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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIV.</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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In this chapter begins the account which this evangelist gives of the
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death and sufferings of our Lord Jesus, which we are all concerned to
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be acquainted, not only with the history of, but with the mystery of.
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Here is,
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I. The plot of the chief priests and scribes against Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. The anointing of Christ's head at a supper in Bethany, two days
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before his death,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:3-9">ver. 3-9</A>.
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III. The contract Judas made with the chief priests, to betray him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:10,11">ver. 10, 11</A>.
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IV. Christ's eating the passover with his disciples, his instituting
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the Lord's supper, and his discourse with his disciples, at and after
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supper,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:12-31">ver. 12-31</A>.
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V. Christ's agony in the garden,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:32-42">ver. 32-42</A>.
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VI. The betraying of him by Judas, and the apprehending of him by the
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chief priests' agents,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:43-52">ver. 43-52</A>.
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VII. His arraignment before the high priest, his conviction, and the
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indignities done him at that bar,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:53-65">ver. 53-65</A>.
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VIII. Peter's denying him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:66-72">ver. 66-72</A>.
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Most of which passages we had before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:1-75">Matt. xxvi.</A></P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mr14_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_11"> </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 Anointed at Bethany; Judas Engages to Betray 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>1 After two days was <I>the feast of</I> the passover, and of
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unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought
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how they might take him by craft, and put <I>him</I> to death.
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2 But they said, Not on the feast <I>day,</I> lest there be an
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uproar of the people.
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3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he
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sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of
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ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and
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poured <I>it</I> on his head.
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4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves,
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and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
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5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred
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pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against
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her.
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6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath
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wrought a good work on me.
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7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will
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ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
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8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint
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my body to the burying.
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9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be
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preached throughout the whole world, <I>this</I> also that she hath
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done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
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10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief
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priests, to betray him unto them.
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11 And when they heard <I>it,</I> they were glad, and promised to
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give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray
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him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here instances,</P>
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<P>
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I. Of the <I>kindness of Christ's friends,</I> and the provision made
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of respect and honour for him. Some friends he had, even in and about
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Jerusalem, that loved him, and never thought they could do enough for
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him, among whom, though Israel be not gathered, he is, and will be,
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glorious.</P>
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<P>
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1. Here was <I>one friend,</I> that was so kind as to <I>invite him to
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sup with him;</I> and he was so kind as to accept the invitation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Though he had a prospect of his death approaching, yet he did not
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abandon himself to a melancholy retirement from all company, but
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conversed as freely with his friends as usual.</P>
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<P>
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2. Here was <I>another friend,</I> that was so kind as to <I>anoint his
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head</I> with very precious ointment as he <I>sat at meat.</I> This was
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an extraordinary piece of respect paid him by a good woman that thought
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nothing too good to bestow upon Christ, and to do him honour. Now the
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scripture was fulfilled, <I>When the king sitteth at his table, my
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spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+1:12">Cant. i. 12</A>.
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Let us <I>anoint</I> Christ as our <I>Beloved,</I> kiss him with a kiss
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of <I>affection;</I> and anoint him as our <I>Sovereign,</I> kiss him
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with a kiss of <I>allegiance.</I> Did he pour out his soul unto death
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for us, and shall we think any box of ointment too precious to pour out
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upon him? It is observable that she took care to pour it all out upon
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Christ's head; she <I>broke the box</I> (so we read it); but because it
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was an <I>alabaster box,</I> not easily broken, nor was it necessary
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that it should be broken, to get out the ointment, some read it, she
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<I>shook</I> the box, or <I>knocked it to the ground,</I> to loosen
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what was in it, that it might be got out the better; or, she
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<I>rubbed</I> and <I>scraped</I> out all that stuck tot he sides of it.
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Christ must have been honoured with <I>all we</I> have, and we must not
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think to keep back any part of the price. Do we give him the
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<I>precious ointment</I> of our best affections? Let him have them
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<I>all;</I> love him <I>with all the heart.</I></P>
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<P>
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Now,
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(1.) There were those that put a <I>worse construction</I> upon this
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than it <I>deserved.</I> They called it a <I>waste of the ointment,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Because they could not have found their hearts to put themselves to
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such an expense for the honouring of Christ, they thought that she was
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<I>prodigal,</I> who did. Note, As the <I>vile person</I> ought to be
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<I>called liberal,</I> nor the <I>churl</I> said to be <I>bountiful</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:5">Isa. xxxii. 5</A>);
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so the <I>liberal</I> and <I>bountiful</I> ought not to be called
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<I>wasteful.</I> They pretend it might have been <I>sold,</I> and
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<I>given to the poor,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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But as a <I>common piety</I> to the <I>corban</I> will not excuse from
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a <I>particular charity</I> to a poor parent
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+7:11"><I>ch.</I> vii. 11</A>),
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so a common charity to the poor will not excuse from a particular act
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of piety to the Lord Jesus. What thy hand finds to do, that is good,
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<I>do it with thy might.</I></P>
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<P>
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(2.) Our Lord Jesus put a <I>better construction</I> upon it than, for
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aught that appears, was <I>designed.</I> Probably, she intended no
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more, than to show the great honour she had for him, before all the
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company, and to complete his entertainment. But Christ makes it to be
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an act of <I>great faith,</I> as well as <I>great love</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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"<I>She is come aforehand, to anoint my body to the burying,</I> as if
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she foresaw that my resurrection would prevent her doing it afterward."
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This funeral rite was a kind of presage of, or prelude to, his death
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approaching. See how Christ's heart was filled with the thoughts of his
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death, how every thing was construed with a reference to that, and how
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familiarly he spoke of it upon all occasions. It is usual for those who
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are <I>condemned to die,</I> to have their coffins prepared, and other
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provision made for their funerals, while they are yet alive; and
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<I>so</I> Christ accepted <I>this.</I> Christ's death and burial were
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the lowest steps of his humiliation, and therefore, though he
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cheerfully submitted to them, yet he would have some marks of honour to
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attend them, which might help to take off the <I>offence of the
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cross,</I> and be an intimation how <I>precious in the sight of the
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Lord the death of his saints is.</I> Christ never rode in triumph into
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Jerusalem, but when he came thither to suffer; nor had ever his head
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anointed, but for <I>his burial.</I></P>
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<P>
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(3.) He recommended this piece of heroic piety to the applause of the
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church in all ages; <I>Wherever this gospel shall be preached, it shall
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be spoken of, for a memorial of her,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Note, The honour which attends well-doing, even in this world, is
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sufficient to balance the reproach and contempt that are cast upon it.
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<I>The memory of the just is blessed,</I> and they that had <I>trial of
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cruel mockings,</I> yet <I>obtained a good report,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:6,39">Heb. xi. 6, 39</A>.
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Thus was this good woman repaid for her box of ointment, <I>Nec oleum
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perdidit nec operam--She lost neither her oil nor her labour.</I> She
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got by it that good name which is <I>better than precious ointment.</I>
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Those that <I>honour</I> Christ <I>he will honour.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Of the <I>malice of Christ's enemies,</I> and the preparation made
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by them to do him mischief.</P>
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<P>
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1. The chief priests, his <I>open enemies,</I> consulted how they might
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<I>put him to death,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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The feast of the <I>passover</I> was now at hand, and at <I>that</I>
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feast he must be crucified,
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(1.) That his death and suffering might be the more public, and that
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all <I>Israel,</I> even those <I>of the dispersion,</I> who came from
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all parts to the feast, might be witnesses of it, and of the wonders
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that attended it.
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(2.) That the Anti-type might answer to the type. Christ, our
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Passover, was sacrificed for us, and brought us out of the house of
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bondage, at the same time that the paschal lamb was sacrificed, and
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Israel's deliverance out of Egypt was <I>commemorated.</I></P>
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<P>
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Now see,
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[1.] How <I>spiteful</I> Christ's enemies were; they did not think it
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enough to banish or imprison him, for they aimed not only to
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<I>silence</I> him, and <I>stop</I> his progress for the future, but to
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be revenged on him for all the good he had done.
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[2.] How <I>subtle</I> they were; <I>Not on the feast-day,</I> when the
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people are together; they do not say, Lest they should be disturbed in
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their devotions, and diverted from them, but, <I>Lest there should be
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an uproar</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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lest they should rise, and rescue him, and <I>fall foul</I> upon those
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that <I>attempt</I> any thing against him. They who <I>desired</I>
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nothing more than the <I>praise</I> of men, dreaded nothing more than
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the rage and displeasure of men.</P>
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<P>
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2. Judas, his <I>disguised enemy,</I> contracted with them for the
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betraying of him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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He is said to be <I>one of the twelve</I> that were Christ's family,
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intimate with him, trained up for the service of the kingdom; and he
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<I>went to the chief priests,</I> to tender his service in this
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affair.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) That which he proposed to them, was, to <I>betray Christ</I> to
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them, and to give them notice when and where they might find him, and
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seize him, without making an <I>uproar among the people,</I> which they
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were afraid of, if they should seize him when he appeared <I>in
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public,</I> in the midst of his admirers. Did he know then what help it
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was they wanted, and where they were run aground in their counsels? It
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is probable that he did not, for the debate was held in their close
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<I>cabal.</I> Did they know that he had a mind to serve them, and make
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court to him? No, they could not imagine that any of his intimates
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should be so base; but Satan, who was entered into Judas, knew what
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occasion they had for him, and could guide him to be <I>guide to
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them,</I> who were contriving to <I>take Jesus.</I> Note, The spirit
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that works in all the children of disobedience, knows how to bring them
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in to the assistance one of another in a wicked project, and then to
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harden them in it, with the fancy that Providence favours them.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) That which he proposed to himself, was, to <I>get money</I> by the
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bargain; he had what he aimed at, when <I>they promised to give him
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money.</I> Covetousness was Judas's master-lust, <I>his own
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iniquity,</I> and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master;
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the devil suited his temptation to <I>that,</I> and so conquered him.
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It is not said, They promised him <I>preferment</I> (he was not
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ambitious of that), but, they promised him <I>money.</I> See what need
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we have to double our guard against the sin that <I>most easily besets
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us.</I> Perhaps it was Judas's covetousness that brought him at first
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to <I>follow Christ,</I> having a promise that he should be
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cash-keeper, or purser, to the society, and he loved in his heart to be
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fingering money; and now that there was money to be got on the other
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side, he was as ready to betray him as ever he had been to follow him.
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Note, Where the principle of men's profession of religion is carnal and
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worldly, and the serving of a secular interest, the very same
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principle, whenever the wind turns, will be the bitter root of a vile
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and scandalous apostasy.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) Having secured the money, he set himself to make good his bargain;
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he sought <I>how he might conveniently betray him,</I> how he might
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<I>seasonably deliver him up,</I> so as to answer the intention of
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those who had hired him. See what need we have to be careful that we do
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not ensnare ourselves in sinful engagements. If at any time we be so
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ensnared in the words of our mouths, we are concerned to deliver
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ourselves by a speedy retreat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:1-5">Prov. vi. 1-5</A>.
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It is a rule in our law, as well as in our religion, that an
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<I>obligation</I> to do an <I>evil thing</I> is <I>null</I> and
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<I>void;</I> it binds to repentance, not to performance. See how the
|
|
way of sin is down-hill--when men are <I>in,</I> they must be
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<I>on;</I> and what <I>wicked</I> contrivances many have in their
|
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sinful pursuits, to compass their designs <I>conveniently;</I> but such
|
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conveniences will prove mischiefs in the end.</P>
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<A NAME="Mr14_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr14_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Institution of the Lord's Supper.</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>12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the
|
|
passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go
|
|
and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
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|
13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto
|
|
them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing
|
|
a pitcher of water: follow him.
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|
14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the
|
|
house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall
|
|
eat the passover with my disciples?
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|
15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished <I>and</I>
|
|
prepared: there make ready for us.
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|
16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and
|
|
found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
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|
17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
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|
18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto
|
|
you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
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|
19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by
|
|
one, <I>Is</I> it I? and another <I>said, Is</I> it I?
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|
20 And he answered and said unto them, <I>It is</I> one of the
|
|
twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
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|
21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but
|
|
woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it
|
|
for that man if he had never been born.
|
|
22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and
|
|
brake <I>it,</I> and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my
|
|
body.
|
|
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave
|
|
<I>it</I> to them: and they all drank of it.
|
|
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new
|
|
testament, which is shed for many.
|
|
25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of
|
|
the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of
|
|
God.
|
|
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount
|
|
of Olives.
|
|
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because
|
|
of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd,
|
|
and the sheep shall be scattered.
|
|
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into
|
|
Galilee.
|
|
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet
|
|
<I>will</I> not I.
|
|
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this
|
|
day, <I>even</I> in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt
|
|
deny me thrice.
|
|
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee,
|
|
I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
|
|
</FONT></P>
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|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ's eating the passover with his disciples, the night before he
|
|
died, with the joys and comforts of which ordinance he prepared himself
|
|
for his approaching sorrows, the full prospect of which did not
|
|
indispose him for that solemnity. Note, No apprehension of trouble,
|
|
come or coming, should put us by, or put us out of frame for, our
|
|
attendance on holy ordinances, as we have opportunity for it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ ate the passover at the <I>usual time</I> when the other Jews
|
|
did, as Dr. Whitby had fully made out, and not, as Dr. Hammond would
|
|
have it, the night before. It was on the first day of that feast, which
|
|
(taking in all the eight days of the feast) was called, <I>The feast of
|
|
unleavened bread,</I> even that day when they <I>killed the
|
|
passover,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He directed his disciples how to find the place where he intended to
|
|
eat the passover; and hereby gave such another proof of his infallible
|
|
knowledge of things distant and future (which to us seem altogether
|
|
<I>contingent</I>), as he had given when he sent them for the ass on
|
|
which he rode in triumph
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+11:6"><I>ch.</I> xi. 6</A>);
|
|
|
|
"<I>Go into the city</I> (for the <I>passover</I> must be <I>eaten</I>
|
|
in Jerusalem), and <I>there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of
|
|
water</I> (a servant sent for water to clean the rooms in his master's
|
|
house); <I>follow him, go in</I> where he <I>goes,</I> enquire for his
|
|
master, <I>the good man of the house</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and desire him to show you a room." No doubt, the inhabitants of
|
|
Jerusalem had rooms fitted up to be <I>let out,</I> for this occasion,
|
|
to those that came out of the country to keep the passover, and one of
|
|
those Christ made use of; not any friend's house, nor any house he had
|
|
formerly frequented, for then he would have said, "Go to such a
|
|
friend," or, "You know where we used to be, go thither and prepare."
|
|
Probably he went where he was not known, that he might be
|
|
<I>undisturbed</I> with his disciples. Perhaps he notified it by <I>a
|
|
sign,</I> to conceal it from Judas, that he might not know till he came
|
|
to the place; and by <I>such a sign</I> to intimate that he will dwell
|
|
in the <I>clean heart,</I> that is, <I>washed</I> as with <I>pure
|
|
water.</I> Where he designs to come, a pitcher of water must go before
|
|
him; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:16-18">Isa. i. 16-18</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He ate the passover in an <I>upper room furnished,</I>
|
|
<B><I>estromenon</I></B>--<I>laid with carpets</I> (so Dr. Hammond); it
|
|
would seem to have been a very handsome <I>dining-room.</I> Christ was
|
|
far from affecting any thing that looked stately in eating his common
|
|
meals; on the contrary, he chose that which was homely, sat down on the
|
|
grass: but, when he was to keep a sacred feast, in honour of that he
|
|
would be at the expense of as good a room as he could get. God looks
|
|
not at <I>outward pomp,</I> but he looks at the tokens and expressions
|
|
of <I>inward reverence</I> for a divine institution, which, it is to be
|
|
feared, those want, who, to save charges, deny themselves decencies in
|
|
the worship of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. He ate it <I>with the twelve,</I> who were his family, to teach
|
|
those who have the charge of families, not only families of
|
|
<I>children,</I> but families of <I>servants,</I> or families of
|
|
<I>scholars,</I> or <I>pupils,</I> to keep up religion among them, and
|
|
worship God with them. If Christ came <I>with the twelve,</I> then
|
|
Judas was with them, though he was at this time contriving to betray
|
|
his Master; and it is plain by what follows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
that he was there: he did not absent himself, lest he could have been
|
|
suspected; had his <I>seat</I> been <I>empty</I> at this feast, they
|
|
would have said, as Saul of David, <I>He is not clean, surely he is not
|
|
clean,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:26">1 Sam. xx. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Hypocrites, though they know it is at their peril, yet crowd into
|
|
special ordinances, to keep up their repute, and palliate their secret
|
|
wickedness. Christ did not <I>exclude</I> him from the feast, though he
|
|
<I>knew</I> his wickedness, for it was not as yet become public and
|
|
scandalous. Christ, designing to put the <I>keys of the kingdom of
|
|
heaven</I> into the hands of men, who can judge only according to
|
|
outward appearance, would hereby both direct and encourage them in
|
|
their admissions to his table, to be satisfied with a justifiable
|
|
profession, because they cannot discern the <I>root of bitterness</I>
|
|
till it <I>springs up.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Christ's discourse with his disciples, as they were <I>eating</I>
|
|
the passover. It is probable that they had discourse, according to the
|
|
custom of the feast, of the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, and the
|
|
preservation of the first-born, and were as pleasant as they used to be
|
|
together on this occasion, till Christ told them that which would mix
|
|
<I>trembling</I> with their <I>joys.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They were <I>pleasing</I> themselves with the society of <I>their
|
|
Master;</I> but he tells them that they must now presently lose him;
|
|
<I>The Son of man is betrayed;</I> and they knew, for he had often told
|
|
them, what followed--If he be <I>betrayed,</I> the next news you will
|
|
hear of him, is, that he is <I>crucified</I> and <I>slain;</I> God hath
|
|
determined it concerning him, and he agrees to it; <I>The Son of man
|
|
goes, as it is written of him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was <I>written</I> in the counsels of God, and <I>written</I> in the
|
|
prophecies of the Old Testament, not one jot or tittle of either of
|
|
which can <I>fall to the ground.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They were <I>pleasing</I> themselves with the society <I>one of
|
|
another,</I> but Christ casts a damp upon the joy of that, by telling
|
|
them, <I>One of you that eateth with me shall betray me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ said this, if it might be, to startle the conscience of Judas,
|
|
and to awaken him to repent of his wickedness, and to draw back (for it
|
|
was not too late) from the brink of the pit. But for aught that
|
|
appears, he who was <I>most concerned in</I> the warning, was <I>least
|
|
concerned at</I> it. All the rest were affected with it.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They began to be <I>sorrowful.</I> As the remembrance of our
|
|
former falls into sin, so the fear of the like again, doth often much
|
|
embitter the comfort of our spiritual feasts, and damp our joy. Here
|
|
were the <I>bitter herbs,</I> with which this <I>passover-feast</I> was
|
|
taken.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They began to be <I>suspicious</I> of themselves; they said <I>one
|
|
by one, Is it I?</I> <I>And another said, Is it I?</I> They are to be
|
|
commended for their <I>charity,</I> that they were more jealous of
|
|
themselves than of <I>one another.</I> It is the law of charity, to
|
|
<I>hope the best</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+13:5-7">1 Cor. xiii. 5-7</A>),
|
|
|
|
because we assuredly <I>know,</I> therefore we may justly
|
|
<I>suspect,</I> more evil by ourselves than by our brethren. They are
|
|
also to be commended for their acquiescence in what Christ said; they
|
|
trusted more to <I>his words</I> than to <I>their own hearts;</I> and
|
|
therefore do not say, "I am sure <I>it is not I,</I>" but, "<I>Lord, is
|
|
it I?</I> see if there be such a <I>way of wickedness in us,</I> such a
|
|
<I>root of bitterness,</I> and discover it to us, that we may pluck up
|
|
that <I>root,</I> and stop up that <I>way.</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now, in answer to their enquiry, Christ saith that,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Which would make them easy; "It is not <I>you,</I> or <I>you;</I>
|
|
it is this that now <I>dips with me in the dish;</I> the adversary and
|
|
enemy is this wicked Judas."
|
|
|
|
[2.] Which, one would think, should make Judas very <I>uneasy.</I> If
|
|
he go on in his undertaking, it is upon the sword's point, for <I>woe
|
|
to that many by whom the Son of man is betrayed;</I> he is undone, for
|
|
every undone; his sin will soon <I>find him out;</I> and it were
|
|
<I>better for him that he had never been born,</I> and had never had a
|
|
being than such a miserable one as he must have. It is very probable
|
|
that Judas encouraged himself in it with <I>this</I> thought, that his
|
|
Master had often said he must be betrayed; "And if it must be done,
|
|
surely God <I>will not find fault</I> with him that doth it, for who
|
|
<I>hath resisted his will?</I>" As that objector argues,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:19">Rom. ix. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
But Christ tells him that this will be no shelter or excuse to him;
|
|
<I>The Son of man indeed goes; as it is written of him,</I> as a lamb
|
|
to the slaughter; but <I>woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.</I>
|
|
God's decree to permit the sins of men, and bring glory to himself out
|
|
of them, do neither necessitate their sins, nor determine to them, nor
|
|
will they be any <I>excuse</I> of the sin, or <I>mitigation</I> of the
|
|
punishment. Christ was delivered indeed by <I>the determinate counsel
|
|
and fore-knowledge of God;</I> but, notwithstanding that, it is <I>with
|
|
wicked hands that he is crucified and slain,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:23">Acts ii. 23</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The institution of the Lord's supper.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It was instituted in the close of a <I>supper,</I> when they were
|
|
sufficiently fed with the <I>paschal lamb,</I> to show that in the
|
|
Lord's supper there is no <I>bodily repast</I> intended; to preface it
|
|
with such a thing, is to revive Moses again. But it is food for <I>the
|
|
soul</I> only, and therefore a very little of that which is for the
|
|
body, as much as will serve for a <I>sign,</I> is enough. It was at the
|
|
close of the <I>passover-supper,</I> which by this was evangelized, and
|
|
then superseded and set aside. Much of the doctrine and duty of the
|
|
eucharist is illustrated to us by the law of the passover
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:1-36">Exod. xii.</A>);
|
|
|
|
for the Old-Testament institutions, though they do not <I>bind us,</I>
|
|
yet <I>instruct</I> us, by the help of a gospel-key to them. And these
|
|
two ordinances lying here so near together, it may be good to compare
|
|
them, and observe how much shorter and plainer the institution of the
|
|
Lord's supper is, than that of the passover was. Christ's yoke is easy
|
|
in comparison with that of the ceremonial law, and his ordinances are
|
|
more spiritual.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. It was instituted by the <I>example</I> of Christ himself; not with
|
|
the ceremony and solemnity of a law, as the ordinance of baptism was,
|
|
after Christ's resurrection
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:19">Matt. xxviii. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
with, <I>Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid,</I> by a power given
|
|
to Christ <I>in heaven and on earth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
but by the practice of our Master himself, because intended for those
|
|
who are already his disciples, and taken into covenant with him: but it
|
|
has the obligation of the law, and was intended to remain in full
|
|
force, power, and virtue, till his second coming.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. It was instituted with <I>blessing</I> and <I>giving of thanks;</I>
|
|
the gifts of common providence are to be so received
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:4,5">1 Tim. iv. 4, 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more than the gifts of special grace. He <I>blessed</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>gave thanks,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
At his other meals, he was wont to <I>bless,</I> and <I>give thanks</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+6:41,8:7"><I>ch.</I> vi. 41; viii. 7</A>)
|
|
|
|
so remarkably, that he was known by it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:30,31">Luke xxiv. 30, 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
And he did the same at this meal.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. It was instituted to be a <I>memorial</I> of his <I>death;</I> and
|
|
therefore he <I>broke</I> the bread, to show how it pleased the Lord to
|
|
<I>bruise him;</I> and he called the <I>wine,</I> which is the blood of
|
|
the grape, the <I>blood of the New Testament.</I> The death Christ died
|
|
was a <I>bloody death,</I> and frequent mention is made of the
|
|
<I>blood,</I> the <I>precious</I> blood, as the pride of our
|
|
redemption; for the blood is <I>the life,</I> and made <I>atonement for
|
|
the soul,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+17:11-14">Lev. xvii. 11-14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The pouring out of the blood was the most sensible indication of the
|
|
<I>pouring out of his soul,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:12">Isa. liii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Blood has a <I>voice</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+4:10">Gen. iv. 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
and <I>therefore</I> blood is so often mentioned, because it was to
|
|
<I>speak,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:24">Heb. xii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is called the <I>blood of the New Testament;</I> for the covenant of
|
|
grace became a <I>testament,</I> and of force by the death of Christ,
|
|
the testator,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:16">Heb. ix. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is said to be <I>shed for many,</I> to justify <I>many</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:11">Isa. liii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
to bring <I>many</I> sons to glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:10">Heb. ii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was sufficient for <I>many,</I> being of infinite value; it has been
|
|
of use to <I>many;</I> we read of a great multitude which no man could
|
|
number, that had all <I>washed their robes, and made them white in the
|
|
blood of the Lamb</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+7:9-14">Rev. vii. 9-14</A>);
|
|
|
|
and still it is a <I>fountain opened.</I> How comfortable is this to
|
|
poor repenting sinners, that the blood of Christ is <I>shed for
|
|
many!</I> And if for <I>many,</I> why not for <I>me?</I> If for
|
|
sinners, sinners of the Gentiles, the chief of sinners, then <I>why not
|
|
for me?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. It was instituted to be a <I>ratification</I> of the covenant made
|
|
with us in him, and a sign of the conveyance of those benefits to us,
|
|
which were purchased for us by his death; and therefore he broke the
|
|
bread <I>to them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and said, <I>Take, eat</I> of it: he gave the cup <I>to them,</I> and
|
|
ordered them to <I>drink of it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves, and let it be
|
|
<I>meat</I> and <I>drink</I> to your souls, strengthening, nourishing,
|
|
and refreshing, to you, and the support and comfort of your spiritual
|
|
life.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. It was instituted with an eye to the happiness of heaven, and to be
|
|
an earnest and fore-taste of that, and thereby to put our mouths out of
|
|
taste for all the pleasures and delights of sense
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine,</I> as it is a bodily
|
|
refreshment. I have done with it. <I>No one, having tasted
|
|
spiritual</I> delights, <I>straightway desires</I> sensitive ones, for
|
|
he saith, The <I>spiritual</I> is better
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:39">Luke v. 39</A>);
|
|
|
|
but <I>every one</I> that hath tasted <I>spiritual</I> delights,
|
|
straightway desires <I>eternal</I> ones, for he saith, Those are
|
|
<I>better still;</I> and therefore let me <I>drink no more of the fruit
|
|
of the vine,</I> it is dead and flat to those that have been made to
|
|
<I>drink</I> of the <I>river</I> of God's pleasures; but, Lord, hasten
|
|
the day, when I shall <I>drink</I> it new and fresh <I>in the kingdom
|
|
of God,</I> where it shall be for ever new, and in perfection.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. It was closed with a <I>hymn,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though Christ was in the midst of his enemies, yet he did not, for fear
|
|
of them, omit this sweet duty of singing psalms. Paul and Silas sang,
|
|
when the <I>prisoners heard them.</I> This was an <I>evangelical
|
|
song,</I> and gospel times are often spoken of in the Old Testament, as
|
|
times of rejoicing, and praise is expressed by <I>singing.</I> This was
|
|
Christ's <I>swan-like</I> song, which he sung just before he entered
|
|
upon his agony; probably, that which is usually sung,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+113:1-118:29">Ps. cxiii. to cxviii</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Christ's discourse with his disciples, as they were returning to
|
|
Bethany by moonlight. When the had <I>sung the hymn,</I> presently they
|
|
<I>went out.</I> It was now near bedtime, but our Lord Jesus had his
|
|
heart so much upon his suffering, that he would not <I>come into the
|
|
tabernacle of his house,</I> nor<I>go up into his bed,</I> nor <I>give
|
|
sleep to his eyes,</I> when that work was to be done,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+132:3,4">Ps. cxxxii. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Israelites were forbidden to go out of their houses the night that
|
|
they ate the passover, for fear of the sword of the destroying angel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:22,23">Exod. xii. 22, 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
But because Christ, the <I>great shepherd,</I> was to be
|
|
<I>smitten,</I> he <I>went out</I> purposely to expose himself to the
|
|
sword, as a champion; they <I>evaded</I> the destroyer, but Christ
|
|
<I>conquered</I> him, and brought <I>destructions to a perpetual
|
|
end.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ here foretels that in his sufferings he should be
|
|
<I>deserted</I> by all his disciples; "<I>You will all be offended
|
|
because of me, this night.</I> I know you will
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
and what I tell you now, is no other than what the scripture has told
|
|
you before; <I>I will smite the shepherd,</I> and then <I>the sheep
|
|
will be scattered.</I>" Christ knew this before, and yet welcomed them
|
|
at his table; he sees the falls and miscarriages of his disciples, and
|
|
yet doth not refuse them. Nor should we be discouraged from coming to
|
|
the Lord's supper, by the fear of relapsing into sin afterward; but,
|
|
the greater of our danger is, the more need we have to fortify
|
|
ourselves by the diligent conscientious use of holy ordinances. Christ
|
|
tells them that they would be <I>offended in him,</I> would begin to
|
|
question whether he were the Messiah or no, when they saw him
|
|
<I>overpowered</I> by his enemies. Hitherto, they had <I>continued with
|
|
him in his temptations;</I> though they had sometimes offended him, yet
|
|
they had not been <I>offended in him,</I> nor turned the back upon him;
|
|
but now the storm would be so great, that they would all <I>slip their
|
|
anchors,</I> and be in danger of <I>shipwreck.</I> Some trials are more
|
|
particular (as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:10">Rev. ii. 10</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>The devil shall cast some of you into prison</I>); but others are
|
|
more general, an <I>hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
|
|
world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:10">Rev. iii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
The <I>smiting</I> of the shepherd is often the <I>scattering</I> of
|
|
the sheep: magistrates, ministers, masters of families, if these are,
|
|
as they should be, <I>shepherds</I> to those under their charge, when
|
|
any thing comes amiss to them, the whole flock suffers for it, and is
|
|
endangered by it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
But Christ encourages them with a promise that they shall rally again,
|
|
shall return both to their duty and to their comfort
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>);
|
|
|
|
"<I>After I am risen,</I> I will <I>gather you in</I> from all the
|
|
places <I>wither you are scattered,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+34:12">Ezek. xxxiv. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
I will <I>go before you into Galilee,</I> will see our friends, and
|
|
enjoy one another there."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He foretels that he should be <I>denied</I> particularly by Peter.
|
|
When they <I>went out</I> to go to the mount of Olives, we may suppose
|
|
that they dropped Judas (he stole away from them), whereupon the rest
|
|
began to think <I>highly</I> of themselves, that they <I>stuck</I> to
|
|
their Master, when Judas quitted him. But Christ tells them, that
|
|
though they should be kept by his grace from Judas's apostasy, yet they
|
|
would have no reason to boast of their constancy. Note, Though God
|
|
keeps us from being as bad as the worst, yet we may well be ashamed to
|
|
think that we are not better than we are.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Peter is confident that he should not <I>do so ill</I> as the rest
|
|
of his disciples
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>Though all should be offended,</I> all his brethren here present,
|
|
<I>yet will not I.</I> He supposes himself not only stronger than
|
|
others, but so much stronger, as to be able to receive the shock of a
|
|
temptation, and bear up against it, <I>all alone;</I> to <I>stand,</I>
|
|
though nobody stood <I>by him.</I> It is bred in the bone with us, to
|
|
<I>think well</I> of ourselves, and <I>trust</I> to <I>our own
|
|
hearts.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Christ tells him that he will <I>do worse</I> than any of them.
|
|
They will all <I>desert</I> him, but he will <I>deny</I> him; not once,
|
|
but <I>thrice;</I> and that presently; "<I>This day, even this night
|
|
before the cock crow twice,</I> thou wilt <I>deny</I> that ever thou
|
|
hadst any knowledge of me, or acquaintance with me, as one ashamed and
|
|
afraid to own me."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He stands to his promise; "<I>If I should die with thee, I will
|
|
not deny thee;</I> I will adhere to thee, though it cost me my life:"
|
|
and, no doubt, he thought as he said. Judas said nothing like this,
|
|
when Christ told him he would betray him. He sinned by contrivance,
|
|
Peter by surprise; he <I>devised the wickedness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1">Mic. ii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
Peter was <I>overtaken in this fault,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+6:1">Gal. vi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was ill done of Peter, to contradict his Master. If he had said,
|
|
with fear and trembling, "Lord, give me grace to keep me from denying
|
|
thee, lead me not into this temptation, deliver me from this evil," it
|
|
might have been prevented: but they were all thus confident; they who
|
|
said, <I>Lord, is it I?</I> now said, <I>It shall never be me.</I>
|
|
Being acquitted from their fear of betraying Christ, they were now
|
|
secure. But he that thinks he stands, must learn to take heed lest he
|
|
fall; and he that <I>girdeth on the harness,</I> not boast <I>as though
|
|
he had put it off.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_42"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Agony in the Garden.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he
|
|
saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
|
|
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began
|
|
to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
|
|
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto
|
|
death: tarry ye here, and watch.
|
|
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and
|
|
prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
|
|
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things <I>are</I> possible unto
|
|
thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will,
|
|
but what thou wilt.
|
|
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto
|
|
Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
|
|
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit
|
|
truly <I>is</I> ready, but the flesh <I>is</I> weak.
|
|
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same
|
|
words.
|
|
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their
|
|
eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
|
|
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on
|
|
now, and take <I>your</I> rest: it is enough, the hour is come;
|
|
behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
|
|
42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ is here entering upon his sufferings, and begins with those
|
|
which were the sorest of all his sufferings, those in his <I>soul.</I>
|
|
Here we have him in his <I>agony;</I> this melancholy story we had in
|
|
Matthew; this <I>agony</I> in soul was the <I>wormwood and the gall</I>
|
|
in the <I>affliction and misery;</I> and thereby it appeared that no
|
|
sorrow was <I>forced upon him,</I> but that it was what he
|
|
<I>freely</I> admitted.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He retired for prayer; <I>Sit ye here</I> (saith he to his
|
|
disciples), while I go a little further, and <I>pray.</I> He had lately
|
|
prayed <I>with them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:1-26">John xvii.</A>);
|
|
|
|
and now he appoints them to withdraw while he goes to his Father upon
|
|
an errand peculiar to himself. Note, Our praying with our families will
|
|
not excuse our neglect of secret worship. When Jacob entered into his
|
|
agony, he first <I>sent over all that he had,</I> and was <I>left
|
|
alone,</I> and then <I>there wrestled a man with him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:23,24">Gen. xxxii. 23, 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
though he had been at prayer before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
it is likely, with his family.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Even into that retirement he took with him <I>Peter, and James, and
|
|
John</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
three competent witnesses of this part of his humiliation; and though
|
|
great spirits care not how few know any thing of their agonies, he was
|
|
not ashamed that they should see. These three had boasted most of their
|
|
ability and willingness to suffer with him; Peter here, in this
|
|
chapter, and James and John
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:39"><I>ch.</I> x. 39</A>);
|
|
|
|
and therefore Christ takes them to stand by, and see what a struggle he
|
|
had with the <I>bloody baptism</I> and the <I>bitter cup,</I> to
|
|
convince them that they knew not what they said. It is fit that they
|
|
who are most confident, should be <I>first</I> tried, that they may be
|
|
made sensible of their folly and weakness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. There he was in a tremendous agitation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>He began to be sore amazed</I>--<B><I>ekthambeisthai</I></B>, a word
|
|
not used in Matthew, but very significant; it bespeaks something like
|
|
that <I>horror of great darkness,</I> which <I>fell upon Abraham</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:12">Gen. xv. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
or, rather, something much worse, and more frightful. The <I>terrors
|
|
of God set themselves in array against him,</I> and he allowed himself
|
|
the actual and intense contemplation of them. Never was <I>sorrow</I>
|
|
like unto <I>his</I> at that time; never any had such experience as he
|
|
had from eternity of divine favours, and therefore never any had, or
|
|
could have, such a sense as he had of divine favours. Yet there was
|
|
not the least disorder or irregularity in this commotion of his
|
|
spirits; his affections rose not tumultuously, but under direction, and
|
|
as they were called up, for he had no corrupt nature to mix with them,
|
|
as we have. If water have a sediment at the bottom, though it may be
|
|
clear while it stands still, yet, when shaken, it grows muddy; so it is
|
|
with our affections: but pure water in a clean glass, though ever so
|
|
much stirred, continues clear; and so it was with Christ. Dr. Lightfoot
|
|
thinks it very probable that the devil did now appear to our Saviour in
|
|
a visible shape, in his <I>own shape</I> and <I>proper colour,</I> to
|
|
terrify and affright him, and to drive him from his hope in God (which
|
|
he aimed at in persecuting Job, a type of Christ, to make him <I>curse
|
|
God, and die</I>), and to deter him from the further prosecution of his
|
|
undertaking; whatever hindered him from that, he looked upon as coming
|
|
from Satan,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+16:23">Matt. xvi. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the devil had tempted him in the wilderness, it is said, He
|
|
departed <I>from him for a season</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:13">Luke iv. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
intending another grapple with him, and in another way; finding that he
|
|
could not by his flatteries <I>allure</I> him into sin, he would try by
|
|
his terrors to <I>affright</I> him into it, and so <I>make void</I> his
|
|
design.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He made a sad complaint of this agitation. He said, <I>My soul is
|
|
exceeding sorrowful.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. He was <I>made sin for us,</I> and therefore was thus
|
|
<I>sorrowful;</I> he fully knew the <I>malignity</I> of the <I>sins</I>
|
|
he was to <I>suffer for;</I> and having the highest degree of love to
|
|
God, who was <I>offended</I> by them, and of love to <I>man,</I> who
|
|
was damaged and endangered by them, now that those were set in order
|
|
before him, no marvel that <I>his soul</I> was <I>exceeding
|
|
sorrowful.</I> Now was he made to <I>serve with our sins,</I> and was
|
|
thus <I>wearied with our iniquities.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He <I>was made a curse</I> for us; the curses of the law were
|
|
transferred to him as our surety and representative, not as originally
|
|
<I>bound with us,</I> but a <I>bail to the action.</I> And when his
|
|
soul was thus exceeding sorrowful, he did, as it were, yield to them,
|
|
and lie down under the load, until by his death he had satisfied for
|
|
sin, and so for ever abolished the curse. He now <I>tasted death</I>
|
|
(as he is said to do,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:9">Heb. ii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
which is not an extenuating expression, as if he did <I>but</I> taste
|
|
it; no, he <I>drank up</I> even the dregs of the cup; but it is rather
|
|
<I>aggravating;</I> it did not go down by wholesale, but he
|
|
<I>tasted</I> all the bitterness of it. This was that <I>fear</I> which
|
|
the apostle speaks of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:7">Heb. v. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
a natural fear of pain and death, which it is natural to human nature
|
|
to startle at.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now the consideration of Christ's sufferings in <I>his soul,</I> and
|
|
his <I>sorrows</I> for us, should be of use to us,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) To <I>embitter our sins.</I> Can we ever entertain a
|
|
<I>favourable</I> or so much as a <I>slight</I> thought of sin, when we
|
|
see what impression sin (though but imputed) made upon the Lord Jesus?
|
|
Shall that <I>sit light</I> upon our souls, which sat <I>so heavy</I>
|
|
upon his? Was Christ in such an agony for our sins, and shall we never
|
|
be in an agony about them? How should we look upon him whom we have
|
|
<I>pressed,</I> whom we have <I>pierced,</I> and <I>mourn,</I> and be
|
|
<I>in bitterness!</I> It becomes us to be <I>exceeding sorrowful</I>
|
|
for sin, because Christ was so, and never to <I>make a mock</I> at it.
|
|
If Christ thus suffered for sin, let us <I>arm ourselves with the same
|
|
mind.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) To <I>sweeten our sorrows;</I> if our souls be at any time
|
|
<I>exceeding sorrowful,</I> through the afflictions of this present
|
|
time, let us remember that our Master was so before us, and the
|
|
<I>disciple is not greater than his Lord.</I> Why should we affect to
|
|
<I>drive away</I> sorrow, when Christ for our sakes courted it, and
|
|
submitted to it, and thereby not only took out the <I>sting</I> of it,
|
|
and made it <I>tolerable,</I> but put <I>virtue</I> into it, and made
|
|
it <I>profitable</I> (for <I>by the sadness of the countenance the
|
|
heart is made better</I>), nay, and put <I>sweetness</I> into it, and
|
|
made it comfortable. Blessed Paul was <I>sorrowful,</I> and yet
|
|
<I>always rejoicing.</I> If we be <I>exceeding sorrowful,</I> it is but
|
|
<I>unto death;</I> that will be the period of all our sorrows, if
|
|
Christ be <I>ours;</I> when the <I>eyes</I> are closed, all tears are
|
|
<I>wiped away</I> from them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. He ordered his disciples to keep with him, not because he needed
|
|
their help, but because he would have them to <I>look upon him and
|
|
receive instruction;</I> he said to them, <I>Tarry ye here and
|
|
watch.</I> He had said to the other disciples nothing but, Sit ye here
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>);
|
|
|
|
but these three he bids to tarry <I>and watch,</I> as expecting more
|
|
from them than from the rest.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. He addressed himself to God by prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>);
|
|
|
|
He <I>fell on the ground, and prayed.</I> It was but a little before
|
|
this, that in prayer he <I>lifted up his eyes</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:1">John xvii. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
but here, being in an agony, he <I>fell upon his face,</I>
|
|
accommodating himself to his present humiliation, and teaching us thus
|
|
to abase ourselves before God; it becomes us to <I>be low,</I> when we
|
|
come into the presence of the <I>Most High.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. As <I>Man,</I> he <I>deprecated</I> his sufferings, that, <I>if it
|
|
were possible, the hour might pass from him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>);
|
|
|
|
"This <I>short,</I> but <I>sharp</I> affliction, that which I am now
|
|
<I>this hour</I> to enter upon, let man's salvation be, <I>if
|
|
possible,</I> accomplished without it." We have his very words
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Abba, Father.</I> The Syriac word is here retained, which Christ
|
|
used, and which signifies <I>Father,</I> to intimate what an emphasis
|
|
our Lord Jesus, in his <I>sorrows,</I> laid upon it, and would have us
|
|
to lay. It is with an eye to this, that St. Paul retains this word,
|
|
putting it into the mouths of all that have the <I>Spirit of
|
|
adoption;</I> they are taught to cry, <I>Abba, Father,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:15,Ga+4:6">Rom. viii. 15; Gal. iv. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Father, <I>all things are possible to thee.</I> Note, Even that which
|
|
we cannot expect to be done for us, we ought yet to believe that God is
|
|
<I>able to do:</I> and when we submit to his will, and refer ourselves
|
|
to his wisdom and mercy, it must be with a believing acknowledgment of
|
|
his power, that <I>all things are possible to him.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. As <I>Mediator,</I> he <I>acquiesced</I> in the will of God
|
|
concerning them; "<I>Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou
|
|
wilt.</I> I know the matter is settled, and cannot be altered, <I>I
|
|
must suffer</I> and die, and I bid it welcome."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. He roused his disciples, who were dropped asleep while he was at
|
|
prayer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:37,38"><I>v.</I> 37, 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
He comes to look after them, since they did not look after him; and he
|
|
<I>finds them asleep,</I> so little affected were they with his
|
|
sorrows, his complaints, and prayers. This carelessness of theirs was a
|
|
presage of their further offence in deserting him; and it was an
|
|
aggravation of it, that he had so lately commended them for
|
|
<I>continuing with him in his temptations,</I> though they had not been
|
|
without their faults. Was he so willing to make the best of them, and
|
|
were they so indifferent in approving themselves to him? They had
|
|
lately promised not to be <I>offended in him;</I> what! and yet mind
|
|
him so little? He particularly upbraided Peter with his drowsiness;
|
|
<I>Simon, sleepest thou?</I> <B><I>Kai sy teknon</I></B>;--"<I>What
|
|
thou, my son?</I> Thou that didst so positively promise thou wouldest
|
|
not deny me, dost thou slight me thus? From thee I expected better
|
|
things. <I>Couldest thou not watch one hour?</I>" He did not require
|
|
him to watch <I>all night</I> with him, only for <I>one hour.</I> It
|
|
aggravates our faintness and short continuance in Christ's service,
|
|
that he doth not over-task us, nor weary us with it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:23">Isa. xliii. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
He puts upon us <I>no other burthen</I> than to <I>hold fast till he
|
|
comes</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:24,25">Rev. ii. 24, 25</A>);
|
|
|
|
and behold, <I>he comes quickly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:11">Rev. iii. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
As those whom Christ <I>loves</I> he <I>rebukes</I> when they do amiss,
|
|
so those whom he <I>rebukes</I> he counsels and comforts.
|
|
|
|
1. It was a very wise and faithful word of advice which Christ here
|
|
gave to his disciples; <I>Watch and pray, lest ye enter into
|
|
temptation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was bad to <I>sleep</I> when Christ was in his agony, but they were
|
|
entering into further temptation, and if they did not stir up
|
|
themselves, and fetch in grace and strength from God by prayer, they
|
|
would <I>do worse;</I> and so they did, when they all forsook him, and
|
|
fled.
|
|
|
|
2. It was a very kind and tender excuse that Christ made for them;
|
|
"<I>The spirit truly is willing;</I> I know it is, it is <I>ready,</I>
|
|
it is <I>forward;</I> you would willingly <I>keep awake,</I> but you
|
|
cannot." This may be taken as a reason for that exhortation, "<I>Watch
|
|
and pray;</I> because, though <I>the spirit is willing,</I> I grant it
|
|
is (you have sincerely resolved never to be <I>offended in me</I>), yet
|
|
<I>the flesh is weak,</I> and if you do not <I>watch</I> and
|
|
<I>pray,</I> and use the means of perseverance, you may be overcome,
|
|
notwithstanding." The consideration of the <I>weakness</I> and
|
|
infirmity of <I>our flesh</I> should engage and quicken us to
|
|
<I>prayer</I> and <I>watchfulness,</I> when we are entering into
|
|
temptation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. He <I>repeated</I> his address to his Father
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>He went again, and prayed,</I> saying, <B><I>ton auton
|
|
logon</I></B>--<I>the same word,</I> or matter, or business; he spoke
|
|
to the same purport, and again <I>the third time.</I> This teaches us,
|
|
that <I>men ought to pray, and not to faint,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:1">Luke xviii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though the answers to our prayers do not come quickly, yet we must
|
|
renew our requests, and <I>continue instant in prayer;</I> for <I>the
|
|
vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it shall speak, and not
|
|
lie,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:3">Hab. ii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Paul, when he was <I>buffeted by a messenger of Satan, besought the
|
|
Lord thrice,</I> as Christ did here, before he obtained an answer of
|
|
peace,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+12:7,8">2 Cor. xii. 7, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
A little before this, when Christ, in the <I>trouble of his soul,</I>
|
|
prayed, <I>Father, glorify thy name,</I> he had an immediate answer by
|
|
a voice from heaven, <I>I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it
|
|
yet again;</I> but now he must come a second and third time, for the
|
|
visits of God's grace, in answer to prayer, come sooner or later,
|
|
according to the pleasure of his will, that we may be kept
|
|
depending.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IX. He <I>repeated</I> his visits to his disciples. Thus he gave a
|
|
specimen of his continued care for his church on earth, even when it is
|
|
<I>half asleep,</I> and not duly concerned for itself, while he ever
|
|
lives making intercession with his Father <I>in heaven.</I> See how, as
|
|
became a <I>Mediator,</I> he passes and repasses between both. He came
|
|
the <I>second time</I> to his disciples, and <I>found them asleep
|
|
again,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
See how the infirmities of Christ's disciples <I>return</I> upon them,
|
|
notwithstanding their resolutions, and <I>overpower</I> them,
|
|
notwithstanding their resistance; and what clogs those bodies of ours
|
|
are to our souls, which should make us long for that blessed state in
|
|
which they shall be no more our encumbrance. This second time he spoke
|
|
to them as before, but <I>they wist not what to answer him;</I> they
|
|
were ashamed of their drowsiness, and had nothing to say in excuse for
|
|
it. Or, They were so overpowered with it, that, like men between
|
|
sleeping and waking, they knew not where they were, or what they said.
|
|
But, the <I>third time,</I> they were bid to <I>sleep</I> if they would
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>);
|
|
|
|
"<I>Sleep on now, and take your rest.</I> I have now no more occasion
|
|
for your watching, you may sleep, if you will, for me." <I>It is
|
|
enough;</I> we had not that word in Matthew. "You have had warning
|
|
enough to keep awake, and would not take it; and now you shall see what
|
|
little reason you have to be secure." <B><I>Apekei</I></B>, <I>I
|
|
discharge you</I> from any <I>further attendance;</I> so some
|
|
understand it; "Now <I>the hour is come,</I> in which I knew you would
|
|
all forsake me, even take your course;" as he said to Judas, <I>What
|
|
thou doest, do quickly.</I> The <I>Son of man</I> is now <I>betrayed
|
|
into the hands of sinners,</I> the chief priests and elders; those
|
|
<I>worst</I> of sinners, because they made a profession of sanctity.
|
|
"Come, <I>rise up,</I> do not lie dozing there. <I>Let us go</I> and
|
|
meet the enemy, for <I>lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand,</I> and I
|
|
must not now think of making an escape." When we see trouble at the
|
|
door, we are concerned to stir up ourselves to get ready for it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_52"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Treachery of Judas.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of
|
|
the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and
|
|
staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
|
|
44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying,
|
|
Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead
|
|
<I>him</I> away safely.
|
|
45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and
|
|
saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
|
|
46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
|
|
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a
|
|
servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
|
|
48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as
|
|
against a thief, with swords and <I>with</I> staves to take me?
|
|
49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me
|
|
not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
|
|
50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
|
|
51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen
|
|
cloth cast about <I>his</I> naked <I>body;</I> and the young men laid hold
|
|
on him:
|
|
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the <I>seizing</I> of our Lord Jesus by the officers of
|
|
the chief priests. This was what his enemies had long aimed at, they
|
|
had often sent to <I>take him;</I> but he had escaped out of their
|
|
hands, because <I>his hour was not come,</I> nor could they now have
|
|
taken him, had he not freely surrendered himself. He began first to
|
|
suffer <I>in his soul,</I> but afterward suffered in his body, that he
|
|
might satisfy for sin, which begins in the heart, but afterwards makes
|
|
the members of the body <I>instruments of unrighteousness.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here is a band of rude miscreants employed to <I>take</I> our Lord
|
|
Jesus and make him a prisoner; <I>a great multitude with swords and
|
|
staves.</I> There is no wickedness so black, no villany so horrid, but
|
|
there may be found among the children of men fit tools to be made use
|
|
of, that will not scruple to be employed; so miserably depraved and
|
|
vitiated is mankind. At the head of this rabble is Judas, <I>one of the
|
|
twelve,</I> one of those that had been many years intimately conversant
|
|
with our Lord Jesus, had prophesied in his name, and in his name cast
|
|
out devils, and yet <I>betrayed</I> him. It is no new thing for a very
|
|
fair and plausible profession to end in a shameful and fatal apostasy.
|
|
<I>How art thou fallen, O Lucifer!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Men of no less figure than the <I>chief priests, and the
|
|
scribes,</I> and <I>the elders,</I> sent them, and set them on work,
|
|
who pretended to expect the Messiah, and to be ready to welcome him;
|
|
and yet, when he <I>is come,</I> and has given undeniable proofs that
|
|
it is he that <I>should come,</I> because he doth not make court to
|
|
them, nor countenance and support their pomp and grandeur, because he
|
|
appears not as a temporal prince, but sets up a spiritual kingdom, and
|
|
preaches repentance, reformation, and a holy life, and directs men's
|
|
thoughts, and affections, and aims, to another world, they set
|
|
themselves against him, and, without giving the credentials he produces
|
|
an impartial examination, resolve to run him down.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Judas betrayed him <I>with a kiss;</I> abusing the freedom Christ
|
|
used to allow his disciples of kissing his cheek at their return when
|
|
they had been any time absent. He called him, <I>Master, Master, and
|
|
kissed him;</I> he said, <I>Rabbi, Rabbi,</I> as if he had been now
|
|
more respectful to him than ever. It is enough to put one for ever out
|
|
of conceit with being called of men <I>Rabbi, Rabbi</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:7">Matt. xxiii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
since it was with this compliment that Christ was betrayed. He bid them
|
|
take him, and <I>lead him away safely.</I> Some think that he spoke
|
|
this <I>ironically,</I> knowing that they could not secure him unless
|
|
he pleased, that this Samson could break their bonds asunder as threads
|
|
of tow, and make is escape, and then he should get the money, and
|
|
Christ the honour, and no harm done; and I should think so too, but
|
|
that Satan was <I>entered into him,</I> so that the worst and most
|
|
malicious intention of this action is not too black to be supposed.
|
|
Nay, he had often heard his Master say, that, being <I>betrayed,</I> he
|
|
should be <I>crucified,</I> and had no reason to think otherwise.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. They arrested him, and made him their prisoner
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>They laid their hands on him,</I> rude and violent hands, and
|
|
<I>took him</I> into custody; triumphing, it is likely, that they had
|
|
done that which has been often before attempted in vain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Peter laid about him in defence of his Master, and wounded one of
|
|
the assailants, being for the present mindful of his promise, to
|
|
venture his life with his Master. He was <I>one of them that stood
|
|
by,</I> of them that <I>were with him</I> (so the word signifies), of
|
|
<I>those three</I> disciples that were <I>with him</I> in the garden;
|
|
he <I>drew a sword,</I> and aimed, it is likely, to cut off the head,
|
|
but missed his blow, and only <I>cut off the ear,</I> of a servant of
|
|
the high priest,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is easier to <I>fight</I> for Christ, than to <I>die</I> for him;
|
|
but Christ's good soldiers overcome, not by taking other people's
|
|
lives, but by laying down their own,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:11">Rev. xii. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. Christ argues with them that had seized him, and shows them the
|
|
absurdity of their proceedings against him.
|
|
|
|
1. That they came out <I>against him,</I> as against a <I>thief,</I>
|
|
whereas he was <I>innocent</I> of any crime; he <I>taught daily in the
|
|
temple,</I> and if he had any wicked design, there it would some time
|
|
or other have been discovered; nay, these officers of the <I>chief
|
|
priests,</I> being <I>retainers</I> to the temple, may be supposed to
|
|
have heard his sermons there (I was <I>with you</I> in the temple); and
|
|
had he not taught them excellent doctrine, even his enemies themselves
|
|
being judges? Were not <I>all the words of his mouth in
|
|
righteousness?</I> Was there any thing <I>froward or perverse in
|
|
them?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:8">Prov. viii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
By his fruits he was known to be a good tree; why then did they come
|
|
out against him <I>as a thief?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. That they came to take him thus <I>privately,</I> whereas he was
|
|
neither <I>ashamed</I> nor <I>afraid</I> to appear <I>publicly</I> in
|
|
the temple. He was none of those <I>evil-doers</I> that <I>hate the
|
|
light,</I> neither come <I>to the light,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:20">John iii. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
If their masters had any thing to say to him, they might meet him any
|
|
day in the temple, where he was ready to answer all challenges, all
|
|
charges; and there they might do as they pleased with him, for the
|
|
priests had the custody of the temple, and the command of the guards
|
|
about it: but to come upon him thus at midnight, and in the place of
|
|
his retirement, was base and cowardly. This was to do as David's enemy,
|
|
that <I>sat in the lurking places of the villages, to murder the
|
|
innocent,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+10:8">Ps. x. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
But this was not all.
|
|
|
|
3. They came <I>with swords and staves,</I> as if he had been in arms
|
|
against the government, and must have the <I>posse comitatus</I> raised
|
|
to reduce him. There was no occasion for those weapons; but they made
|
|
this ado,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To secure themselves from the rage of some; they came armed,
|
|
because they <I>feared the people;</I> but thus <I>were they in great
|
|
fear, where no fear was,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+53:5">Ps. liii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) To expose him to the rage of others. By coming <I>with swords and
|
|
staves to take him,</I> they represented him to the people (who are apt
|
|
to take impressions this way) as a dangerous turbulent man, and so
|
|
endeavored to incense them against him, and make them cry out,
|
|
<I>Crucify him, crucify him,</I> having no other way to gain their
|
|
point.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. He reconciled himself to all this injurious, ignominious
|
|
treatment, by referring himself to the Old-Testament predictions of the
|
|
Messiah. I am hardly used, <I>but</I> I submit, for <I>the scriptures
|
|
must be fulfilled,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. See here what a regard Christ had to the <I>scriptures;</I> he would
|
|
bear any thing rather than that the least jot or tittle of the word of
|
|
God should fall to the ground; and as he had an eye to them in his
|
|
sufferings, so he has in his glory; for what is Christ doing in the
|
|
government of the world, but <I>fulfilling the scriptures?</I>
|
|
|
|
2. See what use we are to make of the Old Testament; we must search for
|
|
Christ, the true <I>treasure hid in that field:</I> as the history of
|
|
the New Testament expounds the prophecies of Old, so the prophecies of
|
|
the Old Testament illustrate the history of the New.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. All Christ's disciples, hereupon, deserted him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>They all forsook him, and fled.</I> They were very confident that
|
|
they should adhere to him; but even good men know not what they will
|
|
do, till they are tried. If it was such a comfort to him as he had
|
|
lately intimated, that they had hitherto <I>continued with him</I> in
|
|
his lesser trials
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:28">Luke xxii. 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
we may well imagine what a grief it was to him, that they deserted him
|
|
now in the greatest, when they might have done him some service--when
|
|
he was abused, to protect him, and when accused, to witness for him.
|
|
Let not those that suffer for Christ, think it strange, if they be thus
|
|
deserted, and if all the herd shun the wounded deer; they are not
|
|
better than their Master, nor can expect to be better used either by
|
|
their enemies or by their friends. When St. Paul was in peril, none
|
|
<I>stood by him,</I> but <I>all men forsook him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+4:16">2 Tim. iv. 16</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IX. The noise disturbed the neighbourhood, and some of the neighbours
|
|
were brought into danger by the riot,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:51,52"><I>v.</I> 51, 52</A>.
|
|
|
|
This passage of story we have not in any other of the evangelists. Here
|
|
is an account of a <I>certain young man,</I> who, as it should seem,
|
|
was no disciple of Christ, nor, as some have imagined, a servant of the
|
|
house wherein Christ had eaten the passover, who <I>followed him</I> to
|
|
see what would become of him (as the <I>sons of the prophets,</I> when
|
|
they understood that Elijah was to be <I>taken up,</I> went to <I>view
|
|
afar off,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+2:7">2 Kings ii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
but some young man that lived near the garden, perhaps in the house to
|
|
which the garden belonged. Now observe concerning him,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. How he was <I>frightened out of his bed,</I> to be a
|
|
<I>spectator</I> of Christ's sufferings. Such a <I>multitude,</I> so
|
|
armed, and coming with so much fury, and in the dead of night, and in a
|
|
quiet village, could not but produce a great stir; this alarmed our
|
|
<I>young man,</I> who perhaps thought they was some tumult or rising in
|
|
the city, some <I>uproar among the people,</I> and had the curiosity to
|
|
go, and see what the matter was, and was in such haste to inform
|
|
himself, that he could not stay to dress himself, but threw a sheet
|
|
about him, as if he would appear like a walking ghost, in grave
|
|
clothes, to frighten those who had frightened him, and ran among the
|
|
thickest of them with this question, <I>What is to do here?</I> Being
|
|
told, he had a mind to see the issue, having, no doubt, heard much of
|
|
the fame of this Jesus; and therefore, when all his disciples had
|
|
quitted him, he continued to <I>follow him,</I> desirous to <I>hear</I>
|
|
what he would say, and <I>see</I> what he would do. Some think that his
|
|
having no other garment than this <I>linen cloth</I> upon his naked
|
|
body, intimates that he was one of those Jews who made a great
|
|
profession of piety that their neighbours, in token of which, among
|
|
other instances of austerity and mortification of the body, they used
|
|
no clothes but one linen garment, which, though contrived to be modest
|
|
enough, was thin and cold. But I rather think that this was not his
|
|
constant wear.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. See how he was <I>frightened into his bed</I> again, when he was in
|
|
danger of being made a <I>sharer</I> in Christ's sufferings. His own
|
|
disciples had run away from him; but this young man, having no concern
|
|
for him, thought he might securely attend him, especially being so far
|
|
from being armed, that he was not so much as clothed; but <I>the young
|
|
men,</I> the Roman soldiers, who were called to assist, <I>laid hold of
|
|
him,</I> for all was fish that came to their net. Perhaps they were now
|
|
vexed at themselves, that they had suffered the disciples to <I>run
|
|
away,</I> and they being got out of their reach they resolved to seize
|
|
the first they could <I>lay their hands on;</I> though this young man
|
|
was perhaps one of the <I>strictest sect</I> of the Jewish church, yet
|
|
the Roman soldiers made no conscience of abusing him upon this
|
|
occasion. Finding himself in danger, he <I>left the linen cloth</I> by
|
|
which they had <I>caught hold of him,</I> and <I>fled away naked.</I>
|
|
This passage is recorded to show what a barbarous crew this was, that
|
|
was sent to seize Christ, and what a narrow escape the disciples had of
|
|
falling into their hands, out of which nothing could have kept them but
|
|
their Master's care of them; <I>If ye seek me, let these go their
|
|
way,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:8">John xviii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
It also intimates that there is <I>no hold</I> of those who are led by
|
|
curiosity only, and not by faith and conscience, to follow Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_53"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_54"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_56"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_57"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_58"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_59"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_60"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_61"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_62"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_63"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_64"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_65"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Brought before the High Priest.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him
|
|
were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the
|
|
scribes.
|
|
54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the
|
|
high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at
|
|
the fire.
|
|
55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness
|
|
against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
|
|
56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness
|
|
agreed not together.
|
|
57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him,
|
|
saying,
|
|
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made
|
|
with hands, and within three days I will build another made
|
|
without hands.
|
|
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
|
|
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus,
|
|
saying, Answerest thou nothing? what <I>is it which</I> these witness
|
|
against thee?
|
|
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high
|
|
priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son
|
|
of the Blessed?
|
|
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man
|
|
sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of
|
|
heaven.
|
|
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need
|
|
we any further witnesses?
|
|
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all
|
|
condemned him to be guilty of death.
|
|
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to
|
|
buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did
|
|
strike him with the palms of their hands.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here Christ's arraignment, trial, conviction, and condemnation,
|
|
in the <I>ecclesiastical</I> court, before the great sanhedrim, of
|
|
which the <I>high priest</I> was president, or judge of the court; the
|
|
same Caiaphas that had lately adjudged it expedient he should be put to
|
|
death, guilty or not guilty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:50">John xi. 50</A>),
|
|
|
|
and who therefore might justly be excepted against as partial.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ is hurried away to his <I>house,</I> his <I>palace</I> it is
|
|
called, such state did he live in. And there, though, in the dead of
|
|
the night, <I>all the chief priests, and elders, and scribes,</I> that
|
|
were in the secret, were <I>assembled,</I> ready to receive the prey;
|
|
so sure were they of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. <I>Peter followed</I> at a distance, such a degree of cowardice was
|
|
his late courage dwindled into,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
|
|
|
|
But when he came to the high priest's palace, he <I>sneakingly</I>
|
|
went, and <I>sat with the servants,</I> that he might not be suspected
|
|
to belong to Christ. The high priest's fire side was no proper place,
|
|
nor his servants proper company, for Peter, but it was his <I>entrance
|
|
into a temptation.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Great diligence was used to procure, for love or money, false
|
|
witnesses against Christ. They had seized him as a malefactor, and now
|
|
they had him they had no indictment to prefer against him, no crime to
|
|
lay to his charge, but they <I>sought for witnesses against him;</I>
|
|
pumped some with ensnaring questions, offered bribes to others, if they
|
|
<I>would accuse him,</I> and endeavored to frighten others, if they
|
|
<I>would not,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:55,56"><I>v.</I> 55, 56</A>.
|
|
|
|
The chief priests and elders were by the law entrusted with the
|
|
prosecuting and punishing of <I>false witnesses</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+19:16,17">Deut. xix. 16, 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
yet those were now ringleaders in a crime that tends to overthrow of
|
|
all justice. It is time to cry, <I>Help, Lord,</I> when the physicians
|
|
of a land are its troublers, and those that should be the conservators
|
|
of peace and equity, are the corrupters of both.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He was at length charged with words spoken some years ago, which,
|
|
as they were represented, seemed to threaten <I>the temple,</I> which
|
|
they had made no better than an idol of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:57,58"><I>v.</I> 57, 58</A>);
|
|
|
|
but the witnesses to this matter did not agree
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:59"><I>v.</I> 59</A>),
|
|
|
|
for one swore that he said, <I>I am able to destroy the temple of God,
|
|
and to build it in three days</I> (so it is in Matthew); the other
|
|
swore that he said, <I>I will destroy this temple, that is made with
|
|
hands,</I> and <I>within three days, I will build</I> not it, but
|
|
<I>another made without hands;</I> now these two differ much from each
|
|
other; <B><I>oude ise en he martyria</I></B>--<I>their testimony was
|
|
not sufficient,</I> nor equal to the charge of a capital crime; so Dr.
|
|
Hammond: they did not accuse him of that upon which a <I>sentence of
|
|
death</I> might be founded, no not by the utmost stretch of their
|
|
law.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. He was urged to be his own accuser
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>);
|
|
|
|
The <I>high priest stood up</I> in a heat, and said, <I>Answerest thou
|
|
nothing?</I> This he said under pretence of justice and fair dealing,
|
|
but really with a design to ensnare him, that they might <I>accuse
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:53,54,20:20">Luke xi. 53, 54; xx. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
We may well imagine with what an air of haughtiness and disdain this
|
|
proud high priest brought our Lord Jesus to this question; "Come you,
|
|
the prisoner at the bar, you hear what is sworn against you; what have
|
|
you now to say for yourself?" Pleased to think that <I>he</I> seemed
|
|
silent, who had so often silenced those that picked quarrels with him.
|
|
Still Christ <I>answered nothing,</I> that he might set us an example,
|
|
|
|
1. Of <I>patience</I> under calumnies and false accusations; when we
|
|
are <I>reviled,</I> let us not <I>revile again,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:23">1 Pet. ii. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
And,
|
|
|
|
2. Of <I>prudence,</I> when a man shall be made an <I>offender for a
|
|
word</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+29:21">Isa. xxix. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
and our <I>de</I>fence made our <I>of</I>fence; it is an evil time
|
|
indeed when the prudent shall <I>keep silence</I> (lest they make bad
|
|
worse), <I>and commit their cause to him that judgeth righteously.</I>
|
|
But,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. When he was asked <I>whether he was the Christ,</I> he confessed,
|
|
and denied not, that <I>he was,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:61,62"><I>v.</I> 61, 62</A>.
|
|
|
|
He asked, <I>Art thou the Son of the Blessed?</I> that is the Son of
|
|
<I>God?</I> for, as Dr. Hammond observes, the Jews, when they named
|
|
<I>God,</I> generally added, <I>blessed for ever;</I> and thence <I>the
|
|
Blessed</I> is the title of <I>God,</I> a peculiar title, and applied
|
|
to Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:5">Rom. ix. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
And for the proof of his being the <I>Son of God,</I> he binds them
|
|
over to his second coming; "<I>Ye shall see the Son of man sitting on
|
|
the right hand of power;</I> that <I>Son of man</I> that now appears so
|
|
mean and despicable, whom ye <I>see</I> and trample upon
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:2,3">Isa. liii. 2, 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
you shall shortly see and <I>tremble before.</I>" Now, one would think
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|
that such a word as this which our Lord Jesus seems to have spoken with
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|
a grandeur and majesty not agreeable to his present appearance (for
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|
through the thickest cloud of his humiliation some rays of glory were
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|
still darted forth), should have startled the court, and at least, in
|
|
the opinion of some of them, should have amounted to a <I>demurrer,</I>
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or <I>arrest of judgment,</I> and that they should have stayed process
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|
till they had considered further of it; when Paul at the bar reasoned
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|
of the <I>judgment to come,</I> the judge <I>trembled,</I> and
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|
adjourned the trial,
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+24:25">Acts xxiv. 25</A>.
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But these chief priests were so miserably blinded with malice and rage,
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that, like the horse rushing into the battle, they <I>mocked at fear,
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and were not affrighted,</I> neither <I>believed they that it was the
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|
sound of the trumpet,</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+39:22,24">Job xxxix. 22, 24</A>.
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|
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And see
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+15:25,26">Job xv. 25, 26</A>.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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VII. The high priest, upon this confession of his, convicted him as a
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<I>blasphemer</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:63"><I>v.</I> 63</A>);
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|
|
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He <I>rent his clothes</I>--<B><I>chitonas autou</I></B>. Some think
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|
the word signifies his pontifical vestments, which, for the greater
|
|
state, he had put on, though in the night, upon this occasion. As
|
|
before, in his enmity to Christ, he said he knew not what
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:51,52">John xi. 51, 52</A>),
|
|
|
|
so now he did he knew not what. If Saul's rending Samuel's mantle was
|
|
made to signify the rending of the kingdom from him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:27,28">1 Sam. xv. 27, 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more did Caiaphas's rending his own clothes signify the rending of
|
|
the priesthood from him, as the rending of the veil, at Christ's death,
|
|
signified the throwing of all open. Christ's clothes, even when he was
|
|
crucified, were kept entire, and not rent: for when the Levitical
|
|
priesthood was rent in pieces and done away, <I>This Man, because he
|
|
continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. They agreed that he was a blasphemer, and, as such, was guilty of
|
|
a capital crime,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:64"><I>v.</I> 64</A>.
|
|
|
|
The question <I>seemed</I> to be put fairly, <I>What think ye?</I> But
|
|
it was really <I>prejudged,</I> for the high priest had said, <I>Ye
|
|
have heard the blasphemy;</I> he gave judgment first, who, as president
|
|
of the court, ought to have voted last. So they <I>all condemned
|
|
him</I> to be <I>guilty of death;</I> what friends he had in the great
|
|
sanhedrim, did not appear, it is probable that they had not notice.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IX. They set themselves to abuse him, and, as the Philistines with
|
|
Samson, to make sport with him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:65"><I>v.</I> 65</A>.
|
|
|
|
It should seem that some of the priests themselves that had condemned
|
|
him, so far forgot the dignity, as well as duty, of their place, and
|
|
the gravity which became them, that they helped their servants in
|
|
playing the fool with a condemned prisoner. This they made their
|
|
diversion, while they <I>waited for the morning,</I> to complete their
|
|
villany. That <I>night of observations</I> (as the passover-night was
|
|
called) they <I>made a merry night of.</I> If they did not think it
|
|
below them to abuse Christ, shall we think any thing below us, by which
|
|
we may do him honour?</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_66"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_67"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_68"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_69"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_70"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_71"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr14_72"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Peter's Fall.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of
|
|
the maids of the high priest:
|
|
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him,
|
|
and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
|
|
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what
|
|
thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
|
|
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that
|
|
stood by, This is <I>one</I> of them.
|
|
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood
|
|
by said again to Peter, Surely thou art <I>one</I> of them: for thou
|
|
art a Galilæan, and thy speech agreeth <I>thereto.</I>
|
|
71 But he began to curse and to swear, <I>saying,</I> I know not
|
|
this man of whom ye speak.
|
|
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind
|
|
the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice,
|
|
thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the story of Peter's denying Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It began in <I>keeping at a distance</I> from him. Peter had
|
|
followed <I>afar off</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>),
|
|
|
|
and now was <I>beneath in the palace,</I> at the lower end of the hall.
|
|
Those that are <I>shy</I> of Christ, are in a fair way to <I>deny</I>
|
|
him, that are shy of attending on holy ordinances, shy of the communion
|
|
of the faithful, and loth to be seen on the side of despised
|
|
godliness.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. It was occasioned by his associating with the high priest's
|
|
servants, and sitting among them. They that think it dangerous to be in
|
|
company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to
|
|
<I>suffer for him,</I> will find it much more dangerous to be in
|
|
company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to <I>sin
|
|
against him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The temptation was, his being charged as a disciple of Christ;
|
|
<I>Thou also wert with Jesus of Nazareth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:67"><I>v.</I> 67</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>This is one of them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:69"><I>v.</I> 69</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>for thou art a Galilean,</I> one may know that by thy speaking
|
|
broad,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:70"><I>v.</I> 70</A>.
|
|
|
|
It doth not appear that he was <I>challenged</I> upon it, or in danger
|
|
of being <I>prosecuted</I> as a criminal for it, but only
|
|
<I>bantered</I> upon it, and in danger of being ridiculed as a fool for
|
|
it. While the chief priests were abusing the Master, the servants were
|
|
abusing the disciples. Sometimes the cause of Christ seems to fall so
|
|
much on the losing side, that every body has a stone to throw at it,
|
|
and even the <I>abjects gather themselves together against</I> it. When
|
|
Job was on the dunghill, he was had in derision of those that were the
|
|
<I>children of base men,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+30:8">Job xxx. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet, all things considered, the temptation could not be called
|
|
<I>formidable;</I> it was only a <I>maid</I> that casually cast her eye
|
|
upon him, and, for aught that appears, without design of giving him any
|
|
trouble, said, <I>Thou art one of them,</I> to which he needed not to
|
|
have made any reply, or might have said, "And if I be, I hope that is
|
|
no treason."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The sin was very great; he <I>denied Christ before men,</I> at a
|
|
time when he ought to have confessed and owned him, and to have
|
|
appeared in court a witness for him. Christ had often given notice to
|
|
his disciples of his own sufferings; yet, when they came, they were to
|
|
Peter as great a surprise and terror as if he had never heard of them
|
|
before. He had often told them that they must <I>suffer</I> for him,
|
|
must <I>take up their cross,</I> and follow him; and yet Peter is so
|
|
terribly afraid of suffering, upon the very first alarm of it, that he
|
|
will lie and swear, and do any thing, to avoid it. When Christ was
|
|
admired and flocked after, he could readily own him; but now that he is
|
|
deserted, and despised, and run down, he is ashamed of him, and will
|
|
own no relation to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. His repentance was very speedy. He repeated his denial thrice, and
|
|
the third was worst of all, for then he <I>cursed</I> and <I>swore,</I>
|
|
to confirm his denial; and that the third blow, which, one would think,
|
|
should have <I>stunned him,</I> and knocked him down, <I>startled
|
|
him,</I> and roused him up. Then the <I>cock crew</I> the second time,
|
|
which put him in mind of his Master's words, the warning he had given
|
|
him, with that particular circumstance of the <I>cock crowing
|
|
twice;</I> by recollecting that, he was made sensible of his sin and
|
|
the aggravations of it; and when he thought thereon, he wept. Some
|
|
observe that this evangelist, who wrote, as some have thought, by St.
|
|
Peter's direction, speaks as fully of Peter's sin as any of them, but
|
|
more briefly of his <I>sorrow,</I> which Peter, in modesty, would not
|
|
have to be magnified, and because he thought he could never sorrow
|
|
enough for great a sin. His repentance here is thus expressed,
|
|
<B><I>epibalon eklaie</I></B>, where something must be supplied. He
|
|
<I>added to weep,</I> so some; making it a Hebraism; he wept, and the
|
|
more he thought of it, the more he wept; he continued weeping; he
|
|
<I>flung out,</I> and wept; <I>burst out</I> into tears; <I>threw
|
|
himself down,</I> and wept; he <I>covered his face,</I> and wept, so
|
|
some; cast his garment about his head, that he might not be seen to
|
|
weep; he <I>cast his eyes</I> upon his Master, who turned, and looked
|
|
upon him; so Dr. Hammond supplies it, and it is a probable conjecture.
|
|
Or, as we understand it, <I>fixing his mind upon it,</I> he wept. It is
|
|
not a transient thought of that which is humbling, that will suffice,
|
|
but we must dwell upon it. Or, what if this word should mean his
|
|
<I>laying a load</I> upon himself, throwing a confusion into his own
|
|
face? he did as the <I>publican</I> that smote his breast, in sorrow
|
|
for sin; and this amounts to his weeping bitterly.</P>
|
|
|
|
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