40 that findeth his life, fhall lofe it: and he that lofeth his life for my fake, fhall find it (aa). He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that 41 receiveth me, receiveth him that fent mè.. He that receiveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, fhail receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, fhall. 42 receive a righteous man's reward. And whofoever fhall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup, of cold water only, in the name of a difciple, verily I fay unto you, he fhall in. no wife lofe his reward. CHA P. XI. AND it came pafs, when Jefus had made an end of commanding his twelve difciples, he departed. 2 thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prifon the works of 3 Chrift, he fent two of his difciples, And faid unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look 4 for another? Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Go and fhew John again those things which yé do hear and fee (a): The blind receive their fight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gofpel 6 preached to them. And bleffed is he whofoever. fhall not be offended in me (b).. 5 7 And as they departed, Jefus began to fay unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into. (aa) He that endeavours to fave his life by unworthy and wicked means, will in the end be the greateft lofer. On the other hand, he that prefers his duty to his life, will find his reward in a better and everlafting life hereafter. Mark x. 30. (a) Jefus appeals to the predictions of the prophets concerning the miracles to be performed by the Meffiah. See Ifaiah xxxv. 5,. 6. lxi. 1. (6) Bleffed is he who lays afide his prejudices, and impartially confiders the proofs which I give of my divine authority. See John xx. 29. Note. C 5 the the wilderness to fee? A reed fhaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to fee? A man clothed in foft raiment? Behold, they that wear foft clothing 9 are in king's houses. But what went ye out for to fee? A prophet? yea, I fay unto you, and more than 10 a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I fend my messenger before thy face, which 11 fhall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I fay, unto you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not rifen a greater than (c) John the Baptift: notwithstanding, he that is leaft in the king12, dom of heaven, is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptift, until now, the kingdom of heaven fuffereth violence (a), and the violent take it 13 by force. For all the prophets, and the law, prophe14 fied until John (e). And if ye will receive it (f), 15 this is Elias which was for to come. He that hath 16 ears to hear (g), let him hear. But whereunto fhall I liken this generation? It is like unto (b) children fitting in the markets, and 17 calling (c) John Baptift was greater than all the Jewish prophets, being the immediate forerunner of Chrift: but Chriftians are fill more highly favoured than John; for they have the happiness of living under that difpenfation which he did but foretel, and are in the actual enjoyment of thofe privileges and benefits, for which he only prepared the way. Oh! that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnefs, and endeavour by the holiness of their lives to make it effectual to their falvation! (d) Perfons of all kinds are preffing and urgent to become Chriftians. See Chap. xxi. 31. (e) From that time the doctrine they taught was more clearly explained and more firmly established by the gofpel. See Chap. v. 17. (f) If I can make you apprehend my meaning. See Chap. iii. 3. xvii. 12. (g) This is a matter of great importance, and requires the serious attention of all who are well difpofed. (h) God vouchfafes to vary his manner of dealing with men according to the different circumftances of the times, and yet they will 17 calling unto their fellows, And faying, We, have piped unto you, and ye have not danced: we have 18 mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they fay, 19 (1) He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they fay, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and finners: but wisdom is juftified of her children. 20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because. they re21 pented not. Wo unto thee, Chorazin, Wo unto thee, Bethfaida: for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in fackcloth and 22 afhes. But I fay unto you, It fhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of judgment, 23 than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, fhalt be brought down to hell (k); for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have 24 remained until this day. But I fay unto you, That it fhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in ́ the day of judgment, than for thee. 25 At that time Jefus answered and faid (1), I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because (m) not be pleased. However, they who have capacity and attention duly to confider it, muft acknowledge both the wifdom and goodness of this proceeding. (i) He is mad and befide him felf. (k) Thou Capernaum, which art more highly favoured than any other place upon earth, having the privilege of my chief refidence, of hearing my heavenly doctrine, and feeing my miracles, fhalt nevertheless, for thy unbelief and difobedience, be utterly deftroyed. (1) By anfwering and faying in this and many other paffages, no more is meant than difcourfing on any subject, even when nothing had been faid before to be replied to. (m) Because, that is, whereas thou thoughteft fit not to reveal thefe things to them who are proud of their own knowledge and wifdom, thou haft neverthelefs vouchfafed to make them known to the humble and meek. See 1 Cor. i. 18, &c. thou haft hid these things from the wife and prudent, 26 and haft revealed them unto babes. Even fo, Father, 27 for fo it feemed good in thy fight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth (n) the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, fave the Son, and he to whomfoever the Son will reveal him.. 28 Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy 29 laden, and I will give you reft. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in 30 heart, and ye fhall find reft unto your fouls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I AT that time Jefus went on the fabbath-day through the corn, and his difciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to 2/ eat. But when the Pharifees faw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy difciples do that which is not law3 ful to do upon the fabbath-day. But he faid unto them, Have ye not read (a) what David did when he was an hungred, and they that were with him How he entred into the house of God, and did eat the fhew-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but 5 only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, 4 how that on the fabbath-days the priests in the 6 temple profane the fabbath, and are blameless? But I fay unto you, that in this place is one greater than 7 the temple (b). But if ye had known what this mean (n) No man can know the gracious counfels of the Father, nor the nature and office of the Son, but by revelation. is (a) See Sam. xxi. 6. (b) If the temple deferves your refpect, much more doth he who greater than either David, or any who are employed in the fervice of the temple, even the Lord of the temple. eth, ; eth, I will have mercy and not (c) facrifice, ye 8 would not have condemned the guiltless. For the 9 Son of man is Lord even of the fabbath-day. And when he was departed thence, he went into their fynagogue. And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered; and they asked him, faying, Is it lawful to heal on the fabbath-days? that they might accuse II him. And he said unto them, What man fhall there be among you, that fhall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the fabbath-day, will he not lay 12 hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a fheep? wherefore it is lawful to do 13 well on the fabbath-days. Then faith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand: and he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharifees went out, and held a council 15 against him, how they might deftroy him. 14 But when Jefus knew it, he withdrew himfelf from thence and great multitudes followed him, and he 16 healed them all, And charged them that they 17 fhould not make him known: That it might be (ď) fulfilled which was spoken by Efaias the prophet, 18 faying, Behold, my fervant whom I have chofen, my beloved in whom my foul is well pleafed: I will put my spirit upon him, and he fhall fhew (e) judg19 ment to the Gentiles. He fhall not ftrive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and fmoaking flax fhall he not quench, till he fend forth judg21 ment unto victory (f). And in his name fhall the Gentiles truft. See Chap. ix. 13. Note (d).. will of God.. (c) Not facrifice, fignifies, rather than facrifice. (f) Notwithstanding his meeknefs, his religion fhall finally pre vail against all oppofition. 22 Then |