12 And when they were as- | him away while we slept. sembled with the elders, and had 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole k c.26.64. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught : showed their perfidy-their eagerness to contradict the facts, even after they were convinced-their extreme corruption that would resort to such iniquitous means-and especially their unhappy extremity, that could find no possible escape from the overwhelming proofs, and must bribe the soldiers to lie, against all probability, and in peril of their own life, to get a shadow of pretence against the resur 11. When they were going, or rather when they had gone. The guard (or keepers, vs. 4), having now recovered sufficiently from their stunning fright, and seeing their own liability to charges for not having kept the tomb safely, went to make report of all that had occurred.- - Unto the chief priests. The chief priests were well understood to be the parties interested, and the active agents in Christ's death, though the charge and condem-rection. Yet what a gross absurdity nation before Pilate had been one which concerned the state. Moreover the guard had been put at command of the chief priests (ch. 27.65). The guards themselves were convinced of a miraculous work at the sepulchre. 12. At this astounding news, they convene the Sanhedrim.-- Large money-literally sufficient, in the sense of abundant. They could think now only of lying and bribery. The statements of the guards satisfied them that there was no need of searching for the body, or investigating the case. They did not think of possible collusion. And now if He had risen, the last point was harder to kick against than the first (ch. 27. 64). Unto the soldiers. Ordinarily the soldiers might have been open to bribe. But in this case, they would expose themselves to the penalty of the Roman law, which was death, if it should appear that they had been asleep at their posts, and with such fatal results. The conduct of the chief priests here, was involved in this falsehood. If the guards were asleep, how could they know of the body's being stolen away by the disciples? Their very lack of fidelity so confessed, would destroy their testimony. 14. The governor's ears. They must give the soldiers this warrant against the fatal consequences of such a confession. The penalty of being asleep would be death-and yet, this pledge is given of influencing Pilate, so that they should escape the law. - Persuade. It was well understood that money could operate with Pilate, so that the soldiers need not fear. The governor was evidently known as being open to this kind of persuasion. Philo testifies to this point in his character. 15. So they took the money and did as they were taught! What a record of guilt and shame!- -¶ This saying, referring to vs. 14. The saying of the soldiers.- -T Among the Jews. This became the common Jewish ver and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. sion of our Lord's disappearance from the sepulchre. This fabrication was most industriously circulated by the Jews in distant countries, as Justin Martyr certifies. (Dialogue with Trypho, p. 202 and 335.) The same story is related in the Jewish Talmudical writings. Until this day, viz., the date of Matthew's gospel. Such an event as Christ's rising from the tomb, was seen to be so confounding an argument for all His claims, that the chief priests took utmost precaution against the shadow of any pretence to this effect (ch. 27. 63, 64). They had provided most completely against the very measures which they afterwards declare to have been taken, viz., the stealing of the body by the disciples. It was to prevent all possibility of this, that they had a guard of sixty men stationed around the tomb. Could all their laborious and abundant precautions have been defeated by these disciples? But the disciples carried spices to the sepulchre to embalm the body in death! Besides, could a Roman guard of sixty men have been all so soundly asleep at the same time and throughout such a transaction? This would have been a miracle. Could the disciples have given life to the body? It was abundantly testified that He appeared alive, by many infallible proofs (Acts 1.3). Besides, what motive could His followers have had for 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Je 1 c.26.32. removing His dead body out of so honourable a sepulchre ? Did the chief priests believe that His body was in possession of the disciples? They would surely have instituted search in the morning, so short a time after the event. The very report of the transaction given by the soldiers, and currently circulated among the Jews, carries its own refutation. And notwithstanding the false witness of the Jews, and their industrious circulation of it, multitudes of Jews and Gentiles believed. And this was no more. wonderful an event than many of His miracles had been. OBSERVE, The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead must be admitted as the crowning proof of His claims-and the highest token of the acceptance of His work in heaven. It establishes our faith (John 20. 8), and gives believers a pledge of their resurrection and redemption, since He is risen for us (1 Cor. 15. 20-23). It shows that Christ died not as others, but for a specific purpose as covenanted with the Father. And at once upon the accomplishment of this great end of His death, He triumphantly rose again (Heb. 1. 3). This therefore proves the object of His death to have been substantially attained. We are begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pet. 1. 3–5). sus had appointed them. m c.16.29. n 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. n Ps.2.6; 89.19; 110.1-3. Is.9.6,7. Da.7.14. c.11.27. Lu. 1.32. Jno. 17.2. Ro.14.9. Ep.1.20,21. He.2.8. 1Pe. 3.22. Re.11.15. § 169. THE APOSTLES GO AWAY INTO Matt. SELF TO SEVEN OF THEM AT THE Galilee. § 170. JESUS MEETS THE APOSTLES AND ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN ON A MOUNTAIN IN GALILEE. 16. Away into Galilee. Here it is recognized that the apostolic circle was now reduced by the apostacy and death of Judas, so as to number but eleven. Referring to John's record, which supplies mainly the deficiencies of the rest, we find those interesting narratives of the fishing, and Christ's appearing after their unsuccessful night, directing them where to cast-the prompt and marvellous success in following His directions-Peter's springing out from the fishers' boat into the sea-their feeding afterward on the fish, where Christ showed His identity and humanity, by eating with them-and His special conversations with Peter, testing his love, and forewarning him of his violent death.- TA mountain where Jesus had appointed. This appointment is recorded in ch. 26. 32, but no mountain is spoken of either there or in His promise (vs.10), or by the angel (vs.4). Our Lord may have designated a mountain, though the apostles make no record of it. Or, the Transfiguration Mount may have been understood as the spot. Many ("above five hundred brethren at once") had assembled there (1 Cor. 15. 6), as was natural enough from the report of such an appointment among Christ's followers, circulating more than eight days before the time, and the lively expectations excited both in Jerusalem and Galilee. He appointed this meeting in GALILEE, because there were but few disciples in Jerusalem (the number of the names being about a hun Mark. Luke. John. 28. 16 .... 28.16-201 21. 1-24 dred and twenty, Acts 1. 15), and Galilee hadbeen the principal sphere of His labours, and was the chief seat of His followers. But 17. When they saw Him. What a sight! What a glorious confirmation of their faith! John entered within the sepulchre and "saw and believed" (ch. 20. 8), not only that Christ had risen, but that His work was stamped with the seal of Divine authority and acceptance, and that He was a Divine Saviour. Now, at the sight of their identical Master, and at this fulfilment of His promise to meet them, how could they avoid worshipping Him as their Divine Lord ? some doubted. There were some there doubtless, who had not before beheld Him, nor had palpable proofs of His real appearance. All the natural doubts, therefore, now rose and struggled in their breasts. They doubted the evidence of their senses, that this could be the same Lord and Master risen. How plainly all the narrative implies that it was Christ in His identical flesh, as they had before known Him. The print of the nails and the very open wounds, were shown to Thomas. He ate" the broiled fish and honeycomb" before them (Luke 24. 42), to show them that it was really and personally He, in the same flesh, for "they believed not yet for joy, and wondered" (vs. 41). 18. Then Jesus came and spake unto them-i. e., the eleven (vs. 16), of whom alone Matthew has spoken. The apostolic commission is given by The Mark at the appearing of Christ to the good profession. Now, this Christian disciples, in Thomas' absence (16. 15- baptism as we see from what follows, 18). Then, also, John records the involves more than the avowal of breathing on them, with the words, such a commonly confessed belief. "Receive ye the Holy Ghost, &c. Our From the Acts of the Apostles we Lord repeats publicly here, in the pre- learn, too, that household baptism was sence of all His disciples, the solemn understood (see 3. 39; 16. 33).charge which He had already given, ¶ In the name. This does not mean, in private, to the apostles. This was " by the authority." It is into the the great ministerial commission, that name," or unto, involving a profeslooked beyond the apostles' age, and sion of this Christian religion, in beyond their extraordinary office, to which alone the Father, Son, and the preaching of the Gospel by the Holy Ghost, can be made known to ministers of Christ, ALWAY even unto men. One so baptized into the name the end of the world.- - All power is of the Triune God, professes to regiven unto me. This cannot imply ceive the Father, Son, and Holy any inferiority, for "ALL POWER" is Ghost, in all the offices in which they OMNIPOTENCE, which is an incommu- act for the government and salvation nicable attribute of God. And that of men; and engages to walk in all it was "GIVEN" Him, refers only to the commandments and ordinances the exaltation upon which He was of the Lord. In infant baptism, this just now to enter. As Mediator, He engagement is made by the believing was now to take all power on earth parent for the child, with the view of and in heaven-as coVENANTED WITH the child's assuming the obligation THE FATHER-for the purpose of gath- for itself at discretionary years. ering in His people-ruling and de- baptism is the child's privilege. The fending His church-and subduing after profession is its solemn Chrisall His and our enemies. As to His tian duty.-¶ Of the Father, and original power over all things, as the of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Obsecond person in the Godhead, and serve, it is in THE NAME of these three God the Son, see John 1. 1-3. Ro- persons AS ONE GOD, not in their mans 9.5. Col. 1. 16, 17. Heb. 1. NAMES as though they were three Gods. 3, 8. The same phraseology is used, when speaking of any one being, as 1 Cor. 1. 13, "were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" This language therefore gives the NAME of God-Three Persons in one Godhead. How absurd that the Son and the Holy Ghost should be thus named, if they be not persons. How impossible that any inferior being could be ranked thus with the Father, in the sacred form of this perpetual ordinance-or if the Spirit were only an attribute, how trifling would be such a formulary! The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, must be equal in power and glory. 19. Go ye therefore. This commission given to the Gospel ministry, is on the basis of Christ's all-sufficient power. -T Teach-literally, "make disciples of."- -T All nations. This gave the widest sphere for the ministerial work.- - Baptizing them. Thus the people of different and distant lands were to be gathered into a visible church by a formal and credible profession of Christ, the haptism and instruction in Christ's truth being enjoined as requisites of a church. To those of that time, the belief that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, involved all fundamental points, and was the substance of a 20. Teaching them, &c. Christ's commands are to be taught in the church. The church is set to be a grand TEACHING institution. Its business is educational. The scriptures are to be taught. There is sufficiency in these, and exclusive authority as a rule of faith. To gather into the church all nations-baptizing them into the Christian faith-to preach the gospel to every creature, and to teach the church Christ's commandments, were the substantial points of the great commission.-T Lo I am with you. This implies His essential presence and assistance. He had said before, "there am I in the midst of them,' promising to be so especially present where two or three of them were gathered together in His name (ch. 18. 20). He here again asserted His Divinity-able to be omnipresent, and upholding all things by the word of His power-sitting down on the right hand of the majesty on High. " with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. only of the apostles, or of their times, but of all future time.-- End of the world. The former phrase sufficiently shows that this can have no limited signification, as "end of the age." And even such a construction could prove nothing for the opponents of Christ's Divinity, since to have been every where present with them from His ascension to the destruction of Jerusalem-some forty years after-would have required the same Divine attributes. How speedily and signally was this presence given at Pentecost, to succeed the preaching of Christat the temple gate to cure the lame man, at the word of Peter and Johnand in prison, to loose and deliver Paul and Silas-though these last were not of the eleven. And now, eighteen hundred years after the promise, it can be testified that Christ has been and is with His faithful ministers, to cheer, and counsel, and strengthen, and direct, and defend them. And so shall it be to the very end. "And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them." Alway.-literally (náσao rào μepúo), ALL THE DAYS. He is with His faithful ministers always. He does not say "all your days," as though speaking § 171. Our Lord is seen of James, then of all the Apostles.-Jerusalem. (See Acts 1. 3-8, and 1 Cor. 15. 7.) § 172. The Ascension. Bethany. § 173. Conclusion of John's Gospel. Matt. | Mark. Luke. John. 16. 19,20 24.50-53 20. 30,31 21.25 We subjoin Dr. Robinson's Har- | same day on which our Lord arose. mony of our Lord's appearings. 1. To the Women returning from the 6. Sepulchre-Matthew. See ý 162. 2. To Mary Magdalene, at the Sep- 7. ulchre-John and Mark. 164. 3. To Peter, perhaps early in the af ternoon--Luke and Paul. 166. 8. 4. To the two disciples going to Emmaus, towards evening-Luke and Mark. 166. 5. To the apostles (except Thomas), assembled at evening-Mark, Luke, John, and Paul. 167. N. B. These five appearances all took place at or near Jerusalem, upon the first day of the week, the 9. To the apostles (Thomas being To the eleven apostles, and to five To James, probably at Jerusalem -Paul. 171. 10. To the eleven at Jerusalem, im mediately before the ascensionLuke in the Acts, and Paul. 171. Then follows the ASCENSION. 172. |