22

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the 23 hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again: and they were exceeding forry.

24

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute-money, came to Peter, and faid, 25 Doth not your master pay tribute (i)? He faith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tri26 bute? of their own children, or of strangers ? Peter faith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, 27 Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, left we should offend them (k), go thou to the fea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give it unto them for me and thee.

CHAP. XVIII.

AT the fame time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of > heaven (a)? And Jesus called a little child unto him, 3 and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily

government, and mortification of all carnal appetites. See Chap.

xxi. 21.

(i) The tribute here mentioned was the yearly offering for the service of the temple. As earthly kings exact no tribute from their own children, but from strangers only, so neither, faith our Lord, should tribute be exacted from the son of him to whose honour the temple was erected.

(4) From this instance we may learn, that it is the duty of a good fubject to pay the taxes imposed by lawful authority, even tho he should fee a reafon why thofe taxes ought not to have been imposed.

(a) Who will be greatest when the state of christianity shall be established? See Chap. i. 2.

I fay unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter (6) into the 4 kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child (c), the fame is 5 greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one fuch little child in my name, receiveth 6. me. But whoso shall offend (d) one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a milftone were hanged about his neck, and, that he were drowned in the depth of the fea.

7

Wo unto the world because of offences: for it must needs be that offences come (e): but wo to that 8 man by whom the offence cometh. Wherefore (f) if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eyes offend thee, pluck it out, and caft it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be caft 10 into hell-fire. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my II Father which is in heaven (g). For the Son of man

12 15

(b) Ye cannot be my disciples, or profess my religion. (c) Innocency and humility are the greatest honour and, and perfection in the character of a Christian.

(d) To offend fignifies to obstruct the falvation of any one by leading him into error or fin. And thus likewife the word is to be understood, in the following verses, for whatever is an hindrance or impediment to us in our christian course. Luke xvii. 1.

(e) In the present state of the world it cannot be expected, but that virtue and religion will meet with much opposition: But wretched is that man, and dreadful will be his punishment, who is any way the occafion of it, either by perfuafion, enticement, or bad example, (f) See Ch

See Chap. v. 29.

(g) God's providence perpetually watcheth over the least and the mpanest of the children of men; the holy angels who sland before 12 is come (b) to save that which was loft. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone aftray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh 13 that which is gone astray (i)? And if so be that he find it, Verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that Sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not 14 aftray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15

Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone (k): if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy 16 brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the

the face of God, that is, who continually enjoy his glorious prefence, being miniflering spirits to execute the divine commands for their protection and benefit. If little children then be thus the care of heaven, we furely ought to think no condescension too great whereby we can do them any good, whether by religious education, or profitable example. But let us obferve further on this paflage, that the angels being the meffengers of God, and employed by him for the fervice of mortals, are not the objects of our worship; which is to be paid to God alone, who is both their Lord and

ours.

(h) Not only are the angels thus employed, but it was the very purpose for which even the Son of God came into the world, to seek. and bring back them who had ftrayed away.

(i) See Luke xv. 3.

church (1): but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a pub18 lican: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven (m): and whatfoever ye shall loofe on earth, shall be loosed in 19 heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them (n) of my Father 20 which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21

Then came Peter to him, and faid, Lord, how oft shall my brother fin against me, and I forgive 22 him? till seven times? Jesus faith unto him, I fay not unto thee, Until feven times: but, until seventy times seven (0).

23

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his

(1) To the church, or society of your Christian brethren. And any perfon, who refuseth to conform, in the great duties of morality, to the general fenfe of his fellow Christians, is no longer worthy to be accounted a member of their body; but ought to be put out from it, and his company to be avoided, as the Jews avoid that of a heathen, and Roman tax-gatherer. See Chap. v. 46.

(m) Whatsoever shall be thus wifely and folemnly determined, the sentence, whether of forgiveness on the one hand, or of punish- pur ment on the other, will be approved and ratified in heaven. Ob serve, that the fame power of binding and loofing which was granted to St. Peter, Chap. xvi. 19. is here vested in the body of the church affembled together to enforce order and difcipline, and to decide disputes in worldly matters among Christians, according to St. Paul's injunction, 1 Cor. vi. 1, 4. whilft the civil magiftrates were enemics to chriftianity.

(n) For God is always ready to grant the prayers of a very small number of his fervants: how much more then in a cafe of this importance ?

(0) Our forgiveness of each other must be unlimited, both as to the number and the nature of the injuries done; and the mercy which we defire at the hands of God, is the rule and example we we must follow.

24 servants,

24 servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand 25 talents (p). But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be fold, and his wife and children (9), and all that he had, and payment to be 26 made. The servant therefore fell down, and worship- ped him, saying, Lord have patience with me, and I 27 will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was

moved with compaffion, and loofed him, and forgave 28 him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-fervants, which owed him an hundred pence (r): and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, faying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow-fervant fell down at his feet, and be

fought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I 30 will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and 31 cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow-fervants saw what was done, they were very forry, and came and told unto their lord 32 all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, faid unto him, O thou wicked fervant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou defiredst me : 33 Shouldeft not thou alfo have had compaffion on thy 34 fellow-fervant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormen

(p) The value of a talent is about 1871. 10s. English money. Our Lord states the servant's debt at this vast sum, to shew the infinite mercy of God, who is ready to forgive the greatest offencesupon true repentance.

(q) Among the Jews the creditor had this power over an infolvent debtor. See 2 Kings iv. 1.