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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Luke VI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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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>L U K E.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. VI.</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 we have Christ's exposition of the moral law, which he
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came not to destroy, but to fulfil, and to fill up, by his gospel.
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I. Here is a proof of the lawfulness of works of necessity and mercy
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on the sabbath day, the former in vindication of his disciples'
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plucking the ears of corn, the latter in vindication of himself healing
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the withered hand on that day,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. His retirement for secret prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:12">ver. 12</A>.
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III. His calling his twelve apostles,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:13-16">ver. 13-16</A>.
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IV. His curing the multitudes of those under various diseases who made
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their application to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:17-19">ver. 17-19</A>.
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V. The sermon that he preached to his disciples and the multitude,
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instructing them in their duty both to God and man,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:20-49">ver. 20-49</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu6_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_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>Works of Mercy Suited to the Sabbath.</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 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first,
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that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked
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the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing <I>them</I> in <I>their</I> hands.
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2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that
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which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
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3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as
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this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which
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were with him;
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4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the
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showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is
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not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
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5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of
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the sabbath.
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6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered
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into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right
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hand was withered.
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7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would
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heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation
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against him.
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8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the
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withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he
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arose and stood forth.
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9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it
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lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save
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life, or to destroy <I>it?</I>
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10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man,
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Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored
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whole as the other.
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11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with
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another what they might do to Jesus.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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These two passages of story we had both in Matthew and Mark, and they
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were there laid together
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:1,Mk+2:23,3:1">Matt. xii. 1; Mark ii. 23; iii. 1</A>),
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because, though happening at some distance of time from each other,
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both were designed to rectify the mistakes of the scribes and Pharisees
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concerning the sabbath day, on the <I>bodily rest</I> of which they
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laid greater stress and required greater strictness than the Law-giver
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intended. Here,</P>
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<P>
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I. Christ justifies his disciples in a <I>work of necessity</I> for
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themselves on that day, and that was <I>plucking the ears of corn,</I>
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when they were hungry on that day. This story here has a date, which we
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had not in the other evangelists; it was <I>on the second sabbath after
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the first</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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that is, as Dr. Whitby thinks is pretty clear, the <I>first sabbath
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after the second day of unleavened bread,</I> from which day they
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reckoned the <I>seven weeks</I> to the feast of pentecost; the first of
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which they called <B><I>Sabbaton deuteroproton</I></B>, the second
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<B><I>deuterodeuteron</I></B>, and so on. Blessed be God we need not be
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critical in this matter. Whether this circumstance be mentioned to
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intimate that this sabbath was thought to have some peculiar honour
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upon it, which aggravated the offence of the disciples, or only to
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intimate that, being the first sabbath after the offering of the first
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fruits, it was the time of the year when the corn was nearly ripe, is
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not material. We may observe,
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1. Christ's disciples ought not to be nice and curious in their diet,
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at any time, especially on sabbath days, but take up with what is
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easiest got, and be thankful. These disciples <I>plucked the ears of
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corn, and did eat</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
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a little served them, and that which had no delicacy in it.
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2. Many that are themselves guilty of the greatest crimes are forward
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to censure others for the most innocent and inoffensive actions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The Pharisees quarrelled with them as doing that which it <I>was not
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lawful to do on the sabbath days,</I> when it was their own practice to
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feed deliciously on sabbath days, more than on all other days.
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3. Jesus Christ will justify his disciples when they are unjustly
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censured, and will own and accept of them in many a thing which men
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tell them <I>it is not lawful for them to do.</I> How well is it for us
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that men are not to be our judges, and that Christ will be our
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Advocate!
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4. Ceremonial appointments may be dispensed with, in cases of
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necessity; as the appropriating of the showbread to the priests was
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dispensed with, when David was by Providence brought into such a strait
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that he must have either that or none,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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And, if God's own appointments might be thus set aside for a greater
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good, much more may the traditions of men.
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5. Works of necessity are particularly allowable on the sabbath day;
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but we must take heed that we turn not this liberty into
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licentiousness, and abuse God's favourable concessions and
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condescensions to the prejudice of the work of the day.
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6. Jesus Christ, though he allowed works of necessity on the sabbath
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day, will notwithstanding have us to know and remember that it is his
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day, and therefore is to be spent in his service and to his honour
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.</I> In the kingdom of
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the Redeemer, the sabbath day is to be turned into a <I>Lord's day;</I>
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the property of it is, in some respects, to be altered, and it is to be
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observed chiefly in honour of the Redeemer, as it had been before in
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honour of the Creator,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+16:14,15">Jer. xvi. 14, 15</A>.
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In token of this, it shall not only have a new name, the <I>Lord's
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day</I> (yet not forgetting the old, for it is a sabbath of rest still)
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but shall be transferred to a new day, the first day of the week.</P>
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<P>
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II. He justifies himself in doing <I>works of mercy</I> for others on
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the sabbath day. Observe in this,
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1. Christ on the sabbath day <I>entered into the synagogue.</I> Note,
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It is our duty, as we have opportunity, to sanctify sabbaths in
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religious assemblies. On the sabbath there ought to be a <I>holy
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convocation;</I> and our place must not be empty without very good
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reason.
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2. In the synagogue, on the sabbath day, <I>he taught.</I> Giving and
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receiving instruction from Christ is very proper work for a sabbath
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day, and for a <I>synagogue.</I> Christ took all opportunities to
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teach, not only his disciples, but the multitude.
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3. Christ's patient was one of his hearers. <I>A man whose right hand
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was withered</I> came to learn from Christ. Whether he had any
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expectation to be healed by him does not appear. But those that would
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be <I>cured</I> by the grace of Christ must be willing to <I>learn</I>
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the doctrine of Christ.
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4. Among those who were the hearers of Christ's excellent doctrine,
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and the eye-witnesses of his glorious miracles, there were some who
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came with no other design than to pick quarrels with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The scribes and Pharisees would not, as became <I>generous</I>
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adversaries, give him fair warning that, if he did <I>heal</I> on the
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sabbath day, they would construe it into a violation of the fourth
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commandment, which they ought in honour and justice to have done,
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because it was a case <I>without precedent</I> (none having ever cured
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as he did), but they basely <I>watched him,</I> as the lion does his
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prey, whether he would <I>heal on the sabbath day, that they might find
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an accusation against him,</I> and surprise him with a prosecution.
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5. Jesus Christ was neither <I>ashamed</I> nor <I>afraid</I> to own
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the purposes of his grace, in the face of those who, he knew,
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confronted them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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<I>He knew their faults,</I> and what they designed, and he bade the
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man <I>rise, and stand forth,</I> hereby to try the patient's faith and
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boldness.
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6. He appealed to his adversaries themselves, and to the convictions of
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natural conscience, whether it was the design of the fourth commandment
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to restrain men from doing good on the sabbath day, that good which
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their hand finds to do, which they have an opportunity for, and which
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cannot so well be put off to another time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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<I>Is it lawful to do good, or evil, on the sabbath days?</I> No wicked
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men are such <I>absurd</I> and <I>unreasonable</I> men as
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<I>persecutors</I> are, who study to <I>do evil</I> to men for <I>doing
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good.</I>
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7. He healed the poor man, and restored him to the present use of his
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right hand, with a word's speaking, though he knew that his enemies
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would not only take offence at it, but take advantage against him for
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it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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Let not us be drawn off, either from our duty or usefulness, by the
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oppression we meet with in it.
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8. His adversaries were hereby enraged so much the more against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Instead of being convinced by this miracle, as they ought to have been,
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that he was a teacher come from God,--instead of being brought to be in
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love with him as a benefactor to mankind,--they were <I>filled with
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madness,</I> vexed that they could not frighten him from doing good, or
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hinder the growth of his interest in the affections of the people. They
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were <I>mad</I> at Christ, <I>mad</I> at the people, <I>mad</I> at
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themselves. Anger is a <I>short madness,</I> malice is a <I>long</I>
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one; <I>impotent</I> malice, especially <I>disappointed</I> malice;
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such was theirs. When they could not prevent his working this miracle,
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they <I>communed one with another what they might do to Jesus,</I> what
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other way they might take to run him down. We may well stand amazed at
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it that the sons of men should be so wicked as to do thus, and that the
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Son of God should be so patient as to suffer it.</P>
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<A NAME="Lu6_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu6_19"> </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 Twelve Apostles Chosen.</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 it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a
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mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
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13 And when it was day, he called <I>unto him</I> his disciples: and
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of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
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14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother,
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James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
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15 Matthew and Thomas, James the <I>son</I> of Alphæus, and Simon
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called Zelotes,
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16 And Judas <I>the brother</I> of James, and Judas Iscariot, which
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also was the traitor.
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17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the
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company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of
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all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and
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Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their
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diseases;
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18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were
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healed.
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19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went
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virtue out of him, and healed <I>them</I> all.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses, we have our Lord Jesus in <I>secret,</I> in <I>his
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family,</I> and in <I>public;</I> and in all three acting like
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himself.</P>
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<P>
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I. In <I>secret</I> we have him <I>praying to God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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This evangelist takes frequent notice of Christ's retirements, to give
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us an example of secret prayer, by which we must keep up our communion
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with God daily, and without which it is impossible that the soul should
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prosper. <I>In those days,</I> when his enemies were filled with
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madness against him, and were contriving what to do to him, he went out
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to <I>pray;</I> that he might answer the type of David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+109:4">Ps. cix. 4</A>),
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<I>For my love, they are my adversaries; but I give myself unto
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prayer.</I> Observe,
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1. He was <I>alone</I> with God; he <I>went out into a mountain, to
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pray,</I> where he might have no disturbance or interruption given him;
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we are never less alone than when we are <I>thus</I> alone. Whether
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there was any convenient place built upon this mountain, for devout
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people to retire to for their private devotions, as some think, and
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that that <I>oratory,</I> or <I>place of prayer,</I> is meant here by
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<B><I>he proseuche tou theou</I></B>, to me seems very uncertain. He
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went into a mountain for privacy, and therefore, probably, would not go
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to a place frequented by others.
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2. He was <I>long</I> alone with God: <I>He continued all night in
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prayer.</I> We think one half hour a great deal to spend in the
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<I>duties of the closet;</I> but Christ continued a <I>whole night</I>
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in meditation and secret prayer. We have a great deal of
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<I>business</I> at the throne of grace, and we should take a great
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<I>delight</I> in communion with God, and by both these we may be kept
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sometimes long at prayer.</P>
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<P>
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II. In his <I>family</I> we have him nominating his immediate
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attendants, that should be the constant auditors of his doctrine and
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eye-witnesses of his miracles, that hereafter they might be sent forth
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as <I>apostles,</I> his <I>messengers</I> to the world, to preach his
|
|
gospel to it, and plant his church in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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After he had <I>continued all night in prayer,</I> one would have
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thought that, <I>when it was day,</I> he should have reposed himself,
|
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and got some sleep. No, as soon as any body was stirring, he <I>called
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unto him his disciples.</I> In serving God, our great care should be,
|
|
not to <I>lose time,</I> but to make the end of one good duty the
|
|
beginning of another. Ministers are to be ordained with <I>prayer</I>
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|
more than ordinarily <I>solemn.</I> The number of the apostles was
|
|
<I>twelve.</I> Their names are here recorded; it is the <I>third
|
|
time</I> that we have met with them, and in each of the <I>three</I>
|
|
places the <I>order</I> of them differs, to teach both ministers and
|
|
Christians not to be nice in precedency, not in <I>giving</I> it, much
|
|
less in <I>taking</I> it, but to look upon it as a thing not worth
|
|
taking notice of; let it be as it lights. He that in Mark was called
|
|
<I>Thaddeus,</I> in Matthew <I>Lebbeus,</I> whose surname was
|
|
<I>Thaddeus,</I> is here called <I>Judas the brother of James,</I> the
|
|
same that wrote the epistle of Jude. Simon, who in Matthew and Mark was
|
|
called the <I>Canaanite,</I> is here called <I>Simon Zelotes,</I>
|
|
perhaps for his great zeal in religion. Concerning these twelve here
|
|
named we have reason to say, as the queen of Sheba did of Solomon's
|
|
servants, <I>Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, that
|
|
stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom;</I> never were men
|
|
so privileged, and yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
yet Christ, when he chose him, was not deceived in him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. In <I>public</I> we have him <I>preaching</I> and <I>healing,</I>
|
|
the two great works between which he divided his time,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He came down with the twelve from the mountain, and <I>stood in the
|
|
plain,</I> ready to receive those that resorted to him; and there were
|
|
presently gathered about him, not only the <I>company of his
|
|
disciples,</I> who used to attend him, but also a great <I>multitude of
|
|
people,</I> a mixed multitude <I>out of all Judea and Jerusalem.</I>
|
|
Though it was some scores of miles from Jerusalem to that part of
|
|
Galilee where Christ now was,--though at Jerusalem they had abundance
|
|
of famous rabbin, that had great names, and bore a mighty sway,--yet
|
|
they came to hear Christ. They came also from the <I>sea-coast of Tyre
|
|
and Sidon.</I> Though they who lived there were generally men of
|
|
business, and though they bordered upon Canaanites, yet there were some
|
|
well affected to Christ; such there were dispersed in all parts, here
|
|
and there one.
|
|
|
|
1. They <I>came to hear him</I> and he <I>preached</I> to them. Those
|
|
that have not good preaching near them had better travel far for it
|
|
than be without it. It is worth while to go a great way to hear the
|
|
word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it.
|
|
|
|
2. They came to be <I>cured</I> by him, and he <I>healed</I> them.
|
|
Some were troubled <I>in body,</I> and some <I>in mind;</I> some had
|
|
<I>diseases,</I> some had <I>devils;</I> but both the one and the
|
|
other, upon their application to Christ, were <I>healed,</I> for he has
|
|
power over <I>diseases</I> and <I>devils</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
over the effects and over the causes. Nay, it should seem, those who
|
|
had no <I>particular diseases</I> to complain of yet found it a great
|
|
confirmation and renovation to their bodily <I>health</I> and
|
|
<I>vigour</I> to partake of the <I>virtue that went out of him;</I> for
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>the whole multitude sought to touch him,</I> those that were in
|
|
health as well as those that were sick, and they were all, one way or
|
|
other, the better for him: he <I>healed them all;</I> and who is there
|
|
that doth not need, upon some account or other, to be <I>healed?</I>
|
|
There is a <I>fulness of grace</I> in Christ, and healing virtue in
|
|
him, and ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for
|
|
each.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_26"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Blessings and Woes.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
|
|
Blessed <I>be ye</I> poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
|
|
21 Blessed <I>are ye</I> that hunger now: for ye shall be filled.
|
|
Blessed <I>are ye</I> that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
|
|
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall
|
|
separate you <I>from their company,</I> and shall reproach <I>you,</I> and
|
|
cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
|
|
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your
|
|
reward <I>is</I> great in heaven: for in the like manner did their
|
|
fathers unto the prophets.
|
|
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your
|
|
consolation.
|
|
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto
|
|
you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
|
|
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so
|
|
did their fathers to the false prophets.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here begins a practical discourse of Christ, which is continued to the
|
|
end of the chapter, most of which is found in the <I>sermon upon the
|
|
mount,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:1-7:29">Matt. v. and vii.</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some think that this was preached at some other time and place, and
|
|
there are other instances of Christ's preaching the same things, or to
|
|
the same purport, at different times; but it is probable that this is
|
|
only the evangelist's abridgment of that sermon, and perhaps that in
|
|
Matthew too is but an abridgment; the beginning and the conclusion are
|
|
much the same; and the story of the cure of the centurion's servant
|
|
follows presently upon it, both there and here, but it is not material.
|
|
In these verses, we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Blessings pronounced upon <I>suffering saints,</I> as <I>happy</I>
|
|
people, though the world <I>pities them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
He <I>lifted up his eyes upon his disciples,</I> not only the
|
|
<I>twelve,</I> but the whole <I>company of them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and directed his discourse to them; for, when he had healed the sick in
|
|
<I>the plain,</I> he went up again <I>to the mountain,</I> to preach.
|
|
There he <I>sat,</I> as one having authority; thither <I>they come to
|
|
him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:1">Matt. v. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to them he directed his discourse, to them he applied it, and
|
|
taught them to apply it to themselves. When he had laid it down for a
|
|
truth, <I>Blessed are the poor in spirit,</I> he added, <I>Blessed are
|
|
ye poor.</I> All believers, that take the precepts of the gospel to
|
|
themselves, and <I>live by them</I> may take the promises of the gospel
|
|
to themselves and <I>live upon them.</I> And the application, as it is
|
|
here, seems especially designed to encourage the disciples, with
|
|
reference to the hardships and difficulties they were likely to meet
|
|
with, in following Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. "You are <I>poor,</I> you have <I>left all to follow me,</I> are
|
|
content to live upon alms with me, are never to expect any worldly
|
|
preferment in my service. You must work hard, and fare hard, as poor
|
|
people do; but you are blessed in your poverty, it shall be no
|
|
prejudice at all to your happiness; nay, you are blessed <I>for</I> it,
|
|
all your losses shall be abundantly made up to you, for <I>yours is the
|
|
kingdom of God,</I> all the comforts and graces of his kingdom here and
|
|
all the glories and joys of his kingdom hereafter; yours it <I>shall
|
|
be,</I> nay, yours <I>it is.</I>" Christ's <I>poor</I> are <I>rich in
|
|
faith,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+2:5">Jam. ii. 5</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. "You <I>hunger now</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
you are not <I>fed to the full</I> as others are, you often rise
|
|
hungry, your <I>commons</I> are so <I>short;</I> or you are so intent
|
|
upon your work that you have not time to eat bread, you are glad of a
|
|
few <I>ears of corn</I> for a meal's meat; thus you hunger now in this
|
|
world, but in the other world <I>you shall be filled,</I> shall
|
|
<I>hunger no more,</I> nor <I>thirst any more.</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. "You <I>weep now,</I> are often in tears, tears of repentance, tears
|
|
of sympathy; you are of them that mourn in Zion. But <I>blessed are
|
|
you;</I> your present sorrows are no <I>prejudices</I> to your future
|
|
joy, but <I>preparatories</I> for it: <I>You shall laugh.</I> You have
|
|
triumphs in reserve; you are but <I>sowing in tears,</I> and shall
|
|
shortly <I>reap in joy,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:5,6">Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
They that now <I>sorrow after a godly sort</I> are treasuring up
|
|
comforts for themselves, or, rather, God is treasuring up comforts for
|
|
them; and the day is coming when their <I>mouth shall be filled with
|
|
laughing and their lips with rejoicing,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+8:21">Job viii. 21</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. "You now undergo <I>the world's ill will.</I> You must expect all
|
|
the base treatment that a spiteful world can give you for Christ's
|
|
sake, because you serve him and his interests; you must expect that
|
|
wicked men will <I>hate you,</I> because your doctrine and life convict
|
|
and condemn them; and those that have church-power in their hands will
|
|
<I>separate you,</I> will force you to separate yourselves, and then
|
|
excommunicate you for so doing, and lay you under the most ignominious
|
|
censures. They will pronounce anathemas against you, as scandalous and
|
|
incorrigible offenders. They will do this with all possible gravity and
|
|
solemnity, and pomp and pageantry of appeals to Heaven, to make the
|
|
world believe, and almost you yourselves too, that it is ratified in
|
|
heaven. Thus will they endeavour to make you odious to others and a
|
|
terror to yourselves." This is supposed to be the proper notion of
|
|
<B><I>aphorisosin hymas</I></B>--<I>they shall cast you out of their
|
|
synagogues.</I> "And they that have not this power will not fail to
|
|
show their malice, to the utmost of their power; for <I>they will
|
|
reproach you,</I> will charge you with the blackest crimes, which you
|
|
are perfectly innocent of, will fasten upon you the blackest
|
|
characters, which you do not deserve; they will <I>cast out your name
|
|
as evil,</I> your name as Christians, as apostles; they will do all
|
|
they can to render these names odious." This is the application of the
|
|
eighth beatitude,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:10-12">Matt. v. 10-12</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
"Such usage as this seems hard; but <I>blessed are you</I> when you are
|
|
so used. It is so far from depriving you of your happiness that it will
|
|
greatly add to it. It is an honour to you, as it is to a brave hero to
|
|
be employed in the wars, in the service of his prince; and therefore
|
|
<I>rejoice you in that day, and leap for joy,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
Do not only <I>bear it,</I> but <I>triumph</I> in it. For,"
|
|
|
|
(1.) "You are hereby <I>highly dignified</I> in the <I>kingdom of
|
|
grace,</I> for you are treated as the prophets were before you, and
|
|
therefore not only need not be ashamed of it, but may justly rejoice in
|
|
it, for it will be an evidence for you that you <I>walk in the same
|
|
spirit,</I> and <I>in the same steps,</I> are engaged in the same
|
|
cause, and employed in the same service, with them."
|
|
|
|
(2.) "You will for this be abundantly <I>recompensed</I> in the
|
|
<I>kingdom of glory;</I> not only your services for Christ, but your
|
|
sufferings will come into the account: <I>Your reward is great in
|
|
heaven.</I> Venture upon your sufferings, in a full belief that the
|
|
glory of heaven will abundantly countervail all these hardships; so
|
|
that, though you may be losers for Christ, you shall not be losers by
|
|
him in the end."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. <I>Woes</I> denounced against <I>prospering sinners as miserable
|
|
people,</I> though the world <I>envies them.</I> These we had not in
|
|
Matthew. It should seem, the best exposition of <I>these woes,</I>
|
|
compared with the foregoing <I>blessings,</I> is the parable of the
|
|
<I>rich man</I> and Lazarus. Lazarus had the blessedness of those that
|
|
are <I>poor,</I> and <I>hunger,</I> and <I>weep,</I> now, for in
|
|
Abraham's bosom all the promises made to them who did so were <I>made
|
|
good</I> to him; but the rich man had the <I>woes</I> that follow here,
|
|
as he had the character of those on whom these woes are entailed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Here is a <I>woe</I> to them that are <I>rich,</I> that is, that
|
|
<I>trust in riches,</I> that have abundance of this world's wealth,
|
|
and, instead of serving God with it, serve their lusts with it; woe to
|
|
them, for <I>they have received their consolation,</I> that which they
|
|
placed their happiness in, and were willing to take up with for a
|
|
portion,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
They in their life-time received <I>their good things,</I> which, in
|
|
their account, were the <I>best things,</I> and all the good things
|
|
they are ever likely to receive from God. "You that are <I>rich</I> are
|
|
in temptation to <I>set your hearts</I> upon a <I>smiling</I> world,
|
|
and to say, <I>Soul, take thine ease</I> in the embraces of it, <I>This
|
|
is my rest for ever, here will I dwell;</I> and <I>then woe unto
|
|
you.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is the <I>folly</I> of carnal worldlings that they make the
|
|
things of this world <I>their consolation,</I> which were intended only
|
|
for their <I>convenience.</I> They please themselves with them, pride
|
|
themselves in them, and make them their heaven upon earth; and to them
|
|
the <I>consolations of God</I> are small, and of no account.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is their misery that they are <I>put off</I> with them as
|
|
<I>their consolation.</I> Let them know it, to their terror, when they
|
|
are parted from these things, there is an end of all their comfort, a
|
|
final end of it, and nothing remains to them but everlasting misery and
|
|
torment.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Here is a <I>woe</I> to them that are <I>full</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
that are <I>fed to the full,</I> and have <I>more than heart could
|
|
wish</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+73:7">Ps. lxxiii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
that have their <I>bellies filled with the hid treasures of this
|
|
world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
that, when they have abundance of these, are <I>full,</I> and think
|
|
they have <I>enough,</I> they <I>need no more,</I> they <I>desire no
|
|
more,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:17">Rev. iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Now ye are full, now ye are rich,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:8">1 Cor. iv. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
They are <I>full of themselves,</I> without God and Christ. Woe to
|
|
such, for <I>they shall hunger,</I> they shall shortly be
|
|
<I>stripped</I> and <I>emptied</I> of all the things they are so proud
|
|
of; and, when they shall have <I>left behind them</I> in the world all
|
|
those things which are their fulness, they shall <I>carry away with
|
|
them</I> such appetites and desires as the world they remove to will
|
|
afford them no gratifications of; for all the delights of sense, which
|
|
they are now so full of, will in hell be <I>denied,</I> and in heaven
|
|
<I>superseded.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Here is a <I>woe</I> to them that <I>laugh now,</I> that have always
|
|
a <I>disposition to be merry,</I> and always something to <I>make merry
|
|
with;</I> that know no other joy than that which is carnal and sensual,
|
|
and know no other use of this world's good than purely to indulge that
|
|
carnal sensual joy that banishes sorrow, even godly sorrow, from their
|
|
minds, and are always entertaining themselves with the laughter of the
|
|
fool. <I>Woe unto such,</I> for it is but <I>now,</I> for a little
|
|
time, that they <I>laugh;</I> they shall <I>mourn and weep</I> shortly,
|
|
shall <I>mourn and weep</I> eternally, in a world where there is
|
|
nothing but <I>weeping and wailing,</I> endless, easeless, and
|
|
remediless sorrow.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Here is a <I>woe</I> to them <I>whom all men speak well of,</I> that
|
|
is, who make it their great and only care to gain the praise and
|
|
applause of men, who value themselves upon that more than upon the
|
|
favour of God and his acceptance
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Woe unto you;</I> that is, it would be a bad sign that you were not
|
|
faithful to your trust, and to the souls of men, if you preached so as
|
|
that nobody would be disgusted; for your business is to tell people of
|
|
their faults, and, if you do that as you ought, you will get that
|
|
<I>ill will</I> which never <I>speaks well.</I> The false prophets
|
|
indeed, that flattered your father in their wicked ways, that
|
|
<I>prophesied smooth things</I> to them, were caressed and spoken well
|
|
of; and, if you be in like manner cried up, you will be justly
|
|
suspected to deal deceitfully as they did." We should desire to have
|
|
the approbation of those that are wise and good, and not be indifferent
|
|
to what people say of us; but, as we should despise the reproaches, so
|
|
we should also despise the praises, of the fools in Israel.</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="Lu6_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_29"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Lu6_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_35"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Lu6_36"> </A>
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|
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|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Exhortations to Justice and Mercy.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to
|
|
them which hate you,
|
|
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
|
|
despitefully use you.
|
|
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the <I>one</I> cheek offer also
|
|
the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not <I>to take
|
|
thy</I> coat also.
|
|
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that
|
|
taketh away thy goods ask <I>them</I> not again.
|
|
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to
|
|
them likewise.
|
|
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for
|
|
sinners also love those that love them.
|
|
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank
|
|
have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
|
|
34 And if ye lend <I>to them</I> of whom ye hope to receive, what
|
|
thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as
|
|
much again.
|
|
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for
|
|
nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be
|
|
the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful
|
|
and <I>to</I> the evil.
|
|
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
These verses agree with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:38">Matt. v. 38</A>,
|
|
|
|
to the end of that chapter: <I>I say unto you that hear</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
to all you that hear, and not to disciples only, for these are lessons
|
|
of universal concern. <I>He that has an ear, let him hear.</I> Those
|
|
that diligently hearken to Christ shall find he has something to say to
|
|
them well worth their hearing. Now the lessons Christ here teacheth us
|
|
are,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That we must render to all their due, and be honest and just in all
|
|
our dealings
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them
|
|
likewise;</I> for this is <I>loving your neighbour as yourselves.</I>
|
|
What we should expect, in reason, to be done to us, either in justice
|
|
or charity, by others, if they were in our condition and we in theirs,
|
|
that, as the matter stands, we must do to them. We must <I>put our
|
|
souls into their souls' stead,</I> and then pity and succour them, as
|
|
we should desire and justly expect to be ourselves pitied and
|
|
succoured.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That we must be free in <I>giving</I> to them that <I>need</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Give to every man that asketh of thee,</I> to every one that is a
|
|
proper object of charity, that wants necessaries, which thou hast
|
|
wherewithal to supply out of thy superfluities. Give to those that are
|
|
not able to help themselves, to those that have not relations in a
|
|
capacity to help them." Christ would have his disciples ready to
|
|
distribute, and willing to communicate, <I>to their power</I> in
|
|
ordinary cases, and beyond their power in extraordinary.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. That we must be generous in <I>forgiving</I> those that have been
|
|
any way injurious to us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. We must not be <I>extreme</I> in <I>demanding</I> our right, when it
|
|
is denied us: "<I>Him that taketh away thy cloak,</I> either forcibly
|
|
or fraudulently, <I>forbid him not</I> by any violent means to <I>take
|
|
thy coat also,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let him have that too, rather than fight for it. And
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>of him that taketh thy goods</I>" (so Dr. Hammond thinks it should
|
|
be read), "that borrows them, or that <I>takes them up</I> from thee
|
|
upon trust, of such do not <I>exact them;</I> if Providence have made
|
|
such insolvent, do not take the advantage of the law against them, but
|
|
rather lose it than <I>take them by the throat,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:28">Matt. xviii. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
If a man run away in thy debt, and <I>take away thy goods</I> with him,
|
|
do not perplex thyself, nor be incensed against him."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. We must not be rigorous in revenging a wrong when it is done us:
|
|
"<I>Unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek,</I> instead of
|
|
bringing an action against him, or sending for a writ for him, or
|
|
bringing him before a justice, <I>offer also the other;</I>" that is,
|
|
"pass it by, though thereby thou shouldest be in danger of bringing
|
|
upon thyself another like in dignity, which is commonly pretended in
|
|
excuse of taking the advantage of the law in such a case. If any one
|
|
<I>smite thee on the cheek,</I> rather than give another blow to him,
|
|
be ready to receive another from him;" that is, "leave it to God to
|
|
plead thy cause, and do thou sit down silent under the affront." When
|
|
we do thus, God will <I>smite our enemies,</I> as far as they are his,
|
|
<I>upon the cheek bone,</I> so as to <I>break the teeth of the
|
|
ungodly</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+3:7">Ps. iii. 7</A>);
|
|
|
|
for he hath said, <I>Vengeance is mine,</I> and he will make it appear
|
|
that it is so when we leave it to him to take vengeance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Nay, we must <I>do good to them that do evil to us.</I> This is that
|
|
which our Saviour, in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:27-36">these verses</A>,
|
|
|
|
chiefly designs to teach us, as a law peculiar to his religion, and a
|
|
branch of the perfection of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) We must be kind to those from whom we have <I>received
|
|
injuries.</I> We must not only <I>love our enemies,</I> and bear a good
|
|
will to them, but we must <I>do good</I> to them, be as ready to do any
|
|
good office to them as to any other person, if their case call for it,
|
|
and it be in the power of our hands to do it. We must study to make it
|
|
appear, by positive acts, if there be an opportunity for them, that we
|
|
bear them no malice, nor see revenge. Do they <I>curse</I> us, speak
|
|
ill of us, and wish ill to us? Do they <I>despitefully use us,</I> in
|
|
word or deed? Do they endeavour to make us contemptible or odious? Let
|
|
us <I>bless them,</I> and <I>pray for them,</I> speak well of them, the
|
|
best we can, wish well to them, especially to their souls, and be
|
|
intercessors with God for them. This is repeated,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>:
|
|
|
|
<I>love your enemies,</I> and <I>do them good.</I> To recommend this
|
|
difficult duty to us, it is represented as a generous thing, and an
|
|
attainment few arrive at. <I>To love those that love us</I> has nothing
|
|
<I>uncommon</I> in it, nothing peculiar to Christ's disciples, for
|
|
<I>sinners</I> will <I>love those that love them.</I> There is nothing
|
|
self-denying in that; it is but following nature, even in its corrupt
|
|
state, and puts no force at all upon it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>):
|
|
|
|
it is no thanks to us to love those that say and do just as we would
|
|
have them. "And
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>if you do good to them that do good to you,</I> and return their
|
|
kindnesses, it is from a common principle of custom, honour, and
|
|
gratitude; and therefore <I>what thanks have you?</I> What credit are
|
|
you to the name of Christ, or what reputation do you bring to it? for
|
|
<I>sinners also,</I> that know nothing of Christ and his doctrine,
|
|
<I>do even the same.</I> But it becomes you to do something more
|
|
excellent and eminent, herein to out-do your neighbours, to do that
|
|
which sinners will not do, and which no principle of theirs can pretend
|
|
to reach to: you must <I>render good for evil;</I>" not that any thanks
|
|
are due to us, but <I>then</I> we are to our God <I>for a name and a
|
|
praise</I> and he will have the thanks.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) We must be kind to those from whom we expect no manner of
|
|
advantage
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Lend, hoping for nothing again.</I> It is meant of the rich lending
|
|
to the poor a little money for their necessity, to buy daily bread for
|
|
themselves and their families, or to keep them out of prison. In such a
|
|
case, we must <I>lend,</I> with a resolution not to demand interest for
|
|
what we lend, as we may most justly from those that borrow money to
|
|
make purchases withal, or to trade with. But that is not all; we must
|
|
<I>lend</I> though we have reason to suspect that what we <I>lend</I>
|
|
we <I>lose,</I> lend to those who are so poor that it is not probable
|
|
they will be able to pay us again. This precept will be best
|
|
illustrated by that law of Moses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+15:7-10">Deut. xv. 7-10</A>),
|
|
|
|
which obliges them to lend to a <I>poor brother</I> as much as he
|
|
<I>needed,</I> though the <I>year of release</I> was at hand. Here are
|
|
two motives to this generous charity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] It will redound to our profit; for our <I>reward shall be
|
|
great,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
What is given, or laid out, or lent and lost on earth, from a true
|
|
principle of charity, will be made up to us in the other world,
|
|
unspeakably to our advantage. "You shall not only be <I>repaid,</I> but
|
|
<I>rewarded,</I> greatly rewarded; it will be said to you, <I>Come, ye
|
|
blessed, inherit the kingdom.</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] It will redound to our honour; for herein we shall resemble God in
|
|
his goodness, which is the greatest glory: "<I>Ye shall be the children
|
|
of the Highest,</I> shall be owned by him as his children, being like
|
|
him." It is the glory of God that he is <I>kind to the unthankful and
|
|
to the evil,</I> bestows the gifts of common providence even upon the
|
|
worst of men, who are every day provoking him, and rebelling against
|
|
him, and using those very gifts to his dishonour. Hence he infers
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Be merciful, as your Father is merciful;</I> this explains
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:48">Matt. v. 48</A>,
|
|
|
|
"<I>Be perfect, as our Father is perfect.</I> Imitate your Father in
|
|
those things that are his brightest perfections." Those that are
|
|
<I>merciful</I> as God is <I>merciful,</I> even <I>to the evil and the
|
|
unthankful,</I> are <I>perfect</I> as God is <I>perfect;</I> so he is
|
|
pleased graciously to accept it, though infinitely falling short.
|
|
Charity is called the <I>bond of perfectness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:14">Col. iii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
This should strongly engage us to be merciful to our brethren, even
|
|
such as have been injurious to us, not only that God is so to others,
|
|
but that he is so to us, though we have been, and are, evil and
|
|
unthankful; it is of his mercies that <I>we</I> are not consumed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu6_49"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Exhortations to Justice and Sincerity.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye
|
|
shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
|
|
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed
|
|
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into
|
|
your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it
|
|
shall be measured to you again.
|
|
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the
|
|
blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
|
|
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is
|
|
perfect shall be as his master.
|
|
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's
|
|
eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
|
|
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me
|
|
pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself
|
|
beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,
|
|
cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou
|
|
see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
|
|
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither
|
|
doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
|
|
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men
|
|
do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
|
|
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth
|
|
forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
|
|
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of
|
|
the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
|
|
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which
|
|
I say?
|
|
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth
|
|
them, I will show you to whom he is like:
|
|
48 He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and
|
|
laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the
|
|
stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it:
|
|
for it was founded upon a rock.
|
|
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that
|
|
without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which
|
|
the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the
|
|
ruin of that house was great.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
All these sayings of Christ we had before in Matthew; some of them in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+7:1-29"><I>ch.</I> vii.</A>,
|
|
|
|
others in other places. They were sayings that Christ often used; they
|
|
needed only to be mentioned, it was easy to apply them. Grotius thinks
|
|
that we need not be critical here in seeking for the coherence: they
|
|
are golden sentences, like Solomon's proverbs or parables. Let us
|
|
observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. We ought to be very candid in our censures of others, because we
|
|
need grains of allowance ourselves: "Therefore <I>judge not</I> others,
|
|
because then <I>you</I> yourselves <I>shall not be judged;</I>
|
|
therefore <I>condemn not</I> others, because then <I>you</I> yourselves
|
|
<I>shall not be condemned,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
Exercise towards others that charity which <I>thinks no evil,</I> which
|
|
<I>bears all things, believes</I> and <I>hopes all things;</I> and then
|
|
others will exercise that charity towards you. God will not
|
|
<I>judge</I> and <I>condemn</I> you, men will not." They that are
|
|
merciful to other people's names shall find others merciful to
|
|
theirs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. If we are of a <I>giving</I> and a <I>forgiving</I> spirit, we
|
|
shall ourselves reap the benefit of it: <I>Forgive and you shall be
|
|
forgiven.</I> If we forgive the injuries done to us by others, others
|
|
will forgive our inadvertencies. If we forgive others' trespasses
|
|
against <I>us,</I> God will forgive our trespasses against <I>him.</I>
|
|
And he will be no less mindful of the <I>liberal</I> that <I>devise
|
|
liberal things</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Give, and it shall be given to you.</I> God, in his providence, will
|
|
recompense it to you; it is <I>lent</I> to him, and <I>he is not
|
|
unrighteous to forget</I> it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:10">Heb. vi. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
but he will <I>pay it again.</I> <I>Men</I> shall <I>return it into
|
|
your bosom;</I> for God often makes use of <I>men</I> as instruments,
|
|
not only of his <I>avenging,</I> but of his <I>rewarding</I> justice.
|
|
If we in a right manner give to others when they need, God will incline
|
|
the hearts of others to give to us when we need, and to give liberally,
|
|
<I>good measure pressed down and shaken together.</I> They that <I>sow
|
|
plentifully</I> shall <I>reap plentifully.</I> Whom God recompenses he
|
|
recompenses <I>abundantly.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. We must expect to be dealt with ourselves as we deal with others:
|
|
<I>With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you
|
|
again.</I> Those that deal <I>hardly</I> with others must acknowledge,
|
|
as Adoni-bezek did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:7">Judg. i. 7</A>),
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|
|
that God is righteous, if others deal hardly with them, and they may
|
|
expect to be paid in their own coin; but they that deal <I>kindly</I>
|
|
with others have reason to hope that, when they have occasion, God will
|
|
raise them up friends who will deal kindly with them. Though
|
|
Providence does not always go by this rule, because the full and exact
|
|
retributions are reserved for another world, yet, ordinarily, it
|
|
observes a proportion sufficient to deter us from all acts of rigour
|
|
and to encourage us in all acts of beneficence.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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IV. Those who put themselves under the guidance of the ignorant and
|
|
erroneous are likely to perish with them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Can the blind lead the blind?</I> Can the Pharisees, who are blinded
|
|
with pride, prejudice, and bigotry, <I>lead the blind</I> people into
|
|
the right way? <I>Shall not both fall</I> together <I>into the
|
|
ditch?</I> How can they expect any other? Those that are led by the
|
|
common opinion, course, and custom, of this world, are themselves
|
|
blind, and are led by the blind, and will perish with the world that
|
|
<I>sits in darkness.</I> Those that ignorantly, and at a venture,
|
|
<I>follow the multitude to do evil,</I> follow the blind in the broad
|
|
way that leads the many to <I>destruction.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than
|
|
their Master had,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let them not promise themselves more honour or pleasure in the world
|
|
than Christ had, nor aim at the worldly pomp and grandeur which he was
|
|
never ambitious of, but always declined, nor affect that power in
|
|
secular things which he would not assume; but every one that would show
|
|
himself <I>perfect,</I> an established disciple, let him be <I>as his
|
|
Master</I>--dead to the world, and every thing in it, as his Master is;
|
|
let him live a life of labour and self-denial as his Master doth, and
|
|
make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do
|
|
all the good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. Those who take upon them to rebuke and reform others are concerned
|
|
to look to it that they be themselves blameless, and harmless, and
|
|
without rebuke,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:41,42"><I>v.</I> 41, 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. Those with a very ill grace censure the faults of others who are not
|
|
aware of their own faults. It is very absurd for any to pretend to be
|
|
so quick-sighted as to spy small faults in others, like a mote in the
|
|
eye, when they are themselves so perfectly past feeling as not to
|
|
perceive <I>a beam in their own eye.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. Those are altogether unfit to help to reform others whose reforming
|
|
charity does not begin at home. How canst thou offer thy service to thy
|
|
brother, to <I>pull out the mote from his eye,</I> which requires a
|
|
good eye as well as a good hand, when thou thyself hast a <I>beam in
|
|
thine own eye,</I> and makest no complaint of it?
|
|
|
|
3. Those therefore who would be serviceable to the souls of others must
|
|
first make it appear that they are solicitous about their own souls. To
|
|
help to pull the mote out of our brother's eye is a good work, but then
|
|
we must qualify ourselves for it by beginning with ourselves; and our
|
|
reforming our own lives may, by the influence of example, contribute to
|
|
others reforming theirs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. We may expect that men's words and actions will be according as
|
|
<I>they</I> are, according as their hearts are, and according as their
|
|
principles are.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The heart is the <I>tree,</I> and the words and actions are fruit
|
|
according to the nature of the tree,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:43,44"><I>v.</I> 43, 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
If a man be really a <I>good man,</I> if he have a principle of grace
|
|
in his heart, and the prevailing bent and bias of the soul be towards
|
|
God and heaven, though perhaps he may not abound in fruit, though some
|
|
of his fruits be blasted, and though he may be sometimes like a tree in
|
|
winter, yet he does not <I>bring forth corrupt fruit;</I> though he may
|
|
not do you all the good he should, yet he will not in any material
|
|
instance do you hurt. If he cannot reform ill manners, he will not
|
|
<I>corrupt good manners.</I> If the fruit that a man brings forth be
|
|
<I>corrupt,</I> if a man's devotion tend to debauch the mind and
|
|
conversation, if a man's conversation be vicious, if he be a drunkard
|
|
or fornicator, if he be a swearer or liar, if he be in any instance
|
|
unjust or unnatural, his <I>fruit</I> is <I>corrupt,</I> and you may be
|
|
sure that he is not a <I>good tree.</I> On the other hand, a <I>corrupt
|
|
tree doth not bring forth good fruit,</I> though it may bring forth
|
|
green leaves; <I>for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble
|
|
do they gather grapes.</I> You may, if you please, stick figs upon
|
|
thorns, and hang a bunch of grapes upon a bramble, but they neither
|
|
are, nor can be, the natural product of the trees; so neither can you
|
|
expect any <I>good conduct</I> from those who have justly a <I>bad
|
|
character.</I> If the fruit be good, you may conclude that the tree is
|
|
so; if the conversation be holy, heavenly, and regular, though you
|
|
cannot infallibly know the heart, yet you may charitably hope that it
|
|
is upright with God; for <I>every tree is known by its fruit.</I> But
|
|
the <I>vile person will speak villany</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:6">Isa. xxxii. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the experience of the moderns herein agrees with the <I>proverb of
|
|
the ancients,</I> that <I>wickedness proceedeth from the wicked,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The heart is the <I>treasure,</I> and the words and actions are the
|
|
expenses or produce from that treasure,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
This we had,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:34,35">Matt. xii. 34, 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
The reigning love of God and Christ in the heart denominates a man <I>a
|
|
good man;</I> and it is <I>a good treasure</I> a man may bring forth
|
|
that which is good. But where the love of the world and the flesh reign
|
|
there is an <I>evil treasure</I> in the heart, out of which an <I>evil
|
|
man</I> is continually bringing forth <I>that which is evil;</I> and by
|
|
what is brought forth you may know what is in the heart, as you may
|
|
know what is in the vessel, water or wine, by what is <I>drawn out from
|
|
it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:8">John ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks;</I> what the mouth
|
|
ordinarily speaks, speaks with relish and delight, generally agrees
|
|
with what is innermost and uppermost in the heart: <I>He that speaks of
|
|
the earth is earthly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:31">John iii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Not but that a good man may possibly drop a bad word, and a wicked man
|
|
make use of a good word to serve a bad turn; but, for the most part,
|
|
the heart is as the words are, <I>vain</I> or <I>serious;</I> it
|
|
therefore concerns us to get our hearts filled, not only with
|
|
<I>good,</I> but with <I>abundance</I> of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. It is not enough to <I>hear</I> the sayings of Christ, but we
|
|
must <I>do</I> them; not enough to profess relation to him, as his
|
|
servants, but we must make conscience of obeying him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It is putting an <I>affront upon him</I> to call him <I>Lord,
|
|
Lord,</I> as if we were wholly at his command, and had devoted
|
|
ourselves to his service, if we do not make conscience of conforming to
|
|
his will and serving the interests of his kingdom. We do but mock
|
|
Christ, as they that in scorn said, <I>Hail, King of the Jews,</I> if
|
|
we call him ever so often <I>Lord, Lord,</I> and yet walk in the way of
|
|
our own hearts and in the sight of our own eyes. Why do we call him
|
|
<I>Lord, Lord,</I> in prayer (compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+7:21,22">Matt. vii. 21, 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
if we do not obey his commands? He that <I>turns away his ear from
|
|
hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. It is <I>putting a cheat</I> upon ourselves if we think that a bare
|
|
profession of religion will save us, that <I>hearing</I> the sayings of
|
|
Christ will bring us to heaven, without <I>doing</I> them. This he
|
|
illustrates by a similitude
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:47-49"><I>v.</I> 47-49</A>),
|
|
|
|
which shows,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and
|
|
take the course that will stand them in stead in a trying time, who do
|
|
not only <I>come</I> to Christ as his scholars, and <I>hear his
|
|
sayings</I> but do them, who think, and speak, and act, in every thing
|
|
according to the established rules of his holy religion. They are like
|
|
a <I>house built on a rock.</I> These are they that <I>take pains</I>
|
|
in religion, as they do,--that <I>dig deep,</I> that found their hope
|
|
upon Christ, who is the Rock of ages (and other foundation can no man
|
|
lay); these are they who <I>provide for hereafter,</I> who get ready
|
|
for the worst, who lay up in store a good foundation for the <I>time to
|
|
come,</I> for the <I>eternity to come,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:19">1 Tim. vi. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
They who do thus do well for themselves; for,
|
|
|
|
[1.] They shall keep their integrity, in times of temptation and
|
|
persecution; when others fall from their own stedfastness, as the seed
|
|
on the stony ground, they shall <I>stand fast in the Lord.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] They shall keep their comfort, and peace, and hope, and joy, in
|
|
the midst of the greatest distresses. The <I>storms</I> and
|
|
<I>streams</I> of affliction shall not shock them, for their feet are
|
|
<I>set upon a rock,</I> a rock <I>higher than they.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] Their everlasting welfare is secured. In death and judgment they
|
|
are safe. Obedient believers are <I>kept by the power of Christ,
|
|
through faith, unto salvation,</I> and shall never perish.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That those who rest in a bare hearing of the sayings of Christ,
|
|
and do not live up to them, are but preparing for a fatal
|
|
disappointment: <I>He that heareth and doeth not</I> (that knows his
|
|
duty, but lives in the neglect of it), he is like a man that <I>built a
|
|
house without a foundation.</I> He pleases himself with hopes that he
|
|
has no ground for, and his hopes will fail him when he most needs the
|
|
<I>comfort</I> of them, and when he expects the <I>crowning</I> of
|
|
them; when the <I>stream beats vehemently</I> upon his house, it is
|
|
gone, the sand it is built upon is washed away, and <I>immediately it
|
|
falls,</I> Such is the <I>hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained,
|
|
when God takes away his soul;</I> it is as the spider's web, and the
|
|
giving up of the ghost.</P>
|
|
|
|
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