IT IS BETTER TO WAVE OUR RIGHT, AND TO OPEN OUR PURSE, THAN TO DISHONOUR OUR REDEEMER. withstanding, lest we-should-offend them, MARK ix. 33. [Ch. xviii. 1, 2 liii. p. 82.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. to his followers, a liberty that leads to bondage. It may be noticed, that as Peter had unwarrantably brought Jesus under an obligation in this matter, he is himself made a debtor to the same amount, and sent back to his former worldly calling, in order to procure the means of payment, 25-7, supra. Mt. xvii. 25. children-or, 'sons;' not subjects as contrasted with foreigners; but sons, or members of the king's own family, in distinction from his subjects. Believers are sons-heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ,' Rom. viii. 17. 26. Then are the children free-This liberty is claimed more especially for Gentile believers-see Peter before the church at Jerusalem, Why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Ac. xv. 10, and Ga. iv. 1-7. 27. lest we should offend, &c.-There would have been occasion of stumbling, if, after Peter's asserting that his Master paid tribute, it was found he did not. That may be done in order to avoid offence, which may not be done as matter of right-so Paul circumcised Timothy, Ac. xvi. 1-3, but would not allow that the same should be forced upon Titus, Ga. ii. 1-5.- It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak,' Rom. xiv. 21- We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves ... For even Christ pleased not himself,' xv. 1-3'Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed,' 2 Cor. vi. 3; 1 Th. v. 22-see border. cast an hook-Our Lord had set Peter apart to another employment, saying, 'Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men,' Lu. v. 10, § 20, p. 155; but this exemption from his former occupation was, it would seem, conditional upon his faithfulness in the more honourable service unto which he was called. He was now reproved, by being, for the mo &c. LUKE. ment, sent back to his former employment. In one other instance do we find our Lord directing Peter in the exercise of his fishing, and that also was in reproof, Jno. xxi. 6, 15-.8, § 97. take up the fish-As he was not to cast a net into the sea, but a hook, so he was not to catch fishes, but only one fish. Jesus might have given to Peter a draught of fishes sufficient for the purpose, in place of one fish with a piece of money in its mouth; or he might have called up from the deep enough to pay for all the disciples, but he commands no more. than is needful; and what he does, is done in such a way, as to shew that he is the Son of man who is constituted Heir of all things; and of whom it is written, Ps. viii. 5-9, Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7, all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9, O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth !'-comp. He. ii. 6-10. for me and thee-Only Peter, who had brought Jesus under an obligation in the matter, is joined The other disciwith him in the paying of tribute. ples are left to the enjoyment of that liberty claimed for the children of God by him who is emphatically the Son of God'-see on ver. 26. It may be noticed, that this gives no claim to exemption from the payment of tribute for the support of civil government, Rom. xiii. I-7-still less does it exempt from the For ye service of God, for 'ye are not your own. are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's,' 1 Co. vi. 19, 20 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,' Rom. xii. 1. NOTES. Mt. xvii. 25. Of their own children, or of strangers? Of strangers only; otherwise our Saviour's argument would not be good. And by strangers are meant all the king's subjects, except his children. The reasoning is this; Earthly kings exempt their own children from paying tribute; but this being levied in the name of God, and for his house and service; I, who am his Son, and superior to the temple, may well be exempted. This tribute is alluded to by Titus, when he tells the Jews at the siege, we have permitted you to raise the tribute for the service of Ged. 27. Thou shalt find a piece of money. This was an Attic silver coin, equal in value to the sacred shekel, four drachmas, or four denarii, about 2s. 6d. Eng., the tax required for two persons, our Lord and Peter. What an illustrious degree of knowledge and power did our Lord discover in the case before us! and how greatly this circumstance would tend to encourage Peter and his brethren in a firm dependence on divine Providence. It is better to recede somewhat from our just rights, than by stubbornly insisting on them, to offend our brethren. [Our Lord would rather work a miracle than allow Peter to offend, in not paying the tribute for himself and his master, after acceding to the demand. But he did not direct payment to be made for the other apostles, who might justly plead exemption, and for whom no engagement, as to payment, had been made.] And thee. This was no especial compliment to that disciple himself-there was no single coin in circulation exactly equal to two drachmas, or the half shekel of the sanctuary.-See Scrip. Illus.' PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Those are inexcusable who have but when we have made engagements, let us if pos- continued it to our own day, as if our Lord had sible fulfil them. not settled it for ever-directing the strife to be, as to who should, in the humblest manner, serve the others most.] not to be hasty in acceding to unjust requiremen s: | was upon earth. [Lu. ix. 46. It was well that the dispute, as to which should be greatest, took place when our Lord VOL. I. AL STAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.-1 Thess. v. 22. [73 WHO 13 HE THAT WILL HARM YOU, IF YE BE FOLLOWERS OF THAT WHICH IS GOOD?-1 Pet. iii. 13. H SPEAK NOT EVIL ONE OF ANOTHER, BRETHREN. HE THAT SPEAKETH EVIL OF HIS BROTHER, AND JUDGETH HIS BROTHER, SPEAKETH PARALLELISM OF MATT. xviii. 1-9; MARK ix. 33-50; LUKE ix. 47-50. (G. 14.) The disciples ask Jesus, Who is the greatest?' &c.; Jesus questions them about their dispute; and, upon their making no answer, he proceeds, both by a significant action, and by word of mouth, to instruct them in humility, and to avoid causing offence.-See NOTE at foot. MATT. xviii. 1-9.* 1 «At the same time εν εκείνη τη ὥρα came the disciples unto-jesus, saying, Who τις ἄρα is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ?b 33 He asked them, What was it that ye- SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xviii. 1. Who is the greatest, &c.-The question, as the disciples here put it to Jesus, is somewhat different in form from that in which it had been discussed among themselves-It was, which of them should be greatest,' Lu. ix. 46, p. 72-That dispute they were rather ashamed to acknowledge, Mk. ix. 34, ...-The Lord had before intimated, Mt. v. 19, § 19, p. 124, that those who do and teach the commandments of God shall be called great' according to the rule before given of God by his prophet, 1 Sa. ii. 30, Them that honour me I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.' NOTES. Mt. xviii. 1. At the same time. Or, in that hour,' i.e., the same hour in which Peter had been con fronted by Jesus, and effectually reproved by him, in being sent away to procure the tribute money, for which he had made his Lord a debtor. [Came the disciples. Peter had before this come into the house-probably he had been the first to enter after his Master-the consequence of the preceding dispute having been, that either he took the first place among the disciples, or it was given him by their consent: they understanding by our Saviour's words, xvi. 17-.9, § 50, p. 37, that such was his will. The severe reproof which immediately followed (ver. 23), would, however, throw some doubt upon the matter; and now this doubt would be increased by seeing Peter dismissed as they are entering. It is likely that Jesus spoke to Peter by himself, xvii. 25, yet there would be something in Peter's look which told them that he did not now think himself so high in his Lord's estimation as he previously had been in his own. That all the disciples were not engaged in the conversation that immediately ensued upon Peter's dismissal, appears from the fact, that it is not till after having asked concerning the subject of disputation, that Jesus calls the twelve together, as Mk. ix. 35. The disciples who wers likely to enter immediately after Peter, and by whom it is probable the question was proposed, were James and John: these, as recorded Mt. xx. 20-.8; Mk. x. 35-45, we afterwards find making a request such as brings upon them the indignation of the other ten disciples, and gives occasion for our Lord to repeat much the same sentiment as that noticed, Mt. xviii. 4; Mk. ix. 35; Lu. ix. 48, last clause. That John had been already aiming at the exercise of undue authority, even beyond their own circle, is evident from his own account of himself, Mk. ix. 38, .9; Lu. ix. 49, 50.] Who is the greatest? &c. The conjunction apa in the original is not expressed by our common translation. It implies a connection of the question with something which had preceded. The words might have been rendered, who then (or therefore, or next) is greater in the kingdom? &c.-the meaning, If Peter is not, who then is greater? something amiss in the spirit of his disciples, which [Lu. ix. 47. And Jesus perceiving, &c. Jesus saw had made them catch so readily at the evidence of Peter's fall, and perhaps secretly rejoice over the humbling he had met with. Some may have anticipated this, and so have been the less unwilling to allow him all that he claimed. If so, they required correction as much as Peter, and it was not without present occasion as well as future utility, that our Lord gave the admonition to avoid offences, and inshould deal with an erring brother, recorded more structions regarding the manner in which Christians particularly by Matthew.] Mk. ix. 33. What was it that ye disputed, &c. Jesus other, which points to that in which the present state answers their question, Mt. xviii. 1, by asking this of things originated, a striving for the mastery; the result of which appears to have been the presumption of Peter, in answering for his Lord without due authority, and his seeming degradation from the place he had chosen to occupy, and which may have been coveted by one or other of the inquirers. 35. Called the twelve, &c. By this it would appear that the previous conversation had not been with the body of the disciples, but with those who were accustomed to keep nearest to Jesus, such as James and John: who are generally mentioned after Peter in the lists of the apostles; and who, we afterwards find, did actually ask for places of honour in the kingdom. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. [Mk. ix. 35. The disciples are not to submit to those heavenly Master, by seeking out those who are like who put themselves forward as lords over God's him, and receiving such in his name. In so doing, heritage; but they are to shew their regard for their | they receive him who is the Sent of the Father.'-He Mr. Greswell thinks this is a repetition of the transaction recorded by Mk. ix. 33; Lu. ix. 47-see ADDENDA, p. 80, On the dispute concerning precedence.' The parallelism of Mt. xviii. 1-9; Mk. ix. 33-0; Lu. ix. 47-50, is here given for eonvenient comparison; and Mr. Greswell's arrangement is preserved at sect. liii. p. 82.-See ADDENDA, p. 79. LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE.-Heb. xiii. 1. [VOL. II. EVIL OF THE LAW, AND JUDGETH THE LAW: BUT IF THOU JUDGE THE LAW, THOU ART NOT A DOER OF THE LAW, BUT A JUDGE.-James iv. 11. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND Mt. xviii. 2. little child-Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein,' Mk. x. 15, § 74, p. 221-As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby,' 1 Pe. ii. 2- I have behaved and quieted myself (Heb. my soul), as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child,' Ps. cxxxi. 2. 3. converted, &c.-Alluding probably to their contentions about which of them should be greatest,' Lu. ix. 46, p. 72-and from which they required to be turned; else they could not be given admission into the kingdom of God-for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble,' Ja. iv. 6 -The King of heaven delights to make the humble LUKE ix. 47-.9. took by him and said unto-them, 48 Whosoever shall-receive in en my name and whosoever shall-receive me receiveth him that sent me: h for he that-is least among you all, the-same shall-be great. And John answered 49 heart his throne, Is. Ivii. 15, Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." 4. humble himself- Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up,' Ja. iv. 10. Lu. ix. 48. Whosoever shall receive, &c.-This saying may have been in the first instance specially designed for those of the disciples who had, as is supposed, secretly begun to grudge the three favoured disciples their privileged familiarity with Jesus-see Mk. v. 37, § 36, p. 283; ix. 2, § 51, p. 52. NOTES. [Mt. xviii. 2. Called a little child, &c. The more forcibly to impress on their minds the truth he wishes to inculcate, our Lord employs the aid of example; here adopting a method of instruction always prevalent in the East, that by emblems and symbolical actions; a mode of conveying one's meaning, which having first been resorted to from the poverty of early language, was afterwards continued, from the advantage it possessed of forcible and vivid illustration; since none of the conceptions of the mind are so distinct as the direct impression of the senses. Of these symbolical and significant actions the writings of the Old Testament supply numerous examples; nor are they wanting in the New. Those of the former are generally of a prophetic character; those of the latter, partly vehicles of prophecy, partly of counsel and instruction. Those of our Lord are generally of the latter description; as when he washed his disciples' feet, broke the bread at the institution of the Eucharist, and breathed on them to represent the communicating to them the Holy Ghost.-And see Greswell on the Parables, Vol. II. p. 276-83.] 3. Except ye be converted, &c. Unless ye be changed from your ambitious desires. As little children. The child, in the literal sense of the word, is the emblem of weakness, destituteness, ignorance, imperfection; the child, in the sense of the regenerate Christian, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; the richest in Christian graces; the most confirmed in spiritual strength, and the most advanced in spiritual improvement; the pattern of Christian loveliness; the acme of Christian moral dignity; in a word, the full grown man in Christ.'Greswell. 5. Receive... in my name. Because he belongs to Christ. The word receive' means, to approve, love, or treat with kindness, to aid in the time of need.See Mt. xxv. 35-40, § 86, p. 352. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. is the Apostle of our profession, and those who are like him form the true apostolic church. Intolerant bodies of men, who claim authority to tyrannize over the children of God, are not acknowledged by him, however the world may wonder after them.] [Mt. xviii. 2-4. The followers of Christ are to be simply desirous of obeying his call, like the little child whom Jesus placed in the midst of his disciples. VOL. 11.] He who can most divest himself of all vain assumption, and yield himself the most entirely to the disposal of Christ, will attain to honour; whilst those who have been more solicitous of putting themselves forward, than of manifesting the free grace of God, will be rejected.] 5 ver. Inasmuch as we are desirous of honouring our dear Lord, let us for his sake receive with love the weakest believer, and treat him with kindness. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.-Matt. xi. 30. LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS.-Matt. xi. 29. [75 IN MANY THINGS WE OFFEND ALL. IF ANY MAN OFFEND NOT IN WORD, THE SAME Mk. ix. 38. we forbad him-So when two men, Eldad and Medad, prophesied in the camp, Nu. xi. 27-9, 'there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28, And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29, And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them !' for he-that is not against us is for us ὑπερ ήμων. [Ch. ix. 51, 2 lix., p. 135.] [And see the foot-note, ibid.] | done, whether by those of his company or not: Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice,' Ph. i. 18-this is to be with Christ: who hath also said, He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth,' Lu. xi. 23, § 62. Mk. ix. 41. For whosoever shall give, $c.-'Whoso ever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward,' Mt. x. 42, § 39, p. 303-see also xxv. 40, § 86. Mt. xviii. 6. offend, &c.- Judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way,' Rom. xiv. 13- It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! Lu. xvii. 1, § 70, p. 206- It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you,' 2 Th. i. 6. NOTES. 39. Forbid him not-It is thus, an act of disobedience to Christ, to forbid men to do good in the name of Christ, because they do not belong to our companysee another instance of hastiness of spirit manifested by James and John, under the appearance of zeal for their Master's honour, when they were again checked and even rebuked by Jesus, Lu. ix. 54-.6, § 59, p. 136. Lu. ix. 50. he that is not against us, &c.-The apostle, writing from Rome, rejoiced in good being Mt. xviii. 6. Offend, oxavdadiog, &c., shall cause to stumble, &c. Tempt them to sin, or lay obstructions in their way, and render it rough and difficult and thereby impede their progress in it. One of these little ones. Meaning, Christians in general, namely, those of ordinary capacity and attainments; honest and sincere, though not highlygifted believers. Water A millstone. Mos is a millstone. 'Ovos is added to indicate its being too large to be managed by the hand, and only by the assistance of an ass. cornmills were not invented till a little before the time of Augustus. Windmills long after. The millstones of the ancients were sometimes turned by slaves or women (see ch. xxiv. 41, § 86, p. 342), but commonly by asses or mules. The expression is a PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [Mk. ix. 39. It was well that, not only the doctrine of pre-eminence, but that of exclusive authority to minister in the name of Jesus, was tried so early. Our Lord would not allow the apostles to forbid those who followed not with them, from doing good in his name. And it is remarkable that the transgressor in this case was the beloved disciple,' who had afterwards the same intolerance exercised toward himself, by Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence among them,' 3 Jno. ver. 9.] 41 ver. We are to be thankful for the least help given to the cause of God, and to receive such graciously, as does our Lord, who hath said of the givers, Verily,... he shall not lose his reward.' 76] [42 ver. Let those that would have the pre-eminence in the church, and who would forbid those that follow not with them, hear the words of our Lord, Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.'-See this sentence executed, Rev. xviii. 21.] Mt. xviii. 6. Let us not despise those who have no other claim on us than that of being believers in Jesus; and let us be most careful not to say or do anything which would justly give them offence, or cause them to stumble in the way of righteousness. It were better to lose our own natural life than to injure the spiritual life of others. YET HE ABIDETH FAITHFUL:-2 Tim. ii. 13. [VOL. II. IS A PERFECT MAN, AND ALE ALSO TO BRIDLE THE WHOLE BODY.-James iii. 2. SHE THAT LIVETH IN PLEASURE IS DEAD WHILE SHE LIVETH. 1 Tim. v. 6. MATT. Xviii. 7, 8. 7 Woe unto - the world because of offences! for itmust-needs-be avayêη yap EOTIV that- offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand" or thy foot offend thee, • and cast them from thee: or maimed, το πυρ το αιώνιον. Mt. xviii. 7. Woe unto the world because, &c.-' The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you,' Rom. ii. 24-comp. Eze. xxxvi. 20-.3The very priests had caused many to stumble at the law, Mal. ii. 7, 8-The Christian must ever speak and act so as not needlessly to offend the world, Rom. xii. 17, .8, Provide things honest in the sight of all men ... As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men'-2 Ti. ii. 24, .5, The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men,.... in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.' Mk. ix. 43. if thy hand offend thee, &c.-Thy right hand,' &c., Mt. v. 30, § 19, p. 126. Under the law, Israel were to deny themselves to their nearest and dearest relatives, should they seek to draw them from the worship of the one true God, De. xiii. 6-11. And under the gospel no member of the body, however highly prized, is to be endured as setting at nought the precepts of the Saviour, 1 Co. v. 1-5, 12, .3. 44. where their worm, &c. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh,' Is. Ixvi. 24. 45. thy foot, &c. This language is sometimes used with regard to members of the church, For the body is not one member, but many. 15, If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;.... 27, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular,' I Co. xii. 14, .5, 27Every individual Christian should keep his body in subjection to the law of Christ-Rom. viii. 13, if ye live after the flesh. ye shall die: but if ye through NOTES it must needs be, &c.-It had been predicted, Da. xi. 35, And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end-and the apostle warns, 2 Ti. iii. 1—13, That in the last days perilous times shall come. 2, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,.... 13, Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.' figurative one for an immense stone. The punish ment here alluded to, though not in use among the Jews themselves, was so among the Greeks, Romans, and the surrounding nations; where it was inflicted on criminals of the worst sort, especially parricides and those guilty of sacrilege. The custom seems to have grown into a proverb for dreadful and inevitable ruin.-See ADDENDA, p. 81, Drowned, &c. [Mt. xviii. 7. It must needs be that offences come. 'Aváyan yáp kotiv ¿λosìv tà onávaλa, for the coming of offences is unavoidable. Temptations to sin and stumbling blocks are inevitable, by reason of the wickedness, obstinacy, malice, inconstancy, and weakness of men; yet so terrible are the consequences of For those offences, that it is better to endure the greatest deprivation or corporeal pain, than occasion them.] Mk. ix. 43. Thy hand offend, &c. If one who is as useful or dear to thee as a hand or an eye, prevent thee from walking in the ways of God, or hinder thee therein, renounce all intercourse with him. [44, .6. Their worm. This figure is clearly taken from Is. Ixvi. 24, Ser. Ill.' In describing the great prosperity of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says that the people of God shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of men who have transgressed against God. Their enemies shall be slain. The people of PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [Mt. xviii. 7. Woe indeed hath come unto the world because of the stumblings of the disciples of Jesus; the world hath not been able to distinguish between the truth, and the faults of those who profess the truth.] VOL. 11.] [Because of the pride, contentions, uncharitableness, and miserable selfishness, prevailing among those who have profaned the holy name of Jesus, the world hath been made to stumble and remain in darkness, destruction, and death.] THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS.-2 Tim. ii. 1. [77 LET EVERY ONE THAT NAMETH THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.-2 Tim. ii. 19. |