Jesus rebukes and casts, A. M. 4034. t $ A. D. 30. 15 And saying, The time is ful- 20 And straightway he called them: A. M. 4034. filled, and the kingdom of God is at || and they left their father Zebedee in hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. 16 "Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after 21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 a And they were astonished at his doc me, and I will make you to become fishers of trine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. men. Verses 17-20. Come, and I will make you fishers || of men-I will enable you to draw them into my true church by the net of my gospel. And straightway-Upon his call; 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! When he had|| gone thence, he saw James-See on Matt. iv. 21. Mending their nets, which they had washed, Luke || v. 2. The Greek word, kaтaptisovras, here rendered mending, or refitting, signifies also preparing, or|| making. Verses 21, 22. And they went into Capernaum- || been only mad, as some vainly suppose, and not When our Lord had thus called Peter, Andrew, || really possessed by an evil spirit? This case was James, and John, they all left the side of the lake, so remarkable, that, as the evangelist adds, immediand entered with him into the city of Capernaum. ately our Lord's fame spread abroad throughout And straightway on the sabbath day—Doubtless the|| all the region round about Galilee. However, next sabbath, which was probably the very next day. though madmen might not know Christ, the devils The word for sabbath day, тois σaßbaow, is in the could not be ignorant of him, from the time of his plural number, and the expression is frequently the || baptism, when the voice from heaven said, This is same where it is evidently to be understood of a || my beloved Son, &c., and therefore Satan soon after, particular day, as Matt. xii. 1; xxviii. 1 ; Acts xiji. 14. || in one of his temptations, says, If thou be the Son of And taught-Declared the important truths which God, &c., Matt. iv. 6. And Jesus rebuked him— he was in so extraordinary a manner commissioned || Not being willing to receive any testimony from to reveal and vindicate. And they were astonished || Satan. When the unclean spirit had torn him— at his doctrine-Were again struck with amazement || Or convulsed him, as orapağav seems here to mean. at it, as they had been when he first came to preach || Accordingly, оñaрayμov, as Grotius has observed, is among them. See Luke iv. 23, and note on Matt. sometimes used to signify a convulsion. It is cervii. 28. There seems to have been something in the || tainly much more natural, as Doddridge observes, discourses, as well as in the miracles of this last || to understand the expression thus, than to suppose sabbath that he spent among them at this time, which the devil to have torn him, according to the comraised their wonder, and affected them in a peculiar | mon meaning of the word torn, which leaves the manner, as appears from the multitude of sick peo-reader to imagine that he grievously wounded him, ple which were brought to him that evening, verses when Luke expressly says, he hurt him not. And 32, 33; Luke iv. 40; Matt. viii. 16. cried with a loud voice-Or, noise, rather, for he Verses 23-28. And there was in their synagogue || was forbidden to speak. Christ would neither sufa man with an unclean spirit—Luke, which had a fer those evil spirits to speak in opposition, nor yet spirit of an unclean devil. And he cried out-Luke, in favour of him. He needed not their testimony, with a loud voice. As soon as the devil saw Jesus, || nor would encourage it, lest any should infer that dreading his power, and expecting to be dispossessed, || he acted in concert with them. Luke says, When ( 17* ) he cried out in great terror: saying, in the name of all the rest, Let us alone, &c. Art thou come to de|| stroy us-By driving us out of our abodes on earth to the regions of darkness? I know thee—Under all the disadvantages of thy present appearance, I can sufficiently discern who thou art, the Holy One of God-Whom he hath sanctified and sent into the world for the destruction of my kingdom, and therefore I dread thee. It seems plain, from what is said afterward, verse 27, that the other persons then present did not know Jesus to be the Son of God; how then should the demoniac know this if he had 258 a Jesus heals various diseases, A. M. 4035. e A. D. 31. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, || and lifted her up; and immediately A. M. 4035 Hold thy peace, and come out of him. the fever left her, and she ministered 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn unto them. him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? || for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 29 ¶f And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 32 ¶ And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils 3 to speak, because they knew him. h 35 ¶ And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon, and they that were with him, 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a followed after him. fever; and anon they tell him of her. 37 And when they had found him, they said 31 And he came and took her by the hand, unto him, All men seek for thee. d Verse 34.- e Chapter ix. 20.————f Matt. viii. 14; Luke iv. 38. Matt. viii. 16; Luke iv. 40. || the Messiah. This, his enemies said, they never would have done, had he not been in compact with them. Therefore, our Lord would not have their testimony, because it was a real and intended defamation of him; and because he foresaw that it would be made a bad use of by men of evil minds. the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out them, and cured them all. And he suffered not the of him—It is remarkable, that in all the cures of this devils to speak, because they knew him—Luke, sort which our Lord performed, the person to be knew that he was the Christ-That is, according to cured was seized with the disorder in its violence at the hypothesis of those who consider the Scriptural the time of the cure, and raised from the stupor of demoniacs as being only diseased persons, he sufthe fit to perfect health in an instant. The reason || fered not the diseases to speak, because they knew was, that thus the reality and greatness both of the|| him! The fact seems to have been this, the demons, disorder and the cure were fully proved, to the con- || in addressing Jesus, honoured him with the title of viction of every beholder. And they were all amazed -At so miraculous a cure; insomuch that they questioned among themselves Inquired of each other, and reasoned together, saying, What new doctrine is this?—Luke, Tiç ó hoyos 8705, what a word is this! || How powerful is this man's word, or command! for with authority commandeth he even the unclean Verses 35-39. And in the morning, a great while spirits—An indubitable proof that his doctrine was before day-Evvvxov 2ɩav, When the night was very attended with an extraordinary power: and imme- || far advanced, or, when it was yet deep night, he diately his fame-Raised by this signal miracle, || went out, &c. Thus diligently did the Son of God spread abroad throughout all the region-And made labour for us! After the preceding day had been way for his reception in the progress which he spent in preaching, and the evening in working miraafterward took into every place of the neighbouring cles, Jesus allowed himself but a very short repose. country. And departed into a solitary place-Withdrawing Verses 29-34. They entered into the house of Si- not only from the multitude, but even from his dismon-That is, of Peter. See the notes on Matt. viii. ciples; for the company of the best friends is not 14-17. And all the city was gathered together at always seasonable nor acceptable. There are times the door-Namely, of the house in which Jesus was; and cases when a true Christian would not be willsome coming as humble petitioners for themselves ing that his dearest friends should be witnesses of or their friends, others as spectators of the surprising || what passes between God and his soul. By retiring miracles which he wrought, and some probably to thus early in the morning for prayer, our Lord hear and be instructed by his discourses. O what a || teaches that the morning is a fit season, yea, the best fair prospect was here! Who could then have ima- season, for private duties. Then our spirits are gined that all these blossoms would die away without most fresh, and our minds most free, before the fruit? And he healed many-Luke says, chap. iv. cares and distractions of the day have broken in 40, He laid his hands on every one of them and || upon us. It is better to go from prayer to business, healed them. The sight of so many of the human than from business to prayer. But not only early in kind in distress, moved him; and he took pity on || the morning, but at other convenient times, we find || Jesus casts out devils, A. M. 4035. ST. MARK. k and heals a lever A. D. 31. 38 And he said unto them, Let || ately the leprosy departed from him, A. M. 4035. us go into the next towns, that I and he was cleansed. may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 1 39 m And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40 ¶ "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 P But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immedi-a and they came to him from every quarter. k Luke iv. 43.—————1 Isa. lxi. 1; John xvi. 28; xvii. 4.-——m Matt. iv. 23; Luke iv. 44. Matt. viii. 2; Luke v. 12. • Lev. xiv. 3, 4, 10; Luke v. 14.—P Luke v. 15.——9 Chapter ii. 13. Verses 40-44. And there came a leper, &c.-Concerning the miracle recorded in these verses, see the notes on Matt. viii. 2-4. our Lord retiring to pour out his soul in prayer to his smallest villages as in the largest cities, when God heavenly Father, hereby showing all his followers calls them thereunto. Let the place be never so || the great importance of cultivating communion with obscure and mean, and the congregation never so God in private: and those who are employed in his small and poor, the greatest must not think it bepublic service should especially attend to this, lest, neath them to go and instruct them, though but a while they keep the vineyard of others, their own handful of people. And he preached throughout all should be neglected and empoverished. And Simon, Galilee-Not drawn from his purpose by the per&c., followed after him--When the day was some- suasions, however importunate, of his friends. And what advanced, and crowds of people came to in- || cast out devils-Working also divers miracles to quire after him, Peter, and they that were with him illustrate and confirm his doctrine. See on Matt. -That is, those who have been already mentioned iv. 23. as his partners and companions, guessing where he was, went out and followed after him; and said, All men seek for thee-They were glad that their Master was become so popular already, and wished him to appear in public yet more in that place, because || it was their own city, and men are apt to be partial to the places with which they are particularly acquainted, and in which they feel themselves peculiarly interested. And he said, Let us go into the || next towns-The villages in the neighbourhood; that I may preach there also-And work miracles there; for therefore came I forth-Not to be con- || stantly resident in one place, but to go about doing good. It being Christ's design to propagate the gospel everywhere, he would not confine his ministry to any particular place, no, not to the great city of Capernaum; but resolves to preach the word in the smallest towns and villages. Herein he set ministers an instructive example, showing them that they must be as willing to preach the gospel in the || Verse 45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, &c.-But the man, instead of concealing the cure, was so overjoyed at the suddenness and greatness of the blessing, and of the divine mercy manifested toward him in so miraculous a deliverance, that he could not forbear publishing it everywhere; insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city-Namely, of Capernaum: to prevent which inconvenience, as well as for the other reasons mentioned in the note on Matt. viii. 4, our Lord had enjoined him silence: but was without, in desert places-Was obliged to retire into a neighbouring wilderness, to refresh his body with rest, and his spirit with meditation and prayer. And they came to him from every quarter—Even into the wilderness, remote as it was from the habitations of many of them. CHAPTER II. In this chapter we have, (1,) Christ's healing a man that was sick of the palsy, 1-12. (2,) His calling Matthew from the receipt of custom, and his eating upon that occasion with publicans and sinners, and justifying himself in so doing, 13–17. (3,) His justifying his disciples in not fasting so much as those of the Pharisees did, 18-22. (4,) His justifying them in plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath day, 23-28. All which passages we had before, Matt. ix. and xii. A man sick of A. M. 4035. a A. D. 31. AND again he entered into Ca-|| him for the press, they uncovered the A. M. 4035 pernaum, after some days; and roof where he was: and when they it was noised that he was in the house. had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 ¶ And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto NOTES ON CHAPTER II. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphe a Matt. ix. 1; Luke v. 18. γαδαν την ςεγην οπ8 ην, και, εξορύξαντες χαλωσι τον κραββαVerses 1, 2. And again-After having been in Tov, they took up the covering, and having broken, desert places for some time, he returned privately or pulled up, namely, as much of the frame or adto Capernaum. It was noised that he was in the joining tiles as was necessary, they let down the house-The rumour immediately spread, that he couch, which they held by the corners, or by ropes was come to the city, and was in Peter's house. || fastened to the corners of it, and so placed him beAnd straightway many were gathered together—|| fore Jesus while he was preaching to the people who His arrival was no sooner known than such a mulwere within, and to as many of those who stood titude was gathered together that the house could without in the court as could hear. not contain them; nor even the court before the Some think a more satisfactory interpretation of door. Hitherto the general impression on their this passage may be given by referring to Dr. Shaw's hearts continued. Hitherto, even at Capernaum, || account of the houses in the East. They are most of those who heard, received the word with built," he says, "round a paved court, into which joy. And he preached the word unto them-He|| the entrance from the street is through a gateway, preached to as many as could hear him; and among || or passage-room, furnished with benches, and suffithe rest, as we learn, Luke v. 17, to many Pharisees || ciently large to be used in receiving visits, or transand teachers of the law, who on the report of his miracles were come from all quarters to see his works, and judge of his pretensions. 66 acting business. The stairs, which lead to the roof, are never placed on the outside of the house in the street, but usually in the gateway or passage-room to the court, and sometimes at the entrance within the court. This court is called in Arabic, the middle of the house, and answers to the midst, in Luke. It is customary to fix cords from the parapetwalls (Deut. xxii. 8) of the flat roofs across this court, and upon them to expand a veil or covering, as a shelter from the heat. In this area, probably, our Saviour taught. The paralytic was brought upon the roof by making a way through the crowd to the stairs in the gateway, or by the terraces of the adjoining houses. They rolled back the veil, and let the sick man down over the parapet-wall of the roof into the area or court of the house before Jesus." This interpretation, however, seems hardly consistent with the original expressions used by Mark and Luke, particularly the latter, who says, chap. v. 19, Δια των κεραμων καθηκαν αυτον συν τῳ κλινιδιῳ, They let him down through the tiling with his couch. Verses 3-4. And they come, bringing one sick of the palsy-See on Matt. ix. 2, &c. Which was borne of four-One at each corner of the sofa or couch. And when they could not come nigh unto him for|| the press-The great crowd of people collected together, and feared a delay might lose so precious an opportunity, they uncovered the roof-Of the apartment where he was-Which was a room that had no chamber over it, the houses in the East being low, having generally a ground floor only, or one upper story. This house also, like other houses in that country, had doubtless a flat roof with a battlement round it, (Deut. xxii. 8,) and a kind of trap-door, by which persons within could come out upon it to walk and take the air, or perform their devotions. (See 2 Kings xxiii. 12; Acts x. 9.) This door, when shut, lying even with the roof, made a part of it, and was probably well fastened to secure the house against thieves. The bearers therefore of the para- Verses 5-12. When Jesus saw their faith-The lytic, prevented from bringing him in at the door by faith of the bearers of the paralytic, as well as of the the crowd, bear him up by some other stair to the || paralytic himself, manifested by their making these roof of this room, and finding this trap-door fastened extraordinary efforts to bring him to Jesus, he had below, were obliged to break it open before they compassion on the afflicted person, and, previously could get entrance; and probably also, in order to to his cure, declared publicly that his sins were forlet down the sick man and his couch, to make the given. But there were certain of the scribes, &c.opening wider, which they might do, either by re- See whence the first offence cometh!-As yet not moving the frame of the trap-door, or some of the one of the plain, unlettered people, were offended. tiles adjoining to it, with the laths supporting them; They all rejoiced in the light, till these men of all which Mark fitly expresses by the words, anɛçe-learning came, to put darkness for light, and light 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? d 9 a Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thy house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. e Jesus eats with publicans and sinners. A. D. 31. 13 ¶ And he went forth again by A. M. 4035. the sea-side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. f 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the || son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. 15 And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? where the custom was received.- -g Matt. ix. 10.-h Matt. ix. 12, 13; xviii. 11; Luke v. 31, 32; xix. 10; 1 Tim. i. 15. b Job xiv. 4; Isa. xliii. 25.- c Matt. ix. 4.-d Matt. ix. 5. e Matt. ix. 9.- f Matt. ix. 9; Luke v. 27.- -1 Or, at the place for darkness. Wo to all such blind guides! Good as the word &ε often signifies,) Arise,and walk had it been for these if they had never been born. That is, whether is easier, to forgive sins, or to O God, let me never offend one of thy simple ones! remove that which is inflicted as their punishment? Sooner let my tongue cleave to the roof of my The Pharisees could not but be sensible that these mouth! These scribes, hearing what Christ said, things were one and the same, and therefore they were exceedingly provoked. And though they did ought to have acknowledged that the power which || not openly find fault, they said in their own minds, did the one could really do the other also. If it be or, perhaps, whispered to one another, Why doth objected to this, that the prophets of old wrought this man thus speak blasphemies?-"The word || miraculous cures of diseases, but never claimed the Chaconuia, blasphemy, in profane writings, signifies power of forgiving sins, neither could claim it; the slander, calumny, or any kind of opprobrious lan- answer is, that the cases are widely different; none guage. But in Scripture it denotes opprobrious of the prophets ever pretended to work miracles by speeches against God's being, attributes, or opera- his own power, as Jesus did. The Pharisees making tions, such as when we ascribe to God the infirmi- no answer, Jesus, without troubling himself any ties of men, or to men the perfections and operations || further, (except to tell them, that what he was about of God; it signifies also irreverent speeches, ad- || to do would demonstrate his power on earth to fordressed immediately to God, such as when we curse || give sins,) turned to the paralytic, and bade him God, as Job's wife desired him to do.”—Macknight. || rise up and carry away his bed. And the words The meaning of the word here is, Why doth this fellow arrogantly assume to himself what belongs to God? a sense which it has Matt. xvi. 65, and in other passages. These Pharisees and teachers of the law, being ignorant of our Lord's divinity, thought he was guilty of blasphemy in pretending to forgive the man his sins, because it was an assuming of what God had declared to be his incommunicable prerogative, Isa. xliii. 25. Whereupon Jesus, knowing all that passed, immediately reasoned with them on the subject of their thoughts,|| by which he gave them to understand that it was Verses 13-17. And all the multitude resorted unto impossible for any thought to come into their minds || him-Namely, by the sea-side. And he taught without his knowledge, and consequently proved them-As readily there as if he had been in a synahimself to be endued with the omniscient Spirit of gogue. And as he passed by he saw Levi, that is, God. He next demonstrated, by what he said to || Matthew, sitting, &c.—See on Matt. ix. 9-13. Many them, that the power he claimed did really belong || publicans and sinners sat with Jesus-Some of to him, demanding, Whether is it easier to say them, doubtless, invited by Matthew, moved with Namely, with authority, so as to effect what is said; || compassion for his old companions in sin. But the Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, (to command, || next words, For they were many, and they followed were no sooner pronounced, than the cure was accomplished: the man was made active and strong in an instant. He arose, took up his bed with surprising vigour, and went off, astonished in himself, and raising astonishment in all who beheld him. The Pharisees indeed, it seems, were only confounded; but the rest of the people were not only struck with amazement, but affected with a high degree of reverence for God, and admiration of his power and goodness, glorifying him, and saying, We never saw it on this fashion ! |