XIX. *And Jesus when he had finished these sayings, departed

from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And the Pharisees came to him, tempting him and saying, Is it 4 lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answering said to them, Have ye not read, that he who made 5 them, made them male and female from the beginning? And said, For this cause a man shall leave father and mother and cleave to 6 his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined 7 together let not man put asunder. They say to him, Why then did Moses command to give a writing of divorce, and put her 8 away? He saith to them, Because of the hardness of your hearts. Moses permitted you to put away your wives; but from the be9 ginning it was not so. And I say to you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for whoredom, and marry another, committeth adultery, and he that marrieth her that is put away, committeth 10 adultery. His disciples say to him, If the case of a man with his 11 wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. But he said to them,

All men do not receive this saying, but they to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs, who were made eunuchs by men ; and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, So likewise will my heavenly Father do to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

XIX. 1. He departed—and from that time walked no more in Galilee.

2. Multitudes followed him, and he healed them there-That is, wheresoever they followed him.

3. The Pharisees came tempting him-Trying to make him contradict Moses. For every cause-That is, for any thing which he dislikes in her. This the scribes allowed.

4. He said, Have ye not read-So instead of contradicting him, our Lord confutes them by the very words of Moses. He who made them, made them male and female from the beginning—At least from the beginning of the Mosaic creation. And where do we read of any other? Does it not follow, that God's making Eve was part of his original design, and not a consequence of Adam's beginning to fall? By making them one man and one woman, he condemned polygamy: by making them one flesh, he condemned divorce.

5. And said-By the mouth of Adam, who uttered the words.

7. Why did Moses command-Christ replies, Moses permitted (not commanded) it, because of the hardness of your hearts-Because neither your fathers nor you could bear the more excellent way.

9. And I say to you-I revoke that indulgence from this day, so that from henceforth, Whosoever, &c.

11. But he said to them-This is not universally true; it does not hold, with regard to all men, but with regard to those only to whom is given this excellent gift of God. Now this is given to three sorts of persons; to some by natural constitution, without their choice: to others by violence, against their choice; and to others by grace with their choice: who steadily withstand their natural inclinations, that they may wait upon God without distraction.

12. There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake-Happy they! who have abstained from marriage (though without condemning or despising it) that they might walk more closely with God! He * Mark x, 1. + Gen. ii, 24. Deut. xxiv, 1; Matt. v, 31; Mark x, 2; Luke xvi. 18.

13 * Then were brought to him little children, that he might lay his 14 hands on them and pray: but his disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid 15 them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed thence.

16 And behold one came and said to him, Good Master, what 17 good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said to him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the command18 ments. He saith to him, Which? Jesus said, § Thou shalt do no

murder: thou shalt not commit adultery: thou shalt not steal: 19 thou shalt not bear false witness: Honour thy father and mother, 20 and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man

saith to him, All these things have I kept from my childhood: 21 what lack I yet? Jesus saith to him, If thou desirest to be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt 22 have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But the young man hearing that saying, went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

23

Then said Jesus to his disciples, Verily I say to you, a rich 24 man shall with difficulty enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye

that is able to receive it, let him receive it-This gracious command (for such it is unquestionably, since to say, such a man may live single, is saying nothing. Who ever doubted this?) is not designed for all men: but only for those few who are able to receive it. Ó let these receive it joyfully!

13. That he should lay his hands on them-This was a rite which was very early used, in praying for a blessing on young persons. See Gen. xlviii, 14, 20. The disciples rebuked them-That is, them that brought them: probably think. ing such an employ beneath the dignity of their Master.

14. Of such is the kingdom of heaven-Little children, either in a natural or spiritual sense, have a right to enter into my kingdom.

16. And behold one came- -Many of the poor had followed him from the begin. ning. One rich man came at last.

There

17. Why callest thou me good-Whom thou supposest to be only a man. is none good-Supremely, originally, essentially, but God. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments-From a principle of loving faith. Believe, and thence love and obey. And this undoubtedly is the way to eternal life. Our Lord therefore does not answer ironically, which had been utterly beneath his character, but gives a plain, direct, serious answer to a serious question.

20. The young man saith, All these have I kept from my childhood-So he imagined; and perhaps he had, as to the letter; but not as to the spirit, which our Lord immediately shows.

21. If thou desirest to be perfect-That is, to be a real Christian: Sell what thou hast-He who reads the heart saw his bosom sin was love of the world; and knew he could not be saved from this, but by literally renouncing it. To him therefore he gave this particular direction, which he never designed for a general rule. For him that was necessary to salvation to us it is not. To sell all was an absolute duty to him; to many of us it would be an absolute sin. The young man went away—Not being willing to have salvation at so high a price.

24. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, (a proverbial expression,) than for a rich man to go through the strait gate: that is, humanly speaking, it is an absolute impossibility. Rich man! tremble! feel this impossi bility; else thou art lost for ever!

of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of 25 God. His disciples hearing it, were exceedingly amazed, saying, 26 Who then can be saved? But Jesus looking upon them, said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27 Then Peter answering said to him, Behold we have forsaken 28 all, and followed thee. What shall we have therefore? Jesus said to them, Verily I say to you, that ye who have followed me, in the renovation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve 29 tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit everlasting life. But many first will be last, and the last will

be first.

XX. For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder, who went out 2 early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them

25. His disciples were amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?—If rich men, with all their advantages, cannot? Who? A poor man; a peasant; a beggar: ten thousand of them, sooner than one that is rich.

26. Jesus looking upon them-To compose their hurried spirits. O what a speaking look was there! Said to them—With the utmost sweetness: With men this is impossible-It is observable, he does not retract what he had said no, nor soften it in the least degree, but rather strengthens it, by representing the salva. tion of a rich man as the utmost effort of Omnipotence.

28. In the renovation-In the final renovation of all things: Ye shall sit-In the beginning of the judgment they shall stand, 2 Cor. v, 10. Then being ab. solved, they shall sit with the Judge, 1 Cor. vi, 2: On twelve thrones-So our Lord promised, without expressing any condition: yet as absolute as the words are, it is certain there is a condition implied, as in many scriptures, where none is expressed. In consequence of this, those twelve did not sit on those twelve thrones for the throne of Judas another took, so that he never sat thereon.

29. And every one-In every age and country; not you my apostles only; That hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or wife, or children-Either by giving any of them up, when they could not be retained with a clear conscience; or by willingly refraining from acquiring them: Shall receive a hundred fold—In value, though not in kind, even in the present world.

30. But many first-Many of those who were first called, shall be last-Shall have the lowest reward: those who came after them being preferred before them: and yet possibly both the first and the last may be saved, though with different degrees of glory.

XX. 1. That some of those who were first called may yet be last, our Lord con. firms by the following parable: of which the primary scope is, to show, That many of the Jews would be rejected, and many of the Gentiles accepted; the secondary, That of the Gentiles, many who were first converted would be last and lowest in the kingdom of glory; and many of those who were last converted would be first, and highest therein. The kingdom of heaven is like-That is, the manner of God's proceeding in his kingdom resembles that of a householder. In the morning-At six, called by the Romans and Jews, the first hour. From thence reckoning on to the evening, they called nine, the third hour; twelve, the sixth; three in the afternoon, the ninth; and five, the eleventh. To hire labourers into his vineyard-All who profess to be Christians are in this sense labourers, and are supposed during their life to be working in God's vineyard.

2. The Roman penny was about seven pence halfpenny. [About thirteen and three quarter cents, American.] This was then the usual price of a day's labour

*Chap. xx, 16; Mark x, 31; Luke xiii, 30.

3 into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw 4 others standing idle in the market place, and said to them, Go ye

also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, I will give you. 5 And they went. Again going out about the sixth and ninth hour, 6 he did likewise. And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing idle, and saith to them, Why stand ye here all the 7 day idle? They say to him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is 8 right ye shall receive. And in the evening the lord of the vineyard saith to the steward, Call the labourers, and pay them their 9 hire, beginning from the last to the first. And when they came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every one a 10 penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should

have received more; and they likewise received every one a penny. 11 And having received it, they murmured against the householder, 12 saying, These last have wrought one hour, and thou hast made

them equal unto us, who have borne the burden and the heat of the 13 day. And he answering said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no 14 wrong. Didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take what is

thine, and go: it is my will to give to this last even as to thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine 16 eye evil because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last for many are called, but few chosen.

*

17 † And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples 18 apart in the way, and said to them, Behold we go up to Jerusalem,

6. About the eleventh hour-That is, very late; long after the rest were called 8. In the evening-Of life; or of the world.

9. Who were hired about the eleventh hour-Either the Gentiles, who were called long after the Jews into the vineyard of the Church of Christ; or those in every age who did not hear, or at least understand the Gospel call, till their day of life was drawing to a period. Some circumstances of the parable seem best to suit the former, some the latter of these senses.

10. The first supposed they should have received more— e-Probably the first here may mean the Jews, who supposed they should always be preferred before the Gentiles.

12. Thou hast made them equal to us-So St. Peter expressly, Acts xv, 9. God-hath put no difference between us (Jews) and them, (Gentiles,) purifying their hearts by faith. And those who were equally holy here, whenever they were called, will be equally happy hereafter.

14. It is my will to give to this last called among the heathens even as to the first called among the Jews: yea, and to the late converted publicans and sinners, even as to those who were called long before.

15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own?-Yea, doubtless, to give either to Jew or Gentile a reward infinitely greater than he deserves. But can it be inferred from hence, that it is lawful, or possible, for the merciful Father of spirits to

Consign an unborn soul to hell?

Or damn him from his mother's womb?"

Is thine eye evil because I am good-Art thou envious, because I am gracious? Here is an evident reference to that malignant aspect, which is generally the attendant of a selfish and envious temper.

16. So the last shall be first, and the first last-Not only with regard to the Jews and Gentiles, but in a thousand other instances. For many are called-All who hear the Gospel; but few chosen-Only those who obey it.

+ Chap. xix, 30; xxii, 14. † Mark x, 32; Luke xviii, 31.

and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes 19 and they will condemn him to death, And will deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock and scourge and crucify him; and the third day he shall rise again.

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said to her, What wilt thou? She saith to him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the 22 other on thy left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am bap23 tized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith to them, Ye shall indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, save to them for whom it is prepared of 24 my Father. And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation 25 against the two brethren. But Jesus calling them to him said,

Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and 26 they that are great exercise authority upon them. † It shall

not be so among you; but whosoever desireth to be great among 27 you, let him be your minister; And whosoever desireth to be 28 chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 And as they were going from Jericho, a great multitude fol30 lowed him. And behold two blind men sitting by the way side,

hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Have mercy 31 on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude charged

them to hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, 32 Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stand

20. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children-Considering what he had been just speaking, was ever any thing more unreasonable? Perhaps Zebedee himself was dead, or was not a follower of Christ.

21. In thy kingdom-Still they expected a temporal kingdom.

22. Ye know not what is implied in being advanced in my kingdom, and necessarily prerequired thereto. All who share in my kingdom must first share in my sufferings. Are you able and willing to do this? Both these expressions, The cup, the baptism, are to be understood of his sufferings and death. The like expressions are common among the Jews.

23. But to sit on my right hand-Christ applies to the glories of heaven, what his disciples were so stupid as to understand of the glories of earth. But he does not deny that this is his to give. It is his to give in the strictest propriety, both as God, and as the Son of man. He only asserts, that he gives it to none but those for whom it is originally prepared; namely, those who endure to the end in the faith that worketh by love.

25 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them-And hence you imagine, the chief in my kingdom will do as they but it will be quite otherwise. 26. Your minister-That is, your servant.

30. Behold two blind men cried out-St. Mark and St. Luke mention only one of them, blind Bartimeus. He was far the more eminent of the two, and, as it seems, spoke for both.

31. The multitude charged them to hold their peace-And so they will all who begin to cry after the Son of David. But let those who feel their need of him cry the more; otherwise they will come short of a cure.

* Mark x, 35. + Chap. xxiii, 11. Mark x, 1, 46; Luke xviii, 35.