NOTES

ON THE

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK.

THIS CONTAINS,

I. The beginning of the Gospel,

a. John prepares the way..................................... Chap. i, 1-8

b. Baptizes Jesus, who is proclaimed the Son of God................. 9-11

c. Tempted of Satan, served by angels............................... 12,13

II. The Gospel itself,

A. In Galilee: where we may observe three periods,

a. After John was cast into prison,

In general,

1. The place and matter of his preaching,....................... 14,15

2. The calling of several of the apostles....................... 16-20

In particular,

1. Actions not censured by his adversaries

1. He teaches with authority................................... 21, 22

2. Cures the demoniac........................................... 23-28

3. Heals many sick.............................................. 29-34

4. Prays........................................................... 35

5. Teaches every where.......................................... 36-39

6. Cleanses the leper........................................... 40-45

2. Actions censured by them,

Here occur,

1. The paralytic forgiven and healed......................... ii, 1-12

2. The call of Levi, and eating with publicans and sinners...... 13-17

3. The question concerning fasting answered..................... 18-22

4. The ears of corn plucked..................................... 23-28

5. The withered hand restored: Snares laid................... iii, 1-6

3. Our Lord's retirement,

1. At the sea.................................................... 7-12

2. In the mountain, where the apostles are called............... 13-19

3. In the house, where after refuting the blasphemy of the

Pharisees, he shows who are his mother and his brethren.... 20-35

4. In the ship; various parables............................. iv, 1-34

5. On the sea, and beyond it.................................... 35-41

v, 1-20

6. On this side the sea: Again: Jairus, and the woman with

the flux of blood.......................................... 21-43

7. At Nazareth: His countrymen offended....................... vi, 1-6

8. The apostles sent forth....................................... 7-13

b. After John was put to death,

1. Herod's hearing of Jesus, and judgment of him................ 14-29

2. Christ's retiring with his apostles, now returned............ 30-32

3. The earnestness of the people; Christ's compassion;

five thousand fed.......................................... 33-44

4. His walking on the sea....................................... 45-52

5. He heals many in the land of Gennesaret..................... 53-56

6. And teaches what defiles a man........................... vii, 1-23

7. A devil cast out in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon............. 24-30

8. At the sea of Galilee, the deaf and dumb healed;

four thousand fed.......................................... 31-37

viii, 1-9

9. He comes into the parts of Dalmanutha, and answers concerning

the sign from heaven........................... Chap. viii, 10-13

10. In the ship, he warns them of evil leaven................... 14-21

11. At Bethsaida, heals the sick................................ 22-26

c. After he was acknowledged to be the Son of God,

1. Peter confessing him, he enjoins his disciples silence; foretells

his passion; reproves Peter; exhorts to follow him............ 21

ix, 1

2. Is transfigured: casts out a devil; foretells his passion.... 2-32

3. Reproves and instructs his disciples......................... 33-50

B. In Judea,

a. In the borders................................................... x,1

1. He treats of divorce......................................... 2-12

2. Of little children.......................................... 13-16

3. Of entering into life, and of the danger of riches.......... 17-31

b. In his way to the city,

1. He foretells his passion a third time....................... 32-34

2. Answers James and John, and instructs them all.............. 35-45

3. At Jericho, gives sight to Bartimeus........................ 46-52

4. At Jerusalem................................................. xi,1

a. His royal entry'................................................ 2-11

b. The day after, the fig tree cursed............................. 12-14

the temple purged.......................................... 15-19

c. The day after that,

1. Near the fig tree, he shows the power of faith................. 20-26

2. In the temple,

1. His authority vindicated..................................... 27-33

2. The parable of the wicked husbandmen..................... xii, 1-12

3. Of paying tribute to Cesar................................... 13-17

4. Of the resurrection.......................................... 18-27

5. Of the great commandment..................................... 28-34

6. Of David's Lord.............................................. 35-37

7. He warns the people of the scribes........................... 38-40

8. Commends the poor widow...................................... 41-44

3. On Mount Olivet, he foretells the destruction of the city and

temple, and the end of the world...................... xiii, 1-37

d. Two days before the passover; his enemies bargain with Judas.xiv,1-11

e. On the first day of unleavened bread,

1. The passover prepared........................................ 12-16

2. The Lord's Supper instituted................................. 17-25

3. After the hymn, the offence of the disciples and Peter's

denial foretold............................................ 26-31

4. In Gethsemane,

Jesus prays; wakes his disciples........................... 32-42

Is betrayed; taken; forsaken of all........................ 43-52

5. In the high priest's palace,

He is condemned to death................................... 53-65

Denied by Peter............................................ 66-72

f. Friday,

What was done,

1.In Pilate's palace........................................ xv, 1-20

2. In the way..................................................... 21

3. At Golgotha.................................................... 22

1. The wine and myrrh offered................................... 23

2. The crucifixion; his garments parted...................... 24,25

3. The title.................................................... 26

4. The two malefactors....................................... 27,28

5. Revilings................................................. 29-32

6. The darkness; the cry of Jesus; the scoff; the vinegar;

his death; the veil rent................................ 33-38

7. The saying of the centurion; the women looking on......... 39-41

4. In the evening, the burial.................................. 42-47

g. Sunday,

Our Lord's resurrection declared,

1. By an angel........................................ Chap. xvi, 1-8

2. By himself,

To Mary Magdalene........................................... 9-11

To two going into the country.............................. 12,13

To the eleven sitting at meat................................. 14

III. The Gospel,

1. Committed by Christ to his apostles after his resurrection...15-18

2. Confirmed after his ascension............................... 19,20

-----------

Verse 1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ-The

evangelist speaks with strict propriety: for the beginning of

the Gospel is in the account of John the Baptist, contained in

the first paragraph; the Gospel itself in the rest of the book.

# Mt 3:1; Lu 3:1

2. # Mal 3:1

3. # Isa 40:3.

4. Preaching the baptism of repentance-That is, preaching

repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it.

7. The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose-That

is, to do him the very meanest service.

9. # Mt 3:13; Lu 3:21.

12. And immediately the Spirit thrusteth him out into the

wilderness-So in all the children of God, extraordinary

manifestations of his favour are wont to be followed by

extraordinary temptations. # Mt 4:1; Lu 4:1.

13. And he was there forty days, tempted by Satan-Invisibly.

After this followed the temptation by him in a visible shape,

related by St. Matthew. And he was with the wild beasts-Though

they had no power to hurt him. St. Mark not only gives us a

compendium of St. Matthew's Gospel, but likewise several

valuable particulars, which the other evangelists have omitted.

14. # Mt 4:12.

15. The time is fulfilled-The time of my kingdom, foretold by

Daniel, expected by you, is fully come.

16. # Mt 4:18; Lu 5:1.

18. Straightway leaving their nets, they followed him-From this

time they forsook their employ, and constantly attended him.

Happy they who follow Christ at the first call!

21. # Lu 4:31.

26. A loud noise-For he was forbidden to speak. Christ would

neither suffer those evil spirits to speak in opposition, nor

yet in favour of him. He needed not their testimony, nor would

encourage it, lest any should infer that he acted in concert

with them.

29. # Mt 8:14; Lu 4:38.

32. When the sun was set-And, consequently, the Sabbath was

ended, which they reckoned from sunset to sunset.

33. And the whole city was gathered together at the door-O what

a fair prospect was here! Who could then have imagined that all

these blossoms would die away without fruit?

34. He suffered not the devils to say that they knew him-That

is, according to Dr. Mead's hypothesis, (that the Scriptural

demoniacs were only diseased persons,) He suffered not the

diseases to say that they knew him!

35. Rising a great while before day-So did he labour for us,

both day and night. # Lu 4:42.

40. # Mt 8:2; Lu 5:12.

44. See thou say nothing to any man-But our blessed Lord gives

no such charge to us. If he has made us clean from our leprosy

of sin, we are not commanded to conceal it. On the contrary, it

is our duty to publish it abroad, both for the honour of our

Benefactor, and that others who are sick of sin may be encouraged

to ask and hope for the same benefit. But go, show thyself to

the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded

for a testimony to them-The priests seeing him, pronouncing him

clean, # Lev 13:17,23,28,37, and accordingly allowing him to

offer as Moses commanded, # Lev 14:2,7, was such a proof against

them, that they durst never say the leper was not cleansed; which

out of envy or malice against our Saviour they might have been

ready to say, upon his presenting himself to be viewed, according

to the law, if by the cleansed person's talking much about his

cure, the account of it had reached their ears before he came in

person. This is one great reason why our Lord commanded this man

to say nothing.

45. So that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city-It

was also to prevent this inconvenience that our Lord had

enjoined him silence.

II. 1. And again-After having been in desert places for some

time, he returned privately to the city. In the house-In

Peter's house.

2. And immediately many were gathered together-Hitherto continued

the general impression on their hearts. Hitherto, even at

Capernaum, all who heard received the word with joy.

3. # Mt 9:2; Lu 5:18.

4. They uncovered the roof-Or, took up the covering, the lattice

or trap door, which was on all their houses, (being flat roofed.)

And finding it not wide enough, broke the passage wider, to let

down the couch.

6. But certain of the scribes-See whence the first offence

cometh! As yet not one of the plain unlettered people were

offended. They all rejoiced in the light, till these men of

learning came, to put darkness for light, and light for darkness.

Wo to all such blind guides! Good had it been for these if they

had never been born. O God, let me never offend one of thy

simple ones! Sooner let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!

12. They were all amazed-Even the scribes themselves for a time.

13. All the multitude came to him-Namely, by the sea side. And

he as readily taught them there as if they had been in a synagogue.

14. # Mt 9:9; Lu 5:27.

15. Many publicans and notorious sinners sat with Jesus-Some of

them doubtless invited by Matthew, moved with compassion for his

old companions in sin. But the next words, For there were many,

and they followed him, seem to imply, that the greater part,

encouraged by his gracious words and the tenderness of his

behaviour, and impatient to hear more, stayed for no invitation,

but pressed in after him, and kept as close to him as they could.

16. And the scribes and Pharisees said-So now the wise men being

joined by the saints of the world, went a little farther in

raising prejudices against our Lord. In his answer he uses as

yet no harshness, but only calm, dispassionate reasoning.

17. I came not to call the righteous-Therefore if these were

righteous I should not call them. But now, they are the very

persons I came to save.

18. # Mt 9:14; Lu 5:33.

23. # Mt 12:1; Lu 6:1.

26. In the days of Abiathar the high priest-Abimelech, the

father of Abiathar, was high priest then; Abiathar himself not

till some time after. This phrase therefore only means, In the

time of Abiathar, who was afterward the high priest.

# 1Sa 21:6.

27. The Sabbath was made for man-And therefore must give way to

man's necessity.

28. Moreover the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath-Being

the supreme Lawgiver, he hath power to dispense with his own

laws; and with this in particular.

III. He entered again into the synagogue-At Capernaum on the

same day. # Mt 12:9; Lu 6:6.

2. And they-The scribes and Pharisees, watched him, that they

might accuse him-Pride, anger, and shame, after being so often

put to silence, began now to ripen into malice.

4. Is it lawful to save life or to kill?-Which he knew they

were seeking occasion to do. But they held their peace-Being

confounded, though not convinced.

5. Looking round upon them with anger, being grieved-Angry at

the sin, grieved at the sinner; the true standard of Christian

anger. But who can separate anger at sin from anger at the

sinner? None but a true believer in Christ.

6. The Pharisees going out-Probably leaving the scribes to

watch him still: took counsel with the Herodians-as bitter as

they usually were against each other.

8. From Idumea-The natives of which had now professed the Jewish

religion above a hundred and fifty years. They about Tyre and

Sidon-The Israelites who lived in those coasts.

10. Plagues or scourges (so the Greek word properly means) seem

to be those very painful or afflictive disorders which were

frequently sent, or at least permitted of God, as a scourge or

punishment of sin.

12. He charged them not to make him known-It was not the time:

nor were they fit preachers.

13. He calleth whom he would-With regard to the eternal states

of men, God always acts as just and merciful. But with regard to

numberless other things, he seems to us to act as a mere sovereign.

# Lu 6:12

14. # Mt 10:2; Lu 6:13; Ac 1:13.

16. He surnamed them sons of thunder-Both with respect to the

warmth and impetuosity of their spirit, their fervent manner of

preaching, and the power of their word.

20. To eat bread-That is, to take any subsistence.

21. His relations-His mother and his brethren,

# Mr 3:31. But it was some time before they could come near him.

22. The scribes and Pharisees,

# Matt 12:22;

who had come down from Jerusalem-Purposely on the devil's errand.

And not without success. For the common people now began to

drink in the poison, from these learned, good, honourable men!

He hath Beelzebub-at command, is in league with him: And by the

prince of the devils casteth he out devils-How easily may a man

of learning elude the strongest proof of a work of God! How

readily can he account for every incident without ever taking

God into the question. # Mt 12:24; Lu 11:15.

28. # Mt 12:31; Lu 12:10.

30. Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit-Is it not

astonishing, that men who have ever read these words, should

doubt, what is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? Can any

words declare more plainly, that it is "the ascribing those

miracles to the power of the devil which Christ wrought by the

power of the Holy Ghost?"

31. Then come his brethren and his mother-Having at length made

their way through the crowd, so as to come to the door. His

brethren are here named first, as being first and most earnest

in the design of taking him: for neither did these of his

brethren believe on him. They sent to him, calling him-They

sent one into the house, who called him aloud, by name.

# Mt 12:46; Lu 8:19.

34. Looking round on them who sat about him-With the utmost

sweetness; He said, Behold my mother and my brethren-In this

preference of his true disciples even to the Virgin Mary,

considered merely as his mother after the flesh, he not only

shows his high and tender affection for them, but seems

designedly to guard against those excessive and idolatrous

honours, which he foresaw would in after ages be paid to her.

IV. 1. # Mt 13:1; Lu 8:4.

2. He taught them many things by parables-After the usual

manner of the eastern nations, to make his instructions more

agreeable to them, and to impress them the more upon attentive

hearers. A parable signifies not only a simile or comparison,

and sometimes a proverb, but any kind of instructive speech,

wherein spiritual things are explained and illustrated by natural,

# Prov 1:6.

To understand a proverb and the interpretation-The proverb is

the literal sense, the interpretation is the spiritual resting

in the literal sense killeth, but the spiritual giveth life.

3. Hearken-This word he probably spoke with a loud voice, to

stop the noise and hurry of the people.

10. When he was alone-That is, retired apart from the multitude.

11. To them that are without-So the Jews termed the heathens:

so our Lord terms all obstinate unbelievers: for they shall not

enter into his kingdom: they shall abide in outer darkness.

12. So that seeing they see and do not perceive-They would not

see before now they could not, God having given them up to the

blindness which they had chosen.

13. Know ye not this parable?-Which is as it were the foundation

of all those that I shall speak hereafter; and is so easy to be

understood?

19. The desire of other things choke the word-A deep and

important truth! The desire of any thing, otherwise than as it

leads to happiness in God, directly tends to barrenness of soul.

Entering in-Where they were not before. Let him therefore who

has received and retained the word, see that no other desire

then enter in, such as perhaps till then he never knew.

It becometh unfruitful-After the fruit had grown almost to

perfection.

21. And he said, Is a candle-As if he had said, I explain these

things to you, I give you this light, not to conceal, but to

impart it to others. And if I conceal any thing from you now,

it is only that it may be more effectually manifested hereafter.

# Mt 5:15; Lu 8:16; 11:33.

22. # Mt 10:26; Lu 8:17.

24. Take heed what ye hear-That is, attend to what you hear,

that it may have its due influence upon you. With what measure

you mete-That is, according to the improvement you make of what

you have heard, still farther assistance shall be given.

And to you that hear-That is, with improvement.

25. He that hath-That improves whatever he has received, to the

good of others, as well as of his own soul.

# Mt 13:12; Lu 8:18.

26. So is the kingdom of God-The inward kingdom is like seed

which a man casts into the ground-This a preacher of the Gospel

casts into the heart. And he sleeps and rises night and day-That

is, he has it continually in his thoughts. Meantime it springs

and grows up he knows not how-Even he that sowed it cannot

explain how it grows. For as the earth by a curious kind of

mechanism, which the greatest philosophers cannot comprehend,

does as it were spontaneously bring forth first the blade, then

the ear, then the full corn in the ear: so the soul, in an

inexplicable manner, brings forth, first weak graces, then

stronger, then full holiness: and all this of itself, as a

machine, whose spring of motion is within itself. Yet observe

the amazing exactness of the comparison. The earth brings forth

no corn (as the soul no holiness) without both the care and toil

of man, and the benign influence of heaven.

29. He putteth in the sickle-God cutteth down and gathereth the

corn into his garner.

30. # Mt 13:31; Lu 13:18.

33. He spake the word as they were able to hear it-Adapting it

to the capacity of his hearers; and speaking as plain as he

could without offending them. A rule never to be forgotten by

those who instruct others.

35. # Mt 8:23; Lu 8:22.

36. They take him as he was in the vessel-They carried him

immediately in the same vessel from which he had been preaching

to the people.

38. On the pillow-So we translate it, for want of a proper

English expression, for that particular part of the vessel

near the rudder, on which he lay.

39. Peace-Cease thy tossing: Be still-Cease thy roaring;

literally, Be thou gagged.

V. 1. # Mt 8:28; Lu 8:26.

2. There met him a man with an unclean spirit-St. Matthew

mentions two. Probably this, so particularly spoken of here,

was the most remarkably fierce and ungovernable.

9. My name is Legion! for we are many-But all these seem to

have been under one commander, who accordingly speaks all

along, both for them and himself.

15. And they were afraid-It is not improbable they might

otherwise have offered some rudeness, if not violence.

18. # Mt 9:1; Lu 8:37;

19. Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee-This

was peculiarly needful there, where Christ did not go in person.

20. He published in Decapolis-Not only at home, but in all that

country where Jesus himself did not come.

21. # Lu 8:40.

22. One of the rulers of the synagogue-To regulate the affairs

of every synagogue, there was a council of grave men. Over

these was a president, who was termed the ruler of the synagogue.

Sometimes there was no more than one ruler in a synagogue.

# Mt 9:18; Lu 8:41.

25. # Mt 9:20; Lu 8:43.

37. John, the brother of James-When St. Mark wrote, not long

after our Lord's ascension, the memory of St. James, lately

beheaded, was so fresh, that his name was more known than that

of John himself.

40. Them that were with him-Peter, James, and John.

43. He charged them that no man should know it-That he might

avoid every appearance of vain glory, might prevent too great

a concourse of people, and might not farther enrage the scribes

and Pharisees against him; the time for his death, and for the

full manifestation of his glory, being not yet come. He

commanded something should be given her to eat-So that when

either natural or spiritual life is restored, even by immediate

miracle, all proper means are to be used in order to preserve it.

VI. 1. # Mt 13:54; Lu 4:16.

3. Is not this the carpenter?-There can be no doubt, but in

his youth he wrought with his supposed father Joseph.

5. He could do no miracle there-Not consistently with his wisdom

and goodness. It being inconsistent with his wisdom to work them

there, where it could not promote his great end; and with his

goodness, seeing he well knew his countrymen would reject whatever

evidence could be given them. And therefore to have given them

more evidence, would only have increased their damnation.

6. He marvelled-As man. As he was God, nothing was strange to him.

7. # Mt 10:1; Lu 9:1.

8. He commanded them to take nothing for their journey-That they

might be always unincumbered, free, ready for motion. Save a

staff only-He that had one might take it; but he that had not was

not to provide one, # Matt 10:9. # Lu 9:3.

9. Be shod with sandals-As you usually are. Sandals were pieces

of strong leather or wood, tied under the sole of the foot by

thongs, something resembling modern clogs. The shoes which

they are in St. Matthew forbidden to take, were a kind of short

boots, reaching a little above the mid-leg, which were then

commonly used in journeys. Our Lord intended by this mission to

initiate them into their apostolic work. And it was doubtless

an encouragement to them all their life after, to recollect the

care which God took of them, when they had left all they had,

and went out quite unfurnished for such an expedition. In this

view our Lord himself leads them to consider it, # Luke 22:35:

When I sent you forth without purse or scrip, lacked ye any thing?

10. # Mt 10:11; Lu 9:4.

12. # Lu 9:6.

13. They anointed with oil many that were sick-Which St. James

gives as a general direction, # Jas 5:14,15, adding those

peremptory words, And the Lord shall heal him-He shall be

restored to health: not by the natural efficacy of the oil,

but by the supernatural blessing of God. And it seems this was

the great standing means of healing, desperate diseases in the

Christian Church, long before extreme unction was used or heard

of, which bears scarce any resemblance to it; the former being

used only as a means of health; the latter only when life is

despaired of.

14. # Mt 14:1; Lu 9:7.

15. A prophet, as one of the prophets-Not inferior to one of the

ancient prophets.

16. But Herod hearing thereof-Of their various judgments

concerning him, still said, It is John.

20. And preserved him-Against all the malice and contrivances

of Herodias. And when he heard him-Probably sending for him, at

times, during his imprisonment, which continued a year and a half.

He heard him gladly-Delusive joy! While Herodias lay in his bosom.

21. A convenient day-Convenient for her purpose. His lords,

captains, and principal men of Galilee-The great men of the

court, the army, and the province.

23. To the half of my kingdom-A proverbial expression.

26. Yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of his guests

-Herod's honour was like the conscience of the chief priests,

# Matt 27:6. To shed innocent blood wounded neither one

nor the other.

30. # Lu 9:10.

31. # Mt 14:13; John 6:1.

32. They departed-Across a creek or corner of the lake.

34. Coming out-of the vessel.

40. They sat down in ranks-The word properly signifies a

parterre or bed in a garden; by a metaphor, a company of men

ranged in order, by hundreds and by fifties-That is, fifty in

rank, and a hundred in file. So a hundred multiplied by fifty,

make just five thousand.

43. Full of the fragments-of the bread.

45. He constrained his disciples-Who did not care to go without him.

# Mt 14:22.

46. # Mt 14:23; John 6:15.

48. And he saw them-For the darkness could veil nothing from him.

And would have passed by them-That is, walked, as if he was passing by.

52. Their heart was hardened-And yet they were not reprobates.

It means only, they were slow and dull of apprehension.

53. # Mt 14:34; John 6:21.

VII. 1. Coming from Jerusalem-Probably on purpose to find

occasion against him. # Mt 15:1.

4. Washing of cups and pots and brazen vessels and couches-The

Greek word (baptisms) means indifferently either washing or

sprinkling. The cups, pots, and vessels were washed; the

couches sprinkled.

5. The tradition of the elders-The rule delivered down from

your forefathers.

6. # Isa 29:13.

10. # Ex 20:12; Ex 21:17.

15. There is nothing entering into a man from without which

can defile him-Though it is very true, a man may bring guilt,

which is moral defilement, upon himself by eating what hurts his

health, or by excess either in meat or drink yet even here the

pollution arises from the wickedness of the heart, and is just

proportionable to it. And this is all that our Lord asserts.

19. Purging all meats-Probably the seat was usually placed over

running water.

22. Wickedness-The word means ill natured, cruelty, inhumanity,

and all malevolent affections. Foolishness-Directly contrary to

sobriety of thought and discourse: all kind of wild imaginations

and extravagant passions.

24. # Mt 15:21.

26. The woman was a Greek (that is, a Gentile, not a Jew) a

Syrophenician or Canaanite. Canaan was also called Syrophenicia,

as lying between Syria, properly so called, and Phenicia.

31. # Mt 15:29.

33. He put his fingers into his ears-Perhaps intending to teach

us, that we are not to prescribe to him (as they who brought this

man attempted to do) but to expect his blessing by whatsoever

means he pleases: even though there should be no proportion

or resemblance between the means used, and the benefit to be

conveyed thereby.

34. Ephphatha-This was a word of SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY, not an

address to God for power to heal: such an address was needless;

for Christ had a perpetual fund of power residing in himself,

to work all miracles whenever he pleased, even to the raising

the dead, # John 5:21,26.

36. Them-The blind man and those that brought him.

VIII. 1. # Mt 15:32.

8. So they did eat-This miracle was intended to demonstrate,

that Christ was the true bread which cometh down from heaven;

for he who was almighty to create bread without means to support

natural life, could not want power to create bread without means

to support spiritual life. And this heavenly bread we stand so

much in need of every moment, that we ought to be always praying,

Lord, evermore give us this bread.

11. Tempting him-That is, trying to ensnare him.

# Mt 16:1.

12. # Mt 16:4.

15. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, or of

the Sadducees; two opposite extremes.

17,18. Our Lord here affirms of all the apostles, (for the

question is equivalent to an affirmation,) That their hearts

were hardened; that having eyes they saw not, having ears they

heard not; that they did not consider, neither understand: the

very same expressions that occur in the thirteenth of Matthew.

And yet it is certain they were not judicially hardened.

Therefore all these strong expressions do not necessarily

import any thing more than the present want of spiritual

understanding.

18. See note ... "Mr 8:17"

23. He led him out of the town-It was in just displeasure

against the inhabitants of Bethsaida for their obstinate

infidelity, that our Lord would work no more miracles among

them, nor even suffer the person he had cured, either to go

into the town, or to tell it to any therein.

24. I see men as trees walking-He distinguished men from trees

only by their motion.

27. # Mt 16:13; Lu 9:18.

30. He enjoined them silence for the present,

1. That he might not encourage the people to set him up for

a temporal king;

2. That he might not provoke the scribes and Pharisees to

destroy him before the time and,

3. That he might not forestall the bright evidence which was

to be given of his Divine character after his resurrection.

31. # Mt 16:21; Lu 9:22.

32. He spake that saying openly-Or in express terms. Till now

he had only intimated it to them. And Peter taking hold of him

-Perhaps by the arms or clothes.

33. Looking on his disciples-That they might the more observe

what he said to Peter.

34. And when he called the people-To hear a truth of the last

importance, and one that equally concerned them all. Let him

deny himself-His own will, in all things small and great,

however pleasing, and that continually: And take up his cross

-Embrace the will of God, however painful, daily, hourly,

continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to glory.

35. # Mt 16:25; Lu 9:24; Lu 17:33; John 12:25.

38. Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words-That is,

avowing whatever I have said (particularly of self denial and

the daily cross) both by word and action.

# Mt 10:32; Lu 9:26; Lu 12:8.

IX. 1. Till they see the kingdom of God coming with power-So it

began to do at the day of pentecost, when three thousand were

converted to God at once.

2. By themselves-That is, separate from the multitude: Apart

-From the other apostles: and was transfigured-The Greek word

seems to refer to the form of God, and the form of a servant,

{mentioned by St. Paul, # Php 2:6,7,} and may intimate, that the

Divine rays, which the indwelling God let out on this occasion,

made the glorious change from one of these forms into the other.

# Mt 17:1; Lu 9:28.

3. White as snow, such as no fuller can whiten-Such as could

not be equalled either by nature or art.

4. Elijah-Whom they expected: Moses, whom they did not.

7. There came a (bright, luminous) cloud, overshadowing them

-This seems to have been such a cloud of glory as accompanied

Israel in the wilderness, which, as the Jewish writers observe,

departed at the death of Moses. But it now appeared again, in

honour of our Lord, as the great Prophet of the Church, who was

prefigured by Moses. Hear ye him-Even preferably to Moses and

Elijah.

12. Elijah verily coming first restoreth all things: and how it

is written-That is, And he told them how it is written-As if he

had said, Elijah's coming is not inconsistent with my suffering.

He is come: yet I shall suffer. The first part of the verse

answers their question concerning Elijah; the second refutes

their error concerning the Messiah's continuing for ever.

14. # Mt 17:14; Lu 9:37.

15. All the multitude seeing him were greatly amazed-At his

coming so suddenly, so seasonably, so unexpectedly: perhaps also

at some unusual rays of majesty and glory, which yet remained on

his countenance.

17. And one of the multitude answering-The scribes gave no

answer to our Lord's question. They did not care to repeat

what they had said to his disciples. A dumb spirit-A spirit

that takes his speech from him.

20. When he saw him-When the child saw Christ; when his

deliverance was at hand. Immediately the spirit tore him-Made

his last grand effort to destroy him. Is it not generally so,

before Satan is cast out of a soul, of which he has long had

possession?

22. If thou canst do any thing-In so desperate a case: Have

compassion on us-Me as well as him.

23. If thou canst believe-As if he had said, The thing does not

turn on my power, but on thy faith. I can do all things: canst

thou believe?

24. Help thou mine unbelief-Although my faith be so small, that

it might rather be termed unbelief, yet help me.

25. Thou deaf and dumb spirit-So termed, because he made the

child so. When Jesus spake, the devil heard, though the child

could not. I command thee-I myself now; not my disciples.

26. Having rent him sore-So does even the body sometimes suffer,

when God comes to deliver the soul from Satan.

30. They passed through Galilee-Though not through the cities,

but by them, in the most private ways. He was not willing that

any should know it: for he taught his disciples-He wanted to be

alone with them some time, in order to instruct them fully

concerning his sufferings. The Son of man is delivered-It is

as sure as if it were done already.

# Mt 17:22; Lu 9:44.

32. They understood not the word-They did not understand how

to reconcile the death of our Saviour (nor consequently his

resurrection, which supposed his death) with their notions of

his temporal kingdom.

33. # Lu 9:46.

34. Who should be greatest-Prime minister in his kingdom.

35. Let him be the least of all-Let him abase himself the most.

36. # Mt 18:2; Lu 9:47.

37. One such little child-Either in years or in heart.

38. And John answered him-As if he had said, But ought we to

receive those who follow not us? Master, we saw one casting out

devils in thy name-Probably this was one of John the Baptist's

disciples, who believed in Jesus, though he did not yet associate

with our Lord's disciples. And we forbad him, because he

followeth not us-How often is the same temper found in us?

How readily do we also lust to envy? But how does that spirit

become a disciple, much more a minister of the benevolent Jesus!

St. Paul had learnt a better temper, when he rejoiced that Christ

was preached, even by those who were his personal enemies. But

to confine religion to them that follow us, is a narrowness of

spirit which we should avoid and abhor. # Lu 9:49.

39. Jesus said-Christ here gives us a lovely example of candour

and moderation. He was willing to put the best construction

on doubtful cases, and to treat as friends those who were

not avowed enemies. Perhaps in this instance it was a means

of conquering the remainder of prejudice, and perfecting what

was wanting in the faith and obedience of these persons.

Forbid him not-Neither directly nor indirectly discourage or

hinder any man who brings sinners from the power of Satan to

God, because he followeth not us, in opinions, modes of worship,

or any thing else which does not affect the essence of religion.

40. For he that is not against you, is for you-Our Lord had

formerly said, he that is not with me, is against me: thereby

admonishing his hearers, that the war between him and Satan

admitted of no neutrality, and that those who were indifferent

to him now, would finally be treated as enemies. But here in

another view, he uses a very different proverb; directing his

followers to judge of men's characters in the most candid manner;

and charitably to hope that those who did not oppose his cause

wished well to it. Upon the whole, we are to be rigorous in

judging ourselves, and candid in judging each other.

41. For whosoever shall give you a cup-Having answered St. John,

our Lord here resumes the discourse which was broken off at the

37th verse. # Mr 9:37. # Mt 10:42.

42. On the contrary, whosoever shall offend the very least Christian.

# Mt 18:6; Lu 17:1.

43. And if a person cause thee to offend-(The discourse passes

from the case of offending, to that of being offended) if one

who is as useful or dear to thee as a hand or eye, hinder or

slacken thee in the ways of Cod, renounce all intercourse with

him. This primarily relates to persons, secondarily to things.

# Mt 5:29; Mt 18:8.

44. Where their worm-That gnaweth the soul, (pride, self will,

desire, malice, envy, shame, sorrow, despair,) dieth not-No

more than the soul itself: and the fire (either material, or

infinitely worse!) that tormenteth the body, is not quenched

for ever. # Isa 66:24.

49. Every one-Who does not cut off the offending member, and

consequently is cast into hell, shall be, as it were, salted

with fire, preserved, not consumed thereby whereas every

acceptable sacrifice shall be salted with another kind of salt,

even that of Divine grace, which purifies the soul, (though

frequently with pain) and preserves it from corruption.

50. Such salt is good indeed; highly beneficial to the world,

in respect of which I have termed you the salt of the earth.

But if the salt which should season others, have lost its own

saltness, wherewith will ye season it?-Beware of this; see that

ye retain your savour; and as a proof of it, have peace one with

another.

More largely this obscure text might be paraphrased thus:-

As every burnt offering was salted with salt, in order to its

being cast into the fire of the altar, so every one who will

not part with his hand or eye, shall fall a sacrifice to Divine

justice, and be cast into hell fire, which will not consume,

but preserve him from a cessation of being. And on the other

hand, every one, who, denying himself and taking up his cross,

offers up himself as a living sacrifice to God, shall be

seasoned with grace, which like salt will make him savoury,

and preserve him from destruction for ever.

As salt is good for preserving meats, and making them savoury,

so it is good that ye be seasoned with grace, for the purifying

your hearts and lives, and for spreading the savour of my

knowledge, both in your own souls, and wherever ye go. But as

salt if it loses its saltness is fit for nothing, so ye, if ye

lose your faith and love, are fit for nothing but to be utterly

destroyed. See therefore that grace abide in you, and that ye

no more contend, Who shall be greatest.

# Mt 5:13; Lu 14:34.

X. 1. He cometh thence-From Galilee.

# Mt 19:1.

2. # Mt 5:31; Mt 19:7; Lu 16:18.

4. # Deu 24:1.

6. From the beginning of the creation-Therefore Moses in

the first of Genesis gives us an account of things from the

beginning of the creation. Does it not clearly follow, that

there was no creation previous to that which Moses describes?

God made them male and female-Therefore Adam did not at first

contain both sexes in himself: but God made Adam, when first

created, male only; and Eve female only. And this man and woman

he joined together, in a state of innocence, as husband and wife.

7. # Gen 2:24.

11, 12. All polygamy is here totally condemned.

12. See note ... "Mr 10:11"

13. # Mt 19:13.

14. Jesus seeing it was much displeased-At their blaming those

who were not blame worthy: and endeavouring to hinder the

children from receiving a blessing. Of such is the kingdom of

God-The members of the kingdom which I am come to set up in

the world are such as these, as well as grown persons, of a

child-like temper.

15. Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little

child-As totally disclaiming all worthiness and fitness, as if

he were but a week old.

17. # Mt 19:16; Lu 18:18.

20. He answering, said to him, Master-He stands reproved now,

and drops the epithet good.

21. Jesus looking upon him-And looking into his heart, loved

him-Doubtless for the dawnings of good which he saw in him:

and said to him-Out of tender love, One thing thou lackest-The

love of God, without which all religion is a dead carcass.

In order to this, throw away what is to thee the grand

hinderance of it. Give up thy great idol, riches.

Go, sell whatsoever thou hast.

24. Jesus saith to them, Children-See how he softens the harsh

truth, by the manner of delivering it! And yet without retracting

or abating one tittle: How hard is it for them that trust in

riches-Either for defence, or happiness, or deliverance from the

thousand dangers that life is continually exposed to. That these

cannot enter into God's glorious kingdom, is clear and undeniable:

but it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than

for a man to have riches, and not trust in them. Therefore, it

is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for

a rich man to enter the kingdom.

28. Lo, we have left all-Though the young man would not.

30. He shall receive a hundred fold, houses, &c.-Not in the same

kind: for it will generally be with persecutions: but in value:

a hundred fold more happiness than any or all of these did or

could afford. But let it be observed, none is entitled to this

happiness, but he that will accept it with persecutions.

32. They were in the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus went before

them: and they were amazed-At his courage and intrepidity,

considering the treatment which he had himself told them he

should meet with there: and as they followed, they were afraid

-Both for him and themselves: nevertheless he judged it best to

prepare them, by telling them more particularly what was to ensue.

# Mt 20:17; Lu 18:31.

35. Saying-By their mother. It was she, not they that uttered

the words. # Mt 20:20.

38. Ye know not what ye ask-Ye know not that ye ask for

sufferings, which must needs pave the way to glory.

The cup-Of inward; the baptism-Of outward sufferings.

Our Lord was filled with sufferings within, and covered

with them without.

40. Save to them for whom it is prepared-Them who by patient

continuance in well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and

immortality. For these only eternal life is prepared. To

these, only he will give it in that day; and to every man his

own reward, according to his own labour.

45. A ransom for many-Even for as many souls as needed such

a ransom, # 2Cor 5:15.

46. # Mt 20:29; Lu 18:35.

50. Casting away his garment-Through joy and eagerness.

XI. 1. To Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives-The

limits of Bethany reached to the mount of Olives, and joined

to those of Bethphage. Bethphage was part of the suburbs of

Jerusalem, and reached from the mount of Olives to the walls

of the city. Our Lord was now come to the place where the

boundaries of Bethany and Bethphage met.

# Mt 21:1; Lu 19:29; John 12:12.

11. # Mt 21:10,17.

12. # Mt 21:18.

13. For it was not a season of figs-It was net (as we say) a

good year for figs; at least not for that early sort, which

alone was ripe so soon in the spring.

If we render the words, It was not the season of figs, that is,

the time of gathering them in, it may mean, The season was not

yet: and so (inclosing the words in a parenthesis, And coming to

it, he found nothing but leaves) it may refer to the former part

of the sentence, and may be considered as the reason of Christ's

going to see whether there were any figs on this tree. Some who

also read that clause in a parenthesis, translate the hollowing

words, for where he was, it was the season of figs. And it is

certain, this meaning of the words suits best with the great

design of the parable, which was to reprove the Jewish Church

for its unfruitfulness at that very season, when fruit might

best be expected from them.

15. # Mt 21:12; Lu 19:45.

16. He suffered not that any should carry a vessel through the

temple-So strong notions had our Lord, of even relative holiness!

And of the regard due to those places (as well as times) that are

peculiarly dedicated to God.

17. # Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11.

18. They feared him-That is, they were afraid to take him by

violence, lest it should raise a tumult; because all the people

was astonished at his teaching-Both at the excellence of his

discourse, and at the majesty and authority with which he taught.

20. # Mt 21:20.

22. Have faith in God-And who could find fault, if the Creator

and Proprietor of all things were to destroy, by a single word

of his mouth, a thousand of his inanimate creatures, were

it only to imprint this important lesson more deeply on one

immortal spirit?

25. When ye stand praying-Standing was their usual posture when

they prayed. Forgive-And on this condition, ye shall have

whatever you ask, with. out wrath or doubting.

# Mt 6:14.

27. # Mt 21:23; Lu 20:1.

XII. 1. # Mt 21:43; Lu 20:9.

10. # Psa 118:22.

12. They feared the multitude-How wonderful is the providence of

God, using all things for the good of his children! Generally

the multitude is restrained from tearing them in pieces only by

the fear of their rulers. And here the rulers themselves are

restrained, through fear of the multitude!

13. # Mt 22:15; Lu 20:20.

17. They marvelled at him-At the wisdom of his answer.

18. # Mt 21:23; Lu 20:27.

19. # Deut 25:5.

25. When they rise from the dead, neither men marry nor

women are given in marriage.

26. # Exo 3:6.

27. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living

-That is, (if the argument be proposed at length,) since the

character of his being the God of any persons, plainly intimates

a relation to them, not as dead, but as living; and since he

cannot be said to be at present their God at all, if they are

utterly dead; nor to be the God of human persons, such as

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, consisting of souls and bodies, if

their bodies were to abide in everlasting death; there must

needs be a future state of blessedness, and a resurrection of

the body to share with the soul in it.

28. Which is the first commandment?-The principal, and most

necessary to be observed. # Mt 22:34; Lu 10:25.

29. The Lord our God is one Lord-This is the foundation of the

first commandment, yea, of all the commandments. The Lord our

God, the Lord, the God of all men, is one God, essentially,

though three persons. From this unity of God it follows, that

we owe all our love to him alone. # Deut 6:4.

30. With all thy strength-That is, the whole strength and

capacity of thy understanding, will, and affections.

31. The second is like unto it-Of a like comprehensive nature:

comprising our whole duty to man. There is no other moral,

much less ceremonial commandment, greater than these.

# Lev 19:18.

33. To love him with all the heart-To love and serve him, with

all the united powers of the soul in their utmost vigour; and

to love his neighbour as himself-To maintain the same equitable

and charitable temper and behaviour toward all men, as we, in

like circumstances, would wish for from them toward ourselves,

is a more necessary and important duty, than the offering the

most noble and costly sacrifices.

34. Jesus said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God

-Reader, art not thou? then go on: be a real Christian: else it

had been better for thee to have been afar off.

35. # Mt 22:41; Lu 20:41.

36. # Psa 110:1.

38. Beware of the scribes-There was an absolute necessity for

these repeated cautions. For, considering their inveterate

prejudices against Christ, it could never be supposed the

common people would receive the Gospel till these incorrigible

blasphemers of it were brought to just disgrace.

Yet he delayed speaking in this manner till a little before his

passion, as knowing what effect it would quickly produce. Nor

is this any precedent for us: we are not invested with the same

authority. # Mt 23:5; Lu 20:46.

41. He beheld how people cast money into the treasury-This

treasury received the voluntary contributions of the worshippers

who came up to the feast; which were given to buy wood for the

altar, and other necessaries not provided for in any other way.

# Lu 21:1.

43. I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than

they all-See what judgement is cast on the most specious,

outward actions by the Judge of all! And how acceptable to him

is the smallest, which springs from self-denying love!

XIII. 1. # Mt 24:1; Lu 21:5.

4. Two questions are here asked; the one concerning the

destruction of Jerusalem: the other concerning the end of

the world.

9. # Lu 21:12.

10. # Mt 24:14.

11. The Holy Ghost will help you. But do not depend upon any

other help For all the nearest ties will be broken.

14. Where it ought not-That place being set apart for sacred use.

# Mt 24:15; Lu 21:20; Dan 9:27.

19. In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the

beginning of the creation-May it not be doubted, whether this be

yet fully accomplished? Is not much of this affliction still to come?

20. The elect-The Christians: whom he hath chosen-That is, hath

taken out of, or separated from, the world, through sanctification

of the Spirit and belief of the truth. He hath shortened-That is,

will surely shorten.

21. # Mt 24:23.

24. But in those days-Which immediately precede the end of the

world: after that tribulation-Above described.

28. # Mt 24:32; Lu 21:28.

29. He is nigh-The Son of man.

30. All these things-Relating to the temple and the city.

32. Of that day-The day of judgment is often in the Scriptures

emphatically called that day. Neither the Son-Not as man: as

man he was no more omniscient than omnipresent. But as God he

knows all the circumstances of it.

33. # Mt 24:42; Lu 21:34.

34. The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey-Being

about to leave this world and go to the Father, he appoints

the services that are to be performed by all his servants,

in their several stations. This seems chiefly to respect

ministers at the day of judgment: but it may be applied to

all men, and to the time of death.

# Mt 25:14; Lu 19:12.

XIV. 1. # Mt 26:1; Lu 22:1.

3. # Mt 26:6.

4. Some had indignation-Being incited thereto by Judas:

and said-Probably to the women.

10. Judas went to the chief priests-Immediately after this

reproof, having anger now added to his covetousness.

# Mt 26:14; Lu 22:3.

12. # Mt 26:17; Lu 22:7.

13. Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man-It was

highly seasonable for our Lord to give them this additional

proof both of his knowing all things, and of his influence

over the minds of men.

15. Furnished-The word properly means, spread with carpets.

17. # Mt 26:20; Lu 22:14.

24. This is my blood of the New Testament-That is, this I

appoint to be a perpetual sign and memorial of my blood, as

shed for establishing the new covenant, that all who shall

believe in me may receive all its gracious promises.

25. I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink

it new in the kingdom of God-That is, I shall drink no more

before I die: the next wine I drink will not be earthly, but

heavenly.

26. # Mt 26:30; Lu 22:39; John 18:1.

27. This night-The Jews in reckoning their days began with the

evening, according to the Mosaic computation, which called the

evening and the morning the first day, # Gen 1:5. And so that

which after sunset is here called this night is, # Mr 14:30,

called to-day. The expression there is peculiarly significant.

Verily I say to thee, that thou thyself, confident as thou art,

to-day, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this night, or

ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before

three in the morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless

spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock would crow once before

the usual time of cock crowing. By # Mark 13:35, it appears,

that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning,

was commonly styled the cock crowing.

# Zech 13:7.

32. # Mt 26:36.

33. Sore amazed-The original word imports the most shocking

amazement, mingled with grief: and that word in the next verse

which we render sorrowful intimates, that he was surrounded with

sorrow on every side, breaking in upon him with such violence,

as was ready to separate his soul from his body.

36. Abba, Father-St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way

of explication.

37. Saith to Peter-The zealous, the confident Peter.

43. # Mt 26:47; Lu 22:47; John 18:2.

44. Whomsoever I shall kiss-Probably our Lord, in great

condescension, had used (according to the Jewish custom)

to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been

some time absent.

47. # Mt 26:51; Lu 22:49; John 18:10.

51. A young man-It does not appear, that he was one of Christ's

disciples. Probably hearing an unusual noise, he started up out

of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran out with only the

sheet about him, to see what was the matter. And the young men

laid hold on him-Who was only suspected to be Christ's disciple:

but could not touch them who really were so.

53. # Mt 26:57; Lu 22:54; John 18:12.

55. All the council sought for witness and found none-What an

amazing proof of the overruling providence of God, considering

both their authority, and the rewards they could offer, that no

two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with

any gross crime. # Mt 26:59.

56. Their evidences were not sufficient-The Greek words

literally rendered are, Were not equal: not equal to the charge

of a capital crime: it is the same word in the 59th verse.

58. We heard him say-It is observable, that the words which they

thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years

before, # John 2:19. Their going back so far to find matter for

the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of the

unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole

course of his public ministry.

61. # Mt 26:63; Lu 22:67.

66. # Mt 26:69; Lu 22:56; John 18:25.

72. And he covered his head-Which was a usual custom with

mourners, and was fitly expressive both of grief and shame.

XV. 1. # Mt 27:1,2; Lu 22:66; Lu 23:1; John 18:28.

3. # Mt 27:12.

7. Insurrection-A crime which the Roman governors, and

Pilate in particular, were more especially concerned and

careful to punish.

9. Will ye that I release to you the king of the Jews-Which does

this wretched man discover most? Want of justice, or courage,

or common sense? The poor coward sacrifices justice to popular

clamour, and enrages those whom he seeks to appease, by so

unseasonably repeating that title, The king of the Jews, which

he could not but know was so highly offensive to them.

16. Praetorium-The inner hall, where the praetor, a Roman

magistrate, used to give judgment. But St. John calls the

whole palace by this name. # Mt 27:27; John 19:2.

17. Purple-As royal robes were usually purple and scarlet,

St. Mark and John term this a purple robe, St. Matthew a

scarlet one. The Tyrian purple is said not to have been

very different from scarlet.

20. # Mt 27:31; John 19:16.

21. The father of Alexander and Rufus-These were afterward

two eminent Christians, and must have been well known when

St. Mark wrote.

22. # Mt 27:33; Lu 23:33; John 19:17.

24, 25. St. Mark seems to intimate, that they first nailed him to

the cross, then parted his garments, and afterward reared up the cross.

25. See note ... "Mr 15:24"

28. # Isa 53:12.

29. # Mt 27:39.

33. # Mt 27:45; Lu 23:44.

34. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me-Thereby claiming

God as his God; and yet lamenting his Father's withdrawing the

tokens of his love, and treating him as an enemy, while he bare

our sins.

37. # Mt 27:50; Lu 23:46; John 19:30.

41. Who served him-Provided him with necessaries.

42. Because it was the day before the Sabbath-And the bodies

might not hang on the Sabbath day: therefore they were in haste

to have them taken down.

43. Honourable-A man of character and reputation: A counsellor-A

member of the sanhedrim. Who waited for the kingdom of God-Who

expected to see it set up on earth.

# Mt 27:57; Lu 23:50; John 19:38.

46. He rolled a stone-By his servants. It was too large for him

to roll himself.

XVI. 1. # Mt 28:1; Lu 24:1; John 20:1.

2. At the rising of the sun-They set out while it was yet dark,

and came within sight of the sepulchre, for the first time,

just as it grew light enough to discern that the stone was

rolled away, # Matt 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1.

But by the time Mary had called Peter and John, and they had

viewed the sepulchre, the sun was rising.

3. Who shall roll us away the stone-This seems to have been

the only difficulty they apprehended. So they knew nothing of

Pilate's having sealed the stone, and placed a guard of soldiers there.

7. And Peter-Though he so oft denied his Lord. What amazing

goodness was this!

9. # John 20:11.

10. # Lu 24:9; John 20:18.

12. # Lu 24:13.

13. Neither believed they them-They were moved a little by the

testimony of these, added to that of St. Peter, # Luke 24:34;

but they did not yet fully believe it.

14. # Lu 24:36; John 20:19.

15. Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every

creature-Our Lord speaks without any limitation or restriction.

If therefore every creature in every age hath not heard it,

either those who should have preached, or those who should

have heard it, or both, made void the counsel of God herein.

# Mt 28:19.

16. And is baptized-In token thereof. Every one that believed

was baptized. But he that believeth not-Whether baptized or

unbaptized, shall perish everlastingly.

17. And these signs shall follow them that believe-An eminent

author sub-joins, "That believe with that very faith mentioned

in the preceding verse." (Though it is certain that a man may

work miracles, and not have saving faith, # Matt 7:22,23.)

"It was not one faith by which St. Paul was saved, another by

which he wrought miracles. Even at this day in every believer

faith has a latent miraculous power; (every effect of prayer

being really miraculous;) although in many, both because of their

own littleness of faith, and because the world is unworthy,

that power is not exerted. Miracles, in the beginning, were

helps to faith; now also they are the object of it.

At Leonberg, in the memory of our fathers, a cripple that could

hardly move with crutches, while the dean was preaching on this

very text, was in a moment made whole." Shall follow-The word

and faith must go before. In my name-By my authority committed

to them. Raising the dead is not mentioned. So our Lord

performed even more than he promised.

18. If they drink any deadly thing-But not by their own choice.

God never calls us to try any such experiments.

19. The Lord-How seasonable is he called by this title! After

he had spoken to them-For forty days.

# Lu 24:50.

20. They preached every where-At the time St. Mark wrote, the

apostles had already gone into all the known world, # Rom 10:18;

and each of them was there known where he preached: the name of

Christ only was known throughout the world.

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