Matthew
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
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Mt 1:1
1:1 The {1} {a} book of the
{b} generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the {c} son of Abraham.
(1) Jesus Christ came of
Abraham of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David as God promised.
(a) Rehearsal: as the Hebrews used to speak; see Ge 5:1 , the book of the
generations.
(b) Of the ancestors from whom Christ came.
(c) Christ is also the son of Abraham.
Mt 1:11
1:11 and Josias begat {d}
Jechonias and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away of Babylon.
(d) That is, the captivity
fell in the days of Jakim and Jechonias: for Jechonias was born before the
carrying away into captivity.
Mt 1:17
1:17 All {e} the generations,
therefore, from Abraham to David [were] fourteen generations; and from David
until the carrying away of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the
carrying away of Babylon unto the Christ, fourteen generations.
(e) All those who were
considered to be in the lineage of David's family, as they begat one another
orderly in turn.
Mt 1:18
1:18 Now the birth of (2)
Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to
Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of [the]
Holy Spirit.
(2) Christ is the true
Emmanuel, and therefore, Jesus (that is, Saviour) is conceived in the virgin
by the Holy Spirit, as foretold by the prophets.
Mt 1:20
1:20 but while he pondered on
these things, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to {f} take to [thee] Mary, thy {g}
wife, for that which is {h} begotten in her is of [the] Holy Spirit.
(f) Receive her from her
parents and kinsfolks hands.
(g) Who was promised, and made sure to you to be your wife.
(h) Of the mother's substance by the Holy Spirit.
Mt 1:21
1:21 And she shall bring
forth (3) a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save {i} his
people from their sins.
(3) Christ is born of the
same virgin who never knew a man: and is named Jesus by God himself through
the angel.
(i) Save, and this shows us the meaning of the name Jesus.
Mt 1:23
1:23 Behold, a {k} virgin
shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
(k) There is an article
added in the Hebrew and Greek text, to point out the woman and set her forth
plainly: as we would say, the virgin, or a certain virgin.
Mt 1:25
1:25 And knew her not {l}
till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
(l) The word "till", in the
Hebrew language, gives us to understand that a thing will not come to pass
in time to come: as Michal had no children "till" her death day, 2Sa 6:23 .
And in the last chapter of this evangelist: Behold, I am with you "till" the
end of the world.
Mt 2:1
2:1 Now when {1} Jesus was
born in Bethlehem of {a} Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there
came {b} wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
(1) Christ a poor child,
laid down in a crib, and though given no attention by his own people,
receives nonetheless a noble witness of his divinity from heaven, and of his
kingly estate from strangers: which his own people unknowingly let happen,
although they did not acknowledge him.
(a) For there was another in the tribe of Zebulun.
(b) Wise and learned men: It is a Persian word which they use frequently.
Mt 2:3
2:3 When Herod the king had
heard [these things], he was {c} troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
(c) Was much moved, for he
was a foreigner, and became ruler by force; and the Jews were troubled; for
wickedness is mad and raging.
Mt 2:4
2:4 And when he had gathered
all the {d} chief priests and {e} scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born.
(d) The chief priests, that
is, such as were of Aaron's family, who were divided into twenty-four
orders. 1Ch 24:5 2Ch 36:14 .
(e) They that expound the law to the people, for the Hebrews take this word
for another, which means as much as to expound and to declare.
Mt 2:6
2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in]
the land of Juda, art not the {f} least among the princes of Juda: for out of
thee shall come a Governor, that {g} shall rule my people Israel.
(f) Though you are a small
town, yet you will be very famous and notable through the birth of the
Messiah, who will be born in you.
(g) That will rule and govern: for kings are rightly called leaders and
shepherds of the people.
Mt 2:11
2:11 And when they were come
into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and {h} fell
down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their {i} treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
(h) A kind of humble and
lovely reverence.
(i) The rich and costly presents, which they brought him.
Mt 2:12
2:12 And being {k} warned of
God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their
own country another way.
(k) God warned and told
them of it, even though they did not ask him.
Mt 2:13
2:13 {2} And when they were
departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream,
saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt,
and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child
to destroy him.
(2) Christ having just been
born, begins to be crucified for us, both in himself, and also in his
members.
Mt 2:17
2:17 Then was fulfilled that
which was spoken {l} by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mt 2:18
2:18 In Rama was there {m} a
voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, {n} Rachel weeping
[for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
(m) A voice of lamenting,
weeping and howling.
(n) That is to say, All who live around Bethlehem: for Rachel, Jacob's wife
who died in childbirth, was buried by the road that leads to this town,
which is also called Ephratah, because of the fruitfulness of the soil, and
the plentifulness of corn.
Mt 2:19
2:19 {3} But when Herod was
dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
(3) Christ is brought up in
Nazareth, after the death of the tyrant by God's providence: that by the
very name of the place it might plainly appear to the world that he is the
Lord's true Nazarite.
Mt 3:1
3:1 In {a} those days came
{1} John the Baptist, preaching in the {b} wilderness of Judaea,
(a) Not when Joseph went to
dwell at Nazareth, but a great while after, about fifteen years: for in the
30th year of his life Jesus was baptized by John: therefore "those days"
means the time when Jesus remained as an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth.
(1) John, who through his singular holiness and rare austerity of life
caused men to cast their eyes on him, prepares the way for Christ who is
following fast on his heels, as the prophet Isaiah foretold, and delivers
the sum of the gospel, which a short time later would be delivered more
fully.
(b) In a hilly country, which was nonetheless inhabited, for Zacharias dwelt
there, Lu 1:39,40 , and there was Joab's house, 1Ki 2:34 ; and besides
these, Joshua makes mention of six towns that were in the wilderness, Jos
15:61,62 .
Mt 3:2
3:2 And saying, {c} Repent
ye: for the {d} kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(c) The word in the greek
signifies a changing of our minds and heart from evil to better.
(d) The kingdom of Messiah, whose government will be heavenly, and nothing
but heavenly.
Mt 3:3
3:3 For this is he that was
spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, {e} make his paths straight.
Mt 3:4
3:4 And the same John had his
raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat
was {f} locusts and wild honey.
(f) Locusts were a type of
meat which certain of the eastern people use, who were therefore called
devourers of locusts.
Mt 3:5
3:5 Then went out to him {g}
Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Mt 3:6
3:6 And were baptized of him
in Jordan, {h} confessing their sins.
Mt 3:7
3:7 {2} But when he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
(2) There is nothing that
shuts up the way of mercy and salvation from us so much as the opinion of
our own righteousness does.
Mt 3:8
3:8 {3} Bring forth therefore
fruits meet for repentance:
Mt 3:9
3:9 {4} And {i} think not to
say {k} within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto
you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
(4) The faith of the
fathers does not benefit you unbelieving children at all: and yet for all
that, God does not play the liar, nor deal unfaithfully in his covenant
which he made with the holy fathers.
(i) Think not that you have any reason to be proud of Abraham.
(k) In your hearts.
Mt 3:11
3:11 {5} I indeed baptize you
with water unto {l} repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than
I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Spirit, and [with] fire:
(5) We may neither dwell
upon the signs which God has ordained as means to lead us into our
salvation, neither upon those that minister them: but we must climb up to
the matter itself, that is to say, to Christ, who inwardly works that
effectually, which is outwardly signified to us.
(l) The outward sign reminds us of this, that we must change our lives and
become better, assuring us as by a seal, that we are ingrafted into Christ;
by which our old man dies and the new man rises up; Ro 6:4 .
Mt 3:12
3:12 {6} Whose fan [is] in
his hand, and he will throughly {m} purge his floor, and gather his wheat into
the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
(6) The triumphs of the
wicked will end in everlasting torment.
(m) Will clean it thoroughly, and make a full riddance.
Mt 3:13
3:13 {7} Then cometh Jesus
from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mt 3:15
3:15 And Jesus answering said
unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil {n} all
righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Mt 3:16
3:16 And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were
opened unto {o} him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him:
Mt 3:17
3:17 {8} And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am {p} well pleased.
(8) Christ's full
consecration and authorization to the office of mediator is shown by the
Father's own voice and a visible sign of the Holy Spirit.
(p) The Greek word signifies a thing of great worth and such as highly
pleases a man. So then the Father says that Christ is the only man whom when
he beholds, looking at what opinion he had conceived of us, he lays it clean
aside.
Mt 4:1
4:1 Then was {1} Jesus led up
of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
(1) Christ is tempted in
all manner of ways, and still overcomes, that we also through his virtue may
overcome.
Mt 4:2
4:2 And when he had fasted
{a} forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mt 4:5
4:5 Then the devil taketh him
up into the holy city, and setteth him on a {b} pinnacle of the temple,
(b) The battlement which
encompassed the flat roof of the Temple so that no man might fall down: as
was appointed by the law; De 22:8 .
Mt 4:7
4:7 Jesus said unto him, It
is written again, Thou shalt not {c} tempt the Lord thy God.
(c) Literally, "Thou shalt
not go on still in tempting."
Mt 4:12
4:12 {2} Now when Jesus had
heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
(2) When the Herald's mouth
is stopped, the Lord reveals himself and brings full light into the darkness
of this world, preaching free forgiveness of sins for those that repent.
Mt 4:13
4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he
came and dwelt in {d} Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders
of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mt 4:15
4:15 The land of Zabulon, and
the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the {e} sea, beyond Jordan, {f}
Galilee of the Gentiles;
(e) Of Tiberias, or because
that country went toward Tyre, which borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
(f) So called because it bordered upon Tyre and Sidon, and because Solomon
gave the king of Tyre twenty cities in that quarter; 1Ki 9:11 .
Mt 4:17
4:17 From that time Jesus
began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at {g} hand.
Mt 4:18
4:18 {3} And Jesus, walking
by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his
brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
(3) Christ, thinking that
he would eventually depart from us, even at the beginning of his preaching
gets himself disciples of a heavenly sort, poor and unlearned, and therefore
such as might be left as honest witnesses of the truth of those things which
they heard and saw.
Mt 4:23
4:23 And {4} Jesus went about
all Galilee, teaching in {h} their {i} synagogues, and preaching the gospel of
the {k} kingdom, and healing {l} all manner of sickness and all manner of {m}
disease among the people.
(4) Christ assures the
hearts of the believers of his spiritual and saving virtue, by healing the
diseases of the body.
(h) Their, that is, the Galilaeans.
(i) Synagogues, that is, the Churches of the Jews.
(k) Of the Messiah.
(l) Diseases of all kinds, but not every disease: that is, as we say, some
of every kind.
(m) The word properly signifies the weakness of the stomach: but here it is
taken for those diseases which make those that have them faint and wear
away.
Mt 4:24
4:24 And his fame went
throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were
taken with divers diseases and {n} torments, and those which were possessed
with devils, and those which were {o} lunatick, and those that had the {p}
palsy; and he healed them.
(n) The word signifies
properly the stone with which gold is tried: and by a borrowed kind of
speech, is applied to all kinds of examinations by torture, when as by rough
dealing and torments, we draw out the truths from men who otherwise would
not confess: in this place it is taken for those diseases, which put sick
men to great woe.
(o) Who at every full moon or the change of the moon, are troubled and
diseased.
(p) Weak and feeble men, who have the parts of their body loosed and so
weakened, that they are neither able to gather them up together, nor do with
them as they wish.
Mt 5:2
5:2 {1} And he opened his
mouth, and taught them, saying,
(1) Christ teaches that the
greatest joy and happiness is not in the conveniences and pleasures of this
life, but is laid up in heaven for those who willingly rest in the good will
and pleasure of God, and endeavour to profit all men, although they are
cruelly vexed and troubled by those of the world, because they will not
adapt themselves to their ways.
Mt 5:3
5:3 Blessed [are] the {a}
poor in {b} spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(a) Under the name of
poverty are meant all the miseries, that are joined with poverty.
(b) Whose minds and spirits are brought under control, and tamed, and obey
God.
Mt 5:8
5:8 Blessed [are] the {c}
pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(c) Fitly is this word
"pure" joined with the heart, for as a bright and shining resemblance or
image may be seen plainly in a clear and pure looking glass, even so does
the face (as it were) of the everlasting God, shine forth, and clearly
appear in a pure heart.
Mt 5:13
5:13 Ye {2} are the salt of
the {d} earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be {e}
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men.
(2) The ministers of the
word especially (unless they will be the most cowardly of all) must lead
others both by word and deed to this greatest joy and happiness.
(d) Your doctrine must be very sound and good, for if it is not so, it will
be not regarded and cast away as a thing unsavoury and vain.
(e) What will you have to salt with? And so are fools in the Latin tongue
called "saltless", as you would say, men that have no salt or savour and
taste in them.
Mt 5:14
5:14 Ye are the {f} light of
the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mt 5:17
5:17 {3} Think not that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but {g} to
fulfil.
(3) Christ did not come to
bring any new way of righteousness and salvation into the world, but indeed
to fulfil that which was shadowed by the figures of the Law, by delivering
men through grace from the curse of the Law: and moreover to teach the true
use of obedience which the Law appointed, and to engrave in our hearts the
power for obedience.
(g) That the prophecies may be accomplished.
Mt 5:19
5:19 {4} Whosoever therefore
shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall
be called the {h} least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
(4) He begins with the true
expounding of the Law, and sets it against the old (but yet false) teachings
of the scribes: He is in no way abolishing the least commandment of his
Father.
(h) He shall have no place in the Church.
Mt 5:21
5:21 {5} Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill
shall be in danger of the judgment:
Mt 5:22
5:22 But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be {i} in danger {k}
of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in
danger of the {l} council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of {m} hell {n} fire.
(i) He speaks of the
judgment of God, and of the difference of sins, and therefore applies his
words to the form of civil judgments which were then used.
(k) Of that judgment which was ruled by three men, who had the hearing and
deciding of money matters, and such other small causes.
(l) By that judgment which stood of 23 judges, who had the hearing and
deciding of weighty affairs, as the matter of a whole tribe or of a high
priest, or of a false prophet.
(m) Whereas we read here "hell", it is in the text itself "Gehenna", which
is one Hebrew word made out of two, and is as if to say "as the Valley of
Hinnom", which the Hebrews called Topheth: it was a place where the
Israelites cruelly sacrificed their children to false gods, whereupon it was
taken for a place appointed to torment the reprobates in Jer 7:31 .
(n) The Jews used four kinds of punishments, before their government was
taken away by Herod: hanging, beheading, stoning, and burning. It is burning
that Christ meant, because burning was the greatest punishment; therefore by
making mention of a judgment, a council, and a fire, he shows that some sins
are worse than others are, but yet they are all such that we must give
account for them, and will be punished for them.
Mt 5:23
5:23 {6} Therefore if thou
bring thy gift to the {o} altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath
ought against thee;
(6) The covetous Pharisees
taught that God was appeased by the sacrifices appointed in the law, which
they themselves devoured. But Christ on the contrary side denies that God
accepts any man's offering, unless he makes satisfaction to his brother whom
he has offended: and says moreover, that these stubborn and stiff-necked
despisers of their brethren will never escape the wrath and curse of God
before they have made full satisfaction to their brethren.
(o) He applies all this speech to the state of his time, when there was then
an altar standing in Jerusalem, and therefore they are very foolish that
gather from this that we must build altars and use sacrifices: but they are
bigger fools who consider this to be purgatory, which is spoken of as peace
making and atonement one with another.
Mt 5:25
5:25 {p} Agree with thine
adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the
adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the
officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mt 5:26
5:26 Verily I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast {q} paid the uttermost
farthing.
(q) You will be dealt with
in this manner, to the utmost extremity.
Mt 5:27
5:27 {7} Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
(7) He is taken for an
adulterer before God, whoever he is, that covets a woman: and therefore we
must keep our eyes chaste, and all the members we have, yea and we must
avoid all opportunities that might move us to evil, no matter what it costs
us.
Mt 5:29
5:29 And if thy {r} right eye
{s} offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body
should be cast into hell.
(r) He names the right eye
and the right hand, because the parts of the right side of our bodies are
the chiefest, and the most ready to commit any wickedness.
(s) Literally, do cause you to offend: for sins are stumbling blocks as it
were, that is to say, rocks which we are cast upon.
Mt 5:33
5:33 {8} Again, ye have heard
that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself,
but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
(8) The meaning of the
third commandment against the perverse opinion and judgment of the scribes,
who excused by oaths or indirect forms of swearing.
Mt 5:37
5:37 But let your
communication be, {t} Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these
cometh of {u} evil.
(t) Whatever you affirm,
affirm it alone, and whatever you deny, deny it alone without any more
words.
(u) From an evil conscience, or from the devil.
Mt 5:38
5:38 {9} Ye have heard that
it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
(9) He shows that contrary
to the doctrine of the scribes, that the sum of the second table must be so
understood, that we may in no wise render evil for evil, but rather suffer
double injury, and do well to them that are our deadly enemies.
Mt 5:45
5:45 {10} That ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
(10) A double reason: the
one is taken of the relatives, The children must be like their father: the
other is taken of comparisons, The children of God must be better than the
children of this world.
Mt 5:47
5:47 And if ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the {x} publicans
so?
(x) They that were the toll
masters, and had the oversight of tributes and customs: this was a type of
man that the Jews hated to death, both because they served the Romans in
those offices (whose heavy bondage they could not overthrow) and also
because these toll masters were for the most part given to covetousness.
Mt 6:1
6:1 Take heed that ye do not
your {1} alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no {a} reward
of your Father which is in heaven.
(1) Ambition makes alms
vain.
(a) This word "reward" is always taken in the scriptures for a free
recompense, and therefore the schoolmen fondly set it to be answerable to a
deserving, which they call "merit".
Mt 6:2
6:2 Therefore when thou doest
[thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the {b} hypocrites do in
the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward.
(b) Counterfeits, for
hypocrites were players that played a part in a play.
Mt 6:5
6:5 {2} And when thou prayest,
thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in
the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of
men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
(2) He rebukes two
revolting faults in prayer, ambition, and vain babbling.
Mt 6:7
6:7 But when ye pray, use not
{c} vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking.
(c) Long prayers are not
condemned, but vain, needless, and superstitious ones.
Mt 6:9
6:9 {3} After this manner
therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mt 6:11
6:11 Give us this day our (d)
daily bread.
(d) That which is suitable
for our nature for our daily food, or such as may suffice our nature and
complexion.
Mt 6:13
6:13 And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from {e} evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(e) From the devil, or from
all adversity.
Mt 6:14
6:14 {4} For if ye forgive
men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
(4) They that forgive
wrongs, to them sins are forgiven, but revenge is prepared for them that
take revenge.
Mt 6:16
6:16 {5} Moreover when ye
fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they {f} disfigure
their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.
(5) That is, those that
desire a name of holiness by fasting.
(f) They do not let their original pallor to be seen, that is to say, they
mar the natural colour of their faces, that they may seem lean and palefaced.
Mt 6:19
6:19 {6} Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal:
(6) The labours of those
men are shown to be vain, which pass not for the assured treasure of
everlasting life, but spend their lives in scraping together stale and vain
riches.
Mt 6:22
6:22 {7} The light of the
body is the eye: if therefore thine {g} eye be single, thy whole body shall be
full of light.
(7) Men maliciously and
wickedly put out even the little light of nature that is in them.
(g) The judgment of the mind: that as the body is with the eyes, so our
whole life may be ruled with right reason, that is to say, with the Spirit
of God who gives light to us.
Mt 6:24
6:24 {8} No man can serve {h}
two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he
will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and {i}
mammon.
(8) God will be worshipped
by the whole man.
(h) Who are at odds with one another, for if two agree they are as one.
(i) This word is a Syrian word, and signifies all things that belong to
money.
Mt 6:25
6:25 {9} Therefore I say unto
you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink;
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat,
and the body than raiment?
(9) The perverse burdensome
carefulness for things of this life, is corrected in the children of God by
an earnest thinking upon the providence of God.
Mt 6:26
6:26 Behold the fowls of the
{k} air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet
your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
(k) Of the air, or that
line in the air: in almost all languages the word "heaven" is taken for the
air.
Mt 6:27
6:27 Which of you by {l}
taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(l) He speaks of care which
is joined with thought of mind, and has for the most part distrust yoked
with it.
Mt 6:28
6:28 And why take ye thought
for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they {m} toil
not, neither do they spin:
Mt 7:1
7:1 Judge {1} not, that ye be
not judged.
(1) We ought to find fault
with one another, but we must beware we do not do it without cause, or to
seem holier than others or because of hatred of others.
Mt 7:6
7:6 {2} Give not that which
is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your {a} pearls before swine, lest they
trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(2) The stiff-necked and
stubborn enemies of the gospel are unworthy to have it preached unto them.
(a) A pearl is known among the Greeks for its oriental brightness: and a
pearl was in ancient times greatly valued by the Latins: for a pearl that
Cleopatra had was valued at two hundred and fifty thousand crowns: and the
word is now borrowed from that, to signify the most precious heavenly
doctrine.
Mt 7:7
7:7 {3} Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mt 7:12
7:12 {4} Therefore all things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this
is the {b} law and the prophets.
(4) An explanation of the
meaning of the second table.
(b) That is to say, The doctrine of the law and prophets.
Mt 7:13
7:13 {5} Enter ye in at the
strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mt 7:14
7:14 Because {c} strait [is]
the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.
(c) The way is straight and
narrow: we must pass through this rough way and suffer, endure, be changed
and so enter into life.
Mt 7:15
7:15 {6} Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravening wolves.
Mt 7:21
7:21 {7} Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mt 7:22
7:22 Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy {d} name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many {e} wonderful works?
(d) By "name" here is meant
mighty working power of God, which every man witnesses that calls upon him.
(e) Properly, powers: Now these excellent works which are done are called
powers because of those things which they bring to pass, for by them we
understand how mighty the power of God is.
Mt 7:23
7:23 And then will I profess
unto them, {f} I never knew you: depart from me, {g} ye that work iniquity.
(f) This is not of
ignorance, but because he will cast them away.
(g) You that are given to all kinds of wickedness, and seem to make an art
of sin.
Mt 7:24
7:24 {8} Therefore whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise
man, which built his house upon a rock:
(8) True godliness rests
only upon Christ, and therefore always remains invincible.
Mt 8:2
8:2 {1} And, behold, there
came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make
me clean.
(1) Christ in healing the
leprous with the touch of his hand, shows that he abhors no sinners that
come unto him, be they ever so unclean.
Mt 8:5
8:5 {2} And when Jesus was
entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
(2) Christ by setting
before them the example of the uncircumcised centurion and yet of an
excellent faith, provokes the Jews to jealousy, and together forewarns them
of their being cast off and the calling of the Gentiles.
Mt 8:11
8:11 And I say unto you, That
many shall come from the east and west, and shall {a} sit down with Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
(a) A metaphor taken of
banqueters, for they that sit down together are fellows in the banquet.
Mt 8:12
8:12 But the children of the
kingdom shall be cast out into {b} outer darkness: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
(b) Who are outside the
kingdom: For in the kingdom is light, and outside the kingdom is darkness.
Mt 8:14
8:14 {3} And when Jesus was
come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.
(3) Christ, in healing many
diseases, shows that he was sent by his Father, that in him only we should
seek remedy in all our miseries.
Mt 8:16
8:16 When the even was come,
they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out
the spirits with [his] word, and healed {c} all that were sick:
Mt 8:18
8:18 Now when Jesus saw great
multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the {d} other side.
Mt 8:19
8:19 {4} And a certain scribe
came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mt 8:20
8:20 And Jesus saith unto
him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] {e} nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.
(e) Literally, "shades made
with boughs".
Mt 8:21
8:21 {5} And another of his
disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
(5) When God requires our
labour, we must cease all our duty to men.
Mt 8:23
8:23 {6} And when he was
entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
(6) Although Christ often
seems to neglect his own, even in most extreme dangers, yet in due time he
calms all tempests, and brings his own to the haven.
Mt 8:28
8:28 {7} And when he was come
to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two
possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no
man might pass by that way.
(7) Christ came to deliver
men from the miserable enslavement of Satan: but the world would rather go
without Christ, than the vilest and least of their conveniences.
Mt 8:30
8:30 And there was {f} a good
way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
(f) On a hill, as Mark and
Luke witness: Now Gederah, as Josephus records, book seventeen chapter
thirteen, lived after the order of the Greeks and therefore we must not be
surprised if there were swine there.
Mt 8:34
8:34 And, behold, the whole
city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that
he would {g} depart out of their coasts.
(g) Where men live as
swine, there Christ does not abide, but demons.
Mt 9:1
9:1 And he {1} entered into a
ship, and passed over, and came into his {a} own city.
(1) Sins are the cause of
our afflictions, and Christ only forgives them if we believe.
(a) Into Capernaum, for as Theophylact says, Bethlehem brought him forth,
Nazareth brought him up, and Capernaum was his dwelling place.
Mt 9:2
9:2 And, behold, they brought
to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus {b} seeing their
faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be
forgiven thee.
Mt 9:3
9:3 And, behold, certain of
the scribes said within themselves, This [man] {c} blasphemeth.
(c) To blaspheme, signifies
among the divines, to speak wickedly: and among the more eloquent Greeks, to
slander.
Mt 9:9
9:9 {2} And as Jesus passed
forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the {d} receipt of
custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
(2) Christ calls the humble
sinners unto him, but he condemns the proud hypocrites.
(d) At the table where the tax was received.
Mt 9:10
9:10 And it came to pass, as
Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and {e} sinners came
and sat down with him and his disciples.
(e) The publicans who were
placed by the Romans, after that time Judea was brought into the form of a
province, to gather the taxes, and therefore by the rest of the Jews they
were called sinners, that is to say, very vile men.
Mt 9:14
9:14 {3} Then came to him the
disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy
disciples fast not?
(3) That is, wicked rivalry
in matters of small importance.
Mt 9:15
9:15 And Jesus said unto
them, Can the {f} children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the
bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be
taken from them, and then shall they fast.
(f) A Hebrew idiom, for
they that are admitted into the marriage chamber are as the bridegroom's
closest friends.
Mt 9:16
9:16 No man putteth a piece
of {g} new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up
taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
(g) Raw, which was never
processed by the fuller.
Mt 9:18
9:18 {4} While he spake these
things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him,
saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and
she shall live.
(4) There is no evil so
old, and incurable, which Christ cannot heal by and by, if he is touched
with true faith, but lightly as it were with the hand.
Mt 9:23
9:23 {5} And when Jesus came
into the ruler's house, and saw the {h} minstrels and the people making a
noise,
(5) Even death itself gives
place to the power of Christ.
(h) It appears that they used minstrels at their mournings.
Mt 9:27
9:27 {6} And when Jesus
departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, [Thou] Son of
David, have mercy on us.
Mt 9:32
9:32 {7} As they went out,
behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Mt 9:36
9:36 {8} But when he saw the
multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and
were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
(8) Although the ordinary
pastors cease, yet Christ has not cast off the care of his Church.
Mt 9:38
9:38 Pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he will {i} send forth labourers into his harvest.
(i) Literally, "cast them
out": for men are very slow in a work so holy.
Mt 10:1
10:1 And {1} when he had
called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner
of disease.
Mt 10:2
10:2 Now the names of the
twelve apostles are these; The {a} first, Simon, who is called Peter, and
Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;
(a) Theophylact says that
Peter and Andrew are called the first, because they were first called.
Mt 10:4
10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and
Judas {b} Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Mt 10:7
10:7 {2} And as ye go,
preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(2) The sum of the gospel,
or preaching of the apostles.
Mt 10:8
10:8 {3} Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received,
freely give.
Mt 10:9
10:9 {4} Provide {c} neither
gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
(4) The ministers of the
word must cast away all cares that might hinder them, even the least of
them.
(c) For this journey, namely, both that nothing might hinder them, and also
that they might feel some taste of God's providence: for at their return
back, the Lord asked of them whether they lacked anything by the way, Lu
22:35 .
Mt 10:10
10:10 Nor scrip for [your]
journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is
worthy of his {d} meat.
Mt 10:11
10:11 {5} And into whatsoever
city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till
ye go thence.
Mt 10:13
10:13 And if the house be
worthy, let your {e} peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your
peace return to you.
(e) It is an idiom taken
from the Hebrews, by which they meant every type of happiness.
Mt 10:16
10:16 {6} Behold, I send you
forth as {f} sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and {g} harmless as doves.
(6) Christ shows how the
ministers must behave themselves under the cross.
(f) You will be in great danger.
(g) You will not so much as take revenge for an injury: and by the mixing of
these beast's natures together, he will not have our wisdom to be malicious,
nor our simplicity mad, but a certain form of good nature which is composed
exquisitely of both of them.
Mt 10:17
10:17 But beware of {h} men:
for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in
their synagogues;
Mt 10:23
10:23 But when they persecute
you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall
not have {i} gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(i) Bring to an end, that
is, you will not have gone through all the cities of Israel and preached in
them.
Mt 10:25
10:25 It is enough for the
disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have
called the master of the house {k} Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call]
them of his household?
(k) It was the idol of the
Acronites, which we call the god of flies.
Mt 10:26
10:26 {l} Fear them not
therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid,
that shall not be known.
Mt 10:27
10:27 What I tell you in
darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach
ye upon the {m} housetops.
(m) Openly, and in the
highest places. For the tops of their houses were made in such a way that
they might walk upon them; Ac 10:9 .
Mt 10:28
10:28 And {n} fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(n) Though tyrants rage and
are cruel, yet we must not fear them.
Mt 10:29
10:29 Are not two sparrows
sold for a {o} farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without
your Father.
Mt 10:32
10:32 {7} Whosoever therefore
shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is
in heaven.
Mt 10:34
10:34 {8} Think not that I am
come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mt 10:37
10:37 {9} He that loveth
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(9) Without exception,
nothing is to be preferred before our duty to God.
Mt 10:39
10:39 He that {p} findeth his
life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(p) They are said to find
their life, who deliver it out of danger: and this is spoken against the
opinion of the people, who think those that die are certainly lost, because
they think not of the life to come.
Mt 10:40
10:40 {10} He that receiveth
you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Mt 10:41
10:41 {11} He that receiveth
a prophet in {q} the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and
he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive
a righteous man's reward.
Mt 10:42
10:42 And whosoever shall
give to drink unto one of these {r} 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 11:1
11:1 And {1} it came to pass,
when Jesus had made an end of {a} commanding his twelve disciples, he departed
thence to teach and to preach in {b} their cities.
(1) Christ shows by his
works that he is the promised Messiah.
(a) Of instructing them with precepts.
(b) The disciples' cities, that is to say, in Galilee, where many of them
were born; Ac 2:7 .
Mt 11:7
11:7 {2} And as they
departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye
out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
(2) The similarity and the
difference between the ministry of the prophets, the preaching of John, and
the full light, of the gospel, which Christ has brought.
Mt 11:11
11:11 Verily I say unto you,
Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the
Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the {c} kingdom of heaven is
greater than he.
(c) In the new state of the
Church where the true glory of God shines: the people are not compared
together, but the types of doctrines, the preaching of John with the law and
the prophets: and again, the most clear preaching of the gospel is compared
with John's.
Mt 11:13
11:13 For all the prophets
and the law {d} prophesied until John.
(d) They prophesied of
things to come, which are now present, and clearly and plainly seen.
Mt 11:16
11:16 {3} But whereunto shall
I liken this generation? {e} It is like unto children sitting in the markets,
and calling unto their fellows,
(3) There are none who are
more stout and stubborn enemies of the gospel, than they to whom it ought to
be most acceptable.
(e) He blames the perverseness of this age, by a proverb, in that they could
be moved neither with rough nor gentle dealing.
Mt 11:19
11:19 The Son of man came
eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber,
a friend of publicans and sinners. {4} But {f} wisdom is justified of her
children.
(4) That which the many
refuse, the elect and chosen embrace.
(f) Wise men acknowledge the wisdom of the gospel when they receive it.
Mt 11:20
11:20 {5} Then began he to
upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they
repented not:
(5) The proud reject the
gospel offered to them (to their great hurt and pain) which leads to the
salvation of the simple.
Mt 11:25
11:25 At that time Jesus
answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast {g} revealed
them unto babes.
(g) Through the ministry of
Christ, who alone shows the truth of all things pertaining to God.
Mt 11:26
11:26 {h} Even so, Father:
for so it seemed {i} good in thy sight.
(h) This word shows that he
contents himself in his Father's council.
(i) God's will is the only rule of righteousness.
Mt 11:27
11:27 {6} All things are
delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the
Son will reveal [him].
(6) There is no true
knowledge of God, nor quietness of mind, but only in Christ alone.
Mt 11:30
11:30 For my yoke [is] {k}
easy, and my burden is light.
(k) May easily be carried.
For his commandments are not grievous, for all who are born of God overcome
the world; 1Jo 5:4 .
Mt 12:1
12:1 At {1} that time Jesus
went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred,
and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
(1) Of the true sanctifying
of the sabbath, and the breaking of it.
Mt 12:4
12:4 How he entered into the
house of God, and did eat the {a} shewbread, which was not lawful for him to
eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
(a) The Hebrews call it
"bread of faces", because it stood before the Lord all the week upon the
golden table appointed for that service; Le 24:6 .
Mt 12:5
12:5 Or have ye not read in
the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple {b} profane
the sabbath, and are blameless?
(b) When the priests do
God's service on the sabbath day, they do not break the law: much less does
the Lord of the Sabbath break the sabbath.
Mt 12:9
12:9 {2} And when he was
departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
Mt 12:14
12:14 {3} Then the Pharisees
went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Mt 12:18
12:18 Behold my servant, whom
I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my
spirit upon him, and he shall shew {c} judgment to the Gentiles.
(c) By judgment is meant a
godly kingdom, because Christ was to proclaim true religion among the
Gentiles, and to cast out superstition; and wherever this is done, the Lord
is said to reign and judge there, that is to say, to govern and rule
matters.
Mt 12:20
12:20 A bruised reed shall he
not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he {d} send forth
judgment unto victory.
(d) He will pronounce
sentence and judgment, in spite of the world and Satan, and show himself
conqueror over all his enemies.
Mt 12:22
12:22 {4} Then was brought
unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him,
insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
(4) A truth, be it ever so
obvious, is subject to the slander of the wicked: however, it ought to be
resolutely defended.
Mt 12:25
12:25 {5} And Jesus knew
their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall
not stand:
Mt 12:32
12:32 And whosoever speaketh
a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: {6} but whosoever
speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in
this world, neither in the [world] to come.
Mt 12:34
12:34 {7} O generation of
vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of
the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mt 12:36
12:36 But I say unto you,
That every {e} idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgment.
(e) Vain and unprofitable
trifles, which for the most part, men spend their lives in search of.
Mt 12:38
12:38 {8} Then certain of the
scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign
from thee.
Mt 12:39
12:39 But he answered and
said unto them, An evil and {f} adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;
and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(f) Bastard, who fell from
Abraham's faith or forsook the true worship of God.
Mt 12:41
12:41 {9} The men of Nineveh
shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because
they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas
[is] here.
(9) Christ teaches, by the
sorrowful example of the Jews, that there are none more miserable than they
who put out the light of the gospel which was kindled in them.
Mt 12:42
12:42 The queen of the {g}
south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn
it: for she came from the {h} uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom
of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.
(g) He means the Queen of
Sheba: whose country is south in respect to the land of Israel; 1Ki 10:1-13
.
(h) For Sheba is situated in the farthest coast of Arabia at the mouth of
the Arabian Sea.
Mt 12:46
12:46 {10} While he yet
talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without,
desiring to speak with him.
(10) Christ teaches by his
own example that all things ought to be set aside in respect of God's glory.
Mt 12:49
12:49 {11} And he stretched
forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my
brethren!
Mt 13:2
13:2 {1} And great multitudes
were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the
whole multitude stood on the shore.
(1) Christ shows in putting
forth this parable of the sower, that the seed of life which is sown in the
world does not do as well in one as in another, and the reason for this is
that men for the most part, either do not receive it, or do not permit it to
ripen.
Mt 13:11
13:11 {2} He answered and
said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
(2) The gift of
understanding and faith is given only to the elect, and all the rest are
blinded through the just judgment of God.
Mt 13:16
13:16 {3} But blessed [are]
your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
(3) The condition of the
Church under and since Christ, is better than it was in the time of the
fathers under the law.
Mt 13:19
13:19 When any one heareth
the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked
[one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his {a} heart. This is he
which received seed by the way side.
(a) Though there is mention
made of the heart, yet this sowing is referred to as hearing without
understanding. For whether the seed is received in the heart or not, yet he
that sows, sows to the heart.
Mt 13:24
13:24 {4} Another parable put
he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which
sowed good seed in his field:
(4) Christ shows in another
parable of the evil seed mixed with the good, that the Church will never be
free and rid of offences, both in doctrine and manners, until the day
appointed for the restoring of all things comes, and therefore the faithful
have to arm themselves with patience and steadfastness.
Mt 13:31
13:31 {5} Another parable put
he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of
mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
(5) God begins his kingdom
with very small beginnings so that by its growing (even though men neither
hope nor expect it to) his mighty power and working may be displayed all the
more.
Mt 13:37
13:37 {6} He answered and
said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mt 13:44
13:44 {7} Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath
found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and
buyeth that field.
(7) Few men understand how
great the riches of the kingdom of heaven are, and that no man can be a
partaker of them but he that redeems them with the loss of all his goods.
Mt 13:47
13:47 {8} Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of
every kind:
(8) There are many in the
Church who nevertheless are not of the Church, and therefore at length will
be cast out: but the full and perfect cleansing of them is deferred to the
last day.
Mt 13:51
13:51 {9} Jesus saith unto
them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
(9) They ought to be
diligent, who have to be wise not only for themselves, but who have to
dispense the wisdom of God to others.
Mt 13:54
13:54 {10} And when he was
come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that
they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and
[these] mighty works?
(10) Men not only sin
because of ignorance, but also knowingly and willingly they lay stumbling
blocks in their own ways, that when God calls them, they may not obey, and
so most plainly destroy and cast away themselves.
Mt 14:1
14:1 {1} At that time Herod
the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
(1) Here is in John, an
example of an invincible courage, which all faithful ministers of God's word
ought to follow: in Herod, an example of tyrannous vanity, pride, and
cruelty, and in short, of a refined conscience, and of their miserable
slavery, who have given themselves over to pleasure: in Herodias and her
daughter, an example of whore-like licentious women, and womanly cruelty.
Mt 14:2
14:2 And said unto his
servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore
mighty {a} works do shew forth themselves in him.
(a) By works he means that
force and power by which works are performed, and not the works which are
often seen before.
Mt 14:6
14:6 But when Herod's
birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased
{b} Herod.
(b) There were three Herods:
the first of them was Antipater's son, who is also called Ascalonius, in
whose reign Christ was born, and it was he that caused the children to be
slain. The second was called Antipas, Magnus his son, whose mother's name
was Malthaca or Martaca, and he was called Tetrarch, because he enlarged his
dominion, when Archelaus was banished to Vienna in France. The third was
Agrippa, Magnus his nephew by Aristobulus, and it was he that slew James.
Mt 14:14
14:14 {2} And Jesus went
forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them,
and he healed their sick.
(2) Christ feeds a great
multitude with five loaves and two little fish, showing by it that they will
lack nothing who lay all things aside and seek the kingdom of heaven.
Mt 14:24
14:24 {3} But the ship was
now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
(3) We must sail even
through mighty tempests, and Christ will never forsake us, so that we can go
wherever he has commanded us to go.
Mt 14:25
14:25 And in the {c} fourth
watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
(c) By the fourth watch is
meant the time nearer to day break: for in ancient times they divided the
night into four watches in which they posted watches.
Mt 14:26
14:26 And when the disciples
saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a {d} spirit;
and they cried out for fear.
(d) A spirit, as it is
taken here, is that which a man imagines to himself vainly in his mind,
persuading himself that he sees something when he sees nothing.
Mt 14:28
14:28 {4} And Peter answered
him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
(4) By faith we tread under
our feet even the tempests themselves, but only by the power of Christ,
which helps that faith, which he by his mercy has given.
Mt 14:34
14:34 And when they were gone
over, they came into the land of {e} Gennesaret.
(e) This Gennesaret was a
lake near Capernaum, which is also called the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias; so
the country itself grew to be called Gennesaret.
Mt 14:35
14:35 {5} And when the men of
that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round
about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
(5) In that act where
Christ heals the sick, we are shown that we must seek remedy for spiritual
diseases at his hands: and that we ourselves are bound to not only run to
him, but also to bring others unto him.
Mt 15:1
15:1 {1} Then came to Jesus
scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
(1) None commonly are more
bold condemners of God, then they whom God has appointed keepers of his law.
Mt 15:2
15:2 Why do thy disciples
transgress the tradition of the elders? for they {a} wash not their hands when
they eat bread.
(a) Which they received
handed down from their ancestors, or their elders allowed, who were the
governors of the Church.
Mt 15:3
15:3 {2} But he answered and
said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition?
(2) Their wicked boldness
in corrupting the commandments of God (and that upon the pretence of
godliness) and usurping authority to make laws, is reproved here.
Mt 15:4
15:4 For God commanded,
saying, {b} Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or
mother, let him die the death.
Mt 15:5
15:5 But ye say, {c}
Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
(c) The meaning is this:
whatever I bestow upon the temple, is to your profit, for it is as good as
if I gave it to you, for (as the Pharisees of our time say) it will be
meritorious for you: for under this form of religion, they gathered all to
themselves, as though he that had given anything to the temple, had done the
duty of a child.
Mt 15:6
15:6 And honour not his
father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of
God of none {d} effect by your tradition.
(d) As much as you could,
you destroyed the power and authority of the commandment: for otherwise the
commandments of God stand fast in the Church of God, in spite of the world
and Satan.
Mt 15:7
15:7 {3} [Ye] hypocrites,
well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(3) The same men are
condemned for hypocrisy and superstition, because they made the kingdom of
God to consist of outward things.
Mt 15:10
15:10 {4} And he called the
multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
(4) Christ teaches us that
the hypocrisy of false teachers who deceive our souls is not to be endured
at all, not even in small matters, and there is no reason why their office
or position should blind our eyes: otherwise we are likely to perish with
them.
Mt 15:21
15:21 Then Jesus went thence,
and departed into the {e} coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
(e) Coasts which were next
to Tyre and Sidon, that is in that region where Palestine faces toward
Venice, and the sea of Syria.
Mt 15:22
15:22 And, behold, a woman of
{f} Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy
on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil.
(f) Of the people of the
Canaanites, who dwelt in Phoenicia.
Mt 15:23
15:23 {5} But he answered her
not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away;
for she crieth after us.
(5) In that Christ
sometimes shuts his ears, as it were, to the prayers of his saints, he does
it for his glory, and our profit.
Mt 15:24
15:24 But he answered and
said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the {g} house of Israel.
(g) Of the people of
Israel, who were divided into tribes, but all those tribes came from one
family.
Mt 15:29
15:29 {6} And Jesus departed
from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a
mountain, and sat down there.
(6) Christ does not cease
to be beneficial even where he is condemned, and in the midst of wolves he
gathers together and cares for his flock.
Mt 15:30
15:30 And great multitudes
came unto him, having with them [those that were] lame, blind, dumb, {h}
maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed
them:
(h) Whose members were
weakened with paralysis, or by nature, for after it is said that he healed
them. Now Christ preferred to heal in this way, that such members as were
weak, he restored to health, and yet he could easily, if he had wanted, have
given them hands and feet and other members which they lacked.
Mt 15:32
15:32 {7} Then Jesus called
his disciples [unto him], and said, I have compassion on the multitude,
because they {i} continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and
I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
(7) By doing this miracle
again, Christ shows that he who follows Christ will never be in need, not
even in the wilderness.
(i) Go not from my side.
Mt 15:35
15:35 And he commanded the
multitude to {k} sit down on the ground.
(k) Literally, "to lie down
backwards", as rowers do in rowing, when they draw their oars to themselves.
Mt 15:37
15:37 And they did all eat,
and were filled: and they took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven {l}
baskets full.
Mt 16:1
16:1 The {1} Pharisees also
with the Sadducees came, and {a} tempting desired him that he would shew them
a sign from heaven.
(1) The wicked who
otherwise disagree with one another, agree well together against Christ, but
do what they can, Christ is victorious, and triumphs over them.
(a) To see whether he could do that which they desired, but their purpose
was useless for they thought to find something in him by it, in which case
they might have just occasion to reprehend him: or else distrust and
curiosity moved them to do so, for by such means also is God said to be
tempted, that is to say, provoked to anger, as though men would strive with
him.
Mt 16:3
16:3 And in the morning, [It
will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye]
hypocrites, ye can discern the {b} face of the sky; but can ye not [discern]
the signs of the times?
(b) The outward show and
countenance, as it were, of all things, is called in the Hebrew language, a
face.
Mt 16:4
16:4 A wicked and adulterous
generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but
(c) the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Mt 16:5
16:5 {2} And when his
disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Mt 16:8
16:8 [Which] when Jesus {d}
perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among
yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
(d) Not by others, but by
virtue of his divinity.
Mt 16:9
16:9 Do ye not yet
understand, neither remember the {e} five loaves of the five thousand, and how
many baskets ye took up?
Mt 16:11
16:11 How is it that ye do
not {f} understand that I {g} spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye
should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Mt 16:13
16:13 {3} When Jesus came
into the coasts of {h} Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom
do men say that I the Son of man am?
(3) There are many
judgments and opinions of Christ, nevertheless he is known by his followers
alone.
(h) There were two Caesareas, the one called Stratonis upon the
Mediterranean Sea, which Herod built extravagantly in the honour of Octavius;
Josephus lib. 15. The other was Caesarea Philippi, which Herod the great the
Tetrarch's son by Cleopatra, built in the honour of Tiberius at the foot of
Lebanon; Josephus lib. 15.
Mt 16:14
16:14 And they said, Some
[say that thou art] {i} John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias,
or one of the prophets.
Mt 16:17
16:17 {4} And Jesus answered
and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for {k} flesh and blood
hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(4) Faith is of grace, not
of nature.
(k) By this kind of speech is meant man's natural procreation upon the
earth, the one who was made, not being destroyed, but deformed through sin:
So then this is the meaning: this was not revealed to you by any
understanding of man, but God showed it to you from heaven.
Mt 16:18
16:18 {5} And I say also unto
thee, That thou art {l} Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and
the {m} gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(5) That is true faith,
which confesses Christ, the virtue of which is invincible.
(l) Christ spoke in the Syrian tongue, and therefore did not use this
discourse to distinguish between Petros, which signifies Peter, and Petra,
which signifies a rock, but in both places used the word Cephas: but his
meaning is what is written in Greek, in which the different word endings
distinguish between Peter, who is a piece of the building, and Christ the
Petra, that is, the rock and foundation: or else he named him Peter because
of the confession of his faith, which is the Church's as well as his, as the
old fathers witness, for so says Theophylact. That confession which you have
made, shall be the foundation of the believers.
(m) The enemies of the Church are compared to a strong kingdom, and
therefore by "gates" are meant cities which are made strong with wise
preparation and fortifications, and this is the meaning: whatever Satan can
do by cunning or strength. So does Paul, calling them strongholds; 2Co 10:4
.
Mt 16:19
16:19 {6} And I will give
unto thee the {n} keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt {o}
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(6) The authority of the
Church is from God.
(n) A metaphor taken from stewards who carry the keys: and here is set forth
the power of the ministers of the word, as Isa 22:22 says, and that power is
common to all ministers, as Mt 18:18 says, and therefore the ministry of the
gospel may rightly be called the key of the kingdom of heaven.
(o) They are bound whose sins are retained; heaven is shut against them,
because they do not receive Christ by faith: on the other hand, how happy
are they to whom heaven is open, who embrace Christ and are delivered by
him, and become fellow heirs with him!
Mt 16:20
16:20 {7} Then charged he his
disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(7) Men must first learn,
and then teach.
Mt 16:21
16:21 {8} From that time
forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto
Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the {p} elders and chief priests and
scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
(8) The minds of men are at
this time to be prepared and made ready against the stumbling block of
persecution.
(p) It was a name of dignity and not of age: and it is used for those who
were the judges, whom the Hebrews call the Sanhedrin.
Mt 16:22
16:22 Then Peter {q} took
him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall
not be unto thee.
(q) Took him by the hand
and led him aside, as they used to do, which meant to talk familiarly with
one.
Mt 16:23
16:23 {9} But he turned, and
said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, {r} Satan: thou art an offence unto me:
for thou {s} savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of
men.
(9) Against a preposterous
zeal.
(r) The Hebrews call him Satan, that is to say an adversary, whom the Greeks
call diabolos, that is to say, slanderer, or tempter: but it is spoken of
them, that either of malice, as Judas, Joh 6:70 , or of lightness and pride
resist the will of God.
(s) By this word we are taught that Peter sinned through a false persuasion
of himself.
Mt 16:24
16:24 {10} Then said Jesus
unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him
