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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. IV.</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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We left Christ newly baptized, and owned by a voice from heaven and the
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descent of the Holy Ghost upon him. Now, in this chapter, we have,
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I. A further preparation of him for his public ministry by his being
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tempted in the wilderness, of which we had the same account before in
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Matthew as we have here,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:1-13">ver. 1-13</A>.
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II. His entrance upon his public work in Galilee
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>),
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particularly,
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1. At Nazareth, the city where he had been bred up
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:16-30">ver. 16-30</A>),
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which we had no account of before in Matthew.
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2. At Capernaum, where, having preached to admiration
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:31-32">ver. 31-32</A>),
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he cast the devil out of a man that was possessed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:33-37">ver. 33-37</A>),
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cured Peter's mother-in-law of a fever
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:38,39">ver. 38, 39</A>),
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and many others that were sick and possessed
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:40,41">ver. 40, 41</A>),
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and then went and did the same in other cities of Galilee,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:42-44">ver. 42-44</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Temptation in the Wilderness.</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 Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan,
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and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
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2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he
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did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
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3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God,
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command this stone that it be made bread.
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4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall
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not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
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5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed
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unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
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6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee,
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and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to
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whomsoever I will I give it.
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7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
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8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me,
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Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
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and him only shalt thou serve.
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9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of
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the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast
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thyself down from hence:
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10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over
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thee, to keep thee:
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11 And in <I>their</I> hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any
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time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
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12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt
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not tempt the Lord thy God.
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13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed
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from him for a season.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The last words of the foregoing chapter, that Jesus was the <I>Son of
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Adam,</I> bespeak him to be the <I>seed of the woman;</I> being so, we
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have here, according to the promise, <I>breaking the serpent's
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head,</I> baffling and foiling the devil in all his temptations, who by
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one temptation had baffled and foiled our first parents. Thus, in the
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beginning of the war, he made reprisals upon him, and conquered the
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conqueror.</P>
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<P>
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In this story of Christ's temptation, observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How he was <I>prepared</I> and <I>fitted</I> for it. He that
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designed him the trial furnished him accordingly; for though we know
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not what exercises may be before us, nor what encounters we may be
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reserved for, Christ did, and was provided accordingly; and God doth
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for us, and we hope will provide accordingly.</P>
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<P>
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1. He was <I>full of the Holy Ghost,</I> who had <I>descended on him
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like a dove.</I> He had now greater measures of the gifts, graces, and
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comforts, of the Holy Ghost than ever before. Note, Those are well
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armed against the strongest temptations that are <I>full of the Holy
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Ghost.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. He was newly <I>returned from Jordan,</I> where he was baptized, and
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owned by a voice from heaven to be the beloved Son of God; and thus he
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was <I>prepared</I> for this combat. Note, When we have had the most
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comfortable communion with God, and the clearest discoveries of his
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favour to us, we may expect that Satan will set upon us (the richest
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ship is the pirate's prize), and that God will suffer him to do so,
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that the power of his grace may be manifested and magnified.</P>
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<P>
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3. He was <I>led by the Spirit into the wilderness,</I> by the good
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Spirit, who led him as a champion into the field, to fight the enemy
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that he was sure to conquer. His being <I>led into the wilderness,</I>
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(1.) <I>Gave</I> some advantage to the tempter; for there he had him
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alone, no friend with him, by whose prayers and advice he might be
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assisted in the hour of temptation. <I>Woe to him that is alone! He
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might</I> give Satan advantage, who knew his own strength; <I>we may
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not,</I> who know our own weakness.
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(2.) He <I>gained</I> some advantage to himself, during his forty days'
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fasting in the wilderness. We may suppose that he was wholly taken up
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in proper meditation, and in consideration of his own undertaking, and
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the work he had before him; that he spent all his time in immediate,
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intimate, converse with his Father, as Moses in the mount, without any
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diversion, distraction, or interruption. Of all the days of Christ's
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life in the flesh, these seem to come nearest to the angelic perfection
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and the heavenly life, and this prepared him for Satan's assaults, and
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hereby he was fortified against them.</P>
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<P>
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4. He continued fasting
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>In those days he did eat nothing.</I> This fast was altogether
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miraculous, like those of Moses and Elijah, and shows him to be, like
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them, a prophet <I>sent of God.</I> It is probable that it was in the
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wilderness of Horeb, the same wilderness in which Moses and Elijah
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fasted. As by retiring into the <I>wilderness</I> he showed himself
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perfectly indifferent to the <I>world,</I> so by his <I>fasting</I> he
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showed himself perfectly indifferent to the <I>body;</I> and Satan
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cannot easily take hold of those who are thus loosened from, and dead
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to, the <I>world</I> and the <I>flesh.</I> The more we <I>keep under
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the body,</I> and bring it into subjection, the less advantage Satan
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has against us.</P>
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<P>
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II. How he was assaulted by one temptation after another, and how he
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defeated the design of the tempter in every assault, and became more
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than a conqueror. During the <I>forty days,</I> he was <I>tempted of
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the devil</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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not by an inward suggestion, for the prince of this world had nothing
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in Christ by which to inject any such, but by outward solicitations,
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perhaps in the likeness of a serpent, as he tempted our first parents.
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But at the end of the forty days he came nearer to him, and did as it
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were close with him, when he perceived <I>that he was hungry,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Probably, our Lord Jesus then began to look about among the trees, to
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see if he could find any thing that was eatable, whence the devil took
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occasion to make the following proposal to him.</P>
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<P>
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1. He tempted him to <I>distrust his Father's</I> care of him, and to
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<I>set up for himself,</I> and shift for provision for himself in such
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a way as his Father had not appointed for him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>If thou be the Son of God,</I> as the voice from heaven declared,
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<I>command this stone to be made bread.</I>
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(1.) "I counsel thee to do it; for God, if he be thy Father, has
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forgotten thee, and it will be long enough ere he sends either ravens
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or angels to feed thee." If we begin to think of being our own carvers,
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and of living by our own forecast, without depending upon divine
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providence, of getting wealth <I>by our might and the power of our
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hands,</I> we must look upon it as a temptation of Satan's, and reject
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it accordingly; it is Satan's counsel to think of an independence upon
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God.
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(2.) "I <I>challenge</I> thee to do it, if thou canst; if thou dost not
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do it, I will say thou art <I>not the Son of God;</I> for John Baptist
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said lately, <I>God is able of stones to raise up children to
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Abraham,</I> which is the greater; thou therefore hast not the power of
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the <I>Son of God,</I> if thou dost not <I>of stones make bread</I> for
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thyself, when thou needest it, which is the less." Thus was God himself
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tempted in the wilderness: <I>Can he furnish a table? Can he give
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bread?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+78:19,20">Ps. lxxxviii. 19, 20</A>.</P>
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<P>
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Now,
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[1.] Christ yielded not to the temptation; he would not <I>turn</I>
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that <I>stone</I> into <I>bread;</I> no, though he was hungry;
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<I>First,</I> Because he would not do what Satan bade him do, for that
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would have looked as if there had been indeed a compact between him and
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the prince of the devils. Note, We must not do any thing that looks
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like <I>giving place to the devil.</I> Miracles were wrought for the
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confirming of faith, and the devil had no faith to be confirmed, and
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therefore he would not do it <I>for him.</I> He did his signs <I>in the
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presence of his disciples</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:30">John xx. 30</A>),
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and particularly the <I>beginning of his miracles,</I> turning water
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into wine, which he did, that his disciples might believe on him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:11">John ii. 11</A>);
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but here in the wilderness he had no disciples with him.
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<I>Secondly,</I> He wrought miracles for the ratification of his
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doctrine, and therefore till he began to <I>preach</I> he would not
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begin to work miracles. <I>Thirdly,</I> He would not work miracles
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<I>for himself</I> and his own supply, lest he should seem impatient of
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<I>hunger,</I> whereas he came not to <I>please himself,</I> but to
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<I>suffer grief,</I> and that grief among others; and because he would
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show that he <I>pleased not himself,</I> he would rather turn <I>water
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into wine,</I> for the credit and convenience of his friends, than
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<I>stones into bread,</I> for his own <I>necessary supply.
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Fourthly,</I> He would reserve the proof of his being the Son of God
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for hereafter, and would rather be upbraided by Satan with being weak,
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and not able to do it, than be persuaded by Satan to do that which it
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was fit for him to do; thus he was upbraided by his enemies as if he
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could not <I>save himself,</I> and <I>come down from the cross,</I>
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when he could have come down, but would not, because it was not fit
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that he should. <I>Fifthly,</I> He would not do any thing that looked
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like distrust of his Father, or <I>acting separately</I> from him, or
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any thing disagreeable to his present state. Being in all things
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<I>made like unto his brethren,</I> he would, like the other children
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of God, live in a dependence upon the divine Providence and promise,
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and trust him either to send him a supply into the wilderness or to
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<I>lead him to a city of habitation</I> where there was a supply, as he
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used to do
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:5-7">Ps. cvii. 5-7</A>),
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and in the mean time would <I>support</I> him, though he was hungry, as
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he had done these forty days past.</P>
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<P>
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[2.] He returned a scripture-answer to it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>It is written.</I> This is the first word recorded as spoken by
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Christ after his instalment in his prophetical office; and it is a
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quotation out of the Old Testament, to show that he came to assert and
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maintain the authority of the scripture as uncontrollable, even by
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Satan himself. And though he had the Spirit without measure, and had a
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doctrine of his own to preach and a religion to found, yet it agreed
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with Moses and the prophets, whose writings he therefore lays down as a
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rule to himself, and recommends to us as a reply to Satan and his
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temptations. The word of God is our <I>sword,</I> and faith in that
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word is our <I>shield;</I> we should therefore be <I>mighty in the
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scriptures,</I> and <I>go in that might,</I> go forth, and go on, in
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our spiritual warfare, know <I>what is written,</I> for it is <I>for
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our learning,</I> for <I>our use.</I> The text of scripture he makes
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use of is quoted from
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:3">Deut. viii. 3</A>:
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"<I>Man shall not live by bread alone.</I> I need not turn the stone
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into bread, for God can send <I>manna</I> for my nourishment, as he did
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for Israel; man can live <I>by every word of God,</I> by whatever God
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will appoint that he shall live by." How had Christ lived, lived
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comfortably, these last forty days? Not <I>by bread,</I> but by the
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<I>word of God,</I> by meditation upon that word, and communion with
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it, and with God in and by it; and in like manner he could <I>live
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yet,</I> though now he began to be <I>hungry.</I> God has many ways of
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providing for his people, without the ordinary means of subsistence;
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and therefore he is not at any time to be distrusted, but at all times
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to be depended upon, in the way of duty. If meat be wanting, God can
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take away the appetite, or give such degrees of patience as will enable
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a man even to <I>laugh at destruction and famine</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+5:22">Job v. 22</A>),
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or make <I>pulse and water</I> more nourishing than <I>all the portion
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of the king's meat</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+1:12,13">Dan. i. 12, 13</A>),
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and enable his people to <I>rejoice in the Lord,</I> when the
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<I>fig-tree doth not blossom,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:17">Hab. iii. 17</A>.
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She was an active believer who said that she had made many a meal's
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meat of the promises when she wanted bread.</P>
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<P>
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2. He tempted him to <I>accept from him</I> the kingdom, which, as the
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<I>Son of God,</I> he expected to receive from <I>his Father,</I> and
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to <I>do him homage</I> for,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>.
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This evangelist puts this temptation second, which Matthew had put
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last, and which, it should seem, was really the last; but Luke was full
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of it, as the blackest and most violent, and therefore hastened to it.
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In the devil's tempting of our first parents, he presented to them the
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forbidden fruit, first as <I>good for food,</I> and then as <I>pleasant
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to the eyes;</I> and they were overpowered by both these charms. Satan
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here first tempted Christ to turn the stones into bread, which would be
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good for food, and then showed him the kingdoms of the world and the
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glory of them, which were <I>pleasant to the eyes;</I> but in both
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these he overpowered Satan, and perhaps with an eye to that, Luke
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changes the order. Now observe,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) How Satan <I>managed</I> this temptation, to prevail with Christ
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to become a tributary to him, and to receive his kingdom by delegation
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from him.</P>
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<P>
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|
|
|
[1.] He gave him a prospect of <I>all the kingdoms of the world in a
|
|
moment of time,</I> an airy representation of them, such as he thought
|
|
most likely to strike the fancy, and seem a <I>real</I> prospect. To
|
|
succeed the better, he <I>took him up</I> for this purpose <I>into a
|
|
high mountain;</I> and, because we next after the temptation find
|
|
Christ on the other side Jordan, some think it probable that it was to
|
|
the top of Pisgah that the devil took him, whence Moses has a sight of
|
|
Canaan. That it was but a phantasm that the devil here presented our
|
|
Saviour with, as the prince of the power of the air, is confirmed by
|
|
that circumstance which Luke here takes notice of, that it was done
|
|
<I>in a moment of time;</I> whereas, if a man take a prospect of but
|
|
one country, he must do it successively, must turn himself round, and
|
|
take a view first of one part and then of another. Thus the devil
|
|
thought to impose upon our Saviour with a fallacy--<I>a deceptio
|
|
visus;</I> and, by making him believe that he could <I>show him all the
|
|
kingdoms of</I> the world, would draw him into an opinion that he could
|
|
<I>give him</I> all those kingdoms.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He boldly alleged that these kingdoms were <I>all delivered to
|
|
him</I> that he had power to dispose of them and all their
|
|
<I>glory,</I> and to give them to <I>whomsoever he would,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some think that herein he pretended to be an angel of light, and that,
|
|
as one of the angels that was set over the kingdoms, he had out-bought,
|
|
or out-fought, all the rest, and so was <I>entrusted</I> with the
|
|
disposal of them all, and, in God's name, would give them to him,
|
|
knowing they were designed for him; but clogged with this condition,
|
|
that he should <I>fall down and worship him,</I> which a good angel
|
|
would have been so far from demanding that he would not have admitted
|
|
it, no, not upon showing much greater things than these, as appears,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+19:10,22:9">Rev. xix. 10; xxii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
But I rather take it that he claimed this power as Satan, and as
|
|
<I>delivered to him</I> not by <I>the Lord,</I> but by the kings and
|
|
people of these kingdoms, who gave their power and honour to the devil,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:2">Eph. ii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
Hence he is called the <I>god of this world,</I> and the <I>prince of
|
|
this world.</I> It was promised to the Son of God that he should have
|
|
<I>the heathen for his inheritance,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+2:8">Ps. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Why," saith the devil, "the heathen are <I>mine,</I> are my subjects
|
|
and votaries; but, however, they shall be thine, I will give them
|
|
<I>thee,</I> upon condition that thou <I>worship me</I> for them, and
|
|
say that they are the <I>rewards which I have given thee,</I> as others
|
|
have done before <I>thee</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hos+2:12">Hos. ii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and consent to have and <I>hold them by, from, and under, me.</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] He demanded of him homage and adoration: <I>If thou wilt worship
|
|
me, all shall be thine,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> He would have him worship him himself. Perhaps he does
|
|
not mean so as never to worship God, but let him worship him in
|
|
conjunction with God; for the devil knows, if he can but once come in a
|
|
partner, he shall soon be sole proprietor. <I>Secondly,</I> He would
|
|
indent with him, that when, according to the promise made to him, he
|
|
had got possession of the kingdoms of this world, he should make no
|
|
alteration of religions in them, but permit and suffer the nations, as
|
|
they had done hitherto, to <I>sacrifice to devils</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:20">1 Cor. x. 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
that he should still keep up <I>demon-worship</I> in the world, and
|
|
then let him take all the power and glory of the kingdoms if he
|
|
pleased. Let who will take the wealth and grandeur of this earth, Satan
|
|
has all he would have if he can but have men's hearts, and affections,
|
|
and adorations, can but <I>work in the children of</I> disobedience;
|
|
for then he effectually <I>devours them.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) How our Lord Jesus <I>triumphed</I> over this temptation. He gave
|
|
it a peremptory repulse, rejected it with abhorrence
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Get thee behind me, Satan,</I> I cannot bear the mention of it.
|
|
What! worship the enemy of God whom I came to serve? and of man whom
|
|
I came to save? No, I will never do it." Such a temptation as this was
|
|
not to be <I>reasoned with,</I> but immediately refused; it was
|
|
presently knocked on the head with one word, <I>It is written, Thou
|
|
shalt worship the Lord thy God;</I> and not only so, but <I>him
|
|
only,</I> him and <I>no other.</I> And therefore Christ will not
|
|
worship Satan, nor, when he has the <I>kingdoms of the world
|
|
delivered</I> to him by his Father, as he expects shortly to have, will
|
|
he suffer any remains of the worship of the devil to continue in them.
|
|
No, it shall be perfectly rooted out and abolished, wherever his gospel
|
|
comes. He will make no composition with him. <I>Polytheism</I> and
|
|
<I>idolatry</I> must go down, as Christ's kingdom gets up. Men must be
|
|
<I>turned from the power of Satan unto God,</I> from the worship of
|
|
devils to the worship of the only living and true God. This is the
|
|
great divine law that Christ will re-establish among men, and by his
|
|
holy religion reduce men to the obedience of, <I>That God only is to be
|
|
served and worshipped;</I> and therefore whoever set up any creature as
|
|
the object of religious worship, though it were a saint or an angel, or
|
|
the virgin Mary herself, they directly thwart Christ's design, and
|
|
relapse into heathenism.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He tempted him to be his own murderer, in a presumptuous confidence
|
|
of his Father's protection, such as he had no warrant for.
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) What he designed in this temptation: <I>If thou be the Son of God,
|
|
cast thyself down,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He would have him seek for a new proof of his being the <I>Son of
|
|
God,</I> as if that which his Father had given him by the voice from
|
|
heaven, and the descent of the Spirit upon him, were not sufficient,
|
|
which would have been a dishonour to God, as if he had not chosen the
|
|
most proper way of giving him the assurance of it; and it would have
|
|
argued a distrust of the Spirit's dwelling in him, which was the great
|
|
and most convincing proof to himself of his being the <I>Son of
|
|
God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:8,9">Heb. i. 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He would have him seek a new method of proclaiming and publishing
|
|
this to the world. The devil, in effect, suggests that it was in an
|
|
<I>obscure corner</I> that he was attested to be the Son of God, among
|
|
a company of ordinary people, who attended John's baptism, that his
|
|
honours were proclaimed; but if he would now declare from <I>the
|
|
pinnacle of the temple,</I> among all the great people who attend the
|
|
temple-service, that he was the Son of God, and then, for proof of it,
|
|
throw himself down unhurt, he would presently be received by every body
|
|
as a messenger sent from heaven. Thus Satan would have him seek honours
|
|
of his devising (in contempt of those which God had put on him), and
|
|
manifest himself in the temple at Jerusalem; whereas God designed he
|
|
should be more manifest among John's penitents, to whom his doctrine
|
|
would be more welcome than to the priests.
|
|
|
|
[3.] It is probable he had some hopes that, though he could not throw
|
|
him down, to do him the least mischief, yet, if he would but throw
|
|
himself down, the fall might be his death, and then he should have got
|
|
him finely out of the way.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) How he backed and enforced this temptation. He suggested, <I>It is
|
|
written,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ had quoted scripture against him; and he thought he would be
|
|
quits with him, and would show that he could quote scripture as well as
|
|
he. It has been usual with heretics and seducers to pervert scripture,
|
|
and to press the sacred writings into the service of the worst of
|
|
wickednesses. <I>He shall give his angels charge over thee,</I> if thou
|
|
be his Son, and <I>in their hands they shall bear thee up.</I> And now
|
|
that he was upon the pinnacle of the temple he might especially expect
|
|
this ministration of angels; for, if he was the Son of God, the
|
|
<I>temple</I> was the proper place for him to be in
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:46"><I>ch.</I> ii. 46</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, if any place under the sun had a guard of angels constantly, it
|
|
must needs be that,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:17">Ps. lxviii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is true, God has promised the protection of angels, to encourage us
|
|
to trust him, not to tempt him; as far as the promise of God's presence
|
|
with us, so far the promise of the angels' ministration goes, but no
|
|
further: "They shall keep thee when thou goest on the ground, where thy
|
|
way lies, but not if thou wilt presume to fly in the air."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) How he was baffled and defeated in the temptation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ quoted
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:16">Deut. vi. 16</A>,
|
|
|
|
where it is said, <I>Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,</I> by
|
|
desiring a sign for the proof of divine revelation, when he has already
|
|
given that which is sufficient; for so Israel did, when they <I>tempted
|
|
God in the wilderness,</I> saying, He <I>gave us water out of the rock;
|
|
but can he give flesh also?</I> This Christ would be guilty of if he
|
|
should say, "He did indeed prove me to be the Son of God, by sending
|
|
the Spirit upon me, which is the <I>greater;</I> but can he also give
|
|
his angels a charge concerning me, which is the <I>less?</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. What was the result and issue of this combat,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our victorious Redeemer kept his ground, and came off a conqueror, not
|
|
for himself only, but for us also.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The devil emptied his quiver: <I>He ended all the temptation.</I>
|
|
Christ gave him opportunity to say and do all he could against him; he
|
|
let him try all his force, and yet defeated him. Did Christ suffer,
|
|
being tempted, till all the temptation was ended? And must not we
|
|
expect also to pass all our trials, to go through the <I>hour of
|
|
temptation</I> assigned us?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He then quitted the field: He <I>departed from him.</I> He saw it
|
|
was to no purpose to attack him; he had <I>nothing in him</I> for his
|
|
fiery darts to fasten upon; he had no blind side, no weak or unguarded
|
|
part in his wall, and therefore Satan gave up the cause. Note, If we
|
|
resist the devil, he will flee from us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Yet he continued his malice against him, and departed with a
|
|
resolution to attack him again; he departed but <I>for a season,</I>
|
|
<B><I>achri kairou</I></B>--<I>till a season,</I> or till the season
|
|
when he was again to be let loose upon him, not as a <I>tempter,</I> to
|
|
draw him to <I>sin,</I> and so to strike at <I>his head,</I> which was
|
|
what he now aimed at and was wholly defeated in; but as a
|
|
<I>persecutor,</I> to bring him to <I>suffer</I> by Judas and the other
|
|
wicked instruments whom he employed, and so to <I>bruise his heel,</I>
|
|
which it was told him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:15">Gen. iii. 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
he should have to do, and would do, though it would be the breaking of
|
|
<I>his own head.</I> He <I>departed now</I> till that season came which
|
|
Christ calls the <I>power of darkness</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:53"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 53</A>),
|
|
|
|
and when the prince of this world would again <I>come,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:30">John xiv. 30</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_30"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ in the Synagogue of Nazareth; Christ Driven from Nazareth.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee:
|
|
and there went out a fame of him through all the region round
|
|
about.
|
|
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
|
|
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and,
|
|
as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day,
|
|
and stood up for to read.
|
|
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
|
|
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where
|
|
it was written,
|
|
18 The Spirit of the Lord <I>is</I> upon me, because he hath
|
|
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to
|
|
heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
|
|
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that
|
|
are bruised,
|
|
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
|
|
20 And he closed the book, and he gave <I>it</I> again to the
|
|
minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the
|
|
synagogue were fastened on him.
|
|
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture
|
|
fulfilled in your ears.
|
|
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words
|
|
which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this
|
|
Joseph's son?
|
|
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this
|
|
proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done
|
|
in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
|
|
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted
|
|
in his own country.
|
|
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the
|
|
days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
|
|
months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
|
|
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, <I>a
|
|
city</I> of Sidon, unto a woman <I>that was</I> a widow.
|
|
27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the
|
|
prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
|
|
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things,
|
|
were filled with wrath,
|
|
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him
|
|
unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they
|
|
might cast him down headlong.
|
|
30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
After Christ had vanquished the evil spirit, he made it appear how much
|
|
he was under the influence of the good Spirit; and, having defended
|
|
himself against the devil's assaults, he now begins to act
|
|
<I>offensively,</I> and to make those attacks upon him, by his
|
|
preaching and miracles, which he could not resist or repel.
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. What is here said in general of his preaching, and the entertainment
|
|
it met with <I>in Galilee,</I> a remote part of the country, distant
|
|
from Jerusalem; it was a part of Christ's humiliation that he began his
|
|
ministry there.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
1. Thither he came <I>in the power of the Spirit.</I> The same Spirit
|
|
that qualified him for the exercise of his prophetical office strongly
|
|
inclined him to it. He was not to wait for a call from men, for he had
|
|
light and life in himself.
|
|
|
|
2. There he <I>taught in their synagogues,</I> their places of public
|
|
worship, where they met, not, as in the temple, for ceremonial
|
|
services, but for the moral acts of devotion, to read, expound, and
|
|
apply, the word, to pray and praise, and for church-discipline; these
|
|
came to be more frequent since the captivity, when the ceremonial
|
|
worship was near expiring.
|
|
|
|
3. This he did so as that he gained a great reputation. <I>A fame of
|
|
him went through all that region</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and it was a good fame; for
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
he <I>was glorified of all.</I> Every body admired him, and cried him
|
|
up; they never heard such preaching in all their lives. Now, at first,
|
|
he met with no contempt or contradiction; all <I>glorified</I> him, and
|
|
there were none as yet that vilified him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Of his preaching at Nazareth, the city where he was brought up; and
|
|
the entertainment it met with there. And here we are told how he
|
|
<I>preached</I> there, and how he was <I>persecuted.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. How he preached there. In that observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The opportunity he had for it: <I>He came to Nazareth</I> when he
|
|
had gained a reputation in other places, in hopes that thereby
|
|
something at least of the contempt and prejudice with which his
|
|
countrymen would look upon him might be worn off. There he took
|
|
occasion to preach,
|
|
|
|
[1.] In the <I>synagogue,</I> the proper place, where it had been
|
|
<I>his custom</I> to attend when he was a private person,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
We ought to attend on the public worship of God, as we have
|
|
opportunity. But, now that he was entered upon his public ministry,
|
|
there he preached. Where the multitudes of fish were, there this wise
|
|
Fisherman would cast his net.
|
|
|
|
[2.] On the sabbath day, the proper time which the pious Jews spent,
|
|
not in a mere ceremonial rest from worldly labour, but in the duties of
|
|
God's worship, as of old they frequented the schools of the prophets on
|
|
the <I>new moons</I> and the <I>sabbaths.</I> Note, It is good to keep
|
|
sabbaths in solemn assemblies.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The call he had to it.
|
|
|
|
[1.] He <I>stood up to read.</I> They had in their synagogues seven
|
|
readers every sabbath, the first a priest, the second a Levite, and the
|
|
other five Israelites of that synagogue. We often find Christ
|
|
<I>preaching</I> in other synagogues, but never <I>reading,</I> except
|
|
in this synagogue at Nazareth, of which he had been many years a
|
|
member. Now he offered his service as he had perhaps often done; he
|
|
read one of the lessons out of the prophets,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:15">Acts xiii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, The reading of the scripture is very proper work to be done in
|
|
religious assemblies; and Christ himself did not think it any
|
|
disparagement to him to be employed in it.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The <I>book of the prophet Esaias</I> was <I>delivered to him,</I>
|
|
either by the ruler of the synagogue or by the minister mentioned
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that he was no intruder, but duly authorized <I>pro hac vice--on
|
|
this occasion.</I> The second lesson for <I>that</I> day being in the
|
|
prophecy of Esaias, they gave him that volume to read in.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) The text he preached upon. He <I>stood up to read,</I> to teach us
|
|
reverence in <I>reading</I> and <I>hearing</I> the word of God. When
|
|
Ezra opened the book of the law, <I>all the people stood up</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+8:5">Neh. viii. 5</A>);
|
|
|
|
so did Christ here, when he read in the book of the prophets. Now the
|
|
book being <I>delivered to him,</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] He <I>opened</I> it. The books of the Old Testament were in a
|
|
manner <I>shut up</I> till Christ opened them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+29:11">Isa. xxix. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Worthy <I>is the Lamb that was slain to take the book, and open the
|
|
seals;</I> for he can open, not the book only, but the understanding.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He <I>found</I> the place which was appointed to be read <I>that
|
|
day</I> in course, which he needed not to be directed to; he soon found
|
|
it, and read it, and took it for his text. Now his text was taken out
|
|
of
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:1,2">Isa. lxi. 1, 2</A>,
|
|
|
|
which is here quoted at large,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
There was a providence in it that that portion of scripture should be
|
|
read that day, which speaks so very plainly of the Messiah, that they
|
|
might be left inexcusable who <I>knew him not,</I> though they heard
|
|
<I>the voices of the prophets</I> read <I>every sabbath day,</I> which
|
|
bore witness of him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:27">Acts xiii. 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
This text gives a full account of Christ's undertaking, and the work he
|
|
came into the world to do. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> How he was qualified for the work: <I>The Spirit of the
|
|
Lord is upon me.</I> All the gifts and graces of the Spirit were
|
|
conferred upon him, not by measure, as upon other prophets, but without
|
|
measure,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:34">John iii. 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
He now came <I>in the power of the Spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> How he was commissioned: <I>Because he had anointed
|
|
me,</I> and <I>sent me.</I> His extraordinary qualification amounted to
|
|
a commission; his being <I>anointed</I> signifies both his being fitted
|
|
for the undertaking and called to it. Those whom God <I>appoints</I>
|
|
to any service he <I>anoints</I> for it: "Because he hath sent me, he
|
|
hath sent his Spirit along with me."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> What his work was. He was qualified and
|
|
commissioned,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. To be a great <I>prophet.</I> He was <I>anointed to preach;</I> that
|
|
is three times mentioned here, for that was the work he was now
|
|
entering upon. Observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To <I>whom</I> he was to preach: to the <I>poor;</I> to those that
|
|
were <I>poor in the world,</I> whom the Jewish doctors disdained to
|
|
undertake the teaching of and spoke of with contempt; to those that
|
|
were <I>poor in spirit,</I> to the meek and humble, and to those that
|
|
were truly sorrowful for sin: to them the gospel and the grace of it
|
|
will be welcome, and they shall have it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:5">Matt. xi. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>What</I> he was to <I>preach.</I> In general, he must preach
|
|
<I>the gospel.</I> He is sent <B><I>euangelizesthai</I></B>--to
|
|
<I>evangelize</I> them; not only to preach to them, but to make that
|
|
preaching effectual; to bring it, not only to their ears, but to their
|
|
hearts, and deliver them into the mould of it. Three things he is to
|
|
preach:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>Deliverance to the captives,</I> The gospel is a proclamation
|
|
of liberty, like that to Israel in Egypt and in Babylon. By the merit
|
|
of Christ sinners may be loosed from the bonds of guilt, and by his
|
|
Spirit and grace from the bondage of corruption. It is a deliverance
|
|
from the worst of thraldoms, which all those shall have the benefit of
|
|
that are willing to make Christ their Head, and are willing to be ruled
|
|
by him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] <I>Recovering of sight to the blind.</I> He came not only by the
|
|
word of his gospel to bring <I>light</I> to them that sat <I>in the
|
|
dark,</I> but by the power of his grace to give sight to them that were
|
|
<I>blind;</I> not only the Gentile world, but every unregenerate soul,
|
|
that is not only in <I>bondage,</I> but in <I>blindness,</I> like
|
|
Samson and Zedekiah. Christ came to tell us that he has
|
|
<I>eye-salve</I> for us, which we may have for the asking; that, if our
|
|
prayer be, <I>Lord, that our eyes may be opened,</I> his answer shall
|
|
be, <I>Receive your sight.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] <I>The acceptable year of the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
He came to let the world know that the God whom they had offended was
|
|
willing to be reconciled to them, and to <I>accept</I> of them upon new
|
|
terms; that there was yet a way of making their services acceptable to
|
|
him; that there is now a time of <I>good will toward men.</I> It
|
|
alludes to the year of <I>release,</I> or that of <I>jubilee,</I> which
|
|
was an <I>acceptable year</I> to servants, who were then set at
|
|
liberty; to debtors, against whom all actions then dropped; and to
|
|
those who had mortgaged their lands, for then they returned to them
|
|
again. Christ came to sound the <I>jubilee</I>-trumpet; and blessed
|
|
were they that heard <I>the joyful sound,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:15">Ps. lxxxix. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was an acceptable time, for it was a day of salvation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Christ came to be a great <I>Physician;</I> for he was sent to
|
|
<I>heal the broken-hearted,</I> to comfort and cure afflicted
|
|
consciences, to give peace to those that were troubled and humbled for
|
|
sins, and under a dread of God's wrath against them for them, and to
|
|
bring them to rest who were weary and heavy-laden, under the burden of
|
|
guilt and corruption.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. To be a great <I>Redeemer.</I> He not only proclaims liberty to the
|
|
captives, as Cyrus did to the Jews in Babylon (<I>Whoever will, may go
|
|
up</I>), but he sets at liberty them that are bruised; he doth by his
|
|
Spirit <I>incline</I> and <I>enable</I> them to make use of the liberty
|
|
granted, as then none did but those <I>whose spirit God stirred up,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+1:5">Ezra i. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
He came in God's name to discharge poor sinners that were debtors and
|
|
prisoners to divine justice. The prophets could but <I>proclaim
|
|
liberty,</I> but Christ, as one having authority, as one that had
|
|
<I>power on earth to forgive sins,</I> came to <I>set at liberty;</I>
|
|
and therefore this clause is added here. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that,
|
|
according to a liberty the Jew allowed their readers, to compare
|
|
scripture with scripture, in their reading, for the explication of the
|
|
text, Christ added it from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:6">Isa. lviii. 6</A>,
|
|
|
|
where it is made the duty of the acceptable year to let <I>the
|
|
oppressed go free,</I> where the phrase the LXX. uses is the same with
|
|
this here.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) Here is Christ's <I>application</I> of this text to himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
When he had read it, he <I>rolled up the book,</I> and gave it again
|
|
<I>to the minister,</I> or <I>clerk,</I> that attended, and <I>sat
|
|
down,</I> according to the custom of the Jewish teachers; he <I>sat
|
|
daily in the temple, teaching,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+26:55">Matt. xxvi. 55</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now he <I>began</I> his discourse thus, "<I>This day is this scripture
|
|
fulfilled in your ears.</I> This, which Isaiah wrote by way of
|
|
prophecy, I have now read to you by way of history." It now began to be
|
|
fulfilled in Christ's entrance upon his public ministry; <I>now,</I> in
|
|
the report they heard of his preaching and miracles in other places;
|
|
<I>now,</I> in his preaching to them in their own synagogue. It is most
|
|
probable that Christ went on, and showed particularly how this
|
|
scripture was fulfilled in the doctrine he preached concerning <I>the
|
|
kingdom of heaven at hand;</I> that it was preaching liberty, and
|
|
sight, and healing, and all the blessings of <I>the acceptable year of
|
|
the Lord.</I> Many other gracious words proceeded out of his mouth,
|
|
which these were but the <I>beginning</I> of; for Christ often preached
|
|
long sermons, which we have but a short account of. This was enough to
|
|
introduce a great deal: <I>This day is this scripture fulfilled.</I>
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] All the scriptures of the Old Testament that were to be fulfilled
|
|
in the Messiah had their full accomplishment in the Lord Jesus, which
|
|
abundantly proves that this was <I>he that should come.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] In the providences of God, it is fit to observe the <I>fulfilling
|
|
of the scriptures.</I> The works of God are the accomplishment not only
|
|
of his secret word, but of his word revealed; and it will help us to
|
|
understand both the scriptures and the providences of God to compare
|
|
them one with another.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) Here is the <I>attention</I> and <I>admiration</I> of the
|
|
auditors.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] Their <I>attention</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The eyes of all them that were in the synagogue</I> (and, probably,
|
|
there were a great many) <I>were fastened on him,</I> big with
|
|
expectation what he would say, having heard so much of late concerning
|
|
him. Note, It is good, in hearing the word, to keep the eye fixed upon
|
|
the minister by whom God is speaking to us; for, as the eye effects the
|
|
heart, so, usually, the heart follows the eye, and is wandering, or
|
|
fixed, as that is. Or, rather, let us learn hence to keep the eye fixed
|
|
upon Christ speaking to us in and by the minister. <I>What saith my
|
|
Lord unto his servants?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] Their <I>admiration</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They all bore him witness</I> that he spoke admirably well, and to
|
|
the purpose. They all commended him, and <I>wondered at the gracious
|
|
words that proceeded out of his mouth;</I> and yet, as appears by what
|
|
follows, they did not <I>believe in him.</I> Note, It is possible that
|
|
those who are admirers of good ministers and good preaching may yet be
|
|
themselves not true Christians. Observe, <I>First,</I> What it was
|
|
they admired: The <I>gracious words which proceedeth out of his
|
|
mouth.</I> The <I>words of grace;</I> good words, and spoken in a
|
|
winning melting way. Note, Christ's words are <I>words of grace,</I>
|
|
for, grace being <I>poured into his lips</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+45:2">Ps. xlv. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
words of grace poured from them. And these words of grace are to be
|
|
<I>wondered at;</I> Christ's name was Wonderful, and in nothing was he
|
|
more so than in his grace, in the words of his grace, and the power
|
|
that went along with those words. We may well wonder that he should
|
|
speak such <I>words of grace</I> to such graceless wretches as we are.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> What it was that increased their wonder and that was
|
|
the consideration of his original: <I>They said, Is not this Joseph's
|
|
son,</I> and therefore his extraction mean and his education mean? Some
|
|
from this suggestion took occasion perhaps so much the more to admire
|
|
his <I>gracious words,</I> concluding he must needs be <I>taught of
|
|
God,</I> for they knew no one else had taught him; while others perhaps
|
|
with this consideration corrected their wonder at his gracious words,
|
|
and concluded there could be nothing <I>really</I> admirable in them,
|
|
whatever appeared, because he was the <I>Son of Joseph.</I> Can any
|
|
thing great, or worthy our regard, come from one so mean?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(6.) Christ's anticipating an objection which he knew to be in the
|
|
minds of many of his hearers. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] What the objection was
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>You will surely say to me, Physician, heal thyself.</I> Because you
|
|
know that I am the Son of Joseph, your neighbour, you will expect that
|
|
I should work miracles among you, as I have done in other places; as
|
|
one would expect that a physician, if he be able, should heal, not only
|
|
himself, but those of his own family and fraternity." Most of Christ's
|
|
miracles were <I>cures;</I>--"Now why should not the sick in thine own
|
|
city be <I>healed</I> as well as those in other cities?" They were
|
|
designed to cure people of their unbelief;--"Now why should not the
|
|
disease of unbelief, if it be indeed a disease, be cured in those of
|
|
thine own city as well as in those of others? <I>Whatsoever we have
|
|
heard done in Capernaum,</I> that has been so much talked of, <I>do
|
|
here also in thine own country.</I>" They were pleased with <I>Christ's
|
|
gracious words,</I> only because they hoped they were but the
|
|
introduction to some <I>wondrous works</I> of his. They wanted to have
|
|
their lame, and blind, and sick, and lepers, healed and helped, that
|
|
the charge of their town might be eased; and that was the chief thing
|
|
they looked at. They thought their own town as worthy to be the stage
|
|
of miracles as any other; and why should not he rather draw company to
|
|
that than to any other? And why should not his neighbours and
|
|
acquaintances have the benefit of his preaching and miracles, rather
|
|
than any other?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] How he answers this objection against the course he took.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> By a plain and positive reason why he would not make
|
|
Nazareth his headquarters
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
because it generally holds true <I>that no prophet is accepted in his
|
|
own country,</I> at least not so well, nor with such probability of
|
|
doing good, as in some other country; experience seals this. When
|
|
prophets have been sent with messages and miracles of mercy, few of
|
|
their own country-men, that have known their extraction and education,
|
|
have been fit to <I>receive them.</I> So Dr. Hammond. Familiarity
|
|
breeds contempt; and we are apt to think meanly of those whose
|
|
conversation we have been accustomed to; and they will scarcely be duly
|
|
honoured as <I>prophets</I> who were well known when they were in the
|
|
rank of <I>private men.</I> That is most esteemed that is
|
|
<I>far-fetched</I> and <I>dear-bought,</I> above what is
|
|
<I>home-bred,</I> though really more excellent. This arises likewise
|
|
from the envy which neighbours commonly have towards one another, so
|
|
that they cannot endure to see him their <I>superior</I> whom awhile
|
|
ago they took to be every way their <I>inferior.</I> For this reason,
|
|
Christ declined working miracles, or doing any thing extraordinary, at
|
|
Nazareth, because of the rooted prejudices they had against him
|
|
there.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> By pertinent examples of two of the most famous
|
|
prophets of the Old Testament, who chose to dispense their favours
|
|
among foreigners rather than among their own countrymen, and that, no
|
|
doubt, by divine direction.
|
|
|
|
1. Elijah maintained a <I>widow of Sarepta,</I> a <I>city of Sidon,</I>
|
|
one that was a stranger to the commonwealth of Israel, when there was a
|
|
<I>famine in the land,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
The story we have
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+17:9">1 Kings xvii. 9</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. It is said there that the heaven was shut up <I>three years and six
|
|
months;</I> whereas it is said,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+18:1">1 Kings xviii. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
that <I>in the third year Elijah</I> showed himself to Ahab, and there
|
|
was <I>rain;</I> but that was not the third year of the drought, but
|
|
the third year of Elijah's sojourning with the widow of Sarepta. As God
|
|
would hereby show himself a <I>Father of the fatherless,</I> and a
|
|
<I>Judge of the widows,</I> so he would show that he was rich in mercy
|
|
to all, even to the Gentiles.
|
|
|
|
2. Elisha cleansed Naaman the Syrian of his leprosy, though he was a
|
|
Syrian, and not only a foreigner, but an enemy to Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>Many lepers were in Israel in the days of Eliseus,</I> four
|
|
particularly, that brought the news of the Syrians' raising the siege
|
|
of Samaria with precipitation, and leaving the plunder of their tents
|
|
to enrich Samaria, when Elisha was himself in the besieged city, and
|
|
this was the accomplishment of his prophecy too; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+7:1,3">2 Kings vii. 1, 3</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. And yet we do not find that Elisha cleansed them, no not for a
|
|
reward of their service, and the good tidings they brought, but only
|
|
the Syrian; for none besides had faith to apply himself to the prophet
|
|
for a cure. Christ himself often met with greater faith among Gentiles
|
|
than in Israel. And here he mentions both these instances, to show that
|
|
he did not dispense the favour of his miracles by private respect, but
|
|
according to God's wise appointment. And the people of Israel might as
|
|
justly have said to Elijah, or Elisha, as the Nazarenes to Christ,
|
|
<I>Physician, heal thyself.</I> Nay, Christ wrought his miracles,
|
|
though not among his townsmen, yet among Israelites, whereas these
|
|
great prophets wrought theirs among Gentiles. The examples of the
|
|
saints, though they will not make a bad action good, yet will help to
|
|
free a good action from the blame of exceptious people.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. How he was <I>persecuted</I> at Nazareth.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That which provoked them was his taking notice of the favour which
|
|
God by Elijah and Elisha showed to the Gentiles: <I>When they heard
|
|
these things, they were filled with wrath</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
they were <I>all so;</I> a great change since
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>,
|
|
|
|
when they <I>wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his
|
|
mouth;</I> thus uncertain are the opinions and affections of the
|
|
multitude, and so very fickle. If they had mixed faith with those
|
|
gracious words of Christ which they wondered at, they would have been
|
|
awakened by these latter words of his to take heed of sinning away
|
|
their opportunities; but those only <I>pleased the ear,</I> and went no
|
|
further, and therefore these <I>grated on the ear,</I> and irritated
|
|
their corruptions. They were angry that he should compare himself, whom
|
|
they knew to be the son of Joseph, with those great prophets, and
|
|
compare them with the men of that corrupt age, when all had bowed the
|
|
knee to Baal. But that which especially exasperated them was that he
|
|
intimated some kindness God had in reserve for the Gentiles, which the
|
|
Jews could by no means bear the thoughts of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+22:21">Acts xxii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their pious ancestors pleased themselves with the hopes of adding the
|
|
Gentiles to the church (witness many of David's psalms and Isaiah's
|
|
prophecies); but this degenerate race, when they had forfeited the
|
|
covenant themselves, hated to think that any others should be taken
|
|
in.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They were provoked to that degree that they made an attempt upon
|
|
his life. This was a severe trial, now at his setting out, but a
|
|
specimen of the usage he met with when he <I>came to his own,</I> and
|
|
they <I>received him not.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] They <I>rose up</I> in a tumultuous manner against him,
|
|
interrupted him in his discourse, and themselves in their devotions,
|
|
for they could not stay until their synagogue-worship was over.
|
|
|
|
[2.] They <I>thrust him out of the city,</I> as one not worthy to have
|
|
a residence among them, though there he had had a settlement so long.
|
|
They thrust from them the Saviour and the salvation, as if he had been
|
|
the offscouring of all things. How justly might he have called for fire
|
|
from heaven upon them! But this was the day of his patience.
|
|
|
|
[3.] They <I>led him to the brow of the hill,</I> with a purpose to
|
|
<I>throw him down headlong,</I> as one not fit to live. Though they
|
|
knew how inoffensively he had for so many years lived among them, how
|
|
shining his conversation had been,--though they had heard such a fame
|
|
of him and had but just now themselves <I>admired his gracious
|
|
words,</I>--though in justice he ought to have been allowed a fair
|
|
hearing and liberty to explain himself, yet they hurried him away in a
|
|
popular fury, or frenzy rather, to put him to death in a most barbarous
|
|
manner. Sometimes they were ready to stone him for the <I>good
|
|
works</I> he did
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:32">John x. 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
here for not doing the good works they expected from him. To such a
|
|
height of wickedness was violence sprung up.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Yet he escaped, because his hour was not yet come: He <I>passed
|
|
through the midst of them</I> unhurt. Either he blinded their eyes, as
|
|
God did those of the Sodomites and Syrians, or he bound their hands, or
|
|
filled them with confusion, so that they could not do what they
|
|
designed; for his work was not done, it was but just begun; his hour
|
|
was not yet come, when it was come, he freely surrendered himself. They
|
|
<I>drove</I> him from them, and he <I>went his way.</I> He would have
|
|
gathered Nazareth, but they <I>would not,</I> and therefore their house
|
|
is <I>left to them desolate.</I> This added to the reproach of his
|
|
being Jesus of Nazareth, that not only it was a place whence no good
|
|
thing was expected, but that it was such a wicked, rude place, and so
|
|
<I>unkind</I> to him. Yet there was a providence in it, that he should
|
|
not be much respected by the men of Nazareth, for that would have
|
|
looked like a collusion between him and his old acquaintance; but now,
|
|
though they <I>received him not,</I> there were those that did.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu4_44"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Expulsion of a Demon; Christ's Departure from Capernaum.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught
|
|
them on the sabbath days.
|
|
32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was
|
|
with power.
|
|
33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of
|
|
an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
|
|
34 Saying, Let <I>us</I> alone; what have we to do with thee, <I>thou</I>
|
|
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who
|
|
thou art; the Holy One of God.
|
|
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out
|
|
of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came
|
|
out of him, and hurt him not.
|
|
36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves,
|
|
saying, What a word <I>is</I> this! for with authority and power he
|
|
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
|
|
37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country
|
|
round about.
|
|
38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's
|
|
house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever;
|
|
and they besought him for her.
|
|
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left
|
|
her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
|
|
40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick
|
|
with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands
|
|
on every one of them, and healed them.
|
|
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying,
|
|
Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking <I>them</I> suffered
|
|
them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
|
|
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert
|
|
place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed
|
|
him, that he should not depart from them.
|
|
43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to
|
|
other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
|
|
44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When Christ was expelled Nazareth, he came to Capernaum, another city
|
|
of Galilee. The account we have in these verses of his preaching and
|
|
miracles there we had before,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:21">Mark i. 21</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. His preaching: <I>He taught them on the sabbath days,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
In hearing the word preached, as an ordinance of God, we <I>worship
|
|
God,</I> and it is a proper work for <I>sabbath days.</I> Christ's
|
|
preaching much affected the people
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>);
|
|
|
|
they were <I>astonished at his doctrine,</I> there was weight in every
|
|
word he said, and admirable discoveries were made to them by it. The
|
|
doctrine itself was astonishing, and not only as it came from one that
|
|
had not had a liberal education. <I>His word was with power;</I> there
|
|
was a commanding force in it, and a working power went along with it to
|
|
the conscience of men. The doctrine Paul preached hereby proved itself
|
|
to be of God, that it came <I>in demonstration of the Spirit and of
|
|
power.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. His miracles. Of these we have here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Two particularly specified, showing Christ to be,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) A <I>controller</I> and <I>conqueror</I> of <I>Satan,</I> in the
|
|
world of mankind, and in the souls of people, by his power to cast him
|
|
out of the bodies of those he had taken possession of; for <I>for this
|
|
purpose was he manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
|
|
devil.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The devil is an <I>unclean spirit,</I> his nature directly
|
|
contrary to that of the pure and <I>holy</I> God, and degenerated from
|
|
what it was at first.
|
|
|
|
[2.] This unclean spirit works in the children of men; in the souls of
|
|
many, as then in men's bodies.
|
|
|
|
[3.] It is possible that those who are very much under the power and
|
|
working of Satan may yet be found <I>in the synagogue,</I> among the
|
|
worshippers of God.
|
|
|
|
[4.] Even the devils <I>know and believe</I> that <I>Jesus Christ is
|
|
the Holy One of God,</I> is sent of God, and is a <I>Holy One.</I>
|
|
|
|
[5.] They believe and <I>tremble.</I> This unclean spirit <I>cried out
|
|
with a loud voice,</I> under a <I>certain fearful looking for of
|
|
judgment,</I> and apprehensive that Christ was now come to destroy him.
|
|
Unclean spirits are subject to continual frights.
|
|
|
|
[6.] The devils have <I>nothing to do with Jesus Christ,</I> nor desire
|
|
to have any thing to do with him; for he took not on him the nature of
|
|
angels.
|
|
|
|
[7.] Christ has the devil under check: <I>He rebuked him,</I> saying,
|
|
<I>Hold thy peace;</I> and this word he spoke <I>with power;</I>
|
|
<B><I>phimotheti</I></B>--<I>Be muzzled,</I> Christ did not only enjoin
|
|
him silence, but stopped his mouth, and forced him to be silent against
|
|
his will.
|
|
|
|
[8.] In the breaking of Satan's power, both the enemy that is conquered
|
|
shows his malice, and Christ, the conqueror, shows his over-ruling
|
|
grace. Here, <I>First,</I> The devil showed what he would have done,
|
|
when he <I>threw the man in the midst,</I> with force and fury, as if
|
|
he would have dashed him to pieces. But, <I>Secondly,</I> Christ showed
|
|
what a power he had over him, in that he not only forced him to leave
|
|
him, but to leave him without so much as <I>hurting</I> him, without
|
|
giving him a parting blow, a parting gripe. Whom Satan cannot
|
|
<I>destroy,</I> he will do all the <I>hurt</I> he can to; but this is a
|
|
comfort, he can harm them no further than Christ permits; nay, he shall
|
|
not do them any real harm. He <I>came out,</I> and <I>hurt him not;</I>
|
|
that is, the poor man was perfectly well in an instant, though the
|
|
devil left him with so much rage that all that were present thought he
|
|
had torn him to pieces.
|
|
|
|
[9.] Christ's power over devils was universally acknowledged and
|
|
adored,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
No one doubted the truth of the miracle; it was evident beyond
|
|
contradiction, nor was any thing suggested to diminish the glory of it,
|
|
for they were <I>all amazed, saying, What a word is this!</I> They that
|
|
pretended to cast out devils did it with abundance of charms and
|
|
spells, to pacify the devil, and lull him asleep, as it were; but
|
|
Christ commanded them <I>with authority and power,</I> which they could
|
|
not gainsay or resist. Even the <I>prince of the power of the air</I>
|
|
is his vassal, and trembles before him.
|
|
|
|
[10.] This, as much as any thing, gained Christ a reputation, and
|
|
spread his fame. This instance of his power, which many now-a-days make
|
|
light of, was then, by them that were eye-witnesses of it (and those no
|
|
fools either, but men of penetration), magnified, and was looked upon
|
|
as greatly magnifying him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>);
|
|
|
|
upon the account of this, <I>the fame of him went out,</I> more than
|
|
ever, <I>into every place of the country round about.</I> Our Lord
|
|
Jesus, when he set out at first in his public ministry, was greatly
|
|
talked of, more than afterwards, when people's admiration wore off with
|
|
the novelty of the thing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Christ showed himself to be <I>a healer of diseases.</I> In the
|
|
former, he struck at the root of man's misery, which was Satan's
|
|
enmity, the origin of all the mischief: in this, he strikes at one of
|
|
the most spreading branches of it, one of the most common calamities of
|
|
human life, and that is bodily diseases, which came in with sin, are
|
|
the most common and sensible corrections for it in this life, and
|
|
contribute as much as any thing towards the making of our few days
|
|
<I>full of trouble.</I> These our Lord Jesus came to take away the
|
|
sting of, and, as an indication of that intention, when he was on
|
|
earth, chose to confirm his doctrine by such miracles, mostly, as took
|
|
away the diseases themselves. Of all bodily diseases none are more
|
|
common or fatal to grown people than <I>fevers;</I> these come
|
|
suddenly, and suddenly cut off the number of men's months in the midst;
|
|
they are sometimes <I>epidemical,</I> and <I>slay their thousands</I>
|
|
in a little time. Now here we have Christ's curing a fever with a
|
|
word's speaking; the place was in Simon's house, his patient was
|
|
Simon's wife's mother,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:38,39"><I>v.</I> 38, 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Christ is a guest that will pay well for his entertainment; those
|
|
that bid him welcome into their hearts and houses shall be no losers by
|
|
him; he comes with healing.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Even families that Christ visits may be visited with sickness.
|
|
Houses that are blessed with his <I>distinguishing favours</I> are
|
|
liable to the <I>common calamities</I> of this life. Simon's wife's
|
|
mother was <I>ill</I> of a <I>fever.</I> <I>Lord, behold, he whom thou
|
|
lovest is sick.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] Even good people may sometimes be exercised with the sharpest
|
|
afflictions, more grievous than others: She was <I>taken with a great
|
|
fever,</I> very acute, and high, and threatening; perhaps it seized her
|
|
head, and made her delirious. The most gentle fevers may by degrees
|
|
prove dangerous; but this was at first <I>a great fever.</I>
|
|
|
|
[4.] No age can exempt from diseases. It is probable that Peter's
|
|
mother-in-law was <I>in years,</I> and yet in a <I>fever.</I>
|
|
|
|
[5.] When our relations are sick, we ought to apply ourselves to
|
|
Christ, by faith and prayer, on their account: <I>They besought him for
|
|
her;</I> and there is a particular promise that the prayer of faith
|
|
shall benefit the sick.
|
|
|
|
[6.] Christ has a tender concern for his people when they are in
|
|
sickness and distress: <I>He stood over her,</I> as one concerned for
|
|
her, and compassionating her case.
|
|
|
|
[7.] Christ had, and still has, a sovereign power over bodily diseases:
|
|
<I>He rebuked the fever,</I> and with a word's speaking commanded it
|
|
away, and <I>it left her.</I> He saith to diseases, <I>Go,</I> and they
|
|
go; <I>Come,</I> and they come; and can still <I>rebuke fevers,</I>
|
|
even great fevers.
|
|
|
|
[8.] This proves Christ's cures to be miraculous, that they were done
|
|
in an instant: <I>Immediately she arose.</I>
|
|
|
|
[9.] Where Christ gives a new life, in recovery from sickness, he
|
|
designs and expects that it should be a new life indeed, spent more
|
|
than ever in his service, to his glory. If distempers be rebuked, and
|
|
we arise from a bed of sickness, we must set ourselves to minister to
|
|
Jesus Christ.
|
|
|
|
[10.] Those that minister to Christ must be ready to minister to all
|
|
that are his for his sake: She <I>ministered to them,</I> not only to
|
|
<I>him</I> that had cured her, but to them that had <I>besought him for
|
|
her.</I> We must study to be grateful to those that have prayed for
|
|
us.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. A general account given by wholesale of many other miracles of the
|
|
same kind, which Christ did.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>cured many that were diseased,</I> even all without
|
|
exception that made their application to him, and it was <I>when the
|
|
sun was setting</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>);
|
|
|
|
in the evening of that sabbath day which he had spent in the synagogue.
|
|
Note, It is good to do a full sabbath day's work, to abound in the work
|
|
of the day, in some good work or other, even till sun-set; as those
|
|
that call the sabbath, and the business of it, <I>a delight.</I>
|
|
Observe, He cured <I>all that were sick,</I> poor as well as rich, and
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though they were sick of <I>divers diseases;</I> so that there was no
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room to suspect that he had only a specific for some one disease. He
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had a remedy for every malady. The sign he used in healing was
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<I>laying his hands</I> on the sick; not lifting up his hands for them,
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for he healed as having authority. He healed by his own power. And thus
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he would put honour upon that sign which was afterwards used in
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conferring the Holy Ghost.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He cast the devil out of many that were possessed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>.
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Confessions were extorted from the demoniacs. They said, <I>Thou art
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Christ the Son of God,</I> but they said it <I>crying</I> with rage and
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|
indignation; it was a confession upon the rack, and therefore was not
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|
admitted in evidence. Christ <I>rebuked them,</I> and did not <I>suffer
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|
them to say that they knew him to be the Christ,</I> that it might
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appear, beyond all contradiction, that he had obtained a conquest over
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them, and not made a compact with them.</P>
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<P>
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3. Here is his removal from Capernaum,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:42,43"><I>v.</I> 42, 43</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) He <I>retired</I> for awhile into a place of <I>solitude.</I> It
|
|
was but a little while that he allowed himself for sleep; not only
|
|
because a <I>little served him,</I> but because he was <I>content with
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|
a little,</I> and never indulged himself in ease; but, <I>when it was
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day,</I> he <I>went into a desert place,</I> not to live constantly
|
|
like a hermit, but to be sometimes <I>alone with God,</I> as even those
|
|
should be, and contrive to be, that are most engaged in public work, or
|
|
else their work will go on but poorly, and they will find themselves
|
|
never <I>less alone</I> than when <I>thus alone.</I></P>
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<P>
|
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(2.) He <I>returned</I> again to the places of <I>concourse</I> and to
|
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the work he had to do there. Though a <I>desert place</I> may be a
|
|
convenient <I>retreat,</I> yet it is not a <I>convenient residence,</I>
|
|
because we were not sent into this world to <I>live to ourselves,</I>
|
|
no, not to the <I>best part</I> of ourselves only, but to glorify God
|
|
and do good in our generation.
|
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[1.] He was earnestly solicited to stay at Capernaum. <I>The people</I>
|
|
were exceedingly fond of him; I doubt, more because he had healed their
|
|
sick than because he had preached repentance to them. <I>They sought
|
|
him,</I> enquired which way he went; and, though it was in a <I>desert
|
|
place,</I> they <I>came unto him.</I> A desert is no desert if we be
|
|
<I>with Christ</I> there. They <I>detained him that he should not
|
|
depart from them,</I> so that if he would go it should not be for want
|
|
of invitation. His old neighbours at Nazareth had driven him from them,
|
|
but his new acquaintances at Capernaum were very importunate for his
|
|
continuance with them. Note, It ought not to discourage the ministers
|
|
of Christ that some reject them, for they will meet with others that
|
|
will welcome them and their message.
|
|
|
|
[2.] He chose rather to <I>diffuse</I> the light of his gospel to
|
|
<I>many</I> places than to fix it to <I>one,</I> that no one might
|
|
pretend to be a <I>mother-church</I> to the rest. Though he was welcome
|
|
at Capernaum, and had done abundance of good there, yet he is <I>sent
|
|
to preach the gospel to other cities also;</I> and Capernaum must not
|
|
insist upon his stay there. They that enjoy the benefit of the gospel
|
|
must be willing that others also should share in that benefit, and not
|
|
covet the <I>monopoly</I> of it; and those ministers who are not
|
|
<I>driven</I> from one place may yet be <I>drawn</I> to another by a
|
|
prospect of greater usefulness. Christ, though he preached not in vain
|
|
in the synagogue at Capernaum, yet would not be tied to that, but
|
|
<I>preached in the synagogues of Galilee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Bonum est sui diffusivum--What is good is self-diffusive.</I> It is
|
|
well for us that our Lord Jesus has not tied himself to any one place
|
|
or people, but, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he will
|
|
be in the midst of them: and even in <I>Galilee of the Gentiles</I> his
|
|
special presence is in the Christian synagogues.</P>
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