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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. XXII.</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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All the evangelists, whatever they omit, give us a particular account
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of the death and resurrection of Christ, because he died for our sins
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and rose for our justification, this evangelist as fully as any, and
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with many circumstances and passages added which we had not before. In
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this chapter we have,
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I. The plot to take Jesus, and Judas's coming into it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. Christ's eating the passover with his disciples,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:7-18">ver. 7-18</A>.
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III. The instituting of the Lord's supper,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.
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IV. Christ's discourse with his disciples after supper, upon several
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heads,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:21-38">ver. 21-38</A>.
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V. His agony in the garden,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:39-46">ver. 39-46</A>.
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VI. The apprehending of him, by the assistance of Judas,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:47-53">ver. 47-53</A>.
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VII. Peter's denying him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:54-62">ver. 54-62</A>.
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VIII. The indignities done to Christ by those that had him in custody,
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and his trial and condemnation in the ecclesiastical court,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:63-71">ver. 63-71</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu22_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_6"> </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 Treachery of Judas.</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 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called
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the Passover.
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2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill
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him; for they feared the people.
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3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the
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number of the twelve.
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4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and
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captains, how he might betray him unto them.
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5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
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6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto
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them in the absence of the multitude.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The <I>year of the redeemed</I> is now <I>come,</I> which had been from
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eternity fixed in the divine counsels, and long looked for by them that
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waited for the consolation of Israel. After the revolutions of many
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ages, it is at length <I>come,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:4">Isa. lxiii. 4</A>.
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And, it is observable, it is in the very <I>first month</I> of that
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year that the redemption is wrought out, so much in haste was the
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Redeemer to perform his undertaking, so was he <I>straitened</I> till
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it was <I>accomplished.</I> It was in the same month, and at the same
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time of the month (in the <I>beginning of months,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+12:2">Exod. xii. 2</A>),
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that God by Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, that the Antitype might
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answer the type. Christ is here delivered up, <I>when the feast of
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unleavened bread drew nigh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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About as long before that feast as they began to make preparation for
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it, here was preparation making for our Passover's being offered for
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us. Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. His sworn enemies contriving it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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<I>the chief priests,</I> men of sanctity, and the scribes, men of
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learning, <I>seeking how they might kill him,</I> either by force of
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fraud. Could they have had their will, it had been soon done, but they
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<I>feared the people,</I> and the more for what they now saw of their
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diligent attendance upon his preaching.</P>
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<P>
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II. A treacherous disciple joining in with them, and coming to their
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assistance, Judas surnamed <I>Iscariot.</I> He is here said to be <I>of
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the number of the twelve,</I> that dignified distinguished number. One
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would wonder that Christ, who <I>knew</I> all men, should take a
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traitor into <I>that number,</I> and that one of <I>that number,</I>
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who could not but <I>know Christ,</I> should be so base as to betray
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him; but Christ had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a
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disciple, and how he who knew Christ so well yet came to betray him we
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are here told: <I>Satan entered into Judas,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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It was the devil's work, who thought hereby to ruin Christ's
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undertaking, to have broken his head; but it proved only the bruising
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of his heel. Whoever betrays Christ, or his truths or ways, it is Satan
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that puts them upon it. Judas knew how desirous the chief priests were
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to get Christ into their hands, and that they could not do it safely
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without the assistance of some that knew his retirements, as he did.
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He therefore went himself, and made the motion to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Note, It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's
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kingdom by the power and policy of its open enemies, or by the
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treachery and self-seeking of its pretended friends: nay, without the
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latter its enemies could not gain their point as they do. When you see
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Judas communing with the <I>chief priests,</I> be sure some mischief is
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hatching; it is for no good that they are laying their heads
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together.</P>
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<P>
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III. The issue of the treaty between them.
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1. Judas must <I>betray Christ to them,</I> must bring them to a place
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where they might seize him without danger of tumult, and this they
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would be <I>glad of.</I>
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2. They must give him a sum of money for doing it, and this he would
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be glad of
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>They covenanted to give him money.</I> When the bargain was made,
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Judas sought <I>opportunity to betray him.</I> Probably, he slyly
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enquired of Peter and John, who were more intimate with their Master
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than he was, where he would be at such a time, and whither he would
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retire after the passover, and they were not sharp enough to suspect
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him. Somehow or other, in a little time he gained the advantage he
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sought, and fixed the time and place where it might be done, <I>in the
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absence of the multitude,</I> and <I>without tumult.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Lu22_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu22_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Keeping of the Passover.</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>7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must
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be killed.
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8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the
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passover, that we may eat.
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9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
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10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the
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city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water;
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follow him into the house where he entereth in.
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11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master
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saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the
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passover with my disciples?
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12 And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there
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make ready.
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13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they
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made ready the passover.
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14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve
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apostles with him.
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15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat
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this passover with you before I suffer:
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16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until
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it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
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17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this,
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and divide <I>it</I> among yourselves:
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18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the
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vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
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19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake <I>it,</I> and gave
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unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this
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do in remembrance of me.
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20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup <I>is</I>
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the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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What a hopeful prospect had we of Christ's doing a great deal of good
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by his preaching in the temple during the feast of unleavened bread,
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which continued seven days, when the people were <I>every</I> morning,
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and <I>early</I> in the morning, so attentive to hear him! But here is
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a stop put to it. He must enter upon work of another kind; in this,
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however, he shall do more good than in the other, for neither Christ's
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nor his church's suffering days are their idle empty days. Now here we
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have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The preparation that was made for Christ's eating the passover with
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his disciples, upon the very <I>day of unleavened bread, when the
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passover must be killed</I> according to the law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Christ was made under the law, and observed the ordinances of it,
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particularly that of the passover, to teach us in like manner to
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observe his gospel institutions, particularly that of the Lord's
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supper, and not to neglect them. It is probable that he went to the
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temple to preach in the morning, when he sent Peter and John another
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way into the city to <I>prepare the passover.</I> Those who have
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attendants about them, to do their secular business for them in a great
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measure, must not think that this <I>allows</I> them to be <I>idle;</I>
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it <I>engages</I> them to employ themselves more in <I>spiritual</I>
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business, or service to <I>the public.</I> He directed those whom he
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employed whither they should go
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>):
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<I>they must follow a man bearing a pitcher of water,</I> and he must
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be their guide to the house. Christ could have described the house to
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them; probably it was a house they knew, and he might have said no more
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than, Go to such a one's house, or to a house in such a street, with
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such a sign, &c. But he directed them thus, to teach them to depend
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upon the conduct of Providence, and to follow that, <I>step by
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step.</I> They went, not knowing <I>whither they went,</I> nor <I>whom
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they followed.</I> Being come to the house, they must desire the master
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of the house to show them a room
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and he will readily do it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Whether it was a friend's house or a public house does not appear; but
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the disciples found their guide, and the house, and the room, just as
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he had said to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>);
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for <I>they</I> need not fear a disappointment who go upon Christ's
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word; according to the orders given them, they got every thing in
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readiness for <I>the passover,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The solemnizing of the passover, according to the law. When <I>the
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hour was come</I> that they should go to supper <I>he sat down,</I>
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probably at the head-end of the table, and <I>the twelve apostles with
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him,</I> Judas not excepted; for it is possible that those whose hearts
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are filled with Satan, and all manner of wickedness, may yet continue a
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plausible profession of religion, and be found in the performance of
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its external services; and while it is in the heart, and does not break
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out into anything scandalous, such cannot be denied the external
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privileges of their external profession. Though Judas has already been
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guilty of an <I>overt act</I> of treason, yet, it not being publicly
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known, Christ admits him to sit down with the rest at the passover. Now
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observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. How Christ <I>bids this passover welcome,</I> to teach us in like
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manner to welcome his passover, the Lord's supper, and to come to it
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with an appetite
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
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"<I>With desire I have desired,</I> I have most earnestly desired, to
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<I>eat this passover with you before I suffer.</I>" He knew it was to
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be the prologue to his sufferings, and <I>therefore</I> he desired it,
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because it was in order to his Father's glory and man's redemption. He
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<I>delighted</I> to do even this part of the <I>will of God</I>
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concerning him as Mediator. Shall we be <I>backward</I> to any service
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for him who was so <I>forward</I> in the work of our salvation? See the
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love he had to his disciples; he desired to eat it <I>with them,</I>
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that he and they might have a little time together, themselves, and
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none besides, for private conversation, which they could not have in
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Jerusalem but upon this occasion. He was now about to leave them, but
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was very desirous to <I>eat this passover with them before he
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suffered,</I> as if the comfort of that would carry him the more
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cheerfully through his sufferings, and make them the easier to him.
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Note, Our gospel passover, eaten by faith with Jesus Christ, will be an
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excellent preparation for sufferings, and trials, and death itself.</P>
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<P>
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2. How Christ in it <I>takes his leave of all passovers,</I> thereby
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signifying his abrogating all the ordinances of the ceremonial law, of
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which that of the passover was one of the <I>earliest</I> and one of
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the most <I>eminent</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
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"<I>I will not any more eat thereof,</I> nor shall it by any more
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celebrated by my disciples, <I>until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of
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God.</I>"
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(1.) It was fulfilled when <I>Christ our Passover was sacrificed for
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us,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:7">1 Cor. v. 7</A>.
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And <I>therefore</I> that type and shadow was laid aside, because now
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in the <I>kingdom of God</I> the substance was come, which superseded
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it.
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(2.) It was fulfilled in the <I>Lord's supper,</I> an ordinance of the
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gospel kingdom, in which the passover had its accomplishment, and which
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the disciples, after the pouring out of the Spirit, did frequently
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celebrate, as we find
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:42,46">Acts ii. 42, 46</A>.
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They ate of it, and Christ might be said to eat with them, because of
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the spiritual communion they had with him in that ordinance. He is
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said to <I>sup with them</I> and <I>they with him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:20">Rev. iii. 20</A>.
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But,
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(3.) The complete accomplishment of that commemoration of liberty will
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be in the kingdom of glory, when all God's spiritual Israel shall be
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released from the bondage of death and sin, and be put in possession of
|
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the land of promise. What he had said of his eating of the paschal
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lamb, he repeats concerning his drinking of the <I>passover wine,</I>
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the cup of <I>blessing,</I> or of thanksgiving, in which all the
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|
company pledged the Master of the feast, at the close of the passover
|
|
supper. This cup <I>he took,</I> according to the custom, and <I>gave
|
|
thanks</I> for the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, and the
|
|
preservation of their first-born, and then said, <I>Take this, and
|
|
divide it among yourselves,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is not said afterwards of the sacramental cup, which being
|
|
probably of much more weight and value, being the <I>New Testament in
|
|
his blood,</I> he might give into every one's hand, to teach them to
|
|
make a particular application of it to their own souls; but, as for the
|
|
paschal cup which is to be abolished, it is enough to say, "<I>Take</I>
|
|
it, and <I>divide it among yourselves,</I> do what you will with it,
|
|
for we shall have no more occasion for it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>I will not drink of the fruit of the vine any more,</I> I will not
|
|
have it any more drank of, <I>till the kingdom of God shall come,</I>
|
|
till the Spirit be poured out, and then you shall in <I>the Lord's
|
|
supper</I> commemorate a much more glorious redemption, of which both
|
|
the deliverance out of Egypt and the passover commemoration of it were
|
|
types and figures. The kingdom of God is now so near being set up that
|
|
you will not need to eat or drink any more till it comes." Christ dying
|
|
next day opened it. As Christ with a great deal of pleasure took leave
|
|
of all the legal feasts (which fell of course with the passover) for
|
|
the evangelical ones, both spiritual and sacramental; so may good
|
|
Christians, when they are called to remove from the church militant to
|
|
that which is triumphant, cheerfully exchange even their spiritual
|
|
repasts, much more their sacramental ones, for the eternal feast.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The institution of the Lord's supper,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
The <I>passover</I> and the <I>deliverance</I> out of Egypt were
|
|
<I>typical</I> and <I>prophetic signs</I> of a Christ to come, who
|
|
should by dying deliver us from sin and death, and the tyranny of
|
|
Satan; but they shall no more say, <I>The Lord liveth, that brought us
|
|
up out of the land of Egypt;</I> a much greater deliverance shall
|
|
eclipse the lustre of that, and therefore the Lord's supper is
|
|
instituted to be a commemorative sign or memorial of a Christ already
|
|
come, that <I>has</I> by dying delivered us; and it is his death that
|
|
is in a special manner set before us in that ordinance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>breaking of Christ's body</I> as a <I>sacrifice for us</I> is
|
|
here commemorated by the <I>breaking of bread;</I> and the sacrifices
|
|
under the law were called the <I>bread of our God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+21:6,8,17">Lev. xxi. 6, 8, 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>This is my body which is given for you.</I> And there is a feast
|
|
upon that sacrifice instituted, in which we are to apply it to
|
|
ourselves, and to take the benefit and comfort of it. This bread that
|
|
was given for us is given <I>to us</I> to be food for our souls, for
|
|
nothing can be more <I>nourishing</I> and <I>satisfying</I> to our
|
|
souls than the doctrine of Christ's making atonement for sin, and the
|
|
assurance of our interest in that atonement; this bread that was
|
|
<I>broken</I> and <I>given for us,</I> to satisfy for the guilt of our
|
|
sins, is <I>broken</I> and <I>given to us,</I> to satisfy the desire of
|
|
our souls. And this we do in <I>remembrance</I> of what he did for us,
|
|
when he died for us, and for a <I>memorial</I> of what we <I>do,</I> in
|
|
making ourselves <I>partakers of him,</I> and joining ourselves to him
|
|
in an everlasting covenant; like the stone Joshua set up for a
|
|
<I>witness,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+24:27">Josh. xxiv. 27</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The <I>shedding</I> of <I>Christ's blood,</I> by which the atonement
|
|
was made (for <I>the blood made atonement for the soul,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+17:11">Lev. xvii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
as represented by the wine in the cup; and that cup of wine is a sign
|
|
and token of the New Testament, or new covenant, made with us. It
|
|
<I>commemorates</I> the purchase of the covenant by the blood of
|
|
Christ, and <I>confirms</I> the promises of the covenant, which are all
|
|
<I>Yea</I> and <I>Amen</I> in him. This will be reviving and refreshing
|
|
to our souls, as wine that <I>makes glad the heart.</I> In all our
|
|
commemorations of the shedding of Christ's blood, we must have an eye
|
|
to it as shed for us; we needed it, we take hold of it, we hope to have
|
|
benefit by it; <I>who loved me, and gave himself for me.</I> And in all
|
|
our regards to the New Testament we must have an eye to the <I>blood of
|
|
Christ,</I> which gave life and being to it, and seals to us all the
|
|
promises of it. Had it not been for the blood of Christ, we had never
|
|
had the New Testament; and, had it not been for the New Testament, we
|
|
had never know the meaning of Christ's blood shed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_38"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Disciples Admonished; Peter's Frailty Predicted.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me <I>is</I> with me
|
|
on the table.
|
|
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but
|
|
woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
|
|
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it
|
|
was that should do this thing.
|
|
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should
|
|
be accounted the greatest.
|
|
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise
|
|
lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them
|
|
are called benefactors.
|
|
26 But ye <I>shall</I> not <I>be</I> so: but he that is greatest among
|
|
you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that
|
|
doth serve.
|
|
27 For whether <I>is</I> greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he
|
|
that serveth? <I>is</I> not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among
|
|
you as he that serveth.
|
|
28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
|
|
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath
|
|
appointed unto me;
|
|
30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit
|
|
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
|
|
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired
|
|
<I>to have</I> you, that he may sift <I>you</I> as wheat:
|
|
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
|
|
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
|
|
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both
|
|
into prison, and to death.
|
|
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow
|
|
this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest
|
|
me.
|
|
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and
|
|
scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
|
|
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let
|
|
him take <I>it,</I> and likewise <I>his</I> scrip: and he that hath no
|
|
sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
|
|
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be
|
|
accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors:
|
|
for the things concerning me have an end.
|
|
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here <I>are</I> two swords. And he
|
|
said unto them, It is enough.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples after supper, much
|
|
of which is new here; and in St. John's gospel we shall find other
|
|
additions. We should take example from him to entertain and edify our
|
|
family and friends with such discourse at table as is good and to the
|
|
use of edifying, which may minister grace to the hearers; but
|
|
especially after we have been at the Lord's table, by Christian
|
|
conference to keep one another in a suitable frame. The matters Christ
|
|
here discoursed of were of weight, and to the present purpose.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He discoursed with them concerning him that should betray him, who
|
|
was now present.
|
|
|
|
1. He signifies to them that the traitor was now among them, and one of
|
|
them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
By placing this after the institution of the Lord's supper, though in
|
|
Matthew and Mark it is placed before it, it seems plain that Judas did
|
|
receive the Lord's supper, did <I>eat of that bread</I> and <I>drink of
|
|
that cup;</I> for, after the solemnity was over, Christ said,
|
|
<I>Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the
|
|
table.</I> There have been those that have eaten bread with Christ and
|
|
yet have betrayed him.
|
|
|
|
2. He foretels that the treason would take effect
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Truly the Son of man goes as it was determined,</I> goes to the
|
|
place where he will be betrayed; for he is delivered up by the counsel
|
|
and foreknowledge of God, else Judas could not have delivered him up.
|
|
Christ was not driven to his sufferings, but cheerfully <I>went to
|
|
them.</I> He said, <I>Lo, I come.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. He threatens the traitor: <I>Woe to that man by whom he is
|
|
betrayed.</I> Note, Neither the patience of the saints under their
|
|
sufferings, nor the counsel of God concerning their sufferings, will be
|
|
any excuse for those that have any hand in their sufferings, or that
|
|
persecute them. Though God has <I>determined</I> that Christ shall be
|
|
betrayed and he himself has cheerfully submitted to it, yet Judas's sin
|
|
or punishment is not at all the less.
|
|
|
|
4. He frightens the rest of the disciples into a suspicion of
|
|
themselves, by saying that it was one of them, and not naming which
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>They began to enquire among themselves,</I> to interrogate
|
|
themselves, to put the question to themselves, <I>who it was that
|
|
should do this thing,</I> that could be so base to so good a Master.
|
|
The enquiry was not, <I>Is it you?</I> or, <I>Is it such a one?</I>
|
|
but, <I>Is it I?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Concerning the strife that was among them for precedency or
|
|
supremacy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. See what the dispute was: <I>Which of them should be accounted the
|
|
greatest.</I> Such and so many contests among the disciples for dignity
|
|
and dominion, <I>before</I> the Spirit was poured upon them, were a sad
|
|
presage of the like strifes for, and affections of, supremacy in the
|
|
churches, after the Spirit should be provoked to depart from them. How
|
|
inconsistent is this with that in the
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:23">verse before</A>!
|
|
|
|
There they were enquiring which would be the traitor, and here which
|
|
should be the prince. Could such an instance of humility, and such an
|
|
instance of pride and vanity, be found in the same men, so near
|
|
together? This is like <I>sweet</I> waters and <I>bitter</I> proceeding
|
|
at the same time out of the same fountain. What a self-contradiction is
|
|
the deceitful heart of man!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. See what Christ said to this dispute. He was not sharp upon them, as
|
|
might have been expected (he having so often reproved them for this
|
|
very thing), but mildly showed them the sin and folly of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) This was to make themselves like the <I>kings of the Gentiles,</I>
|
|
who affect worldly pomp, and worldly power,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
They <I>exercise lordship</I> over their subjects, and are ever and
|
|
anon striving to exercise lordship too over the <I>princes</I> that are
|
|
about them, though as <I>good</I> as themselves, if they think them not
|
|
<I>so strong</I> as themselves. Note, The <I>exercising of lordship</I>
|
|
better becomes the <I>kings of the Gentiles</I> than the ministers of
|
|
Christ. But observe, <I>They that exercise authority,</I> and take upon
|
|
themselves to bear sway, and give law, they are called
|
|
<I>Benefactors</I>--<B><I>Euergetas</I></B>, they call themselves so,
|
|
and so their flatterers call them, and those that set themselves to
|
|
serve their interests. It is pretended that they have <I>been</I>
|
|
benefactors, and upon <I>that</I> account they should be admitted to
|
|
<I>have rule;</I> nay, that in exercising authority they are
|
|
benefactors. However they may really serve themselves, they would be
|
|
thought to <I>serve their country.</I> One of the Ptolemies was
|
|
surnamed <I>Euergetes--The Benefactor.</I> Now our Saviour, by taking
|
|
notice of this, intimates,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That to <I>do good</I> is much more honourable than to <I>look
|
|
great;</I> for these princes that were the <I>terror of the mighty</I>
|
|
would not be called so, but rather the <I>benefactors of the needy;</I>
|
|
so that, by their own confession, a benefactor to his country is much
|
|
more valued than a ruler of his country.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That to <I>do good</I> is the surest way to be great, else they
|
|
that aimed to be <I>rulers</I> would not have been so solicitous to be
|
|
called <I>Benefactors.</I> This therefore he would have his disciples
|
|
believe, that their greatest honour would be to do all the good they
|
|
could in the world. They would indeed be <I>benefactors</I> to the
|
|
world, by bringing the gospel to it. Let them value themselves upon
|
|
that title, which they would indeed be <I>entitled</I> to, and then
|
|
they need not strive which should be the greatest, for they would all
|
|
be <I>greater-</I> treater blessings to mankind than the kings of the
|
|
earth, that exercise lordship over them. If they have that which is
|
|
confessedly the <I>greater</I> honour, of being benefactors, let them
|
|
despise the less, of being rulers.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was to make themselves unlike the disciples of Christ, and
|
|
unlike Christ himself: "<I>You shall not be so,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:26,27"><I>v.</I> 26, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
"It was never intended that you should <I>rule</I> any otherwise than
|
|
by the power of truth and grace, but that you should <I>serve.</I>"
|
|
When church-rulers affect external pomp and power, and bear up
|
|
themselves by secular interests and influences, they debase their
|
|
office, and it is an instance of degeneracy like that of Israel when
|
|
they would have a king like the nations that were round about them,
|
|
whereas the Lord was their King. See here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] What is the rule Christ gave to his disciples: He that is
|
|
<I>greater among you,</I> that is <I>senior,</I> to whom precedency is
|
|
due upon the account of his age, let him be as the <I>younger,</I> both
|
|
in point of <I>lowness of place</I> (let him condescend to sit with the
|
|
younger, and be free and familiar with them) and in point of
|
|
<I>labour</I> and <I>work.</I> We say, <I>Juniores ad labores, seniores
|
|
ad honores--Let the young work, and the aged receive their honours.</I>
|
|
But let the elder take pains as well as the younger; their age and
|
|
honour, instead of warranting them to take their ease, bind them to
|
|
double work. And he <I>that is chief,</I> <B><I>ho
|
|
hegoumenos</I></B>--<I>the president</I> of the college or assembly,
|
|
let him be <I>as he that</I> serves, <B><I>hos ho
|
|
diakonon</I></B>--<I>as the deacon;</I> let him stoop to the meanest
|
|
and most toilsome services for the public good, if there be occasion.
|
|
|
|
[2.] What was the example which he himself gave to this rule:
|
|
<I>Whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth?</I>
|
|
he that attendeth or he that is attended on? Now Christ was among his
|
|
disciples just like one that waited at table. He was so far from
|
|
<I>taking state,</I> or <I>taking his ease,</I> by commanding their
|
|
attendance upon him, that he was ready to do any office of kindness and
|
|
service for them; witness his <I>washing</I> their feet. Shall those
|
|
take upon them the form of princes who call themselves followers of him
|
|
that <I>took upon him the form of a servant?</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) They ought not to strive for worldly honour and grandeur, because
|
|
he had better honours in reserve for them, of another nature, a
|
|
<I>kingdom,</I> a <I>feast,</I> a <I>throne,</I> for each of them,
|
|
wherein they should all share alike, and should have no occasion to
|
|
strive for precedency,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:28-30"><I>v.</I> 28-30</A>.
|
|
|
|
Where observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] Christ's commendation of his disciples for their faithfulness to
|
|
him; and this was honour enough for them, they needed not to strive for
|
|
any greater. It is spoken with an air of encomium and applause: "<I>You
|
|
are they who have continued with me in my temptations,</I> you are they
|
|
who have stood by me and stuck to me when others have deserted me and
|
|
turned their backs upon me." Christ had his temptations; he was
|
|
despised and rejected of men, reproached and reviled, and <I>endured
|
|
the contradiction of sinners.</I> But his disciples continued with him,
|
|
and were afflicted in all his afflictions. It was but little help that
|
|
they could give him, or service that they could do him; nevertheless,
|
|
he took it kindly that they <I>continued with him,</I> and he here owns
|
|
their kindness, though it was by the assistance of his own grace that
|
|
they did continue. Christ's disciples had been very defective in their
|
|
duty. We find them guilty of many mistakes and weaknesses: they were
|
|
very dull and very forgetful, and often blundered, yet their Master
|
|
passes all by and forgets it; he does not upbraid them with their
|
|
infirmities, but gives them this memorable testimonial, <I>You are they
|
|
who have continued with me.</I> Thus does he praise at parting, to show
|
|
how willing he is to make the best of those whose hearts he knows to be
|
|
upright with him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] The recompence he designed them for their fidelity: <I>I
|
|
appoint,</I> <B><I>diatithemai</I></B>, <I>I bequeath, unto you a
|
|
kingdom.</I> Or thus, <I>I appoint to you, as my Father has appointed a
|
|
kingdom to me, that you may eat and drink at my table.</I> Understand
|
|
it, <I>First,</I> Of what should be done for them in this world. God
|
|
gave his Son a <I>kingdom among men,</I> the gospel church, of which he
|
|
is the living, quickening, ruling, Head. This <I>kingdom</I> he
|
|
<I>appointed</I> to his apostles and their successors in the ministry
|
|
of the gospel, that they should enjoy the comforts and privileges of
|
|
the gospel, help to communicate them to others by gospel ordinances,
|
|
sit on thrones as officers of the church, not only declaratively, but
|
|
exhortatively <I>judging the tribes of Israel</I> that persist in their
|
|
infidelity, and denouncing the wrath of God against them, and ruling
|
|
the gospel Israel, the spiritual Israel, by the instituted discipline
|
|
of the church, administered with gentleness and love. This is the
|
|
honour reserved for you. Or, <I>Secondly,</I> Of what should be done
|
|
for them in the other world, which I take to be chiefly meant. Let them
|
|
go on in their services in this world; their preferments shall be in
|
|
the other world. God will give them <I>the kingdom,</I> in which they
|
|
shall be sure to have,
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>richest dainties;</I> for they shall <I>eat and drink at
|
|
Christ's table in his kingdom,</I> of which he had spoken,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:16,18"><I>v.</I> 16, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
They shall partake of those joys and pleasures which were the
|
|
recompence of his services and sufferings. They shall have a full
|
|
satisfaction of soul in the vision and fruition of God; and herein they
|
|
shall have the best society, as at a feast, in the perfection of love.
|
|
|
|
2. The <I>highest dignities:</I> "You shall not only be provided for at
|
|
the royal table, as Mephibosheth at David's, but you shall be preferred
|
|
to the royal throne; shall <I>sit down with me on my throne,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:21">Rev. iii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
In the great day you shall <I>sit on thrones,</I> as assessors with
|
|
Christ, to approve of and applaud his judgment of the <I>twelve tribes
|
|
of Israel.</I>" If the <I>saints shall judge the world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:2">1 Cor. vi. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
much more the church.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Concerning Peter's denying him. And in this part of the discourse
|
|
we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The general notice Christ gives to Peter of the devil's design upon
|
|
him and the rest of the apostles
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord said, Simon, Simon,</I> observe what I say; <I>Satan hath
|
|
desired to have you,</I> to have you all in his hands, <I>that he may
|
|
sift you as wheat.</I> Peter, who used to be the <I>mouth</I> of the
|
|
rest in speaking to Christ, is here made the <I>ear</I> of the rest;
|
|
and what is designed for warning to them all (<I>all you shall be
|
|
offended, because of me</I>) is directed to Peter, because he was
|
|
principally concerned, being in particular manner struck at by the
|
|
tempter: <I>Satan has desired to have you.</I> Probably Satan had
|
|
<I>accused</I> the disciples to God as mercenary in following Christ,
|
|
and aiming at nothing else therein but enriching and advancing
|
|
themselves in this world, as he accused Job. "No," saith God, "they are
|
|
honest men, and men of integrity." "Give me leave to try them," saith
|
|
Satan, "and Peter particularly." He desired to have them, <I>that he
|
|
might sift them,</I> that he might show them to be chaff, and not
|
|
wheat. The troubles that were now coming upon them were <I>sifting,</I>
|
|
would try what there was in them: but this was not all; Satan desired
|
|
to sift them by his temptations, and endeavoured by those troubles to
|
|
draw them into sin, to put them into a loss and hurry, as corn when it
|
|
is sifted to bring the chaff uppermost, or rather to shake out the
|
|
wheat and leave nothing but the chaff. Observe, Satan could not sift
|
|
them unless God gave him leave: He <I>desired to have them,</I> as he
|
|
begged of God a permission to try and tempt Job.
|
|
<B><I>Exetesato</I></B>--"<I>He has challenged you,</I> has undertaken
|
|
to prove you a company of hypocrites, and Peter especially, the
|
|
forwardest of you." Some suggest that Satan demanded leave to sift them
|
|
as their punishment for striving who should be greatest, in which
|
|
contest Peter perhaps was very warm: "Leave them to me, to sift them
|
|
for it."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The particular encouragement he gave to Peter, in reference to this
|
|
trial: "<I>I have prayed for thee,</I> because, though he desires to
|
|
have them all, he is permitted to make his strongest onset upon thee
|
|
only: thou wilt be most violently assaulted, <I>but I have prayed for
|
|
thee, that thy faith fail not,</I> that it may not totally and finally
|
|
fail." Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) If faith be kept up in an hour of temptation, though we may fall,
|
|
yet we shall not be utterly cast down. Faith will quench Satan's fiery
|
|
darts.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Though there may be many failings in the faith of true believers,
|
|
yet there shall not be a total and final failure of their faith. It is
|
|
their seed, their root, remaining in them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is owing to the mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ that
|
|
the faith of his disciples, though sometimes sadly shaken, yet is not
|
|
sunk. If they were left to themselves, they would fail; but they are
|
|
<I>kept by the power of God</I> and the prayer of Christ. The
|
|
intercession of Christ is not only general, for all that believe, but
|
|
for <I>particular</I> believers (I have prayed for <I>thee</I>), which
|
|
is an encouragement for us to pray for ourselves, and an engagement
|
|
upon us to pray for others too.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The charge he gives to Peter to help others as he should himself be
|
|
helped of God: "<I>When thou art converted, strengthen thy
|
|
brethren;</I> when thou art recovered by the grace of God, and brought
|
|
to repentance, do what thou canst to recover others; when thou hast
|
|
found they faith kept from failing, labour to confirm the faith of
|
|
others, and to establish them; when thou hast found mercy with God
|
|
thyself, encourage others to hope that they also shall find mercy."
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Those that have fallen into sin must be <I>converted from it;</I>
|
|
those that have turned aside must <I>return;</I> those that have left
|
|
their first love must do their first works.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Those that through grace are converted from sin must do what they
|
|
can to strengthen their brethren that stand, and to prevent <I>their
|
|
falling;</I> see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:11-13,1Ti+1:13">Ps. li. 11-13; 1 Tim. i. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Peter's declared resolution to cleave to Christ, whatever it cost
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.</I>
|
|
This was a great word, and yet I believe no more than he meant at this
|
|
time, and thought he should <I>make good</I> too. Judas never protested
|
|
thus against denying Christ, though often warned of it; for his heart
|
|
was as fully set in him to the evil as Peter's was against it. Note,
|
|
All the true disciples of Christ sincerely desire and design to
|
|
<I>follow him, whithersoever he goes,</I> and whithersoever he leads
|
|
them, though into a prison, though out of the world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Christ's express prediction of his denying him thrice
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I tell thee, Peter</I> (thou dost not know thine own heart, but
|
|
must be left to thyself a little, that thou mayest know it, and mayest
|
|
never trust to it again), <I>the cock shall not crow this day before
|
|
thou even deny that thou knowest me.</I>" Note, Christ knows us better
|
|
than we know ourselves, and knows the evil that is in us, and will be
|
|
done by us, which we ourselves do not suspect. It is well for us that
|
|
Christ knows where we are weak better than we do, and therefore where
|
|
to come in with grace sufficient; that he knows how far a temptation
|
|
will prevail, and therefore when to say, <I>Hitherto shall it come, and
|
|
no further.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Concerning the condition of all the disciples.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He appeals to them concerning what had been,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had owned that they had been faithful servants to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now he expects, at parting, that they should acknowledge that he had
|
|
been a kind and careful Master to them ever since they left all to
|
|
follow him: <I>When I sent you without purse, lacked you any thing?</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He owns that he had sent them out in a very poor and bare
|
|
condition, barefoot, and with no money in their purses, because they
|
|
were not to go far, nor be out long; and he would thus teach them to
|
|
depend upon the providence of God, and, under that, upon the kindness
|
|
of their friends. If God thus send us out into the world, let us
|
|
remember that better than we have thus begun low.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Yet ye will have them own that, notwithstanding this, they had
|
|
<I>lacked nothing;</I> they then lived as plentifully and comfortably
|
|
as ever; and they readily acknowledged it: "<I>Nothing, Lord;</I> I
|
|
have all, and abound." Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] It is good for us often to review the providences of God that have
|
|
been concerning us all our days, and to observe how we have got through
|
|
the straits and difficulties we have met with.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Christ is a good Master, and his service a good service; for
|
|
though his servants may sometimes be brought low, yet he will help
|
|
them; and though he <I>try</I> them, yet will he not leave them.
|
|
<I>Jehovah-jireh.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] We must reckon ourselves well done by, and must not complain, but
|
|
be thankful, if we have had the necessary supports of life, though we
|
|
have had neither dainties nor superfluities, though we have lived from
|
|
hand to mouth, and lived upon the kindness of our friends. The
|
|
disciples lived upon contribution, and yet did not complain that their
|
|
maintenance was precarious, but owned, to their Master's honour, that
|
|
it was sufficient; they had wanted nothing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He gives them notice of a very great change of their circumstances
|
|
now approaching. For,
|
|
|
|
(1.) He that was their Master was now entering upon his sufferings,
|
|
which he had often foretold
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>):
|
|
|
|
"Now <I>that which is written must be fulfilled in me,</I> and this
|
|
among the rest, <I>He was numbered among the transgressors--</I> he
|
|
must suffer and die as a malefactor, and in company with some of the
|
|
vilest of malefactors. This is that which is <I>yet to be
|
|
accomplished,</I> after all the rest, and then <I>the things concerning
|
|
me,</I> the things written concerning me, will have an end; then I
|
|
shall say, <I>It is finished.</I>" Note, It may be the comfort of
|
|
suffering Christians, as it was of a suffering Christ, that their
|
|
sufferings were foretold, and <I>determined</I> in the counsels of
|
|
heaven, and will shortly <I>determine</I> in the joys of heaven. They
|
|
were <I>written</I> concerning them, and they <I>will have an end,</I>
|
|
and will end well, everlastingly well.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They must therefore expect troubles, and must not think now to
|
|
have such an easy and comfortable life as they had had; no, the scene
|
|
will alter. They must now in some degree suffer <I>with</I> their
|
|
Master; and, when he is gone, they must expect to suffer <I>like</I>
|
|
him. The servant is not better than his Lord.
|
|
|
|
[1.] They must not now expect that their friends would be so kind and
|
|
generous to them as they had been; and therefore, <I>He that has a
|
|
purse, let him take it,</I> for he may have occasion for it, and for
|
|
all the good husbandry he can use.
|
|
|
|
[2.] They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce upon
|
|
them than they had been, and they would need magazines as well as
|
|
stores: <I>He that has no sword</I> wherewith to defend himself against
|
|
robbers and assassins
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:26">2 Cor. xi. 26</A>)
|
|
|
|
will find a great want of it, and will be ready to wish, some time or
|
|
other, that he had sold his garment and bought one. This is intended
|
|
only to show that the times would be very perilous, so that no man
|
|
would think himself safe if he had not a sword by his side. But the
|
|
<I>sword of the Spirit</I> is the sword which the disciples of Christ
|
|
must furnish themselves with. <I>Christ having suffered for us,</I> we
|
|
must <I>arm ourselves</I> with the same mind
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:1">1 Peter iv. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
arm ourselves with an expectation of trouble, that it may not be a
|
|
surprise to us, and with a holy resignation to the will of God in it,
|
|
that there may be no opposition in us to it: and then we are better
|
|
prepared than if we had sold a coat to buy a sword. The disciples
|
|
hereupon enquire what strength they had, and find they had among them
|
|
<I>two swords</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>),
|
|
|
|
of which one was Peter's. The Galileans generally travelled with
|
|
swords. Christ wore none himself, but he was not against his disciples'
|
|
wearing them. But he intimates how little he would have them depend
|
|
upon this when he saith, <I>It is enough,</I> which some think is
|
|
spoken ironically: "Two swords among twelve men! you are bravely armed
|
|
indeed when our enemies are now coming out against us in great
|
|
multitudes, and every one with a sword!" Yet two swords are sufficient
|
|
for those who need none, having God himself to be <I>the shield of
|
|
their help and the sword of their excellency,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:29">Deut. xxxiii. 29</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_46"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Agony in the Garden.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of
|
|
Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
|
|
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that
|
|
ye enter not into temptation.
|
|
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and
|
|
kneeled down, and prayed,
|
|
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
|
|
nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
|
|
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
|
|
strengthening him.
|
|
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his
|
|
sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the
|
|
ground.
|
|
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his
|
|
disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
|
|
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye
|
|
enter into temptation.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the awful story of Christ's <I>agony in the garden,</I>
|
|
just before he was betrayed, which was largely related by the other
|
|
evangelists. In it Christ <I>accommodated himself</I> to that part of
|
|
his undertaking which he was now entering upon--the making of <I>his
|
|
soul an offering for sin.</I> He afflicted his own soul with grief for
|
|
the sin he was to satisfy for, and an apprehension of the wrath of God
|
|
to which man had by sin made himself obnoxious, which he was pleased as
|
|
a sacrifice to admit the impressions of, the consuming of a sacrifice
|
|
with fire from heaven being the surest token of its acceptance. In it
|
|
Christ entered the lists with the powers of darkness, gave them all the
|
|
advantages they could desire, and yet conquered them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. What we have in this passage which we had before is,
|
|
|
|
1. That when Christ went out, though it was in the night, and a long
|
|
walk, <I>his disciples</I> (eleven of them, for Judas had given them
|
|
the slip) <I>followed him.</I> Having continued with him hitherto in
|
|
his temptations, they would not leave him now.
|
|
|
|
2. That he went to the place <I>where he was wont</I> to be private,
|
|
which intimates that Christ accustomed himself to retirement, was often
|
|
alone, to teach us to be so, for freedom of converse with God and our
|
|
own hearts. Though Christ had no conveniency for retirement but a
|
|
garden, yet he retired. This should particularly be our practice after
|
|
we have been at the Lord's table; we have then work to do which
|
|
requires us to be private.
|
|
|
|
3. That he exhorted his disciples to <I>pray</I> that, though the
|
|
approaching trial could not be avoided, yet they might not in it
|
|
<I>enter into temptation</I> to sin; that, when they were in the
|
|
greatest fright and danger, yet they might not have any inclination to
|
|
desert Christ, nor take a step towards it: "Pray that you may be
|
|
<I>kept from sin.</I>"
|
|
|
|
4. That he withdrew from them, and prayed himself; they had their
|
|
errands at the throne of grace, and he had his, and therefore it was
|
|
fit that they should pray separately, as sometimes, when they had joint
|
|
errands, they prayed together. He withdrew about a <I>stone's cast</I>
|
|
further into the garden, which some reckon about fifty of sixty paces,
|
|
and there he <I>kneeled down</I> (so it is here) upon the bare ground;
|
|
but the other evangelists say that afterwards he <I>fell on his
|
|
face,</I> and there <I>prayed</I> that, if it were the will of God,
|
|
this cup of suffering, this bitter cup, might be <I>removed from
|
|
him.</I> This was the language of that innocent dread of suffering
|
|
which, being really and truly man, he could not but have in his nature.
|
|
|
|
5. That he, knowing it to be his Father's will that he should suffer
|
|
and die, and that, as the matter was now settled, it was necessary for
|
|
our redemption and salvation, presently withdrew that petition, did not
|
|
insist upon it, but resigned himself to his heavenly Father's will:
|
|
"<I>Nevertheless not my will be done,</I> not the will of my human
|
|
nature, but the will of God as it is written concerning me in the
|
|
volume of the book, <I>which I delight to do,</I> let that be done,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:7,8">Ps. xl. 7, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
6. That his disciples were <I>asleep</I> when he was at prayer, and
|
|
when they should have been themselves praying,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>.
|
|
|
|
When he <I>rose from prayer,</I> he <I>found them sleeping,</I>
|
|
unconcerned in his sorrows; but see what a favourable construction is
|
|
here put upon it, which we had not in the other evangelists--they were
|
|
<I>sleeping for sorrow.</I> The great sorrow they were in upon the
|
|
mournful farewells their Master had been this evening giving them had
|
|
exhausted their spirits, and made them very dull and heavy, which (it
|
|
being now late) disposed them to sleep. This teaches us to make the
|
|
best of our brethren's infirmities, and, if there be one cause better
|
|
than another, charitably impute them to that.
|
|
|
|
7. That when he awoke them, then he exhorted them to pray
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:46"><I>v.</I> 46</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Why sleep ye?</I> Why do you allow yourselves to sleep? <I>Rise
|
|
and pray. Shake off</I> your drowsiness, that you may be <I>fit to
|
|
pray,</I> and <I>pray for grace,</I> that you may be able to <I>shake
|
|
off</I> your drowsiness." This was like the ship-master's call to Jonah
|
|
in a storm
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jon+1:6">Jon. i. 6</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Arise, call upon thy God.</I> When we find ourselves either by our
|
|
outward circumstances or our inward dispositions entering into
|
|
temptation, it concerns us to <I>rise and pray,</I> Lord, help me in
|
|
this <I>time of need.</I> But,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. There are three things in this passage which we had not in the
|
|
other evangelists:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That, when Christ was in his agony, <I>there appeared</I> to him
|
|
<I>an angel from heaven, strengthening him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It was an instance of the deep humiliation of our Lord Jesus that
|
|
he <I>needed</I> the assistance of an angel, and would <I>admit</I> it.
|
|
The influence of the divine nature withdrew for the present, and then,
|
|
as to his human nature, he was for a little while <I>lower than the
|
|
angels,</I> and was capable of receiving help from them.
|
|
|
|
(2.) When he was not delivered from his sufferings, yet he was
|
|
<I>strengthened</I> and supported under them, and that was
|
|
<I>equivalent.</I> If God proportion the shoulders to the burden, we
|
|
shall have no reason to complain, whatever he is pleased to lay upon
|
|
us. David owns this a sufficient <I>answer to his prayer,</I> in the
|
|
day of trouble, that God <I>strengthened him with strength in his
|
|
soul,</I> and so does the son of David,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:3">Ps. cxxxviii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The angels ministered to the Lord Jesus in his sufferings. He
|
|
could have had legions of them to rescue him; nay, this one could have
|
|
done it, could have chased and conquered the whole band of men that
|
|
came to take him; but he made use of his ministration only to
|
|
<I>strengthen him;</I> and the very visit which this angel made him now
|
|
in his grief, when his enemies were awake and his friends asleep, was
|
|
such a seasonable token of the divine favour as would be a very great
|
|
strengthening to him. Yet this was not all: he probably <I>said
|
|
something</I> to him to strengthen him; put him in mind that his
|
|
sufferings were in order to his Father's glory, to his own glory, and
|
|
to the salvation of those that were given him, represented to him the
|
|
joy set before him, the seed he should see; with these and the like
|
|
suggestions he encouraged him to go on cheerfully; and what is
|
|
comforting is strengthening. Perhaps he <I>did something</I> to
|
|
strengthen him, wiped away his sweat and tears, perhaps ministered some
|
|
cordial to him, as after his temptation, or, it may be, took him by the
|
|
arm, and helped him off the ground, or bore him up when he was ready to
|
|
faint away; and in these services of the angel the Holy Spirit was
|
|
<B><I>enischyon auton</I></B>--<I>putting strength into him;</I> for so
|
|
the word signifies. <I>It pleased the Lord to bruise him</I> indeed;
|
|
yet <I>did he plead against him with his great power?</I> No, but he
|
|
<I>put strength in him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+23:6">Job xxiii. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
as he had promised,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+89:21,Isa+49:8,50:7">Ps. lxxxix. 21;
|
|
Isa. xlix. 8; l. 7</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That, <I>being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>.
|
|
|
|
As his sorrow and trouble grew upon him, he grew more importunate in
|
|
prayer; not that there was before any coldness or indifferency in his
|
|
prayers, but there was now a greater vehemency in them, which was
|
|
expressed in his voice and gesture. Note, Prayer, though never out of
|
|
season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony; and
|
|
the stronger our agonies are the more lively and frequent our prayers
|
|
should be. Now it was that Christ <I>offered up prayers and
|
|
supplications with strong crying and tears, and was heard in that he
|
|
feared</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:7">Heb. v. 7</A>),
|
|
|
|
and in his fear <I>wrestled,</I> as Jacob with the angel.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. That, in this agony, <I>his sweat was as it were great drops of
|
|
blood falling down to the ground.</I> Sweat came in with sin, and was a
|
|
branch of the curse,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:19">Gen. iii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
And therefore, when Christ was made sin and a curse for us, he
|
|
underwent a grievous sweat, that <I>in the sweat of his face</I> we
|
|
might eat bread, and that he might sanctify and sweeten all our trials
|
|
to us. There is some dispute among the critics whether this
|
|
<I>sweat</I> is only <I>compared to</I> drops of <I>blood,</I> being
|
|
much <I>thicker</I> than drops of sweat commonly are, the pores of the
|
|
body being more than ordinarily opened, or whether <I>real</I> blood
|
|
out of the capillary veins mingled with it, so that it was in colour
|
|
like blood, and might truly be called a <I>bloody sweat;</I> the matter
|
|
is not great. Some reckon this one of the times when Christ shed his
|
|
blood for us, <I>for without the shedding of blood there is no
|
|
remission.</I> Every pore was as it were a bleeding wound, and his
|
|
blood stained all his raiment. This showed the <I>travail of his
|
|
soul.</I> He was now abroad in the open air, in a cool season, upon the
|
|
cold ground, far in the night, which, one would think, had been enough
|
|
to strike in a sweat; yet now he breaks out into a sweat, which
|
|
bespeaks the extremity of the agony he was in.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_53"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Treachery of Judas.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was
|
|
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near
|
|
unto Jesus to kiss him.
|
|
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of
|
|
man with a kiss?
|
|
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they
|
|
said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
|
|
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and
|
|
cut off his right ear.
|
|
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he
|
|
touched his ear, and healed him.
|
|
52 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the
|
|
temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out,
|
|
as against a thief, with swords and staves?
|
|
53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth
|
|
no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of
|
|
darkness.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Satan, finding himself baffled in his attempts to terrify our Lord
|
|
Jesus, and so to put him out of the possession of his own soul, betakes
|
|
himself (according to his usual method) to force and arms, and brings a
|
|
party into the field to seize him, and Satan was <I>in them.</I> Here
|
|
is,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The marking of him by Judas. Here a numerous party appears, and
|
|
Judas at the head of them, for he was <I>guide to them that took
|
|
Jesus;</I> they knew not where to <I>find him,</I> but he brought them
|
|
to the place: when they were there, they knew not which was he, but
|
|
Judas told them that whomsoever he should kiss, that same was he; so he
|
|
<I>drew near to him to kiss him,</I> according to the wonted freedom
|
|
and familiarity to which our Lord Jesus admitted his disciples. Luke
|
|
takes notice of the question Christ asked him, which we have not in the
|
|
other evangelists: <I>Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a
|
|
kiss?</I> What! Is this the signal?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>.
|
|
|
|
Must the Son of man be <I>betrayed,</I> as if any thing could be
|
|
concealed from him, and a plot carried on against him unknown to him?
|
|
Must one of his own disciples betray him, as if he had been a hard
|
|
Master to them, or deserved ill at their hands? Must he be betrayed
|
|
with a kiss? Must the badge of friendship be the instrument of
|
|
treachery? Was ever a love-token so desecrated and abused? Note,
|
|
Nothing can be a greater affront or grief to the Lord Jesus than to be
|
|
betrayed, and betrayed with a kiss, by those that profess relation to
|
|
him and an affection for him. Those do so who, under pretence of zeal
|
|
for his honour, persecute his servants, who, under the cloak of a
|
|
seeming affection for the honour of free grace, give a blow to the root
|
|
of holiness and strictness of conversation. Many instances there are of
|
|
Christ's being betrayed with a kiss, by those who, under the form of
|
|
godliness, fight against the power of it. It were well if their own
|
|
consciences would put this question to them, which Christ here puts to
|
|
Judas, <I>Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?</I> And will he
|
|
not resent it? Will he not revenge it?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The effort which his disciples made for his protection
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When they saw what would follow,</I> that those armed men were come
|
|
to seize him, they said, "<I>Lord, shall we smite with the sword?</I>
|
|
Thou didst allow us to <I>have</I> two swords, shall we now make use of
|
|
them? Never was there more occasion; and to what purpose should we have
|
|
them if we do not use them?" They asked the question as if they would
|
|
not have drawn the sword without commission from their Master, but they
|
|
were in too much <I>haste</I> and too much <I>heat</I> to stay for an
|
|
answer. But Peter, aiming at the head of one of the servants of the
|
|
<I>high priest,</I> missed his blow, and <I>cut off his right ear.</I>
|
|
As Christ, by throwing them to the ground that came to take him, showed
|
|
what he could have done, so Peter, by this exploit, showed what he
|
|
could have done too in so good a cause if he had had leave. The other
|
|
evangelists tell us what was the check Christ gave to Peter for it.
|
|
Luke here tells us,
|
|
|
|
1. How Christ excused the blow: <I>Suffer ye thus far,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:51"><I>v.</I> 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
Dr. Whitby thinks he said this to his enemies who came to take him, to
|
|
pacify them, that they might not be provoked by it to fall upon the
|
|
disciples, whom he had undertaken the preservation of: "<I>Pass by</I>
|
|
this injury and affront; it was without warrant from me, and there
|
|
shall not be another blow struck." Though Christ had power to have
|
|
struck them down, and struck them dead, yet he <I>speaks them fair,</I>
|
|
and, as it were, <I>begs their pardon</I> for an assault made upon them
|
|
by one of his followers, to teach us to give good words even to our
|
|
enemies.
|
|
|
|
2. How he cured the wound, which was more than amends sufficient for
|
|
the injury: <I>He touched his ear, and healed him;</I> fastened his ear
|
|
on again, that he might not so much as go away <I>stigmatized,</I>
|
|
though he well deserved it. Christ hereby gave them a proof,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Of his power. He that could <I>heal</I> could <I>destroy</I> if he
|
|
pleased, which should have obliged them in interest to submit to him.
|
|
Had they returned the blow upon Peter, he would immediately have healed
|
|
him; and what could not a small regiment do that had such a surgeon to
|
|
it, immediately to help the <I>sick</I> and <I>wounded?</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Of his mercy and goodness. Christ here gave an illustrious example
|
|
to his own rule of <I>doing good to them that hate us,</I> as
|
|
afterwards he did of <I>praying for them that despitefully use us.</I>
|
|
Those who render good for evil do as Christ did. One would have thought
|
|
that this generous piece of kindness should have overcome them, that
|
|
such coals, heaped on their heads, should have <I>melted them,</I> that
|
|
they could not have bound him as a malefactor who had approved himself
|
|
such a benefactor; but their hearts were hardened.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Christ's expostulation with the officers of the detachment that
|
|
came to apprehend him, to show what an absurd thing it was for them to
|
|
make all this rout and noise,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:52,53"><I>v.</I> 52, 53</A>.
|
|
|
|
Matthew relates it as said to <I>the multitude.</I> Luke tells us that
|
|
it was said to the <I>chief priests and captains of the temple</I> the
|
|
latter commanded the several orders of the priests, and therefore are
|
|
here put between the <I>chief priests</I> and <I>the elders,</I> so
|
|
that they were all ecclesiastics, retainers to the temple, who were
|
|
employed in this odious piece of service; and some of the first rank
|
|
too disparaged themselves so far as to be seen in it. Now see here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. How Christ <I>reasons</I> with them concerning their proceedings.
|
|
What occasion was there for them to come out in the dead of the night,
|
|
and <I>with swords and staves?</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They knew that he was one that would not <I>resist,</I> nor raise
|
|
the mob against them; he never had done any thing like this. Why then
|
|
<I>are ye come out as against a thief?</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) They knew he was one that would not <I>abscond,</I> for he was
|
|
daily with them in the temple, in the midst of them, and never sought
|
|
to conceal himself, nor did they offer to lay hands on him. Before his
|
|
hour was come, it was folly for them to think to take him; and when his
|
|
hour was come it was folly for them to make all this ado to take
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. How he reconciles himself to their proceedings; and this we had not
|
|
before: "<I>But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.</I> How
|
|
hard soever it may seem that I should be thus exposed, I submit, for so
|
|
it is determined. This is the hour <I>allowed you</I> to have your will
|
|
against me. There is an hour <I>appointed me</I> to reckon for it. Now
|
|
the <I>power of darkness,</I> Satan, <I>the ruler of the darkness of
|
|
this world,</I> is permitted to do his worst, to bruise the heel of the
|
|
seed of the woman, and I resolve to acquiesce; let him do his worst.
|
|
<I>The Lord shall laugh at him, for he sees that his day,</I> his hour,
|
|
<I>is coming.</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:13">Ps. xxxvii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let this quiet us under the prevalency of the church's enemies; let it
|
|
quiet us in a dying hour, that,
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is but an <I>hour</I> that is permitted for the triumph of our
|
|
adversary, a short time, a limited time.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is <I>their hour,</I> which is appointed them, and in which
|
|
they are permitted to try their strength, that omnipotence may be the
|
|
more glorified in their fall.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is <I>the power of darkness</I> that <I>rides master,</I> and
|
|
darkness must give way to light, and the power of darkness be made to
|
|
truckle to the prince of light. Christ was willing to wait for his
|
|
triumphs till his warfare was accomplished, and we must be so too.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_54"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_56"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_57"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_58"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_59"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_60"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_61"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_62"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Fall of Peter.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>54 Then took they him, and led <I>him,</I> and brought him into the
|
|
high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
|
|
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall,
|
|
and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
|
|
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and
|
|
earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
|
|
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
|
|
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art
|
|
also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
|
|
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently
|
|
affirmed, saying, Of a truth this <I>fellow</I> also was with him: for
|
|
he is a Galilæan.
|
|
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
|
|
immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
|
|
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter
|
|
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before
|
|
the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
|
|
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the melancholy story of Peter's denying his Master, at the
|
|
time when he was arraigned before the high priest, and those that were
|
|
of the <I>cabal,</I> that were ready to receive the prey, and to
|
|
prepare the evidence for his arraignment, <I>as soon as it was day,</I>
|
|
before the <I>great</I> sanhedrim,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:66"><I>v.</I> 66</A>.
|
|
|
|
But notice is not taken here, as was in the other evangelists, of
|
|
Christ's being now upon his examination before the high priest, only of
|
|
his being brought into <I>the high priest's house,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
|
|
|
|
But the manner of expression is observable. They <I>took him, and led
|
|
him, and brought him,</I> which methinks is like that concerning Saul
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+15:12">1 Sam. xv. 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He is gone about, and passed on, and gone down;</I> and intimates
|
|
that, even when they had seized their prey, they were in confusion,
|
|
and, for fear of the people, or rather struck with inward terror upon
|
|
what they had seen and heard, they took him the furthest way about, or,
|
|
rather, knew not which way they hurried him, such a hurry were they in
|
|
in their own bosoms. Now observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Peter's falling.
|
|
|
|
1. It began in <I>sneaking.</I> He <I>followed Christ</I> when he was
|
|
had away prisoner; this was well, and showed a concern for his Master.
|
|
But he followed <I>afar off,</I> that he might be out of danger. He
|
|
thought to trim the matter, to <I>follow Christ,</I> and so to satisfy
|
|
his conscience, but to follow <I>afar off,</I> and so to save his
|
|
reputation, and sleep in a whole skin.
|
|
|
|
2. It proceeded in keeping his distance still, and associating himself
|
|
with the high priest's servants, when he should have been at his
|
|
master's elbow. The <I>servants kindled a fire in the midst of the
|
|
hall</I> and <I>sat down together,</I> to talk over their
|
|
night-expedition. Probably Malchus was among them, and <I>Peter sat
|
|
down among them,</I> as if he had been one of them, at least would be
|
|
thought to be so. His fall itself was disclaiming all acquaintance with
|
|
Christ, and relation to him, disowning him because he was now in
|
|
distress and danger. He was charged by a sorry simple maid, that
|
|
belonged to the house, with being a retainer to this <I>Jesus,</I>
|
|
about whom there was now so much noise. She <I>looked wistfully</I>
|
|
upon him as he <I>at by the fire,</I> only because he was a stranger,
|
|
and one whom she had not seen before; and concluding that at this time
|
|
of night there were no neuters there, and knowing him not to be any of
|
|
the retinue of the high priest, she concludes him to be one of the
|
|
retinue of this Jesus, or perhaps she had been some time or other
|
|
looking about her in the temple, and had seen Jesus there and Peter
|
|
with him, officious about him, and remembered him; <I>and this man was
|
|
with him,</I> saith she. And Peter, as he had not the courage to
|
|
<I>own</I> the charge, so he had not the wit and presence of mind to
|
|
<I>turn it off,</I> as he might have done many ways, and therefore
|
|
flatly and plainly denies it: <I>Woman, I know him not.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. His fall was repeated a second time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:58"><I>v.</I> 58</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>After a little while,</I> before he had time to recollect himself,
|
|
<I>another saw him,</I> and said, "<I>Even thou art one of them,</I> as
|
|
slyly as thou sittest here among the high priest's servants." <I>Not
|
|
I,</I> saith Peter; <I>Man, I am not.</I> And a <I>third</I> time,
|
|
<I>about the space of an hour after</I> (for, saith the tempter, "When
|
|
he is down, down with him; let us follow the blow, till we get him past
|
|
recovery"), <I>another</I> confidently affirms, <I>strenuously</I>
|
|
asserts it, "<I>Of a truth this fellow also was with him,</I> let him
|
|
deny it if he can, for you may all perceive <I>he is a Galilean.</I>"
|
|
But he that has once told a lie is strongly tempted to persist in it;
|
|
the <I>beginning of</I> that <I>sin is as the letting forth of
|
|
water.</I> Peter now not only denies that he is a disciple of Christ,
|
|
but that he knows any thing of him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:60"><I>v.</I> 60</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Man, I know not what thou sayest;</I> I never heard of this
|
|
Jesus."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. <I>Peter's getting up again.</I> See how happily he recovered
|
|
himself, or, rather, the grace of God recovered him. See how it was
|
|
brought about:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>cock crew</I> just as he was the third time denying that he
|
|
knew Christ, and this startled him and put him upon thinking. Note,
|
|
Small accidents may involve great consequences.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. <I>The Lord turned and looked upon him.</I> This circumstance we had
|
|
not in the other evangelists, but it is a very remarkable one. Christ
|
|
is here called <I>the Lord,</I> for there was much of divine knowledge,
|
|
power, and grace, appearing in this. Observe, Though Christ had now
|
|
his back upon Peter, and was upon his trial (when, one would think, he
|
|
had something else to mind), yet he knew all that Peter said. Note,
|
|
Christ takes more notice of what we say and do than we think he does.
|
|
When Peter disowned Christ, yet Christ did not disown him, though he
|
|
might justly have cast him off, and never looked upon him more, but
|
|
have denied him before his Father. It is well for us that Christ does
|
|
not deal with us as we deal with him. Christ <I>looked upon Peter,</I>
|
|
not doubting but that Peter would soon be aware of it; for he knew
|
|
that, though he had denied him with his lips, yet his eye would still
|
|
be towards him. Observe, Though Peter had now been guilty of a very
|
|
great offence, and which was very provoking, yet Christ would not
|
|
<I>call to him,</I> lest he should <I>shame</I> him or <I>expose</I>
|
|
him; he only gave him <I>a look</I> which none but Peter would
|
|
understand the meaning of, and it had a great deal in it.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It was a <I>convincing</I> look. Peter said that he did not
|
|
<I>know Christ.</I> Christ <I>turned, and looked upon him,</I> as if he
|
|
should say, "Dost thou not know me, Peter? Look me in the face, and
|
|
tell me so."
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was a <I>chiding</I> look. We may suppose that he looked upon
|
|
him and <I>frowned,</I> or some way signified his displeasure. Let us
|
|
think with what an angry countenance Christ justly looks upon us when
|
|
we have sinned.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It was an <I>expostulating</I> upbraiding look: "What, Peter, art
|
|
thou he that disownest me now, when thou shouldest come and witness for
|
|
me? What thou a disciple? Thou that wast the most forward to confess me
|
|
to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never
|
|
disown me?"
|
|
|
|
(4.) It was a <I>compassionate</I> look; he looked upon him with
|
|
tenderness. "Poor Peter, how weak is thine heart! How art thou fallen
|
|
and undone if I do not help thee!"
|
|
|
|
(5.) It was a <I>directing</I> look. Christ <I>guided him with his
|
|
eye,</I> gave him a wink to go out from that sorry company, to
|
|
<I>retire,</I> and bethink himself a little, and then he would soon see
|
|
what he had to do.
|
|
|
|
(6.) It was a <I>significant</I> look: it signified the conveying of
|
|
grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent; the crowing of the
|
|
cock would not have brought him to repentance without this look, nor
|
|
will the external means without special efficacious grace. Power went
|
|
along with this look, to change the heart of Peter, and to bring him to
|
|
himself, to his <I>right mind.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. <I>Peter remembered the words of the Lord.</I> Note, The <I>grace of
|
|
God</I> works in and by the <I>word of God,</I> brings that to mind,
|
|
and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul a happy
|
|
turn. <I>Tolle et lege--Take it up, and read.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Then <I>Peter went out, and wept bitterly.</I> One look from Christ
|
|
melted him into tears of godly sorrow for sin. The candle was newly put
|
|
out, and then a little thing lighted it again. Christ looked upon the
|
|
chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter, who
|
|
had the divine seed remaining in him to work upon. It was not the look
|
|
from Christ, but the grace of God with it, that recovered Peter, and
|
|
brought him to-rights.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_63"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_64"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_65"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_66"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_67"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_68"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_69"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_70"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu22_71"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec7"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Abused and Insulted.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote <I>him.</I>
|
|
64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the
|
|
face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
|
|
65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
|
|
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the
|
|
chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into
|
|
their council, saying,
|
|
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I
|
|
tell you, ye will not believe:
|
|
68 And if I also ask <I>you,</I> ye will not answer me, nor let <I>me</I>
|
|
go.
|
|
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the
|
|
power of God.
|
|
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he
|
|
said unto them, Ye say that I am.
|
|
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we
|
|
ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here told, as before in the other gospels,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How our Lord Jesus was <I>abused</I> by the servants of the high
|
|
priest. <I>The abjects,</I> the rude and barbarous servants,
|
|
<I>gathered themselves together against him.</I> They that <I>held
|
|
Jesus,</I> that had him in custody till the court sat, they <I>mocked
|
|
him,</I> and <I>smote him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:63"><I>v.</I> 63</A>),
|
|
|
|
they would not allow him to <I>repose</I> himself one minute, though he
|
|
had had no sleep all night, nor to <I>compose</I> himself, though he
|
|
was hurried to his trial, and no time given him to prepare for it. They
|
|
made sport with him: this sorrowful night to him shall be a merry night
|
|
to them; and the blessed Jesus, like Samson, is made the fool in the
|
|
play. They <I>hood-winked</I> him, and then, according to the common
|
|
play that young people have among them, they <I>struck him on the
|
|
face,</I> and continued to do so till he named the person that smote
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:64"><I>v.</I> 64</A>),
|
|
|
|
intending hereby an affront to his prophetical office, and that
|
|
knowledge of secret things which he was said to have. We are not told
|
|
that he said <I>any thing,</I> but <I>bore every thing;</I> hell was
|
|
let loose, and he suffered it to do its worst. A greater indignity
|
|
could not be done to the blessed Jesus, yet this was but one instance
|
|
of many; for <I>many other things blasphemously spoke they against
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:65"><I>v.</I> 65</A>.
|
|
|
|
They that condemned him for a blasphemer were themselves the vilest
|
|
blasphemers that ever were.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How he was accused and condemned by the great sanhedrim, consisting
|
|
of the <I>elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes,</I>
|
|
who were all up betimes, and got together <I>as soon as it was day,</I>
|
|
about five of the clock in the morning, to prosecute this matter. They
|
|
were <I>working this evil upon their beds,</I> and, as soon as ever the
|
|
<I>morning</I> was <I>light, practised</I> it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:1">Mic. ii. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
They would not have been up so early for any good work. It is but a
|
|
short account that we have here of his trial in the ecclesiastical
|
|
court.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They ask him, <I>Art thou the Christ?</I> He was generally believed
|
|
by his followers to be the Christ, but they could not prove it upon him
|
|
that he had ever said so <I>totidem verbis--in so many words,</I> and
|
|
therefore urge him to own it to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:67"><I>v.</I> 67</A>.
|
|
|
|
If they had asked him this question with a willingness to admit that he
|
|
was the Christ, and to receive him accordingly if he could give
|
|
sufficient proof of his being so, it had been <I>well,</I> and might
|
|
have been for ever <I>well with them;</I> but they asked it with a
|
|
resolution not to believe him, but a design to ensnare him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He justly complained of their unfair and unjust usage of him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:67,68"><I>v.</I> 67, 68</A>.
|
|
|
|
They all, as Jews, professed to expect the Messiah, and to expect him
|
|
at <I>this time.</I> No other appeared, or had appeared, that pretended
|
|
to be the Messiah. He had no competitor, nor was he likely to have any.
|
|
He had given amazing proofs of a divine power going along with him,
|
|
which made his claims very well worthy of a free and impartial enquiry.
|
|
It had been but just for these leaders of the people to have taken him
|
|
into their council, and examined him there as a <I>candidate</I> for
|
|
the messiahship, not at the bar as a <I>criminal.</I> "But," saith he,
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>If I tell you that I am the Christ,</I> and give you ever such
|
|
convincing proofs of it, you are resolved that <I>you will not
|
|
believe.</I> Why should the cause be brought on before you who have
|
|
already prejudged it, and are resolved, right or wrong, to run it down,
|
|
and to condemn it?"
|
|
|
|
(2.) "<I>If I ask you</I> what you have to object against the proofs I
|
|
produce, <I>you will not answer me.</I>" Here he refers to their
|
|
silence when he put a question to them, which would have led them to
|
|
own his authority,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+20:5-7"><I>ch.</I> xx. 5-7</A>.
|
|
|
|
They were neither fair judges, nor fair disputants; but, when they were
|
|
pinched with an argument, would rather be silent than own their
|
|
conviction: "<I>You will neither answer me nor let me go;</I> if I be
|
|
<I>not</I> the Christ, you ought to <I>answer</I> the arguments with
|
|
which I prove that I am; if I be, you ought to <I>let me go;</I> but
|
|
you will do neither."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He referred them to his second coming, for the full proof of his
|
|
being the Christ, to their confusion, since they would not now admit
|
|
the proof of it, to their conviction
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:69"><I>v.</I> 69</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Hereafter shall the Son of man sit,</I> and be seen to sit, <I>on
|
|
the right hand of the power of God,</I> and then you will not need to
|
|
ask whether he be the Christ or no."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Hence they inferred that he set up himself as the Son of God, and
|
|
asked him <I>whether he were so</I> or <I>no</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:70"><I>v.</I> 70</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Art thou then the Son of God?</I> He called himself the <I>Son of
|
|
man,</I> referring to Daniel's vision of the <I>Son of man</I> that
|
|
<I>came near before the Ancient of days,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+7:13,14">Dan. vii. 13, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
But they understood so much as to know that if he was <I>that Son</I>
|
|
of man, he was also <I>the Son of God.</I> And art thou so? By this it
|
|
appears to have been the faith of the Jewish church that the Messiah
|
|
should be both <I>Son of man</I> and <I>Son of God.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. He owns himself to be the Son of God: <I>Ye say that I am;</I> that
|
|
is, "I am, as ye say." Compare
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+14:62">Mark xiv. 62</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Jesus said, I am.</I> This confirms Christ's testimony concerning
|
|
himself, that he was the Son of God, that he stood to it, when he knew
|
|
he should suffer for standing to it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. Upon this they ground his condemnation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:71"><I>v.</I> 71</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>What need we any further witness?</I> It was true, they needed not
|
|
any further witness to prove that he said he was <I>the Son of God,</I>
|
|
they had it from <I>his own mouth;</I> but did they not need proof that
|
|
he was not so, before they condemned him as a blasphemer for saying
|
|
that he was so? Had they no apprehension that it was possible he might
|
|
be so, and then what horrid guilt they should bring upon themselves in
|
|
putting him to death? No, <I>they know not, neither will they
|
|
understand.</I> They cannot think it possible that he should be the
|
|
Messiah, though ever so evidently clothed with divine power and grace,
|
|
if he appear not, as they expect, in worldly pomp and grandeur. Their
|
|
eyes being blinded with the admiration of that, they rush on in this
|
|
dangerous prosecution, as the horse into the battle.</P>
|
|
|
|
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