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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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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<HR>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter, we have,
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I. Christ's healing a man that had a withered hand, on the sabbath day,
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and the combination of his enemies against him for it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. The universal resort of people to him from all parts, to be healed,
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and the relief they all found with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:7-12">ver. 7-12</A>.
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III. His ordaining his twelve apostles to be attendants on him, and the
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preachers of his gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:13-21">ver. 13-21</A>.
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IV. His answer to the blasphemous cavils of the scribes, who imputed
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his power to cast out devils to a confederacy with the prince of the
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devils,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:22-30">ver. 22-30</A>.
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V. His owning his disciples for his nearest and dearest relations,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:31-35">ver. 31-35</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mr3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_12"> </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 Withered Hand Restored; Multitudes Healed.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man
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there which had a withered hand.
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2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the
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sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
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3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand
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forth.
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4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the
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sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they
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held their peace.
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5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being
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grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man,
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Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched <I>it</I> out: and his hand
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was restored whole as the other.
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6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel
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with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
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7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and
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a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judæa,
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8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumæa, and <I>from</I> beyond
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Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when
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they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
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9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait
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on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
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10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him
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for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
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11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before
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him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
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12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him
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known.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here, as before, we have our Lord Jesus busy at work <I>in the
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synagogue</I> first, and then by <I>the sea side;</I> to teach us that
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his presence should not be confined either to the one or to the other,
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but, wherever any are gathered together in his name, whether <I>in the
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synagogue</I> or any where else, there is he in the midst of them.
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<I>In every place where he records his name,</I> he will meet his
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people, and <I>bless them;</I> it is his will that men <I>pray every
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where.</I> Now here we have some account of what he did.</P>
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<P>
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I. When he <I>entered again into the synagogue,</I> he improved the
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opportunity he had there, of doing good, and having, no doubt, preached
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a sermon there, he wrought a miracle for the confirmation of it, or at
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least for the confirmation of this truth--that <I>it is lawful to do
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good on the sabbath day.</I> We had the narrative,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+12:9">Matt. xii. 9</A>.</P>
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<P>
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1. The patient's case was piteous; he had a <I>withered hand,</I> by
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which he was disabled to work for his living; and those that are so,
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are the most proper objects of charity; let those be helped that cannot
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help themselves.</P>
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<P>
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2. The spectators were very unkind, both to the patient and to the
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Physician; instead of interceding for a poor neighbour, they did what
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they could to hinder his cure: for they intimated that if Christ cured
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him now on the sabbath day, they would accuse him as a <I>Sabbath
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breaker.</I> It had been very unreasonable, if they should have opposed
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a physician or surgeon in helping any poor body in misery, by ordinary
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methods; but much more absurd was it to oppose him that cured without
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any labour, but by a word's speaking.</P>
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<P>
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3. Christ dealt very fairly with the spectators, and dealt with them
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<I>first,</I> if possible to <I>prevent</I> the offence.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) He laboured to convince their judgment. He bade the man <I>stand
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forth</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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that by the sight of him they might be moved with compassion toward
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him, and might not, for shame, account his cure a crime. And then he
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appeals to their own consciences; though the thing <I>speaks
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itself,</I> yet <I>he</I> is pleased to <I>speak</I> it; "<I>Is it
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lawful to do good on the sabbath days,</I> as I design to do, <I>or to
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do evil,</I> as you design to do? Whether is better, to <I>save
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life</I> or to <I>kill?</I>" What fairer question could be put? And
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yet, because they saw it would turn against them, <I>they held their
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peace.</I> Note, Those are obstinate indeed in their infidelity, who,
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when they can say nothing <I>against</I> a truth, will say nothing
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<I>to it;</I> and, when they cannot <I>resist,</I> yet will not
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<I>yield.</I></P>
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<P>
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(2.) When they rebelled against the light, he <I>lamented their
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stubbornness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
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<I>He looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
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hardness of their hearts.</I> The <I>sin</I> he had an eye to, was, the
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<I>hardness of their hearts,</I> their insensibleness of the evidence
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of his miracles, and their inflexible resolution to persist in
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unbelief. We hear what is said amiss, and see what is done amiss; but
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Christ looks at the <I>root of bitterness</I> in the heart, the
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blindness and hardness of <I>that.</I> Observe,
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[1.] How he was <I>provoked</I> by the sin; he looked <I>round upon
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them;</I> for they were so many, and had so placed themselves, that
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they surrounded him: and he looked <I>with anger;</I> his anger, it is
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probable, appeared in his countenance; his anger was, like God's,
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without the least <I>perturbation</I> to himself, but not without great
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<I>provocation</I> from us. Note, The sin of sinners is very
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displeasing to Jesus Christ; and the way to be angry, and not to sin,
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is it be angry, as Christ was, at nothing but sin. Let hard-hearted
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sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will <I>look
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round</I> upon them shortly, when the <I>great day of his wrath
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comes.</I>
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[2.] How he <I>pitied</I> the sinners; he was <I>grieved for the
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hardness of their hearts;</I> as God was grieved forty years for the
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hardness of the hearts of their fathers in the wilderness. Note, It is
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a great grief to our Lord Jesus, to see sinners bent upon their own
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ruin, and obstinately set against the methods of their conviction and
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recovery, for he would not that any should perish. This is a good
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reason why the hardness of our own hearts and of the hearts of others,
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should be a grief to us.</P>
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<P>
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4. Christ dealt very kindly with the patient; he bade him <I>stretch
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forth his hand,</I> and it was immediately <I>restored.</I> Now,
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(1.) Christ has hereby taught us to go on with resolution in the way of
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our duty, how violent soever the opposition is, that we meet with in
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it. We must deny ourselves sometimes in our ease, pleasure, and
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convenience, rather than give offence even to those who causelessly
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take it; but we must not deny ourselves the satisfaction of serving
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God, and doing good, though offence may unjustly be taken at it. None
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could be more tender of giving offence than Christ; yet, rather than
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send this poor man away uncured, he would venture offending all the
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scribes and Pharisees that compassed him about.
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(2.) He hath hereby given us a <I>specimen</I> of the cures wrought by
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his grace upon <I>poor souls;</I> our hands are spiritually
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<I>withered,</I> the powers of our souls weakened by sin, and disabled
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for that which is good. The great healing day is the <I>sabbath,</I>
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and the healing place the <I>synagogue;</I> the healing power is that
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of Christ. The gospel command is like this recorded here; and the
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command is rational and just; though our hands are withered, and we
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cannot of ourselves <I>stretch them forth,</I> we must attempt it,
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must, as well as we can, <I>lift them up</I> to God in prayer, <I>lay
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hold</I> on Christ and eternal life, and employ them in good works; and
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if we do our endeavour, power goes along with the word of Christ, he
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effects the cure. Though our hands be <I>withered,</I> yet, if we will
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not offer to <I>stretch them out,</I> it is our own fault that we are
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not healed; but if we do, and are healed, Christ and his power and
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grace must have all the glory.</P>
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<P>
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5. The enemies of Christ dealt very barbarously with him. Such a work
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of <I>mercy</I> should have engaged their love <I>to him,</I> and such
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a work of <I>wonder</I> their faith <I>in him.</I> But, instead of
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that, the Pharisees, who pretended to be oracles in the church, and the
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Herodians, who pretended to be the supporters of the state, though of
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opposite interests one to another, <I>took counsel together against
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him, how they might destroy him.</I> Note, They that suffer for doing
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good, do but suffer as their Master did.</P>
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<P>
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II. When he withdrew <I>to the sea,</I> he did good there. While his
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enemies sought to <I>destroy him,</I> he quitted the place; to teach us
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in troublous times to shift for our own safety; but see here,</P>
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<P>
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1. How he was followed into his retirement. When some had such an
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enmity to him, that they drove him out of their country, others had
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such a value for him, that they followed him wherever he went; and the
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enmity of their leaders to Christ did not cool their respect to him.
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<I>Great multitudes</I> followed him from all parts of the nation; as
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far north, as <I>from Galilee;</I> as far south, as from Judea and
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Jerusalem; nay, and from Idumea; as far east, as from beyond Jordan;
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and west, as from about Tyre and Sidon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>.
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Observe,
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(1.) What induced them to follow him; it was the report they heard of
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the <I>great things he did</I> for all that applied themselves to him;
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some wished <I>to see</I> one that had done such <I>great things,</I>
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and others hoped he would do great things <I>for them.</I> Note, The
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consideration of the <I>great things</I> Christ has done, should engage
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us to <I>come to him.</I>
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(2.) What they followed him for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
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They <I>pressed upon him, to touch him, as many as had plagues.</I>
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Diseases are here called <I>plagues,</I>
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<B><I>mastigas</I></B>--<I>corrections, chastisements;</I> so they are
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designed to be, to make us <I>smart</I> for our sins, that thereby we
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may be made <I>sorry</I> for them, and may be warned not to return to
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them. Those that were under these <I>scourgings</I> came to Jesus; this
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is the errand on which sickness is sent, to quicken us to enquire after
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Christ, and apply ourselves to him as our Physician. They <I>pressed
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upon him,</I> each striving which should get <I>nearest to</I> him, and
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which should be <I>first served.</I> They <I>fell down before him</I>
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(so Dr. Hammond), as petitioners for his favour; they desired leave but
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to <I>touch him,</I> having faith to be healed, not only by <I>his</I>
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touching <I>them,</I> but by <I>their</I> touching him; which no doubt
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they had many instances of.
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(3.) What provision he made to be ready to attend them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
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He <I>spoke to his disciples,</I> who were fishermen, and had
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fisher-boats at command, that a <I>small ship should</I> constantly
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<I>wait on him,</I> to carry him from place to place on the same coast;
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that, when he had despatched the necessary business he had to do in one
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place, he might easily remove to another, where his presence was
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requisite, without pressing through the crowds of people that followed
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him for curiosity. Wise men, as much as they can, decline a crowd.</P>
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<P>
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2. What abundance of good he did in his retirement. He did not withdraw
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to be idle, nor did he send back those who rudely crowded after him
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when he withdrew, but took it kindly, and gave them what they came for;
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for he never said to any that sought him diligently, <I>Seek ye me in
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vain.</I>
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(1.) Diseases were effectually cured; He <I>healed many;</I> divers
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sorts of patients, ill of divers sorts of diseases; though numerous,
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though various, he <I>healed them.</I>
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(2.) <I>Devils</I> were effectually <I>conquered;</I> those whom
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unclean spirits had got possession of, <I>when they saw him,</I>
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trembled at his presence, and they also <I>fell down before him,</I>
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not to supplicate his favour, but to deprecate his wrath, and by their
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own terrors were compelled to own that <I>he was the Son of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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It is sad that this great truth should be denied by any of the children
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of men, who may have the benefit of it, when a confession of it has so
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often been extorted from devils, who are excluded from having benefit
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by it.
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(3.) Christ sought not applause to himself in doing those great things,
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for <I>he strictly charged</I> those for whom he did them, <I>that they
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should not make him known</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>);
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that they should not be <I>industrious</I> to spread the notice of his
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cures, as it were by advertisements in the newspapers, but let them
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leave <I>his own works to praise him,</I> and let the report of them
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<I>diffuse itself,</I> and make its own way. Let not those that are
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cured, be forward to divulge it, lest it should feed their pride who
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are so <I>highly favoured;</I> but let the <I>standers-by</I> carry
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away the intelligence of it. When we do that which is
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<I>praiseworthy,</I> and yet covet not to be <I>praised of men</I> for
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it, then <I>the same mind is in us,</I> which was <I>in Christ
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Jesus.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Mr3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr3_21"> </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 Calling of the Apostles.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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|
<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth <I>unto him</I> whom
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he would: and they came unto him.
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14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and
|
|
that he might send them forth to preach,
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15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out
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devils:
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|
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
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17 And James the <I>son</I> of Zebedee, and John the brother of
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James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of
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thunder:
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18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and
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Thomas, and James the <I>son</I> of Alphæus, and Thaddæus, and Simon
|
|
the Canaanite,
|
|
19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went
|
|
into a house.
|
|
20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could
|
|
not so much as eat bread.
|
|
21 And when his friends heard <I>of it,</I> they went out to lay
|
|
hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses, we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The choice Christ made of the <I>twelve apostles</I> to be his
|
|
constant followers and attendants, and to be sent abroad as there was
|
|
occasion, to preach the gospel. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The introduction to this <I>call</I> or <I>promotion</I> of
|
|
disciples; He <I>goes up into a mountain,</I> and his errand thither
|
|
was <I>to pray.</I> Ministers must be set apart with solemn prayer for
|
|
the pouring out of the Spirit upon them; though Christ had authority to
|
|
confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost, yet, to set us an example, he
|
|
prayed for them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The rule he went by in his choice, and that was his own good
|
|
pleasure; <I>He called unto him whom he would.</I> Not such as we
|
|
should have thought <I>fittest to be called, looking upon the
|
|
countenance, and the height of the stature;</I> but such as he
|
|
<I>thought fit</I> to call, and determined to <I>make fit</I> for the
|
|
service to which he called them: <I>even so,</I> blessed Jesus,
|
|
<I>because it seemed good in thine eyes.</I> Christ calls <I>whom he
|
|
will;</I> for he is a free Agent, and his grace is his own.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The efficacy of the call; He <I>called them</I> to separate
|
|
themselves from the crowd, and stand by him, and they <I>came unto
|
|
him.</I> Christ calls those who were <I>given him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:6">John xvii. 6</A>);
|
|
|
|
and <I>all that the Father gave him, shall come to him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+6:37">John vi. 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those whom it was his <I>will</I> to call, he made <I>willing to
|
|
come;</I> his <I>people shall be willing in the day of his power.</I>
|
|
Perhaps they came to him readily enough, because they were in
|
|
expectation of <I>reigning with him</I> in temporal pomp and power; but
|
|
when afterward they were <I>undeceived</I> in that matter, yet they had
|
|
such a prospect given them of better things, that they would not say
|
|
they were <I>deceived</I> in their Master, nor repented their leaving
|
|
all to be with him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The end and intention of this call; He <I>ordained them</I>
|
|
(probably by the imposition of hands, which was a ceremony used among
|
|
the Jews), <I>that they should be with him</I> constantly, to be
|
|
witnesses of <I>his doctrine, manner of life, and patience,</I> that
|
|
they might <I>fully know it,</I> and be able to give an account of it;
|
|
and especially that they might attest the truth of his miracles; they
|
|
must be <I>with him</I> to receive instructions <I>from him,</I> that
|
|
they might be qualified to give instructions <I>to others.</I> It would
|
|
<I>require time</I> to fit them for that which he designed them for;
|
|
for they must be <I>sent forth to preach;</I> not to preach till they
|
|
were <I>sent,</I> and not to be <I>sent</I> till by a long and intimate
|
|
acquaintance with Christ they were fitted. Note, Christ's ministers
|
|
must be much <I>with him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The power he gave them to work miracles; and hereby he put a very
|
|
great honour upon them, beyond that of the great men of the earth. He
|
|
ordained them to <I>heal sicknesses and to cast out devils.</I> This
|
|
showed that the power which Christ had to work these miracles was an
|
|
<I>original</I> power; that he had it not <I>as a Servant,</I> but
|
|
<I>as a Son in his own house,</I> in that he could confer it upon
|
|
others, and invest them with it: they have a rule in the law,
|
|
<I>Deputatus non potest deputare--He that is only deputed himself,
|
|
cannot depute another;</I> but our Lord Jesus had <I>life in
|
|
himself,</I> and the Spirit without measure; for he could give this
|
|
power even to the <I>weak</I> and <I>foolish things</I> of the
|
|
world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. Their number and names; He <I>ordained twelve,</I> according to the
|
|
number of the twelve tribes of Israel. They are here named not just in
|
|
the same order as they were in Matthew, nor by couples, as they were
|
|
there; but as there, so here, Peter is put first and Judas last. Here
|
|
Matthew is put before Thomas, probably being called in that order; but
|
|
in that catalogue which Matthew himself drew up, he puts himself after
|
|
Thomas; so far was he from insisting upon the precedency of his
|
|
consecration. But that which Mark only takes notice of in this list of
|
|
the apostles, is, that Christ called James and John <I>Boanerges,</I>
|
|
which is, <I>The sons of thunder;</I> perhaps they were remarkable for
|
|
a loud commanding voice, they were thundering preachers; or, rather, it
|
|
denotes the zeal and fervency of their spirits, which would make them
|
|
active for God above their brethren. These two (saith Dr. Hammond) were
|
|
to be special eminent ministers of the gospel, which is called <I>a
|
|
voice shaking the earth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:26">Heb. xii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Yet John, one of those <I>sons of thunder,</I> was full of love and
|
|
tenderness, as appears by his epistles, and was the beloved
|
|
disciple.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. Their retirement with their Master, and close adherence to him;
|
|
<I>They went into a house.</I> Now that this jury was impanelled, they
|
|
<I>stood together, to hearken to their evidence.</I> They went together
|
|
into the house, to settle the orders of their infant college; and now,
|
|
it is likely, the bag was given to Judas, which pleased him, and made
|
|
him easy.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The continual crowds that attended Christ's motions
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
The <I>multitude cometh together again,</I> unsent for, and
|
|
unseasonably pressing upon him, some with one errand and some with
|
|
another; so that he and his disciples could not get time <I>so much as
|
|
to eat bread,</I> much less for a set and full meal. Yet he did not
|
|
shut his doors against the petitioners, but bade them welcome, and gave
|
|
to each of them <I>an answer of peace.</I> Note, They whose hearts are
|
|
enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with great inconveniences
|
|
to themselves, in the prosecution of it, and will rather lose a meal's
|
|
meat at any time than slip an opportunity of doing good. It is happy
|
|
when zealous <I>hearers</I> and zealous <I>preachers</I> thus
|
|
<I>meet,</I> and encourage one another. Now the <I>kingdom of God was
|
|
preached,</I> and men pressed into it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:16">Luke xvi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was a gale of opportunity worth improving; and the disciples might
|
|
well afford to adjourn their meals, to lay hold on it. It is good
|
|
striking while the iron is hot.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The care of his relations concerning him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>When his friends</I> in Capernaum heard how he was followed, and
|
|
what pains he took, they <I>went out, to lay hold on him,</I> and fetch
|
|
him home, for they said, <I>He is beside himself.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. Some understand it of an absurd preposterous care, which had more
|
|
in it of reproach to him than of respect; and so we must take it as we
|
|
read it, <I>He is beside himself;</I> either they suspected it
|
|
themselves, or it was suggested to them, and they gave credit to the
|
|
suggestion, that he was <I>gone distracted,</I> and therefore his
|
|
friends ought to bind him, and put him in a dark room, to bring him to
|
|
his right mind again. His kindred, many of them, had mean thoughts of
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:5">John vii. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
and were willing to hearken to this ill construction which some put
|
|
upon his great zeal, and to conclude him crazed in his intellects, and
|
|
under that pretence to take him off from his work. The prophets were
|
|
called <I>mad fellows,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+9:11">2 Kings ix. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Others understand it of a <I>well-meaning</I> care; and then they
|
|
read <B><I>exeste</I></B>--"<I>He fainteth,</I> he has no time to
|
|
<I>eat bread,</I> and therefore his strength will fail him; he will be
|
|
stifled with the crowd of people, and will have his spirits quite
|
|
exhausted with constant speaking, and the virtue that <I>goes out of
|
|
him</I> in his miracles; and therefore let us use a friendly violence
|
|
with him, and get him a little <I>breathing-time.</I>" In his
|
|
preaching-work, as well as his suffering-work, he was attacked with,
|
|
<I>Master, spare thyself.</I> Note, They who go on with vigour and zeal
|
|
in the work of God, must expect to meet with hindrances, both from the
|
|
groundless disaffection of their enemies, and the mistaken affections
|
|
of their friends, and they have need to stand upon their guard against
|
|
both.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_30"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Blasphemy of the Scribes.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath
|
|
Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
|
|
23 And he called them <I>unto him,</I> and said unto them in
|
|
parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
|
|
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom
|
|
cannot stand.
|
|
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot
|
|
stand.
|
|
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he
|
|
cannot stand, but hath an end.
|
|
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his
|
|
goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will
|
|
spoil his house.
|
|
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the
|
|
sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall
|
|
blaspheme:
|
|
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath
|
|
never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
|
|
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here is, The impudent impious brand which the scribes fastened upon
|
|
Christ's casting out devils, that they might evade and invalidate the
|
|
conviction of it, and have a poor excuse for not yielding to it. These
|
|
<I>scribes came down from Jerusalem,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
It should seem they came this long journey on purpose to hinder the
|
|
progress of the doctrine of Christ; such pains did they take to do
|
|
mischief; and, coming from Jerusalem, where were the most polite and
|
|
learned scribes, and where they had opportunity of <I>consulting</I>
|
|
together <I>against the Lord and his Anointed,</I> they were in the
|
|
greater capacity to do mischief; the reputation of scribes from
|
|
Jerusalem would have an influence not only upon the <I>country
|
|
people,</I> but upon the <I>country scribes;</I> they had never thought
|
|
of this base suggestion concerning Christ's miracles till the
|
|
<I>scribes from</I> Jerusalem put it into their heads. They could not
|
|
deny but that he cast out devils, which plainly bespoke him sent of
|
|
God; but they insinuated that <I>he had Beelzebub</I> on his side, was
|
|
in league with him, and by <I>the prince of the devils cast out
|
|
devils.</I> There is a trick in the case; Satan is not <I>cast out,</I>
|
|
he only <I>goes out</I> by consent. There was nothing in the manner of
|
|
Christ's <I>casting out devils,</I> that gave any cause to suspect
|
|
this; he did it <I>as one having authority;</I> but so they will have
|
|
it, who resolve not to believe him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The rational answer which Christ gave to this objection,
|
|
demonstrating the absurdity of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Satan is so <I>subtle,</I> that he will never voluntarily quit his
|
|
possession; <I>If Satan cast out Satan, his kingdom is divided against
|
|
itself,</I> and it <I>cannot stand,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:23-26"><I>v.</I> 23-26</A>.
|
|
|
|
He <I>called them to him,</I> as one desirous they should be convinced;
|
|
he treated them with all the freedom, friendliness, and familiarity
|
|
that could be; he vouchsafed to reason the case with them, <I>that
|
|
every mouth may be stopped.</I> It was plain that the doctrine of
|
|
Christ <I>made war</I> upon the devil's kingdom, and had a direct
|
|
tendency to break his power, and crush his interest in the souls of
|
|
men; and it was as plain that the casting of him out of the bodies of
|
|
people confirmed that doctrine, and gave it the setting on; and
|
|
therefore it cannot be imagined that he should come into such a design;
|
|
every one knows that Satan is no <I>fool,</I> nor will act so directly
|
|
against his own interest.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Christ is so <I>wise,</I> that, being engaged in war with him, he
|
|
will attack his forces wherever he meets them, whether in the bodies or
|
|
souls of people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is plain, Christ's design is to <I>enter into the strong man's
|
|
house,</I> to take possession of the interest he has in the world, and
|
|
to <I>spoil his goods,</I> and convert them to his own service; and
|
|
therefore it is natural to suppose that he will thus <I>bind the strong
|
|
man,</I> will forbid him to <I>speak</I> when he would, and to
|
|
<I>stay</I> where he would, and thus show that he has gained a victory
|
|
over him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The awful warning Christ gave them to take heed how they spoke
|
|
such dangerous words as these; however they might make light of them,
|
|
as only conjectures, and the language of <I>free-thinking,</I> if they
|
|
persisted in it, it would be of fatal consequence to them; it would be
|
|
found a sin against the last remedy, and consequently
|
|
<I>unpardonable;</I> for what could be imagined possible to bring
|
|
<I>them</I> to repentance for their sin in blaspheming Christ, who
|
|
would set aside such a <I>strong</I> conviction with such a <I>weak</I>
|
|
evasion? It is true, the gospel <I>promiseth,</I> because Christ hath
|
|
<I>purchased,</I> forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Many of those who reviled Christ on the cross (which was a
|
|
<I>blaspheming of the Son of man,</I> aggravated to the highest
|
|
degree), found mercy, and Christ himself prayed, <I>Father, forgive
|
|
them;</I> but this was <I>blaspheming the Holy Ghost,</I> for it was by
|
|
the Holy Spirit that he <I>cast out</I> devils, and they said, It was
|
|
<I>by the unclean spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
By this method they would outface the conviction of all the gifts of
|
|
the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension, and defeat them all, after
|
|
which there remained no more proof, and therefore they should <I>never
|
|
have forgiveness,</I> but were <I>liable to eternal damnation.</I> They
|
|
were in imminent danger of that everlasting punishment, from which
|
|
there was <I>no redemption,</I> and in which there was no
|
|
<I>intermission,</I> no <I>remission.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr3_35"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Family of Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing
|
|
without, sent unto him, calling him.
|
|
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him,
|
|
Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
|
|
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my
|
|
brethren?
|
|
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and
|
|
said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
|
|
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my
|
|
brother, and my sister, and mother.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>disrespect</I> which Christ's <I>kindred, according to the
|
|
flesh,</I> showed to him, when he was preaching (and they knew very
|
|
well that he was then in his element); they not only <I>stood
|
|
without,</I> having no desire to come in, and hear him, but they sent
|
|
in a message to <I>call him out to them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:31,32"><I>v.</I> 31, 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
as if he must leave his work, to hearken to their <I>impertinences;</I>
|
|
it is probable that they had <I>no business with him,</I> only sent for
|
|
him on purpose to oblige him to <I>break off,</I> lest he should
|
|
<I>kill himself.</I> He knew how far his strength would go, and
|
|
preferred the salvation of souls before his own life, and soon after
|
|
made it to appear with a witness; it was therefore an <I>idle thing</I>
|
|
for them, under pretence of his sparing himself, to interrupt him; and
|
|
it was worse, if really they had business with him, when they knew he
|
|
preferred his business, as a Saviour, so much before any other
|
|
business.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The <I>respect</I> which Christ showed to his spiritual kindred upon
|
|
this occasion. Now, as at other times, he put a <I>comparative
|
|
neglect</I> upon his mother, which seemed purposely designed to obviate
|
|
the prevent the extravagant respect which men in aftertimes would be
|
|
apt to pay her. <I>Our</I> respect ought to be guided and governed by
|
|
Christ's; now the virgin Mary, or Christ's mother, is not equalled
|
|
with, but postponed to, ordinary believers, on whom Christ here puts a
|
|
<I>superlative</I> honour. He looked upon those that <I>at about</I>
|
|
him, and pronounced those of them that not only heard, but did, the
|
|
will of God, to be to him as <I>his brother, and sister, and
|
|
mother;</I> as much esteemed, loved, and cared for, as his nearest
|
|
relations,
|
|
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:33-35"><I>v.</I> 33-35</A>.
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This is a good reason why we should <I>honour those that fear the
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Lord,</I> and choose them for our people; why we should be not hearers
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of the word only, but doers of the work, that we may share with the
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saints in this honour, Surely it is good to be akin to those who are
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thus nearly allied to Christ, and to have fellowship with those that
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have fellowship with Christ; and woe to those that hate and persecute
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Christ's kindred, that are <I>his bone and his flesh,</I> every one
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<I>resembling the children of a king</I> (see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+8:18,19">Judg. viii. 18, 19</A>);
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for he will with jealously plead their cause, and avenge their
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blood.</P>
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