mh_parser/vol_split/42 - Luke/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="Luke.vii" n="vii" next="Luke.viii" prev="Luke.vi" progress="51.65%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="Luke.vii-p0.1">L U K E.</h2>
<h3 id="Luke.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Luke.vii-p1">In this chapter we have Christ's exposition of the
moral law, which he came not to destroy, but to fulfil, and to fill
up, by his gospel. I. Here is a proof of the lawfulness of works of
necessity and mercy on the sabbath day, the former in vindication
of his disciples' plucking the ears of corn, the latter in
vindication of himself healing the withered hand on that day,
<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.1-Luke.6.11" parsed="|Luke|6|1|6|11" passage="Lu 6:1-11">ver. 1-11</scripRef>. II. His
retirement for secret prayer, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.12" parsed="|Luke|6|12|0|0" passage="Lu 6:12">ver.
12</scripRef>. III. His calling his twelve apostles, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.13-Luke.6.16" parsed="|Luke|6|13|6|16" passage="Lu 6:13-16">ver. 13-16</scripRef>. IV. His curing the
multitudes of those under various diseases who made their
application to him, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.17-Luke.6.19" parsed="|Luke|6|17|6|19" passage="Lu 6:17-19">ver.
17-19</scripRef>. V. The sermon that he preached to his disciples
and the multitude, instructing them in their duty both to God and
man, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.20-Luke.6.49" parsed="|Luke|6|20|6|49" passage="Lu 6:20-49">ver. 20-49</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Luke.vii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6" parsed="|Luke|6|0|0|0" passage="Lu 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Luke.vii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.1-Luke.6.11" parsed="|Luke|6|1|6|11" passage="Lu 6:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.6.1-Luke.6.11">
<h4 id="Luke.vii-p1.8">Works of Mercy Suited to the
Sabbath.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vii-p2">1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath
after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his
disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing
<i>them</i> in <i>their</i> hands.   2 And certain of the
Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do
on the sabbath days?   3 And Jesus answering them said, Have
ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an
hungred, and they which were with him;   4 How he went into
the house of God, and did take and eat the showbread, and gave also
to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for
the priests alone?   5 And he said unto them, That the Son of
man is Lord also of the sabbath.   6 And it came to pass also
on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught:
and there was a man whose right hand was withered.   7 And the
scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the
sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.  
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the
withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose
and stood forth.   9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you
one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do
evil? to save life, or to destroy <i>it?</i>   10 And looking
round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy
hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
  11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with
another what they might do to Jesus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p3">These two passages of story we had both in
Matthew and Mark, and they were there laid together (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.1 Bible:Mark.2.23 Bible:Mark.3.1" parsed="|Matt|12|1|0|0;|Mark|2|23|0|0;|Mark|3|1|0|0" passage="Mt 12:1,Mk 2:23,3:1">Matt. xii. 1; Mark ii. 23; iii.
1</scripRef>), because, though happening at some distance of time
from each other, both were designed to rectify the mistakes of the
scribes and Pharisees concerning the sabbath day, on the <i>bodily
rest</i> of which they laid greater stress and required greater
strictness than the Law-giver intended. Here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p4">I. Christ justifies his disciples in a
<i>work of necessity</i> for themselves on that day, and that was
<i>plucking the ears of corn,</i> when they were hungry on that
day. This story here has a date, which we had not in the other
evangelists; it was <i>on the second sabbath after the first</i>
(<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.1" parsed="|Luke|6|1|0|0" passage="Lu 6:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), that is, as
Dr. Whitby thinks is pretty clear, the <i>first sabbath after the
second day of unleavened bread,</i> from which day they reckoned
the <i>seven weeks</i> to the feast of pentecost; the first of
which they called <b><i>Sabbaton deuteroproton</i></b>, the second
<b><i>deuterodeuteron</i></b>, and so on. Blessed be God we need
not be critical in this matter. Whether this circumstance be
mentioned to intimate that this sabbath was thought to have some
peculiar honour upon it, which aggravated the offence of the
disciples, or only to intimate that, being the first sabbath after
the offering of the first fruits, it was the time of the year when
the corn was nearly ripe, is not material. We may observe, 1.
Christ's disciples ought not to be nice and curious in their diet,
at any time, especially on sabbath days, but take up with what is
easiest got, and be thankful. These disciples <i>plucked the ears
of corn, and did eat</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.1" parsed="|Luke|6|1|0|0" passage="Lu 6:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>); a little served them, and that which had no delicacy
in it. 2. Many that are themselves guilty of the greatest crimes
are forward to censure others for the most innocent and inoffensive
actions, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.2" parsed="|Luke|6|2|0|0" passage="Lu 6:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. The
Pharisees quarrelled with them as doing that which it <i>was not
lawful to do on the sabbath days,</i> when it was their own
practice to feed deliciously on sabbath days, more than on all
other days. 3. Jesus Christ will justify his disciples when they
are unjustly censured, and will own and accept of them in many a
thing which men tell them <i>it is not lawful for them to do.</i>
How well is it for us that men are not to be our judges, and that
Christ will be our Advocate! 4. Ceremonial appointments may be
dispensed with, in cases of necessity; as the appropriating of the
showbread to the priests was dispensed with, when David was by
Providence brought into such a strait that he must have either that
or none, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.3-Luke.6.4" parsed="|Luke|6|3|6|4" passage="Lu 6:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>.
And, if God's own appointments might be thus set aside for a
greater good, much more may the traditions of men. 5. Works of
necessity are particularly allowable on the sabbath day; but we
must take heed that we turn not this liberty into licentiousness,
and abuse God's favourable concessions and condescensions to the
prejudice of the work of the day. 6. Jesus Christ, though he
allowed works of necessity on the sabbath day, will notwithstanding
have us to know and remember that it is his day, and therefore is
to be spent in his service and to his honour (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.5" parsed="|Luke|6|5|0|0" passage="Lu 6:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): <i>The Son of man is Lord also of
the sabbath.</i> In the kingdom of the Redeemer, the sabbath day is
to be turned into a <i>Lord's day;</i> the property of it is, in
some respects, to be altered, and it is to be observed chiefly in
honour of the Redeemer, as it had been before in honour of the
Creator, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.16.14-Jer.16.15" parsed="|Jer|16|14|16|15" passage="Jer 16:14,15">Jer. xvi. 14,
15</scripRef>. In token of this, it shall not only have a new name,
the <i>Lord's day</i> (yet not forgetting the old, for it is a
sabbath of rest still) but shall be transferred to a new day, the
first day of the week.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p5">II. He justifies himself in doing <i>works
of mercy</i> for others on the sabbath day. Observe in this, 1.
Christ on the sabbath day <i>entered into the synagogue.</i> Note,
It is our duty, as we have opportunity, to sanctify sabbaths in
religious assemblies. On the sabbath there ought to be a <i>holy
convocation;</i> and our place must not be empty without very good
reason. 2. In the synagogue, on the sabbath day, <i>he taught.</i>
Giving and receiving instruction from Christ is very proper work
for a sabbath day, and for a <i>synagogue.</i> Christ took all
opportunities to teach, not only his disciples, but the multitude.
3. Christ's patient was one of his hearers. <i>A man whose right
hand was withered</i> came to learn from Christ. Whether he had any
expectation to be healed by him does not appear. But those that
would be <i>cured</i> by the grace of Christ must be willing to
<i>learn</i> the doctrine of Christ. 4. Among those who were the
hearers of Christ's excellent doctrine, and the eye-witnesses of
his glorious miracles, there were some who came with no other
design than to pick quarrels with him, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.7" parsed="|Luke|6|7|0|0" passage="Lu 6:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The scribes and Pharisees would
not, as became <i>generous</i> adversaries, give him fair warning
that, if he did <i>heal</i> on the sabbath day, they would construe
it into a violation of the fourth commandment, which they ought in
honour and justice to have done, because it was a case <i>without
precedent</i> (none having ever cured as he did), but they basely
<i>watched him,</i> as the lion does his prey, whether he would
<i>heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation
against him,</i> and surprise him with a prosecution. 5. Jesus
Christ was neither <i>ashamed</i> nor <i>afraid</i> to own the
purposes of his grace, in the face of those who, he knew,
confronted them, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.8" parsed="|Luke|6|8|0|0" passage="Lu 6:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
<i>He knew their faults,</i> and what they designed, and he bade
the man <i>rise, and stand forth,</i> hereby to try the patient's
faith and boldness. 6. He appealed to his adversaries themselves,
and to the convictions of natural conscience, whether it was the
design of the fourth commandment to restrain men from doing good on
the sabbath day, that good which their hand finds to do, which they
have an opportunity for, and which cannot so well be put off to
another time (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.9" parsed="|Luke|6|9|0|0" passage="Lu 6:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>):
<i>Is it lawful to do good, or evil, on the sabbath days?</i> No
wicked men are such <i>absurd</i> and <i>unreasonable</i> men as
<i>persecutors</i> are, who study to <i>do evil</i> to men for
<i>doing good.</i> 7. He healed the poor man, and restored him to
the present use of his right hand, with a word's speaking, though
he knew that his enemies would not only take offence at it, but
take advantage against him for it, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.10" parsed="|Luke|6|10|0|0" passage="Lu 6:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Let not us be drawn off, either
from our duty or usefulness, by the oppression we meet with in it.
8. His adversaries were hereby enraged so much the more against
him, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.11" parsed="|Luke|6|11|0|0" passage="Lu 6:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Instead
of being convinced by this miracle, as they ought to have been,
that he was a teacher come from God,—instead of being brought to
be in love with him as a benefactor to mankind,—they were
<i>filled with madness,</i> vexed that they could not frighten him
from doing good, or hinder the growth of his interest in the
affections of the people. They were <i>mad</i> at Christ,
<i>mad</i> at the people, <i>mad</i> at themselves. Anger is a
<i>short madness,</i> malice is a <i>long</i> one; <i>impotent</i>
malice, especially <i>disappointed</i> malice; such was theirs.
When they could not prevent his working this miracle, they
<i>communed one with another what they might do to Jesus,</i> what
other way they might take to run him down. We may well stand amazed
at it that the sons of men should be so wicked as to do thus, and
that the Son of God should be so patient as to suffer it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.12-Luke.6.19" parsed="|Luke|6|12|6|19" passage="Lu 6:12-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.6.12-Luke.6.19">
<h4 id="Luke.vii-p5.7">The Twelve Apostles Chosen.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vii-p6">12 And it came to pass in those days, that he
went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer
to God.   13 And when it was day, he called <i>unto him</i>
his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named
apostles;   14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew
his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,   15
Matthew and Thomas, James the <i>son</i> of Alphæus, and Simon
called Zelotes,   16 And Judas <i>the brother</i> of James,
and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.   17 And he
came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his
disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and
Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to
hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;   18 And they
that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.  
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went
virtue out of him, and healed <i>them</i> all.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p7">In these verses, we have our Lord Jesus in
<i>secret,</i> in <i>his family,</i> and in <i>public;</i> and in
all three acting like himself.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p8">I. In <i>secret</i> we have him <i>praying
to God,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.12" parsed="|Luke|6|12|0|0" passage="Lu 6:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>.
This evangelist takes frequent notice of Christ's retirements, to
give us an example of secret prayer, by which we must keep up our
communion with God daily, and without which it is impossible that
the soul should prosper. <i>In those days,</i> when his enemies
were filled with madness against him, and were contriving what to
do to him, he went out to <i>pray;</i> that he might answer the
type of David (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.109.4" parsed="|Ps|109|4|0|0" passage="Ps 109:4">Ps. cix. 4</scripRef>),
<i>For my love, they are my adversaries; but I give myself unto
prayer.</i> Observe, 1. He was <i>alone</i> with God; he <i>went
out into a mountain, to pray,</i> where he might have no
disturbance or interruption given him; we are never less alone than
when we are <i>thus</i> alone. Whether there was any convenient
place built upon this mountain, for devout people to retire to for
their private devotions, as some think, and that that
<i>oratory,</i> or <i>place of prayer,</i> is meant here by
<b><i>he proseuche tou theou</i></b>, to me seems very uncertain.
He went into a mountain for privacy, and therefore, probably, would
not go to a place frequented by others. 2. He was <i>long</i> alone
with God: <i>He continued all night in prayer.</i> We think one
half hour a great deal to spend in the <i>duties of the closet;</i>
but Christ continued a <i>whole night</i> in meditation and secret
prayer. We have a great deal of <i>business</i> at the throne of
grace, and we should take a great <i>delight</i> in communion with
God, and by both these we may be kept sometimes long at prayer.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p9">II. In his <i>family</i> we have him
nominating his immediate attendants, that should be the constant
auditors of his doctrine and eye-witnesses of his miracles, that
hereafter they might be sent forth as <i>apostles,</i> his
<i>messengers</i> to the world, to preach his gospel to it, and
plant his church in it, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.13" parsed="|Luke|6|13|0|0" passage="Lu 6:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. After he had <i>continued all night in prayer,</i>
one would have thought that, <i>when it was day,</i> he should have
reposed himself, and got some sleep. No, as soon as any body was
stirring, he <i>called unto him his disciples.</i> In serving God,
our great care should be, not to <i>lose time,</i> but to make the
end of one good duty the beginning of another. Ministers are to be
ordained with <i>prayer</i> more than ordinarily <i>solemn.</i> The
number of the apostles was <i>twelve.</i> Their names are here
recorded; it is the <i>third time</i> that we have met with them,
and in each of the <i>three</i> places the <i>order</i> of them
differs, to teach both ministers and Christians not to be nice in
precedency, not in <i>giving</i> it, much less in <i>taking</i> it,
but to look upon it as a thing not worth taking notice of; let it
be as it lights. He that in Mark was called <i>Thaddeus,</i> in
Matthew <i>Lebbeus,</i> whose surname was <i>Thaddeus,</i> is here
called <i>Judas the brother of James,</i> the same that wrote the
epistle of Jude. Simon, who in Matthew and Mark was called the
<i>Canaanite,</i> is here called <i>Simon Zelotes,</i> perhaps for
his great zeal in religion. Concerning these twelve here named we
have reason to say, as the queen of Sheba did of Solomon's
servants, <i>Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants,
that stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom;</i> never
were men so privileged, and yet one of them had a devil, and proved
a traitor (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.16" parsed="|Luke|6|16|0|0" passage="Lu 6:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>);
yet Christ, when he chose him, was not deceived in him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p10">III. In <i>public</i> we have him
<i>preaching</i> and <i>healing,</i> the two great works between
which he divided his time, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.17" parsed="|Luke|6|17|0|0" passage="Lu 6:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. He came down with the twelve from the mountain, and
<i>stood in the plain,</i> ready to receive those that resorted to
him; and there were presently gathered about him, not only the
<i>company of his disciples,</i> who used to attend him, but also a
great <i>multitude of people,</i> a mixed multitude <i>out of all
Judea and Jerusalem.</i> Though it was some scores of miles from
Jerusalem to that part of Galilee where Christ now was,—though at
Jerusalem they had abundance of famous rabbin, that had great
names, and bore a mighty sway,—yet they came to hear Christ. They
came also from the <i>sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon.</i> Though they
who lived there were generally men of business, and though they
bordered upon Canaanites, yet there were some well affected to
Christ; such there were dispersed in all parts, here and there one.
1. They <i>came to hear him</i> and he <i>preached</i> to them.
Those that have not good preaching near them had better travel far
for it than be without it. It is worth while to go a great way to
hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business
for it. 2. They came to be <i>cured</i> by him, and he
<i>healed</i> them. Some were troubled <i>in body,</i> and some
<i>in mind;</i> some had <i>diseases,</i> some had <i>devils;</i>
but both the one and the other, upon their application to Christ,
were <i>healed,</i> for he has power over <i>diseases</i> and
<i>devils</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.17-Luke.6.18" parsed="|Luke|6|17|6|18" passage="Lu 6:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17,
18</scripRef>), over the effects and over the causes. Nay, it
should seem, those who had no <i>particular diseases</i> to
complain of yet found it a great confirmation and renovation to
their bodily <i>health</i> and <i>vigour</i> to partake of the
<i>virtue that went out of him;</i> for (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.19" parsed="|Luke|6|19|0|0" passage="Lu 6:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>) <i>the whole multitude sought to
touch him,</i> those that were in health as well as those that were
sick, and they were all, one way or other, the better for him: he
<i>healed them all;</i> and who is there that doth not need, upon
some account or other, to be <i>healed?</i> There is a <i>fulness
of grace</i> in Christ, and healing virtue in him, and ready to go
out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.20-Luke.6.26" parsed="|Luke|6|20|6|26" passage="Lu 6:20-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.6.20-Luke.6.26">
<h4 id="Luke.vii-p10.5">Blessings and Woes.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vii-p11">20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples,
and said, Blessed <i>be ye</i> poor: for yours is the kingdom of
God.   21 Blessed <i>are ye</i> that hunger now: for ye shall
be filled. Blessed <i>are ye</i> that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
  22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they
shall separate you <i>from their company,</i> and shall reproach
<i>you,</i> and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's
sake.   23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for,
behold, your reward <i>is</i> great in heaven: for in the like
manner did their fathers unto the prophets.   24 But woe unto
you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.   25
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that
laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.   26 Woe unto you,
when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to
the false prophets.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p12">Here begins a practical discourse of
Christ, which is continued to the end of the chapter, most of which
is found in the <i>sermon upon the mount,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.1-Matt.7.29" parsed="|Matt|5|1|7|29" passage="Mt 5:1-7:29">Matt. v. and vii.</scripRef>. Some think that this
was preached at some other time and place, and there are other
instances of Christ's preaching the same things, or to the same
purport, at different times; but it is probable that this is only
the evangelist's abridgment of that sermon, and perhaps that in
Matthew too is but an abridgment; the beginning and the conclusion
are much the same; and the story of the cure of the centurion's
servant follows presently upon it, both there and here, but it is
not material. In these verses, we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p13">I. Blessings pronounced upon <i>suffering
saints,</i> as <i>happy</i> people, though the world <i>pities
them</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.20" parsed="|Luke|6|20|0|0" passage="Lu 6:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): He
<i>lifted up his eyes upon his disciples,</i> not only the
<i>twelve,</i> but the whole <i>company of them</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.17" parsed="|Luke|6|17|0|0" passage="Lu 6:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), and directed his
discourse to them; for, when he had healed the sick in <i>the
plain,</i> he went up again <i>to the mountain,</i> to preach.
There he <i>sat,</i> as one having authority; thither <i>they come
to him</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.1" parsed="|Matt|5|1|0|0" passage="Mt 5:1">Matt. v. 1</scripRef>), and
to them he directed his discourse, to them he applied it, and
taught them to apply it to themselves. When he had laid it down for
a truth, <i>Blessed are the poor in spirit,</i> he added,
<i>Blessed are ye poor.</i> All believers, that take the precepts
of the gospel to themselves, and <i>live by them</i> may take the
promises of the gospel to themselves and <i>live upon them.</i> And
the application, as it is here, seems especially designed to
encourage the disciples, with reference to the hardships and
difficulties they were likely to meet with, in following
Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p14">1. "You are <i>poor,</i> you have <i>left
all to follow me,</i> are content to live upon alms with me, are
never to expect any worldly preferment in my service. You must work
hard, and fare hard, as poor people do; but you are blessed in your
poverty, it shall be no prejudice at all to your happiness; nay,
you are blessed <i>for</i> it, all your losses shall be abundantly
made up to you, for <i>yours is the kingdom of God,</i> all the
comforts and graces of his kingdom here and all the glories and
joys of his kingdom hereafter; yours it <i>shall be,</i> nay, yours
<i>it is.</i>" Christ's <i>poor</i> are <i>rich in faith,</i>
<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Jas.2.5" parsed="|Jas|2|5|0|0" passage="Jam 2:5">Jam. ii. 5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p15">2. "You <i>hunger now</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.21" parsed="|Luke|6|21|0|0" passage="Lu 6:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), you are not <i>fed to
the full</i> as others are, you often rise hungry, your
<i>commons</i> are so <i>short;</i> or you are so intent upon your
work that you have not time to eat bread, you are glad of a few
<i>ears of corn</i> for a meal's meat; thus you hunger now in this
world, but in the other world <i>you shall be filled,</i> shall
<i>hunger no more,</i> nor <i>thirst any more.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p16">3. "You <i>weep now,</i> are often in
tears, tears of repentance, tears of sympathy; you are of them that
mourn in Zion. But <i>blessed are you;</i> your present sorrows are
no <i>prejudices</i> to your future joy, but <i>preparatories</i>
for it: <i>You shall laugh.</i> You have triumphs in reserve; you
are but <i>sowing in tears,</i> and shall shortly <i>reap in
joy,</i>" <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.5-Ps.126.6" parsed="|Ps|126|5|126|6" passage="Ps 126:5,6">Ps. cxxvi. 5,
6</scripRef>. They that now <i>sorrow after a godly sort</i> are
treasuring up comforts for themselves, or, rather, God is
treasuring up comforts for them; and the day is coming when their
<i>mouth shall be filled with laughing and their lips with
rejoicing,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.8.21" parsed="|Job|8|21|0|0" passage="Job 8:21">Job viii.
21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p17">4. "You now undergo <i>the world's ill
will.</i> You must expect all the base treatment that a spiteful
world can give you for Christ's sake, because you serve him and his
interests; you must expect that wicked men will <i>hate you,</i>
because your doctrine and life convict and condemn them; and those
that have church-power in their hands will <i>separate you,</i>
will force you to separate yourselves, and then excommunicate you
for so doing, and lay you under the most ignominious censures. They
will pronounce anathemas against you, as scandalous and
incorrigible offenders. They will do this with all possible gravity
and solemnity, and pomp and pageantry of appeals to Heaven, to make
the world believe, and almost you yourselves too, that it is
ratified in heaven. Thus will they endeavour to make you odious to
others and a terror to yourselves." This is supposed to be the
proper notion of <b><i>aphorisosin hymas</i></b>—<i>they shall
cast you out of their synagogues.</i> "And they that have not this
power will not fail to show their malice, to the utmost of their
power; for <i>they will reproach you,</i> will charge you with the
blackest crimes, which you are perfectly innocent of, will fasten
upon you the blackest characters, which you do not deserve; they
will <i>cast out your name as evil,</i> your name as Christians, as
apostles; they will do all they can to render these names odious."
This is the application of the eighth beatitude, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.10-Matt.5.12" parsed="|Matt|5|10|5|12" passage="Mt 5:10-12">Matt. v. 10-12</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p18">"Such usage as this seems hard; but
<i>blessed are you</i> when you are so used. It is so far from
depriving you of your happiness that it will greatly add to it. It
is an honour to you, as it is to a brave hero to be employed in the
wars, in the service of his prince; and therefore <i>rejoice you in
that day, and leap for joy,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.23" parsed="|Luke|6|23|0|0" passage="Lu 6:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. Do not only <i>bear it,</i> but
<i>triumph</i> in it. For," (1.) "You are hereby <i>highly
dignified</i> in the <i>kingdom of grace,</i> for you are treated
as the prophets were before you, and therefore not only need not be
ashamed of it, but may justly rejoice in it, for it will be an
evidence for you that you <i>walk in the same spirit,</i> and <i>in
the same steps,</i> are engaged in the same cause, and employed in
the same service, with them." (2.) "You will for this be abundantly
<i>recompensed</i> in the <i>kingdom of glory;</i> not only your
services for Christ, but your sufferings will come into the
account: <i>Your reward is great in heaven.</i> Venture upon your
sufferings, in a full belief that the glory of heaven will
abundantly countervail all these hardships; so that, though you may
be losers for Christ, you shall not be losers by him in the
end."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p19">II. <i>Woes</i> denounced against
<i>prospering sinners as miserable people,</i> though the world
<i>envies them.</i> These we had not in Matthew. It should seem,
the best exposition of <i>these woes,</i> compared with the
foregoing <i>blessings,</i> is the parable of the <i>rich man</i>
and Lazarus. Lazarus had the blessedness of those that are
<i>poor,</i> and <i>hunger,</i> and <i>weep,</i> now, for in
Abraham's bosom all the promises made to them who did so were
<i>made good</i> to him; but the rich man had the <i>woes</i> that
follow here, as he had the character of those on whom these woes
are entailed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p20">1. Here is a <i>woe</i> to them that are
<i>rich,</i> that is, that <i>trust in riches,</i> that have
abundance of this world's wealth, and, instead of serving God with
it, serve their lusts with it; woe to them, for <i>they have
received their consolation,</i> that which they placed their
happiness in, and were willing to take up with for a portion,
<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.24" parsed="|Luke|6|24|0|0" passage="Lu 6:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. They in their
life-time received <i>their good things,</i> which, in their
account, were the <i>best things,</i> and all the good things they
are ever likely to receive from God. "You that are <i>rich</i> are
in temptation to <i>set your hearts</i> upon a <i>smiling</i>
world, and to say, <i>Soul, take thine ease</i> in the embraces of
it, <i>This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell;</i> and <i>then
woe unto you.</i>" (1.) It is the <i>folly</i> of carnal worldlings
that they make the things of this world <i>their consolation,</i>
which were intended only for their <i>convenience.</i> They please
themselves with them, pride themselves in them, and make them their
heaven upon earth; and to them the <i>consolations of God</i> are
small, and of no account. (2.) It is their misery that they are
<i>put off</i> with them as <i>their consolation.</i> Let them know
it, to their terror, when they are parted from these things, there
is an end of all their comfort, a final end of it, and nothing
remains to them but everlasting misery and torment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p21">2. Here is a <i>woe</i> to them that are
<i>full</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.25" parsed="|Luke|6|25|0|0" passage="Lu 6:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>),
that are <i>fed to the full,</i> and have <i>more than heart could
wish</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.73.7" parsed="|Ps|73|7|0|0" passage="Ps 73:7">Ps. lxxiii. 7</scripRef>),
that have their <i>bellies filled with the hid treasures of this
world</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.17.14" parsed="|Ps|17|14|0|0" passage="Ps 17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</scripRef>),
that, when they have abundance of these, are <i>full,</i> and think
they have <i>enough,</i> they <i>need no more,</i> they <i>desire
no more,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.3.17" parsed="|Rev|3|17|0|0" passage="Re 3:17">Rev. iii. 17</scripRef>.
<i>Now ye are full, now ye are rich,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.4.8" parsed="|1Cor|4|8|0|0" passage="1Co 4:8">1 Cor. iv. 8</scripRef>. They are <i>full of
themselves,</i> without God and Christ. Woe to such, for <i>they
shall hunger,</i> they shall shortly be <i>stripped</i> and
<i>emptied</i> of all the things they are so proud of; and, when
they shall have <i>left behind them</i> in the world all those
things which are their fulness, they shall <i>carry away with
them</i> such appetites and desires as the world they remove to
will afford them no gratifications of; for all the delights of
sense, which they are now so full of, will in hell be
<i>denied,</i> and in heaven <i>superseded.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p22">3. Here is a <i>woe</i> to them that
<i>laugh now,</i> that have always a <i>disposition to be
merry,</i> and always something to <i>make merry with;</i> that
know no other joy than that which is carnal and sensual, and know
no other use of this world's good than purely to indulge that
carnal sensual joy that banishes sorrow, even godly sorrow, from
their minds, and are always entertaining themselves with the
laughter of the fool. <i>Woe unto such,</i> for it is but
<i>now,</i> for a little time, that they <i>laugh;</i> they shall
<i>mourn and weep</i> shortly, shall <i>mourn and weep</i>
eternally, in a world where there is nothing but <i>weeping and
wailing,</i> endless, easeless, and remediless sorrow.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p23">4. Here is a <i>woe</i> to them <i>whom all
men speak well of,</i> that is, who make it their great and only
care to gain the praise and applause of men, who value themselves
upon that more than upon the favour of God and his acceptance
(<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.26" parsed="|Luke|6|26|0|0" passage="Lu 6:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): "<i>Woe unto
you;</i> that is, it would be a bad sign that you were not faithful
to your trust, and to the souls of men, if you preached so as that
nobody would be disgusted; for your business is to tell people of
their faults, and, if you do that as you ought, you will get that
<i>ill will</i> which never <i>speaks well.</i> The false prophets
indeed, that flattered your father in their wicked ways, that
<i>prophesied smooth things</i> to them, were caressed and spoken
well of; and, if you be in like manner cried up, you will be justly
suspected to deal deceitfully as they did." We should desire to
have the approbation of those that are wise and good, and not be
indifferent to what people say of us; but, as we should despise the
reproaches, so we should also despise the praises, of the fools in
Israel.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vii-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.27-Luke.6.36" parsed="|Luke|6|27|6|36" passage="Lu 6:27-36" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.6.27-Luke.6.36">
<h4 id="Luke.vii-p23.3">Exhortations to Justice and
Mercy.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vii-p24">27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your
enemies, do good to them which hate you,   28 Bless them that
curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.   29
And unto him that smiteth thee on the <i>one</i> cheek offer also
the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not <i>to take
thy</i> coat also.   30 Give to every man that asketh of thee;
and of him that taketh away thy goods ask <i>them</i> not again.
  31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to
them likewise.   32 For if ye love them which love you, what
thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.  
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same.   34 And if ye lend
<i>to them</i> of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for
sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.   35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing
again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children
of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and <i>to</i>
the evil.   36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also
is merciful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p25">These verses agree with <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.38" parsed="|Matt|5|38|0|0" passage="Mt 5:38">Matt. v. 38</scripRef>, to the end of that chapter: <i>I
say unto you that hear</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.27" parsed="|Luke|6|27|0|0" passage="Lu 6:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>), to all you that hear, and not to disciples only,
for these are lessons of universal concern. <i>He that has an ear,
let him hear.</i> Those that diligently hearken to Christ shall
find he has something to say to them well worth their hearing. Now
the lessons Christ here teacheth us are,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p26">I. That we must render to all their due,
and be honest and just in all our dealings (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.31" parsed="|Luke|6|31|0|0" passage="Lu 6:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>): <i>As ye would that men should
do to you, do ye also to them likewise;</i> for this is <i>loving
your neighbour as yourselves.</i> What we should expect, in reason,
to be done to us, either in justice or charity, by others, if they
were in our condition and we in theirs, that, as the matter stands,
we must do to them. We must <i>put our souls into their souls'
stead,</i> and then pity and succour them, as we should desire and
justly expect to be ourselves pitied and succoured.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p27">II. That we must be free in <i>giving</i>
to them that <i>need</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.30" parsed="|Luke|6|30|0|0" passage="Lu 6:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>): "<i>Give to every man that asketh of thee,</i> to
every one that is a proper object of charity, that wants
necessaries, which thou hast wherewithal to supply out of thy
superfluities. Give to those that are not able to help themselves,
to those that have not relations in a capacity to help them."
Christ would have his disciples ready to distribute, and willing to
communicate, <i>to their power</i> in ordinary cases, and beyond
their power in extraordinary.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p28">III. That we must be generous in
<i>forgiving</i> those that have been any way injurious to us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p29">1. We must not be <i>extreme</i> in
<i>demanding</i> our right, when it is denied us: "<i>Him that
taketh away thy cloak,</i> either forcibly or fraudulently,
<i>forbid him not</i> by any violent means to <i>take thy coat
also,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.29" parsed="|Luke|6|29|0|0" passage="Lu 6:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. Let
him have that too, rather than fight for it. And (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.30" parsed="|Luke|6|30|0|0" passage="Lu 6:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>) <i>of him that taketh
thy goods</i>" (so Dr. Hammond thinks it should be read), "that
borrows them, or that <i>takes them up</i> from thee upon trust, of
such do not <i>exact them;</i> if Providence have made such
insolvent, do not take the advantage of the law against them, but
rather lose it than <i>take them by the throat,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.18.28" parsed="|Matt|18|28|0|0" passage="Mt 18:28">Matt. xviii. 28</scripRef>. If a man run away in
thy debt, and <i>take away thy goods</i> with him, do not perplex
thyself, nor be incensed against him."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p30">2. We must not be rigorous in revenging a
wrong when it is done us: "<i>Unto him that smiteth thee on the one
cheek,</i> instead of bringing an action against him, or sending
for a writ for him, or bringing him before a justice, <i>offer also
the other;</i>" that is, "pass it by, though thereby thou shouldest
be in danger of bringing upon thyself another like in dignity,
which is commonly pretended in excuse of taking the advantage of
the law in such a case. If any one <i>smite thee on the cheek,</i>
rather than give another blow to him, be ready to receive another
from him;" that is, "leave it to God to plead thy cause, and do
thou sit down silent under the affront." When we do thus, God will
<i>smite our enemies,</i> as far as they are his, <i>upon the cheek
bone,</i> so as to <i>break the teeth of the ungodly</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.3.7" parsed="|Ps|3|7|0|0" passage="Ps 3:7">Ps. iii. 7</scripRef>); for he hath said,
<i>Vengeance is mine,</i> and he will make it appear that it is so
when we leave it to him to take vengeance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p31">3. Nay, we must <i>do good to them that do
evil to us.</i> This is that which our Saviour, in <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p31.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.27-Luke.6.36" parsed="|Luke|6|27|6|36" passage="Lu 6:27-36">these verses</scripRef>, chiefly designs to
teach us, as a law peculiar to his religion, and a branch of the
perfection of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p32">(1.) We must be kind to those from whom we
have <i>received injuries.</i> We must not only <i>love our
enemies,</i> and bear a good will to them, but we must <i>do
good</i> to them, be as ready to do any good office to them as to
any other person, if their case call for it, and it be in the power
of our hands to do it. We must study to make it appear, by positive
acts, if there be an opportunity for them, that we bear them no
malice, nor see revenge. Do they <i>curse</i> us, speak ill of us,
and wish ill to us? Do they <i>despitefully use us,</i> in word or
deed? Do they endeavour to make us contemptible or odious? Let us
<i>bless them,</i> and <i>pray for them,</i> speak well of them,
the best we can, wish well to them, especially to their souls, and
be intercessors with God for them. This is repeated, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p32.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.35" parsed="|Luke|6|35|0|0" passage="Lu 6:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>: <i>love your
enemies,</i> and <i>do them good.</i> To recommend this difficult
duty to us, it is represented as a generous thing, and an
attainment few arrive at. <i>To love those that love us</i> has
nothing <i>uncommon</i> in it, nothing peculiar to Christ's
disciples, for <i>sinners</i> will <i>love those that love
them.</i> There is nothing self-denying in that; it is but
following nature, even in its corrupt state, and puts no force at
all upon it (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p32.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.32" parsed="|Luke|6|32|0|0" passage="Lu 6:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>):
it is no thanks to us to love those that say and do just as we
would have them. "And (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p32.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.33" parsed="|Luke|6|33|0|0" passage="Lu 6:33"><i>v.</i>
33</scripRef>) <i>if you do good to them that do good to you,</i>
and return their kindnesses, it is from a common principle of
custom, honour, and gratitude; and therefore <i>what thanks have
you?</i> What credit are you to the name of Christ, or what
reputation do you bring to it? for <i>sinners also,</i> that know
nothing of Christ and his doctrine, <i>do even the same.</i> But it
becomes you to do something more excellent and eminent, herein to
out-do your neighbours, to do that which sinners will not do, and
which no principle of theirs can pretend to reach to: you must
<i>render good for evil;</i>" not that any thanks are due to us,
but <i>then</i> we are to our God <i>for a name and a praise</i>
and he will have the thanks.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p33">(2.) We must be kind to those from whom we
expect no manner of advantage (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p33.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.35" parsed="|Luke|6|35|0|0" passage="Lu 6:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>): <i>Lend, hoping for nothing
again.</i> It is meant of the rich lending to the poor a little
money for their necessity, to buy daily bread for themselves and
their families, or to keep them out of prison. In such a case, we
must <i>lend,</i> with a resolution not to demand interest for what
we lend, as we may most justly from those that borrow money to make
purchases withal, or to trade with. But that is not all; we must
<i>lend</i> though we have reason to suspect that what we
<i>lend</i> we <i>lose,</i> lend to those who are so poor that it
is not probable they will be able to pay us again. This precept
will be best illustrated by that law of Moses (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p33.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.15.7-Deut.15.10" parsed="|Deut|15|7|15|10" passage="De 15:7-10">Deut. xv. 7-10</scripRef>), which obliges them to lend
to a <i>poor brother</i> as much as he <i>needed,</i> though the
<i>year of release</i> was at hand. Here are two motives to this
generous charity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p34">[1.] It will redound to our profit; for our
<i>reward shall be great,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.35" parsed="|Luke|6|35|0|0" passage="Lu 6:35"><i>v.</i>
35</scripRef>. What is given, or laid out, or lent and lost on
earth, from a true principle of charity, will be made up to us in
the other world, unspeakably to our advantage. "You shall not only
be <i>repaid,</i> but <i>rewarded,</i> greatly rewarded; it will be
said to you, <i>Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p35">[2.] It will redound to our honour; for
herein we shall resemble God in his goodness, which is the greatest
glory: "<i>Ye shall be the children of the Highest,</i> shall be
owned by him as his children, being like him." It is the glory of
God that he is <i>kind to the unthankful and to the evil,</i>
bestows the gifts of common providence even upon the worst of men,
who are every day provoking him, and rebelling against him, and
using those very gifts to his dishonour. Hence he infers (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p35.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.36" parsed="|Luke|6|36|0|0" passage="Lu 6:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>), <i>Be merciful, as your
Father is merciful;</i> this explains <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p35.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.48" parsed="|Matt|5|48|0|0" passage="Mt 5:48">Matt. v. 48</scripRef>, "<i>Be perfect, as our Father is
perfect.</i> Imitate your Father in those things that are his
brightest perfections." Those that are <i>merciful</i> as God is
<i>merciful,</i> even <i>to the evil and the unthankful,</i> are
<i>perfect</i> as God is <i>perfect;</i> so he is pleased
graciously to accept it, though infinitely falling short. Charity
is called the <i>bond of perfectness,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p35.3" osisRef="Bible:Col.3.14" parsed="|Col|3|14|0|0" passage="Col 3:14">Col. iii. 14</scripRef>. This should strongly engage us
to be merciful to our brethren, even such as have been injurious to
us, not only that God is so to others, but that he is so to us,
though we have been, and are, evil and unthankful; it is of his
mercies that <i>we</i> are not consumed.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Luke.vii-p35.4" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.37-Luke.6.49" parsed="|Luke|6|37|6|49" passage="Lu 6:37-49" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Luke.6.37-Luke.6.49">
<h4 id="Luke.vii-p35.5">Exhortations to Justice and
Sincerity.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Luke.vii-p36">37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall
be forgiven:   38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall
men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete
withal it shall be measured to you again.   39 And he spake a
parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not
both fall into the ditch?   40 The disciple is not above his
master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
  41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's
eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull
out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not
the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first
the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to
pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.   43 For a
good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit.   44 For every tree is known by
his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a
bramble bush gather they grapes.   45 A good man out of the
good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and
an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth
that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaketh.   46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the
things which I say?   47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth
my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
  48 He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep,
and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the
stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for
it was founded upon a rock.   49 But he that heareth, and
doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house
upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and
immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p37">All these sayings of Christ we had before
in Matthew; some of them in <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p37.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.7.1-Matt.7.29" parsed="|Matt|7|1|7|29" passage="Mt 7:1-29"><i>ch.</i> vii.</scripRef>, others in other places.
They were sayings that Christ often used; they needed only to be
mentioned, it was easy to apply them. Grotius thinks that we need
not be critical here in seeking for the coherence: they are golden
sentences, like Solomon's proverbs or parables. Let us observe
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p38">I. We ought to be very candid in our
censures of others, because we need grains of allowance ourselves:
"Therefore <i>judge not</i> others, because then <i>you</i>
yourselves <i>shall not be judged;</i> therefore <i>condemn not</i>
others, because then <i>you</i> yourselves <i>shall not be
condemned,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p38.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.37" parsed="|Luke|6|37|0|0" passage="Lu 6:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>.
Exercise towards others that charity which <i>thinks no evil,</i>
which <i>bears all things, believes</i> and <i>hopes all
things;</i> and then others will exercise that charity towards you.
God will not <i>judge</i> and <i>condemn</i> you, men will not."
They that are merciful to other people's names shall find others
merciful to theirs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p39">II. If we are of a <i>giving</i> and a
<i>forgiving</i> spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit of it:
<i>Forgive and you shall be forgiven.</i> If we forgive the
injuries done to us by others, others will forgive our
inadvertencies. If we forgive others' trespasses against <i>us,</i>
God will forgive our trespasses against <i>him.</i> And he will be
no less mindful of the <i>liberal</i> that <i>devise liberal
things</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p39.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.38" parsed="|Luke|6|38|0|0" passage="Lu 6:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>):
<i>Give, and it shall be given to you.</i> God, in his providence,
will recompense it to you; it is <i>lent</i> to him, and <i>he is
not unrighteous to forget</i> it (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p39.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.6.10" parsed="|Heb|6|10|0|0" passage="Heb 6:10">Heb.
vi. 10</scripRef>), but he will <i>pay it again.</i> <i>Men</i>
shall <i>return it into your bosom;</i> for God often makes use of
<i>men</i> as instruments, not only of his <i>avenging,</i> but of
his <i>rewarding</i> justice. If we in a right manner give to
others when they need, God will incline the hearts of others to
give to us when we need, and to give liberally, <i>good measure
pressed down and shaken together.</i> They that <i>sow
plentifully</i> shall <i>reap plentifully.</i> Whom God recompenses
he recompenses <i>abundantly.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p40">III. We must expect to be dealt with
ourselves as we deal with others: <i>With the same measure that ye
mete it shall be measured to you again.</i> Those that deal
<i>hardly</i> with others must acknowledge, as Adoni-bezek did
(<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p40.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.1.7" parsed="|Judg|1|7|0|0" passage="Jdg 1:7">Judg. i. 7</scripRef>), that God is
righteous, if others deal hardly with them, and they may expect to
be paid in their own coin; but they that deal <i>kindly</i> with
others have reason to hope that, when they have occasion, God will
raise them up friends who will deal kindly with them. Though
Providence does not always go by this rule, because the full and
exact retributions are reserved for another world, yet, ordinarily,
it observes a proportion sufficient to deter us from all acts of
rigour and to encourage us in all acts of beneficence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p41">IV. Those who put themselves under the
guidance of the ignorant and erroneous are likely to perish with
them (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p41.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.39" parsed="|Luke|6|39|0|0" passage="Lu 6:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>): <i>Can
the blind lead the blind?</i> Can the Pharisees, who are blinded
with pride, prejudice, and bigotry, <i>lead the blind</i> people
into the right way? <i>Shall not both fall</i> together <i>into the
ditch?</i> How can they expect any other? Those that are led by the
common opinion, course, and custom, of this world, are themselves
blind, and are led by the blind, and will perish with the world
that <i>sits in darkness.</i> Those that ignorantly, and at a
venture, <i>follow the multitude to do evil,</i> follow the blind
in the broad way that leads the many to <i>destruction.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p42">V. Christ's followers cannot expect better
treatment in the world than their Master had, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p42.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.40" parsed="|Luke|6|40|0|0" passage="Lu 6:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>. Let them not promise themselves
more honour or pleasure in the world than Christ had, nor aim at
the worldly pomp and grandeur which he was never ambitious of, but
always declined, nor affect that power in secular things which he
would not assume; but every one that would show himself
<i>perfect,</i> an established disciple, let him be <i>as his
Master</i>—dead to the world, and every thing in it, as his Master
is; let him live a life of labour and self-denial as his Master
doth, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him
toil, and do all the good he can, and then he will be a complete
disciple.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p43">VI. Those who take upon them to rebuke and
reform others are concerned to look to it that they be themselves
blameless, and harmless, and without rebuke, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p43.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.41-Luke.6.42" parsed="|Luke|6|41|6|42" passage="Lu 6:41,42"><i>v.</i> 41, 42</scripRef>. 1. Those with a very ill
grace censure the faults of others who are not aware of their own
faults. It is very absurd for any to pretend to be so quick-sighted
as to spy small faults in others, like a mote in the eye, when they
are themselves so perfectly past feeling as not to perceive <i>a
beam in their own eye.</i> 2. Those are altogether unfit to help to
reform others whose reforming charity does not begin at home. How
canst thou offer thy service to thy brother, to <i>pull out the
mote from his eye,</i> which requires a good eye as well as a good
hand, when thou thyself hast a <i>beam in thine own eye,</i> and
makest no complaint of it? 3. Those therefore who would be
serviceable to the souls of others must first make it appear that
they are solicitous about their own souls. To help to pull the mote
out of our brother's eye is a good work, but then we must qualify
ourselves for it by beginning with ourselves; and our reforming our
own lives may, by the influence of example, contribute to others
reforming theirs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p44">VII. We may expect that men's words and
actions will be according as <i>they</i> are, according as their
hearts are, and according as their principles are.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p45">1. The heart is the <i>tree,</i> and the
words and actions are fruit according to the nature of the tree,
<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p45.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.43-Luke.6.44" parsed="|Luke|6|43|6|44" passage="Lu 6:43,44"><i>v.</i> 43, 44</scripRef>. If a
man be really a <i>good man,</i> if he have a principle of grace in
his heart, and the prevailing bent and bias of the soul be towards
God and heaven, though perhaps he may not abound in fruit, though
some of his fruits be blasted, and though he may be sometimes like
a tree in winter, yet he does not <i>bring forth corrupt fruit;</i>
though he may not do you all the good he should, yet he will not in
any material instance do you hurt. If he cannot reform ill manners,
he will not <i>corrupt good manners.</i> If the fruit that a man
brings forth be <i>corrupt,</i> if a man's devotion tend to debauch
the mind and conversation, if a man's conversation be vicious, if
he be a drunkard or fornicator, if he be a swearer or liar, if he
be in any instance unjust or unnatural, his <i>fruit</i> is
<i>corrupt,</i> and you may be sure that he is not a <i>good
tree.</i> On the other hand, a <i>corrupt tree doth not bring forth
good fruit,</i> though it may bring forth green leaves; <i>for of
thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble do they gather
grapes.</i> You may, if you please, stick figs upon thorns, and
hang a bunch of grapes upon a bramble, but they neither are, nor
can be, the natural product of the trees; so neither can you expect
any <i>good conduct</i> from those who have justly a <i>bad
character.</i> If the fruit be good, you may conclude that the tree
is so; if the conversation be holy, heavenly, and regular, though
you cannot infallibly know the heart, yet you may charitably hope
that it is upright with God; for <i>every tree is known by its
fruit.</i> But the <i>vile person will speak villany</i> (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p45.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.6" parsed="|Isa|32|6|0|0" passage="Isa 32:6">Isa. xxxii. 6</scripRef>), and the experience of
the moderns herein agrees with the <i>proverb of the ancients,</i>
that <i>wickedness proceedeth from the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p45.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.13" parsed="|1Sam|24|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p46">2. The heart is the <i>treasure,</i> and
the words and actions are the expenses or produce from that
treasure, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p46.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.45" parsed="|Luke|6|45|0|0" passage="Lu 6:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>. This
we had, <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p46.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.34-Matt.12.35" parsed="|Matt|12|34|12|35" passage="Mt 12:34,35">Matt. xii. 34,
35</scripRef>. The reigning love of God and Christ in the heart
denominates a man <i>a good man;</i> and it is <i>a good
treasure</i> a man may bring forth that which is good. But where
the love of the world and the flesh reign there is an <i>evil
treasure</i> in the heart, out of which an <i>evil man</i> is
continually bringing forth <i>that which is evil;</i> and by what
is brought forth you may know what is in the heart, as you may know
what is in the vessel, water or wine, by what is <i>drawn out from
it,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p46.3" osisRef="Bible:John.2.8" parsed="|John|2|8|0|0" passage="Joh 2:8">John ii. 8</scripRef>. <i>Of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks;</i> what the mouth
ordinarily speaks, speaks with relish and delight, generally agrees
with what is innermost and uppermost in the heart: <i>He that
speaks of the earth is earthly,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p46.4" osisRef="Bible:John.3.31" parsed="|John|3|31|0|0" passage="Joh 3:31">John iii. 31</scripRef>. Not but that a good man may
possibly drop a bad word, and a wicked man make use of a good word
to serve a bad turn; but, for the most part, the heart is as the
words are, <i>vain</i> or <i>serious;</i> it therefore concerns us
to get our hearts filled, not only with <i>good,</i> but with
<i>abundance</i> of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p47">VIII. It is not enough to <i>hear</i> the
sayings of Christ, but we must <i>do</i> them; not enough to
profess relation to him, as his servants, but we must make
conscience of obeying him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p48">1. It is putting an <i>affront upon him</i>
to call him <i>Lord, Lord,</i> as if we were wholly at his command,
and had devoted ourselves to his service, if we do not make
conscience of conforming to his will and serving the interests of
his kingdom. We do but mock Christ, as they that in scorn said,
<i>Hail, King of the Jews,</i> if we call him ever so often
<i>Lord, Lord,</i> and yet walk in the way of our own hearts and in
the sight of our own eyes. Why do we call him <i>Lord, Lord,</i> in
prayer (compare <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p48.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.7.21-Matt.7.22" parsed="|Matt|7|21|7|22" passage="Mt 7:21,22">Matt. vii. 21,
22</scripRef>), if we do not obey his commands? He that <i>turns
away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an
abomination.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p49">2. It is <i>putting a cheat</i> upon
ourselves if we think that a bare profession of religion will save
us, that <i>hearing</i> the sayings of Christ will bring us to
heaven, without <i>doing</i> them. This he illustrates by a
similitude (<scripRef id="Luke.vii-p49.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.6.47-Luke.6.49" parsed="|Luke|6|47|6|49" passage="Lu 6:47-49"><i>v.</i>
47-49</scripRef>), which shows,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p50">(1.) That those only make sure work for
their souls and eternity, and take the course that will stand them
in stead in a trying time, who do not only <i>come</i> to Christ as
his scholars, and <i>hear his sayings</i> but do them, who think,
and speak, and act, in every thing according to the established
rules of his holy religion. They are like a <i>house built on a
rock.</i> These are they that <i>take pains</i> in religion, as
they do,—that <i>dig deep,</i> that found their hope upon Christ,
who is the Rock of ages (and other foundation can no man lay);
these are they who <i>provide for hereafter,</i> who get ready for
the worst, who lay up in store a good foundation for the <i>time to
come,</i> for the <i>eternity to come,</i> <scripRef id="Luke.vii-p50.1" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.6.19" parsed="|1Tim|6|19|0|0" passage="1Ti 6:19">1 Tim. vi. 19</scripRef>. They who do thus do well for
themselves; for, [1.] They shall keep their integrity, in times of
temptation and persecution; when others fall from their own
stedfastness, as the seed on the stony ground, they shall <i>stand
fast in the Lord.</i> [2.] They shall keep their comfort, and
peace, and hope, and joy, in the midst of the greatest distresses.
The <i>storms</i> and <i>streams</i> of affliction shall not shock
them, for their feet are <i>set upon a rock,</i> a rock <i>higher
than they.</i> [3.] Their everlasting welfare is secured. In death
and judgment they are safe. Obedient believers are <i>kept by the
power of Christ, through faith, unto salvation,</i> and shall never
perish.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Luke.vii-p51">(2.) That those who rest in a bare hearing
of the sayings of Christ, and do not live up to them, are but
preparing for a fatal disappointment: <i>He that heareth and doeth
not</i> (that knows his duty, but lives in the neglect of it), he
is like a man that <i>built a house without a foundation.</i> He
pleases himself with hopes that he has no ground for, and his hopes
will fail him when he most needs the <i>comfort</i> of them, and
when he expects the <i>crowning</i> of them; when the <i>stream
beats vehemently</i> upon his house, it is gone, the sand it is
built upon is washed away, and <i>immediately it falls,</i> Such is
the <i>hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God takes
away his soul;</i> it is as the spider's web, and the giving up of
the ghost.</p>
</div></div2>