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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Luke XXIII].</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. XXIII.</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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This chapter carries on and concludes the history of Christ's
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sufferings and death. We have here,
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I. His arraignment before Pilate the Roman governor,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. His examination before Herod, who was tetrarch of Galilee, under
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the Romans likewise,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:6-12">ver. 6-12</A>.
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III. Pilate's struggle with the people to release Jesus, his repeated
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testimonies concerning his innocency, but his yielding at length to
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their importunity and condemning him to be crucified,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:13-25">ver. 13-25</A>.
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IV. An account of what passed as they led him to be crucified, and his
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discourse to the people that followed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:26-31">ver. 26-31</A>.
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V. An account of what passed at the place of execution, and the
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indignities done him there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:32-38">ver. 32-38</A>.
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VI. The conversion of one of the thieves, as Christ was hanging on the
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cross,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:39-43">ver. 39-43</A>.
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VII. The death of Christ, and the prodigies that attended it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:44-49">ver. 44-49</A>.
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VIII. His burial,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:50-56">ver. 50-56</A>.</P>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ before Pilate and Herod; Christ Accused and Insulted.</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 the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto
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Pilate.
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2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this <I>fellow</I>
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perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar,
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saying that he himself is Christ a King.
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3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?
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And he answered him and said, Thou sayest <I>it.</I>
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4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and <I>to</I> the people, I
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find no fault in this man.
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5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the
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people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to
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this place.
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6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a
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Galilæan.
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7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's
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jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at
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Jerusalem at that time.
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8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was
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desirous to see him of a long <I>season,</I> because he had heard many
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things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by
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him.
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9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered
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him nothing.
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10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently
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accused him.
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11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked
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<I>him,</I> and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to
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Pilate.
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12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends
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together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Our Lord Jesus was condemned as a blasphemer in the spiritual court,
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but it was the most <I>impotent malice</I> that could be that this
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court was actuated by; for, when they had <I>condemned</I> him, they
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knew they could not <I>put him to death,</I> and therefore took another
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course.</P>
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<P>
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I. They accused him before Pilate. The <I>whole multitude of them
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arose,</I> when they saw they could go no further with him in their
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court, and <I>led him unto Pilate,</I> though it was no judgment day,
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no assizes or sessions; and they demanded justice against him, not as a
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blasphemer (that was no crime that he took cognizance of), but as one
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disaffected to the Roman government, which they in their hearts did not
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look upon as any crime at all, or, if it was one, they themselves were
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much more chargeable with it than he was; only it would serve the turn
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and answer the purpose of their malice: and it is observable that that
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which was the <I>pretended crime,</I> for which they employed the Roman
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powers to destroy Christ, was the <I>real crime</I> for which the Roman
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powers not long after destroyed them.</P>
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<P>
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1. Here is the indictment drawn up against him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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in which they pretended a zeal for Cæsar, only to ingratiate
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themselves with Pilate, but it was all <I>malice</I> against Christ,
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and nothing else. They misrepresented him,
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(1.) As making the people <I>rebel against Cæsar.</I> It was
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true, and Pilate knew it, that there was a general uneasiness in the
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people under the Roman yoke, and they wanted nothing but an opportunity
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to shake it off; now they would have Pilate believe that this Jesus was
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active to foment that general discontent, which, if the truth was
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known, they themselves were the aiders and abettors of: <I>We have
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found him perverting the nation;</I> as if converting them to God's
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government were <I>perverting them</I> from the civil government;
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whereas nothing tends more to make men good subjects than making them
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Christ's faithful followers. Christ had particularly taught that they
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<I>ought to give tribute to Cæsar,</I> though he knew there were
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those that would be offended at him for it; and yet he is here falsely
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accused as <I>forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar.</I> Innocency
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is no fence against calumny.
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(2.) As making himself a <I>rival with Cæsar,</I> though the very
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reason why they rejected him, and would not own him to be the Messiah,
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was because he did not appear in worldly pomp and power, and did not
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set up for a temporal prince, nor offer to do any thing against
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Cæsar; yet this is what they charged him with, that he said,
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<I>he himself is Christ a king.</I> He did say that he was
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<I>Christ,</I> and, if so, then <I>a king,</I> but not such a king as
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was ever likely to give disturbance to Cæsar. When his followers
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would have made him a king
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+6:15">John vi. 15</A>),
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he declined it, though by the many miracles he wrought he made it
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appear that if he would have set up in competition with Cæsar he
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would have been too hard for him.</P>
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<P>
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2. His pleading to the indictment: <I>Pilate asked him, Art thou the
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king of the Jews?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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To which he answered, <I>Thou sayest it;</I> that is, "It is as thou
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sayest, that I am entitled to the government of the Jewish nation; but
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in rivalship with the scribes and Pharisees, who tyrannize over them in
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matters of religion, not in rivalship with Cæsar, whose
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government relates only to their civil interests." Christ's kingdom is
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wholly spiritual, and will not interfere with Cæsar's
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jurisdiction. Or, "<I>Thou sayest it;</I> but canst thou prove it?
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What evidence hast thou for it?" All that knew him knew the contrary,
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that he never pretended to be the <I>king of the Jews,</I> in
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opposition to Cæsar as supreme, or to the governors that were
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sent by him, but the contrary.</P>
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<P>
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3. Pilate's declaration of his innocency
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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He <I>said to the chief priests, and the people</I> that seemed to join
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with them in the prosecution, "<I>I find no fault in this man.</I> What
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breaches of your law he may have been guilty of I am not concerned to
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enquire, but I find nothing proved upon him that makes him obnoxious to
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our court."</P>
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<P>
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4. The continued fury and outrage of the prosecutors,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Instead of being moderated by Pilate's declaration of his innocency,
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and considering, as they ought to have done, whether they were not
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bringing the guilt of innocent blood upon themselves, they were the
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more exasperated, more exceedingly <I>fierce.</I> We do not find that
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they have any particular fact to produce, much less any evidence to
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prove it; but they resolve to carry it with noise and confidence, and
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say it, though they cannot prove it: <I>He stirs up the people</I> to
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rebel against Cæsar, <I>teaching throughout all Judea, beginning
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from Galilee to this place.</I> He did <I>stir up the people,</I> but
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it was not to any thing factious or seditious, but to every thing that
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was virtuous and praiseworthy. He did <I>teach,</I> but they could not
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charge him with teaching any doctrine that tended to disturb the public
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peace, or make the government uneasy or jealous.</P>
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<P>
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II. They accused him before Herod.
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1. Pilate removed him and his cause to Herod's court. The accusers
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mentioned Galilee, the northern part of Canaan. "Why," saith Pilate,
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"is he of that country? Is he a Galilean?"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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"Yes," said they, "that is his head-quarters; there he was spent most
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of his time." "Let us send him to Herod then," saith Pilate, "for Herod
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is now in town, and it is but fit he should have cognizance of his
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cause, since he belongs to Herod's jurisdiction." Pilate was already
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sick of the cause, and desirous to rid his hands of it, which seems to
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have been the true reason for sending him to Herod. But God ordered it
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so for the more evident fulfilling of the scripture, as appears
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:26,27">Acts iv. 26, 27</A>,
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where that of David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:2">Ps. ii. 2</A>),
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<I>The kings of the earth and the rulers set themselves against the
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Lord and his Anointed,</I> is expressly said to be fulfilled in Herod
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and Pontius Pilate.
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2. Herod was very willing to have the examining of him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>When he saw Jesus he was exceedingly glad,</I> and perhaps the more
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glad because he saw him a prisoner, saw him in bonds. He had <I>heard
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many things of him</I> in Galilee, where his miracles had for a great
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while been all the talk of the country; and he <I>longed to see
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him,</I> not for any affection he had for him or his doctrine, but
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purely out of curiosity; and it was only to gratify this that he
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<I>hoped to have seen some miracle done by him,</I> which would serve
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him to talk of as long as he lived. In order to this, he <I>questioned
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with him in many things,</I> that at length he might bring him to
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something in which he might show his power. Perhaps he pumped him
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concerning things <I>secret,</I> or things <I>to come,</I> or
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concerning his curing diseases. But Jesus <I>answered him nothing;</I>
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nor would he gratify him so much as with the performance of one
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miracle. The poorest beggar, that asked a miracle for the relief of his
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necessity, was <I>never denied;</I> but this proud prince, that asked a
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miracle merely for the gratifying of his curiosity, is denied. He
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might have seen Christ and his wondrous works many a time in Galilee,
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and <I>would not,</I> and therefore it is justly said, Now he would see
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them, and <I>shall not;</I> they are hidden from his eyes, because he
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knew not the day of his visitation. Herod thought, now that he had him
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in bonds, he might <I>command</I> a miracle, but miracles must not be
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made cheap, nor Omnipotence be at the beck of the greatest potentate.
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3. His prosecutors appeared against him before Herod, for they were
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restless in the prosecution: <I>They stood, and vehemently accused
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him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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<I>impudently</I> and <I>boldly,</I> so the word signifies. They would
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make Herod believe that he had poisoned Galilee too with his seditious
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notions. Note, It is no new thing for good men and good ministers, that
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are real and useful friends to the civil government, to be falsely
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accused as factious and seditious, and enemies to government.
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4. Herod was very <I>abusive</I> to him: He, with <I>his men of
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war,</I> his attendants, and officers, and great men, <I>set him at
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nought.</I> They <I>made nothing</I> of him; so the word is. Horrid
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wickedness! To <I>make nothing</I> of him who <I>made all things.</I>
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They laughed at him as <I>a fool;</I> for they knew he had wrought many
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miracles to befriend others, and why would he not now work one to
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befriend himself? Or, they laughed at him as one that had lost his
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power, and was become weak as other men. Herod, who had been acquainted
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with John Baptist, and had more knowledge of Christ too than Pilate
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had, was more <I>abusive</I> to Christ than Pilate was; for knowledge
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without grace does but make men the more <I>ingeniously</I> wicked.
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Herod arrayed Christ in a <I>gorgeous robe,</I> some gaudy painted
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clothes, as a mock-king; and so he taught Pilate's soldiers afterwards
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to do him the same indignity. He was ringleader in that abuse.
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5. Herod sent him back to Pilate, and it proved an occasion of the
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making of them friends, they having been for some time before at
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variance. Herod could not get sight of a miracle, but would not
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condemn him neither as a malefactor, and therefore <I>sent him again to
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Pilate</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and so returned Pilate's civility and respect in sending the prisoner
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to him; and this mutual obligation, with the messages that passed
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between them on this occasion, brought them to a better understanding
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one of another than there had been of late between them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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They had been <I>at enmity between themselves,</I> probably upon
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Pilate's killing of the Galileans, who were Herod's subjects
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+13:1">Luke xiii. 1</A>),
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or some other such matter of controversy as usually occurs among
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princes and great men. Observe how those that quarrelled with one
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another yet could unite against Christ; as Gebal, and Ammon, and
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Amalek, though divided among themselves, were confederate against the
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<I>Israel of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+83:7">Ps. lxxxiii. 7</A>.
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Christ is the great peace-maker; both Pilate and Herod owned his
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innocency, and their agreeing in this cured their disagreeing in other
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things.</P>
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<A NAME="Lu23_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_25"> </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>Barabbas Preferred to Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
|
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests
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and the rulers and the people,
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14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one
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that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined <I>him</I>
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before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things
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whereof ye accuse him:
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15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing
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worthy of death is done unto him.
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16 I will therefore chastise him, and release <I>him.</I>
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17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the
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feast.)
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|
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this
|
|
<I>man,</I> and release unto us Barabbas:
|
|
19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for
|
|
murder, was cast into prison.)
|
|
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to
|
|
them.
|
|
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify <I>him,</I> crucify him.
|
|
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he
|
|
done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore
|
|
chastise him, and let <I>him</I> go.
|
|
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he
|
|
might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief
|
|
priests prevailed.
|
|
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
|
|
25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder
|
|
was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered
|
|
Jesus to their will.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the blessed Jesus run down by the mob, and hurried to the
|
|
cross in the storm of a popular noise and tumult, raised by the malice
|
|
and artifice of the <I>chief priests,</I> as agents for the prince of
|
|
the power of the air.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Pilate solemnly protests that he believes he has done nothing worthy
|
|
of death or of bonds. And, if he did believe so, he ought immediately
|
|
to have <I>discharged</I> him, and not only so, but to have
|
|
<I>protected</I> him from the fury of the priests and rabble, and to
|
|
have bound his prosecutors to their good behaviour for their insolent
|
|
conduct. But, being himself a bad man, he had no kindness for Christ,
|
|
and, having made himself otherwise obnoxious, was afraid of displeasing
|
|
either the emperor or the people; and therefore, for want of integrity,
|
|
he <I>called together the chief priests, and rulers, and people</I>
|
|
(whom he should have dispersed, as a <I>riotous and seditious
|
|
assembly,</I> and forbid them to come near him), and will hear what
|
|
they have to say, to whom he should have turned a deaf ear, for he
|
|
plainly saw what spirit actuated them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>You have brought,</I>" saith he, "<I>this man to me,</I> and,
|
|
because I have a respect for you, <I>I have examined him before
|
|
you,</I> and have heard all you have to allege against him, and I can
|
|
make nothing of it: <I>I find no fault in him;</I> you cannot prove the
|
|
things whereof you accuse him."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He appeals to Herod concerning him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I sent you to him,</I> who is supposed to have known more of him
|
|
than I have done, and he has <I>sent him back,</I> not convicted of any
|
|
thing, nor under any mark of his displeasure; in his opinion, his
|
|
crimes are not capital. He has laughed at him as a weak man, but has
|
|
not stigmatized him as a dangerous man." He thought Bedlam a fitter
|
|
place for him than Tyburn.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He proposes to release him, if they will but consent to it. He
|
|
ought to have done it without asking leave of them, <I>Fiat justitia,
|
|
ruat cœlum--Let justice have its course, though the heavens should be
|
|
desolated.</I> But the fear of man brings many into this snare, that,
|
|
whereas justice should take place, though heaven and earth come
|
|
together, they will do an unjust thing, against their consciences,
|
|
rather than pull an old house about their ears. Pilate declares him
|
|
innocent, and therefore has a mind to release him; yet, to please the
|
|
people,
|
|
|
|
1. He will release him under the notion of a malefactor, because <I>of
|
|
necessity he must release one</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
so that whereas he ought to have been released by an <I>act of
|
|
justice,</I> and thanks to nobody, he would have him released by an
|
|
<I>act of grace,</I> and not be beholden to the people for it.
|
|
|
|
2. He will <I>chastise</I> him, and release him. If <I>no fault</I> be
|
|
to be <I>found in him,</I> why should he be chastised? There is as much
|
|
injustice in scourging as in crucifying an innocent man; nor would it
|
|
be justified by pretending that this would satisfy the clamours of the
|
|
people, and make <I>him</I> the object of their pity who was not to be
|
|
the object of their envy. We must not do evil that good may come.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The people choose rather to have Barabbas released, a wretched
|
|
fellow, that had nothing to recommend him to their favour but the
|
|
daringness of his crimes. He was imprisoned for a <I>sedition made in
|
|
the city,</I> and for <I>murder</I> (of all crimes among men the least
|
|
pardonable), yet this was the criminal that was preferred before
|
|
Christ: <I>Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
And no wonder that such a man is the favourite and darling of such a
|
|
<I>mob,</I> he that was really seditious, rather than he that was
|
|
really loyal and falsely accused of sedition.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. When Pilate urged the second time that Christ should be released,
|
|
they cried out, <I>Crucify him, crucify him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
They not only will have him die, but will have him die so great a
|
|
death; nothing less will serve but he must be crucified: <I>Crucify
|
|
him, crucify him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. When Pilate the third time reasoned with them, to show them the
|
|
unreasonableness and injustice of it, they were the more peremptory and
|
|
outrageous
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Why? What evil hath he done?</I> Name his crime. <I>I have found no
|
|
cause of death,</I> and you cannot say what cause of death you have
|
|
found in him; and therefore, if you will but speak the word, <I>I will
|
|
chastise him and let him go.</I>" But popular fury, the more it is
|
|
complimented, the more furious it grows; they were <I>instant with loud
|
|
voices,</I> with great noises or outcries, not requesting, but
|
|
<I>requiring, that he might be crucified;</I> as if they had as much
|
|
right, at the feast, to demand the crucifying of one that was innocent
|
|
as the release of one that was guilty.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. Pilate's yielding, at length, to their importunity. The voice of
|
|
the people and of the <I>chief priests prevailed,</I> and were too hard
|
|
for Pilate, and overruled him to go contrary to his convictions and
|
|
inclinations. He had not courage to go against so strong a stream, but
|
|
<I>gave sentence that it should be as they required,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here is judgment <I>turned away backward,</I> and <I>justice standing
|
|
afar off,</I> for fear of popular fury. <I>Truth is fallen in the
|
|
street, and equity cannot enter,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:14">Isa. lix. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Judgment</I> was looked for, <I>but behold oppression;
|
|
righteousness, but behold a cry,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:7">Isa. v. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is repeated in
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>,
|
|
|
|
with the aggravating circumstance of the release of Barabbas: <I>He
|
|
released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into
|
|
prison,</I> who hereby would be hardened in his wickedness, and do the
|
|
more mischief, because <I>him they had desired,</I> being altogether
|
|
such a one as themselves; but he <I>delivered Jesus to their will,</I>
|
|
and he could not deal more barbarously with him than to deliver him to
|
|
<I>their will,</I> who <I>hated</I> him with a <I>perfect hatred,</I>
|
|
and whose <I>tender mercies</I> were <I>cruelty.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_31"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Crucifixion.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a
|
|
Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the
|
|
cross, that he might bear <I>it</I> after Jesus.
|
|
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of
|
|
women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
|
|
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem,
|
|
weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
|
|
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall
|
|
say, Blessed <I>are</I> the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and
|
|
the paps which never gave suck.
|
|
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us;
|
|
and to the hills, Cover us.
|
|
31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be
|
|
done in the dry?
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the blessed Jesus, the Lamb of God, led as <I>a lamb to
|
|
the slaughter,</I> to the sacrifice. It is strange with what expedition
|
|
they went through his trial; how they could do so much work in such a
|
|
little time, though they had so many great men to deal with, attendance
|
|
on whom is usually a work of time. He was brought before the chief
|
|
priests at break of day
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:66"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 66</A>),
|
|
|
|
after that to Pilate, then to Herod, then to Pilate again; and there
|
|
seems to have been a long struggle between Pilate and the people about
|
|
him. He was scourged, and crowned with thorns and contumeliously used,
|
|
and all this was done in four or five hours' time, or six at most, for
|
|
he was crucified between nine o'clock and twelve. Christ's persecutors
|
|
resolve to lose no time, for fear lest his friends at the other end of
|
|
the town should get notice of what they were doing, and should rise to
|
|
rescue him. Never any one was so <I>chased out of the world</I> as
|
|
Christ was, but so he himself said, <I>Yet a little while and ye shall
|
|
not see me;</I> a very little while indeed. Now as they led him away to
|
|
death we find,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. One that was a <I>bearer,</I> that carried his cross, <I>Simon</I>
|
|
by name, <I>a Cyrenian,</I> who probably was a friend of Christ, and
|
|
was known to be so, and this was done to put a reproach upon him; they
|
|
laid Christ's cross upon him, that he might <I>bear it after Jesus</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
lest Jesus should faint under it and die away, and so prevent the
|
|
further instances of malice they designed. It was pity, but a <I>cruel
|
|
pity,</I> that gave him this ease.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Many that were <I>mourners,</I> true mourners, who followed him,
|
|
<I>bewailing</I> and <I>lamenting</I> him. These were not only his
|
|
friends and well-wishers, but the common people, that were not his
|
|
enemies, and were moved with compassion towards him, because they had
|
|
heard the fame of him, and what an excellent useful man he was, and had
|
|
reason to think he suffered unjustly. This drew a great crowd after
|
|
him, as is usual at executions, especially of those that have been
|
|
persons of distinction: <I>A great company of people followed him,</I>
|
|
especially of women
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
some led by pity, others by curiosity, but they <I>also</I> (as well as
|
|
those that were his particular friends and acquaintance) <I>bewailed
|
|
and lamented him.</I> Though there were many that reproached and
|
|
reviled him, yet there were some that valued him, and pitied him, and
|
|
were sorry for him, and were partakers with him in his sufferings. The
|
|
dying of the Lord Jesus may perhaps move natural affections in many
|
|
that are strangers to devout affections; many bewail Christ that do not
|
|
believe in him, and lament him that do not love him above all. Now here
|
|
we are told what Christ said to these mourners. Though one would think
|
|
he should be wholly taken up with his own concern, yet he found time
|
|
and heart to take cognizance of their tears. Christ <I>died
|
|
lamented,</I> and has a bottle for the tears of those that lamented
|
|
him. He <I>turned to them,</I> though they were strangers to him, and
|
|
bade them <I>not weep for him, but for themselves.</I> He diverts their
|
|
lamentation into another channel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He gives them a general direction concerning their lamentations:
|
|
<I>Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me.</I> Not that they were to
|
|
be blamed for weeping for him, but rather commended; those hearts were
|
|
hard indeed that were not affected with such sufferings of such a
|
|
person; but they must not weep for him only (those were profitless
|
|
tears that they shed for him), but rather let them <I>weep for
|
|
themselves and for their children,</I> with an eye to the destruction
|
|
that was coming upon Jerusalem, which some of them might live to see
|
|
and share in the calamities of, or, at least, their children would, for
|
|
whom they ought to be solicitous. Note, When with an eye of faith we
|
|
behold Christ crucified we ought to weep, not for him, but for
|
|
ourselves. We must not be affected with the death of Christ as with the
|
|
death of a common person whose calamity we pity, or of a common friend
|
|
whom we are likely to part with. The death of Christ was a thing
|
|
peculiar; it was his victory and triumph over his enemies; it was our
|
|
deliverance, and the purchase of eternal life for us. And therefore let
|
|
us weep, not for him, but for our own sins, and the sins of our
|
|
children, that were the cause of his death; and weep for fear (such
|
|
were the tears here prescribed) of the miseries we shall bring upon
|
|
ourselves, if we slight his love, and reject his grace, as the Jewish
|
|
nation did, which brought upon them the ruin here foretold. When our
|
|
dear relations and friends die in Christ, we have no reason to weep for
|
|
them, who have put off the burden of the flesh, are made perfect in
|
|
holiness, and have entered into perfect rest and joy, but for ourselves
|
|
and our children, who are left behind in a world of sins, and sorrows,
|
|
and snares.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He gives them a particular reason why they should <I>weep for
|
|
themselves and for their children: "Fore behold</I> sad times are
|
|
coming upon your city; it will be destroyed, and you will be involved
|
|
in the common destruction." When Christ's own disciples sorrowed after
|
|
a <I>godly sort</I> for his leaving them, he wiped away their tears
|
|
with the promise that he would <I>see them again,</I> and they should
|
|
<I>rejoice,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:22">John xvi. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
But, when these daughters of <I>Jerusalem bewailed him</I> only with a
|
|
<I>worldly</I> sorrow, he turned their tears into another channel, and
|
|
told them that they should have something given them to cry for. Let
|
|
them <I>be afflicted, and mourn, and weep,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:9">Jam. iv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had lately wept over Jerusalem himself, and now he bids them weep
|
|
over it. Christ's tears should set us a weeping. Let the daughters of
|
|
Zion, that own Christ for their king, rejoice in him, for he comes to
|
|
save them; but let the daughters of Jerusalem, that only weep for him,
|
|
but do not take him for their king, weep and tremble to think of his
|
|
coming to judge them. Now the destruction of Jerusalem is here foretold
|
|
by two proverbial sayings, that might then fitly be used, which both
|
|
bespeak it very terrible, that what people commonly dread they would
|
|
then desire, to be <I>written childless</I> and to be <I>buried
|
|
alive.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They would wish to be <I>written childless.</I> Whereas commonly
|
|
those that have no children envy those that have, as Rachel envied
|
|
Leah, then those that have children will find them such a burden in
|
|
attempting to escape, and such a grief when they see them either
|
|
<I>fainting</I> for famine or <I>falling</I> by the sword, that they
|
|
will envy those that have none, and say, <I>Blessed are the barren, and
|
|
the wombs that never bare,</I> that have no children to be <I>given
|
|
up</I> to the murderer, or to be <I>snatched</I> out of his hands. It
|
|
would not only go ill with those who at that time were <I>with
|
|
child,</I> or <I>giving suck,</I> as Christ had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:19">Matt. xxiv. 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
but it would be terrible to those who had had children, and suckled
|
|
them, and had them now alive. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:11-14">Hos. ix. 11-14</A>.
|
|
|
|
See the vanity of the creature and the uncertainty of its comforts; for
|
|
such may be the changes of Providence concerning us that those very
|
|
things may become the greatest burdens, cares, and griefs to us, which
|
|
we have delighted in as the greatest blessings.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They would wish to be <I>buried alive: They shall begin to say to
|
|
the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
This also refers to a passage in the same prophecy with the former,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+10:8">Hos. x. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall wish to be hid in the darkest caves, that they may be out of
|
|
the noise of these calamities. They will be willing to be sheltered
|
|
upon any terms, though with the hazard of being crushed to pieces. This
|
|
would be the language especially of the great and mighty men,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+6:16">Rev. vi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
They that would not flee to Christ for refuge, and put themselves under
|
|
his protection, will in vain call to <I>hills</I> and <I>mountains</I>
|
|
to shelter them from his wrath.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He shows how natural it was for them to infer this desolation from
|
|
his sufferings. <I>If they do these things in a green tree, what shall
|
|
be done in the dry?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some think that this is borrowed from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+20:47">Ezek. xx. 47</A>:
|
|
|
|
<I>The fire shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry
|
|
tree.</I> These words may be applied,
|
|
|
|
(1.) More particularly to the destruction of Jerusalem, which Christ
|
|
here foretold, and which the Jews by putting him to death brought upon
|
|
themselves: "<I>If they</I> (the Jews, and the inhabitants of
|
|
Jerusalem) <I>do these things upon the green tree,</I> if they do thus
|
|
abuse an innocent and excellent person for his <I>good works,</I> how
|
|
may they expect God to deal with them <I>for their so doing,</I> who
|
|
have made themselves a <I>dry tree,</I> a corrupt and wicked
|
|
generation, and good for nothing? If this be their sin, what do you
|
|
think will be their punishment?" Or take it thus: "If they (the Romans,
|
|
their judges, and their soldiers) abuse me thus, who have given them no
|
|
provocation, who am to them as a green tree, which you seem to be as
|
|
much enraged at, <I>what will they do by Jerusalem</I> and the Jewish
|
|
nation, who will be so very provoking to them, and make themselves as a
|
|
<I>dry tree,</I> as fuel to the fire of their resentments? If God
|
|
suffer those things to be done to me, what will he appoint to be done
|
|
to those barren trees of whom it had been often said that they should
|
|
be <I>hewn down and cast into the fire?</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:10,7:19">Matt. iii. 10; vii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They may be applied more generally to all the revelations of God's
|
|
wrath against sin and sinners: "If God deliver me up to such sufferings
|
|
as these because I am made a sacrifice for sin, what will he do with
|
|
sinners themselves?" Christ was a <I>green tree,</I> fruitful and
|
|
flourishing; now, if such things were done to him, we may thence infer
|
|
what would have been done to the whole race of mankind if he had not
|
|
<I>interposed,</I> and what shall be done to those that continue dry
|
|
trees, notwithstanding all that is done to make them fruitful. If God
|
|
did this to the Son of his love, when he found sin but imputed to him,
|
|
what shall he do to the generation of his wrath, when he finds sin
|
|
reigning in them? If the Father was pleased in doing these things to
|
|
the green tree, why should he be loth to do it to the dry? Note, The
|
|
consideration of the bitter sufferings of our Lord Jesus should engage
|
|
us to stand in awe of the justice of God, and to tremble before him.
|
|
The best saints, compared with Christ, are <I>dry tree;</I> if he
|
|
suffer, why may not they expect so suffer? And what then shall the
|
|
damnation of sinners be?</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="Lu23_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_33"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_34"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_35"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_36"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_37"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_38"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_39"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_40"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_41"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_42"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_43"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Crucifixion.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
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</TABLE>
|
|
|
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<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to
|
|
be put to death.
|
|
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called
|
|
Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on
|
|
the right hand, and the other on the left.
|
|
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not
|
|
what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
|
|
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with
|
|
them derided <I>him,</I> saying, He saved others; let him save
|
|
himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
|
|
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and
|
|
offering him vinegar,
|
|
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
|
|
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of
|
|
Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
|
|
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
|
|
saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
|
|
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou
|
|
fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
|
|
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our
|
|
deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
|
|
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest
|
|
into thy kingdom.
|
|
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day
|
|
shalt thou be with me in paradise.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Divers passages which we had before in Matthew and Mark concerning
|
|
Christ's sufferings.
|
|
|
|
1. That there were <I>two others, malefactors, led with him</I> to the
|
|
place of execution, who, it is probable, had been for some time under
|
|
sentence of death, and were designed to be executed on this day, which
|
|
was probably the pretence for making such haste in the prosecution of
|
|
Christ, that he and these two malefactors might be executed together,
|
|
and one solemnity might serve.
|
|
|
|
2. That he was crucified at a place called <I>Calvary,</I>
|
|
<B><I>Kranion</I></B>, the Greek name for <I>Golgotha--the place of a
|
|
skull:</I> an ignominious place, to add to the reproach of his
|
|
sufferings, but significant, for there he triumphed over death as it
|
|
were upon his own dunghill. He was <I>crucified.</I> His hands and feet
|
|
were nailed to the cross as it lay upon the ground, and it was then
|
|
<I>lifted</I> up, and fastened into the earth, or into some socket made
|
|
to receive it. This was a painful and shameful death above any other.
|
|
|
|
3. That he was crucified <I>in the midst between two thieves,</I> as if
|
|
he had been the worst of the three. Thus he was not only treated as a
|
|
transgressor, but <I>numbered with them,</I> the worst of them.
|
|
|
|
4. That the soldiers who were employed in the execution seized his
|
|
garments as their fee, and divided them among themselves <I>by lot:
|
|
They parted his raiment, and cast lots;</I> it was worth so little
|
|
that, if divided, it would come to next to nothing, and therefore they
|
|
cast lots for it.
|
|
|
|
5. That he was reviled and reproached, and treated with all the scorn
|
|
and contempt imaginable, when he was <I>lifted up</I> upon the cross.
|
|
It was strange that so much barbarity should be found in the human
|
|
nature: <I>The people stood beholding,</I> not at all concerned, but
|
|
rather pleasing themselves with the spectacle; and <I>the rulers,</I>
|
|
whom from their office one would take to be men of sense and men of
|
|
honour, stood among the rabble, <I>and derided him,</I> to set those on
|
|
that were about them to do so too; and they said, <I>He saved others,
|
|
let him save himself.</I> Thus was he upbraided for the good works he
|
|
had done, as if it were indeed <I>for these</I> that they
|
|
<I>crucified</I> him. They triumphed over him as if they had conquered
|
|
him, whereas he was himself then more than a conqueror; they challenged
|
|
him to save himself from the cross, when he was saving others by the
|
|
cross: <I>If he be the Christ, the chosen of God,</I> let him save
|
|
himself. They knew that <I>the Christ was the chosen of God,</I>
|
|
designed by him, and dear to him. "If he, as the Christ, would deliver
|
|
our nation from the Romans (and they could not form any other idea than
|
|
that of the Messiah), let him deliver himself from the Romans that have
|
|
him now in their hands." Thus the Jewish <I>rulers</I> jeered him as
|
|
subdued by the Romans, instead of subduing them. The <I>Roman
|
|
soldiers</I> jeered him as <I>the King of the Jews:</I> "A people good
|
|
enough for such a prince, and a prince good enough for such a people."
|
|
They <I>mocked him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:36,37"><I>v.</I> 36, 37</A>);
|
|
|
|
they made sport with him, and made a jest of his sufferings; and when
|
|
they were drinking sharp sour wine themselves, such as was generally
|
|
allotted them, they triumphantly asked him if he would pledge them, or
|
|
drink with them. And they said, <I>If thou be the king of the Jews,
|
|
save thyself;</I> for, as the Jews prosecuted him under the notion of a
|
|
pretended Messiah, so the Romans under the notion of a pretended king.
|
|
|
|
6. That the superscription over his head, setting forth his crime, was,
|
|
<I>This is the King of the Jews,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
He is put to death for pretending to be the king of the Jews; so they
|
|
meant it; but God intended it to be a declaration of what he really
|
|
was, notwithstanding his present disgrace: he is <I>the king of the
|
|
Jews,</I> the king of the church, and his cross is the way to his
|
|
crown. This was written in those that were called the three learned
|
|
languages, <I>Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew,</I> for those are best
|
|
learned that have learned Christ. It was written in these three
|
|
languages that it might be known and read of all men; but God designed
|
|
by it to signify that the gospel of Christ should be preached to all
|
|
nations, <I>beginning at Jerusalem,</I> and be read in all languages.
|
|
The Gentile philosophy made the Greek tongue famous, the Roman laws and
|
|
government made the Latin tongue so, and the Hebrew excelled them all
|
|
for the sake of the Old Testament. In these three languages is Jesus
|
|
Christ <I>proclaimed king.</I> Young scholars, that are taking pains at
|
|
school to make themselves masters of these three languages, should aim
|
|
at this, that in the use of them they may increase their acquaintance
|
|
with Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here are two passages which we had not before, and they are very
|
|
remarkable ones.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ's prayer for his enemies
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Father, forgive them.</I> Seven remarkable words Christ spoke after
|
|
he was nailed to the cross, and before he died, and this is the first.
|
|
One reason why he died the death of the cross was that he might have
|
|
liberty of speech to the last, and so might glorify his Father and
|
|
edify those about him. As soon as ever he was fastened to the cross, or
|
|
while they were nailing him, he prayed this prayer, in which
|
|
observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The petition: <I>Father, forgive them.</I> One would think that he
|
|
should have prayed, "Father, consume them; the Lord look upon it, and
|
|
requite it." The sin they were now guilty of might justly have been
|
|
made unpardonable, and justly might they have been excepted by name out
|
|
of the act of indemnity. No, these are particularly <I>prayed for.</I>
|
|
Now he made intercession for transgressors, as was foretold
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:12">Isa. liii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it is to be added to his prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:1-26">John xvii.</A>),
|
|
|
|
to complete the specimen he gave of his intercession within the veil:
|
|
that for saints, this for sinners. Now the sayings of Christ upon the
|
|
cross as well as his sufferings had a further intention than they
|
|
seemed to have. This was a mediatorial word, and explicatory of the
|
|
intent and meaning of his death: "<I>Father, forgive them,</I> not only
|
|
these, but all that shall repent, and believe the gospel;" and he did
|
|
not intend that these should be forgiven upon any other terms. "Father,
|
|
that which I am now suffering and dying for is in order to this, that
|
|
poor sinners may be pardoned." Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The great thing which Christ died to purchase and procure for us
|
|
is the forgiveness of sin.
|
|
|
|
[2.] This is that for which Christ intercedes for all that repent and
|
|
believe in the virtue of his satisfaction; his blood speaks this:
|
|
<I>Father, forgive them.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] The greatest sinners may, through Christ, upon their repentance,
|
|
hope to find mercy. Though they were his persecutors and murderers, he
|
|
prayed, Father, forgive <I>them.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The plea: <I>For they know not what they do;</I> for, <I>if they
|
|
had known,</I> they would not have crucified him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:8">1 Cor. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
There was a veil upon his glory and upon their understandings; and how
|
|
could they see through two veils? They wished his blood on them and
|
|
their children: but, had they known what they did, they would have
|
|
unwished it again. Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The crucifiers of Christ <I>know not what they do.</I> They that
|
|
speak ill or religion speak ill of that which they know not, and it is
|
|
because they will not know it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] There is a kind of ignorance that does in part excuse sin:
|
|
ignorance through want of the means of knowledge or of a capacity to
|
|
receive instruction, through the infelicities of education, or
|
|
inadvertency. The crucifiers of Christ were kept in ignorance by their
|
|
rulers, and had prejudices against him instilled into them, so that in
|
|
what they did against Christ and his doctrine they thought they did God
|
|
service,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:2">John xvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Such as to be pitied and prayed for. This prayer of Christ was answered
|
|
not long after, when many of those that had a hand in his death were
|
|
converted by Peter's preaching. This is written also for example to us.
|
|
<I>First,</I> We must in prayer call God <I>Father,</I> and come to him
|
|
with reverence and confidence, as children to a father.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> The great thing we must beg of God, both for ourselves
|
|
and others, is the forgiveness of sins. <I>Thirdly,</I> We must pray
|
|
for <I>our enemies,</I> and those that hate and persecute us, must
|
|
extenuate their offences, and not aggravate them as we must our own
|
|
(<I>They know not what they do; peradventure it was an oversight</I>);
|
|
and we must be earnest with God in prayer for the forgiveness of their
|
|
sins, their sins against us. This is Christ's example to his own rule
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:44,45">Matt. v. 44, 45</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Love your enemies</I>); and it very much strengthens the rule, for,
|
|
if Christ loved and prayed for such enemies, what enemies can we have
|
|
that we are not obliged to <I>love</I> and <I>pray for?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The conversion of the thief upon the cross, which is an illustrious
|
|
instance of Christ's triumphing over principalities and powers even
|
|
when he seemed to be triumphed over by them. Christ was crucified
|
|
between two thieves, and in them were represented the different effects
|
|
which the cross of Christ would have upon the children of men, to whom
|
|
it would be <I>brought near</I> in the preaching of the gospel. They
|
|
were all malefactors, all guilty before God. Now the cross of Christ is
|
|
to some a <I>savour of life unto life,</I> to others of <I>death unto
|
|
death.</I> To them that perish it is foolishness, but to them that are
|
|
saved it is the wisdom of God and the power of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Here was one of these malefactors that was <I>hardened to the
|
|
last.</I> Near to the cross of Christ, he <I>railed on him,</I> as
|
|
others did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>):
|
|
|
|
he said, <I>If thou be the Christ,</I> as they say thou art, <I>save
|
|
thyself and us.</I> Though he was now in pain and agony, and in the
|
|
valley of the shadow of death, yet this did not humble his proud
|
|
spirit, nor teach him to give good language, no, not to his
|
|
fellow-sufferer. <I>Though thou bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not
|
|
his foolishness depart from him.</I> No troubles will of themselves
|
|
work a change in a wicked heart, but sometimes they <I>irritate</I> the
|
|
corruption which one would think they should <I>mortify.</I> He
|
|
challenges Christ to <I>save both himself and them.</I> Note, There are
|
|
some that have the impudence to rail at Christ, and yet the confidence
|
|
to expect to be saved by him; nay, and to conclude that, if he do not
|
|
save them, he is not to be looked upon as the Saviour.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Here was the other of them that was <I>softened at the last.</I>
|
|
It as said in Matthew and Mark that the <I>thieves,</I> even <I>they
|
|
that were crucified with him, reviled him,</I> which some think is by a
|
|
figure put for <I>one</I> of them, but others think that they both
|
|
<I>reviled</I> him at first, till the heart of one of them was
|
|
wonderfully changed, and with it his language on a sudden. This
|
|
malefactor, when just ready to fall into the hands of Satan, was
|
|
snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made a monument of divine
|
|
mercy and grace, and Satan was left to roar as a lion disappointed of
|
|
his prey. This gives no encouragement to any to put off their
|
|
repentance to their death-bed, or to hope that then they shall find
|
|
mercy; for, though it is certain that true repentance is never too
|
|
late, it is as certain that late repentance is seldom true. None can be
|
|
sure that they shall have time to repent at death, but every man may be
|
|
sure that he cannot have the advantages that this penitent thief had,
|
|
whose case was altogether extraordinary. He never had any offer of
|
|
Christ, nor day of grace, before how: he was designed to be made a
|
|
singular instance of the power of Christ's grace now at a time when he
|
|
was <I>crucified in weakness.</I> Christ, having conquered Satan in the
|
|
destruction of Judas and the preservation of Peter, erects this further
|
|
trophy of his victory over him in the conversion of this malefactor, as
|
|
a specimen of what he would do. We shall see the case to be
|
|
extraordinary if we observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The extraordinary operations of God's grace upon him, which
|
|
appeared in what he said. Here were so many evidences given in a short
|
|
time of a blessed change wrought in him that more could not have been
|
|
given in so little a compass.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> See what he said to the other malefactor,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:40,41"><I>v.</I> 40, 41</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. He reproved him for railing at Christ, as destitute of the <I>fear
|
|
of God,</I> and having no sense at all of religion: <I>Dost not thou
|
|
fear God?</I> This implies that it was the fear of God which restrained
|
|
him from following the multitude to do this evil. "I fear God, and
|
|
therefore dare not do it; and dost not thou?" All that have their eyes
|
|
opened see this to be at the bottom of the wickedness of the wicked,
|
|
that they have not the fear of God before their eyes. "If thou hadst
|
|
any humanity in thee, thou wouldest not insult over one that is thy
|
|
fellow-sufferer; <I>thou art in the same condition;</I> thou art a
|
|
<I>dying man</I> too, and therefore, whatever these wicked people do,
|
|
it ill becomes thee to abuse a dying man."
|
|
|
|
2. He owns that he deserves what was done to him: <I>We indeed
|
|
justly.</I> It is probable that they both suffered for one and the same
|
|
crime, and therefore he spoke with the more assurance, <I>We received
|
|
the due reward of our deeds.</I> This magnifies divine grace, as acting
|
|
in a distinguishing way. These two have been comrades in sin and
|
|
suffering, and yet one is <I>saved</I> and the other <I>perishes;</I>
|
|
two that had gone together all along hitherto, and yet now <I>one taken
|
|
and the other left.</I> He does not say, <I>Thou</I> indeed justly, but
|
|
<I>We.</I> Note, True penitents acknowledge the justice of God in all
|
|
the punishments of their sin. God has <I>done right,</I> but <I>we have
|
|
done wickedly.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. He believes Christ to have suffered <I>wrongfully.</I> Though he was
|
|
condemned in two courts, and run upon as if he had been the worst of
|
|
malefactors, yet this penitent thief is convinced, by his conduct in
|
|
his sufferings, that <I>he has done nothing amiss,</I> <B><I>ouden
|
|
atopon</I></B>--<I>nothing absurd, or unbecoming his character.</I> The
|
|
chief priests would have him crucified <I>between</I> the malefactors,
|
|
as <I>one of them;</I> but this thief has more sense than they, and
|
|
owns he is <I>not one of them.</I> Whether he had before heard of
|
|
Christ and of his wonderous works does not appear, but the Spirit of
|
|
grace enlightened him with this knowledge, and enabled him to say, This
|
|
man has <I>done nothing amiss.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> See what he said to our Lord Jesus: <I>Lord, remember
|
|
me when thou comest into thy kingdom,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is the prayer of a <I>dying sinner</I> to a <I>dying Saviour.</I>
|
|
It was the honour of Christ to be <I>thus prayed to,</I> though he was
|
|
upon the cross reproached and reviled. It was the happiness of the
|
|
thief <I>thus to pray;</I> perhaps he never prayed before, and yet now
|
|
was heard, and saved at the last gasp. While there is life there is
|
|
hope, and while there is hope there is room for prayer.
|
|
|
|
1. Observe his <I>faith</I> in this prayer. In his confession of sin
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>)
|
|
|
|
he discovered <I>repentance towards God.</I> In this petition he
|
|
discovered <I>faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.</I> He owns him to
|
|
be <I>Lord,</I> and to have a <I>kingdom,</I> and that he was going to
|
|
that kingdom, that he should have authority in that kingdom, and that
|
|
those should be happy whom he favoured; and to <I>believe</I> and
|
|
<I>confess</I> all this was a <I>great thing</I> at this time of day.
|
|
Christ was now in the depth of disgrace, deserted by his own disciples,
|
|
reviled by his own nation, suffering as a pretender, and not delivered
|
|
by his Father He made this profession before those prodigies happened
|
|
which put honour upon his sufferings, and which startled the centurion;
|
|
yet <I>verily we have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.</I>
|
|
He believed <I>another life</I> after this, and desired to be happy in
|
|
<I>that</I> life, not as the other thief, to be <I>saved from the
|
|
cross,</I> but to be well provided for when the cross had done its
|
|
worst.
|
|
|
|
2. Observe his humility in this prayer. All his request is, <I>Lord,
|
|
remember me.</I> He does not pray, Lord, <I>prefer me</I> (as they did,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:21">Matt. xx. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
though, having the honour as none of the disciples had to drink of
|
|
Christ's cup and to be baptized with his baptism either on his <I>right
|
|
hand</I> or on <I>his left</I> in his sufferings when his own disciples
|
|
had deserted him he might have had some colour to ask as they did to
|
|
sit on his right hand and on his left in his kingdom. Acquaintance in
|
|
sufferings has sometimes gained such a point,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+52:31,32">Jer. lii. 31, 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
But he is far from the thought of it. All he begs is, <I>Lord, remember
|
|
me,</I> referring himself to Christ in what way to remember him. It is
|
|
a request like that of <I>Joseph to the chief butler, Think on me</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:14">Gen. xl. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it sped better; the chief butler <I>forgot Joseph,</I> but Christ
|
|
remembered this thief.
|
|
|
|
3. There is an air of importunity and fervency in this prayer. He
|
|
does, as it were, breathe out his soul in it: "<I>Lord, remember
|
|
me,</I> and I have enough; I desire no more; into thy hands I commit my
|
|
case." Note, To be remembered by Christ, now that he is in his kingdom,
|
|
is what we should earnestly desire and pray for, and it will be enough
|
|
to secure our welfare living and dying. Christ is <I>in his
|
|
kingdom,</I> interceding. "<I>Lord, remember me,</I> and intercede for
|
|
me." He is there ruling. "Lord, remember me, and rule in me by thy
|
|
Spirit." He is there preparing places for those that are his. "Lord,
|
|
remember me, and prepare a place for me; remember me <I>at death,</I>
|
|
remember me <I>in the resurrection.</I>" See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+14:13">Job xiv. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] The extraordinary grants of Christ's favour to him: <I>Jesus said
|
|
unto him,</I> in answer to his prayer, "<I>Verily I say unto thee,</I>
|
|
I the <I>Amen,</I> the faithful Witness, I say <I>Amen</I> to this
|
|
prayer, put my <I>fiat</I> to it: nay, thou shalt have more than thou
|
|
didst ask, <I>This day thou shalt be with me in paradise,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First, To whom</I> this was spoken: to the penitent thief, to him,
|
|
and not to his companion. Christ upon the cross is like Christ upon the
|
|
throne; for <I>now is the judgment of this world:</I> one departs with
|
|
a curse, the other with a blessing. Though Christ himself was now in
|
|
the greatest struggle and agony, yet he had a word of comfort to speak
|
|
to a poor penitent that committed himself to him. Note, Even great
|
|
sinners, if they be true penitents, shall, through Christ, obtain not
|
|
only the pardon of their sins, but a place in the paradise of God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:15">Heb. ix. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
This magnifies the riches of free grace, that rebels and traitors shall
|
|
not only be pardoned, but preferred, thus preferred.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly, By whom</I> this was spoken. This was another mediatorial
|
|
word which Christ spoke, though upon a particular occasion, yet with a
|
|
general intention to explain the true intent and meaning of his
|
|
sufferings; as he died to purchase the <I>forgiveness of sins</I> for
|
|
us
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
so also to purchase <I>eternal life</I> for us. By this word we are
|
|
given to understand that Jesus Christ died to <I>open the kingdom of
|
|
heaven to all penitent obedient believers.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ here lets us know that he was going to paradise himself, to
|
|
<I>hades--the invisible world.</I> His human soul was removing to the
|
|
place of separate souls; not to the place of the damned, but to
|
|
paradise, the place of the blessed. By this he assures us that his
|
|
satisfaction was accepted, and the Father was well pleased in him, else
|
|
he had not gone to paradise; that was the beginning of the joy set
|
|
before him, with the prospect of which he comforted himself. He went by
|
|
the cross to the crown, and we must not think of going any other way,
|
|
or of being perfected but by sufferings.
|
|
|
|
2. He lets all penitent believers know that when they die they shall go
|
|
to be with him there. He was now, as a priest, purchasing this
|
|
happiness for them, and is ready, as a king, to confer it upon them
|
|
when they are prepared and made ready for it. See here how the
|
|
happiness of heaven is set forth to us.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is <I>paradise,</I> a garden of pleasure, the <I>paradise of
|
|
God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+2:7">Rev. ii. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
alluding to the garden of Eden, in which our first parents were placed
|
|
when they were innocent. In the second Adam we are restored to all we
|
|
lost in the first Adam, and more, to a heavenly paradise instead of an
|
|
earthly one.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is being <I>with Christ</I> there. That is the happiness of
|
|
heaven, to see Christ, and sit with him, and share in his glory,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:24">John xvii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is immediate upon death: <I>This day shalt thou be with me,</I>
|
|
to-night, before to-morrow. <I>Thou souls of the faithful, after they
|
|
are delivered from the burden of the flesh,</I> immediately <I>are in
|
|
joy and felicity;</I> the spirits of just men are immediately <I>made
|
|
perfect.</I> Lazarus departs, and is immediately <I>comforted;</I> Paul
|
|
departs, and is immediately with Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:23">Phil. i. 23</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu23_49"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Crucifixion.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness
|
|
over all the earth until the ninth hour.
|
|
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was
|
|
rent in the midst.
|
|
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father,
|
|
into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave
|
|
up the ghost.
|
|
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God,
|
|
saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
|
|
48 And all the people that came together to that sight,
|
|
beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and
|
|
returned.
|
|
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him
|
|
from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have three things:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ's dying <I>magnified</I> by the <I>prodigies</I> that
|
|
attended it: only two are here mentioned, which we had an account of
|
|
before.
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>darkening of the sun at noon-day.</I> It was now about the
|
|
<I>sixth hour,</I> that is, according to our computation, twelve
|
|
o'clock at noon; and there was a <I>darkness over all the earth until
|
|
the ninth hour.</I> The sun was eclipsed and the air exceedingly
|
|
clouded at the same time, both which concurred to this thick darkness,
|
|
which continued<I> three hours,</I> not <I>three days,</I> as that of
|
|
Egypt did.
|
|
|
|
2. The <I>rending of the veil of the temple.</I> The former prodigy was
|
|
in the <I>heavens,</I> this in the <I>temple;</I> for both these are
|
|
the houses of God, and, when the Son of God was thus abused, they could
|
|
not but feel the indignity, and thus signify their resentment of it. By
|
|
this rending of the veil was signified the taking away of the
|
|
ceremonial law, which was a wall of partition between Jews and
|
|
Gentiles, and of all other difficulties and discouragements in our
|
|
approaches to God, so that now we may <I>come boldly to the throne of
|
|
grace.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Christ's dying <I>explained</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>)
|
|
|
|
by the words with which he breathed out his soul. Jesus <I>had
|
|
cried</I> with a loud voice when he said, <I>Why hast thou forsaken
|
|
me?</I> So we are told in Matthew and Mark, and, it should seem, it was
|
|
with a <I>loud voice</I> that he said this too, to show his
|
|
earnestness, and that all the people might take notice of it: and this
|
|
he said, <I>Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. He borrowed these words from his father David
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+31:5">Ps. xxxi. 5</A>);
|
|
|
|
not that he needed to have words put into his mouth, but he chose to
|
|
make use of David's words to show that it was the Spirit of Christ that
|
|
testified in the Old-Testament prophets, and that he came to fulfil the
|
|
scripture. Christ died with scripture in his mouth. Thus he directs us
|
|
to make use of scripture language in our addresses to God.
|
|
|
|
2. In this address to God he calls him <I>Father.</I> When he
|
|
complained of being forsaken, he cried, <I>Eli, Eli, My God, my
|
|
God;</I> but, to show that dreadful agony of his soul was now over, he
|
|
here calls God <I>Father.</I> When he was giving up his life and soul
|
|
for us, he did for us call God <I>Father,</I> that we through him might
|
|
receive the adoption of sons.
|
|
|
|
3. Christ made use of these words in a sense peculiar to himself as
|
|
Mediator. He was now to <I>make his soul an offering for our sin</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:10">Isa. liii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
to <I>give his life a ransom for many</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:28">Matt. xx. 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>by the eternal Spirit to offer himself,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:14">Heb. ix. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was himself both the priest and the sacrifice; our souls were
|
|
forfeited, and his must go to redeem the forfeiture. The price must be
|
|
paid <I>into the hands</I> of God, the party offended by sin; to him he
|
|
had undertaken to make full satisfaction. Now by these words he
|
|
<I>offered up the sacrifice,</I> did, as it were, lay his hand upon the
|
|
head of it, and surrender it; <B><I>tithemi</I></B>--"I <I>deposit</I>
|
|
it, I pay it down into thy hands. Father, accept of my life and soul
|
|
instead of the lives and souls of the sinners I die for." The <I>animus
|
|
offerentis--the good will of the offerer,</I> was requisite to the
|
|
acceptance of the offering. Now Christ here expresses his cheerful
|
|
willingness to offer himself, as he had done when it was first proposed
|
|
to him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:9,10">Heb. x. 9, 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Lo, I come to do thy will, by which will we are sanctified.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. Christ hereby signifies his dependence upon his Father for his
|
|
resurrection, by the re-union of his soul and body. He commends his
|
|
spirit into his Father's hand, to be <I>received</I> into paradise, and
|
|
<I>returned</I> the third day. By this it appears that our Lord Jesus,
|
|
as he had a <I>true body,</I> so he had a reasonable soul, which
|
|
existed in a state of separation from the body, and thus he was made
|
|
like unto his brethren; this soul he lodged in his Father's hand,
|
|
committed it to his custody, resting in hope that it should not be left
|
|
in <I>hades,</I> in its <I>state of separation</I> from the body, no,
|
|
not so long as that the body might see corruption.
|
|
|
|
5. Christ has hereby left us an example, has fitted those words of
|
|
David to the purpose of dying saints, and hath, as it were, sanctified
|
|
them for their use. In death our great care should be about our souls,
|
|
and we cannot more effectually provide for their welfare than by
|
|
committing them now into the hands of God, as a Father, to be
|
|
sanctified and governed by his Spirit and grace, and at death
|
|
committing them into his hands to be made perfect in holiness and
|
|
happiness. We must show that we are freely willing to die, that we
|
|
firmly believe in another life after this, and are desirous of it, by
|
|
saying, <I>Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Christ's dying improved by the impressions it made upon those that
|
|
attended him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The centurion that had command of the guard was much affected with
|
|
what he saw,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was a Roman, a Gentile, a stranger to the consolations of Israel;
|
|
and yet he <I>glorified God.</I> He never saw such amazing instances of
|
|
divine power, and therefore took occasion thence to adore God as the
|
|
<I>Almighty.</I> And he bore a testimony to the patient sufferer:
|
|
"<I>Certainly this was a righteous man,</I> and was unjustly put to
|
|
death." God's manifesting his power so much to do him honour was a
|
|
plain evidence of his innocency. His testimony in Matthew and Mark goes
|
|
further: <I>Truly this was the Son of God.</I> But in his case this
|
|
amounts to the same; for, if he was <I>a righteous man,</I> he said
|
|
very truly when he said that <I>he was the Son of God;</I> and
|
|
therefore that testimony of his concerning himself must be admitted,
|
|
for, if it were false, he was not a <I>righteous man.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The disinterested spectators could not but be concerned. This is
|
|
taken notice of only here,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>All the people that came together to that sight,</I> as is usual
|
|
upon such occasions, <I>beholding the things which were done,</I> could
|
|
not but go away very serious for the time, whatever they were when they
|
|
came home: <I>They smote their breasts, and returned.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They laid the thing very much to heart for the present. They
|
|
looked upon it as a wicked thing to put him to death, and could not but
|
|
think that some judgment of God would come upon their nation for it.
|
|
Probably these very people were of those that had cried, <I>Crucify
|
|
him, crucify him,</I> and, when he was nailed to the cross, reviled and
|
|
blasphemed him; but now they were so terrified with the darkness and
|
|
the earthquake, and the uncommon manner of his expiring, that they had
|
|
not only their mouths stopped, but their consciences startled, and in
|
|
remorse for what they had done, as the publican, they <I>smote upon
|
|
their breasts,</I> beat upon their own hearts, as those that had
|
|
indignation at themselves. Some think that this was a happy step
|
|
towards that good work which was afterwards wrought upon them, when
|
|
they were pricked to the heart,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:37">Acts ii. 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Yet, it should seem, the impression soon wore off: <I>They smote
|
|
their breasts, and returned.</I> They did not show any further token of
|
|
respect to Christ, nor enquire more concerning him, but went home; and
|
|
we have reason to fear that in a little time they quite forgot it. Thus
|
|
many that see Christ evidently set forth crucified among them in the
|
|
word and sacraments are a little affected for the present, but it does
|
|
not continue; they smite their breasts, and return. They see Christ's
|
|
face in the glass of the ordinances and admire him; but they <I>go
|
|
away, and straightway forget what manner of man he is,</I> and what
|
|
reason they have to love him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. His own friends and followers were obliged to keep their distance,
|
|
and yet got as near as they could and durst, to see what was done
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>All his acquaintance,</I> that knew him and were known of him,
|
|
<I>stood afar off,</I> for fear lest if they had been near him they
|
|
should have been taken up as favourers of him; this was part of his
|
|
sufferings, as of Job's
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+19:13">Job xix. 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are
|
|
verily estranged from me.</I> See
|
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+88:18">Ps. lxxxviii. 18</A>.
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And <I>the women that followed him</I> together <I>from Galilee were
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beholding these things,</I> not knowing what to make of them, nor so
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ready as they should have been to take them for certain preludes of his
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resurrection. Now was Christ <I>set for a sign that should be spoken
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against,</I> as Simeon foretold, <I>that the thoughts of many hearts
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might be revealed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:34,35"><I>ch.</I> ii. 34, 35</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Lu23_50"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_51"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_52"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_53"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_54"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_55"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu23_56"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Burial of 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>50 And, behold, <I>there was</I> a man named Joseph, a counsellor;
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<I>and he was</I> a good man, and a just:
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51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of
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them;) <I>he was</I> of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also
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himself waited for the kingdom of God.
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52 This <I>man</I> went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
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53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in
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a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was
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laid.
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54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
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55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee,
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followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was
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laid.
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56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and
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rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here an account of Christ's burial; for he must be brought not
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only to death, but to the dust of death
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:15">Ps. xxii. 15</A>),
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according to the sentence
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:19">Gen. iii. 19</A>),
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<I>To the dust thou shalt return.</I> Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. Who buried him. His acquaintance <I>stood afar off;</I> they had
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neither money to bear the <I>charge</I> nor courage to bear the
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<I>odium</I> of burying him decently; but God raised up one that had
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both, a <I>man named Joseph,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>.
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His character is that he was <I>a good man and a just,</I> a man of
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unspotted reputation for virtue and piety, not only <I>just</I> to all,
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but good to all that needed him (and care to <I>bury the dead,</I> as
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becomes the hope of the resurrection of the dead, is one instance of
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goodness and beneficence); he was a person of quality, a counsellor, a
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senator, a member of the sanhedrim, one of the elders of the Jewish
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church. Having said this of him, it was necessary to add that, though
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he was of that body of men who had put Christ to death, yet he <I>had
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not consented to their counsel and deed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>),
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though it was carried by the majority, yet he entered his protest
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against it, and followed not the multitude to do evil. Note, That evil
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counsel or deed to which we have not consented shall not be reckoned
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our act. Nay, he not only <I>dissented</I> openly from those that were
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enemies to Christ, but be <I>consented</I> secretly with those that
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were his friends: <I>He himself waited for the kingdom of God;</I> he
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believed the Old-Testament prophecies of the Messiah and his kingdom,
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and expected the accomplishment of them. This was the man that appears
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upon this occasion to have had a true respect for the Lord Jesus. Note,
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There are many who are hearty in Christ's interests, how, though they
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do not make any show in their outward profession of it, yet will be
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more ready to do him a piece of real service, when there is occasion,
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than others who make a greater figure and noise.</P>
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<P>
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II. What he did towards the burying of him.
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1. He <I>went to Pilate,</I> the judge that condemned him, and
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<I>begged the body of Jesus,</I> for it was at his disposal; and,
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though he might have raised a party sufficient to have carried off the
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body by violence, yet he would take the regular course, and do it
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peaceably.
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2. He <I>took it down,</I> it should seem, with his own hands, and
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<I>wrapped it in linen.</I> They tell us that it was the manner of the
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Jews to <I>roll</I> the bodies of the dead, as we do little children in
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their <I>swaddling-clothes,</I> and that the word here used signifies
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as much; so that the piece of fine linen, which he bought whole, he cut
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into many pieces for this purpose. It is said of Lazarus, <I>He was
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bound hand and foot,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:44">John xi. 44</A>.
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<I>Grave-clothes</I> are to the saints as <I>swaddling-clothes,</I>
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which they shall out-grow and put off, when they <I>come to the perfect
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man.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. Where he was buried. <I>In a sepulchre that was hewn in stone,</I>
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that the prison of the grave might be made strong, as the church, when
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she was brought into darkness, had her way <I>enclosed with hewn
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stone,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+3:2,9">Lam. iii. 2, 9</A>.
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But it was <I>a sepulchre in which never man before was laid,</I> for
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he was buried on such an account as never any one before him was
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buried, only in order to his rising again the third day by his own
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power; and he was to triumph over the grave as never any man did.</P>
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<P>
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IV. When he was buried. <I>On the day of the preparation, when the
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sabbath drew on,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
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This is given as a reason why they made such haste with the funeral,
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because the <I>sabbath drew</I> on, which required their attendance to
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other work, preparing for the sabbath, and going forth to welcome it.
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Note, Weeping must not hinder sowing. Though they were in tears for the
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death of Christ, yet they must apply themselves to the sanctifying of
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the sabbath; and, when the sabbath draws on, there must be
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<I>preparation.</I> Our worldly affairs must be so ordered that they
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may not hinder us from our sabbath work, and our holy affections must
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be so excited that they may carry us on in it.</P>
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<P>
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V. Who attended the funeral; not any of the disciples, but only <I>the
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women that came with him from Galilee</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:55"><I>v.</I> 55</A>),
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who, as they staid by him while he hung on the cross, so they
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<I>followed</I> him, all in tears no doubt, and <I>beheld the
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sepulchre</I> where it was, which was the way to it, and <I>how his
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body was laid in it.</I> They were led to this, not by their curiosity,
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but by their affection to the Lord Jesus, which was <I>strong as
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death</I> and which <I>many waters could not quench.</I> Here was a
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silent funeral, and not a solemn one, and yet <I>his rest was
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glorious.</I></P>
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<P>
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VI. What preparation was made for the embalming of his body after he
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was buried
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:56"><I>v.</I> 56</A>):
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<I>They returned, and prepared spices and ointments,</I> which was more
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an evidence of their love than of their faith; for had they
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<I>remembered</I> and <I>believed</I> what he had so often told them,
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that he should <I>rise again the third day,</I> they would have spared
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their <I>cost</I> and <I>pains</I> herein, as knowing that in a short
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time there would be a greater honour put upon his body, by the glory of
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his resurrection, than they could put upon it with their most
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<I>precious ointments;</I> but, busy as they were in this preparation,
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they <I>rested on the sabbath day,</I> and did none of this servile
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work thereon, not only according to the custom of their nation, but
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<I>according to the commandments</I> of their God, which, though the
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day be altered, is still in full force: <I>Remember the sabbath day, to
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keep it holy.</I></P>
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