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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>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</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 dispute with the Pharisees concerning divorce,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:1-12">ver. 1-12</A>.
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II. The kind entertainment he gave to the little children that were
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brought to him to be blessed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:13-16">ver. 13-16</A>.
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III. His trial of the rich man that enquired what he must do to get to
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heaven,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:17-22">ver. 17-22</A>.
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IV. His discourse with his disciples, upon that occasion, concerning
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the peril of riches
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:23-27">ver. 23-27</A>),
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and the advantage of being impoverished for his sake,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:28-31">ver. 28-31</A>.
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V. The repeated notice he gave his disciples of his sufferings and
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death approaching,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:32-34">ver. 32-34</A>.
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VI. The counsel he gave to James and John, to think of suffering with
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him, rather than of reigning with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:15-45">ver. 15-45</A>.
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VII. The cure of Bartimeus, a poor blind man,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:46-52">ver. 46-52</A>.
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All which passages of story we had the substance of before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:1-20:34">Matt. xix. and xx.</A></P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mr10_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_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 Doctrine of Divorce.</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 arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of
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Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto
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him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
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2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful
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for a man to put away <I>his</I> wife? tempting him.
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3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command
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you?
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4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement,
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and to put <I>her</I> away.
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5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of
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your heart he wrote you this precept.
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6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and
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female.
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7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
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cleave to his wife;
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8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more
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twain, but one flesh.
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9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
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asunder.
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10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same
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<I>matter.</I>
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11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
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and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
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12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to
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another, she committeth adultery.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Our Lord Jesus was an itinerant Preacher, did not continue long in a
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place, for the whole land of Canaan was his parish, or diocese, and
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therefore he would visit every part of it, and give instructions to
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those in the remotest corners of it. Here we have him in the
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<I>coasts</I> of Judea, by the further side of Jordan eastward, as we
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found him, not long since, in the utmost borders westward, near Tyre
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and Sidon. Thus was his circuit like that of the sun, from whose light
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and heat nothing is hid. Now here we have him,</P>
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<P>
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I. <I>Resorted to</I> by the <I>people,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Wherever he was, they flocked after him in crowds; they came to him
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<I>again,</I> as they had done when he had formerly been in these
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parts, and, <I>as he was wont, he taught them again.</I> Note,
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Preaching was Christ's constant practice; it was what he was used to,
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and, wherever he came, he did <I>as he was wont.</I> In Matthew it is
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said, <I>He healed them;</I> here it is said, <I>He taught them:</I>
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his cures were to confirm his doctrine, and to recommend it, and his
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doctrine was to explain his cures, and illustrate them. He <I>taught
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them again.</I> Note, Even those whom Christ hath taught, have need to
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be taught <I>again.</I> Such is the fulness of the Christian doctrine,
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that there is still more to be learned; and such our forgetfulness,
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that we need to be reminded of what we do know.</P>
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<P>
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II. We have him <I>disputed with</I> by the Pharisees, who envied the
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progress of his spiritual arms, and did all they could to obstruct and
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oppose it; to divert him, to perplex him, and to prejudice the people
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against him.</P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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1. A question they started concerning divorce
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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<I>Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?</I> This was a good
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question, if it had been well put, and with a humble desire to know the
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mind of God in this matter; but they proposed it, <I>tempting him,</I>
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seeking an occasion against him, and an opportunity to expose him,
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which side soever he should take of the question. Ministers must stand
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upon their guard, lest, under pretence of being advised with, they be
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ensnared.</P>
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<P>
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2. Christ's reply to them with a question
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
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<I>What did Moses command you?</I> This he asked them, to testify his
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respect to the law of Moses, and to show that he came not to destroy
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it; and to engage them to a universal impartial respect for Moses's
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writings and to compare one part of them with another.</P>
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<P>
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3. The fair account they gave of what they found in the law of Moses,
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expressly concerning divorce,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Christ asked, <I>What did Moses command you?</I> They own that Moses
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only <I>suffered,</I> or <I>permitted,</I> a man to write his wife a
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<I>bill of divorce,</I> and to put <I>her away,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+24:1">Deut. xxiv. 1</A>.
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"If you <I>will</I> do it, you must do it <I>in writing,</I> delivered
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into her own hand, and so put her away, and never return to her
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again."</P>
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<P>
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4. The answer that Christ gave to their question, in which he abides by
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the doctrine he had formerly laid down in this case
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:32">Matt. v. 32</A>),
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<I>That whosoever puts away his wife, except for fornication, causeth
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her to commit adultery.</I> And to clear this he here shows,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) That the reason why Moses, in his <I>law,</I> permitted divorce,
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was such, as that they ought not to make use of that permission; for it
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was only <I>for the hardness of their hearts</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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lest, if they were not permitted to divorce their wives, they should
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murder them; so that none must put away their wives but such as are
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willing to own that their hearts were so hard as to need this
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permission.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) That the account which Moses, in this <I>history, gives</I> of the
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institution of marriage, affords such a reason against divorce, as
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amounts to a prohibition of it. So that if the question be, <I>What did
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Moses command?</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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it must be answered, "Though by a temporary proviso he allowed divorce
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to the Jews, yet by an eternal reason he forbade it to all the children
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of Adam and Eve, and that is it which we must abide by."</P>
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<P>
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Moses tells us,
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[1.] That God made man <I>male and female, one</I> male, and <I>one</I>
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female; so that <I>Adam could not</I> put away his wife and take
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another, for there was no other to take, which was an intimation to all
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his sons, that they <I>must not.</I>
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[2.] When this male and this female were, by the ordinance of God,
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joined together in holy marriage, the law was, That a man must <I>leave
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his father and mother, and cleave to his wife</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
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which intimates not only the nearness of the relation, but the
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perpetuity of it; he shall so cleave to his wife as not to be separated
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from her.
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[3.] The result of the relation is, That, though they are <I>two,</I>
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yet they are <I>one,</I> they are <I>one flesh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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The union between them is the most intimate that can be, and, as Dr.
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Hammond expresses it, a sacred thing that must not be violated.
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[4.] God himself was <I>joined them together;</I> he has not only, as
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Creator, fitted them to be comforts and helps meet for each other, but
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he has, in wisdom and goodness, appointed them who are thus joined
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together, to live together in love till death parts them. Marriage is
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not an invention of men, but a divine institution, and therefore is to
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be religiously observed, and the more, because it is a figure of the
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mystical inseparable union between Christ and his church.</P>
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<P>
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Now from all this he infers, that men ought not to <I>put</I> their
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wives <I>asunder</I> from them, whom God has put so near them. The bond
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which God himself has tied, is not to be lightly untied. They who are
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divorcing their wives for every offence, would do well to consider what
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would become of them, if God should in like manner deal with them. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:1,Jer+3:1">
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Isa. l. 1; Jer. iii. 1</A>.</P>
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<P>
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5. Christ's discourse with his disciples, in private, about this
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matter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:10-12"><I>v.</I> 10-12</A>.
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It was an advantage to them, that they had opportunity of personal
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converse with Christ, not only about gospel mysteries, but about moral
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duties, for further satisfaction. No more is here related of this
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private conference, that the law Christ laid down in this case--That it
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is adultery for a man to put away his wife, and marry another; it is
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adultery <I>against the wife</I> he puts away, it is a wrong to her, a
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breach of his contract with her,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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He adds, <I>If a woman shall put away her husband,</I> that is, elope
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from him, leave him by consent, and <I>be married to another,</I> she
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<I>commits adultery</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and it will be no excuse at all for her to say that it was with the
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consent of her husband. Wisdom and grace, holiness and love, reigning
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in the heart, will make those commands easy which to the carnal mind
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may be as a heavy yoke.</P>
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<A NAME="Mr10_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr10_16"> </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>Christ's Love to Little Children.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch
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them: and <I>his</I> disciples rebuked those that brought <I>them.</I>
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14 But when Jesus saw <I>it,</I> he was much displeased, and said
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unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid
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them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
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15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the
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kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
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16 And he took them up in his arms, put <I>his</I> hands upon them,
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and blessed them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to
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take notice of little children, and this was remarkable in our Lord
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Jesus, which is an encouragement not only to little children to apply
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themselves to Christ when they are very young, but to grown people, who
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are conscious to themselves of weakness and childishness, and of being,
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through manifold infirmities, helpless and useless, like little
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children. Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Little children brought to Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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Their parents, or whoever they were that had the nursing of them,
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brought them to him, that he should <I>touch them,</I> in token of his
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commanding and conferring a blessing on them. It doth not appear that
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they needed any bodily <I>cure,</I> nor were they capable of being
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<I>taught:</I> but it seems,
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1. That they had the care of them were mostly concerned <I>about their
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souls,</I> their better part, which ought to be the principal care of
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all parents for their children; for that is the principal part, and it
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is well with them, it if be well with their souls.
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2. They believed that Christ's blessing would do their souls good; and
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therefore to him they brought them, that he might <I>touch</I> them,
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knowing that he could reach their hearts, when nothing their parents
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could say to them, or do for them, would reach them. We may present our
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children to Christ, now that he is in heaven, for from thence he can
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reach them with his blessing, and therein we may act faith upon the
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fulness and extent of his grace, the kind intimations he hath always
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given of favour to the seed of the faithful, the tenour of the covenant
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with Abraham, and the promise <I>to us and to our children,</I>
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especially that great promise of pouring his <I>Spirit upon our
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seed,</I> and his <I>blessing</I> upon <I>our offspring,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:3">Isa. xliv. 3</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The <I>dis</I>couragement which the disciples gave to the bringing
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of children to Christ; <I>They rebuked them that brought them;</I> as
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if they had been sure that they knew their Master's mind in this
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matter, whereas he had lately cautioned them not to <I>despise the
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little ones.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. The <I>en</I>couragement Christ gave to it.
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1. He took it very ill that his disciples should keep them off; <I>When
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he saw it, he was much displeased,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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"What do you mean? Will you hinder me from doing good, from doing good
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to the rising generation, to the lambs of the flock?" Christ is very
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angry with his own disciples, if they discountenance any in coming to
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him themselves, or in bringing their children to him.
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2. He ordered that they should be <I>brought to him,</I> and nothing
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said or done to hinder them; suffer <I>little children,</I> as soon as
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they are capable, to <I>come to me,</I> to offer up their supplications
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to me, and to receive instructions from me. Little children are welcome
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betimes to the throne of grace with their Hosannas.
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3. He owned them as members of his church, as they had been of the
|
|
Jewish church. He came to set up the <I>kingdom of God</I> among men,
|
|
and took this occasion to declare that that kingdom admitted <I>little
|
|
children</I> to be the subjects of it, and gave them a title to the
|
|
privileges of subjects. Nay, the kingdom of God is to be kept up by
|
|
such: they must be taken in when they are little children, that they
|
|
may be secured for hereafter, to bear up the name of Christ.
|
|
|
|
4. That there must be something of the temper and disposition of little
|
|
children found in all that Christ will own and bless. We must
|
|
<I>receive the kingdom of God as little children</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>);
|
|
|
|
that is, we must stand affected to Christ and his grace as little
|
|
children do to their parents, nurses, and teachers. We must be
|
|
<I>inquisitive,</I> as children, must learn as children (that is the
|
|
learning age), and in learning must <I>believe, Oportet discentem
|
|
credere--A learner must believe.</I> The mind of a child is white paper
|
|
(<I>tabula rasa--a mere blank</I>), you may write upon it what you
|
|
will; such must our minds be to the pen of the blessed Spirit. Children
|
|
are under government; so must we be. <I>Lord, what wilt thou have me to
|
|
do?</I> We must receive the kingdom of God as the child Samuel did,
|
|
<I>Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.</I> Little children depend
|
|
upon their parents' wisdom and care, are carried in their arms, go
|
|
where they send them, and take what they provide for them; and thus
|
|
must we receive the <I>kingdom of God,</I> with a humble resignation of
|
|
ourselves to Jesus Christ, and an easy dependence upon him, both for
|
|
strength and righteousness, for tuition, provision, and a portion.
|
|
|
|
5. He received the children, and gave them what was desired
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>He took them up in his arms,</I> in token of his affectionate
|
|
concern for them; <I>put his hands upon them,</I> as was desired, and
|
|
<I>blessed them.</I> She how he out-did the desires of these parents;
|
|
they begged he would touch them, but he did more.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>took them in his arms.</I> Now the scripture was fulfilled
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+40:11">Isa. xl. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his
|
|
bosom.</I> Time was, when Christ himself was taken up in old Simeon's
|
|
arms,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:28">Luke ii. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
And now he took up these children, not complaining of the burthen (as
|
|
Moses did, when he was bid to <I>carry Israel,</I> that peevish child,
|
|
<I>in his bosom, as a nursing father bears the sucking child,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+11:12">Num. xi. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
but pleased with it. If we in a right manner bring our children to
|
|
Christ, he will take them up, not only in the arms of his power and
|
|
providence, but in the arms of his pity and grace (as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:8">Ezek. xvi. 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
underneath them are the <I>everlasting arms.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He <I>put his hands upon them,</I> denoting the bestowing of his
|
|
Spirit upon them (for that is the hand of the Lord), and his setting
|
|
them apart for himself.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He <I>blessed</I> them with the spiritual blessings he came to
|
|
give. Our children are happy, if they have but the <I>Mediator's
|
|
blessing</I> for their portion. It is true, we do not read that he
|
|
baptized these children, baptism was not fully settled as the door of
|
|
admission into the church until after Christ's resurrection; but he
|
|
asserted their visible church-membership, and by another sign bestowed
|
|
those blessings upon them, which are now appointed to be conveyed and
|
|
conferred by baptism, the seal of the promise, which is <I>to us</I>
|
|
and <I>to our children.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_31"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>A Hopeful Youth Falling Short of Heaven.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one
|
|
running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what
|
|
shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
|
|
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? <I>there
|
|
is</I> none good but one, <I>that is,</I> God.
|
|
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do
|
|
not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not,
|
|
Honour thy father and mother.
|
|
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I
|
|
observed from my youth.
|
|
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One
|
|
thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and
|
|
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
|
|
come, take up the cross, and follow me.
|
|
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he
|
|
had great possessions.
|
|
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples,
|
|
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of
|
|
God!
|
|
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus
|
|
answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it
|
|
for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
|
|
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
|
|
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
|
|
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among
|
|
themselves, Who then can be saved?
|
|
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men <I>it is</I>
|
|
impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are
|
|
possible.
|
|
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and
|
|
have followed thee.
|
|
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is
|
|
no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father,
|
|
or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the
|
|
gospel's,
|
|
30 But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time,
|
|
houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and
|
|
lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
|
|
31 But many <I>that are</I> first shall be last; and the last first.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here is a <I>hopeful meeting</I> between Christ and a <I>young
|
|
man;</I> such he is said to be
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:20,22">Matt. xix. 20, 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and a <I>ruler</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:18">Luke xviii. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
a person of quality. Some circumstances here are, which we had not in
|
|
Matthew, which makes his address to Christ very promising.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He came <I>running</I> to Christ, which was an indication of his
|
|
humility; he laid aside the gravity and grandeur of a ruler, when he
|
|
came to Christ: thus too he manifested his earnestness and importunity;
|
|
he <I>ran</I> as one <I>in haste,</I> and longing to be in conversation
|
|
with Christ. He had now an opportunity of consulting this great
|
|
Prophet, in the things that belonged to his peace, and he would not let
|
|
slip the opportunity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He came to him when he was <I>in the way,</I> in the midst of
|
|
company: he did not insist upon a private conference with him by night,
|
|
as Nicodemus did, though like him he was a ruler, but <I>when he shall
|
|
find him without,</I> will <I>embrace</I> that opportunity of advising
|
|
with him, <I>and not be ashamed,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+8:1">Cant. viii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He <I>kneeled to him,</I> in token of the great value and veneration
|
|
he had for him, as a teacher come from God, and his earnest desire to
|
|
be taught by him. He bowed the knee to the Lord Jesus, as one that
|
|
would not only <I>do obeisance</I> to him now, but would <I>yield
|
|
obedience</I> to him always; he <I>bowed the knee,</I> as one that
|
|
meant to <I>bow the soul</I> to him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. His address to him was serious and weighty; <I>Good Master, what
|
|
shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?</I> Eternal life was an
|
|
article of his creed, though then denied by the Sadducees, a prevailing
|
|
party: he asks, What shall he do now that he may be happy for ever.
|
|
Most men enquire for good to be <I>had</I> in this world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+4:6">Ps. iv. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>any good;</I> he asks for <I>good to be done</I> in this world, in
|
|
order to the enjoyment of the greatest good in the other world; not,
|
|
Who will make us to <I>see good?</I> But, "Who will make us to <I>do
|
|
good?</I>" He enquires for <I>happiness</I> in the way of <I>duty;</I>
|
|
the <I>summum bonum--chief good</I> which Solomon was in quest of, was
|
|
<I>that good for the sons of men which they do should do,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+2:3">Eccl. ii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now this was,
|
|
|
|
(1.) A very serious question in itself; it was about eternal things,
|
|
and his own concern in those things. Note, <I>Then</I> there begins to
|
|
be some hope of people, when they begin to enquire solicitously, what
|
|
they shall do to get to heaven.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was proposed to a right person, one that was every way fit to
|
|
answer it, being himself <I>the Way, the Truth,</I> and <I>the
|
|
Life,</I> the true way to life, to eternal life; who came <I>from
|
|
heaven</I> on purpose, first to <I>lay open for us,</I> and then to
|
|
<I>lay open to us;</I> first to make, and then to make known, the way
|
|
to <I>heaven.</I> Note, Those who would know what they shall do to be
|
|
saved, must apply themselves to Christ, and enquire of him; it is
|
|
peculiar to the Christian religion, both to show eternal life, and to
|
|
show the way to it.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It was proposed with a good design--to be instructed. We find this
|
|
same question put by a lawyer, not <I>kneeling,</I> but standing up
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+10:25">Luke x. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
with a bad design, to pick quarrels with him; he <I>tempted him,
|
|
saying, Master, what shall I do?</I> It is not so much the good
|
|
<I>words</I> as the good <I>intention</I> of them that Christ looks
|
|
at.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Christ encouraged this address,
|
|
|
|
(1.) By <I>assisting his faith,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He called him <I>good Master;</I> Christ would have him mean thereby,
|
|
that he looked upon him to be <I>God,</I> since there is none good but
|
|
<I>one,</I> that is <I>God,</I> who is one, and his name one,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:9">Zech. xiv. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our English word <I>God</I> doubtless hath affinity with <I>good;</I>
|
|
as the Hebrews name God by his power, <I>Elohim, the strong God;</I> so
|
|
we by his goodness, the <I>good God.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) By directing his practice
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>Keep the commandments;</I> and thou <I>knowest</I> what they are. He
|
|
mentions the six commandments of the second table, which prescribe our
|
|
duty to our neighbour; he inverts the order, putting the seventh
|
|
commandment before the sixth, to intimate that <I>adultery</I> is a sin
|
|
no less heinous than <I>murder</I> itself. The fifth commandment is
|
|
here put last, as that which should especially be remembered and
|
|
observed, to keep us to all the rest. Instead of the tenth
|
|
commandment, <I>Thou shalt not covet,</I> our Saviour here puts,
|
|
<I>Defraud not.</I> <B><I>Me apostereses</I></B>--that is, saith Dr.
|
|
Hammond, "Thou shalt not rest contented with thy own, and not seek to
|
|
increase it by the diminution of other men's." It is a rule of justice
|
|
not to advance or enrich ourselves by doing wrong or injury to any
|
|
other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. The young man bid fair for heaven, having been free from any open
|
|
gross violations of the divine commands. Thus far he was able to same
|
|
in some measure
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Master, all these have I observed from my youth.</I> He thought he
|
|
had, and his neighbours thought so too. Note, Ignorance of the extent
|
|
and spiritual nature of the divine law, makes people think themselves
|
|
in a better condition than they really are. Paul was alive <I>without
|
|
the law.</I> But when he saw that to be <I>spiritual,</I> he saw
|
|
himself to be <I>carnal,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+7:9,14">Rom. vii. 9, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
However, he that could say he was free from scandalous sin, went
|
|
further than many in the way to eternal life. But though we <I>know
|
|
nothing by ourselves, yet are we not thereby justified.</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:4">1 Cor. iv. 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. Christ had a kindness for him; <I>Jesus, beholding him, loved
|
|
him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was pleased to find that he had lived inoffensively, and pleased to
|
|
see that he was inquisitive how to live better than so. Christ
|
|
particularly <I>loves</I> to see young people, and rich people,
|
|
<I>asking the way to heaven, with their faces thitherward.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here is a <I>sorrowful parting</I> between Christ and this young
|
|
man.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Christ gave him a command of trial, by which it would appear whether
|
|
he did in sincerity aim at eternal life, and press towards it: he
|
|
seemed to have his heart much upon it, and if so, he is what he should
|
|
be; but has he indeed his heart upon it? Bring him to the touchstone.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Can he find in his heart <I>to part with his riches</I> for the
|
|
service of Christ? He hath a good estate, and now, shortly, at the
|
|
first founding of the Christian church, the necessity of the case will
|
|
require that those who have <I>lands, sell them, and lay the money at
|
|
the apostles' feet;</I> and how will he dispense with that?
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:34,35">Acts iv. 34, 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
After awhile, tribulation and persecution will arise, because of the
|
|
word; and he must be forced to sell his estate, or have it taken from
|
|
him, and how will he like that? Let him know the worst now; if he will
|
|
not come up to these terms, let him quit his pretensions; as good as
|
|
the first as at last. "<I>Sell whatsoever thou hast</I> over and above
|
|
what is necessary for thy support;" probably, he had no family to
|
|
provide for; let him therefore be a <I>father to the poor,</I> and make
|
|
them his heirs. Every man, according to his ability, must relieve the
|
|
poor, and be content, when there is occasion, to straiten himself to do
|
|
it. Worldly wealth is given us, not only as <I>maintenance</I> to bear
|
|
our charges through this world, according to our place in it, but as
|
|
<I>talent,</I> to be used and employed for the glory of our great
|
|
Master in the world, who hath so ordered it, that the poor we should
|
|
have always with us as his receivers.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Can he find it in his heart to go through the hardest costliest
|
|
services he may be called to as a disciple of Christ, and depend upon
|
|
him for a recompence <I>in heaven?</I> He asks Christ what he should do
|
|
more than he has done to obtain <I>eternal life,</I> and Christ puts it
|
|
to him, whether he has indeed that firm belief of, and that high value
|
|
for, eternal life that he seems to have. Doth he really believe there
|
|
is a true treasure in heaven sufficient to make up all he can leave, or
|
|
lose, or lay out, for Christ? Is he willing to deal with Christ <I>upon
|
|
trust?</I> Can he give him credit for all he is worth; and be willing
|
|
to bear a present cross, in expectation of a future crown?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Upon this he flew off
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>He was sad at that saying;</I> was sorry that he could not be a
|
|
follower of Christ upon any easier terms than leaving all to follow
|
|
him; that he could not <I>lay hold</I> on eternal life, and <I>keep
|
|
hold</I> of his temporal possessions too. But since he could not come
|
|
up to the terms of discipleship, he was so fair as not to pretend to
|
|
it; <I>He went away grieved.</I> Here appeared the truth of that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+6:24">Matt. vi. 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Ye cannot serve God and mammon;</I> while he held to mammon he did
|
|
in effect <I>despise</I> Christ, as all those do who prefer the world
|
|
before him. He bids for what he has a mind for in the market, yet goes
|
|
away grieved, and leaves it, because he cannot have it at his own
|
|
price. Two words to a bargain. Motions are not marriages. That which
|
|
ruined this young man was, <I>he had great possessions;</I> thus the
|
|
<I>prosperity of fools destroys them,</I> and those who spend their
|
|
days in wealth are tempted to say to God, <I>Depart from us;</I> or to
|
|
their hearts, <I>Depart from God.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Here is Christ's discourse with his disciples. We are tempted to
|
|
wish that Christ had <I>mollified</I> that saying which frightened this
|
|
young gentleman from following him, and by an explanation taken off the
|
|
harshness of it: but he knew all men's hearts; he would not court him
|
|
to be his follower, because he was a <I>rich man</I> and a ruler; but,
|
|
if he will go, let him go. Christ will keep no man against his will;
|
|
and therefore we do not find that Christ called him back, but took this
|
|
occasion to instruct his disciples in two things.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The difficulty of the salvation of those who have an abundance of
|
|
this world; because there are few who have <I>a deal to leave,</I> that
|
|
can be persuaded to <I>leave it</I> for Christ, or to lay it out in
|
|
doing good.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Christ asserts this here; <I>He looked about</I> upon his
|
|
<I>disciples,</I> because he would have them all take notice of what he
|
|
said, that by it they might have their judgments rightly informed, and
|
|
their mistakes rectified, concerning worldly wealth, which they were
|
|
apt to over-rate; <I>How hardly shall they who have riches enter into
|
|
the kingdom of God!</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
They have many temptations to grapple with, and many difficulties to
|
|
get over, which lie not in the way of poor people. But he explains
|
|
himself,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>,
|
|
|
|
where he calls the disciples <I>children,</I> because as such they
|
|
should be <I>taught</I> by him, and <I>portioned</I> by him with better
|
|
things than this young man left Christ to cleave to; and whereas he had
|
|
said, <I>How hardly will those who have riches get to heaven;</I> here
|
|
he tells them, that the danger arose not so much from their
|
|
<I>having</I> riches as from their <I>trusting to them,</I> and placing
|
|
their confidence in them, expecting protection, provision, and a
|
|
portion from them; saying that <I>to their gold,</I> which they should
|
|
say only to their God, <I>Thou art my hope,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+31:24">Job xxxi. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
They have such a value as this for the wealth of the world, will never
|
|
be brought to put a right value upon Christ and his grace. They that
|
|
<I>have</I> ever so much riches, but do not <I>trust in them,</I> that
|
|
see the vanity of them, and their utter insufficiency to make a soul
|
|
happy, have got over the difficulty, and can easily part with them for
|
|
Christ: but they have ever so little, if they set their hearts upon
|
|
that little, and place their happiness in it, it will keep them from
|
|
Christ. He enforces this assertion with,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for
|
|
a rich man,</I> that <I>trusts in riches,</I> or inclines to do so,
|
|
<I>to enter into the kingdom of God.</I> The disproportion here seems
|
|
so great (though the more it is so the more it answers the intention),
|
|
that some have laboured to bring the camel and the eye of the needle a
|
|
little nearer together.
|
|
|
|
[1.] Some imagine there might be some wicket-gate, or door, to
|
|
Jerusalem, commonly known by the name of <I>the needle's eye,</I> for
|
|
its straitness, through which a camel could not be got, unless he were
|
|
unloaded, and made to kneel, as those camel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+24:11">Gen. xxiv. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
So a rich man cannot get to heaven unless he is willing to part with
|
|
the burthen of his worldly wealth, and stoop to the duties of a humble
|
|
religion, and so enter <I>at the strait gate.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] Others suggest that the word we translate a <I>camel,</I>
|
|
sometimes signifies a cable-rope, which, though not to be got through a
|
|
needle's eye, yet is of great affinity to it. A rich man, compared with
|
|
the poor, is as a cable to a single thread, stronger, but not so
|
|
pliable, and it will not go through the <I>needle's eye,</I> unless it
|
|
be untwisted. So the rich man must be loosed and disentangled from his
|
|
riches, and then there is some hope of him, that thread by thread he
|
|
may be got through the eye of the needle, otherwise he is good for
|
|
nothing but to cast anchor in the earth.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) This truth was very surprising to the disciples; <I>They were
|
|
astonished at his words,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>They were astonished out of measure, and said among themselves, Who
|
|
then can be saved?</I> They knew what were generally the sentiments of
|
|
the Jewish teachers, who affirmed that the Spirit of God chooses to
|
|
reside in rich men; nay, they knew what abundance of promises there
|
|
were, in the Old Testament, of temporal good things; they knew likewise
|
|
that all either are rich, or fain would be so, and that they who are
|
|
rich, have so much the larger opportunities of doing good, and
|
|
therefore were amazed to hear that it should be so hard for rich people
|
|
to go to heaven.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Christ reconciled them to it, by referring it to the almighty
|
|
power of God, to help even rich people over the difficulties that lie
|
|
in the way of their salvation
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>);
|
|
|
|
He <I>looked upon them,</I> to engage their attention, and said,
|
|
"<I>With men it is impossible;</I> rich people cannot by their own
|
|
skill or resolution get over these difficulties, but the grace of God
|
|
can do it, for <I>with him all things are possible.</I>" If <I>the
|
|
righteous scarcely are saved,</I> much more may we say so of the
|
|
<I>rich;</I> and therefore when any get to heaven, they must give all
|
|
the glory to God, who worketh in them <I>both to will and to
|
|
do.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The greatness of the salvation of those that have but a little of
|
|
this world, and leave it for Christ. This he speaks of, upon occasion
|
|
of Peter's mentioning what he and the rest of the disciples had left to
|
|
follow him; <I>Behold,</I> (saith he), <I>we have left all to follow
|
|
thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
"You have <I>done well,</I>" saith Christ, "and it will prove in the
|
|
end that you have done well <I>for yourselves;</I> you shall be
|
|
abundantly recompensed, and not only you shall be <I>reimbursed,</I>
|
|
who have left but a little, but those that have ever so much, though it
|
|
were so much as this young man had, that could not persuade himself to
|
|
quit it for Christ; yet they shall have much more than an equivalent
|
|
for it."
|
|
|
|
(1.) The loss is supposed to be very great; he specifies,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Worldly wealth; <I>houses</I> are here put first, and <I>lands</I>
|
|
last: if a man quit his <I>house,</I> which should be for his
|
|
habitation, and his <I>land,</I> which should be for his maintenance,
|
|
and so make himself a beggar and an outcast. This has been the choice
|
|
of suffering saints; farewell houses and lands, though ever so
|
|
convenient and desirable, through the inheritance of fathers, for the
|
|
house which is from heaven, and the inheritance of the saints in light,
|
|
where are many mansions.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Dear relations. <I>Father and mother, wife and children, brethren
|
|
and sisters.</I> In these, as much as in any temporal blessing, the
|
|
comfort of life is bound up; without these the world would be a
|
|
wilderness; yet, when we must either for sake these or Christ, we must
|
|
remember that we stand in nearer relation to Christ than we do to any
|
|
creature; and therefore to keep in with him, we must be content to
|
|
break with all the world, and to say to father and mother, as Levi did,
|
|
<I>I have not known you.</I> The greatest trial of a good man's
|
|
constancy is, when his love to Christ comes to stand in competition
|
|
with a love that is lawful, nay, that is his duty. It is easy to such a
|
|
one to forsake a <I>lust</I> for Christ, for he hath that within him,
|
|
that rises against it; but to forsake a <I>father,</I> a
|
|
<I>brother,</I> a <I>wife,</I> for Christ, that is, to forsake those
|
|
whom he knows he must love, is hard. And yet he must do so, rather than
|
|
deny or disown Christ. Thus great is the loss supposed to be; but it is
|
|
<I>for Christ's sake,</I> that he may be honoured, and the
|
|
<I>gospel's,</I> that it may be promoted and propagated. It is not the
|
|
<I>suffering,</I> but the <I>cause,</I> that makes the <I>martyr.</I>
|
|
And therefore,
|
|
|
|
(2.) The advantage will be great.
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>They shall receive a hundred-fold in this time, houses, and
|
|
brethren, and sisters;</I> not <I>in specie,</I> but that which is
|
|
equivalent. He shall have abundance of comfort while he lives,
|
|
sufficient to make up for all his losses; his relation to Christ, his
|
|
communion with the saints, and his title to eternal life, shall be to
|
|
him <I>brethren,</I> and <I>sisters,</I> and <I>houses,</I> and all.
|
|
God's providence gave Job double to what he had had, but suffering
|
|
Christians shall have a <I>hundred-fold</I> in the comforts of the
|
|
Spirit sweetening their creature comforts. But observe, It is added
|
|
here in Mark, <I>with persecutions.</I> Even when they are gainers by
|
|
Christ, let them still expect to be sufferers for him; and not be out
|
|
of the reach of persecution, till they come to heaven. Nay, The
|
|
<I>persecutions</I> seem to come in here among <I>the receivings</I> in
|
|
this present time; for unto you it is given, not only to believe in
|
|
Christ, but also to <I>suffer for his name;</I> yet this is not all,
|
|
|
|
[2.] They shall have <I>eternal life in the world to come.</I> If they
|
|
receive a hundred-fold in this world, one would think they should not
|
|
be encouraged to expect any more. Yet, as if that were a small matter,
|
|
they shall have <I>life eternal</I> into the bargain; which is more
|
|
than ten thousand-fold, ten thousand times told, for all their losses.
|
|
But because they talked so much, and really more than became them, of
|
|
<I>leaving all</I> for Christ, he tells them, though they were <I>first
|
|
called,</I> that there should be disciples called after them, that
|
|
should be preferred before them; as St. Paul, who was one <I>born out
|
|
of due time,</I> and yet laboured more abundantly than all the rest of
|
|
the apostles,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:10">1 Cor. xv. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Then the <I>first</I> were <I>last,</I> and the last <I>first.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_45"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Prediction of His Sufferings.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus
|
|
went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed,
|
|
they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell
|
|
them what things should happen unto him,
|
|
33 <I>Saying,</I> Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man
|
|
shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes;
|
|
and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the
|
|
Gentiles:
|
|
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall
|
|
spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall
|
|
rise again.
|
|
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him,
|
|
saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever
|
|
we shall desire.
|
|
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for
|
|
you?
|
|
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on
|
|
thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
|
|
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye
|
|
drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the
|
|
baptism that I am baptized with?
|
|
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye
|
|
shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the
|
|
baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
|
|
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine
|
|
to give; but <I>it shall be given to them</I> for whom it is prepared.
|
|
41 And when the ten heard <I>it,</I> they began to be much
|
|
displeased with James and John.
|
|
42 But Jesus called them <I>to him,</I> and saith unto them, Ye know
|
|
that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise
|
|
lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon
|
|
them.
|
|
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be
|
|
great among you, shall be your minister:
|
|
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant
|
|
of all.
|
|
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but
|
|
to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. Christ's prediction of his own sufferings; this string he harped
|
|
much upon, though in the ears of his disciples it sounded very harsh
|
|
and unpleasing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. See here how bold he was; when they were going up to Jerusalem,
|
|
<I>Jesus went before them,</I> as the <I>captain of our salvation,</I>
|
|
that was now to be <I>made perfect through sufferings,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus he showed himself forward to go on with his undertaking, even when
|
|
he came to the hardest part of it. Now that the time was at hand, he
|
|
said, <I>Lo, I come;</I> so far was he from <I>drawing back,</I> that
|
|
now, more than ever, he <I>pressed forward.</I> <I>Jesus went before
|
|
them, and they were amazed.</I> They began now to consider what
|
|
imminent danger they ran themselves into, when they went to Jerusalem;
|
|
how very malicious the Sanhedrim which sat there was against their
|
|
Master and them; and they were ready to tremble at the thought of it.
|
|
To hearten them, therefore, Christ <I>went before them.</I> "Come,"
|
|
saith he, "surely you will venture where your Master ventures." Note,
|
|
When we see ourselves entering upon sufferings, it is encouraging to
|
|
see our Master go before us. Or, <I>He went before them,</I> and
|
|
<I>therefore</I> they were <I>amazed;</I> they admired to see with what
|
|
cheerfulness and alacrity he went on, though he knew he was going to
|
|
suffer and die. Note, Christ's courage and constancy in going on with
|
|
his undertaking for our salvation, are, and will be, the wonder of all
|
|
his disciples.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. See here how timorous and faint-hearted his disciples were; <I>As
|
|
they followed, they were afraid,</I> afraid for themselves, as being
|
|
apprehensive of their own danger; and justly might they be
|
|
<I>ashamed</I> of their being thus <I>afraid.</I> Their Master's
|
|
courage should have put spirit into them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. See here what method he took to silence their fears. He did not go
|
|
about to make the matter better than it was, nor to feed them with
|
|
hopes that he might escape the storm, but told them <I>again</I> what
|
|
he had often told them before, the <I>things that should happen to
|
|
him.</I> He knew the worst of it, and therefore went on thus boldly,
|
|
and he will let them know the worst of it. Come, <I>be not afraid;</I>
|
|
for,
|
|
|
|
(1.) There is no remedy, the matter is determined, and cannot be
|
|
avoided.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is only the <I>Son of man</I> that shall suffer; their time of
|
|
suffering was now at hand, he will now provide for their security.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He <I>shall rise again;</I> the issue of his sufferings will be
|
|
glorious to himself, and advantageous to all that are his,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:33,34"><I>v.</I> 33, 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
The method and particulars of Christ's sufferings are more largely
|
|
foretold here than in any other of the predictions--that he shall first
|
|
be delivered up by Judas to the <I>chief priests and the scribes;</I>
|
|
that they shall condemn him to death, but, not having the power to put
|
|
him to death, shall <I>deliver him to the Gentiles,</I> to the Roman
|
|
powers, and they shall <I>mock him,</I> and <I>scourge him,</I> and
|
|
<I>spit upon him,</I> and <I>kill him.</I> Christ had a perfect
|
|
foresight, not only of his own death, but of all the aggravating
|
|
circumstances of it; and yet he thus went forth to meet it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The check he gave to two of his disciples for their ambitious
|
|
request. This story is much the same here as we had it
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:20">Matt. xx. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Only there they are said to have made their request by their mother,
|
|
here they are said to make it themselves; she introduced them, and
|
|
presented their petition, and then they seconded it, and assented to
|
|
it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
1. As, on the one hand, there are some that do not <I>use,</I> so, on
|
|
the other hand, there are some that <I>abuse,</I> the great
|
|
encouragements Christ has given us in prayer. He hath said, <I>Ask, and
|
|
it shall be given you;</I> and it is a commendable faith to ask for the
|
|
great things he has promised; but it was a culpable presumption in
|
|
these disciples to make such a boundless demand upon their Master;
|
|
<I>We would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall
|
|
desire.</I> We had much better leave it to him to do for us what he
|
|
sees fit, and he will do more than we can desire,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:20">Eph. iii. 20</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. We must be cautious how we make general promises. Christ would not
|
|
engage to do for them whatever they desired, but would know from them
|
|
what it was they did desire; <I>What would ye that I should do for
|
|
you?</I> He would have them go on with their suit, that they might be
|
|
made ashamed of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Many have been led into a snare by false notions of Christ's
|
|
kingdom, as if it were <I>of this world,</I> and like the kingdoms of
|
|
the potentates of this world. James and John conclude, If Christ
|
|
<I>rise again,</I> he must be a king, and if he be a king, his apostles
|
|
must be peers, and one of these would willingly be the <I>Primus par
|
|
regni--The first peer of the realm,</I> and the other next him, like
|
|
Joseph in Pharaoh's court, or Daniel in Darius's.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Worldly honour is a glittering thing, with which the eyes of
|
|
Christ's own disciples have many a time been dazzled. Whereas to <I>be
|
|
good</I> should be more our care than to <I>look great,</I> or to have
|
|
the pre-eminence.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Our weakness and short-sightedness appear as much in our prayers as
|
|
in any thing. We cannot order our speech, when we speak to God, by
|
|
reason of darkness, both concerning him and concerning ourselves. It is
|
|
folly to <I>prescribe</I> to God, and wisdom to <I>sub</I>scribe.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. It is the will of Christ that we should prepare for sufferings, and
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|
leave it to him to recompense us for them. He needs not be put in mind,
|
|
as Ahasuerus did, of the services of his people, nor can he forget
|
|
their <I>work of faith and labour of love.</I> Our care must be, that
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|
we may have wisdom and grace to know how to suffer with him, and then
|
|
we may trust him to provide in the best manner how we shall reign with
|
|
him, and when, and where, and what, the degrees of our glory shall
|
|
be.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
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|
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|
III. The check he gave to the rest of the disciples, for their
|
|
uneasiness at it. <I>They began to be much displeased,</I> to have
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|
<I>indignation about James and John,</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>.
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They were angry at them for affecting precedency, not because it did so
|
|
ill become the disciples of Christ, but because each of them hoped to
|
|
have it himself. When the Cynic trampled on Alexander's foot-cloth,
|
|
with <I>Calco fastum Alexandri--Now I tread on Alexander's pride,</I>
|
|
he was seasonably checked with <I>Sed majori fastu--But with a greater
|
|
pride of thine own.</I> So these discovered their own ambition, in
|
|
their displeasure at the ambition of James and John; and Christ took
|
|
this occasion to warn them against it, and all their successors in the
|
|
ministry of the gospel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:42-44"><I>v.</I> 42-44</A>.
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|
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He <I>called them to him</I> in a familiar way, to give them an example
|
|
of condescension, then when he was reproving their ambition, and to
|
|
teach them never to bid their disciples keep their distance. He shows
|
|
them,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That dominion was generally <I>abused in the world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>That they seemed to rule over the</I> Gentiles, that have the name
|
|
and title of rulers, <I>they exercise lordship over them,</I> that is
|
|
all they study and aim at, not so much to protect them, and provide for
|
|
their welfare, as to <I>exercise authority upon them;</I> they <I>will
|
|
be obeyed,</I> aim to be arbitrary, and to have their will in every
|
|
thing. <I>Sic volo, sic jubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas--Thus I will,
|
|
thus I command; my good pleasure is my law.</I> Their care is, what
|
|
they shall get by their subjects to support their own pomp and
|
|
grandeur, not what they shall do for them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That therefore it ought not to be <I>admitted into the church;</I>
|
|
"<I>It shall not be so among you;</I> those that shall be put under
|
|
your charge, must be as sheep under the charge of the <I>shepherd,</I>
|
|
who is to tend them and feed them, and be a servant to them, not as
|
|
horses under the command of the driver, that works them and beats them,
|
|
and gets his pennyworths out of them. He that affects to be great and
|
|
chief, that thrusts himself into a secular dignity and dominion, <I>he
|
|
shall be servant of all,</I> he shall be mean and contemptible in the
|
|
eyes of all that are wise and good; <I>he that exalteth himself shall
|
|
be abased.</I>" Or rather, "He that would be <I>truly</I> great and
|
|
chief, he must lay out himself to do good to all, must stoop to the
|
|
meanest services, and labour in the hardest services. Those not only
|
|
shall be most <I>honoured</I> hereafter, but are most <I>honourable</I>
|
|
now, who are most useful." To convince them of this, he sets before
|
|
them his own example
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:45"><I>v.</I> 45</A>);
|
|
|
|
"The <I>Son of man</I> submits first to the greatest hardships and
|
|
hazards, and then enters into his glory, and can you expect to come to
|
|
it any other way; or to have more ease and honour than he has?"
|
|
|
|
(1.) He takes upon him <I>the form of a servant,</I> comes not to be
|
|
<I>ministered to,</I> and waited upon, but <I>to minister,</I> and wait
|
|
to be gracious.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He comes <I>obedient to death,</I> and to its dominion, for he
|
|
<I>gives his life a ransom for many;</I> did he die for the benefit of
|
|
good people, and shall not we study to live for their benefit?</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr10_52"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Eyes of Bartimeus Opened.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with
|
|
his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the
|
|
son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging.
|
|
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to
|
|
cry out, and say, Jesus, <I>thou</I> Son of David, have mercy on me.
|
|
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he
|
|
cried the more a great deal, <I>Thou</I> Son of David, have mercy on
|
|
me.
|
|
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And
|
|
they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort,
|
|
rise; he calleth thee.
|
|
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
|
|
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I
|
|
should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I
|
|
might receive my sight.
|
|
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made
|
|
thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed
|
|
Jesus in the way.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This passage of story agrees with that,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:29">Matt. xx. 29</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Only that there were told of <I>two</I> blind men; here, and
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:35">Luke xviii. 35</A>,
|
|
|
|
only of <I>one:</I> but if there were <I>two,</I> there was <I>one.</I>
|
|
This one is named here, being a <I>blind beggar that</I> was much
|
|
talked of; he was called <I>Bartimeus,</I> that is, <I>the son of
|
|
Timeus;</I> which, some think, signifies <I>the son of a blind man;</I>
|
|
he was the blind son of a blind father, which made the case worse, and
|
|
the cure more wonderful, and the more proper to typify the spiritual
|
|
cures wrought by the grace of Christ, on those that not only are born
|
|
blind, but are born of those that are blind.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. This blind man sat <I>begging;</I> as they do with us. Note, Those
|
|
who by the providence of God are disabled to get a livelihood by their
|
|
own labour, and have not any other way of subsisting, are the most
|
|
proper objects of charity; and particular care ought to be taken of
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He cried out to the Lord Jesus for <I>mercy;</I> <I>Have mercy on
|
|
me, O Lord, thou Son of David.</I> Misery is the object of mercy, his
|
|
own miserable case he recommends to the compassion of the <I>Son of
|
|
David,</I> of whom it was foretold, that, when he should come to save
|
|
us, <I>the eyes of the blind should be opened,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5">Isa. xxxv. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
In coming to Christ for help and healing, we should have an eye to him
|
|
as the promised Messiah, the Trustee of mercy and grace.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Christ encouraged him to hope that he should find mercy; for he
|
|
<I>stood still, and commanded him to be called.</I> We must never
|
|
reckon it a hindrance to us in our way, to <I>stand still,</I> when it
|
|
is to do a good work. Those about him, who had discouraged him at
|
|
first, perhaps were now the persons that signified to him the gracious
|
|
call of Christ; "<I>Be of good comfort, rise, he calls thee;</I> and if
|
|
he calls thee, he will cure thee." Note, The gracious invitations
|
|
Christ gives us to come to him, are great encouragements to our hope,
|
|
that we shall speed well if we come to him, and shall have what we come
|
|
for. Let the guilty, the empty, the tempted, the hungry, the naked, be
|
|
of good comfort, for he <I>calls them</I> to be pardoned, to be
|
|
supplied, to be succoured, to be filled, to be clothed, to have all
|
|
that done for them, which their case calls for.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. The poor man, hereupon, made the best of his way to Christ; He
|
|
<I>cast away his</I> loose upper <I>garment,</I> and came to Jesus
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>);
|
|
|
|
he cast away every thing that might be in danger of throwing him down,
|
|
or might in any way hinder him in coming to Christ, or retard his
|
|
motion. Those who would come to Jesus, must cast away the garment of
|
|
their own sufficiency, must strip themselves of all conceit of that,
|
|
and must free themselves from <I>every weight,</I> and the sin that,
|
|
like long garments, doth <I>most easily beset them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:1">Heb. xii. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. The particular favour he begged, was, that his <I>eyes might be
|
|
opened;</I> that so he might be able to work for his living, and might
|
|
be no longer burthensome to others. It is a very desirable thing to be
|
|
in a capacity of earning our own bread; and where God has given men
|
|
their limbs and senses, it is a shame for men by their foolishness and
|
|
slothfulness to make themselves, in effect, <I>blind</I> and
|
|
<I>lame.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. This favour he received; his eyes were opened
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:52"><I>v.</I> 52</A>);
|
|
|
|
and two things Mark here adds, which intimate,
|
|
|
|
1. How Christ made it a double favour to him, by putting the honour of
|
|
it upon his faith; "<I>Thy faith hath made thee whole;</I> faith in
|
|
Christ as the Son of David, and in his pity and power; not thy
|
|
importunity, but <I>thy faith,</I> setting Christ on work, or rather
|
|
Christ setting thy faith on work." Those supplies are most comfortable,
|
|
that are fetched in by our faith.
|
|
|
|
2. How he made it a double favour to himself; When he had <I>received
|
|
his sight,</I> he <I>followed Jesus by the way.</I> By this he made it
|
|
appear that he was thoroughly cured, that he no more needed one to lead
|
|
him, but could go himself; and by this he evidenced the grateful sense
|
|
he had of Christ's kindness to him, that, when he had his sight, he
|
|
made this use of it. It is not enough to <I>come to Christ</I> for
|
|
spiritual healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow
|
|
him; that we may do honour to him, and receive instruction from him.
|
|
Those that have spiritual eye-sight, see that beauty in Christ, that
|
|
will effectually draw them to <I>run after him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
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