you try the other struggle? <I>Did ever any harden his heart
|
||
|
|
against God and prosper?</I>" In their repeating the same answer, they
|
||
|
|
showed an obstinacy in their wicked way; they still call him <I>Jesus
|
||
|
|
of Nazareth,</I> with as much disdain as ever, and Judas is as
|
||
|
|
unrelenting as any of them. <I>Let us therefore fear lest,</I> by a
|
||
|
|
few bold steps at first in a sinful way, <I>our hearts be
|
||
|
|
hardened.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How he contrived to secure his disciples from their rage. He
|
||
|
|
improved this advantage against them for the protection of his
|
||
|
|
followers. When he shows his courage with reference to himself, <I>I
|
||
|
|
have told you that I am he,</I> he shows his care for his disciples,
|
||
|
|
<I>Let these go their way.</I> He speaks this as a command to them,
|
||
|
|
rather than a contract with them; for they lay at his mercy, not he at
|
||
|
|
theirs. He charges them therefore as <I>one having authority: "Let
|
||
|
|
these go their way;</I> it is at your peril if you meddle with them"
|
||
|
|
This aggravated the sin of the disciples in forsaking him, and
|
||
|
|
particularly Peter's in denying him, that Christ had given them this
|
||
|
|
pass, or warrant of protection, and yet they had not faith and courage
|
||
|
|
enough to rely upon it, but betook themselves to such base and sorry
|
||
|
|
shifts for their security. When Christ said, <I>Let these go their
|
||
|
|
way,</I> he intended,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) To manifest his affectionate concern for his disciples. When he
|
||
|
|
exposed himself, he excused them, because they were not as yet fit to
|
||
|
|
suffer; their faith was weak, and their spirits were low, and it would
|
||
|
|
have been as much as their souls, and the lives of their souls, were
|
||
|
|
worth, to bring them into sufferings now. <I>New wine</I> must not be
|
||
|
|
<I>put into old bottles.</I> And, besides, they had other work to do;
|
||
|
|
they must go their way, for they are to go into all the world, to
|
||
|
|
preach the gospel. <I>Destroy them not, for a blessing is in them.</I>
|
||
|
|
Now herein,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ gives us a great encouragement to follow him; for, though
|
||
|
|
he has allotted us sufferings, yet he considers our frame, will wisely
|
||
|
|
time the cross, and proportion it to our strength, and will <I>deliver
|
||
|
|
the godly out of temptation,</I> either from it, or through it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He gives us a good example of love to our brethren and concern for
|
||
|
|
their welfare. We must not consult our own ease and safety only, but
|
||
|
|
others, as well as our own, and in some cases more than our own. There
|
||
|
|
is a generous and heroic love, which will enable us to <I>lay down our
|
||
|
|
lives for the brethren,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:16">1 John iii. 16</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He intended to give a specimen of his undertaking as Mediator.
|
||
|
|
When he offered himself to suffer and die, it was that we might escape.
|
||
|
|
He was our <B><I>antipsychos</I></B>--<I>a sufferer in our stead;</I>
|
||
|
|
when he said, <I>Lo, I come,</I> he said also, <I>Let these go their
|
||
|
|
way;</I> like the ram offered instead of Isaac.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Now herein he confirmed the word which he had spoken a little before
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:12"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Of those whom thou gavest me, I have lost none.</I> Christ, by
|
||
|
|
fulfilling that word in this particular, gave an assurance that it
|
||
|
|
should be accomplished in the full extent of it, not only for those
|
||
|
|
that were now with him, but for all that should believe on him through
|
||
|
|
their word. Though Christ's keeping them was meant especially of the
|
||
|
|
preservation of their souls from sin and apostasy, yet it is here
|
||
|
|
applied to the preservation of their natural lives, and very fitly, for
|
||
|
|
even the body was a part of Christ's charge and care; he is to <I>raise
|
||
|
|
it up at the last day,</I> and therefore to preserve it as well as
|
||
|
|
<I>the spirit and soul,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+5:23,2Ti+4:17,18">1 Thess. v. 23; 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ will preserve the natural life for the service to which it is
|
||
|
|
designed; it is given to him to be used for him, and he will not lose
|
||
|
|
the service of it, but will be magnified in it, <I>whether by life or
|
||
|
|
death;</I> it shall be held in life as long as any use is to be made of
|
||
|
|
it. Christ's witnesses shall not die till they have given in their
|
||
|
|
evidence. But this is not all; this preservation of the disciples was,
|
||
|
|
in the tendency of it, a spiritual preservation. They were now so weak
|
||
|
|
in faith and resolution that in all probability, if they had been
|
||
|
|
called out to suffer at this time, they would have shamed themselves
|
||
|
|
and their Master, and some of them, at least the weaker of them, would
|
||
|
|
have been lost; and therefore, that he might <I>lose none,</I> he would
|
||
|
|
not expose them. The safety and preservation of the saints are owing,
|
||
|
|
not only to the divine grace in proportioning the strength to the
|
||
|
|
trial, but to the divine providence in proportioning the trial to the
|
||
|
|
strength.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. Having provided for the safety of his disciples, he rebukes the
|
||
|
|
rashness of one of them, and represses the violence of his followers,
|
||
|
|
as he had repulsed the violence of his persecutors,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where we have,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Peter's rashness. He had a sword; it is not likely that he wore one
|
||
|
|
constantly as a gentleman, but they had two swords among them all
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:38">Luke xxii. 38</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and Peter, being entrusted with one, drew it; for now, if ever, he
|
||
|
|
thought it was his time to use it; and <I>he smote one of the high
|
||
|
|
priest's servants,</I> who was probably one of the forwardest, and
|
||
|
|
aiming, it is likely, to cleave him down the head, missed his blow, and
|
||
|
|
only <I>cut off his right ear. The servant's name,</I> for the greater
|
||
|
|
certainty of the narrative, is recorded; it <I>was Malchus,</I> or
|
||
|
|
<I>Malluch,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+10:4">Neh. x. 4</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) We must here acknowledge Peter's good-will; he had an honest zeal
|
||
|
|
for his Master, though now misguided. He had lately promised to venture
|
||
|
|
his life for him, and would now make his words good. Probably it
|
||
|
|
exasperated Peter to see Judas at the head of this gang; his baseness
|
||
|
|
excited Peter's boldness, and I wonder that when he did draw his sword
|
||
|
|
he did not aim at the traitor's head.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Yet we must acknowledge Peter's ill conduct; and, though his good
|
||
|
|
intention did excuse, yet it would not justify him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He had no warrant from his Master for what he did. Christ's
|
||
|
|
soldiers must wait the word of command, and not outrun it; before they
|
||
|
|
expose themselves to sufferings, they must see to it, not only that
|
||
|
|
their cause be good, but their call clear.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He transgressed the duty of his place, and resisted the powers
|
||
|
|
that were, which Christ had never countenanced, but forbidden
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:39">Matt. v. 39</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>that you resist not evil</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] He opposed his Master's sufferings, and, notwithstanding the
|
||
|
|
rebuke he had for it once, is ready to repeat, <I>Master, spare
|
||
|
|
thyself;</I> suffering be <I>far from thee;</I> though Christ had told
|
||
|
|
him that he must and would suffer, and that his hour was now come.
|
||
|
|
Thus, while he seemed to fight for Christ, he fought against him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] He broke the capitulation his Master had lately made with the
|
||
|
|
enemy. When he said, <I>Let these go their way,</I> he not only
|
||
|
|
indented for their safety, but in effect passed his word for their good
|
||
|
|
behaviour, that they should go away peaceably; this Peter heard, and
|
||
|
|
yet would not be bound by it. As we may be guilty of a sinful cowardice
|
||
|
|
when we are called to appear, so we may be of a sinful forwardness when
|
||
|
|
we are called to retire.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] He foolishly exposed himself and his fellow disciples to the fury
|
||
|
|
of this enraged multitude. If he had cut off Malchus's head when he cut
|
||
|
|
off his ear, we may suppose the soldiers would have fallen upon all the
|
||
|
|
disciples, and have hewn them to pieces, and would have represented
|
||
|
|
Christ as not better than Barabbas. Thus many have been guilty of
|
||
|
|
self-destruction, in their zeal for self-preservation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[6.] Peter played the coward so soon after this (denying his Master)
|
||
|
|
that we have reason to think he would not have done this but that he
|
||
|
|
saw his Master cause them to fall on the ground, and then he could deal
|
||
|
|
with them; but, when he saw him surrender himself notwithstanding, his
|
||
|
|
courage failed him; whereas the true Christian hero will appear in the
|
||
|
|
cause of Christ, not only when it is prevailing, but when it seems to
|
||
|
|
be declining; will be on the right side, though it be not the rising
|
||
|
|
side.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) We must acknowledge God's over-ruling providence in directing the
|
||
|
|
stroke (so that it should do no more execution, but only cut off his
|
||
|
|
ear, which was rather marking him than maiming him), as also in giving
|
||
|
|
Christ an opportunity to manifest his power and goodness in healing the
|
||
|
|
hurt,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:51">Luke xxii. 51</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Thus what was in danger of turning to Christ's reproach proved an
|
||
|
|
occasion of that which redounded much to his honour, even among his
|
||
|
|
adversaries.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The rebuke his Master gave him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Put up thy sword into the sheath,</I> or scabbard; it is a gentle
|
||
|
|
reproof, because it was his zeal that carried him beyond the bounds of
|
||
|
|
discretion. Christ did not aggravate the matter, only bade him <I>do so
|
||
|
|
no more.</I> Many think their being in grief and distress will excuse
|
||
|
|
them if they be hot and hasty with those about them; but Christ has
|
||
|
|
here set us an example of meekness in sufferings. Peter must put up his
|
||
|
|
sword, for it was the <I>sword of the Spirit</I> that was to be
|
||
|
|
committed to him--<I>weapons of warfare not carnal,</I> yet
|
||
|
|
<I>mighty.</I> When Christ with a word felled the aggressors, he showed
|
||
|
|
Peter how he should be armed with a <I>word, quick and powerful, and
|
||
|
|
sharper than any two-edged sword,</I> and with that, not long after
|
||
|
|
this, he laid Ananias and Sapphira dead at his feet.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The reason for this rebuke: <I>The cup which my Father has given me,
|
||
|
|
shall I not drink it?</I> Matthew relates another reason which Christ
|
||
|
|
gave for this rebuke, but John preserves this, which he had omitted; in
|
||
|
|
which Christ gives us,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) A full proof of his own submission to his Father's will. Of all
|
||
|
|
that was amiss in what Peter did, he seems to resent nothing so much as
|
||
|
|
that he would have hindered his sufferings now that his <I>hour was
|
||
|
|
come:</I> "What, <I>Peter,</I> wilt thou step in between the cup and
|
||
|
|
the lip? <I>Get thee hence, Satan.</I>" If Christ be determined to
|
||
|
|
suffer and die, it is presumption for Peter in word or deed to oppose
|
||
|
|
it: <I>Shall I not drink it?</I> The manner of expression bespeaks a
|
||
|
|
settled resolution, and that he would not entertain a thought to the
|
||
|
|
contrary. He was willing to drink of this cup, though it was a bitter
|
||
|
|
cup, an infusion of the wormwood and the gall, the cup of trembling, a
|
||
|
|
bloody cup, the <I>dregs of the cup of the Lord's wrath,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+51:22">Isa. li. 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He drank it, that he might put into our hands the cup of salvation, the
|
||
|
|
cup of consolation, the cup of blessing; and <I>therefore</I> he is
|
||
|
|
willing to drink it, because <I>his Father put it into his hand.</I> If
|
||
|
|
his Father will have it so, it is for the best, and be it so.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) A fair pattern to us of submission to God's will in every thing
|
||
|
|
that concerns us. We must <I>pledge</I> Christ in the cup that he drank
|
||
|
|
of
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:23">Matt. xx. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and must argue ourselves into a compliance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] It is but a <I>cup;</I> a small matter comparatively, be it what
|
||
|
|
it will. It is not a sea, a red sea, a dead sea, for it is not hell; it
|
||
|
|
is light, and but for a moment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] It is given us by a Father, who has a Father's authority, and does
|
||
|
|
us no wrong; a Father's affection, and means us no hurt.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. Having entirely reconciled himself to the dispensation, he calmly
|
||
|
|
surrendered, and yielded himself a prisoner, not because he could not
|
||
|
|
have made his escape, but because he would not. One would have thought
|
||
|
|
the cure of Malchus's ear should have made them relent, but nothing
|
||
|
|
would win upon them. <I>Maledictus furor, quem nec majestast miraculi
|
||
|
|
nec pietas beneficii confringere potuit</I>--<I>Accursed rage, which
|
||
|
|
the grandeur of the miracle could not appease, nor the tenderness of
|
||
|
|
the favour conciliate.</I>--Anselm. Observe here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How they seized him: <I>They took Jesus.</I> Only some few of them
|
||
|
|
could lay hands on him, but it is charged upon them all, for they were
|
||
|
|
all aiding and abetting. In treason there are not accessaries; all are
|
||
|
|
principals. Now the scripture was fulfilled, <I>Bulls have compassed
|
||
|
|
me</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:12">Ps. xxii. 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>compassed me like bees,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+118:12">Ps. cxviii. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The breath of our nostrils is taken in their pit,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:20">Lam. iv. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They had so often been frustrated in their attempts to seize him that
|
||
|
|
now, having got him into their hands, we may suppose they flew upon him
|
||
|
|
with so much the more violence.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How they secured him: <I>They bound him.</I> This particular of his
|
||
|
|
sufferings is taken notice of only by this evangelist, that, as soon as
|
||
|
|
ever he was taken, he was bound, pinioned, handcuffed; tradition says,
|
||
|
|
"They bound him with such cruelty that the blood started out at his
|
||
|
|
fingers' ends; and, having bound his hands behind him, they clapped an
|
||
|
|
iron chain about his neck, and with that dragged him along." See
|
||
|
|
<I>Gerhard. Harm.</I> cap. 5.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) This shows the spite of his persecutors. They bound him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] That they might torment him, and put him in pain, as they bound
|
||
|
|
Samson to afflict him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] That they might disgrace him, and put him to shame; slaves were
|
||
|
|
bound, so was Christ, though free-born.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] That they might prevent his escape, Judas having told them to hold
|
||
|
|
him fast. See their folly, that they should think to fetter that power
|
||
|
|
which had but just now proved itself omnipotent.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] They bound him as one already condemned, for they were resolved to
|
||
|
|
prosecute him to the death, and that he should die as a fool dieth,
|
||
|
|
that is, as a malefactor, with his hands bound,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+3:33,34">2 Sam. iii. 33, 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ had bound the consciences of his persecutors with the power of
|
||
|
|
his word, which galled them; and, to be revenged on him, they laid
|
||
|
|
these bonds on him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_18"> </A>
|
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ before Annas and Caiaphas; The Fall of Peter; Christ Arraigned; Peter Again Denies Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to
|
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Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
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14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it
|
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was expedient that one man should die for the people.
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15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and <I>so did</I> another
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disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went
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in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
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16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that
|
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other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake
|
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|
unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
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17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not
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thou also <I>one</I> of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
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18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a
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|
fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and
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|
|
Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
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|
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of
|
||
|
|
his doctrine.
|
||
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|
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever
|
||
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|
taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews
|
||
|
|
always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
|
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|
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have
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|
said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
|
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|
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood
|
||
|
|
by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou
|
||
|
|
the high priest so?
|
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|
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of
|
||
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|
the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
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|
24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
|
||
|
|
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said
|
||
|
|
therefore unto him, Art not thou also <I>one</I> of his disciples? He
|
||
|
|
denied <I>it,</I> and said, I am not.
|
||
|
|
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being <I>his</I> kinsman
|
||
|
|
whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden
|
||
|
|
with him?
|
||
|
|
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
|
||
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|
</FONT></P>
|
||
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||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here an account of Christ's arraignment before the high priest,
|
||
|
|
and some circumstances that occurred therein which were omitted by the
|
||
|
|
other evangelists; and Peter's denying him, which the other evangelists
|
||
|
|
had given the story of entire by itself, is interwoven with the other
|
||
|
|
passages. The crime laid to his charge having relation to religion, the
|
||
|
|
judges of the spiritual court took it to fall directly under their
|
||
|
|
cognizance. Both Jews and Gentiles seized him, and so both Jews and
|
||
|
|
Gentiles tried and condemned him, for he died for the sins of both. Let
|
||
|
|
us go over the story in order.</P>
|
||
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|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Having seized him, they <I>led him away to Annas first,</I> before
|
||
|
|
they brought him to the court that was sat, expecting him, in the house
|
||
|
|
of Caiaphas,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They <I>led him away,</I> led him in triumph, as a trophy of their
|
||
|
|
victory; led him <I>as a lamb to the slaughter,</I> and they led him
|
||
|
|
through the sheep-gate spoken of
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+3:1">Neh. iii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
For through that they went from the mount of Olives into Jerusalem.
|
||
|
|
They hurried him away with violence, as if he had been the worst and
|
||
|
|
vilest of malefactors. We had been led away of our own impetuous lusts,
|
||
|
|
and led captive by Satan at his will, and, that we might be rescued,
|
||
|
|
Christ was led away, led captive by Satan's agents and instruments.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They led him away to their masters that sent them. It was now about
|
||
|
|
midnight, and one would think they should have put him in ward
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+24:12">Lev. xxiv. 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
should have led him to some prison, till it was a proper time to call a
|
||
|
|
court; but he is hurried away immediately, not to the justices of
|
||
|
|
peace, to be committed, but to the judges to be condemned; so extremely
|
||
|
|
violent was the prosecution, partly because they feared a rescue, which
|
||
|
|
they would thus not only leave no time for, but give a terror to;
|
||
|
|
partly because they greedily thirsted after Christ's blood, as <I>the
|
||
|
|
eagle that hasteth to the prey.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. They led him to Annas first. Probably his house lay in the way, and
|
||
|
|
was convenient for them to call at to refresh themselves, and, as some
|
||
|
|
think, to be paid for their service. I suppose Annas was old and
|
||
|
|
infirm, and could not be present in council with the rest at that time
|
||
|
|
of night, and yet earnestly desired to see the prey. To gratify him
|
||
|
|
therefore with the assurance of their success, that the old man might
|
||
|
|
sleep the better, and to receive his blessing for it, they produce
|
||
|
|
their prisoner before him. It is sad to see those that are old and
|
||
|
|
sickly, when they cannot commit sin as formerly, taking pleasure in
|
||
|
|
those that do. Dr. Lightfoot thinks Annas was not present, because he
|
||
|
|
had to attend early that morning in the temple, to examine the
|
||
|
|
sacrifices which were that day to be offered, whether they were without
|
||
|
|
blemish; if so, there was a significancy in it, that Christ, the great
|
||
|
|
sacrifice, was presented to him, and sent away bound, as approved and
|
||
|
|
ready for the altar.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. This Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas the high priest; this
|
||
|
|
kindred by marriage between them comes in as a reason either why
|
||
|
|
Caiaphas ordered that this piece of respect should be done to Annas, to
|
||
|
|
favour him with the first sight of the prisoner, or why Annas was
|
||
|
|
willing to countenance Caiaphas in a matter his heart was so much upon.
|
||
|
|
Note, Acquaintance and alliance with wicked people are a great
|
||
|
|
confirmation to many in their wicked ways.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Annas did not long detain them, being as willing as any of them to
|
||
|
|
have the prosecution pushed on, and therefore sent him bound to
|
||
|
|
Caiaphas, to his house, which was appointed for the rendezvous of the
|
||
|
|
sanhedrim upon this occasion, or to the usual place in the temple where
|
||
|
|
the high priest kept his court; this is mentioned,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But our translators intimate in the margin that it should come in here,
|
||
|
|
and, accordingly, read it there, <I>Annas had sent him.</I> Observe
|
||
|
|
here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The power of Caiaphas intimated
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>).
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He was <I>high priest that same year.</I> The high priest's commission
|
||
|
|
was during life; but there were now such frequent changes, by the
|
||
|
|
Simoniacal artifices of aspiring men with the government, that it was
|
||
|
|
become almost an annual office, a presage of its final period
|
||
|
|
approaching; while they were undermining one another. God was
|
||
|
|
overturning them all, that he might come whose right it was. Caiaphas
|
||
|
|
was high priest that same year when Messiah was to be cut off, which
|
||
|
|
intimates,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That when a bad thing was to be done by a high priest, according
|
||
|
|
to the foreknowledge of God, Providence so ordered it that a bad man
|
||
|
|
should be in the chair to do it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That, when God would make it to appear what corruption there was
|
||
|
|
in the heart of a bad man, he put him into a place of power, where he
|
||
|
|
had temptation and opportunity to exert it. It was the ruin of Caiaphas
|
||
|
|
that he was high priest that year, and so became a ringleader in the
|
||
|
|
putting of Christ to death. Many a man's advancement has lost him his
|
||
|
|
reputation, and he had not been dishonoured if he had not been
|
||
|
|
preferred.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The malice of Caiaphas, which is intimated
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
by the repeating of what he had said some time before, that, right or
|
||
|
|
wrong, guilty or innocent, <I>it was expedient that one man should die
|
||
|
|
for the people,</I> which refers to the story
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:50"><I>ch.</I> xi. 50</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This comes in here to show,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) What a bad man he was; this was that Caiaphas that governed
|
||
|
|
himself and the church by rules of policy, in defiance of the rules of
|
||
|
|
equity.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) What ill usage Christ was likely to meet with in his court, when
|
||
|
|
his case was adjudged before it was heard, and they were already
|
||
|
|
resolved what to do with him; <I>he must die;</I> so that his trial was
|
||
|
|
a jest. Thus the enemies of Christ's gospel are resolved, true or
|
||
|
|
false, to run it down.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It is a testimony to the innocency of our Lord Jesus, from the
|
||
|
|
mouth of one of his worst enemies, who owned that he fell a sacrifice
|
||
|
|
to the public good, and that it was not just he should die, but
|
||
|
|
<I>expedient</I> only.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The concurrence of Annas in the prosecution of Christ. He made
|
||
|
|
himself a partaker in guilt,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) With the captain and officers, that without law or mercy had bound
|
||
|
|
him; for he approved it by continuing him bound when he should have
|
||
|
|
loosed him, he not being convicted of any crime, nor having attempted
|
||
|
|
an escape. If we do not what we can to undo what others have ill done,
|
||
|
|
we are accessaries <I>ex post facto--after the fact.</I> It was more
|
||
|
|
excusable in the rude soldiers to bind him than in Annas, who should
|
||
|
|
have known better, to continue him bound.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) With the chief priest and council that condemned him, and
|
||
|
|
prosecuted him to death. This Annas was not present with them, yet thus
|
||
|
|
he wished them <I>good speed,</I> and became a <I>partaker of their
|
||
|
|
evil deeds.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. In the house of Caiaphas, Simon Peter began to deny his Master,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:15-18"><I>v.</I> 15-18</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It was with much ado that Peter got into the hall where the court
|
||
|
|
was sitting, an account of which we have
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:15,16"><I>v.</I> 15, 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Peter's kindness to Christ, which (though it proved no kindness)
|
||
|
|
appeared in two things:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] That he <I>followed Jesus</I> when he was <I>led away;</I> though
|
||
|
|
at first he fled with the rest, yet afterwards he took heart a little,
|
||
|
|
and followed at some distance, calling to mind the promises he had made
|
||
|
|
to adhere to him, whatever it should cost him. Those that had followed
|
||
|
|
Christ in the midst of his honours, and shared with him in those
|
||
|
|
honours, when the people cried Hosanna to him, ought to have followed
|
||
|
|
him now in the midst of his reproaches, and to have shared with him in
|
||
|
|
these. Those that truly love and value Christ will follow him all
|
||
|
|
weathers and all ways.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] When he could not get in where Jesus was in the midst of his
|
||
|
|
enemies, he <I>stood at the door without,</I> willing to be as near him
|
||
|
|
as he could, and waiting for an opportunity to get nearer. Thus when we
|
||
|
|
meet with opposition in following Christ we must show our good-will.
|
||
|
|
But yet this kindness of Peter's was no kindness, because he had not
|
||
|
|
strength and courage enough to persevere in it, and so, as it proved,
|
||
|
|
he did but run himself into a snare: and even his following Christ,
|
||
|
|
considering all things, was to be blamed, because Christ, who knew him
|
||
|
|
better than he knew himself, had expressly told him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:36"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 36</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Whither I go thou canst not follow me now,</I> and had told him
|
||
|
|
again and again that he would deny him; and he had lately had
|
||
|
|
experience of his own weakness in forsaking him. Note, We must take
|
||
|
|
heed of tempting God by running upon difficulties beyond our strength,
|
||
|
|
and venturing too far in a way of suffering. If our call be clear to
|
||
|
|
expose ourselves, we may hope that God will enable us to honour him;
|
||
|
|
but, if it be not, we may fear that God will leave us to shame
|
||
|
|
ourselves.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The other disciple's kindness to Peter, which yet, as it proved,
|
||
|
|
was no kindness neither. St. John several times in this gospel speaking
|
||
|
|
of himself as another disciple, many interpreters have been led by this
|
||
|
|
to fancy that this other disciple here was John; and many conjectures
|
||
|
|
they have how he should come to be known to the high-priest; <I>propter
|
||
|
|
generis nobilitatem--being of superior birth,</I> saith <I>Jerome,
|
||
|
|
Epitaph. Marcel.,</I> as if he were a better gentleman born than his
|
||
|
|
brother James, when they were both the sons of Zebedee the fisherman;
|
||
|
|
some will tell you that he had sold his estate to the high priest,
|
||
|
|
others that he supplied his family with fish, both which are very
|
||
|
|
improbable. But I see no reason to think that this other disciple was
|
||
|
|
John, or one of the twelve; other sheep Christ had, which were not of
|
||
|
|
the fold; and this might be, as the Syriac read it, <I>unus ex
|
||
|
|
discipulis aliis--one of those other disciples</I> that believe in
|
||
|
|
Christ, but resided at Jerusalem, and kept their places there; perhaps
|
||
|
|
Joseph of Arimathea, or Nicodemus, known to the high priest, but not
|
||
|
|
known to him to be disciples of Christ. Note, As there are many who
|
||
|
|
seem disciples and are not so, so there are many who are disciples and
|
||
|
|
seem not so. There are good people hid in courts, even in Nero's, as
|
||
|
|
well as hid in crowds. We must not conclude a man to be no friend to
|
||
|
|
Christ merely because he has acquaintance and conversation with those
|
||
|
|
that were his known enemies. Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] This other disciple, whoever he was, showed a respect to Peter, in
|
||
|
|
introducing him, not only to gratify his curiosity and affection, but
|
||
|
|
to give him an opportunity of being serviceable to his Master upon his
|
||
|
|
trial, if there were occasion. Those that have a real kindness for
|
||
|
|
Christ and his ways, though their temper may be reserved and their
|
||
|
|
circumstances may lead them to be cautious and retired, yet, if their
|
||
|
|
faith be sincere, they will discover, when they are called to it, which
|
||
|
|
way their inclination lies, by being ready to do a professed disciple a
|
||
|
|
good turn. Peter perhaps had formerly introduced this disciple into
|
||
|
|
conversation with Christ, and now he requites his kindness, and is not
|
||
|
|
ashamed to own him, though, it should seem, he had at this time but a
|
||
|
|
poor downcast appearance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] But this kindness proved no kindness, nay a great diskindness; by
|
||
|
|
letting him into the high priest's hall, he let him into temptation,
|
||
|
|
and the consequence was bad. Note, The courtesies of our friends often
|
||
|
|
prove a snare to us, through a misguided affection.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Peter, having got in, was immediately assaulted with the temptation,
|
||
|
|
and foiled by it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) How slight the attack was. It was but a silly maid, of so small
|
||
|
|
account that she was set to keep the door, that challenged him, and she
|
||
|
|
only asked him carelessly, <I>Art not thou one of this man's
|
||
|
|
disciples?</I> probably suspecting it by his sheepish look, and coming
|
||
|
|
in timorously. We should many a time better maintain a good cause if we
|
||
|
|
had a <I>good heart on it,</I> and could put a <I>good face on it.</I>
|
||
|
|
Peter would have had some reason to take the alarm if Malchus had set
|
||
|
|
upon him, and had said, "This is he that cut off my ear, and I will
|
||
|
|
have his head for it;" but when a maid only asked him, <I>Art not thou
|
||
|
|
one of them?</I> he might without danger have answered, <I>And what if
|
||
|
|
I am?</I> Suppose the servants had ridiculed him, and insulted over
|
||
|
|
him, upon it, those can bear but little for Christ that cannot <I>bear
|
||
|
|
this;</I> this is but <I>running with the footmen.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) How speedy the surrender was. Without taking time to recollect
|
||
|
|
himself, he suddenly answered, <I>I am not.</I> If he had had the
|
||
|
|
boldness of the lion, he would have said, "It is my honour that I am
|
||
|
|
so;" or, if he had had the wisdom of the serpent, he would have kept
|
||
|
|
silence at this time, for it was an evil time. But, all his care being
|
||
|
|
for his own safety, he thought he could not secure this but by a
|
||
|
|
peremptory denial: <I>I am not;</I> he not only denies it, but even
|
||
|
|
disdains it, and scorns her words.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Yet he goes further into the temptation: <I>And the servants and
|
||
|
|
officers stood there, and Peter with them</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] See how the servants made much of themselves; the night being
|
||
|
|
cold, they made a fire in the hall, not for their masters (they were so
|
||
|
|
eager in persecuting Christ that they forgot cold), but for themselves
|
||
|
|
to refresh themselves. They cared not what became of Christ; all their
|
||
|
|
care was to sit and warm themselves,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+6:6">Amos vi. 6</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] See how Peter herded himself with them, and made one among them.
|
||
|
|
<I>He sat and warmed himself. First,</I> It was a fault bad enough that
|
||
|
|
he did not attend his Master, and appear for him at the upper end of
|
||
|
|
the hall, where he was now under examination. He might have been a
|
||
|
|
witness for him, and have confronted the false witnesses that swore
|
||
|
|
against him, if his Master had called him; at least, he might have been
|
||
|
|
a witness to him, might have taken an exact notice of what passed, that
|
||
|
|
he might relate it to the other disciples, who could none of them get
|
||
|
|
in to hear the trial; he might have learned by his Master's example how
|
||
|
|
to carry himself when it should come to his turn to suffer thus; yet
|
||
|
|
neither his conscience nor his curiosity could bring him into the
|
||
|
|
court, but he sits by, as if, like Gallio, he cared for none of these
|
||
|
|
things. And yet at the same time we have reason to think his heart was
|
||
|
|
as full of grief and concern as it could hold, but he had not the
|
||
|
|
courage to own it. <I>Lord, lead us not into temptation. Secondly,</I>
|
||
|
|
It was much worse that he joined himself with those that were his
|
||
|
|
Master's enemies: <I>He stood with them, and warmed himself;</I> this
|
||
|
|
was a poor excuse for joining with them. A little thing will draw those
|
||
|
|
into bad company that will be drawn to it by the love of a good fire.
|
||
|
|
If Peter's zeal for his Master had not frozen, but had continued in the
|
||
|
|
heat it seemed to be of but a few hours before, he had not had occasion
|
||
|
|
to warm himself now. Peter was much to be blamed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Because he associated with these wicked men, and kept company with
|
||
|
|
them. Doubtless they were diverting themselves with this night's
|
||
|
|
expedition, scoffing at Christ, at what he had said, at what he had
|
||
|
|
done, and triumphing in their victory over him; and what sort of
|
||
|
|
entertainment would this give to Peter? If he said as they said, or by
|
||
|
|
silence gave consent, he involved himself in sin; if not, he exposed
|
||
|
|
himself to danger. If Peter had not so much courage as to appear
|
||
|
|
publicly for his Master, yet he might have had so much devotion as to
|
||
|
|
retire into a corner, and weep in secret for his Master's sufferings,
|
||
|
|
and his own sin in forsaking him; if he could not have done good, he
|
||
|
|
might have kept out of the way of doing hurt. It is better to abscond
|
||
|
|
than appear to no purpose, or bad purpose.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Because he desired to be thought <I>one of them,</I> that he might
|
||
|
|
not be suspected to be a disciple of Christ. Is this Peter? What a
|
||
|
|
contradiction is this to the prayer of every good man, <I>Gather not my
|
||
|
|
soul with sinners! Saul among the prophets</I> is not so absurd as
|
||
|
|
David among the Philistines. Those that deprecate the lot of the
|
||
|
|
scornful hereafter should dread the <I>seat of the scornful</I> now. It
|
||
|
|
is ill warming ourselves with those with whom we are in danger of
|
||
|
|
burning ourselves,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+141:4">Ps. cxli. 4</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. Peter, Christ's friend, having begun to deny him, the high priest,
|
||
|
|
his enemy, begins to accuse him, or rather urges him to accuse himself,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:19-21"><I>v.</I> 19-21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It should seem, the first attempt was to prove him a seducer, and a
|
||
|
|
teacher of false doctrine, which this evangelist relates; and, when
|
||
|
|
they failed in the proof of this, then they charged him with blasphemy,
|
||
|
|
which is related by the other evangelists, and therefore omitted here.
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The articles or heads upon which Christ was examined
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
concerning <I>his disciples and his doctrine.</I> Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The irregularity of the process; it was against all law and
|
||
|
|
equity. They seize him as a criminal, and now that he is their prisoner
|
||
|
|
they have nothing to <I>lay to his charge;</I> no libel, no prosecutor;
|
||
|
|
but the judge himself must be the prosecutor, and the prisoner himself
|
||
|
|
the witness, and, against all reason and justice, he is put on to be
|
||
|
|
his own accuser.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The intention. The <I>high priest then</I>
|
||
|
|
(<B><I>oun</I></B>--<I>therefore,</I> which seems to refer to
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
because he had resolved that Christ must be sacrificed to their private
|
||
|
|
malice under colour of the public good, examined him upon those
|
||
|
|
interrogatories which would touch his life. He examined him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Concerning his disciples, that he might charge him with sedition,
|
||
|
|
and represent him as dangerous to the Roman government, as well as to
|
||
|
|
the Jewish church. He asked him who were his disciples--what number
|
||
|
|
they were--of what country--what were their names and characters,
|
||
|
|
insinuating that his scholars were designed for soldiers, and would in
|
||
|
|
time become a formidable body. Some think his question concerning his
|
||
|
|
disciples was, "What is now become of them all? Where are they? Why do
|
||
|
|
they not appear?" upbraiding him with their cowardice in deserting him,
|
||
|
|
and thus adding to the affliction of it. There was something
|
||
|
|
significant in this, that Christ's calling and owning his disciples was
|
||
|
|
the first thing laid to his charge, for it was <I>for their sakes</I>
|
||
|
|
that he <I>sanctified himself</I> and suffered.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Concerning his doctrine, that they might charge him with heresy,
|
||
|
|
and bring him under the penalty of the law against false prophets,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:9,10">Deut. xiii. 9, 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was a matter properly cognizable in that court
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:12">Deut. xvii. 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
therefore a prophet could not perish but at Jerusalem, where that court
|
||
|
|
sat. They could not prove any false doctrine upon him; but they hoped
|
||
|
|
to extort something from him which they might distort to his prejudice,
|
||
|
|
and to make him an offender for some word or other,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+29:21">Isa. xxix. 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They said nothing to him concerning his miracles, by which he had done
|
||
|
|
so much good, and proved his doctrine beyond contradiction, because of
|
||
|
|
these they were sure they could take no hold. Thus the adversaries of
|
||
|
|
Christ while they are industriously quarrelling with his truth,
|
||
|
|
willfully shut their eyes against the evidences of it, and take no
|
||
|
|
notice of them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The appeal Christ made, in answer to these interrogatories.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) As to his disciples, he said nothing, because it was an
|
||
|
|
impertinent question; if his doctrine was sound and good, his having
|
||
|
|
disciples to whom to communicate it was no more than what was practised
|
||
|
|
and allowed by their own doctors. If Caiaphas, in asking him concerning
|
||
|
|
his disciples, designed to ensnare them, and bring them into trouble,
|
||
|
|
it was in kindness to them that Christ said nothing of them, for he had
|
||
|
|
said, <I>Let these go their way.</I> If he meant to upbraid him with
|
||
|
|
their cowardice, no wonder that he said nothing, for</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<CENTER>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD>Rudet hæc opprobria nobis,
|
||
|
|
<BR>Et dici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli--
|
||
|
|
<BR>
|
||
|
|
<BR>Shame attaches when charges are exhibited
|
||
|
|
<BR>that cannot be refuted:
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
</CENTER>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he would say nothing to condemn them, and could say nothing to justify
|
||
|
|
them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) As to his doctrine, he said nothing in particular, but in general
|
||
|
|
referred himself to those that heard him, being not only made manifest
|
||
|
|
to God, but made manifest also in their consciences,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He tacitly charges his judges with illegal proceedings. He does
|
||
|
|
not indeed speak evil of the rulers of the people, nor say now to these
|
||
|
|
princes, <I>You are wicked;</I> but he appeals to the settled rules of
|
||
|
|
their own court, whether they dealt fairly by him. <I>Do you indeed
|
||
|
|
judge righteously?</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+58:1">Ps. lviii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
So here, <I>Why ask you me?</I> Which implies two absurdities in
|
||
|
|
judgment: <I>First, "Why ask you me now</I> concerning my doctrine,
|
||
|
|
when you have already condemned it?" They had made an order of court
|
||
|
|
for excommunicating all that owned him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+9:22"><I>ch.</I> ix. 22</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
had issued out a proclamation for apprehending him; and now they come
|
||
|
|
to ask what his doctrine is! Thus was he condemned, as his doctrine and
|
||
|
|
cause commonly are, unheard. <I>Secondly, "Why ask you me?</I> Must I
|
||
|
|
accuse myself, when you have no evidence against me?"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He insists upon his fair and open dealing with them in the
|
||
|
|
publication of his doctrine, and justifies himself with this. The crime
|
||
|
|
which the sanhedrim by the law was to enquire after was the clandestine
|
||
|
|
spreading of dangerous doctrines, enticing secretly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:6">Deut. xiii. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
As to this, therefore, Christ clears himself very fully. <I>First,</I>
|
||
|
|
As to the manner of his preaching. He spoke openly,
|
||
|
|
<B><I>parresia</I></B>--<I>with freedom and plainness of speech;</I> he
|
||
|
|
did not deliver things ambiguously, as Apollo did his oracles. Those
|
||
|
|
that would undermine the truth, and spread corrupt notions, seek to
|
||
|
|
accomplish their purpose by sly insinuation, putting queries, starting
|
||
|
|
difficulties, and asserting nothing; but Christ explained himself
|
||
|
|
fully, with, <I>Verily, verily, I say unto you;</I> his reproofs were
|
||
|
|
free and bold, and his testimonies express against the corruptions of
|
||
|
|
the age. <I>Secondly,</I> As to the persons he preached to: <I>He spoke
|
||
|
|
to the world,</I> to all that had <I>ears to hear,</I> and were willing
|
||
|
|
to hear him, high or low, learned or unlearned, Jew or Gentile, friend
|
||
|
|
or foe. His doctrine feared not the censure of a mixed multitude; nor
|
||
|
|
did he grudge the knowledge of it to any (as the masters of some rare
|
||
|
|
invention commonly do), but freely communicated it, as the sun does his
|
||
|
|
beams. <I>Thirdly,</I> As to the places he preached in. When he was in
|
||
|
|
the country, he preached ordinarily in the synagogues--the places of
|
||
|
|
meeting for worship, and on the sabbath-day-the time of meeting; when
|
||
|
|
he came up to Jerusalem, he preached the same doctrine in the temple at
|
||
|
|
the time of the solemn feasts, when the Jews from all parts assembled
|
||
|
|
there; and though he often preached in private houses, and on
|
||
|
|
mountains, and by the sea-side, to show that his word and worship were
|
||
|
|
not to be confined to temples and synagogues, yet what he preached in
|
||
|
|
private was the very same with what he delivered publicly. Note, The
|
||
|
|
doctrine of Christ, purely and plainly preached, needs not be ashamed
|
||
|
|
to appear in the most numerous assembly, for it carries its own
|
||
|
|
strength and beauty along with it. What Christ's faithful ministers say
|
||
|
|
they would be willing all the world should hear. Wisdom cries in the
|
||
|
|
places of concourse,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:21,8:3,9:3">Prov. i. 21; viii. 3; ix. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> As to the doctrine itself. He <I>said nothing in
|
||
|
|
secret</I> contrary to what he said in public, but only by way of
|
||
|
|
repetition and explication: <I>In secret have I said nothing;</I> as if
|
||
|
|
he had been either suspicious of the truth of it, or conscious of any
|
||
|
|
ill design in it. He sought no corners, for he feared no colours, nor
|
||
|
|
said any thing that he needed to be ashamed of; what he did speak in
|
||
|
|
private to his disciples he ordered them to proclaim on the house-tops,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:27">Matt. x. 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
God saith of himself
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:19">Isa. xlv. 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I have not spoken in secret;</I> his commandment is not hidden,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+30:11">Deut. xxx. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And the righteousness of faith speaks in like manner,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:6">Rom. x. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Veritas nihil metuit nisi abscondi--truth fears nothing but
|
||
|
|
concealment.</I>--Tertullian.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] He appeals to those that had heard him, and desires that they
|
||
|
|
might be examined what doctrine he had preached, and whether it had
|
||
|
|
that dangerous tendency that was surmised: "<I>Ask those that heard me
|
||
|
|
what I said unto them;</I> some of them may be in court, or may be sent
|
||
|
|
for out of their beds." He means not his friends and followers, who
|
||
|
|
might be presumed to speak in his favour, but, Ask any impartial
|
||
|
|
hearer; ask your own officers. Some think he pointed to them, when he
|
||
|
|
said, <I>Behold, they know what I said,</I> referring to the report
|
||
|
|
which they had made of his preaching
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:46"><I>ch.</I> vii. 46</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Never man spoke like this man.</I> Nay, you may ask some upon the
|
||
|
|
bench; for it is probable that some of them had heard him, and had been
|
||
|
|
put to silence by him. Note, The doctrine of Christ may safely appeal
|
||
|
|
to all that know it, and has so much right and reason on its side that
|
||
|
|
those who will judge impartially cannot but witness to it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. While the judges were examining him, the servants that stood by were
|
||
|
|
abusing him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It was a base affront which one of the officers gave him; though he
|
||
|
|
spoke with so much calmness and convincing evidence, this insolent
|
||
|
|
fellow <I>struck him with the palm of his hand,</I> probably on the
|
||
|
|
side of his head or face, saying, <I>Answerest thou the high priest
|
||
|
|
so?</I> as if he had behaved himself rudely to the court.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He <I>struck him,</I> <B><I>edoke rhapisma</I></B>--<I>he gave him
|
||
|
|
a blow.</I> Some think it signifies a blow with a rod or wand, from
|
||
|
|
<B><I>rhabdos</I></B>, or with the staff which was the badge of his
|
||
|
|
office. Now the scripture was fulfilled
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:6">Isa. l. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I gave my cheeks,</I> <B><I>eis rhapismata</I></B> (so the LXX.)
|
||
|
|
<I>to blows,</I> the word here used. And
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+5:1">Mic. v. 1</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek;</I>
|
||
|
|
and the type answered
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+16:10">Job xvi. 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully.</I> It was unjust
|
||
|
|
to strike one that neither said nor did amiss; it was insolent for a
|
||
|
|
mean servant to strike one that was confessedly a person of account; it
|
||
|
|
was cowardly to strike one that had his hands tied; and barbarous to
|
||
|
|
strike a prisoner at the bar. Here was a breach of the peace in the
|
||
|
|
face of the court, and yet the judges countenanced it. Confusion of
|
||
|
|
face was our due; but Christ here took it to himself: "Upon me be the
|
||
|
|
curse, the shame."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He checked him in a haughty imperious manner: <I>Answerest thou
|
||
|
|
the high priest so?</I> As if the blessed Jesus were not good enough to
|
||
|
|
speak to his master, or not wise enough to know how to speak to him,
|
||
|
|
but, like a rude and ignorant prisoner, must be controlled by the
|
||
|
|
jailor, and taught how to behave. Some of the ancients suggest that
|
||
|
|
this officer was Malchus, who owed to Christ the healing of his ear,
|
||
|
|
and the saving of his head, and yet made him this ill return. But,
|
||
|
|
whoever it was, it was done to please the high priest, and to curry
|
||
|
|
favour with him; for what he said implied a jealousy for the dignity of
|
||
|
|
the high priest. Wicked rulers will not want wicked servants, who will
|
||
|
|
<I>help forward the affliction</I> of those whom their masters
|
||
|
|
persecute. There was a successor of this high priest that commanded the
|
||
|
|
bystanders to smite Paul thus <I>on the mouth,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+23:2">Acts xxiii. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some think this officer took himself to be affronted by Christ's appeal
|
||
|
|
to those about him concerning his doctrine, as if he would have vouched
|
||
|
|
him to be a witness; and perhaps he was one of those officers that had
|
||
|
|
spoken honourably of him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:46"><I>ch.</I> vii. 46</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and, lest he should now be thought a secret friend to him, he thus
|
||
|
|
appears a bitter enemy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Christ bore this affront with wonderful meekness and patience
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>If I have spoken evil,</I> in what I have now said, <I>bear witness
|
||
|
|
of the evil.</I> Observe it to the court, and let them judge of it, who
|
||
|
|
are the proper judges; but if well, and as it did become me, <I>why
|
||
|
|
smitest thou me?</I>" Christ could have answered him with a miracle of
|
||
|
|
wrath, could have struck him dumb or dead, or have withered the hand
|
||
|
|
that was lifted up against him. But this was the day of his patience
|
||
|
|
and suffering, and he answered him with the <I>meekness of wisdom,</I>
|
||
|
|
to teach us not to avenge ourselves, not to render <I>railing for
|
||
|
|
railing,</I> but with the <I>innocency of the dove</I> to bear
|
||
|
|
injuries, even when with the <I>wisdom of the serpent,</I> as our
|
||
|
|
Saviour, we show the injustice of them, and appeal to the magistrate
|
||
|
|
concerning them. Christ did not here <I>turn the other cheek,</I> by
|
||
|
|
which it appears that that rule,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:39">Matt. v. 39</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
is not to be understood literally; a man may possibly <I>turn the other
|
||
|
|
cheek,</I> and yet have his heart full of malice; but, comparing
|
||
|
|
Christ's precept with his pattern, we learn,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That in such cases we must not be our own avengers, nor judges in
|
||
|
|
our own cause. We must rather receive than give the second blow, which
|
||
|
|
makes the quarrel; we are allowed to defend ourselves, but not to
|
||
|
|
avenge ourselves: the magistrate (if it be necessary for the preserving
|
||
|
|
of the public peace, and the restraining and terrifying of evil-doers)
|
||
|
|
is to be the avenger,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:4">Rom. xiii. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Our resentment of injuries done us must always be rational, and
|
||
|
|
never passionate; such Christ's here was; <I>when he suffered,</I> he
|
||
|
|
reasoned, but <I>threatened not.</I> He fairly expostulated with him
|
||
|
|
that did him the injury, and so may we.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) When we are called out to suffering, we must <I>accommodate
|
||
|
|
ourselves</I> to the inconveniences of a suffering state, with
|
||
|
|
patience, and by one indignity done us be prepared to receive another,
|
||
|
|
and to make the best of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
VI. While the servants were thus abusing him, Peter was proceeding to
|
||
|
|
deny him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:25-27"><I>v.</I> 25-27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is a sad story, and none of the least of Christ's sufferings.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He repeated the sin the second time,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
While he was warming himself with the servants, as one of them, they
|
||
|
|
asked him, <I>Art not thou one of his disciples?</I> What dost thou
|
||
|
|
here among us? He, perhaps, hearing that Christ was examined about his
|
||
|
|
disciples, and fearing he should be seized, or at least smitten, as his
|
||
|
|
Master was, if he should own it, flatly denied it, and said, <I>I am
|
||
|
|
not.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) It was his great folly to thrust himself into the temptation, by
|
||
|
|
continuing in the company of those that were unsuitable for him, and
|
||
|
|
that he had nothing to do with. He staid to warm himself; but those
|
||
|
|
that warm themselves with evil doers grow cold towards good people and
|
||
|
|
good things, and those that are fond of the devil's fire-side are in
|
||
|
|
danger of the devil's fire. Peter might have stood by his Master at the
|
||
|
|
bar, and have warmed himself better than here, at the fire of his
|
||
|
|
Master's love, which <I>many waters could not quench,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+8:6,7">Cant. viii. 6, 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He might there have warmed himself with zeal for his Master, and
|
||
|
|
indignation at his persecutors; but he chose rather to warm with them
|
||
|
|
than to warm against them. But how could one (one disciple) be warm
|
||
|
|
alone?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:11">Eccl. iv. 11</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It was his great unhappiness that he was again assaulted by the
|
||
|
|
temptation; and no other could be expected, for this was a place, this
|
||
|
|
an hour, of temptation. When the judge asked Christ about his
|
||
|
|
disciples, probably the servants took the hint, and challenged Peter
|
||
|
|
for one of them, "Answer to thy name." See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The subtlety of the tempter in running down one whom he saw
|
||
|
|
falling, and mustering a greater force against him; not a maid now, but
|
||
|
|
all the servants. Note, Yielding to one temptation invites another, and
|
||
|
|
perhaps a stronger. Satan redoubles his attacks when we give ground.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The danger of bad company. We commonly study to approve ourselves
|
||
|
|
to those with whom we choose to associate; we value ourselves upon
|
||
|
|
their good word and covet to stand right in their opinion. As we choose
|
||
|
|
our people we choose our praise, and govern ourselves accordingly; we
|
||
|
|
are therefore concerned to make the first choice well, and not to
|
||
|
|
mingle with those whom we cannot please without displeasing God.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) It was his great weakness, nay, it was his great wickedness, to
|
||
|
|
yield to the temptation, and to say, <I>I am not one</I> of his
|
||
|
|
disciples, as one ashamed of that which was his honour, and afraid of
|
||
|
|
suffering for it, which would have been yet more his honour. See how
|
||
|
|
the <I>fear of man brings a snare.</I> When Christ was admired, and
|
||
|
|
caressed, and treated with respect, Peter pleased himself, and perhaps
|
||
|
|
prided himself, in this, that he was a disciple of Christ, and so put
|
||
|
|
in for a share in the honours done to his Master. Thus many who seem
|
||
|
|
fond of the reputation of religion when it is in fashion are ashamed of
|
||
|
|
the reproach of it; but we must take it <I>for better and
|
||
|
|
worse.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He repeated the sin the third time,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here he was attacked by one of the servants, who was kinsman to
|
||
|
|
Malchus, who, when he heard Peter deny himself to be a disciple of
|
||
|
|
Christ, gave him the lie with great assurance: "<I>Did not I see thee
|
||
|
|
in the garden with him?</I> Witness my kinsman's ear." Peter then
|
||
|
|
denied again, as if he knew nothing of Christ, nothing of the garden,
|
||
|
|
nothing of all this matter.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) This third assault of the temptation was more close than the
|
||
|
|
former: before his relation to Christ was only suspected, here it is
|
||
|
|
proved upon him by one that saw him with Jesus, and saw him draw his
|
||
|
|
sword in his defence. Note, Those who by sin think to help themselves
|
||
|
|
out of trouble do but entangle and embarrass themselves the more. Dare
|
||
|
|
to be brave, for truth will out. <I>A bird of the air</I> may perhaps
|
||
|
|
<I>tell the matter</I> which we seek to conceal with a lie. Notice is
|
||
|
|
taken of this servant's being akin to Malchus, because this
|
||
|
|
circumstance would make it the more a terror to Peter. "Now," thinks
|
||
|
|
he, "I am gone, my business is done, there needs no other witness nor
|
||
|
|
prosecutor." We should not make any man in particular our enemy if we
|
||
|
|
can help it, because the time may come when either he or some of his
|
||
|
|
relations may have us at their mercy. He that may need a friend should
|
||
|
|
not make a foe. But observe, though here was sufficient evidence
|
||
|
|
against Peter, and sufficient provocation given by his denial to have
|
||
|
|
prosecuted him, yet he escapes, has no harm done him nor attempted to
|
||
|
|
be done. Note, We are often drawn into sin by groundless causeless
|
||
|
|
fears, which there is no occasion for, and which a small degree of
|
||
|
|
wisdom and resolution would make nothing of.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) His yielding to it was no less base than the former: <I>He denied
|
||
|
|
again.</I> See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The nature of sin in general: <I>the heart is hardened by the
|
||
|
|
deceitfulness of it,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+3:13">Heb. iii. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was a strange degree of effrontery that Peter had arrived to on a
|
||
|
|
sudden, that he could with such assurance stand in a lie against so
|
||
|
|
clear a disproof; but <I>the beginning of sin is as the letting forth
|
||
|
|
of water,</I> when once the fence is broken men easily go from bad to
|
||
|
|
worse.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Of the sin of lying in particular; it is a fruitful sin, and upon
|
||
|
|
this account <I>exceedingly sinful:</I> one lie needs another to
|
||
|
|
support it, and that another. It is a rule in the devil's politics
|
||
|
|
<I>Male facta male factis tegere, ne perpluant</I>--<I>To cover sin
|
||
|
|
with sin, in order to escape detection.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_33"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_34"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_35"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_36"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_37"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_38"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_39"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Joh18_40"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ in the Judgment-Hall; Christ Arraigned before Pilate.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment:
|
||
|
|
and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment
|
||
|
|
hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the
|
||
|
|
passover.
|
||
|
|
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation
|
||
|
|
bring ye against this man?
|
||
|
|
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a
|
||
|
|
malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
|
||
|
|
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him
|
||
|
|
according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is
|
||
|
|
not lawful for us to put any man to death:
|
||
|
|
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake,
|
||
|
|
signifying what death he should die.
|
||
|
|
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called
|
||
|
|
Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
|
||
|
|
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or
|
||
|
|
did others tell it thee of me?
|
||
|
|
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief
|
||
|
|
priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
|
||
|
|
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my
|
||
|
|
kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I
|
||
|
|
should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not
|
||
|
|
from hence.
|
||
|
|
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus
|
||
|
|
answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born,
|
||
|
|
and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
|
||
|
|
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my
|
||
|
|
voice.
|
||
|
|
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said
|
||
|
|
this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I
|
||
|
|
find in him no fault <I>at all.</I>
|
||
|
|
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at
|
||
|
|
the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King
|
||
|
|
of the Jews?
|
||
|
|
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but
|
||
|
|
Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here an account of Christ's arraignment before Pilate, the
|
||
|
|
Roman governor, in the <I>prætorium</I> (a Latin word made
|
||
|
|
Greek), the prætor's house, or <I>hall of judgment;</I> thither
|
||
|
|
they hurried him, to get him condemned in the Roman court, and executed
|
||
|
|
by the Roman power. Being resolved on his death, they took this course,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That he might be put to death the more legally and regularly,
|
||
|
|
according to the present constitution of their government, since they
|
||
|
|
became a province of the empire; not stoned in a popular tumult, as
|
||
|
|
Stephen, but put to death with the present formalities of justice. Thus
|
||
|
|
he was treated as a malefactor, <I>being made sin for us.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That he might be put to death the more safely. If they could engage
|
||
|
|
the Roman government in the matter, which the people stood in awe of,
|
||
|
|
there would be little danger of an uproar.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. That he might be put to death with more reproach to himself. <I>The
|
||
|
|
death of the cross,</I> which the Romans commonly used, being of all
|
||
|
|
deaths the most ignominious, they were desirous by it to put an
|
||
|
|
indelible mark of infamy upon him, and so to sink his reputation for
|
||
|
|
ever. This therefore they harped upon, <I>Crucify him.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. That he might be put to death with less reproach to them. It was an
|
||
|
|
invidious thing to put one to death that had done so much good in the
|
||
|
|
world, and therefore they were willing to throw the odium upon the
|
||
|
|
Roman government, to make that the less acceptable to the people, and
|
||
|
|
save themselves from the reproach. Thus many are more afraid of the
|
||
|
|
scandal of a bad action than of the sin of it. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+5:28">Acts v. 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Two things are here observed concerning the prosecution:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Their policy and industry in the prosecution: <I>It was early;</I>
|
||
|
|
some think about two or three in the morning, others about five or six,
|
||
|
|
when most people were in their beds; and so there would be the less
|
||
|
|
danger of opposition from the people that were for Christ; while, at
|
||
|
|
the same time, they had their agents about, to call those together whom
|
||
|
|
they could influence to cry out against him. See how much their heart
|
||
|
|
was upon it, and how violent they were in the prosecution. Now that
|
||
|
|
they had him in their hands, they would lose no time till they had him
|
||
|
|
upon the cross, but denied themselves their natural rest, to push on
|
||
|
|
this matter. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1">Mic. ii. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Their superstition and vile hypocrisy: <I>The chief priests and
|
||
|
|
elders,</I> though they came along with the prisoner, that the thing
|
||
|
|
might be done effectually, <I>went not into the judgment-hall,</I>
|
||
|
|
because it was the house of an uncircumcised Gentile, <I>lest they
|
||
|
|
should be defiled,</I> but kept out of doors, <I>that they might eat
|
||
|
|
the passover,</I> not the paschal lamb (that was eaten the night
|
||
|
|
before) but the passover-feast, upon the sacrifices which were offered
|
||
|
|
on the fifteenth day, <I>the Chagigah,</I> as they called it, the
|
||
|
|
passover-bullocks spoken of
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+16:2,2Ch+30:24.35:8,9">Deut. xvi. 2;
|
||
|
|
2 Chron. xxx. 24; xxxv. 8, 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
These they were to eat of, and therefore would not go into the court,
|
||
|
|
for fear of touching a Gentile, and thereby contracting, not a legal,
|
||
|
|
but only a traditional pollution. This they scrupled, but made no
|
||
|
|
scruple of breaking through all the laws of equity to persecute Christ
|
||
|
|
to the death. <I>They strained at a gnat, and swallowed a camel.</I>
|
||
|
|
Let us now see what passed at <I>the judgment-hall.</I> Here is,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Pilate's conference with the prosecutors. They were called first,
|
||
|
|
and stated what they had to say against the prisoner, as was very fit,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:29-32"><I>v.</I> 29-32</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The judge calls for the indictment. Because they would not come into
|
||
|
|
the hall, <I>he went out to them</I> into the court before the house,
|
||
|
|
to talk with them. Looking upon Pilate as a magistrate, that we may
|
||
|
|
give every one his due, here are three things commendable in him:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) His diligent and close application to business. If it had been
|
||
|
|
upon a good occasion, it had been very well that he was willing to be
|
||
|
|
called up early to the judgment-seat. Men in public trusts must not
|
||
|
|
love their ease.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) His condescending to the humour of the people, and receding from
|
||
|
|
the honour of his place to gratify their scruples. He might have said,
|
||
|
|
"If they be so nice as not to come in to me, let them go home as they
|
||
|
|
came;" by the same rule as we might say, "If the complainant scruple to
|
||
|
|
take off his hat to the magistrate, let not his complaint be heard;"
|
||
|
|
but Pilate insists not upon it, bears with them, and goes out to them;
|
||
|
|
for, when it is for good, we should <I>become all things to all
|
||
|
|
men.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) His adherence to the rule of justice, in demanding the accusation,
|
||
|
|
suspecting the prosecution to be malicious: "<I>What accusation bring
|
||
|
|
you against this man?</I>" What is the crime you charge him with, and
|
||
|
|
what proof have you of it? It was a law of nature, before Valerius
|
||
|
|
Publicola made it a Roman law, <I>Ne quis indicta causa condemnetur--No
|
||
|
|
man should be condemned unheard.</I> See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+25:16,17">Acts xxv. 16, 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is unreasonable to commit a man, without alleging some cause in the
|
||
|
|
warrant, and much more to arraign a man when there is no bill of
|
||
|
|
indictment found against him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The prosecutors demand judgment against him upon a general surmise
|
||
|
|
that he was a criminal, not alleging, much less proving, any thing in
|
||
|
|
particular <I>worthy of death or of bonds</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>If he were not a malefactor,</I> or evildoer, <I>we would not have
|
||
|
|
delivered him to thee</I> to be condemned. This bespeaks them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Very rude and uncivil to Pilate, a company of ill-natured men,
|
||
|
|
that affected to despise dominion. When Pilate was so complaisant to
|
||
|
|
them as to come out to treat with them, yet they were to the highest
|
||
|
|
degree out of humour with him. He put the most reasonable question to
|
||
|
|
them that could be; but, if it had been the most absurd, they could not
|
||
|
|
have answered him with more disdain.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Very spiteful and malicious towards our Lord Jesus: right or
|
||
|
|
wrong, they will have him to be a malefactor, and treated as one. We
|
||
|
|
are to presume a man innocent till he is proved guilty, but they will
|
||
|
|
presume him guilty who could prove himself innocent. They cannot say,
|
||
|
|
"He is a traitor, a murderer, a felon, a breaker of the peace," but
|
||
|
|
they say, "He is an evil-doer." He an evil-doer who <I>went about doing
|
||
|
|
good!</I> Let those be called whom he had cured, and fed, and taught;
|
||
|
|
whom he has rescued from devils, and raised from death; and let them be
|
||
|
|
asked whether he be an evil-doer or no. Note, It is no new thing for
|
||
|
|
the best of benefactors to be branded and run down as the worst of
|
||
|
|
malefactors.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Very proud and conceited of themselves, and their own judgment and
|
||
|
|
justice, as if their delivering a man up, under the general character
|
||
|
|
of a malefactor, were sufficient for the civil magistrate to ground a
|
||
|
|
judicial sentence upon, than which what could be more haughty?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The judge remands him to their own court
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Take you him, and judge him according to your</I> own <I>law,</I>
|
||
|
|
and do not trouble me with him." Now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Some think Pilate herein complimented them, acknowledging the
|
||
|
|
remains of their power, and allowing them to exert it. Corporal
|
||
|
|
punishment they might inflict, as <I>scourging in their synagogues;</I>
|
||
|
|
whether capital or no is uncertain. "But," saith Pilate, "go as far as
|
||
|
|
your law will allow you, and, if you go further, it shall be connived
|
||
|
|
at." This he said, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, but unwilling to
|
||
|
|
do them the service they required.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Others think he bantered them, and upbraided them with their
|
||
|
|
present state of weakness and subjection. They would be the sole
|
||
|
|
judges of the guilt. "Pray," saith Pilate, "if you will be so, go on as
|
||
|
|
you have begun; you have found him guilty by your own law, condemn him,
|
||
|
|
if you dare, by your own law, to carry on the humour." Nothing is more
|
||
|
|
absurd, nor more deserves to be exposed, than for those to pretend to
|
||
|
|
dictate, and boast of their wisdom, who are weak and in subordinate
|
||
|
|
stations, and whose lot it is to be dictated to. Some think Pilate here
|
||
|
|
reflects upon the law of Moses, as if it allowed them what the Roman
|
||
|
|
law would by no means allow--the judging of a man unheard. "It may be
|
||
|
|
your law will suffer such a thing, but ours will not." Thus, through
|
||
|
|
their corruptions, the law of God was blasphemed; and so is his gospel
|
||
|
|
too.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. They disown any authority as judges, and (since it must be so) are
|
||
|
|
content to be prosecutors. They now grow less insolent and more
|
||
|
|
submissive, and own, "<I>It is not lawful for us to put any man to
|
||
|
|
death,</I> whatever less punishment we may inflict, and this is a
|
||
|
|
malefactor whom we would have the blood of."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Some think they had lost their power to give judgment in matters
|
||
|
|
of life and death only by their own carelessness, and cowardly yielding
|
||
|
|
to the darling iniquities of the age; so Dr. Lightfoot <B><I>ouk
|
||
|
|
exesti</I></B>--<I>It is not</I> in our power to pass sentence of death
|
||
|
|
upon <I>any,</I> if we do, we shall have the mob about us
|
||
|
|
immediately.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Others think their power was taken from them by the Romans,
|
||
|
|
because they had not used it well, or because it was thought too great
|
||
|
|
a trust to be lodged in the hands of a conquered and yet an unsubdued
|
||
|
|
people. Their acknowledgement of this they designed for a compliment to
|
||
|
|
Pilate, and to atone for their rudeness
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but it amounts to a full evidence that <I>the sceptre was departed from
|
||
|
|
Judah,</I> and therefore that now the Messiah was come,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:10">Gen. xlix. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If the Jews have no power <I>to put any man to death,</I> where is the
|
||
|
|
sceptre? Yet they ask not, <I>Where is the Shiloh?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) However, there was a providence in it, that either they should
|
||
|
|
have not power to put any man to death, or should decline the exercise
|
||
|
|
of it upon this occasion, <I>That the saying of Jesus might be
|
||
|
|
fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] In general, that even those who designed the defeating of Christ's
|
||
|
|
sayings were, beyond their intention, made serviceable to the
|
||
|
|
fulfilling of them by an overruling hand of God. <I>No word of Christ
|
||
|
|
shall fall to the ground;</I> he can never either deceive or be
|
||
|
|
deceived. Even <I>the chief priests,</I> while they persecuted him as
|
||
|
|
<I>a deceiver,</I> had their spirit so directed as to help to prove him
|
||
|
|
true, when we should think that by taking other measures they might
|
||
|
|
have defeated his predictions. <I>Howbeit, they meant not so,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+10:7">Isa. x. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Those sayings of Christ in particular were fulfilled which he had
|
||
|
|
spoken concerning his own death. Two sayings of Christ concerning his
|
||
|
|
death were fulfilled, by the Jews declining to <I>judge him according
|
||
|
|
to their law. First,</I> He had said that he should be <I>delivered to
|
||
|
|
the Gentiles,</I> and that <I>they should put him to death</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:19,Mk+10:33,Lu+18:32,33">Matt. xx. 19;
|
||
|
|
Mark x. 33; Luke xviii. 32, 33</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and hereby that saying was fulfilled. <I>Secondly,</I> He had said
|
||
|
|
that he should be crucified
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:19,26:2">Matt. xx. 19; xxvi. 2</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>lifted up,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:14,12:32"><I>ch.</I> iii. 14; xii. 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now, if they had <I>judged him by their law,</I> he had been stoned;
|
||
|
|
burning, strangling, and beheading, were in some cases used among the
|
||
|
|
Jews, but never crucifying. It was therefore necessary that Christ
|
||
|
|
should be put to death by the Romans, that, being <I>hanged upon a
|
||
|
|
tree,</I> he might be <I>made a curse for us</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:13">Gal. iii. 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and <I>his hands and feet</I> might be <I>pierced.</I> As the Roman
|
||
|
|
power had brought him to be born at Bethlehem, so now to die upon a
|
||
|
|
cross, and both according to the scriptures. It is likewise determined
|
||
|
|
concerning us, though not discovered to us, <I>what death we shall
|
||
|
|
die,</I> which should free us from all disquieting cares about that
|
||
|
|
matter. "Lord, what, and when, and how thou hast appointed."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. Here is Pilate's conference with the prisoner,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c., where we have,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The prisoner set to the bar. Pilate, after he had conferred with the
|
||
|
|
chief priests at his door, entered into the hall, and called for Jesus
|
||
|
|
to be brought in. He would not examine him in the crowd, where he might
|
||
|
|
be disturbed by the noise, but ordered him to be brought <I>into the
|
||
|
|
hall;</I> for he made no difficulty of going in among the Gentiles. We
|
||
|
|
by sin were become liable to the judgment of God, and were to be
|
||
|
|
brought before his bar; therefore <I>Christ, being made sin and a curse
|
||
|
|
for us,</I> was arraigned as a criminal. Pilate entered into judgment
|
||
|
|
with him, that God might not enter into judgment with us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. His examination. The other evangelists tell us that his accusers had
|
||
|
|
laid it to his charge that <I>he perverted the nation, forbidding to
|
||
|
|
give tribute to Cæsar,</I> and upon this he is examined.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Here is a question put to him, with a design to ensnare him and to
|
||
|
|
find out something upon which to ground an accusation: "<I>Art thou the
|
||
|
|
king of the Jews?</I> <B><I>ho basileus</I></B> --<I>that king of the
|
||
|
|
Jews</I> who has been so much talked of and so long expected--Messiah
|
||
|
|
the prince, art thou he? Dost thou pretend to be he? Dost thou call
|
||
|
|
thyself, and wouldest thou be thought so?" For he was far from
|
||
|
|
imagining that really he was so, or making a question of that. Some
|
||
|
|
think Pilate asked this with an air of scorn and contempt: "What!
|
||
|
|
<I>art thou a king,</I> who makest so mean a figure? <I>Art thou the
|
||
|
|
king of the Jews,</I> by whom thou art thus hated and persecuted?
|
||
|
|
<I>Art thou king de jure--of right,</I> while the emperor is only king
|
||
|
|
<I>de facto--in fact?</I>" Since it could not be proved he ever said
|
||
|
|
it, he would constrain him to say it now, that he might proceed upon
|
||
|
|
his own confession.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Christ answers this question with another; not for evasion, but as
|
||
|
|
an intimation to Pilate to consider what he did, and upon what grounds
|
||
|
|
he went
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Sayest thou this thing of thyself,</I> from a suspicion arising in
|
||
|
|
thy own breast, <I>or did others tell it thee of me,</I> and dost thou
|
||
|
|
ask it only to oblige them?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] "It is plain that thou hast no reason to <I>say this of
|
||
|
|
thyself.</I>" Pilate was bound by his office to take care of the
|
||
|
|
interests of the Roman government, but he could not say that this was
|
||
|
|
in any danger, or suffered any damage, from any thing our Lord Jesus
|
||
|
|
had ever said or done. He never appeared in worldly pomp, never assumed
|
||
|
|
any secular power, never acted as a judge or divider; never were any
|
||
|
|
traitorous principles or practices objected to him, nor any thing that
|
||
|
|
might give the least shadow of suspicion.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] "If others <I>tell it thee of me,</I> to incense thee against me,
|
||
|
|
thou oughtest to consider who they are, and upon what principles they
|
||
|
|
go, and whether those who represent me as an <I>enemy to
|
||
|
|
Cæsar</I> are not really such themselves, and therefore use this
|
||
|
|
only as a pretence to cover their malice, for, if so, the matter ought
|
||
|
|
to be well weighed by a judge that would do justice." Nay, if Pilate
|
||
|
|
had been as inquisitive as he ought to have been in this matter, he
|
||
|
|
would have found that the true reason why the chief priests were
|
||
|
|
outrageous against Jesus was because he did not set up a temporal
|
||
|
|
kingdom in opposition to the Roman power; if he would have done this,
|
||
|
|
and would have wrought miracles to bring the Jews out of the Roman
|
||
|
|
bondage, as Moses did to bring them out of the Egyptian, they would
|
||
|
|
have been so far from siding with the Romans against him that they
|
||
|
|
would have made him their king, and have fought under him against the
|
||
|
|
Romans; but, not answering this expectation of theirs, they charged
|
||
|
|
that upon him of which they were themselves most notoriously
|
||
|
|
guilty-disaffection to and design against the present government; and
|
||
|
|
was such an information as this fit to be countenanced?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Pilate resents Christ's answer, and takes it very ill,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is a direct answer to Christ's question,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ had asked him whether he spoke of himself. "No," says he;
|
||
|
|
"<I>am I a Jew,</I> that thou suspectest me to be in the plot against
|
||
|
|
thee? I know nothing of the Messiah, nor desire to know, and therefore
|
||
|
|
interest not myself in the dispute who is the Messiah and who not; the
|
||
|
|
dispute who is the Messiah and who not; it is all alike to me." Observe
|
||
|
|
with what disdain Pilate asks, <I>Am I a Jew?</I> The Jews were, upon
|
||
|
|
many accounts, an honourable people; but, having corrupted the covenant
|
||
|
|
of their God, <I>he made them contemptible and base before all the
|
||
|
|
people</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:8,9">Mal. ii. 8, 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so that a man of sense and honour reckoned it a scandal to be counted a
|
||
|
|
Jew. Thus good names often suffer for the sake of the bad men that wear
|
||
|
|
them. It is sad that when a Turk is suspected of dishonesty he should
|
||
|
|
ask, "What! do you take me for a Christian?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Christ had asked him whether others told him. "Yes," says he, "and
|
||
|
|
those <I>thine own people,</I> who, one would think would be biased in
|
||
|
|
favour of thee, and <I>the priests,</I> whose testimony, <I>in verbum
|
||
|
|
sacerdotis--on the word of a priest,</I> ought to be regarded; and
|
||
|
|
therefore I have nothing to do but to proceed upon their information."
|
||
|
|
Thus Christ, in his religion, still suffers by those that are of his
|
||
|
|
own nation, even the priests, that profess relation to him, but do not
|
||
|
|
live up to their profession.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] Christ had declined answering that question, <I>Art thou the king
|
||
|
|
of the Jews?</I> And therefore Pilate puts another question to him more
|
||
|
|
general, "<I>What hast thou done?</I> What provocation hast thou given
|
||
|
|
to thy own nation, and particularly the priests, to be so violent
|
||
|
|
against thee? Surely there cannot be all this smoke without some fire,
|
||
|
|
what is it?"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Christ, in his next reply, gives a more full and direct answer to
|
||
|
|
Pilate's former question, <I>Art thou a king?</I> explaining in what
|
||
|
|
sense he was a king, but not such a king as was any ways dangerous to
|
||
|
|
the Roman government, not a secular king, for his interest was not
|
||
|
|
supported by secular methods,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] An account of the nature and constitution of Christ's kingdom: It
|
||
|
|
<I>is not of this world.</I> It is expressed negatively to rectify the
|
||
|
|
present mistakes concerning it; but the positive is implied, it is
|
||
|
|
<I>the kingdom of heaven,</I> and belongs to another world. Christ is a
|
||
|
|
king, and has a kingdom, but <I>not of this world. First</I> Its rise
|
||
|
|
is not from this world; the kingdoms of men arise <I>out of the sea and
|
||
|
|
the earth</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:3,Re+13:1,11">Dan. vii. 3; Rev. xiii. 1, 11</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but <I>the holy city comes from God out of heaven,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+22:2">Rev. xxii. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
His kingdom is not by succession, election, or conquest, but by the
|
||
|
|
immediate and special designation of the divine will and counsel.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> Its nature is not worldly; it is a kingdom within men
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:21">Luke xvi. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
set up in their hearts and consciences
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+14:17">Rom. xiv. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
its riches spiritual, its powers spiritual, and <I>all its glory
|
||
|
|
within.</I> The ministers of state in Christ's kingdom have not <I>the
|
||
|
|
spirit of the world,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:12">1 Cor. ii. 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> Its guards and supports are not worldly; its weapons
|
||
|
|
are spiritual. It neither needed nor used secular force to maintain and
|
||
|
|
advance it, nor was it carried on in a way <I>hurtful to kings or
|
||
|
|
provinces;</I> it did not in the least interfere with the prerogatives
|
||
|
|
of princes nor the property of their subjects; it tended not to alter
|
||
|
|
any national establishment in secular things, nor opposed any kingdom
|
||
|
|
but that of sin and Satan. <I>Fourthly,</I> Its tendency and design
|
||
|
|
are not worldly. Christ neither aimed nor would allow his disciples to
|
||
|
|
aim at the pomp and power of <I>the great men of the earth.
|
||
|
|
Fifthly,</I> Its subjects, though they are in the world, yet <I>are not
|
||
|
|
of the world;</I> they <I>are called and chosen out of the world,</I>
|
||
|
|
are born from, and bound for, another world; they are neither the
|
||
|
|
world's pupils nor its darlings, neither governed by its wisdom nor
|
||
|
|
enriched with its wealth.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] An evidence of the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom produced.
|
||
|
|
If he had designed an opposition to the government, he would have
|
||
|
|
fought them at their own weapons, and would have repelled force with
|
||
|
|
force of the same nature; but he did not take this course: <I>If my
|
||
|
|
kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should
|
||
|
|
not be delivered to the Jews,</I> and my kingdom be ruined by them.
|
||
|
|
But, <I>First,</I> His followers did not offer to fight; there was no
|
||
|
|
uproar, no attempt to rescue him, though the town was now full of
|
||
|
|
Galileans, his friends and countrymen, and they were generally armed;
|
||
|
|
but the peaceable behaviour of his disciples on this occasion was
|
||
|
|
enough <I>to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Secondly,</I>
|
||
|
|
He did not order them to fight; nay, he forbade them, which was an
|
||
|
|
evidence both that he did not depend upon worldly aids (for he could
|
||
|
|
have summoned <I>legions of angels</I> into his service, which showed
|
||
|
|
that his <I>kingdom was from above</I>), and also that he did not dread
|
||
|
|
worldly opposition, for he was very willing to be <I>delivered to the
|
||
|
|
Jews,</I> as knowing that what would have been the destruction of any
|
||
|
|
worldly kingdom would be the advancement and establishment of his;
|
||
|
|
justly therefore does he conclude, <I>Now</I> you may see <I>my kingdom
|
||
|
|
is not from hence;</I> in the world but not of it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) In answer to Pilate's further query, he replies yet more directly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where we have,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Pilate's plain question: "<I>Art thou a king then?</I> Thou
|
||
|
|
speakest of a kingdom thou hast; art thou then, in any sense, a king?
|
||
|
|
And what colour hast thou for such a claim? Explain thyself."
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The good confession which our Lord Jesus witnessed before Pontius
|
||
|
|
Pilate, in answer to this
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:13">1 Tim. vi. 13</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou sayest that I am a king,</I> that is, It is as thou sayest, I
|
||
|
|
am a king; for <I>I came to bear witness of the truth. First,</I> He
|
||
|
|
grants himself to be a king, though not in the sense that Pilate meant.
|
||
|
|
The Messiah was expected under the character of a king, <I>Messiah the
|
||
|
|
prince;</I> and therefore, having owned to Caiaphas that he was the
|
||
|
|
Christ, he would not disown to Pilate that he was king, lest he should
|
||
|
|
seem inconsistent with himself. Note, Though Christ <I>took upon him
|
||
|
|
the form of a servant,</I> yet even then he justly claimed the honour
|
||
|
|
and authority of a king. <I>Secondly,</I> He explains himself, and
|
||
|
|
shows how he is a king, as <I>he came to bear witness of the truth;</I>
|
||
|
|
he rules in the minds of men by the power of truth. If he had meant to
|
||
|
|
declare himself a temporal prince, he would have said, <I>For this end
|
||
|
|
was I born, and for this cause came I into the world,</I> to rule the
|
||
|
|
nations, to conquer kings, and to take possession of kingdoms; no,
|
||
|
|
<I>he came to be a witness,</I> a witness for the God that made the
|
||
|
|
world, and against sin that ruins the world, and by this <I>word of his
|
||
|
|
testimony</I> he sets up, and keeps up, his kingdom. It was foretold
|
||
|
|
that he should be <I>a witness to the people,</I> and, as such, <I>a
|
||
|
|
leader and commander to the people,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:4">Isa. lv. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ's kingdom was not of this world, in which <I>truth faileth</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:15">Isa. lix. 15</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare--He that cannot dissemble
|
||
|
|
knows not how to reign</I>), but of that world in which truth reigns
|
||
|
|
eternally. Christ's errand into the world, and his business in the
|
||
|
|
world, were <I>to bear witness to the truth.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. To reveal it, to discover to the world that which otherwise could
|
||
|
|
not have been known concerning God and his will and <I>good-will to
|
||
|
|
men,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:18,17:26"><I>ch.</I> i. 18; xvii. 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. To confirm it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:8">Rom. xv. 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
By his miracles <I>he bore witness to the truth</I> of religion, the
|
||
|
|
truth of divine revelation, and of God's perfections and providence,
|
||
|
|
and the truth of his promise and covenant, <I>that all men through him
|
||
|
|
might believe.</I> Now by doing this he is a king, and sets up a
|
||
|
|
kingdom.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The foundation and power, the spirit and genius, of Christ's
|
||
|
|
kingdom, is truth, divine truth. When he said, <I>I am the truth,</I>
|
||
|
|
he said, in effect, I am a king. He conquers by the convincing evidence
|
||
|
|
of truth; he rules by the commanding power of truth, and <I>in his
|
||
|
|
majesty rides prosperously, because of truth,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:4">Ps. xlv. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is with his truth that he shall judge the people,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:13">Ps. xcvi. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is the sceptre of his kingdom; he <I>draws with the cords of a
|
||
|
|
man,</I> with truth revealed to us, and received by us in <I>the love
|
||
|
|
of it;</I> and thus he <I>brings thoughts into obedience.</I> He came
|
||
|
|
<I>a light into the world,</I> and rules as the sun by day.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The subjects of this kingdom are those that are <I>of the
|
||
|
|
truth.</I> All that by the grace of God are rescued from under the
|
||
|
|
power of <I>the father of lies,</I> and are disposed to receive the
|
||
|
|
truth and submit to the power and influence of it, will hear Christ's
|
||
|
|
voice, will become his subjects, and will bear faith and true
|
||
|
|
allegiance to him. Every one that has any real sense of true religion
|
||
|
|
will entertain the Christian religion, and they belong to his kingdom;
|
||
|
|
by the power of truth he makes them willing,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:3">Ps. xc. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
All that are in love with truth will hear the voice of Christ, for
|
||
|
|
greater, better, surer, sweeter truths can nowhere be found than are
|
||
|
|
found in Christ, by whom <I>grace and truth came;</I> so that, by
|
||
|
|
<I>hearing Christ's voice,</I> we know that we are <I>of the truth,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:19">1 John iii. 19</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(6.) Pilate, hereupon, puts a good question to him, but does not stay
|
||
|
|
for an answer,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He said, <I>What is truth?</I> and <I>immediately went out
|
||
|
|
again.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
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||
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[1.] It is certain that this was a good question, and could not be put
|
||
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|
to one that was better able to answer it. Truth is that <I>pearl of
|
||
|
|
great price</I> which the human understanding has a desire for and is
|
||
|
|
in quest of; for it cannot rest but in that which is, or at least is
|
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|
|
apprehended to be, truth. When we <I>search the scriptures,</I> and
|
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|
|
attend the ministry of the word, it must be with this enquiry, <I>What
|
||
|
|
is truth?</I> and with this prayer, <I>Lead me in thy truth, into all
|
||
|
|
truth.</I> But many put this question that have not patience and
|
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|
|
constancy enough to persevere in their search after truth, or not
|
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|
|
humility and sincerity enough to receive it when they have found it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+3:7">2 Tim. iii. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Thus many deal with their own consciences; they ask them those needful
|
||
|
|
questions, "What am I?" "What have I done?" but will not take time for
|
||
|
|
an answer.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
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[2.] It is uncertain with what design Pilate asked this question.
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> Perhaps he spoke it as a learner, as one that began to
|
||
|
|
think well of Christ, and to look upon him with some respect, and
|
||
|
|
desired to be informed what new notions he advanced and what
|
||
|
|
improvements he pretended to in religion and learning. But while he
|
||
|
|
desired to hear some new truth from him, as Herod to see some miracle,
|
||
|
|
the clamour and outrage of the priests' mob at his gate obliged him
|
||
|
|
abruptly to let fall the discourse. <I>Secondly,</I> Some think he
|
||
|
|
spoke it as a judge, enquiring further into the cause now brought
|
||
|
|
before him: "Let me into this mystery, and tell me what the truth of it
|
||
|
|
is, the true state of this matter." <I>Thirdly,</I> Others think he
|
||
|
|
spoke it as a scoffer, in a jeering way: "Thou talkest of truth; canst
|
||
|
|
thou tell what truth is, or give me a definition of it?" Thus he makes
|
||
|
|
a jest of the everlasting gospel, that great truth which the chief
|
||
|
|
priests hated and persecuted, and which Christ was now witnessing to
|
||
|
|
and suffering for; and like men of no religion, who take a pleasure in
|
||
|
|
bantering all religions, he ridicules both sides; and therefore Christ
|
||
|
|
made him no reply. <I>Answer not a fool according to his folly; cast
|
||
|
|
not pearls before swine.</I> But, though Christ would not tell Pilate
|
||
|
|
what is truth, he has told his disciples, and by them has told us,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:6"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 6</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The result of both these conferences with the prosecutors and the
|
||
|
|
prisoner
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:38-40"><I>v.</I> 38-40</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
in two things:--</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The judge appeared his friend, and favourable to him, for,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) He publicly declared him innocent,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Upon the whole matter, <I>I find in him no fault at all.</I> He
|
||
|
|
supposes there might be some controversy in religion between him and
|
||
|
|
them, wherein he was as likely to be in the right as they; but nothing
|
||
|
|
criminal appears against him. This solemn declaration of Christ's
|
||
|
|
innocency was,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] For the justification and honour of the Lord Jesus. By this it
|
||
|
|
appears that though he was treated as the worst of malefactors he had
|
||
|
|
never merited such treatment.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] For explaining the design and intention of his death, that he did
|
||
|
|
not die for any sin of his own, even in the judgement of the judge
|
||
|
|
himself, and therefore he died as a sacrifice for our sins, and that,
|
||
|
|
even in the judgment of the prosecutors themselves, <I>one man should
|
||
|
|
die for the people,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:50"><I>ch.</I> xi. 50</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is he that <I>did no violence, neither was any deceit in his
|
||
|
|
mouth</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:9">Isa. liii. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who was to <I>be cut off, but not for himself,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:26">Dan. ix. 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] For aggravating the sin of the Jews that prosecuted him with so
|
||
|
|
much violence. If a prisoner has had a fair trial, and has been
|
||
|
|
acquitted by those that are proper judges of the crime, especially if
|
||
|
|
there be no cause to suspect them partial in his favour, he must be
|
||
|
|
believed innocent, and his accusers are bound to acquiesce. But our
|
||
|
|
Lord Jesus, though brought in not guilty, is still run down as a
|
||
|
|
malefactor, and his blood thirsted for.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) He proposed an expedient for his discharge
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>You have a custom, that I should release to you a prisoner at the
|
||
|
|
passover;</I> shall it be this king of the Jews? He proposed this, not
|
||
|
|
to the chief priests (he knew they would never agree to it), but to the
|
||
|
|
multitude; it was an appeal to the people, as appears,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+27:15">Matt. xxvii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Probably he had heard how this Jesus had been attended but the other
|
||
|
|
day with the hosannas of the common people; he therefore looked upon
|
||
|
|
him to be the darling of the multitude, and the envy only of the
|
||
|
|
rulers, and therefore he made no doubt but they would demand the
|
||
|
|
release of Jesus, and this would stop the mouth of the prosecutors, and
|
||
|
|
all would be well.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He allows their custom, for which, perhaps, they had had a long
|
||
|
|
prescription, in honour of the passover, which was a memorial of their
|
||
|
|
release. But it was adding to God's words, as if he had not instituted
|
||
|
|
enough for the due commemoration of that deliverance, and, though an
|
||
|
|
act of mercy, might be injustice to the public,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+17:15">Prov. xvii. 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He offers to release Jesus to them, according to the custom. If
|
||
|
|
Pilate had had the honesty and courage that became a judge, he would
|
||
|
|
not have named an innocent person to be competitor with a notorious
|
||
|
|
criminal for this favour; if he <I>found no fault in him,</I> he was
|
||
|
|
bound in conscience to discharge him. But he was willing to trim the
|
||
|
|
matter, and please all sides, being governed more by worldly wisdom
|
||
|
|
than by the rules of equity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The people appeared his enemies, and implacable against him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They cried all again</I> and again, <I>Not this man,</I> let not him
|
||
|
|
be released, <I>but Barabbas.</I> Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) How fierce and outrageous they were. Pilate proposed the thing to
|
||
|
|
them calmly, as worthy their mature consideration, but they resolved it
|
||
|
|
in a heat, and gave in their resolution with clamour and noise, and in
|
||
|
|
the utmost confusion. Note, The enemies of Christ's holy religion cry
|
||
|
|
it down, and so hope to run it down; witness the outcry at Ephesus,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:34">Acts xix. 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But those who think the worse of things or persons merely for their
|
||
|
|
being thus exclaimed against have a very small share of constancy and
|
||
|
|
consideration. Nay, there is cause to suspect a deficiency of reason
|
||
|
|
and justice on that side which calls in the assistance of popular
|
||
|
|
tumult.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) How foolish and absurd they were, as is intimated in the short
|
||
|
|
account here given of the other candidate: <I>Now Barabbas was a
|
||
|
|
robber,</I> and therefore,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] A breaker of the law of God; and yet he shall be spared, rather
|
||
|
|
than one who reproved the pride, avarice, and tyranny of the priests
|
||
|
|
and elders. Though Barabbas be a robber, he will not rob them of
|
||
|
|
Moses's seat, nor of their traditions, and then no matter.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He was an enemy to the public safety and personal property. The
|
||
|
|
clamour of the town is wont to be against robbers
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+30:5">Job xxx. 5</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Men cried after them as after a thief</I>), yet here it is for one.
|
||
|
|
Thus those do who prefer their sins before Christ. Sin is a robber,
|
||
|
|
every base lust is a robber, and yet foolishly chosen rather than
|
||
|
|
Christ, who would truly enrich us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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