The New Testament in English: A new translation by Ronald Knox

Citation preview

TO

new ^i

cnenr

%^^. I

^

inenglish

t Anew Translation by

RONAO) KNOX -f

I

Ronald Knox was requested

make ture

this

new

to

translation of Scrip-

by Cardinal Hinsley and the

English hierarchy.

He

left

Oxford

in 1939 to devote himself to the task,

and parts of the translation ap-

peared week by week in the London Tablet thus giving him an opportunity to improve

and revise his work.

He still requests that readers should "be at the pains of writing to him, to express in general their approval or

disapproval of the lines he has

fol-

lowed, and to point out any passage

which, in their opinion, specially calls

Knox

for

correction."

Monsignor

follows the Vulgate; where the

meaning of the Vulgate

is

ambigu-

ous he consults the Greek text; where the Vulgate reading differs from the

Greek, the meaning of the Greek

is

given in a footnote. In his translation

he aims

at clarity

using no expression that rent in

modem

English.

above is

all,

not cur-

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in

2010

littp://www.archive.org/details/newtestamentofouOOknox

THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

THE

NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

A New

Translation

SHEED & WARD NEW YORK

•

1950

Copyright, 1944, by Sheed

&

Ward,

Inc.

NIHIL OBSTAT Arthur

J.

Scanlan, S.T.D. Censor Librorum

IMPRIMATUR Francis

New

York, February

J.

10,

Spellman, D.D. Archbishop, New York 1944

Eleventh Printing

PRINTED

IN

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

PREFACE Ncw

TRANSLATION o£ the

THIS

Testament was undertaken

at the

request of the Hierarchy of England and Wales, in 1939.

The

translator will be grateful,

if

the readers of this edition will be at

the pains of writing to him, to express in general their approval or

disapproval of the lines he has followed, and to point out any passage

which, in their opinion, specially

calls for correction.

be excused the duty of acknowledging such

He must

ask to

but he will be

weigh whatever suggestions are made.

careful to

In

letters,

this edition, the old principle of

new

with each

however, given

beginning a

verse has been abandoned.

The

new

line of print

verse references are,

at the side of the page.

The translator's thanks are due, not only to the Hierarchy, who have made it possible for the work to be carried through, but to many others who have taken a friendly interest in it. Above all to his Lord-

Hugh

ship the Bishop of Lancaster, Father the Revd. T. Bird, D.D., Ph.D., the L.S.S.,

Pope, O.P., S.T.M., D.S.S.,

Very Revd. Mgr. Barton, D.D.,

Consultor of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, the Revd.

W. Brown,

D.D., the Revd.

J.

A. O'Flynn,

L.S.S.,

and Fathers

Martindale and Corbishley, of the Society of Jesus; their criticisms, throughout, have been of the utmost value, and have had a greater influence

on the present form of the

induced to

realize.

Revd. H. Cogan, D.D., to

the Revd. Ivo

text

than they themselves can be

Further acknowledgements are due to the Right

who

Thomas,

contributed to the expenses of re-typing,

O.P.,

who gave an

extra revision to the

Mr. Laurence Eyres, of Ampleforth, who was consulted on

proofs, to

various classical points.

In omnibus glorificetur Deus.

R. A.

Aldenham Feast of

Park, Bridgnorth,

St.

Jerome, 1943.

Knox

CONTENTS PAGE

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

I

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

69

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

III

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

I79

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

237

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS

307

THE

34I

FIRST EPISTLE OF

THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS

375

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE GALATIANS

397

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS

409

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS

42

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS

429

THE

FIRST EPISTLE OF

THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE THESSALO-

NIANS

437

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS

445

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO TIMOTHY

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED

APOST^.E

PAUL TO TIMOTHY

449 459

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO TITUS

465

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO PHILEMON

469

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE HEBREWS

47I

PAGE

THE UNIVERSAL EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JAMES

THE

FIRST EPISTLE OF

THE BLESSED APOSTLE PETER

497 505

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PETER

515

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

52I

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

53I

THE THIRD EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

533

THE UNIVERSAL EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JUDE

535

APOCALYPSE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

539

THii

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW CHAPTER ONE

A

how

RECORD of

Jesus Christ, the son of David, son of

Abraham was

was born.

Abraham,

the father of Isaac, Isaac of Jacob,

Judas of Phares and Zara, by

Jacob of Judas and his brethren;

Thamar; Phares of Esron, Esron of Aram, Aram of Aminadab, Aminadab of Naasson, Naasson of Salmon; Salmon of Booz, by Rahab; Booz of Obed, by Ruth; Obed of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of king David. And king David was the father of Solomon, by her that had been the wife of Urias. Solomon was the father of Roboam, Roboam of Abia, Abia of Asa, Asa of Josaphat, ^osaphat of Joram,

Joram of Ozias,

Joatham of Achaz, Achaz of Ezechias, Manasses of Amon,

Amon

of Josias;

and

Ozias of Joatham,

Ezechias of Manasses, Josias

was the

father of

Jechonias and his brethren, at the time of the removal to Babylon.

And

after the

removal

to

Babylon, Jechonias was the father of

Zorobabel of Abiud, Abiud of

Salathiel, Salathiel of Zorobabel,

Azor

Eliacim, Eliacim of Azor, of Eliud,

of Sadoc, Sadoc of

Achim, Achim

Eliud of Eleazar, Eleazar of Mathan, Mathan of Jacob,

and Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary; of her that Jesus

was born, who

fourteen generations in

David

all

to the captivity in

is

called Christ.

from Abraham

Thus

it

was

there are

to David, fourteen

from

Babylon, and fourteen from the captivity

in Babylon to Christ.

And this was the manner of Christ's birth. His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, but they had not yet come together, when she was found to be with child, by the power of the Holy Ghost. compared with that given by St. Luke, ill. 23 one at least of the two Evangelists must have reckoned descent by adoption as sufficient to make our Lord the legal inheritor of Abraham's blessing and of David's Kingdom. It is therefore not V. i6. If this

and following,

genealogy

it is

is

clear that

surprising that both have traced his ancestry through his foster-father. It is a common opinion, derived from the Fathers, that St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin were closely related.

[i]

MATTHEW

T^he Virgin Birth

2

her husband Joseph (for he was a right-minded man, and would not have her put to open shame), was for sending her away in secret. But hardly had this thought come to his mind, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said,

Whereupon

19

20

Joseph, son of David, thyself, for

it is

by the

21

ceived this child;

22

Jesus, for

he

ordained to 23

24

is

will bear a son,

and she

to save his people

fulfil

from

word which

the

the

whom

thou shalt

call

All this was so

their sins.

Lord spoke by

his prophet:

and Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, us). And they shall call him Emmanuel, (which means God with Joseph awoke from

25

do not be afraid to take thy wife Mary to power of the Holy Ghost that she has con-

sleep,

and did

bidden him, taking his wife her

when

as the angel of the

she bore a son, her first-born, to

Lord had

and he had not known

to himself;

whom

he gave the

name

Jesus.

CHAPTER TWO JESUS WAS born

And

Bethlehem, in Juda, in the days of King Herod.

at

thereupon certain wise

men came

out of the east to Jeru-

4

he that has been born, the king of salem, have seen his star out in the east, and we have come the Jews ? he heard it and to worship him. King Herod was troubled when so that he assembled all the chief priests all Jerusalem with him;

5

and learned men among the people, and enquired of them where And they told him. At Bethit was that Christ would be born.

6

lehem in Juda; so

2

who

Where

asked.

is

We

3

it

V. 23. Isaias vii. 14.

has been written by the prophet:

'The virgin'

is

a

literal translation

of the

And

diou,

Hebrew; a

would equally express the sense of the original prophecy. 'he knew her not till she V. 2$. The text here is more literally rendered not imply that bore a son'; but the Hebrew word represented by 'till' does place afterwards. (Cf. the event which might have been expected did take So that this Genesis viii. 7, Psalm cix. 2, Daniel vi. 24, I Machabees v. 54.) Nor is any phrase does not impugn the perpetual virginity of our Lady. her 'first-born Son, such inference to be drawn when our Lord is called (Luke 11. 23). law old which refers to his position as redeemable under die

virgin'

V.

6.

Micheas

v. 2.

[2]

The Wise Men;

MATTHEW

Flight into Egypt

from the

least

among

princes of Juda, for out of thee will arise a leader

who

is

Bethlehem, of the land of Juda,

7

my

shepherd of

people

Israel.

art far

2

the

to be the

men

Then, summoning the wise

Herod questioned them closely upon the time of the appearing. And he sent them on their way to Bethlehem,

in secret, 8

star's

saying to them. Go, and enquire carefully for the child, and

me

you have found him, bring 9

They obeyed

come and worship him. their journey;

east

and

all at

once the

was there going before them,

place

11

glad beyond measure;

found the child

there,

star till

and

so,

too

I

when may

and went on

the king

which they had seen in the at last

it

stood

over the

still

They, when they saw the

where the child was.

10

back word, so that

were

star,

going into the dwelling, they

with his mother Mary, and

fell

down

to

worship him; and, opening their store of treasures, they offered 12

him

gifts,

and frankincense and myrrh.

of gold

Afterwards,

because they had received a warning in a dream forbidding them to

go back

different

As soon

13

to

Herod, they returned

own

to their

country by a

way. as they

had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared

Joseph in a dream, and

and

his mother,

said, Rise up, take

to Egypt; there remain, until

flee

give thee

I

word. For Herod will soon be making search for the 14

He

destroy him.

rose

up

tlierefore,

to

with thee the child and

while

it

was

still

child, to

night,

and

took the child and his mother with him, and withdrew into 15

Egypt, where he remained until the death of Herod,

ment 16

my

of the

son out of Egypt.

men had sent in

word which

played

him

Lord spoke by

false,

18

19

I

called

Herod was angry beyond measure; he all

the male children in Bethlehem

neighbourhood, of two years old and

less,

and

reckoning the

made of the wise men. word spoken by the prophet Jeremy was fulfilled: A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and great mourning; it was Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be comforted, because none is left. But as soon as Herod

time by the careful enquiry which he had 17

in fulfil-

his prophet,

Meanwhile, when he found that the wise

and made away with

all its

the

It

was then

that the

V. 75.

Osee

V. 18.

Jeremias xxxi. 15

xi.

i

[3]

MATTHEW

3

John the Baptist

was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared and

dream,

a

21

child's life are dead.

22

mother with him, and came

mother, and return to the land of

So he

to Joseph in

Egypt

in

with thee the child and his

said: Rise up, take

20

Israel; for those

who

sought the

and took the child and

arose,

into the land of Israel.

But,

his

when

he heard that Archelaus was king in Judaea in the place of his

Herod, he was afraid

father

warning 23

in

where he came and filment of

settled

what was

to return there;

withdrew into

a dream, he

down

and

receiving a

so,

the region of Galilee;

in a city called Nazareth, in ful-

said by the prophets,

He

be called a

shall

Nazarene.

CHAPTER THREE

r

Repent, he

ness of Judaea;

said, the

ment and

of

that the prophet Isaias spoke,

and

of camel's hair,

locusts all

at

way

of the Lord, straighten out his paths.

5

is

a voice of one crying In the wilderness, Prepare the

4

It is

of heaven

said.

him

hand.

There

kingdom

when he

was

3

he, John,

wore

a gar-

a leather girdle about his loins,

and wild honey were

his

food.

and

Thereupon Jerusalem

who

dwelt round Jordan, went out to

and he baptized them

in the Jordan, while they con-

Judaea, and

him,

And

6

see

7

fessed their sins.

all

those

Many

came

to his baptizing;

Who

was

it

of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees

and when he saw

he asked them.

these,

that taught you, brood of vipers, to flee

from the

Come,

acceptable

8

vengeance that draws near?

9

fruit of repentance;

do not presume

then, yield to say in

the

your hearts,

We

r. 23. No such prophecy has survived to us. But an obscure village is often regarded by its more important neighbours as typical of an unfashionable or provincial outlook; cf. John i. 46. The prophecy (Is. liii. 3) that our Lord would be despised by men was fulfilled when his contemporaries

spoke of him scornfully as 'a prophet from Nazareth' (like our 'wise men of Gotham'). Some think the word should be, not Nazarene, but Nazirite; cf. Gen. xlix. 26. vv. I sqq.

Mark

i.

1-8,

Luke

iii.

1-22.

V. 3. Is. xl. 3.

£4]

Jesus

is

Abraham

have 10

MATTHEW

baptized

up children

for our father; \

Abraham

to

tell

As

me,

for

ance; but one

am

I

12

am

I

Already the

every tree which cast into the

baptizing you with water, for your repent-

come

to

is

trees, so that

hewn down and

does not shew good fruit will be fire.

has power to raise

out of these very stones.

axe has been put to the root of the

11

God

you,

4

me who

after

is

mightier than

so that

I,

not worthy even to carry his shoes for him; he will baptize

you with the Holy Ghost, and with

He

fire.

holds his

winnow-

ing-fan ready, to sweep his threshing-floor clean; he will gather the

wheat

into his barn, but the chafif he will

consume with

fire

that can never be quenched.

Then

13

Jesus

came from

14

15

come

he

It is I,

to

present; 16

said, that

me

well that

straight

up out

and he saw the

which

said,

This

is

by

thus

thee,

fulfil all

And

my

it

and dost thou be so for the

due observance.

So Jesus was baptized, and

him.

of the water, suddenly

Spirit of

upon him.

resting

to be baptized

we should

to

at the

John would have restrained him;

But Jesus answered, Let

Then John gave way came

17

ought

instead?

is

it

and stood before John

Galilee

Jordan, to be baptized by him.

God coming down

with

that,

a voice

beloved Son, in

as

he

heaven was opened, like

a

dove and

came from heaven,

whom

I

am

well pleased.

CHAPTER FOUR A

ND

NOW

Jesus

was

led

by the

Spirit

2

/V to

3

nights he spent fasting, and at the end of the tempter approached,

4

5

and

God, bid these stones turn written,

is

all

the

V. II.

Man

them was hungry.

into loaves of bread.

cannot live by bread only; there

He

The baptism

3.

[5]

of It

him

in

is life

of John did not confer sanctifying grace;

Luke iv. i. Deuteronomy viii.

Then Son

answered,

words which proceed from the mouth of God.

vv. i-ii. 4.

into the wilderness,

Forty days and forty

said to him, If thou art the

[-6.

t/.

away

be tempted there by the devil.

for

Next, the cf.

Acts xix.

MATTHEW

him

devil took

6

The Devil tempts

4

into the holy city,

down

cast thyself

and there

set

begins to preach

him down on

the

saying to him. If thou art the Son of

pinnacle of the temple,

God,

He

Jesus;

to earth; for

He

written,

is

it

has given

charge to his angels concerning thee, and they will hold thee up

with their hands, 7

Jesus said to him.

8

Lord thy God

thou shouldst chance to

lest

But

Once more,

to the proof.

the top of an exceedingly high mountain,

9

him

all

said,

I

kingdoms of

the

Then

10

me.

11

Thou Then

Jesus said to him.

if

him

the devil took

to

from which he shewed

thou wilt

Away

stone.

put the

shalt not

and the glory of them,

the world

will give thee all these

on a

trip

Thou

further written,

it is

fall

and

down and worship

with thee, Satan;

it is

written,

worship the Lord thy God, and serve none but him.

shalt

the devil left

him

alone;

and thereupon angels came and

ministered to him. 12

After

13

Galilee. settled

hearing of John's imprisonment, he withdrew into

this,

And now, down

forsaking the city of Nazareth, he came and

Capharnaum, which

in

14

country of Zabulon and Nephthalim,

15

said by the prophet Isaias:

16

on the

The land

is

by the sea shore, in the

in fulfilment of

of Zabulon

what was

and Nephthalim,

beyond Jordan, the Galilee of the Gentiles!

sea road,

people that abode in darkness has seen a great light; for

The

men

abiding in a land where death overshadowed them, light has 17

From

dawned.

that time onwards, Jesus

pent, he said, the

And

18

as

kingdom

of heaven

is

at

began

to preach; Re-

hand.

he walked by the sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brethren,

Simon who

is

called Peter,

and

his brother

were fishermen)

Andrew, and he

casting a net said to them,

19

into the sea, (for they

20

Come and

21

they dropped their nets immediately, and followed him.

follow

me;

I

will

make you

;

into fishers of

men.

And Then

he went further on, and saw two others that were brethren, James the son of Zebedee

and

his brother John; they

were in the boat

p. 6. Ps. xc. II, 12. V.

Deut.

7.

vi.

16.

would have been as

we

If

our Lord had consented to

testing God's loving care of

V. 10.

Deut.

vi.

13.

v. 75. Is. ix. I, 2.

vv. iy-22.

Mark

i.

14.

[6]

cast himself

him ('tempting

say) by putting himself deliberately in danger.

down, he

Providence,'

The Sermon on

the

MATTHEW

Mount

with their father Zebedee, repairing their 22

whereupon they dropped the

him;

to

and he

nets,

nets

and

5

them

called

father

left their

immediately, and followed him.

So Jesus went about the whole of

23

Galilee, teaching in

their

synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and curing

24

among

every kind of disease and infirmity

fame spread throughout the whole

his

to

him

who were

those

all

the people;

so that

and they brought

of Syria,

in affliction, distressed

with pain and

and

sickness of every sort, the possessed, the lunatics, the palsied;

25

And

he healed them. Galilee

a

from

great multitude followed him,

and Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judaea, and the country

beyond Jordan.

CHAPTER FIVE Esus,

T> I

the

WHEN

great

side; there

And

2

about him.

3

ing he gave.

4

heaven

5

land.

6

Blessed are those

7

have

he

was sat

their

number, went up on

down, and

he began speaking to them;

this

was the

teach-

kingdom

of

Blessed are the patient; they shall inherit the

who mourn; they shall be comforted. who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall

Blessed are those

their

Blessed are the merciful; they shall obtain mercy.

fill.

8,9 Blessed are the clean of heart; they shall see God. the peace-makers; 10

Blessed are those

11

kingdom falsely,

Blessed are

they shall be counted the children of God.

who

of heaven

is

suffer persecution in the cause of right; the

Blessed are you,

theirs.

you, and persecute you, and speak 12

to

came

his disciples

Blessed arc the poor in spirit; the

theirs.

is

how

he saw

mountain

because of me.

all

manner

when men

revile

of evil against

Be glad and hght-hearted,

for

a

you rich

reward awaits you in heaven; so they persecuted the prophets 13

who went its taste,

before you.

what

vv. 5 sqq.

be found in

is

Many St.

You

are the salt of the earth;

there left to give taste to it?

There

is

if salt

loses

no more

to

of the sayings recorded in these three chapters are also to

Luke, especially in

his \'\th

[7]

and

xiith chapters.

MATTHEW

be done with 14 15

under

it,

but throw

You

foot.

hidden

The new Law;

5

on

mountain

a

and

men who

glorify your Father

Do

not think that

prophets; 18

I

19

is

and your

to set

law and the

to set aside the

them

aside,

Whoever, then, were the

it

must

light

good works,

in heaven.

but to bring them to

must disappear sooner

and teaches men

kingdom

must

it

one of these

aside

sets

least,

the like, will be of least account in the

man who

it

not lighted to

is

one flourish should disappear from the law;

commandments, though the

lamp

Believe me, heaven and earth

jot,

accomplished.

be

all

to tread

put on the lamp-stand,

that they can see your

have come

I

have not come

perfection.

than one

it is

people of the house;

to give light to all the

shine so brightly before

17

A

top.

be put away under a bushel measure; 16

men

Anger

are the light of the world; a city cannot be

built

if it is

out of doors for

it

against

to

dc

of heaven; but

keeps them and teaches others to keep them will be

accounted in the kingdom of heaven as the greatest. 20

And

you, that

tell

I

if

your

justice does not give fuller

measure

than the justice of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter 21

to the

22

kingdom of heaven.

into the

men

answer for

man who

Thou

of old.

brother.

that

leave

man who

Thou

fool,

gift,

gift.

must answer

26

Raca

for

it

was

it

kills,

you that any

I tell

it

before the

to his brother

man who

in hell

said

he must

If

lire.

must

says to his

thou art

and rememberest there

thy brother has some ground of complaint against thee, thy gift lying there before the

If

any

man

altar,

art

and go home; be

and then come back

first,

has a claim against thee,

and then, while thou

may

says

then, before the altar,

reconciled with thy brother

25

But

before the Council; and any

it

bringing thy

24

man

a

angry with his brother must answer for

court of justice, and any

23

heard that if

before the court of justice.

it

is

answer for

You have

shalt not kill;

walking

in the

come

to oflFer thy

to terms there

road with him; or

else it

be that the claimant will hand thee over to the judge, and the

judge to the

me, thou

officer,

and so thou

wilt be cast into prison.

Believe

shalt not be set at liberty until thou hast paid the last

farthing.

27 28

You have heard tery.

But

I tell

that

it

was

you that he

said.

who [8]

Thou

shalt not

casts his eyes

on

a

commit

adul-

woman

so as

MATTHEW

Against Adultery and Perjury

committed adultery with her in

to lust after her has already

29

heart.

pluck 30

thy right eye

If

out and cast

it

thee; better to lose

limbs than to have thy whole body cast into

hand

right

is

an occasion of

falling, cut it ofl

cast into hell.

32

must

was

It

man who

puts

away

makes an

fulness)

Whoever

said, too,

give her a writ of separation.

first

one of thy

And

hell.

thy

if

away from have thy whole body

and

thee; better to lose one of thy limbs than to

31

his

the occasion of thy falling into sin,

is

away from

it

5

cast

will put

But

it

away

I tell

his wife

you that the

his wife (setting aside the matter of unfaith-

and whoever marries her

adulteress of her,

after

she has been put away, commits adultery.

33

Again, you have heard that shalt not perjure thyself;

34

was

men

said to the

of old.

But

I tell

yourselves by any oath at

all;

not by heaven, for heaven

nor by earth, for earth

throne;

36

Jerusalem, for

37

hair of

38

for

it

But

it

was

you

And

thou shalt not

Let your word be Yes for Yes, and

white or black.

I tell

God's

head, for thou hast no power to turn a single

No; whatever goes beyond

heard that

is

the footstool of his feet; nor by

is

the city of the great king.

it is

own

swear by thy

Thou

you that you should not bind

in the sight of the Lord.

35

39

it

thou shalt perform what thou hast sworn

said,

that

An

this,

comes of

evil.

No

You have

eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

you should not

offer resistance to injury;

if

a

rnan strikes thee on thy right cheek, turn the other cheek also

ready to go to law with thee over thy

40

towards him;

J}

him have it and thy cloak with it; if he compels attend him on a mile's journey, go two miles with him

if

he

is

coat, let

thee to

of thy

i. By the law of Moses, a husband might no*: turn wife out of doors without giving her a certificate of freedom, which

vu. 3/, 32. Deut. xxiv. his

had no further claim on

Even

our Lord teaches, would be tempted to remarry, and thus become, in God's sight, an adulteress. The Greek word here translated 'setting aside' has commonly been taken as meaning, 'unless she is unfaithful,' but it can also be interpreted as meaning, 'whether she is

shewed

that he

the husband's behaviour

is selfish,

unfaithful or not.' See further f. 33.

make in the

it

Our Lord

her.

MatL

xix, 7-9,

and

note.

here condemns those Pharisaical evasions, which might

lawful to perjure oneself as long as the oath was not taken directly of God. Cf. Matt, xxiii. 16-22.

name

v. 35.

so,

since the dismissed wife

Ex. xxi. 24, Leviticus xxiv.

20,

[93

Deut. xix. 21.

MATTHEW 42

own

accord.

from

thee,

Generosity to

6

Give

to

43

You have heard

and hate thy enemy.

who

to those

you,

who makes

publicans do as

just

was

it

But

a

man would borrow

said.

Thou

you,

I tell

shalt love thy

neighbour

Love your enemies, do good

evil

and equally on the good,

and equally on the unjust.

what

love you,

his

you love those

have you to a reward? Will not the

title

much?

If

If

you greet none but your brethren,

you doing more than others? Will not the very heathen

what

are

do

much ?

as

that

sun shine on the

his

on the

47

is

if

who persecute and insult you may be true sons of your Father in heaven,

rain fall

48

and

hate you, pray for those

that so

46

who

asks,

Men; Against Hypocrisy

do not turn away.

44

45

him who

all

But you are

to

be perfect, as your heavenly Father

perfect.

CHAPTER

SIX

SURE you do not perform your of piety before men, for BE them watch; you do you have no tide a reward acts

to

2

that,

if

from your Father who

is

to

in heaven.

Thus, when thou givest

alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in

win

synagogues and in

streets,

3

me, they have

reward already.

4

hand

5

Father,

their

thou shalt not so is

doing,

much

to

the esteem of

as let thy left

so secret

is

men.

hand know what thy

who sees what is done in secret, when you pray, you are not to be like

will

reward

thee.

who

hypocrites,

upon

Father,

7

art praying,

thyself,

who

Moreover,

and sees

mark

when you

for

But

go into thy inner room and shut the door

so pray to thy Father in secret;

what

And

love to

men's eyes; beHeve me, they have their reward already.

when thou

right

thy almsgiving to be; and then thy

stand praying in synagogues or at street corners, to be a

6

Believe

But when thou givest alms,

is

done

in secret, will

and then thy

reward

are at prayer, do not use

thee.

many

phrases,

Lev. xix. 18; where, however, nothing Is said about hating enemies. This must have been a gloss put upon the text of the commandment. V. 7. The very rare verb which our Lord uses here probably means 'to stammer', to 'hesitate'. The heathens used to address their gods by a series of titles, with the superstitious idea that the prayer would not be heard unless the right title was hit upon. V. 4S.

[10}

The Our

MATTHEW

God

Father; serving

who

like the heathens,

think to

8

eloquence.

You

9

knows

what your needs

is

10

11,12 13

is

name;

thy

them; your heavenly Father

are not to be like

are before

you ask him.

Our Father, who art in kingdom come, thy will be

our trespasses,

as

we

them

forgive

done, on earth as

Your heavenly Father

15

forgive your

you your

will forgive

fellow-men

theirs;

if

from

when you

Again,

hypocrites do.

fast,

transgressions,

17

But do thou,

18

face,

who

is

19

20

done

Do

22

23

known

as the

men

can

reward already.

head and wash thy

to

men, but

who

to thy

what

sees

thee.

not lay up treasure for yourselves on earth, where there

and

it;

steal is

consume up

lay

it,

where there are thieves

it,

no

steal.

Where your

eye

the light of the whole body, so that

is

whole of thy body

treasure-house

will be

whole of thy body

deep will that be!

lit

is,

up;

darkness,

A man

if

whereas

will be in darkness.

is itself

where and

thieves to break in

there your heart

is

thy eye

if

if

The

too.

is clear,

thy eye

And

is

to break in

treasure for yourselves in heaven,

no moth or rust to consume

thou hast in thee 24

not be

reward

in secret, will

rust to

the

their

dwells in secret; and then thy Father,

moth and there 21,

me, they have

may

either,

by gloomy looks,

at thy times of fasting, anoint thy

so that thy fast

Father

it

their faces unsightly, so that

see they are fasting; believe

you

if

you do not forgive them,

do not shew

They make

and

Amen.

evil.

your heavenly Father will not forgive your transgressions 16

it

and forgive us

that trespass against us;

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us 14

This, then,

heaven, hallowed be

give us this day our daily bread;

in heaven;

6

themselves heard by their

be your prayer.

to

thy

well

make

is

the

diseased,

the light

which

what of thy darkness?

How

cannot be the slave of two masters at

once; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will devote himself to the one and despise the other.

God 25

I

or

money; you cannot

say to you, then,

do not

fret

over your

with food and drink, over your body, 26

not

life itself

how V.

You must

serve

serve both.

how

a greater gift than food, the

life,

to

how keep

to it

support

it

clothed. Is

body than clothing ?

See

the birds of the air never sow, or reap, or gather grain into II.

'Daily';

supersubstantialis ,

the Latin here (but not in Luke xi. 3) coins the word which has sometimes been understood as a direct refer-

ence to the Holy Eucharist.

MATTHEW

Trust in God; against judging

7

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them; have you not an

barns,

27

excellence

28

add

29

do not

30

his glory

beyond

Can any one

theirs ?

growth

a cubit's

how

anxious over clothing? See toil

and yet

or spin;

was not arrayed

the

of the field grow; they

lilies

one of

these.

which to-day

clothes the grasses of the field,

If

men

of

What

eat? or

32

Do

faith?

little

are

we

to

not

Make

your

it

first

approval, and

34

Do its

will feed the

to clothe

not

own

all

How

drink? or

shall

who knows

care to find the

that

you need them

kingdom

of

God, and

you all.

his

these things shall be yours without the asking.

to-morrow

then, over to-morrow; leave

fret,

you,

What are we to we find clothing?

then, asking,

for the heathen to busy themselves over such things;

It is

have a Father in heaven 33

fret,

all

God, then, so

and

live

oven to-morrow, will he not be much more ready 31

anxiety,

all his

should you be

you that even Solomon in

I tell

like

of you, for

And why

to his height?

to fret over

needs; for to-day, to-day's troubles are enough.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Do NOT award

shall

measure.

be

How

in thy let

me

own?

is it

you as

will be judged,

By what

eye

own?

first,

and

by the same rule;

you have made award, in the same

that thou canst see the speck of dust

and

art not

Thou so

which

aware of the beam which

is

right wilt thou say to thy brother, Wait,

rid thy eye of that speck,

while in thy

own

so

made you

in thy brother's eye,

is

As

judge others, or you yourselves will be judged.

you have judged,

when

there

hypocrite, take the

a beam beam out

is

all

the

of thy

thou shalt have clear sight to rid thy

brother's of the speck.

You must

not give that which

is

holy to dogs.

your pearls before swine, or the swine foot,

and then turn on you and

tear

may

you

Do

not cast

trample them under

to pieces.

V. 2j. 'Height'; the Greek word here used can also mean 'length of Hfe'; and some have thought that 'cubit' is used, by a metaphor, for a short space

of time.

ri2]

The

Ask, and the

7 8

and the door

9

opened

him.

to

bread, will he give

11

give

him

well enough

them,

is

13

15 16

17

who

gifts to those

men

to other

Make your way many

are

in

or good

your children what

much more

good

is

for

ready to give

to you; that

It is a

broad gate and a

and those who go

to perdition,

in that

but

from

a

withered

20

fire.

21

The kingdom

22

Father

calls

I

say therefore,

me

when

it is

tree,

cut

is

by their

is

impossible.

is

fruit that

you

is

a sound tree,

Any

down, and thrown

in heaven.

man

will

tree

into the

know them. man who

Was

it

not in thy

Whereupon

friends of mine; depart

Whoever, then, hears

I

that does the will of

There are many

will

name

tell

was

my me,

it

traffic

commandments

man who

will say to

that

from me, you that these

who

not in thy name we we performed many them openly. You were never

that day comes. Master, Master,

miracles?

come from

of heaven will not give entrance to every

Master, Master; only to the

who

prophesied?

them

fruit

tree will bear

withered will bear fruit that

is

that worthless fruit should fruit

any sound

So, indeed,

thistles?

which does not bear good

of

in wrong-doing.

mine and

carries

and came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall; it was founded upon rock. But whoever hears these commandments of mine and does not carry them out is like a fool, who built his house upon sand; and the out,

the rain

27

he

fish, will

you, evil as you are,

if

ask him?

while any tree that

fruit,

19

26

then,

by the narrow gate.

indeed;

from

briers, or figs

worthless;

25

asked by his son for

is

asked for a

is

how small is the gate, how narrow the road that leads on to life, and how few there are that find it! Be on your guard against false prophets, men who come to you in sheep's clothing, but are ravenous wolves within. You will know them by the fruit they yield. Can grapes be plucked from way

18

24

he

you would have them do

that

all

knock

asks, will

law and the prophets.

the

good

23

Why,

to give

wide road that leads on 14

If

not your Father in heaven

wholesome

is

how

7

that knocks, will have the door

a stone?

a serpent instead?

shall find;

Everyone that

any one of yourselves

him

know

and you

seek,

be opened to you.

If

10

Do

come;

gift will

shall

that seeks, will find;

receive;

12

MATTHEW

Practical Christian

is

fell

hke a wise

and the

floods

[13]

built his

house upon rock;

MATTHEW ^

rain

and the

fell

that house,

29

and

came and

floods

it

fell;

when

Afterwards,

i8

A

8

the winds blew and beat

and great was the

had finished amazed at his

fall

of

upon

it.

these sayings, the multi-

Jesus

tudes found themselves

them, not like

Leper healed; a Centurion's Faith

For he taught

teaching.

and Pharisees, but Uke one who had

their scribes

authority.

CHAPTER EIGHT

A

and now, a leper came and knelt

from the mountain;

before him, and said, Lord,

make me

clean.

said, It is

my

any

man

thy will, thou hast power to

is

cleansed.

it;

hand and touched him, and

made clean. Whereupon his leprosy Then Jesus said. Be sure thou dost not

rather go

and shew

which Moses ordained,

the gift

it

be thou

will;

of

if

Jesus held out his

was immediately tell

him when he had come down

GREAT multitude followed

to

heal him.

healed

Go,

to

comes,

heard I

is

to

at

my

I

will

But the centurion answered. Lord,

I

am

obey authority;

I

my

or,

Do

this,

to

my

or,

servant,

Come,

and

faith like this,

many who

will

servant will be

Isaac

even in

and Jacob,

Mark

vv. 5-/J.

40,

i.

Luke

v. 12.

2.

Luke

vii.

i.

[14]

to

too

know say.

I

another, and he it.

Israel.

And

the east

When

he

kingdom

this I tell

where there

you,

and from the of

while that kingdom's

are cast into the darkness without,

Lev. xiv.

I

amazement, Believe me,

come from

will take their places in the

Abraham and

vv. 2^4.

my

and he does

that, Jesus said to his followers in

have not found

V. 4.

roof;

have soldiers under me, and

one man, and he goes,

that there are

west,

him, asking

thou wilt only speak a word of command.

if

it

to

have a servant lying sick

said, I

not worthy to receive thee under

what

came

offer

to them.

Jesus said to him,

Lord, he

house, cruelly tormented with the palsy.

come and

known

the truth

entered Capharnaum, a centurion

As he

for his aid;

and

thyself to the priest,

make

God with own sons

will be

weep-

More Cures; 13

ing,

then;

And

And

teeth.

was

went into

Jesus

Peter's house,

lying sick there with a fever.

16

fever left her, so that she rose

when evening came,

Isaias

that

all

were

He

and found

cast

sick,

up and ministered

out the

mother

his wife's

touched her hand, and the

they brought to

were possessed; and he healed

hour

at that

healed.

15

17

And

8

Go

centurion Jesus said,

to the

be done to thee as thy faith foretold.

let it

his servant

14

MATTHEW

the Storm

and gnashing of

to

him many

And who

them. persons

with his word, and

evil spirits

word spoken by

in fulfilment of the

He

took our infirmities upon himself, and

how

great were the multitudes about him, he

the prophet,

bore our sicknesses.

And now,

18

19

the scribes

20

seeing

gave the word for crossing to the other

came

him, and

to

wherever thou art going.

and the birds of the 21

nowhere

him, Lord, give

But

come.

I

23

dead

24

followed him.

25

that the

ing.

28

told him.

Jesus said,

And

Foxes have

Son of

the

to

Then he

Do

them,

and there was deep calm.

man

is this,

who

is

has

my

father before

thou follow me, and leave the

So he took

rose up,

holes,

Man

ship,

and

his

disciples

suddenly a great storm arose on the

came and roused him,

of

thee

another of his disciples said to

go home and bury

leave to

But Jesus said

kind of

And

will follow

I

waves rose high over the ship; but he lay

litde faith?

27

me him

bury their dead.

to

disciples

26

to

But Jesus

Whereupon one

side.

Master,

air their resting-places;

to lay his head.

22

said.

crying, Lord, save us,

Why

are

you

we

sea, so

And

asleep.

faint-hearted,

men

and checked the winds, and the

So that

all

his

are sink-

asked in amazement.

of

sea,

What

obeyed even by the winds and the sea?

So he reached the other shore, in the country of the Gerasenes;

and here he was met by two possessed creatures who came out of the rock tombs, so exceedingly fierce that vv. 14-1"]. V. ly. Is.

Mark

liii.

i.

30,

Luke

none could pass along

iv. 38.

4.

Luke ix. 57. Some think that

vv. ig-22.

V. 22. the father was still ahve, and the son wanted to defer his following of Christ until his father's death. Our Lord's answer is perhaps simply meant to imply, that true life can only be found in following him. VV. 28-^4. Mark v. i, Luke viii. 26. Only St. Matthew mentions the second demoniac, who may have been a woman.

[53

MATTHEW 29

that road.

with

The Devils

9

And

at

30

before the appointed time?

31

swine was feeding;

32

mind

swine.

He

Some

and the

down

the

swineherds 34

and the all

dost thou

distance away, a great herd of

Away

cliif

into

the sea,

fled to the city,

story of those

the townspeople

who had

him, they entreated him

thou

herd rushed

that, all the

and perished

to

If

with you; and they came out and

and there

went out

him;

send us into the herd of

to cast us out, they said,

said to them.

meddle

torment us

to

devils asked a favour of

went into the herd of swine; and with 33

Why

once they cried aloud,

Son of God? Hast thou come here

us, Jesus,

hast a

of Gerasa; the Palsy cured

told

in

all

that

had happened

And

been possessed.

The

waters.

its

thereupon

meet Jesus; and when they found

to leave their country.

CHAPTER NINE

s

now

they brought before

him

man who was

a

palsied

and

bed-ridden; whereupon Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the pal3

sied

man, Son, take courage, thy

sins are forgiven.

some of

the scribes said to themselves,

4

mously.

Jesus read their minds,

5

wicked thoughts in your hearts?

more 6

say.

lightly given, to say to a

Rise up, and walk?

Son of

Man

and

He

said.

And now,

And

at this,

talking blasphe-

Why

Tell me,

man, Thy

is

do you cherish

which command

is

sins are forgiven, or to

convince you that the

to

has authority to forgive sins while he

is

on earth

(here he spoke to the palsied man). Rise up, take thy bed with

7

thee,

8

house,

and go home.

and praised God 9

And

he rose up, and went back

so that the multitudes

As he passed work

sitting at

were

for giving such

powers

further on his way, Jesus in the customs-house,

with awe

filled

to

saw

and

a

to

at seeing

his it,

men.

man

called

said to him.

Matthew

Follow me;

V. 5. 'Is more lightly given', in the sense that one who falsely claims to cure disease will (unlike the pretender to spiritual powers) be exposed by

failure.

[16]

He

Jesus criticized;

and Matthew rose from

when he was

wards,

and sinners were

The

ciples.

MATTHEW

wor\s miracles

and followed him.

his place

and

it,

found

to be

saw

Pharisees

sitting

and asked

this,

physician,

the words mean.

It is

have come

fice. I

Then

who

those

it is

his disciples,

and sinners?

How comes Jesus heard

are in health that have need of the

Go home and

find out

what

mercy that wins favour with me, not

sacri-

are sick.

to call sinners, not the just.

came

John's disciples

thy disciples do not

To them

who

not those

said, It is

after-

many publicans down with him and his dis-

sitting at table in the house,

that your master eats with publicans

it

And

9

Can you

Jesus said.

him, and asked,

to

when we and

fast,

How

is

it

that

the Pharisees fast so often

men

expect the

?

of the bridegroom's

company to go mourning, while the bridegroom is still with them? No, the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then they will fast. Nobody uses a piece of new cloth to patch an old cloak; that would take away from the cloak

Nor

burst,

pattern,

and make the rent

in

new wine put

into old wine-skins;

if

all its

is

and there

new,

is

it is

is

the

wine

spilt

it

worse than before.

that

and the skins

is

done, the skins

spoiled. If the

put into fresh wine-skins, and so both are kept

wine

safe.

While he thus spoke to them, it chanced that one of the rulers came and knelt before him, and said, Lord, my daugh\:er is this moment dead; come now and lay thy hand on her, and she will live. So Jesus rose up and went after him, and so did his disciples.

And now an

a

woman who

issue of blood,

his cloak;

cloak,

I

and he

she said to herself. If

shall said,

thee healing.

hour.

And

Osee 'AH

had been troubled with

can even touch the

flute,

and caught

hem of hem of his

the

sight of her;

daughter, thy faith has brought recovered her health from that

So Jesus came into the

vv. 14-17. V. 16.

my woman

fear,

the

I

Jesus turned

be healed.

Have no

mourners playing the V. /J.

for twelve years

came up behind him and touched

ruler's

house, where he found

and the multitude thronging

noisily;

vi. 6.

Mark its

ii.

18,

Luke

pattern', this

is

v. 33.

probably the sense of the Latin; the Greek

new piece draws away threads from the old'. vv. 18-26. Mark v. 22, Luke viii. 41. It seems likely that St. Matthew here combined two separate appeals made by the ruler of the synagogue. has, 'the

[17]

has

MATTHEW

Make room

24

and he

25

and they laughed aloud

26

she rose up.

said,

there; the child

is

not dead, she

all

And

30

31

was passing further on

Jesus

men came

These blind

Jesus said to

this?

And

cried aloud,

Your

and

said.

And

33

chanced

and the dumb filled

laid a strict charge

him

man found

The

devil.

38

this,

all

their cities

was moved with

to his disciples.

labourers are few; to

cast out,

they said, was ever seen

and

Yet

The

harvest

villages,

teaching in

kingdom, and curing

still,

when he

looked

pity for them, seeing

harried and abject, like sheep that have

belongs

was

said. It is the prince of the devils that

every kind of disease and infirmity.

he said

dumb man was

devil

to cast the devils out.

So Jesus went about

the multitudes, he

37

Then

on them,

But they had no

this.

their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the

36

can do

speech; at which the multitudes were

But the Pharisees

him

us.

in all the country round.

they were going, a

as

with amazement; Nothing Hke

in Israel.

enables

35

that,

him, possessed with a

to

I

faith shall not be disappointed.

them. Be sure nobody hears of

it

on

lodging,

Thereupon, he touched

they said to him. Yes, Lord.

were opened; and Jesus

brought

pity

him when he had gone into his them. Have you the faith to believe that

their eyes,

32

way, he was followed by

to

their eyes telling

his

Son of David, have

sooner gone out than they talked of

34

by the hand, and

girl

the country round.

As

and 29

asleep;

the story of these doings spread abroad through

two blind men, who 28

is

But when the multitude had

him.

at

been turned away, he went in and took the

27

dumb

Sickness, death, the blind, the

10

is

no shepherd. plentiful

you must ask the Lord

to

at

them

Thereupon

enough, but the

whom

the harvest

send labourers out for the harvesting.

CHAPTER TEN

So HE

called his twelve disciples to him,

to cast

2

and /.

out unclean

infirmity. 1-4.

Mark

spirits,

and

and gave them authority

to heal every

kind of disease

These are the names of the twelve iii.

13,

Luke

vi.

13.

[18]

apostles;

first.

MATTHEW

Mission oj the Apostles; Courage in Persecution 3

Simon,

Andrew,

also called Peter, then his brother

10

James the

son of Zebedee and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew,

4

Thomas and Matthew the publican, James the son Simon the Cananean, and Judas

of Alphaeus,

and Thaddaeus,

the

Iscariot,

traitor.

These twelve Jesus sent out; but first gave them their instrucDo not go, he said, into the walks of the Gentiles, or enter

5

tions;

go rather

Samaria;

6

any

7

the house of Israel.

8

kingdom

9

gift,

city of

And

of heaven

Heal the

hand.

at

is

cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: give as

10

to

Whenever you

staff;

12

When

you enter

the house if

14

is

you have received the

make your lodging

this house,

you

who

wish

are to

let

them come back

to

promise you,

I

worthy

to

go away. and

well;

it

so, if

down upon it; way they went.

you the

wherever they will not receive you or

house;

is

there until you

listen to

shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that 15

coat,

the labourer has a right to his maintenance.

worthy, your good wishes shall come

unworthy,

And

The dead,

not provide gold or silver or copper

enter a city or a village, find out

be your host, and

raise the

sick,

nor a wallet for the journey, no second

your purses,

fill

no spare shoes or 11

Do

without payment.

sheep that belong to

to the lost

preach as you go, telling them.

Sodom and Gomorrha

it

go

shall

at the

less

your words, city or that

hard with the land of

day of judgment, than with that

city.

17

Remember, I am sending you out to be Hke sheep among wolves; you must be wary, then, as serpents, and yet innocent as doves. Do not put your trust in men; they will hand you over

18

yes,

16

of judgment,

courts

to

and you

will be

and scourge you in

their

synagogues;

brought before governors and kings on

my

account, so that you can bear witness before them, and before the 19

when

Gentiles.

Only,

anxiously

what you

20

will be given

21

speak,

it is

they

hand you over

are to say or

you when the time comes;

do not consider it; words

are to say it

is

not you

the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.

will be given

up

to execution

by

their fathers; children will rise

vv. ^-42.

thus,

how you

Luke

ix. i

and

their brothers,

up against

x, 3.

[19]

who

Brothers

and children by

their parents

and

will

MATTHEW 22

23

Great Sacrifices and small

10

,

compass

their deaths,

you bear

my name;

Only,

last.

another;

I

man

promise you, the Son of

task with the cities of Israel

A

24 25

disciple

enough

is

no

one

Man

by

men

all

who

refuge in

take

city,

come

will

because

endures to the

before your

ended.

is

better than his master, a servant than his lord;

that the disciple should fare like his master, the servant

have cried Beelzebub

like his lord. If they

house, they will do

Do

much more

it

hold.

27

be revealed, what

hidden will

is

be

all

men

What

known;

you under cover of darkness, you are

master of the

at the

readily to the

not, then, be afraid of them.

26

to

will be hated

will be saved,

persecute you in

they

if

and you

that

of his house-

veiled will

is

what

all

have said

I

to utter in the light of

day; what has been whispered in your ears, you are to proclaim 28

29

on the house-tops.

And

the body, but have

no means

who

there

to fall to the

30

And

31

ing.

32

sparrows.

as for you,

Do

heaven

Do

35

I

And

yet

it is

impossible for one of

And now, whoever

acknowledges

me

my

Father

me

not imagine that to

at variance

I

have come

bring peace

to

bring a sword, not peace.

with

his father,

will

38

that loves son or daughter

39

does not take up his cross and follow me.

own

be the people of his

He

house.

me, that loves father or mother more; he

41

will lose

that will secure

that

too;

sent

Father

in

it;

it.

it

is

more;

the

He who

and he who gives me.

He who

to the earth; set a

and the daughter with her mother,

and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law;

come

I

in heaven;

have come to

I

37

40

my

men, before

before

is

too will disown him.

I

life

will.

before men,

who

36

own

kill

not be afraid, then; you count for more than a host of

have come

man

who

him more, hell. Are not

he takes every hair of your head into his reckon-

and whoever disowns

34

to fear those

ground without your heavenly Father's

acknowledge him before

too will

33

no need

has the power to ruin body and soul in

sparrows sold two for a penny?

them

is

of kilUng the soul; fear

he

is

man who gives

man's enemies

not worthy of

not worthy of me,

not worthy of me, that

He who

secures his

loses his life for

you welcome, gives

me welcome

welcomes

is

a is

a

gives

my me

welcome

to

prophet because he

sake wel-

him is

a

by denying his faith under persecution, or otherwise making terms with the world at the expense of his own conscience. V. 39.

'Secures his

life',

[20]

MATTHEW

Praise of John the Baptist

11

who man shall receive the man gives so much as a

prophet shall receive the reward given to prophets; and he

welcomes

man

a just

reward given

because he

is

And

men.

to just

draught of cold water a disciple of mine,

I

a

if

one of the

to

a just

is

because he

least of these here,

promise you, he

shall not

miss his reward.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WHEN

Jesus had done giving instructions to his twelve dis-

ciples,

2 3

their

in

doings,

sent

foretold,

John had heard in

two of

his disciples to

Jesus answered them,

5

eyes have witnessed;

Go and how the

and

how

and the deaf hear, how the dead are

and the poor have the gospel preached

Blessed

As

is

they

the

clean,

man who

went

wind?

the a

out, Jesus took occasion to speak of

What was

man

No, not

it,

he asked, that you expected

that;

what was

You must What was it,

clad in silk?

go clad in

silk.

This

is

the

man

of

thee.

whom

BeHeve me,

them.

John

to the

to see

Was it

it

God

it

when

a reed trembling in

you went out

then, that

was

I

you went out

tell

is

to see?

A

you, than a prophet.

written. Behold,

who

Was it men that

to see?

look in kings' palaces for

before thy face that angel of mine, fore

to

does not lose confidence in me.

prophet? Yes, and something more,

ll

own

ears

John what your

made

life,

coming

thy

blind see, and the lame walk,

tell

you went out into the wilderness?

10

Is it

raised to

miJtitudes;

9

him;

and preach

prison of Christ's

the lepers are

7

8

to teach

his

he asked, or are we yet waiting for some other ?

4

6

where he was,

the place

left

Now

and he

was

that

he

cities.

I

am

to prepare thy

sending

way

be-

has raised up no greater son of

V. 5. Is. XXXV. 5. V. 10. Mai. iii. i; where, however, our text reads, 'I am sending my messenger (or angel), who is to prepare the way before me'. V. II. St. John the Baptist, as the final product of the old Dispensation, is less than the least of those who enjoy the blessings of the new. Like the Patriarchs, he only looked forward to the world's redemption as something that lay in the future (verse 13) by the light of hope (Hebrews xi. 13), and died before its accomplishment (Matthew xiii. 17), instead of being able to press into the Kingdom of heaven like the common sort of Christians

(verse 12).

C21}

MATTHEW woman 12

A

11

than John the Baptist; and yet to be

of heaven

is

least in the

Ever since John the

be greater than he.

to

Warning

kingdom Baptist's

kingdom of heaven has opened to force; and the forceful even now making it their prize; whereas all the prophets

time, the 13

are

14

and the law, before John's time, could only speak of things that were to come. And this I tell you, if you will make room for it in

5,

your minds, that he

16 Listen, to

you that have

what

shall

is

compare

I

that Elias

whose coming was prophesied.

As

ears to hear with. it? It

reminds

out to their companions as they

me

for this generation,

of those children

call

18

You would not dance when we piped to breast when we wept to you. When John came,

19

eat nor drink,

sit

20 21

Man

he would neither

and they say of him that he is possessed. When the came, he ate and drank with them, and of him they

say.

Here

and

sinners. It

is

a glutton;

he loves wine; he

by her

is

own

is

children that

a friend of publicans

wisdom

done in you had been done there go

shall

23

less

up high

the miracles

if

And

At and

thou,

Sodom

I

low

shalt fall

say this, that

at the

it

earth, I give thee praise that

the wise

27

so.

as hell.

Sodom

who

go

art

it

Lord

be

itself,

all

thee.

of

My

heaven

this

to litde children.

Father, since this finds favour in thy sight.

to

hard with

less

thou hast hidden

and the prudent, and revealed

it

might have

there,

shall

day of judgment than with

that time Jesus said openly. Father,

26

the miracles

say this, that

day of judgment

at the

done in thee had been done

And

if

I

Capharnaum, dost thou hope

heaven ? Thou

stood to this day. the country of

25

as

And

instead.

hard with Tyre and Sidon

than with you. lifted

24

vindicated.

is

Thereupon he took occasion to reproach for their impenitence the cities in which he had done most of his miracles: Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: Tyre and Sidon would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago,

22

and

you, or beat the

say.

Son of

who

in the market-place,

17

from Be

it

Father has

In John i. 21, St. John the Baptist says that he is not the prophet but evidently he is speaking of his personal identity, whereas our Lord here is speaking of the office which he fulfilled. V. ig. 'Her children'; that is, those who are enlightened by the Divine wisdom. The meaning may be, that both our Lord and St. John proved themselves, in different ways, 'children of wisdom', or in the sense that the common people were wiser, in this matter, than the scribes and Pharisees. V. 14.

Elias;

[22}

MATTHEW

A Rebu\e to Legalism my

entrusted everything into

and those

GDme you

whom

me,

to

gentle and

my

For

souls.

you

my

that labour

to reveal

and are burdened;

I

him. will give

yoke upon yourselves, and learn from me;

humble

yoke

the Father truly except the Son,

good pleasure

the Son's

it is

all

Take

rest.

am

I

to

hands; none knows the Son truly

knows

except the Father, and none

12

and you

of heart;

easy,

is

and

my

shall find rest for

burden

your

light.

is

CHAPTER TWELVE AT THIS TIME, Jesus was walking through ±\. sabbath day. And his disciples, who 2

and

this,

said to

him, Look, thy

Have you never

read of

4

were hungry.?

How

loaves

disciples are

to

Pharisees saw

doing a thing which

Whereupon he said to them. what David did, when he and his followers

he went into the tabernacle, and ate the

out there before God, although neither he nor his

set

anyone

had a right

to eat

them? Or again, have you not read in the law that the

priests

followers, nor

else except the priests

violate the sabbath rest in the temple,

6

And

7

temple.

you there

tell

I

not

If

is

passed judgment on the guikless.

sabbath at his disposal.

work

have a charge

to

1-14.

7.

And

his

of

It is

Mark

of healing

on the sabbath,

that has a sheep,

ii.

Kings xxi. Osee vi. 6.

mercy,

Man

has even the

way, and afterwards

here there was a

bring against him.

man among you

J. I

greater than the

man who had

hands withered; and they asked Jesus whether

lawful to do a

'.

The Son

So he went on

into their synagogue. his

is

wins favour with me, you would not have

that

8

one of

who

you had found out what the words mean.

sacrifice,

came

and none blames them?

one standing here

9

11

fell

The

not lawful to do on the sabbath.

it is

10

on the

plucking the ears of corn and eating them.

3

5

the corn-fields

were hungry,

23,

Luke

vi.

i.

6.

[^3]

so that they

But he answered,

who would

Is

it

was

might there a

not take hold of

it

MATTHEW 12

and pull

haias

12

out,

it

of what value

should

if it

a sheep

is

work

unlawful, then, in doing a 13

And

man? There

to a

And

on the sabbath?

a pit

fall into

compared

Satan and Christ

fulfilled;

of mercy

on

is

nothing

the sabbath day.

with that he said to the man, Stretch out thy hand; and

when

he stretched

out,

it

was restored

it

him

to

sound

as

as the

other.

Thereupon the Pharisees

14 15

gether to

16

healed

withdrew from the

but he laid a

17

they should not

make him known.

18

word spoken by

the prophet Isaias,

I

have chosen,

I

will lay

my

my

elect,

He

19

among

hear his voice in the

the Gentiles.

This he did Behold,

whom my

with

He

when he crowns

his

to fulfil

servant,

the

whom

well pleased.

is

proclaim judgment shall

will not snap the staff that still

is

smoulders, until the

judgment with

the Gentiles will put their trust in his

22

to-

and

and he

and cry out; none

will not protest

streets.

my

soul

shall

already crushed, or put out the wick that

time comes

plotted of this,

charge on them that

strict

upon him, and he

spirit

20

21

was aware

Jesus

place; great multitudes followed him,

their diseases;

all

and

the synagogue,

left

make away with him.

And

victory.

name.

him a man possessed, who was both dumb; whom he cured, giving him both speech and The multitudes were filled with amazement; Can this,

Then

they brought to

blind and

23

sight.

24

they asked, be no other than the Son of David?

when

sees said,

they heard of

it.

It is

But the Phari-

only through the power of

Beelzebub, the prince of the devils, that he casts the devils out. 25

Whereupon Jesus, who knew what was in their thoughts, said to No kingdom can be at war with itself without being laid waste; no city or household that is at war with itself can stand

them.

26

firm.

27

himself,

If

it is

Satan

and how

who

is

through Beelzebub that

own 28

sons cast

ment on Spirit of

you.

kingdom I

them out? But

if,

God, then

to stand

is

at

war with

Again,

firm?

if

it

is

cast

out devils, by what means do your

It is

for these, then, to

when

it

Satan out, then Satan

casts

his

I

cast out devils, I

must be

that the

pronounce judg-

do

it

kingdom

through the of

God

has

V. 16. Is. xlii. I. Our Lord went into retirement, lest it should seem that he was deliberately provoking the Pharisees to a conflict.

vv. 2/j.-^2.

Mark

iii.

22,

Luke

xi.

15.

C24]

MATTHEW

Incredulity of the Pharisees

among

already appeared

How

you.

anyone

is

to gain entrance

man and plunder his goods strong man his prisoner? Then he can He who is not with me, is against me;

into the house of a strong

making

first

his

house

the

at will.

does not gather his store with me, scatters

And now

you

tell

I

without plunder

he

who

abroad.

it

pardon

this; there is

12

for all the other sins

and blasphemies of men, but not for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. There is no one who blasphemes against the Son of Man but

may

the

Holy

Spirit there is

the world to come.

no

forgiveness, either in this

Either

fruit sound, or that the tree test

of the tree

speak to good

in

is

effect,

its

tell

us that the tree

withered and

is

Brood of

fruit.

wicked

mouth

overflow that the

from

him who blasphemes

find forgiveness; but for

as

will be

condemn

of the scribes

is

sea-beast,

and the Son of

Man

brought

to

I

Thy words

He

behold, a greater than Jonas

up with it

will

be

answered them. The

it is

the sign of the prophel

of

Nineve

and three nights will rise

generation at the day of judgment, and will leave

leave

say this,

account for

thee.

will be three days

The men

excuse; for they did penance

this

is

when here.

it

up with without

Jonas preached to them, and

The queen

of the south will

generation at the day of judgment, and will

without excuse; for she came from the ends of the earth

hear the is

And

Jonas was three days and three nights in the belly of the

in the heart of the earth.

rise

heart's

a wicked and unfaithful genera-

tion; the only sign that will be given

this

could you

and Pharisees answered him.

from thee?

generation that asks for a sign

Jonas.

is evil.

they have spoken.

see a sign

how

from the

his store of

word

may we

is

wicked man, from

every thoughtless

Hereupon some

its

good words

judgment men to

sound and

utters

that in the day of

Master,

It

man

a good

wickedness, can utter nothing but what

matter to acquit, or matter

is

fruit withered; the

vipers,

you are?

speaks;

his store of goodness, the

its

against

world or in

wisdom

of Solomon, and behold, a greater than

to

Solomon

here. V.

^2.

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost

as resisting the

vv. 38-4^.

known

Luke

truth.

xi. 24.

[25]

is

most commonly understood

MATTHEW 43

The

Our Lord's

13

unclean

which has possessed

spirit,

a

Family

spiritual

man and

then goes

out of him, walks about the desert looking for a resting-place, and

44

and it says, I will go back to my own dwelling, from came out. And it comes back, to find that dwelling empty, and swept out, and neatly set in order. Thereupon, it goes away, and brings in seven other spirits more wicked than itself to bear it company, and together they enter in and settle finds none;

which

45

down first.

46

I

man

there; so that the last state of that

So

with

shall fare

it

While he was mother and

this

worse than the

is

wicked generation.

still

speaking

to the multitude, it

his

brethren

were standing without, desiring

his

And someone

47

speech with him.

48

and thy brethren standing without, looking for

made answer 49

50

mother,

who

to the

man

told him,

me?

and

said,

his disciples,

anyone does the will of

is

my

mother

thee.

But he

him the news. Who is a Then he stretched out his

brethren!

heaven, he

are thy

that brought

are brethren, to

hand towards If

Here

chanced that

and

brother,

Here

sister,

are

my

my

mother and

Father

who

is

my in

and mother.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN down by

the sea

and great multitudes gathered about him, so

that he

iHAT DAY, leaving the house, Jesus had sat 2

t:

J. shore,

went on board a ship and 3

sat there instead,

tude remained standing on the beach. vv. 43-4^.

law and yet

Lx)rd perhaps

resisted the gospel,

means were

he spoke

to

them

who had received the an even more unhappy state than

that the Jews, in

hitherto found no remedy against sin. He seems to us, that the soul which has received great graces and does not cor-

the Gentiles,

warn

Our

while the whole muld-

And

who had

respond with them will vf. 46-^0.

Mark

iii.

make

31,

the worst shipwreck of its fortunes. viii. 19. Since it is impossible for anyone

Luke

who

holds the Catholic tradition to suppose that our Lord had brothers by blood, the most common opinion is that these "brethren' were his cousins; a relationship for which the Jews had no separate name (cf. Gen. xxix. 12). Our Lord here warns his fellow-countrymen that they will not be reckoned as his 'brothers' unless they obey the will of their Father and his (cf. Matt. xxi. 28).

vf. 1-2}.

Mark

iv.

i,

Luke

viii. 4.

[26]

MATTHEW

Parable of the Sower long, in parables; Here, he began,

4

And

5

that all the birds

6

he sowed, there were grains that

as

13

the sower gone out to sow.

is

beside the path, so

fell

came and ate them up. And others fell on rocky land, where the soil was shallow; they sprang up all at once, because they had not sunk deep in the ground; but as soon as the sun rose they were parched; they had taken no

7

withered away.

8

up,

Some

among

fell

and smothered them.

and

root,

so they

briers, so that the briers

But others

where the

fell

soil

grew was

good, and these yielded a harvest, some a hundredfold, some 9

some

sixtyfold,

you

Listen,

thirtyfold.

have ears

that

hear

to

with.

And

[0 [I

[3

if a

others,

will

abound;

him.

And

man if

if I

he

is is

and

said,

poor, even the

them

talk to

hear or understand.

You

fulfilled,

see,

made

be

rich, gifts will

have eyes, they cannot [4

to him,

Why

Because, he answered,

in parables.''

dost thou speak

it is

granted to you

understand the secrets of God's kingdom, but not to these

to [2

came

his disciples

them

to

little

in parables,

to him,

and

it is

because, though they

and though they have

they cannot

ears,

Indeed, in them the prophecy of Isaias

will listen

and

listen,

but for you there

is

standing; you will watch and watch, but for you there [5

The

ceiving.

slow see

to listen,

that heart,

and they keep eyes, or

ears, for they

been

you

many see,

become

to

ears,

is

no underis

no

per-

dull, their ears are

their eyes shut, so that they

hear with those

and turn back

But blessed are your

[6 [7

heart of this people has

with those

his riches

he has will be taken from

may

never

or understand with

me, and win healing from me.

eyes, for they

have sight; blessed are your

And I tell you truthfully, there have and just men who have longed to see what

have hearing.

prophets

and never saw

it,

to

hear what you hear, and never heard

it.

,

The

19 a

man

parable of the sower, then,

hears the

does not grasp

it,

word by which

is

for

the

your hearing.

kingdom

is

Wherever

preached, but

the evil one comes and carries off

what was

vv. 14, 75. Is. vi. 9. Our Lord seems to tone down the language of this prophecy, perhaps for fear it might seem tliat the failure of the Jews to grasp his message was due to some arbitrary decree of heaven, not to their

own

fault.

[27]

MATTHEW 20

sown

The

13

was

in his heart; his

the wayside sowing.

took in the seed in rocky ground 21

and

at

once entertains

he does not 22

word, but allows the cares of riches to

who

24

And field

27

28

So,

too,

of heaven.

came and

it.

And

Leave them

to

time comes

I

in

a

man

an image, he

is

man who sowed

the world

all

scattered tares

his

men

among

was

his

an

asleep,

the wheat,

and was

grow

asked him, Wouldst thou then have us

But he

you

them

tie

till

word

or perhaps while you

up the wheat with them. and when harvest-

harvest,

to the reapers.

is

grows up

like a grain of

it is

mustard

of

all

The kingdom

seed, that a

seeds,

none

so

is

greater than any garden herb;

all

still

it

man little,

grows

of

has

but into

the birds

another parable.

34

of meal, enough to leaven the whole batch.

35

the multitude in parables, fulfilling the

store the

come and settle in its branches. And The kingdom of heaven is like woman has taken and buried away in three measures

a tree, so that

leaven, that a

and

barn.

put before them another parable.

he told them

Gather up the

in bundles to be burned,

taken and sowed in his ground; it

No;

said.

will root

side by side

will give the

and

my

Then he

when 33

the

both hears and

when

heaven, he said,

^

There was

but while

go and gather them up?

wheat

32

charms of

the blade had sprung up and come into ear, the came to light; and the farmer's men went to him and said, Sir, was it not clean seed thou didst sow in thy field.? How comes it, then, that there are tares in it? He said, An enemy

gone.

tares,

tares first,

31

man who

the

soil is

false

Whereas

fruitless.

are fruitful, one grain yielding a hundredfold,

are gathering the tares

30

world and the

this

remains

it

thirtyfold.

kingdom

of his

word

him, and

in

And the man who man who hears the

the

is

he put before them another parable; Here

has done 29

one

with clean seed;

enemy 26

men

such

it;

sixtyfold,

said, of the

25

so that

it,

took in the seed in good

grasps

one

stifle

hears the

no root

shaken.

is

took in the seed in the midst of briers

23

is

The man who

long; no sooner does tribulation or persecution

last

over the word, than his faith

arise

man who

the

is

but there

gladly;

it

Tares, the Mustard, the Leaven

and would say

word which was spoken by

V. 55. Ps. Ixxvii. 2.

[28}

it

All this Jesus said to in parables only,

the prophet,

I

so

will speak

The

my mind

in parables,

been kept

secret

Then he There

the beginning of the world.

sent the multitude away,

came

his disciples

kingdom

He

The

good

are the

The enemy

tares.

the world

said,

answered,

the world

is

the

seed; the sons of the

sowed them

that

kingdom,

in the fire,

brought to an end;

them

into the furnace of

gnashing of

who do

those

all

the

Then,

teeth.

the sun, in their Father's

that

and the end

The

and so

Son of all

wickedly in

where there

fire,

Man

of

wicked one are the

the devil,

is

charge to his angels, and they will gather up in his

Son

reaped by the angels.

is

it

were gathered together and burned

when

Explain to us the parable

It is

world, and the sons of the

field is the

the harvest;

is

and went back into the house.

him, and

to

of the tares in the field.

sows the good seed.

13

which have

will give utterance to things

I

from

MATTHEW

Net

Treasure, the Pearl, the

it

Man

of

tares

will be

will give

that gives offence

and

it,

will cast

and

will be weeping,

at last, the just will shine out, clear as

kingdom. Listen, you

that have ears to

hear with.

The kingdom

man him,

has found

going

is

it

of heaven

is

and hidden

home

to

like a treasure it

all

sell

Again, the kingdom of heaven

has sold

heaven

all

is

that he

down on

sat

is

was

when

and buy

was

it

were looking

when

the world

is

and enclosed

fish of

drew it up, that was worth

the fishermen

full,

where they stored

brought

to

all

of teeth.

And the

fire,

where there

Have you grasped

just,

and

will cast

will be weeping,

all this ?

to bring

both

Afterwards,

of heaven

must be

them

Yes, Lord, they said to him.

like a rich

new and old things out when he had finished

it

and gnashing

he said to them, Every scholar, then, whose learning

kingdom

So

an end; the angels will go

out and separate the wicked from the into the furnace of

for

and

Again, the kingdom of

keeping in their buckets, and threw the useless kind away. will be

gives

that field.

pearl of great cost,

cast into the sea,

it

the beach,

it.

a field; a

for the joy

as if a trader

had and bought

like a net that

every kind at once;

and

that he has

and now he has found one

rare pearls:

hidden in

and now,

again,

is

of

man, who knows how

of his treasure-house.

these parables, Jesus jour-

Perhaps in the sense that he must learn, on the principles laid down the foregoing parables, the difference between the old Church of the Jews and the new Church of Christ. V. ^2.

in

MATTHEW 54

them 55

Death of John the Baptist

14

and came

neyed on,

where he taught

country-side,

How

in their synagogue; so that they said in astonishment,

did he

come by

wisdom, and these strange powers?

this

this the carpenter's

56

own

to his

whose mother

son,

How

his sisters, all of them, live near us?

And

him?

57

58

prophet goes unhonoured.

is

not

Mary, and

his

And

is

it

that

all

do not this

has

they had no confidence in him. But Jesus

come

told them. It

called

Simon and Judas?

brethren James and Joseph and

to

is

Is

only in his

own

own home, many miracles

country, in his

Nor

did he do

that a there,

because of their unbelief.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A

was

And

told of Jesus.

he said to his men, This

is

no other

than John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that 3

these powers are active in him.

is

why

For Herod himself had arrested

John and put him in chains and thrown him into prison, for love 4

of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,

5

is

6

because John told him,

It

wrong for thee to take her. And he would willingly have put him to death, but was prevented by fear of the multitude, who looked upon John as a prophet. Then, at the celebration of Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and Herod was

so well pleased

with her

that he promised,

7

all,

8

on oath, to grant her whatever request she made.

She had been

prompted beforehand by her mother; Give me, she

said, the

9

of

John the Baptist; give

it

me

here on a dish.

And

stricken with remorse; but, out of respect for his oath

10

who

11

John beheaded in

sat

dish,

12

But

with him at

and given

table,

his

he granted her request,

prison.

to the girl,

and she

vt/.

1-12.

to tell the

Mark vi. i, Luke iv. Mark vi. 14, Luke ix.

vv. $4-58.

16,

and

head

was

for those

and

so

had

His head was brought in on a carried

his disciples gained access to the body,

and buried, and came

the king

news John

7.

[30]

it

to Jesus.

vi. 42.

off to her

mother.

which they took away

The i3

five

Jesus,

MATTHEW

thousand; Jesus wal\s on the Sea

when he had heard

14

took ship from the place where he

it,

was, and withdrew into desert country, to be alone; but the multitudes from the towns heard of 14

and he took

there,

15

And now This

and followed him there by

it

a great multitude

on them, and healed those

pity

was evening, and

a lonely place,

is

it,

when he disembarked, he found

So,

land.

and

his disciples

came

who were

sick.

him and

said,

to

past the accustomed hour; give the

it is

multitudes leave to go into the villages and buy themselves food

But Jesus

16

there.

17

away;

We 18, 19

down on

to

21

here,

the grass,

to eat.

for them to go They answered.

except five loaves and two fishes.

us,

he

no need

is

then he told the multitudes to

said;

and when the

five loaves

and the two

baskets

as this

men had

about five thousand

women and

As soon

22

to

with them;

reckoning

was done, he prevailed upon

When

home.

24

had come, and he remained there

alone.

was already half-way across the

hard put to

25

for the

he went up by himself on

sea.

to

send

to the hill side, to

sea,

And

against them.

pray there; twilight

Meanwhile the ship

then,

it

when

by the waves, the night

had

fourth quarter, Jesus came to them, walking on the

its

When

terrified;

him

he had finished sending them home,

the multitudes

reached

net

his disciples to take

23

wind was

eaten,

children.

ship and cross to the other side before him, leaving

26

fishes

him he looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples; and the disciples gave them to the multitude. All ate and had enough, and when they picked up what was left of the broken pieces they filled twelve

were brought 20

me

There

them food

give

to

have nothing with

Bring them sit

told them.

you

for

is

it

they

saw him walking on the

they said.

It

is

sea, the disciples

were

an apparition, and cried out for

fear.

them; Take courage, he

27

But

28

myself; do not be afraid.

29

me come to thee over the water. He said, Come; and Peter let himself down out of the ship and walked over the water to reach Jesus. Then, seeing how strong the wind was, he

30

is

all at

once Jesus spoke

to

And

said,

Peter answered him. Lord,

it is

if

it

thyself, bid

lost

courage and began

vv. 1^-21.

vv. 22-2y.

Mark Mark

vi. 31,

to sink;

Luke

ix. 10,

whereupon he John

vi. 45.

[31]

vi. 3.

cried aloud, Lord,

MATTHEW 31

Faith does not hesitate; Jewish Tradition

15

And

save me.

Jesus at once stretched out his

Why

hold of him, saying to him, 32 33

And

wind dropped.

Thou

his feet,

When

34 35

So they went on board the

httle faith?

art

of

crew came and

said,

faUing at

they had crossed, they reached the country of Genesar;

and the inhabitants of that

place, recognizing

and brought to him

all

him, sent into

all

who were

those

in

and they entreated him that they might be allowed

affliction;

touch even the

to

man

and thereupon the

ship,

indeed the Son of God.

the country round,

36

the ship's

hand and caught

didst thou hesitate,

hem

of

his

And

garments.

who

everyone

touched him was restored to health.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN A FTER THIS, Jcsus was approached by the scribes and Pharisees 2

21. from

Jerusalem,

who

asked:

Why

violate the traditions of our ancestors?

3

hands when they

He

eat.

again,

5

God

tions?

which

offering

answered them.

curses his father or

Whereas you

reprieve.

The

has said,

He who

I

it

that thy disciples

Why

is

it

their

that

you

commandment of God with your tradiHonour thy father and thy mother; and

yourselves violate the

4

is

They do not wash

mother

man says God is all

say, If a

make

to

hope of

dies without

mother,

to his father or

the advantage

you

will

have from me, then father or mother can get no service from So by these traditions of yours you have made God's law

6

him.

7

ineflfectual.

8

of you,

You when he

hypocrites, said,

it

was

a true

This people does

prophecy

me honour

Isaias

with

made

its lips,

Mark vi. 53. Mark vii. i.

vv. 34—36. vv. 1-31. V. 4. V.

Ex. XX.

There

5.

But, since the

12, is

Deut.

much

Hebrews

v. 16; Ex. xxi. 17, Lev. xx. 9, Proverbs xx. 20. uncertainty about the text and the meaning here. used the word 'honour' to imply a gift of money

i, I Timothy v. 3) it is clear that our Lord refers by which sons were allowed to neglect the support of their parents. This was done, it appears, by a real or pretended consecration of themselves to God.

(cf.

to

Ecclesiasticus xxxviii.

some

shift

V. 8. Is. xxix.

13.

[3^1

9

but

heart

its

far

is

from me.

doctrines they teach are the

11

Their worship of

me

is

15

vain, for the

of men.

commandments

gathered the multitude about him, and said to them, and grasp what it means. It is not what goes into

Then he

10

MATTHEW

Woman

Legalism; the Syrophenician

Listen to this,

mouth that makes him unclean; what makes a man unwhat comes out of his mouth. Thereupon his disciples came and said to him, Dost thou know that the Pharisees, when they heard thy saying, took it amiss? He answered, There is no

a man's

12

13

clean

is

plant which

my heavenly Father has not planted but will be Let them say what they will; they are blind mxn

14

rooted up.

15

will fall into the ditch together.

when one

leading the blind, and

man

blind

leads another, they

Peter answered him, Explain

18

parable to us. What, he said, are you still without wits? you not observe that any uncleanness which finds its way into Do a man's mouth travels down into his belly, and so is cast into the sewer; whereas all that comes out of his mouth comes from

19

the heart,

16 17

this

and

which makes

that

it is

a

man

unclean?

from

It is

the heart that his wicked designs come, his sins of murder, adul-

perjury and blasphemy.

tery, fornication, theft,

a

man

unclean; he

is

made unclean by

not

these

It is

make

eating without wash-

ing his hands. 21

22

After

by

23

Jesus left those parts

who came from

birth,

came

said, she is

errand

Then

26

me.

27

throw

28

crumbs

into the neigh-

woman,

a Chanaanite

Have

that country, cried aloud,

the

He it

to

granted.

Then lee,

him and pleaded with him; Rid

following us with her

woman came up answered,

pity

cries.

And

us of her. they

he answered,

My

Ah

from

Woman,

And from

and

said, falling at his feet,

Lord, help

not right to take the children's bread and

It is

to the dogs.

that fall

answered her,

30

here a

only to the lost sheep that are of the house of Israel.

is

25

29

and withdrew

And

on me, Lord, thou son of David. My daughter is cruelly troubled by an evil spirit. He gave her no word in answer; but his disciples

24

this,

bourhood of Tyre and Sidon.

yes,

their

Lord, she said; the dogs feed on the masters' table.

And

at that

Jesus

for this great faith of thine, let thy will be

that

hour her daughter was cured.

Jesus left that country,

and passed along the

and went up into the mountain and

[33]

sat

down

sea of Gali-

there.

Great

MATTHEW

The four thousand

-

16

multitudes came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the deaf, the crippled, and 31

feet;

and he healed them:

many

to see the deaf hear, the cripples

and the blind

receive sight;

besides,

whom

they laid at his

so that the multitudes

were amazed

become whole, the lame walk,

and they praised the God of

Israel for

it.

32

now

But

and

Jesus called his disciples,

pity for the multitude;

it is

three days

with

have been

since they

on me, and they have nothing

in attendance

am moved

said, I

now

must not

to eat. I

send them away fasting, or perhaps they will grow faint on their 33

journey.

34

enough

His

disciples said to

him.

Where

could

in a desert to feed such a multitude?

How many

them. 35

small fishes.

36

ground,

we

find loaves

And

loaves have you? Seven, they Thereupon he bade the multitude

Jesus asked

said, sit

and a few

down on

the

37

and he took the seven loaves and the fishes with them, and when he had blessed and broken he gave these to his disAnd they all ate and ciples, and his disciples to the multitude.

38

had enough; and they took up what was left of the broken Four thousand men had eaten, not pieces, seven hampers full.

39

reckoning

women and

And

children.

taking leave of the

so,

multitude, he went on board the ship, and crossed to the region of Magedan.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN and Sadducees came and put him

AND THE Pharisees k.

asking

him

shew them

to

a sign

to the test,

from heaven.

But he

answered them.

When

3

the sky

or at sun-rise. There will be a storm to-day, the

4

sky

is

is

red;

red and lowering.

face of heaven; can It is

evening comes, you

a wicked

You know,

vt>.

so he

and unfaithful generation

1-2.

went on

Mark

viii.

then,

is

how

fair

to

weather,

read the

you not read the signs of appointed times?

only sign that will be given to

And

say. It

his

it is

way and

11.

[34}

that asks for a sign; the

the sign of the prophet Jonas.

left

them.

MATTHEW

Peters Confession; the Keys of Heaven 5

And

6

forgotten

16

they crossed the sea, and his disciples found that they had

with them.

take bread

to

when

So,

said

Jesus

to

them. See that you have nothing to do with the leaven of the 7

Pharisees

8

We

and Sadducees,

Men

to them,

9

that

they were anxious

have brought no bread, they of

little faith,

what

is

said

your minds, wits

thousand and their

five

and the number of baskets you

and

it,

Have you no

you have brought no bread with you?

five loaves,

minds;

their

this anxiety in

even now, or have you forgotten the 10

in

knew

Jesus

said.

Or

filled?

the four

thousand and their seven loaves, and the number of hampers 11

you

12

How

then?

filled

could you suppose that

was thinking

I

Have nothing to do with the leaven of the and Sadducees? Then they understood that his warn-

when

of bread,

Pharisees

I said,

ing was against the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, not against leavened bread.

Then

13

Jesus

came

into the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi;

and there he asked 14

Man? Who do

his disciples.

What

they think he is?

men

do

Some

Son of

say of the

John the

say

Baptist,

they told him, others Elias, others again, Jeremy or one of the prophets.

16

say

17

Christ, the

18

is

that

I

Then Simon

am?

Simon son

19

I

And it is

Father in heaven that has revealed

thee this in that

of Jona;

my

will build

against

and

it;

turn, that thou art Peter,

my

Who

of you?

Thou

answered.

Peter

Son of the living God.

Blessed art thou,

my

And what

Jesus said to them.

15

do you the

art

Jesus answered him,

not flesh and blood,

And

this to thee.

and

it is

upon

it

I tell

this

rock

church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail

I will

give to thee the keys of the

kingdom

of

heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound

and whatever thou

in heaven,

20

in heaven. he, Jesus,

21

From

Then he

was the

that time

disciples that ill-usage

22

put to death, and

vv. 20-28.

shalt loose

on earth

forbade them to

tell

Mark Mark

shall

any

be loosed

man

that

Christ.

onwards Jesus began

to

make

he must go up to Jerusalem, and

from the

vv. 1^-16.

strictly

chief priests rise

and

elders

and

again on the third day.

viii.

27,

viii.

30,

Luke Luke

ix.

18.

ix. 21.

C353

it

known

to his

with

much

there,

scribes,

must be

Whereupon

Peter,

MATTHEW drawing him 23

Love

17

my

path;

thoughts

these

for

way,

let

him renounce

25

me.

The man who

26

who

loses his life for

the better for his

own

At which he

Back, Satan; thou art a stone in thine

of

tries to

my

of

has a

and take up

save his

Man

will

come

mind

his cross,

life shall

lose

sake that will secure

what

not God's.

man's,

are

man

he gains the whole world

if

it,

self,

soul? For a man's soul,

The Son his

28

to Peter,

Jesus also said to his disciples. If any

my

27

began remonstrating with him; Never,

to his side,

Lord, he said; no such thing shall befall thee. turned round and said

24

of the Cross; the Transfiguration

it.

to

come

and follow

it; it is

How

the a

is

man man

at the cost of losing

price can be high

enough?

hereafter in his Father's glory with

angels about him, and he will recompense everyone, then,

according here

who

works.

his

to

Believe

me, there are those standing

will not taste of death before they

Man coming

have seen the Son 01

kingdom.

in his

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN DAYS AFTERWARDS Jcsus took Pcter and James and his brother

SIX

2

John with him, and led them up to a high mountain where they were alone. And he was transfigured in their presence, his

and

face shining like the sun,

and

3

snow;

4

versing with him. well that

at

all

we

garments becoming white

his

as

once they had sight of Moses and Elias con-

Then

Peter said aloud to Jesus, Lord,

should be here;

if it

pleases thee, let us

make

it

is

three

booths in this place, one for thee, one for Moses and one for 5

finished speaking, a shining cloud

Even before he had

Elias.

overshadowed them.

them out of

And now,

the cloud. This

is

there

my

was a voice which

beloved Son, in

him, then, Hsten.

The

said to

whom

disciples,

when

I

am they

6

well

7

heard

8

near and roused them with his touch; Arise, he said, do not be

pleased;

afraid.

fell

it,

And

to

on

overcome with

their faces,

they lifted

up

their

but Jesus only. vt/.

j-2j.

Mark

ix. i,

Luke

ix. 28.

[36]

eyes,

fear;

but Jesus came

and saw no

man

there

Elias

9

and John; the

And

MATTHEW

coming down from

they were

as

Boy

lunatic

17

mountain, Jesus

the

Do not tell anybody of what you have seen, until Man has risen from the dead. And his disciples asked

warned them, 10

the

Son of

him, Tell

why

us,

He

is it

Christ?

12

things as they were; already,

13

that the scribes say Elias

but

I

John the

Son

of

Man

is

had been speaking

on

in great affliction;

they have not been able to cure him.

19

into water.

that

we

I

Jesus answered.

how

long must

I

Ah,

fire,

but

faith-

be with you,

bear with you.? Bring

could not cast faith. I

it

out.?

promise you,

mustard

seed,

if

Remove from

this place to that, to

you.

Man

and

But there

is

it

faith,

though

to say to this

will

it

be but

mountain,

remove; nothing

will

no way of casting out such

except by prayer and fasting.

While they were Son of

Jesus said to them, Because you

you have

you have only

be impossible spirits as this

22

to thy disciples,

him here before me. And Jesus checked him with a word, and the devil came out of him; and from that hour the boy was cured. Afterwards, when they were alone, the disciples came to Jesus and asked. Why was it long must

as a grain of

21

I

and misguided generation,

how

had no

20

Then

them of

man came up and knelt my son, who is a lunatic^

brought him here

16

18

to

he will often throw himself into the

and often

less

at their

Baptist.

they reached the multitude, a

15

17

all

EHas has come

that

to suffer at their hands.

before him: Lord, he said, have pity

and

this,

and they did not recognize him, but misused him

pleasure, just as the

When

you

tell

the disciples understood that he

14

must come before

answered, Elias must needs come and restore

11

is

to

still

together in Galilee, Jesus told them.

be given up into the hands of men.

put him to death, and he will

rise

They

again on the third day.

The will

And

they were overcome with sorrow.

23

24

And when they reached Capharnaum, the collectors of the Temple pence approached Peter, and asked, Does not your master pay the Temple pence.? Yes, he said. Soon afterwards he came into the house, and Jesus forestalled him; Simon, he said, tell us what thou thinkest; on whom do earthly kings impose 12.

See note on

xi.

14 abo\'e.

137]

MATTHEW

Innocence praised

18

customs and

taxes,

strangers, Peter told

and

own

their

to

him,

Why

then, the

go down

will not hurt their consciences;

hook; take out the

cast thy

first fish

thou drawest

and when thou hast opened its mouth thou wilt find make payment to them for me and

up,

On

on strangers?

or

sons,

him; and Jesus said

But we

children go free. to the sea,

on

coin there; with this

a silver for thy-

self.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE DISCIPLES came

to Jesus at this

kingdom

the

in

greatest

is

whom

called to his side a little child, to

3

and

midst of them,

become Hke

children,

little

He

5

abase himself like this

6

such a child as

is

you

kingdom

child.

little

my

this in

in

me, he had

He who

woe

should come, but

thy hand or thy foot

his neck.

cast

it

away from

to the

It

Woe

through

9

pluck

it

out and cast

into life with

10

one

thy eye

if

it

eye,

into the fires of hell. little

is

away from

than

to

See to

ally.

12

Tell

ones with contempt;

The Son

me

that

I tell

7-5.

Mark

ix.

that such hurt

comes!

If

and

it

when thou

art cast

an occasion of falling to

thee,

thee; better for thee to enter

when thou

you do not

treat

art cast

one of these

you, they have angels of their

my

own

heavenly Father continu-

Man has come to save that which was lost. man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has

of

this, if a

sea,

to thee, cut it off

have two eyes

it

in heaven, that behold the face of 11

if

thee; better for thee to enter into life crippled

And

fire.

to

to the world, for

whom

or lame, than to have two hands or two feet into eternal

And

ones, that believe

must needs be

man

an occasion of falling

is

me.

to

of

will

welcome

gives

little

who

been drowned in the depths of the

better have

with a mill-stone hung about the hurt done to consciences!

8

kingdom

heaven

of

name, gives welcome

anyone hurts the conscience of one of these

7

Jesus

he gave a place in the

shall not enter the

the

in

greatest

heaven.

who

said. Tell us,

Whereupon

me, unless you go back, and

said. Believe

4

time and

of heaven?

33,

Luke

ix. 46.

[38}

MATTHEW

Penitence praised; fraternal Correction

gone

mountain

And

if,

and go out

side,

18

he not leave those ninety-nine others on the

astray, does

one that

to look for the

by good fortune, he finds

is

straying?

he rejoices more, believe me,

it,

over that one, than over the ninety-nine which never strayed

from him.

So too

one of these

it

not your heavenly Father's pleasure that

is

ones should be

little

lost.

as a private matter

between thee and him; and

won

thou hast

to thee,

thy brother.

two more,

take with thee one or

he will not

If

by the voice of two or three witnesses. them, then speak of

even

then count him

listen to the church,

and the publican.

all

my

Father

gathered together in

Then

my

Peter

came

my

name,

I

you bind on earth loose

Jesus said to him,

and

reckoning,

when one was brought

talents in his debt.

ment; whereupon

his

Have him

With

moved with

of his debt.

servant of his,

Vord

75.

I

as

an image of the king-

is

had

to enter into a

scarcely

begun

the

before

all

that he had,

and

ten

pay-

so the debt

that the servant fell at his feet

and

pity for

I

him,

will let

a

full.

'Does thee wrong',

some

out,

hundred

of the best

'thee'.

[39]

and

said.

And

his

the servant go and discharged

So the servant went

who owed him

pay thee in

and met with a fellowpieces of silver; where-

upon he caught hold of him and took him by the V.

must

much

master gave orders that he should be sold,

patience with me,

master,

often

him who was He had no means of making

with his wife and children and should be paid.

how

thee to forgive, not seven

tell

with

servants,

or three are

forgive him; as

Here

reckoning

his

shall

of you

there in the midst of them.

still

I

two

will be granted

it

was a king who resolved

of heaven; there

thousand

earth,

if

Where two

asked. Lord,

wrong, and

on earth

you, that

I tell

am

wrongs, but seventy times seven.

dom

that

in heaven.

is

him and

to

me

brother do

seven times?

who

one with the heathen

you

make on

agree over any request that you

them by

he will not

if

all

And moreover

be loosed in heaven.

all

he will not

If

that

promise you,

I

be bound in heaven, and

shall

listen to thee,

church; and

to the

it,

listen

whole matter may be

that the

certified

it

he will

so, if

listen to

see

him with

thy brother does thee wrong, go at once and tax

If

throat,

and

Greek manuscripts omit the

MATTHEW 29

30

me

Pay

said,

on

his

The unjorgiving

19

pay thee in

will

committed him 31

The

32

And

were

servant, as

35

him

I

debt

that

was

entreaty;

34

in to

tell

it

of

indignation

full of

who

master,

his

was unpaid.

when

they saw

said to him,

thou wicked servant,

thine,

I

thy

at

not thy duty to have mercy on thy fellow-

And

had mercy on thee?

his master, in anger,

over to be tortured until the debt was paid.

heavenly Father will deal with you,

give brother with

I

what had happened.

their master

was summoned by

all

33

patience with me, he said, and

to prison for such time as the debt

and went

so he

remitted

my

Have

But the other refused; he went away and

full.

rest of the servants

this done,

His fellow servant went down

thou owest me.

all

knees in entreaty;

Servant; Marriage

if

gave

thus that

It is

brother does not for-

his heart.

all

CHAPTER NINETEEN AFTERWARDS, when he had finished L moved from Galilee and came which

and put him

away

his

there.

wife, for

Then

re-

of Judaea

part

Is it

answered.

never read,

how he who

be, created

them male and female; and how he

created them,

when

they

and mother and

him,

to

man

right for a

He

whatever cause?

therefore, will leave his father

came

the Pharisees

by asking.

to the test

Jesus

this,

all

that

Great multitudes went with him,

beyond the Jordan.

lies

and he healed them

saying into

put

to

Have you

first

said,

came

A

to

man,

will cling to his

And

so they are

no

longer two, they are one flesh; what God, then, has joined,

let

wife,

not that

and the two

will

become one

man put asunder. Why then, a man might give his wife a

flesh?

he might put her away?

He

they said, did Moses enjoin

writ of separation, and then

told them.

hard hearts that Moses allowed you vv. i-g. V. 5. V. 7.

Mark

x. i; cf.

Gen. ii. 24. Deut. xxiv.

Matt. v. 32,

Luke

i.

[40]

to

It

was

to

suit

your

put your wives away;

xvi. 18,

I

Corinthians

vii.

10.

it

MATTHEW

Divorce, Celibacy, Love 9

who and 10

away

puts

commits adultery; and he too commits

so marries another,

who

adultery,

wife,

marries her after she has been put away.

him.

stands so between

If the case

marry

better not to

is

it

you that he

tell

I

not for any unfaithfulness of hers,

wife,

his

his disciples said to 11

And

so at the beginning of things.

was not

the

There are some eunuchs, who were

gift.

womb, some were made

mother's

made in,

13

themselves so for love of the

15

But Jesus

me;

17

and

in prayer;

come

to

do

I

me

to

21

since

I

it.

And

said.

Master,

He

to ask of goodness?

God

Thou

shalt

have kept

grew up; where

is

it

that

I

art so

is

good, and

keep the com-

Thou Thou Honour thy

asked. Jesus said.

false

witness.

shalt love thy

young man

the

these,

life,

who

said to him,

not commit adultery,

shalt not bear

all

so he

way.

eternal life?

win

and thy mother, and, Thou I

his

Which commandments? he

shalt not steal.

thyself.

rebuked them for

his disciples

him, and

to

do no murder, Thou

20

of heaven; take this

it.

thou hast a mind to enter into

If

mandments.

father

for

of heaven belongs to such as these.

man came

a

dost thou

he only.

19

kingdom

hands on them, and went on

And now

shalt

born from the

so

Let the children be, do not keep them back from

good, what good must

why 18

said.

kingdom

the

laid his

16

said,

who have

they brought children to him, so that he might lay his

hands on them 14

this,

by men, and some have

so

you whose hearts are large enough

Then

At

man and

That conclusion, he

at all.

cannot be taken in by everybody, but only by those 12

19

am

neighbour

as

told him, ever

stil

V. g. The apparent exception made here in connexion with unfaithfulness, not recognized in Mark or Luke, or by St. Paul, has been variously explained. It is to be observed in any case that our Lord is speaking of the man who puts away his innocent wife in order to marry another (this is

often the force of the

Hebrew

husband with the innocent

'and').

wife,

and

He

considers the case of the guilty

that of the innocent

husband with

the guilty wife; not that of the man who has a guilty wife and himself wants a change of partners. Thus it would be unsafe to infer that the husband has a right to re-marry. V. 12.

This verse evidently refers to those

vv. 14-^0.

Mark

x. 13,

Luke

who have

a vocation to celibacy.

xviii. 17.

V. 18. Ex. XX. 13. V. 21. Our Lord may simply have been testing the young man's resolution, or he may have been calling him to the special vocation of poverty. He does not make this demand of all, as we see in his treatment of Zacchaeus

(Lukexix.

8).

[41}

MATTHEW to

him,

The

20

thou hast a mind to be

If

that belongs to thee; give

22

When for

the

this,

come back and follow me. young man went away sad at heart,

possessions.

24

me,

man

a rich

again eye,

I tell

it is

man

than for a

At hearing

rich.

26

bewilderment;

the

kingdom

camel

to pass

kingdom

to enter the

of heaven

who

then, they asked,

man's powers, but

once

a needle's

when he

can be saved?

Such

said to them,

to

And

easily.

through

is

were thrown into great

disciples

on them, and

God

Jesus

a thing

is

im-

things are possible.

all

Hereupon Peter took occasion to say. And what of us who all, and followed thee; what is left for us? Jesus said to them, I promise you, in the new birth, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit there on have forsaken

who

twelve thrones, you

have followed me, and

over the twelve tribes of

saken

home

were

that

every

my

name's sake,

and obtain everlasting

a hundredfold, first

And

Israel.

shall

man

be judges

that has for-

or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,

or children, or lands for

30

he

Jesus said to his disciples, Believe

easier for a

this,

Why

fastened his eyes possible to

And

will not enter God's

you,

25

29

sell all

so the treasure thou

he heard

had great

28

and

hast shall be in heaven; then

23

27

home and

go

perfect,

to the poor,

it

Man

young

rich

and

last,

last that

were

reward

shall receive his

But many will be

life. first.

CHAPTER TWENTY

HERE

IS

AN IMAGE

of the

kingdom

of heaven; a rich

out at daybreak to hire labourers for 2

and when he sent them out into

3

labourers third

4

on

a

silver

piece

work

his vineyard

for

the

he agreed with the wages.

day's

man went

in his vineyard;

About

hour he came out again, and found others standing

the market-place;

the vineyard fair.

and

to these also

Hke the others; you

Away

said,

Away

is

ninth hour, he came out and did the

when he came

with you

like.

more

at the

Yet he found others

out at the eleventh hour;

[42]

to

have whatever payment

they went; and at noon, and once

5

6

standing there

he

shall

the

idle in

How

is

MATTHEW

Labourers in the Vineyard

he said

it,

7

nothing

them, that you

to

They

the day?

all

are standing here, told him, It

Away

hired us; and he said,

20

and have done

because nobody has

is

with you to the vineyard

like the

rest.

8

And now

it

9

beginning with the so the

10

was evening, and the owner of the vineyard

Send

to his bailiff,

workmen and pay them

for the

comers and going back

last

men who were

others came,

came

who were

hired

first,

11

But they were paid a

12

they were indignant with the rich

they hoped to receive more.

man

who have worked

13

have borne the day's burden and the heat.

14

we

My

friend, I

am

but one hour,

away with

15

this late-comer as

16

will? it is

Must thou

thee;

Am

thee.

give

me

that they shall be

it

is

I

not doing thee a wrong; did

my

Take what

not free to use

who were

last,

am

I

generous?

and they

who were first. Many are called, but few are chosen. And now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and he

18

twelve disciples aside on the way, and warned them,

up

to

Jerusalem; and there the Son of

given up into the hands of the chief priests and

And

19

condemn him

20

but on the third day he will

to death.

hands of the Gentiles,

to

make

to

a request of

these will give

So

took his

Now we

Man

will be

who

scribes,

him up

will

into the

be mocked and scourged and crucified; rise again.

of the sons of Zebedee brought

21

thy

shall be last

17

are going

is

much to my money as I

pleasure to give as

sour looks, because

first

who

us,

But he answered

not agree on a silver piece for thy wages?

due, and

Here

over their pay;

and thou hast made no difference between them and one of them thus;

And

silver piece each, like their fellows.

are these late-comers, they said,

for-

So that when the

piece.

silver

And

to the first.

hired about the eleventh hour

ward, and each was paid a

said

their wages,

him.

them

to

Thereupon

the mother

him, falling on her knees

And when he asked her, What is my two sons; grant that in thy

thy will? she said to him. Here are

kingdom one may 22

thy ask.

left.

take his place on thy right and the other on

But Jesus answered, You do not

Have you

vv. 17-19. vv. 20—2^.

Mark Mark

know what

strength to drink of the cup x, 32,

Luke

xviii. 31.

x. 35.

[43]

I

am

to

it

is

you

drink of?

MATTHEW 23

They mine

my

it.

25

heard

among

men

be otherwise,

28

must be your

and whoever has So

slave.

is

it

When

ransom

a

mind

to

over them,

it

with you

be

Son of

You know

said.

bear rule lord

that the

for the lives of

first

Man

did not

to serve others,

must

it

among and

you,

come

to give

many.

they were leaving Jericho, there was a great multitude

And

that followed him. folk,

indeed

shall

two brethren when they

vaunt their power over them;

have service done him; he came

his life as a

31

who

the Gentiles, those

27

30

for those for

Men

my right hand or my left is not whom my Father has destined

but Jesus called them to him, and

it;

and great

29

it is

You

he told them,

ten others were angry with the

26

to

And

have.

cup; but a place on

to give;

The

24

that,

We

said,

drink of

Ambition rebuked; two blind

21

who

there,

by the road

side, sat

two blind

heard of Jesus' passing by, and cried aloud. Lord, son

on

of David, have pity

ding them be 32

Lord, have pity on

33

him;

34

they

us.

The multitude rebuked them,

but they cried out

silent;

us.

Then

all

the more.

Jesus stopped,

and

called

them

What would you have me do for you? he asked. said to him, we would have our eyes opened. And

moved with compassion, touched

their

eyes,

bid-

Son of David, to

Lord. Jesus,

and immediately

they recovered their sight, and followed after him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

WHEN

THEY WERE NEAR Jerusalem, and had reached Bethis close to mount Olivet, Jesus sent two of

phage, which his disciples

on an errand;

he told them, and the she-ass tethered,

them

to

me.

and a

And

if

first

Go

into the village that faces you,

thing you will find there will be

foal at her side; untie

anyone speaks

to

a

them and bring

you about

it,

tell

him.

vv. 29-3^. Mark x. 46, Luke xviii. 35. Only one blind man is mentioned in these other accounts, perhaps because only one (Bartimaeus) was well known by name at the time when the gospels were written. vt/. i-g. Mark xi. i, Luke xix. 29, John xii. 12. It appears from these other

accounts that our Lord rode on the colt, the dam being brought so as to make the colt follow more easily. The reading of the manuscripts is uncertain in verse 7.

[44}

Pdm

MATTHEW

Sunday; the Temple cleansed

The Lord

has need o£ them, and he will

was

4

out more ado.

5

spoken by the prophet:

6

mother has borne the yoke.

7

told

8

them with

9

strewed the

king

All

coming

is

this

to thee,

to

fulfil

word

the

Tell the daughter of Sion, behold, thy

humbly, riding on an

The

on

ass,

its

colt,

whose

a colt

went and did

disciples

they brought the she-ass and

them;

you have them with-

let

ordained,

so

21

as Jesus

and saddled

and bade Jesus mount. Most of the garments along the way, while others

their garments,

multitude spread their

way with branches cut down from the trees. And that went before him and that followed after aloud, Hosanna for the son of David, blessed is he who the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the heaven above.

the multitudes

him

cried

comes in [Q

When

[I

is

he reached Jerusalem, the whole

the prophet [2

Then it all

[3

those

went

who

of the bankers,

[5

[6

and bought

and the

My

it

Who

in a stir;

Jesus,

is

God, and drove out from

there,

and overthrew the

chairs of the pigeon-sellers;

house

and you have made

was

in Galilee.

into the temple of

sold

city

the multitude answered. This

from Nazareth,

Jesus

he told them. [4

And

this? they asked.

shall be

into a

known

den of

It is

tables

written,

for a house of prayer,

thieves.

And

there

were

bUnd and lame men who came up to him in the temple, and he healed them there. The chief priests and scribes saw the miracles which he did, and the boys that cried aloud in the temple, Hosanna for the son of David, and they were greatly angered

at

it.

Dost thou hear what these are saying?

they

asked. Yes, Jesus said to them, but have you never read the words.

Thou [7

hast

made

the lips of children, of infants at the breast,

vocal with praise?

Bethany, where he [8

So he

made

As he was returning

left

them, and went out of the

city to

his lodging.

to the city at

and, seeing a fig-tree by the road

daybreak, he was hungry:

side,

he went up

to

it,

and

V. 5. Zacharias ix. 9. V. 9. Ps. cxvii. 26.

vv. 12-13.

Mark

xi.

15,

Luke

xix. 45; cf.

John

ii.

14.

V. /J. Is. Ivi. 7 and Jer. vii. 11. t>. 16. Ps. viii. 3.

vv. 18-22. Mark xi. 12 and xi. 20. St. Mark tells us that it was not yet the season for figs; our Lord, then, did not expect to satisfy his hunger. He knew that the tree was barren, even of unripe fruit, and used it as a parable of the unfaithfulness which he found in the Jewish people.

C45]

MATTHEW 19

grow on His

20

away.

21

suddenly I

this

it.

thee hereafter;

disciples

has withered away! they said.

it

promise you,

able to

you have

if

do more than

If

you

Jesus answered them,

and do not

faith,

have done over the

I

mountain. Remove, and be

about.

Fig-tree; the Call refused

And he said to it, Let no fruit whereupon the fig-tree withered were amazed when they saw it; How

found nothing but leaves on ever

22

The

21

cast into

will only believe, every gift

you

hesitate,

will

be

fig-tree; if

you say to

the sea,

will

come

for in

your

it

you ask

prayer will be granted.

Afterwards he came into the temple; and while he was teach-

23

ing there, the chief priests and elders approached him, asking,

What 24

is

the authority by

gave thee

question to ask; 25

return

what

is

which thou doest Jesus answered

authority?

this

if

you can

me

tell

the authority by

him? And

30

tell

you in

Whence from men? Whereupon

do these things.

I

If we tell him it was from Then why did you not believe was from men, we have reason to be

if

we

say

it

We

cannot

upon John He, in

tell.

as a prophet. his turn, said.

And And

me what is the authority by which I do me what you think; there was a man who had two sons, and when he went up to the first, and said. Away with thee, my son, and work in my vineyard to-day, he

you

29

will

and who

too have a

us,

afraid of the people; they all look

they answered Jesus,

28

I

I

they cast about in their minds;

heaven, they said, he will ask

27

them,

the answer,

which

did John's baptism come, from heaven or

26

these things,

will not learn

these things.

But

answered; Not

I,

from

tell

but he relented afterwards and went.

Then

he went up to the other, and said the like to him; and his answer 31

was,

I

will. Sir;

but he did not go.

out his father's will?

The

first,

Which

they said.

And

of the two carried Jesus said to them.

Believe me, the publicans and the harlots are further

32

God's kingdom than you.

you would not 33

on the road

John came among you following all due observance, but could win no belief from you; the publicans believed him, and the harlots, but even when you saw that,

to

relent,

and believe him.

Listen to another parable. There vv. 2^-2y.

vv. 33-46.

Mark Mark

xi. 27, xi. 32,

Luke Luke

xx.

was

a rich

i.

xx. 9;

cf. Is. vi. I.

[46]

man who

planted

The

MATTHEW

unfaithful Vine-dressers

a vineyard; he walled

tower in

it,

went on

own

and then

it

let

Whereupon

the

drew

vintage-time

vine-dressers

claim

to

hands

laid

upon

but they were used no better.

first,

own

son to them;

They

one they stoned.

among

they said

After that, he sent

will have reverence, he said, for

But when the vine-dressers found

son.

themselves, This

his son

coming

the heir; come,

is

And

him, and seize upon the inheritance.

us

let

now, what

when he

dressers

owner

the

will

They

returns?

said,

other vine-dressers,

comes.

words

And

Jesus

who said

in the scriptures.

become the

jected has

doing, and

kingdom

of

He

God

will

them,

The

when

a

man

Have you

those

never read those

chief stone at the corner; this

will be taken

falls

bring

very stone which the builders re-

I

tell

against

it,

is

the Lord's

you, then, that

away from you, and given

a people which yields the revenues that belong to stone,

And

those vine-

to

out the vineyard to

let

marvellous in our eyes?

is

it

do

pay him his due when the season

will to

kill

they laid hands on

of the vineyard

wretches to a wretched end, and will

my

them,

to

him, thrust him out from the vineyard, and killed him.

the

its

his

he sent other servants on a second errand, more than he had

sent at his

21

built a

near, he sent his

the vine-dressers,

to

servants; one they beat, one they killed outright,

And

and

a wine-press

out to some vine-dressers, while he

on an errand

servants

revenues.

it

When

his travels.

and dug

in,

it.

As

to

for the

he will break his bones;

when

him like chaff. The chief priests and the Pharisees saw clearly, when they heard his parables, that and would gladly have it was of themselves he was speaking, laid hands on him, but they were afraid of the people, who looked upon him as a prophet. it falls

upon him,

it

will scatter

V. 42. Ps. cxvii. 22, cf. V.

44. St.

Christ

fall

Rom.

ix. 33, I

Peter

Augustine explains that those

upon

the stone; the stone falls

judgment.

[47]

ii.

who

7.

find a stumbHng-block in

upon them when he pronounces

MATTHEW

The Wedding

22

Feast

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

K 3

image, he

who

a king,

summons

servants with a

4

the

been invited. By

been

killed,

ding.

But

errands,

6

trading;

7

and

and the

one to

After

their city.

9 10

worthy of all

it.

whom

this,

tell

fell

his servants,

into a rage

on other

off

when he heard

murderers

to death,

he said to his servants, Here

is

his

to

and insulted of

it,

and burn

the marriage

and those who had been invited have proved un-

You must go

into the streets,

and honest

find, rogues

who had

the oxen have

and another

out to the street corners, and invite

And

you find there to the wedding.

went out

sent other

those

feast,

country,

hands upon

rest laid

his troops to put those

feast all ready,

Then he

ready now; come to the wed-

the

in

The king

killed them.

my

his

he had invited to

no heed, and went

paid

farm

his

and the

have prepared

fatlings, all is

they

still

and sent out 8

and sent out

whom

to all those

summons, bidding them

this I

was once

of heaven; there

wedding; but they would not come.

servants with a fresh

5

kingdom

said, o£ the

held a marriage-feast for his son,

of guests.

where they mustered

men

together;

his

all

servants

they could

and so the wedding had

But when the king came in

to

look at the

11

its full tale

12

man there who had no wedding-garment on; My friend, he said, how didst thou come to be here without a wedding-garment? And he made no reply. Whereupon the company, he saw

13

king said

a

to his servants,

Bind him hand and

foot,

and

cast

him

out into the darkness, where there shall be weeping, and gnashing

14 15

16

of teeth.

Many

are called, but

few

are chosen.

After this the Pharisees withdrew, and plotted together, to

make him

betray himself in his talk.

disciples to

him, with those

vv.

I— 14.

A

similar parable

is

who were found

Some have

in

And

they sent their

own

of Herod's party, and said,

Luke

xiv. 16.

suggested that wedding garments were provided at the King's expense, but it is not certain that any such custom obtained. Like the fooHsh virgins (Matt. xxv. 3), the man had neglected to make what preparations were in his power. It is the common opinion that the wedding garV. II.

ment

represents charity.

vv. 15-46.

Mark

xii.

13,

Luke

xx. 19.

C48]

MATTHEW

Test Questions answered

Master, sincerity

we know the way

17

making no

18

it

19

God;

of

that thou

why do you

Hypocrites, he said,

a silver piece,

21

name

on

Why

God what

And

God's.

us, then,

ic

their malice;

Shew

to the test?

likeness?

is this

Whose

whereupon he Caesar what is Caesar's, and

then, give back to

is

all

awe,

in

So they brought him

paid.

is

they

Caesar's,

it?

me

thus put

tribute

tell

saw

Jesus

and he asked them. Whose

inscribed

is

answered. to

which the

the coinage in

no one

holdest

man and man;

between

distinction

20

22

well that thou art sincere, and teachest in

right to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?

me

22

said;

went away and

they

left

him

in

peace, full of admiration at his words.

On

23

24

that day, too, he

Sadducees,

men who

was approached with

say that there

they said, Moses told us. If a dies, his

25

beget

26

man

man

the

in

whom

brothers once in our country, of

the

without

same

27

end

28

dead

29

was wife

all

befell the

seven, the

rise again,

We

had seven

died, a married

first

And

second brother, and then the third, and in the

woman

dying

last

of

all.

And now, when

scriptures, or

You

what

is

are

the

wrong;

power

30

God.

31

giving in marriage; they are as the angels in heaven are.

now, 32

33

God

the

dead

again,

himself said:

I

am

the

God

Isaac,

and the God of Jacob? Yet

men,

that

And now

34

silence,

he

is

God.

together;

36

question to try him: the greatest?

of living

how

But

the

God

of

men, not of dead heard,

and were

he had put the Sadducees

and one of them,

a

lawyer,

put a

commandment in the law him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy

Master, which

Jesus said to

with thy whole heart and thy whole soul and thy whole

Deut. XXV. Ex. iii. 6. 37. Deut. vi. 5.

V. 24.

V. 32.

V.

Abraham, and

it is

of

no marrying and

you never read what

This the multitude

the Pharisees, hearing

met

to

is

of

is

his teaching.

35

God

there

in the matter of the resurrection, did

amazed by

37

rise

the

will be her husband, since she

Jesus answered them.

all?

you do not understand the

When

the

and

right of kinship,

name.

wife to the second.

his

which of the seven

them

to

bequeathing

issue,

Master,

no children when he

leaves

dead brother's

by the

a question

resurrection;

widow by

brother shall marry the

children

no

is

[49]

MATTHEW 38

mind.

39

And

This

Pride of the Pharisees

23

On

its

Hke,

is this.

thyself.

41

prophets depend.

42

about him, Jesus asked them:

Whose

Christ?

son

when he

44

Master,

45

feet?

David

46

None

could find a

my

he

is

one dare,

I

moved by

gathered

How

him The Lord said to my Master, Sit on make thy enemies a footstool under thy is

Christ his Master;

calls

still

your opinion concerning

is

be? They told him, David's.

to

David

says:

hand while

right

What

first.

law and the

the

all

the

neighbour as

shalt love thy

Then, while the Pharisees were

then, said he, that

is it

Thou

two commandments,

these

40

43

commandments, and

the greatest of the

is

the second,

word

to say in

after that day, to try

how

can he be

answer

him with

the Spirit to call

to

son?

also his

him, nor did any-

further questions.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE AFTER THIS, Jesus

addressed himself to the multitudes, and to his

The

disciples;

and

scribes

3

do what they

Pharisees, he said, have estab-

from which Moses used

lished themselves in the place

you, but do not imitate their actions, for they 4

tell

tell

you one thing

They fasten up packs too heavy to be borne, them on men's shoulders; they themselves will not stir a to lift them. They act, always, so as to be a mark for men's

and do another. and

5

to teach;

you, then, continue to observe what they

tell

lay

finger

hem

of

on taking the chief places

at

and deep

eyes. Boldly written are the texts they carry,

6

their

garments;

7

table

and the

their heart

kissed in the market-place,

and being

are not to claim the

8

fellow-men.

9

but one Master, and you are

any

call

in heaven.

ID

he

II

teacher,

is

man on

V. 59.

Christ.

set

in the synagogue,

first seats

You

is

all

is

and having

their

of Rabbi;

brethren alike.

Nor

are

you

earth your father; you have but one Father,

Nor

are

Among

you

to be called teachers;

you, the

greatest of

all

of this

is

also to

be found in ch.

[50]

xi.

to

and

you have one is

to be

Lev. xix. 18.

Much

their

you have

V. 44. Ps. cix. I.

vv. 1-^6.

hands

Rabbi among

called title

the

of St. Luke.

the

MATTHEW

Hypocrisy of the Pharisees 12

all; the man who exalts himself will man who humbles himself will be exalted.

servant of the

Woe

13

upon you,

and Pharisees, you hypocrites that shut of heaven in men's faces; you will

scribes

when

they would.

and Pharisees, you hypocrites

that swallow-

neither enter yourselves, nor let others enter

14

Woe

15

your sentence will be

up

16

scribes

the property of widows, under cover of your long prayers;

Woe

the heavier for that.

all

and Pharisees, you hypocrites that encompass

scribes

make

gain a single proselyte, and then

to

be humbled, and

kingdom

the door of the

upon you,

23

damnation

worthy

of

leaders,

who

nothing;

say.

which

Blind

18

crates the gold?

fools,

for nothing; 19

Blind

the gift?

21

time by

upon

you,

swears by the temple,

it

blind

goes for

he swears by the gold in the temple, his oath stands.

if

17

20

and land

the proselyte twice as

Woe

yourselves.

as

man

a

If

upon you,

sea

fools,

if

is

again. If a

he swears by the

which

is

that

is

man

swears by the altar

on the

gift

goes

it

oath stands.

altar, his

greater, the gift, or the altar that consecrates

The man who all

temple that conse-

greater, the gold, or the

And

on

swears by the altar swears at the same

The man who swears by the temple him who has made it his dwelling-

it.

swears at the same time by 22

And

place.

the

man who

God's throne, but by him 23

Woe award

upon you, to

God

scribes

his tithe,

swears by heaven swears not only by

who

sits

upon

it.

and Pharisees, you hypocrites that

though

it

be of mint or

and have forgotten the weightier commandments justice,

mercy, and honour; you did

24

you performed the other;

25

for

the

scribes

27

cummin,

of

the

law,

one duty while

to forget

leaders, that

have a strainer

Woe

and then swallow the camel!

upon you, and Pharisees, you hypocrites that scour the outward part gnat,

of cup and dish, while

26

you blind

ill

will

or

dill

continence.

all

within

is

running with avarice and

Scour the inside of cup and dish

Pharisee, that so the outside, too,

may become

first,

clean.

in-

thou blind

Woe

upon

you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites that are like whitened sepulchres, fair in

28

bones and

all

outward show, when they are

manner of corruption within;

full of

over your duties, outwardly, to men's eyes, while there 29

within but hypocrisy and iniquity.

Woe

dead men'?

you too seem exact

upon you,

is

nothing

scribes

and

MATTHEW 30

The

24

and engrave

monuments

the

you

fathers' times,

31

ing the prophets.

32

ancestry;

33

for

34

hell?

you

it

to

say,

Why

was your

who

and

some you

crucify,

and persecute them from

on

from

the earth,

Zacharias the son

temple and the

how

of

own

your

it is

Serpents that you

of

all

I

your synagogues,

so that

city;

you

men

the blood of just

all

of

whom

Barachias,

time

when you

shed

you slew between the

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

it.

still

murdering

the messengers that are sent to thee,

house

is

left

you,

to

me

Believe me, you shall see nothing of

name

make

is

been ready to gather thy children together,

Behold, your

it!

will that

Believe me, this generation shall be held

and stoning

often have

will scourge in to

city

hen gathers her chickens under her wings; and thou

39

our

the blood of the just Abel to the blood of

altar.

answerable for the prophets,

38

in

slaughtered the prophets;

complete your fathers' reckoning.

yourselves answerable for

37

you bear witness

then,

fathers

we had hved

If

not have taken part in murder-

how should you escape from the award of And now, behold, I am sending prophets and wise men and men of learning to preach to you; some of them you will put

to death

36

of the just;

we would

brood of vipers,

are,

35

Guilt of Jerusalem

you hypocrites that build up the tombs of the prophets

Pharisees,

will be saying, Blessed

as a

didst refuse

house uninhabited.

a

henceforward, until the is

he that comes in the

of the Lord.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THEN Jesus left the temple, and was going on his way, when his disciples

2

ing.

Do

came up

you

not be a stone V. 52.

To

to

shew him

the view of the temple build-

see all this? he said to

on another

left

them. Believe me, there will

in this place,

it

will all be

thrown

complete your fathers' reckoning', by killing the Son of God,

as their fathers

had

killed his prophets;

cf.

xxi. 38.

20. Barachias will have been the name of some ancestor of Zacharias, son of Joiada; there can be no reference to the persons mentioned in Is. viii. 2. Zach. i. i. V. J5.

See Gen.

iv.

10,

and

II

Paralipomenon xxiv.

vv. 37-39. Luke xiii. 34. ff. 1-36. Mark xiii. i, Luke xxi. 5.

[5^]

False Prophecies of the

3

came

the disciples

And what

be?

him

to

world being brought

5

care that

will be

will

it.

see to

it

that

you

are not disturbed in

come

mind; such Nation

must happen, but the end

rise in

arms against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there

this is

all

will give

will not

and famines and earthquakes in

will be plagues

but the beginning of

you up

and

to persecution,

will

Many

12

them;

13

wickedness abound everywhere;

14

who

prophets will

arise,

my

be preached

to the last.

man

but that

will

be saved

nations

all

may

see that

which the prophet Daniel

called

the abomination of desolation, set up in the holy place (let 16

who

17

Judaea must take refuge in the mountains;

reads

this,

recognize what

it

means),

carry

away anything from

18

top;

not going back to pick up a cloak,

19

It will

go hard with

the house,

women who

20

at the breast, in those days;

21

may

if

not

V. 3.

him

who are going down

then those

in to

they are on the houseif

they are in the

fields.

are with child, or have children

and you must pray that your

not be in the winter, or on the sabbath day,

distress

first

hear the

end come.

truth; only after that will the

And now, when you

where-

This gospel of the kingdom must

over the world, so that

all

name;

and hate one another.

men

and the charity of most

endures

men

to death; all the

and many will be deceived by will grow cold, as they see

11

false

will

region or that;

this

you

will put

heart, will betray

lose

yet.

In those days,

travail.

world will be hating you because you bear

upon many

15

Many

of

things

8,9 but

10

deceive you.

to

and of the

them. Take

my name; they will say, I am Christ, and And you will hear tell of wars, and deceived by

rumours of war; 7

said, Tell us,

Jesus answered

an end?

to

you do not allow anyone

come making use

many

and

sign will be given of thy coming,

4

6

privately,

24

down on mount OHvet, when will

Afterwards, while he was sitting

down. this

MATTHEW

End

flight

for there will be

then such as has not been since the beginning of the world,

The

question,

the greater part, at

When

least,

be brought to an end, V. 75. Daniel ix. 27.

is

the

Temple would be destroyed, is answered in The question, When should the world

of vv. 4-35. chiefly

answered in verse

The

36.

Evangelist here gives a hint to the reader, probably indicating that the sign mentioned by Daniel had been recognizably fulfilled when he wrote. But there is no certainty now, what event he alludes

to.

[53]

MATTHEW 22

The

24

There would have been no hope

and can never be again.

human

any

creature,

great Tribulation

number

the

if

left for

of those days had not been

cut short; but those days will be cut short, for the sake of the

At such

23

elect.

24

See, he

and

is

a time,

Mark

if

they

tell

well,

them;

that springs

the Son of up from the

where the corpse Immediately

lies

the sign of the all

comes,

and

places,

Son

and he

abroad;

do not

if

believe

will be like the lightning

it

flashes across to the west.

It is

sun will be

of

and the

will refuse her Hght,

Man

mourn, and they

stars will

and then

will rock;

will be seen in heaven; then

the tribes of the land will

glory;

they

If

it.

stir

that the eagles will gather.

moon

Man coming upon 31

do not

from heaven, and the powers of heaven

fall

elect

after the distress of those days, the

darkened, and the 30

Man east

and would be

great signs

even the

hidden

there, in

is

Christ, or,

is

will be false Christs

up and shew

possible,

here, in the desert,

when

27

There

have given you warning of

I is

you, See, he

28

you, See, here

tells

will rise

were

it

you, then, See, he

tell

29

who

false prophets,

wonders, so that 25, 26 deceived.

man

a

if

do not believe him.

there,

it is

that

Son of

will see the

power and

the clouds of heaven, with great

will send out his angels with a loud blast of the

trumpet, to gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of

heaven 32

The

to the other.

you

fig-tree will teach

supple,

and begins so you,

to

when you

33

near;

34

that

it

35

will

not have passed, before

is

see all this

But

as for that

to none, not V. 28.

Believe me, this generation

near, at your very doors. all

this

heaven and earth should pass away, 36

even

Our Lord

when its branch grows know that summer is come about, are to know

a parable;

put out leaves, you

is

my

accomplished.

words

day and that hour you speak to the angels in

says that at the time

Though

will stand.

they are

of,

known

heaven; only the Father knows

when

the false prophets arise,

it

will

answer the question, where the danger is coming from, just as it is easy for a man who sees dead carrion to prophesy where the birds will gather. 'Eagles' may be an allusion to the standards carried by the Roman

be easy

to

armies. V. 2g.

Such words

kingdoms or

as these

dynasties;

V. JO.

The

V. 3/.

'Angels'; the

were often used, by a metaphor, of the

Is. xiii.

10,

Ezechiel

land', or possibly 'the earth',

xxii. 7, Joel

but

cf.

Zach.

Greek word used here might

[54]

ii.

also

10,

xii.

iii.

fall

of

15.

12.

mean

'messengers'.

MATTHEW

Suddenness of Christ's Coming

When

37

them.

38

days of Noe;

the

Son of

Man

comes,

it

was

25

in the

went on eating

in those days before the flood, they

and drinking, marrying and giving 39

will be as

all

in marriage, until the time

entered the ark, and they were taken unawares, when came and drowned them all; so it will be at the coming Son of Man. One man taken, one left, as they work to-

when Noe the flood

40

of the

41

gether in the fields;

one

42

together at the mill.

You must

43

do not if

taken, one

grind

as they

left,

be on the watch, then, since you

Be

sure of this;

what time

of night the

the hour of your Lord's coming.

known

the master of the house had

at

was coming, he would have kept watch, and not allowed

thief

44

know

woman

his

house to be broken open.

the

Son

of

Man

come

will

at

And you

an hour

must stand ready;

too

when you

are not expecting

him. 45

Which

of you, then,

his master will entrust

a faithful

is

and wise

46

them

47

who

48

he will give him charge of

49

him

their food at the appointed time? is

found doing

false,

and

when

this

his lord

all his

says in his heart.

goods.

My

lord

Blessed

comes;

But is

if

50

the drunkards,

an hour

him

then on some day

when he

ofl,

is all

when he

his portion

that servant

promise you,

that servant plays

and

and drinking with expects nothing, at

unaware, his lord will come,

and assign him

there will be weeping,

is

I

whom to give

long in coming,

so falls to beating his fellow-servants, to eating

51

one

servant,

with the care of the household,

and

will cut

with the hypocrites; where

and gnashing of

teeth.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

WHEN THAT

DAY COMES, the kingdom of heaven will be hkc

ten virgins,

home, taking

who went

to bring the

lamps with them.

2

bride

3

foolish,

4

their lamps, did not provide themselves

and

vv. 42-^1.

five

Luke

their

were wise;

bridegroom and

the five fooHsh,

xii. 29.

[55]

with

his

Five of these were

when

oil,

they took

but those

who

MATTHEW

The

25

were wise took

the vessels they carried, as well as the lamps.

oil in

5

The bridegroom was long

6

drowsy, and

7

Thereupon

8

lamps;

9

oil

Behold, the bridegroom

and now the

with

How

And

10

yourselves.

11

ding, and

12

came, with the

13

Believe me,

groom came;

So

He

is

it

I

a

him and committed two

he answered,

the watch, then;

money

and one

and with that he

received

made

set

talents

five

called his

to their charge. to another,

out on his

went and

a profit of five talents

same way he who had received two made a

18

two.

19

a hole in the

20

his

to another,

abilities,

traded with them, until he had in the

And

us.

Be on

it are unknown to you. man who went on his travels; he

five talents to one,

and

wed-

the

to

and the hour of

it

17

for

the bride-

Afterwards those other virgins

The man who had

journey.

and buy it,

him

stood ready escorted

Lord, Lord, open to

according to their several 16

But the wise ones

to the merchants,

do not recognize you.

was with

gave

who

door was shut. cry.

their

not enough for us and for you? Better

while they were away buying

so,

trusted servants to

15

there

those

the

the day of 14

if

meet him.

to

trimming

to

fell

raisedj

foolish ones said to the wise, Share your

you should find your way

that

way; go out

his

awoke, and

our lamps are burning low.

us,

answered,

grew

all

midnight the cry was

at

on

is

these virgins

all

coming, so that they

in

And

asleep.

fell

ten Virgins; the Talents

more;

profit of

Whereas he who had received but one went off and made ground, and there hid his master's money. Long afterwards, the master of those servants came back, and entered into a reckoning with them.

And

so the

man who had

received

came forward and brought him five talents more; Lord, he said, it was five talents thou gavest me, see how I have

five

21

talents

made

my good

faithful over

22

charge;

little

come and

who had

his master said to

him,

been

things,

besides.

have great things

I

share the joy of thy Lord.

And

f f. 14-30.

A

his

how

I

commit

to

Then came

received two talents; Lord, he said,

thou gavest me; see 23

and

And

faithful servant; since thou hast

a profit of five talents besides.

Well done,

it

to thy

the

was two

man

talents

have made a profit of two talents

master said to him, Well done,

parable similar to this

is

found

in

Luke

my good and

xix. 12.

The

faithful servant; since thou hast

>4

commit

But when he who had received but one

man,

talent in the earth; see

I

well that

now, thou hast received what

reap where

I

never planted;

all

fields

is

And

thine.

more was I

might have recovered

it

I

my money

thy part to lodge

it

with interest

when I came. Take the talent away from him, and give it to him who has ten talents already. Whenever a man is rich, gifts will be made to him, and his riches will abound; if he is poor, even what he accounts his own will be taken from him. And now, servant into the darkness without;

cast the unprofitable

and gnashing of

there shall be weeping,

When

31

Man

Son of

the

with him, he will

sit

comes in

down upon

men

one from the other,

33

the goats;

34

left.

he will

Then

Come, you

set

King

the

and

his glory,

the angels

all

and

the throne of his glory,

as the

the sheep

who

are

food, thirsty,

For

I

and you gave me drink;

mc home,

you cared for me, a prisoner, and you came

38

and fed

thee, or thirsty,

we saw

thee a stranger,

clothed thee?

and came to thee?

their

Then he

turn,

when was

you

since

stranger,

it

that

sick,

and and

me.

Whereupon

we saw

thee hungry,

to

and gave thee drink?

When

was

it

that

and brought thee home, or naked, and

When was it that we saw thee sick or in prison And the King will answer them. Believe me, it to one of the least of my brethren here, you did

39 40

did

was a

I

37

me.

Father, take for

naked, and you clothed me,

the just will answer. Lord,

his

hand,

his right

was hungry, and you gave

you brought

to

on

from my kingdom which has been prepared

36

when you

and the goats on

his right,

will say to those

the foundation of the world.

me

shepherd divides the sheep from

on

that have received a blessing

possession of the

it

where

teeth.

nations will be gathered in his presence, where he will divide

all

41

from

did not sow, and gather in from fields

I

the

with the bankers, so that

35

in

answered him, Base and slothful servant, thou knewest

his lord

32

talent

thee for a hard

took fright, and so went off and hid thy

26

30

knowing

where he did not sow, and gathers

that reaps

he never planted,

29

share the

joy of thy Lord.

in his turn, he said. Lord,

25

littk things, I

come and

to

25

28

been faithful over

to thy charge;

have great things

came forward

27

MATTHEW

Love proved by Action

slothful Servant;

Go

far

will say to those

from me, you

£57]

who

are on his

left

hand, in

that are accursed, into that

MATTHEW

Jesus' Feet anointed

26

which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. was hungry, and you never gave me food, I was thirsty, and you never gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you did not bring me home, I was naked, and you did not clothe me, I was eternal fire

42

43

44

For

I

sick

and in prison, and you did not care

for

Whereupon we saw

me.

when was

they, in their turn, will answer, Lord,

that

it

thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in 45

and did not minister

prison,

Believe me,

46

here,

when you

you refused

to

it

And

to thee?

refused

it

to

And

me.

he will answer them,

one of the

punishment, and the just to eternal

least of

these shall pass

my

on

brethren

to eternal

life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX A FTERWARDs,

2

Xx.

feast is

3

to

whcn he had made an end of saying all this, Jesus You know that after two days the paschal

told his disciples

coming;

it is

At

be crucified.

:

Man must

then that the Son of

this

of the people gathered in the court of the high priest,

4

was Caiphas;

be given up

very time, the chief priests and the elders

and there they plotted

to

whose name

bring Jesus into their

power by cunning, and put him to death. Yet they still said, Not on the day of the feast, or perhaps there will be an uproar 6 among the people. But then, while Jesus was in the house of 7 Simon the leper, at Bethany, a woman came to him, with a pot 5

of very precious ointment, and poured

8>9 at table. is

the

The

disciples

meaning

of this waste?

over his head as he sat

they asked.

possible to sell this at a great price,

It

and give alms

Why

it:

What

would have been to the poor.

woman? You have the poor among you always; I am not always among you. When she poured this ointment over my body, she did it to prepare me for my burial;

10

This Jesus knew, and said

11

She did well

12

it

were indignant when they saw

vv. 7-5. vu. 6-1).

to

treat

Mark xiv. Mark xiv.

to

me

i,

Luke

3,

John

them,

do you vex the

so.

xxii. i. xii. i.

According

place six days before the paschal feast.

[58}

to St. John, this incident took

MATTHEW

The Last Supper and

promise you, in whatever part o£ the world

I

this gospel

preached, the story of what she has done shall be told in

And

memory.

to preserve her

26

its

is

place,

one of the twelve, Judas

at that,

who was called Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked them, What will you pay me for handing him over to you? Whereupon they laid down thirty pieces of silver. And he, from

time onwards, looked about for an opportunity

that

to

betray him.

On

the

to Jesus

of the days of unleavened bread the disciples

first

and asked. Where wilt thou have us make ready

to eat the paschal

such a man, and

my

ciples did as Jesus

meal

who

is

one

Man

woe upon

answered.

And

it

body.

to

me.

all

sat

hand

They were

Lord,

Is it I?

into the dish with

that

man man

betraying

Thy own it,

is

I

and

The

dis-

near;

ready for the paschal

down

with his twelve

full of

sorrow, and began

He answered. The man me will betray me. The

the

Son of

Man

is

him, said openly, Master, lips

have said

still it

to

be betrayed;

Then

he had never been born.

and gave

Then he

whom

by if

is

it

Judas, he I?

Jesus

it.

at table, Jesus

took bread, and blessed,

to his disciples, saying,

Take,

eat, this is

took a cup, and offered thanks, and gave

them, saying, Drink,

vv. 14-2$.

into the city, find

time

goes on his way, as the scripture foretells of him; but

while they were

and broke

my

evening came, he

to betray

better for that

who was

Go

My

the paschal feast at thy house.

after another.

has put his

Son of

says.

and, while they were at table, he said. Believe me,

one of you to say,

Jesus said,

The Master

bade them, and made

When

there.

disciples,

him.

must keep

disciples

And

meal?

tell

came

for thee

all

of you, of this;

Mark xiv. 10, Luke xxii. 3. know from St. John (e.g. xviii.

for this

is

my

V. ly. We 28) that the 'first day of unleavened bread', that is, the paschal feast on the 14th day of the month Nisan, was kept by the Jews on the Friday that year. Possibly the Galileans had a different date, since it seems that the month was dated from the first night when the paschal moon was observed, and one cloudy night might falsify the reckoning. But the Greek Fathers understand St. Matthew here as calling Thursday 'the day before the days of unleavened bread'. This would avoid any appearance of discrepancy. On such a view, it seems that our Lord deliberately anticipated the paschal meal by twenty-four hours; or we may suppose that the meal described in vv. 20 following was not the meal mendoned in verse 19, but that of the night before it.

CsqI

MATTHEW 29

The Agony

26

blood, o£ the

new

remission of

sins.

testament,

And

which

31

32

But

33

the dead.

34

will

I

lay

with you,

it

Peter answered him. I

will never lose

Though

have risen from

I

should lose cour-

all else

Jesus said to him, Believe

mine.

night, before the cock crows, thou wilt thrice

this

Peter said to him,

me.

drink

go on before you into Galilee, when

age over thee,

me, 35

not drink of this

this, I shall

new wine, in the kingdom of my Father. And so they sang a hymn, and went out to mount Olivet. After this, Jesus said to them. To-night you will all lose courage over me; for so it has been written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of his flock will be scattered. fruit of the vine again, until I

30

be shed for many, to the

is to

you

tell

I

down my

I

And

with thee.

life

disown

will never

thee,

though

disown I

must

the rest of his disciples said

all

the like.

36

So Jesus came, and they with him, Gethsemani; and he said

37

go in there and pray.

38

with him. soul,

39

he

chalice pass

Peter,

When

me

hour?

42

the spirit

and

he had gone a

My

said.

you no strength, then, pray, that

43

if this

chaUce

thy will be done.

44 when he came

to

may

And

me

watch with

upon

Then he said to

even for an

you may not enter into temptation; is

not pass

me

Then he went

weak.

by, but

his prayer was. I

must drink

it,

My then

once more he found his disciples asleep

them, so heavy their eyelids were;

went away without disturbing them, and made 45

is.

and he

asleep;

back again, and prayed a second time; and Father,

fell

possible, let this

is

not as mine

is,

willing enough, but the flesh

is

if it

them

to

he

litde further,

Father,

by; only as thy will

Watch and

41

My

he grew sorrowful and dismayed;

to his disciples, to find

Had

here, while I

ready to die with sorrow; do you abide here, and

watch with me.

went back

down

But he took Peter and the sons of Zebedee

And now

said, is

his face in prayer,

40

to a plot of land called

to his disciples. Sit

this

time he

his third prayer,

using the same words.

After that he returned to his disciples,

and

and take your

said to them. Sleep

the time draws near vv. 3I-3Sf. 3/.

Mark

Zach.

when

xiv. 27,

the

Luke

Son of

xxii. 31,

rest hereafter; as I speak,

Man

John

xiii.

is

to

but

tlie

int«^

38.

xiii. 7.

vv. 35-56. Mark xiv. 32, Luke xxii. 40, John xviii. i. V. 45. 'Hereafter'; some think tliis was said in irony, on',

be betrayed

sense

may be

'sleep at

some other

[60]

meaning 'from

time, not now.'

no\\

Jesus betrayed

46

MATTHEW

tried

the hands of sinners. that

47

and

is

And

me

to betray

Rise up,

hand.

was speaking, Judas, who was one of

once, while he

all at

us go on our way; already, he

let

close at

is

26

48

came near; with him was a great multitude carrying swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people. The traitor had appointed them a signal;

49

with a

the twelve,

It is

50

51

My

said. Hail,

sooner, then,

one of those

Master, and kissed him.

its

Whereupon

place;

54 55

prophesied that

it

so,

all

tude at that hour.

and

all

who

those

clubs, as

if I

up

take

as

my

upon

Father, even

legions of angels to

should the scriptures be

must be

And

it is ?

out to

were a robber; and yet

I

cut-

it,

Put thy sword

the sword will perish by

if I call

You have come

draw

to

with

priest's servants

And

fast.

hand

lifted a

Jesus said to him.

more than twelve

will send

But how, were

shall greet

Jesus said to

and held him

Jesus,

with Jesus

Dost thou doubt that

the sword.

now, he

who were

and smote one of the high

ting off his ear.

back into

I

had he come near

on what errand hast thou come? Then they came

friend,

his sword,

53

he

No

fast.

forward and laid their hands on at that,

52

hold him

kiss;

to Jesus than

him.

man whom

other, he told them, than the

none

my

side?

which have

fulfilled,

Jesus said to the multi-

my

used

arrest

with swords

teaching in the

to sit

temple close to you, day after day, and you never laid hands on

was

56

me. All

57

And now all his And those who had arrested

Jesus led

of the high priest, Caiphas,

where the

this

what was written by

so ordained, to fulfil

prophets.

abandoned him, and

disciples

him away scribes

the fled.

into the presence

and the

elders

had

assembled. 58

Yet Peter followed him

59

60

62

long distance,

and

in

sat

as far as the

among

high

the servants, to

see the end.

The

to find false

testimony against Jesus, such as would compass his

death.

chief priests

and

elders

and

all

the council tried

But they could find none, although many came forward

falsely accusing

61

at a

where he went

piiest's palace;

him;

until at last

who declared, This man said, of God and raise it again in

I

two

false accusers

have power

three days.

Then

V. 61.

Mark

John

ii.

xiv. 53,

Luke

xxii. 54,

19.

[61]

John

xviii. 12.

temple

the high priest

stood up, and asked him, Hast thou no answer to vv. S7~75-

came forward

to destroy the

make

to the

MATTHEW 63

Repentance of Peter

27

accusations these

men

the high priest said to

64

whether thou

to tell us

Thy own

openly,

I

was

and

God

Jesus

Son of God?

art the Christ, the

And

you

this;

right

lips

have said

it.

moreover

and

the high priest tore his garments,

66

heard his blasphemy for yourselves.

67

they answered.

upon

69

his face

The

tell

He

said.

has blasphemed;

penalty

is

What

is

Then

death.

well,

you have

And

your finding? they

fell to

spitting

and buffeting him and smiting him on the cheek,

saying as they did it is

I

will see the

what further need have we of witnesses? Mark

68

Jesus

you Son of Man again, when he is seated at the hand of power, and comes on the clouds of heaven. At this,

answered,

65

silent;

adjure thee by the living

bring against thee?

him

so,

Shew

thyself a prophet, Christ;

tell

who

us

that smote thee.

Meanwhile, Peter

without; and there a maid-

sat in the court

came up to him, and said. Thou too wast with Jesus the Galilean. Whereupon he denied it before all the company; I do not know what thou meanest. And he went out into the porch, where a second maidservant saw him, and said, to the bystanders, This man, too was with Jesus the Nazarene. And he made denial servant

70 71

72 73

again with an oath, stood there

74

came up

that thou art

with that he 75

know Peter

know

nothing of the man.

But those who

to Peter

soon afterwards, and

said, It is certain

I

one of them; even thy speech betrays

fell to

calling

down

curses

nothing of the man; and thereupon the cock crew.

remembered the word of

Jesus,

And

thee.

on himself and swearing,

how

he had

said.

I

Then

Before the

cock crows, thou wilt thrice disown me; and he went out, and

wept

bitterly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN AT 2

3

DAYBREAK,

all

the chief priests

and

elders of the people laid

/\.

their plans for putting Jesus to death,

away

in bonds,

And now V. 3.

Acts

and gave him up

Judas, his betrayer,

i,

to the

was

18.

[62}

full

and they led him

governor, Pontius Pilate. of remorse at seeing

him

MATTHEW

Remorse of Judas; choice of Barabbas

condemned, so that he brought back 4

of silver;

pieces

thirty

their

What

down 6

hanged himself.

The

that to us? they

them, throwing

and went and

chief priests, thus recovering the

said, It

must not be put and

7

blood;

field, as a

9

day.

after

in the treasury, since

consultation, they used

burial place for strangers;

And

it

field of blood, to this

word was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Jeremy, when he said. And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of one who was appraised, for men of the race of Israel appraised him, and bestowed them upon the potter's field, as the Lord had bidden me. so the

And

But Jesus stood before the governor.

And when

12

have said

13

their accusation against

said

to

it.

the chief priests

the governor asked

so that the governor

was

governor used to grant

At

multitude the liberty of any one

then

and

was one notable prisoner

there

so,

Whom

Barabbas, or Jesus

19

had only given him up out of malice;

and even

him

a message,

with

innocent

called Christ?

wife had sent

man;

I

dreamed to-day

But the chief

priests

and

that

elders

I

when

the governor openly asked them,

would you have me

I

they

release?

well that they

as

he

Do

sat

on the

not meddle

suffered

much on

had persuaded the

multitude to ask for Barabbas and have Jesus put so,

22

this

his account.

is

when

shall

He knew

18

seat, his

the festival, the

whose name was Barabbas;

gathered about him, Pilate asked them,

judgment

their charges,

to the

17

who

Pilate

astonishment.

prisoner they should choose; custody,

Then

full of

16

in

Hps

the testimony they bring

all

But Jesus would not answer any of

against thee?

15

Thy own

and elders brought

him, he made no answer.

him. Dost thou not hear

14

21

potter's

that account that

him. Art thou the king of the Jews ? Jesus told him.

20

money,

the price of

is

buy the

to

it

upon

it is

Haceldama, the

the field has been called

11

is

left

the pieces of silver there in the temple,

8

10

Whereupon he

concerns thee only.

said. It

27

elders

have sinned, he told them, in

I

betraying the blood of an innocent man. 5

and

to the chief priests

to

Which

release? they said, Barabbas.

death; of the

Pilate said to

This seems to be, not a direct quotation, but a combination of 7-9 with Zach. xi. 12-13. C£. note on Mark i. 2-3. vv. 11-26 (in part) Mark xv, 2, Luke xxiii. 2, John xviii. 33. V. 9.

xxxii.

[63]

and

two

Jer.

MATTHEW 23

24

27

Jesus

them,

What am

They

said.

condemned and

is

crucified

who is called Christ? And when the governor said,

with Jesus,

to do, then,

I

Let him be crucified.

Why, what wrong

has he done? they cried louder than ever. Let

him be

And

crucified.

finding that his good

so,

went

offices

for

nothing, and the uproar only became worse, Pilate sent for water

and washed did

25

you

26

us,

so, I

And

only.

the

this

innocent man;

it

concerns

whole people answered. His blood be upon

And

with that he released Barabbas

him up

asked; Jesus he scourged, and gave

After

to be crucified.

the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the palace,

this,

28

and gathered the whole of

29

stripped him, and arrayed his

multitude, saying as he

full sight of the

and upon our children.

as they

27

hands in

his

have no part in the death of

their

him

company about him.

First they

then they put on

in a scarlet cloak;

head a crown which they had woven out of thorns, and a rod

and mocked him by kneeling down before him, and saying. Hail, king of the Jews. And they spat upon him, and took the rod from him and beat him over the head with it. At

in his right hand,

30 31

last

32

crucified.

33

by name,

As

own garments on

man

for his cross, they forced a

whom

they

met on

their

34

after a skull.

35

with

gall,

Here they

which he

offered

tasted,

crucified him, dividing his

they

There, then,

head they

sat,

set a written

way

him

garments

among them by

40

against him, tossing their heads;

The

his left.

come down from

42

same way.

He

vv. 27-62.

Mark

that cross,

chief priests, with the scribes

r. 55. Ps. xxi.

V.42.

crucified

it

if

and

up

two

is

his

Jesus,

thieves,

blasphemed

they said, thou

who

in three days, rescue

thou art the Son of God. elders,

mocked him

in the

saved others, they said, he cannot save himself. xv. 20,

Luke

xxiii. 26,

19.

Wisdom,

and then casting lots.

him. Over

passers-by

Come now,

wouldst destroy the temple and build

The

over

and with him they

the king of the Jews;

so

named

the place

a draught of wine, mixed

keeping guard

one on his right and one on

thyself;

is,

and

it;

proclamation of his offence, This

38

Simon

of Cyrene,

out, to carry

but would not drink,

39

41

of the scarlet

him, and led him away to be

they reached a place called Golgotha, that

36

him

they had done with mockery; stripping

cloak, they put his

ii.

18.

[64}

John

xix. 17.

and

fesus dies

he

If

43

come down from

the king of Israel, he has but to

is

God,

Even

Son of God.

From

we

He

will believe in him.

same

who were

the thieves

2',

the cross.

trusted in

he favours him, succour him now; he told

if

uttered the

45

MATTHEW

buried

here and now, and let

44

is

God;

am

us, I

the

him

crucified with

taunts.

was darkness over all the and about the ninth hour Jesus cried

the sixth hour onwards there

46

earth until the ninth hour;

47

God,

lamma

out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli,

my

sabachthani? that

God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Hearing

is,

this,

My

some

50

who stood by said. He is calling upon Elias: and thereupon one of them ran to fetch a sponge, which he filled with vinegar and fixed upon a rod, and offered to let him drink; the rest said, Wait, let us see whether Elias is to come and save him. Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his

51

spirit.

48

49

of those

And

all at

52

54

holy

men gone

after his rising again, left their graves city,

way

and the graves were opened, and many

rocks parted asunder;

who,

this

bottom, and the earth shook, and the

to the

bodies arose out of them, bodies of holy

53

was torn

once, the veil of the temple

and that from the top

where they were seen by many.

to their rest:

and went into the

So that the centurion

and those who kept guard over Jesus with him, when they perceived the earthquake and all that befell, were overcome with fear;

55 56

No

doubt, they said, but this was the Son of God.

Many women Jesus

from

stood watching from far off; they had followed

him;

Galilee, to minister to

among them were Mary

Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the 57

58

And now it was evening, and a man came forward, by name Joseph, a rich man from Arimathaea, who followed Jesus as a disciple Hke the rest; he it was who mother of the sons of Zebedee.

approached 59

Pilate,

and asked

possession of the body,

60

then he buried self

it

in a

V. 43.

The

have the body of Jesus; whereupon

and wrapped

new

out of the rock, and

V.43. Ps. xxi.

to

body should be given up.

Pilate ordered that the

grave,

it

which he had fashioned

left it there, rolling a

9.

earth', or

perhaps

Joseph took

in a clean winding-sheet;

'the land' of Palestine.

1:46. Ps. xxi. 2.

[65]

for

him-

great stone against

MATTHEW

The

28

But there were two who

the grave-door.

6

Mary Magdalen and

the tomb,

62 63

Next

and the Pharisees gathered

am

said, I

his

tomb

there opposite

and

that this deceiver, while

her.

said, Sir,

he yet

we

lived,

Give orders, then, that

to rise again after three days.

shall

be securely guarded until the third day; or perhaps

come and

He

to the people,

66

in Pilate's presence,

memory

to

it

his disciples will

65

on

day, the next after the day of preparation, the chief priests

have recalled 64

sat

Mary with

the other

Resurrection

him away.

steal

If

they should then say

has risen from the dead, this

last deceit will

be

more dangerous than the old. Pilate said to them. You have guards; away with you, make it secure as you best know how. And they went and made the tomb secure, putting a seal on the stone and setting a guard over

it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ON

THE night

on

2

the

after the sabbath, at the

Mary came near

to

contemplate the tomb.

was a great trembling of the

came

hour when dawn broke

day of the week, Mary Magdalen and the other

first

earth, because

to the place, descending

And

suddenly there

an angel of the Lord

from heaven, and

away

rolled

the

shone Uke lightning, and his gar-

3

stone and sat over

4

ments were white

5

of him,

6

women. You need not be afraid; I know wtU that you have come to look for Jesus of Nazareth. He is not here; he has risen,

7

buried.

and were

his face

it;

as

snow;

like

so that the guards trembled for fear

dead men.

But the angel said openly

to

the

he told you.

as

vv. 1-8. V. I.

Come and

You must go Mark

The

xvi.

i,

see the place

in haste,

Luke

xxiv.

and

tell

where the Lord was

his disciples that

he has

i.

night after the sabbath', Hterally, in the Greek,

'late

of the

which can bear the meaning 'too late for it to be the sabbath'. This interpretation must be the right one here, since it is clear that St. Matthew, Hke the other EvangeHsts, is speaking of early morning, not of the sabbath',

evening. V. 2. The words 'of the earth' do not occur in the Greek; and it that the 'trembling' here alluded to is that mentioned in verse 4.

{66-]

is

possible

The

last

Galilee,

where you

to

9

joicing,

and ran

were on

With

me

word

came near

my

to

news to

my

is

message

the tomb, in fear and in great re-

And

to his disciples.

once Jesus met them and

all at

Then

shipped him. give

11

that, they

left

to tell the

way,

their

they

28

going on before you into

is

have sight of him. That

shall

Whereupon

you.

8

10

MATTHEW

Charge

from the dead; and now he

risen

him, and clung

Do

Jesus said to them,

while they All

said,

to his feet,

hail.

and wor-

not be afraid; go and

brethren to remove into Galilee; they shall see

there.

They had not reached the

finished their journey,

city,

and

when some

the chief priests of

told

of the guards that befell.

all

12

These gathered with the

13

bribe to the soldiers;

14

came by night and stole him away, while we were asleep. If this should come to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him, and see that no harm comes to you. The soldiers took the bribe, and

15

Let

this,

they said, be your

did as they were instructed; and this

among the Jews, to this And now the eleven disciples

abroad 16 17

to the

still

him

and on

the

took their journey into Galilee,

earth,

you, therefore, must go out,

Holy Ghost,

ments which

I

name

a rich

disciples

which has gone

the tale

to

he

making

them; All to

me;

disciples of all nations,

and

and of the Son, and of

teaching them to observe

And

to

been given

said, has

of the Father,

have given you.

When

worship; though some were

But Jesus came near and spoke

doubtful.

baptizing them in the 20

His

day.

down

there, they fell

authority in heaven 19

is

tale,

mountain where Jesus had bidden them meet him.

they saw 18

and offered

elders to take counsel,

all

behold

I

the

am

command-

with you

all

through the days that are coming, until the consummation of the world. V. 9.

This encounter

may be

the same, or

may have

taken place nearly at

same time, as that recorded in John xx. 11-17. V. ly. 'Were still doubtful', probably in the sense that they did not recognize him while he was still at a distance (cf. John xxi. 7, 12, 13). Or it may mean that there were some (not of the apostles, but of those who followed them; I Cor. xv. 6), who had doubted until then. the

[67J

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MARK

CHAPTER ONE

THE BEGINNING

mine who

before thy face that angel of

3

thee;

4

way

there

is

Son o£ God.

o£ the gospcl o£ Jesus Christ, the

written in the prophecy of Isaias, Behold,

It is

a voice of

I

am

sending

way

to prepare thy

is

before

one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the

And

of the Lord, straighten out his paths.

so

it

was

that

John

appeared in the wilderness baptizing, announcing a baptism where5

by

men repented, to have their sins forgiven. And all the country of who dwelt in Jerusalem went out to see him,

Judaea and aU those

and he baptized them in the 6

had a leather girdle about 7

honey.

And

I,

so that

the strap of his shoes.

and he

One

is

to

hair,

come

and

and wild

ate locusts

me who is down and untie

after

I

am

I

have baptized you with water; he will

not worthy to bend

Holy Ghost.

baptize you with the

At

his loins,

thus he preached.

mightier than 8

river Jordan, while they confessed

John was clothed with a garment of camel's

their sins.

11

came from Nazareth, and was baptized by even as he came up out of the water he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down and resting upon him. There was a voice, too, out of heaven,

12

Thou

13

the Spirit sent

9 10

this time, Jesus

my

art

forty days

with the 14 15

And

John in the Jordan.

beloved Son in thee ;

him out

and forty

beasts,

I

am

into the desert:

nights,

well pleased.

and

tempted by the

Thereupon,

in the desert devil; there

he spent

he lodgec?

and there the angels ministered to him.

But when John had been put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospcl of God's kingdom: The appointed time has vv. i-ii.

Matthew

iii.

The second

i,

Luke

iii.

i.

is taken from Is. xl. 3; the hrst not from Isaias but from Malachy (iii. i). St. Jerome suggests that St. Mark may have been using a catena of Old Testament prophecies, in which these two passages came together, and treated them as one, giving a reference only to the more important one. vv. J2-15. Matthew iv. i, Luke iv. i.

vv. 2-j.

half

half of this prophecy

is

[69]

MARK

The

1

come, he i6

and the kingdom of God

said,

and beHeve the

And

gospel.

as

were fishermen)

17

sea,

18

follow

19

their nets immediately,

me;

further,

20

I will

make you

is

near at hand; repent,

he passed along the sea of Galilee,

Andrew

he saw Simon and Simon's brother (for they

Apostles called; a Devil cast out

casting a net into the

into fishers of

And

men.

were in

they dropped

Then he went

and followed him.

and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and

these too

Come and

Jesus said to them,

;

a litde

his brother

their boat, repairing their nets;

all at

John;

once he

them, and they, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with

called

men, turned aside after him. So they made their way to Capharnaum; here, as soon as the sabbath came, he went into the 22 synagogue and taught; and they were amazed by his teaching, for he sat there teaching them like one who had authority, not like the 23 scribes. And there, in the synagogue, was a man possessed by an 24 unclean spirit, who cried aloud: Why dost thou meddle with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Hast thou come to make an end of us? I recog25 nize thee for what thou art, the Holy One of God. Jesus spoke 26 to him threateningly; Silence! he said; come out of him. Then the unclean spirit threw him into a convulsion, and cried with a

21

the hired

27

loud voice, and so came out of him.

What

ment;

can

teaching? See 28

the unclean

how

All were full of astonish-

he has authority to lay his

What is this new commands even on

And

the story of his do-

this

be? they asked one another.

and they obey him!

spirits,

ings at once spread through the whole region of Galilee.

29

As

soon as they had

the synagogue, they

left

came

into

Simon

30

and Andrew's house; James and John were with them. The mother of Simon's wife was lying sick there, with a fever, and they

31

made

haste to

tell

him

her by the hand, and 32

her,

whereupon he went

of her; lifted

her up.

and she began ministering

And

afflicted,

34

whole that

and those

city stood

were

crowding there

afflicted

vv. 16-20.

Matthew Matthew

to

him

all

it

at the door.

And

sort,

and took

who were

so that the

he healed

and

left

was evening

those

possessed by devils;

with diseases of every

devils; to the devils

fv. 2Q-34.

who were

close

once the fever

And when

to them.

and the sun went down, they brought 33

all at

cast

out

many many

he would give no leave to speak, because they iv.

18.

viii.

14,

Luke

iv.

[70!

38.

MARK

]esus goes about healing

Then,

35

recognized him.

36

went away

37

his

38

they told him, All

and began praying

companions went in search of him

men

dawn, he

at very early

to a lonely place,

it is

for this

agogues,

Then

40

feet

41

and

Jesus

through Galilee, and

came up

a leper

said. If it

42

and

43

leprosy

44

him

my

said. It is all at

will; be

once

left

threateningly,

thee,

shew

said to them,

cast the devils out.

he held out

power

his

to

make me

And

thou made clean.

at the

And

word, the

he spoke to

and sent him away there and then: he

this at all,

and

thyself to the priest,

to

make

clean.

hand and touched him,

him, and he was cleansed.

which Moses ordained, as

he

can preach there too

him, asking for his aid; he knelt at his

pity;

thou dost not speak of

45

to

thy will, thou hast

is

was moved with

And I

So he continued to preach in their syn-

have come.

I

all

them, and

Simon and

there.

and when they found him,

:

are looking for thee.

Let us go to the next country towns, so that 39

left

2

said, to

Be sure

anyone; away with

offer the gift for thy cleansing

known

the truth

to them.

But

he,

soon as he had gone away, began to talk publicly and spread the

no longer go into any of the

story round; so that Jesus could

openly, but dwelt in lonely places apart; and

came

they

to

still

cities

from every

side

him.

CHAPTER TWO

t:

as soon as

a

word went round that he was in a house there, such that there was no room left even in front of the

crowd gathered

door; and he preached the

bring a palsied

man

to

word

to them.

and found they could not bring him tude. So they stripped the tiles

Jesus was, and

which the

man

lay.

And

viii. i,

Luke

Lev. xiv. 2. vv. 1—12. Matthew ix. i. V. 5. See note on Matthew

ix. 5.

vv. 40-4$.

Matthew

they

came at

to

once;

close to, because of the multi-

from the roof over the place where

made an opening; then

palsied

And now

him, four of them carrying him

v. 12.

V. 44.

[71]

they

let

down

the bed

on

Jesus, seeing their faith, said to

MARK

The

2

man, Son, thy

the palsied

7

of the scribes sitting there,

8

but God, and

sins

He

only?

Jesus

9

reason thus in your minds?

Man

Which command

12

take thy bed with thee, and go home.

to the palsied

and went out

more hghtly

is

And now,

man)

:

And

I tell

to

convince

to

God; they

ib

thee, rise up,

he rose up at once,

in full sight of

were astonished and gave praise

of

do you

has authority to forgive sins while he

on earth (here he spoke his bed,

Why

sins are forgiven, or to say,

11

and took

Why

can forgive

at once, in his spirit,

Rise up, take thy bed with thee, and walk ?

you that the Son of

Who

said to them.

man, Thy

given, to say to the palsied 10

knew

and

these secret thoughts of theirs,

Matthew

reasoned in their minds.

talking blasphemously.

is

God

who

Call of

But there were some

sins are forgiven.

6

does he speak so?

Man;

palsied

them; so that

said,

We

all

never saw

the like.

Then he went

13

14

out by the sea again; and

he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, house, and said to him. Follow 15

16

him.

And

many

publicans and sinners sat

for there scribes his

17

And

him, and he taught them there.

to

the multitude

came

he passed further on,

sitting at

work in the customsrose up and followed

me; and he

when he was sitting at table in his house, down with Jesus and his disciples; were many of these who followed him. Thereupon the

and

afterwards,

Pharisees, seeing

company, asked

eats

all

as

him

eat

with publicans and sinners in

How

his disciples.

comes

and drinks with publicans and sinners?

said to them, It

physician,

it is

is

not those

those

who

who

it

that your master

Jesus heard

and

it,

are in health that have need of the

are sick.

I

have come to

call sinners,

not

the just. 18

John's disciples

they 19

came and

and the Pharisees used

said to

him.

How

is it

to fast at that time.

that thy disciples

do not

And fast,

when John's disciples and the Pharisees fast? To them Jesus said, Can you expect the men of the bridegroom's company to go fasting, while the bridegroom is still with them ? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot be expected to fast; but the

20

days will

come when

vv. 14-22. V. 14.

more

Matthew

ix.

the bridegroom

9,

name

at this

taken away from them;

Luke v. 27. name for St. Matthew, who point (Matthew ix. 9).

This was clearly another

familiar

is

[72}

introduces his

Son 21

then they will of

new

Nor

is

when

that day comes.

that

the old cloth,

New

skins spoiled.

Nobody sews on a piece done, the new piecing

and makes the rent

in

it

into old wineskins;

if

And

24

they went.

25

doing what

it is

and

not lawful to do on the sabbath?

his followers

and gave them,

28

them,

The

of

to

it

why

made

who were

he went

and

priests

ate the

may

And

with him ?

man, not man

for

How

priest,

God, which only the

besides, to those

Man

as

are they

Whereupon he when he

hunger?

for

when Abiathar was high

sabbath was

Son

on the

read of what David did,

were hard put

loaves set forth there before

27

corn-fields

plucking the ears of corn

the Pharisees said to him, Look,

into the tabernacle,

that the

fell to

Have you never

said to them.

the wine spilt

is

wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

happened that he was walking through the

It

3

is

new wine

does anybody put

sabbath day; and his disciples

26

if

done, the wine bursts the skins, and there

and the 23

fast,

cloth to patch an old cloak;

worse. that

MARK

the Sabbath

away threads from

takes

22

Man and

of

eat,

he told

for the sabbath.

So

has even the sabbath at his disposal.

CHAPTER THREE A ND ONCE MORE he Went into a synagogue; and there was a 2

£\_

there

who had

watching him,

one of

to see

4

5

might have a charge to bring against him.

man who had

his hand withered. Rise up, and come forward. Then he said to them. Which is right, to do good on the sabbath day, or to do harm ? To save life, or to make away

So he

with

them the

said to the

And

it?

they sat there in silence.

And

he looked round on

in anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts,

man.

Stretch out thy hand.

was restored 6

man

and they were

whether he would do a work of healing on

the sabbath, so that they 3

hands withered;

his

Then

to

vv. 23-28.

vv. 1-6.

Matthew

Kings

stretched

it

out,

and

and

said to

his

hand

him.

the Pharisees

v. 2^. I

He

went

xii.

i,

out,

Luke

and

vi.

xxi. 6.

Matthew

xii. 9,

Luke

vi. 6.

[73]

i.

at

once began plotting with

MARK 7

8

The twelve

3

who were

those

of Herod's party to

Apostles; Satan dispossessed

make away with him.

But

Jesus withdrew, with his disciples, towards the sea;

and great

crowds followed him, from

and from

and from Judaea,

Galilee,

Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and those

who 9

Tyre and Sidon, hearing of

lived about

in great

numbers

to

So he

him.

all that

he did, came

told his disciples to

keep a boat

ready at need because of the multitude, for fear they should press 10

on him too to

12

used

to fall at his feet

many works

of healing, so that

all

with suffering thrust themselves upon him,

visited

The unclean

touch him.

11

for he did

close;

who were

those

and

he would give them a

spirits, too,

whenever they saw him,

Thou

cry out.

Son of God; and

art the

charge not to

strict

make him known.

Then he went up onto the mountain side, and called to him whom it pleased him to call; so these came to him, and he

13

14

those

15

at

appointed twelve to be his companions, and to go out preaching

16,

command, with power to cure diseases and to cast out To Simon he gave the fresh name of Peter; to James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, he gave the fresh name of Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder. The others were Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananean; his

17 devils.

18

19

and Judas

21

Iscariot, the traitor.

And now

20

word came 22

they

came

into a house,

gathered so that they had no

restrain

those

to

him; they

who were

said.

He

it is

to sit

And

said,

He

is

out.

So he called them to him, and spoke

24

How

can

25

is

it

war with

household 26

if

be Satan

is

itself,

who that

casts

Satan out?

eat.

When

went out

the scribes

to

who

possessed by Beelze-

through the prince of the devils that he

23

at

and

nearest him, they

must be mad.

had come down from Jerusalem bub;

and once more the multitude

room even

to

casts the devils

them

Why,

kingdom cannot stand

if

in parables; a

firm,

kingdom and

if

a

war with itself, that household cannot stand firm; has risen up in arms against Satan, he is at war with

at

Satan, then,

Matthew x. i, Luke vi. 12. Thaddaeus (or Lebbaeus) must be Iscariot' (Luke vi. 16). vv. 22-30. Matthew xii. 24, Luke xi. 15. vv. 13-19. V.

18.

[74]

identified

with

'Judas,

not

The

MARK

Family; Parable of the Sower

spiritual

No

himself; he cannot stand firm; his end has come.

4

one can

enter into a strong man's house and plunder his goods, without first

making

house

man

the strong

then he can plunder his

his prisoner;

BeHeve me, there

at will.

pardon for

is

all

the other sins

mankind and the blasphemies they utter; but if a man blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, there is no pardon for him in all eternity; he is guilty of a sin which is eternal. This was because

of

He

they were saying.

Then

his

has an unclean

mother and

spirit.

his brethren

came and

sent a message to

him, calling him to them, while they stood without. a multitude sitting round

him when

mother and thy brethren are without, looking

Who

answered them.

is

Then he looked about Here

said.

will of

are

my

God, he

is

a mother,

at those

mother and

my

brother,

who

who were

my and

There was

they told him. Behold, thy

And

for thee.

are brethren, to

sitting

brethren!

he

me?

around him, and

If

anyone does the

and mother.

sister,

CHAPTER FOUR

THEN HE BEGAN to tcach by the sea side again; and a great multitude gathered before him, so that he went into a boat, and sat there

2

sea's

on the edge.

sea,

And

while

the multitude

all

3

Listen, his teaching began,

4

And

5

that the birds

6

as

was on the land,

at the

he taught them for a long time, but in parables; here

is

the sower gone out to sow.

he sowed, some grains chanced to

fall

beside the path, so

came and ate them up. And others fell on rocky land, where the soil was shallow; these sprang up all at once, because they had not sunk deep in the ground: and when the sun rose they

were parched; they had taken no

Some

among

withered away.

8

up and smothered them, and they gave no where the V. 2g. t/v.

soil

fell

was good, and

See note on Matthew

31-35.

vv. 1-20.

root,

these sprouted

crop.

[75]

there), 4.

so they

And

grew

others

fell

and grew, and yielded

xii. 32.

Matthew xii. 46 (see note Matthew xiii. i, Luke viii.

and

briers, so that the briers

7

Luke

viii.

MARK

Parable explained

4

a harvest; some o£ them thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, some a hun9 10

Listen, he said,

dredfold.

When

you that have

him

they could speak with

ears to hear with.

who were

alone, the twelve

11

with him asked the meaning of the parable.

12

for those others,

And

he said to them,

granted to you to understand the secret of God's kingdom;

It is

who

stand without,

watch and watch, yet never

all is

must

see,

and

must

so they

parable:

listen

listen, yet

never

understand, nor ever turn back, and have their sins forgiven them. 13

Then he

14

are these the

15

sower sows

said to them.

men who

You do

all

parables?

Those by the way

the word.

is

And What the those who

not understand this parable?

are to understand

side are

have the word sown in them, but no sooner have they heard

than

it

Satan comes, and takes away this word that was sown in their 16

who

In the same way, those

hearts.

take in the seed in rocky

ground are those who entertain the word with joy 17

hear

and

it,

yet have

but afterwards,

when

And

soon shaken.

their faith

19

but allow the cares of

20

fruitless.

their other appetites to

who

And

22

those

who

And

one

sixtyfold,

he said to them.

hear the word,

smother the word, so that

take in the seed in good it

and

it

remains

soil are

yield a harvest,

those

one grain

one a hundredfold. Is

a

lamp brought

in to be put under a

What is may be revealed; what is kept may come to light. Listen, all

bushel measure, or under a bed, not in the lamp-stand?

hidden,

is

hidden only so that

kept secret only that

23

secret, is

24

you that have

what

is

it

ears to hear with.

that

you

hear.

measure in which you 25

who

word,

take in the

world and the deceitfulness of riches

hear the word and welcome

thirtyfold,

21

this

who

there are others

seed in the midst of thorns; they are those

and

last for a time,

tribulation or persecution arises over the

18

is

as soon as they

no root in themselves; they

besides.

If a

even the

little

26

And

27

as if a

man

it

And

he said

The measure

will be repaid,

rich, gifts will

in

to

and more

be

them, Look well

which you give

made

to

is

will be given

him;

if

he

is

the

you

poor,

he has will be taken away from him.

he said

man

is

it

to

them,

The kingdom

of heaven

should sow a crop in his land,

V. 12. Is. vi. 9.

[76]

is

like this;

and then go

it is

to sleep

Growth

of the

Kingdom;

MARK

the Storm stilled

4

and wake again, night after night, day after day, while the crop sprouts and grows, without any knowledge of his. So, of its own accord, the ground yields increase, first the blade, then the ear, then the perfect grain in the ear; and when the fruit appears, then

it is

time for

him

to

put in the

sickle,

now

because

the harvest

is ripe.

And he said, What likeness can we find for the kingdom of God? To what image are we to compare it? To a grain of mustard seed; when this is sown in the earth, no seed on earth is so

but, once

little;

sown,

it

shoots

up and grows

garden herb, putting out great branches, so that

come and this kind,

settle

them;

to

under

its

And

shade.

such as they could hsten to to

them he spoke only

he used

easily, in

the birds can

many

parables of

preaching the word

in parables,

when they were alone. when evening came on, he

than any

taller

all

and made

all

plain

to his disciples

That day,

So they

across to the other side.

him with them,

just as

too with him.

And

let

Let us go

said to them.

and took

the multitude go,

he was, on the boat; there were other boats

a great storm of wind arose, and drove the

waves into the boat, so that the boat could hold no more. while, he

was

in the stern, asleep

on the pillow

and they

We

are sink-

roused him, crying. Master, art thou unconcerned? ing.

So he rose up, and checked the wind, and said

Peace, be

Then he no

faith?

still.

And

And

wind dropped, and

the

said to them,

Why

are

they were overcome with awe;

they said to one another,

who

is

vv. 30-^4.

Matthew Matthew

xiii.

31,

xiii. 23,

Luke Luke

to the sea.

was deep calm.

you faint-hearted? Have you

Why, who

is

still

this,

obeyed even by the winds and the

sea?

vf. 35-40.

there

Mean-

there;

xiii.

18.

viii.

26.

Cr?i

MARK

The Devils

5

of Gerasa

CHAPTER FIVE

Soo THEY CAME to the

further shore of the sea, in the country of

Tl

the

possessed by an unclean spirit

3

meet him.

man made

This

his

came out of the rock tombs to dweUing among the tombs, and

nobody could keep him bound any longer, even with chains. 4

He

had been bound with

fetters

and chains often

before, but

had

torn the chains apart and broken the fetters, and nobody had the

5

Thus he

strength to control him.

among

day,

the tombs

6

himself with stones.

7

and

fell at

his feet,

meddle with me,

and the

When

Jesus,

out of the man, thou unclean

11

12 t3

name? The

thy

a loud voice,

do not torment me,

in God's name,

many

his time, night

spirit told

and

off,

he ran up

Why

dost thou

Son of the most high God?

8

is

all

crying aloud and cutting

he saw Jesus from far

and cried with

9 10

spent

hills,

(for he

was

I

adjure thee

saying,

Come

Then he asked him, What him. My name is Legion; there are spirit).

was full of entreaties that he would not send them away out of the country. There, at the foot of the mounand the devils entreated tain, was a great heard of swine feeding; him. Send us into the swine, let us make our lodging there. With that, Jesus gave them leave; and the unclean spirits came out, and of us,

and

it

whereupon the herd rushed down at full speed some two thousand in number, and the sea drowned them. The swineherds fled, and told their news in the city and in the country-side; so that they came out to see what had be-

went

into the swine;

into the sea, 14

15

fallen;

man 16

and when they reached

sitting there, clothed

overcome with

fear.

story of the possessed

Jesus, they

and restored

Then

those

found the possessed

to his wits,

who had

seen

it

and they were told

man, and what had happened

him

them the

to the swine.

17

Whereupon

18

So he embarked on the boat; and as he did

so the

19

been possessed was eager to go with him,

but Jesus would not

give

him

vv. 1-20.

they began entreating

leave;

Go home

Matthew

viii.

28,

to thy friends,

Luke

viii.

[78]

26.

to

he

leave their country.

said,

man who had

and

tell

See note on Matthew

them viii.

32.

all

MARK

]airus' Daughter; the Issue of Blooa

Lord has done

that the

20

what

and what great mercy he shewed

all

gathered about him; and while he was rulers of the

wondered

24

so she

25

great multitude followed him,

come and

point of death;

said, is at the

a

and

and

recover,

woman who

lay thy

DecapoHs of

it.

a great

by the

multitude

one of the

sea,

My

pleading for his aid.

his feet

now

sea,

still

in

at

synagogue came up, Jairus by name, and

when he saw him,

23

may

word

to spread

done for him; and

Jesus had

So Jesus went back by boat across the

21

22

for thee,

So he went back and began

thee.

fell

down

hand on

her, that

So he turned aside with him, and a

live.

and pressed

for twelve years

issue of blood,

and had undergone much from many physicians, spending

had on them, and no

Jesus in the

touched his cloak;

29

self, I shall

crowd

it,

(for she

had been

told of

And

felt in

she

came him), and

immediately the source of the bleeding

her body that she had been cured of her

Jesus thereupon, inwardly aware of the

affliction.

all

but rather grown worse,

can even touch his cloak, she said to her-

If I

be healed.

dried up, and she

30

better for

And

upon him.

close

had had an

27

up behind

at

daughter, he

16

28

5

power

that

had

proceeded from him, turned back towards the multitude and asked, 31

Who

touched

my

garments?

me ?

touched

33

who had done

say.

Thy

any longer?

36

ter

37

the synagogue.

now

39

Who

ask,

woman

woman, trembling with fear, came and fell at his Whereupon Jesus said to her.

affliction.

While he was house to

38

the

befallen her,

truth.

and

daughter, thy faith has brought thee recovery; go in peace, and

be rid of thy 35

And now

and told him the whole

feet,

him, Canst thou

to catch sight of the

what had

this.

since she recognized

My

disciples said to

But he looked round him

32

34

His

the multitude pressing so close about thee,

see

yet speaking, messengers

daughter

is

dead;

Jesus heard the

No

he would not

need let

to fear;

why

word

came from the

ruler's

dost thou trouble the said,

and

Mas-

told the ruler of

thou hast only to believe.

And

anyone follow him, except Peter and James

and James' brother John; and so they came to the ruler's house, where he found a great stir, and much weeping and lamentation. And he went in and said to them. What is this stir, this weeping? vv. 21-43.

Matthew

ix.

18 (see note there),

[79}

Luke

viii.

41.

MARK 40

The

]esus rejected at Nazareth; the Apostles sent out

6

child

is

not dead, she

but he sent them

and

his

all

They laughed aloud

asleep.

is

out, and, taking the child's father

own companions

him;

at

and mother

with him, went in to where the child

41

Then he

42

cumi, which means, Maiden,

lay.

took hold of the child's hand, and said to her, Talitha, I

And

say to thee, rise up.

the girl

stood up immediately, and began to walk ; she was twelve years old.

43

And

they were beside themselves with wonder.

strict

charge on them to

let

nobody hear of

she should be given something to

this,

Then he

laid a

and ordered

that

eat.

CHAPTER

SIX

to his own country-side, when the sabbath came, he began teaching in the synagogue, and many were astonished when they heard him; How did he come by all this? they asked. What is the meaning of this wisdom that has been given him, of all these

THEN HE LEFT the placc, his disciples following

and withdrew

him.

Here,

wonderful works that are done by

his

hands?

and Simon?

Do

not his

sisters live

Is

not this the car-

and Joseph and Judas

penter, the son of Mary, the brother of James

here near us?

And

they had

Then Jesus said to them, It is only in his own country, in his own home, and among his own kindred, that a prophet goes unhonoured. Nor could he do any wonderful works there, except that he laid his hands on a few who were sick, no confidence

in him.

and cured them;

he was astonished

went on round about the

And now out,

And

at their unbelief.

And

so

he

villages preaching.

he called the twelve to him, and began sending them

two and two, giving them authority over he gave them instructions to take a

the unclean spirits.

staff for their

journey and

nothing more; no wallet, no bread, no money for their purses; to be shod with sandals, and not to wear a second lodge, he told them, in the house place.

And

fv. 1-6. Pf. 7-13.

you

first enter,

coat.

until

You you

are to

leave the

wherever they give you no welcome and no hearing,

Matthew xiii. 54, Luke iv. Matthew x. i, Luke ix. i,

16,

[80}

John

vi.

4:

John the Baptist

MARK

\illed

shake off the dust from beneath your 12. 13

many

out

devils,

them.

feet in witness against

men

So they went out and preached, bidding

and many who were

6

they cast

repent;

with

sick they anointed

oil,

and healed them. Then,

14 of

it.

name grew

as his

It is

John the

better

he

Baptist,

known, king Herod came to hear from the dead, and that is

said, risen

15

why

Others were saying.

It is

16

Ehas, and others.

It is

a prophet like one of the old prophets;

but

when Herod was

told

it,

17

these

John the

active in him.

powers are

Baptist,

whom

He

he declared. I

has risen from the dead,

Herod himself had

beheaded.

and

sent

John and put him in prison, in chains, for love of Herodias, brother Philip's wife, whom he had married; because John

arrested

18

his

had

told

Herod,

It is

wrong

for thee to take thy brother's wife.

19

Herodias was always plotting against him, and would willingly

20

have murdered him, but could not, John, recognizing

him

for

because

Herod was

an upright and holy man;

kept him carefully, and followed his advice in 21

was glad

to hsten to

him.

And now came

which Herod gave a birthday 22

the chief

men

of Galilee.

and

own

he

and

things,

a fitting occasion,

feast to his lords

Herodias'

many

afraid of

so that

officers,

upon

and

to

daughter came in and

Herod and his guests that the Ask me for whatever thou wilt, and thou shalt he even bound himself by an oath, I will grant what-

danced, and gave such pleasure to

I

king said to the 23

have

it;

girl.

ever request thou makest, though

24

Thereupon she went out and

25

for?

And

she answered,

it

were a half of

said to her mother.

The head

of

John the

she hastened into the king's presence and will

26

is,

Baptist.

made

With

that,

My

me the head of John the And the king was full of re-

she said, that thou shouldst give

Baptist; give

him

kingdom. shall I ask

her request;

it

me

now, on a

dish.

morse, but out of respect to his oath and to those 27

my

What

at table,

he would not disappoint her.

who

sat

with

So he sent one of

his

guard with orders that the head should be brought on a dish. This 28

soldier cut of! his

29

and gave

it

head in the prison,

to the girl;

and the

girl

Matthew xiv. i, Luke ix. 7. Some Greek manuscripts have,

and brought

gave

it

it

on a

to her mother.

dish,

When

vv. IJ^^Q. V.

20.

heard from him.'

[81}

'was

much

perplexed at what he

MARK

The

6

John's disciples heard of laid

and

Jesus,

31

and they

33

went or

him

And

had given.

32

the apostles

told

and

yourselves,

34

they

came and

carried ofl his body,

and

in a tomb,

it

And now

30

it,

thousand

five

of

came

scarcely

to

came together again in the presence of they had done, and all the teaching they

he said to them,

rest a little.

had

to a lonely place

know

to the place

all

of

Come away

'leisure

even to

So they took

eat.

ship,

and

But many saw them going,

by themselves.

it;

into a quiet place by

For there were many coming and going,

gathering from

all

the

cities,

by land, and were there before them.

they hurried So,

when he

disembarked, Jesus saw a great multitude there, and took pity on

them, since they were like sheep that have no shepherd, and began 35

them long instruction. And when it was already late, his came to him and said, This is a lonely place, and it is late already; give them leave to go to the farms and villages round about, and buy themselves food there; they have nothing to eat. But he answered them. It is for you to give them food to eat. Why then, they said to him, we must go and spend two hundred silver to give

disciples

36

37

38

He

pieces buying bread to feed them.

Go

have you?

and two

39

Five,

40

panics

41

hundreds and fishes,

on

and

see.

fishes.

fifties.

told

them

and they took

And

How many

asked.

he took the

to heaven,

all to sit

down

in

five loaves

All ate and had enough:

too,

43

took up the broken pieces, and what was

44

filled

all.

twelve baskets with them.

The

loaves, fish'es,

and when they

of the fishes, they

left

loaves

by

and the two

and blessed and broke the

42

com-

their places in rows,

these to his disciples to set before them, dividing the

among them

loaves

they had found out, they told him,

Then he

the green grass;

and looked up

and gave

When

had fed

five

thousand

men. 45

46 47

As soon

as this

was done, he prevailed upon

ship

and

him

to send the multitude

cross to Bethsaida,

on the other

And when

home.

them, he went up on to the

hill side, to

his disciples to take

side, before

pray there.

was on the shore Matthew 4^-^2. Matthew

alone.

vv. 31-44.

xiv. 15,

vv.

xiv. 22.

Twilight had

way across the sea, while he And when the night had reached its

already come, and the boat was half

48

him, leaving

he had taken leave of

Luke

ix.

[82]

10,

John

vi. 3.

MARK

Jfsus wal}{s on the Sea; Jewish Traditions

7

them hard put to it with rowing (for the came to them, walking on the sea, and When they saw him walking on the if to pass them by. thought it was an apparition, and cried aloud, for all had

fourth quarter, seeing

wind was

made sea,

as

they

against them), he

seen him, and were full of dismay. But

Take courage, he to them on board

said,

the boat,

all

lesson of the loaves, so dulled

moored

As soon

and they ran

nized,

were

as they

And

to shore at

Genesareth and

had disembarked, he was recog-

off into all the country round,

wherever he entered

And

their hearts.

came

bringing the sick after him, beds and was.

So he came

they had not grasped the

measure;

they had crossed, they there.

he spoke to them;

and thereupon the wind dropped.

they were astonished out of

When

now

myself; do not be afraid.

it is

all,

and began

wherever they heard he

villages, or farmsteads, or

towns,

down in the open streets, and beg him to the hem of his cloak; and all those who

they used to lay the sick let

them touch even

touched him recovered.

CHAPTER SEVEN THE Pharisees and some of the

THEN

from Jerusalem, gathered round him;

scribes,

because they saw that some of his disciples sat their

hands

deed

all

defiled, that

down

washing

to meat,

cleansing;

their

hands again and again;

asked him.

You

vu. 53-56.

t/.

with in-

1-30.

6. Is.

they will not

and there are many other customs which they hold

scribes

t^v.

fault,

For the Pharisees, and

Why

hypocrites,

it

to

by

and pitchers and pans. So the Pharisees do thy

disciples eat

with defiled hands,

instead of following the tradition of our ancestors?

swered,

to eat

coming from the market, without thorough

tradition, purifying of cups

and

down

the Jews, holding to the tradition of their ancestors, never

eat without: sit

unwashed.

is,

who had come

and these found

was

a true prophecy Isaias

Matthew xiv. 34. Matthew xv. i.

xxix. 13.

[83]

But he an-

made

of you,

MARK

Legalism rebu\ed

7

writing as he did, heart

far

its

8

trines they teach are the

is

commandment on one

worship of

their

commandments side,

and hold

purifying of pitchers and cups, and

9 10

11

And

of

You

men.

You have quite defeated God's commandment, own tradition instead. Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother, and, He who curses father or mother dies without hope of reprieve. But you say. Let a man tell his father from

13

you

me

is

money

now Corban

will not let

and many

out of which you might get help

(that

him do any more

like observances,

an offering to God),

is,

you are making God's law

through the tradition you have handed down.

And

grasp

Nothing

this;

out of a man.

When

17 18

Listen,

them, Are you

because its

way

of you,

and

its

you that have

him still

the

meaning

ears to hear with.

it

travels,

of the parable.

so slow of wit?

uncleanness which goes into a 19

he called the

all

he had gone into the house, away from the multitude, his

disciples asked

20

this

ineffectual

way into a man from outside what makes a man unclean is what comes

that finds

can make him unclean;

and then

With

for father or mother.

multitude to him, and said to them. Listen to me,

16

man, the

other like observances.

he told them.

or his mother. Ail the

15

the doc-

leave God's

to the tradition of

many

hps, but

to establish your

12

14

me honour with its me is vain, for

This people does

from me;

7

man

Do

And

he said to

you not observe that

all

the

has no means of defiling him,

not into his heart, but into the belly, and so finds

21

Thus he declared all meat to be clean, and them that what defiles a man is that which comes out of him. For it is from within, from the hearts of men, that their wicked de-

22

signs come, their sins of adultery, fornication, murder,

into the sewer?

told

theft, cov-

etousness, malice, deceit, lasciviousness, envy, blasphemy, pride

23

a

24

All these evils come from within, and

folly.

man After

it is

these

and

which make

unclean. this,

Jesus left those parts,

and withdrew into the neigh-

bourhood of Tyre and Sidon. There he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to

woman came

25

for a

26

an unclean

spirit,

know

of

it;

to hear of

but he could not go unrecognized,

it,

whose daughter was possessed by

and she came in and

V. 10. Ex. XX. 12, Deut. V. 16. V. II.

See note on Mattliew xv.

5.

[84}

fell at his feet.

This

woman

MARK

]esus in the northern Country

was a 27

Gentile, a Syro-Phenician

have

their

28

throw

29

eat of the

it

he said 30

fill first; it is

race,

and she begged him

to cast

said to her, Let the children

not right to take the children's bread and

She answered him, Ah,

to the dogs.

crumbs the children In reward for

to her.

by

But he

the devil out o£ her daughter.

8

this

word

thee; the devil has left thy daughter.

yes.

Lord; the dogs

underneath the

leave,

table.

of thine, back

And when

she

And

home with

came back

to

her house, she found her daughter lying on the bed, and the devil gone.

Then he

31

set

out again from the region of Tyre, and came by

way

of Sidon to the sea of Galilee, right into the region of Decapolis.

man who was

32

And

33

prayer that he would lay his hand upon him.

him

they brought to

a

deaf and

dumb, with

And

aside out of the multitude; he put his fingers into his ears,

34

and touched

35

Ephpheta, he

and

spat,

then he looked up to heaven, and sighed;

his tongue; said, (that

the

he took him

is,

Be opened).

Whereupon

his ears

were

opened, and the bond which tied his tongue was loosed, and he 36

it

37

And

spoke plainly.

he laid a

strict

published

it,

and were more than ever astonished;

well, they said, in all his doings;

the

charge on them, not to speak of

anyone; but the more he charged them, the more widely they

to

dumb

He

has done

he has made the deaf hear, and

speak.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ONCE MORE, at this time, the multitude had grown In numbers, to eat. And he called his disciples to him, am moved with pity for the multitude; it is

and had nothing 2

and

3

have nothing to

4

from

5

bread to feed them, here in the desert ?

6

many

said to

three days

they will

them,

now grow

far off.

I

since they have eat.

faint

His

on

Matthew

their journey;

disciples

loaves have you?

vv. i-g.

been in attendance on me, and they

send them back to their homes fasting,

If I

some

answered him.

Seven, they

xv. 32.

[85]

of

them have come

How could

anyone find

And he asked them. How said. And he gave word to

MARK

The

8

the multitude to

sit

down on

Man

jour thousand; a blind

Then he took

the ground.

cured

the seven

and when he had blessed and broken he gave these to his disciples to set before them; so they set them before the multitude. loaves,

7

And

8

these, too,

they had a

When 9

few small

should be

set

they picked up

seven hampers;

fishes; these

he blessed, and ordered that

before them;

and they

what was

of the broken pieces,

left

and had enough.

ate,

And

about four thousand had eaten.

filled

it

so he sent

12

them home. Thereupon he embarked, with his disciples, and went into the part round Dalmanutha. Here the Pharisees came out and entered upon a dispute with him; to put him to the test, they asked him to shew them a sign from heaven. And he sighed deeply in

13

lieve

10 11

his spirit,

and

me,

this

left

14 15

said.

Why

does this generation ask for a sign? Be-

generation shall have no sign given

them, and took ship again, and crossed

They had

forgotten to take bread with them, and had no

and avoid the leaven of

the Pharisees,

16

they said anxiously to one another.

17

Jesus

it,

and

said.

What

Have you

dull?

We

sense,

heart

19

not hear; do you remember nothing?

among

20

pieces did

the five thousand,

you take up? They

broke the seven loaves

among

kets full of broken pieces did 21

Seven.

Then he

said to

the leaven of

he

more well,

Herod,

have brought no bread.

no

you have brought

even

wits,

eyes that cannot see,

18

loaves

and

this anxiety, that

is

no bread with you? Have you no still

so

and when he warned them. Look

than one loaf in the boat;

knew

And

it.

to the further side.

and

When

how many told him,

I

now?

Is

your

ears that can-

broke the

five

baskets full of broken

And when I how many basAnd they told him,

Twelve.

the four thousand,

you take up then?

How

them.

is it

you

that

still

do not un-

derstand? 22

23

So they came

man,

whom

to Bethsaida.

they entreated

And

him

they brought to

to touch.

by the hand, and led him outside the eyes,

and

laid his

He

thing?

25

but walking.

vv. II-2I.

Once more

Matthew

said, I

village; then

can see

men

[86]

if

as

Jesus laid his hands

xvi. i.

him

a blind

took the blind

hands on him, and asked him

looked up and

24

He

man

he spat into his

he could see anyif

they were trees,

upon

his eyes,

and

MARK

Peter's Confession

he began to

see right;

he of

and

said,

thou

if

and soon he recovered, so that he could see

Then he

everything clearly.

8

him back

sent

.''houldst enter

to his

house;

the viUage, do not

Go home,

tell

anyone

it.

Then

went with his disciples into the villages round Caesaand on the way he asked his disciples. Who do men am? They answered, John the Baptist, and others say

Jesus

rea Philippi; say that

I

EUas; others that thou art like one of the prophets. to

And what

them.

swered him, not to

tell

known

to

Thou

them

and

that the

Peter,

that I

Then he said am? Peter an-

And he strictly charged theiii And now he began to make it Man must be much ill-used, and be

Son

and

of

and

chief priests

again after three days.

rise

whereupon

do you say

art the Christ.

anyone about him.

rejected by the elders

death,

Who

of you?

drawing him

scribes,

and be put

to

This he told them openly;

to his side, fell to reproaching him.

But he turned about, and, seeing

his disciples there,

rebuked Peter;

Back, Satan, he said, these thoughts of thine are man's, not God's.

And

he called his disciples to him, and the multitude with them,

and said

to

renounce tries to

my

them,

self,

any

If

man

and take up

save his

has a

his cross,

way, let him The man who

man who

loses his life for

mind

life will lose it; it is

the

to

come

sake and for the gospel's sake, that will save

the better for

own

ing his

enough?

If

words before

it, if

he gains the whole world

For a man's

soul?

anyone

is

my

and follow me.

soul,

it.

at the

what

How

is

a

man

expense of

los-

price can be high

ashamed of acknowledging me and my and wicked generation, the Son of

this unfaithful

Man, when he comes in his father's glory with the holy angels, will be ashamed to acknowledge him. Believe me, there are those standing here

Son

of

vv. 2-/-}g.

made

who

will not taste of death before they

Man coming Matthew

in his

xvi. 13,

have seen the

Kingdom.

Luke

ix. 18. St.

Mark omits

here the promises

Sl Peter, perhaps because St. Peter forbade it, out of humiUty; perhaps because writing (like St. Luke) at Rome he was unwilHng to draw attention to the Apostle's prominence in the Church, for fear of persecution to

arising. V. 55.

See note on Matthew

V. 39. See note

on Matthew

x. 39. x. 39.

[87}

MARK

The

9

Transfiguration

CHAPTER NINE DAYS AFTERWARDS, Jesus took Peter and James and John with

SIX

him, and led them up

to a

high mountain where they were

alone by themselves; and he was transfigured in their presence. His

2

garments became bright, dazzling white

3

fuller here

4

of Elias, with Moses; these two were conversing with Jesus.

Peter said aloud to Jesus, Master, let

make

us

5

for Elias;

6

with

And

well that

and one

three booths, one for thee,

he did not know what to

And

fear.

came

the cloud

it is

snow, white as no

like

on earth could have made them.

we

they had sight

for Moses,

say, for they

Then

should be here;

and one

were overcome

a cloud formed, overshadowing them; and from

a voice,

which

said.

This

my beloved

is

Son; to him,

Then, on a sudden, they looked round them, and

7

then, listen.

8

saw no one any more, but Jesus only with them. And as they were coming down from the mountain, he warned

9

them not

to

Man

risen

had

from

11

and

anyone what they had

from the dead;

seen, until after the

And

the dead.

they asked him, Tell us,

them, Ehas must needs come and restore

and now, what 12

much

ill-used,

is

When

why do

must come before Christ?

scribes say Elias

Son

written of the

and despised.

EUas

and they have misused him

Son of

so they kept the matter to

wondering what the words could mean.

selves,

10

tell

of

all

them-

he has risen the Pharisees

He

answered

things as they were;

Man? That

he must be

too, I tell you, has already

come,

at their pleasure, as the scriptures

tell

of him. 13

When

he reached his

disciples,

he found a great multitude gath-

ered around them, and some of the scribes disputing with them. 14

The

15

and ran up

16

you are holding among you?

multitude, as soon as they saw him, were overcome with awe,

Master, 17

spirit,

at the

I

He asked them. What is the dispute And one of the multitude answered,

welcome him.

have brought

and wherever

it

my

Matthew

xvii.

son to thee; he

seizes

mouth, and gnashes

vf. i-^i. V. 12.

to

i,

his teeth,

Luke

Sec note on Matthew

on him,

xvii.

ix.

28.

12.

[88]

it

is

possessed by a

tears

and

dumb

him, and he foams

his strength

is

drained

The

And

from him. i8

19

I

disciples cast

And

must

I

me.

So they brought the boy

it

he answered them, Ah,

saw him, threw the boy

the ground, writhing

into water, to

22

help us

23

to

and often

this it

belief.

how

Jesus, seeing

them, rebuked the unclean said,

25

into

it is I

him

that

command

him

pity

to

soon

fell

on

Jesus

From

fire,

and

us,

and

on

said to him. If thou canst believe,

Whereupon

spirit;

the father

my

do believe; succour

I

the multitude

thee;

into the

Come, have

believes, everything is possible.

And

he

And now

been happening to him ?

of the boy cried aloud, in tears. Lord,

24

long

him

evil spirit, as

mouth.

has thrown

of him.

But Jesus

thou canst.

if

him who

how

bear with you ? Bring

at the

9

were power-

into a convulsion, so that

and foaming

make an end

I

him; and the

to

How long has

childhood, he said;

out, but they

it

faithless generation,

how long must

be with you,

asked the father. 21

bade thy

less.

as

20

MARK

Boy

lunatic

Thou dumb and

come out

un

was gathering round

of him,

deaf

he

spirit,

and never enter

With that, crying aloud and throwing him into a it came out of him, and he lay there like a corpse,

again.

violent convulsion,

many

He

26

so that

27

hand, and raised him, and he stood up.

declared.

dead.

is

But Jesus took hold of

When

house, and they were alone, the disciples asked him,

28

that

we

could not cast

it

And

out ?

30

Then

they

left

those parts,

and he would not time teaching his

up

into the

let

and passed

anyone know of

hands of

again on the third day.

meaning, and were afraid to ask him. there,

when

the dispute

he must be the little

child,

vv. 32-4^.

his passage;

he spent the

of

last

and gave Matthew

it

So they came

to

his

Caphar-

they were in the house, he asked them,

should be the greatest of them. twelve to him, and said.

35

fasting.

you were holding on the way?

nothing, for they had been disputing 34

it

through Galilee,

But they could not understand

32

What was

and

was

no way

The Son of Man, he said, is to be given men. They will put him to death, and he will

rise

naum, and

straight

is

disciples,

31

33

Why

he told them, There

of casting out such spirits as this except by prayer

29

his

he had gone into a

If

all,

among

Then he

sat

and the servant of

a place in the midst of

xviii. i,

down, and

anyone has a mind

Luke

ix.

[89]

They

said

themselves which

to

all.

called the

be the greatest,

And

he took a

them; and he took

it

MARK 36

in his arms,

my

this in

37 •

In Christ's

9

and

them:

said to

we saw

a

man who

And

out devils in thy name, and

39

will lightly speak evil of me.

40

on your

41

his reward.

said,

my

Why,

side.

if

forbade

him

who does a The man who

anyone gives you

And

Christ's,

able fire;

never quenched. it off;

me, he had

when thou

when thou

better have If

not miss

shall

thy

been

hand

is

cast into the

an occasion of

maimed,

goest into hell, into unquench-

art cast into the

worm which eats them And if thy eye is

45

the

46

quenched.

47

two eyes when thou

48

eats

unquenchable

have

kingdom

fire is

God, than

it

out;

to

have

the

worm which

never quenched.

Fire will be

art cast into the fire of hell;

there never dies, the

never

is

pluck

falling,

of

of hell;

fire

there never dies, the fire

an occasion of

better for thee to enter blind into the

every man's seasoning; every victim must be seasoned with 49

Salt

is

a

good

use to season

peace

among

is

to drink in

better for thee to enter into eternal life lame, than to

feet

them

cup of water

worm which eats them there never dies, the fire is And if thy foot is an occasion of falling to thee,

43

44

both

my name

not against you

off; better for thee to enter into life

it

than to have two hands the

miracle in is

casting

But Jesus

it.

promise you, he

I

with a mill-stone about his neck.

falling to thee, cut

a

company do

to

anyone hurts the conscience of one of these

if

httle ones, that believe in

cut

we

Forbid him no more; no one

name, because you are

sea,

a child as

John answered him,

does not follow in our

38

42

Whoever welcomes such

Eternity

name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, wel-

comes, not me, but him that sent me. Master,

Name; On

thing, but it

with?

if

the salt

becomes

You must have

tasteless,

what

salt in yourselves,

will

salt.

you

and keep

you.

V. 4g. The second half of this verse is a quotation from Lev. ii. 13, and is perhaps only added by way of reference; but commentators are not agreed about the meaning of the whole verse, or of the relation which it bears to its context. According to the most common opinion, our Lord means us to understand that we must needs suffer either in this world or in the next.

[go]

On

MARK

Divorce

10

CHAPTER TEN REMOVING

THENCE, he entered the territory of Judaea which

more; and once more he began to teach them, as 2 3 4

iie.'

beyond the Jordan. Multitudes gathered round him once

.

custom was.

his

came and put him to the test by asking him whether it is right for a man to put away his wife. He answered them. What command did Moses give you ? And they said, Moses

Then

the Pharisees

man

left a

5

ration.

away,

free to put his wife

command

if

was

Jesus answered them. It

he gave her a writ of sepa-

to suit your hard hearts that

God, from the

6

Moses wrote such

7

creation,

8

leave his father

9

become one flesh. Why then, since they are no longer two, but one flesh, what God has joined, let not man put asunder. two

a

and mother and

And when

[I

about the same question.

away

[4

first

days of

therefore, will

and the

will cling to his wife,

another, she

is

Then

if

a

woman

16

of

God

puts

rebuked those this;

not keep them back; the

you

further

man

puts to-

away her husband and marries

an adulteress.

indignant at seeing

I tell

him

told them. If a

him

they brought children to him, asking

his disciples

15

Whereupon he

and marries another, he behaves adulterously

his wife

and

and

man,

they were in the house, his disciples asked

wards her;

[3

A

will

10

12

as that;

made them man and woman.

truthfully, the

like a child, will

who brought

them.

Let the children come to

God

to

touch them;

But Jesus was me, he said, do

kingdom

of

man who

does not welcome the

never enter into

belongs to such as these-

it.

And

so

kingdom

he embraced

them, laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. 17

Then he went out to continue his journey; and a man ran up and down before him, asking him. Master, who art so good, what

knelt 18

must

19

thou

I

do

call

to achieve eternal life?

me

good? None

Matthew

vv. 1-12. f. 4.

Deut. xxiv.

V. 7.

Gen.

ii.

is

xix. i; cf.

Luke

xvi. 18,

I.

24.

V. 18.

Matthew xix. 9. Matthew xix. 13, Luke xviii. See note on Matthew xix. 17.

v. ig.

Ex. XX.

V. II.

Jesus said to him.

good, except

See note on

fv. 13-31.

13.

[91}

15.

God

only.

Matthew

v. 32, I

Why

dost

Thou knowCor.

vii. 10.

MARK

witness,

Thou

20

thy mother.

21

grew

shalt not

shalt not

I

have kept

Jesus fastened his eyes

that belongs to thee; give

sell all

At

me.

23

great possessions.

24

kingdom!

ciples.

this, his

face

fell,

And

26

27

still

I

a

Go home

wanting.

and so the

come back and follow

and he went away sorrowing,

Jesus looked round,

and

for he

had

said to his dis-

With what difficulty will those who have riches enter God's The disciples were amazed at his words; but Jesus gave

My

them a second answer, 25

these ever since

to the poor,

it

treasure thou hast shall be in heaven; then

22

all

on him, and conceived

love for him; In one thing, he said, thou art

and

of the Passion

shalt not steal.

Master, he answered,

Then

up.

young Man; Prophecy

commit adultery, Thou Thou shalt not bear false wrong any man. Honour thy father and

do no murder. Thou

shalt

rich

commandments, Thou

the

est

The

10

how

children,

God's kingdom!

trust in riches to enter

hard

it is

It is easier

pass through a needle's eye, than for a

man to enter

God when he

more

is

They were

rich.

they said to themselves,

on them, and

said,

who

still

can be saved.?

who

for those

for a camel to

the

kingdom

astonished;

Why

of

then,

Jesus fastened his eyes

Such things are impossible to man's powers, but

not to God's; to God,

all

things are possible.

29

Hereupon Peter took occasion to say. What of us, who have forsaken all, and followed thee ? Jesus answered, I tell you truthfully, everyone who has forsaken home, or brothers, or sisters, or mother,

30

will receive,

28

or children, or lands for

sisters,

31

my

sake and for the sake of the gospel,

world, a hundred times their worth, houses,

and

brothers, mothers, children

and in the world to come he

many 32

now in this

will be first that

were

lands, but with persecution;

will receive everlasting

last,

and

last that

were

life.

But

first.

And now

they were on the way going up to Jerusalem; and still them on, while they were bewildered and followed him with faint hearts. Then once more he brought the twelve apostles Now, to his side, and began to tell them what was to befall him we are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be Jesus led

33

:

given up into the hands of the chief priests and

condemn him 34

to death;

of the Gentiles,

who

and will

on Matthew xix. 21. Matthew xx. 17, Luke xviii.

21. See note /.

32-J4.

scribes,

who

will

him up into the hands mock him, and spit upon him, and these will give

C92]

31.

Suffering

MARK

and the Kingdom; Bartimaeus cured

scourge him, and

him; but on the third day he will

kill

10

rise again.

Thereupon James and John, the sons o£ Zebedee, came to him and said. Master, we would have thee grant the request we are to make. And he asked them, What would you have me do for you ?

They

Grant that one of us may take

said to him,

and the other on thy

right

said to them,

You do

not

strength to drink of the cup the baptism

And

have.

I

my whom

for those for

it is

The

ten others

heard of

know

am

on thy

You

to drink of, to be baptized with

They

with?

right it

hand or

my

I

We

said to him,

indeed drink of the cup

shall

and be baptized with the baptism

but a place on

with;

I

to be baptized

Jesus told them,

to drink of,

it

am

his place

when thou art glorified. But Jesus know what it is you ask. Have you

left,

am

left is

I

am

to be baptized

not mine to give;

has been destined.

grew indignant with James and John when they called them to him, and said to them. You

But Jesus

it.

among

that,

the Gentiles, those

over them, and those

who

are great

who claim to bear among them make

rule lord

the most

With you it must be otherwise; whoever has a mind to be great among you, must be your servant, and whoever has a mind to be first among you, must be your slave. So it is that the Son of Man did not come to have service done him; he came to serve others, and to give his life as a ransom for the Hves of the

of

power they have.

many.

And now

they reached Jericho.

and with

his disciples

man, Timaeus' And, hearing Jesus,

and

son,

As he was

leaving Jericho, with

a great multitude, Bartimaeus, the blind

was

by the way

sitting there

side,

begging.

was Jesus of Nazareth, he fell to crying out, Son of David, have pity on me. Many of them rebuked him

told

him

that this

to be silent, but

David, have pity on me.

he cried out

Jesus stopped,

all

the more. Son of

and bade them summon

summoned the blind man; Take heart, they said, and summoning thee. Whereupon he threw away his cloak and leapt to his feet, and so came to Jesus. Then Jesus answered him, What wouldst thou have me do for thee? And the

him; rise

so they

up; he

blind

man

vv. 3$-4S-

vv. 46—^2.

is

said to

him. Lord, give

Matthew Matthew

me

back

xx. 20.

xx. 29,

Luke

xviil. 35.

[93]

my

sight. Jesus said to

MARK

Entry into Jerusalem

11

Away home with thee; thy faith has brought thee recovery. And all at once he recovered his sight, and followed Jesus on his way. him,

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WHEN THEY WERE mount

approaching Jerusalem, and Bethany, which

2

errand

Go

:

And

man

has ever ridden; untie

3

me.

4

ado.

5

the entrance; and they untied

6

them,

What

7

them

as Jesus

anyone asks you,

if

Lord has need

of

it,

Why

and he

are

10

you doing, untying the

colt to Jesus,

he mounted

it.

Many

And

cried aloud,

11

and

is

the

Hosanna

to us;

went

those

of

and saddled

it

in

And

to

without more

door

at

they answered

So they

it.

with their garments, and

their

garments in the way,

leaves thev

had cut down from

him and followed after him he who comes in the name of the

before

is

of our father

David which

So he came

heaven above.

into the temple,

then, for the

blessed

kingdom

it

him,

tell

of the bystanders asked

colt ?

it

them spread

who went

Hosanna,

Lord; blessed

vou have

had bidden, and were allowed to take

brought the

the trees.

and bring

colt tethered before a

Some

it.

it,

you doing that?

are

will let

So they went, and found the

and others strewed the way with 9

on an

and the

thing you will find there upon entering will be a colt tethered,

first

8

his disciples

into the village that faces you, ne told them,

one on which no

the

two of

Olivet, he sent

close to

is

where he surveyed

hour was already

late,

is

coming

to Jerusalem,

and

all

that

was about him,

went

out,

with the twelve,

to Bethany. 12

When

they had

serving a fig-tree 13

see

if

left

Bethany next dav. he was hungry

some way

off

with

he could find anything on

And

15

ever eat fruit of thine

he said to

it

else;

Matthew xxi. i, Luke xix. 29, John Matthew xxi. 12, Luke xix. 45. See note on Matthew xxi. 18.

vv. 12-24. 1}.

:

and, ob^

went up

But when he reached

aloud; in the

vv. 1-10.

V.

leaves out, he

it,

to

he

it was not the right season for figs. hearmg of his disciples: Let no man hereafter. So they came to Jerusalem. And

found leaves and nothing 14

it.

its

[94}

xii.

The Temple

MARK

cleansed; a Question declined

11

who there Jesus went into the temple, and began driving out those the o£ tables the overthrew and temple, the in bought sold and i6 17

bankers, and the chairs of the pigeon-sellers; nor would he allow anyone to carry his wares through the temple. And this was the

admonition he gave them,

18

Is

it

My

not written.

house

shall

be

known among all the nations for a house of prayer? Whereas you have made it into a den of thieves. The chief priests and scribes heard of

this,

and looked

for

some means

of

making away with was so full

afraid of him, because all the multitude

him; they were

of admiration at his teaching. 19,

He

20

21

left

and next morning,

the city at evening,

saw the

by, they

fig-tree

withered from

its

forgotten; Master, he said, look at the fig-tree

22

curse;

23

faith in

it

25

26

Jesus answered them.

didst

Have

I

promise you,

if

cast into the sea,

you stand praying, forgive whatever wrong any man has done you; so that your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions; if you do not forgive, your Father

granted you.

who

is

When

in heaven will not forgive your transgressions either.

So they came back

27

28

which thou

anyone says to this mountain. Reand has no hesitation in his heart, but is sure that what he says is to come about, his wish will be granted him. I tell you, then, when you ask for anything in be prayer, you have only to beheve that it is yours, and it will

God.

move, and be

24

And

has withered away.

as they passed

Peter had not

roots.

to Jerusalem.

And

as

he was walking about in

and the temple, the chief priests and scribes and elders came to him things, these doest thou which by authority asked him. What is the

30

and who gave thee this authority to do them? Jesus answered them, I too have a question to ask; if you can tell me the answer, I these will tell you in return what is the authority by which I do from things. Whence did John's baptism come, from heaven or

31

men?

29

Whereupon

they cast about in their minds;

If

we

tell

him

was from heaven, they said, he will ask us. Then why did you not believe him? And if we say it was from men, we have reason as a to be afraid of the people; for the people all looked upon John

it

32

33

prophet indeed.

And

they answered Jesus,

and Jeremias vii. 11. Matthew xxi. 23, Luke xx.

V. 17. Is. Ivi. 7,

vv. 2y-3i.

[95]

i.

We

cannot

tell.

Jesus

MARK

The

12

And

answered them,

authority by which

I

you

do

will not learn

Vine-dressers

me what

from

the

is

these things.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THEN HE BEGAN who

them

to speak to

winepress and built a tower in 2

dressers,

while he went on his

he sent one of 3

4

5

his servants

whom

9

He

him he

reverence, he said, for is

him out ers,

my

man a

out to some vinethe season came,

to the vine-dressers, to

and give

son.

still

them

11

jected has

it is

whom

last

of

all;

they beat or left,

They

But the vine-dressers let

us

kill

The

his

own

will have

said

among

him, and then his killed

will the

him, and

owner

and make an end of those

his vineyard to others.

passage in the scriptures.

become

others,

one messenger

And now, what

will come,

10

doing, and

sent to

many

So they took him and

of the vineyard.

He

had

the heir, come,

heritance will be ours.

vineyard do.?

12

let it

And when

travels.

on an errand

they killed; and

killed at their pleasure.

themselves. This 8

and then

it,

a

and dug

it,

Whereupon they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant on a second errand to them, and him too they beat over the head and used him outrageously. He sent

well-beloved son; 7

There was

claim from the vine-dressers the revenue of his vineyard.

another, 6

in parables;

planted a vineyard, and put a wall round

Why, have you

of the

vine-dress-

not read this

very stone which the builders

the chief stone at the corner;

in-

cast

re-

this is the Lord's

marvellous in our eyes ?

This parable, they saw, was aimed

at themselves,

and they would

on him, but they were afraid of the multithey went away and left him alone. Then they sent some

gladly have laid hands 13

tude; so

14

make him betray himself in his talk. These came and said to him. Master, we know that thou art sincere; that thou boldest no one in

of the Pharisees to him, with those

vv. 1-12.

Matthew

Luke xx. 9; cf. Is. v. i, Romans ix. 33, and I Peter Matthew xxii. 15, Luke xx. 19.

13—37.

of Herod's party, to

xxi. 33,

V. JO. Ps. cxvii. 22; cf. ft/.

who were

ii,

7.

More

MARK

Questions; the risen Life

awe, making no distinction between sincerity the

all

15

to Caesar? ery,

16

me

and

Or

what

to Caesar

18

19

Whose

Why

look at

hkeness?

Whereupon Caesar's,

is

But he saw

do you thus put

me

let

12

but teachest in

right that tribute should be paid

Is it

refuse to pay it?

is this

Caesar's they said.

were

we

and

a silver piece,

God.

of

said to them,

asked them. 17

way

should

man and man,

me

When

it.

their treach-

Bring

to the test?

it,

he

on

it?

they brought

Whose name

is

inscribed

Jesus answered them, Give back

and to

God what

is

God's.

And

they

admiration of him.

lost in

Then he was approached with a question by the Sadducees, men who say that there is no resurrection: Master, they said, Moses prescribed for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a widow behind him but no children, he, the brother, should marry the widow,

20

and beget children in the dead brother's name.

21

brethren; the

22

married her, and he too

first

There were seven

left

no

and

children,

so with the third ;

seven married her, without having children, and the of

And now, when

23

last

24

will be her

all.

25

as

Isaac,

One

is

the

When

power of God?

am

the

God; you

God

Yet are

to

him

it is

wrong, then, altogether.

came up and asked him. Which

of all?

at the

Abraham, and the God of of living men, not of dead

of

Jesus answered him,

The

is

he an-

the

first

commandLord thy God;

first

is no God but the Lord thy God with the love of thy whole and thy whole soul, and thy whole mind, and thy whole

of

Listen, Israel; there

all is,

and thou heart,

the

to the purpose,

commandment ment

31

Jesus an-

of the scribes heard their dispute, and, finding that

swered

50

is

book of Moses how God spoke

said, I

and the God of Jacob?

men, that he

^9

which of these

seven?

is

in the

burning bush, and

28

all

died

no marrying or giving in marriage, they are the angels in heaven are. But as for the dead rising again, have there

rise,

you never read

27

all

woman

not this where you are wrong, that you do not

Is

understand the scriptures, or what the dead

26

the dead rise again,

husband, since she was wife to

swered them,

the second

married a wife, and died childless;

shalt love the

strength. This

is

the

V. 26.

Ex.

V. 2g.

DeuL

V. 31.

Lev. xix. 18

iii.

first

commandment,

6.

vi. 4.

[97]

and the second,

its like,

MARK

The

12

Thou shalt love commandment greater is this,

32

Scribes; the poor

thy neighbour as thyself. There

than these.

And

the scribe said to him,

Truly, Master, thou hast answered well; there 33

and

no other beside him; heart,

him with

to love

is

but one God, and

the love of the whole

and the whole understanding, and the whole

whole strength,

is

a greater thing than

Widow

no other

is

all

soul,

and the

burnt offerings and

sac-

Then Jesus, seeing how wisely he had answered, said to 34 him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And after this, no one dared to try him with further questions. Then Jesus said openly, still teaching in the temple, What do the 35 scribes mean by saying that Christ is to be the son of David? 36 David himself was moved by the Holy Spirit to say. The Lord said to my Master, Sit on my right hand while I make thy enemies a 37 footstool under thy feet. Thus David himself calls Christ his rifices.

how

Master;

can he be also his son?

him

readily.

And

the multitude at large

This was part of the teaching he gave

38

listened to

39

having

40

in the synagogues, and the chief places at feasts;

them. Beware of the their

scribes,

who

enjoy walking in long robes, and

up the property of widows, under cover of sentence will be 41

and the

hands kissed in the market-place,

As he was

all

their

first seats

who swallow

long prayers; their

the heavier for that. the treasury of the temple, Jesus

sitting opposite

watched the multitude throwing coins into the treasury, the many with their

42

rich

43

who came and upon he this

44

poor

many

offerings;

and there was one poor widow,

put in two mites, which

called his disciples to him,

widow

has put in more than

put offerings into the treasury. they had to spare; she, with so

The

little

her whole livelihood. V. 36. Ps. cix. I.

vv. 38-44.

Luke

and

XX. 45, xxi, i.

[98]

make

a farthing.

There-

said to them. Believe all

those others

others

all

who

me,

have

gave out of what

to give, put in all that she had,

The

MARK

great Tribulation

13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN HE WAS leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, what stones! What a fabric! Jesus answered

yis

2

i\.Look,

3

it left

4

down on mount Olivet, opposite the temple, Peter and James Tell and John and Andrew asked him, now that they were alone us, when will this be? And what sign will be given, when all this is

Do

him,

you

huge

see all this

on another;

it

will

all

fabric?

There

will not

be thrown down.

be a stone of

when he was

So,

sit-

ting

:

5

soon to be accomplished?

6

you do not allow anyone

7

ceived by

my

use of

name; they

When

it.

Take

care, Jesus

Here

will say,

you hear

tell

I

began in answer,

Many

to deceive you.

will

am, and many

of wars,

that

come making will be de-

and rumours of war, do

not be disturbed in mind; such things must happen, but the end 8

come

will not

kingdom

Nation will

yet.

or that, there will be famines: 9

But you

vail.

arms against nation, and

rise in

against kingdom, there will be earthquakes in this region

will

but the beginning of

all this is

have to think of yourselves;

ing you up to courts of

justice,

men

tra-

will be giv-

and scourging you in the syna-

gogues, yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings on 10

my

11

be preached to

account, so that you can bear witness to them; all

nations before the end.

and hand you over

what you are 12

comes;

it is

thus,

to say; use

the gospel

When

must

they take you

do not consider anxiously beforehand

what words

not you that speak,

it is

are given

the

Holy

you when the time

Spirit.

Brother will

be given up to death by brother, and the son by his father; children 13

will rise

up against

their parents,

and

will

compass

the world will be hating you because you bear

14

15

my

their death;

all

name; but

that

man will be saved, who endures to the last. And now, when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should never stand (let him who reads this, recognize what it means), then those who are in Judaea must take refuge in the mountains; not going down into the house, if they are on the vv. i-ss-

Matthew

xxiv.

i,

Luke

xxi. 5.

See note on Matthew xxiv. 3. 14. Daniel ix. 27; see note on Matthew xxiv. 15.

V. 4. v.

[99]

MARK

Suddenness of Chrisfs Coming

13

away from

house-top, or entering the house to carry anything i6, 17

not turning back,

if

they are in the

fields, to

the breast, in

19

not be in the winter;

till

There would have been no hope

again.

ture, if the

Lord had not

a

if

man

tells

now, and can never be

left

human

for any

crea-

cut those days short; but he has cut the

days short for the sake of the a time,

elect,

you. See, here

whom

At such

he has chosen.

Christ, or. See, he

is

is

there,

22

not believe him. There will be false Christs and false prophets

23

ble,

will rise

up and shew

even the

elect

guard; behold,

that, if

this distress, the

were

it

it all.

and the

be falling from

the

heaven, and the powers that are in heaven will rock; they will see the Son of

27

power and

28

his elect

And

glory.

and begins you,

to

at

31

passed, before all this

But

as for that

come

know

its

end

The

to heaven's.

branch grows supple,

that

about, are to

summer

know

is

that

near; it is

so

near,

Believe me, this generation will not have

your very doors.

30

32

earth's

you a parable; when

see all this

should pass away,

and then

the clouds, with great

then he will send out his angels, to gather

put out leaves, you

when you

stars will

Man coming upon

from the four winds, from

fig-tree will teach

possi-

sun will be darkened, and

26

will refuse her light;

do

who

But you must be on your

deceived.

have given you warning of

I

In those days, after

moon

and wonders, so

signs

would be

25

29

It

for those will be days of distress, such as has

not been since the beginning of creation

24

it;

women who are with child, or have children at those days. And you must pray that your flight may

18

21

a cloak.

go hard with

will

20

up

pick

my

is

Though heaven and

accomplished.

words

earth

will stand.

day and that hour you speak

of,

they are

known

to nobody, not even to the angels in heaven, not even to the Son;

Look

33

only the Father knows them.

34

you do not know when the time going on his

travels

servants, each of

33

keeper to watch.

when V. 24. t. ij.

had

them

to

left his

do his

is

it;

come.

own work, and

is

watch and pray; It is as if

a

man

house, entrusting authority to his

Be on the watch,

the master of the house

well to to

coming,

See note on Matthew xxiv. 29. See note on Matthew xxiv. 31.

[100}

enjoining the door-

then, since

you do not know

at twilight, or

midnight,

MARK

Jesus' Feet anointed

36

or cock-crow, or

you

dawn;

And what

asleep.

if

I

may come

he

not,

say to you,

say to

I

14

suddenly, and find

Watch.

all,

CHAPTER FOURTEEN IT

WAS NOW two days

to the paschal feast

and the time of un-

leavened bread; and the chief priests and scribes were trying to

bring Jesus into their power by cunning, and put

him

2

But not on the day of the

may be an

3

roar

among

Simon

And

the people.

they said, or there

feast,

woman came

a pot of very precious spikenard ointment, which,

4

5

What

mean by wasting

did she

and

it,

5,7

But Jesus

said,

well to treat

among

said

the ointment so?

might have been sold for three hundred might have been given

to the poor.

themselves,

This ointment

pieces of silver,

And

why should you vex her? She did You have the poor among you always, so that them when you will; I am not always among

Let her alone;

me

so.

you can do good to you. She has done what she could; she has anointed

9

beforehand to prepare

for burial.

it

part of the world this gospel

done

shall

Judas [I

for

eagerly,

the

him

first

the city, ft/,

And

And

to betray

they, listening to

him.

sacrifice, his disciples

go and make ready a

man

will

this errand.

meet you, carrying a

Matthew xxvi. i, Luke xxii. Matthew xxvi, 17 (see note

vv. 12-21.

[lOl]

i

on which

asked him.

Where

for thee to eat the paschal

he sent two of his disciples on

and there

i-ii.

what she has memory. Then chief priests and

of the days of unleavened bread, the day

wilt thou have us

meal?

body

preached, the story of

place, to preserve her

into their hands.

they offered the paschal

13

is

my

promise you, in whatever

promised him money; whereupon he looked about

an opportunity

On

its

I

one of the twelve, went to the

offered to betray

him '.2

be told in

Iscariot,

and alms

they rebuked her angrily.

8

[o

in with

breaking

first

There were some present who

the pot, she poured over his head.

were indignant when they saw

up-

was in the house of

then, while he

the leper, at Bethany, sitting at table, a

to death;

(in part),

there),

John xH,

Luke

xxii. 7.

Go

into

jar of water; i

(in part).

MARK 14

am

enters,

and

him,

to follow

you are

which he 15

The

14

The master

meal with

to eat the paschal

owner

say to the

Where

says.

my

is

of the house into

my

room, in which

And

disciples?

you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; 16

you are

to

make

So the

ready for us.

where they found

into the city,

17

made ready

18

there with the twelve.

all

And

19

betray me.

20

it

21

twelve, the

I?

They began

and then another.

Son of

man who

Man

woe upon

And

and were

eating,

eating with me,

is

to

sorrowfully, each in turn, Is

He

Is it I?

is

told them. It

is

one of the

The

puts his hand into the dish with me.

man man

that

whom

by

it,

still

and gave

Then he

the

Son

Man

of

to be betrayed;

is

he had never been born.

if

while they were

and broke

him

who

goes on his way, as the scripture foretells of him; but

better for that

22

was evening, he came

it

as they sat at table

to ask

there that

him and went

he had told them, and so

as

Jesus said. Believe mc, one of you, one

I

he will shew

it is

disciples left

When

for the paschal meal.

Supper

last

took bread, and blessed,

at table, Jesus

them, saying. Take

to

it

this; this is

took a cup, and offered thanks, and gave

23

body.

24

them, saying.

25

be shed for many.

This

my

is

I

tell

new

blood of the

you

testament, which

my

it

to

is

to

truthfully, I shall not drink of this

day when I drink it with you, new kingdom of God. And so they sang a hymn, and went out to mount Olivet. And Jesus said to them, To-night you will all lose courage over me; for so it has been written, I will smite

fruit of the vine again, until the

26

27

wine, in the

28

the shepherd,

29

before said to

you

and the sheep

into Galilee,

him. Though

all else

And

will be scattered.

when

But

I

will

go on

have risen from the dead.

I

should lose courage over thee,

never lose mine.

31

before the second cock-crow, thou wilt thrice disown me.

must 32

33

lay

more than

down my

So they came

vv. 2y-^i. V. 2"].

down

Matthew Matthew

Zach.

vv. 52-50.

ever, I will not

with thee.

to a plot of

his disciples, Sit

vv. 22-25.

life

xiii.

And

of

them

thee,

But

though

I

said the like.

land called Gethsemani; and he said to

here, while

xxvi. 31,

Luke xxii. Luke xxii.

xxvi. 36,

Luke

xxvi. 26,

all

disown

I

go and pray. 15,

I

Cor.

xi.

23.

31,

John

xiii.

xxii. 40,

John

xviii. i.

38.

7.

Matthew

will

Jesus said to him, Believe me, this night,

30

Peter insisted

Peter I

[102}

But he took

The Agony and

MARK

Betrayal

Peter and James and John with him.

34 35

And now

My soul, he said to them, row; do you abide here, and keep watch. and dismayed

and

:

is

14

he grew bewildered

ready to die with sor-

So he went forward

a

36

on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass him by: Abba, Father, he said, all things are possible to thee; take away this chalice from before me; only as thy

37

will

38

and he

little,

fell

not as mine

is,

Then he went back, and found them

is.

said to Peter,

Simon,

art

thou sleeping?

strength to watch even for an hour?

not enter into temptation; the 39 40

41

Watch and

spirit is willing

so

heavy their

to

make

Rise up,

45

46 47

flesh

to

eye-lids

were; and they did not

When

him.

let

Son

of

Man

know what answer

he came the third time, he to be betrayed into the

is

said to them,

Enough; the time has come;

us go on our way; already, he that

hands of sinners.

is

to betray

me

is

hand.

close at

44

you may

Then he went away and prayed again, using the same words. And when he returned, once more he found them asleep,

behold, the

43

pray, that

enough, but the

weak.

is

Sleep and take your rest hereafter.

42

asleep;

Hadst thou not

And thereupon, while he was yet speaking, Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, came near; with him was a great multitude carrying swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. The traitor had appointed them a signal; It is

none

with a

hold him

other,

he

said,

than the

man whom

I

shall greet

and take him away under guard. No sooner, then, had he come up than he went close to Jesus, saying, Hail, Master, and kissed him; and with that they laid their hands on him, and held him fast. And one of those who stood by drew his

kiss;

fast,

sword, and smote one of the high

48

ting off his ear.

49

out to

my

arrest

Then

Jesus said to

priest's servants

with

it,

cut-

them aloud. You have come

with swords and clubs,

as if I

were

a robber;

and

used to teach in the temple close to you, day after day, and you never laid hands on me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled. yet

50, 51

I

And now

all

young man 52

shirt

on

V. 41.

his disciples

abandoned him, and

his bare

body; and he,

fled.

who was wearing when they laid hold

there following him,

See note on Matthew xxvi. 45.

C103]

There was

a

only a linen of him,

left

MARK 53

Council; Peter's Denial J^^"^ before the

14

from them naked. So they the shirt in their hands, and ran away priest, and all the chief took Jesus into the presence of the high and elders and scribes were assembled about him. the high priest's Yet Peter followed at a long distance, right into warm himself. to fire, the by servants palace, where he sat with the an accusation high priest and all die council tried to find

priests

54

55

The

against Jesus, such as

56

would compass

him

many

agree.

There were some who stood up and

falsely,

but they could find

his death,

but their accusations did not

none;

accused

falsely

him made

accused

say, I will destroy this temple that

thus: We heard him build another, with no by men's hands, and in three days I will accusations did not hand of man to help me. But even so their asked Jesus, Hast thou and up, stood priest agree. Then the high

no answer to the accusations these

men

is

He

bring against thee?

priest questioned was still silent, still did not answer; and the high Jesus blessed God ? the of Son the Christ, the thou Art him again. the Son of Man sitting at the said to him, I am. And you will see

right

of heaven. hand of God's power, and coming with the clouds What further the high priest tore his garments, and said,

A^t this,

need have

we

yourselves;

what

him

is

your finding?

they

his

blasphemy for

pronounced against

all

spitting upon him and bade him caught him blows on the cheek.

of

them

fell to

covering his face while they buffeted

prophesy; the servants, too,

67

And

Then some

a sentence of death.

him, and

66

You have heard

of witnesses?

Meanwhile, Peter was servants of the high

and one of the maidsaw Peter warming him-

in the court without,

priest

she

came by;

Thou too wast with Jesus the I know nodiing of it, I do Nazarene. Whereupon he went out into the Then meanest. thou what understand not self,

and

said,

looking closely

at

him.

he denied

porch; and the cock crew. said to it.

the bystanders, This

Then,

it;

Again the maid looked is

one of them.

And

at

him, and

again he denied

bystanders said to Peter, It a litde while afterwards, the

vv. 55-72.

Matthew

xxvi. 57,

Luke

xxii. 54,

John ii. 19. V 6q 'The maid', either the portress

V. 58.

John

is

xviii. 12. .

,

„

,

^

^ho at the gate, or the same maid fire; in die latter case the dishad already challenged the Apostle at the too Fadiers, the opinion of the crepancy with St. Matthew (xxvi. 71) is, in slight to

need apology.

[104]

.

,

Pilate

Ukm.

and the Multitude

certain that thou art one of fell to calling

he

down

15

them; why, thou art a Gahlean. And on himself and swearing, I do not

curses

man you speak of. Then came the second cock-crow; Before the the word Jesus had said to him, remembered and Peter

know

the

deny me. second cock-crow thou wilt thrice

And

all at

once he

burst out weeping.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN X

TO SOONER had day broken, than and

the chief priests

made

their

and the whole council; they

IN

plans, with the elders

2

him up to Pilate. And Pilate took Jesus away in bonds and gave the Jews? He answered him, Thy of king the thou Art asked him.

3

own

lips

4

5

6 7

have said

it.

scribes

And now

the chief priests brought

many

questioned him again, Dost accusations against him, and Pilate weight of accusation they bring thou make no answer? See what a that the But Jesus still would not answer him, so ao-ainst thee. the festival, he used to At astonishment. of full was governor prisoner they chose; and the grant them the liberty of any one custody, with the rebels who in then was Barabbas called

man

they

10

murder during the rebellion. So, when the to ask for the customultitude came up towards him, and began you have me release Would them. answered Pilate favour, mary chief priests had the that well He knew

11

only given

8

9

12

13

had been

guilty of

the king of the Jews?

incited the

him up out of maUce. But the chief priests instead. Once more multitude to ask for the release of Barabbas do, then, with the me have you would What Pilate answered them. a fresh cry of. Crucify him. made they And the Jews? of king which

of the cock; The other Evangelists only mention one crowing ...oW crowing of ^^e cock as not wonderful, since it appears that the the third duision is, that cock-crow regarded by the ancients as the tin^e of crowing had been an hour in advance of the night (Mark xii. 35); the first chapof the last three words of this V. 72.

is

of

ter

ll is

IL

(Luke xxn. 59). The sense 'when he thought upon not certain in die Greek; others render,

VJT-/5

(in part).

Matthew

xxvii. 11,

[105]

Luke

xxiii. 2,

John

xviii. 33.

it,

MARK 14

Why,

15

all

15

Jesus led

away and

crucified

what wrong has he done? But they

Pilate said to them,

And

the more, Crucify him.

so Pilate, determined to

cried

humour

the multitude, released Barabbas as they asked; Jesus he scourged,

and gave him up 16 17

18

19

20

Then

be crucified.

to

him away

the soldiers led

into the court of the palace,

and

gathered there the whole of their company.

They arrayed him in a scarlet cloak, and put round his head a crown which they had woven out of thorns, and fell to greeting him with, Hail, king of the Jews. And they beat him over the head with a rod, and spat upon him, and bowed their knees in worship of him. At last they had done with mockery; stripping him of the scarlet cloak, they own garments on him, and led him away to be crucified.

put his 21

As

for his cross, they forced a passer-by

the country to carry

ander and Rufus.

23

gotha, which means.

in

from

so they took

The

him

to a place called

Gol-

Here they offered him a draught of wine mixed with myrrh, which he would not take; and then crucified him, dividing his garments among them by casting

25

who was coming

one Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alex^

And

22

24

it,

It

lots, to

was the

place of a skull.

decide which should

third

fall to

each.

hour when they crucified him.

A

proclamation

28

was written up over him. The king of the Jews and with him they crucified two thieves, one on the right and the other on his left, so fulfilling the words of scripture. And he was counted

29

among

27

of his offence

;

the wrong-doers.

shaking their heads; 30 31

stroy the temple

that cross,

and 32

and build

and rescue

scribes said

vv. 16—20.

21-47.

Matthew Matthew

it

thyself.

mockingly

not save himself.

vt/.

The

passers-by blasphemed against him,

Come now,

to

up

they said, thou in three days,

who

wouldst de-

come down from

In the same way, the chief priests

one another.

Let Christ, the king of

He

saved others, he can-

Israel,

come down from

xxvii. 27. xxvii. 62,

Luke

xxiii. 26,

John

xix. 17.

generally thought that St. Mark is here treating the space between nine o'clock and noon as a single stretch of time, which he calls 'the third hour'; we are not, then, to suppose that our Lord was nailed to his V. 25. It is

cross at nine o'clock, and hung six hours upon it. If he was crucified at eleven, or even half-past eleven, it would still be during 'the third hour', in the sense that 'the sixth hour' had not yet begun (cf. v. 33 below). A further difiiculty is raised upon die question of time by John xix. 14; see note there. f. 28. Is.

liii.

12.

[106]

Jesus dies

and

is

the cross, here

And

the

MARK

buried

and now, so that we can

men who were

see

him

crucified with

15

and beheve in him.

it

uttered taunts against

him.

When

the sixth hour came, there

and

until the ninth hour;

was darkness over

all

My

loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which means,

my

God, why hast thou forsaken

who

Why, he

stood by said.

one of them ran

off to

fill

a rod, and offered to let

whether Elias

is

and yielded up

this

way and

that,

calling

is

Hearing

upon

him

And

Elias.

and

save him.

And

cry, said.

There were

No

Then

this

who

there,

the less and of Joseph, and Salome.

him when he was in who had come up with him

minister to

already evening; and because

it

the day before the sabbath,

Arimathea, one of those

went

to Pilate,

and asked

to

who

his spirit

stood watching from far off; the mother of James

These used Galilee,

to

foUow him and

and there were many

to Jerusalem.

was the day of

And now

it

was

preparation, that

a rich councillor,

who

on

was torn

centurion

up was the Son of God.

among them were Mary Magdalen, and Mary

others

it

Jesus gave a loud

The

the top to the bottom.

doubt but

women

thereupon fixed

the veil of the temple

stood in front of him, perceiving that he so yielded

with a

God,

some of those

drink; Wait, he said. Let us see

come and

from

this,

a sponge with vinegar,

his spirit.

to

cry,

me ?

the earth

hour Jesus cried out with a

at the ninth

named Joseph

is,

of

waited for God's kingdom, boldly

have the body of Jesus.

Pilate, aston-

ished that he should have died so soon, called the centurion to him, to ask

if

he was dead already,

and when he heard the centurion's

him down, and wrapped him in a winding-sheet which he had bought, and laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock, rolUng a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, saw

report,

gave Joseph the body.

where he had been V. ^3.

Joseph took

laid.

See note on Matthew xxvii. 45.

V. 34. Ps. xxi. 2.

The body and buried before V. 42.

been crucified must be taken down (Deut. xxi. 23). But here early action was was a Friday, and after six o'clock in the evening the

of a

man who had

night-fall

necessary, because it sabbath would have begun, so that the unlawful.

[107}

work

of burial

would have become

MARK

The empty Tomb

16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN WHEN

A ND

the sabbath

was

Mary Magdalen, and Mary the spices, to come and tomb very early on the day after

over,

/Y mother of James, and Salome had bought So they came

2

anoint Jesus.

3

the sabbath, at sunrise. selves.

Who

is

Then

to the

And

they began to question

to roll the stone

away

tomb?

5

was, had been rolled away already.

6

robe; and they were dismayed.

there,

among them-

from the door

of the

they looked up, and saw that the stone, great as

4

and saw

for us

on the

right, a

And they went into the young man seated, wearing a But he

said to

them,

No

white

need to

be dismayed; you have come to look for Jesus of Nazareth,

7 8

who

was crucified; he has risen again, he is not here. Here is the place where they laid him. Go and tell Peter and the rest of his disciples that he is going before you into Galilee. There you shall have sight of him, as he promised you. So they came out and ran away from

9

it

tomb,

the tomb, trembling

to anyone, out of fear. first

and awe-struck, and

But he had risen again,

day of the week, and shewed himself

woman

out of

first

of

whom he had cast seven

at all

said

nothing

dawn on the to Mary Mag-

devils.

She went

10

dalen, the

11

and gave the news to those who had been of his company, where they mourned and wept; and they, when they were told that he

12

was

alive

and that she had seen him, could not believe

it.

After

Matthew xxviii. I, Luke xxiv. i. on John xx, i. There were two angels according to St. Luke (xxiv. 4) perhaps one of them was seen inside the tomb, the other outside (Matthew xxviii. 2), and the women may not have been agreed, whether it was the same angel they saw in both places. V. 8. That is, evidently, they said nothing to those whom they met on their way; if St. Mary Magdalen went on in front of the others, they will have passed St. Peter and St. John (John xx. 3). vf. g-20. It seems that the manuscripts of St. Mark were mutilated at the end in very early times; the whole of this chapter being sometimes omitted (St. Jerome Ad Hedyb. q. 3). And in a few of our existing manuscripts these last twelve verses are wanting, which fact (together with the abruptness of their style) has made some critics think that they were added from another source. But they are evidently a primitive account, and there is no reason why we should not ascribe their inclusion here to St. Mark. f. 9. John XX. 14. vf. 1-8.

V. 2. See note V. 5.

V. 12.

;

Luke

xxiv. 13.

MARK

Appearances of the risen Christ

16

as they he appeared in the form of a stranger to two of them these went where walking together, going out into the country; beheve them back and gave the news to the rest, but they did not that,

13

either.

Then

14

at last

he appeared to

and reproached them with heart, in giving no credit to

And

he said to them.

15

risen.

16

the gospel to the

Where

those

my

Go

who

name, they

diem

as they sat at table,

and

their obstinacy of

who had

out

all

seen

him

after

he had

over the world, and preach

he

who

believes

refuses belief will be

believers go, diese signs shall

out devils in

and

is

bap-

condemned.

go widi them; they

will cast

will speak in tongues that are strange

drink them; they will take up serpents in their hands, and hands upon poisonous draughts without harm; they will lay their make them recover. And so the Lord Jesus, when he

18

to

19

the sick

10

eleven of

whole of creation;

tized will be saved; he 17

all

their unbelief

and is had finished speaking to them, was taken up to heaven, and went out and seated now at the right hand of God; and they word preached everywhere, the Lord aiding them, and attesting his by the mlr^rJes that went with them.

C109I

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER ONE

MANY HAVE BEEN

at pains to set forth the history of

what time

among us, following the tradiwho gave themselves up to the serv-

has brought to fulfilment tion of those first eye-witnesses

3

ice of the

4

And

word.

I too,

most noble Theophilus, have resolved

put the story in writing for thee as

to

carefully

from

its

it

befell,

instruction thou hast already received, in

In the days

5

when Herod was king

Aaron's family, by

name

Elizabeth;

first

traced

it

certainty.

all its

was a

of Judaea, there

called Zachary, of Abia's turn of office,

6

having

mayst understand the

that thou

beginnings,

who had

priest

married a wife of

they were both well approved

commandments and observances They had no child; Elizabeth was

in God's sight, following all the

Lord without reproach.

7

of the

8

barren,

9

and both were now well advanced in

happened, was doing a

it

his turn of office;

among

priest's

duty before

and had been chosen by

10

incense there,

ing without,

as

was the custom

lot,

go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn while the whole multitude of the people stood pray-

at the

hour of

Suddenly he saw an angel of

sacrifice.

the Lord, standing at the right of the altar 12

Zachary was bewildered at the

13

but the angel

said, Zachary,

14

shalt give the

15

many

name

of John.

sight,

do not be

heard, and thy wife Elizabeth

is

is

filled

is

fear;

afraid; thy prayer has

been

whom

thou

Joy and gladness shall be thine, and

to drink neither

from the time when he

where incense was burnt.

and overcome with

to bear thee a son, to

hearts shall rejoice over his birth,

Lord's favour; he

be

then, as

in the order of

the priests, to

11

16

He,

years.

God

for he

is

to be high in the

wine nor strong drink; and

yet a child in his mother's

with the Holy Ghost.

He

shall

womb

bring back

he

many

shall

of the

Many of the early Fathers understood is of Christ. Such a rendering gives a better sense to the Greek; but it is not certain that this title was applied to our Lord by any writer earlier than St. John. V. 2.

this to

'To the service of the word';

mean, that they were servants of the Word, that

V. 5. Cf.

I

Paralip. xxiv. 19.

[ill]

LUKE 17

Angels appear

1

sons of Israel to the

Lord

fathers with the children, that 18

makes men

And

him.

20

The

in age. is

ushering in his advent in the

shall unite the hearts of

am

I

an old

bring thee

this

no power of

man now, and my

My name

angel answered. I

have been sent

when

because thou hast not believed

And now all

my

wife

is

Gabriel,

is

fit

to receive

am far

and

I

to

be

advanced

my

place

speak with thee, and to

to

good news. Behold, thou

speech, until the day

shalt be this

is

dumb, and have

accomplished; and

promise, which shall in due

was waiting for Zachary,

21

time be

22

and wondering that he delayed in the temple so long;

fulfilled.

the

all,

and teach the disobedient the wisdom

preparing for the Lord a people

in God's presence;

that,

He

Zachary said to the angel, By what sign

assured of this ? 19

just,

God,

their

and power of an EHas.

spirit

Zachary and Mary

to

the people

but he,

when he came out, could speak no word to them; whereupon they made sure that he had seen some vision in the sanctuary. He could but stand there making signs to them, for he remained dumb. 23

And

when

so,

the days of his ministry were at an end, he

was

24

back to his house.

25

conceived, and for five the

Lord who has done

take

25 27

my

away

When man

after those

months she dwelt this for

me,

went

days that his wife Elizabeth retired; she said.

visiting

among men. month came, God

me

at his

own

It is

time, to

reproach

the sixth

Nazareth,

city of Galilee called

to a

28

It

of David's lineage; his

name was Mary.

sent the angel Gabriel to a

where a virgin dwelt, betrothed

name was

Joseph, and the virgin's

Into her presence the angel came, and said. Hail,

who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. She was much perplexed at hearing him speak so, and cast about in her mind, what she was to make of such a greeting. Then the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; thou

thou 29

30 31

hast found favour in the sight of

womb, and

conceive in thy

He

shall

God.

And

shalt bear a son,

be great, and

men

will

behold, thou shalt

and

know him

shalt call

for the

Jesus.

33

David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally;

34

kingdom

the most

High; the Lord God shall

V. ly. Mai.

iii.

will give

never have an end.

him

him

Son of

32

the throne of his father

But Mary

his

said to the angel,

23.

V. 28. 'Blessed art

among women'; these words are wanting here in are to be found in verse 42, below.

thou

some manuscripts. They

C112]

The Annunciation;

How

LUKE

the Visitation

1

And the I have no knowledge of man? The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the most High will overshadow thee. Thus that holy

can that be, since

angel answered her,

power of the thing which is God. is

to

known

be born of thee shall be

See, moreover,

how

old, yet she too has conceived a son; she

with barrenness

now

is

in her sixth

can be impossible with God.

maid

of the Lord; let

with that the angel

month,

who was

Son of

reproached

prove that nothing

to

And Mary said. me according

be unto

it

for the

fares with thy cousin Elizabeth; she

it

Behold the handto thy

And

word.

left her.

Mary

up and went with all haste where Zachary dwelt; and she gave Elizabeth greeting. No sooner had

In the days that followed,

rose

to a city of Juda, in the hill country

there entering in

Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, than the child leaped in her

womb; and

Elizabeth herself was

the

filled \vith

Holy Ghost;

and blessed

is

the fruit of thy

thus visited by the mother of

voice of thy greeting sounded in

leaped for joy. that

upon

day forward is

all

My

who

is

have fulfilment.

shall

my

Saviour,

my

name

is

holy, has

who

me

from

blessed; because he

wrought

fear him,

for

me

the mighty

from

their seat,

hungry with good

handed.

He

things,

and

his

Mary returned

sent the rich

Israel,

this

who

wonders. to gen-

arm, driv-

he has put

away empty-

keeping his merciful

according to the promise which he

Abraham and his posterity for home when she had been with

our forefathers,

has

and exalted the lowly; he has

has protected his servant

design in remembrance,

his

from generation

he has done valiandy with the strength of

fiUed the

to

spirit

because he has looked

ing the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts;

down

my womb

the lowliness of his handmaid. Behold,

has mercy upon those

eration;

deserved to be

soon as ever the

soul magnifies the Lord;

generations will count

mighty, he whose

He

I

as

ears, the child in

from the Lord

to thee

said.

found joy in God, graciously

my

have

Why,

Lord?

Blessed art thou for thy believing; the message

was brought

And Mary

How

womb.

my

so

among women,

that she cried out with a loud voice. Blessed art thou

made

evermore. her about three

vv. 36-^y. It is not certain whether the Blessed Virgin returned home before or after her cousin's delivery, since, by Greek usage, the verbs in verse 57 might have a pluperfect sense, 'she had brought forth a son'.

LUKE

Birth of John the Baptist; Zacharys

Hymn

meanwhile, Elizabeth's time had come for her

child-

1

57

months;

58

bearing, and she bore a son.

how

hearing 59

wonderfully

God had shewed

day for the circumcision of the 60

Zachary, because

61

No, he

62

kindred that

63

by signs, what

it

was his

is

name;

And

called by this

mercy

to her,

it

were for calling him

they said. There

none of thy

is

and began asking

name,

the words,

His name

Then, of a sudden,

is

John; and they

were

65

were unloosed, and he broke into speech, giving praise

astonished.

came upon

that fear

their

all

of these happenings but

(£

what

then, they asked,

hand 67

of the

Then

his to

who

will this

heard

it

boy grow

laid

to be.?

all

And

indeed the

his father

Zachary was

filled

with the Holy Ghost, and

Blessed be the Lord, the

God

of Israel; he

69

has visited his people, and wrought their redemption.

70

a sceptre of salvation for us

servant David, lips of

holy

hill

Why

Lord was with him.

spoke in prophecy:

up

so

the

to heart;

it

68

raised

tongue

God;

neighbourhood, and there was none

was noised abroad throughout

All those

country of Judaea.

and

his lips

his father

So he asked

called by.

64

all

came

but his mother answered,

name he would have him

and wrote on

for a tablet,

child, they

father's

to be called John.

is

his

her kinsfolk,

and now, when they assembled on the eighth

with her;

to rejoice

Her neighbours and

among

according to the promise which he

men

that

have been

his prophets

has

made by

the

from the beginning;

71

salvation

from our enemies, and from the hand of

72

hate us.

So he would carry out

73

fathers,

74

oath to our father Abraham, that he would enable us

by remembering

He

the posterity of his

all

those

who

his merciful design towards our

his holy covenant.

He

had sworn an to live with-

out fear in his service, delivered from the hand of our enemies, 75, 76 passing all

thou,

77

my

our days in holiness, and approved in

child, wilt

be

known

going before the Lord, to

his sight.

for a prophet of the

clear his

way

for

him;

And

most High,

thou wilt make

V. 62. It would appear from this verse that Zachary became, not dumb only, but deaf; unless we understand that her kinsfolk made signs to him in private, for fear they should distress Elizabeth by their contradiction. Nothing is said of his being deaf in verse 64, below. V. 6g.

for any

literally 'a horn'. This was a common Hebrew metaphor of defence, as for example in II Kings xxii. 3, but here the perhaps rather to such passages as Dan. vii. 24.

'A sceptre';

means

reference

is

[114]

LUKE

Jesus born in Bethlehem

known

to his people the salvation that

Such

their sins.

the merciful kindness of our God, which has

is

bidden him come to light to those

who

them from

to release

is

2

us, like a

dawning from on high,

live in darkness, in the

shadow

to give

and to

of death,

guide our feet into the way of peace.

And

as the child

grew, his

spirit

achieved strength, and he dwelt

when he was made

in the wilderness until the day

manifest to

Israel.

CHAPTER TWO IT

HAPPENED THAT 3 decree went out

was the one

2

this register

3

was governor

4

in his

own

of Syria.

city;

made during

first

his espoused wife

Mary,

was while they were

to give in his

who was

and

7

delivery.

She brought forth a

wrapped

in his swaddling-clothes,

there

her

came

and

first-born,

laid in a

is

for her

whom

Do

she

in the inn.

flocks.

And

Lord came and stood by them, and

good news of

With

manger, because

all at

fear.

not be afraid; behold, the news

a great rejoicing for the

fields,

once an angel

the glory of the

shone about them, so that they were overcome with angel said to them,

11

them

keeping night-watches over their of the

10

for

son,

there.

In the same country there were shepherds awake in the

8

9

was no room

still

name

then in her pregnancy;

there that the time

6

it

when Cyrinus

of Nazareth, in Galilee, to David's city in

Judaea, the city called Bethlehem,

him was

the time

All must go and give in their names, each

and Joseph, being of David's clan and family,

came up from the town 5

time from the emperor

at this

Augustus, enjoining that the whole world should be registered;

whole people.

I

Lord

But the bring you

This day,

in the city of David, a Saviour has been born for you, no other

V. 2. There is here an ambiguity in the Greek, and some have thought the sense to be, 'This was the register which was made before Cyrinus was governor of Syria'. (The same doubt arises in Matthew xxvi. 17.) This gives an excellent sense; St. Luke would be explaining that this was not the wellknown census of the year 7 a.d., which led to an insurrection (Acts v. 37), but an earlier one. But the facts of Quirinius' career are not fully recorded. V. 7.

See note on Matthew

i.

25.

[115}

LUKE 12

The

2

than the Lord Christ.

him; you 13

14

This

the sign by

is

will find a child

Presentation in the

still

which you are

Temple

to

know

in swaddling-clothes, lying in a

manger.

Then, on a sudden, a multitude of the heavenly army

appeared

to

them

in high heaven,

giving praise to God, and

and peace on earth

to

men

God's friends.

that are

When

15

at the angel's side,

God

saying. Glory to

the angels

had

them and gone back

left

lehem, and see for ourselves 16

known

17

and Joseph

And

to us.

there,

so they

into heaven, the

make our way to Beththis happening which God has made went with all haste, and found Mary

shepherds said to one another. Come,

us

let

with the child lying in the manger.

On

seeing

him, they discovered the truth of what had been told them about All those

18

this child.

19

story

20

these sayings,

hearing that

When

22

and

home

herds went

21

who

heard

which the shepherds

all

were

on them

reflected

full of

amazement

at the

but Mary treasured up

in her heart.

And

all

the shep-

giving praise and glory to God, at seeing and

was

as

it

had been

told them.

had passed, and the boy must be circumcised,

eight days

name which the angel had given him in the womb. And when the time

he was called

Jesus, the

before ever he

was conceived

had come

it

them;

told

for purification according to the

law of Moses, they

brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him before the Lord 23

there.

24

opens the they

25

It

is

must

written in God's law, that whatever male offspring

womb

to

is

be reckoned sacred to the Lord;

offer in sacrifice for

pair of turtle-doves, or

him,

as

and

so

God's law commanded, a

two young pigeons.

At

this

time there

man named Simeon living in Jerusalem, an upright man of careful observance, who waited patiently for comfort to be brought was

26

to Israel. it

27

a

The Holy

Spirit

had been revealed

had seen

that Christ

to

was upon him:

him

whom

that he

the

his parents, to

Spirit

to see death, until

Lord had anointed.

led by the Spirit, into the temple;

brought in by

and by the Holy

was not

He now

he

came,

and when the child Jesus was

perform the custom which the law

V. ly. 'Discovered'; that is, to Mary and Joseph, according to the common usage of the Greek verb; the Latin, however, renders it as if the shepherds had discovered for themselves the truth of the angelic announcement. V. 2^. ij.

Ex.

xiii. 2.

24. Lev. xii. 8.

[116}

Simeon and Anna; Jesus

lost

28

enjoined concerning him,

29

arms.

And

he

LUKE

and found

Simeon too was able to take him in his God: Ruler of all, now dost thou let

said, blessing

30

thy servant go in peace, according to thy word; for

31

have seen that saving power of thine

32

the sight of

33

34

all

This

nations.

tion to the Gentiles, this

was

many and made

be

36

pierce to

it.

wondering over

still

and

blessed them,

one Phanuel, of the

maidenhood,

fasting

God 39

that

bring about the

fall

in Israel; to be a sign

which men

and so the thoughts of many

hearts shall

many

own

soul,

had

tribe of Aser, (a

lived with a

have a sword

shall

it

and had

now

woman

to

greatly advanced

husband for seven years

and prayer.

She

too, at that very hour,

the deliverance of Jerusalem.

after her

who God with

been eighty-four years a widow)

thanks, and spoke of the child to

that the

The

all

said to his

abode continually in the temple night and day, serving 38

in

There was besides a prophetess named Anna, daughter

in age, since she

37

eyes

shall give revela-

the glory of thy people Israel.

is

as for thy

manifest;

which

this child is destined to

the rise of

will refuse to recognize;

35

the light

when Simeon

said of him,

mother Mary, Behold, of

is

my own

which thou hast prepared

and mother of the child were

father

2

all

came near

to

give

that patiently waited for

And now, when

law of the Lord required, they returned

all

had been done

to Galilee,

and

to

own town of Nazareth. And so the child grew and came to his strength, full of wisdom and the grace of God rested upon him. Every year, his parents used to go up to Jerusalem at the paschal feast. And when he was their

40 41

42

twelve years old, after going up to Jerusalem, as the custom was 43

at the

time of the

and completing the days of

feast,

its

they set about their return home. But the boy Jesus,

44

his parents, continued his stay in Jerusalem.

that he

was among

their travelling

day's journey before they

45

folk their

46

and acquaintances.

way back

three days that they found him.

the midst of those

V. 40. 'Grace'; or

for

him among

who

their kins-

they could not find him, they

Jerusalem in search of him, and

to

to

they, thinking

companions, had gone a whole

made enquiry

When

And

observance,

unknown

He

was

it

was only

made after

sitting in the temple, in

taught there, listening to them and asking

perhaps 'favour', as in

[117]

v. 52,

below.

LUKE 47 48

49

them

The Hidden

3

those

all

who

quick understanding and

at his

him

there, they

My

Son,

mind

why

were

What

not

I

that

answers he gave.

at the

understanding;

Seeing

said to him,

what anguish of But he

me? Could you

reason had you to search for

which belongs to my them were beyond their but he went down with them on their journey

must needs be

51

in the place to

Nazareth, and lived there in subjection

memory

kept in her heart the

wisdom with

mother

have endured, searching for thee.

I

These words which he spoke

Father?

to

his

hast thou treated us so? Think,

asked them. tell

Years; Mission of fohn

heard him were in amazement

wonder, and

full of

thy father and

50

52

and

questions;

of

to

them, while his mother

And

all this.

so Jesus advanced in

the years, and in favour both with

God and

with

men.

CHAPTER THREE TT

_

in

WAS IN THE

fifteenth year of the

emperor Tiberius'

Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea,

and Lysanias

and Caiphas,

in the high priesthood of

in Abilina,

word

that the

of

And

Zachary, in the desert.

God came upon

he went

all

Jordan, announcing a baptism whereby their sins forgiven:

the prophet Isaias,

Prepare the V. 4g.

would

The

way

as

it

There

is is

phrase used

is,

my

'in

Annas

John, the son of

over the country round

men

repented, to have

written in the book of the sayings of

a voice of

one crying in the wilderness,

of the Lord, straighten out his paths.

translate, 'about

when prince

and Trachonitid

the Ituraean

Galilee, his brother Philip in

region,

reign,

when Herod was

the things

which are

my

Father's',

Every

and some

Father's business'.

V. ^2. Our Lord, as Man, acquired experimental knowledge of the v/orld about him, like other men. V. I. There is some uncertainty about the system on which the Romans computed the years of a given reign; probably the fifteenth year of Tiberius would be 28 or 29 a.d. by our reckoning. f. 2. Caiphas was the actual high priest; Annas, who had been deposed from that office, continued to exercise much influence.

vu. 3-22.

Matthew

iii.

i,

Mark

i.

i.

v. 4. Is. xl. 3.

[118]

LUKE

John's Preaching; Jesus baptized valley

is

be bridged, and every mountain and

to

the windings are to be cut straight,

6

smooth roads,

7

He

Who 8

and

all

mankind

said to the multitudes

was

it

9

God

[I

[2

to see the saving

power

of

God.

out to be baptized by him,

from the ven-

vipers, to flee

then, yield the acceptable fruit of

We have Abraham

to raise

up children

to

Already the axe has been put

these very stones.

every tree which does not

trees, so that [0

power

has

and into

brood of

Come

repentance; do not think to say. you,

hill levelled,

and the rough paths made

who came

that taught you,

geance that draws near?

I tell

is

3

for our father;

Abraham

out of

to the root of the

shew good

be

fruit will

hewn down and cast into the fire. And the multitudes asked him, What is it, then, we are to do? He answered them. The man who has two coats must share with the man who has none; and the man who has food to eat, must do the like. The publicans, too, came to be baptized; Master, they said to him, what are we to

Do

[3

do?

He

[4

Even

the soldiers on guard asked him,

He

do?

to

told them.

not go beyond the scale appointed you.

Do

said to them.

not use

What of us? What are we men roughly, do not lay false

information against them be content with your pay. ;

And now

[5

the people

was

had the same

full of expectation; all

surmise in their hearts, whether John might not be the Christ. [6

But John gave them I

am

mightier than shoes. [7

He

their

He

I,

so that

will baptize

I

19

consume with

is

his

21

It

fire

you with the Holy Ghost and with wheat into

his barn, but the chaff

that can never be quenched.

Herod,

shameful deeds,

was while

tized too,

all

is

fire.

14.

the people

to

crown

all,

With

he will

these

and

the people:

but

Philip's wife,

and

shut John

up

in prison,

were being baptized that Jesus was bap-

and stood there praying. Suddenly heaven was opened,

and the Holy V.

come who

yet to

not worthy to untie the strap of his

many other warnings he gave his message to when he rebuked prince Herod over his brother

20

22

am

holds his winnowing-fan ready, to purge his threshing-floor

clean; he will gather the 18

answer by saying publicly. As for me,

baptizing you with water; but one

The

Spirit

soldiers

came down upon him

in bodily form, like a

were perhaps those on guard

the temptations they are to resist

would

the police.

[119}

be, in the

at the

customs houses;

modern world,

those of

LUKE

4

dove, and a voice

came from heaven, which

beloved Son, in thee 23

Genealogy

]esus'

Jesus himself

am

I

said.

Thou

had now reached the age of about

He

thirty.

24

by repute, the son of Joseph, son of Heli, son of Mathat,

25

Levi, son of Melchi, son of Janne, son of Joseph, thias,

art

my

well pleased.

son of Amos, son of

Nahum,

was,

son of

son of Mattha-

son of Hesli, son of Nagge,

26

son of Mahath, son of Matthathias, son of Semei, son of Joseph,

27

son of Juda,

28

Salathiel, son of Neri,

29

son of Elmadam, son of Her,

30

Jorim, son of Mathat, son of Levi,

31

son of Joseph, son of Jona, son of Eliacim,

Menna, son

son of Joanna, son of Resa, son of Zorobabel, son of

son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosan, son of Jesu, son of Eliezer, son of son of Simeon, son of Juda,

son of Melea, son of

of Matthatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of

son of Obed, son of Booz, son of Salmon, son of Naasson,

32

Jesse,

33

son of Aminadab, son of Aram, son of Esron, son of Phares, son

34

of Juda,

35

son of Nachor,

36

of Heber, son of Sale,

37

Sem, son of Noe, son of Lamech,

38

Henoch, son of

son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Thare,

son of Sarug, son of Ragau, son of Phaleg, son son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of son of Methusale, son of

Jared, son of Malaleel, son of Cainan,

son of

Henos, son of Seth, son of Adam, who was the son of God.

CHAPTER FOUR JESus RETURNED from the Spirit he

was

the Jordan full of the

led

on

Holy

into the wilderness,

Spirit,

where

and by

for forty

days he was tempted by the devil. During those days he ate nothing, and

when

into a loaf of bread.

Then

they were over, he was hungry.

devil said to him, If thou art the

Son

of

God, bid

Jesus answered him,

on Matthew i. 16. Matthew iv. i, Mark i. 12. is St. Matthew or St. Luke

It is

the

stone turn

this

written,

Man

can-

vv. 2}-^8. See note vv.

1-13.

whether

it

We

third temptations in their historical order. V. 4.

Deut.

viii. 3.

[120]

have no means

to

determine

that has recorded the second

and

The Devil tempts

Return

Jesus;

not live by bread only; there

And

come from God. tain,

and shewed him

of time;

kingdoms

the

will give thee

I

command,

and the glory that belongs

these,

over to me, and

may

I

them

give

4

him in all the words that him up into a high moun-

for

life

is

the devil led

all

LUKE

to Galilee

of the world in a

moment

the devil said to him, over

all

to

them; they have been made

to

whomsoever

come

please;

I

down before me and worship. Jesus answered him. It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, to him only shalt thou do service. And he led him to Jerusalem, and there set him down on the pinnacle of the then,

be thine,

all shall

temple;

thou

If

down from

if

art the

thou wilt

Son

God, he

of

this to the earth;

fall

for

it is

said to him, cast thyself

written.

He

angels charge concerning thee, to keep thee safe,

hold thee up with their hands,

on

And

a stone.

lest

thou shouldst chance

Jesus answered him,

not put the Lord thy

God

shall give his

and they

We

to the proof.

had finished tempting him every way,

left

are told.

So the

him

will

to trip

Thou shalt when he

devil,

in peace until the

time should come.

And Jesus came back to Galilee with the power of the Spirit upon him; word of him went round through all the neighbouring country, and he began to preach in their synagogues, so that his was on

praise

all

men's

Then he came

lips.

to Nazareth,

where

he had been brought up; and he went into the synagogue there,

custom was, on the sabbath day, and stood up

as his

book given opened

it,

book of the prophet

the

is

upon me; he has anointed me, and

The

to read. Isaias;

and found the place where the words ran:

Lord

of the

him was

to

sent

so he

The

Spirit

me

out to

preacn the gospel to the poor, to restore the broken-hearted; to bid the prisoners go free, and the blind receive their sight; the oppressed at liberty, to proclaim a year

acceptance with the Lord.

back

to the attendant,

synagogue fixed

V. 8.

Deut.

vi.

their

Then he

Deut.

V. 18. Is. xli.

vi,

it

down. All those who were in the eyes on him, and thus he began speaking and

sat

13.

16.

find

shut the book, and gave

v. 10. Ps. xc. II, 12.

V. 12.

to set

when men may

See note on

Matthew

I, 2.

[121]

iv. 7.

LUKE

First preaching at Nazareth; a Devil cast out

4

to them, This scripture

22

will tell

have read in your hearing

came from

me,

own

said to

we have

all

And

said. Believe

he

that

pharnaum.

25

in his

26

remained shut for three years and

them,

No

which belongs of them,

those

heard of thy doing

He

was

And

to Sidon.

widow woman in Sarepta, were many lepers among the

there

it

was Naaman the

who were

in the

who was made

Syrian,

synagogue were

him out

they rose up and thrust

30

so

this;

went on

Then he went down

and took

of the city,

was

their city

built, to

the midst of them,

and

Capharnaum, which

to

a city in Galilee,

is

and they were was the authority with which he spoke. In the synagogue was a man who was possessed by an unclean spirit, that cried out with a loud voice: Nay, why dost his teaching, such

an end of us ?

God.

I

us, Jesus of

Nazareth ? Hast thou come

recognize thee for what thou

Jesus rebuked

Silence! he said;

it;

the unclean spirit threw

him

art,

upon them

of his? See

on the unclean

one another,

of him.

injury.

What

that they

come

out!

And

his doings spread into every part of the country side.

vv. 22-24.

Matthew

Kings IV Kings

V. 2y.

vv. 31-37-

xiii.

34,

Mark

vi. i,

xvii. 9.

V. 2$. Ill

v. 9.

Mark

is

he has power and authority to lay his spirits, so

i.

21.

[122]

John

vi. 42.

to

make

Holy One

into a convulsion before

as they said to

all,

how

the

come out

and went out of him without doing him any fell

37

All

way,

his

thou meddle with

36

was none

clean.

and began teaching them there on the sabbath;

amazed by

35

it

indignation at hear-

full of

him up to the brow of the hill on which throw him over it. But he passed through

34

Ca-

but Elias was not

months,

six

ing

33

at

sent to a

29

32

is

me, no prophet finds acceptance

people of Israel in the days of the prophet Eliseus; but

31

said,

doubt you

own country. Why, you may be sure of this, there were many widows among the people of Israel in the days of Elias, when a great famine came over all the land, after the heavens had sent to any of these.

28

to-day

proverb says, Physician, heal thyself; do here

as the

country

24

27

is

mouth; Why, they

his

Then he

not this the son of Joseph?

in thy

I

All bore testimony to him, and were astonished at the

fulfilled.

gracious words which

23

which

of

Then

them

all,

Wonder this

word

command

the story of

Many

So he rose up and

The mother

house. fever,

of Simon's wife

and they entreated

had friends

him: and he

had

too,

her;

He

the sun

many

stood over her, and

once she

all at

rose,

was going down,

all

and minis-

who

those

kinds of disease brought them to

hands upon each one of them, and healed

laid his

Many,

them.

left

it

with

afflicted

in the grip of a violent

his aid for her.

And when

tered to them.

was

S

and went into Simon's

left the synagogue,

checked the fever, so that

Thou

LUKE

Cures; the miraculous Draught of Fish

devils cast out of them,

which

cried aloud,

Son of God; but he rebuked them and would not

art the

knew that he was the Christ. Then, when day came, he went out and retired to a desert place. The multitude, who had set out in search of him and caught him up, would have kept him there, and not let him leave them. But he told them, I must preach the gospel of God's kingdom to the other have them speak, because they

cities too; it is for this that I

was

sent.

And

so he

went on preach-

ing in the synagogues of Galilee.

CHAPTER FIVE Ir 2

the

HAPPENED time

word

of

was standing by the lake of Genesareth,

that he

when

the multitude

God;

was pressing

and he saw two boats moored

the lake; the fishermen had gone ashore,

3

And

nets.

close about

him

at the

at a

to hear

edge of

and were washing

their

he went on board one of the boats, which belonged

Simon, and asked him

to stand off a little

from the land; and

to so,

sitting

down, he began

4

When

he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, Stand out into

5

the

deep water, and

to

teach the multitudes

down your

let

answered him, Master, we have 6

nothing; but

had done 7

came, they vv. 38-41. vt^.

42—44.

word

I

will let

down

the net.

filled

Simon

And when

they

the net

to their partners

come and help them. When

these

both boats, so that they were ready to sink.

Matthew

Mark

boat.

and caught

fish, so that

and they must needs beckon

in the other boat to

a catch.

toiled all the night,

they took a great quantity of

was near breaking,

who were 8

at thy

this,

nets for

from the

i.

viii.

14,

Mark

i.

35.

[123]

29.

At

LUKE 9

10

seeing

this,

Leave

me

Simon Peter

down and caught

fell

Lord, he said;

to myself,

am

I

Man

the palsied

Jesus by the knees;

Such amaze-

a sinner.

ment had overcome both him and all his crew, at the catch of fish they had made; so it was, too, with James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

11

The Leper;

5

who were

Do

Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon,

not be afraid; henceforth thou shalt be a fisher of men. they had brought their boats to land, they

left

all

So,

when

and followed

him. Afterwards, while he was in one of the

12

man who was

gone in leprosy.

far

Lord, he

his face in entreaty;

13

to

make me

him, and 14

at

And

clean.

my

said, It is

When

said, if

it is

And

once his leprosy passed from him.

anyone of

to tell

Go and shew

it;

he

fell

Whereupon

clean.

the truth

thyself to the priest,

known

to

But

them.

still

the talk of

and more, and great multitudes came together 16

them 17

And

be healed of their infirmities.

It

into the desert

and pray

all

warned him not

Jesus

he

said,

bring an offering for thy cleansing, as Moses commanded, to 15

on

hand, and touched

his

made

be thou

Jesus,

thy will, thou hast power

he stretched out

will;

he came upon a

cities,

he saw

and

make

him spread more

to listen to

he would

steal

him, and

away from

there.

chanced one day that he was teaching, and that some Pharisees

and teachers of the law were

sitting by,

who had come from

every

and Judaea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was there, to grant healing. Just then, some men brought village in Galilee,

18

there

19

on

a bed

one

palsied,

whom

they tried to carry in

set

down

him

in,

because of the multitude, they went up onto the house-top,

and

let

him down between

in front of Jesus.

21

are forgiven thee.

reasoning thus,

Who

And

vv. 12-16. V. 14.

vf. 17-38. V. 22.

Matthew

Lev. xiv.

tiles,

Whereupon

Who

thoughts of

the

can

theirs,

viii.

ix. i,

all,

i,

the Pharisees

this be, that

and Mark

said to

i.

40.

Mark

See note on Matthew

ii.

i.

ix. 5.

[124}

of carrying

into the clear space

and

Man,

thy sins

scribes fell to

he talks so blasphemously? only? Jesus

knew

of these

them openly,

Why

do you

God and God

2.

Matthew

bed and

way

he, seeing their faith, said,

can forgive sins but

secret

But, finding no

in Jesus' presence.

20

22

who was

and

On 23

Which command

reason thus in your hearts?

Thy

given, to say,

24

LUKE

Scandal and Fasting

And now,

walk ?

to forgive sins

man),

I

tell

to convince

while he

And

26

and went home, giving

them

all,

on

is

25

at

more Ughtly

sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Rise

once in

Man

you that the Son of

up and

has power

the earth (here he spoke to the palsied

thee, rise up, take thy

he rose up

is

5

bed with thee and go home. them, took up his bedding,

full sight of

praise to

and they praised God,

Astonishment came over

God.

full of

awe;

We

have seen strange

things, they said, to-day.

27

Then he went out, and caught sight of a pubUcan, called Levi, work in the customs house, and said to him, Follow me. And he rose up, and left all behind, and followed him. Then Levi made a great feast for him in his house, and there was a sitting at

28,

29

30

crowded company of publicans and others who were their fellowguests. Whereupon the Pharisees and scribes complained to his disciples.

31

32

How

comes

it

that

you

eat

and drink with publicans and

But Jesus answered them. It is those who are sick, not those who are in health, that have need of the physician. I have

sinners?

call the just; I have come to call sinners to repentance. Then they said to him. How is it that thy disciples eat and drink, when John's disciples are always fasting and praying, and the And he said to them. Can you persuade Pharisees' disciples too?

not come to 33

34

the 35

men

is still is

of the bridegroom's

with them?

company

No, the days

to fast, while the

will

bridegroom

come when

the bridegroom

when

that day comes.

taken away from them; then they will

fast,

36

And he told them this parable; Nobody uses a piece taken from a new cloak to patch an old one; if that is done, he will have torn the new cloak, and the piece taken from the new will not match the

37

old. is

Nor

does anybody put

done, the

new wine

38

and the skins

39

wine-skins,

spoiled.

and

is

If

the wine

is

into old wine-skins;

and there

new,

so both are kept safe.

drinking old wine old

new wine

bursts the skins,

calls all at

it

is

must be put

Nobody who

once for new; he will

better.

[125}

the

tell

if

wine

that spilt

into fresh

has been

you.

The

LUKE

The Sabbath;

6

CHAPTER IT 2

SIX

HAPPENED that OH the next sabbath but one he was walking through the corn-fields; and

some

Why

of the Pharisees said to them,

not lawful to do on the sabbath?

4

his followers

Why, have you

them.

and

to eat

sabbath

9

he rose

11

to his

The Son

Man

has even the

happened

it

when there was The scribes and

man

a

Phari-

whether he would restore health

to see

might have

so that they

of

another sabbath day

their secret thoughts,

a charge to bring against

and

said to the

man who

hand withered. Rise up, and come forward; whereupon

his

Then

to his feet.

ask you; which 10

God, and gave them

hand withered.

his right

He knew

him.

had

And on

were watching him,

on the sabbath, 8

he told them.

at his disposal.

who had

when he and

he went into the tabernacle,

he went into the synagogue to teach,

there

it is

Jesus answered

not lawful for anyone except the priests

is

it

And

them?

5

sees

How

ate the loaves set forth there before

6

you doing what

are

Whereupon

ears

And

their hands.

never read of what David did,

were hungry?

followers, although

•that

were plucking the

his disciples

and eating them, rubbing them between

of corn

3

7

Jesus prays

is

Jesus said to them,

right, to

I

have a question

do good on the sabbath day, or

to

to

do

harm? To save life, or to make away with it? And he looked round on them all, and said to him, Stretch out thy hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored to him. And they were overcome with fury, debating with one another what they could do to Jesus.

12 13

It

was

at this

dawned, he 14

15

time that he went out onto the mountain

passed the whole night offering prayer to God,

his

whom

he also called Peter,

Philip

and Bartholomew,

vf. 7-5.

i/v.

I

Matthew

Kings

6-/7.

xii.

apostles.

Andrew, James and John, Matthew and Thomas, James the son

Mark

i,

Matthew

xii. 9,

ii.

Mark

iii.

i,

Their names were, Simon,

his brother

23.

xxi. 6.

See note on Mark vv. 12-16. Matthew x. V. 9.

and

called his disciples to him, choosing out twelve of

them; these he called

f. 3.

side,

and when day

iii.

i.

4.

Mark

iii.

13.

[126}

Sermon on the

Plain; Paradoxes of the

i6

o£ Alphaeus, and Simon

17

of James,

18

to listen to

who were

and those

6

Jude the brother

him, and to be healed of their diseases;

troubled by unclean spirits were also cured;

so that all the multitude

was eager

to touch

went out from him, and healed them 20

LUKE

Kingdom

called the Zealot,

is

and Judas Iscariot, the man who turned traitor. With them he went down and stood on a level place; a multitude of his disciples was there, and a great gathering of the people from all Judaea, and Jerusalem, and the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon. These had come there

19

who

Then he

lifted

up

him, because power

all.

eyes towards his

his

disciples,

and

said;

22

who are poor; the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you, who are hungry now; you will have your fill. Blessed are you, who weep now; you will laugh for joy. Blessed are you, when men hate you and cast you off and revile you, when they reject your name as something evil, for the Son of Man's

23

sake.

Blessed are you, 21

When

24 25

26

And now

I

29

you,

and pray

strikes thee

for those

on the cheek,

would take away thy with

it.

Give

offer

cloak,

to every

do not ask him

who who

hate you; treat

him

you

insultingly.

who

curse

a

man man

If if

a

do not grudge him thy coat along asks, and if a man takes what is

to restore

As you would have men

thine,

you, you are to treat them; no otherwise. if

me. Love your

man who

32

to you,

to

bless those

the other cheek too;

31

34

the

no worse.

you who are listening

say to

enemies, do good to those

33

for behold, treated

But woe upon you

28

30

it;

their fathers

who are rich; you have your comfort already. Woe upon you who are filled full; you shall be hungry. Woe upon you who laugh now; you shall mourn and weep. Woe upon you, when all men speak well of you; their prophets no better.

fathers treated the false prophets

27

and exult over

that day comes, rejoice

reward awaits you in heaven;

a rich

it.

Why, what

credit

treat is

it

you love those who love you? Even sinners love those

who love them. What credit is it to you, if you do good to those who do good to you? Even sinners do as much. What credit is it V. 16. Judas brother of James, the author of the epistle, seems to have also been called Thaddaeus (Matthew x. 3, Mark iii. 18). vv. 20-4g. Many of the sayings recorded in these verses are also to be found in St. Matthew, especially v. 39, vii. 27.

[127]

LUKE to you,

35

Even

you lend

if

whom

from

to those

and on

Criticism,

sinners lend to sinners, to receive as

solid Virtue

you expect repayment?

much

No,

in exchange.

your enemies you must love, and do them good, and lend

is

it

On

6

to

them, without any hope of return; then your reward will be a rich one, and you will be true sons of the most High, generous like

him towards 5,

Be

37

and you 38

the thankless

will not be judged;

award

over, will be

to others

And

39

40 if

is

A

disciple

he

is

fall

is

no

By what

better than his master;

and

44

when thou

hypocrite, take the

have clear sight

no sound

is

beam

to rid

that

tree

proper

from

will

How

he

is

is like a

laid his

rock.

out

is

withered

yield

Each

tree

man

utters

it

that

man

you If

in

first,

is

fruit,

no

known by

is

good from

his

his heart's store

evil; it is

from the

me. Master, Master, and will not dc

them

out,

would build

foundation on rock.

I

me and

will tell

a house,

Then

listens to

[128}

my

you what he

who

is

comlike;

dug, dug deep, and

a flood came, and the river stir it; it

was founded upon

man who listens to what I say and man who built his house in the earth

But the like a

what

is

speaks.

anyone comes to

carries

that

mouth

call

what

wicked man, from

broke upon that house, but could not 49

eye

rid

is

A good

mandments and 48

that

not plucked from thorns, or grapes gath-

bid you?

I

own

own?

me

thy brother's of the speck.

fruit.

of wickedness, can utter nothing but

what

beam

out of thy

in thy

is

in thy

brier bushes.

heart's overflow that the

47

is

fruit; figs are

heart's store of goodness; the

46

which

canst not see the

withered tree that will yield sound

ered

lead another?

he will be fully perfect

beam which

not aware of the

art

so thou shalt

There

its

45

man

right wilt thou say to thy brother. Brother, let

own? Thou

and

to you.

is.

thy eye of that speck, thy

blind

that thou canst see the speck of dust

is it

brother's eye,

measure you

lap; the

awarded

into the ditch together?

as his master

How

Can one

this parable.

will not

Give, and

down and shaken up

poured into your

the measure that will be

he told them

Will not both

43

Judge nobody,

merciful.

be yours; good measure, pressed

and running

42

is

condemn nobody, and you

be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. gifts will

41

and unjust.

merciful, then, as your Father

does not carry

it

without founda-

The Centurion;

when

tion;

LUKE

Widow's Son

the

the river broke

upon

and great was

at once,

it fell

it,

7

that house's ruin.

CHAPTER SEVEN HE HAD WHEN Capharnaum. went

he

SAID his say in the hearing of the people,

There was a centurion that had a

to

servant, very dear to him,

when he was

and

4

the Jews to him, asking

he,

who was

then at the point of death;

told about Jesus, sent

3

him

to

come and

these, presenting themselves before Jesus,

appeal to him; 5

he

6

at his

is

to our race,

Do

and has

built

make

to

And

earnest

done for him;

our synagogue for us

not put thyself to any trouble. Lord, he said;

worthy to receive thee under

come

to

and he goes,

my

servant,

amazement

I

or.

word

have

of

Come, the

My

When

I

too

I I

know what Go,

I say.

and he comes, he heard

or,

to

am if

thou

it

is

to

this,

to

turned in

him, and

even in

not

did not

one man,

Do

that, Jesus

multitude which followed

have not found

why

is

servant will be healed

under me, and

to another, it.

That

roof.

command.

soldiers

and he does to

my

to thee myself.

wilt only speak a

obey authority;

9

began

deserves, they said, to have this

good friend

presume 8

He

of the elders of

own cost. So Jesus set out in their company; and when he was already near the house, the centurion sent some friends to him;

7

a

some

heal his servant.

said,

And

10

Believe me,

11

when they came back to the house, found the serwho had been sick fully recovered. And now it happened that he was going into a city called Naim, attended by his disciples and by a great multitude of people. And just as he drew near the gate of the city, a dead man was being

I

faith like this,

Israel.

the messengers,

vant

[

12

carried out to his burial; the only son of his mother,

vf.

i-io.

Matthew

viii.

5-13.

St.

Matthew

and she was a

represents the centurion as

our Lord personally, and making no request that he should come to his house. St. Augustine and other commentators explain that the centurion 'approached' our Lord only through his friends. Others have thought that the centurion, perhaps anxious at the delay, followed up his two messages by coming out to meet our Lord in person.

going

to

[129]

LUKE

Praise of John the Baptist

7

widow; and a crowd o£ folk trom the city went with her. When the Lord saw her, he had pity on her, and said. Do not weep. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier; and those who were

13

14

carrying

stood

it

15

up.

And

16

back

to his

visited

They were

mother.

God,

praising

17

And he said. Young man, I man sat up, and spoke; and

A

all

Jesus gave

him

overcome with awe, and

said,

And

story

this

throughout the whole of Judaea and 3,

19

John was told of

two of 20

that

his disciples,

was

of

up among us; God has him was noised abroad

all

the country round.

great prophet has risen

people.

his

say to thee, rise

still.

the dead

by his

all this

and sent them

foretold, or are

we

And

disciples.

summoned

he

to Jesus to ask, Is

coming

thy

it

some other?

yet waiting for

So they

presented themselves before him, and said, John the Baptist has sent us to ask. Is

thy

it

21

waiting for some other?

22

many many and

of their diseases

At

and

were blind the

that

tell

coming

John what your

the blind see,

was

that

and of

afflictions

eyes

and

have the gospel preached lose confidence in

to

them.

and gave

evil spirits,

how

have witnessed;

ears

and the lame walk, and the

and the deaf hear; how the dead are 23

yet

Jesus rid

visit,

Then he answered. Go

gift of sight.

own

we

foretold, or are

the very time of their

made

lepers are

raised to

Blessed

and the poor

life,

he

is

clean,

who

does not

me.

Then, when John's messengers had gone away, he took occasion John to the multitudes; What was it, he asked, that you

24

to speak of

expected to see

out to see?

Was

palaces

men

.

it

is

who

I

am

to prepare thy

and the publicans, vv. 18-^^.

It

way

Malachy

iii.

see notes there.

i.

[130}

a

look in kings' luxury.

in

prophet? Yes,

This

is

before thee.

kingdom

had given God

xi. 2;

it

you went

the

man

of

sending before thy face that

was the common

that

Matthew

it

live

A

to see?

you, than a prophet.

yet to be least in the

greater than he.

V. 2y.

is

and

no greater than John the Baptist among

women; and 29

I tell

what was

You must

dressed,

you went out

written, Behold,

is

that;

clad in silk?

go proudly

then, that

it,

angel of mine there

man

that

Was

out into the wilderness?

No, not

wind?

a

it

and something more,

whom 28

for

What was

26 27

when you went

reed trembling in the

25

folk

I

tell

you,

the sons of

of heaven

who

his due,

all

is

to be

listened to him,

by receiving John's

LUKE

The Woman who loved much

whereas the Pharisees and lawyers, by refusing

30

baptism,

31

frustrated God's plan for them.

then, shall

32

like?

I

of

mind

of

in

33

35

36

37

Lord

the

said,

companions as they sit in not mourn would not dance when we piped to you, you would neither eat would he came, When John you. to wept when we the Son of Man nor drink, and you say. He is possessed. When say, Here is a came, he ate and drank with you, and of him you and sinners. glutton; he loves wine; he is a friend of publicans

their

34

had

To what, this generation? What are they those children who call out to the market-place and say. You

And

compare the men

They put me

it,

7

But wisdom

One

is

vindicated by

all

of the Pharisees invited

Pharisee's house

and took

her children.

him

to a

meal; so he went into the

his place at table.

And

there

was then

who, hearing that he was at table in a sinful woman in the ointment with her, and the Pharisee's house, brought a pot of began place behind him at his feet, weeping; then she city,

38

took her

with her tears, and drying them with her hair, and anointing them with the ointment. His host, If this man was a the Pharisee, saw it, and thought to himself. touching him, prophet, he would know who this woman is that is him thus, and what kind of woman, a sinner. But Jesus answered he said. Master, me. it Tell hearing. thy for word Simon, I have a five There was a creditor who had two debtors; one owed him

washing

his feet

kissing his feet,

pieces of silver, the other fifty;

they had no

42

hundred

43

paying him, and he gave them both their discharge.

means

of

And now

Simon me, which of them loves him the more? I suppose, discharged. debt greater the had who one the is answered, that it And he said. Thou hast judged rightly. Then he turned towards

tell

44

woman, and said to Simon, Dost thou see this woman? I came into thy house, and thou gavest me no water for my feet; them with her she has washed my feet with her tears, and wiped

the

45

hair.

46

to kiss

47

Thou

my

gavest

me

feet since

I

head; she has anointed

no

kiss of greeting; she

entered;

my

feet,

has never ceased

on

thou didst not pour

oil

and with ointment.

And

my

so,

I

has shewn great love because she V. 47. This may mean that the woman forgiven much because has been forgiven much, or that the woman has been seems to fit in with the she has shewn great love. The former interpretation which immediately folparable which goes before, and with the sentence

commentators. lows; the latter has the authority of the older

[.31]

LUKE

8

Parable of the Sower

have been forgiven her, she has also greatly

thee, if great sins

tell

He

48

loved.

49

to her.

50

But he

loves

Thy

who

little,

has

little

sins are forgiven.

thought to themselves, told the

Who

woman, Thy

is

forgiven him.

Then he

said

And

his fellow-guests

this,

that he even forgives sins?

faidi has saved thee;

thereupon

go in peace.

CHAPTER EIGHT iHEN FOLLOWED a time in which he went on journeying from,

t:one

2

city or village to another, preaching and spreading the good news of God's kingdom. With him were the twelve apostles, and certain women, whom he had freed from evil spirits and from

4

cast

out of her,

came 5

Mary who

is called Magdalen, who had had seven devils and Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him with the means they had. When a great multitude had gathered, and more

sicknesses,

3

flocking to

him out

Here

the sower

parable.

is

of the cities, he spoke to

gone out to sow

sowed, there were some grains that

6 7

fell

his seed.

them

And

in a as

he

beside the path, so that they

were trodden underfoot, and the birds flew down and ate them. others fell on the rocks, where they withered as soon as they

And

were up, because they had no moisture. And some fell among and the briers grew up with them and smothered them. But others fell where the soil was good, and when these grew up

briers,

8

they yielded a hundredfold. So saying, he cried aloud. Listen, you that have ears to hear with. 9, 10

Then

his disciples

told them. It

is

kingdom; the

rest

11

watch without

12

parable

means

side hear the

from

asked

him what

this

parable meant.

must

seeing, this; the

learn of

and seed

it

listen is

by parables,

he

so that they can

without understanding.

word, and then the devil

Matthew

xiii.

i,

Mark

The

God's word.

Those by the way comes and takes it away

their hearts, so that they cannot find faith

vv. 4-1^.

And

granted to you to understand the secret of God's

iv. i.

[132}

and be saved.

The Storm on 13

Those on the rock, as they hear

soon 14

who

are those

and

it,

way, are

their

soil

by the

stifled

who

stands for those

8

joy as

roots; they last for a while,

And

away.

who

hear

And

the grain that

fell

and then, going on

it,

and the pleasures of

cares, the riches,

and never reach maturity.

life,

no

fall

the briers stands for those

word with

entertain the

yet have

but in time of temptation they

among 15

LUKE

La\e

the

the grain that fell in

hear the word, and hold by

it

good

with a

noble and generous heart, and endure, and yield a harvest.

Nobody

16

17

see

18

hidden will

20

who

those

A

all

a bed;

into the house can

be revealed; what

is

Look well, be made to him;

to light.

rich, gifts will

what he thinks

his

own.

him, but could not

to visit

So word was given him,

of the multitude.

thy brethren are standing without, asking to see

My

But he answered them,

thee.

22

is

under

in a jar or

who come

mother and brethren came

his

Thy mother and 21

man

listen. If a

him because

reach

all

covered up will

is

poor, he will lose even

is

away

it

made known, and come

be

all

how you

he

And

19

What

light.

its

then, if

lamp, to hide

lights a

put on a lamp-stand, so that

it is

hear the

word

mother and

God, and keep

of

day came when he and

his disciples

my

brethren are

it.

embarked on

a boat;

Let

us cross to the other side of the lake, he said to them; and they 23

began

now 24

their voyage.

a storm of

to ship

we

are sinking.

wind and wave, and

Where

is

your faith?

26 27

So they came

is

homeless

Then he

is this,

said to them.

who

gives his

command

obeyed?

and

as

for a long time

the tombs.

When

had gone naked, and

he saw

xii. viii.

46,

Jesus,

Why

with me, Jesus, Son of the most High God? Matthew Matthew

I

he

[33]

fell

dost thou

on

lived

down

meddle

pray thee, do not

Mark iii. 31; see note on Matthew Mark iv. 35.

23,

is

he went ashore, he was met by

before him, and cried with a loud voice.

vv. ig-22. ^v. 22-2^.

And

awe and astonishment,

land in the country of the Gerasens, which

man who

among

fell asleep.

he rose up, and checked both

they were full of

the coast opposite Galilee; a possessed

28

to

And

Why, who

wind and water, and

he

the lake, and they began

was calm.

there

And

saying to one another, to

sailing,

So they came and roused him, crying.

water perilously.

Master, master, 25

While they were

wind came down upon

xii. 46.

LUKE 29

The

8

torment me.

(For he was bidding the unclean

man). Often,

the

Devils of Gerasa; ] aims' Daughter

when

at times

come out

spirit

had seized upon him, the

it

of

man

had been bound, under guard, with chains and fetters, but still he would break his bonds, and the devil would drive him out into 30

Then

the wilderness.

he

And

What

Jesus asked him,

Legion; for there were

said.

many

is

devils that

name? And

thy

had entered into

31

him.

32

abyss.

33

man and entered whereupon the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake, and were drowned. The herdsmen fled when they saw it happen, and spread the news of it in the city and about the

and the

side,

this leave

him not

they entreated

There was

them go back

to bid

to the

herd of swine feeding on the mountain-

a great

devils besought his leave to

he granted them.

So the

go into these instead;

devils left the

into the swine;

34

35

country side;

whom

so that they

When

themselves.

came out

had been driven out

the devils

what had happened for

to see

they reached Jesus, they found the

man from and

sitting there, clothed

and they were

36

restored to his wits, at Jesus' feet;

who had

witnessed

37

delivered.

Then

38

embarked on

39

accompany him; but Jesus sent him away; Go back home, he said, and make known all God's dealings with thee. So he went back, and published all over

it

all

told

the

them how

common

Those

terrified.

the possessed

man had

folk of the country

been

round Gerasa

asked Jesus to leave them, such fear had gripped them; and he

devils

the city the

When

40 41

the boat

news of the great things

42

feet,

43

as

all

who was

had done

Jesus

been awaiting him.

And now

imploring him to come

to his house,

who was

for he

dying.

he went, the multitude pressed about him

woman who spent

all

her

cure her,

for twelve years

money on

for him.

Matthew

ix.

i,

It

man named fell

happened

closely.

issue of blood,

viii. 32.

Mark v. i. Mark v. 21.

[34]

the

hem

at Jesus'

had an only

doctors without finding one

came up behind and touched

V. J2. See note on Matthew vv. ^6-^g. Matthew viii. 28,

vp. 40-y6.

had had an

a

came and

a ruler of the synagogue,

daughter about twelve years old,

44

the

to

Jesus returned, he found the multitude there to greet

him; they had Jairus,

The man from whom

and returned.

had been driven out asked leave

that,

And

a

and had

who

could

of his cloak; and

Two

LUKE

Miracles; Mission of the Apostles

Then

suddenly her issue of blood was stanched.

45

me?

touched

All disclaimed

panions, the multitudes are

46

thee,

and canst thou

body touched me; 47

And

the

woman,

ask.

hemming

tell

touched

thee in

me?

and crowding upon

But Jesus

Some-

said,

power has gone out from me.

that

was no concealment, came

finding that there

ward trembling and 48

can

I

Master, said Peter and his com-

it;

Who

fell at his feet,

and

so told

him

before

to her.

My

for-

all

people of her reason for touching him, and of her sudden cure.

he said

9

Who

Jesus said,

the

And

daughter, thy faith has brought thee recovery;

go in peace. 49

While he was synagogue, to

messenger came

yet speaking, a

say.

Thy daughter

and

him

is

50

Jesus heard

51

only to believe, and she will recover.

it,

he would not 52

let

said to

child's father

bewailing her; There dead, she

54

that she

55

Rise up, maiden,

56

to her.

is

Do not be afraid; thou hast When he reached the house,

and mother. All were weeping and

no need

to weep,

he told them; she

they laughed aloud at him, well

But he took her by the hand, and

parents,

who were

no one hear of what had

is

not

knowing

called aloud,

and she rose up there and then with

life

ordered that she should be given something to

warned her let

is

And

asleep.

was dead.

He

openly.

anyone come in with him, except Peter and James

and John, and the

53

to the ruler of the

dead; do not trouble the Master.

restored

eat,

and

beside themselves with wonder, to

befallen.

CHAPTER NINE

2

ND HE CALLED the twclvc apostlcs to him, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, sending them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

3

He

A

/\.

Take nothing with you to use on your journey, staff money; you are not to have more than one You are to lodge in the house you first enter, and

told them.

or wallet or bread or

4

coat apiece.

5

not change your abode. 7—5.

Matthew

x. i,

And

Mark

wherever they deny you

vi. 7.

[135]

a v^elcome,

LUKE

The

9

you leave the

as

against them.

city,

shake

So they

set

five

thousand; Peter's Confession

from your

the dust

oflf

feet, in

witness

out and passed through the villages,

preaching the gospel and healing the sick wherever they went.

And

who was

Herod,

prince in that quarter, heard of

and did not know what

doings,

John had

risen

and some

that

said Herod,

from the dead, and some

some

telling

who

can

this be, of

to

whom

And he was eager to see him. And now the apostles came back and told Jesus done. And he retired, taking them with him, to a

his

all

him

that

had appeared,

that Elias

one of the old prophets had returned beheaded;

I

to think,

John,

life.

hear such

I

reports.?

the Bethsaida country, titudes heard of

and spoke

to

where they could be

and followed him;

it,

them

kingdom

of the

and the twelve came and go

of

And now

were in need of healing.

said to him.

we

lodging and food;

alone.

desert place in

But the mul-

he gave them welcome,

so

God, and cured those

the day began to

who

wear on;

Give the multitudes leave

and farms round about,

to the villages

had

of all they

to

so that they can find

But he told

are in desert country here.

them food to eat. We have no more, they said, than five loaves and two fishes, unless thou wouldst have us go ourselves and buy food for all this assembly. About five them.

for

It is

you

to give

thousand men were gathered there. So he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by companies of fifty; and they did this, bidding all of them sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked

up

and blessed them, and

to heaven,

broke, and gave them to his disciples, to set before the multitude.

All ate and had their up,

it

filled

There was ciples

a

time

I

am?

when he had gone

Then he

over was picked

Thou

laid a strict

Who

But who do you say that

art the

Christ

whom God

others

Mark vi. 30, John 13, Mark viii. 27.

vv. lo-iy.

xiv. 13,

vv.

xvi.

[136]

vi. i.

I

am? And

has anointed.

charge upon them, bidding them

Matthew i8-2y. Matthew

do the multitude

the Baptist;

one of the old prophets has returned to

said to them,

answered.

left

apart to pray, and his dis-

They answered, John

Elias, others, that

he

and when what they

were with him; and he asked them.

that

say

fill,

twelve baskets.

tell

no one

say life.

Peter

And of

it;

The 22

LUKE

Transfiguration

The Son

Man, he

of

said,

is

to be

much

and

ill-used,

9

rejected by

the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death, and

23

rise

24

mind

come

to

it; it is

25

How

26

himself,

is

the

man who

a

man

if

he pays the

acknowledging

way,

he said

He who

forfeit of himself

kingdom 28

It

who

save his

If

?

words, the Son of

side to pray.

30

altered,

men

anyone

Man

32

33

and

to glorify him.

week

a

after all this

And his

even

as

Believe me, there are those

was

said, that

to see

And,

35

his

it is

well that

at

and

now

in

to achieve at

and the two

men

were parting from him,

we

should be here;

and one

random: and even

let

us

for Moses, as

he said

overshadowing them; they saw those others

is

my

And

a voice

beloved Son; to him, then,

came listen.

sounded, Jesus was discovered alone. They kept

as the voice

silence,

and two

seen

companions were sunk in

disappear into the cloud, and were terrified.

And

Elias,

in his glory,

just as these

But he spoke

for Elias.

from the cloud. This 36

him

three booths in this place, one for thee,

a cloud formed,

mountain

he prayed, the fashion of his face was

Meanwhile, Peter and

and they awoke

and one it,

he took Peter

to the

garments became white and dazzling;

Peter said to Jesus, Master,

34

ashamed

will not taste of death before they have seen the

standing with him.

make

ashamed of

is

will be

and they spoke of the death which he was

Jerusalem. sleep;

it.

he loses

if

in his glory, with his Father

appeared conversing with him, Moses and

glory;

will

of God.

was about

31

life

sake, that will save

and John and James with him, and went up on 29

and take up

whole world,

the better for gaining the

and the holy angels standing here

tries to

my

loses his life for

me and my

self,

man

any

to all alike, If

him renounce

let

acknowledge him, when he comes

to

27

my

and follow me.

his cross daily,

lose

And

again on the third day.

has a

at the

time said nothing of what they had seen to any-

body.

37

It

was on the next day

38

and were met by

39

favour upon

this multitude, a

my

that they

came down from the mountain, and now, from the midst of

a great multitude;

man

cried out,

son; he

is

my

I

entreat thee. Master, look with

only child.

V. 2y. See note on Matthew xvi. 28. vv. 28-4^. Matthew xvii. i, Mark ix.

C137J

i.

There

are times

when

LUKE

The

9

a spirit seizes

him 40 41

foaming

disciples to cast

how

and throws

mouth; then

goes away,

And

his

way, the devil threw him

But Jesus checked the unclean

43

vulsion.

44

and gave him

so that

to his father;

evidence of God's power. all

And

Man

of

at this great

men were yet wondering at disciples, Remember this well.

soon to be betrayed into the hands of men.

is

said;

was hidden from

it

them, so that they could not perceive the meaning of to ask

him about

46

And

47

greatest.

48

hold of a litde child and gave

them,

a

He who

least in all

Master, 50

saying of

it;

and they

his.

among them, which of them was the who saw what was occupying their thoughts, took welcomes

a

a place beside

my

me welcomes him

your company

we saw

it

this child in

is

man who

and

him,

that sent me.

the greatest.

said to

name, welcomes me;

And John

does not follow in our

He who

is

answered.

company

cast-

we forbade him to do it. But Forbid him no more; the man who is not against you is

ing out devils in thy name, and Jesus said,

on your 51

this

question arose Jesus,

and he who welcomes 49

even

in a con-

and cured the boy,

spirit,

were amazed

all

But they could not understand what he were afraid

And

down

while

that Jesus did, he said to his

The Son

be with you,

I

bear with you? Bring thy son here.

I

boy was on

Ah,

Jesus answered,

out, but they could not.

it

it

entreated thy

I

and misguided generation, how long must

long must

as the

45

cry out suddenly,

at the

but only with a pang which lacerates him.

faithless

42

upon him, making him

into a convulsion,

Meekness and Discipleship

lunatic Boy;

side.

And now the earth,

the time

was drawing near

and he turned

And

for his taking

his eyes steadfastly

away from

towards the way that

he sent messengers before him,

who came

52

led to Jerusalem.

53

into a Samaritan village, to

54

tion of Jerusalem.

55

James and John, asked him. Lord, wouldst thou have us bid fire come down from heaven, and consume them? But he turned

make

all

in readiness.

tans refused to receive him, because his journey

When

they found

this,

But the Samari-

was

two of

in the direchis disciples,

Matthew xvii. i, Mark ix. 32. IV Kings i. 10. Many Greek manuscripts add, 'as Elias did'. ft/. 5^-56. Many Greek manuscripts have simply 'But he turned and buked them. And so they passed on to another village.' 'What spirit it perhaps in reference to IV Kings ii. 9, cf. v. 51 above. vv. 46-^0.

p. $4.

reis',

LUKE

Mission of the seventy -two Disciples

56

and rebuked them, You do not understand, he said, what spirit it you share. The Son of Man has come to save men's Hves, not

is

to destroy

them.

And

so they passed

As they went on on

57

on

follow thee wherever thou art going.

have

holes,

59

Man

has nowhere to lay his head.

60

father

61

dead;

and the birds of the

and he answered, Lord, give

there let

But Jesus

first. it is

was

me

for thee to

yet another

to another village.

their journey, a

58

62

10

me

To

another he

leave to go

said to him.

the

I

said'

the

Son

said,

Lord,

I

of

Follow me.

home and bury my to

bury

their

And

go out and proclaim God's kingdom.

who

will

Foxes

told him.

Leave the dead

will follow thee, but first

my friends. To him when he has once put kingdom of God.

take leave of

fitted for

said to him,

air their resting-places;

looks behind him, is

man

But Jesus

Jesus said, his

hand

No

who

one

to the plough,

CHAPTER TEN THIS, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them before him, two and two, into all the cities and villages he himself was to visit. The harvest, he told them, is plentiful

AFTER ^

2

enough, but the labourers are few; you must ask the Lord

to

3

whom the harvest belongs to send labourers out for the harvesting. Go then, and remember, I am sending you out to be like

4

lambs among wolves.

5

shoes; you are to give no one greeting

6

enter a house, say

who 7

first

dwell there are

You of

all,

men

are not to carry purse, or wallet, or

of

good

When

on your way.

Peace be to will,

house;

and

you

if

those

your good wishes

shall

this

come down upon it; if not, they will come back to you the way they went. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they have to give you; the labourer has a right to his maintenance;

8

do not move from one house

to another.

and thev make vou welcome, be content

w.

37-60.

Matthew

viii.

19.

[139]

When

you enter

to eat the fare

a city,

thev offer

LUKE

Exhortation of the seventy-two

10

you:

dom

God

of

But

off in

you,

go

12

close at

13

day of judgement, than with that

14

I tell

it

shall

this,

Woe

city.

to thee, Bethsaida!

ago,

humbling themselves with sackcloth and hard with Tyre and Sidon

And

16

heaven?

Thou

shalt be

you, listens to me; he despises

And

at the

who

18

thy name.

He

19

like a lightning flash

said to them,

right to trample

made Behold,

scorpions,

21

your names are enrolled in heaven.

At

with gladness by the Holy

said,

made

I

dren.

Be

it

so.

Son

Spirit,

me; and he who

except the Son, and those to

Then, turning

reveal him.

24

are the eyes that see

and

I

and

all

It

own

disciples,

see;

I tell

Master, he said, what must

What is

it

that

is

I

do

is,

to

he

said. Blessed

you, there have been

and never heard

many

see,

and

it.

to inherit eternal life?

written in the law?

[140]

My

the Father

longed to see what you hear,

all

good pleasure

happened once that a lawyer rose up, trying to put him

asked him,

filled

to little chil-

it

knows what

to his

what you

test;

was

hands; none knows what

the Son's

never saw

26

power of the

the

favour in thy sight.

my

it is

who have

25

down

O Father, who art Lord

whom

what you

to hear

rejoicing;

have given you the

this time, Jesus

this finds

prophets and kings it,

of

full

subject to us through

give thee praise that thou hast hidden

Lord, since

23

as

Hstens to

subject to you, should be rejoicing that

except the Father, and none

is,

go

But you, instead of rejoicing

it.

Father has entrusted everything into the

shall

up high

lifted

He who

from the wise and the prudent, and revealed

this

it

watched, while Satan was cast

I

from heaven.

on snakes and

of heaven and earth,

Corozain,

me.

enemy, and take no hurt from

22

be

to hell.

20

that the devils are

indeed,

despises you, despises

that sent

even the devils are

said,

is

at the

ashes, if the miracles

seventy-two disciples came back

the

God

judgement, than with you.

brought low as

me, despises him

Lord, they

of

Sodom

to thee,

And

instead.

Capharnaum, dost thou hope

thou,

and

city that

Tyre and Sidon would have repented long

done in you had been done there

15

streets,

kingdom

the

hard with

less

woe

less

17

out into their

king-

where

city

your faces the very dust from your

has clung to our feet; and be sure of

hand.

The

them,

tell

you enter a

if

make you welcome, go

We brush

say,

and

are sick there;

upon you.

close

is

they will not 11

who

and heal those

9 10

What is

to the

Jesus

thy reading

LUKE

The Good Samaritan; Martha and Mary 27

And

of it?

he answered, Thou

shalt love the

10

Lord thy God with

the love of thy whole heart, and thy whole soul, and thy whole 28

strength,

and thy whole mind; and thy neighbour

hast answered right, he told him;

do

Thou

as thyself.

and thou

this,

shalt find

life.

32

And who is my neighhour? Jesus gave him his answer; A man who was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho fell in with robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead. And a priest, who chanced to be going down by the same road, saw him there and passed by on the other side. And a Levite who came

33

there

29 30

31

But

he, to prove himself blameless, asked.

saw him, and passed by on the other

Samaritan, 34

who was on

he went up

sight;

to

his travels,

But

side.

saw him and took

a certain

pity at the

him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil so mounted him upon his own beast and

and wine into them, and 35

he took out two

Take

said.

36

ever else

is

silver pieces,

care of him,

owing

which he gave

and on

Jesus said.

38 39

40

And

with robbers.?

Go

he

said.

He

that

will give thee

I

Which

to thee for thy pains.

next day

to the inn-keeper,

my way home

thou, proved himself a neighbour to the

37

And

brought him to an inn, where he took care of him.

of these, thinkest

man who had

fallen in

shewed mercy on him. Then

thy way, and do thou likewise.

In one of the villages he entered during his journey, a called

Martha entertained him

called

Mary; and Mary took her place

needs; so she

my

sister

41

her help me.

42

cares

came

to his side,

should leave

me

distracted

Deut.

vi.

Lord's

feet,

hast!

5,

lis-

art

thou content

do the serving alone? Come, bid

But only one thing

for herself the best part of

Lev. xix.

a sister

and

by waiting on many

and asked. Lord, to

never be taken away from her.

V. 2-j.

at the

woman

She had

Jesus answered her, Martha, Martha,

and troubles thou

and Mary has chosen shall

in her house.

Martha was

tened to his words.

that

and

what-

18.

£ 141 1

is

all,

how many necessary; that

which

LUKE

Perseverance in Prayer; Satan does not cast out Satan

1

CHAPTER ELEVEN ONCE, WHEN

HE had found

2

how

John did

to pray, as

When

you pray, you

kingdom come,

4

us this day our daily bread,

who

those

Suppose one of you has

and asks him, Lend

mine has turned

And

him.

offer

8

are in bed;

not put

even

if

me

9

seek,

me

it is

door

and

make him same

to

rise

and give

are,

from heaven,

15

know

for them, his

is

him

Among

well enough

how

Holy

Spirit to those

through Beelzebub, the prince of the while others, to put him to the

16

out,

sign out of heaven.

them,

No kingdom

vv. 14-22.

can be

at

if if

if

Or

he

is

you,

your children what

Mark

iii.

22.

speech.

devils, that test,

war with

vi. 9, vii. 7.

22,

Or

then,

to give,

The

but some of them

But he could read

Matthew Matthew xii.

vv. 2-4, 9-/3.

to

which was dumb; and no sooner had

dumb man found

with amazement;

17

to give

Why

much more ready who ask him?

not your Father

just cast out a devil,

filled

he

yourselves,

a snake instead of a fish?

gone out than the

tudes were

I

you,

knock, and the door shall be opened

asked for an tg^, will he give him a scorpion?

had

I tell

asks, will receive, that seeks, will find, that

for a fish, will he give

He

children and

his friend all that

13

you

to

Do

asked by his son for bread, will he give him a stone?

is

the devil

a friend

have nothing

out of friendship,

it

12

14

I

you; ask, and the gift will come,

knocks, will have the door opened to him.

good

too forgive

dead of night,

at

my

locked,

bestir himself to grant

shall find;

Everyone that

is

11

is

we

into temptation.

to grant thy request.

you.

evil as

name; thy

in heaven; give

sins;

he goes

10

a father

he told them,

suppose the other answers, from within doors,

say the

and you

whom

after a journey,

cannot bestir myself

I

his disci-

three loaves of bread, neighbour;

in to

he will not

And

earth, as

and lead us not

a friend, to

me

shameless asking will needs.

one of

And

and forgive us our

to such trouble; the I

on

trespass against us;

6

7

in,

for his disciples.

thy will be done

5

of

pray

are to say, Father, hallowed be thy

3

all

a place to

him, after his prayer was over, Lord, teach us

ples said to

he

multi-

said,

it \t

casts the devils

would have him shew

their thoughts,

itself

and

a

said to

without being brought

Seven Evil 1

LUKE

Spirits; the Sign of Jonas

suppose that Satan's kingdom can stand firm

19

himself, that

you should accuse

Beelzebub?

Again,

if

is

it

me

if

he

at

is

war with

of casting out devils through

through Beelzebub that

own

by what means do your

devils,

And how do you

one house falling upon another.

to desolation,

li

sons cast

pronounce judgement on you.

I

them out?

out

cast It is

when

for

20

these, then, to

21

out devils, I do it through God's power, then it must be that the kingdom of God has suddenly appeared among you. When a strong man, fully armed, mounts guard over his own palace, his

22

goods are still,

23

scatters

it

is

against

abroad.

and then goes out resting-place,

25

26

but

peace;

when

the

all

a

man comes who

armour

that gave

him

is

cast

I

stronger

confidence,

and

spoils he has won. He who is not me; he who does not gather his store with me,

The unclean

and

finds none;

own

dwelling, from which

that

dwelHng swept

to bear

there;

out,

it

is

the

go back

says, I will

womb

woman

to

my

came out. And it comes back, to find and neatly set in order. Thereupon, it

the last state of that

he spoke thus, a

man

I

spirits

more wicked than

company, and together they enter in and

it

till

which has possessed a

spirit

of him, walks about the desert looking for a

goes away and brings in seven other

27

if,

and divide among others the with me,

24

left in

he will take away

But

man

is

worse than the

in the multitude said to

that bore thee, the breast

him

settle first.

itself

down

When

aloud. Blessed

which thou hast sucked.

28

And

29

word of God, and keep it? The multitudes gathered round him, and he began speaking to them thus; This is a wicked generation; it asks for a sign, and the

30

Jonas was the sign given to the

31

this

he answered. Shall

we

not say, Blessed are those

only sign that will be given to

men

generation will be the Son of

up with the men

hear the

the sign of the prophet Jonas. of

Nineve; the sign given to

Man.

The queen

of the south

and came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve will rise up with this genwill rise

will leave

32

it is

who

of this generation at the judgement,

them without excuse;

for she

Matthew xii. 38; see note on Matthew See note on Matthew xii. 46. vv. 31-32. I Paralip. ix. i, Jonas i. 17. vv. 24-^2.

V. 28.

[143]

xii.

43.

LUKE

eration at the judgement,

than Jonas

Nobody

is

a bushel measure;

34

and 35

it

if

is

all

thy eye

it

without excuse; for they

it

is

it

away

Thy body

in.

clear, the

in darkness,

if

thy whole body

will all be

it

lit

up

as

light

its

will be

lit

lamp;

up;

when Take

will be in darkness.

which

is

may

its

has the eye for

whole of thy body

whole of thy body

then,

in a cellar or under

put on the lamp-stand, so that

care, then, that this principle of light

not darkness; of

lamp, and then puts it is

who come

diseased, the

good 36

will leave

here.

lights a

be seen by

and

Jonas preached to them, and behold, a greater

when

did penance

33

rebu\ed

Spiritual blindness; Pharisees

11

in thee

is

light,

no part

is

in the light, with

if

by a bright lamp enlight-

ening thee.

At to his

38

the time

when he

said this,

one of the Pharisees invited him

house for the mid-day meal; so he went in and

while

all

within

did not he

43

46

at

once

God

his tithe,

will,

and leave

on one

side justice

and the love of God; you do ill to forget one Woe upon you, you Pharisees, seats in the synagogues, and to have your hands

duty while you perform the other. first

woe upon

kissed in the market-place;

And

men walk

you, that are like hidden

over without knowing

it.

here one of the lawyers answered him; Master, he said, in

speaking thus thou art bringing us too into contempt.

Woe

upon you

too,

And

he

you lawyers, for loading men with packs

too heavy to be borne, packs that

48

you have, and

you, you Pharisees, that will award

it

said,

47

store

be of mint or rue or whatever herb you

Woe upon

tombs which 45

at

running with avarice and wickedness. Fools, the outward part make the inward too?

is

though

for loving the

44

down

who made

Nay, you should give alms out of the all that is yours becomes clean. 42

sat

meanwhile was inwardly surmising, why he had not washed before his meal. And the Lord said to him, You Pharisees are content to cleanse the outward part of cup and dish, the Pharisee

table;

Woe upon

you yourselves

will not

touch

up the tombs of the prophets, the same prophets who were murdered by your fathers; sure witness that you approve what your fathers did, since you

with one finger.

vv. 39-32.

Matthew

you, for building

xxiii. 4.

[•44]

Blood of the Prophets; Courage 49

of

50

men

build tombs for the

God warns

you,

I

LUKE

in Persecution

they murdered.

will send

my

Whereupon

prophets and

them, and there will be some they will

kill

the

my

since the beginning of the world,

blood of Zacharias, temple; yes, 52

it.

Woe

who was

and persecute;

from the blood

killed

wisdom

aposdes to

will be answerable for all the blood of prophets that has 51

between the

12

so they

been shed

of Abel to the altar

and the

you, this generation will be held answerable for

I tell

upon you, you

lawyers, for taking

away with you

the key

of knowledge; you have neither entered yourselves, nor let others

enter

53

54

when

they would.

As he said all this to them, the scribes and Pharisees resolved to hunt him down mercilessly and to browbeat him with a multitude of questions. Thus they lay in wait for him, hoping to catch some word from his lips which would give them ground of accusation against him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

AND NOW GREAT multitudes had gathered round him, so that they his .

trod one another

disciples;

down; and he addressed himself

Have nothing

2

said, it

3

hidden will

is all

hypocrisy. all

to

What

be known;

be repeated in the light of 4

5

is

veiled will aU be revealed,

the body,

and

my

friends.

after that

what

is

what you have said in darkness, will day, what you have whispered in secret

chambers, will be proclaimed on the house-tops.

you who are

first to

do with the leaven of the Pharisees, he

Do

And I say this to who can kill teU you who it is

not be afraid of those

can do no more.

I

will

him who has power not only to kill but to cast 6 a man into hell; him you must fear indeed. Are not sparrows sold five for two pence? And yet no one of them is forgotten in God's 7 sight. As for you, he takes every hair of your head into his reckoning; do not be afraid, then; you count for more than a host of you must

V. 5/.

fear; fear

See note on Matthew

vv. 1-12.

Matthew

xxiii. 35.

x. 26.

[45]

LUKE 8

9

will

who

he

Son of

13

14 15

Man

me before men, will be disowned no one who speaks a word against forgiveness; there will be no forgive-

is

Man but may find man who blasphemes

Holy

against the

do not consider anxiously what you are to

say,

what

de-

make or how to make it; the Holy Spirit will instruct you when the time comes, what words to use. One of the multitude said to him. Master, bid my brother give me a share of our inheritance. And he answered. Why, man, who has appointed me a judge to make awards between you? Then

fence to

ousness.

A

man's

And

than he needs.

17

whose lands yielded

18

What am said.

This

he told them a parable.

is

what

I

no room

will do;

greater ones, and there

I

shall

to store

be able to store

and then

the goods that are mine;

my

I

all

covet-

man

a rich his

barns,

mind,

Then he

crops in?

down my

will pull

I

all

possessions

and he debated in

a heavy crop:

to do, with

I

more There was

does not consist in having

life

16

and build

my harvest and all my soul. Come,

will say to

many years to come; make merry. And God said,

thou hast goods in plenty laid up for

soul,

20

When

Spirit.

before synagogues, and magistrates, and

trial

he said to them. Look well and keep yourselves clear of

19

before

in the presence of

disowns

ness for the

officers,

me

whoever acknowledges

this;

There

before God's angels.

they bring you to

12

you

I tell

rich Fool; Trust in Providence

be acknowledged by the Son of

God's angels;

the 11

And

sparrows.

men,

10

The

12

take thy rest now, eat, drink, and

Thou

fool, this

now

night thou must render up thy soul; and

thou hast laid by?

Thus

who

will

man

with the

21

be master

22

who lays up treasure for himself, and has no credit with God. Then he said to his disciples, I say to you, then, do not fret over your life, how to support it with food, over your body, how to

23

keep

24

clothing;

it

of

clothed. see

all

Life

how

is

a greater gift

storehouse nor barn, and yet

God

excellence far

beyond

theirs?

26

add a

growth

to his height?

27

cubit's

do so small

how

the

of you, for

And

if

you

all

his fretting,

are powerless to

why do you

fret

about your other needs ?

grow; they do not

toil,

or spin, and yet

a thing,

lilies

or reap, have neither

feeds them; have you not an

Can any

25

than food, the body than

sow

the ravens never

it is

even Solomon in

all

his glory

V. 10. See nete on Matthew vv 22-11. Matthew vi. 25.

was not arrayed

xii. 32.

[146]

like

I tell

See

you

one of

that

these.

LUKE

Watchfulness 28

God, then,

I£

and

so clothes the grasses

will feed the

29

to clothe you,

30

what you

men

for the heathen

31

knows

fields

much more

ready

You

of litde faith ?

world

busy

to

kingdom

it is

over such things; your Father

itself

God, and

of

should not be asking, then,

and living in suspense of mind;

No, make

well that you need them.

find the

which Hve to-day in the

oven to-morrow, will he not be

are to eat or drink,

12

it

your

care to

first

these things shall be yours with-

all

out the asking.

Do

32 33

my

not be afraid, you,

mined

you

alms, so

flock.

little

kingdom.

his

35

is,

36

burning,

there your heart

turn from a wedding

37

Your

too.

is

and you yourselves

may open

alert.

Be sure

what time 40

of this;

if

to

him

re-

once

at

Blessed are those servants,

sit

down

I

promise

and

to meat,

in the second quarter of the

night or in the third, blessed are those servants 39

and your lamps

girt,

awaiting their master's

make them

Whether he comes

minister to them.

where no

treasure-house

watching when he comes;

you, he will gird himself, and 38

they

at the door.

their master will find

in heaven,

must be

men

feast, so that

when he comes and knocks

whom

loins

like

up

Where your

comes near, no moth consumes.

thief

deter-

Sell

holes in, an inexhaustible treasure laid

34

Your Father has

what you have, and give providing yourselves with a purse that time cannot wear

to give

he finds them

if

had known

the master of the house

at

was coming, he would have kept watch, and

the thief

You

not allowed his house to be broken open. stand ready; the Son of

Man

will

come

at

must

too, then,

an hour

when you

are

not expecting him.

Hereupon Peter

41

42

to us, or to all

faithful

said to him, Lord, dost thou address this parable

men?

And

the

and wise steward, one

Lord answered. Who, then,

whom

them

the care of the household, to give 43

the appointed

44

this

45

of

when

all his

his lord

goods.

comes;

But

long in coming, and 46

Blessed

time.''

if

I

and

will cut

vv. 39-46.

him

off,

Matthew

their

that servant

a

allowance of food at

who

is

found doing

that servant says in his heart,

falls to

is

with

promise you, he will give him charge

beating the

and drinking himself drunk; nothing, at an hour

is

his master will entrust

when he

men and

then on some day is

all

and assign him

xxiv. 43.

[147I

unaware,

My

lord

when he

expects

his lord will

his portion

is

the maids, eating

come,

with the unfaith-

LUKE 47

Yet

ful.

make 48

Be wise

12

who knew

the servant

is

it

ready for him, or do his

and did not

his Lord's will,

will, that will

have

in time

many

strokes of

who did not know of it, yet earned a beating, will few. Much will be asked of the man to whom much

he

the lash;

have only a

has been given; more will be expected of him, because he was entrusted with more.

49 50

baptism 51

that

It is fire

better wish can

for

its

have come

I I

to spread over the earth,

have than that

it

and what

There

should be kindled?

must needs be baptized with, and how impatient

I

Do

accomplishment!

you think that

peace on the earth? No, believe me,

Henceforward

52

sion.

53

ance, three against

five in the

two and two against

to

will be

I

bring dissen-

found

at vari-

the father will be

three;

with his son, and the son with

at variance

a

have come to bring

I

have come

I

same house

is

am

mother

his father, the

and the daughter against her mother, the

against her daughter,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

54

And

he said to the multitudes,

When

of the west, you say at once, There

55

when you

56

hot,

57

live in?

58

right decision ?

find the south-west

and so

it is.

Poor

pret the face of land

fools,

is

you find a cloud

rain coming,

wind blowing, you

and

it

you know well enough how

and sky; can you not interpret the times you

one has

a

to

make

to be quit of his claim; or

to his officer, this,

and the

the

claim against thee, and thou art going

into the presence of the judge,

59

be

to inter-

with him to the magistrate, then do thy utmost, while thou

on the road,

does;

say, It will

Does not your own experience teach you If

rising out so

it

may

and the judge

will

hand thee over

officer will cast thee into prison.

thou wilt find no discharge from

it

art still

be he will drag thee

Be sure

of

until thou hast paid the

last farthing.

vv. 51-53. vv. 54-56. V. 5-].

follows.

Matthew Matthew

x. 34.

xvi. 2.

to be a link between what went before and what the signs of their own times (our Lord's miracles, etc.), the

This verse seems

From

Tews can satisfy themselves that the kingdom of God is at hand. Let them, then, use the same prudence in spiritual, as they would use in worldly affairs. Let thern repent of their sins here and now, before punishment comes upon them, just as they would be anxious to settle out of court a law-suit which

was

likely to

go against them.

Cf.

Matthew

[148]

v. 25, 26.

LUKE

God's Patience; healing on the Sabbath

13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

2

AT THIS VERY TIME there were some present that told him the story £\_ of those GaHleans, whose blood Pilate had shed in the midst of their sacrifices. And Jesus said in answer, Do you suppose, because this befell them, that these men were worse sinners than all

3

else in Galilee?

4

did,

the tower

in Siloe,

fell

it is

perish as they did,

And

this

was

for fruit

on

them; do you suppose that there

if

I

you

tell

now,

I

it

9

10

whereupon he to

dung round it

There was

perhaps

it;

down

who

will all

it

I

man

that

had

said to his vine-

look for fruit on this

and cannot find any. Cut

stand this year too, so that

to cut

you

when he came and looked

be a useless charge upon the land?

let it

so;

he told them; There was a

have been coming

tree for three years,

was not

it

you do not repent.

a parable

he could find none;

it,

dresser, See

8

men on whom

killed

and

a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, but

7

perish as they

all

of those eighteen

then dwelt at Jerusalem?

6

not so; you will

What

a heavier account against them, than against any others

was 5

you

I tell

you do not repent.

if

But he answered

may have

will bear fruit;

fig-

down; why should

it

thus, Sir,

time to dig and put

if

not,

it

will be time

then.

day on which he was preaching in one of

a sabbath

12

there was a woman who for eighteen had suffered under some influence that disabled her; she was bent down, and could not lift her head straight. Jesus saw her

13

ity.

14

raised upright,

11

synagogues.

their

Here

years

and

called her to

Then he

him;

Woman,

laid his

he

said,

thou

art rid of

thy infirm-

hands on

her,

and immediately she was

praise to

God.

But the ruler of the syna-

and gave

gogue, indignant that Jesus should heal them on the sabbath day,

turned and said to the multitude,

work 15

is

on the sabbath. hypocrites, ass

16

is

from the

bath?

You have

six

days on which

come and be healed on those days, not Lord gave him this answer, What, you

allowed; you should

And

And

the

there any one of you that will not untie his ox or his stall

here

and take them down is

this

to water,

daughter of Abraham,

kept bound these eighteen years past; was

C149]

it

when

it is

whom

wrong

the sab-

Satan had

that she should

LUKE 17

Parables;

13

On

repenting too late

be delivered on the sabbath day from bonds hke these?

shame by

adversaries were put to

saying of

this

his,

All his

and the whole

multitude rejoiced over the marvellous works he did. 18

19

He

What

said,

is

there that bears a likeness to the

heaven; what comparison shall

man

mustard

seed, that a

where

has thriven and

it

20

have come and

21

comparison

shall

enough

of meal,

And

23

making

I

25

there are

to

is it

many who

will fall to beating

Lord open you, nor

We

ing,

27

to us.

cities

and

29

away

30

31

and

at the

villages teaching,

and

man

that

33

?

a

Whereupon

narrow door;

I tell

you,

When

and has shut the door, you

in

you stand without, and saying,

as

Thereupon you

will say,

you,

I tell

shall

ham and

Isaac

I

I

know

nothing of

will fall to protest-

know nothing

be there, and gnashing of teeth,

and Jacob and

dom, while you yourselves

all

are cast out.

kingdom

and

shall

of

then be

was on

God. first,

And

indeed, there are

some who

that day that

when you

see

Abra-

Others will come from

and the west, the north and the south,

the

of you,

traffic in iniquity.

the prophets within God's king-

are

some of

first,

and

to take their ease in

some who shall

the Pharisees

are last,

then be

came

last.

him and mind to kill to

Go elsewhere, and leave this place; Herod has a And he said to them. Go and tell that fox, Behold, to-day and to-morrow I am to continue casting out devils, and doing works of healing; it is on the third day that I am to reach my consummation. But to-day and to-morrow and the next day I must go on my said.

32

like

measures

in three

There was

be his answer,

this will

But he

Weeping

It

is

have eaten and drunk in thy presence; thou hast taught

in our streets.

the east

What

It

will not be able to enter.

gone

on the door

whence you come.

the birds

all

of heaven?

nor whence you come; depart from me, you that 28

and

again, he said.

only a few that are to be saved

will try

But

of

grain of

whole batch.

Fight your way in

them:

the master of the house has

26

kingdom

has taken and buried

to leaven the

said to him, Lord,

he said

And

journey towards Jerusalem.

his

24

into a great tree,

branches.

its

he went through the

so

kingdom

It is like a

has taken and planted in his garden,

grown

find for the

woman

leaven, that a

22

settled in

find for it?

I

thee.

vv. 18—21.

Matthew

xiii.

31,

Mark

iv. 30.

[150]

34

Fate of Jerusalem;

On Humility

journeys; there

no room

at

is

Jerusalem.

LUKE

for a prophet to

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

is left

me

nothing of Blessed

is

house uninhabited.

to you, a

name

I

Behold, your

it!

you, you shall see

tell

when you

until the time comes,

he that comes in the

I

often have

hen gathers her

as a

brood under her wings, and thou didst refuse house

how

to thee,

been ready to gather thy children together, 35

14

his death, except

murdering the prophets,

still

and stoning the messengers that are sent

meet

will be saying,

of the Lord.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN THERE WAS

A sabbath day, on which he was asked to take a meal

with one of the chief Pharisees, and 2

they were watching him.

3

man who had

4

openly.

Is

who

how 8

had

10

he turned on them, and

To

any

If so, his

Make room

for this

12

said. Is there

as they

did

any one of you

ox immediately,

this they

could

who were

host and thine will

man; and

if it falls

make no

answer.

into

He

invited, as he observed

who

in thy

all.

straight to the lowest place

invited thee comes

this;

and then honour

in,

When

when thou down there;

Rather,

art

sum-

and

so,

when

he will

who

and he that humbles himself to his host.

say to thee.

sit

say.

My

friend,

go higher

shall be thine before all that

Everyone

company.

come and

so thou wilt find thyself taking,

with a blush, the lowest place of

moned, go

11

Then,

man invites thee to a wedding, do not sit down in the he may have invited some guest whose rank is greater

than thine.

than

sight of a

and Pharisees

they chose the chief places for themselves; he said to them:

When

he

was met by the

by the hand, and sent him away

a parable for the guests

chief place;

9

man

will not pull out his ass or his

0,7 a pit on the sabbath.'' also

he went into the house,

as

healing allowed on the sabbath day?

And

healed.

his eye

Jesus asked the lawyers

the dropsy.

not answer, he took the 5

Here

exalts himself shall

shall

be exalted.

He

sit

down

be humbled,

said,

moreover,

thou givest a dinner or a supper, do not ask thy

neighbours to come, or thy brethren, or thy kindred, or thy friends

who

are rich;

it

may

be they will send thee invitations in return,

[151]

LUKE 13

and

The

14

so thou wilt be

recompensed for thy pains.

men

givest hospitality, invite poor

14

the blind

win

so thou shalt

:

great Supper; counting the Cost

16

Hearing

man who him

17

thus.

many

this,

all

own

And

20

to

21

The

servant

host

fell

I

it;

have bought of them;

trial

other said,

and lanes of the

and the lame.

And when to thy

Go

there

is

way

rny

come

who were

taste of

my

you, none of those

I tell

the

left still,

the

out into the highways and the hedge-

rows, and give them no choice but to filled.

the

has been

Sir, all

room

may

be

And

am on

me excused. And anI am unable to come.

the servant told him.

command, but

master said to the servant,

in, that so

my

house

invited shall

first

supper.

Great multitudes bore him company on his way; to these he

25

turned, and said: father yes,

after

and

my

me.

man comes

any

life too,

to

me, without hating

he takes up

Consider, first sit

if

he

7^

)

it

3

i

to build,

vv. 16-24.

A

to

it?

Is

he

and follows

to build a tower,

to lay the foundation,

if

and

a

all who see man who began

if

a king

complete the work, so that saying.

Here

finish his building?

similar parable

cross,

count the cost that must be paid,

mocking him and

and could not

own

one of you has a mind

down and

then find himself unable will fall to

his

his

sisters,

A man

he can be no disciple of mine.

disciple unless

have enough to finish

2)

to

own

his

does he not is

If

and mother and wife and children and brethren and

cannot be 23

I

must

I

bring in the poor, the cripples, the blind

city;

done according

27

and

five pair of oxen,

and

excused.

came back and told his master all this, whereupon into a rage, and said to his servant. Quick, go out into

22

26

me

pray thee, count

I

have married a wife, and so

I

began mak-

said to him,

first

pray thee, count

I

23

24

the

is

But he answered

God.

of them, with one accord,

all

have bought a farm, the

I

another said,

streets

of

servants telling the invited guests to come, for

needs go and look over

make

him, Blessed

his fellow-guests said to

kingdom

thee

man that gave a great supper, and sent out And when the time came for his supper, he

was now ready.

ing excuses. 19

make

just rise again.

There was a

invitations.

sent one of his 18

one of

shall feast in the

cripples, the lame,

a blessing, for these cannot

any return; thy reward will come when the 15

when thou

Rather,

come, the

to

is

found

[152]

in

Matthew

is

Or

xxii. 2.

is

setting

The

lost

Sheep; the

lost

LUKE

Coin

out to join battle with another king, does he not

whether with

deliberate,

onset of one

32

the other

who

ditions of peace.

34

disciple

good thing; but to give taste to

heap; CO

it

And

so

is

it

if

the salt It is

it.''

all

that he possesses.

becomes

no use

of

he cannot, then, while

with you; none of you can be

itself

thrown away

will be

If

he despatches envoys to ask for con-

he does not take leave of

if

down and

first sit

of ten thousand he can meet the

has twenty thousand ?

at a distance,

is still

33

33

army

his

15

tasteless,

what

Salt

my is

a

there left

is

either to the soil or to the dung-

altogether. Listen,

you that have

ears

hear with.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

WHEN THEY FOUND him,

listen to

Here 3,

the publicans

and

and sinners coming to scribes

were indignant;

said, that entertains sinners,

Whereupon he

4 them. a

man, they

a

is

all

the Pharisees

them

told

hundred sheep, and has

lost

this parable

If

:

and

eats

with

any of you owns

one of them, does he not leave the

other ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which

he finds

5

lost until

6

shoulders, rejoicing, his

7

And when

it?

he does find

and so goes home, and

it,

he

sets

it

calls his friends

neighbours together; Rejoice with me, he says to them,

found

my

sheep that was

more

will be

So

lost.

it is, I tell

rejoicing over one sinner

is

on his

I

and have

you, in heaven; there

who

repents, than over

ninety-nine souls that are justified, and have no need of repentance. 8

Or

if

some woman has

ten silver pieces by her, and has lost one of

them, does she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search 9

And when

carefully until she finds it?

she does find

it,

she calls

her friends and her neighbours together; Rejoice with me, she says, 10

I

have found the

the angels of

silver piece

God;

there

is

which joy

I lost.

So

among them

it is, I tell

you, with

over one sinner that

repents. 1,

12

Then he Vf. j-7.

said,

There was

Matthew

a certain

xviii. 12.

[153]

man who had two

sons.

And

LUKE

The prodigal Son

15

the younger of these said to his father, Father, give of the estate

which

falls to

Not many days

me. So he divided

them.

14

wasted his fortune in riotous

and went on

that he had,

Then, when

living.

whereupon he went and attached himself

16

try,

glad to

his belly

fill

was

spent, a in

He would

them

to

Then he came

him.

coun-

have been

with husks, such as the swine used to

to give

want;

to a citizen of that

put him on his farm, to feed swine.

none was ready

all

and he found himself

15

17

between

where he

his travels to a far country,

great famine arose in that country,

who

that portion

afterwards, the younger son put together

13

all

me

his property

eat; but

to himself,

and said. How many hired servants there are in my father's house, who have more bread than they can eat, and here am I perishing 18

with hunger!

19

Father,

I

I

will arise

and go

my

to

me

worthy, now, to be called thy son; treat 20

servants.

and say

father,

have sinned against heaven, and before thee;

And

while he was

he arose, and went on

still

way

long

a

off, his

on him; running up, he threw

And when

21

him.

22

and before thee;

way

I

to

him,

am

not

one of thy hired

as

to his father. But,

saw him, and took

arms round

his

the son said. Father,

am

his

father

I

his

pity

neck and kissed

have sinned against heaven

not worthy, now, to be called thy son,

the

father gave orders to his servants, Bring out the best robe,

and

put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his

feet.

him

clothe

in

I

it;

23

Then

24

eat,

and make merry;

life

again,

25

making.

on

bring out the calf that has been fattened, and

his

was

lost,

for

and

is

my

kill it; let

us

son here was dead, and has CA>me to

And

found.

so they

began

their merry-

The elder son, meanwhile, was away on the farm; and way home, as he drew near the house, he heard music and whereupon he

one of the servants and asked what

26

dancing;

27

come back, and thy him restored safe and sound. At this he fell into a rage, and would not go in. When his father came out and tried to win him over, he answered all this

meant.

He

called

told him,

Thy

brother has

father has killed the fattened calf, glad to have

28

29

his father thus.

Think how many

years

I

have Hved

as thy servant,

never transgressing thy commands, and thou hast never 30

present of a kid, to this

make merry with my

friends;

made me

a

and now, when

son of thine has come home, one that has swallowed up his

patrimony in the company of

harlots,

C154]

thou hast killed the fattened

The

LUKE

dishonest Steward

31

calf in his

32

side,

He

honour.

merry-making and

have

J

come

son, thou art always at

but for

already thine;

is

my this

was good reason; thy brother

rejoicing there

here was dead, and has

My

said to him,

and everything that

16

was

to Hfe again;

lost,

and

found.

is

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AND L

HE

SAID CO his disciples,

2

wasted his goods.

3

ship, for

What

is

this that

I

4

I

to

5

man

that

had a

sent for him,

and

said to

my

At

steward any longer.

What am

I

to do,

me?

stewardship away from

stewardship.

Then he summoned How much

to the first,

6

A hundred firkins

7

quick,

I

now

that

my

this,

the

master

is

have no strength to dig;

of

oil,

his master's debtors

sit

this

one by one;

my

he said; and he told him, Here

down and write it And thou, how much dost

And

that thou owest

is it

Then he

as fifty.

A

thou owe?

wheat, he said; and he told him. Here

knavish steward was

is

thy

is

master.?

thy

world are more prudent

hundred quarters of bill,

commended by

And my

after their

own

bill;

said to a second.

write his

it

as eighty.

master for his

prudence in what he had done; for indeed, the children of

9

had him.

would be ashamed to beg for alms. I see what I must do, so as be welcomed into men's houses when I am dismissed from my

and he said

8

rich

that this steward

hear of thee? Give an account of thy steward-

thou canst not be

my

him

to

Whereupon he

steward said to himself, taking

There was a

came

steward, and a report

this

fashion than the children

make use of your base when you leave it behind, will welcome you into eternal habitations. He who is trustworthy over a little sum is trustworthy over a greater; he who plays false of the light.

counsel to you

is,

wealth to win yourselves friends, who,

10

11

over a httle sum, plays false over a greater;

if

you, then, could not

we should do while we have still time for it The steward was prudent in making himself friends before the audit of his accounts, while he had still money to do it; so we must give alms while life still lasts. It is doubtful whether we are meant to interpret the parable more closely than this. f/z/.

i-g.

service to

The chief lesson of God by giving alms

this

parable seems to be that

to the poor,

[155}

LUKE

God

16

or

Money; Dives and Lazarus

who

be trusted to use the base riches you had, 12

Who

riches in your keeping? if

employment

servant can be in the

either he will hate the

of

15

16

two masters

at once;

one and love the other, or he will devote

You must

himself to the one and despise the other.

money; you cannot 14

will put the true

you property of your own,

you could not be trusted with what was only lent you?

No

13

will give

God

serve

or

serve both.

who were fond of riches, heard all this, and And he said to them. You are always courting the approval of men, but God sees your hearts; what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in God's sight. The law The

Pharisees,

poured scorn on him.

and the prophets

lasted until John's time; since that time,

17

kingdom of heaven that has its their way into it. And yet it is

18

appear than for one line of the law to perish.

away

his wife

There was

19

20

and

21

Lazarus,

easier for

and marries another

a rich

man

who

Every

lay at his gate, covered

the

it is

will, press

to dis-

man who puts is

an

has been put away.

And

could be fed with the crumbs which

who

heaven and earth

was clothed

once, that

feasted sumptuously every day.

all

an adulterer, and he too

is

woman who

adulterer, that marries a

and

preachers,

there

with

fell

in purple

and lawn,

was a beggar,

from the

called

wishing that he

sores,

rich

man's

table,

but none was ready to give them to him; the very dogs came and 22

licked his sores.

Time went

on; the beggar died, and was carried

by the angels to Abraham's bosom; the rich 23

found

and saw Abraham

his eyes,

24

25

And

he

said,

with a loud

far

cry.

man

died too, and

he

there, in his suffering, ofiF,

and Lazarus in

up

lifted

bosom.

his

Father Abraham, take pity on me;

send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool

my

My

son,

tongue;

I

remember

am

tormented in

torment.

And,

less, his ill

besides

27

crossing over to us

28

I

The

is

good fortune

there

is

he

is

my own

in thy life-time,

a great gulf fixed side of said.

father's house;

Greek manuscripts include the words the sentence which follows.

[156]

said,

in comfort, thou in

Whereupon he

best

sentence, but in

now

no passing from our

from yours.

pray thee send him to V. 22.

fortune;

all this,

us and you, so that there

But Abraham

this flame.

that thou didst receive thy

and Lazarus, no 26

And

his grave in hell.

it

between

to you,

Then,

for

I

'in hell'

no

father,

have

five

not in this

On

LUKE

Offences; on Faith; on Humility

brethren;

him

let

may not come, Abraham said to him, them listen to these. They

give these a warning, so that they

29

in their turn, into this place of suffering.

30

They have Moses and w^ill

31

him,

the prophets;

let

not do that, father Abraham, said he; but

comes

them from

to

17

if

a

messenger

But he answered

the dead, they will repent.

they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will be

If

unbelieving

though one should

still,

rise

from the dead.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN A ND HE SAID to his disciples,

It

impossible that hurt should

is

2

jfX. never be done to men's consciences; but woe betide the man who is the cause of it. Better for him to have had a mill-stone tied

3

conscience of one of these litde ones.

4

he

about his neck, and to be

selves. is

As

for thy brother,

sorry for

cast into the sea,

if

he

forgive him;

it,

is

in

nay,

than to have hurt the

Keep good watch over yourfault, tax him with it, and if if he does thee wrong seven

times in the day, and seven times in the day comes back to thee and says, I

5,6

The Lord seed,

am

thou shalt forgive him.

sorry,

apostles said to the Lord,

said, If

you had

you might say

7

If

to this

and

thyself in the sea,

it

Give us more

though

faith,

mulberry

it

were

tree.

And

faith.

as a grain of

Uproot

thyself

the

mustard

and plant

would obey you.

any one of you had a servant following the plough, or the

sheep,

would he

when he came back from the farm, Would he not say to him, Prepare my

say to him,

8

Go and

9

drink; thou shalt eat and drink thyself afterwards?

once?

fall to at

supper, and then gird thyself and wait

upon me while I eat and Does he hold

himself bound in gratitude to such a servant, for obeying his com10

mands?

I

do not think

you have done servants, 11

12

A

all

that

and worthless;

time came

it

of

him; and you, in the same way, when

was commanded you, it

was our duty

when he was on

his

passing between Samaria and Galilee; village, ten

men

that

to

are to say.

We

are

do what we have done.

way and

to Jerusalem, as

and was

he was going into a

were lepers came towards him; they stood

[157]

LUKE

The

17

ten Lepers;

End

He

met

to the priests;

and

crying aloud, Jesus, Master, have pity on us.

13, 14 far o£F,

Go

them with the words,

and shew yourselves

made

15

thereupon, as they went, they were

16

finding that he was cured,

came back,

threw himself

at Jesus' feet

with

17

him; and

was

18

made clean? And the other come back to give God the

19

Suddenness of the

this

One of them, God aloud, and

clean.

praising

his face to the

ground,

to

thank

Were not all they? Not one

Jesus answered,

a Samaritan.

where are

nine,

ten

has

And

praise, except this stranger.

he

him, Arise and go on thy way, thy faith has brought thee

said to

recovery.

Upon

20

was

being asked by the Pharisees,

when the kingdom of God God comes unwatched

come, he answered, The kingdom of

to

21

by men's eyes;

22

there; the

he

disciples

no saying.

there will be

kingdom

of

The

said,

God

is

See,

when you

time will come

but for a day, the Son of Man's presence, and

Men

it is

will be saying to you. See, he

23

you.

24

do not turn aside and follow them;

is

it

here, or See,

And

here, within you.

to his

long to enjoy,

will

will not be granted

here, or See, he

the

it is

own

is

there;

Son of Man, when

his

time comes, will be like the lightning which lightens from one 25

border of heaven to the other.

26

many when

27

sufferings,

the

Noe;

and be

Son of

they

ate,

riage, until the

Man

But before

that,

he must undergo

rejected by this generation.

comes,

all

will be as

it

was

they drank, they married and were given in mar-

day

when Noe went

came and destroyed them

29

but on the day

30

brimstone came from heaven and destroyed them

31

will be, in the day if

a

not 32

ate,

man

all.

So

it

and the flood

into the ark,

28

they

In the days

in the days of

was, too, in the days of Lot;

they drank, they bought and sold, they planted and built;

is

when Lot went when

the

to take

Man

Son of

on the house-top and

come down

out of Sodom, a rain of

his

is

all.

revealed.

he too must beware of turning back.

if

a

man

Remember

is

and so

it

In that day,

goods are in the house,

them with him; and

fire

And let

him

in the fields,

Lot's wife.

The

"Within you'; the Greek might also mean, 'among you'. think this means, that in the time of persecution the Apostles will sigh for the glories of heaven; others, that they will look back with regret to the days when their Master was on earth. vv. 23-37. Much of what is said here is found also in Matthew xxiv, and V. 21. V. 22.

in

Mark

Some

xiii.

ri58]

The

LUKE

unjust Judge; the Pharisee and the Publican

33

man who

34

loses

it

men

are sleeping in one bed, one will be taken

tries to

35

where two

36

other

37

them,

women Then

left.

It is

own

save his

that will keep

safe.

it

Hfe will lose

man who

the

it; it is

you, on that night, where

I tell

18

and the other

two left;

are grinding together, one will be taken

and the

And

he told

they answered him. Where, Lord

where the body

lies

?

that the eagles will gather.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

AND HE TOLD them a parable, once, he said, in

3

shewing them that they ought

pray continually, and never be discouraged.

.

which

lived a judge

who had no

and there was a widow in

regard for man;

him and

me

come

before

4

me.

For a time he refused; but then he

5

God I

say,

Give

6

visits.

7

and

Lord

Listen, the

tell

me,

will not

said, to the

God

who used to who wrongs

said to himself. Fear of

but

wear

will give her redress, or she will

to

a city

God, no

fear of

this city

redress against one

have none, nor regard for man,

I

There was

this

widow

me down

words

wearies me;

with her

at last

of the unjust judge,

give redress to his

when

elect,

they are

crying out to him, day and night? Will he not be impatient with 8

wrongs?

their

But

ah,

when

I tell

the

you, he will give

Son of

Man

them

redress with

comes, will he find faith

speed.

all

left

on the

earth ?

9

There were some who had confidence they had

10

world;

up 11

won

to

them he addressed

The

heart, steal

I

was a Pharisee, the other

made

Pharisee stood upright, and

thank

thee,

God,

that

I

am

12

for myself,

And

14

ful to

I

week,

fast twice in the

the publican stood far off; he

I

I

am

a sinner.

I

tell

give tithes of

all

would not even said,

that

lift

who

I

up

possess. his eyes

God, be merci-

man went everyone who

you, this

higher in God's favour than the other;

[159]

prayer in his

this

like this publican here;

towards heaven; he only beat his breast, and

me;

went

a publi-

not like the rest of men,

and cheat and commit adultery, or

13

Two men

other parable:

this

into the temple to pray; one

can.

in themselves, thinking

acceptance with God, and despised the rest of the

back exalts

home him-

LUKE

The Children;

18

man who humbles

be humbled, and the

self will

young Man

the rich

himself will be

exalted.

15 JO

Then

they brought

The

them.

disciples

and

called the children to him,

God

man who

I tell

you

18

God

like a little child, will never enter into

who

rulers asked him. Master,

eternal life?

20

None

good, except

is

Thou

ments.

shalt

Thou

shalt not steal,

21

father

and thy mother.

Why

22

grew up.

When

wanting;

all these,

that, Jesus said.

that belongs to thee,

he

The answer

23

follow me. rich;

25

culty will those

and

for a

26

the

him with

of

he

is

rich.

commandthy

to the poor;

it

come back and

sadness, for he

eye,

adultery,

Honour

said.

was very

With what

have riches enter God's kingdom!

God when

good?

In one thing thou art

and give

mournful look,

camel to pass through a needle's

kingdom

those

27

filled

Jesus, seeing his

who

the

win

to

me

said, ever since I

so the treasure thou hast shall be in heaven; then

24

do

I

commit

shalt not bear false witness.

he heard

sell all

shalt not

of

one of the

dost thou call

Thou knowest

only.

have kept

I

And

it.

good, what must

art so

do no murder. Thou

Thou

still

God

kingdom

does not accept the

Jesus said to him,

touch

to

but Jesus

it:

belongs to such as these.

17

19

for

Let them be, do not keep them

said.

back from me; the kingdom of truthfully, the

him

children to him, asking

little

saw them and rebuked them

than for a

diffi-

It is easier

man

to enter

But when he was asked by

who were listening to him. Why then, who can be saved? What is impossible to man's powers is possible tc

he told them,

God. 28

Hereupon

Peter said.

And what

of us?

29

was

30

or wife, or children for the sake of the

ours,

fully,

and followed

everyone

who

thee.

world

to

forsaken I tell

all

you

that

truth-

has forsaken home, or parents, or brethren,

receive in this present world,

31

we have

Jesus said to them,

come, everlasting

many

kingdom

of

God,

will

times their worth, and in the

life.

Then he took the twelve apostles aside, and warned them. Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and all that has been written by the vv. 1^-30.

Matthew

xix. 13,

Mark

x.

13.

Ex. XX. 12. 22. See note on

V. 20. V.

iT. 31-33.

Matthew xix. 21. Matthew xx. 17, Mark x.

32.

[160]

The 32

Passion foretold; the blind

prophets about the Son of

LUKE

Man

Man

is

to be

He

accomphshed.

19

will be

given up to the Gentiles, and mocked, and insulted, and spat upon; 33

they will scourge him, and then they will

34

day he will

meaning was hidden from them, what he

36

him; but on the third of

all this;

his

so that they could not understand

said.

When

35

kill

They could make nothing

rise again.

he came near Jericho, there was a blind

And

by the way side begging.

man

sitting there

he, hearing a multitude passing by,

37

asked what

38

39

was going past. Whereupon he cried out, Jesus, son of David, have pity on me. Those who were in front rebuked him, and told

him

to

40

pity

on me.

be

meant;

it

so they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth

but he cried out

silent,

Then

all

Jesus stopped,

should be brought to him; and 41

What

42

back

43

brought thee recovery.

when he came

close,

wouldst thou have m.e do for thee? Lord, he

my

sight.

God

that the

man

he asked him, said, give

me

Jesus said to him. Receive thy sight; thy faith has

And

at

once the

and followed him, glorifying God; £0

the more. Son of David, have

and gave orders

at seeing

all

man

recovered his sight,

the people, too, gave praise

it.

CHAPTER NINETEEN 2

TJE

3

jn.

4

multitude, being a

5

he must needs pass that way.

HAD ENTERED a rich

Jcricho,

man named

to distinguish

which was

man

and climbed up into

6

a

and was passing through

it;

Zacchaeus, the chief publican, Jesus, but could not

of small stature.

sycamore

tree, to

do

and here

was trying

so because of the

So he ran on in front, catch sight of him, since

when he reached the place, looked up and saw him; Zacchaeus, he said, make haste and come down; I am to lodge to-day at thy house. And he came down with Jesus,

t'i'. ss-43. Matthew xx. 29, Mark x. 46. It would appear that St. Luke, in speaking of our Lord as drawing near Jericho, is only giving a vague indication of where the miracle took place, since the other Evangelists tell us that he met the blind man when he was leaving the city. It may be, however, that there is some confusion between the old city of Jericho, and that built by Herod the Great about two miles away.

[161I

LUKE 7

took 8

it

Zacchaeus; Parable of the Pounds

19

haste,

all

amiss;

He

But Zacchaeus stood upright and

a sinner.

and now. Lord,

9

Jesus turned to to this house;

of 11

Man

has

what

give half of

I

him and

he too

come

is

restitution of

listening,

if I

fourfold.

it

Abraham.

That

he went on and

is

what the Son

what was

them

told

lost.

a parable;

was because he had now nearly reached Jerusalem, and they told them, then.

away 13

have to the poor; and

I

make

is

Here

said to the Lord,

search out and to save

supposed that the kingdom of

He

I

all

it,

who

To-day, salvation has been brought

said.

a son of

for, to

While they stood this

12

they saw

has gone in to lodge, they said, with one

have wronged anyone in any way,

10

When

and gladly made him welcome.

and

There was

have the royal

to a distant country, to

And

so return.

he summoned ten of

gave ten pounds, and said 14

away.

15

after

But

him

wards,

to

his fellow-citizens

to say,

We

God was to appear immediately. a man of noble birth, who went bestowed on him,

whom he I am

them, Trade with this while

hated him, and sent ambassadors

will not have this

when he came back

title

his servants, to

as king,

man

for our king.

After-

he sent for the servants to

whom 16 17

he had entrusted the money, to find out how much each of them had gained by his use of it. The first came before him and And he said to him, said. Lord, thy pound has made ten pounds.

Well done,

my

true servant: since thou hast been faithful over a

thou shalt have authority over ten

The second

18

very

19

came and said, Lord, thy pound has made five pounds; and to him he said. Thou too shalt have authority, over five cities. Then another came and said, Lord, here is thy pound; I have kept it laid up in a handkerchief, I was afraid of thee, knowing how exacting a man thou art; thou dost claim what thou didst never venture,

20

21

22

little,

dost reap

what thou

false servant, I take est that I

23

Then he

thy judgement from thy

I

never sowed;

into the bank, so that

then I

why

Thou Thou knew-

said to him,

own

lips.

was an exacting man, claiming what

and reaping what

my money 24

didst never sow.

cities.

I

never ventured

didst thou not put

might have recovered

when I came? Then he gave orders to Take the pound away from him, and give it

those

by.

to

vv. i2-2y.

A

similar parable

is

found in Matthew xxv.

[162]

14.

it

with

who stood the man who

interest

LUKE

Palm Sunday 25

has ten pounds.

26

already.)

made 27

who

them

kill

his

my

in

this,

man

Go

The Lord

went on had

34

Why

35

has need of

told them.

are

is

is

will be

poor, even the

as for those

enemies of

you

it

Why

it.

colt?

And

it,

owners asked them,

its

colt to Jesus,

and bade Jesus mount.

their

strewed the road with their garments;

mount

Olivet, the

must be your

they said, Because the

37

the descent of

this

And

here.

standing there, just as he

colt

36

it,

it?

it

So the two he had appointed

it.

So they brought the

garments on

and bring

it

you untying

are

they were untying

you untying the

his

one

will find a colt tethered there,

has need of

As

he sent two of

called Olivet,

way, and found the

their

33

is rich, gifts

he

into the village that faces you, he told

has yet ridden; untie

anybody asks you.

answer.

But

if

to Jerusalem.

mountain which

on which no if

32

abound;

when he was approaching Bethphage and Bethany,

on an errand;

disciples

man

ever a

if

19

pounds

me for their king, bring them here and And when he had spoken thus, he went

presence.

them, and as you enter 31

you,

refused to have

close to the

30

I tell

his riches will

way, going up

After

29

said to him, Lord, he has ten

he has will be taken from him.

little

on

Nay, but him, and

to

mine, 28

(They

Lord

and spread out

As he went, they

and when he drew near

whole company of

his disciples

God for all the miracles they had seen. Blessed is the king, they said, who comes in the name of the Lord; peace on earth, and glory in heaven above. Some of the Pharisees who were among the multitude said to him, Master, rebuke thy

began rejoicing and praising 38 39

40

but he answered,

disciples;

I

tell

you,

if

they should keep silence,

the stones will cry out instead.

And

41

42

it,

and

as

day that 43

is,

is

Ah,

if

city,

he wept over

thou too couldst understand, above

all

in this

granted thee, the ways that can bring thee peace!

they are hidden

when 44

he drew near, and caught sight of the

said:

from thy

The

sight.

days will

As

come upon

it

thee

thy enemies will fence thee round about, and encircle thee,

and press thee hard on every

and bring down

side,

in ruin both

thee and thy children that are in thee, not leaving one stone of thee

upon another; and vv. 2g-^8.

Matthew

all

because thou didst not recognize the time of

xxi.

i,

Mark

xi,

[163}

i,

John

xii.

12.

LUKE

The Temple

20

45

my

46

ing out those

My

them. 47

den of

eager to to

do

who

house

is

sold a

scribes

because

and the leading

all

there;

It is

he taught in the temple

make away with him,

it,

into the temple,

and bought

and began

the people

daily.

men among

driv-

written, he told

house of prayer; and you have made

And

thieves.

and

priests

48

Then he went

visiting thee.

cleansed; a Question refused

it

into a

The

chief

the people were

but they could not find any means

hung upon

his words.

CHAPTER TWENTY NE DAY,

AS

o:

HE taught the people and preached to them in the and scribes, with the elders, came

'temple, the chief priests

2

up

3

doest these things,

and

said to him. Tell us.

swered them,

I

What

is

the authority by which thou

and who gave thee

this authority.?

too have a question to ask; you

must

Jesus an-

tell

me

this,

Whence did John's baptism come, from heaven or from men.? 5 Whereupon they cast about in their minds; If we tell him it was from heaven, they said, he will ask. Then why did you not believe 6 him ? And if we say it was from men, all the people will be ready 4

to stone us; they will have

it

7,8 swered that they could not

them,

which 9

And you I

that

John was

tell

whence

will not learn

from

it

a prophet.

came.

me what

is

So they an-

Jesus said to

the authority by

do these things.

And now he took occasion to tell the people this parable; There a man who planted a vineyard, and let it out to some vinedressers, while he went away to spend a long time abroad. And

was 10

when

the season came, he sent one of his servants on an errand to

the vine-dressers, bidding

11

Whereupon

them pay him

his share of the vineyard's

him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant; and him too they sent away empty-handed, beating hiia first, and insulting him.

revenues.

vf. 4^-48.

Matthew

the vine-dressers beat him, and sent

xxi. 12,

Mark

xi. 15.

V. 46, Is. Ivi. 23, Jer. vii. 11.

vv. 1-8. pv. 9-19.

Matthew xxi. 23, Mark xi. 27. Matthew xxi. 33, Mark xii. 2.

[164]

The

unfaithful Vine-dressers;

12

Then he

13

others.

14

So the owner of the vineyard

will send

my

for him.

But the

16

17

vine-dressers,

pass into our hands. killed

heard

what

He

the

I

to

do?

I

on seeing him, debated thus among

come and make an end

will

God

his vineyard to others.

of those vine-dressers,

forbid, they said,

But he fastened his eyes on them, and

that. is

What am

And they thrust him out of the vineyard And now, what will the owner of the vineyard do

him.

them?

said,

the heir, let us kill him, so that his inheritance

is

and

and give

20

well-beloved son; perhaps they will have reverence

may to

LUKE

Caesar

and they drove him away wounded, Hke the

sent a third;

themselves; This 15

God and

meaning

of those

said.

when

they

Why

then,

words which have been written. The

very stone which the builders rejected has become the chief stone 18

at the

corner?

19

20

If

ever a

man

falls

upon him,

against that stone, he will break

him to powder. At this, the chief priests and scribes would gladly have laid hands on him there and then, but they were afraid of the people. They saw clearly that this parable of his was aimed at them. And so, his bones;

if it falls

watching for

will grind

it

their opportunity, they sent agents of their

pretended to be

men

own, who

of honest purpose, to fasten on his words;

then they would hand him over to the supreme authority of the 21

governor.

know no

These put a question

distinction

between

22

in all sincerity.

23

not?

24

thus put

And he, me to

Is it

Casear's,

he

26

Caesar's,

and

were

full of

crediting his

27 .28

man and man, but we should

aware of

it

to

Shew me

Why

God what

admiration

words

is

it?

And

of

God

them,

Why

Whose

When

do you hkeness,

they answered,

what

is

no more; they answer, finding no means of disthey said

in the eyes of the people.

Then he was approached with cees,

way

then, give back to Caesar

God's.

at his

we

pay tribute to Caesar, or

a silver piece.

bear inscribed on

told them,

teachest the

their malice, said to

?

said,

and thy teaching; thou makest

right that

the test

whose name does ^5

him; Master, they

to

that thou art direct in thy talk

men who deny

V. ly. Ps. cxvii. 22; cf.

a question by

the resurrection;

Rom.

ix. 33,

and

I

See note on Matthew xxi. 44. vv. 20-44. Matthew xxii. 15, Mark xii. 13. V. 28. Deut. XXV. 5. V. 18.

[165}

some

of the Saddu-

Master, they said, Moses

Pet.

ii.

7.

LUKE

Test Question answered

20

prescribed for us, If a issue, the

man

29

dren in the dead brother's name.

30

first

31

took her, and also died without

whom

of

the seven;

they

all

woman

34

all

35

are given in marriage;

herself died last of

which of

that other world,

37

them the

Lord

it

the

38

of Jacob.

39

for him, all

40

But

birth.

was wife

children of this world marry

but those

who

are found

worthy

to

and

to attain

and resurrection from the dead, take neither wife

God, now

are, children of

you of

told

The

and the

the dead rise

mortal no longer, they will be as the angels in

nor husband;

heaven

And now, when

all.

these will be her husband, since she

Jesus told them.

seven?

So the next

issue.

then the third, and so with

issue,

no children when they died,

left

32

36

dies without

There were seven brethren, the

married a wife, and died without

33

again,

who

has a married brother

surviving brother must marry the widow, and beget chil-

as for the

that the resurrection has given

dead rising again, Moses himse/f has

in the passage about the

God

It is

of

Abraham and

God

of Isaac and the

men, not of dead men,

of living

men

burning bush, where he

the

are alive.

At

this,

some of

that he

the

the scribes answered,

no one dared

Master, thou hast spoken well;

is

calls

God God

to try

him with

further questions.

Then he

41 is

43

Psalms,

44

I

said to

the son of

42

make

The Lord

said to

my

Master,

sit

on

Christ his Master;

46

disciples, in the

how

can he also be his son?

hearing of

all

the people:

hand while Thus David calls

right

And

Beware

he said to his of the scribes,

enjoy walking in long robes, and love to have their hands

kissed in the market-place, and to take the

47

my

thy enemies a footstool under thy feet.

45

who

What do they mean by paying that Christ Why, David himself says in the book of

them.

David?

gogues, and the chief places at feasts; erty of

widows, under cover of

will be

all

V. 37.

Ex.

in the syna-

the prop-

their long prayers; their sentence

the heavier for that.

iii.

first seats

who swallow up

6.

V. 42. Ps. cix. I.

[166]

The Widow's Mite;

LUKE

Persecution prophesied

21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

AND HE LOOKED UP, and saw the rich folk putting their gifts into L

mites.

4

in

Thereupon he

me,

said, Believe

poor

this

more than all the others. The others all out of what they had to spare; she, with

God

whole

in her

5

There were some who spoke

The

7

one stone

offerings

come when,

days will

will be left

when

given, that

close at

of wars 10

is

12

of

him

all this

when

happen

of

and first,

kingdom;

What Take

soon to be accomplished?

my

name; they

will say.

revolts,

after

there

Here

do not be alarmed by

rise in

it;

all at

men

all this,

and persecuting you; they

said,

come

am, the time

is

hear

such things must

Then he

told

you up

will give

and great portents

will be laying

hands on you

to the synagogues,

and

and drag you into the presence of kings and governors

on

14

truth

15

swering beforehand;

16

confute.

You

17

men and

friends,

18

world will be hating you because you bear

19

hair of your head shall perish.

account;

known. as all

Resolve, then, not to prepare your

will be given

shall not

Mark

will be put to death;

It is

secure possession of your souls.

i,

xiii.

[167!

an-

be able to withstand, or to

up by parents and brethren and

and some of you

xxiv.

the

you such eloquence and such

will give

I

your adversaries

Matthew

making manner of

that will be your opportunity for

13

vv. 1-33.

I

he

will

in this region or that,

from heaven.

wisdom

care,

Many

once.

sights of terror

my

And

sign will be

arms against nation, and kingdom against

wiK be great earthquakes

Before

said,

And when you

them.

but the end will not come

he

thrown down.

will all be

it

to these

it;

you contemplate, not

fabric

and plagues and famines; and

to prison,

give, put

of the temple, of the noble

will this be?

hand; do not turn aside

them. Nation will 11

little to

you do not allow anyone to deceive you.

making use 9

it

to

which adorned

on another;

they asked him. Master,

8

so

livelihood.

masonry and the 6

who put in two widow has put made an offering to

he saw also one poor widow,

the treasury;

3

i.

my name;

kins-

all

the

and yet no

by endurance that you will

LUKE

But when you

20 21

Coming

21 see Jerusalem

come when

the time has

making

country-side not

23

vengeance, bringing fulfilment of

women who

breast, in those days;

24

land,

their

it

lem

all

under the

And

with his

all

They

that the time

30

a parable;

out their

The sun and

and on earth the nations

Look

when you

33

passed, before

34

should pass away,

Just so,

close at hand.

do not

and the

and

Man

all this is

let

my

lift

coming

will

in a cloud,

up your heads;

any of the

at the fig-tree, or

of

selves;

waves;

await the troubles

fear, as they

for your deliverance.

you know by your

fruit,

near.

ness

will be in its

;

begins, look up,

32

is

time

moon

the

whole world the very powers of heaven

draws near

31

God

will be put to the

power and majesty.

all this

29

will

over the world; and Jerusa-

then they will see the Son of

full

When

28

It

feet of the Gentiles, until the

men's hearts will be dried up with

rock.

in the

these will be days of

bewildered by the roaring of the sea and of

that are overtaking the

are in

that has been written.

this people.

stars will give portents,

distress,

27

it;

granted to the Gentile nations has run out.

and the 26

and those who are

into

who

those

who

will be a time of bitter distress all over the

and retribution against

will be trodden

Man

are with child, or have children at the

sword, and led away into captivity

25

it,

way

22

go hard with

Then

in the mountains, those

withdrawing from

the city itself

Son of

surrounded by armies, be sure that

she will be laid waste.

must take refuge

are in Judaea

of the

own

And

it

means

he told them

when they put summer is that the kingdom

trees;

experience that

see this happen, be sure

Believe me, this generation will not have

Though heaven and

accomplished.

words

will stand.

Only look well

earth

to your-

your hearts grow dull with revelry and drunken-

aflfairs

of this

come

life,

so that that

day overtakes you un-

on

who

35

awares;

36

dwell upon the face of the earth.

all

times, so that

all

it

will

like the springing of a trap

all

those

Keep watch, then, praying at you may be found worthy to come safe through

that lies before you,

and stand

erect to

meet the presence of the

Son of Man. 37

38

Each day he went on teaching lodged on the mountain which waited for

him

at early

is

in the temple,

called Olivet;

morning, to

[168}

listen to

and

and him.

at night

all

he

the people

Treachery of Judas; the

LUKE

Supper

last

22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO NOW THE

A ND

2

f\, were

3

still

unlcavened bread, the paschal

fcast o£

was drawing

called,

is

some means

at a loss for

and he went

one of

and conferred with the chief

priests

the twelve,

5

and magistrates about the means

sum

consented to pay him a

and looked about

his

also called Iscariot,

4

off

scribes

making away with him, But now Satan found

who was

into the heart of Judas,

feast, as it

and

chief priests

of

frightened as they were of the people.

way

6

The

near.

money;

of

These gladly

to betray Jesus.

promised

so he

to

do

it,

hand him over without

for an opportunity to

any commotion. 7

Then

8

sacrifice

errand;

9 10

meal.

ready?

must be

he said to them, Just

which he

to

house. 12

man is

sends word.

meal with

to eat the paschal

14

ready.

said, to eat the paschal

he

you are entering the

as

and there you

going;

The master

my

is

the

disciples? it

So they went, and found

is

all

And

he said

to

them,

I

room

And

there that as he

paschal meal with you before

17

eat

again,

till it

finds

its

he took a cup, and blessed 18

you;

19

the

20

is

I tell

kingdom

and broke so

you,

it,

of

I

shall

God

my

and gave

owner

in

which

Matthew

xxvi.

will

of the I

you are

to

make

had told them, and so the time

I tell

came he

to share this

you,

I

shall not

kingdom of God, And Take this and share it among

it,

and

said,

not drink of the fruit of the vine again,

it

do

i,

am

he will shew you

Then he

to them, saying, This this for a

Mark

is

my

commemoration

xlv. i.

[169]

till

took bread, and blessed body, which of me.

with the cup, when supper was ended. This cup, he

/-2j.

you

fulfilment in the

has come.

to be given for you;

passion;

city,

into the house

have longed and longed

16

it

him

will say to the

Where

made ready for the paschal meal. And when sat down with his twelve disciples.

15

paschal

wouldst thou have us make

carrying a jar of water; follow

a large upper room, furnished;

13

this day, the

and Jesus sent Peter and John on an

offered;

Go and make ready for us, When they asked him. Where

be met by a 11

on

the day of unleavened bread came;

And

said, is the

LUKE

Prophecies of Jesus

22

21

new

22

now, the hand of

Man

Son of 23

upon

would do 25

man

that

And

on

rests

whom

by

he

among

it

this table, at

my

side.

has been ordained; but

The woe

Thereupon they

to be betrayed.

is

And

to be shed for you.

is

goes on his way, for so

to surmising

fell

24

my my betrayer

blood which

testament, in

them

themselves, which of

was

it

that

this.

there

them was

was

between them over the question, which of

rivalry

But he

to be accounted the greatest.

kings of the Gentiles lord

it

told

over them, and those

them.

who

The

bear rule

With you it is not to be among you, between the greatest and the youngest of all, between him who commands and him who 27 serves. Tell me, which is greater, the man who sits at table, or the man who serves him? Surely the man who sits at table; yet I am here among you as your servant. You are the men who have kept to my side in my hours of trial: 28 29 and, as my Father has allotted a kingdom to me, so I allot to you 26

them win

over so;

name

the

no difference

is

to

of benefactors.

be made,

31

and drink at my table in my kingdom; you shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has claimed power over

32

you

30

a place to eat

all,

so that he can

come back

to

me,

it is

am

33

Lord, said he,

34

prison or to death.

crow

this

35

Then he

36

sent

I

like

fail;

but

But he answered,

I tell

said.

in

want

it

is

knowledge of me.

They

time for a

he has none.

if

been written that has yet

man

V. J7. Is.

liii.

12.

to find its fulfilment in

the malefactors. Sure enough,

Our Lord seems

like

like robbers,

a

robber,

no longer

it

is

I

to take his sell

his

word has me, And he was

all

that has been

me must be fulfilled. See, Lord, they told two swords. And he said to them. That is enough.

armed

when

told him,

Believe me, one

written of

be apprehended

were to

by cock-

of anything,

wallet, or shoes?

But now

it

he has one, and his wallet too; and to

cloak and buy a sword,

are

thou hast

thee, Peter,

Did you go

among

have prayed for

ready to bear thee company, though

wilt thrice have denied

if

I

after a while,

for thee to be the support of thy brethren.

you out without purse, or

counted

wheat:

when,

morning thou

purse with him,

38

you

not

said to them,

Nothing; and he

37

sift

may

thee, that thy faith

him, here

to suggest, in irony, that since

he

is

to

time that his companions should go

in the peaceable

[170]

manner

of apostles.

The Agony and

And now

39

40 41

LUKE

Betrayal

he went out, as

disciples following

may

them, Pray that you

custom was,

his

When

him.

Father, he said,

pray;

43

before

me; only

if it

as thy will

agony, and prayed

45

like thick

back to 46

more

still

How

may

pray, so that you

Even

47

man 48

kiss

49

of

called Judas,

is.

he rose from

his prayer,

were

that they

ground

he went

sleeping, over-

can you sleep? he asked. Rise up and

not enter into temptation.

one of the twelve,

Then

with a kiss?

what would come

And

who came

close to Jesus, to

of

it,

51

cut of! his right ear.

52

this.

he touched

asked.

the chief priests and temple

Have you come I

was

close to

and in

Then Jesus said and elders who had come

to

their

and healed him.

his ear,

robber?

priest,

way

them have

Jesus answered. Let

find him,

Son

who were about him, seeing Lord, shall we stnke out with our

those

one of them struck a servant of the high

swords?

And

to

from

Jesus said to him, Judas, wouldst thou betray the

him.

50

53

this chalice

he spoke, a multitude came near; their guide was the

as

Man

away

his sweat fell to the

earnestly;

and found

his disciples,

wrought with sorrow.

and knelt down

And he had sight of And now he was in an

not as mine

When

drops of blood.

off,

pleases thee, take

an angel from heaven, encouraging him. 44

Then he

not enter into temptation.

is,

his

he reached the place, he said to

parted from them, going a stone's throw 42

mount OUvet,

to

22

officers

out with swords and clubs, as

you in the temple, day

if I

after day,

to

were a

and you

never laid hands on me. But your time has come now, and darkness has

55

high

priest ;

fire in

56

its

will.

So they apprehended him, and led him away

54

and Peter followed

the midst of the court,

Peter sat

among them.

One

sitting there in the fire-light,

57

one of those

is

who were

at a

to the

long distance.

and were

sitting

house of the

They had

round

of the maidservants, as she

looked closely

with him.

at

And

him and

lit

a

and there

it;

saw him

said,

This

he disowned him;

vv. 39-53. Matthew xxvi. 36, Mark xiv. 32, John xviii. i. V. 5/. Our Lord's words here are commonly interpreted as addressed to the apostles, in answer to their question (v. 49) some, however, think that they are addressed to his captors, who were already holding him, 'Release ;

me

for this once', that

is,

while he cured Malchus.

54-71. Matthew xxvi. 57, Mark xiv. 53, John xviii. 12. St. Luke describes the denial of St. Peter first of all, and then goes back to the condemnation of our Lord, not necessarily following the historical order of vt/.

events.

r

i'7i

]

LUKE 58

22

Woman,

he

have no knowledge of him.

said, I

while, another of the

59

Thou

too art one of

there

was an

meanest; and 61

And

crew.

Man, all at

64

The men who

66

in-

I

do not understand what thou

And

at Peter;

lips,

the cock

and Peter

re-

said to him, Before cock-crow, thou

Peter

went

out,

held Jesus prisoner beat

and wept

bitterly.

him and mocked him;

him and struck him on the face, and then quesCome, prophesy; tell us who it is that smote thee.

they blindfolded tioned him,

65

Lord had

disown me.

wilt thrice

63

said Peter,

once, while the words were on his

the

man

fellow was in his company; why, he

Lord turned, and looked

the

membered what 62

said,

interval of about an hour, before another

a Galilean.

is

After a short

when he caught sight of him, them; and Peter said, Man, I am not. Then company

sisted. It is the truth that this

60

moc\ed

Peter's Denial; Jesus

And they When day scribes,

many

used

came,

all

brought him before their council;

Why, he

67

they said,

68

lieve

69

them, nor acquit me.

tell us.

me:

when

blasphemous words against him.

other

the elders of the people, chief priests

the

and Son

70

And

71

Your own

they

if I

of

Man

all said,

lips

we own mouth. need have

said, if I tell

ask you questions, I will

only

I

tell

will be seated in

Thou

art,

then, the

have said that of witnesses?

I

am.

We

If

you, you will never be-

know you you

will not

that a time

power

at

is

answer

coming

God's right hand.

Son of God ?

And

and

thou art the Christ,

He

told

them,

they said, W^hat further

have heard the words from his

This second challenge by the fire-side is treated by St. Matthew and as all one with the first; St. Luke does not record the encounter in the porch, which they interpret as the second denial (Matthew xxvi. 71, V. §8.

St.

Mark

Mark

xiv. 69). vv. 6^-64. It

is

possible that St. Luke, here again, has not narrated the

facts in their historical order;

Matthew and tion

St.

Mark

by the priests. This is a formula of

V. "JO.

it

that our

would seem from the account given by St. Lord was only insulted after his condemna-

assent, not a refusal to answer.

[172]

handed over

Jesus

LUKE

to the Gentiles

23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE WHOLE assembly

iHEN THE

t;before

and

Pilate,

man

covered, they said, that this

payment of

people, forbids the

3

Christ the king.

4

Jews?

He

this

up and brought him

tribute to Caesar,

Thy own Hps

insisted.

him;

He

We

have

dis-

subverting the loyalty of our

is

and the multitudes,

But they

man.

rose

I

and

calls

himself

Art thou the king of the

Pilate asked him,

answered him,

the chief priests

5

And

them

of

there fell to accusing

have said

it.

Pilate said to

cannot discover any fault in

rouses sedition

among

the people;

he has gone round the whole of Judaea preaching, beginning in

and ending

6

Galilee

7

asked whether the

here.

Pilate,

man was

upon

the mention of Galilee,

and learning

a Galilean;

that

he be-

longed to Herod's jurisdiction, remitted his cause to Herod, 8

was

also in Jerusalem at this time.

Jesus; for a long time he

cause he had heard so 9

some miracle

10

no answer from him,

11

there, loudly accusing jest of

12

been 13

14

to Pilate.

And now as

ined

one

him

referred 16, 17 deserves

So Herod and

made

his attendants

a

out of mockery, and sent

festal attire

That day Herod and

Pilate,

who

in

you

the chief priests,

said to them.

who had

hitherto

and the

seduces the people

from

rulers,

and

man

before

their allegiance; I

exam-

You have brought

this

your presence, and could find no substance in any of

you bring against him; to

death.

him.

It is

nor could Herod,

was ooliged

and then he

to grant

them the

but the whole concourse raised the

18

prisoner:

19

man; we must have Barabbas had been thrown

when

plain that he has done nothing

will scourge him,

I

the festival, he

vv.

to witness

questions, but could get

although the chief priests and scribes stood

him.

summoned

Pilate

and

the charges

At

him many

enmity with one another, became friends.

the people,

me 15

at

and now he hoped

of him,

asked

him, arraying him in

him back

who

at seeing

had been eager to have sight of him, be-

much

He

of his.

Herod was overjoyed

released.

cry.

shall

go

liberty of

Away

(Barabbas was a

with

xxvii. 11,

[173}

Mark

xv,

i,

John

free.

one this

man who

into prison for raising a revolt in the city,

1-2^ (in part). Matthew

I

which

xviii. 28.

and

LUKE

The Way

23

20

for murder.)

21

Jesus at liberty;

22

Crucify him, crucify him.

them.

Once more

of the Cross; Jesus crucified

Pilate spoke to them, offering to set

but they continued to answer with shouts

Why, what wrong

that deserves death;

Then

has he done?

will scourge

I

of.

for the third time he said to I

him

can find no fault in

him, and then he

go

shall

free.

24

But they, with loud cries, insisted on their demand that he should be crucified; and their voices carried the day; Pilate gave his assent

25

that their request should be granted,

23

choice

who had

handed Jesus over 26

27

As

they led

releasing the

man called Simon of from the country, and loaded him

they caught hold of a

off,

Cyrene,

who was coming

with the

cross, so that

29

beat their breasts

and

said. It is

the

wombs

in

he should carry

it

after Jesus.

and mourned over him;

not for

31

tains. Fall

on

It is

to the hills.

is still

already dried up?

green,

Two

fol-

but he turned to them,

named

and the

what

Cover will

breasts that never

us.

If

become

who were And when

others,

with him to be put to death.

which

after a skull, they crucified

it

moun-

goes so hard

of the tree that

were led

criminals,

is

off

they reached the place

him

there; and also the and the other on his left.. Jesus meanwhile was saying. Father, forgive them; they do not know what it is they are doing. And they divided his garments among

two

is

criminals, one

themselves by 35

was

women, who

then that they will begin to say to the

and

us,

with the tree that

34

Jesus

that

that never bore children,

suckled them.

33

me

also of

you should weep, daughters of Jerusalem; you should weep for yourselves and your children. Behold, a time is coming when men will say. It is well for the barren, for

30

32

of their

to their will.

him

lowed by a great multitude of the people, and 28

man

been imprisoned for revolt and murder, while he

on

his right

lot.

The

people stood by, watching; and the rulers joined them in pouring scorn on him; He saved others, they said; if he is the

36

Christ, God's

37

mocked him, when

chosen,

him save himself. came and offered him

let

they

The

soldiers,

vinegar,

too,

by saying,

26-48 (in part). Matthew xxvii. 32, Mark xv. 21, John xix. 17. This verse is generally understood to mean, If crucifixion is the of the innocent, what punishment is to be expected by the guilty (that vv.

V. 5/.

the Jews).?

[74]

lot is.

The 38

thou

If

and

penitent Thief; Jesus dies

had been written up over him the king of the Jews.)

40

if

And

in Greek, Latin

thou

art the Christ.

no

hast thou

fear of

And we

sentence?

42

Then he

thy kingdom.

and Hebrew, This

who hung

thyself,

he

said,

is

there

and us

too,

But the other rebuked him; What, he said, God, when thou art undergoing the same

jusdy enough;

we

no more than the

receive

man has done nothing amiss. remember me when thou comest into

due reward of our deeds; but

43

23

(A proclamation

thyself.

one of the two thieves

blaspheming against him; Save

fell to

LUKE

buried

king of the Jews, save

art the

39

41

is

said to Jesus, Lord,

this

And Jesus said to him, me in Paradise.

promise thee,

I

this

day

thou shalt be with It

44 45 46

was about the

sixth hour,

and there was darkness over

The sun was darkened, and

earth until the ninth hour.

was torn in the midst:

the temple

loud voice, Father, into thy hands

47

yielded

up

saw the

issue,

his spirit as

he said

gave glory

it.

and Jesus

the

crying with a

said,

commend my spirit; and And the centurion, when he I

God; This, he

to

all

the veil of

said,

was indeed

a just

49

And the whole multitude of those who stood there watching it, when they saw what befell, went home beating their breasts. All his acquaintances, with the women who had followed him

50

And now

48

man.

from

51

a

Galilee, a

watched while

man

good and upright man,

cil

and

its

happened, standing

came forward, one

who had

one of those

who

53

approached

not taken part with the coun-

Pilate,

waited for the kingdom of God.

and asked

and wrapped

it

to have the

was

It

55

And

56

body of

in a winding-sheet,

fashioned out of the rock, in which no

54

and

man had

the day of preparation; the next day

the

women who

at a distance.

of the councillors,

doings; he was from Arimathea, a Jewish

52

took,

this

called Joseph

city,

He

Jesus.

laid

it

V. 4y. St.

This he

in a

tomb

was

the sabbath.

had come with him from Galilee followed,

and saw the tomb, and how

still,

and was was who

ever been buried.

his

body was buried;

so they

back, and prepared spices and ointments, and while

sabbath they kept

it

as the

it

went

was the

law commanded.

Augustine suggests that the centurion did not recognize in our

Lord the unique Son of God, but only 'a son of God' in the general sense which 'a just man' would be the equivalent of that term; cf. Wisdom ii. 16. (See Matthew xxvii. 54, Mark xv. 29). vv. 49-^6. Matthew xxvii. 55, Mark xv. 40, John xix. 17.

in

C175]

LUKE

The

24

risen Christ appears; in the

Garden on the Road

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR A

ND AT VERY

2

/\.

to

early

dawn on

the

day of the week they came

first

and

had prepared:

the tomb, bringing the spices they

3

found the stone already rolled away from the door of the tomb. They went into it, and could not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4

They were

5

by them, in shining garments.

still

puzzling over

when two men came and stood said to them, as they bowed Why are you seeking one who is

this,

These

their faces to the earth in fear,

among

here

6

alive,

7

remember how he of

Man

to

is

and

8

crucified,

9

what he had

10

11

12

The Son

in Galilee,

still

to rise again the third day.

Then

they

remembered

and returned from the tomb bringing news of It was Mary all this to the eleven apostles and to all the rest. Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, who told the aposdes this; but to their minds the story seemed madness, and they could not believe it. Only Peter rose up and ran to the

It

14 15

cussing

all

Emmaus,

that

full of

that

when

walk beside them;

Jesus

And

17

could not recognize him.

you exchange between you

They were himself drew

still

near,

he said to them.

called Cleophas,

last

who

few days?

to a dis-

conversing and

fast,

and began

to

so that they

What

talk is this

you go along, sad-faced?

as

the only pilgrim in Jerusalem

pened there in the

away from Jerusalem,

but their eyes were held

18

who was

two of them were walking

sixty furlongs

had happened.

debating together,

of them,

and saw the grave-clothes lying by surmise over what had befallen.

in,

went away was on the same day

village called

19

was

said,

themselves, and

16

not here, he has risen again;

is

be given up into the hands of sinners, and to be

tomb, where he looked

13

He

the dead?

told you, while he

answered him, What,

And art

one thou

has not heard of what has hap-

What

happenings? he asked;

20

About Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet whose words and acts had power with God, and with all the people; how the chief priests, and our rulers, handed him over to be sentenced to

21

death, and so crucified him.

and they

vf. i-g. V. 12.

said,

Matthew

John XX.

xxviii. i,

For

Mark

xvi.

3.

[176}

ourselves, i,

John xx.

we had hoped i.

that

it

On

:,2

is

to

23

LUKE

the Road; in the Cenacle

was he who was

dehver

to

the third day since

but now, to crown

Israel;

Some women,

it befell.

indeed,

24

to-day

it all,

who belonged

our company, alarmed us; they had been at the tomb early in

the

morning

and could not find

body; whereupon they came

his

who said who were with us went to the the women had said, but of him

back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, 24

that he

was

Some

alive.

tomb, and found that

of those

was

all

as

they saw nothing.

Then he

25 26

of wit, too dull of heart, to be-

undergo these

that the Christ should

27

Too slow

said to them,

lieve all those sayings of the prophets!

Then, going back

his glory?

to

29

pressed him. Stay with us, they said;

30

is

and he made

when he 31

sat

and broke

down

at table

and offered

it,

as if to

So he went in

on in the day.

it is

from

And

their sight.

when he made

towards evening, and

to stay

to

with them.

whereupon

them;

and

34

apostles

35

The Lord

their

that,

when he spoke

to us

Were

of them,

Rising up there and

companions gathered together,

him when he broke

and

said,

They cowered down,

38

an apparition.

39

come

full of terror,

now

What, he

That the

disciples

V. ^4. I

Cor. XV.

bread.

it is

myself, do not be afraid.

you dismayed ? Whence

Look

at

my

hands and

my

do not mention the appearance of our Lord himxxviii. 9) is perhaps due to their incredulity

women (Matthew

John XX.

And

and how

he himself stood in the midst

said to them, are

xvi. 11).

v. 36.

saying,

thinking that they were seeing

these surmises in your hearts?

V. 2^.

(Mark

this,

Peace be upon you;

37

self to the

not our

where they found the eleven

to Jerusalem,

While they were speaking of

were

on the road, and

has indeed risen, and has appeared to Simon.

they recognized

it

then,

he disappeared

they too told the story of their encounter in the road

36

And

their eyes

they said to one another.

the scriptures plain to us?

went back

then, they

the

with them, he took bread, and blessed,

it

hearts burning within us

33

all

go on further; but they

opened, and they recognized him; and with 32

line of the

they were drawing near the village to which

scriptures.

far

and enter so into

words used of himself by

28

they were walking,

not to be expected

it

Moses and the whole

prophets, he began to interpret the

And now

Was

sufferings,

5.

19.

£177]

LUKE

The Ascension

24

be assured that

feet, to

it

is

myself; touch me, and look; a spirit

40

has not flesh and bones, as you see that

41

thus, he

were

still

shewed them

you anything here

43

fish,

44

ence.

is

what all

in the prophets,

So

that

and

was written, he

it

should

suffer,

day;

and

48

in his

name

49

are the witnesses.

in the psalms,

told them,

that repentance

rise

in the

must be

walked in your

law of Moses, and

fulfilled.

and so

was

it

Then he

the scriptures;

fitting that Christ

again from the dead on the third

and remission of beginning

to all nations,

And

Have

behold,

I

my

am

at

sins

should be preached

Of this, you down upon you the

Jerusalem.

sending

Father; you must wait in the

city,

you are clothed with power from on high.

When

50

he spoke

ate in their pres-

I still

make them understand

which was promised by

until

me

was written of

and should

47

gift

as

Then, while they

and he took these and

told you, he said, while

I

enlightened their minds, to 46

And

have.

So they put before him a piece of roast

to eat?

honey-comb;

a

This

company; how 45

I

his feet.

doubtful, and bewildered with joy, he asked them.

42

and

hands and

his

he had led them out as far as Bethany, he

51

hands and blessed them;

52

from them, and was

53

to

and even

carried

up

as

into heaven.

worship him, and went back

lifted

up

his

he blessed them he parted

So they bowed

down

Jerusalem,

where

full of joy to

they spent their time continually in the temple, praising and bless-

ing God. vv. 46-^3. St.

Luke does not here mention the interval of forty days before knew of it (Acts i. 3).

the Ascension, although he certainly

ri78]

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN CHAPTER ONE AT THE

BEGINNING of time the

Word

and God had Word was God. He

already was;

2

/\. the Word

3

abode, at the beginning of time, with God.

abiding with him, and the

came

that all things

4

that has

5

light of

come

was not

came 8

him

9

was

10

In

him

there

men might

all

learn to believe.

sent to bear witness to the light.

life

was the which

name was

He was There

is

He

John.

through

not the Light; he

one

who

enlightens

every soul born into the world; he was the true Light.

whom

the world

was made, was

world did not recognize him.

and they

who

who were

his

own

He came

to

what was

gave him no welcome.

He,

and the

in the world,

his

own,

all

those

But

him he empowered to become the children of believe in his name; their birth came, not from human stock, not from nature's will or man's, but from God. And the Word was made flesh, and came to dwell among us; and did welcome

God,

who

those

all

we had

sight of his glory, glory such as belongs to the Father's

only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth. ness to him;

16

and that

life,

appeared, sent from God, whose

12

15

was

it.

11

14

was through him

for a witness, to bear witness of the Hght, so that

through

13

It

and without him came nothing

the light shines in darkness, a darkness

able to master

A man

6,7

to be.

And

men.

into being,

who

I

told you, cried John, there

takes rank before

me; he was when

We

have John's wit-

was one coming I

was

not.

We

after

have

me all

received something out of his abundance, grace answering to grace. 17 18

Through Moses the law was given to us; through Jesus Christ came to us, and truth. No man has ever seen God; but now

grace

Some divide these two sentences differently, and interpret thus: was through him that all things came into being, and without him came nothing. What was in him was life, and that life was the light of men.' e/. 5. 'Master it' may be taken in the sense of overcoming it, or of undervc. 3, 4.

'It

standing t/.

it.

75. 'Their birth

a text

which read

came'; several of the early Fathers seem to have used

'His birth came'.

[79]

JOHN

The Witness

1

his only-begotten Son,

who

abides in the

bosom

of

John the Baptist

of the Father, has

himself brought us a clear message. This, then,

19

sent priests

was the testimony which John

and Levites from Jerusalem,

20

He

21

not the Christ.

22

Elias,

23

who

he

said.

us

sent us;

them,

the Jews

Who art thou?

I

What

then, they asked him, art thou

EUas? Not

And he answered. No. So they who thou art, that we may give an answer to those what account dost thou give of thyself? And he told Art thou the prophet?

am what

the prophet Isaias spoke

of,

the voice of one cry-

way of the Lord. The who had come on this errand)

ing in the wilderness. Straighten out the Pharisees (for they were Pharisees

Why

dost thou baptize, then,

25

asked him.

26

Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

baptizing you with water; but there

27

when

admitted the truth, without concealment; admitted that he was

said, Tell

24

bore,

to ask him.

of

whom you know nothing;

me, takes rank before me.

I

am

he

if

thou thyself

art

not the

John answered them, is

it is,

I

am

one standing in your midst

who, though he comes

after

not worthy to untie the strap of his

All this happened in Bethany that

beyond Jordan, where

28

shoes.

29

John was baptizing. Next day, John saw Jesus coming towards him; and he said, Look, this is the Lamb of God; look, this is he who takes away the

30 31

32

33

34

is

It is of him that I said, One is coming after me who takes rank before me; he was when I was not. I myself d«d not know who he was, although the very reason why I have come, with my baptism of water, is to make him known to Israel. John also bore witness thus, I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven Till then, I did not know him; like a dove, and resting upon him. but then I remembered what I had been told by the God who sent me to baptize with water. He told me. The man who will baptize with the Holy Spirit is the man on whom thou wilt see the Spirit come down and rest. Now I have seen him, and have borne my

sin of the world.

witness that this V.

18.

Some

is

the

Son of God.

of the best manuscripts here read 'God, the only-begotten*

instead of 'the only-begotten Son'.

That is, the prophet whose coming was foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy xviii. 15-19. vv. 2-J-28. Matthew iii. i, Mark i. i, Luke ill. i. V.

21.

V- 23.

Is.

xl. 3.

[180}

The

first

The

35

next day after

36

of his disciples;

37

Look,

38

it,

JOHN

Apostles

1

John was standing there again, with two

this,

and, watching Jesus as he walked by, he said,

Lamb

this is the

and they followed

of

The two

God,

heard him say

disciples

Turning, and seeing them follow

Jesus.

What would you have of me? Rabbi, they said, word which means Master), where dost thou live? He said to them, Come and see; so they went and saw where he lived, and they stayed with him all the rest of the day, from about the tenth hour onwards. One of the two who had heard what John said, and followed him, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He,

him, Jesus asked, 39

40 41

(a

of

first

42

found

all,

his

own

him

to Jesus. Jesus looked at

him

closely,

and

said.

Thou

43

same as Peter).

He

44

he found Philip;

him Jesus said, Follow me. This the home of Andrew and Peter.

45

from Bethsaida, And Philip found Nathanael, and

who 46

47

remove

into Galilee next day;

told him.

We

Simon

and

Philip

now came

have discovered

Jesus

was Moses wrote of in his law, and the prophets too; it is the son of Joseph, from Nazareth. When Nathanael asked

him.

Can anything

Come and is

is good come from Nazareth? Philip said, saw Nathanael coming towards him, and

that

Jesus

see.

Here comes one who belongs

no falsehood

in him.

How

dost thou

asked; and Jesus answered him,

49

art

means the

it

said of him,

48

to

to

have

and brought

the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, (which

was

We

brother Simon, and told him,

discovered the Messias (which means, the Christ),

I

50

Jesus answered.

51

under the he said

to

Son

of

Then Nathanael answered art the King of Israel.

God, thou

What, beUeve because

I

told thee that

I

saw thee

And me when I tell you this; you will see heaven angels of God going up and coming down upon

fig-tree?

Thou

shalt see greater things

than that.

him, Believe

opening, and the the

art the

know me? Nathanael

saw thee when thou wast under

the fig-tree, before Philip called thee.

him, Thou, Master,

to the true Israel; there

Son of Man.

some have thought that the other disciple was St. John, then called his brother St. James. But the contrast may be with verse 43 below. V. 5/. This is variously explained as referring to the Ascension, or to the Last Judgement. V. 41. 'First of all';

who

[181}

JOHN

The Water made Wine

2

CHAPTER TWO DAYS Two Galilee; 3

disciples,

AFTERWARDS, there was a wedding-feast

and

had

mother was

Jesus'

been invited

also

wedding.

to the

at

Cana, in

Jesus himself,

there.

Here

and

his

the supply

4

wine failed; whereupon Jesus' mother said to him, They have no wine left. Jesus answered her. Nay, woman, why dost thou

5

trouble

6

said to the servants,

of

me

with

My

that.''

Do

time has not come

whatever he

tells

And

yet.

his m^other

There were

you.

six

water-pots standing there, as the Jewish custom of ceremonial

washing demanded; they were of

And when

7

firkins

8

water, they filled these

apiece.

up

stone,

and held two or three

Jesus said. Fill the water-pots with

to the brim.

Then he said

draw, and give a draught to the master of the 9

to

him;

now

and the master of the

to

11

ever the

only

when

now.

known

good wine

all

So, in

lieve in

12

did not

who had drawn

ter of the feast, then, called to the It is

that

to

men

knew

bridegroom, out

first,

Now

that.

it

came;

The mas-

and said

to

him,

and the worse kind

have drunk deep; thou hast kept the good wine

Cana

of Galilee, Jesus began his miracles, and

the glory that

was

his,

it

which had

know whence

the water

set

them,

So they gave

feast tasted this water,

He

been turned into wine.

only the servants

feast.

till

made

so that his disciples learned to be-

him.

After this he went

down

to

Capharnaum with many

brethren, and his disciples, not staying there

'Why

me

his mother, his

days.

with that?' The Greek here is ambiguous; some would interpret it, 'What concern is that of mine or of thine?', but it is more probably to be understood as a Hebrew idiom, 'What have I to do with thee?', that is. Leave me alone, do not interfere with me, as in Matthew viii. 29, and in many passages of the Old Testament. 'My time has not come yet' is understood by some commentators as referring to his Passion; others suppose that the time had not yet come for his performing this miracle, or perhaps for performing a miracle in public, since this was witnessed only by a few. 'Woman' was an address used in the ancient world without any suggestion of disrespect. V. 8. Our Lord is generally understood to have turned the water in the six water-pots into wine. But, since the verb here used for 'to draw' applies more properly to drawing from a well, it is possible to suppose that the water-pots contained only water throughout, and that the wine came from the well itself, at the seventh time of drawing. V. 4.

dost thou trouble

[182]

JOHN

Cleansing of the Temple; Nicodemus 13

And now

14

near, so Jesus

found the merchants 15

which the Jews keep was drawing And in the temple there he

the paschal feast

went up

money-changers

3

to Jerusalem.

oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the

selling

So he made a kind of whip

sitting at their trade.

out of cords, and drove them

all,

with their sheep and oxen, out of

the temple, spilling the bankers' coins and overthrowing their

and he

said to the pigeon-sellers.

16

tables;

17

turn

18

remembered how it is written, I the honour of thy house. Then

19

sign canst thou

my

show us

swered them, Destroy 20

up

again.

At which

21

to build; wilt

22

was speaking

thou

this

raise

was

of

his

At

this

am consumed

And

his disciples

with jealousy for

the Jews answered him.

warrant for doing this?

temple, and in three days

it

up

own

in three days?

body;

remembered

believe in the scriptures,

there

as thy

do not

these away,

I

What

Jesus an-

will raise

it

the Jews said, This temple took forty-six years

the dead his disciples

23

Take

Father's house into a place of barter.

But the temple he

and when he had his saying this,

risen

from

and learned

to

and in the words Jesus had spoken.

paschal season, while he was in Jerusalem for the feast,

were many

who came

to believe in his

name, upon seeing the

But Jesus would not give them

24

miracles which he did.

25

dence; he had knowledge of them

all,

his confi-

and did not need

assur-

ances about any man, because he could read men's hearts.

CHAPTER THREE THERE WAS

A

MAN

Called

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, and one of the

who came to see Jesus by night; Master, he said to him, we know that thou hast come from God to teach us; no one, unless God were with him, could do the miracles which thou doest. Jesus answered him, Believe me when I tell thee this; a man cannot see the kingdom of God without being born anew. rulers of the Jews,

vv. 15-iy. C£.

Matthew

seem that these passages V. ly. Ps. Ixviii. V. ig.

Matthew

xxi. 12,

Mark

xi.

15,

Luke

xix. 45;

but

it

would

refer to a different occasion.

10.

xxvi. 61, xxvii. 40, 63.

J. In the Greek, the word which 'anew' may have meant 'from above.' v.

[183}

Nicodemus understands

as

meaning

JOHN

The

3

Son of

spiritual Birth; the

Man came down

to savt

6

Why, Nicodemus asked him, how is it possible that a man should when he is already old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and so come to birth ? Jesus answered, Believe me, no man can enter into the kingdom of God unless birth comes What is born by to him from water, and from the Holy Spirit.

7

is

8

You must

4

be born

5

natural birth

is

a thing of nature,

Do

a thing of spirit.

The wind

be born anew.

thou canst hear the sound of

came 9

come

[I

thee,

who

when up

14

is

art

known

I tell

to us,

and

God

one

what our eyes have

so that those

who

who was

has

things to

we speak seen,

and

me when to trust me

No man

has ever gone

come down from heaven,

lifted

believe in

it

breath

cannot trust

you be able

will

so loved the world, that he gave

The

way

And

this

Son

up by Moses

him may not

of

Man

in the wilperish,

but

life.

wind or

a

You

in heaven.

as the serpent

'The wind';

V. 8.

Believe me,

Israel?

testify of

Son of Man, who dwells

derness;

(/)

is

and

will,

it

can such things be strange

you of what passes in heaven ?

have eternal 16

Jesus,

will not accept our testimony.

must be Ufted up, 15

telUng thee,

but knowest nothing of the

one of the teachers of

into heaven; but there

the

spiritual birth

my

breathes where

you of what passes on earth; how

I tell

13

What, answered

be?

to

you

still

it,

at

way it goes; so it is, when a man is born by the Spirit. Nicodemus answered him, How can such

what

of 12

born by

is

or the

of the

10

what

not be surprised, then,

this

breeze,

word

(ii)

in the

up

his only-begotten Son,

Greek has three principal meanings, spirit, and especially the Holy

the breath, (Hi)

it here in the third sense, but it could be said to Nicodemus, 'thou hearest his voice'. By the moderns, it is generally understood of the wind. Maldonatus suggests that it may mean life, the breath of hfe, in living creatures and in man especially; the voice being conceived as the characteristic sign of life, because it is produced by the breath. And indeed it is more obviously true of life than of the wind, that we cannot tell whence it comes or where it goes. p. II. 'You' in the plural seems to mean the Jews generally, of whose incredulity Nicodemus, at present, offers an example; 'we' in the plural is more difficult to account for, but it may be that our Lord is identifying his own preaching, by anticipation, with that of his apostles. V. 75. 'But there is one who has come down'; literally, 'except him who has come down': the same Hebrew idiom occurs in Apocalypse xxi. 27, and niany other passages.

Spirit.

is difficult

V.

14.

older commentators understood

to see

how

Numbers

it

xxi. 9.

verses, and possibly the three which go before them, be regarded if we will as a comment by the Evangelist, not as part of our Lord's utterance to Nicodemus.

vv. 16-21.

These

may

[184]

JOHN

John mat{ei way for Jesus

who believe in him may Whenj3od sent his Son into the

so jhat those

17

life^ t

18

19

20

world,

it

was not

to reject

he world, but so that the world might find salvatio njhrough him.

man who believes in him, there is no rejection the man who does not believe is already rejected; he has not found faith in the name of God's only-begotten Son. Rejection lies in this, that when the light came into the world men preferred darkness to Anyone who light; preferred it, because their doings were evil. For the

;

acts shamefully hates the light, will not

21

3

not perish, but have etern al_

fear that his doings will be

comes

true

life is

what they

are,

found

out.

come into the light, for Whereas the man whose

to the light, so that his deeds

may

be seen for

deeds done in God.

23

After this, Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judaea, and there he remained with them, baptizing. John was still baptizing, too, in Aenon, near Salim, where there was abundance of

24

water;

25

that

26

dispute with the Jews, about purification,

22

men went

to

him

there to be baptized.

John was thrown into prison.)

(It

was only

latei

John's disciples had had a

and now they came

to

John, and told him. Master, there was one with thee on the other side of Jordan, to

27

28

that he

is

swered,

A man I

are flocking to him.

all

must be content

The

before him. friend,

told you,

who

I

bride

am is

to receive the gift

You

not the Christ;

for the

I

measure.

and 31

32

which

is

given

my

wit-

have been sent to go

bridegroom; but the bridegroom's

stands by and listens to him, rejoices too, rejoices at

He

must become more and more,

is I

mine now in must become

full less

less.

He who who

find

John an-

yourselves are

hearing the bridegroom's voice; and this joy 30

We

thou didst then bear testimony.

him from heaven, and nothing more. nesses that

29

whom

baptizing now, and

comes from above

is

above

all

men's reach; the

belongs to earth talks the language of earth, but one

comes from heaven must needs be beyond the reach of

all;

man who he

bears witness of things he has seen and heard, and nobody accepts

judge' V. I J. 'To reject'; the word here used in the Greek may mean 'to or 'to separate', and is perhaps used here with a certain play of sense upon the two meanings. vv. 31-36. These verses may either be regarded as part of what St. John Baptist said, or (perhaps more probably) as a comment by the Evangelist.

[185}

JOHN 33

34

35

36

]esus at the Well of Sichar

4

The man who does accept his witness has declared, God cannot lie, since the words spoken by him whom God has sent are God's own words; so boundless is the gift God makes of his Spirit. The Father loves his Son, and so has given everything into his hands; and he who believes in the Son possesses eternal life, whereas he who refuses to believe in the Son will never see hfe; God's displeasure hangs over him continually. his witness.

once for

that

all,

CHAPTER FOUR NOW

A ND

/V

IT

became known to is making more

2

number than John;

3

not Jesus himself.

4

Galilee.

5

came to a Samaritan which Jacob gave to

6

Jesus that the Pharisees disciples

told, Jesus

And

although

So he

left

it

was

a greater

who

baptized,

his disciples

city called Sichar, close

his

journey, by the well;

woman came 8

drink.

9

food.)

son Joseph;

and there was

to

Whereupon

who

down,

Jesus said to her.

the Samaritan

art a Jew, dost ask

Give

a Samaritan

me some

city at this time,

woman me,

a well there

tired after his

And when

was about noon.

it

draw water,

(His disciples were away in the

that thou,

more withdrew into Thus he by the plot of ground

Judaea, and once

he was obliged to go by way of Samaria.

called Jacob's well. There, then, Jesus sat

7

had been

and baptizing

said to him,

to

buying

How

is it

a Samaritan, to give thee

(The Jews, you must know, have no dealings with the Jesus answered her. If thou knewest what it is God and who this is that is saying to thee, Give me drink, it would

drink? 10

Samaritans.) gives,

to ask

have been for thee 11

thee living water.

water?

who

is

deep;

13

drunk out water

14

Art thou a greater

gave us

give V. 5.

it.

as this will

the water I

this well;

of

I

him Gen,

give

instead,

woman

the

bucket, and the well 12

him

Sir,

and he would have given

said to him, thou hast

he himself and his sons and his

Jesus answered her.

will not

will be a spring of xlviii. 22,

know

cattle havt,

Anyone who drinks such

be thirsty again afterwards; the

him

no

how then canst thou provide living man than our father Jacob? It was he

thirst

man who

any more.

drinks

The water

water within him, that flows con-

Josue xxiv. 22.

[186]

Worship 15

give to

16

17 18

19

20

me

Then,

life.

that, so that I

may

Sir, said

him,

Sir,

I

I

way

never be thirsty and have

to

worship on

this

to

worship

Jesus said to her, the time

to this

Well,

is

coming, nay, has already come, when true worshippers will

is

spirit

and in truth; such men

25

worship him must worship him in

spirit

is

a spirit,

and

in truth.

woman, I know that Messias (that is, the Christ) and when he comes, he will tell us everything. Jesus I,

who

speak to thee,

With

thou? or

there.

Why

woman; art

is

Yes, said to

come;

said to her,

the Christ.

that, his disciples

talking to the

down

am

as these the

and those who

the

came up, and were surprised

but none of them asked,

thou talking to her?

And

her water-pot, and went back to the

so

to find

him

What meanest the woman put

city, to

tell

the folk

Come and have sight of a man who has told me all the of my life; can this be the Christ? So they left the city, and

30

story

31

came out

32

Master, take some food.

33

which you know nothing.

35

will not

worship the Father.

to

You worship you cannot tell what, we worship knowing what it is we worship; salvation, after all, is to come from the Jews; but the

God

34

us that

Believe me,

coming when you

mountain, nor yet to Jerusalem,

was our

tell

in Jerusalem.

is

Father claims for his worshippers.

29

it

mountain, although you

24

28

and come

fetch thy husband,

perceive that thou art a prophet.

worship the Father in

27

4

woman,

have no husband, answered the

where men ought

the place

time

26

the

woman; and Jesus told her, True enough, thou hast no husband. Thou hast had five husbands, but the man who is with thee now is no husband of thine; thou hast told the truth over this. The woman said to

woman,

23

JOHN

of Christ

everlasting

water such as

back here.

go 22

him

come here for water again. At this, Jesus said to her. Go home,

fathers'

21

Food

in the Spirit; the

tinually to bring

to find him.

Meanwhile,

But he

his disciples

told

them,

I

were urging him,

have food

to eat of

Whereupon his disciples said to one another. Can somebody have brought him food? But Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish the task he gave me.

Is

it

not a saying of yours,

four whole months before harvest comes?

Why,

lift

up your

It is

eyes,

V. 55. 'It is four whole months'; this may have been a proverb, meaning that there was no hurry, hke our 'Rome was not built in a day'. Our Lord here rejects it (whereas he approves of another proverb in v. 37 below) it cannot be too soon to begin preaching his gospel. ;

[187]

JOHN

you, and look at the

I tell

30

Samaritan Converts; the Nobleman's Son

4

crop he gathers

vest, the

37

reaper are to rejoice together. is

One man

have sent you out to reap

Many

is

of the Samaritans

And

And when

they

life.

41

to stay with them,

42

them came

report, they told the

him

for ourselves,

here the proverb

fits,

The

came out through

woman,

you have

their labours

is

it

from

came

that city

He

me

told

which

harvest

I

inherited.

to believe in

the story of

all

him

my

him, the Samaritans urged him

to

and he stayed two days

to believe

reaps this har-

which sower and

one on which you bestowed no labour;

through the woman's testimony. 40

him who

sows, and another reaps.

and

others have laboured,

39

paid to

in, is eternal life, in

38

true enough,

they are white with the promise

fields,

The wages

of harvest already.

we

that

and we recognize

Many more

there.

his preaching;

It is

believe that he

of

not through thy

now; we have heard is

indeed the Saviour

of the world.

43

Then,

two

after

days,

he passed on and returned

44

Jesus himself bore witness that

45

goes unhonoured. ileans too

it is

like himself.

And

so

he came once more

he had turned the water into wine. 47

was lying

sick at

Capharnaum,

Judaea to Galilee, went 48

heal his son,

You must

had gone up

who was

see signs

nobleman

to

at the

come down

back home, Jesus told him; thy son

52

ants

53

him;

to

home, putting

is

still

on

will not believe.

before to live.

his trust in the

and while he was

come down and

Jesus said to him,

and miracles happen, or you

said to him,

Go

to

where

nobleman, whose son

point of death.

50

his journey

to the feast

of Galilee,

hearing that Jesus had come from

the

spoken

a

Cana

him and asked him

Sir,

began

to

And

49

51

to Galilee.

country a prophet

And now, when he came into GaUlee, the Galmade him welcome, because they had seen what he did

in Jerusalem at the time of the feast; they

46

own

in his

his

my child dies. And the man

words Jesus had

way down,

his serv-

met him with the message that his son was still alive. So he asked what time it had been when he felt easier; and they told him, He recovered from his fever yesterday, at the seventh hour. The The bearing of this verse, which has been the subject of much disamong commentators, is most simply explained if we understand it as meaning that our Lord had not yet won favour in his own country of V. 44.

pute

Gahlee (Cf.

ii.

23, iv. 41).

[188]

The

54

JOHN

Cripple at the Pool

father recognized that said to him,

Thy

found

Thus

faith.

his return

had happened

it

son

and he and

to hve;

is

when

time

at the very

his household

all

for the second time Jesus did a miracle

from Judaea

5

Jesus

upon

to Galilee.

CHAPTER FIVE A FTER THIS CAME a Jcwish 2

i\ salem.

3

in

Hebrew

There

is

lie,

Lord came down upon the

up; and the

man who

first

6

thirty-eight years.

thy strength.?

way, somebody

9

up, take

the water

else steps

up thy

bed,

infirmity

who had

there

there,

it

the sabbath;

himself.

13

this

who had been him

it is

Take up

man who from

aside

so

that op-

down

me down am on my

to let

and while

I

before me. Jesus said to him, Rise

And

all at

said to the

man

once the

That

man who had

thy bed,

told thee.

and walk.

Take up

healed did not

crowded

He

an-

me

thy bed, and walk? it

it

strength told

So they asked him.

know who

a place.

recov-

day,

been cured,

not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

The man who gave me back my

swered them. 12

was

and knew that he

ered his strength, and took up his bed, and walked.

It is

stirred

been disabled for

have no one

is stirred;

and walk.

was the sabbath: and the Jews

14

man

Sir, said the cripple, I

when

8

11

time to time, an angel

and the water was

long time; Hast thou a mind, he asked, to recover

a

into the pool

10

From

pool,

saw him lying

Jesus

a multitude

stepped into the pool after the stirring

There was one

pressed him.

had waited 7

under which

from whatever

of the water, recovered

5

to Jeru-

the bHnd, the lame, the disabled, wait-

ing for a disturbance of the water. of the

which Jesus went up

Bethsaida, with five porches,

of diseased folk used to 4

feast, for

a pool in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, called

The

Who

is

cripple

was; Jesus had drawn

But afterwards when Jesus found

in the temple, and said to him. Behold, thou hast recovered

thy strength; do not sin any more, for fear that worse should befall 15

thee,

the

man went

had restored 16

The Jews V. 4.

back and told the Jews that

it

was Jesus whc

his strength.

took occasion to rouse

This verse

is

ill-will

against Jesus for doinc

omitted by some manuscripts.

[189}

JOHN

The Son

5

And

17

such things on the sabbath.

18

has never ceased working, and

he not only broke the sabbath, 19

Jesus answered them,

anything of his

own

you

tell

I

The Father

turn.

himself does.

And

22

gives

23

And

them

Jesus answered

The Son cannot do

this,

is

and

what the Son does

Son gives

life to

all

rise

whomsoever he

in his

that he

him, for

to disclose to

Father bids the dead

just as the

hfe, so the

him

discloses to

he has greater doings yet

your astonishment;

Father

This

impulse, he can only do what he sees his

loves the Son,

21

work.

to

Father doing; what the Father does 20

at

thereby treating himself as equal to God.

them thus: Believe me when

My

made make away with him, that but spoke of God as his own Father, must be

too

I

more determined than ever

the Jews

and Judge

as Life-giver

up and So

will.

it is

with judgement; the Father, instead of passing judgement on

any

man

may

himself, has left

judgement

all

to the Son,

so that all

reverence the Son just as they reverence the Father; to deny

reverence to the Son

is

deny reverence

to

to the

Father

who

has

sent him.

Believe

24

me when

I

you

tell

this,

words, and puts his trust in him

man who

the

who

listens to

sent me, enjoys eternal

my life;

he does not meet with rejection, he has passed over already from 25

death to

come, 26

those

Believe me, the time

life.

gift of life, so

him

and has

within

28

execute judgement, since he

29

graves will hear his voice

the gift of

prised at that; the time

life,

is

the

is

have been

evil, rising to

my own

cision

impulse;

and

will

32

If I testify

nothing; V.

but

J2. it is

meet

my own. in my own

there

is

all

I

those

come out

new

life,

to

not be sur-

who

are in their

of them; those

whose

I

cannot do anything

am bidden to decide, and my deam consulting the will of him who I

behalf, that testimony of

another

him power

Do

and those whose doings

their sentence.

decide as

never unjust, because

is

sent me, not

31

I

also granted

Son of Man.

coming, when

actions have been good, rising to

of

coming, nay, has already

he has granted to the Son that he too should have

27

30

is

when the dead will listen to the voice of the Son of God, and who listen to it will live. As the Father has within him the

who

testifies to

mine

me, and

I

There is another'; some understand this of St. John more commonly interpreted as applying to the Father;

[190]

is

worth

know

well

the Baptist, cf. v. 37.

JOHN

His Credentials Overlooked 33

that the testimony he bears

34

sent a message to John,

me

and he

depend on human testimony;

He,

is

worthy of

You

trust.

(Not

testified to the truth.

it is

for your

own

5

yourselves that I

welfare that

I

say

36

show you the way, and there was a time when you were willing enough to sun yourselves in his light. But the testimony I have is greater than John's; the actions which my Father has enabled me to achieve, those very actions which I perform, bear me witness that it is the Father who

37

has sent me.

35

this.)

after

ness to me.

was the lamp

all,

lit

to

Nay, the Father who sent

You have

38

vision of him,

39

hearts; that

and

me

has himself borne wit-

always been deaf to his voice, blind to the

his

word

is

not continually present in your

whom

he has

sent.

pore over the scriptures, thinking to find eternal

life in

them (and

is

why you

40

indeed,

41

will not

42

honour from men,

it is

of these

come

to

I

will not trust

one

speak as bearing witness to me)

me, to find but that

I

life.

I

do not mean

that

You

but you

:

I

look for

can see you have no love of

God

in

your hearts. I

43

have come in

my

Father's

name, and you give

although you will welcome some other,

me no

welcome,

he comes in his

if

own

44

name.

How

receive

honour from one another, and are not ambitious for the

45

honour which comes from him, who alone pose that

it

should you learn to believe, you

will be for

me

to accuse

who

are content to

Do not supmy Father; your man in whom you put is

God?

you before

accusation will

come from Moses,

46

your

you believed Moses, you would believe me;

47

of

trust.

If

me that he wrote. how should you give

But

if

the very

you give no credence

credence to

my

it

was

to his writings,

words?

'The vision of him'; if this is understood Hterally, it is hard to see our Lord attaches any blame to the Jews for not seeing God (cf. i. 18 above) it is perhaps better to suppose that our Lord is reproaching them with a spiritual blindness towards all God's manifestations of himself. V. 59. 'You pore over the scriptures'; the phrase was generally taken by the older commentators as a command, 'pore over the scriptures'; but this seems less appropriate to the context. V. ij.

how

;

[191}

JOHN

The

6

CHAPTER

thousand

five

SIX

A FTER THIS, Jesus retired across the sea of Galilee, or Tiberias, and 2

21.

3

miracles he performed over the sick.

4

hill side,

5

was

there

and there

down with

sat

time of the Jews' great

up

him, Jesus said folk to eat?

7

self

knew

him.

his disciples.

Whence

to Philip,

In saying

this,

hundred

we

are

he was putting

what he meant

9

drew, Simon Peter's brother) said

to

who

fishes;

Httle.

and two

five barley loaves

Then

many?

so

Make

Jesus said.

11

thousand in number.

And

and distributed them

to the

12

as

as they

had

enough, he told his 13

them

14

There

is

a

but what

is

that

him,

the

men

Jesus

who

Knowing,

make

to

is

side all alone. to the lake,

come

fishes too, all

had

And when

they gath-

into the world,

His

and the

vv. 1-1^. V. 14.

meant

disciples,

there,

to

come and

to

sea

them.

Deut.

16-21.

when evening came

xiv. 13,

or

fallen,

Mark

xiv. 22,

ofT,

so as

to the hill

went down

began

to cross

and Jesus had not

there was a strong wind blowgrow rough. And now they had thirty furlongs, when they saw Jesus to

vi.

30,

Luke

xviii. 15.

Matthew

him

on,

boat, they

Meanwhile

was beginning

Matthew

carry

withdrew on

embarking on the

rowed some twenty-five

w.

five

who had eaten. When they saw the miracle men began to say. Beyond doubt, this is the

Capharnaum. Darkness had

come back

ing,

to

and

the water to yet

be wasted.

a king of him, Jesus once again

16

19

down, about

and gave thanks,

Gather up the broken pieces that are

may

then, that they

17

18

down. There was

sat

Then, when they had

for.

here,

among

had done, these

prophet 15

sit

boy

up, they filled twelve baskets with the broken pieces

over by those

left

he him-

Philip answered

company, and a share of the

disciples.

for these

to the test;

Jesus took the loaves,

mind

so that nothing

left over,

ered

a

buy bread

to

him

no lack of grass where they were; so the men

much

lifting

would not buy enough bread for One of his disciples (it was An-

silver pieces

them, even to give each a

10

to the

was nearly the

And now,

to do.

8

has

It

paschal feast.

feast, the

well enough

Two

So Jesus went up on

and seeing that a great multitude had gathered round

his eyes

6

him; they had seen the

a great multitude following

Mark

vi.

45.

ix. 10.

JOHN

Jesus wallas on the Water; God's Gift

20

walking on the

21

Then

were

terrified:

and already drawing near to the boat. but he said to them, It is myself; do not be

they took

him on board

willingly enough;

were making

their boat reached the land they

22

and

all

6

They

sea,

afraid. at

once

for.

Next morning, the multitude was still waiting on the opposite They had seen that there was only one boat there, and that Jesus did not embark with his disciples on this boat, but left his shore.

23

disciples to rias

24

go back

had put

But now, since other boats from Tibe-

alone.

where they

in near the place

Lord gave thanks over them,

ate the loaves

when

the

the multitude, finding neither Jesus

nor his disciples there, embarked on these boats in their turn, and 25

went back

to

Capharnaum

26

didst thou

have seen; 27

make

thy

you are looking

if

You

fill.

it is

29

to earn food

What

authorized him.

work

God

in

which

Man shall

affords, continually, eternal life,

we

Man whom

said to him,

Why

then,

31

We

32

gave them bread out of heaven to

fathers

see

it

before

had manna

me when

I tell

we

trust thee;

my

by

34

gives life to the

you

35

bread

all

of

life

;

36

in

me

Father.

God's

real

gift of

eat.

But Jesus

xv.

He

Jesus said to them, Believe

bread from heaven

is

is

not

given only

down from heaven and

Then, Lord, they

said, give us this

who am the bread hungry, he who has faith

told them. It

who comes to me will never be know thirst. (But you, as Matthew

the service

what miracle canst thou do? what canst thou effect? Our

bread comes

whole world.

will never

V. 30. Cf.

is

sent.

bread that comes from heaven

this; the

the while.

he

he has

to eat in the desert; as the scripture says.

what Moses gave you. The 33

God, the Father, has

do, then, they asked him, so as to

Jesus answered them. This

God's service?

must

not because of the miracles you

will give you;

asks of you, to believe in the

So they

30

it is

because you were fed with the loaves, and had your

such food as the Son of 28

they

when

Jesus answered them. Believe me,

here?

me now,

And when

lake, they asked him, Master,

should not work to earn food which perishes in the

Work

using.

way

for

look for Jesus.

to

found that he had crossed the

I

is I

have told you, though

i.

v. 5/. Ps. Ixxvii. 24. V. j6.

Our Lord

is

perhaps thinking, not of his immediate audience, but cf. v. 38 above.

of the Jewish people in general;

JOHN 37

The Bread from Heaven

6

you have seen me, do not believe

who comes to me I will never cast out. It is the will of him who sent me, not my own will, that I have come down from heaven to do; and he who sent me would have me keep without loss, and raise up at the last day, all he has entrusted to me. Yes, this is the will of him who sent me, that all those who believe in the Son when they see him should enjoy eternal Hfe; I am to raise them up at the last day. The Jews were by now complaining of his saying, I am myself the bread which has come down from heaven. Is not this Jesus,

me

entrusted to

38 39

40

41

42

All that the Father has

in me.)

come

will

me, and him

to

they said, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother are well

known 43 44

What

to us?

from heaven?

Nobody can come

another.

mean by

does he

who

to

me

me

by the Father

45

last

day.

46

Father and learns, comes to me.

all

It is

saying,

Do

Jesus answered them,

I

have come

down

not whisper thus to one

without being attracted towards

sent me, so that

can raise him up

I

at the

And they shall who listens to the

written in the book of the prophets,

have the Lord for their teacher; everyone

(Not

that

anyone has seen the

him who comes from God; he alone has seen the Believe me when I tell you this; the man who has faith Father.) 47 8,49 in me enjoys eternal life. It is I who am the bread of life. Your 50 fathers, who ate manna in the desert, died none the less; the bread Father, except

which comes down from heaven 51

dies.

52

heaven.

myself

I

If

now, what

am

anyone is

this

is

who eats of it never come down from shall live for ever. And

such that he

the living bread that has eats of this bread,

bread which

I

am

to

he

give?

It is

my

flesh,

given

for the life of the world.

53

54

Then

the Jews

fell to

disputing with one another.

man

give us his flesh to eat?

Whereupon

lieve

me when

you can have no

I tell

you

this;

unless you eat the flesh of the

55

The man who

56

life,

and

57

my

blood

V. 42.

I

eats

will raise is

my

him up

real drink.

Matthew

xiii.

flesh

55,

Son

my

at the last day.

vi. 3.

V. 45. Is. liv. 13.

C194]

life

eats

can

this

in yourselves,

Man, and drink

and drinks

He who

Mark

of

How

Jesus said to them. Be-

my

his blood.

blood enjoys eternal

My

flesh is real food,

flesh,

and drinks

my

The Bread 58

blood, lives continually in me, and the Father, the living Father

59

who

I

in him.

come down from heaven;

manna and

it is

died none the

Such

not as

less;

As

is

who

man who eats

eats

mc

which has

the bread

was with your

it

the

6

because of

I live

has sent me, so he

will live, in his turn, because of me.

ate

JOHN

that gives Life; the Betrayal prophesied

who

fathers,

this

bread will

live eternally.

He

60 61

said

they heard

But

62

it?

63

over

it,

there were

This

Jesus,

is

of

it, if

he was before?

65

and the words

Does

see the

Only

this try

Son

of

who

said,

can be expected to

your faith?

Man

when

listen to

among

What

you

will

ascending to the place where

the spirit gives

from

6j

who

have been speaking

I

there are some, even

66

of his disciples

inwardly aware that his disciples were complaining

you

64

many

strange talk,

said to them.

it,

make

while he was teaching in the synagogue, at Caph-

all this

And

arnaum.

to

life;

the flesh

you

are spirit,

is

of

and

no life.

avail;

But

who do not believe. Jesus knew who did not believe, and which of

you,

the first which were those them was to betray him. And he went on to say, That is what I meant when I told you that nobody can come to me unless he has received the gift from my Father. After this, many of his disciples

70

went back to their old ways, and walked no more in his company. Whereupon Jesus said to the twelve, Would you, too, go away? Simon Peter answered him. Lord, to whom should we go? Thy words are the words of eternal life; we have learned to believe,

71

and are assured

68

69

that thou art the Christ, the

answered them. Have 7a

of

you

is

Iscariot,

a devil.

I

He

who was one

not chosen

all

Son of God.

twelve of you?

Jesus

And one

was speaking of Judas son of Simon, the was to betray him.

of the twelve, and

vv. 62-64. If we understand 'the flesh' as referring to our Lord's flesh, we must suppose him to mean 'the flesh without spirit, without hfe', condemning the folly of those hearers who imagined that he had been speaking of his

dead body in

flesh'

all

that

he said above. But

it is

possible to understand 'the

in a different sense altogether, the sense in

which

it

is

contrasted,

throughout the New Testament, with 'the spirit'. In this sense it denotes the natural as opposed to the supernatural man, and especially human wisdom as opposed to divine revelation (cf. viii. 15 below). The sentence will then mean, that the mystery of the Holy Eucharist must be approached by faith, not by human reasoning. V. yo. The best Greek manuscripts have 'the Holy One of God' (as in

Mark

i.

24) instead of 'the Christ, the

[95]

Son of God'.

JOHN

The Feast

7

of Tabernacles

CHAPTER SEVEN would not go about

A FTER THIS, Jcsus wciit about in Galilee; he

2

x\. in

Judaea, because the Jews had designs on his

one of the Jewish

And

him, This

his brethren said to

3

near.

4

to Judaea, so that thy disciples also

content to act in secret,

is

large;

if

if

may

is

was drawing

no place

he wishes to make himself

is

9

doings.

to

opportunity has not

for

It is

you

go up

to

me

went up, not

11

The Jews were looking he be?

13

tude astray.

14

openly.

15

up

Whereupon Your oppor-

denounce

the time

is

I

am

not ripe yet.

it

for

evil

its

not going up for

And, saying

so

his brethren

him

for

if

had gone up

for the feast,

he

he would keep himself hidden.

at the feast,

and asked. Where can

Among the crowd, there was much whispering about him; said. He is a good man; No, said others, he leads the multiBut, for fear of the Jews, nobody dared to speak of

And

it

was not

into the temple,

tonished;

V. 2.

I

for the feast;

publicly, but as

12

some

yet.

them, he stayed behind in Galilee.

But afterwards, when too

come

the world cannot be expected to

does hate me, because

it

the feast, because for

much 10

My

always ready to hand;

hate you, but 8

Nobody known at

thou must needs act thus, show thyself before the world.

Jesus said to them, tunity

go

for thee;

see thy doings.

5,6 For even his brethren were without faith in him.

7

And now

life.

the feast of Tabernacles,

feasts,

Lev.

How

till

the feast

and began

does this

was

half over that Jesus

The Jews were

as-

to read? they asked;

he

to teach there.

man know how

him

went

xxiii. 34.

For our Lord's 'brethren', see note on Matthew xii. 46. (It is perhaps noteworthy that in xiv. 22 St. Jude, who was one of them, raises exactly the same question which is raised by our Lord's brethren here.) Their suggestion that our Lord should go to Judaea in order to let his disciples see his V. 3.

is difficult to understand, unless we suppose that they affected, perhaps in irony, to think that all his disciples in Galilee had deserted him (cf. vi. 66 above), and that he could only find followers now in Judaea. V. 8. There is only an apparent inconsistency here between our Lord's statement, 'I am not going up for the feast', and his decision to go up to Jerusalem in v. 10. 'To go up for a feast' is clearly a technical expression for going up on pilgrimage, usually in company with a large party of neighbours (Luke ii. 44); whereas our Lord went to Jerusalem privately, and perhaps did not arrive till after the feast had begun.

miracles

[196}

JOHN

]esus teaches as the Father's Emissary

i6

has never studied.

17

is

my own,

not

Jesus answered,

The

learning which

prepared to do his

will,

can

tell

for himself

impart

I

Anyone who

comes from him who sent me.

it

7

is

whether such learning

I am speaking of my own impulse. own impulse seeks to win credit for to win credit for one who sent him,

comes from God, or whether 18

The man who himself; when

19

he

tells

speaks of his a

man

ample; was

Why

you keeps the law.

21

Jesus answered them,

22

founded you

Thou

answered,

and

if

man

a

in

him.

There

is

who

to kill

has a design to

that

it

comes from Moses,

are ready to circumcise a

receives circumcision

Be honest

bath?

none of

kill

thee?

one action of mine which has

as-

it

comes from the

man on

the sabbath day;

on the sabbath,

with me, for restoring a man's whole strength 24

yet

me? The multitude

Moses may not be broken, have you any right

of

Moses, for ex-

And

Listen to this; because Moses prescribed circum-

all.

you

do you design

possessed;

art

you (not

cision for

patriarchs),

no dishonesty

is

not Moses that gave you the law?

it

20

23

seeks

the truth, there

in

to

so that the

law

to be indignant

him on

the sab-

your judgements, instead of judging by ap-

pearances.

At

25 26

this,

some

not this the

Is

of those

man

who

belonged to Jerusalem began to ask,

Yet here he

they design to put to death?

speaking publicly, and they have nothing to say to him. rulers have

made up

27

But then, we know

28

one

is

to

their this

know whence

minds

in earnest, that this

is

Can

is,

the

the Christ

?

man's origins; when Christ appears, no he comes.

Whereupon

Jesus cried aloud

30

You know me, and you know whence I come; but I have not come of my own impulse, I was sent by one who has a right to send; and him you do not know. I know him, because I come from him; it was he who sent me. And now

31

his

he taught in the temple,

as

29

they were ready to seize him; but none of

time had not yet come.

And

them

indeed,

V. 22. 'Listen to this'; literally, 'on this account'.

laid

hands on him;

among

the multitude

The connexion

of thought

not clear, but it seems as if our Lord must be referring back to vv. 18 and 19; the Jews recognize Moses as one who had a true mission from God, and on that account give the Mosaic rite of circumcision (Lev. xii. 3) is

precedence even over the Divine institution of the sabbath (Gen. Although indeed the rite of circumcision was older than Moses xvii. 10).

[197}

ii.

3).

(Gen.

JOHN

The Jews Perplexed;

7

there were

many who

has done?

among

The

the

this

man

Pharisees were told o£ these whispers about

him

more

Then

him.

33

officers to arrest

34

with you, and then

35

reach the place where

36

the Gentile world,

I

am

and Pharisees sent

chief priests

Jesus said,

go back

to

coming than

miracles at his

and both

the multitude;

For a

to

while

litde

him who

me, but you will not be able

will look for

Can

learned to believe in him; they said,

Christ be expected to do

32

the Living Water

sent

I

am

me.

still

You

me; you cannot

to find

Whereupon the Jews said among themselves. Where can he mean to journey, that we should not be able to find him ? Will he go to the Jews who are scattered about saying of find

will look for

can

it

mean,

I

man

any

man

is

thirsty, let

yes, if a

39

ing water shall flow from his bosom.

which was

him; the

him come

Spirit

to be received

and

me, and drink;

which had not

speaking here of the

who

learned to believe in

yet been given to

Some

had not

41

ing these words, said, Beyond doubt this

yet been raised to glory.

is

to

He was

by those

40

This

to

believe in me, as the scripture says. Fountains of liv-

38

Spirit,

this

am?

the last and greatest day of the feast Jesus stood there

cried aloud, If

said.

What

me, but you will not be able

me; you cannot reach the place where

On

37

am.

and teach the Gentiles?

You

his.

I

the Christ;

men, because Jesus

of the multitude, is

and others again,

the prophet.

Is

on hearOthers

the Christ, then, to

come from Galilee? Has not the scripture told us that Christ is to come from the family of David, and from the village of Beth43 lehem, where David lived? Thus there vv^as a division of opinion 44 about him among the multitude; some of them would have seized him by violence, but no one laid hands on him. Meanwhile the officers had gone back to the chief priests and 45 Pharisees, who asked them. Why have you not brought him here? 46 The officers answered, Nobody has ever spoken as this man speaks. 47 And the Pharisees answered, Have you, too, let yourselves be de-

42

^8. 'His bosom'; it is not clear whether this refers to the believer, or our Lord himself; the old commentators are not agreed. In either case, it is impossible to trace these exact words in any passage of scripture as we have it; cf. however Is. xliv. 3, Zach. xiii. i. Some would punctuate differently, with a full stop, instead of a comma, after 'believes in me'. V.

to

I/.

40.

V. 42.

Deut. Mich.

xviii. 15. V. 2.

[198]

The Woman

JOHN

ta}{en in adultery

Have any of ? Pharisees ? As for

^8

ceived

the' rulers

49

the

these

50

of the law, a curse

who came 51

Is it

the

52

ing

first,

way

of

Here Nicodemus, the same man who was one of their number, asked, judge a man without giving him a hearis

from Galilee? Look

They answered him.

about?

in the scriptures; thou wilt find

that Galilee does not breed prophets. to his

yec, or

who have no knowledge

on them.

is

of our law to

too,

him

to believe in

folk

by night,

and finding out what he

Art thou, 53

to Jesus

come

common

8

And

they went back, each

own home.

CHAPTER EIGHT 1

TEsus MEANWHILE wcut

J morning came 3

to

him, and he

And now

to the

mount

the scribes

down

sat

And at early common folk

of Olives.

he appeared again in the temple;

the

all

there and began to teach them.

and Pharisees brought to him a

woman who

had been found committing adultery, and made her stand there view;

Master, they said, this

4

full

5

act of adultery.

woman

Moses, in his law, prescribed that such persons

should be stoned to death; what of thee? 6

They

in

has been caught in the

said this to put

him

to the test,

What

thy sentence?

is

hoping to find

a charge to

bring against him. But Jesus bent down, and began writing on the 7

ground with

his finger.

When

he found that they continued

question him, he looked up and said to them. Whichever of you 8

9

free

from

again,

Then he

sin shall cast the first stone at her.

And

and went on writing on the ground.

go out one by one, beginning with the

woman,

eldest,

[Q

alone with the

looked up, and asked her,

Woman, where

[I

no one condemned thee?

No

to her, I will

not

still

condemn

till

bent

is

down

they began to Jesus

standing in full view.

was

Then

are thy accusers?

left

Jesus

Has

And

Jesus said

and do not

sin again

one. Lord, she said.

thee either. Go,

to

henceforward. [2

And now V. 5.

once more Jesus spoke to them,

Lev. XX. 10. C 199

I

am

the light of the

JOHN

The double Testimony

8

He who

world, he said. 13

he will possess the him,

told

14

Thou

art testifying

worth nothing.

have come, and where 15

16

17 18

up

ment

is

me

with me.

is

two men

of

am

Hereupon they Jesus answered,

My

testimony

it is

is

trust-

is

know whence I know whence I am going. You set yourbehalf;

I

going; you do not

And what it is

I

if

not

alone,

I

do not

I

should judge?

I

my

well,

one

is

set

myself

My

judge-

Father

prescribed in your law,

trustworthy;

is

and

behalf,

my own

the Pharisees

behalf, thy testimony

your earthly fashion;

judgement indeed; Just so

Whereupon

own

know where

to judge, after

up to judge anybody.

own 19

I

have come, you do not selves

cin never walk in darkness;

life.

on thy

on

testify

I

me is

answered them,

Jesus

when

worthy, even

follows

which

light

The

who

sent

testimony

my

myself, testifying in

who sent me testifies in my behalf too. said to him, Where is this Father of thine? And You have no knowledge, either of me or of my

my

Father

Father; had you knowledge of me, you would have knowledge of 20

my

Father

as well.

was teaching

All this Jesus said at the Treasury, while he

in the temple;

and no one seized him, because

his

time had not yet come.

And

21

for

he said

to

am

going

I

23

going

24

belong to earth, is

is

Will he is

I

am

why

I

kill

going away, and you will look

At

I

to

heaven; you to

sins

upon you; where

this,

the Jews began to by,

Where

But he went on

to say,

himself? Is that what he

where you cannot come?

this

means

world,

I

to another.

I

to believe that

will die

it is

am

You That

have been telling you that you will die with your

upon you; you 25

again,

where you cannot come.

22

ask.

them

me, but you will have to die with your

sins

with your sins upon you unless you come

myself you look

for.

asked. Jesus said to them, What, that

I

Who

art thou,

then ? they

should be speaking to you

myself you look for'; literally, 'It is myself, that is, 'I am the Mark xiii. 6; but here the elliptical phrase is helped out by V. 21 above, where our Lord has told the Jews that after his death they will be looking for him, i.e. looking for a Messias to deliver them. V. 2$. 'What, that I should be speaking to you at all?'; or perhaps, 'Why am I speaking to you at all?', though this is a more doubtful rendering of the Greek. Several other interpretations have been proposed, but none of them throws much light on a very obscure passage. The old translation 'The beginning, who also speak to you', only agrees with a reading which is not that of the best Latin manuscripts. V. 24. 'It is

Christ', as in

[ 200 }

The Jews no 26

There

at all?

much

is

could say o£ you,

I

could pass on you; but what 27

him who

learned from

Then you

Jesus said to them.

structed

me

left

30

to speak.

all

alone, since

And now him,

was

32

earnest;

33

set

you

you

come

nobody ever enslaved us 34 35

I tell

you

I

faithful to

will

this;

do

is

and that

for,

of

to

yet;

his

Man.

do not

I

has in-

has not

always what pleases him.

among

my

the Jews

who

believed in

my

disciples in

word, you are

know

the truth,

We

are of

and the truth

home

will

Abraham's breed,

what dost thou mean by

And Jesus answered everyone who acts sinfully make

And

his Father.

up the Son

lifted

saying.

them. Believe

free.?

the slave cannot

have

I

of the Jews learned to believe in him.

They answered him.

free.

become

what

Jesus said to those

so

shall

you have

God

calling

myself you look

many

thus,

you continue

If

When

it is

me

While he spoke

31

I

only what

is

my own impulse, but speak as my Father And he who sent me is with me; he

do anything of 29

many judgements

me, because he cannot deceive.

sent

will recognize that

8

the world

I tell

they could not understand that he 28

JOHN

Abraham

true Sons of

You

me when and

the slave of sin,

is

in the house for ever.

To make

his

37

home in the house for ever, is for the Son. Why then, if it is the Son who makes you free men, you will have freedom in earnest. Yes, I know you are of Abraham's breed; yet you design to kill

38

me, because

36

are

what

actions,

39

my word

seems, are

it

Our

father.

to follow

me, 41

who

you the truth

not Abraham's way.

And now 42

he only,

is

took

my

No,

they said to him. the Father

children of God, you I

My

words

Father, and your

what you have learned in the school of your answered him; Abraham is our father. you are Abraham's true children, it is for you

Abraham's example; tell

my

father.? they

Jesus said to them, If

40

does not find any place in you.

have learned in the house of

I

origin,

we

as

as I

it

your

it is

We

are

recognize.

I

you are designing it

father's

from God;

to kill

this

was

example you follow.

no bastard children; God, and Jesus told them. If you were

would welcome

from him

is,

have heard

me

gladly;

have come.

I

it

was from God

did nor

come

of

my

'They answered'; some have understood this of the Jews who had him (v. 31), but this seems contradicted by vv. 45, 46 below, and it is therefore best to understand the word 'they' of our Lord's general. in audience Jewish V. ^S-

come

to believe in

[201]

JOHN 43

own

The Word

8

impulse,

was he who

it

understand the language 44

45 46

the message

from

was

the

first,

his stand

upon

hood, he

is

it

that; there is

is

it

49

me

Hereupon

utters false-

and

you do not believe

Can any

of

me.

it is

me when

Believe all

another

is

taste

because

Not

who

I tell

We are right, surely, in saying

I

art possessed?

that

I

am

will look to

you

They

death to

are dead.

own

my

reverence

this; if a

all

are dead;

eternity,

What

and thou

if

he

is

I

am

it,

not possessed,

Father that you have

my own

looking to

man And

is

true to

my

What

of

Abraham and

man

will never

Art thou

true to thy word.

dost thou claim to be?

is

word, to

the Jews said to him.

sayest that a

Abraham? He

reputa-

and be the judge.

are certain that thou art possessed.

greater than our father

dead, and the prophets

should speak in

If I

honour, Jesus answered, such honour goes for nothing.

our must come to as

and

eternity he will never see death.

the prophets?

55

he

is all false,

speaking the truth.

the Jews answered him.

no reverence for me.

Now we

54

if

He,

of sin? If not,

that thou art a Samaritan,

51

53

And

birth.

the devil,

why is it that you do not believe me when I tell you the truth? The man who belongs to God hstens to God's words; it is because you do not belong to God that you

tion; there

52

its

When

in him.

is,

father's.

he has never taken

natural to him; he

am

precisely because I

Jesus answered;

50

is

which are your

as for truth,

no truth

was he who gave falsehood

me,

and

a murderer;

only uttering what

will not listen to

48

belong to your father, that

to gratify the appetites

you cannot

that

is it

because you have no ear for

It is

and are eager

you convict 47

You

bring.

I

?

Why

me.

sent

talk

I

ma\es Men immortal

that

me from my

Father, from

whom

him

knowledge of him; are, a liar.

As

56

word.

57

the day of

Yes,

I

if I

should say

have not,

I

Abraham,

his heart

coming; he saw, and rejoiced

I

V. $6. It

is

uncertain whether our Lord

means

am

to see

that

who

[202}

to see

Then

it.

the

art not yet

Abraham 'saw' the him (Gen.

of Christ merely in the sense that it was foretold to 18), or whether we are to suppose that he was granted vision of the event, either in his life-time or after death.

xxii.

have

true to his

was proud

Jews asked him. Hast thou seen Abraham, thou,

coming

I

should be what you

have knowledge of him, and

for your father

my

I

you claim

But

your God: although you cannot recognize him.

my

Hon-

some

actual

The Man born

JOHN

blind

58

fifty

years old?

And

59

Abraham came

to be,

throw

at

Jesus said to them, Believe

Whereupon

am.

I

9

me, before ever

they took

up

stones to

him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

CHAPTER NINE

AND

Master, was this 3

Whereupon

man

itself

answered;

him who

was

it

me; the night

sent

As long

am

God's action might declare

so that lasts, I

must work

coming,

is

when

5

any more.

6

With

7

then he spread the clay on the man's eyes,

as

I

in the world,

he spat on the ground, and

that,

his parents, that he

Neither he nor his parents were

While daylight

in him.

it

been

asked him.

his disciples

was

guilty of sin, or

should have been born blind? guilty, Jesus

4

man who had

Jesus saw, as he passed on his way, a

blind from his birth.

L

am

I

made

in the service of

there

is

no working

the world's light.

clay with the spittle;

and

Away

said to him.

with thee, and wash in the pool of Siloe (a word which means.

So he went and washed

Sent out). 8

sight restored.

9

who

accustomed

And now

to see

used to

sit

him begging, began Some

here and beg?

others.

No, but he looks

10

man.

How

11

opened? anointed

is

it,

like

him.

And

recovered

He answered, A man and said my eyes with it,

not 13

14

my

sight.

And

t'.

to say. Is not this the said.

This

is

the

man

man; and

he told them, Yes,

I

am

the

Where

is

I

called to

me.

went

Jesus

made

Away

with thee

there,

clay,

and

to the

and washed, and

he? they asked; and he

said, I can-

tell.

they brought

once been bUnd.

Ex.

his

and those who had been

then, they asked him, that thy eyes have been

pool of Siloe and wash there. So 12

and came back with

there,

the neighbours,

^8. iii.

'I

It

him was

before the Pharisees, this

a sabbath day,

man who had

you must know, when Jesus

am'; here our Lord seems explicitly to claim a Divine

title,

of.

14.

The

Greek manuscripts read, 'we must work', not 'I must work'. If this reading is genuine, we must suppose that our Lord here associates his disciples with his own ministry; and indeed, he told them that they were the light of the world (Matthew v. 14). v.

4.

best

[203]

JOHN 15

16

A

9

made

clay

asked

him how he had

clay

on

and opened

my

upon some

fruitless Interrogation

so the Pharisees in their turn

Why, he said, he put now I can see. Whereman can be no messenger

recovered his sight.

and then

eyes;

And

his eyes.

I

washed, and

ot the Pharisees said. This

How

from God; he does not observe the sabbath. Others asked, a

17

man do

and be

this,

Thus

a sinner?

can

was a

there

among them. And now they questioned the What account dost thou give of him, that he should thus have opened thy eyes? Why, he said, he must be a prophet. The Jews must send for the parents of the man who had division of opinion

man

blind

18

miracles like

again.

recovered his sight, before they would believe his story that he had 19

been blind, and that he had had his sight restored to him. they questioned them,

20

How comes We

blind?

21

this

your son, who, you

then, that he

it,

answered them.

Is

can

tell

now

is

you that

was blind when he was born;

we

say,

His parents

able to see?

this is

cannot

And

was born

our son, and that he

how

tell

he

is

able to

now; we have no means of knowing who opened his eyes for him. Ask the man himself; he is of age; let him tell you his own story. It was fear of the Jews that made his parents talk in this way; the Jews had by now come to an agreement that anyone who see

22

acknowledged Jesus 23

gogue;

that

as the Christ

was why

should be forbidden the syna-

He

his parents said.

of age, ask

is

him

himself.

24

God

sinner.

26

that once

him over

I

blind, and, now What was it he did And he answered

was

again.

open thy eyes?

and you would not 28

Would you him with

too

abuse;

listen to

become

Keep

We know

me.

I

I

cannot

can

see.

to thee?

them,

I

Why must

his disciples?

been blind.

to our knowledge, tell; all I

Then

is

know

a is

they asked

By what means did he have told you already, you hear

Upon

it

this,

his discipleship for thyself,

we

over again ?

they covered are disciples

we Why, the man answered, here is matter for astonishment; here is a man that comes you cannot tell whence, and he has opened my eyes. And yet we know for certain that God does not answer the prayers of

29

of Moses.

30

know

31

man,

the praise, they said; this

Sinner or not, said the other,

25

27

man who had

So once more they summoned the

Give

nothing of

this

for certain that

God

spoke to Moses;

man, or whence he comes.

[204]

On

JOHN

spiritual Blindness

sinners,

32

prayer

33

blind

man

it is

is

is

only

man is devout and does That a man should open the

when

answered.

a

10

his will, that his

eyes of one born

something unheard of since the world began.

No,

if this

did not come from God, he would have no powers at

all.

34

What, they answered,

35

him out from their presence. him out, he went to find him, and asked him, Dost thou believe in the Son of God? Tell in sin

36 37

from thy

When

me who is

one

we

And

birth?

to

he

had so

I

can believe in him.

thou hast seen, Jesus told him.

Then he

38

ing to thee.

worship him.

40

see,

and those who

sees

heard

said,

Hereupon

so that a sentence

this,

may

I

do

believe.

Jesus said,

upon

see should

it,

I

It is

Lord, and

who fell

have come into

who

that those

become

he

He

speak-

down

this

to

world

are blind should

Some

blind.

is

of the Phari-

such as were in his company, and they asked him,

Are we blind too? not be guilty.

fall

thee, all steeped

cast

Lord, he answered, so that

is,

whom

have lessons from

they cast

Jesus heard that they

39

41

are

It is

If

you were blind, Jesus

because you protest,

cannot be rid of your

told them,

We can

you would

see clearly, that

you

guilt.

CHAPTER TEN BEhiEVE ME WHEN sheep-fold by

comes

to steal

I tell you this; the man who climbs into the some other way, instead of entering by the door,

and

to

plunder:

it is

sheep that comes in by the door.

door throws so he calls by

it

the shepherd his

who

tends the

coming the keeper

of the

open, and the sheep are attentive to his voice; and

name

out with him.

At

the sheep

When

which belong

he has brought out

to all

him, and leads them the sheep

which

be-

V. ^j. 'The Son of God'; some Greek manuscripts read, 'The Son of Man', but it is clear from the context that, whichever title he used, our Lord was here identifying himself as the Christ. (if we interpret it by v. 41 below) seems to I/. 59. Our Lord's meaning be, that his coming into the world has die effect of enlightening those humble souls which are conscious of their own ignorance, and at the same time of involving those who think themselves wise and prudent (Matthew xi. 25) in worse blindness than ever. Cf. Apocalypse iii. 17, 18.

[205}

JOHN

The Good Shepherd

10

long to him, he walks in front of them, and the sheep follow him, 5

recognizing his voice.

him

away from

stranger comes, they run

If a

instead of following him; they cannot recognize the voice of a

This was a parable which Jesus told them; and they

6

stranger.

7

could not understand what he meant to say to them.

spoke to them again; Believe me, he 8

of the sheep-fold.

9

all

am 10

comes

am

I

will find salvation

life,

and have

in are

at will,

I

he makes his way in

if

and find pasture.

The

have come so

more abundantly.

it

The good shepherd lays down his life hireUng, who is no shepherd, and does

the good shepherd.

whereas the

for his sheep,

Jesus

the door

way

their

to steal, to slaughter, to destroy; I

may have

that they 11

So

who am

sheep paid no attention.

to these, the

through me; he will come and go thief only

12

man

the door; a

it is I

Those others who have found

and robbers;

thieves

said,

not claim the sheep as his own, abandons the sheep and takes to

soon

flight as

13

because he sheep.

know me; just as And for these sheep

16

too,

The

them.

I

my sheep are known to me and am known to my Father, and know him. am laying down my life. I have other sheep

I

which do not belong

to this fold;

my voice; so my Father loves

they will listen to 17

shepherd.

18

life, it

down

up 19

to take

of

This it

my own is

These words of

Many

Jews.

21

why do you

of

accord.

I

the charge

am

I

must bring them

there will be one fold, in

me, that

I

am laying down my rob me of it; I lay

free to lay

which

my

it

down,

free to take

listen to

said,

He

him?

must be possessed; he

While

it

Father has given me.

his led to a fresh division of opinion

them

in too;

and one

Nobody can

up again afterwards.

again; that

20

hireling, then, takes to flight

good shepherd;

the

14 15

I

wolf coming, and so the wolf harries

sees the

scatters

only a hireling, because he has no concern over the

is

am

he

as

and

the sheep

is

others said, This

among the madman;

a

is

not the

V. 8. 'Those others' must not be taken as referring to the old prophets; our Lord says there are, not were, robbers, which shews he was thinking of rehgious leaders in his own time. These, he says, entered the sheep-fold unauthorized, instead of waiting until Christ, the Good Shepherd, should have opened that Door, which is also Christ. v.

75.

know

Some would

translate,

'Just

him', but this rendering seems

as

I

less

am known to my Father, so well suited to the context.

I

'One fold': the Greek here is more accurately rendered 'One flock'. Our Lord evidendy refers to the Gendles who would believe in him. f. 16.

[206}

JOHN

Jesus challenged to spea\ out; the Threat of stoning

10

23

man who is possessed by a devil. Has a devil power open blind men's eyes? And now the Dedication feast was taking place at Jerusalem, and it was winter; and Jesus was walk-

24

ing about in the temple, in Solomon's porch.

So the Jews gathered

How long wilt

thou go on keeping us

language of a 22

to

round him, and 25

said to him,

in suspense ? If thou art the Christ,

them, 26

my

27

lieve

28

ten to

tell

Jesus answered

us openly.

have told you, but you will not believe me. All that

I

name

Father's

me;

that

my

is

voice,

bears

me

testimony,

and

still

you

because you are no sheep of mine.

and

I

know

I

do

in

will not be-

My

sheep

them, and they follow me.

lis-

And

I

them everlasting life, so that to all eternity they can never be 29 lost; no one can tear them away from my hand. This trust which my Father has committed to me is more precious than all else; no 30 one can tear them away from the hand of my Father. My Father give

and

32

mercy

Jews;

it is

for blasphemy;

35

law,

to

him

with.

do many deeds

we

it is

me ?

are stoning thee, answered the

because thou,

Jesus answered them. Is

who it

art a

man, dost

not written in your

He gave the tide of gods to those I have said. You are gods ? who had God's message sent to them; and we know that the words of scripture have binding force.

God

blasphemer, because

in

Why

then,

what of him

me;

not; so

I

do not

but

you

if I

I

have told you

I

act like the son of

do, then let

will recognize

my

actions convince

and learn

call

you where

to believe that the

Machabees iv. 56. Kings vi. 3. 2g. Some Greek manuscripts read here "My Father, trust to me, is greater than all else'.

V. 2.2.

whom

me a am the Son of God ? If you my Father, then put no trust

has sanctified and sent into the world? Will you

find that 38

me

;

pretend to be God.

37

stones, to stone

Father has enabled

your presence for which of these are you stoning

in

34

36

My

not for any deed of mercy

It is

up

the Jews once again took

this,

Jesus answered them,

of

33

are one.

I

At

31

I

Father

canis

in

I

V. 23. Ill V.

this

V. ^4. Ps. Ixxxi. 6.

The

God' and even gods'; God' is not in itself a claims

more

it

in a different

applicable to the

God was

who

has committed

judges of God's people are there called 'sons of which fact our Lord adduces as proof that 'Son of blasphemous title to adopt. But he shows that he sense, by insisting immediately afterwards that it is Word of God, than to those to whom the word of

sent.

[207]

JOHN

Jesus withdraws; the Death of Lazarus

11

Thereupon once again they had

39

me, and

40

him; but he escaped from

I

in him.

where John was when he

side of Jordan, to the place

There he waited: while many came out

41

never did a miracle, but

And many found

true.

42

all

John

to see

him

to seize

to the other

first

baptized.

him. John, they

told us about this

faith in

mind

a

and went back

their hands,

man

said,,

has proved

there.

CHAPTER ELEVEN T,HERE WAS sick.

A

MAN

and

Martha;

with her

sister

had now

fallen sick,

3

ointment and wiped his feet with her

was

the

woman who

sage to him, to say. Lord, he

And it is

5,

it.

and her

The end

sister,

sisters sent a

of this sickness to the

and Lazarus.

At

is

mes-

here sick.

lies

not death;

Son

of

God.

the time, then,

hearing the news, he waited for two days in the place where

and

then, after that interval, he said to his disciples.

8

us go back into Judaea.

9

Jesus answered,

were but

now

threatening to stone thee; art thou for Judaea again?

Are

there not just twelve hours of daylight?

can walk in the day-time without stumbling, with

he only stumbles

10

light to see by;

then the hght cannot reach him. told them.

Our

awake him. 2.

Since

Let

Master, his disciples said to him, the Jews

11

V.

The

on hearing

he was;

12

lived,

thou lovest

God's honour, to bring honour

7

man

whom

Jesus said, for

fallen

anointed the Lord with

hair.

meant

6 Jesus loved Martha, after

this

village

Mary, whose brother Lazarus

2

4

who had

where Mary

Called Lazarus, of Bethany,

Bethany was the name of the

friend Lazarus

if

he walks by night, because

So much he

is at rest

now;

I

said,

am

But, Lord, the disciples said to him,

St.

John only mentions

this

follows, this verse perhaps implies that he

with the other gospels. (Matthew xxvi. 36 sqq.

The most probable

A

this world's

and then he

going there to if

he

is

rested,

incident in the chaptei which his readers to be familiar

assumed

6,

Mark

xiv. 3.)

Cf. also

Luke

vii.

explanation of this allegory is that our Lord 9. compares the predestined length of his own life-time with the hours of daylight; there is no danger for him in Judaea yet, because tiie hour oi darkness (Luke xxii. 53) has not yet come. Cf. ix. 4 above. I/.

E208}

JOHN

Jesus at Bethany

had been

them

13

his life will be saved.

14

they supposed he meant the rest which comes with sleep.

15

Jesus told

them openly, Lazarus

am

was not

16

us

glad

I

make our way

Didymus,

Jesus

there;

to

telling

will help

it

And

dead.

is

you

said to his fellow-disciples.

now

So

for your sakes, I

But come,

to believe.

Thereupon Thomas, who

him.

11

of his death; but

Let us go

and be

too,

let

also called

is

killed

along with him. 17

When

Jesus arrived, he

found that Lazarus had already been four

Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen

18

days in the grave.

19

furlongs away,

20

Martha and Mary over the

many

had gone out

of the Jews

there to comfort

when she Mary sat on

Martha,

loss of their brother.

heard that Jesus had come, went out to meet him, while Lord, said Martha to Jesus,

21

in the house.

22

my

2^

God

24

said to her, will rise again.

would not have died;

brother

will grant

enough

and

if

thou hadst been here,

know

well that even

Thy

whatever thou wilt ask of him.

Martha

comes.

26

believes in

27

life,

Jesus said to her,

and has

faith in

am

I

me, though he

me,

thou art the Christ; thou

And

Mary

aside;

She rose up

thee come.

30

(Jesus

31

where Martha had gone out

had not

at

living

Dost thou

to believe that

God;

it is

for thy

with that she went back and

The Master

is

here, she said,

once on hearing

yet reached the village; he to

who

he

life;

die.

have learned

Son of the

art the

coming the world has waited. called her sister

I

well

the last day

and whoever has

cannot

to all eternity

29

and

the resurrection

believe this? Yes, Lord, she told him,

know

I

when

dead, will live on,

is

now

brother, Jesus

said to him,

that he will rise again at the resurrection,

25

^8

I

meet him.)

were in the house with Mary, comforting

it,

was

And

her,

and bids

and went still

so the

when

to him.

at the place

they

Jews

who

saw how

quickly she rose up and went out, followed her; She has gone to the grave, they said, to

32

him, she 33

weep

there.

So Mary reached the place where Jesus was; and when she saw

brother tears,

fell at his feet;

Lord, she

would not have

and the and

tears

said,

34 35

him? he asked.

36

Jesus wept.

thou hadst been here,

of the

my

her in

Where have you him, come and see.

buried

distressed himself over

deeply,

if

And Jesus, when he saw Jews who accompanied her,

died.

Lord, they said to

See, said the Jews,

how

[209]

it;

he loved him;

sighed

Then

and some of

JOHN

The

11

them asked, Could not

Resurrection of Lazarus; Caiphas Propheciei

he,

who opened

38

prevented this man's death?

39

over the

Martha, the dead man's

if

said to him, Lord, the air

sister,

thou hast

Why,

42

Father, he said,

know

thou

which

who

me

is

And

hast sent me.

44

loud voice, Lazarus, come out here.

came

out, his feet

muffled in a 45

Many

46

what Jesus

47

Pharisees, priests

48

veil.

of these

and hands

tied

Loose him, said Jews

who had to

them

and Pharisees summoned

And

foul by

glorified?

heaven,

say this for the sake

may

learn to

with that he cried in a

and

let

the dead

strips,

and

him go

man

his face

free.

Martha and Mary, and seen but some went off to the

him,

Jesus had done.

What

So the chief

we about? man is performing many miracles, and if we leave own devices, he will find credit everywhere. Then the a council;

are

they said. This

him to his Romans will come, and make an end 49

And

50

year, said to flect

51

I

Whereupon

Jesus,

all

have

him-

For myself,

prayer.

with linen

visited

did, learned to believe in

and reported

my but

at all times,

believe

it is

God

standing round, that they

43

is

lifted his eyes to

thank thee for hearing

that thou hearest

of the multitude

to

Jesus said to her, have I

thou wilt see

faith,

So they took the stone away; and Jesus

I

eyes,

the stone, Jesus told them.

41

I

bhnd man's

and a stone had been put

cave,

now; he has been four days dead. not told thee that

the

once more sighing

Jesus,

came to the tomb; it was a mouth of it. Take away

self,

40

So

who

one of them, Caiphas,

that

them.

it is

of our city

own

race.

You have no perception at all; you do not reif one man is put to death for the sake of

best for us

the people, to save a whole nation from destruction. his

and our

held the high priesthood in that

impulse that he said

this;

It

was not of

holding the high priesthood as

he did in that year, he was able to prophesy that Jesus was to die 52

for the sake of the nation;

and not only

so as to bring together into

From

one

all

for that nation's sake, but

God's children, scattered far

53

and wide.

54

and Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but

retired

which borders on the

desert,

to a city called

that day forward, then, they plotted his death;

Ephrem,

in the country

The Jewish high

priests were not elected annually, but held the John cannot have been ignorant of this, we must suppose him to mean, that Caiphas was high priest in that all-important year which witnessed the world's redemption; or possibly that in this year Caiphas still held the office, from which he was in fact deposed by the V.

4g.

office for

life.

Since

Romans not many

St.

years afterwards.

JOHN

Jesus' Feet anointed

55

and waited there with Jews keep was country

56

now

who went up

to

Jerusalem to purify themselves before

so they looked out for Jesus,

What

another as they stood there in the temple,

Will he come up

and

one

said to

your way of

it?

And the chief priests and Pharisees anyone who knew where he was should

that

them, so that they could arrest him.

to

it

is

to the feast?

had given orders report

which the

paschal feast

and there were many from the

close at hand,

paschal time began;

The

his disciples.

12

CHAPTER TWELVE DAYS BEFORE the paschal

SIX

And

2

life.

3

waiting at

a feast table,

was made

went

feast, Jesus

was the home of Lazarus, the dead for

him

to

Bethany Bethany

man whom

there, at

Jesus raised to

which Martha was

And

while Lazarus was one of his fellow-guests.

now Mary brought

in a

was very

and poured

precious,

pound

of pure spikenard ointment, it

over Jesus'

feet,

wiping

which

his feet

with her hair; the whole house was scented with the ointment. 4

One

of his disciples, the

same Judas

5

said

when he saw

Why

6

might have been given

concern for the poor, but because he was a

thief;

7

mon

And

8

is

sold? It

enough

that she should

not always

A

this

great

He

to the poor.

and took what was put into

prepared for burial.

am 9

who was

Iscariot

should not

would have fetched two hundred

purse,

alone;

it.

among

number

keep

You have

it

to betray

him,

ointment have been

silver pieces,

and alms

said this, not

from any

it.

he kept the comJesus said. Let her

when my body among you always; I

for the day

the poor

you.

of the Jews heard that

he was there and went

out there, not only on account of Jesus, but so as to have sight of 10

Lazarus,

11

made on

whom

he raised from the dead;

a plot against Lazarus' life too,

his account,

were beginning

to

and the

because so

go

off

and find

who had come up

Next

day, a great multitude of those

13

feast,

hearing that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem,

Matthew xxvi. 6, Mark xiv. Matthew xxi. i, Mark xi.

vv. 12—16.

[211]

3. i,

of the Jews,

faith in Jesus.

12

vv. 1—8.

chief priests

many

Luke

xix. 29.

for the

took palm

JOHN

own Death

Jesus enters Jerusalem; prophesies his

12

branches with them and went out to meet him, crying aloud,

Hosanna, blessed 14

who comes in the name of the Lord, blessed And Jesus took an ass' foal, and mounted on Do not be afraid, daughter of Sion; behold,

he

is

the king of Israel.

is

so

15

it;

16

thy king

written.

is

it

is

coming

did not understand

on an

to thee, riding all this at

The

ass' colt.

disciples

had attained

the time; only after Jesus

18

remember what they had done, and how it fulThere were many who had been with him, when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him Indeed., that was why to life, and these too bore witness of him.

19

performing

this miracle.

Do

how

his glory did they

ly

filled

the words written of him.

the multitude

you

see

went out

to

meet him, because they had heard of

And

his

the Pharisees said to one another,

vain are your efforts? Look, the whole world has

turned aside to follow him.

And

20 21

who

at the feast,

made

Bethsaida in Galilee, and 22

among

there were certain Gentiles,

worship

to

a request of

came and

Philip

desire to see Jesus.

those that

had come up

man from we

approached Philip, the

told

him;

Sir,

they said,

Andrew, and

together

24

Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them thus. The time has come now for the Son of Man to achieve his glory. Believe me when I tell you this; a grain of wheat must fall

25

grain of wheat; but

23

into the

ground and

loves his life will lose

26

it;

dies,

he

it

then

who

is

remains nothing more than a

He who

yields rich fruit.

it

own

an enemy to his

life

in this

my my way; so shall my servant too be where I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will do him honour. And now my soul is distressed. What am I to say? I will say. Father, save me from undergoing this hour of trial and yet, I have world will keep servant,

27

die, or else if it

it,

so as to live eternally.

If

anyone

to be

is

he must follow

;

28

only reached this hour of

29

make thy name known. And have made it known, and will

trial

that

I

might undergo

yet

make

it

multitude which stood listening declared that 30

but some of them V. 75.

Zach.

hour of

An

Father,

it

had thundered;

angel has spoken to him.

Jesus an-

me from

undergoing

ix. 9.

V. 2y. Ps. vi. 4.

this

said.

it.

came from heaven, I known. Thereupon the

at this, a voice

Some

trial' as

read the words 'Father, save

a question.

[2T2j

The Light

of the

swered,

It

was

Sentence

31

made.

32

time

33

am

when

saying

being passed on

the earth,

We

mean by

Man

still,

is

to

And

this?

Yes,

have the Hght, have

Man must

out of the

told,

be lifted up ?

The hght

37

much

is

What Son among you who

Such great miracles he did not believe in him;

was 40

whom

sage, to

the

was

this

He

heart,

who

there anyone

is

power

of

God

42

one

43

with

And

me, not

46

sent

me.

47

who

believe in

and indeed,

So

it

Isaias has said else-

and understand with that

me, and win healing from me.

seen his glory;

all that,

many

it

was

tence

on him;

V.

Dan.

it

him

me may

vii.

liii.

2.

learned to

because of the Phari-

man

believes in

believes;

to see

They valued

me,

me

it is

is

in

to see

their

have come

I

If a

do not pass

man sen-

to save the world, not to pass sentence

14.

'The power';

him who him who

as a light, so that all those

continue no longer in darkness.

words, and does not keep true to them, I

Isaias said

that he spoke.

who had

of the rulers

have come into the world

my

of

higher than their credit with God.

me, that he

in

hears

^4.

to

Jesus cried out, If a

sent

V. 38. Is.

has believed our mes-

being forbidden the synagogue.

men

45

I

they did

made known?

has been

him; but they would not profess

sees, afraid of

credit

44

who had

There were, for believe in

still

words spoken by

has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, so

and turn back

this, as

and then went

and

in their presence,

in fulfilment of the

that they could not see with those eyes, 41

you may become

Jesus told them,

that they could not believe;

where:

While you

going.

is

still

jour-

view.

lost to their

the prophet Isaias, Lord, 39

which way he

tell

faith in the Hght, that so

children of the Hght. So

38

I

(In

but only for a short time. Finish your journey while you

away, and was

the

die.)

have been

Jesus said to them.

neys in darkness cannot still

is

only

to myself.

have the Hght, for fear darkness should overtake you; he 36

if

12

was

remain undisturbed for ever; what dost thou

saying that the Son of

is

now

world;

men

he prophesied the death he was to

this,

law, that Christ

of

this

to be cast out.

is

will attract all

I

The multitude answered him,

34

35

now

is

the prince of this world

up from

lifted

JOHN

World

for your sake, not for mine, that this utterance

literally 'the

V. 40. Is. vi. 9.

l2n}

arm' of the Lord.

JOHN 48

]esus washes his Disciples' Feet

13

my

not accept

49

message

I

Father

commands

my

is

no account, and does

his

judge

the

it is

And

at the last day.

my own impulse that I have spoken; it was me that commanded me what words I was to was to utter. And I know well that what he

not of

it is

who

sent

what message

say,

of

words, has a judge appointed to try him;

have uttered that will be

because

this,

my 50

The man who makes me

on the world.

I

eternal

life;

everything then, which

I utter, I

utter as

Father has bidden me.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN PASCHAL FEAST began, Jcsus already

BEFORE THE

time had come for his passage from

He

still

loved those

who were

his

own,

this

knew

world

whom he

that the

to the Father.

was leaving

in the

world, and he would give them the uttermost proof of his love. 2

Supper was over, and the devil had already put

3

Judas, son of Simon, the Iscariot, to betray him. that the Father

4

God

had

that he came,

from supper, he about him;

6

girded him.

7

Lord,

wash

it

and

is it

So,

9

God

aside, took a towel,

basin,

well

was from

And now,

that he went.

garments

when he came

for thee to

wash

my

know, now, what

afterwards.

I

If I

no companionship with me. hands and

my

head

man who has bathed

too,

to

rising

and put

it

and began

them with the towel that Simon Peter, Peter asked him,

feet?

am

Peter said to him,

and Jesus answered him. 10

to

it

the feet of his disciples, wiping

for thee to

8

knew

everything in his hands;

laid his

knew

Jesus

and then he poured water into the

5

to

left

into the heart of

it

I

Jesus answered him,

not

wash my feet; means thou hast Peter, wash my

will never let thee

do not wash

thee,

Then, Lord,

not only

It is

doing; but thou wilt understand

my

feet.

does not need to do

it

said

But Jesus

told him,

more than wash

A

the stains

f. 10. The best interpretation of this passage seems to be that of St. Cyprian, that the washing of feet symbohzes sacramental absolution. He who has once been baptized can need no second baptism, but he may need absolution from post-baptismal sin, which is compared here to the incidental stains of travel. Since Judas had been baptized, and had his feet washed, he remains 'unclean' because in his case the washing of feet has taken no effect.

[214}

The Law 11

from not

his feet;

of you.

all

You

JOHN

of Service

are not

he

clean

is

down

sat

what

14

Lord; and you are

right, it

washed your

who am

have done

feet, I

and

again,

13

to

You

you?

me

hail

what

is

for you.

17

apostle greater than

18

this,

blessed are

you when

I

my

he by

you

if

say this,

it

I

Why

then,

and the have

I

if

have been setting you an

I

to

do what

I

have done

I

know who

it.

are the

men

it

happens,

so that

trip

I

have chosen; well,

fulfilled.

me

when

up. it

I

The man who

am

you

telling

may

happens you

was written of me.

me when

Believe

whom

his

you understand

whom he was sent. Now that you know I am not thinking of all of

you perform

bread has Hfted his heel to

now, before

believe

20

said,

and the Lord, you in your

the Master

remains for the passage in scripture to be

this

only,

he

Believe me, no slave can be greater than his master, no

16

19

Do

as the Master,

am.

I

turn ought to wash each other's feet;

shared

why

and put on

their feet

said to them.

example, which will teach you in your turn

it

is

all clean.

garments, he it is I

now;

are clean

was; that

his betrayer

Then, when he had finished washing

12

15

And you

over.

all

He knew who

13

you

tell

I

this; the

welcomes me; and the

send,

man who welcomes man who welcomes

one me,

welcomes him who sent me. 21

After saying so much, Jesus bore witness to the distress he in his heart; Believe

And

me, he

22

me.

23

which of them he meant.

24

who was now V.

said, believe

me, one of you

is

the disciples looked at one another, at a loss to

sitting

Jesus

had one

disciple,

whom

with his head against Jesus' breast;

felt

to betray

know

he loved, to

him,

18. Ps. xl. 10.

'You may believe it was written of me'; literally, 'you may believe myself, as in viii. 24 above. Here, as there, the sense is plainly, 'that I am the Christ'; but it has to be inferred, here as there, from the context, and the context seems to imply that our Lord is the Christ inasmuch as he is the person in whom David's prophecy is fulfilled. V.

that

ig. it

is

vv. 21-^0. V. 23.

on the

The left

Matthew

Mark xiv. 18. we do over verse, we are simply

xxvi. 31,

ancients did not

elbow. In this

sit as

meals, but reclined, leaning told that St. John, lying at

our Lord's right, found his head nearly at a level with his breast; in verse 25 he leans back to speak to him, with his head actually resting upon it. That St. Peter should have had to communicate by signs probably means that he was sitting on the further side of our Lord, that is, in the place of

honour

at his left.

[215}

JOHN

]udas leaves the

13

Simon Peter made

therefore,

25

26

liead

him,

answered.

to

him. Be quick on thy errand. understand the

he

asked

whom

to

I

Then he

dipping in the dish.

common

He,

the poor.

and now

it

When

as

was

None

what he

drift of

buy what we need

Iscariot.

purse, that

for the feast, or

soon

as

glory,

and

God

is

my

you what

where

I

am.

are to love

35

the love

36

you

for

I

exalted,

it is

I

You

bidding him give some alms

to

Now

God

is

the

Son of

Man

own

God

to exalt

It is

only for a short time that

will look for

him

in his

me, and

has

Since, in his

exalted.

now

I

glory, I

am

have

to

once told the Jews, you cannot reach the place

have a

new commandment

to give you, that

one another; that your love for one another

have borne you.

my

for

delay.

children. I

could

sat there

he received the morsel, had gone out;

out, Jesus said.

him without

with you,

who

some of them thought, since Jesus was saying to him. Go and

night.

he had gone

exalt

of those

said;

achieved his glory, and in his glory

tell

is it

morsel once given, Satan entered into him; and Jesus said tc

Judas kept the

34

man

Judas the son of Simon, the

it

29

33

the

It is

dipped the bread, and gave

28

32

am

Who

Jesus' breast,

I

The

31

back upon

give this piece of bread which

27

30

and asked him,

a sign,

And he, leaning his Lord, who is it? Jesus

means?

Supper

last

disciples will

The mark by which

all

is

men

to

will

be the love you bear one another.

you

be like

know Simon

Peter said to him, Lord, where art thou going? Jesus answered

am going where thou canst not follow me now, but shalt me afterwards. Lord, Peter said to him, why cannot I follow thee now ? I am ready to lay down my life for thy sake. Thou art ready, answered Jesus, to lay down thy life for my sake ? Believe him,

37 38

I

follow

me, by cock-crow thou wilt thrice have disowned me. V.

jj. Cf. vii. 34, viii. 21

above.

[216I

The Father

JOHN

in Christ

is

14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Do

xoT LET your heart be

Father's house; otherwise, should 3

away

to prepare a

home

prepare you a home, 4

5 6

7

for

you?

am coming

I

you have

distressed; as

God,

faith in

my

There are many dwelhng-places in

have faith in me.

have said

I

to you,

And though

I

back; and then

am

I

going

do go away,

to

you

will take

I

you too may be where I am. And now you know where it is I am going; and you know the way there. Thomas said to him, But, Lord, we do not know where thou art going; how are we to know the way there.' Jesus said to him, I am the way; I am truth and life; nobody can come to the Father, to myself, so that

except through me.

would have learned 8

wards you are

9

What,

you had learned

If

to recognize

let

recognize me, you

to

Father

too.

From now

him; you have seen him.

to recognize

Philip said to him. Lord,

my

us see the Father; that

Philip, Jesus said to him, here

am

I,

who

is

this,

we

ask.

all

have been

while in your company; hast thou not learned

on-

At

all this

recognize

to

mc

Whoever has seen me, has seen the Father; what dost thou mean by saying. Let us see the Father.' Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.-* The words I speak to yet.-*

10

you are not spoken of

my own

you cannot

my

11

If

12

Father, and the Father

my

selves be

who 13

trust

in me,

warrant. Believe

has learned to believe in

nay, he will be able to

am

word, when is

me

V. 2.

'Should

I

difficult to reconcile

me when I me will be

translate,

'I

with the verse

would have told you, and seems wanting

infer

v.

JO.

t>.

/J.

in the

tell

you

yet.

make

man

this; the

able to do It is to

what

my

I

do;

Father

of the Father in

I

my

Some comment?.-

would have said to you', which is which immediately follows; others would

because'; but this in relevance.

is

a doubtful rendering

Our Lord's thought appears

waiting in heaven for others besides myself, as you saying that I am going to prepare a home for you'. manuscripts here have 'Dost thou not believe'. words 'of the Father' are not found in the manuscripts.

from

The The

am

I

'I

to be, 'there are places

may

power.

that

to you'; cf. x. 4, xii. 26 above.

as a statement,

of the Greek,

you

acts of

these powerful acts them-

do greater things

have said

words

own

his

tell

I

let

going: and whatever request you

tors take the

who

impulse; and the Father,

dwells continually in me, achieves in

my

[217}

John H name, 14

The Mission

self will

every request you

grant

If

which

I

17

you

to befriend you,

for ever.

It is

But you are

nay, he will be in you.

19

to you.

only a

I

21

have that

I

me

I

too

me, because

see

whom

man

and then he him, and

who

the world can

you

friendless;

I

and you too

on,

I live

am coming to see me

is

Here

him.

will reveal myself to

how comes

it

my

win

make our

we

Father's love, and

continual abode with him;

has no love for me,

lets

my

sayings pass

Judas,

that thou wilt

Jesus answered

my

has any love for me, he will be true to

will

will

comes, you will learn for yourselves

the

wiU love him, and

If a

will give

dwell continually with

to

only reveal thyself to us, and not to the world?

him,

24

is

will be continually at your side,

not the Iscariot, said to him, Lord, 23

my-

I

you are in me, and I am in you. The man who keeps the commandments he who loves me will win my Father's love, and

is

has from me; and he 22

who

while now, before the world

When that day am in my Father, and loves

and he

will ask the Father,

one

him; he

life.

man who

I

will not leave

little

no more; but you can 20

name,

cannot see him, cannot recognize him.

it

to recognize

18

It is

my own

in

the truth-giving Spirit, for

no room, because

find

me

o£

me, you must keep the commandments

for

and then

give you;

you another

make

to you.

it

you have any love

15

16

through the Son the Father may be

will grant, so that

I

glorified;

of the Spirit

will both

word;

come

whereas the

him

by.

to

man

And

this

word, which you have been hearing from me, comes not from me, but from

So

25,26

who on to

27

my

much is

my

Father

converse

who I

to befriend you, the

Peace

is

my

to give;

V. 14.

Holy

account, will in his turn

your minds everything

mine

sent me.

have held with you,

I

Spirit,

make

have said

still

whom

at

your

do not give peace

everything plain, and recall

as the

Some Greek manuscripts omit

'of

to be addressed to the Father in Christ's

He

to you.

bequest to you, and the peace which I

side.

the Father will send

world gives

me', as

if

I it.

give you

Do

the petitions

not

were

is

let

still

name.

V. 16. To befriend you'; the Greek word here used is 'the Paraclete', which means, properly, an advocate called in to defend one who is defending an action at law. It is clear from Matthew x. 20 that this office is fulfilled by the Holy Spirit; but the references in this and the following chapters suggest that the title indicates a more general manner of assistance.

[218]

The 28

JOHN

true Vine

your heart be distressed, or play the cowaru. say that

am

I

loved me, you would be glad to hear that

29

Father;

30

believe.

31

No, but

this

is

my

before

my

to

when it happens you may learn to much time for converse with you; one

happens, so that

it

coming,

really

have told you of

I

I.

me

heard

you

to you. If

am on my way

I

Father has greater power than

have no longer

I

You have

going away and coming back

15

who

has power over the world, but no hold over me.

must be convinced

the world

act only as the

that

commanded me

Father has

I

and

love the Father,

to act. Rise up,

we must

be going on our way.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN 2

T AM THE TRUE VINE, and it is my Father who tends J. that yields

3

yield fruit,

no

he trims

clean, so that

through the message 4

6

can you,

if

fruit; separated

10

is

my

I

bestowed

cast off

words

I I

on

no

in you.

The branch no more

fruit of itself;

am

the vine, you are

its

in him, then he will yield

and withers away; such a branch fire,

live

burn

to

on

to

do any-

have bestowed

there.

As long

as

is

you

picked up live

on

in

make what name has been

in you, you will be able to

granted.

it

you yield abundant

his love

You,

fruit.

from me, you have no power

request you will, and have

ciples.

more

does not live on in me, he can only be like the

and thrown into the

glorified, if

9

man

If a

lives

me.

in

on in me, and

abundant thing.

on

live

if

me, and 8

man

yield

will live

I

in the vine can yield

you do not a

may

;

branches;

branch that 7

on

it

have preached to you, are clean already you

have only to Hve on in me, and that does not live

5

I

The branch

it.

me, he cuts away; the branch that does

fruit in

my

fruit,

love

upon me;

My

Father's

and prove yourselves

upon you,

just as

live on, then, in

my

my love.

my

dis^

Father has

You

will

f. ^o. 'One who has power'; that is, the devil; cf. xii. 31 above. V. 5/. Some think that after announcing his departure our Lord still lingered talking to the apostles; others, that they left the Cenacle at this point, and that the words recorded in the three chapters which follow were spoken on the way to Gethsemani.

[219}

JOHN

The Commandment

15

of Love; the World's Hatred

my love, if you keep my commandments, just as it is by my Father's commandments that I live on in his love. All this I have told you, so that my joy may be yours, and the measure of your joy may be filled up. This is my commandment, on

live

in

keeping

11

12 13

you should love one another,

that

greatest love a

14

his friends;

15

friends.

one

is

16

known

I

have called you

my

that chose you.

The

fruit, fruit

for

you

friends.

task

as

my

my

the for

are

my

servants; a servant is

about, whereas

Father has told me; and so

was not you

It

is

life

me,

that chose is

was

it

go out and

to

will endure; so that every request

you make

These are the

be granted you.

give you, that you should love one another.

I

If

you belonged

own and

its

I

have appointed you

I

I

it

hated

me

to the world, the

love you;

it

is

before

learned

it

world would

know

because you do not belong to

have singled you out from the midst of the

world, that the world hates you.

No

that

all

that

all

my name may

the world, because

20

you do

world hates you, be sure that

to hate you.

you

if

to

which

of the Father in

This

down his command you,

does not understand what his master

I

If the

have loved you.

do not speak of you any more

I

who

directions

19

and you,

have made

18

as I

can show, that he should lay

I

bear 17

man

Do

not forget what

servant can be greater than his master.

They

said to you,

I

will persecute

you

just as they

have persecuted me; they will pay the same attention

21

your words

as to

22

bear I

my name;

mine.

And

they have no knowledge of

had not come and given them

23

been in

fault; as

24

to hate

my

it is,

my

If I

him who

sent me.

To

hate

me

had not done what no one

else

could

no excuse.

have done in their midst they would not have been in they have hated, with open eyes, both

25

is,

26

They hated me without

all this,

If

message, they would not have

their fault can find

Father too.

to

they will treat you thus because you

in fulfilment of the saying cause.

me

which

Well,

when

and

is

my

fault; as

Father.

is

it

And

written in their law,

the truth-giving Spirit,

V. ly. Our Lord seems to refer to his one commandment of love as if it were in itself a series of commandments, in place of those given on Sinai, Some, however, would translate, 'I am giving you all these directions (contained in the foregoing verses) in order that you may learn to love one

another'. V. 20. 'They will pay the same attention'; that is, none. Some would render 'they will keep a watch upon your words' (cf. Luke xi. 53, 54) but this would be contrary to St. John's use of language. ;

V. 2$. Ps.

xxxiv. 19,

Iviii. 5.

[220]

)OHN

]esus will send the Spirit

who 27

what the

come

proceeds from the Father, has

you from the Father's

will send to

I

and you too are

was;

I

my

have been in

first

to

be

he

to befriend you,

side,

my

16

whom

he will bear witness of

witnesses,

you who from

company.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

3

THIS, SO that your faith may not be taken unaThey will forbid you the synagogue; nay, the time is coming when anyone who puts you to death will claim that he is performing an act of worship to God; such things they will do to

4

you, because they have no knowledge of the Father, or of me.

HAVE TOLD YOU

I

I

wares.

have told you

this, so that

you may remember

from the 5

Now,

6

ing me,

7

am

I

going back

at

my you

sorrow

send

to

is it

I

to

thou

you

telling I

told

judging.

I

this.

About

will

sin; I

any more.

13

already,

beyond your reach

None

of you

is

ask-

it

will be for

him

heart,

to prove

and about

my I

as yet.

About

Father, and you are not

have

rules this still

It will

much

world has to say to

be for him, the

is, any longer; St. Peter had asked would appear that the disciples have lost our Lord's movements, and given themselves up to useless

TSTone of you (xiii.

sorrowing over

it

so full are your hearts with

About judging; he who

you, but

their interest in

you of

tell

your company.

And yet I can say truly that it is who is to befriend you will not if only I make my way there, I will

going back to

to see

question

in

And

happen,

to

they have not found belief in me.

am

had sentence passed on him

V. 5.

did not

still

sent me.

come, and

12

this

If I

and about rightness of

11

is

it.

to be

going?

do go, but

He

to you.

it

was

it

;

rightness of heart;

me

you of I

him who art

the world wrong, about sin, 10

the time comes for

should go away he

you unless

him

that

was because

it

Where

better for

come 8

first,

when

is

asking me'; that

36), but

now

it

his departure.

teaching office of the Holy Spirit does not consist in imparting to the Church the knowledge of hitherto unknown doctrines, in addidon to the deposit of faith, but in making our knov.'ledge of doctrines already revealed fuller and more precise; all that he "makes plain' to us is derived from the teaching (not all of it recorded in the gospels, cf. Acts i. 3) given by our Lord to his apostles while he was on earth. vi'.

13-15.

The

[221]

JOHN

The

16

truth-giving Spirit,

Spirit's

when he

will not speak of his

own

Guidance; Distress turned into Joy

comes, to guide you into

has been given to him; and he will

And

come.

to

15

that he will derive

what he makes plain

me what

derive from

make

plain to

truth.

you what

he will bring honour to me, because

14

all

He

impulse; he will utter the message that

he makes plain

to you.

I

it is

is still

from

me

say that he will

to you, because all that be-

longs to the Father belongs to me.

After a

16 a 17

Upon

the Father.

What you

you

while,

little

will see

me no

some

this,

does this mean, that he

me

will see

And

What

is

my

We

cannot understand what he means by

20

what

yourselves over

me no

have sight of me.

Believe

I

me when

and lament while the world 21

your

distress shall

feels distress,

borne her 22

glad

is

now

child, she does

she that a

man

You

little

while

while you will

you

you will weep

I tell

rejoices;

that they

wondering

are

after a litde

you

be turned into joy.

because

knowing

Jesus,

them,

have been saying. After a

and again

longer,

am

I

it.

to question him, said to

will see

while you will

while he speaks of? they asked.

19

were eager

going back to

going back to

Father?

among

after a little

then, Because

this little

am

saying to us. After a litde while,

18

is

I

of his disciples said to one another,

no longer, and again

have sight of me?

you

longer; and again after

while you will have sight of me, because

little

this,

will

be distressed, but

A woman

her time has come; but

in childbirth

when

she has

not remember the distress any longer, so

has been born into the world.

So

it is

with

now; but one day I will see you again, and then your hearts will be glad; and your gladness will be one which nobody can take away from you. When that day comes, you will

you, you are distressed

23

not need to ask anything of me. Believe me, you have only to

any request of the Father in

Tou

my

name, and he

will grant

it

make

to you.

me no

longer'; according to most commentators, 'You will have sight of me'; there is less agreement about the reference here, which is variously attributed to the time of the Holy Spirit's coming, that of the apostles' death, and that of the general vv. i6-ig.

will see

this refers to the Ascension.

Resurrection.

The

first

of these interpretations

would seem

to

fit

in best

with the context. V. 25. 'To ask anything'; the Greek word here used may mean either to ask a question, or to ask ,1 favour. The Latin seems to give it the latter meaning here, as in verse 26 below; in verse 30 below, according to the Latin,

it

means

'to

ask a question', as in verse 19 above.

[222]

Asking 24

Name;

in Christ's

make them, and

JOHN

Prayer for the Apostles

making any

Until now, you have not been

17

my name;

requests in

they will be granted, to bring you gladness in full

measure.

have been teUing you

I

25

when 26

came

out,

when

I

world, and going on said to him,

30

them

you

of,

all things,

my

am

leaving the his disciples

Behold, the time

art

I

I

speaking openly enough;

Now we can till

thou

You have

God.

am

you taking

his

now?

faith

Jesus answered.

own

when you

and

path,

me you may

to leave

are

me

with me.

is

I

find peace. In the

world, you will only find tribulation; but take courage,

come

no

is

art asked; this gives us faith

not alone, because the Father

you, so that in

this

be sure that thou knowest

coming, nay, has already come,

to be scattered, each of

yet

friends, and have was from the Father

now

32

this to

It

to the Father.

not needing to wait

And

I

Hereupon

Why, now thou

is

re-

you that

to tell

my way

that thou wast sent by

have said

make your

will

me

the hour

you openly

because the Father him-

to you,

came from God.

I

parable thou art uttering.

alone.

speak

no need for

tell

entered the world, and

31

33

I is

your friend, since you have become

learned to believe that I

29

there

will ask the Father to grant self is

28

the time

my name; and

quests in

27

At

about the Father.

now comes

this in parables;

you in parables no longer, but

will talk to

I

I

have over-

the world.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THUS

Jesus spoke to them, and then, lifting

up

his eyes to

heaven, he said, Father, the time has come; give glory 2

thy Son, that thy Son

him

in authority over

may all

give the glory to thee.

mankind,

thou hast entrusted to him.

4

the only true God, and Jesus Christ,

5

me

to

do;

on

earth,

Eternal

Kings

to

life is

knowing

thee,

whom

thou hast

sent.

who I

art

have

by achieving the task which thou gavest

now. Father do thou

V. J2. Cf. Ill

now

hast put

to bring eternal hfe to all those

3

exalted thy glory

Thou

xxii. 17, Is.

liii.

exalt

6,

[223}

me

Matthew

at

thy

own

xxvi. 31.

side, in that

JOHN 6

Holiness and Unity of the Church

17

glory which thy

had with thee before the world began.

I

name known

men whom

to the

made

have

I

thou hast entrusted to me,

chosen out of the world. They belonged to thee, and have become 7

mine through thy

gift,

and they have kept true

they have learned to recognize 8

ing from thee;

from 9

and found

thee,

send me.

It is

11

have

as all

I

glory

is

I

is

12

am

as

and

am

I

its

am

full

to thee.

was

it

am coming

I

telling

them

this,

measure in them.

my

mine; and in them

may

we

be one, as

keep them true

to

true

are one. to thy

I

in fulfilment of the

and while

my

so that

too,

I,

own,

its

to thee;

joy

may

am

I

be

still

theirs,

in

and

have given them thy message, for them, because they

do not belong

to the

world.

do I

them out of the world, but of what is evil. They do not

not asking that thou shouldst take

keep them

that thou shouldst

17

belong to the world,

them 18

Thou

hast sent

them

into the

as

I,

me

into the

world on

their sakes, that they too It is

clear

too,

do not belong

through the truth;

holy, then,

19

21

is

me

for

perdition claims for

16

20

didst

Holy Father, keep them

me, that they

not belong to the world, as

am

came

have watched over them, so that only one has been

But now I

my way

on

gift to

and the world has nothing but hatred 15

it

not praying for the world,

thou hast

all

was with them, I

whom

he

reach

am

I

I

scripture.

the world 14

pray;

I

I

was thou who

for truth that

it

thou hast entrusted to me; they belong to thee,

thine,

name, thy

As long lost,

com-

as

remaining in the world no longer, but they remain in the

name; and

13

Now

me

achieved.

world, while to thy

recognized

it,

faith to believe that

for these

whom

but for those 10

word.

have given them the message which thou gavest

I

me, and they, receiving

to

to thy

the gifts thou gavest

all

not only for

them

it

is

thy

word

that

world on thy errand, and

my may that

and

errand;

I

keep

to the world;

I

is

truth.

have sent

dedicate myself for

be dedicated through the truth. I

pray;

I

pray for those

who

are to

find faith in

me

that they too

may be one in us, as thou. Father, art in me, and I in may come to believe that it is thou who hast

through their word;

that they

may

all

be one;

thee; so that the world

V. II.

'Thy

gift to

Father's name, V. 12.

The

some

me'; some of the Greek manuscripts refer this to the to the Apostles.

reference

is

perhaps to Ps.

[224]

cviii. 8, as

in Acts

i.

20.

The

JOHN

Betrayal

22

sent me.

23

to

And

have given them the privilege which thou gavest

I

me, that they should me,

art in

one. So

I

may

be one,

all

know

that

that thou hast bestowed thy love

24

upon me.

it

This, Father,

me may

hast entrusted to

made

glory, thy gift

25

upon me before

as

we

may thou who

to

is

it is

upon them,

my

as

me where

I

thee,

and

and

hast sent me,

thou hast bestowed

am,

whom

thou

so as to see

my

me, in that love which thou didst bestow

the foundation of the world.

men

these

made

be perfectly

desire, that all those

be with

Father, thou art just;

the world has never acknowledged thee, but

26

that while thou

are one;

be in them, and so they

the world

let

18

I

have acknowledged

have acknowledged that thou didst send me.

have revealed, and will

name

reveal, thy

thou hast bestowed upon

me may

to

I

them; so that the love

dwell in them, and

I,

may

too,

dwell in them.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN yiLL THIS Jesus

£\.

across the

2

he and

3

Jesus

and now, with

said,

Cedron

valley.

his disciples went.

and

his disciples

Here

his disciples,

there

was

knew

Judas, his betrayer,

had often foregathered

Judas came, accompanied by the guard, and chief priests

4

So

5

them;

Jesus,

is it,

well

what was

to befall

they answered; and he told them,

was Judas,

I

7

fell

8

you are looking for? and when they

9

you are looking

he said to them,

vv. i—2y. V. 9.

See

I

am

ground.

I

sent by the

am

to

meet

Jesus of Nazareth, they

for, let these others

Matthew

xxvi. 36,

Mark

go

all

company.

shrank back, and

said, Jesus of I

[225]

am

Luke

Who

Nazareth,

Jesus. If I

free.

xiv. 32,

12 above.

And When

Jesus of Nazareth.

So, once more, Jesus asked them.

have told you already that

xvii.

him, went out

his betrayer, standing in their

there

answered,

There, then,

it.

officers

he asked, you are looking for? Jesus of Nazareth,

6

to the

in

which

the place well;

and Pharisees, with lanterns and torches and weapons.

knowing

Who

he went out

a garden, into

am

the

is

it

he

man

Thus he would make xxii. 39.

JOHN

Jesus before Caiphas

18

good the words he had spoken 10

whom

sword, drew 11

right ear;

it,

cup which

And now

13

arrested Jesus

my

have not

any o£ those

lost

Peter,

Whereupon

of the servant. its

sheath.

Am

a-

They

me?

and the Jewish

led

him

Jesus

not to drink

I

Father himself has appointed for

the guard, with their captain,

and pinioned him.

who had

priest's servant, cutting off his

Put thy sword back into

12

I

Then Simon

and struck the high

Malchus was the name

said to Peter,

that

them,

to

thou hast entrusted to me.

off,

officers

in the

first

14

who held the high priesthood in that year. (It was this Caiphas who had given it as his advice to the Jews, that it was best to put one man to death for

15

the sake of the people.)

Annas, father-in-law of Caiphas,

instance, to

disciple; this disciple

16

Simon Peter followed

into the high priest's court with Jesus,

door without. Afterwards the other priest's

17

18

It

this

who was

who

officers

had made

And now and about and

22

23

said,

Not

I.

too,

warm-

rest,

the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples, Jesus answered,

his teaching.

before the world;

21

the

a charcoal fire,

and stood there warming themselves; there Peter stood

19

at

the high

kept the door asked

man's disciples? and he

and the servants and

cold,

ing himself with the

20

and went

while Peter stood

disciple,

This maid-servant

Art thou another of

was

with another

priest,

acquaintance, went out and spoke to the door-keeper, and

so brought Peter in. Peter,

Jesus,

was acquainted with the high

in the temple,

my

I

have spoken openly

teaching has been given in the synagogue

where

all

the Jews forgather; nothing that

Why

I

have

me? Ask those who listened to me what my words were; they know well enough what I said. When he spoke thus, one of the officers, who was standing by, struck Jesus on the cheek; Is this, he said, how thou makest answer to the high priest? If there was harm in what I said, Jesus answered, tell us what was harmful in it; if not, why said

was

said in secret.

dost thou question

read 'the other disciple'; which has given John is referring to himself. But St. Augustine warns us that we should assert nothing rashly on this point. V. ly. This interview with the maid-servant upon St. Peter's first admission to the palace is not reckoned by the other Evangelists among his three V. 75.

Some Greek manuscripts

rise to the conjecture that St.

denials. See note

on Luke

xxii. 58.

[226]

JOHN

Peter's Denial; Pilate intenogates Jesus

24

dost thou strike still

bound,

me?

to the

high priest Caiphas.

Meanwhile Simon Peter stood

25

and warmed himself.

there,

they asked him, Art thou, too, one of his disciples?

26

Not

it;

I,

he

Why,

said.

said

one of the high

kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut 27

18

Annas, you must know, had sent him on,

Whereupon

with him in the garden?

And

So

he denied

priest's servants, a

off,

did

not see thee

I

Peter denied again; and

immediately the cock crew.

And now

28

they led Jesus

governor's palace.

It

palace themselves; there

must not incur defilement.

30

out;

answered, 31

And

we would

not have given

Take him

been a malefactor.

him,

to

We

have no power

in fulfilment of the

33

so Pilate

to

went

be eaten, and they to

meet them with-

man?

charge, he asked, do you bring against this

judge him according to your 32

the house of Caiphas to the

was the paschal meal

29

What

away from

was morning, and they would not enter the

what death he was and summoned

him up

to thee, if

They

he had not

and

yourselves, Pilate said to them,

own

to

law.

put any

Whereupon

man

the Jews said

to death.

(This was

words Jesus had spoken when he prophesied So Pilate went back into the palace,

to die.)

Jesus;

Art thou the king of the Jews? he asked.

own

34

Dost thou say

35

what others have

36

Jew ? It is thy own nation, and its chief priests, who have given thee up to me. What offence hast thou committed? My kingdom, an-

this of

thy

told thee of

swered Jesus, does not belong

one which belonged prevent

to

37

dom

its

And

Pilate answered,

to this world.

world,

falling into the

does not take

asked.

king.

my

to this

impulse, Jesus answered, or

me?

my

If

servants

my kingdom would be

hands of the Jews; but no,

origin here.

Thou

art a king,

is

Am

I

it

a

were

fighting,

my

king-

then? Pilate

And Jesus answered. It is thy own lips that have called me a What I was born for, what I came into the world for, is to

V. 24. It is evident that verses 15-23 refer to what happened when our Lord was arraigned before Caiphas, not before Annas. A very few among

the early authorities consequently put verse 24 immediately after verse 13. But it is more likely that verse 24 is simply a delayed foot-note. St. John, wrote his gospel as a very old man, often gives details about names, times and places as a kind of afterthought; cf. i. 24, 39, iv. 8, v. 9, vi. 23,

who

45, ix. 14, xi. 5, and verse 5 above. vv. 28-40. Matthew xxvii. i, Mark xv.

vii.

V. 32.

i,

See Matthew xx. 19 and elsewhere.

[227]

Luke

xxiii. i.

JOHN

Whoever belongs

bear witness of the truth. 38

my

Pilate said to him,

voice.

went back 39

a

Whereupon

the Jews?

to the truth, Hstens to

they

made

all

with that he

can find no fault in

I

should release one

I

would you have me

man. Barabbas was

they said, not this

And

truth?

is

custom of demanding that

prisoner at paschal time;

40

What

Jews again, and told them,

to the

You have

him.

and the Multitude

Pilate

19

king of

release the

Barabbas,

a fresh outcry;

a robber.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

t:put on 3

his

head a crown which they had woven out of thorns, to

him

king of the Jews, and then strike him on the

face.

and dressed him and

say, Hail,

4

And now

5

out to you, to show that Jesus

6

Pilate

came

out,

and

own 9

ever;

thee,

said, See, I

am

Then,

wearing the crown of thorns and the

still

Take him

is

man.

the

him

bringing

cannot find any fault in him.

When

When

yourselves, said Pilate,

the chief

and crucify him;

The Jews answered.

We

for

him no answer.

me? Dost thou

and power

not have any power over

guilty yet.

vv. 1-42.

know

not

After

Matthew

is

why

that

me at all, if man who

xxvii. 27,

was

Mark

it

the.

afraid than

Whence

hast thou

said Pilate, hast thou

have power

I

I

have our

to crucify

Thou wouldst

had not been given thee

me up

is

more

for releasing him, but the

Jews

the

this, Pilate

Jesus,

What,

Jesus answered.

to release thee?

from above. That

was more

Pilate heard this said, he

Jesus gave

as

scarlet

cried out, Crucify him,

saw him, they

going back into the palace, he asked

come? But no word

12

and

come up

law, and by our law he ought to die, for pretending to be

Son of God.

11

again,

cannot find any fault in him.

8

10

I

their officers

crucify him.

7

went out

cloak, he said to them. See, here priests

they would

in a scarlet cloak;

xv. 18,

gave

Luke

to thee

xxiii. 33.

Augustine seems to give the clearest account of the meaning here; namely that Pilate exercised, as the delegate of Caesar, an authority given him from above, and consented to a miscarriage of justice only through V.

II.

St.

fear of offending that authority

(cf.

verse 12).

than the man who handed our Lord over Judas or Caiphas.

[228]

to

He him;

is

therefore less guilty

this

may mean

either

Jesus

him; the

lease

JOHN

crucified

is

went on crying

13

When

14

down on the judgement seat, in its Hebrew name is Gabbatha.

them speak

Pilate heard

on the eve of the paschal 15

But they

king.

no king, the

to

17

which

is

he said

sat

called Lithostrotos;

was now about the

It

Away

sixth hour,

to the Jews, here

is

your

with him, away with him, crucify

them, shall

I

crucify your king?

We

have

Thereupon he

chief priests answered, except Caesar.

gave Jesus up into their hands,

was

he brought Jesus out, and

thus,

a place

feast. See,

cried out,

him. What, Pilate said 16

19

Thou art no friend to Caesar, if thou dost reman who pretends to be a king is Caesar's rival. out,

be crucified: and they, once he

to

him away.

in their hands, led

his own cross, to the place named Hebrew name is Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side with Jesus in the

So Jesus went out, carrying

18

after a skull;

19

midst.

20

cross;

And

its

Pilate wrote out a proclamation,

ran, Jesus of Nazareth, the

it

which he put on the

king of the Jews.

This procla-

mation was read by many of the Jews, since the place where Jesus

was 21

crucified

was

close to the city;

And

Greek, and Latin.

The king

shouldst not write.

22

This

23

What

man I

am

said, I

have written,

shares,

24

was written

The

have written. his garments,

one share for each

soldier.

Pilate's

Hebrew,

Thou

answer was,

when

they had

which they divided

into four

soldiers,

They took up

his cloak, too,

which was without seam, woven from the top throughout; they said to one another. Better not to tear decide

whose

scripture

for

25

in

of the Jews; thou shouldst write,

the king of the Jews. I

up

crucified Jesus, took

it

the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate,

my

says.

clothing.

selves;

V.

shall be.

it

which

So

so

us cast lots to

divide

my

spoils

among them;

cast lots

was, then, that the soldiers occupied them-

and meanwhile

/J. Lithostrotos,

let

This was in fulfilment of the passage in

They it

it;

his

mother, and his mother's means paved with

in Greek,

Gabbatha is uncertain. V. 14. 'About the sixth hour'; see note on Mark xv. 25.

that

is

sister,

stone; the

to say, getting

Mary

meaning

of

on towards noon;

V. 24. Ps. xxi. 19.

not clear here whether three women are alluded to, or four. seems unlikely that our Lady should have had a sister of the same name, but it is possible that she was in fact a cousin or sister-in-law. Mary of Cleophas is probably the same as Mary the mother of James and Joseph V. 2^. It is

It

(Matthew

xxvii, 56).

[229]

JOHN

]esus dies,

19

27

And

beside the cross of Jesus.

the disciple, too,

Woman,

this

is

whom

Then he

their stand

mother

Jesus, seeing his

he loved, standing by, said to

thy son.

And from

mother.

pierced with a Spear

is

Mary Magdalen, had taken

the wife of Cleophas, and

26

and

said to the disciple.

and

there,

his

mother,

This

thy

is

own

that hour the disciple took her into his

keeping. 28

And now

29

There was

his

knew

for

well that

all

and put

on

it

a stick of hyssop,

The Jews would

not

let

32

am

scrip-

thirsty.

was

a

And

broken, and be taken away.

when

close to

Then

on the

solemn one; and since

might have

so the soldiers

and of the other

came

it

achieved.

his spirit.

the eve, they asked Pilate that the bodies

the legs both of the one

It is

the bodies remain crucified

bath, because that sabbath day

now

said, I

and brought

Jesus drank the vinegar, and said.

mouth.

he bowed his head, and yielded up 31

was achieved which the

accomplishment; and he

its

a jar there full of vinegar; so they filled a sponge with

the vinegar

30

Jesus

demanded

ture

that

came and broke

were

crucified with

and found him already dead,

him;

34

they did not break his legs,

35

with a spear; and immediately blood and water flowed out.

who saw

He

tells

it

they

to Jesus,

was

their legs

33

but

sab-

it

but one of the soldiers opened his side

has borne his witness; and his witness

is

worthy of

He trust.

what he knows to be the truth, that you, like him, may This was so ordained to fulfil what is written,

36

learn to believe.

37

You

shall not

break a single bone of

sage in scripture says,

They

his.

will look

And

again, another pas-

upon the man

whom

they

have pierced. 38

After this Joseph of Arimathea,

who was

a disciple of Jesus, but

in secret, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let

body of 39

Jesus. Pilate

body away;

myrrh and

the

and with him was Nicodemus, the same who made

his first visit to Jesus

40

him take away

gave him leave; so he came and took Jesus'

aloes, of

by night; he brought with him a mixture of

about a hundred pounds' weight.

They took

V. 28. This verse may also be construed, 'Jesus knew well that all was achieved, and he said, I am thirsty, in order that the scripture might be accompHshed'. In that case, the reference is to Ps. Ixviii. 22. V. 36.

p. J7.

Ex. xii. 46, Ps. xxxiii. 21. Zach. xii. 10.

[230

J

and John

Veter

Jesus' body, then,

that

and wrapped

it

man had

a garden, with a

ever yet been buried.

tomb was close at hand, they on the morrow.

20

spices;

In the same quar-

for burial.

was

crucified there

one in which no

with the

in winding-cloths

body

the Jews prepare a

where he was

ter it,

how

is

JOHN

Tomb

at the

new tomb

in

Here, since the

laid Jesus, because of the Jewish feast

CHAPTER TWENTY IN THE

EARLY 2

3

morning on

the

first

day of the week, while

it

was

Mary Magdalen went to the tomb, and found the stone moved away from the tomb door. So she came running to Simon Peter, and that other disciple, whom Jesus loved; They have carried the Lord away from the tomb, she said to them, and we dark,

still

cannot

Upon this, Peter and the way to the tomb; they

where they have taken him.

tell

made

other disciple both set out, and

but the other disciple outran Peter, and

4

began running

5

reached the tomb

6

lying there, but he did not go in.

by

side

side,

He

first.

their

looked in and saw the linen cloths

Simon

Peter,

coming up

after

him, went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there, and 7

which had been put over

also the veil

the linen cloths, but 8

itself.

9

also

Then

went

in,

yet mastered

The

10,11 dead.

still

the other disciple,

and saw

And

V. I.

their

to rise

Mary

she bent down,

still

from the

stood without

weeping, and

visit as that recorded in Matthew xxviii. i, Mary Magdalen was not alone, is implied by v. 2. St. Mark tells us that the women came

This seems to be the same

xvi.

i,

Luke

xxiv. i; that

the words 'we cannot to the

but

by

first,

They had not

to believe.

was

with

in a place

reached the tomb

of him, that he

went back home;

before the tomb, weeping.

Mark

who had

and learned

this,

what was written disciples

Jesus' head, not lying

wrapped round and round

tell'

in

tomb at sun-rise; it seems therefore that St. John must have dated from the moment, some time earher, when they began their

visit

preparations for the journey. vv. 11-14. This appearance of the angels cannot be the same as that recorded by the other Evangelists. On the other hand, the appearance of our Lord to St. Mary Magdalen may be the same as that recorded in Matthew xxviii. 9; or the other women may have seen our Lord somewhat later. St.

Mark

records the appearance to

St.

Mary Magdalen,

[231}

xvi. 9.

JOHN 12

one

there,

13

Appearances in the Garden, and

20

and saw two angels clothed

looked into the tomb;

had

Jesus

at the

head, and the other at the

They

lain.

14

tell

my

where they have taken him.

and saw Jesus standing 15

16

Woman,

why

art

I

cannot

was

it

thou weeping? For

Jesus.

whom

art

must be the gardener, and

him off, tell me where him away. Jesus said to her,

it is

thou. Sir, that hast carried

thou hast put him, and

And

Hebrew

I will

Then

have not yet gone up to tell

take

she turned and said to him, Rabboni (which

for Master).

them

your Father,

this; I

who

is

my

Jesus said.

Do

not cling

So Mary Magdalen brought news

is

me

the

thus;

first

is

my brethren, my Father and

how she had And now it was

to the disciples, of

seen the Lord, and he had spoken thus to her.

evening on the same day, the

to

Father's side. Return to

am going up to him who my God and your God.

day of the week; for fear of the

Jews, the disciples had locked the doors of the

20

and

she turned round,

said to him. If

and

19

this,

it

I

18

Saying

thou weeping?

art

said,

without knowing that

there,

Jesus said to her,

Lord, she

white sitting

where the body of

thou searching? She supposed that

Mary. 17

Woman, why

said to her.

Because they have carried away

feet,

in the Cenacle

in

room

in

which they

had assembled; and Jesus came, and stood there in their midst; Peace be upon you, he said. And with that, he shewed them his hands and

his side.

Thus

the disciples

saw the Lord, and were

glad.

came upon

21

Once more

22

With that, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit; when you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven, when you hold them bound, they are held bound. There was one of the twelve, Thomas, who is also called Didymus, who was not with them when Jesus came. And when the

Jesus said to them. Peace be

an errand from

23

24 25

my

Father, and

I

am

I

sending you out in

my

turn.

other disciples told him.

Until

I

We

have seen the Lord, he said

have seen the mark of the

nails

on

them,

to

his hands, until

I

have

mark of the nails, and put my hand into So, eight days afterhis side, you will never make me believe. wards, once more the disciples were within, and Thomas was with them; and the doors were locked. Jesus came and stood there in put

26

now

upon you;

my

finger into the

vv. 19-23.

Mark

xvi. 14,

Luke

xxiv. 36.

[232]

Thomas 27

Peace be upon you, he

their midst;

Let

me

have thy finger;

thy hand; put 28, 29

JOHN

convinced; the Disciples go fishing

Thomas

into

it

answered.

said to him,

Thou

my

said.

here are

see,

Then he

my

said to

Thomas,

me

hands. Let

21

have

Cease thy doubting, and beHeve.

side.

my Lord

hast learned to beUeve,

my God. And Jesus Thomas, because thou

who have

not seen, and yet have

Thou

art

hast seen me. Blessed are those

and

learned to believe.

There are many other miracles Jesus did in the presence of his which are not written down in this book; so much has

30 31

disciples,

been written down, that you the

Son of God, and

may

learn to believe Jesus

the Christ,

is

so believing find life through his

name.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE TEsus APPEARED 2

J was

Tiberias, there,

this is

how

two more of fishing;

his disciples.

and they

said.

Galilee,

too, will

out and embarked on the boat; and 4 5

shore; only the disciples did not

with ?

lads,

And when

all

told them,

go with

going out

So they went

that night they caught noth-

know

that

it

was

Jesus.

Have you

No,

he said to them, Cast

to the

will have a catch.

So they

cast the net,

and found before long they had no strength

to haul

it

shoal of fish

was

said to Peter, It that

and you

it

Whereupon

in

it.

is

the Lord.

whom

the disciple

And Simon The

coat,

he wore, and sprang into the

9

away), dragging their catch in the net behind them.

the boat (they were not far

ashore,

and found

cooking on

it.

sea.

in,

such

a

Jesus loved

Peter, hearing

was the Lord, girded up the fisherman's

8

[o

am

I

thee.

Jesus asked them, to season your bread

they answered

right of the boat,

7

Simon Peter also called Didymus, sons of Zebedee, and

But when morning came, there was Jesus standing on the

ing.

caught anything, 6

is

and the

Simon Peter

We,

the sea of

at

he appeared to them.

and with him were Thomas, who

and Nathanael, from Cana of 3

again afterwards,

to his disciplcs

and

him

which was

say all

other disciples followed in

from land, only some hundred yards

a charcoal fire

made

Bring some of the

[233}

fish

there,

with

you have

So they went fish

and bread

just caught, Jesus

JOHN

21

said to

them: and Simon Peter, going on board, hauled in the net

11

to land.

12

of them;

Appearance on the Shore; Peter as 'Shepherd

was loaded with great

It

and with

Come and

Jesus said to them,

Who

ventured to ask him, 13

Lord.

14

and

break your

fifty-three

Thus

fish as well.

And when

fast,

none of the it

disciples

was the to

them,

Jesus appeared to his disciples a third time

from the dead.

Simon

they had eaten, Jesus said to

me more

my

And

lambs.

Peter,

Simon, son

than these others? Yes, Lord,

he told him, thou knowest well that

him, Feed

When

had not broken.

thou? knowing well that

art

of John, dost thou care for

16

hundred and

fish, a

the net

So Jesus came up and took bread, which he gave

after his rising

15

number

that

all

love thee.

I

And

he said to

again, a second time, he asked him,

Simon, son of John, dost thou care for me? Yes, Lord, he told him, thou knowest well that 17

Then he

shearlings.

me?

John, dost thou love a third time,

knowest 18

all

him. Feed

He

love thee.

him

Peter took

things; thou canst

my

it ill

tell

that

me when

Believe

sheep.

thyself

said to him,

a third question,

Dost thou love me? and

man, thou wouldst gird

19

I

asked

Tend my

Simon, son of

that he should ask

love thee. Jesus said to

I

I tell

thee this; as a

young

and walk where thou hadst the

to go, but

when thou

hast

carry thee

where thou

goest, not of thy

grown

him

said to him. Lord, thou

old, another shall gird thee,

own

will.

will

and

So much he told

him, prophesying the death by which he was to glorify God; and 20

him. Follow me.

Peter turned, and saw the

Jesus loved following

him; the same who leaned

with that he said

whom

disciple

back on

to

his breast at

supper and asked,

Seeing him, Peter asked Jesus,

21

thee ?

22

Jesus said to him, If

it is

my

Who

is it

that

is to

betray

And what of this man. Lord ?

will that

he should wait

till I

come,

would seem that our Lord made himself strange to his apostles two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke xxiv. 16, yet the miracle, or something else about his manner of action, convinced them from the first that it was he and no other. We are perhaps meant to understand that they 'recognized him when he broke bread', as in Luke xxiv. 35. V. 16. Some of the Greek manuscripts here have 'my sheep', others 'my little sheep'; it would seem that the second reading was accepted by the Latin, which translates 'lambs', here as in verse 15. Probably our Lord meant yearling sheep, which would need to be tended, that is, led out to pasture, V. 12. It

here, as he did to the

Mark

xvi. 12)

;

with greater care than the others.

[234]

.

23

]ohn's Destiny

what

is it

JOHN

and Witness

to thee?

Do

thou follow me.

went round among the brethren But Jesus did not 24

25

he should wait

say,

till I

He

is

not to die

come, what

That was why the

that this disciple

is it

;

he

was not

said, If it is

to thee?

It is

my

the

ciple that bears witness of all this

and has written the

and we know well that

is

his witness

to

itself

There

story

to die.

will that

same

dis-

story of

is

much

it;

else

if all of it were put in writing, I do not would contain the books which would have

besides that Jesus did;

think the world

truthful.

21

be written.

1^35)

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CHAPTER ONE

THE FIRST BOOK which

wrote, Theophilus, was concerned with

I

that Jesus set out to

all

do and

He

he was taken up into heaven. 3

Holy

of the

on the

Spirit,

day came

when

He had

he had chosen.

was

that he

alive, after his pas-

still

throughout the course of forty days he had been appearing

sion;

4

whom

apostles

shewn them by many proofs

until the

teach,

then laid a charge, by the power

and

to them,

telling

them about

he gave them orders, as he

the

kingdom

sat at table

of

and now

God;

with them, not

to leave

Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fufilment of the Father's prom-

5

You have

ise. I

Spirit

And

6 7

8

heard

it,

he

dominion

for

you

my

yes,

ney,

But he

will receive strength

to the

ends of the earth.

and

once two

Men

When he

a cloud caught

men

in white

of Galilee, they said,

heavenwards?

same

not

is

the Father has fixed the

Holy

Spirit will

from him; you

had

are to

said this, they

him away from

as they strained their eyes towards heaven, to all at

side.

to restore

told them. It

witnesses in Jerusalem and throughout Judaea, in Samaria,

lifted up,

And

and now?

to Israel here

to

and

him

[I

John's baptism,

lips;

know the times and seasons which own authority. Enough for you, that

by his

be

[O

my own

from

companions asked him, Lord, dost thou mean

his

the

come upon you, and you

9

said,

was with water, but there is a baptism with the Holy which you are to receive, not many days from this.

told you,

He who

Jesus, will

watch

his jour-

garments were standing

why do you

saw

their sight.

at their

stand here looking

has been taken from you into heaven, this

come back

in the

same

fashion, just as

you have

[2

watched him going into heaven. Then, from the mountain which is called Olivet, they went back to Jerusalem; the distance

13

from Jerusalem f.

/.

St.

Luke

is

not great, a sabbath day's journey.

says

'the

first',

ptf.

4-9.

is

Mark

uncertain. xvi. 14,

Luke

in.

not 'the former', which has made some to write three books altogether, but

commentators think that he intended this inference

Coming

xxiv. 44.

[^37]

ACTS

Matthias appointed in place of Judas

1

they went

up

room where

into the upper

they dwek, Peter

and

John, James and Andrew, Phihp and Thomas, Bartholomew and

14

Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and All these, with one mind, gave them-

Judas the brother of James. selves

up

of Jesus, 15

to prayer, together

and

with the women, and Mary the mother

his brethren.

At this time, Peter stood up and spoke before all the brethren; company of about a hundred and twenty were gathered there. Brethren, he said, there is a prophecy in scripture that must needs a

16

be

fulfilled; that

which the Holy

who shewed was counted among

about Judas, 17

Judas

18

in this ministry of ours.

came all

and

made, by the

to the

men

and the

it,

language, Haceldama, that

is,

field

came

21

deserted,

and

no

man

another take over his

our company 22

let

went among

all

us,

24

25

their camping-place

There

are

it.

men who

And

be

again, Let

have walked in

from the time when John used us.

One

to baptize to the

of these ought to be

added to our number as a witness of his resurrection. So they named two of these, Joseph called Barsabbas, who had been given the fresh name of Justus, and Matthias. And they offered this prayer, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show us which of these two thou hast chosen to take his place in this work of apostleship,

26

was disembowelled,

through the time when the Lord Jesus came and

day when he, Jesus, was taken from 23

man from

to be called, in their

be found to dwell in

office.

fell

the Field of Blood.) Well, in the

book of Psalms the words are written. Let 20

David,

the price of his treachery, this

and afterwards, when he

his belly burst open, so that he

Jerusalem heard of

lips of

that arrested Jesus.

our number, and had been given a share

(With

into possession of a field;

a height, 19

Spirit

way

the

place fell

from which Judas has

which belonged

to

him.

fallen

away, and gone to the

They gave them

upon Matthias, and he took rank with

lots;

and the

lot

the eleven aposdes.

St. Peter's speech, but are more by the author. From a comparison of them with Matthew xxvii. 5 and following, it must be inferred that Judas attempted to hang himself by jumping over the edge of a precipice, and that the rope broke or slipped with the result here described.

vf. i8-ig. Tfiese

easily

understood

words may be part of

as a note

v. 20. Ps. Ixviii. 26, cviii, 8.

[2.8]

The Day

ACTS

of Pentecost

2

CHAPTER TWO

WHEN

THE DAY o£

Pciitecost

Came round, while they were

gathered together in unity of purpose,

3

4

all at

once

all

sound

a

came from heaven Hke that of a strong wind blowing, and filled whole house where they were sitting. Then appeared to them what seemed to be tongues of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the

and began

to speak in strange languages, as the Spirit

5

ance to each.

6

this

Among

who were

those

gave

utter-

dwelling in Jerusalem

time were devout Jews from every country under heaven;

when

at so,

went abroad, the crowd which gathered was man severally heard them speak in his own And they were all beside themselves with astonish^

the noise of this

in bewilderment; each

7

language.

8

ment; Are they not

9

that each of us hears

are Parthians in 10

among

us,

his

own

native tongue

?

is it

There

and Medes, and Elamites; our homes are

Phrygia or Pamphylia, Egypt or the parts of Libya round Gyrene; of us are visitors

proselytes;

from Rome, some of us

So they were

12

guage.

13

asked one another. said,

all

What

among

and lan-

beside themselves with perplexity,

and

can

of God's

this

mean?

mockingly. They have had their

raised his voice to speak to

them;

'Strange',

or,

fill

I

wonders

in his

There were others who of

new

wine.

at his side, stood there

Men

you who are dwelling in Jerusalem, 4.

and others

own

tell

But Peter, with the eleven apostles

V.

are Jews

us too, and Arabians;

there are Cretans

each has been hearing them

14

How

Galileans speaking? they asked.

them talking

Mesopotamia, or Judaea, or Cappadocia; in Pontus or Asia,

some 11

all

of Judaea, he said,

must

tell

you

and

and

all

this; listen to

according to some Latin manuscripts, 'various' lan-

guages.

not clear whether the people here mentioned were Jews who had been born abroad but now lived in Jerusalem, or Jews from abroad who were staying in Jerusalem for the feast. They were in any case bilingual, being conversant with the native speech, or perhaps with the various Greek dialects, spoken in the countries to which they belonged. V. 9. It is not certain in what sense the word 'Judaea' is here used; some have thought that it was written by an early copyist in mistake for 'Lydia', or some odier distant province. V. 5.

It is

[239]

ACTS

2

have

15

what

16

is

17

prophet Joel:

I

men

These

to say.

In the

This

God

last times,

must be the Christ

rose

is

what was

says, I will

it

foretold by the

my

pour out

mankind, and your sons and daughters

all

you suppose;

are not drunk, as

only the third hour of the day.

upon

He who

Peter's Speech;

spirit

will be prophets.

men

18

Your young men shall see visions, and your dreams; and I will pour out my spirit in

19

servants

20

and

fire

ness

and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes,

and handmaids,

old

shall

so that they will prophesy.

I

dream

my

upon

those days

will

shew

wonders in heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood

and whirling smoke;

21

great and glorious.

22

the

Lord

then everyone

Men

shall be saved.

Nazareth was

23

And

a

man

the sun will be turned into dark-

who

calls

on the name of

of Israel, listen to this. Jesus of

duly accredited to you from God; such were

the miracles and

wonders and signs which God did through him

in your midst, as

you yourselves well know.

This

man you

have

put to death; by God's fixed design and foreknowledge, he was betrayed to you, and you, through the hands of sinful men, have

24

him from the pangs 25

But God

murdered him.

cruelly

of death;

have the mastery over him.

Always

I

it

make me

So there

27

that thou wilt not leave

28

faithful servant to see corruption.

29

of

and rejoicing on

thou wilt I

stand firm.

my

my

lips;

my

make me

can say

this to

is

among

us to this day.

upon

32

body did not

7^7,

Jesus,

his throne;

urrection, that he

Thou

t'.

was not

ii.

hast

shewn me

and was buried, and a prophet,

way

the

My

would

that he

left in

are

all

set the

'terrible'

[240}

sons of his body

then, has raised

witnesses of

it.

instead of 'glorious',

8.

tomb

said, foreseeing his res-

the place of death,

God,

his

and he knew God

28.

has

confidence

you about the patriarch David without

see corruption.

The Hebrew

25. Ps. XV.

rest in

gladness in thy presence.

full of

was of the Christ he

from the dead; we

V. ly. Joel

V. 20.

it

my right my heart,

at

is

gladness in

body, too, shall

But he was

had promised him on oath 31

is

soul in the place of death, or allow thy

fear of contradiction, that he did die,

30

again, releasing

that death should

person that David says,

It is in his

hand, to

brethren,

him up

can keep the Lord within sight; always he

26

life;

raised

was impossible

and that

up

this

his

man,

And now,

ex-

Many

of the

ACTS

Jews converted

God's right hand, he has claimed from

alted at

promise to bestow the Holy 34

Spirit, as

up 35

36

you can

my

Master, Sit on

under thy

stool

see

and

to heaven,

Spirit;

and hear

right hand,

Let

feet.

the house of Israel, that

Father his

his

and he has poured out that

for yourselves.

David has

yet

David never went

The Lord said make thy enemies

told us,

while

I

my

to

a foot-

be known, then, beyond doubt, to

it

God

made him Master and

has

whom you crucified. When they heard this, their

2

all

Christ, this

Jesus

37

consciences were stung; and they

asked Peter and his fellow-apostles. Brethren, what must

we do?

38

Repent, Peter said to them, and be baptized, every one of you, in

39

will receive the gift of the

the

40

name

and

for your children,

the

Lord our God

words 41

of Jesus Christ, to

calls

for

those,

all

however

And

to himself.

is

for

away,

far

he used

you

whom

many more

them; Save yourselves, he

So

false-minded generation.

this

then you

sins forgiven;

This promise

Spirit.

besides, urgently appealing to

from

said,

and

have your

Holy

all

who had

those

taken his words to heart were baptized, and about three thousand 42

souls

were

won

for the

Lord

These occupied themselves

that day.

continually with the apostles' teaching, their fellowship in the

43

breaking of bread, and the fixed times of prayer,

was struck with awe,

so

many were

the

formed by the gether,

and shared

means

of livelihood, so as to distribute to

46

They

they had,

selling their possessions all,

as each

persevered with one accord, day by day, in the

ship, and, as they

47

all

broke bread in

this

house or

share of food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

And

be saved to their fellowship.

V. ^4. Ps. cix.

42.

took their

each day the Lord

all

t/.

their

praising God,

and winning favour with

the people.

and

had need.

Temple wor-

that,

added those who were

to

soul

signs per-

All the faithful held to-

44 45

apostles in Jerusalem.

and every

wonders and

I.

The Greek

has

'the

apostles'

breaking of bread, and (the) prayers'.

[241I

teaching and fellowship, and the

ACTS

A

3

Man

lame

healed

CHAPTER THREE PETER

AND JoHN wcre going up to the temple at the ninth hour, is an hour of prayer, when a man was carried by who

which

had been lame from called the Beautiful 3

from the temple

them on

their

birth.

And

visitors.

way

Every day he was put

Gate of the temple,

Turn towards

6

something would be given him.

7

of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise

us;

and he looked

10

to

at

God.

God,

12

recognized him for the

derment

14 15

16

17

attentively,

hoping that

at

what had

all

the

can. In the

So, taking

him walking and

man who and were

befallen him.

I

and leaping, and giving praise used

to sit

full of

And

praising

begging

at

the

wonder and bewil-

he would not

let

crowd gathered about them

called Solomon's Porch, beside themselves

in

go of

what

with wonder.

when he saw it, addressed himself to the people; Men of said, why does this astonish you? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as if we had enabled him to walk through some power or virtue of our own? It is the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, who has thus brought honour to his Son Jesus. You gave him up, and disowned him in the presence of Pilate, when Pilate's voice was for setting him free. You disowned the holy, the just, and asked for the pardon of a murderer, while you killed the author of life. But God has raised him up again from the dead, and we are here to bear witness of it. Here is a man you all know by sight, who has put his faith in that name, and that name has brought him strength; it is the faith which comes through Jesus that has restored him to full health in the sight of you all. Come then, brethren, I know that you, like Peter,

Israel,

13

he saw

Peter said to him. Silver

what up and walk.

All the people, as they saw

Peter and John, so that is

them

give, I give thee

Beautiful Gate of the temple, 11

as

he might have alms from

Then

into the temple with them, walking,

9

is

name him by right hand, he lifted him up; and with that, strength came to feet and ankles; he sprang up, and began walking, and went

and gold are not mine to

his

if

what

at

Peter fastened his eyes on him, as John did too, and said,

them.

5

his

down

he could beg alms

he asked Peter and John,

into the temple,

4

8

so that

he

r242]

ACTS

Peter calls on the Jews to repent

your

1

what was 19

20

ignorance;

rulers, acted in

but

God

has fulfilled in

this

4

way

foretold by all the prophets about the sufferings of his

Repent, then, and turn back to him, to have your sins

Christ.

against the day when the Lord sees fit to refresh our Then he will send out Jesus Christ, who has now been made known to you, but must have his dwelling-place in heaven until the time when all is restored anew, the time which God has effaced,

hearts.

21

22

spoken of by

his holy prophets

from the beginning.

Thus, Moses

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among your own brethren; to him, to every word of said.

23

his,

you must

listen.

It is

listen to the voice of that

ordained that everyone

who

will not

prophet will be cut off from the people.

24

And

25

have foretold those days.

heirs of the prophets,

and

of the

our fathers,

when he

said

to

26

the prophets

all

spoke

Abraham, Every

race

It is to

on earth

you

first

from Samuel onwards,

to you,

You are the covenant which God made with

thy posterity.

whom

who

through

shall receive a blessing

of

all

that

God

has sent his Son,

he raised up from the dead to bring you a blessing,

away every one

of you

from

to

turn

his sins.

CHAPTER FOUR BEFORE THEY HAD

finished speaking to the crowd, they

were

in-

terrupted by the chief priests, the temple superintendent, and 2

the Sadducees,

These, indignant at their teaching the multitude

and proclaiming

the resurrection of Jesus

3

on them, and put them

4

until the next day. to their

5

in prison

(for

from the dead, it

laid

hands

was already evening)

(Meanwhile, many of those

who had

listened

preaching had joined the believers, so that their numbers

had now

risen to five thousand

men.)

On

the next day, there

'Against the day when'; the Greek here may mean 'in order that may come', or possibly, 'when the time comes'. The Latin, apparently by an error, has 'in order that when the times comes', which spoils the grammar of the sentence. V. 20.

the time

V. 2j.

Deut.

xviii.

15.

[243}

ACTS was

Peter and John before the Rulers

4

and elders and

a gathering of the rulers

6

the high priest

7

And

ander, and

Annas was

all

there,

who

those

scribes in Jerusalem;

and Caiphas, and John, and Alex-

belonged to the high-priestly family.

they had Peter and John brought into their presence, and

men

asked them. By what power, in whose name, have such 8

9

done

with the Holy

filled

we

been restored, that for the

name

that this

God man

raised

Israel.

You

him from

stands before

you

rejected by you, the builders, that has

Salvation

corner.

the

is

here

are called in question,

whole people of

Nazarene, and

12

Spirit,

as

and

you said

me.

If it

over kindness done to a cripple, and the means by which he has

and

11

Peter was

to them. Rulers of the people, elders of Israel, listen to is

10

Then

this?

the dead;

we must

it

news

for

you

become the

through his

is

He

restored.

is

that stone,

chief stone at the

not to be found elsewhere; this alone of

names under heaven has been appointed

by which

is

crucified Jesus Christ, the

men

to

as the

all

one

needs be saved.

Seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and discovering that they

13

were simple men, without learning, they were astonished, and 14

recognized them

now

as

having been in

could find no answer to make, with the 15

standing there beside them;

16

council-chamber, and conferred together. these

men?

they asked.

It

is

been healed

them out

so they ordered

They

company.

Jesus'

man who had

of the

What are we to do with commonly known among all the

people of Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been done by their 17

means, and

we

are powerless to

spread any further; 18

19

deny

But the news must not

it.

we must deter them by threats from preaching man's name again. So they called them in,

anybody in this and warned them not to utter a word or give any teaching in the name of Jesus. At this, Peter and John answered them, Judge for yourselves whether it would be right for us, in the sight of God, to

20

to listen to

21

refrain

V. St.

6.

your voice instead of God's.

It is

impossible for us to

from speaking of what we have seen and heard. It

And

they.

was Caiphas, not Annas, who was high priest at this time; but to have regarded Annas as somehow associated with his

Luke seems

son-in-law in the exercise of the V. 8. Cf.

Matthew

V. II. Ps. cxvii. 22. Cf. V. 21.

scripts

office;

cf.

Luke

iii.

2.

x. 20.

Matthew

xxi. 42,

I

Peter

ii.

7.

'Exclaiming at the astonishing circumstances of; the Greek manu-

have 'praising

God

over'.

[244]

The

Acquittal; the Disciples give

them

after threatening

them go;

means of punishing them, because 22

whom

this miracle of healing

4

they could find no

the people were exclaiming

all

circumstances of what had befallen;

at the astonishing

in

ACTS

Than\s

further, let

man

the

had taken place was more than

forty years old.

Now

23

24

25

and

them

they heard

of

thou

all,

is

set free,

they went back to their company,

the chief priests and elders had said.

all

when that

were

that they

told

it,

uttered prayer to

maker

art the

Thou

in them.

of heaven

God

And

they,

with one accord; Ruler

and earth and the

hast said through thy

Holy

sea,

and

Spirit,

all

by the

26

thy servant David, our father, What means this ferment among the nations; why do the peoples cherish vain dreams? See how the kings of the earth stand in array, how its rulers make

27

common

lips of

Lord and his Christ. True enough, in Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to aid them, made common cause against thy holy servant Jesus, so accomplishing all that thy power and wisdom had decreed. Look down upon their threats, Lord, now as of old; enable thy servants to preach thy word confidently, by stretching out thy hand to heal; and let signs and miracles be performed in the name of Jesus, thy holy Son. When they had fincause, against the

this city of ours,

28 29 30

31

ished praying, the place in which they had gathered rocked to fro,

and they were

preach the word of 32

filled

God

with the Holy

called

common.

shared in

was the grace

that rested

35

tute; all those

who owned

all

the

None

all.

the fresh

money

name

have what share of

of Barnabas,

he had an to lay

V. 2S. Ps.

ii.

it

estate,

of

farms or houses used to

it

of believers;

it

them was

desti-

them,

and

sell

at the apostles' feet,

he needed.

Levite called Joseph, a Cypriot by birth, to

ment;

company

our Lord Jesus Christ, and great

on them

bring the price of what they had sold to lay

37

to

Great was the power with which the apostles

34

so that each could

and

and began

any of his possessions his own, everything was

testified to the resurrection of

36

Spirit,

with confidence.

There was one heart and soul in none of them

33

all

whom the

There was

a

apostles gave

which means, the man of encourage-

which he

sold,

at the aposdes' feet.

I.

[245}

and brought the purchase-

ACTS

Ananias and Sapphira

5

CHAPTER FIVE BUT

man

THERE WAS a

called

his wife's

3

Ananias who, with

knowledge, only bringing a part of

Whereupon

of the apostles.

his wife Sap-

and kept back some of the money, with

phira, sold an estate,

it

to lay at the feet

Peter said, Ananias,

how

is

it

that

Satan has taken possession of thy heart, bidding thee defraud the

Holy 4

Spirit

money was 5

6

7 8

9

10

by keeping back some of the money that was paid thee Unsold, the property was thine; after the

for the land? at

thy disposal; what has put

God, not man, thou hast defrauded.

down and

died; and a great fear

it. So the young men rose him out to burial. It was about three hours later that his wife came in, knowing nothing of what had happened; and Peter said to her. Tell me, woman, was it for so much that you sold the estate? Yes, she said, for so much. Then Peter said to her, What is this conspiracy between you, to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Even now I hear at the door the footsteps of those who have

heard

been burying thy husband; they will carry thee out once she

came

fell at his feet

in they

and died; so

with her husband.

12

who

heard the

And

story.

No

They used

one

else

increased), lay

believed in the Lord, both

there

of Peter

to

bury her

on beds and

might

fall

and the number

men and women,

pallets, in the

upon one

of

streets,

vv.

13-15.

It

cities, too,

the

common

there, as he

From

people flocked to Jerusalem,

cannot be decided with certainty whether 'no one else' Church, and what was the

refers to other Christians or to those outside the

fear

still

and

hope that even the

them here and

passed by, and so they would be healed of their infirmities.

neighbouring

all

to gather with

but they used to bring sick folk into the

them down

shadow

all

young men

dared to join them,

(although the people held them in high honour,

who

And

too.

the

were many signs and miracles

there

done by the apostles before the people.

of those

16

when

Great fear came upon the church and upon

one accord in Solomon's porch.

15

that

found her a corpse, and carried her out

11

14

the

sale,

into thy heart so to act?

At these words, Ananias came upon all those who up and took him up, and carried

It is

fell

at

13

it

which kept them

at a distance.

[246]

The

bringing with them the sick and those clean spirits; and

17 18

19

ACTS

Apostles miraculously released from Prison

all

of

them were

who

the party of the Sadducees.

is,

arrested the aposdes

were troubled by un-

cured.

This roused the high priest and those that

5

who

thought with him,

Full of indignation, they

and shut them up in the public

But,

gaol.

an angel of the Lord came and opened the prison doors, and led them out; Go, he said, and take your stand in the in the night,

20 21

temple; preach fully to the people the message of true at his

word, they went into the temple

Meanwhile the high

ing.

moned 22

came

26

and sum-

them brought

in.

and

When

them went back and reported, We found the prisonhouse locked up with all due care, and the guards at their posts

until

when we opened

At hearing

found within.

were

at a loss to

it

there

was no one

to

be

the temple superintendent and the

this,

know what had become of them; men you put in prison are

an eye-witness told them. The

standing in the temple, teaching the people there. intendent and his

27

his followers met,

the elders of the Jewish people;

to look in the prison, the officers could not find

chief priests

25

So,

life.

dawn, and began preach-

there; so they

before the door; but

24

and

priest all

they sent to the prison-house to have

they 23

the Council, with

at

officers

So the super-

went and fetched them, using no

because they were afraid of being stoned by the people;

violence,

and they

brought them in and bade them stand before the council, where 28

We

the high priest questioned them. said,

warned you in

set terms,

not to preach in this man's name, and you have

filled

Jerusalem with your preaching; you are determined to lay 29

30

man's death

God

has

at

more

our door.

die.

It is

the prince

32

God

men. It was the God man you hung on a gibbet him up to his own right hand,

right to be obeyed than

Spirit

God

V. 20.

that

'life'

that has raised

and Saviour who

remission of

sins.

gives to

True

life';

Of

this,

all

those

is

to bring Israel repentance,

we are witnesses; we and who obey him.

life,

the

of to as

and

Holy

but such a translation would imply way of living, whereas the Greek word used applies namely, the principle of supernatural life which is

literally 'this life',

referred to a

to a principle of

this

Peter and the other apostles answered,

our fathers that raised up Jesus, the 31

he all

implanted in us by baptism.

[247}

ACTS 33

On

34

them.

Gamaliel pleads for the Apostles

6 hearing

this

they were cut to the quick, and designed to

named Gamaliel, who was 35

36

kill

But now one of the Pharisees in the Council, a lawyer

and bade them send the

held in esteem by

the people, rose

all

then he said to

apostles out for a little;

them,

Men

men.

There was Theodas, who appeared in days gone by and

of Israel, think well

what you mean

do with these

to

claimed to be someone of importance, and was supported by about four hundred

37

persed,

men; he was

and came

and

killed,

And

to nothing.

all his

after

followers were dis-

him Judas

the Galilean

appeared in the days of the registration; he persuaded the people to rebel under his leadership, but he too perished,

38

lowers were scattered.

39

or man's undertaking,

And my

nothing to do with these men,

will

have no power

it

them

let

will be

is

still

it.

And

and

they

fell

is

God's, you

not willingly be

in with his opinion;

so they sent for the aposdes and, after scourging them, let

go with a warning that they were not on any account 41

in the

name

of Jesus.

rejoicing that they

42

his fol-

man's design

if it is

You would

all

the same; have

be. If this

overthrown;

overthrow

to

found fighting against God. 40

advice

And

left

the presence of the Council,

had been found worthy

the sake of Jesus' name.

from house

they

And

to house, their

them

to preach

to suffer indignity for

every day, both in the temple and

teaching and their preaching was con-

tinually of Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER AT

THIS TIME, as the

number

SIX

of the disciples increased,

com-

jtx. plaints were brought against those who spoke Hebrew by those who spoke Greek; their widows, they said, were neglected 2

in the daily administration of

relief.

So the twelve

called together

V. j6. This Theodas cannot be the same as the Theudas mentioned by Josephus (Ant. xx. v. i) as having revolted under Cuspius Fadus (a.d. 4446) unless Josephus has made an error over dates. V. I. Those who spoke Greek'; that is, Jews who had been brought up outside Palestine, and Gentiles who had become proselytes to the Jewish religion, and afterwards Christian.

C248]

ACTS

Seven Deacons Chosen; Stephen before the Council the general body of the disciples, and said,

It is

too

much

6

we

that

should have to forgo preaching God's word, and bestow our care

4

tables. Come then, brethren, you must find among you men who are well spoken of, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, for us to put in charge of this business, while we devote

5

ourselves to prayer,

3

upon

seven

found favour with

who was

and

all

to the ministry of preaching.

full of faith

Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, 6

who was

These they presented to the aposdes,

Antioch.

This advice

and they chose Stephen, a man and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus,

the assembly;

a proselyte

who

from their

laid

hands on them with prayer. 7

By now

the

word

of

God was

ber of disciples in Jerusalem 8

had given

priests

of grace

9

people.

was

gaining influence, and the numgreatly increasing;

their allegiance to the faith.

And

many

of the

Stephen, full

and power, performed great miracles and signs among the There were those who came forward to debate with him,

some of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it is called), and of the Cyreneans and Alexandrians, and of those who came from 10

Cilicia

11

and

and Asia;

but they were no match for Stephen's wisdom,

for the Spirit

employed agents 12

say they

carried

him

and of the

Having thus roused the feelings scribes, they set upon him and brought him before the Council. There

off,

and

so

elders

and

they put forward false witnesses, 14

Thereupon they

utterance.

had heard him speaking blasphe-

mously of Moses, and of God. of the people,

13

which then gave

to

who

declared, This

tired of uttering insults against the holy place,

man

is

never

and the law.

have heard him say that the Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy place,

15

us.

and

And

will alter the traditions

all

those

on him, and saw

who

We this

which Moses handed down

sat there in the

to

Council fastened their eyes

his face looking like the face of

an angel.

'The Freedmen'; according to some Greek manuscripts, 'the Libj'ans'. Some Latin manuscripts have 'the Spirit with which he spoke', which is the natural (though not the only possible) rendering of the Greek. V. 9. V.

10.

[249}

ACTS

History of Israel before Moses

7

CHAPTER SEVEN 2

r-r-iHEN THE high priest asked, J.

Are

of glory appeared to our father

Abraham,

it

in

4

which

So

direct thee.

I

was

it

Chaldeans, and lived in Charan; that he

was bidden

dwell.

There,

foot's space;

come

to

God

ill-used for four

Lord

said,

escape,

after his father's death

into this land

it

down

had no

child.

would

as a

to his

And as

live

where they would be enslaved and

years.

to

much

him and

told him, that his descendants

hundred

settle

where you now

to

But

I

will pass judgement, the

on the nation which enslaves them; and

and

to the land to

gave him no inheritance, not so

strangers in a foreign land,

8

was only

it

remove thence

he only promised the possession of

what God

still

Leave

that he left the country of the

posterity after him, although at this time he this is

7

the

was while he was

thy country, he said, and thy kindred, and

6

When

Mesopotamia, before he took up his dwelling in Charan.

3

5

And he God

these charges true?

answered, Brethren and fathers, hsten to me.

worship

me

here.

at last they will

Then he made

a

covenant with Abraham, the covenant that ordained circumcision.

So

it

was

he became the father of

that

Isaac,

whom

he circumcised

seven days afterwards, and Isaac of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

The

9 10

patriarchs, out of jealousy, sold Joseph as a slave, to be taken

Egypt. In Egypt,

to

God was

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, 11

all

the royal household.

and Chanaan,

13

our fathers on their

made

Gen.

vv. 6, 7.

for

all

wisdom with

till

our fathers could procure

first

journey;

and on

their

second journey

known to them, and Pharaoh learned about Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob, and for

himself

Joseph's kindred.

V. 5.

name

who made him ruler over Egypt and over And now a famine came upon all Egypt

cruelly afflicting them,

no food.

14

a

So Jacob, hearing that there was corn in Egypt, sent out

12

Joseph

he rescued him from

with him;

and won him favour and

his afflictions,

xii. i.

Gen. xv.

13;

perhaps with a reminiscence of Ex.

at the end.

C250}

iii.

12

added

The Ufe 15

16

ACTS

of Moses

7

and Jacob v^^ent down into died. They were removed after-

his family, seventy-five souls in all;

Egypt, where he and our fathers

wards

to

Sichem; and

was

it

in the grave

which Abraham had

man

bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hemor, the

of

Sichem, that they were buried. 17

And when

the time

drew near

which God had made

to

18

multiplied in Egypt.

And now

19

who knew nothing our

20

race,

of Joseph;

using them so

of rearing them.

It

for the fulfilment of the promise

Abraham, the people had increased and

new king

a

this

that they exposed their children, instead

ill

was

time that Moses was born, and,

at this

finding favour with God, was brought three months;

22

by Pharaoh's

then,

was well trained 23

house for

as her son.

Thus Moses he was vigor-

and

ous, too, in speech

children of Israel.

it

And now, when

in act.

When He

killing the Egyptian.

he had reached

mind to visit his brethren, the he saw one of them being unjusdy used,

came

into his

he came to the rescue and avenged the

25

in his father's

exposed, he was rescued

in all the learning of the Egyptians;

forty years of age,

24

up

when he had been daughter, who adopted him

21

arose in Egypt, one

king dealt treacherously with

man who was

wronged, by

expected them to understand, but they

God was when two

could not understand, that he was the means by which 26

them were Sirs,

27

he

29

in sight

tried to restore peace

to

of

between them;

why do you inflict injury on one man who was doing his neighbour a

Whereupon the him aside, asking. Art thou ready

And

Egyptian yesterday?

Forty years

came

you are brethren;

judge over us?

mount

day, he

Who made

thrust

in the land of

30

and

quarrelling,

said,

another?

wrong 28

Next

bring them deUverance.

Madian; later,

Sinai; a

it

Moses

at that

was there

a vision

that

came

bush had caught

me,

to kill

to

fire;

thee a ruler

as

fled,

thou didst

and lived

as

two sons were born

him

and

kill

a

the

an

exile

to

him.

in the wilderness of

and an angel was standing

There is a discrepancy between this account and that given in which suggests either that St. Stephen's memory played him false in the course of an extempore speech, or that there was some early corruption in the text. According to f 13 of the last chapter of Genesis, Jacob was buried in the grave bought by Abraham at Hebron, not at Sichem. Joseph was buried at Sichem (Jos. xxiv. 32). vf. 30-^4. Ex. ii. 2 and following. v.

16.

Genesis,

.

[251]

31

32

ACTS

7

among

the flames.

and

he drew near

as

Rebellions oj Israel

Moses saw

at the sight;

Lord came

him,

to

am the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. And Moses did not dare to look close; fear made him tremble.

33

Then

on which thou standest

is

people in Egypt

my

Lord

the

Take

said to him,

before

is

and

was who

it

was

Egypt, and

I

affliction

this

him

my

Come now,

I

same Moses, the man

Who made

thee a ruler

he saw there

and

at the

them out, performing wonders and Red Sea, and in the wilderness, over a

led

at the

of

have heard their

sent to be their ruler

whom

by the angel

deliverer, helped

He

God

thy feet; the place

The

to deliver them. It

they had disowned, and asked

a judge over us? that

ofif

eyes continually;

down

lamenting, and have come

whom

the shoes

holy ground.

have an errand for thee in Egypt.

36

and was astonished

I

34

35

it,

to look, the voice of the

their

bush.

signs in

space of

forty years.

37

It

was

your 38

your

Moses

this

God own

will raise

who up

brethren; to

The Lord

said to the children of Israel,

for

you

a prophet like myself,

from among

him you must Hsten. He it was who took him on mount Sinai, and with our

part with the angel that spoke to

meeting in the

fathers, at the

39

hand on

life to

obedience.

40

41

there

is

and

said

as for this Moses,

making

over the works of their

own

me

V. S7-

V. 40.

hands.

star of

lead our of Egypt,

So they fashioned a

and keeping holiday

Whereupon God turned away

to the

worship of

all

the host of

Is it

true that

victims and sacrifices, you sons of Israel, for forty

years in the wilderness?

and the

offerings to an idol,

written in the book of the prophets.

it is

you brought

would not give him

they turned their thoughts to-

to Aaron, Make us gods, to who brought us out of the land

and gave them over

from them, heaven; so

43

There he received words of

no saying what has become of him.

calf at this time,

42

desert.

yet our fathers

They disowned him;

wards Egypt, march;

and

to us;

your god

You carried about the tent of Moloch, Rempham, and worshipped them, images

Deut. xviii. 15. Ex. xxxii. I.

Amos

V. 25, where, however, there is a difference of reading Stephen quotes from the Septuagint, but has substituted 'Babylon' for 'Damascus' in the original.

pv. 42, 4^.

in the

Hebrew.

St.

C2.2]

Stephen rebukes the Jews, and o£ your

own

is

And now

fashioning.

ACTS

stoned I

will send

you

into exile

7

on the

further side of Babylon.

In the wilderness, our fathers had the tabernacle with them, to

44

remind them of God's covenant; he who spoke 45

fashion

God

it

after the

dispossessed the Gentiles, to

ing, our fathers

Moses bade him

to

And when

model which had been shewn him.

make room

under Josue brought

for our fathers' com-

an

this tabernacle, as

loom, into the land which they conquered. So

was

it

heir-

until the time

who had won favour in God's sight, longed God of Israel, but in the end it built the house for him. Yet we are not to

46

of David.

47

to devise a resting-place for the

48

was Solomon

David,

that

High dwells in temples made by men's hands; Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool

think that the most 49

the prophet says:

under 50

my

feet.

What home

what place can be

made

my

are for ever resisting the

52

it

Holy

and

ears

not

my

hands that

uncircumcised, you

still

Spirit, just

as

your fathers did.

There was not one of the prophets they did not persecute; death to foretell the coming of that just man,

53

me, says the Lord,

for

Was

all this?

Stiff-necked race, your heart

51

you build

will

resting-place?

times have betrayed and murdered; dictated by angels,

54

At hearing

55

their teeth at

this,

and did not keep

you,

whom

who

you

was

it

in these

received the law

it.

they were cut to the heart, and began to gnash

But

him.

Holy

he, full of the

Spirit, fastened his

on heaven, and saw there the glory of God, and Jesus standing God's right hand; I see heaven opening, he said, and the Son of

eyes at

56

Man

standing

and put 57

him,

thrust

nesses put

58

Saul.

59

Lord

at the right

hand

of

their fingers into their ears;

him out

down

Thus Jesus,

of the city,

he

fell

they cried aloud, fell

upon

And the wityoung man named

and stoned him.

their clothes at the feet of a

he

said, receive

my

spirit;

and then, kneeling down,

this sin against

them.

And

with

asleep in the Lord.

Saul was one of those vv. 4g, ^0.

Then

they stoned Stephen; he, meanwhile, was praying;

he cried aloud. Lord, do not count that,

God.

with one accord they

Is.

Lxvi.

who gave

i.

[253}

their voices for his

murder.

ACTS

Apostles scattered; Simon

8

Magus

CHAPTER EIGHT was much persecuted THE CHURCH in Jerusalemwere scattered about over

at this time,

2

side of Judaea

3

who mourned

and Samaria.

and

the country-

except the apostles

all

Stephen was buried by devout men,

greatly over him.

was making

Saul, meanwhile,

havoc of the church; he made his way into house

after house,

5

men and women off and committing them to prison. Those who had been driven away spread the gospel as they went from place to place; and Philip, who had gone down to one of

6

the cities of Samaria, preached Christ there.

carrying 4

The

multitude

own There were many

tened with general accord to what Philip said, as their ears witnessed the miracles he did.

7

and

8

sessed by unclean spirits,

9

too,

were healed of the

great rejoicing in that

who had

been in the

and these came palsy,

city.

and there was

was a man

there

city before Philip

came

pos-

many,

out, crying aloud;

and of lameness,

And

lis-

eyes

called

Simon,

misleading the

there,

people of Samaria with sorcery, and pretending to have great so that high

10

powers,

11

said, is

12

his sorceries, they

13

his

continued to pay attention

came and preached found

and low hung upon

faith

to

to

Long

men and women

and Simon, who had found

of Jesus Christ;

the great miracles and signs he 14

And now

15

received the

him,

alike, in the

faith

was astonished by

saw happening.

of

God, sent Peter and John

two came down and prayed the Holy Spirit, who had not, as

to visit them.

for them, that they yet,

17

18

so that the

the 19

Holy

Then Holy

Spirit

the apostles

Spirit

began

come down on any

was given them,

was granted through

hands, offered them money;

powers that when

I

lay

to lay their

my

Let

had So

might receive

they had received nothing so far except baptism in the Jesus.

name

and been bap-

the apostles at Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria

word

these

Lord

misled by

until Philip

them about God's kingdom. Then they

and were baptized,

tized with the rest, kept close to Philip's side; he

16

words; This, they

an angel called the great angel of God.

of them;

name

of the

hands on them,

and Simon, seeing that

the imposition of the apostles'

me

too,

he

hands on anyone he

said,

have such

will receive the

Simon reproved; Philip 20

Holy

Whereupon

Spirit.

thee to perdition, thou

Peter said to him,

who

21

can be bought with money.

22

in these doings; thy heart

of this baseness of thine,

23

pardon

the thought

for

ACTS

an Ethiopian

instructs

Take thy wealth with

has told thyself that God's free gift

There

no

is

no part for thee

share,

not true in the sight of God.

is

8

and pray

to

Repent

God, in the hope of finding

which thy heart has conceived.

I

see

plainly that a bitter poison has taken hold of thee; thou art the

24

bondsman

25

So,

when

word 26

And Simon answered. Pray for me to the harm you have spoken of may fall upon me.

of iniquity.

Lord, that none of

this

they had borne their full witness and preached the

of the Lord, they began their journey back to Jerusalem,

many Samaritan villages. Meanwhile, was commanded by an angel of the Lord, Rise up, and go south to meet the road which leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, out carrying the gospel into Philip

27

So he rose up and went; and found there an Ethio-

in the desert. pian. This

Ethiopia,

man was

a

eunuch, a courtier of Candace, queen of

and had charge

28

ship at Jerusalem,

29

in his chariot

30

Philip,

Go up

of

all

her wealth; he had been up to wor-

now on

and was

to that chariot

way home, The

his

and reading the prophet and keep

Isaias.

close

he ran up, heard him reading the prophet 31

thou understand what thou

without someone 32

up and

sit

lamb

this;

that

He

is

He was

art

Isaias,

How

reading?

Spirit said to

And

Philip, as

and asked, Canst could

I,

said he,

me? And he entreated Philip to come The passage of scripture which he was

was led away Hke

dumb

before

its

33

mouth.

34

earth.

brought low, and

And

35

whom

does the prophet say this?

shall tell the story of his

the

it.

guide

beside him.

reading was like a

to

by

driving along

age? His

eunuch turned

a sheep to be slaughtered;

shearer, he

life is

to Philip,

would not open

rights taken

all his

his

away; who

being cut off from the

and

said, Tell

me, about

Himself, or some other

man?

V. 26. Some have supposed that it was the road, not Gaza itself, which 'deserted'; but it is possible that the old Gaza, destroyed in b.c. 96, is here distinguished from the new Gaza, built in b.c. 58, and destroyed in

was

A.D. 65. 7. The Hebrew differs in several points from the text which is here quoted. Nor is the meaning of the Greek here beyond dispute; some would render 'his condemnation' instead of 'his rights', and 'his posterity' instead of 'his age'.

vv. 52, 33. Is

liii.

of the Septuagint,

[255]

ACTS

9

Then

Philip began speaking, and preached to

Ethiopian baptized; the Road to Damascus

36

taking this passage as his theme.

came

to a piece of water,

37

here;

why may

with

all

38

Jesus Christ

39

and Philip baptized him

As

and the eunuch

thy heart, thou mayest. the

is

PhiHp

not be baptized?

I

Son of God,

And

said. See, there said. If

was carried

water, Philip

eunuch did not 40

As

see

for Philip, he

went preaching

down

believe that

into the water,

the Lord,

spirit of

longer; he

round the

I

But when they came up from the

was next heard of

all

water

is

thou dost beHeve

he answered,

by the

off

him any

Jesus,

So he had the chariot stopped, and

both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went there.

him about

they went on their way, they

at

went on

way

his

and the

rejoicing.

Azotus; and from there he

villages, until

he reached Caesarea.

CHAPTER NINE SAUL, WITH 2

and asked him for

threatened the disciples

letters of

commendation arrest all those

and women, who belonged

to the

Jerusalem.

4

cas, a

Then, on

and heard

thou persecute I

am

his journey,

to the

to the

Jesus,

me?

whom

he found there,

Who

art thou,

nearly at

Lord? he asked.

Saul persecutes. This

Lord, what wilt thou have Rise up, and go into the

is

Damas-

He

fell

why

And

he

to

dost said,

a thankless task of thine,

And he, dazed and trembling, asked. me do? Then the Lord said to him.

city,

and there thou

shalt

be told what

His companions stood in bewilderment, hearing the

7

thy

8

voice speak, but not seeing anyone.

is.

at

men

way, and bring them back to

when he was

a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul,

kicking against the goad.

work

high priest

synagogues

hght from heaven shone suddenly about him.

the ground,

6

still

Damascus, so that he could

3

5

EVERY breath he drew,

Lord with massacre; and now he went

of the

When

he rose from the

V. 57. This verse is wanting in some of the Greek, and also in some of the Latin manuscripts. V. 2. The way'; that is, the Christian profession. .' to '. vv. 5, 6. The words from This is a thankless task the Lord . . said to him' are omitted by all the Greek and some Latin manuscripts. V. 7. 'Hearing the voice speak', but not hearing what was said. This is made clear in xxii. 9 below, where 'to hear' is used in the sense of 'to understand', as in I Cor. xiv. 2. .

[256}

.

Saul

9

is

ACTS

baptized

9

ground he could

see nothing, although his eyes

were open, and

they had to lead

him by

into

Here

for three days he

him

the hand, to take

remained without

sight,

Damascus.

and neither

ate

nor

him

the

drank.

There was,

10

11

Damascus,

in

called in a vision, Ananias.

And

the

Lord

and enquire

named

12

Tarsus,

13

on him,

had

14

to cure

Lord,

many have

done

to

from

man

I

called

him

of blindness.

told

me

have yet to

too.

17

undergo for as

I

my

to

and tell

about

At

thee on thy

and be

I

to

all

the hurt he has

and he has come here with

him.

all

Go on

those

who

their rulers,

Spirit.

thou

And

is

a

Israel

suffering he will have to

So Ananias

as thou earnest here;

with the Holy

upon

my name

and before the people of

how much

name's sake.

call

thy errand; this

set out;

have been sent by that Lord Jesus

way

filled

of

Ananias answered,

this,

man, and

this

be the instrument for bringing

him,

man

and he has

and as soon

he came into the house he laid his hands upon him, and

Brother Saul,

18

at his prayers:

the chief priests to imprison

before the heathen

16

is

Ananias coming in and laying hands

But the Lord said

have chosen

road called

to the

house of Judas for a

man

thy saints at Jerusalem;

thy name.

to

am. Lord, he answered.

I

up and go

at the

Even now he

Saul.

a vision of a

authority

15

Here

said to him. Rise

Straight Street;

named Ananias;

a disciple

Lord

who

said,

appeared to

art to recover thy sight,

with

that, a

kind of film

away from his eyes, and his sight was recovered. He rose up, and was baptized; and now, when he had taken food, his strength returned to him. For some days he lived with the disciples at Damascus, and from the first, in the synagogues, he preached that Jesus was the Son of God. All those who heard it were amazed; fell

19

20 21

Why, they said, is not this the man who brought ruin on all those who invoked this name, when he was in Jerusalem; the man who 22

23

came here for the very purpose of arresting such people and prethem to the chief priests? But Saul was inspired with ever greater strength, and silenced the Jews who lived at Damascus by shewing them clearly that this was the Christ. senting

So many days passed, and then the Jews plotted against

his life

V. 2 J. It would appear from Galatians i. 16-18, that the 'days' here mentioned covers a period of three years, during part of which St. Paul was in redrement in Arabia.

[257}

ACTS

Saul at Jerusalem; Aeneas healed

9

Saul was aware of the plot; and, since they kept watch over the gates,

day and night, to make an end of him,

the disciples con-

him down by night along

the face of the wall, lower-

ing him to the ground in a hamper.

So he reached Jerusalem,

trived to let

where he

tried to attach himself to the disciples;

not believe he was a true disciple, and

Whereupon Barnabas took him by to the apostles, telling

but they could

avoided his company.

hand and brought him

the

them how, on

all

his journey,

in

he had seen the

Lord and had speech with him, and how at Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So he came and went in their

company

He

with them,

name

Jerusalem, and spoke boldly in the

at

preached, besides, to the Jews

put him on his

Meanwhile,

the brethren took

this,

way

of the Lord.

talked Greek, and disputed

they set about trying to take his

till

they heard of

who

life.

him down

As soon

to Caesarea,

as

and

to Tarsus.

through Judaea and GaHlee and Samaria, the

all

church enjoyed peace and became firmly established, guided by the

God and filled with encouragement by the Holy Spirit. And now Peter, as he visited the saints everywhere, came down There he found a man called to see those who dwelt at Lydda. Aeneas, who had not left his bed for eight years, being palsied. And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ sends thee healing;

fear of

rise

up at once. All Lydda and Saron came to see him, and their turned to the Lord. And there was a disciple at Joppa Tabitha, which means the same as Dorcas, a gazelle. She

up, and

those hearts called

who

make

dwelt

abounded in

thy bed; whereupon he rose

at

acts of charity

that at this time she

and

laid

disciples,

Come

it

in

and

fell sick,

an upper room.

in almsdeeds;

and

died,

Since

and

Lydda was

hearing that Peter was there, sent two

to us, they

it

so happened

and they washed the body

urged him, without delay.

close to Joppa, the

men

to find

him;

So Peter rose and

went with them; and when he came there they took him into the upper room, where all the widows stood round him in tears, shewV. 29. Some manuscripts of the Latin give the sense 'He preached, besides, to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Jews who talked Greek'. 'Filled with the encouragement'; the Greek seems rather to mean, t/. 5/. 'grew (in numbers) through the encouragement' of the Holy Spirit.

[258]

ACTS

Raising of Dorcas; Vision of Cornelius

him

ing 40

and cloaks which Dorcas used

the coats

among them.

she was

them

make while

all

out,

and went on

knees to pray; then, turning to the body, he

said,

Tabitha, rise up;

Peter sent

and she opened her eyes and looked 41

to

10

So he gave her

bed.

This became

43

in the Lord.

known

He

and

at Peter,

hand, and raised her to her

all

over Joppa, and

many

number of name was Simon.

stayed in Joppa a

ing with a tanner whose

up on

sat

feet;

and the widows, he shewed her

calling in the saints

42

his

the

and then,

them

to

his

alive.

learned to believe

days after

this,

lodg-

CHAPTER TEN THERE

WAS,

at Caesarea, a

ing to what

worshipped the true God, the people,

to

centurion

named

Cornelius, belong-

called the Italian cohort,

is

like all his household,

and prayed

to

God

man who

a pious

continually.

gave alms freely

He, about the

ninth hour of the day, had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of

God come

in

and address him by

Lord? he asked, gazing

at

him

in terror.

prayers and almsdeeds are recorded

now

he would have thee send

Simon,

who

is

Simon, whose house

what thou he

hast to do.

summoned two

is

to Joppa, to

sight.

is it.

Thy

And

bring here one

he lodges with a tanner, called

close to the sea;

So the angel

of his servants,

What

he answered.

on high in God's

men

surnamed Peter;

name.

his

And

thou wilt learn from him

visitor left

him, and thereupon

and one of the

soldiers

who were

on him, a man of piety; he told them all that had passed, and sent them on their way to Joppa. Next day, while these were on their journey and were drawing near the city, Peter went up to the house-top about noon, to pray in attendance

there.

He was

hungry, and waiting for a meal; and while they

Cornelius was one of those Gentiles who, without adopting the rite conformed to the Jewish religion in general; he was not a proselyte in the full sense. 6. The t'. last ten words of this verse are omitted in the Greek manuV. 2.

of circumcision,

scripts.

[-59]

ACTS 11

10

Peter's Vision

were preparing

and a bundle, 12

the earth;

13

that creep

14

came

he

it,

in

it

on the

were

and

16 17

not for thee to

It is

my

where they

have

It

a voice

cannot be,

eaten anything pro-

I

came

the voice

him

to

anything profane, which

called out

the gate;

19

called Peter, lodged there.

mind, the

vision in his

20

thee;

21

it

a second

God

has

who have

I

is

am, he

I

The

errand?

To

and asked

Here

Spirit said.

Simon,

if

Peter, as he

who was

also

was turning over the

men

are three

asking for

and go down, and accompany them without misgiving;

rise

Here

ships the true

23

life

eat.

made clean. Three times this happened, and then the bundle was drawn up again into heaven. Peter was still puzzling in his mind over the meaning of his vision, when Cornelius' messengers, who had now found their way to Simon's house, were seen standing at

18

22

call

And

the birds of heaven.

all

Then

fane, anything unclean.

time,

four corners on to

its

him. Rise up, Peter, lay about thee and

to

Lord, answered Peter; never in 15

saw heaven opening,

down by

kinds of four-footed beasts, and things

all

earth,

He

into a trance.

fell

like a great sheet, let

sent them.

said, the

down

So Peter went

man you

centurion Cornelius, they said, a

God and

keeps his law, as

all

to the

what

men;

is

your

man who

wor-

are looking for;

the Jewish people will

testify,

has received a revelation from one of the holy angels; he

was

have thee brought

to

wouldst

to his house,

and

listen to

Thereupon Peter bade them come

say.

in,

what thou and made

them welcome; and next day he set out with them, accompanied by some of the brethren from Joppa. 24

The day

after that, they reached Caesarea,

where Cornelius

v/as

awaiting them; he had gathered his kinsmen and his closest friends

about him.

26

nelius,

27

raised

And

25

in,

28

who

his feet

him; Stand up, he

still

You know

contaminated

God

had entered, he was met by Cor-

and did reverence

said, I

am

a

man

to

him;

like thyself.

but Peter

So he went

conversing with him, and found a great company

sembled.

but

as soon as Peter

fell at

if

well enough, he told them, that a

he consorts with one of another

has been shewing

V, 14. St.

me

that

we ought

Peter seems to have interpreted the

race, or visits

is

him;

not to speak of any

command

satisfy his hunger indiscriminately, although some of the were unclean according to the Mosaic law.

[ 260 ]

as-

Jew

as a direction to

creatures he

saw

29

man

30

without demur. Tell

as

ACTS

House

Peier at Cornelius

so, when I was sent for, I came why you have sent for me. And

and

profane or unclean;

me

10

then,

Cornelius said. Three days ago, at this very time,

my 31

I was making when suddenly I saw a man white clothes, who said to me, Cornelius,

afternoon prayer in

standing before me, in

my

house,

won remembrance summon thenc. 1-7. It is possible that the false teachers at Ephesus, if they were Jews, may have been influenced by the unpopularity of Roman rule in Judaea, so as to preach disloyalty to the Empire; perhaps, too, they refused to recognize that the gospel was offered to the whole of mankind. 'Decently'; in the Greek 'with dignity', in the Latin 'with holiness' I/. 2.

excommunication;

cf.

I.

(or perhaps 'chastity').

C45O

The Duty our duty,

5

truth;

6

and men, Jesus

it

is

men

his will that all

there

self as a

not to teach publicly

what God, our Saviour,

4

7

Women

of Prayer;

is

I

TIMOTHY

expects o£ us,

since

who

Christ,

ransom

for

and of

apostle (I

make no

2 is

should be saved, and be led to recognize the

only one God, and only one mediator between

witness,

it

them

a

is

At

all.

that witness

man,

I

false claims,

like

God

and gave him-

them,

the appointed time, he bore his

am the chosen herald, sent as an I am only recalHng the truth) to be

a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. 8

9

It is

my

wish that prayer should everywhere be offered by the

men; they are and dispute.

to

lift

that are sanctified, free

attire;

no gold ornaments, or pearls, or rich clothes; the best adornment for women who lay claim to

hair,

11

is

12

learners;

13

issue

14

Adam

are to keep silence,

went

and take

woman

a

commands

from

all

anger

with the women; they are to dress them-

modestly and with restraint in befitting

selves

10

15

up hands

So, too,

shall

to her

their place,

with

all

have no leave from

husband; her part

is

no plaited

a virtuous piety.

life

Women

submissiveness, as

me

to teach,

to be silent.

It

and

was

created first, and Eve later, nor was it Adam that woman was led astray, and was involved in transYet woman will find her salvation in child-bearing, if

that

was

astray;

gression.

she will but remain true to faith and love and holy living. f. 8. St.

Paul

is

probably teaching here that women are to abstain from from teaching (in the sense of giving in-

offering public prayer, as well as structions at public worship).

V. 75. The Latin here has 'in the birth of children'; but the text as given Greek makes it equally possible to follow Theophylact (as several nonCatholic commentators do), and translate 'in the Child-bearing'. Woman, here considered as a single race, has been re-established since the fall of Eve by the obedience of the Blessed Virgin, as is commonly recognized by the

in the

Church from

St. Irenaeus onwards. 'If she will but remain' is 'if they will but remain' in the Greek; the plural being substituted for the singular to shew that the statement is made about womanhood generally.

[45O

I

TIMOTHY

Qualifications of ihe Pastor

3

CHAPTER THREE IS

IT

WELL

SAID,

employment

When

a

aspires to a bishopric,

whom

must be one with

then,

one wife, sober,

man

The man who

that he covets.

discreet,

no

enced in teaching,

neither quarrelsome nor grasping.

own

their full respect;

6

own

if

a

household, will he

must not be

new

a

be a bishop,

can be found; faithful to

fault

He

must be one who

is

family, and keeps his children in order by

5

7

no mean

it is

no lover of wine or of brawling, courteous,

3

to his

to

modest, well behaved, hospitable, experi-

4

head

is

good

man has not learned how to manage his know how to govern God's church? He

convert, or he

and incur Satan's doom. the world's eyes; or he

a

winning

He

may

may

be carried away by vanity,

must bear

fall

a

good

into disrepute,

character, too, in

and become

a prey

to the False Accuser.

8

Deacons, in the same way, must be

men 9

keeping

10

revealed.

of decent behaviour,

true, in all sincerity of conscience, to the faith that has

These, in their turn, must

only be allowed to serve as deacons 11

men

of their word, not given to deep drinking or to money-getting,

them.

The women-folk,

too,

if

first

no charge

i-y.

It

is

is

brought against

should be modest, not fond of slan-

derous talk; they must be sober, and in every

vt/.

been

undergo probation, and

possible that St. Paul

means us

to

way worthy

of trust.

understand these

qualifi-

cations as applying, not only to the episcopal office, but to that of a priest;

he

does not mention presbyters in this chapter. Cf. note on Phil. i. i. V. 2. 'Faithful to one wife' may mean, but does not necessarily mean, that in the discipline of the early Church a re-married widower was ineligible for the episcopate. v. 4. 'By winning their full respect'; in the Greek, 'with all dignity'; in the Latin, 'with all holiness' (or perhaps 'chastity'). V. 7. 'The False Accuser' is the name given in Greek to the Devil. Here the sense would seem to be, that a Christian who was an object of suspicion to those outside the Church would bring the Church into discredit, through the scandal which the Devil would attach to his name. vv. 8,11. 'Modest'; in the Greek, 'dignified', in the Latin, 'chaste'. V. II. 'The women-folk'; probably meaning the deacon's wife and household. It may, however, imply that women were recognized in the early Church, as they were later, in the character of 'deaconesses', sharing in the charitable work done by the deacons. Cf. Rom. xvi. i, where Phoebe is said to be a 'ministrant' to the church at Cenchrae.

[4S2]

Qualifications of the

12

The deacon must

13

own

Deacon

I

be faithful to one wife, good

TIMOTHY

Those who have served well

family and household.

4

looking after his

at

in the

diaconate will secure for themselves a sure footing, and great bold-

which

ness in proclaiming that faith, 74

So much

15

before long;

I

tell

so that,

if I

no doubt over the conduct hold.

By

that

I

mean

am that

is

No made

question of

human

in

it,

it

is

hope

to

Jesus.

pay thee a

visit

expected of thee in God's house-

foundation upon which the truth 16

I

slow in coming, thou mayest be in

Church of

the

founded on Christ

is

thee by letter, although

a great

God, the

the living

pillar

and

rests.

mystery

nature, justification

won

we

worship. Revelation

in the realm of the Spirit;

a vision seen by angels, a mystery preached to the Gentiles; Christ in this world, accepted by faith, Christ,

on high, taken up into

glory.

CHAPTER FOUR

WE

ARE expressly told by inspiration that, in later days, there

will be

spirations,

some who abandon the

and doctrines taught by the

ceived by the pretensions of impostors,

ened as

if

faith, listening to false in-

They

devils.

these for the grateful enjoyment of those to

recognize the truth. to be rejected; only

is

hard-

Such teachers bid them abstain from

by a searing-iron.

marriage, and from certain kinds of food, although

is

will be de-

whose conscience

All

is

we must

good

that

whom God

be thankful to

God

has

made

faith has enabled

has made, nothing

him when we

par-

V. 16. This sentence would seem to be connected with what follows, rather than with what goes before. Some think that St. Paul is quoting from an early Christian hymn; cf. Eph. v. 14. The sentence is perhaps best divided into three paradoxes; Christ manifested to the world in his humanity, yet redeeming us through the dignity of his Divine Person; the Resurrection, a sight only witnessed by angels, yet published throughout the world; Christ still making his power felt here below, through the faith of his Church, although he has ascended into heaven. f. 3. 'Certain kinds of food'; either those prohibited by the Jewish law, as in Rom. xiv. or some others (perhaps flesh-meat generally) prohibited by innovating teachers at Ephesus, in the spirit of the later Gnostics.

[453}

I

TIMOTHY

5

take of

6

the prayer

on the

followed.

8

stead, to

10

life

wilt

shew

grow up is

how

Such

II, 12

not

of those

all

let

who

anyone think the

thyself a

model

who

is

all faith, all

14

thy constant care while

we endure

Let

16

how

this

thy youthfulness;

and behaviour for the

I

am

hands went with

Two

meaning

Do

A

absent.

it;

it,

do not

make

faithful, all love, let

these be

special grace has

and

been

the imposition of the

let it sufifer

from all

neglect.

may

see

things claim thy attention, thyself and

on them;

so wilt thou

and

listen to thee achieve salvation.

V. 5. 'God's blessing'; literally

as

mankind, and

the doctrine thou art to deliver.

is

the teaching of the faith; spend thy care

who

a wel-

and reproach,

be thy study, these thy employments, so that

well thou doest.

those

toil

the Saviour of

entrusted to thee; prophecy awarded presbyters'

and what

that saying,

Reading, preaching, instruction,

13

15

train thyself, in-

promises well both for this

it

is

less of thee for

of speech

purity.

and

believe in him.

the charge, such

is

true

for this that

It is

our hope in a living God, above

tales alone,

Training of the body avails but

all-availing, since

deserves!

it

these rules for the brethren,

whose wholesome doctrine thou hast

in holiness.

and for the next;

come

Lay down

it.

thyself a true servant of Jesus Christ, thriving

Leave foolish nursery

holiness

little;

hallowed for our use by God's blessing and

it is

which brings

principles of that faith

7

9

then

it,

and thou

Apostolic Holiness and Discretion

4

'the

words of

'God's word',

Scripture';

it

is

which some understand here

doubtful whether

St.

Paul ever

uses the phrase in that sense. V. 7. For 'foolish' the Greek has 'profane'; it is not clear in what sense. V. 9. Some commentators think the saying consists of the words given in verse 10.

many Greek manuscripts read 'struggle'. Paul says that the grace was given to St. Timothy 'through prophecy', presumably in the sense that the prophets pointed him out as a suitable person to be made a presbyter, or a bishop (cf. i. 18 above, and Acts xiii. 2). It was, perhaps, through this influence that he was chosen in spite of his youth, on which this chapter seems to lay special emphasis. V. 16. 'Spend thy care on them'; that is, upon thyself and upon the preaching of the faith, as is indicated by the words which follow. V. 10. V.

14.

'Reproach'; St.

[454]

Qualifications entitling a

Widow

to

support

I

TIMOTHY

5

CHAPTER FIVE INSTEAD OF finding fault, appeal to an older man as if he were thy father, to younger men as thy brothers, to the older women,. 3

as mothers, to the

4

widows

owed woman warned that

if

is left

that

bereft of

all

modesty)

Give

as sisters.

belongs to them;

and blood has the

flesh

if

a wid-

first

claim on their

who gave them birth; The woman who is indeed a

returns to those

what God asks of them.

is

widow,

all

really

with children or grandchildren, she must be

own

that their

name

They must make due

piety.

5

younger (but with

their due,

help, will put her trust in

God, and spend

her time, night and day, upon the prayers and petitions that belong

who lives in luxury would be alive and dead Warn them of this, too, or they will bring themselves into disrepute; the man who makes no provision for those nearest him, above all his own family, has contradicted the teachone

her state;

6

to

7

both at once.

8

ing of the faith, and indeed does worse than the unbelievers do. 9

If

a

woman

is

to

be put on the

list

of widows, she

must have

reached, at least, the age of sixty, and have been faithful to one 10

husband.

She must have

a

name

for acts of charity;

has she

brought up children? Has she been hospitable? Has she washed the feet of the saints?

Has

she helped those

who were in affliction? Have nothing

11

Has

12

expense, and then be for marrying again, thus incurring the guilt

to

she attached herself to every charitable cause?

do with younger widows; they will

V. J.

Their

due', including their

the custom of the early

Church

live at their ease at Christ's

maintenance by public alms, according to

Acts vi. i). In Hebrew, the verb 'to honour' sometimes has the sense of monetary payment (cf. Eccli. xxxviii. i, and note on Matthew xv. 5). V. 4. 'She must be warned'; the Greek manuscripts, and many of the Latin, have 'they must be warned'. This seems the more probable reading, in view of verse 7 below. V. 6. 'Would be alive and dead both at once'; literally 'is dead while she still lives'. The sense appears to be, that she must not attempt to live a worldly life and claim, at the same time, the privileges of widowhood. V. 9. v.

II.

There

is

the

This verse

(cf.

same uncertainty here is

ordinarily translated

as in

iii.

2 above.

'When they have begun

to

grow

wanton

against Christ', but this does not translate the Latin, and is a very doubtful rendering of the Greek. St. Paul surely means, 'When they have finished living a luxurious

life,

upon

the alms of the Christian community'.

r455]

I

13

TIMOTHY

Hoiv

5

of breaking the promise they have made. habits of idleness as they

merely 14

Pastors are to be supported

idle,

Meanwhile, they learn

go from house

to house;

they gossip and interfere, and say

So

right to say.

I

would have

and corrected

the younger

nor are they

what they have no

women marry and

bear

children and have households to manage; then they will give en15

mity no handle for speaking

16

have turned

ill

Already there are some

of us.

aside, to follow Satan.

Meanwhile,

any widows depending on him, he should undertake leaving the church free to support the

who

a believer has

if

their support,

widows who

are really

destitute.

Presbyters

17

who

have acquitted themselves well of their charge

should be awarded double consideration; those especially, 18

bestow their pains on preaching and instruction: sage in scripture which

tells

there

is

who

a pas-

us not to muzzle the ox while

it

is

threshing grain, and the labourer has a right to expect his main-

Do

not take cognizance of any charge

19

tenance.

20

presbyter, unless there are

rebuke to those 21

rest.

I

who

made

two witnesses or more.

are living amiss,

adjure thee in the sight of

and thus put

God and

against a

Give

a public

fear into the

of Jesus Christ,

and the

angels he has chosen, to observe these rules without rash judge-

22

ment, without yielding hands, do not bestow

23

the sins of others. fine thyself to

24

it

to

partiality.

inconsiderately,

Keep

As

for the imposition of

and so share the blame

water any longer; take a

stomach, and thy frequent attacks of

little

for

(No, do not con-

thyself clear of fault.

wine

illness.)

to relieve thy

Some men have

faults that are plain to view, so that they invite question;

with

V. ly. 'Consideration' here is the same word in Greek as 'their dues' in verse 3 above, and is no doubt used partly in the same signification; cf. the verse which follows. V. 18. Deut. XXV. 4; see also Matthew x. 10. V. 20. 'To those', probably meaning 'to those presbyters'; and the direction that they are to be rebuked in public is best understood as meaning 'Before

the other presbyters'. V. 22. St. Timothy is probably warned against ordaining presbyters without due enquiry into their character; but it seems that the imposition of hands was also used in remitting ecclesiastical censures, and some think this is

the

meaning

here.

V. 2}. This sentence interrupts the drift of the passage; probably St. Paul suddenly remembered a question put to him, and answered it, as it were, in

a foot-note.

[456]

On 25

Slavery,

and on mercenary Teachers

upon

others, discovery follows

TIMOTHY

I

the heels o£ enquiry;

with their merits; some are plain

to view,

so

6

it is,

too,

and where they are

not,

they cannot long remain hidden.

CHAPTER THOSE WHO

SIX

ARE bound to slavery must treat their masters as

God's

entitled to all respect; otherwise

2

will be

spoken

ill

must not think the

faith

they should render

3

all

less

name and our

the better service,

when

benefit

and encourage them,

rival teacher,

Then

because he

it is

so to act.

there

Is

some

to the doctrine is

which accords with holiness?

What comes

all

such encounters as must

arise

between

men

And

with corrupted

indeed, religion

though no more than

Empty-handed we came

it.

8

beyond question, we must leave

9

and clothing

to last us out, let us

it;

ample pro-

why

then,

be content with

if

we have food Those who

that.

rich fall into temptation, the devil's trap for

here and perdition hereafter.

The

love of

with

and empty-handed,

men

those useless and dangerous appetites which sink

faith

is

a bare sufficiency goes

into the world,

7

evil things,

of

suspicions,

lost track of the truth. Religion, they think, will

provide them with a living.

would be

and base

jealousy, quarrelling, recriminations

life,

who

puffed up with vanity; knowledge he has

Only

vision for

Teach them,

sound principles which are the principles of

it?

minds who have

10

who

those

none, but an itch for speculation and controversy.

6

to the

of them, for being their brethren;

love.

our Lord Jesus Christ,

5

doctrine

whose masters belong

those

by their good will are believers, worthy of their

refuses assent to the

4

And

of.

money

is

them;

all

into ruin

the root of

all

and there are those who have wandered away from the

by making

it

their ambition, involving themselves in a

world

of sorrows. Ti

It is

for thee, servant of

God,

to

shun

all this;

to

aim

at right

'With no more than a sufficiency' for its complement'; the Greek might also be translated, 'if it goes togethei with contentment'. V. 10. 'Involving themselves in' has rather, in the Greek, the meaning of 'stabbing themselves vi'ith'. f.

6.

[4573

I

TIMOTHY

Responsibilities of an Apostle;

6

living, holiness,

and

faith,

and

love,

Fight the good fight of

12

bearance.

13

before so

many

life to all

things, before Jesus Christ

14

claim

witnesses.

when he

I

for-

thy grasp on eternal

life,

God

who

appears.

alone enjoys dominion; he

and

to fulfil thy

when our Lord

no human eye has seen or can ever

everlasting empire.

gives

charge

Jesus Christ

him in due time, the blessed God who to is King of kings, and Lord of lords;

alone immortaUty belongs, his dwelling

light;

17

will reveal

God who

bore witness to that great

stood before Pontius Pilate,

16

him

didst assert the great claim

adjure thee before the

without stain of reproach until the day 15

of Riches

and endurance, and kind

faith, lay

when thou

that life thou wert called to,

Danger

Amen. Warn

is

in unapproachable

him; to him be glory

see

those

who

are rich in this

present world not to think highly of themselves, not to repose their

may

hopes in the riches that 18

bestows on us so richly

19

share the

all

but in the living God,

fail us,

that

we

enjoy.

rich their lives with charitable deeds, always ready to give,

common

burden,

laying

down

within their grasp.

been entrusted

It is

to thee, avoiding these

knowledge

that

profess them,

and

speech, this quibbling 21

there are those

who

wide of the mark which V. 20.

Timothy,

for thee,

faith sets us.

is

to

to

is

true

life

keep safe what has

new, intruding forms of

knowledge only

in professing

in

name;

them have shot

Grace be with

For 'new' the best Greek manuscripts have 'empty'.

[45B]

and

a sure foundation for

themselves in time to come, so as to have Hfe which 20

who

Let them do good, en-

thee.

Amen.

THE SECOND

EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO TIMOTHY

CHAPTER ONE SENT as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, in

PAUL,

furtherance of that promise of hfe which

Timothy,

2

Jesus,

3

peace from is

to

God

the Father,

with gratitude

to that

way my

science in the

4

thee continually, day

5

when

of thy tears, I

given us in Christ

is

and mercy and

his well beloved son, grace

whom

God,

night, in

me, that

my

make mention of memory

I

prayer.

keep the

I

my

have

to see thee again, so as to

That

receive fresh proof of thy sincere faith.

of joy

fill

faith

dwelt in

thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother, Eunice, before thee; 6

am

7

kindled in thee,

fully

persuaded that

remind thee

when my hands were is

of action, of love,

spirit

That upon

laid

prisoner; share

all

owe 10

it

to his

own

discipline.

Do

came

Has he not saved

Now

it

has

to enlighten us;

us,

and

me,

who am his God

called us to a voca-

come

on

gospel

12

a teacher of the Gentiles.

whom

This

is

long ages

our Saviour

he has annulled death,

now

and immortality, through

that

now

life

us,

to light, since

have been appointed to herald,

11

I

a

not blush, then,

design, to the grace lavished

he has shed abroad the rays of

which

spirit it is

was not because of anything we had done; we

ago, in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ

The

not one that shrinks from danger;

and of

I

would

the tribulations of the gospel message as

gives thee strength. tion of holiness? It

I

which God

thee.

for the witness thou bearest to our Lord, or for

9

why

is

to fan the flame of that special grace

he has bestowed on us 8

dwells in thee too.

it

It

worship with a clear con-

I

fathers taught

and

and long

and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

what

I

as

have

an apostle and

to suffer as the

have given my confidence has the means to keep my pledge safe'. The metaphor is probably that of a friend to whom we entrust something of value to keep for us during absence. But some think that 'my deposit' means 'the deposit God has entrusted to me', not 'the deposit I have entrusted to God'; in that case, we should have to translate 'he, in whom I have learned to believe.' t/.

12.

'He, to

I

.

.

.

TIMOTHY

II

result; but

my

I

am

confidence,

With

14

all

no stranger

me, and

pledge

I

am

trust.

gellus

be faithful

is to

whom

have given

I

persuaded that

fully

day comes.

safe, until that

the faith and love thou hast in Christ Jesus, keep to the

the

Holy

In Asia,

15

16

18

my

keep

to

to

my

pattern of sound doctrine thou hast learned from

power of

17

Timothy

true Friends;

not put to the blush. He, to

is

he has the means 13

and

False

2

who

Spirit

thou knowest,

as

By

lips.

me

have treated

all

and Hermogenes among them.

May

the

coldly, Phi-

Lord grant mercy

to the

household of Onesiphorus; often enough he revived

spirits.

Instead of being

sought

me

me.

ashamed

out

when he was

The Lord

grant that he

what he did

that day comes;

the

dwells in us, be true to thy high

in

Rome, and succeeded

may for

my he

of a prisoner's acquaintance,

find

me

mercy with

in Ephesus

his

in finding

Lord when

have no need

I

tc

tell thee.

CHAPTER TWO

TAKE

STRENGTH,

Christ Jesus.

my own SOU, from the grace which dwells in Thou hast learned, from many who can witness which

the doctrine

to

it,

of

men

thou canst

trust,

I

hand down; give

men who Then,

3

others besides themselves.

4

Jesus, take thy share of hardship.

soldier

5

on

service,

will

like a

Thou

it

good

art

to teach

soldier,

who

will

win no crown,

the

first

7

for

it.

V. 75.

if

Grasp the sense of what cannot

tell

Rome

I

am

saying; the

who

has toiled

Lord

exact complaint St. Paul had against perhaps they might have been expected to make

to secure his release.

Onesiphorus had probably died since; greetings are sent to hold, but not to himself, in iv. 19 below. t>.

16.

V. 2.

his house-

Many commentators would understand Thou hast learned my docmany witnesses'; but such a rendering is not justified

trine in the presence of

either

will give;

what was the

his acquaintances in Asia;

representations at

him,

the athlete

he does not observe the rules of the contest;

share in the harvest goes to the labourer

We

to

and the

enlisted

will refuse to be entangled in the business of daily life;

6

it

soldier of Christ

God's

he would please the captain

if

into the keeping

know how

by the Greek or by the Latin.

[460]

He 8

must preach

thee quick insight wherever

dead; that ship

10

vain Philosophies

it is

hke

the gospel

is

who

word

of

God.

anything; for love of the

and

in

its

For

sake

its

2

has risen from the

service

I

suffer hard-

even imprisonment; but there

a criminal, yes,

prisoning the

and

preach,

I

TIMOTHY

II

Fix thy mind on Jesus

needed.

sprung from the race of David,

Christ,

9

and shun

Christ,

am

I

no im-

may win

elect, that they, like us,

eternal glory with

is

ready to undergo salva-

We

11

tion in Jesus Christ,

12

we have shared his death; if we endure, we shall reign with him, if we disown him, he in his turn will disown us. If we play him false, he remains true to his word;

13

are to share his

Bring

this

16

him.self.

back

men's thoughts, pleading with them earnestly

to

name;

in the Lord's

15

because

life,

he cannot disown 14

well said,

It is

it.

must be no wordy

there

disputes, such as can

who are listening. Aim first at winning God's approval, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed of his work, one who knows how to handle the claims of the truth like a master. Keep thy distance from those who are only unsettle the minds of those

bringing in a fashion of meaningless talk; they will go far to estab-

God,

17

lish neglect of

18

are

19

overthrow of the

and

Hymenaeus and

their influence eats in like a cancer.

Philetas,

who

Such

have missed the true mark, by

contending that the resurrection has come about already, to the

some minds.

faith in

stone stands firm, and this

is

the legend

But God's foundation-

on

it,

The Lord acknowl-

who names

edges none but his own; and again. Let everyone 20

Lord's

name keep

plate of gold

21

and

far

from

silver,

A

iniquity.

great house, besides

contains other objects

made

earthenware; those for noble, these for ignoble uses; ing himself separate from these that a his Lord's regard, hallowed,

22

able

23

those

employment.

Shun

at right living, faith,

who

call

and

man

serviceable,

love,

its

wood and

it is

by keep-

will prove the object of

and

these youthful ardours

and hope, and

of

the

fit

for

I

all

honour-

speak of; aim

and fellowship with

on the name of the Lord with a pure

heart.

all

Leave

these foolish, ill-conceived disputes alone; be very sure, they breed

24

nothing but quarrels.

V. 8. Cf. f. ig.

Acts

Cf.

xiii.

A

servant of the

23 and 35-37. vii. 21-23.

Matthew

[461}

Lord has no business with

II

TIMOTHY

quarrelling; he

25

tolerant,

On

3

must be kindly towards

It

and acknowledge the shake

oflE

all

men, persuasive and

with a gentle hand for correcting those

nate in their errors.

26

worldly Christians, and false Teachers

may

truth;

the snare by

God

be that

will enable

who

are obsti-

them

to repent,

so they will recover their senses,

which the

devil,

till

and

now, has held them

prisoners to his will.

CHAPTER THREE SURE OF BEtimes coming.

THIS, that in the world's last age there are perilous

money, 3

ents,

Men

will be in love with self, in love with

boastful, proud, abusive; without reverence for their par-

without gratitude, without scruple,

without love, without

peace; slanderers, incontinent, strangers to pity and to kindness; 4

treacherous, reckless, full of vain conceit, thinking rather of their

5

pleasures than of

God.

They

will preserve all the

outward form

of religion, although they have long been strangers to 6

7

8

attain to recognition of the truth.

Mambres;

Moses found

men I speak of men whose minds

just so the

against the truth,

9

mean-

its

From these, too, turn away. They count among their number the men that wiU make their way into house after house, captivating weak women whose consciences are burdened by sin; women swayed by shifting passions, who are for ever inquiring, yet never ing.

yet they will

counterfeit;

come

set

rivals in

Jannes and

themselves up in rivalry

are corrupt,

to litde, they will

whose

faith

is

soon be detected,

like those others, in their rash folly. [0 [I

Not such was

the schooling, the guidance, thou hast

from me;

in firm resolve, in faith, in patience, in love, in endurance;

persecutions and suffering, such as those which befell och, Iconium, V. 26.

and Lystra; what persecutions

The meaning

of the Latin

is

of the

Greek

is

obscure,

I

me

all

my

at

Anti-

underwent!

And

and much disputed; the sense

that given here.

vv. 8 and 9. Jannes and Mambres (or, according to some manuscripts, Jambres) were the names given by Hebrew^ tradition to the magicians who withstood Moses by means of enchantments (Ex. vii, 11), and were finally

discomfited (Ex.

ix.

11).

[462}

Tradition to be upheld, and Novelties rejected 12

yet the all

me

Lord brought

those

who

meet with persecution;

14

on from bad

TIMOTHY And

all safely.

are resolved to live a holy

13

to

through them

II

life

4

indeed,

in Christ Jesus will

while the rogues and the mountebanks go

and dupes.

to worse, at once impostors

for thee

It is

hold fast by the doctrine handed on to thee, the charge com-

whom

mitted to thee; thou knowest well, from

that tradition

thou canst remember the holy learning thou hast been

15

came;

16

vation, through the faith

taught from childhood upwards. This will train thee up for

which

in the scripture has been divinely inspired,

and has

sal-

Everything

rests in Christ Jesus.

uses; to

its

instruct us, to expose our errors, to correct our faults, to educate us

17

so God's servant will

in holy living;

and each noble task that comes

become

a master of his

him ready

will find

for

craft;,

it.

CHAPTER FOUR ADJURE THEE in the sight of God, and of Jesus Christ,

I 2

be the judge of living and dead, in the

of his

kingdom,

name

who

of his coming,

preach the word, dwelling upon

it

is

to

and

continually,

welcome or unwelcome; bring home wrong-doing, comfort the waverer, rebuke the sinner, with 3

The

all

the patience of a teacher.

when men

time will surely come,

doctrine, always itching to hear

will

grow

provide themselves with a continuous succession of

whim

takes them,

sound

tired of

something fresh; and

so they will

new

teachers,

turning a deaf ear to the truth, bestow-

4

as the

5

ing their attention on fables instead.

for thee to be

It is

on the

watch, to accept every hardship, to employ thyself in preaching the gospel,

As

6

mind.

7

has nearly

and perform every duty of thy for

me,

my

come when

I

office,

blood already flows in

can go

free.

I

keeping

a sobei"

sacrifice; the

have fought the good

time fight;

V. 75. 'Holy learning', including, doubtless, the Old Testament scriptures, but not necessarily confined to them. V. 7.

'I

have redeemed

the context here seems to A.

my

pledge', or perhaps

demand

'I

a fresh metaphor;

14.

[463]

have kept the faith', but cf. I Tim. vi. 20, II Tim.

TIMOTHY

II

8

I

Paul's Loneliness; his parting Directions

4

have finished the race;

ward

to the prize that

have redeemed

I

my

pledge;

waiting for me, the prize

is

The Lord, that judge whose award never goes to me when that day comes; to me, yes, and

I

look

I

for-

have earned.

amiss, will grant all

it

who have

those

learned to welcome his appearing.

Make

9

with 10

my

only companion. Join

now

try

me. Demas has fallen in love

that

I

me

with the exercise of his minis-

have sent Tychicus away

comest, bring with thee the cloak which 14

Troas; the books, too, and above

at

have had 15

much

ill

our preaching.

17

serted

will

my

At

my

by everybody; side;

first trial,

may

it

me

he endowed

tiles

might hear

lion.

Yes, the

he

Vv'ill

My

thus

I

was brought

endless ages.

greetings to Prisca

20

Onesiphorus.

21

ill,

and

enemy

a great

was

I

scope,

and

all

safely out of the

me

the

jaws of the

I left

Amen. and Aquila, and

to the

him behind

Make

at Miletus.

haste,

household of

Trophimus

Erastus has stayed on at Corinth;

and come

The Lord Amen.

the brethren send thee their greeting.

with thy

spirit.

Grace be with you.

V. 14. There is no means of determining whether mentioned in Acts xix. 33. V. 27. According to Eusebius, this is the same Linus

Rome

the

Gen-

to

before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and

22

to

de-

But the Lord was

with strength, so that through its full

for

only do thou,

it;

no one stood by me;

be forgiven them.

I

As

Lord has preserved me from every assault of evil; bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom; glory be to

him through 19

it;

thou

hands

in Carpus'

the rolls of parchment.

judge him for

preaching of the gospel might attain

18

left

I

be on thy guard against him; he has been

16

at

all

When

to Ephesus.

usage from Alexander, the coppersmith.

what he has done, the Lord too,

and Luke

company with Mark, and bring him

here with thee; he can help 12

to

world; he has deserted me, and gone to Thessa-

Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia,

lonica. is

and come quickly

haste,

this present

after the death of St. Peter.

[464]

this

fell

me all

Jesus Christ be

is

the Alexander

who became

bishop of

THE

THE BLESSED APOSTLE

EPISTLE OF

PAUL TO TITUS

CHAPTER ONE IS

IT 2

to

hopes on eternal

since by the

has

4

writes; God's servant, sent out as

acknowledge that truth which accords with

their

3

Paul who

an apostle of

Jesus Christ, with the faith of God's elect for his care; they

made

life. It

God who

cannot

meaning

his

own

and now, in due time, he

fail us;

through the preaching with

clear to us,

we

son in the faith

fit

fix

to us long ages

had been promised

which God, our Saviour, has seen

were

and

holiness,

me.

to entrust

share, grace

To

Titus,

my

and peace from God the

Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord. If I left

5

order 6

thee behind

still

is

needed.

joined, in each city,

me

in Crete,

It is for

it

to put

always looking for a

reproach, faithful to one wife; one 7

was

man who

after

since he

all,

one

who

8

He

must be

9

continent.

is

the steward of God's house,

He must

shew

abroad,

the

must hold firmly

wayward

who

their error.

talk of their

astray; those especially

They

who

own

is

faith,

A bishop,

unworldly and

which have

There are many fantasies

tradition

sound doctrine, and rebellious spirits

and lead men's minds

hold by circumcision; and they must

be silenced.

12

teaching, with an eye to their

on

own

themselves, a spokesman of their liars,

en-

grasping over money.

to the truths

will bring ruin

11

of Crete were ever

I

beyond

must needs be be-

hospitable, kindly, discreet, upright,

for their warrant; able, therefore, to encourage to

is

not be an obstinate or quarrelsome man,

drinks deep, or comes to blows, or

He

where

whose children hold the

not accused of reckless living, not wanting in obedience.

yond reproach.

10

in order,

all

thee to appoint presbyters, as

venomous

entire households

base profits.

own, has

told

creatures, all

by

false

Why, one of us. The men

hungry

belly

and

Paul seems to assume that the qualifications needed by a bishop are those also needed by a presbyter; cf. I Tim. iii. 1-7 and note. V. 7. St.

TITUS 13

Fantasies to be denounced,

2

then, in taking

14

and that

nothing besides;

them

down

who

want

are by

As

if

who

abominable,

who

teachers

have clean hearts! But for these men, defiled

of faith, everything

God, but

strict,

be soundly estab-

as they

unclean; defilement has entered

is

their practice contradicts

are disloyal,

will

anything could be unclean

their very thought, their very consciences.

tion of

may

them by human

for

not look steadily at the truth. for those

16

a true account of them. Be

is

to task, so that they

instead of paying attention to these Jewish

lished in the faith, fables, these rules laid

15

and homely Virtues preached

who

are

ill

They it;

it

profess recogni-

who

they

is

are

qualified for the practice

of any true virtue.

CHAPTER TWO THINE

IS

3

4

soundly established in

to

be sober, decent,

charity, in patience.

faith, in

The

older

too,

given

slanderous talk or enslaved to drunken habits; teaching

to

must carry themselves

others by their

From them the younger women how to treat their husbands and

good example.

learn orderly behaviour,

their children lovingly,

how

as befits a holy calUng, not

to

be discreet, modest, and sober,

busy about the house, kindly, submissive to their the preaching of God's

own

word must not be brought

6,7 Encourage the young men, too, to live orderly

husbands;

into disrepute.

lives.

Let them

them

find

thee disinterested in thy teaching, worthy of their respect,

thy

find in 8

its

orderly,

women,

must 5

TO BE A different message, with sound doctrine for

Teach the older men

rule.

all

thou doest the model of a

doctrine sound beyond

all cavil;

life

nobly lived;

let

so that our adversaries

may

blush

vv. 14-16. The false teachers in Crete are referred to in much the same terms as the false teachers at Ephesus (cf. I Tim. i. 4-1 r, and note); in Crete, at any rate, they were Jews. They seem to have insisted particularly on the distinction between 'clean' and 'unclean' forms of food; thereby (as St. Paul points out) denying the beneficent intentions of the Creator whom they professed to worship. V. 7.

Ladn, 'in teaching, in evident that the two words are part of

'Disinterested in thy teaching'; literally, in the

uprightness', but the

Greek makes

it

a single thought.

[466]

The Dawn

TITUS

of Grace

have no opportunity for speaking must be submissive to their own masters, so as

to find that they

9 10

Slaves

them

to the teaching w^hich

12

of

to

The

revealed.

life

of order, of justice,

and

new dawn

us from

our

all

guilt, a

Be

noble deeds.

who

We

when

there

God, the glory

gave himself for

us, to

ransom

people set apart for himself, ambitious of

thy message, lending

this

live, in

of holiness.

of glory, the glory of the great

of our Saviour Jesus Christ;

grace

schooling us

look forward, blessed in our hope, to the day

will be a

must give

thoughts and worldly appetites, and to

world, a

this present

were

15

God, our Saviour, has

God, our Saviour, has dawned on human kind,

to forgo irreverent

14

pilfering; they

us.

content

to

utter fidelity, every action of theirs bringing credit

11

13

no

no arguing,

in every w^ay;

good proof of

of

ill

3

encouragement and thy reproof. Let no

man

authority to thy

all

esteem thee.

lightly

CHAPTER THREE REMIND

THEM

that they have a duty of submissive loyalty to

governments and 2

to those in authority, of readiness to under-

take any kind of honourable service.

They

juriously of anyone, or pick quarrels; they

and 3

lose

them.

no opportunity of shewing courtesy

We,

bellious, the

and

after all,

were once Hke the

dupes of error; enslaved

appetites,

our

lives full of

4

hating one another.

5

dawned on

Then

are not to speak in-

must be to the

rest of

them, reckless,

to a strange

medley of

meanness and of envy,

the kindness of

us, his great love for

man.

we had done for own merciful design

He

own

accordance with his

he cleansed

7

on us

in

hateful,

saved us; and

our

new birth, and

restoring our nature through the

and

it

was

justification; in

Holy

us,

giving us

Spirit,

abundant measure through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

We

re-

desires

God, our Saviour,

not thanks to anything

6

considerate,

world around

shed So,

may, with the Greek Fathers, understand St. Paul to have writV. 75. ten here 'the glory of our great God and Sa%'iour, Jesus Christ'; or we may, by a slightly less natural interpretation of the Greek, render 'the glory of the great

God, and of our Saviour, Jesus

C467]

Christ'.

TITUS justified

8

10

by his grace,

it,

that those

become

to

world

will benefit

by

I

with the hope o£

would have thee

God

learned to trust in

That

is

should be at

their duty,

and the

But take no part in vain researches into

and controversies that wrangle over points of the law;

they are useless folly.

and

it.

heirs,

well said, and

It is

who have

must find honest Employment

pains to find honourable employment.

pedigrees, 11

we were

eternal h£e set before us.

dwell on 9

Christians

3

Give a heretic one warning, then a second,

after that avoid his

mayest be

sure,

and

company;

his

is

a perverse nature,

been admitted on his

his fault has

thou

own

con-

haste

and

fession.

12

When come

to

I

make

send for thee by Artemas or Tychicus,

meet

Make

me

at Nicopolis; I

have decided

to

spend the winter

careful provision for Zenas, the lawyer,

and Apollo

13

there.

14

on their journey; they must not be left wanting for anything. It would be well if ou/ brethren would learn to find honourable employment, so as to meet what necessity demands of them, instead

15

of having nothing to contribute.

All those

their greeting to you. Greet all those

common

faith.

The

grace of

V. 8. Here, as in I Tim. iv. means what has gone before,

pains to pions of

God

9, it is

who

who

are with

me

send

are our friends in the

be with you

all.

Amen.

not certain whether the 'true saying'

what immediately follows, 'should be at find honourable employment'; the sense might be 'should be chamall that is good', but v, 14 below points to a more restricted interor

pretation. v. 14.

ing

The meaning probably

(cf. II

manded

Thess.

iii.

is,

an honest livmeet extraordinary expenses dementioned in the preceding verse.

that Christians should earn

11), so as to be able to

of the congregation, such as those

[468]

THE EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO PHILEMON A PRISONER o£ Jcsus Christ, and Timothy,

PAUL,

brother, to the well beloved Philemon,

2

and

church that

to all the

Appia, Archippus, 3

I

is

in his household, to

same

fights the

my God

such accounts

their

our dear

sister

with ourselves, and

6

towards the Lord Jesus and towards erosity in the faith be

I

to

all

the saints.

made known, when

are recognized in Christ Jesus.

me

remembering thee

at all times,

in

my

hear of the love and faith thou shewest

prayers;

fort to

is

Jesus Christ.

give thanks to

5

7

battle

who

shares our labours,

grace and peace be yours from God, our Father, and

the rest;

from the Lord 4

who

who

It

all

May

thy gen-

your good actions

has been a happiness and a com-

hear of thy charity, brother, and of the refreshment

8

thou hast brought to the hearts of the

9

might well make bold in Christ

saints.

to prescribe a

fer to appeal to this charity of thine.

Who

is it

And now, though duty to thee,

I

I

pre-

that writes to thee?

man now, and in these days the prisoner, too, of Jesus Christ; and I am appealing to thee on behalf of Onesimus, the child of my imprisonment. He did thee an ill service once; now, both to thee and to myself, he can be serviceable, and I am sending him back to thee; make him welcome, for my heart goes with

Paul, an old 10 11

12

would sooner have kept him here with me, to attend, as but I would do nothing

13

him.

14

thy deputy, on a prisoner of the gospel,

I

without thy leave; thy generosity should be exercised 15

from lack of

choice.

Perhaps, after

all,

freely,

not

the very purpose of thy

This seems to be the sense intended by the Latin; it is, however, based in the Greek which have httle support. The Greek, rendered literally, runs: 'May thy sharing in the faith become effective, in the fuller V. 6.

on readings

of all the good that is in us in Christ Jesus'. think St. Paul calls himself, not an old man, but 'the ambassaprisoner too, of Christ Jesus'. dor, the V. 10. The name Onesimus, in Greek, means 'profitable'. There is perhaps a further play upon words in v. 20, below.

knowledge (or recognition) V. 9.

Some

and now

[469]

PHILEMON i6

losing

him

thee.

Do

for a time

more, then, to thee,

him thy own. him welcome

19

or

is

As thou as

now

him always by

longer as a slave; he

me

that both nature

is

something

in a special

dost value thy fellowship with me,

thou wouldst myself;

if

way;

and Christ make

he has wronged

make thee,

make me answerable for it. Here is a message in own hand; I will make it good. Not to remind thee, that

in thy debt,

Paul's

20

that thou mightest have

him any

a slave, a well loved brother, to

18

17

was

not think of

more than

much

Philemon, as Paul's Debtor, must pardon the Runaway

thou owest

me

a debt already, thyself.

And now, brother, let me my anxious heart.

claim thy services; give comfort in the Lord to

write to thee counting on thy obedience, well assured that thou

21

I

22

wilt

do even more than

tain

me;

23

24 25

I

I

ask.

Be prepared, meanwhile,

to enter-

hope, through your prayers, to be restored to you.

Greetings to you from Epaphras,

my

fellow prisoner in Christ

from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, who share my labours. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Jesus;

Amen.

C470]

THE

THE BLESSED APOSTLE PAUL TO THE HEBREWS

EPISTLE OF

CHAPTER ONE IN

OLD DAYS,

God

spokc to our fathers in

means, through the prophets;

spoken

with a Son

to us,

appointed to inherit

all

to

tion depends, for

its

atonement for our

hand

and the

sins,

a Son,

on

in

I

him

Son?

a

whom

was through him

who

he has taken

he has that he

the radiance of his

is

being;

word.

his place

all

crea-

Now, making

on high,

at the right

superior to the angels in that measure in is

more

ever say to one of the angels.

begotten thee this day?

and

it

his enabling

which the name he has inherited

Did God

in these times he has

full expression of his

support,

of God's majesty,

many ways and by many

at last

speak for him; a Son,

things, just as

created this world of time;

Father's splendour,

now

And

again.

Why, when

He

excellent than theirs.

Thou

art

my Son, I have me a Father,

shall find in

the time

comes

for bringing his

f /. The Greek perhaps implies that God spoke fragmentarily and under various figures. f. 5. 'His being'; the word we find in the Greek here is hypostasis, which the Latins translated by 'substance', while the Greek theologians used it to .

mean

'person'.

V. 4.

angels

The contrast here instituted between the Divine Word and may have some reference to contemporary errors (cf. Col. ii.

the holy 18); but

immediate purpose is to lead up to the beginning of Chapter ii., where the new Covenant instituted by Jesus Christ is contrasted with the old Covenant, revealed by angels on mount Sinai (Acts vii. 53, Gal. iii. 19). its

V. 4.

'Superior

to';

or perhaps, 'having

become superior

to'.

Kings vii. 14. V. 6. Some commentators would render 'And again, when the time comes for bringing his first-born into the world'. But it is doubtful whether either the Greek or the Latin will bear this meaning, and the general sense of the Fathers is against it. It is not certain whether 'anew' contrasts the Incarnation of our Lord with his activity in Creation (cf. verse 2 above), or his Resurrection with his Incarnation, or his second Coming with his first. The words at the end of the sentence occur in the Septuagint Greek (but not in our present Hebrew text) of Deut. xxxii. 43, with 'sons of God' instead of 'angels'; a similar phrase is found in Ps. xcvi. 7. V. 5. Ps.

ii.

7, II

[471}

HEBREWS

The Son

2

first-born into the 7

8

God worship

ID

What

says.

higher than the Angels

Let

all

have

him

like a flame of fire.

his angels

And what

of the

bring thee pride, as none

else of

thy fellows.

and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

12

bare,

thou wilt remain; they will

them

and thou wilt for

lay

new; but thou

come

right hand, while

feet?

What

art

And

an end.

are they,

I

all

They

its

to

elsewhere:

beginning,

will perish, but

who

garment, and exchange

never changes, thy years will

ever say to one of the angels, Sit

make

a to

be like a cloak that grows thread-

aside, like a

he

Did he

not

my

to

all

them

O

is

Thou hast been a friend to right, an enemy wrong; and God, thy own God, has given thee an unction

rod that rules true.

Lord, thou hast laid the foundations of the earth at

14

He

Son? Thy throne,

and ever; the sceptre of thy kingship

for ever

11

13

the angels of

does he say of the angels?

be like the winds, the servants that wait on

will

God, stands firm 9

world anew, then, he

before him.

is

on

thy enemies a footstool under thy

of them, but spirits apt for service,

whom

he sends out when the destined heirs of eternal salvation have need of

them?

CHAPTER TWO

MORE FIRMLY, then, than ever must we hold

to the truths

which

now come to our hearing, and run no risk of drifting away from them. The old law, which only had angels for its have

2

The word here used for 'winds' may also be translated think that the meaning of the Psahn is 'who makes the winds (or "spirits") his messengers, and the flame of fire do him service'; but the more generally received interpretation is that given here. vv. 8, 9. Ps. xliv. 7, 8. The Messiah is there addressed, in the person of King Solomon; and some commentators, to avoid the difficulty of the Di\'ine title being used in such a connexion, would render 'God is thy throne', a form of speech which has no parallel elsewhere. Some of the Fathers give V. 7. Ps. ciii. 4.

'spirits'.

Some

O

God, has anointed thee'. It is not clear why these words should be understood as addressed to the Messiah, unless this was suggested by the use of the word 'Lord' (in the Septuagint Greek, though not in our present Hebrew the rendering, 'Thy God, vv. 10-12. Ps. ci. 26-28.

text). V. /J. Ps. cix.

I.

[472}

His

Law

spokesmen, was none the 3

HEBREWS

higher than the old Law, given by Angels

refusal to listen to

it,

less valid;

every transgression o£

2

every

it,

and what excuse

incurred just retribution;

we pay no heed to such a message of salvation as One which was deUvered in the first instance by the Lord himself, and has been guaranteed to us by those who heard it from his own lips? One which God himself has attested shall

we

have,

if

has been given to us ?

4

by signs and portents, manifesting tributing the gifts of his

We

5

6

Holy

his

are speaking of a world that

power

so variously,

and

dis-

wherever he would?

Spirit is

to

entrusted the ordering of that world?

come; to

Not

whom

assured of that, in a passage where the writer says,

God

has

We

to angels.

What

are

man,

is

remember him? What is the son of man, that Man, whom thou hast made a little angels, whom thou hast crowned with glory and him in authority over the works of thy hands?

that thou shouldst

7

thou shouldst care for him?

lower than the honour, setting 8

9

Thou

hast

jected

all

made

things subject to his

all

things to him,

left

Observe, he has sub-

feet.

nothing unsubdued.

And what

do we

now? Not all things subject to him as yet. But we can see this; we can see one who was made a litde lower than the angels, I mean Jesus, crowned, now, with glory and honour because of the see

death he underwent; in God's gracious design he was to taste death,

and

taste

things, the first that, in

summoning

with suffering the 1

2

on behalf of

it

Beginning of

salvation.

all

life

all

God

all.

things;

is

and

it

the last

those sons of his to glory, he should of that Prince

The Son who

sanctifies

have a common origin, all own them as his brethren. I

who was

to lead

and the sons

of them; he

to

will proclaim thy

viii.

is

of

all

who

crown

them

into

are sancti-

not ashamed, then,

fied

vu. 6-8. Ps.

End

befitted his majesty

renown, he

says,

5-7.

Some interpreters would translate diflferently: 'We can see one who was made a little lower than the angels through tiie death he underwent, V. 9.

crowned, now, with glory and honour'. v.

10.

'In

summoning'; the Latin appears

to

mean 'when he had sum-

probably not the sense of the Greek, and indeed it is hard to see how the bestowal of glory on Christians could be represented as earlier in time than the Crucifixion. It seems likely, therefore, that the sense intended by the Latin is, 'since he had decided to summon a multitude of his

moned', but

this is

sons to glory'. V. 12. Ps. xxi. 23.

(473]

HEBREWS 13

to

The Son became

3

my brethren;

with the church around

elsewhere he says, 14

I,

I

will put

my

trust in

and the children God has given me.

have a

common

inheritance of flesh

By

inheritance with them. of death, that

16

lived all the while as slaves, all,

is,

he does not

that;

it

is

make

the sons of

high priest

who

before God, to

and

will praise thee;

him, and then. Here stand

And

since these children

and blood, he too shared

his death

made

that

he would depose the prince

himself the angels' champion,,

no

And

that he champions.

who

After

over to the fear of death.

Abraham

must needs become altogether 18

me I

he would deliver those multitudes

the devil;

15

17

li\e us. to be our Representative

sign of so he

he would be a

like his brethren;

could feel for us and be our true representative

make atonement

for the sins of the people.

It is

because he himself has been tried by suffering, that he has power to help us in the trials

we

undergo.

CHAPTER THREE BRETHREN AND

SAINTS,

you share

of Jesus as the apostle profess,

him;

and how

just as

loyal

Moses was

it;

he was

to the

loyal in all the

In any household, the

founded

a heavenly calling.

and the high

first

Think, now,

priest of the faith

God who had

management

which we

so appointed

of. God's

house.

honours are reserved for him

and in that degree, Jesus has a prouder

title

who

than Moses.

V. 75. Is. viii. 17 and 18. 'And then' is expressed by the same word as 'and elsewhere'; but here the apostle seems to be drawing our attention to the connexion of thought between two consecutive verses of Isaias. That confidence with which the prophet inspires his own disciples is regarded as the

type of that faith which our Lord communicates to Christian people. V. 16. 'After all, he does not make himself the angels' champion'; literally, according to the Latin, 'he does not anywhere take the angels', which some have interpreted as meaning, 'he does not take upon himself the nature of angels'; but this interpretation does not accord well with the Greek. V. 2. 'The God who had so appointed him'; or perhaps, 'the God who

created him', that

is,

in his

human

Nature.

The

reference to Moses

is

had

taken

from Numbers xii. 7. V. 5. The Greek may also mean, 'greater honours are reserved for him who founded the household, than for the household itself, Moses (as being nothing more than man) being himself a part of God's earthly creation, as a steward is of the household which he governs.

C474]

A

Moses

greater than

HEBREWS

our Leader

is

Every household has

3

founder, and this household of creation

its

Thus the loyalty of Moses in the management of all God's house was the loyalty of a servant; he only bore witness to what was to be revealed later on; whereas Christ's was the loyalty of a Son in a household which is his own. What is that was founded by God.

household?

We

only

are, if

confidence, and the hope

Come, to

you

then, the

this day,

Holy

we

will

which

is

keep unshaken

to the

end our

our pride.

Spirit says. If

do not harden your

you hear

his voice speaking

hearts, as they

were hardened

when you provoked me, and put me to the test in the wilderness. Your fathers put me to the test, made trial of me, and saw what I could do, all those forty years. So I became the enemy of that generation; These, I said, are ever wayward hearts, these have never learned my lessons. And I took an oath in my anger. They shall never attain my rest. Take care, brethren, that there is no heart among you so warped by unbelief as to desert the living God. once

Each day, while the word To-day has your

own

make

resolution, to

still

sure that

ened; sin has such power to cheat us.

a meaning, strengthen

none of you grows hard-

We have been given

a share

on condition that we keep unshaken to the end the principle by which we are grounded in him. That is the meaning of the words. If you hear his voice speaking to you this day, in Christ, but only

do not harden your

hearts, as they

provoked me;

those

though not

of

Who

was

all

it,

them)

during

Those who sinned; wilderness.

were hardened once when you

who provoked him were

all it

To whom

whom

the people (some,

Moses had rescued from Egypt.

those forty years, that incurred his enmity?

was

their corpses that lay scattered in the

did he swear that they should never attain

'all things', but it seems clear here regarded as a household, in which Christ rules as the Householder's Son; cf. i. 2 above. vv. 7-1 1. Ps. xciv. 8-1 1. Throughout this passage, the Aposde compares those Chrisdans who lose their hope of heaven by losing their faith, with the first generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt, since these lost their hope of entering Chanaan through want of faith in God. V. 14. This seems to be the meaning of the Latin; the Greek perhaps means

V.

'This household of creation'; literally

4.

from the context

that creation

'keep unshaken to the end our V. 16. it

not

is

first

confidence'.

also mean, 'Who was it that provoked him? Was Moses had rescued from Egypt.?'

The Greek might

all

those

whom

[475]

HEBREWS 19

4

It

was

Those who refused

his rest?

consequences of unbehef

was

it

{rromised His Rest

We

him.

to believe in

this

;

God

to us Christians

see, then, the

them

that denied

entrance.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE

PROMISE, therefore,

God's

rest;

someone among you who 2

The promise met by

to be afraid of,

found

will be

is

are to attain

that there

have missed

to

may

be

his chance.

it was to them. The them did them no good, because it was not what they heard, and this rest is only to be at-

has been proclaimed to us, just as

message which came 3

we

holds good, that

still

what we have

belief in

to

tained by those who, like ourselves, have learned to believe; that is

why he

my 4

rest.

said, I

God's

and done with,

as

not attain

my

rest.

meanwhile, those 7

to

uses the

words

God

whom

So he

fixes

all

9

fresh To-day, long afterwards.)

rest,

or

in another pas-

on the seventh day from is still

first

saying,

They

shall

it,

came have been

and ex-

another day. To-day, as he

If

you hear

day, do not harden your hearts.

ing

brought them their

never attain

those long years afterwards, he

have already quoted,

8

this

shall

for some, then, to attain

the message

person of David, I

rested

yet in this passage he It is still left

eluded by their unbelief. calls it; in the

They

soon as the world was founded;

and

labours;

all his

6

anger.

from what? From labours which were over

sage he has said of the sabbath, 5

my

took an oath in

rest,

his voice speak-

(Josue cannot have

God would not still be talking of a You see, therefore, that God's

what they heard'; the Greek has, 'In those who heard it'. rest, from what? From labours which were over and done There has been much dispute over this sentence and the two verses which follow; neither their meaning nor their relevance to the context is clear. The translation here given V. 2. 'In p. 3.

'God's

with'; hterally, 'the labours having been accomplished'.

assumes that the apostle's thought is as follows: God himself rested after the Creation, but did not summon any human creatures to share his rest till long afterwards, at the time of the Exodus. That summons having been disregarded, it is not wonderful that he should leave another long interval before repeating

it;

this time, at the Incarnation.

Christ 10

means

We

11

must is

HEBREWS

in every sense, our high Priest

people have a sabbath of rest rest

12

is,

must fall

them;

in store for

still

from human

resting

God

labours, as

to attain his

did from divine.

none of you

strive eagerly, then, to attain that rest;

away

something

same kind of

into the

alive, full of

energy;

it

5

God's word

unbelief.

to

us

can penetrate deeper than any

two-edged sword, reaching the very division between soul and

between

spirit,

13

hidden; everything

with him, 14

From

Let us hold

to

whom we by the

fast, then,

to

every

brought face to face

is

must give our account,

faith

we

profess.

and one who has passed

heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.

distinguish

him, no creature can be

bare, everything

lies

God

this

great high priest, 15

and marrow, quick

joints

thought and design in our hearts.

It is

We

right

not as

if

can claim a

up through

the

our high priest was

incapable of feeling for us in our humiliations; he has been through 16

every

trial,

fashioned as

we

are,

only

then, before the throne of grace, to

sinless.

Let us come boldly,

meet with mercy, and win that

grace which will help us in our needs.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE

PURPOSE for which any high priest

ings with God, 2

sins.

He

is

to offer gifts

is

4

and

make

among

in their deal-

sacrifices in expiation of their

mistakes, since he, too,

them when

is all

beset with

and, for that reason, must needs present sin-offer-

humiliations,

ings for himself, just as he does for the people.

comes from God, 5

chosen from

qualified for this by being able to feel for

they are ignorant and 3

is

and made a representative of men

his fellow-men,

as

So

a privilege as this.

His vocation

Aaron's did; nobody can take on himself such it is

with Christ.

He

did not raise himself

take this sentence differently, as referring to Christ; has attained to God's rest has rested from his labours, as God did own'. But it seems doubtful whether this allusion contributes any-

V. 10. It is possible to

'He

who

from

his

thing to the argument. V.

12.

'God's

Word', that

is,

word

to us';

some have understood

Christ.

V. J. Lev. iv. 3. V. 5. Ps. ii. 7.

r 477 }

this as

meaning 'God's

HEBREWS

Of him the Apostle

6

to the dignity of the high priesthood; to

it,

Thou art my elsewhere, Thou art

when he and

I

him this

a priest for ever, in the

6

day,

7

Melchisedech.

Christ, during his earthly

entreaty to the

God who

so,

that raised

have begotten thee

was God

it

Son,

said,

will spea\. to dull Listeners

offered prayer

life,

him from

could save

9

the school of suffering,

and now,

wins eternal salvation for

11

all

those

who

we have much

Christ as priest

render obedience to him.

to say,

ourselves understood in the saying of 12

You

so dull of hearing.

teachers yourselves,

in

his full achievement reached, he

God

high priest in the line of Melchisedech, so

Of

won him

Son of God though he was, he learned obedience

a hearing.

A

and

death, not without

a piercing cry, not without tears; yet with such piety as 8

10

Hne of

it,

and

now

should, after

that this

all

has called him.

it is

hard to

make

you have grown time, have been

and instead of that you need

to be taught;

God are You have gone back to needing milk, instead of solid food. Those who have milk for their diet can give no account of what holiness means; how should they? They are only infants. Solid

taught even the

first

principles

on which the

oracles of

based. 13 14

food

is

for the full-grown; for those

whose

faculties are so trained

by exercise that they can distinguish between good and

CHAPTER

WE

MUST

leave

on one

lessons in Christ,

to lay the

turns

foundations

away from

lifeless

SIX

side then, all discussion of

and pass on to our

all

evil.

full

our

first

growth; no need

over again, the change of heart which

observances, the faith

which turns towards

v. 6. Ps. cix. 4. V. 7. The apostle is no doubt referring to the Agony in Gethsemani, and perhaps also to our Lord's cry from the Cross. Cf. also John xi, 35, 41, 43. V. 8. See note on Luke ii. 52. V. II. 'Of Christ as priest'; literally 'of whom'. Some have understood this as referring simply to Christ, others as referring to Melchisedech (Gen. xiv. 18); but it seems more probable that the word 'whom' includes the whole content of verse 10. V. I. 'Lifeless observances'; literally 'lifeless works'. This has often been taken to mean 'sins'; but it probably refers, both here and in ix. 14 below, to those acdons in conformity with the law of Moses which are unprofitable to us without faith. So faith without charity is called 'lifeless' by St. James (ii.

26).

[478}

He 2

HEBREWS

cannot treat them as Catechumens

God;

6

instructions about the different kinds of baptism, about the

laying on of hands, about the resurrection of the dead, and our sen-

Such

3,4 tence in eternity.

will be our plan,

who

can do nothing for those

who have

enUghtenment,

known,

5

Holy

6

that belong to a future

Spirit,

too,

God

if

7

Son

God's word of comfort, and the powers

life,

and then

God a second time, their own ends.? No,

of

time, for

fallen away.

hold

a piece of

blessing

on

8

tilled it;

9

hangs over

it, if it

yields a crop

and

it,

it

they crucify

mockery a second

to

ground which has drunk

upon

fell

has God's

it,

answering the needs of those

bears thorns and thistles,

if it

They cannot

Would

him up

again and again, the showers which

in,

We their

tasted the heavenly gift, partaken of the

attain repentance through a second renewal.

the

it.

all,

permits

have received, once for

it

has

who

lost its value; a curse

will feed the bonfire at last.

Beloved, of

you we have better confidence, which does not stop short of your 10

salvation,

even

when we

the charity you have 11

and is,

12

still

to see

shewn

in his

name, you

minister, to the needs of his saints.

you

all

all

you have done,

who

all

those

into possession of the

whose

faith

But our great longing to the end,

listless

and patience

is

no more,

to bring

them

good things promised them.

Such was Abraham. God made him

V. 2.

all

have ministered,

shewing the same eagerness right up

looking forward to the fulfilment of your hope;

but followers of

13

we are speaking now. God

speak to you as

not an unjust God, that he should forget

is

a promise,

and then took an

'DifTerent forms of baptism'; literally "baptisms'. It seems likely that the

earliest Christian catechists

would have had to explain to Jewish converts the and that of St. John (cf. Acts xviii.

difference between our Lord's baptism

vv. 4-6. The apostle is not dealing here with the remission of our sins by sacramental penance; he only tells us that baptism cannot be repeated, and therefore the kind of instruction mentioned in verse 2, which was designed for catechumens, would be unsuitable for Jewish Christians, if there are such, who have fallen away from the faith after being fully instructed in it. The enlightenment referred to in v. 4 is almost certainly baptism itself (cf. Eph. V. 14). The 'heavenly gift' may well mean the Holy Eucharist. What is meant by 'knowing' (literally 'tasting') God's utterance has been much discussed; it may refer to the Holy Scriptures, or to God's word as revealed to the prophets, or simply to God's influence on Christian lives. The suggestion in verse 6 is probably that a Christian soul could not receive baptism a second time unless Christ were crucified a second time in its behalf; but the meaning may be simply, that the soul which falls away from the faith inflicts a fresh Passion, as it were, on our Lord himself.

[479]

HEBREWS

Example of Abraham; Melchisedech

7

oath (an oath by himself, since he had no greater 14

by),

in the words.

15

more

I

16

tiently,

17

will give thee increase;

and saw the promise

name

will bless thee,

I

swear

to

more and

whereupon Abraham waited pa-

Men,

since they have

some-

thing greater than themselves to swear by, will confirm their

word

fulfilled.

by oath, which puts an end

same way, eager 18

More and more

sign

was

to all controversy;

to convince the heirs of the

and God, in the

promise that

irrevocable, pledged himself by an oath.

ble assurances, over

Two

his de-

irrevoca-

which there could be no question of God

deceiving us, were to bring firm confidence to us poor castaways, 19

bidding us cling to the hope our

20

souls.

beyond the

we have

Sure and immovable, veil,

which

it

in view,

the anchorage of

reaches that inner sanctuary

Jesus Christ, our escort, has entered already,

a high priest, now, eternally with the priesthood of Melchisedech.

'CHAPTER SEVEN IT

WAS

Melchisedech, king of Salem, and priest of the most

this

high Godj

home,

who met Abraham and

after the defeat of the kings;

tenth of his spoils. Observe, in the

first

the king of justice; and further that he peace.

That

is all;

no name

him on his way him Abraham gave a place, that his name means, blessed

and

is

to

king of Salem, that

is,

of

of father or mother, no pedigree, no

date of birth or of death; there he stands, eternally, a priest, the true figure of the

V. 14.

Gen.

Son of God.

Consider

how

great a

man was

xxii. 16, 17.

is generally understood as a metaphor taken from those who flee for refuge to a stronghold, or to the Cities of Refuge mentioned in Numbers, ch. xxxv. But the allusion to an anchor in the next verse would suggest, rather, the picture of sailors forced by a storm to 'flee landvi'ards' at the nearest possible harbour. V. 79. For the veil which separated the Holy Place from the inner Sanctuary of the Temple, cf. Ex. xxvi. 33, Matt, xxvii. 51.

V. 18.

V. I.

'Castaways'; this

Gen.

xiv. 17.

In the narrative of Genesis, Melchisedech appears on the scene very suddenly, without any explanation of his parentage or history. It seems to be on this account that the Apostle regards him as a type of Christ, whose priesthood did not descend to him by inheritance, and remains with hini instead of having to be handed on to a successor. V. 5.

[4801

HEBREWS

Christ supersedes the Levitical Priesthood this, to

5

his

whom

chosen

the patriarch

The

spoil.

Abraham

7

himself gave a tenth part of

when

descendants of Levi,

the priesthood

conferred on them, are allowed by the provisions of the law to

is

take tithes from God's people, although these, like themselves,

6

come from

the privileged stock of

brothers;

here

taking tithes 7

the

to

whom

nity to

what

us)

who

ham;

and

who

Now,

a sense in

is

when he met

12

hood

13

priesthood

14

which never produced a

And

15

law given

to

God's people

man

from Juda,

tribe, said

nothing about

when

that

is

priests.

and Moses

And

a fresh priest arises to

17

but in the power of an unending

18

line of Melchisedech,

19

ance

God

life;

the

After

it

our Lord took

in speaking of this

the type of Melchise-

its

outward observances,

(Thou

art a priest in the

says of him, for ever).

abrogated now, powerless as in

it.

something further becomes fulfil

appointed, not to obey the law, with

dech,

had nothing

When

altered with

to stand at the altar;

certain,

16

is

the Levitical

Levitical priest-

founded.

is is

if

on the

the prophecy relates belonged to a different tribe,

his origin

evident,

Abra-

priest to arise, accredited

it is

altered, the law, necessarily,

whom

he to

tells

which we can

Melchisedech.

no need for a fresh

priesthood had brought fulfilment.

all,

receive tithe

Abraham's body, he was present«in the person

with Melchisedech's priesthood, not with Aaron's,

is

beyond

receives the tithe, paid tithe himself with

there could be

that the

it is

greater in dig-

a priest (so the record

it is

indeed, there

is

who

case, the priests

in the other,

And

as the heir of

of his ancestor, 11

In the one

men;

lives on.

say that Levi, 10

made;

the promises have been

is less.

are only mortal

9

after all they are their

one

question that blessings are only given by what

all

8

man

Abraham;

who owns no common descent with them, from Abraham himself. He blesses him, too, blesses is

it

was

The

old observ-

to help us;

the law

of final achievement. Instead, a fuller hope has

been brought into our

lives,

enabling us to come close to God.

Deut. xxxiil. 7 and 8. 'Something further becomes evident'; this is usually translated, 'It is still more evident', but in that case it is difficult to see what is more evident, or what makes it so. The rendering here given assumes that this verse serves to connect v. 12 with v. 18; we have seen that the alteration of the priesthood involves an alteradon of the law, now we proceed to a further stage in the argument if our new High Priest is wholly unconnected with the Old Law, that means that the Old Law has actually been abolished. V. 14. Cf.

V. 75.

—

[481}

HEBREWS 20

And when

Eternal Priesthood of Christ

8

time there

this

those other priests

none was taken

by oath;

is a ratification

were appointed, but the new

priest

is

ap-

when God says to him, The Lord has sworn Thou art a priest for ever; all the more sol-

pointed with an oath,

22

an irrevocable oath,

emn,

then,

that covenant for

is

Of

our surety.

24

death denied them permanence;

25

and

his priestly office

he

lives

high

on

still

who

one

make

to

priest that suited

not reckoned

27

who

28

among

succession, since

that

through him

intercession

is

why

make

on our

ever,

he can give

eter-

way

God,

their

to

Such was the

behalf.

us sinners, lifted high above

all

the heavens;

has no need to do as those other priests did, ojEfering a two-

What

for his

own

The law makes high

are frail; promise priest,

first

sins,

then for those of the

he has done he has done once for

ing was himself.

high

was a

our need, holy and guildess and undefiled,

fold sacrifice day by day,

people.

Jesus has been given us as

whereas Jesus continues for

unchanging;

is

nal salvation to those

26

which

those other priests there

23

now,

is

all;

priests of

and the

ofFer-

men, and men

and oath, now, have superseded the law; our that

Son who has reached

his full

achievement

for all eternity.

CHAPTER EIGHT

AND HERE WE comc to the very pith of our argument. This high L.

right

priest of ours is

hand of

one

that throne

who

has taken his seat in heaven, on the

where God

sits

in majesty,

ministering,

the Greek has 'complete salvation'. Lev. xvi. 17, where, however, the reference is not to a daily sacrifice. But it seems evident that the daily sacrifice in the Temple, whether the High Priest performed it in person or not, did include the priests themselves among the sinners for whom intercession was made. 'What he has done, he has done'; literally 'he did this', but such a rendering obscures the sense of the passage, since it is clear from the context that Jesus as High Priest has no need to make intercession for himself. V. 2$. 'Eternal salvation'; V. 2y. C£.

V. 2. Some chink the 'tabernacle' mentioned here and in ix. 11 below is our Lord's human body (cf. Mark xiv. 58, John ii. 21); others, that it is the Church, either Triumphant (which accords best with ix. ir) or Militant (which accords best with the use of the word 'tabernacle', applying as it does to what is temporary and transient, as in I J Cor v. 4).

[4S2]

The

HEBREWS

Revision of the Covenant was prophesied

8

now, in the sanctuary, in that true tabernacle which the Lord, not 3

4

man, has

set

oflfer gift

and

Whereas,

if

After

up.

he were

the very function of a priest to

all, if it is

he too must needs have an offering

sacrifice,

on

still

earth,

he would be no

there are priests already, to offer the gifts

5

men who has

make.

which the law demands,

devote their service to the type and the shadow of what

(That

true being in heaven.

its

to

priest at all;

why

is

Moses,

when he was make

building the tabernacle, received the warning. Be sure to

everything in accordance with the pattern that was shewn to thee

6

As

on the mountain).

it

he has been entrusted with a more

is,

honourable ministry, dispenser as he 7

nobler promises for

its

for this second covenant, 8

first.

But God, you

see,

if

covenant with the people of

I

Israel,

should abandon them.

plant 11

my

Israel,

law

the

no need

with the

them:

tells

new

will ratify a

I

and with the people of Juda. I

made with

their fathers,

No,

Lord

my

covenant, and

this is the

says,

when

(says the

I

covenant

I

God, and they

that time comes.

shall

be

my

Lord)

will grant the

in their innermost thoughts, engrave

hearts; I will be their will be

what he

took them by the hand, to rescue them from

Egypt; that they should break

people of

fault to find is

coming when

is

not be Hke the covenant which

It will

on the day when 10

had been no

there

does find fault; this

Behold, says the Lord, a time

9

of a nobler covenant, with

is

There would have been no room

sanction.

I

will im-

it

in their

people.

There

for neighbour to teach neighbour, or brother to

teach brother, the

knowledge of the Lord; pardon

all will

know me, from

wrong-doing;

12

the highest to the lowest.

13

not remember their sins any more.

In speaking of a

nant, he has superannuated the old.

And

I

will

their

new

I

will

cove-

before long the super-

annuated, the antiquated, must needs disappear. V. J. 'Must needs have an offering to make'; that is, himself, cf. vii. 27 above. Probably this is what the Apostle means by the pith of his argument (v. I above), viz. that Christ has only become our High Priest by dying and triumphing over death. Hence the reference to 'if he were still on earth' in the verse which follows. V. 5. Ex. XXV. 40. vv. 8 and following. Jer. xxxi. 31 and following.

[483]

HEBREWS

The

9

old Observances were only temporary

CHAPTER NINE

T.ances,

its

own

There was an outer

earthly sanctuary.

which contained the

nacle,

candle-stick

and the

name

out before God; sanctuary was the

table

set

then, beyond the second veil, the inner sanctuary, as

the golden censer,

that

budded, and the

inscribed;

6

to treat of these

tablets

manna

more

particularly,

times, in the

high

priest,

round.

all it,

Aaron's

We

have no time

but this was the general fashion

Into the outer tabernacle the priests

if.

in

on which the covenant was

spreading their wings over the throne of mercy.

of

and with

above were the Cherubim, heralds of the divine glory,

5

7

it is

and the ark of the covenant, gilded

In the ark rested the golden urn with the staflf

this;

called,

given to

3

4

taber-

and the loaves

performance of their duties;

made

their

way

at all

into this other, only the

once a year, and even then not without an offering of

blood, for the faults which he and the people had committed un8

The Holy

knowingly.

9

nacle maintained at the present

meant us

Spirit

to the true sanctuary lay

open

standing.

its

to see that

And

no way of

access

long as the former taber-

to us, as

that allegory

still

holds good

day; here are gifts and sacrifices being offered, which

have no power, where conscience

is

concerned, to bring the wor-

shipper to his full growth; they are but outward observances, conic

nected with food and drink

and ceremonial washings on

casion or that, instituted to hold their II

Meanwhile, Christ has taken

come.

own

this oc-

until better times should

his place as

our high

priest,

and 2. 'Former' and 'outer' are represented by the same word both Greek and in the Latin, to contrast (/) the earthly tabernacle with the heavenly and (//) the outer with the inner court o£ the earthly tabernacle vt^.

I

in the

itself.

V. 4.

'Censer'

be translated V. 5.

is

the

Ex. XXX.

meaning

of the Latin; the

of incense'. Cf. Ex. xvi. 33,

'altar

Greek word should probably

Num.

xvii. 10,

Deut.

x. 2.

10.

lie in the future'; some Greek manuscripts have 'He makes use of a better tabernacle'; that is, his John ii. 21). Others would understand this 'better tabernacle' as referring to the saints in heaven, and would connect this sentence with the sentence which follows; Christ has passed through the heaven in which the saints have their dwelling, and entered that inner sanctuary

p. II. 'Blessings

that

still

'blessings already assured'.

own body (Mark

which

is

xiv. 58,

the presence of

God

himself.

But

urere the figure of Christ's

win us

to

blessings that

12

fashioned;

own

his

him

still lie

more complete

greater, a

in the future.

order of creation at

this

to enter,

once for

into the sanctuary; the

all,

won

14

every purpose of outward purification;

The

lasts for ever.

who

from

lifeless

Thus, through queathed

power

defiled, has

and

to us; a

ransom he has

hallow them for

to

Spirit, as a

our consciences, and

sight, purify

new

all

our transgres-

and then the destined

heirs

Where

16

obtain, for ever, their promised inheritance.

17

concerned, the death of the testator must needs play will has

no force while the

18

force with death.

19

its

inauguration.

testator

alive,

is

them

covenant has been be-

death must follow, to atone for

sions under the old covenant,

victim

set

God?

observances, to serve the living his intervention, a

blood of

shall not the

Holy

offered himself, through the

unblemished in God's

15

It is

all.

blood of bulls and goats, the ashes of a

men

heifer sprinkled over

free

use of a

blood, not the blood of goats and calves, that has enabled

13

Christ,

He makes

9

which human hands never

tabernacle,

does not belong to

it

HEBREWS

Death

were

a bequest its

part;

to is

a

and only comes into

Thus

the old covenant, too, needed blood for

When

he had finished reading the provisions of

the law to the assembled people, Moses took blood, the blood of calves

and

and scarlet-dyed wool, and hyssop,

goats, took water,

20

sprinkled the book

21

blood of the covenant which

22

same way with blood;

tabernacle, too,

and

itself,

all

and

all

the people,

God

can be no remission of

24

enly world

for

what was but

and the law enjoins

sins.

And

if

is

This

is

the

The

;

that blood shall be

unless blood

is

shed, there

such purification was needed

a representation of the heavenly world, the heav-

itself will

need

sacrifices

more

tuary into which Jesus has entered

hands,

said.

the requisites of worship he sprinkled in the

used in almost every act of purification 23

and

has prescribed to you.

is

still. The sancmade by human

availing

not one

not some adumbration of the truth; he has entered heaven

'Through the Holy Spirit'; the more probable reading in the Greek 'through (his) eternal spirit', that is, his human spirit, considered as the vehicle of his Divinity (cf. Rom. i. 3, 4). 'From lifeless observances'; of. note on vi. I above. vv. 1^-17- In Greek, the same word may be used for a covenant between V. 14.

is,

parties, and for the will by which a man disposes of his property. Here the covenant into which God entered with his people, whether under the Old or under the New Dispensation, is treated as being also a legacy to them. vv. ig-20. Ex. xxiv. 6-8.

two

C485]

HEBREWS 25

itself,

now

where he

make

does he

when he 26

The

10

enters the sanctuary,

not his own.

makes

were

If that

is

and

again, ever since the world

revealed once for

at the

all,

27

filment, annulling our sin

28

once for

when we

see

so,

was

a yearly offering of the blood

he must have suffered again created; as

moment when

by

it is,

he has been

history reached

Man's destiny

his sacrifice.

its ful-

is

to die

and

nothing remains after that but judgement;

was offered once

Christ

Nor

appears in God's sight on our behalf.

a repeated offering of himself, as the high priest,

that

all;

true Priest in the true Sanctuary

him

for

all,

again, sin will play

bringing salvation to those

cup of

to drain the

who

its

part

a world's sins;

no longer, he

will be

await his coming.

CHAPTER TEN THE LAW WHAT which were

The same

reality.

termission,

2

and

coutains still

to

is

only the shadow of those blessings

come, not the

full expression of their

sacrifices are offered year after year

still

without in-

the worshippers can never reach, through the

law, their full growth.

If

they could, must not the offerings have

now? There would be no guilt left to reproach the of those who come to worship; they would have been

ceased before consciences

No, what

these offerings bring with them,

3

cleansed once for

4

year by year,

5

be taken away by the blood of bulls and goats

is

all.

only the remembrance of sins;

Christ comes into the world, he says,

6

thy demand; thou hast

endowed me,

No

that sins should

impossible.

is

sacrifice,

As

no offering was

instead, with a body.

Thou

hast not found any pleasure in burnt sacrifices, in sacrifices for sin.

7

See then,

I

8

the book

lies

Thou

said, I

didst not

sacrifice for sin,

9

thing that

my

God,

V. 28.

sins

I

is,

am coming

to fulfil

what

unrolled; to do thy will,

demand

is

O my

written of me, where

God.

First

he

says,

victim or offering, the burnt sacrifice, the

nor hast thou found any pleasure in them; in any-

which the law has

am coming

to

'To drain the cup of a world's

and then:

to offer,

do thy

will.

He

sins'; in

must

—

I

said. See,

clear the

the Greek,

'to

ground

take a world's

upon himself.

vv. $-j. Ps. xxxix. 7-9;

where, however, the

Hebrew

author here follows the Greek Septuagint, which

Hebrew.

[486}

is

less

text differs.

Our

obscure than the

Christ once for

10

we have been

will 11

up

so as to build

first,

body of Jesus day

there,

HEBREWS

our Victim

all

by an offering made once for

One

Christ.

after day, offering again

which can never take away our the right

hand

13

repeated.

He

God, offering

of

only waits, until

under

15

for

16

Spirit

adds his

nant

will grant them, the

his feet;

whom testimony. He

I

my

And what

thoughts.

18

their transgressions is

his

enemies are

made

And

sanctifies.

Lord

says,

when

is

never

a footstool

work,

his

Holy

here the

This

has been saying,

follows?

I

any more.

no longer any room

Why

sacrifices,

for ever at

sits

is

the cove-

that time comes;

I

will

laws in their hearts, engrave them in their innermost

17

19

whereas he

for our sins a sacrifice that all

he

time, in those

implant

and again the same

sins;

by a single offering he has completed

14

the

all,

high priest after another must stand

12

all

In accordance with this divine

afterwards.

sanctified

10

then, brethren,

He

21

Hving approach, by way of the

12

great priest

come forward with

their sins

and

can enter the sanctuary with confidence

through the blood of Christ.

ours,

remember

they are so remitted, there

for a sin-offering.

we

20

is

will not

Where

who

has opened up for us a new, a veil,

I

mean,

his mortality.

has dominion over God's house.

A

Let us

sincere hearts in the full assurance of the faith,

our guUty consciences purified by sprinkling, our bodies washed 23

Do

clean in hallowed water.

we

the hope

word.

cherish;

we have

not

let

us waver in acknowledging

a promise

from one who

his

25

incitements to charity and to acts of piety,

some 26

do, our

the more, as

common you

'He

true to

sits

see the great

at the right

'he has atoned for

our

not abandoning, as

assembly, but encouraging one another;

when once

sinning wilfully,

V. 12.

is

Let us keep one another in mind, always ready with

24

sins

day drawing nearer.

the full

If

all

we go on

knowledge of the truth has

hand of God, atoning for our sins'; in the Greek, and taken his seat at the right hand of God'.

V. /J. Ps. cix. 2.

vv. 16, ly. Jer. xxxi. 31-34. V. 20. veil,

that

'By is,

way

of the veil,

his flesh'.

human Nature

as such;

I

mean,

his mortaHty'; Hterally, 'through the

Some commentators understand but

it

is

difficult to see

how

this

of our Lord's

the Sacred

Humanity

could be regarded as in any sense an obstacle which has to be removed, as the sense of the passage suggests. V. 22. 'Sprinkling'; that is, with the precious Blood. V. 26. 'If we go on sinning'; the tense used in the Greek shews that the Apostle is referring to obsdnate sinners, and in particular, no doubt, to those

who

fall

away from

the faith.

[487]

HEBREWS

The Lord

11

been granted

to us,

27

ward

28

that will eagerly

we have no

nothing but a

to;

further sacrifice for sin to look for-

judgement, a

terrible expectation of

consume

judge his People

will

the rebellious.

Let a

man

fire

be convicted

by two or three witnesses of defying the law of Moses, and he 29

dies,

the

without hope of mercy.

Son of God under

foot,

What of the man who who has reckoned the

has trampled

blood of the

covenant, that blood which sanctified him, as a thing unclean,

mocked 30

Vengeance

told us. 31

32

34

for

is

will judge his people.

of the living

33

me,

It is

one we

will repay;

I

It is a fearful

know

well,

who

has

and again. The Lord

thing to

fall

into the hands

God.

Remember

those early days,

when

the Hght

came

first

to you,

and the hard probation of suffering you went through.

There

were times when you yourselves were publicly exposed

to cal-

umny and persecution; there was a time when you took part with those who had the same path to tread. You shewed your sympathy with those who were in bonds; and when you were robbed of your goods you took it cheerfully, as men who knew that a more

good was yours.

35

higher, a

36

confidence of yours, with

endurance, 37

who do

38

coming brings

39

brought him grace? Will not he incur a

at the Spirit that

punishment much more severe ?

if

you are

his Will.

its

rich

to attain the prize

Only

a brief

Do

not throw away that

hope of reward;

God

you

need

still

has promised to those

moment, now, before he who is on the way. It is faith that

will be here; he will not linger life

to the

man whom

I

accept as justified;

win no favour with me.

back, he shall

and be

lasting

lost; it is for

Not

if

he shrinks

for us to shrink

away,

us to have faith, and save our souls.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WHAT which IS

3

FAITH }

It is

that

that brought credit to the

V. 28. V. 30. vt/.

which gives substance

convinces us of things

we cannot

men who went

to

see.

before us.

our hopes, It

was

this

It is faith

Deut. xvii. 6. Deut. xxxii. 35, 36.

57, 55.

A

reminiscence, rather than an exact quotation, of Hab.

[488}

ii.

3, 4.

HEBREWS

Faith of the early Patriarchs that lets us understand

word; how

it

their origin.

how

11

the worlds were fashioned by God's

was from things unseen that the things we see took a sacrifice richer It was in faith that Abel offered

since God than Cain's, and was proved thereby to be justified, still speaks recognized his offering; through that offering of his he without the experience in death. When Enoch was taken away

was took him and no more was seen of him, it he before him of have we account because of his faith; that is the

of death,

when God

was taken,

that he pleased

God;

and

impossible to please

it is

God

Nobody reaches God's presence until he has learned rewards those who try to to believe that God exists, and that he about dangers still unfind him. When Noe received a warning and build an ark to alarm, take seen, it was faith that made him world wrong, and whole the proved he Thus family. his preserve

without

was

faith.

left

he, to

heir to the justification

whom

the

name

of

which comes through faith. And given, shewed faith when

Abraham was

for the country which was to be his where his journey would take knowing inheritance; left it without stranger in the land he had a as live to him taught Faith him. with Isaac and Jacob, been promised for his own, encamping there

he

home, obediendy,

left his

heirs with

him

of a

common

hope;

looking forward

all

the while

and which has true foundations, which is God's design then, tUl barren Sara, enabled that God's fashioning. It was faith was past the age of childbearto conceive offspring, although she Here that God would be faithful to his word.

to that city

ing; she believed is

one man, a

man

for

whom

Hfe

is

already over; and from

him

whose numbers rival the stars of heaven, or the faith they lived uncounted grains of sand on the sea-shore. It was for them, the promises were died; they faith in and them, of all by, and welcomed them not fulfilled, but they looked forward to them owning themselves no better than strangers and ex-

springs a race

at a distance,

^

5

Those who talk so make it clear enough, that they country they had have not found their home. Did they regret the found opportunities have could they all, were that If behind? left

iles

on

V. 4.

earth.

Gen.

iv.

10.

.,

,

.

,

^

,,

^

'walked widi God, Gen. v. 22. V 5 Tleased God'; in the Hebrew, the name of Abraham was given V 8 Gen xii i, xvii. 5. 'He, to whom 'Abraham, when he was called.' the Greek should 'rather be translated, _

[489]

^

;

HEBREWS i6

back

for going

to

No, the country

it.

God

a heavenly country.

Abraham shewed up

He

Isaac.

faith,

was ready

when he was put up an only

18

made

19

through Isaac that thy posterity

had the power

own,

shall

The

his bones.

the king's edict,

24

he blessed

his

came

and hiding

two sons

to the

He

to the brief

enjoyment of

27

had

him

strong as that he to

see, for

he if

faith that

come;

by

in turn;

end of

his

life,

faith that

for the removal of

their child

away,

making hght of when they saw what

And Moses shewed

faith,

left

sinful pleasures;

all

as the despised lot of

the wealth of

V. 16.

God's anointed; he

nothing but the promised reward.

It

was in

Egypt behind, defying the royal anger, made

by the very sight of him

performed the paschal

'To take his

and

God,

Egypt

who

is

invisible;

in faith

and the sprinkling of the blood,

rite,

leave Israel untouched by the angel that destroyed the

Isaac

by

spoke of the

preferred ill-usage, shared with the people of

could not so enrich

faith that

to

up, by refusing to pass for the son of Pharaoh's

daughter.

you

is

reverence to the top o£

from Egypt, and gave orders

26

eyes,

It

parents of Moses shewed faith, in

25

28

made

a fine child he was, for three months.

when he grew

was by

It

and Esau, foretold what was

his death-bed,

he, too,

escape

Israelites'

23

as

staff,

when

Joseph,

by offering

man who had

son even from the dead; and indeed,

to restore his

Isaac, in blessing Jacob

Joseph's

from

in.

God, he argued,

be traced.

21

22

a better,

title

and received the assurance,

in a hidden sense, he did so recover him.

on

to the test,

son, this

20

faith that Jacob,

is

ready for them to dwell

city

to offer

the promises his

of their desires

does not disdain to take his

such names as these; he has a 17

Abraham and Moses

Faith of

11

title';

that

is,

to

be called

'the

God

of

first-

Abraham and

Jacob'.

V. ig. Abraham recovered his son from the dead, inasmuch as his Hfe was spared unexpectedly; 'in a hidden sense', because the sacrifice of Isaac was a type of our Lord's Crucifixion. V. 21. 'Made reverence to the top of Joseph's staff', because the staff was a

symbol of the

tribe; cf.

Numbers

i.

49,

where

'the tribe of Levi' is literally

'the staff of Levi'. V. 26. 'Of God's anointed', probably in the sense that Moses was the type of Christ, in being rejected by his people, Ex. ii. 14; but possibly the reference is to the people of Israel, cf. Hab. iii. 13. v. 27. 'Left Egypt behind'; that is, at the Exodus. Some of the Fathers understand the phrase of Moses' flight in Ex. ii. 15; but it is clear that Moses

did fear the king's anger on that occasion.

[490]

History loo{s to us for

29

born;

its

in faith that they crossed the

when

land, whereas the Egyptians,

30 31

HEBREWS

Fulfilment

drowned.

down

Faith pulled

the

doom

as if

it

had been dry

they ventured into

it,

were

the walls of Jericho, after seven days

spent in marching round them;

from sharing

Red Sea

11

faith saved

Rahab, the

of the disobedient, because she

harlot,

had given

the spies a peaceable welcome.

32

What through

33

need all

is

there to say

more ? Time

will fail

me

of David and Samuel and the prophets.

made promises come quenched raging

How

tion

39

40

which

swords were drawn on them, and they

es-

to life. Others,

looking forward to a better resurrec-

would not purchase their freedom on the rack. And experienced mockery and scourging, chains, too, and im-

prisonment;

they were stoned, they were cut in pieces, they were

tortured, they

were put

in sheepskins

38

fire,

right,

shut the mouths of lions, they

still,

others

37

They

true.

strong they became,

brought back 36

go

who till then were weak, what courage they shewed in batde, how they routed invading armies! There were women, too, who recovered their dead children, caped.

35

try to

Theirs was the faith

which subdued kingdoms, which served the cause of 34

if I

the history of Gedeon, of Barac, of Samson, of Jephte,

to the

sword; they wandered about, dressed

and goatskins, amidst want, and

usage;

men whom

hunted

life

the world

in deserts

was unworthy

distress,

and

ill-

to contain, living a

and on mountain-sides, in rock-fastnesses

and caverns underground. One and all gave proof of their faith, yet they never saw the promise fulfilled; for us, God had something better in

store.

We

were needed,

to

make

the history of their

lives complete.

'tested', 'put to the question'. here seems to be, that the Church of the new covenant explanation of the Jewish Church which weni^ the is the continuation and before it. Christians enjoying here and now the blessings to which the patriarchs looked forward.

V. 37.

'Tortured'; literally,

v. 40.

The meaning

[491]

HEBREWS

We

12

must persevere under Chastisement

CHAPTER TWELVE

WHY

we

THEN, since

of Avitnesses,

are

watched from above by such a cloud

us rid ourselves of

let

2

which we are entered.

ance, the race for Jesus, the origin

and the crown of

of blessedness, endured the cross

3

who now

on the

sits

from him, from

5

Your

unmanned.

Let us

who,

all faith,

and made

called for bloodshed;

yet

fix

its

our eyes on his prize

shame, Jesus,

Take your standard

from the enmity the wicked bore

faint,

you wiU not find your

you have

sin,

as his sons

My

:

do not undervalue the correction which the Lord sends 6

not be

7

child of his, without chastisement.

reproves thy faults.

loves that he bestows correction; there

God

rection lasts; 8

a son

whom

common 9

left

without

from 10

of it.

all;

own

We

have

which

is

a

No,

it

was shall

world of

work

of discipline,

Come

13

flagging knee, that the

goes lame

life

good

it

correction

has done

is

its

iii.

11

foot-prints in a straight track, so

may

not stumble out of the path, but

which no one

none of you

Prov.

all

when

Your aim must be peace with

that holiness without

0.

and draw

our

and

5 and

not submit, far

and

15

t>v.

we

spirits,

dispositions, to

yields a harvest of

regain strength instead.

that

the

is

you are

if

then, stiffen the sinews of drooping hand,

it

14

good care

sons,

to accept correction

For the time being,

and plant your

man who

there ever

corrected us for a short while, at

painful rather than pleasant; but afterwards,

great peace.

Was

correction

for our good, to give us a share in

it

his.

do

where he

is

no recognition for any

as his children.

known what

son,

thee,

patient, then, while cor-

and with reverence;

caprice; he does

12

It

you must be bastards, not true

earthly fathers,

that holiness

is

Be

his father did not correct?

more willingly, to the Father of from him? They, after all, only their

11

lot

you

treating

is

souls

has not yet

lost sight, already, of those

words of comfort in which God addresses you

unmanned when he

endur-

all

win

to

light of

your battle against

protest,

down,

that weighs us

right of God's throne.

his endurance,

him, and you will not grow 4

all

and run, with

of the sinful habit that clings so closely,

and

is

false to

12.

[492}

will ever see

all

God.

men,

Take

God's grace, that no poison-

The new Covenant ous shoot i6

by

is

None

influence.

its

HEBREWS

is final

many

allowed to spring up, and contaminate of you

must be

12

of you

guilty of fornication,

none

when he sold his birthright afterwards, you may be sure, he was

of you earthly-minded, as Esau was, 17

for a single dish of food;

eager enough to have the blessing allotted to him, but no, he rejected.

He

pleaded for

it

was

no second chance was given

in tears, but

him. 18

What

is

the scene, now, of your approach to

God?

no longer

It is

a mountain that can be discerned by touch; no longer burning 19

and whirlwind, and darkness, and storm.

no utterance comes from that 20

tened to

command,

that

22

fear

23

if

said, in terror at the sight, I

The

and trembling).

scene of your approach

gathered thousands upon thousands of angels,

whose names

bly of those first-born sons

here 24

the

25

is

of just

God

new

his

listening to

him who

who

speaks from heaven.

28

is

is

mount

here

the assem-

is

are written in heaven,

men, here are the Jesus, the

is

spirits

spokesman of

Beware of excusing yourselves

speaking to you. There was no escape

what

the things

is

when God uttered we turn away when he then, made the earth rock;

less for us, if

still

His

voice,

even

to us that

he will shake earth and heaven that

now

God; here are

tried to excuse themselves

warnings on earth;

now, he has announced 27

all

here

perfect;

should die

it

overcome with

covenant, and the sprinkling of his blood, which has better

for those others,

26

judgement on

sitting in

men, now made

things to say than Abel's had.

from

am

the heavenly Jerusalem, city of the living

is

lis-

(daunted by the

even a beast touched the mountain

Moses

by stoning.

fire,

trumpet sounds;

which made those who

voice,

pray that they might hear no more,

it

21

Sion,

No

it

too.

shall

happen again, only once;

Only once again;

that

means

shaken, this created universe, will be removed; only

which cannot be shaken are

to

The

stand firm.

king-

Gen. xxvii. 34. 'No second chance'; literally, 'no room for repentance'. This seems to have been an idiom of Roman law, meaning an opportunity to reconsider one's decision; in this case, the decision of Esau to sell his birthright. V. 16.

f. ly.

vv. 18-20. Ex. xix. 12-19, XX. 18, 19. V. 21.

Cf. Deut. ix. 19; where, however, a different occasion

V. 26.

Agg. ii. 7. 'In gradtude for

f. 28.

this, let

us worship'; this

grace given us, to worship'. [ 493 ]

may

also

is

referred

to.

mean, 'We have

HEBREWS dom we

for this, let us

29

Various Exhortations

13

have inherited

awe and

is

worship

one which cannot be shaken; in gratitude

God

as

he would have us worship him, in

no doubt of

reverence;

God

our

it,

is

consuming

a

fire.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN among

you; and do not

2

i"ET BROTHERLY LOVE be firmly established

3

men have before now entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as if you were prisoners too; those who endure suffering, since you

4

have mortal bodies of your own.

J

;

forget to

shew

hospitality; in

doing

this,

Marriage, in every way, must

be held in honour, and the marriage-bed kept free from stain; over 5

fornication of

and adultery, God

you have. God himself has 6

abandon

7

my champion; I Do not forget

thee;

The

will call us to account.

so that

told us,

we

will never forsake thee, never

I

can say with confidence,

will not be afraid of

who have had

those

The Lord

what man can do

to

lived,

9

and

and imitate

their faith.

What

to-day, he remains for ever.

is

is

me.

charge of you, and preached

God's word to you; contemplate the happy issue of the 8

love

not dwell in your thoughts; be content with what

money should

Jesus Christ

Do

they

life

was yesterday,

not be carried aside from

Deut. iv. 24. Deut. xxxi. 6.

V. 2g. V. 5.

V. 6. Ps. cxvii. 6. V.

7.

'The happy issue of the

their behaviour'. This

17) X.

;

but

13)

it

is

seems more

of the holy

life

life they lived'; literally, 'the outgoing of usually understood of their deaths (cf. Wisdom ii.

likely that the Apostle refers to the results (cf.

lived

by the

I

earliest Christian missionaries, in

Cor. the

establishment of the faith. V. 8.

This verse seems to point forward to what follows; since the Christ is the same in every age, there can be no room for new doctrines

we worship

in the Church. V. 9. 'What gives true strength to a man's heart is gratitude, not observances in the matter of food'; literally, 'it is good that the heart should be made firm with thankfulness (or, with grace), not with foods'. There is perhaps a reference to Ps. ciii. 15. Some commentators would understand the 'foods' in question to be the sacrificial meat eaten by the worshipper under the old Covenant.

[494]

On

HEBREWS

Unworldliness and Obedience

13

your course by a maze of new doctrines; what gives true strength to a

10

man's heart

is

gratitude, not observances in the matter o£ food,

which never yet proved useful have an

altar of

who

to those

our own, and

worship of the tabernacle that are qualified 11

When

We

followed them.

not those

is

it

who

carry out the

to eat its sacrifices,

him

the high priest takes the blood of beasts with

into the

sanctuary, as an ofiFering for sin, the bodies of those beasts have to 12

be burned away from the camp;

and thus

he would sanctify the people through his 13

yond the

14

camp, bearing the ignominy he bore;

15

but not here; our goal

is

we must

him, then, that 16

Let

city gate.

to

the city that

do good

pleasure in such sacrifice as

Obey

those

who

that Jesus,

to him away from the we have an everlasting city,

is

God

one day

to be.

It is

through

a continual sacrifice of praise,

to others

Meanwhile, you

and give alms; God takes

this.

have charge of you, and yield

to their will; they

are keeping unwearied watch over your souls, because they

they will have an account to give. See to task, not a laborious eflort;

we

18

Pray for us;

19

honourable in

20

earnestly, in the

21

trust

all

we have

it

that theirs

our dealings.

And

I

make

hope of being restored

to

May

that.

will to be

this request the

whose

that great shepherd,

the blood of an eternal covenant, will.

know

a grateful

more

you the sooner.

from the dead,

through Jesus Christ,

and the

a clear conscience,

raised our

good, to do his

is

you would gain nothing from

God, the author of peace, who has

best,

when

blood, suffered be-

the tribute of lips that give thanks to his name.

must remember

17

was

go out

us, too,

offer to

it

own

Lord

flock

was bought with

grant you every capacity for

he carry out in you the design he to

whom

May

Jesus Christ

sees

glory belongs throughout

all

10-13. These reflections are doubtless meant to console the Jewish any of them should regret being cut off from their ancestral worship. The 'altar' is understood by some commentators of the Holy Sacrifice, by others of the Cross, by others of Christ himself. V. 20. 'That great shepherd, whose flock was bought with the blood of the eternal covenant'; literally, 'that great shepherd of the flock in the blood of the eternal covenant'. According to some, these last seven words should be vv.

Christians, in case

taken with the main verb, V. 21. Here, as in I Peter

'raised

from the

iv. 11, it is

dead'.

not clear whether

''God' or to 'Christ'.

C495}

'to

whom'

refers to

•HEBREWS

-

13

Amen.

entreat you, brethren, bear patiently with

11

ages,

23

words of warning;

I

it is

but a brief

must know

that our brother

24

comes soon,

I

•:5

Italy

those

who

Final Messages

will bring

am

Timothy has been

him with me when and

are in authority,

send you their greetings.

V. 22. It is difficult to

letter I

all

these

You

set at liberty; if

he

Greet

all

I visit

the saints.

all

sending you.

The

Grace be with you

you.

brethren from all,

believe that the Apostle refers to the

Amen.

whole of these

we should understand that he is referring only to the immediate context, verses 18 to 25, as his 'letter' (in the sense that these alone bring a personal message from him), and distinguishthirteen chapters as a short letter. Perhaps

ing it from the lengthy 'words of warning', which have had to be read with padence. V. 24. 'The brethren from Italy', as an English phrase, would suggest that the Apostle was not writing from Rome. But he may well have been writing from Rome, since the same words, according to classical usage, might mean 'the brethren in Italy send their greetings from there'.

L

496 ]

THE UNIVERSAL EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JAMES

CHAPTER ONE A SERVANT o£

JAMES,

ing to the

God and

members

of our

Lord

Jesus Christ, sends greet-

of the twelve tribes scattered throughout the

my

Consider yourselves happy indeed,

2

world.

3

encounter

4

that the testing of your faith breeds endurance.

trials

of every sort,

do its'work thoroughly, 5

wisdom? God 6

if

you are

nothing lacking in you.

part,

God

for

it,

gives to

and the

all,

freely

7

at sea, driven to

8

to

9

will find

10 11

12

win any

gift

no

and

fro

by the wind;

No,

from the Lord.

rest

it

enough

Endurance must

full-grown in every

you who

must be

hesitates

is

still

let

lacks

him ask

in faith that

like a

wave out

man must not hope man who is in two minds

such a a

wherever he goes.)

one of the brethren in

Is

humble circumstances? Let him be proud of it; it exalts him, whereas the rich man takes pride in what in truth abases him. (The the sun gets rich man will pass by like the bloom on the grass; up, and the scorching wind with it, which dries up the grass, till the bloom on it falls, and all its fair show dies away; so the rich man, with his enterprises, will disappear.) Blessed

is

he

who

endures under

worth, he will win that crown of 13

(Only

who

he asks, he must not hesitate; one

when you

well

and ungrudgingly; so

come.

gift will

men

to be

there one of

Is

brethren,

men who know

as

who

those

that

seem V.

would

's,

to

When

man

takes pride in

to

finds himself tempted.

what

In truth abases him';

interpret, 'Let the rich (Christian) take pride in his abasement',

in bearing reproach for the sake of his reUgion; but this does not fit

/J.

meaning

the context so well. may threaten us with

'God

of the Latin,

if

evil'; this

the text here

is

seems to be the only possible

correct.

The

sense of the

unversed in evil', or perhaps 'is not tempted by render it, 'does not tempt men to evil'.

'God

he has proved his

which God has promised

Nobody, when he

love him.

'Whereas the rich

v. 10.

others

trials.

life,

is

U97 ]

evil';

Greek is, would

others

JAMES

On

1

should say, 14

evil,

own

his

am

practical Religion

being tempted by God.

God may

threaten us with

No, when

but he docs not himself tempt anyone.

tempted, 15

I

and

Patience in Trials,

always because he

it is

When

passions.

that has

and when

a

man

is

being drawn away by the lure of

is

come

about, passion conceives

sin has reached

growth,

and gives birth

to sin;

16

breeds death.

Beloved brethren, do not deceive yourselves over

17

this.

Whatever

gifts are

18

the Father of

all

come

to us

no change, no swerving from

fruits, as

were, of

it

all

brethren, well enough. to

bear the fruit that all

defilement, of

cherish that

your

is

all

it

meaning us

God.

acceptable to

in

man's anger does not

Rid yourselves, then, of

to

souls.

25

never giving another thought to the

who

something

when he vain.

at himself,

man

to do,

a mirror, the

and away he

he saw there.

it,

does not forget

and does

it,

and

goes,

Whereas

the law of freedom,

is

sight of

his

listens to the

its

doing of

it

message; he finds

wins him a is

bless-

serving God,

has not learned to control his tongue, the service he gives

he

is

who

is

If

of God,

V. 23.

it.

anyone deludes himself by thinking he

If

widows

listen to

gazes into that perfect law, which

and dwells on the

are to live by the

One who man who sees, in

24

face

and

you which can bring salvation

word without living by it is like a face he was born with; he looks

is

his will to

to be the first-

the ill-will that remains in you; be patient,

word implanted

word, not content merely to

ing.

was

You know this, my beloved men to be ready listeners, slow

for us

23

one

sent

there can be

his creation. It is

Only you must be honest with yourselves; you

22

27

whom

and

his course;

speak our minds, slow to take offence;

20 21

26

from above; they are

that gives light, with

give us birth, through his true word, 19

it

worth having, whatever endowments are

perfect of their kind, these

down by

its full

to offer service

pure and unblemished in the sight

our Father, he must take care of orphans and

in their need,

and keep himself untainted by the world.

'The face he was born with'; some understand

which belongs

to his perishable body'.

[498]

this as

meaning

'the

Flattery of the Rich

is

Defiance of God's

JAMES

Law

2

CHAPTER TWO BRETHREN, YOU bcHeve Christ;

2

3

human

greatness.

fine clothes,

man comes

in at the

you

5

at

tell

my

the poor

wearing

same

dom which power

be rich in

to

he has promised

to oppress

you incur

the very

11

the law,

is

to

on the ground

who

love it

speak

law finds you out

But

And here who use men who drag

him?

evil of that

if

are

not the rich

True, you do well

thyself.

Lis-

men who

be heirs of that king-

law you find in the words of

neighbour as

guilt; the

man who

sit

your judgement?

faith, to

men who

name, by which you are called?

10

or

you? Are not they the very

8

shalt love thy

poor

of honour; will

chosen the

to shame. Is

you into

their regard, the royal

art,

God

to those

man

7

9

into your place of

Will you pay attention

partiality in

dear brethren; has not

court,

Jesus

you not introducing divisions into your

If so, are

are you putting the poor their

man comes

man, Stand where thou

poor in the world's eyes

Lord

yours with flattery of

a gold ring; suppose that a

time, ill-clad.

company? Have you not shewn

my

glory belongs to our

man, and bid him take some place

footstool?

ten to me,

6

all

this faith of

Suppose that a

meeting in

the well-dressed

4

that

do not combine

you

honoured

to observe, in

scripture,

flatter

Thou

the great,

in a transgression.

And

the

has failed in one point, though he has kept the rest of

Hable to

all its

he who forbids adultery has The murderer, though he be no adulthe law. You must speak and act like before a law of freedom. The merciless penalties:

forbidden murder as well. 12

terer,

13

men

has yet transgressed already

will be

on

their trial

judged mercilessly; mercy gives

its

judgement an honour-

able welcome. 14 15

16

Of what

use

is it,

my

brethren,

if

Can

a

man

has no deeds to shew for

it?

brother, here

going naked,

is

a sister,

secure their daily food; V. 12.

'Men already on

if

claims to have faith, and

faith save left

one of you says

their trial'; in the Greek,

him then?

Here

is

without the means to

them,

'men

who

Go

a to

in peace,

are to be tried'.

'Mercy gives its judgement an honourable welcome'; literally, 'mercy This appears to be the sense of the Latin text, which is perhaps due to an error of copying. The sense of the Greek is, 'Mercy can boast over (its) judgement'. V. /J.

exalts judgement'.

[499I

JAMES warm

True Faith

3

yourselves and take your

17

bodily needs, of

18

shew

for

what use

has

itself,

19

am

lievest that there

20

do the

so

no

faith, if

without any deeds

deeds, to prove

devils shrink

life

Think

in it?

how

See

is

altar?

23

those deeds his faith scripture,

which

when he

was

tell us,

You

25

justified.

proval?

Was

how

again,

I

be-

well enough, but then,

Rash

in terror. to

it

shew has

not by his

on the

offered his son Isaac

with deeds done, and through

title

deeds as well as faith

of God's friend. if

a

man

to

is

when

she harboured the spies and

way? Body separated from separated from good deeds is a dead

a different

a dead body, and faith

be

did Rahab, the harlot, win God's ap-

not by her deeds,

it

them home by

shew.

and

it,

realized. Thus he confirmed the words of Abraham put his faith in God, and it was

see, then, that it takes

Or

be in-

Thou

faith.

from him

reckoned virtue in him, and he earned the 24

is

prove

Abraham; was

of our father

his faith conspired

22

sent

to

my own

only one God; that

is

deeds that he found approval,

26

has no deeds to

it

wouldst thou be assured that faith without deeds

soul,

21

my

and the

devils,

Thus

own principle of hfe. We shall Thou hast faith, but I have deeds to

this faith of thine

prepared, by

without providing for their

fill,

lost its

clined to say to him.

Shew me

is it?

proved by Action.

is

spirit

faith.

CHAPTER THREE

Do NOT

BE too eager, brethren, to impart instruction to others;

be sure that,

2

more

We

strictly.

man who

is

if

we

Just so

4

this

we

we

shall all

be called

of us, into

to

account

many

all

faults;

can

way and

make

that,

who knows how

to curb his

the

and

not betrayed into faults of the tongue must be a

perfect at every point,

3

do,

are betrayed,

a

man

whole body.

horses obey us, and turn their whole bodies

by putting a curb

in their

mouths.

Or

look at

V. 18. 'We shall be inclined to say'; the phrase here used commonly introduces an objection, 'But someone will say'. But such a rendering would not fit

the present context. V. 23. y.

Gen. XV.

25. Josue

ii.

6.

1-16.

C500}

On

them

along!

purpose will have

that, as the captain's

a spark

tongue its

7

it is,

fire.

Among

the whole body,

catching

fire itself

from

things and

and

9 10

We

use

it

12

is

My

Does any of you

is

a

small

what the

harmful

is

lives.

mortal sphere of ours, has long

bird, of creeping

being has ever found out

we

use

fresh

and

salt

how

deadly poison.

all

brethren, there

outlet?

my

that

all

our Father;

same

What,

that

to curse

it

in God's image; blessing

Does the fountain gush out

No more

is

never allayed,

this.

vine figs? 13

is

made

same mouth.

the

And

Mankind can tame, and

human

God who

to bless

How

kind of beast and

pest that

fellow men, that were

come from 11

which

sets fire to this

hell.

but no

all else;

tame the tongue; a

can boast!

the organs of our nature, the tongue has

place as the proper element in

It infects

to

it

takes to set lire to a vast forest! a

since learned to tame, every

8

Just so, the tongue

it.

and yet what power

tiny part of our body,

6

3

how huge they are, how boisterous are the winds that drive And yet a tiny rudder will turn them this way and

ships;

5

JAMES

Sins of the Tongue; on Jealousy

our

and cursing

no reason in

is

water from the

brethren, can a fig-tree yield olives, or a

easily will brackish

lay claim to

water yield

wisdom or

learning?

fresh.

Then

let

him

give proof of his quality by setting a good example, living peace14

ably as a wise

man

should.

As long

thoughts of rivalry in your hearts, 15

that perverts the truth;

from above,

as

Where

there

devils.

17

will find disorder

is

jealousy,

where there

and every kind of

which does come from above

is

but also by

it

peacefulness;

its

tation.

all

Peace

peace will win

that

is

is

defect.

marked

good;

it is

is

is fit

only for

rivalry, there

Whereas

chiefly indeed

the

by

you

wisdom

its

purity,

courteous and ready to be con-

is

it

carries

mercy with

it,

and

uncensorious, and without affec-

the seed-ground of holiness,

its

and

such wisdom as yours does not come

vinced, always taking the better part;

18

bitter jealousy

belongs to earth and to nature, and

it

16

a harvest of

you find

us have none of this boasting

let

and those who make

harvest.

V. 6. The proper element in which all that is harmful lives'; literally, 'iniqSome think that these words should be attached to the foregoing sentence. 'This mortal sphere of ours'; literally, 'the circle of our birth (or, becoming)'; probably the phrase means simply 'the world'. V. 7. 'And all else'; in the Greek, 'and of fishes'.

uity's world'.

[5013

JAMES

On

4

Worldliness; on Disparagement

CHAPTER FOUR

WHAT 2

among you?

LEADS to wsr, what leads to quarrelling

will

you what leads

tell

to

them; the appetites which

I

infest

go unfulfilled, so you fall to muron something, and cannot have your quarrelling and fighting. Why cannot you have

your mortal bodies.

Your

desires

dering; you set your heart will, so there is

3

your will ? Because you do not pray for

you ask 4

for

is

or

it,

you pray, and what

denied you, because you ask for

you would squander

on your

it

it

with

ill

intent;

Wantons, have you

appetites.

never been told that the world's friendship means enmity with

God, and the

man who would

5

himself God's

6

jealous love?

when and 7 8

9

it tells

so

man

he

Do

enemy?

you

have the world for

that the Spirit

which dwells

No, the grace he gives us

tells us,

God

his friend

makes

you think scripture means nothing

is

flouts the scornful,

in

you

loves with a

something better

still;

and gives the humble

Be God's true subjects, then; stand firm against away from you, come close to God, and he will come close to you. You that are sinners must wash your hands clean, you that are in two minds must purify the intention of your hearts. Bring yourselves low with mourning and weeping, his grace.

the devil, and he will run

turn your laughter into sadness, your joy into downcast looks; 10

humble yourselves before

the Lord,

and he

will exalt you.

Brethren, do not disparage one another. In disparaging one of

11

his brethren, in passing

judgement on him,

a

man

disparages the

law, passes judgement on the law; and in passing judgement on the

law thou There

12

it.

13

to destroy

art setting thyself is

up

to

be

its

censor, instead of obeying

only one Law-giver, only one Judge, he

and

to set free.

Who

art thou, to sit in

who

has power

Judgement on

thy neighbour? 'Or do you think that the passage in Scripmeans nothing when it says, The Spirit which dwells in you (in the Greek, which God has sent to dwell in you) longs after you even to envy'. The whole phrase cannot be found in the Old Testament; the notion that V. 5. Literally, this verse runs,

ture

God is a jealous God frequently occurs, e.g. Ex. xx. 5. The Hebrew language does not distinguish between envy and jealousy. V. 6. 'The grace he gives us is something better still'; literally, 'He gives a greater grace', perhaps by way of contrast with the earthly subjects of petition mendoned in v. 3 above. The quotadon is from Prov. iii. 34.

[502]

On

JAMES

Presumption; the rich denounced

5

16

See how you go about saying, To-day, or to-morrow, we will make our way to such and such a town, spend a year there, and make profit by trading, when you have no means of telling what the morrow will bring. What is your life but a wisp of smoke, which shews for a moment and then must vanish into nothing? You ought to be saying. We will do this or that if it is the Lord's will, and if life is granted us. As it is, your self-conceit makes

17

boasters of you;

14

15

man

all

such boastfulness

has the power to do good,

it is

an

is

Yes,

evil thing.

sinful in

him

to leave

if

a

un-

it

done.

CHAPTER FIVE COME,

YOU men

of riches,

bemoan

yourselves and cry aloud

Corruption has

over the miseries that are to overtake you.

3

fallen

on your

the gold

and

and

riches; all the fine clothes are left moth-eaten,

silver

have long lain rusting. That rust will bear wit-

ness against you, will bite into your flesh like flame. These are the last

4

days given you, and you have spent them in heaping up a store

of retribution.

You have

reaped your lands, and 5

that

You have

dooms you

to slaughter.

man, while he

Lord

on

feasted here

you have comforted your hearts with luxuries on

the innocent

7

workmen who

there to cry out against you; the

of hosts has listened to their complaint. earth,

6

kept back the pay of the

it is

day

this

You have condemned and murdered offered

no

resistance.

Wait, then, brethren, in patience for the Lord's coming. See

how

the farmer looks forward to the coveted returns of his land, yet

V. ly. It is difBcult to see

how

this fits into the context, unless

we

suppose

13 to v. 6 is directed against the rich, who are here accused of neglecting the great opportunities they have for doing

whole passage from

that the

iv.

good. V.

3.

'Heaping up a store of retribution'; in the Greek, 'heaping up

treasure'.

'The innocent man'; this might also be translated understood as a reference to our Lord; cf. Acts iii. 14, V. 6.

'the Just vii.

52,

One',

and

Wisdom

ii.

12-20. V. 7.

In Palestine, the rains of early to the crops.

autumn and

important

[ 503 ]

late

spring are especially

JAMES

Patience recommended; on the Efficacy of Prayer

5

waits patiently for the early and the late rains to 8

9

can be brought

coming

the Lord's

plaints against

10

judge

is

You

in.

is

must wait

too

if

fall

before they

and take courage;

Brethren, do not bring com-

hand.

close at

one another;

patiently,

you do, you

already standing at your doors.

and the

will be judged,

you would learn by

If

how to work on and wait patiently in evil times, who spoke in the Lord's name. See how we congratulate those who have shewn endurance. You have heard of Job's endurance; and you have read, in that story, how kind and example, brethren,

11

12

think of the prophets

merciful the Lord

in

is

rewarding

But above

us.

do not bind yourselves by any oath, by heaven, by oath

at all.

you

will be

14

cheerful? For him, a psalm.

15

him with

store the sick

16

the Lord's

and

not,

fall

to prayer. Is one of

you

man, and the Lord

them pray over him, anointing

let

name.

Prayer offered in faith will

will give

him

relief; if

man

was only

prays fervently, there

18

man

a mortal

prayed that three years

it

is

My

20

brethren,

six

like ourselves,

if

one of you

Pet.

i.

strays

back,

let

a

Elias

and when he prayed and

its

for fell

harvest.

from

him be

the truth, and a

man

sure of this; to bring

path means saving a soul from death,

a veil over a multitude of sins.

'How kind and

fulfilment of the Lord, I

him

feet into the right

means throwing V. II.

When

then he prayed anew, and rain

months;

succeeds in bringing

back erring

souls.

might not rain on the land, there was no rain

and

re-

guilty

is

great virtue in his prayer.

from heaven, and so the land yielded 19

he

Confess your sins to one another,

of sins, they will be pardoned.

just

by any

No;

if

and pray for one another, for the healing of your 17

for

one of you sick? Let him send for

Is

the presbyters of the church, oil in

brethren,

it.

one of you unhappy? Let him

Is

13

my

earth, or

No

Let your word be Yes for Yes, and judged for

all,

merciful the Lord is in rewarding us'; how kind and merciful he is'. Cf.

literally, 'the

Rom.

vi.

21,

9.

Matthew v. 33. It seems probable that St. James had some special reason for warning the Jewish Christians against taking oaths, perhaps because he was afraid of their taking part in unlawful conspiracies. V. 75. 'Give him relief; in the Greek, 'raise him up'. V. 12. Cf.

Kings xvii. i, xviii. 41. That is, probably, his own

V. ly. II V. 20.

sins; cf.

[^04}

I

Peter

iv. 8.

THE

THE BLESSED

FIRST EPISTLE OF

APOSTLE PETER

CHAPTER ONE PETER, AX 2

by the

sanctified

Spirit, to

dwell as for-

Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,

God

chosen in the foreknowledge of

Bithynia,

who

APOSTLE of Jesus Christ, to the elect

up and down Pontus,

eigners

and

the Father, to be

give their allegiance to Jesus Christ and

be sprinkled with his blood; grace and peace be yours abundantly. 3

Blessed be that God, that Father of our

4

an inheritance that

It is

stored

up for you

this salvation

Then you sorts to

7

which

is

affords

will be triumphant.

happen,

so that

safe

conduct

We

are

What

if

we

by

test

you have

fire;

you reach

till

?

it,

end of time.

at the

this brief interval

you may give proof of your

precious thing than the gold

in

and meanwhile, through your

you

waiting to be disclosed

sadden your hearts in

who

live in us

incorruptible, inviolable, unfading.

is

in heaven,

power of God

faith, the

6

Jesus Christ,

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. to share

5

Lord

mercy has begotten us anew, making hope

his great

trials

of

many

That must needs

faith, a

much more

proof which will bring

8

praise, and glory, and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. You never saw him, but you learned to love him; you may not see him even now, but you believe in him; and, if you continue to

9

be,

you

believe in him,

10

how you

and how sublime,

will

triumph!

when you

How ineffable

your joy will

reap the fruit of that faith of

yours, the salvation of your souls!

Salvation

was the aim and

quest of the prophets, and the grace of which they prophesied has 11

been reserved for you.

known

to

them

The

Spirit of Christ

the sufferings

which

was

in

them, making

Christ's cause brings

with

it,

c. 6. 'You will be triumphant'; both here and at the end of verse 8 the Latin gives the verbs in the future tense; the Greek, somewhat obscurely, has the present tense, 'You are triumphing'. V. 8. The words 'you believe in him, and' are not found in the Greek.

[505]

I

PETER

On

1

and the glory 12

the time of

be recognized ?

errand was not to their

can

own

age,

was

it

to you.

Holy

heaven, and your evangelists have

it

them

that their

And now

the angels

to

been sent from

Spirit has

made

the

and how was

to be,

was revealed

It

eager gaze; the

satisfy their

demanded by our Redemption

crowns them; when was

that to

it

the Holiness

whole mystery

plain,

to you.

13

Rid your minds, then, of every encumbrance, keep of your senses,

14

and

set

your hopes on the gracious

Obedience should be native

now; you must not

mould

No,

retain the

must be holy

17

the scripture says, because

it is

in

God who

a holy

appetites.

16

am

I

You

You must be holy, God as your

appeal to

on earth

What was

lasts.

the

it

was not paid

20

21

22

well enough

no lamb was ever

but

it

was only

it

was paid

so pure, so spot-

God had

in these last days that he

was

fore-

revealed,

for your sakes;

through him you have learned to be faithful

God, who

him from

raised

the dead

you have

all

been born anew with an immortal, imperishable

through the word of

birth,

24

Yes,

25

bloom

all

God who

of grass; the grass withers,

v.

22.

'Now

Lev.

xi.

and

and abides

lives

mortal things are like grass, and

V. /J. 'Rid your minds, then, of every loins of your mind', cf. Luke xii. 35. V. 16.

Purify your

and give constant proof of your

for each other, loving unaffectedly as brethren should,

aflfection

since

to

and endowed him with glory;

your faith and your hope are to be centred in God. souls with the discipline of charity,

23

You know

Before the beginning of the world,

less a victim.

known him,

you from the

in earthly currency, silver or gold;

in the precious blood of Christ;

while your

lives

that freed

ransom

vain observances of ancestral tradition? that

what he has

impartially by

done; look anxiously, then, to the ordering of your stay

you

has called you, and you too

holy.

man

to

of your former untutored

the ordering of your lives;

all

Father; yes, but he judges each

19

offered

is

you when Jesus Christ appears.

15

18

mastery

full

gift that

all

its

for ever.

their glory like ths

bloom

encumbrance';

falls,

but the

literally, 'gird

up the

44.

'Purify your souls with the discipline of charity'; the

Greek

has,

you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth'. v. 2j. The Greek might also be translated 'through the word of God v/hich lives and lasts for ever'. that

V. 24. Is. xl.

6-X.

[506]

Nursery; Christ's Temple

Christ's

word

Lord

of the

I

And

lasts for ever.

this

word

is

PETER

2

nothing other

than the gospel which has been preached to you.

CHAPTER TWO MUST put

You

ness,

your

grudges you bore, and

you are children new-born, and

derous talk;

and

aside, then, every trace of ill-will

affectations, the

deceitful-

all

the slan-

your craving must

all

be for the soul's pure milk, that will nurture you into salvation,

once you have

you have

tasted, as

surely tasted, the goodness of the

Draw near to him; he is the living antitype of that stone which men rejected, which God has chosen and prized; you too Lord.

must be

sacrifice

up on him, stones

built

you must be

ual fabric;

that live

and breathe,

a holy priesthood, to offer

which God accepts through Jesus

in scripture the words. Behold,

I

am

Christ.

setting

down

up

into a spiritthat spiritual

So you

stone, chosen out

and precious; those who believe

be disappointed.

Prized, then, by you, the believers, he

thing other to those

who

refuse belief; the stone

rejected has

become the

men's

a boulder they

feet,

God's word, and refuse

you are a chosen people

in

him

will not is

some-

which the builders

chief stone at the corner,

it

will find

in Sion a corner-

a stone to trip

stumble against. They stumble over

belief; it

is

their destiny.

Not

so you;

race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a

God means to have for himself; it is yours to proclaim God who has called you out of darkness into

the

exploits of the

marvellous

now you pity

is

are God's people; once

his

not a people at

all,

now

his

you were unpitied, and

yours.

Beloved, v. 2.

Time was when you were

light.

The

upon you

I call

soul's

to

be like strangers and

exiles, to resist

pure milk'; some would render the Greek here,

'the

pure

milk of the word'. V. }. Ps. xxxiii. 9. v. 6. Is. xxviii. I'.

16; see note

7. Ps. cxvii. 22.

commentators,

this

on Rom.

ix. 33.

'Prized, then, by you, the believers'; according to some should be, 'The honour, then, belongs to you, the be-

lievers'. r. 10.

Os.

ii.

23, 24.

C507}

PETER

I

12

On good Repute; on

2

which besiege the

those natural appetites

must be beyond reproach; decried

the Gentiles

must

let

them

see,

you

for you,

14

authority; to the king,

To

15

courage honest men. chatter of fools; that

is

you enjoy

is

it

to

is

who

comes

his time

to every

to

have mercy

kind of

human

and

to the

enjoys the chief power,

hold his commission to punish criminals and en-

16

17

when

For love of the Lord, then, bow

the liberty

amidst

are;

on them.

who

life

from your honourable behaviour, what you

God

they will praise

Your

as malefactors,

13

magistrates

the Sufferings of Slaves

soul.

by honest

silence,

living, the ignorant

what God expects of you. not to be

be used in God's

brethren, your love; to

made Give

service.

Free men, but

wrong-doing;

a pretext for

men

all

God, your reverence;

their due; to the

the king, due

to

honour.

You who

18

shew 19

all

must be submissive

are slaves

who

respect, not only to those

who

but to those

are hard to please.

you do wrong and are punished for

If

to boast of;

21

credit in

it

God's

is

sight.

22

you were to follow

He

was found on

in his foosteps.

his lips;

in return, suffered,

25

he was

ill

left

you

nothing

did no wrong, no treachery

spoken

of,

and spoke no

evil

and did not threaten vengeance, gave himself

hands of

injustice.

So,

on the

cross, his

we were to become dead was his wounds that healed

own body

to

live for holiness;

you.

it

call

own example;

his

the weight of our sins;

you had been

is

Indeed, you are engaged to this by the

23

into the

your patience

it,

the patience of the innocent sufferer that wins

and

up

and considerate,

man credit when he thought of God in his heart.

of Christ; he suffered for our sakes,

24

your masters, and

does a

It

bears undeserved ill-treatment with the

20

to

are kind

like sheep

our

took

sins,

and

Till then,

going astray; now, you have been brought

back to him, your shepherd,

who

keeps watch over your souls.

'To have mercy on them'; literally, 'to visit them', but the sense here probably that which the verb has in Luke i. 68.

V. 12. is

V. 22. Is.

liii.

9.

'Of injustice'; the Greek here has, heavenly Father. V.

25.

V. 24. Is.

liii.

that

his

a

just

judge',

literally,

'the

shepherd and over-

'of

is,

4, 5.

'The shepherd who keeps watch'; seer (or bishop) of your souls'. V. 25.

[508]

On Wives and Husbands;

on Mee\ness

I

PETER

3

CHAPTER THREE You,

TOO,

Some 2 3

must be submissive

are wives

refuse credence to the

still

Your beauty

and reverence they observe lie,

in your

not in braided hair, not in gold trinkets, not in the dress

you wear,

but in the hidden features of your hearts, in a posses-

beyond

price.

was thus

and tranquil

6

paid their husbands such respect.

It

adorned themselves, those

to

Abraham, how she

him her

called

You,

too,

own. The grace of must not

who

paying homage

siderately,

lord; let

woman's

sex as

all

feelings; be lovers of the brethren. I

This God's

call

demands

Yes, long

ing in your turn.

harm, and thy hps call of evil,

12

aim.

On

free

of you, and

life

My

of you,

would

and share the

see

down

you

you tender-

is,

a blessing in-

will inherit a bless-

and prosperous

counsel

days,

let

who would

keep thy tongue clear of

from every treacherous word.

and rather do good;

peace be

Neglect the

thy quest and

all

the upright, the Lord's eye ever looks favourably; his

ears are

open

13

doers.

And who

14

your ambitions?

to their pleading. Perilous is

at their threats;

do you wrong,

to

If,

cause of right, yours 15

and your prayers

not repaying injury with injury,

and humble,

have these for the asking? 11

weaker than your

eternal life belongs to both,

or hard words with hard words, but calling

10

no anxious thoughts

suffer interruption.

hearted, modest,

stead.

you would prove

if

must use marriage con-

are husbands

to

In a word, think the same thoughts,

same

God's

of old time

women who had such trust in God, and Think how obedient Sara was

yourselves her children, live honestly, and disturb you.

spirit; to

women

that the holy

eyes,

9

for their

demeanour.

esty

5

8

it is

by the mod-

sion you can never lose, that of a calm

7

your husbands.

to

word;

wives to win them over, not by word but by example;

must 4

who

of these

after is

all,

is

if

his

frown

only what

you should have

a blessed lot.

Do

for the

wrong-

good

inspires

is

to suffer in the

not be afraid or disturbed

enthrone Christ as Lord in your hearts.

If

anyone

asks you to give an account of the hope which you cherish, be ready V. 7. Cf. I

Cor.

vii. 5.

vv. 10-12. Ps. xxxiii. 13 sqq.

C509]

I

i6

PETER

On

3

times to answer for

at all

What

erence.

matters

is

Christ's Passion,

into Hell

but courteously and with due rev-

it,

that

and Descent

you should have

a clear conscience;

so the defamers of your holy life in Christ will be disappointed in

calumny.

17

their

18

doing right; better

It

we

may

be God's will that

that,

than for doing wrong.

Christ died as a ransom, paid once for

he the innocent for us the

all,

should suffer for

was thus

that

on behalf of our

sins,

It

guilty, so as to present us in

God's

sight.

endowed with fresh he went and preached

In his mortal nature he was done to death, but

and

in his spirit,

19

life

20

to the spirits belief,

who

hoping that

of Noe.

That ark

souls, eight in all,

it

was

in his spirit that

Long

lay in prison.

God would be which Noe was

found refuge

before, they

had refused

patient with them, in the days

then building, in which a few

as they passed

through the waves,

which saves us now. Our baptism

21

was

22

away of outward defilement; it is the test which assures us of a good conscience before God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He sits, now, at the right hand of God, annihilating

a type of the baptism

is

not

a putting

death, to

make

to heaven,

us heirs of eternal

with

all

the angels

life;

he has taken his journey

and powers and princedoms made

subject under his feet.

vv. ig-20. It

is

certain that this passage represents the holy patriarchs as

living in a place of detention, neither

heaven nor

hell,

till

our Lord came

Matt, xxvii. 52, 53). It is not clear why the Apostle concentrates his attention on the contemporaries of Noe, or how those who had refused belief attained salvation afterwards; it seems best to suppose that they were incredulous while the ark was being built, and repented when it was too late to escape the Deluge. 'Hoping that God would be patient with them'; in the Greek, apparently, 'while God's patience waited for them'. 'As they passed through the waves'; some would translate 'by means of water', but this does not apply to the story in Genesis; Christian baptism typifies passing through the waters of death (cf. I Cor. x. 2). V. 21. 'The test which assures us of a good conscience'; the Greek might (cf.

also

mean 'the petition for a good conscience'. The words 'annihilating (literally, swallowing up)

V. 22.

heirs of eternal

life'

are not found in the

[510]

death, to

Greek manuscripts.

make

us

On

Mortification

I

PETER

4

CHAPTER FOUR Christ's mortal arm

nature, then, has been crucified,

nature has been crucified

is

and you must

same intention; he whose mortal

yourselves with the

now, of

quit,

mortal Hfe must be ordered by God's

will,

sin.

not by

The rest of your human appetites.

Time enough has been spent already in doing what the heathen would have you do, following a course of incontinence, passion, drunkenness, revelling, carousal, and shameful idolatry. surprised that you do not rush headlong into the

debauch, and

answer for

on the

you

call

names accordingly;

him who

before

it

ill

and the dead.

living

all

is

That

is

They

same welter

are

of

they will have to

in readiness to pass sentence

why dead men,

too,

had the

gospel message brought to them; though their mortal natures had

paid the penalty in men's eyes, in the sight of

were

God

their spirits

to live on.

The end senses

of

all

awake

things

is

to greet the

close at

hand;

live wisely,

hours of prayer.

Above

and keep your all

things, pre-

among yourselves; charity draws sins. Make one another free of what

serve constant charity

the veil

over a multitude of

is

yours

p. I. 'Christ's mortal nature has been crucified ... he whose mortal nature has been crucified'; hterally, 'Christ has suffered as far as the flesh is concerned ... he who has suffered as far as the flesh is concerned'. It is diffi-

what sense 'he who has suffered is quit of sin', unless suffering here means death. Probably the apostle refers to baptism as mystical association with Christ's death; cf. the very similar passage in Rom. vi. 3-7. It is possible, however, that physical death is alluded to in both parts of the cult to see in

sentence. t>.

6.

'Though

the sight of

their mortal natures

God

their spirits

were

had paid the penalty

in

men's

to live on'; literally, 'that they

eyes, in

might be

judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit'. This much-disputed passage probably refers us back to iii. 19 and 20 above; there were souls who, through incredulity, incurred the outward penalty of temporal death at the time of the Deluge, and nevertheless, through contrition, were reserved for spiritual life, which was brought to them by Christ after his Passion. This illustrated why God 'judges the dead' (v. 5) physical death is only a temporary penalty, and their eternal destiny had still to be ;

setded. V. 8.

Prov.

obliterates in

here

is

p. 9.

X. 12; cf.

that of

Luke

v. 20; the sense may be that charity 'hides away, the sin of another; but more probably the doctrine

James

its effects',

vii.

47.

'Make one another

one another', but

it

free of

what

is

yours'; literally 'be hospitable to

seems necessary to take the words in this more general them with the two verses which follow.

sense, in order to connect

[511]

I

PETER

4

On

serving others; on Patience in Trials

all

whatever

10

ungrudgingly,

11

ceived, as befits the stewards of a

God

so rich in graces.

him remember

that

it

you preaches,

sharing with

let

uttering; another distributes relief, let

who

him

supplies

Do

12

is

of

God's message he

is

the opportunity; that so, in

all

him be

that

you do,

God God may

the glory

it is

and the

Amen.

ages,

not be surprised, beloved, that this fiery ordeal should have

befallen you, to test your quality; there 13

is

re-

One

him remember

be glorified through Jesus Christ; to

power through endless

each of you has

gift

happening

Rather

to you.

is

nothing strange in what

when you

rejoice,

share in

some meas-

ure the sufferings of Christ; so joy will be yours, and triumph, 14

when

his glory

is

Your

revealed.

name

are reproached for the

lot will

of Christ;

God's honour and glory and power, 15

is

resting

upon you.

punishment

for

Let

it

it

be a blessed one,

means

means

if

you

that the virtue of

that his

own

Spirit,

not be said that any of you underwent

it

murder, or

theft, or slander,

man

or infringing other

punished for being a Christian, he

16

men's rights;

17

The time is ripe for judgement to begin, and to begin with God's own household; and if our turn comes first, what will be its issue for those who refuse credence to God's message?

but,

if

a

is

has no need to be ashamed of

it; let

him bear

that

name, and give

glory to God.

man

wins salvation only with

18

If the just

19

plight of the godless, of the sinner? in fulfilment of God's will his

commend

14.

note on Heb. text here

The

xiii. is

what

will be the

their souls, all innocent, into

hands; he created them, and he will not

V. II. Cf. V.

difficulty,

Why then, let those who suflFer fail

them.

21.

uncertain;

some manuscripts omit the words

'honour' and 'power'; some add, after the word 'Spirit', the words 'blasphemed by others, but honoured by you'. V. 75. For 'slander', the Greek has 'wrong-doing'. The word which follows means, literally, 'one who looks after business which is not his own'; it is possible that political agitators are referred to.

[5>^]

On

the Pastoral Office

PETER

I

5

CHAPTER FIVE

AND NOW ^

I

pany;

I,

have a charge

who am

ness of Christ's sufferings,

I,

Hke themselves,

who have my

Be shepherds

one day be revealed.

your com-

to give to the presbyters in

a presbyter

who

I,

bear wit-

part in that glory

God

which

2

will

3

not like drudges, generously, not in the hope of sordid gain;

God would have

you. Carry out your charge as

tyrannizing, each in his

you may,

own

to the flock.

to the flock it

sphere, but setting

when

has given

done, cordially, not

an example,

as

the Prince of shepherds

4

best

5

makes himself known, your prize will be that crown of glory which cannot fade. And you, who are young, must defer to these, your seniors. Deference wear;

God

6

Bow down, you up, when

8

the

burden of

then, before the strong

your anxiety; he

all

devil,

who

like a lion, to find his prey,

face

him

belong to pays,

hand

is

[I

you mastery, and

the giver of

of

is

God; he

will raise

Throw back on him Be

concerned for you.

but you, grounded in the

faith,

all

grace,

who

must

same

tribute of suffering.

has called us to enjoy, after

steadiness,

endless ages.

and strength.

To him

be glory and

Amen.

count on Silvanus as a faithful brother; and through him

sending you

this brief letter for

that the grace in V. J.

sober,

suffering, his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself give

power through I

all

your enemy, goes about roaring

the world over, the

all

And God, little

must

the livery you

you know well enough that the brotherhood you

boldly;

[0

a

is

time comes to deliver you.

his

and watch well; the

[2

one another

to

thwarts the proud, and keeps his grace for the humble.

7

9

So,

The words

which you

'as

best

are so firmly established

you may',

I

am

your encouragement; to assure you

literally

is

the true

'from the heart', are not found

in the Greek. V. 6. Cf.

f

.

the

note on

ii.

12 above.

7. Ps. liv. 23.

V. g.

The Greek

same

here should perhaps be rendered, 'you

know how

to pay

world over'. The idea probably suggested by the Greek verb used, though it is not

tribute of suffering as your brethren, all the

of 'tribute'

is

rendered in the Latin.

Some commentators would make

the words 'after a little suffering' V. 10. follow on the words 'will himself give you'. V. 12. Silvanus is probably the companion of St. Paul (I Thess. i. i).

I

13

PETER

Final Greetings

5

grace of God.

The church

here in Babylon, united with you by

God's election, sends you her greeting; so does 14

my

son,

Greet one another with the kiss of fellowship. Grace be to you, friends in Christ Jesus.

Mark. all

of

Amen.

v. 75. The word 'church' is not expressed, but is evidently meant to be understood, in the Greek. There can be Httle doubt that Babylon means Rome; cf. Apocalypse xvii. 5. The Mark here mentioned is doubdess the Evangelist, whom a very early tradition describes as the 'interpreter' of

St. Peter.

V. 14.

For

'grace' the

Greek has

'peace'.

[514]

THE SECOND

EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE PETER

CHAPTER ONE common

share with us the

God and

by our

who we are

Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those

SIMON

privilege of faith, justified as

grace and peace be yours

Saviour Jesus Christ,

abundantly, as you gain fuller knowledge of God, and of Christ

how

make for life and holicome to us through fuller him, whose own glory and sovereignty have drawn Through him God has bestowed on us high and

Jesus our Lord.

See

the gifts that

all

ness in us belong to his divine power;

knowledge of us to himself!

treasured promises; you are to share the divine nature, with the

world's corruption, the world's passions,

left

to contribute every effort

faith

with virtue, and virtue with enlightenment,

ment with

and hoUness with brotherly

with charity.

no

Such

gifts,

make you quick and

measure, will closer

when

better than a blind

brethren, ever

man

more

feeling his

eagerly, to ratify

a life well lived;

and

into the

and enlighten-

it

will be

kingdom

if

way

and broth-

you do

he

who

lacks

them

is

about; his old sins have

it.

Bestir yourselves then,

God's calling and choice of

this,

you

will

no grudging entrance that

of our

love,

successful pupils, reaching ever

been purged away, and he has forgotten

step,

too

crowning your

they are yours in full

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;

you by

part,

continence, and continence with endurance, and endur-

ance with holiness, erly love

And you

behind.

on your own

have

is

Lord and Saviour Jesus

make no

false

afforded to you Christ.

'Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ'; others would render, 'our God, and the Saviour Jesus Christ', but this seems a less accurate rendering of the Greek. t^. J. For 'See how all the gifts that make for life and holiness in us belong to his divine power', the Greek has 'Since his divine power has given us all that makes for life and holiness'. Most of the Latin manuscripts have, apparently, 'See how all things belong to his divine power, which has been given V. I.

to us to V. 4.

make for life and holiness'. 'Through him'; the Greek has, 'through them'.

[5-5]

PETER

II

12

shall

I

On

2

never

you know

it

your minds.

13

to

14

you, while

15

fold

am

I

then, to go

fail,

and

well, I

the Transfiguration,

on reminding you of grounded in a truth

it

my

duty

in this brief dwelling-place;

what our Lord Jesus Christ has made known

my

And

tent before long.

I

We

ing.

were not crediting

fables of

am

that,

it

gone, you shall always be able to remember what 16

present

I

in

assured, by

me, that

to

will see to

I

is

memory awake

keep the

to

although

this,

that

are firmly

hold"

still

and on Prophecy

I

when

must I

am

have been say-

man's invention, when we

preached to you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and

we had been

about his coming; 17

18 19

eye-witnesses of his exaltation.

Such honour, such glory was bestowed on him by God the Father, that a voice

came

eyes; This,

it

to

him, then,

to

him out

my

said, is

We,

listen.

of the splendour

beloved Son, in his

you are paying so much attention

20

and the day-star ber

21

lamp

this,

that

terpretation.

prophecy;

had

in

rises in

your hearts.

It

it

sanctified, carried

well pleased;

with good reason

word;

until the

it

go on

will

dawn

breaks,

Yet always you must remem-

in scripture

is

the subject of private in-

was never man's impulse,

men gave

It is

to that

some darkened room,

no prophecy

am

and now the word of the

heard that voice coming from heaven,

shining, like a

I

companions on the holy mountain,

prophets gives us more confidence than ever. that

which dazzles human

whom

utterance, but they

after

were

all,

that gave us

men whom God

away, as they spoke, by the Holy

Spirit.

CHAPTER TWO THERE WERE false prophets,

too,

among God's

people. So,

among

you, there will be false teachers, covertly introducing pernicious

ways of thought, and denying the Master who redeemed them, 2

their

own

speedy undoing.

Many

will

embrace

their

to

wanton

This verse seems to suggest that the apostle intended to put his docin some other way, independently of his epistle. See Matthew xvii. 5, and parallels. V. ig. The word of the prophets gives us more confidence than ever', since it has been ratified by the Transfiguration; or perhaps The word of the prophets gives us even more confidence' (than the Transfiguration), since it rests on admitted facts, not on an experience which might be called in question by the incredulous. V. 75.

trine V.

on record

ly.

[516}

God's Warnings in the old Testament creeds,

II

and bring the way of truth into disrepute,

credulity with lying stories for their

doom

warrant for their

God

for them.

thrust

to hell,

their sentence in torment.

made; he brought

a flood

cities

of

of a later time.

trading on your

Long

since, the

is

on the watch

fell

into sin; he

Nor

did he spare the world he had

first

on that world of wickedness, preserving to holiness,

and only seven others

Sodom and Gomorrha,

with utter ruin, turning them less

who

2

chained them there in the abyss, to await

Noe, who had borne witness

The

ends.

in full vigour; destruction

is

did not spare the angels

them down

with him.

own

PETER

to ashes, for

too,

he punished

an example to the god-

Yet he saved Lot, an innocent

man who was

overborne by the violence and the wantonness of his wicked neighbours;

eye

ear could testify to his innocence, although he

and

among men whose lawless doings, day after day, wrung that blameless heart. The Lord does not find it difficult to save his lived

from

true worshippers

their

trials,

await the day of judgement, marked

who follow the defiling and make light of authority. So pecially,

they are not afraid to bring in

thought,

above

while the wrongdoers must

down

for torment;

those es-

appetites of their corrupt nature,

bold are they, so obstinate, that

new and blasphemous ways

whereas angels, with a strength and a capacity

theirs,

do not bring on themselves any charge

so

of far

abomi-

nable.

Such men,

like

dumb

destroyed, sneer at

creatures that are born to be trapped

what they cannot understand, and

V. 4. 'Chained them there in the abyss'; the Greek means, ropes (or perhaps, in pits) of darkness'. The Latin has simply

and

will soon

literally, 'in

'in

ropes of

hell'.

This appears to be the meaning of the Latin (cf. Job xxix. 11); or may be, 'he was innocent in spite of all that he heard and saw'. The Greek of the whole sentence is different: 'that innocent man, living in their company, fretted (or perhaps, gave proof of) his innocent soul over the lawless doings of which the sound and sight came to him, day after day'. V. 10. The word 'authority', according to some, should be understood of the holy angels (cf. Eph. i. 21, Col. i. 16, where the same word has been translated 'powers') according to others, of God himself. But it may equally well refer to earthly authorities. 'Bring in new and blasphemous ways of thought'; the Greek has 'insult august names', as in Jude, verse 8. V. II. 'Do not bring on themselves any charge so abominable'; this appears to be the sense of the Latin; the Greek has, 'do not bring against them (it is not clear, against whom) a derogatory sentence before the Lord'; cf. V. 8.

the sense

;

Jude, verse

9.

[517]

II

13

PETER

The Worldliness

2

own

perish in their

when 14

To

so skilled

at

is all

have gone

your

Their eyes

side!

know how

to

their accursed

dumb

17

They

are wells with

And

erty.

all

from

They

ends.

content to take pay

when

his perversity,

voice, to bring a

prophet to

no water in them, clouds driven

them

darkness and gloom.

is

appetites of sense, to catch those

short respite

own

have no meaning, they bait their hook with

fine phrases that

wanton

the

19

its

and following the path

man who was

human

adultery, insatiable

souls to their purpose,

and was rebuked for

beast spoke with a

his senses.

Using

banquets, as they fare

on

gaining

at

before the storm; the lot that awaits 18

own

win wavering

brood

lasts is

a disfigurement,

feast

far astray, leaving the true path,

in the cause of wrong,

the

what

a stain they are,

of Balaam the son of Bosor, the i5

luxury while the day

live in

they revel in the luxury of their

sumptuously

of sin; and they

15

what

their pleasure;

all

they will have the reward their

corruption;

wickedness has deserved.

of false Teachers

false teaching.

What do

who have had

but a

they offer them? Lib-

the time they themselves are enslaved to worldly cor-

ruption; whatever influence gets the better of a

man, becomes

his

20

That they should have been rescued, by acknowledging our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, from the world's pollution, and then been entangled and overpowered by it a second time, means

21

that their last state

master.

is

worse than the

have found their way to

to

first.

justification,

Better for them, never

than to have found

then turned their backs on the holy law once handed

22

What

has happened to

dog

back

is

at his

them proves

own vomit

down

it,

to

the truth of the proverb.

again.

Wash

the sow,

and

them.

The

and you find

her wallowing in the mire. 13.

V.

'While the day

literally,

lasts';

'in

the day', either in the sense of Wisd. ii. 1-8). The latter

•daylight, or as referring to the shortness of life (cf.

part of the sentence probably refers to those tians

met

common

for social intercourse (cf. Jude, verse 12);

meals at which Chrisseems clear that

if so, it

here in question were rich men who brought their own victuals and did not share them with their poorer neighbours (cf. I Cor.

the xi.

false teachers

21). V. 16.

Num.

V. 18.

who have had but a short respite from false teaching'; literwho have barely (in some Greek manuscripts, have genuinely) from those who walk in error'.

xxii. 28.

'Those

ally, 'those

escaped V.

22. Cf. Prov. xxvi.

quoting scripture, and There is no reference,

it

11;

in the

does not appear, however, that St. Peter is be that there was a current saw of this kind.

it

may

Book

of Proverbs, to the

mire.

[518]

sow wallowing

in the

Why

Judgement

delayed

is

PETER

II

3

CHAPTER THREE THIS

MY

IS

second

2

Do

letter to

awaken

a reminder, to

in

you, beloved;

you your

your aposdes. deceivers

4

Lord and Saviour

that in the last days

must needs come, following the

who

tites,

Remember always

What

will ask,

would appear? Ever

since the fathers

was from the foundation

how, long ago, heaven stood

there,

6

had made with water

origin,

for

went

and 8

overwhelmed by water.

as a

water for

in

its it

is

Lord

thief.

on the

fire

But one thing,

mind, that with the Lord a day counts

The

as a day.

not being dilatory over his promise, as some think; he

attain repentance, not that

the

and those

frame;

then was, came to

ready to feed the

only giving you more time, because his will 10

as

thousand years, and a thousand years count

Lord

as it

That same word keeps heaven

are, stored up,

must keep

is

are fain to forget

day when the godless will be judged, and perish. beloved, you

9

now

earth, as they

appe-

and an earth which God's word

were the very means by which the world, perish,

to their rest, all

They

of the world.

its

on

mocking

own

rule of their

men-

I

laid

has become of the promise that he

5

7

write such letters as

not forget those predictions of the holy prophets which

tioned to you, or the charge which our

3

I

clear sense of the truth.

is

some should be

coming, and when

The heavens

is

it

comes,

it

that

is

of you should

all

But the day of

lost.

will be

upon you

like a

will vanish in a whirlwind, the elements will be

scorched up and dissolve, earth, and

all

earth's achievements, will

burn away. 11

All so transitory; and

what men you ought

how

reverent towards God,

12

worldly in your

13

shrivel

up

while,

we have new

life,

to be! as

How

un-

you wait, and

wait eagerly, for the day of the Lord to come, for the heavens to

14

in fire,

and the elements

to

heavens and a

the dwelling-place of holiness; that loved, since these expectations are

V. 2.

The Greek

has,

orophets, or the charge

melt in

new

its

heat!

And mean-

earth to look forward

to,

what he has promised. Beyours, do everything to make is

'Do not forget what has been foretold by the holy .

.

.

etc'

V. 8. Cf. Ps. Ixxxix. 4.

[519]

II

15

PETER

The

3

Use of Scripture

sure that he shall find you innocent, undefiled, at peace.

Lord

stays his hand, count

Paul, with the 16

false

letter,

in

part of his mercy.

it

all

his letters,

indeed there are passages in them

like the rest of scripture, are twisted into a

17

rant and restless minds, to their

18

errors,

grace,

and and

To him v. 75. If

salonians.

warned lose

in the

in time;

own

this.

wrong

undoing.)

sense by igno-

For yourselves,

you have won;

knowledge of our Lord and Saviour

be glory,

now and

for all eternity.

(Though

understand, and these,

do not be carried away by

the firm foothold

their rash

grow up

have no certainty on the point.

1520]

in

Jesus Christ.

Amen.

the letter referred to has been preserved, it may perhaps be as St. Peter's second epistle bears no particular address,

But

our

written you a

he talks of

difficult to

If

beloved brother

wisdom God has granted him, has

which, as in

beloved, be

Our

I

Thescan

we

THE

FIRST EPISTLE OF

THE BLESSED

APOSTLE JOHN

CHAPTER ONE MESSAGE OURfrom the

that Word, who is life; what he was what we have heard about him, what our own him; what it was that met our gaze, and the

conccms

first,

eyes have seen of

2

touch of our hands.

we

that

3

give you

Yes, Hfe

news

dawned; and

as eye-witnesses

is

life,

abode with the Father and has dawned, now, on sage about

what we have seen and heard we

And

we

are writing to

Christ.

5

yours in full measure.

if

from him, and

What,

you now,

then,

on

to

7

our whole Hfe

8

of his

and move

us;

if

Son

all

in light, there

to you, so this fellow-

Son

his

Jesus

may be

so that joy

message we have heard

if

fellowship between us, and the blood

is

Jesus Christ washes us clean

we deny

it,

you? That

darkness can find any place in him;

when

this

it is

This mes-

on

God is light, and no we claim fellowship with the while we live and move in darkness, it is a lie; God dwells in light; if we too live is an untruth. are passing

6

him,

is

is

and with

ship of ours? Fellowship with the Father, 4

which ever

us.

pass

you too may share in our fellowship. What

that

9

it

of that Hfe, that eternal

that,

we

does not dwell in us.

from

all sin.

are cheating ourselves;

No,

it is

when we

it

Sin

means

is

with

that truth

confess our sins that he

forgives us our sins, ever true to his word, ever dealing right with to

us,

and

all

our wrong-doing

have sinned, that his

it

means

that

is

we

word does not dwell

purged away. are treating

If

him

we deny

as a liar;

that it

in our hearts.

f. I. That 'the Word' here is used in a personal sense would seem from a comparison of this passage with St. John's Gospel, i. 1-4. V.

7.

'There

man and man, above)

we

means

clear

fellowship between us' may refer to fellowship between but the context suggests man's fellowship with God (v. 3

is

I

JOHN

The Commandment

2

of

Love

CHAPTER TWO 1ITTLE CHILDREN, the purposc of Meanwhile,

_/sin.

this letter

any of us does

if

fall

is

to

keep you

into sin,

clear of

we have an

ad-

vocate to plead our cause before the Father in the Just One, Jesus

He,

2

Christ.

3

and not only

we 4

in his

person,

is

the atonement

knowledge of God? The

attained the

his

own

for ours, but for the sins of the

commandments;

man who

the

without keeping his commandments 5

6

7

made

for our sins,

whole world.

test is,

claims knowledge of

is

Have

whether we keep

him

a liar; truth does not dwell

man keeps true to God's word, God has reached its full stature in him; that is what tells us that we are dwelling in God. One who claims to dwell in him must needs live and move as he lived and moved. Beloved, I am not sending you a new commandment; in such a

man

then

certain that the love of

it is

is

it

No,

as that.

if

a

an old commandment, which you were given from the very

what was the message to which you listened long ago but this same commandment, now grown old? And yet it is a new commandment I am sending you, now that it is verified in him and

first;

8

you; the darkness has passed away now, and true light shines in9

He who

stead.

claims enlightenment, and

in darkness

10

brother,

11

that lives in light;

who

is

no

hates his brother

without being able to

and blinded 12

13

I call

name?

you I

all

the while hates his

man who

the

loves his brother

fear of stumbling haunts him. is

The man

in the dark, guides his steps in the

tell

where he

is

dark

going; darkness has fallen,

his eyes. httle children;

call

was from the 14

It is

still.

you

fathers;

first?

victory over the evil

I

call

one?

have not your

sins

been forgiven in his

have you not knowledge of one

who

you young men; have you not gained I

call

you sons; you have learned

to

write to you, children', and so if St. John was addressing, community, divided according to their ages. But it seems unlikely that he should have addressed himself to children; or that he should have no message at all for women. V. 14. After the words 'recognize the Father', the clause used above, 'I call you fathers; have you not knowledge of one who was from the first?' is repeated, according to the Greek manuscripts. vv. J 2-1 4. throughout.

'I

call

It is

you children';

literally,

'I

possible to read these phrases as

in turn, three or four different classes in the Christian

£522]

On WorldUness and

recognize the Father.

JOHN

I

Infidelity

2

you young men; you are strong, with

I call

God's word dwelling in you always; you have gained your victory 15

16

over the evil one.

Do

what the world has

to offer; the lover of this

the Father in him.

What

not bestow your love on the world, and

world has no love o£

does the world offer? Only gratificatiort

empty pomp of

of corrupt nature, gratification of the eye, the living; these things take their being

17

The world and

Father.

from the world, not from the

gratifications pass

its

away; the

man who

does God's will outlives them, for ever.

My

18

sons, this

Antichrist 19

came

many it,

they

20

no

true

21

One

has anointed you, and

that

I

companions of

am

23

would have persevered

With

ours.

now

I

am

not to

is

Antichrist,

To disown

tells

Son

24

Enough

25

should dwell in you.

is

about those

who

If that first

and

lay

of teaching; all true.

no

to the

which was

life.

on

give the

lessons,

first

does right

God is

lie^

man

and dwell

when he

He

himself has I

£5=3}

by

Meanwhile, the

in-

you have no need

you can be a in him.

appears

made

have written

lie,

they are

Yes, litde chil-

we may

greet

deals rightly with us; be sure, then, that

born of him.

is

it

brought you

confidendy, instead of being ashamed at his presence. sure that

is

the truth,

it;

Father;

So much

in you, so that

lesson his influence gives

Follow those

so

the truth

message dwells in you, you too

are trying to mislead you.

dren, dwell in him, so that

29

hidden from you,

claim to the Father too.

in the Father.

fluence of his anointing lives

28

are

Holy

not the Christ ? Such a

have no claim

for you, that the message

will dwell in the Son,

side.

who

he does both the Father and the Son.

as

to

is

us a promise, the promise of eternal

27

is

To whom do we

acknowledging the Son that we

26

our

at

otherwise; the

men from whom

lie.

us that Jesus

disowning

the

it is

appealing to your knowledge of

cannot give birth to a

him who

if

you,

nothing

not writing to you as to

hidden. Rather, all,

it

They

Antichrists have appeared.

they were destined to prove that there are some

it is,

after

told that

to prove to us that

company, but they never belonged to our company;

of our

they had belonged to

As

22

You have been

the last age of time.

the last age of time,

is

if

is

must needs come; and even now,

You

him are

whoever

I

JOHN

God's Children and the Devil's Children

3

CHAPTER THREE HOW God

SEE

counted 2

shewn

has

towards us; that

his love

should be his sons.

as his sons,

we

should be

the world does not

If

Beloved, we is because it never recognized him. God even now, and what we shall be hereafter, has not been made known as yet. But we know that when he comes we shall be like him; we shall see him, then, as he is. Now, a man who rests these hopes in God lives a life of holiness; God, too, is

recognize us, that are sons of

3

holy.

4 5

The man who commits sin, violates order; sin of its nature is You know well enough that when God revealed him-

disorder.

was

self, it

away our

to take

sins; there

6

and no one can dwell in him and be

7

one

who

is

no sinfulness

a sinner.

The

has failed to see him, failed to recognize him.

man who is right with God; God, dealings. The man who lives sinfully takes

8

his

the

is

was

the devil; the devil

was revealed 9

had done, he

is

to us,

and

if

it

a sinner

was

man

a

from the

so that he

is

Little chil-

man who

dren, do not allow anybody to mislead you; the right

him,

in

must be

sinner

too,

his character

might undo what the

born of God, he does not

true to his parentage; he cannot be a sinner,

if

all

from

Son of God

the

first. If

lives

right in

is

devil

live sinfully,

he

is

born of

God. 10

This, then,

known

is

apart.

11

not live right,

12

other; that,

how

if

from the

was

devil's children are

God if To love

cannot trace his origin from

he does not love

not to be like Cain,

murdered

God's children and the

A man

first,

who

his brother.

his brethren.

was the charge given

to

Why

did he

you were

you;

took his character from the

he does

one an-

evil one,

murder him? Because

his

and

own

13

life

God.

No,

14

brethren, do not be surprised that the world should hate you.

We,

evil,

and

his brother's life

was acceptable

remember, have changed over from death brethren as

f.

9.

'He

him', that

is,

we

is

do; whereas,

if

a

man

is

to

life,

God

he inherits a strain proper

[5M]

in loving the

without love, he holds

true to his parentage'; literally, 'the seed of

being a child of

to

God

fast

persists in

to his ancestry.

Love 15

17

of God's Children

A man

by death.

God our sakes; we

that

has proved his love to us by laying

for

too

must be ready

And now,

sake of our brethren.

to lay

down

down

our

man

suppose that a

how

his heart against his brother,

My

can

we

18

dwells in

19

true test of action, not by taking phrases

we

20

demn

because

us, it is

God

hidden from him.

22

can appear boldly before God,

we

What

see us live.

24

one another.

name

that he

he

is

is

of his

if

Son Jesus a

That proves

dwelling in

us,

we

be

shall

will grant

condemn all

that

and

at

This

in him.

through the

would

we should have faith in his command should love

is,

God

is

we

us,

our requests,

living as he

keeps his commandments,

dwelling in God, and

really

and he

Christ,

man

God

our consciences con-

conscience does not

he commands

When

if

;

commandments, and

are keeping his

23

the

Beloved,

steels

love by the

on our Hps.

God

he

above conscience, and nothing

is

21

since

shew our

take our character from the truth, and

able to satisfy our consciences before

has the

if

say that the love of

children, let us

little

his life

lives for the

worldly goods he needs, and sees his brother go in want;

to us that

4

no murderer has eternal H£e dwell-

ing in him.

him?

JOHN

I

cannot hate his brother without being a mur-

and you may be sure

derer,

16

Mar\

as the

is

it

means

our proof that

gift of his Spirit.

CHAPTER FOUR ALL prophetic NOTmust put them

God. Many This spirit

is

false

spirits,

brethren, deserve your credence;

to the test, to see

prophets have

the test by

made

which God's

their

Spirit

which acknowledges Jesus Christ

V. 20.

is

appearance in the world. to be recognized; every

as

having come to us

in

This seems to be the most probable rendering of a verse whose

meaning has been much V. 24.

you

whether they come from

Or

disputed.

the last sentence

may

dered, 'What assures us that he

be connected with what follows, and renis

really

Spirit'.

C525}

dwelUng

in us

is

the gift of his

I

3

JOHN

human

True and

4

has

flesh

disunite Jesus

God

for

comes from God, This

whose coming you have been 4

that

he

is

which would

spirit

power of

the

power

stronger

belonging 6

listens to

edge of

at

to the

he does not

if

he

is

belong to God, and a to listen to us;

listen to us at all.

That

7

guish the true Spirit from the false

8

born of God, and knowing God.

another; love springs from

What

is

man must

the test by

spirit.

How

life

through him.

Son

That

let

to be

man who

God

love?

is

we

sent out his

12

has shewn such love to

13

14

15

16

17

us,

we

too

has no

are concerned,

into the world, so that

is

we

love resides, not in our shew-

an atonement for our

11

distin-

love without being

ing any love for God, but in his shewing love for us

Son

a

us love one

can the

has revealed the love of God, where

might have

is

others,

have knowl-

which we

Beloved,

God; no one can

that he has sent his only-begotten

10

there

he does not belong to God,

if

love have any knowledge of God, since

9

it;

Those

in you, than in the world.

world, speak the world's language, and the world

we

them;

God

work

Antichrist,

now you must know You, little children, who take

your origin from God, have gained the mastery over 5

God's Love

told to expect;

here in the world already.

is

and no

author;

its

false Spirits;

sins.

first,

when he if God

Beloved,

must love one another.

No

man has ever seen God; but if we love one another, then we have God dwelling in us, and the love of God has reached its full growth in our lives. This is our proof that we are dwelling in him, and he in us; he has given us a share of his own Spirit. We apostles have seen for ourselves, and can testify, that God sent out his Son to be the redeemer of the world, and where a man acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God; we have learned to recognize the love God has in our regard, to recognize it, and to make it our belief. God is love; he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. That our life in V. 5. 'Which would disunite Jesus'; apparently in the sense that it would deny the identity of the human Jesus with the divine Christ; but the phrase might have a more general sense of 'destroying' Jesus. This reading in the Latin goes back to the Fathers of the second century; our present Greek manuscripts have simply 'which does not acknowledge Jesus'. V. /J. 'This is our proof; it is not certain whether this refers to what has gone before, or to what immediately follows; perhaps to both.

V. 14. 'We apostles'; the word 'apostles' does not appear in the text, but has been supplied for the sake of clearness in reading, since this is evidently

what

is

meant.

[526]

The Love

of

God; the

5

his,

to the full, so that

confidence.

1

JOHN

I

means that his love has had its way we can meet the day of judgement with no room for fear; and indeed, love drives

the world should be like

with us

Witness

Spirit's

Love has

when it is perfect love, since fear only serves for correction. The man who is still afraid has not yet reached the full measure of love. Yes, we must love God; he gave us his love first. If a man boasts of loving God, while he hates his own brother, he out fear

19

20

is

21

a

He

liar.

divine

what

has seen his brother, and has no love for him;

love can he have for the

command

must be one who

God

No,

he has never seen?

that has been given us; the

man who

this is the

loves

God

loves his brother as well.

CHAPTER FIVE EVERYONE WHO and

bcHeves that Jesus

is

the Christ

to love the parent is to love his child.

is

a child of

If

we

love

God,

God,

his commandments, we can be sure of loving God's chilLoving God means keeping his commandments, and these commandments of his are not a burden to us. Whatever takes its

and keep 3

4

dren.

origin that

is

from God must needs triumph over the world; our faith, the triumphant principle which triumphs over the world.

who

5

He

6

Son of God.

He

known

by water and blood; water and blood

alone triumphs over the world,

to us

water only; and V. 18. 'Since fear

tisement'. Others

it is,

Jesus Christ,

we have

interpret this as

is

the

as well, not

the Spirit's witness that Christ

only serves for correction';

would

believes that Jesus

whose coming has been made

literally, 'since fear

meaning

'because fear

is

is

the

has chaspainful',

or 'because fear involves the prospect of punishment'; but it is doubtful whether the language of the Greek justifies either rendering. V. ig. 'We must love God'; in the Greek, 'we love God', in the Latin, 'let

us love God'. V. 6. 'That Christ is the truth'; the Greek has 'that (or, because) the Spirit is the truth'. It is not clear what mystical significance St. John attached to the Spirit, the water, and the blood, here and in v. 8; he may, perhaps, have had the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist in mind. In John i. 33 water and the Spirit are closely associated, water and blood in John xLx. 34; in both these passages the idea of human testimony is prominent.

I

JOHN

The

5

Christian Witness; Confidence in Prayer

Thus we Word, and the Holy Ghost,

7

truth.

8

the

have a three-fold warrant in heaven, the Father,

who

three

have a three-fold warrant on earth, the 9

blood, three witnesses that conspire in one.

human

authority;

We

not divine authority higher

is

that higher divine authority for this;

ID

are yet one;

Spirit, the water,

The man who

God

and we

and the

are ready to trust

And we

still?

have

has borne witness to his

Son of God has this man who does not believe in the Son treats God as a liar; although God himself has borne witness to his Son, he has refused to believe in it. And what is the truth so attested ? That God has given us eternal life, and that this life is to be found in his Son. To keep hold of the Son is to have life; he is lifeless, who has no hold of the Son of God, There is my message to you; be sure that you have eternal life; go on be-

own

Son.

believes in the

divine attestation in his heart; the

11

12

13

lieving in the

name

of the

Son of God.

Such familiar confidence we have

14

listens to us

We

15

with his

16

that the requests

will.

are sure that he listens to

we make

of

him

his brother to be guilty, yet not of it,

we

in him, that

whenever we make any request of him

he should pray for him; and,

to the brother

who

is

not over this that

kills; it is

18

wrong-doing of any kind; not been born of God,

we may

I

our requests, sure If a

man knows

such a sin as brings death with

at his request, life will

sinning, yet not fatally.

17

all

are granted.

bid all

believe he

in accordance

him sin

fall to

is fatal.

There

is

be granted

a sin

which

may be The man who has

prayer.

be sure, keeps clear of

Sin

sin; that divine

V. 7. This verse does not occur in any good Greek manuscript. But the Latin versions may have preserved the true text; scribes often omitted, by error, the former of two sentences which had decepdvely similar endings. In this very chapter, two important manuscripts omitted the first six words of verse 15, for the same reason. V. 8. 'Conspire in one'; literally, in the Latin, 'are one', in the Greek, 'form one'. V. 16. For 'if a man knows', the Greek has, 'if a man sees'. Commentators are much disagreed as to the nature of the sin which brings death with it. It has often been identified as final impenitence, but the context seems to demand an acdon, rather than a state of mind. Since St. John is warning us, all through his epistle, against the danger of apostasy from Christ, he may be disdnguishing here between various degrees of culpability in sinners of that kind (cf. Jude, vv. 22, 23). He does not explicitly say that 'fatal' sin is irremissible, only that we are not bound to pray for one who shews so little evidence of good dispositions; cf. II John, verse 10.

[528]

We

are God's Children

19

origin protects him,

20

about us

I

and the

evil

JOHN

5

And we

one cannot touch him.

can be sure that we are God's children, though the whole world

of

God

lies

has

in the

come

power

to us,

to recognize the true 21

God, and

eternal

life.

of

evil.

We can be sure, too, that the Son

and has given us

God, and Beware,

a sense of truth;

to live in his true little

Son.

we were

He

is

true

children, of false gods.

or perhaps 'of the evil one'. not certain vvhether the vv'ord 'he' refers to the

V. ig. 'Of evil'; V. 20. It is

to the

word

'Son'.

[529]

word

'God' or

EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

THE SECOND

THE PRESBYTER, scnd greeting I, has chosen; and

the truth, loved, not by

me

who

nized the truth,

3

be our companion for ever.

God

Son of the Father, send you

grace,

4

truth and love.

me

for love of that truth

command

ing the

sovereign lady,

mand 6

from his

7

that

the

I

has given

my

the Father,

and

us

commandments;

all

to us

love

is

and

only the

itself

way

spirit of

of thee.

the

Many

some

of truth, obey-

from the Father.

make

will

Jesus Christ, the

mercy and peace in a

It is

And now,

no new com-

command we were

love one another.

bade us follow.

have recog-

in us,

great happiness, in meeting

a request to

letter brings,

first; let

earliest lessons

came

that

have

who

which dwells

of thy children, to find that they followed the 5

are

only, but by all those

2

It

whom God my friends in

to that sovereign lady

to those children of hers

given

Love means keeping

commandment which our false teachers

have appeared

who will not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has human flesh; here is the deceiver you were warned against,

in the world,

come

in

Be on your guard, or you

will lose all

8

here

9

have earned, instead of receiving your wages in

who God

is

Antichrist.

who is not true to Christ's man who is true to that teaching,

goes back, ;

the

V. I. If, as is

full.

you

The man

teaching, loses hold of

keeps hold both of the

word 'presbyter' (or senior) referred in the first 'foundation members' of a given church (cf. Acts

probable, the

instance to those

who were

XX. 17, 18), it is easy to see why St. John should describe himself as 'the senior' (in relation to the Church at large) at a time when he was the only he addresses is no doubt a local church; the Apostle left. The 'lady'

whom

notion that a person is addressed (some think, by a proper name, Kyria) does not accord well with the use of the plural in verses 8-12. V. 8. 'All you have earned'; some Greek manuscripts have 'all the result of

our

labours'.

man who goes back'; other manuscripts of the Latin have 'the goes on in front', which corresponds better with the Greek. The sense may be (if that is the true reading), 'the man who tries to go beyond' the fixed deposit of faith, perhaps by adopdng a Docetic view of our Lord's Incarnation. f. 9.

'The

man who

[531I

II

10

JOHN

False Teachers must be

Father and of the Son.

If

you are

visited

who

by one

him

bring this teaching with him, you must not receive

him welcome;

11

houses, or bid

12

guilt of his doings. it besr.

you, and convey 13

full

I

not to entrust

measure.

it

The

to bid

might add

my

message

him welcome

to this letter, to

but

paper and ink;

is

shunned

does not in your

to share the

have thought

I I

hope to

visit

by word of mouth, to give you happiness in children of thy

greeting.

C532]

sister,

God's chosen, send thee

THE THIRD EPISTLE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN GREETINGS FROM and

thee,

3

What

the prcsbyter to Gaius, his most dear friend in

Beloved,

the truth.

my

prayer

that

is

goes well with

all

that thou art in health; with thy soul,

happiness

it

gave me,

when

all

goes well.

who came

the brethren

here

bore witness of thy loyalty to the truth, the loyalty thou shewest

4

in all thy dealings!

5

when

I

I

my

hear that

have no greater cause for thankfulness, than

children are following the

loved, thou art playing a faithful

when

kindness to the brethren, even

6

They have borne

to set

such a manner as

God's service;

8

of his

9

10

it

I

it

might have sent

I

message

this

acknowledge

to

will tax

him with

his

us.

ill

If I

to the

He

Yes,

for love it is

church at

wrong, to

right pattern, not the

child of

God;

Demetrius

is

13

mendation to

is

Thy

visit,

be

maligns us with his

restraint

imitate.

on those who

Beloved, choose the

He who

one

whom

all

commend

true.

I

have

speak well

does right

is

a

of,

and the truth

and we

itself is his

him, and thou knowest that our com-

much

to tell thee,

convey the message with paper and ink;

fore long,

large,

among

the wrong-doer has caught no glimpse of him.

warrant; we, too,

14

our

men

not that enough for him, without refusing to

is

would, by expelling them from the church?

thee.

it.

should pay you a

conduct.

acknowledge our brethren, and putting

12

to

not that Diotrephes, ever eager to take a leading part

foolish gossip;

11

their journey in

was undertaken

help on the cause of truth by giving welcome to such

them, refuses sure

befits

name, the heathen contributed nothing

as these.

were

they are strangers to thee.

them forward on

and thou wilt do well

to

Be-

of truth.

public witness before the church of thy charity,

7

duty

way

man's part in shewing such

will converse by

friends here greet thee.

word

I

I

have no mind

hope

to see thee be-

but

of mouth. Peace be with

Give our

friends, each of

them

by name, our greeting. See note on the second Epistle, v. i. 'Of his name'; the Greek has 'of the Name', as in Acts the name of Jesus Christ is clearly meant. V. I.

V. 7.

[333]

v. 41,

where

THE UNIVERSAL

THE

EPISTLE OF

BLESSED APOSTLE JUDE SERVANT o£ Jcsus Chfist, and brother of James, to those JUDE, A who have met with loving-kindness from God the Father, those whom he has set apart for Jesus Christ, and called them, mercy

and peace and love be yours, in is

full

measure.

Beloved, as one

ever ready to write to you about that salvation

common

concern,

I

am

compelled to send you

which

this letter of

ing; you have a battle to fight over the faith that

down, once

for

all,

and

Christ, our

Let

all.

life

you,

how

The

angels, too,

stead of keeping their

darkness, to await their

with

who

God

lesson, and you know who had rescued his those who had proved un-

Learn one

the place assigned to them, in-

left

due order, he has imprisoned in eternal judgement when the great day comes. So

Sodom and Gomorrha and

into the

secretly

the Saviour

people from Egypt went on to destroy faithful.

way

of wantonness; they even deny Jesus

one Lord and Master.

me remind

warn-

was handed

are perverting the life of grace our

has bestowed on us into a

who your

Godless men, long since des-

to the saints.

tined thus to incur condemnation, have found their into your company,

is

same debauchery

the cities

as their

round them, which

fell

neighbours and pursued un-

natural lust; they bear, for our warning, their sentence of eternal

And

fire.

so

it is

with these as

it

was with those

others; they pol-

lute nature, they defy authority, they insult august

when

yet,

their dispute over the

him

names.

(And

the archangel Michael held debate with the devil, in

insultingly;

body

of Moses, he did not venture to accuse

he was content

to

say.

May

the

Lord rebuke

thee.) v. 5.

the

The

Saviour'; the

God who brought

name

Israel

'Jesus' is here used, apparently, to designate out of Egypt. Some Greek manuscripts have

'the Lord'.

vv. 8, 9. See II Peter ii. 10, 11, and notes there. The tradition of a dispute over the body of Moses seems to have been preserved also in the apocryphal book called The Assumption of Moses, of which only a fragment survives.

[535]

The Wotidliness

JUDE Such men sneer

10

at the things they

of false Teachers

cannot understand; like the

brute beasts they derive knowledge only from their senses, and 11

Woe

serves to corrupt them.

Balaam

the path of Cain; greed, that led 12

side,

What

sumptuously

in their banquets, as they fare

at

shepherds that feed themselves without scruple!

wandering

crests,

14

is

They are clouds with no water in them, driven before the winds, autumn trees that bear no fruit, given over anew to death, plucked up by the roots; they are fierce waves of the sea, with shame for their

your

13

been their

astray, has

ruin; they have taken part in the fatal rebellion of Core.

defilement there

it

betide them, they have followed in

Of

them.

with eternal darkness and storm awaiting

stars,

among

these,

others,

Henoch was speaking, Adam's when he prophesied, Behold,

descendant in the seventh degree, 15

the

Lord came with

sentence on ners,

16

with

many

to convict the godless.

how many ungodly

rebellious

to carry out his

his saints in their thousands,

men, and

all

acts they

Godless and sin-

how men go

have defied God, with

Such

words have they blasphemed him!

about whispering and complaining, and live by the rule of their

own

appetites;

meanwhile, their mouths are ready with fine

phrases, to flatter the great

But

17 18

as for you, beloved,

20

serves their ends.

mocking

spirits

must needs appear

how

they

in the last age,

who would make their own ungodly appetites into a rule of life. Such are the men who now keep themselves apart; animal natures, without the life of the Spirit. It is for you, beloved, to make your most holy

21

it

keep in mind the warnings given you

long since by the aposdes of our Lord Jesus Christ; told you, that

19

when

faith the foundation of

in the

power of the Holy

love of

God, and wait

for the

22

eternal life for your goal.

23

confute them; V. II.

is

See

II

others

Peter

ii.

your

Spirit;

to

lives,

and

to

go on praying

maintain yourselves in the

mercy of our Lord Jesus

To some you must

Christ, with

give a hearing, and

you must pluck out of the

fire,

and rescue

15.

vv. 12, /J. See II Peter ii. 13 and 17, and note on v. 13 there. vv. 14, 75. These words are found in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, which supposed by scholars to have been written in the second and first centuries

before Christ. vv. ly, 18. See II Peter

iii.

2-4.

literally, 'in fear'. Some Greek manuscripts only give two classes of men here, instead of three. 'The outward fringe of the flesh has defiled'; literally, 'the garment defiled by the flesh'. V. 23.

'While you shun them';

what

1536}

Ascription of Praise to

JUDE

God

them; others again you can only the

24

outward fringe of what the

There

you.

you 25

is

one

who

pity,

flesh

while you shun them; even

has defiled must be hateful to

can keep you clear of

proved,

God,

when our Lord Jesus who gives us

to him,

fault,

and enable

triumphant and unre-

to stand in the presence of his glory,

Christ comes;

to

him,

who

alone

is

salvation through Jesus Christ our

Lord, glory and majesty and power and domination are due, before time was,

t/.

24.

and now, and

for all ages.

The words 'when our Lord

Amen.

Jesus Christ comes' are not in our

text.

C537I

Greek

THE APOCALYPSE OF THE BLESSED APOSTLE JOHN

CHAPTER ONE THIS him

IS

A revelation

to

from

make known

Jesus Christ,

soon find their due accomplishment. disclose the pattern of

for God's word,

own eyes had all who listen

And

he has sent

A

it.

to these

blessing

his angel to

one who bore witness

to his servant John,

it

and for the truth concerning Jesus

seen

message; the time

Thus John

which God has allowed which must

to his servants, of things

Christ, as his

on him who reads

this,

words of prophecy, and keep true

close at hand.

is

and peace

writes to the seven churches in Asia, Grace

be yours, from

him who

from the seven

and on to their

spirits

is,

and ever was, and

is still to

come, and

and from

that stand before his throne;

who

Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, first-born of the risen dead, rules over all earthly kings.

He

has proved his love for us, by wash-

ing us clean from our sins in his race of priests, to serve

God,

own

through endless ages. Amen.

bring lamentation to

Amen.

I

am

royal

and power be

his

all

who wounded

the tribes of earth. So

him, and he it

must

be,

am Omega, the beginning of all things and Lord God; he who is, and ever was, and is still

Alpha,

their end, says the to

and made us a

Behold, he comes with clouds about

him, seen by every eye, seen by those shall

blood,

his Father; glory

I

come, the Almighty. I,

John, your brother,

nity,

who

and your endurance

share your ill-usage, your royal dig-

in Christ Jesus,

was

set

down on

the

who

bore witness of God's word'; others would understand this has now borne record of God's word', and as referring to the Apocalypse itself. But a comparison of i. 9, vi. 9, and xx. 4 below suggests that the verb here means bearing witness to God's word in V. 2.

as

'One

meaning

'the

man who

face of persecution (cf.

I

Tim.

vi.

13)

;

in

which

case the apostle

is

identify-

ing himself as an eye-witness of the gospel story and a confessor for the V. 7. Cf. Zech. xii. 10, John xix. 37.

C539]

faith.

APOCALYPSE

Christ in Glory writes to the Seven Churches

2

word and

island called Patmos, for love of God's

of the truth con-

11

And there, on the Lord's day, I fell into a trance, and heard behind me a voice, loud as the call of a trumpet, which said, Write down all thou seest in a book, and send it to the seven

12

Thyatira, and Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

10

cerning Jesus.

Pergamum, and

churches in Asia, to Ephesus, and Smyrna, and

what

to see

13

I

voice

it

saw seven golden

was

was speaking and

candlesticks,

golden candlesticks one 14

that

who seemed

So

I

turned,

as

I

turned,

in the midst of these seven

man, clothed in

like a son of

head was like wool snow-white, and

his

The

fire,

the sound of water in deep flood. stars;

and

At

from

his

his face

mouth came

was

the sight of him,

am

before

death,

am

all, I

alive, as

and

19

of death

20

what must

am

hell.

a

In his right hand were seven

sword sharpened

when it down at his

sun

like the

he, laying his right

I fell

hand on me, spoke at the

thou

end of

all,

seest, to

at

shines at feet like a

thus:

and

Do

its

befall hereafter.

As

my

for the

and

meaning

right hand,

edges;

strength.

dead man; and not be afraid;

I live. I,

endless ages,

both

its full

I

who underwent I

hold the keys

Write down thy vision of what now

which thou hast seen in

hair

his eyes like flaming

melted in the crucible, and his voice like

his feet like orichalc

15 16

18

And

me.

a long garment, with a golden girdle about his breast.

on

17

to

is,

and

of the seven stars

and the seven golden

candlesticks, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

thou knowest, and the candlesticks, seven in number, are the seven churches.

CHAPTER TWO church AKGEL To THEfrom him who of the

2

at

Ephesus write thus:

walks amidst the seven golden candlesticks: doings,

V. 75.

all

A message

bears the seven stars in his right hand,

thee

thy

toil

and endurance; how

little

I

know

to

and

of all thy

patience thou hast

Orichalc, an unidentified metal of the ancient world.

V. ly. Cf. Is. xliv. 6,

Matt. xiv. 2;.

V. 20. This may refer to the angel guardians of the churches, but more probably to their bishops.

[540]

:;

with wickedness,

how

name

and found them

5

Yet there

despair.

charity that

thou hast I f)

at first.

them.

when

And

Who wins

to the

ears, to the

the victory

which grows

Yet

this is in thy fa-

before

is

Smyrna

derwent death and now

and

all

alive:

is

I

as

him

will give

I

.f*

my

I,

abhor

too,

Spirit has for fruit

from the

God.

write thus:

at the

end of

know how

A message

all,

who

sorely tried

art,

how

thy

name

are

no true Jews; they are rather the chosen people of Satan).

stricken with poverty (yet, is

men who

traduced by

all

else

unrepentant,

still

message the

in the Paradise of

angel of the church at

from him, who

place.

its

ways; or

to the old

find thee

I

ways of the Nicolaitans,

you that have

Listen,

to thee

10

I

remove thy candlestick from

will

tree of life,

9

of such as usurp the

Yes, thou endurest, and

and repent, and go back

to visit thee, and,

the churches.

S

trial

false.

my name has not made thee make against thee; of losing the Remember the height from which

one charge

was thine

fallen,

come

will

is

vour, thou dost abhor the 7

made

thou hast

2

thou hast borne for the love of

all

4

of apostle,

APOCALYPSE

and Pergamum

Praise of Ephesus, Smyrna,

the while, so rich)

un-

thou

how

;

claim to be Jews (though they

Do

not be afraid of the suffering thou art to undergo. Before long, the devil will

and

there, 1

me

throw some of you into prison, for ten days

you

to the point of death,

you that have

Who

and

ears, to the

wins the

victory.'^

shall

be in sore will

I

have your faith tested

distress.

Keep

crown thee with

message the

The second

to

faith

with

Listen,

life.

Spirit has for the churches.

death shall have no power to

hurt him. 12

And

to the angel of the

message 13

edges:

Satan

to thee I

sits

know

church

at

Pergamum

from him whose sword well in

enthroned.

what

And

is

write thus:

sharpened

at

both

a place thou dwellest, a place

yet thou art true to

my

A its

where

name, and hast

not disowned thy faith in me. Such in former times was Antipas,

who 14

bore

me

faithful witness,

dwelling-place, your

city.

and was put

Yet here and there

to I

death in Satan's

have fault to find

with thee; thou hast followers there of the school of Balaam.

Balaam w^ho taught Balac how

It

was

to lay a trap for the people of Israel,

V. 6. There is a tradition that this sect was founded by Nicolaus the deacon (Acts vi. 5) but this is uncertain. They seem to have been antino-

mian

in doctrine.

v. 14.

Num.

xxxi. 16.

[541}

APOCALYPSE when t5,

17

and thou,

my

of

new name

to the

receives

and

more

know

I

who

of

active than at

21

they

my

prophecy, to mislead into fornication,

fall

is

written,

known

and

A

to

mes-

has eyes like flaming

fire,

thy doings, thy faith, thy

all

how

thou

in these last days

Yet here and there

first.

woman

find with thee; thou allowest the gift of

that

Who wins

angel of the church at Thyatira write thus:

feet like orichalc:

art

you

Listen,

it.

love, thy generosity, thy endurance,

20

and

manna, and give him

the hidden

And

Do

to visit thee,

mouth.

him with

will feed

I

into fornica-

Spirit has for the churches.

sage to thee from the Son of God, 19

come

will quickly

white stone, on which stone a

him only who 18

message the

ears, to the

the victory? a

I

them with the sword

fight against

fell

Thyatira

too, hast followers of the Nicolaitan school.

thy turn, repent; or

ill

have

and

they ate what was sacrificed to idols

i6tion; thou,

Pergamum and

False teaching at

2

Jezabel,

I

have fault to

who

claims the

servants with her teaching, so that

eat

what

offered to idols.

is

have

I

mend her harlot's and those who commit

given her time for repentance, but she will not 22

ways.

I

have a bed ready

to lay her in;

adultery with her will be in sore

23

the churches

all

and

heart,

24

I

straits, if

they do not repent of

And her children I will kill outright, so that may know me for one who probes the innermost

wrong-doing.

their

will repay each of

say to you,

teaching,

who have

which Satan

called)

you;

26

Who

wins the

27

give

him

his

deeds have earned. But

who do

not follow this

never learned the deep mysteries (as they are ojEfers;

keep hold of what

25

you what

those others in Thyatira

victory.?

I

is

Who

have no fresh burden to lay upon

m

your grasp already, until

will

do

my

authority over the nations;

bidding to the to

I

last?

come. I

will

herd them like sheep

with a crook of iron, breaking them in pieces like earthenware;

same authority which

28

the

29

Star of

morning

message the

V.

shall

I

myself hold from

his.

Listen,

you

my

Father.

And

the

that have ears, to the

Spirit has for the churches.

16. 'In thy turn'; this

above), but XXV. 5.

be

more probably

vv. 26, 27. Ps.

ii.

V. 28. Cf. xxii. 16

may mean

'like

refers to the

8, 9.

below.

1:542}

the Christians at Ephesus' (v. 5

purge of religion ordered in

Num.

Dead

APOCALYPSE

Sardis; loyal Philadelphia

3

CHAPTER THREE TO THE church's angel

AND seven

know

stars. I

2

ing man, and

3

tasks

whatever

of

all

but

else still lives,

my God

member how

the gift,

and repent.

thou

If

how

thy watch,

know

liv-

hold

Refast,

it

come upon

thee like

my coming

to thee.

will

I

the hour of

Yet here and there in Sardis thou canst claim souls which have

clothed in white;

it is

Who

their due.

he be clothed, in white garments; the

6

to

rally

unfulfilled.

to thee;

kept their garments undefiled, and these shall bear 5

and

thyself,

them

came

the message

failest in

message

God, and the

point of death. There are

find

I

A

thou dost pass for a

Rouse

lives at the

expects of thee, and

spirits of

how

thy doings,

the while art a corpse.

all

a thief; thou shalt never

4

write thus:

at Sardis

from him who bears the seven

thee

^

book of

and

his

life,

his angels.

name

you that have

Listen,

I

shall

will never blot out of

my

acknowledge before

will

I

name

his

me company,

wins the victory? So

Father

the message the

ears, to

Spirit has for the churches.

7

And

to the angel of the

message

to thee

9

when he

shuts:

I

know

thee an

open door, there

strength

is,

denied

my

of thy doings,

10

Before long,

at thy feet,

shewn

Thou

and

I

I

will

upon

keep thee

safe

I

will

am coming

my

will

make him

thy

own some

claim to be Jews to thee,

trial

which

who

all

Who

I

have

lesson of endurance,

soon; hold what

none may rob thee of thy crown.

before

little

make them come

from the hour of

that

I

set

message, and hast not

falsely

hast kept true to

earth.

the city

have

know how

and acknowledging the love

12

I

see, I

will give thee for thy

the whole world, for the testing of Patience,

A

and truth; who bears

I

my

to

11

again.

it.

men who

they are none; before long,

doing reverence for thee.

and

no shutting

is

of Satan's chosen people, the

when

holiness

and yet thou hast been true

name.

Philadelphia write thus:

at

is all

none may shut when he opens, none open

the key of David, so that 8

church

from him, who

is

is

soon

to fall

dwell on the

in thy grasp, so

wins the victory?

I

my God, never to leave it will write on him the name of my God, and the name of my God has built, that new Jerusalem which my God is a pillar in the temple of

[543]

APOCALYPSE now

even 13

Tepidity of the Laodiceans

4

sending

down from

you that have

Listen,

my own new

heaven, and

message the

ears, to the

name.

Spirit has for the

churches.

And

14

church

to the angel of the

at

Laodicea write thus:

A

mes-

sage to thee from the Truth, the faithful and unerring witness, the 15

source from which God's creation began:

I

and find thee neither cold nor hot; cold or 16

17

18

luke-warm, neither cold

make me vomit thee out of my mouth. I am rich, thou sayest, I have come into my own; nothing, now, is wanting to me. And all the while, if thou didst but know it, it is thou who art wretched, thou who art to be pitied. Thou art a begand

and naked;

gar, blind

from

me what

rich,

and white garments,

ness

20

generosity, if

sight.

anyone

visit

to clothe thee,

is,

I

See where

upon thy

correct

won

I

you that have

Listen,

thee

eyes, to restore

stand at the door, knocking;

I

him

will let

now

the victory, and

make

and chasten; kindle thy

my voice and opens the take my supper with him,

wins the victory?

come and buy

to

fire, to

and cover up the naked

salve, too,

love that

I

and repent.

too have

throne.

counsel to thee

listens to

Who I

those

It is

him, and

me.

me;

my

thou needest; gold, proved in the

which dishonours thee; rub

them

22

art,

of thy doings,

would thou wert

I

nor hot, thou wilt

19

21

Being what thou

one or the other.

know

hot,

door,

share

I sit

ears, to the

come

will

I

and he

shall

my

sharing

in to

sup with

throne with

my

message the

Father's

Spirit has

for the churches.

CHAPTER FOUR

THEN

A VISION

And

open.

came

the

to

same

me;

voice,

I

saw

which

a door in heaven, standing I

had heard speaking

to

Come up

to

before, loud as the call of a trumpet, said to side,

and

I

plishment.

will

shew thee what must

And

all

at

once

I

was

me.

and saw where

throne stood in heaven, and one sat there enthroned. there bore the semblance of a jewel, jasper or sardius, a

rainbow about the throne, t>.

4.

The word

'elders'

here

due accom-

find, after this, its

in a trance,

He who

also

[544]

be translated

a

sal

and there was

like a vision of emerald.

may

me my

Round

'presbyters'.

it

APOCALYPSE

Vision of the heavenly Court

were twenty-four

seats,

in white garments, with

came out from fore

it

facing

and on these

was

a

whole sea of

them.

The

ox, the third

figure

had

a

was

and

itself,

to see before

in the midst,

were four living

them and behind

that of a lion, the second that of

figures

had

six

unceasingly. Holy, holy, holy is

and

is still

to

is

the

Lord God,

And

come.

gave glory and honour and blessing

who

an

wings, with eyes every-

where looking outwards and inwards; day and night they ever was, and

be'

God;

man's look, and the fourth was that of an eagle

Each of the four

in flight.

And

glass, like crystal.

had eyes everywhere first

thunders.,

are the seven spirits of

where the throne was, round the throne figures, that

Lightnings

their heads.

and mutterings, and

burned seven lamps, which it

twenty-four elders, clothed

sat

crowns of gold on

the throne,

5

to

the Almighty,

cried

who

as often as these figures

him who

sat

on

the throne,

down in who sat on the throne, who lives for ever and and threw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,

lives for ever

and

ever,

the twenty-four elders

fell

worship before him ever,

Thou, our Lord God, claimest power; by thee

was ever

all

as thy

due glory and honour and

things were created; nothing ever was, nothing

created, but in obedience to thy wilL

CHAPTER FIVE

AND NOW I saw that he who sat on the throne carried in his right L

hand

a scroll.

The

both written on, and

it

inside of the page

was

angel of sovereign strength,

and the outside were

sealed with seven seals.

who was

And

claims the right to open the book, and break the seals there

was no one

in heaven, or

on

I

saw an

crying in a loud voice,

under the

earth, or

could open the scroll and have sight of

it.

on

I

was

all

it?

earth,

Who But

who

in tears, that

t'v. ^-10. All the verbs in these sentences, except one, are in past tenses, according to our version. The Greek, and some manuscripts of the Latin, give the present tense in vv. 5-8, the future in vv. 9-10. f. 6. Cf. Ezech. i. 5-1 1. These figures were identified by some of the earliest Christian visiters as representing the four Evangelists.

C545]

APOCALYPSE

The Lamb and

5

none should be found worthy 5

Book

scroll or

have sight of

No

need for

tears; here is

me,

until

one of the elders said

one

who

has gained the right to open the book, by breaking

seals, the

Lion

Then

stock of David.

(as

thought) in

I

which

everywhere on earth. right

hand

of

sat

the four living figures

the

Lamb standing upright, yet He had seven horns, and seven God,

He now

him who

go out

that

a harp,

on

it.

eyes,

bidding

scroll

from the disclosed

elders fell

down

in

and they had golden bowls

And now

they sang, Thou, Lord, art worthy to take seals that are

his

slain

and when he

and the twenty-four

full of incense, the prayers of the saints.

break the

do

to

came, and took the

on the throne,

Lamb's presence. Each bore

hymn

its

from the

saw, in the midst, where the throne was,

are the seven spirits of

8

tribe of Juda,

elders, a

sacrifice.

7

it,

I

to

comes from the

that

amid the twenty-four

9

the sealed

open the

it;

seven 6

to

Thou wast

it

was a new

up the book and

slain in sacrifice; out of

every tribe, every language, every people, every nation thou hast 10

ransomed us with thy blood and given us

made 11

us a royal race of priests, to serve

kings over the earth.

Then

I

heard, in

to

God.

God; we

my

Thou

hast

shall reign as

vision, the voices of a

multitude of angels, standing on every side of the throne, where the living figures 12

and the

elders were, in thousands of thousands,

and crying aloud. Power and Godhead, wisdom and strength,

honour and glory and blessing 13

slain.

earth,

And

and on the

gether. Blessing

it

V.

and II.

that

was

sea,

and

all

that

is

in

it,

I

heard crying out

to-

not clear in what sense.

The Greek manuscripts have

up'.

vu. g, 10. 'us'

Lamb

and honour and glory and power, through endless

V. 8. 'Disclosed'; it is

'took

are his by right, the

every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the

Some

of the Greek manuscripts have 'them'

and

'they' instead

of

'we'.

The Greek

has, 'in ten thousands of ten thousands,

and thousands

of thousands'. I/. 12. 'Godhead'; the Greek here has 'riches', and it seems likely that the Latin version arose from a faulty reading. V. /J. 'And on the sea, and all that is in it'; this is perhaps the best account to give of the Latin text here, but it is curious that 'on' and 'in' should be rendered by the same preposition in Latin. The Greek text seems to be 'every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is in them'; it is hard to see that the last six words add anything to the sense.

[546]

APOCALYPSE

The four Horsemen 14

on the throne, and to the Lamb. Amen; and the twenty-four elders worshipping him who lives for ever and ever.

him who

ages, to

Then

sits

four Hving figures said, prostrate,

CHAPTER

6

the fell

SIX

THEN, IN MY VISION, the Lamb broke open one of the seven seals, and with

that

say, in a

heard one of the four living figures

I

voice like thunder,

Come and

look.

So

I

looked, and saw there a

white horse, whose rider carried a bow; a crown was given him,

and he rode out

victorious,

broke the second

seal, I

look; and empowered slay

away

to take

one another; and

in his

I

hand a

And when he Come and

victory.

saw

say.

whose

out, fiery-red,

sword was given

to him.

heard the third figure

I

thought, too,

the living figures were.

A

say.

whose

there a black horse,

pair of scales;

came from where

win

rider

was

men And when Come and

peace from the world, bidding

all

a great

seal, I

looked, and

to

came

a second horse

he broke the third look; so

and

heard the second figure

I

rider carried

heard a voice that

silver piece,

said,

it

for a quart of wheat, a silver piece for three quarts of barley; but

do the wine and the

oil

And when

no hurt.

he broke the fourth

seal, I

heard the voice of the fourth living figure

look.

So

was to

called Death,

have

his

say.

Come and

looked, and saw there a cream-white horse;

I

and Hell went

way with

all

at his bridle-rein;

rider

its

he was allowed

the four quarters of the world, killing

men

by the sword, by famine, by plague, and through wild beasts that

roam

the earth.

beneath the

And when

altar, the souls

he broke the

of

all

fifth seal, I

who had been

God's word and of the truth they held,

saw

there,

slain for love of

crying out with a loud

V. 14. The last seven words of this verse are of doubtful authority in the Greek, and are missing in some Latin manuscripts.

'Come and look'; most o*^ the Greek manuscripts, here and in the down, have simply, 'Come'. These are famine prices, at which a labourer would have to spend the whole of his day's wages to provide bread for himself alone. V.

I.

parallel passages lower V. 6.

C547]

APOCALYPSE

Sixth Seal bro\en; the

7

how

voice, Sovereign Lord, the holy, the true,

thou wilt 11

those

all

sit

in

who

Whereupon

dwell on earth ?

my

Then, in

he broke the

died.

13

and the whole moon blood-red;

it;

15

no

16

a great earthquake,

the sky folded

14

vision,

and

island, but

up

like a scroll,

noblemen and

their

of strength,

all alike,

slaves

among

the

and

those others,

grew dark

when

fig-tree,

as sackcloth,

a high

its

place.

wind rocks

free

men, took

Fall

on

us,

The kings of the men of wealth and shelter in caves

they said to the

now

can stand his ground,

and hills

on

sits

Which

and from the vengeance of the Lamb.

the throne,

earth,

fell to

and the rocks, and hide us from the presence of him who 17

had

and disappeared; no mountain,

their captains,

hills.

was given

rest a little

and with that

sixth seal;

the sun

was removed from

world with

rock-fastnesses

before

to die as they

the stars of heaven

unripe fruit shaken from a

like

a white robe

and fellow-servants, who were

12

was

now

long

made up by

while longer, until their number had been their brethren

of Israel

judgement, and exact vengeance for our blood from

them, and they were bidden to take their

to each of

there

Remnant

of us

day of their

that the great day, the

vengeance, has come.?

CHAPTER SEVEN

AND NOW k.

I

saw four

angels, standing at the world's four corners,

and holding back the four winds of the world,

should blow on land or a second angel

God.

And

sea, or

coming up from the

east,

to lay

with the

waste land and sea;

land or sea or wood, until those

who

were

sealed, a

serve our

from every

no wind

And

I

God.

we have put a Then I heard

seal

The

think that this

saw

seal of the living

Do

who

not lay waste

on the foreheads of

the count of those

who

hundred and forty-four thousand of them, taken

tribe of the

sons of Israel.

Twelve thousand were

"Their vengeance'; the Greek manuscripts have

vv. 4-8.

so that

of the trees.

he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels

were empowered

V. ly.

upon any

makes no mention

'his

vengeance'.

Dan; St. Irenaeus and other authors was because Antichrist was expected to come from that tribe. list

of

[548]

The

6

from the

thali,

tribe of Aser,

8

twelve thousand from the tribe of

tribe of Juda,

Ruben, twelve thousand from the

from the 7

APOCALYPSE

great Multitude; Seventh Seal

sealed

Gad;

tribe of

twelve thousand

twelve thousand from the tribe of Neph-

twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasse;

twelve thou-

sand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of 8

Levi, twelve thousand

from the 9

tribe of

from the

twelve thousand

tribe of Issachar;

Zabulon, twelve thousand from the tribe of

Joseph, twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin. I

saw

and

a great multitude, past all counting, taken

Lamb's presence, clothed and

10

in their hands,

11

on the throne, and all

And all

then

nations

and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne

tribes

in the

from

in white robes, with palm-branches

cried with a loud voice. to the

Lamb,

all

To

our God,

who sits And

saving power belongs.

the angels that were standing round the throne, round the

and the living

elders

God

worship;

figures, fell prostrate before the throne

Amen,

and

they cried, blessing and glory and

12

paid

13

wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength belong to our God through endless ages, Amen. And now one of the elders turned to me, and asked, Who are they, and whence

14

do they come, these who are robed thou canst

Lamb.

me. These, he

said,

in white?

My

Lord, said

I,

have come here out of the great

they have washed their robes white in the blood of the

affliction;

15

tell

And now

and night

they stand before God's throne, serving

in his temple; the presence of

overshadow them.

They

16

shall

17

more; no sun, no noon-day

him who

will not be

sits

him day

on the throne

hungry or

thirsty

heat, shall fall across their path.

any

The

Lamb, who dwells where the throne is, will be their shepherd, leading them out to the springs whose water is life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THEN

HE BROKE opcn the Seventh

seal;

and, for about half an

hour, there was silence in heaven.

And now

I

saw seven trumpets given

[549I

to the seven angels

who

APOCALYPSE 3

Four Trumpets sound

8

There was another angel that came and with a censer of gold; and incense was

stand in God's presence.

took his stand

him

given

at the altar,

altar before the throne,

4

saints.

So,

5

up

from the

took his censer, it

down on

filled

up with

Then

saints' prayer.

firebrands

from the

altar,

And now

a great earthquake.

7

with the seven trumpets made ready to sound them. sounded, there was a storm of hail and fell

on the

ing up a third of the 8

And when all

9 10

the angel

and threw

trees,

fire,

burning up a third part of burning up it

the

earth, burn-

the green grass

all

was

When

mingled with

as if a great

on

it.

mountain,

in flames, fell into the sea, turning a third part of the sea into

blood,

and

killing a third of all the creatures that live in the sea,

and wrecking

a third of the ships.

And when

from heaven, burning

star fell

the third angel like a torch, fell

and on the springs of water. The Wormwood; and it changed a third of the water into wormwood, till many died of drinking the water, so And when the fourth angel sounded, a third bitter had it become. of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were

upon

name

12

earth,

the second angel sounded,

sounded, a great 11

the

went

the seven angels

lightning,

blood, that

all

of the incense

6

first

on the

thunder followed, and mutterings, and

to the earth;

and

smoke

angel's hand, the

it

offering

out of the prayers said by

God's presence, kindled by the

in

make an

in plenty, so that he could

golden

a third part of the rivers,

of this star

is

smitten with darkness, so that the day must go without light for 13

a third of

its

length,

and the night

words spoken by an eagle heaven, crying aloud,

when

too.

And

I

heard, in

that flew across the

Woe, woe, woe

to all that

my

vision,

middle part of dwell on earth,

those other calls are sounded by the three angels

whose trum-

pets have yet to sound.

out of the prayers'; in the Greek, 'put it upon V. 3. 'Make an offering the prayers', which are thus represented as live coals in the angel's thurible. V. 4. 'Kindled by', literally, 'from'; the Greek phrase seems to mean 'upon'. .

.

.

[550]

APOCALYPSE

Trumpet; the Locusts; Sixth Trumpet

Fifth

9

CHAPTER NINE

AND WHEN THE 3

angel sounded,

This

to earth.

a great furnace,

the

till

ened both the sun and the

on

chief as scorpions have

were

men, such men

to attack

when he

men 7

it;

longing

to die,

The semblance

slip.)

like gold,

9

like

and

God's mark on

months; such pain

means

(When

women's

plates that

was 10

into battle.

men

was

was

their tails

iron,

drawn

and the

and with

their is

Of

in

are

woes still

that to

ence of God.

II.

They wore

breast-

their

wings

many

horses

stings in their tails that

were empowered

And

made to

do

they fought under a

that

It

The Latin

is,

in Latin, the Exter-

were pronounced, one

the sixth angel sounded,

is

now

I

altar

heard a voice that came

which stands

in the pres-

said to the sixth angel, as he stood there with his

trumpet. Release the four angels

t>.

shone

come.

from the four corners of the golden 14

no

them the

they had hair

speed by

at full

Greek Apollyon,

the three

two others

And when

will be

circlet that

faces;

and the noise of

these they

feels

king was the angel of the abyss, whose name in He-

Abaddon,

minator.

man

that of horses capari-

teeth like lions' teeth.

hurt for a space of five months.

past; the 13

It

like scorpions,

king;

brew 12

and

like the noise of chariots,

them 11

hair,

might have been of

as a

will always give

human

like

their

those days come,

and there

of death,

and death

were

of

for mis-

to kill, only to inflict pain

of these locusts

their faces

swarm

to injure the grass

soned for war; on their heads they wore a kind of 8

shaft dark-

there, or the trees; they

as did not bear

a space of five

smoke

shaft as

from the

were not

has been stung by a scorpion.

will be looking for the

finding

rising

grew

These they had no power

on them during 6

fallen

opened the shaft

it

out of the smoke a

earth; they

land, the green things that

foreheads.

So

endowed with such power

locusts spread over the world,

on the

smoke

And

air.

had

a star

was entrusted with the key

and smoke rose from the

leads to the abyss,

from

rises

5

saw where

I

star

of that shaft which leads to the abyss.

which

4

fifth

from heaven

^

equivalent

is

who

are imprisoned by the great

not given here by the Greek manuscripts.

[551]

APOCALYPSE

The Riders from

10

So these were released, four angels

the river Euphrates.

river,

who were

the East; the seven Thunders

waiting for the year, the month, the day, the hour,

they were to destroy a third part of mankind.

them on horseback

the armies that followed

when

And

the muster of

(for

I

heard their

This

muster called) was twenty thousand armies of ten thousand. is

what

saw

I

in

my

vision of the horses

had breastplates of

riders

and the

horses' heads

fiery red,

seemed

and

like the

and of

blue,

their riders; the

and brimstone yellow,

heads of

with

lions,

and

fire

smoke and brimstone coming out of their mouths. This fire, this smoke, this brimstone that came out of their mouths were three plagues, from which a third part of mankind perished. The power these horses have to do mischief lies in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, with serpents' heads, and they use them

The

do hurt.

to

these plagues,

hands had fashioned; gold and

silver

rest of

mankind,

that did not perish

would not turn away from the things still

worshipped

Nor would

nor hear, nor move.

sorceries, the fornications,

gods of

evil spirits, false

and brass and stone and wood,

by

own

their

that can neither see,

they repent of the murders, the

and the

thefts

which they committed.

CHAPTER TEN NOW

AND ^.

bow

I

saw

down from

a second angel of sovereign strength

coming

heaven, with a cloud for his vesture, and a rain-

about his head; with a face bright as the sun, and feet like

2

pillars of fire.

3

right foot

He

on the

carried in his

sea,

and

his left

hand an open book. Setting on the dry land,

his

he cried with a

loud voice, like the roaring of a lion; and as he cried, the seven 4

thunders of heaven

made

their voices heard.

And

I,

when

seven thunders had finished their utterance, was making as write

5

down

it

down, when

that angel,

6

I

heard a voice say from heaven.

the message of the seven thunders, keep

on the dry

whom

I

had already seen with

land, lifted

up

his right

his feet

Do

not write

Then

sealed.

on the

sea

hand towards heaven,

V. 6. 'No more waiting'; literally, 'no more commentators have understood the passage.

[552}

it

time', in

the if to

and and

which sense many

A fresh

swore an oath by him heaven and sea

and

all

waiting;

that

all

that

is

when

is

who

lives

through endless ages,

in heaven, earth

in the sea.

the time

He

came

and

all

that

who made

on

is

11

earth, the

swore that there should be no more for the seventh angel to

make him-

heard, as he stood ready to sound his trumpet, God's secret

self

made known by his servants the prophets, would be accomThen once more I heard the voice speaking to me from

design, plished.

Go and

heaven, thus:

whose

angel,

to the angel,

eat

APOCALYPSE

Revelation promised

it;

it

feet are

it; it

the sea

bidding him give

and on the dry land.

me

will turn thy belly sour,

So

sweet as honey.

was sweet

as

I

hand

take the open book from the

on

the book.

though

Take

in thy

So he

it,

mouth

of that I

went

said, it

and

be as

took the book from the angel's hand and ate

honey

in

my

mouth, but

my

belly turned sour

Then he said to me. Thou art to make a fresh prophecy, which concerns many peoples, many races, many languages, and many kings. once

had eaten

I

it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEN I WAS given a reed, shaped like a wand, and word came to me, Up, and measure God's temple, and the those

who worship

which

is

in

it.

outside the temple; do not measure that, because

been made over

to the Gentiles,

who

will tread the holy city

foot for the space of forty-two months.

power

of prophecy to

my

Meanwhile

two witnesses;

I

for tv/elve

sixty days they shall prophesy, dressed in sackcloth;

two

olive-trees, the

before

and reckon up

altar,

But leave out of thy reckoning the court

him who

them? Fire enemies of

will

is

two candlesticks thou knowest

Lord

of the earth.

come out from

theirs; that will

their

has

will give the

hundred and these are the of,

Does anyone

that stand try to hurt

mouths and devour such

be the end of

The

it

under

all

who

try to

do them

forty-two months, or twelve hundred and sixty days, reprewith the diree and a half days of v. 11, recall the 'time, times, and half a time' of Daniel xii. 7 (cf. xii. 14 below). V. 4. Cf. Zech. iv. 3 and following. vv. 2, 3.

sent three

and

a half years. These,

[553]

APOCALYPSE 6

These two have

hurt.

and

Ministry and Death of the two Witnesses

11

let

no rain

in their

it

power

to shut the doors of heaven,

during the days of their ministry; they can turn

fall

the waters into blood, and smite the earth with any other plague,

7

whenever they

8

which comes up out of the abyss

on them, and defeat and open

9

Then, wheii they have borne

will.

the fuU, the beast

street, in that

great city which

and

and

a half,

men

of every tribe

who

fuse burial;

11

ment were

these

after three

and a half days, by God's

into them,

and they rose

and take

all

their ease,

and send presents

two prophets

13

went up, amid the

who were rest

God

of

Then

is

past,

Lord and

of us

all,

18

fell

on

all

enemies watched them, they

At

that

hour there was a

of the city; the count

by the earthquake was seven thousand,

third will

The dominion

come

speedily.

and with

of the

that, a great cry

world has passed

was

to the

to Christ his anointed; he shall reign for ever

And

who sit enthroned God and crying out,

the twenty-four elders

fell prostrate,

Lord God Almighty, who

we

while great dread

So the second of the three woes that were pro-

and

Amen.

in God's presence

17

their

the seventh angel sounded,

ever,

a tor-

Then,

with dread, and acknowledged the glory

and the

raised in heaven.

16

killed filled

re-

heard a loud voice from heaven,

clouds, to heaven.

in heaven.

nounced 15

were

dwell on the earth.

which overthrew a tenth

and the

which they

gift the breath of life entered

to their feet,

who watched them. Then they Come up to my side; and, while

of those

For

crucified.

one another; such

to

to all that

12

great earthquake,

in the

Egypt in

dwell on earth will triumph over them,

10

14

Lord was

lie

or

and people and language

race will gaze at their bodies, those bodies to

and

make war

Sodom

called

is

the language of prophecy; there, too, their three days

witness to

Their bodies will

them.

kill

me will

art,

worshipping

and ever wast, and

art

still

to

come,

give thee thanks for assuming that high sovereignty which

belongs to thee, and beginning thy reign.

vented their rage upon

us,

but

now

The heathen have

the day of thy retribution has

come; the time when thou wilt judge the dead, rewarding thy V. 6. Cf. James v. 17, Ex. vii. 20. V. II. The language of prophecy is here exchanged for that of narrative, the apostle being so absorbed by his vision that he feels plunged, as it were, into the events he is describing.

[554]

A

Dragon

in

APOCALYPSE

Heaven

and holy men and

who

12

fear thy

name,

litde

or great, and destroying the corrupters of the world.

After

this,

servants, prophets

19

Woman

threatens the

all

God's heavenly temple was thrown open, and the ark of the covenant was plain to view, standing in his temple; and there were lightnings,

and mutterings, and an earthquake, and a great storm

of hail.

CHAPTER TWELVE

AND ^.

2

NOW,

wore

in heaven, a great portent appeared; a

and a crown of twelve her

stars

about her head.

her

4

on each of the seven heads

dragon was

a royal

diadem;

woman who was

he stood fronting the

swallow up the child

who

is

to

while the mother

soon as she bore

as

his tail

days, she

Fierce

is

was caught up

to be

kept

war broke out

their part,

9

heaven any longer;

was flung down

to

in heaven,

him.

Then

come;

now we

I

power belongs overthrown.

presence;

it.

She bore a son, the

God, right up

to his throne,

where God had prepared twelve hundred and sixty

where Michael and

The dragon and

his angels

his angels

fought on

the great dragon, serpent of the primal age,

to earth;

he

whom we

whole world's seducer, flung down

is

And

in child-birth, ready to

but could not win the day, or stand their ground in

8

11

down

to earth.

safe.

fought against the dragon.

10

dragged

them

fled into the wilderness,

a place of refuge for her, and there, for

7

She had a child in

herd the nations like sheep with a crook of iron; and

this child of hers

6

that feet,

with seven heads and ten horns, and

there, fiery-red,

a third part of the stars in heaven, and flung

son

her

womb, and was crying out as she travailed, in great pain of delivery. Then a second portent appeared in heaven; a great

3

5

woman

moon under

the sun for her mantle, with the

call

the devil, or Satan, the

to earth,

and

his angels

heard a voice crying aloud in heaven, are saved

and made

strong, our

God

to Christ, his anointed; the accuser of

Day and

The

with

time has

reigns,

and

our brethren

night he stood accusing them in God's

but because of the Lamb's blood and because of the

[555]

APOCALYPSE

ing their Uves cheap heaven, and

13

14

the Serpent; the Beast

which they bore witness, they triumphed over him, hold-

truth to 12

The Dragon;

13

you

all

now

and

sea,

ice,

because he

Rejoice over

death overtook them.

till

that the devil

knows how

brief

down

woman,

but the

the boy's mother;

to earth,

where

went

woman was

such as the great eagle has, to speed her to her place of refuge,

in pursuit of the

given two wings,

flight into the wilderness,

and two

for a year,

years,

15

year she will be kept hidden from the serpent's view.

16

the

the serpent sent a flood of water out of his

woman's 17

flood

woman,

tide;

sent out of his

the dragon

fast to the truth

its

mouth

and half a

Thereupon in pursuit of

but earth came to the

up

earth gaped wide, and swallowed

her children, the

rest of

hold

The

rescue.

away on

which the dragon had

against the

18

to carry her

So the

the time given him.

is

dragon, finding himself cast

woman,

it,

woe to you, earth has come down upon you, full of mal-

that dwell in heaven; but

mouth.

went elsewhere

men who

this

So, in his spite

make war on

to

the

keep God's commandments, and

And

concerning Jesus.

he stood there wait-

ing on the sea beach.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AND OUT OF THE SEA, in my vision, a beast came up to land, with i,

ten horns and seven heads, and on each of

diadem; and the names

phemy.

bore on

This beast which

bear's feet

that

it

was

and

his,

a lion's

I

saw was

mouth.

To

it

healed.

And now

falling

all this

beast.?

the whole world

down and

f. 14. Literally,

'a

Who

is

fit

time, times,

Some manuscripts

but

it

had

of

its

deadly

went

heads,

it

seemed,

wound had been

after the beast in

admira-

praising the dragon for giving the beast

to

and

read

'I

too.

Who

is

a

match

make war upon him?

for the

And

he

half a time' (but cf. v. 6 above), the

mystical reckoning of Daniel's vision V. 18.

like a leopard,

the dragon gave the strength

this

dominion; praising the beast they asked;

ten horns a royal

its

heads were names of blas-

One

and great dominion.

had been mortally wounded, but tion,

its

(vii. 25). stood' for 'he stood'.

[556]

The

false

was given power of speech, 6

7

APOCALYPSE

Prophet; the Second Beast

work

freedom

to

began to

utter

to boast

and

to

13

blaspheme with, and So he

his will for a space of forty-two months.

blasphemy against God, blasphemy against his name,

against his dwelling-place and

who

those

all

He

dwell in heaven.

war on the saints, and to triumph over them. The dominion given to him extended over all tribes and was allowed, 8

peoples and languages and races;

down

10

to hear with.

have the

12

down

in his

ever since the world

the sword

11

the dwellers on earth

all

in adoration of him, except those

has written 9

too, to levy

The

book of

was made.

the

Lamb this,

slain in sacrifice

you

captor will go into captivity; he

must himself be

that

who

itself, I

saw another but

it

beast

come up;

roared like a dragon.

stood in the presence of the former beast, to carry out to do,

worship the former 13

healed.

14

fire,

ders,

bidding the world and

it

was enabled

to

do in

its

15

lived.

to that beast

Further,

it

was

that even the beast's

16

to

receive a

17

heads,

and

vv. 8-14.

able to put

great, rich

life

beast,

beast's

it

and poor,

mark from him on

The Greek

who

down

brought

it

it

dwell in

deluded it

set

up

into that beast's image, so

image uttered speech; and

if

anyone refused

had him put free

sell,

All

to death.

men and

their right hands, or

and none might buy or

which was the

it

which was smitten with the sword, and

worship the image of the

alike, little

it

that

all

and by these won-

master's presence,

the inhabitants of the world, bidding those

an image

had

inhabitants

all its

accomplish, that

before men's eyes, from heaven to earth; it

it

And

whose deadly wound was

beast, that beast

Such wonders could

which

with

with the sword. Such good ground

slain

a lamb's horns,

was empowered

have ears slays

endurance, and for their faithfulness.

saints for their

Then, from the land

two horns Hke

life,

Listen to

fell

Lamb

whose names the

slaves,

on

must

their fore-

unless he carried this mark,

name, or the number that stands for

here (except in

v. 11) gives the verbs in the

his

present

or future, not in the past tense. V. 10. The reading here is uncertain, both in the Greek and in the Latin. It is probable that the first clause means, 'He who is marked out for captivity, must go into captivity', and possible that the following clause means, 'and he who is marked out for death, must go to his death'; cf. Jer. xv. 2. In that case, the sense is that Christians must submit to persecution without resistance; and the last part of the sentence should be rendered, 'Such is the endurance and the faithfulness which belongs to the samts.'

[557]

APOCALYPSE Here

name.

room

is

Lamb;

figures in the beast's

and the number

fashion,

of the

the three Angels

for discernment; let the reader,

up the sum of the

skill, cast

human

The Company

14

will be six

he has the

if

name,

after

hundred and

our

sixty-six.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THEN

I

LOOKED, and saw where the

Lamb

stood on

mount

Sion,

amidst a company of a hundred and forty-four thousand, with his I

name, and

his Father's

name, written on

their foreheads.

heard a sound from heaven, louder than water in

heavy thunder. This sound which harpers, playing

on

I

heard seemed to come from

as they

their harps,

sang a

new

song, there

before the throne, and the living figures, and the elders.

song none

else

might learn

to sing

Lamb's for

the

Lamb

was not found on

was a

These have kept

by the touch of woman; these are the

attendants, wherever he goes; these have been

God and

It

but the hundred and forty-four

thousand that came ransomed from the earth. their virginity undefiled

And

full flood, or

as the first-fruits of

mankind.

ransomed Falsehood

their lips; they stand there untainted before the

throne of God. I

him

saw, too, another angel flying in mid-heaven, carrying with a final gospel to preach to

all

those

who

dwell on the earth, to

every race and tribe and language and people. cried aloud,

come. Fall

and give him the

down

before

praise; the

Fear the Lord, he

hour of his judgement has

him who made heaven and

A second

earth,

and the

who cried out, Babylon, great Babylon has fallen; she who made all the nations drunk with the maddening wine of her fornication. And these were followed by a third angel, who cried aloud. Whoever sea,

and the springs of water.

angel followed,

p. i8. Both in Greek and in Hebrew, the letters of the alphabet are used for numerical figures. In Greek, the letters of Latinus, in Hebrew, the letters of Nero Caesar, would add up to the required sum, but these identifications

are uncertain. V. 6. 'Final'; literally, 'eternal'. It is not clear why the 'gospel' preached by the angel is so described; but the context suggests that it is the last call to repentance which will be offered to men this side of eternity.

[558]

Reward

APOCALYPSE

Reaping of Earth

of the Saints; the

10

he too shall drink; but the wine he shall drink God's anger, untempered wine poured out in the cup of his venge-

forehead or hand, is

and brimstone

ance. Fire 11

shall

be his torment, in the presence of

The smoke

Lamb.

the holy angels, in the presence of the

torment goes up for ever and ever; day and night no

who worshipped 12 13

14

mark on

worships the beast and his image, or wears the beast's

name.

his

This

and

the beast is

who

his image,

which the

the test

saints

mark

bore the

of

endured, keeping true

God's commandment, and the faith of Jesus.

to

too,

of their

rest is theirs,

heard a voice,

I

from heaven. Write thus Blessed are the dead who :

die in the

Lord. Yes, for ever henceforward, the Spirit says; they are to have rest

from

but the deeds they did in

their labours;

life

go with them

now. Then,

14

15

in

my

vision, a

who seemed

one

sat

his head,

and a sharp

came another

temple,

time has come to reap

sickle in his

17

sickle,

18

hand.

earth's harvest

cloud

And now, from him who

and reap; the crop of earth

it.

this

son of man, with a crown of gold on

angel, crying out to

cloud. Put in thy sickle,

16

and

white cloud appeared; and on

like a

So he

who

was reaped.

sat

is

on the

dry,

and the

on the cloud put

Then

the

sat

in his

another angel came

from the heavenly temple; he too had a sharp sickle. And from the altar came another angel, the same that had power over the fire

on

it,

and cried aloud

to the angel

with the sharp

sickle.

Put

thy sharp sickle, and gather the grapes from earth's vineyard; 19

clusters are ripe.

So the angel put in his

sickle over the earth,

in its

and

gathered in earth's vintage, which he threw into the great wine-

20

press of God's anger;

away from the as

high

V.

/J.

city,

and when the wine-press was trodden

out,

blood came from the wine-press, and reached

as a horse's bridle, sixteen

Many commentators

hundred furlongs

off.

prefer to take 'henceforward' as part of the

previous sentence.

'Had power over the fire on it'; apparently a reference to viii. 5 above. Some would render 'had power over fire' in general; but it is difficult to see what relevance this has in the present context. f.

18.

[559]

APOCALYPSE

The Sea

15

of Glass; the Seven Angels

CHAPTER FIFTEEN THIS

WAS another

great portent

I

saw

and

in heaven,

a strange

one; seven angels, the bearers of seven plagues, those 2

plagues by which the vengeance of too,

what might have been

this sea of glass the victors

and 3

Theirs

is

finally achieved.

is

a sea of glass, tinged with

were standing,

and the mark of

his image,

fashioning.

God

his

safe

thou doest are

Lord,

erence and glory to thy

down

before thee,

5

known.

6

heaven opened

Then,

And by

the beast,

name, with harps of God's

Lamb. Lord God almighty, they great and wonderful; King of all the

are just and true.

last

saw,

the song of God's servant Moses, theirs

the song of the

4

fire.

now from

I

now

who

name?

alone art holy,

who

cry, the

ages, thy

is

deeds

ways

shall refuse rev-

All the nations shall

come and fall made

that thy just retribution has been

as I looked, the tabernacle that bears record in

and the seven angels who bear the

inner shrine,

its

seven plagues came out of the shrine, clad in pure white linen, 7

with golden girdles

at their breasts.

And

one of the four living

figures gave to these seven angels seven golden cups, filled with 8

God, who

the vengeance of

God's majesty and power that

lives for ever

filled

the

none could enter the shrine

and

ever.

Meanwhile,

whole shrine with smoke,

until the plagues

so

borne by the

seven angels had run their course.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THEN

I

HEARD

a

loud voicc coming from the shrine, that said to

the seven angels, 2

Go and

vengeance on the earth.

The

pour out the seven cups of God's first

angel went on his errand, pour-

V. 3. 'The song of Moses' refers presumably to Ex. xv. It is not clear whether 'the song of the Lamb' is a song inspired by the Lamb, or one which had the Lamb for its theme; in the latter case, it refers perhaps to V. 12 above. For 'King of the ages' some of the best Greek manuscripts have

'king of the nations'.

[560]

APOCALYPSE

Six Angels pour out their Cups; the three Frogs

16

ing out his cup on to the earth; whereupon an ulcer broke out,

malignant and troublesome, upon

3

mark, and worshipped

his

out his cup over the sea, where

had been done 4

And

5

of water,

there,

till

And

turned into blood,

it

cup over the

the waters cry out.

Holy thou

award

art,

O Lord,

6

this

7

shed the blood of thy saints and prophets;

a just

is

another, too, saying

8

of thine,

from the

God

pronounce. Lord

rivers

Then

turned into blood.

it

bore the beast's

the second angel poured as i£

murder

every living creature in the sea was dead.

the third poured out his

where

men who

the

all

image.

I

and the springs

heard the angel of

and wast ever

blood to drink for those

altar.

it is

and

holy,

who

their due.

have heard

I

Yes, the judgements thou dost

almighty, are true and

The

just.

fourth

angel poured out his cup over the sun, which thereupon was given

9

power

to afflict

mankind with burning

which burned them,

men blasphemed

heat;

the

and in the great heat

name

of

God, who

dis-

poses of these plagues, instead of repenting, and giving praise to [0

And

him.

the fifth angel poured out his cup where the beast's

throne was; and with that, 11

darkness, in

which men

cause to blaspheme the

all

the beast's

sat biting their

God

of heaven in their pains

ulcers, instead of finding cause for

12

And

Then, in frogs;

15

whose waters dried up,

march from

that

14

and ill

their

deeds.

my

to

make

a passage for the kings

the East.

vision, three unclean spirits

appeared in the form of

one from the mouth of the dragon, one from the mouth of

the beast, and one

from the mouth of

his false prophet.

devilish spirits that can

do miracles, and find access

of the world, bidding

them meet

in battle

comes, the day of almighty God.

(Behold,

comes; blessed 16

repentance in their

into

finding

the sixth angel poured out his cup over the great river Eu-

phrates,

13

kingdom was turned

tongues for pain,

is

he that keeps watch, and

is

when I

These are

to all the

come

as the thief

ready clad, so that he

has no need to go naked, and be ashamed in men's sight.) V. 7.

'I

heard another,

too, saying

from the

kings

the great day

altar'; in

the Greek,

'I

The heard,

too, the altar saying'. V. 13. V.

15.

God's

'The false prophet'; that is, apparently, the second Beast (xiii. 11). This verse is a parenthesis, which insists upon the suddenness of

Matthew xxiv. 18, II Cor. v. 3. Latin here has 'he will gather them'; in the Greek, 'they gath-

visitations; cf.

V. 16.

The

ered them'.

[561]

APOCALYPSE

And

seventh

Woman

in Scarlet

the place called in

Hebrew,

Cup poured;

are bidden to meet

where they Armagedon.

place

17

The

17

is

the

the seventh angel poured out his cup over the

Then

air.

a

loud voice came out of the shrine, a voice which cried from the 18

throne,

over;

It is

and there were lightnings and mutterings and

thunder, and a violent earthquake; since 19

there

was never an earthquake

so great

man came

world

into the

and so violent

The

as this.

great city broke in three pieces, while the cities of the heathen

came down 20

were 21

in ruins.

And God

did not forget to minister a draught

Gone

of his wine, his avenging anger, to Babylon, the great city.

And

all

and the mountains were no more

hail-stones as big as a talent-weight fell

heaven,

and

the islands,

till

men

God

cursed

to

be seen.

upon mankind out of

for his plague of hail, so great

it

was,

so grievous.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

AND ^.

NOW ONE

of the angels that bear the seven cups

spoke to me.

how judgement

is

Come

drunk with the wine of her

me

all

cup in her hand,

full to the

with the lewdness of her over her forehead. all

The

that

is

drunk with the blood of

came and shew thee

will

harlot, that sits

the dwellers

by the

where

on earth have been

Then, in a I

The woman went

hung about with gold and

and

I

saw

a

trance, he car-

woman

scrawled over with names of blasphemy;

heads, and ten horns.

harlots,

and

kings of the world have com-

dalliance.

off into the wilderness,

scarlet beast,

all

The

rivers.

mitted fornication with her;

ried

said,

pronounced on the great

many

meeting-place of

with me, he

riding on a it

clad in purple

had seven

and

scarlet,

jewels and pearls, and held a golden

brim with those abominations of

harlot's ways.

There was

a

title

hers,

written

mystic Babylon, great mother-city of

abominable on earth. saints, the

all

woman

I

saw

this

blood of those

who

bore witness

v. ig. 'The great city' may be Jerusalem (xi. 8); but some commentators understand a double reference in tiiis verse to Babylon, that is, Rome.

[562]

The 7

APOCALYPSE

eight Kings

to Jesus;

and

I

was

with

its

which abyss,

this

But the

sight.

wonder?

I

will dis-

woman, and of the beast she rides, The beast thou sawest is that

seven heads and ten horns.

and now

lived once,

and find

which

dost thou find cause for

mystery of

close to thee the 8

with great wonder at the

filled

Why

angel said to me,

17

way

its

and

lived once,

dead; soon

is

to utter destruction.

now

must

it

The

awe

dead, will strike

is

rise

from the

sight of this beast

into every

dweller on earth, except those whose names have been written,

9

before the world was, in the book of

life.

Here

cerning mind. These seven heads are seven 10

woman

sits

enthroned.

have fallen already, one 11

when he

but

which yet 12

tion.

is

and

are also seven kings;

as

now

reigning

And

the ten horns

dominion which

lords,

15

King

of

theirs.

is

will all

will take his part. at

16

Lamb

title,

as the eighth,

utter destruc-

but are to enjoy such power

And

to the beast the

kings; whoever

Then he

told

And

become

All of

sits

is called, is

is

the ten horns,

all

faithful,

me, These waters in thy all

Lamb,

Lord of

is

chosen,

enthroned, are

them

power and the

they will fight against the

have the mastery of them; he

and languages.

in thy vision, will

yet,

the beast

which thou sawest are ten kings, who

whose meeting the harlot

nations,

come

And

kings have, for one hour, in succession to the beast.

but the

dis-

these the

of these, five

the last has not

now is dead must be reckoned now it is to find its way to

have a single policy; they surrender 14

;

one of the seven;

have not yet received their royal 13

need for a

upon

does, his reign will be a short one.

lived once

it is

They

is

hills;

vision,

her peoples,

which the beast had

the harlot's enemies; they will lay her

waste, and strip her quite bare, eat her flesh away, and then burn 17

down what

is left

of her.

God

has put

it

into their hearts to carry

vv. 8-1 1. It has been conjectured that the seven kings are the emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian, and Titus (Galba, Otho, and Vitellius being regarded as usurpers). There seems to have been a popular legend that Nero was not really dead, or perhaps would come to life again; he would thus be one of the seven and yet, as reincarnate, count as an eighth. If this interpretation is right, the present passage seems to allude to the short reign of Titus as the seventh king, and to identify his successor, Domitian, as a reincarnation of Nero, whose persecuting policy he revived. v. 12. 'In succession to the beast'; the Greek has 'together with the beast'. V. 16. The ten horns, which the beast had in thy vision'; the Greek has, 'the ten horns in thy vision, together with the beast'.

[563}

APOCALYPSE

The Doom

18

of Babylon

out his design, and to give their dominion over to the beast, so that i8

words of God may be

at last all the

woman

of thy vision, she

is

fulfilled.

And

as for the

that great city that bears rule over the

rulers of the earth.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THIS I saw another angel, entrusted with great power, come down from heaven; earth shone with the glory of his

AFTER L

2

And

presence.

he cried aloud, Babylon, great Babylon

she has become the abode of devils, the stronghold of spirits,

the eyrie of

all

and hateful

birds that are unclean

fallen;

is

all

unclean to

3

The whole world

4

merchants have grown rich through her reckless pleasures.

tion; the kings of the earth

now

I

have lived in dalliance with her, and

heard another voice from heaven

people, that

you may not be involved

upon

5

plagues that

6

Lord has kept her

fall

her.

sins in

Her

brew double measure

mounts up

guilt

remembrance.

requite her with anguish

She 8

for her in the

tells herself,

not for me,

I

Here

shall

never

out of

to

heaven; the

Deal with her as she has all

she has done amiss;

cup she has brewed for others;

and sorrow for

I sit

Come

say.

its

And her, my

in her guilt, nor share the

dealt with you; repay her twice over for

7

man.

has drunk the maddening wine of her fornica-

her pride and luxury.

all

enthroned like a queen; widowhood

know what

to

it is

mourn;

and

all

is

her

plagues shall come upon her in one day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned to the ground; such power has the

9

God who

is

her judge.

How

they will

their breasts, those kings of the earth

and took 10

their pleasures

she burns!

Standing

weep over her and beat

who

once lived in dalliance

with her, as they see the smoke

at a distance, for fear of

ment, they will cry out, Alas, Babylon the great, 11

strong, in V. 6.

rise

alas,

Babylon the

one brief hour judgement has come upon thee!

'As she has dealt with you'; in the Greek,

the sentence be understood in this way, it to the angels in heaven, not to the martyrs. If

[564]

is

'as

where

sharing her punish-

And

all

she has dealt with others'. it as addressed

best to regard

APOCALYPSE

Lament over Babylon

weep and mourn over

the merchants of the world will 12

will

buy

merchandise now?

their

and

ver, of precious stone

and

and myrrh and cattle

14

men's

incense,

souls.

It

is

for; all that gaiety

15

wine and

and sheep and horses and gone from

and glory

The merchants

any more.

is

in ivory

silk

and precious stone

and wheat and

oil

fine flour,

and men's bodies, and

chariots,

longed

thee, the harvest thy soul

and

lost to thee,

grew

that

sil-

and

cinnamon and balm, perfume

and iron and marble;

brass

lawn and purple, of

wood, the work

scarlet; all the citrus

13

Their cargoes of gold and

pearl, of

18

who

her;

shall

never be seen

from such

rich

traffic

will

stand at a distance from her, for fear of sharing her punishment, 16

weeping and mourning; city, that

17

went

Alas, they will say, alas for the great

lawn and purple and

clad in

with gold and jewels and pearls; has vanished.

The

the mariners and 18

a distance,

19

burning.

sea-captains, too, all

who make

poured dust on

city

and

their heads,

ing, Alas, alas for the great city,

20

trace of her

any more.

fall,

the great

Never again

never again will the craftsmen of

bride.

laid waste.

her.

lifted

all

city,

will

up

a stone

and there

men

Uke

a

one

will be

no

listen there to the

flute-player

and trumpeter;

those crafts be found in thee,

never again the grinding of a mill heard in thee; light of

is

triumph, you saints in heaven,

music of harper and of minstrel, of

23

They

into the sea, crying out. So, with

it

crash of ruin, will Babylon

22

one brief hour she

fall,

an angel, of sovereign strength,

great mill-stone and cast

where she was

weeping and mourn-

and prophets; God has avenged you on

And now

ports,

stood at

whose magnificence brought wealth

at sea; in

Triumph, heaven, over her apostles

21

had ships

sea,

great city?

this

cried aloud,

rise

that wealth

between

from the

smoke

can compare with

all

that sail

all

their living

crying out, as they saw the

What

to all that

and

hung about

scarlet, all

in one brief hour

never again the

lamps shining, never again the voice of bridegroom and of

Once

the great

men

of the earth were thy purveyors; once

V. 13. The word 'balm' is omitted, probably by an error of printing, in the Clementine edition of the Vulgate. f. ly. 'Between ports'; literally, 'to a place', according to the Greek. Some Latin manuscripts have 'to the lake', apparently through the misreading of a

single letter.

[565]

APOCALYPSE 24

Triumph

19

The

thy sorceries bewitched the world.

saint lay at her doors; the blood of all that

of the Saints

blood of prophet and

were ever

on the

slain

earth.

CHAPTER NINETEEN AFTER ^

2

THIS

power belong

now

I

heard, as

seemed, the voices of countless muki-

it

tudes crying out in heaven, AUeluia; salvation and glory and

our God;

to

his sentence

is

ever true and just,

who

he has given sentence against the great harlot,

and

poisoned

now he has called her to account And again they cried. Alleluia, the

the earth with her harlot's ways; 3

for the blood of his servants.

4

smoke

up

of her burning goes

5

God, where he voice

the throne,

that are his servants,

6

whereupon

I

and

heard, as

like the noise of

fell

enthroned, crying,

sits

came from

all it

Then the twentydown and worshipped Amen, Alleluia. And a

everlastingly.

four elders and the four living figures

which

you that

said, Praise

our God,

fear him, litde

you

all

and great

alike;

seemed, the noise of a great multitude,

water in flood, or the noise of deep thunder, as

they cried out. Alleluia, the Lord our God, the Almighty, has 7

8

claimed his kingdom;

let

the praise; the time has

come

His bride has clothed

him Lamb.

us rejoice and triumph and give for the wedding-feast of the

herself in readiness for

it;

hers

it is

to

wear

linen of shining white; the merits of the saints are her linen.

9

[Q

And now the who are bidden said;

it

is

God's

angel said to me. Write thus: Blessed are those to the

own

worship him. But he I

am

Lamb's wedding-feast. All

Thereupon

utterance. said,

Never

that;

I

true,

he

fell at his feet,

to

this

is

keep thy worship for God;

only thy fellow-servant, one of those brethren of thine

V. 3. It

is

not certain that the words 'the

smoke

who

of her burning goes

up

everlastingly' are represented as part of the triumph-song. V. 8. 'The merits'; literally, 'the things which justify them'. V. 10. St. Augustine thinks that St. John mistook the angel (cf. xvii. i above) for Christ himself; but the ground on which the angel refuses his worship seems to be that St. John, too, was a prophet. Some think that the passage is a warning against the worship of angels mentioned in Col. ii. 18.

[566]

APOCALYPSE

Rider on the White Horse; the Beast overthrown

hold

Then,

11

concerning Jesus.

fast the truth

that inspires

all

my

in

and goes

heaven opened, and

vision,

13

there

14

of

15

horses,

is

title,

his

brow were many

white horse

a

His eyes were

like

flaming

royal diadems; the

name

written

He

garment deep

one that only he knows.

went clad

dyed with blood, and the name by which he

God;

saw

I

the Faithful, the True; he judges

batde in the cause of right.

to

and on

fire,

the truth concerning Jesus

prophecy.

appear. Its rider bore for his 12

It is

in a

called

is

is

the

Word

mounted on white From his mouth came

the armies of heaven followed him,

and clad

in linen, white

and

clean.

a two-edged sword, ready to smite the nations; he will herd

press,

whose wine

this tide is written

and the Lord 17

And all

18

I

He

with a crook of iron.

like sheep

16

And

then

where you

who cried aloud to Come and gather at God's

in the sun's orb,

mid

air,

shall eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of cap-

mankind,

free

saw the

beast

I

men and

and

their riders, the

slaves, the little

and the

and the kings of the earth muster

armies, to join battle with the rider on the white horse

20

which followed him.

The

beast

was made

the false prophet that did miracles in

who

bore the beast's

were thrown 21

And

of kings,

of lords.

the birds that hovered in

flesh of all

God.

The King

his cloak, over his thigh,

them

them the wine-

the avenging anger of almighty

is

on

saw an angel standing

great feast,

treads out for

tains, the flesh of the strong, the flesh of horses

19

19

its

mark and worshipped

prisoner,

its

their

and the army and with

presence, deluding

alive into the fiery lake that

great.

all

it

those

image; and both

burns with brimstone.

All the rest were slain by the sword of that horseman, the sword that

comes from

his

mouth; and

their flesh.

75. Ps.

ii.

9, Is. Ixiii. 3.

r^67i

all

the birds feasted royally on

APOCALYPSE

The thousand Years

20

CHAPTER TWENTY SAW, TOO, an angel come

I

abyss in his hand,

and

down from

dragon, serpent of the primal age,

and put him

Satan,

down him.

He

was not

in

He made prisoner of the whom wc call the devil, or

bonds for a thousand

and locking him

to the abyss

heaven, with the key of the

a great chain.

to delude the

world any more

years were over; then, for a short time, he I

saw thrones prepared

mitted ;

saw the

I

for those to

souls of all those

to

is

whom

setting a seal over

thousand

until the

judgement was com-

who went

to execution for love all

who

mark on

their

and of God's word, and

would not worship

its

image, or bear

foreheads and their hands. These were

Then

be released.

of the truth concerning Jesus, the beast, or

him

thrusting

years,

and

in there,

its

endowed with

reigned as kings with Christ for a thousand years;

life,

but the

and rest

of the dead remained lifeless while the thousand years lasted. Such is

the

first

in this

resurrection.

first

Blessed and holy

is

his lot

they will be priests of God, priests of Christ; years they will reign with him. are over, Satan will be let loose

seduce the nations that live is

the

who

has a share

no power,

resurrection; over such the second death has

meaning

of

all

those thousand

Then, when the thousand years

from

at the

his prison,

and

will

go out

four corners of the earth

Gog and Magog— and

muster them for

to

—that battle,

countless as the sand by the sea. vv. 2-y. This passage (as

gave

rise to the error of the Millenarians,

some Jewish authors held)

that Christ

would reign on

who

held

earth, in visible

triumph, for the period of a thousand years, between the Second Coming and the Final Judgement. Catholic expositors identify the thousand years with an indefinite but prolonged period between the Resurrection and the Second

Coming in Judgement (which latter event will be preceded by a brief interval when the devil will triumph through Antichrist). During this period the elect, living or dead, will worship Christ reigning in heaven, and share in the glories of his Church; they will be spiritually alive, even when they have passed through the first death, that of the body. The reprobate will, already, be spiritually as well as physically dead. V. 5.

'While the thousand years

lasted'; literally, 'until the

thousand years

were accomplished'; but this does not imply that the reprobate dead came to life at the end of the thousand years (see note on Matthew i. 25). V. 7. Gog and Magog are an allusion to the prophecy of Ezechiel (chh. xxxviii and xxxix).

[568]

The Judgement;

APOCALYPSE

the netv Jerusalem

21

They came up across the whole breadth of the earth, and beencampment of the saints, and the beloved city. But God sent fire from heaven to consume them, and the devil, their

leaguered the

was thrown

seducer,

and brimstone, where,

into the lake of fire

like himself, the beast

and the

prophet will be tormented

false

day and night eternally.

And now I saw a great throne, all white, and one sitting on it, at whose glance earth and heaven vanished, and were found no more. Before this throne, in my vision, the dead must come, great and alike;

little

and the books were opened. Another book,

opened, the book of as the

life.

And

The

books recorded them.

and death and

lay there,

hell

sea, too,

man was

and

were thrown into the lake of

judged according to

everyone must be thrown into

death;

name was found

was

gave up the dead that

gave up the dead they imprisoned,

and each hell

too,

the dead were judged by their deeds,

while death

his deeds, fire.

This

the second

is

this lake of fire, unless his

written in the book of

life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THEN

I

SAW

old earth

a

my

John, saw in

new

heaven, and a

new

earth.

The

old heaven, the

had vanished, and there was no more vision that holy city

which

is

sea.

new

the

And

I,

Jerusalem,

down by God from heaven, all clothed in readiness, like who has adorned herself to meet her husband. I heard,

being sent a bride

too, a voice

which

nacle pitched

be his

He

own

will

more

cried aloud

among men; he

people,

and he

wipe away every

from the throne, Here will dwell

will be

tear

from

among them, their eyes,

And

God's taber-

their

and there

death, or mourning, or cries of distress, no

those old things have passed away.

is

with them, and they will

he

who

sat

own God. will be

no

more sorrow; on the throne

v. 5. These words I was bidden write down'; literally, 'He says to me, it down'. It is not clear whether this direction was given by the Voice from the throne, or by the angel mentioned in xvii. i (who is clearly the

Write

speaker in xix.

9,

although the word 'angel' does not CKcur in the original).

C569}

APOCALYPSE Behold,

said,

6

7

things new. (These words

all

am

Alpha,

over.

I

their

end; those

am Omega,

I

who

have

his share in this;

is life.

will be his

I

and brimstone, and

them

and

with me, he

said,

10

groom

Lamb.

11

as

the

I

came down,

it

The

who

And

when

was

round

raised high all

God, from heaven,

it is it,

it

most

like crystal;

south, three

on the west.

tion stones;

and

he measured

east, three

The

these, too, bore

who was

same

its

Come

whose

bride-

city,

in

as any precious

and

a great wall

on the

had twelve founda-

names, those of the Lamb's twelve

and

its

carved on

the north, three

city wall, too,

its

me

had a rod of gold

and

gates,

length as in

its

its

wall.

The city when

breadth, and

with his rod, he counted twelve thousand furlongs.

its

are everywhere equal.

wall, he counted a

And when

hundred and forty-four

reckoned by the measure of a man, that ioning of

plagues.

tribes of Israel

on

speaking to

Length and breadth and height he measured

x8

on the

measure the

it

their

with twelve gates, and twelve angels

14

foursquare, the

any of

clothed in God's

was bright

and the names of the twelve

for a rule, to

not those

me off in a trance to a great shewed me the holy city Jerusalem,

three gates

angel

last

thee that bride,

the lintels;

16

He my

spoke to me, one of those seven

at the gates,

The

be

he carried

sent by

stone, as the jasper

apostles.

shall

belief,

are false in

13

17

God, and he

with the seven

light that shone over

15

free gift

wins the victory?

in the lake that burns with fire

shew

will

mountain, high up, and there

glory.

It is

the second death.

it is

And now an angel came and who bear the seven cups charged is

me,

things and

my

is

it

to

all

abominable; not the murderers, the fornicators, the

lives are

sorcerers, the idolaters, not those

lies

—

But not the cowards, not those who refuse

son.

dealings. Their lot awaits

12

Who

of the City

was bidden

I

he said

the beginning of

are thirsty shall drink

out of the spring whose water

whose

9

And

write down, words most sure and true.)

shall

8

The Measuring

21

make

I

is,

of an angel.

wall was of jasper, but the city

itself

cubits,

The

fash-

was pure gold,

'Are everywhere equal', not, presumably, equal to one another, city nearly 1500 miles high, whereas the next verse gives the height of the wall as 144 cubits. More probably the meaning is that the height of the city was uniform at every point, as its length and its breadth were. p.

16.

which would make the

[570]

Glory of the City; the River of

seemed

that

to

APOCALYPSE

Ufe

have the purity of

worked

the city wall were

And

glass.

22

the foundations of

The

in every kind of precious stone.

foundation was a jasper, the second a sapphire, the third a

first

chalcedony, the fourth an emerald;

the fifth a sardonyx, the sixth

a sardius, the seventh a chrysolite, the eight a beryl; the ninth a

topaz, the tenth a chrysoprase, the eleventh a jacynth, the twelfth

And

an amethyst.

pearl for each gate;

seemed is

the twelve gates were twelve single pearls,

and the

like transparent glass.

Lord God Almighty,

the

any need of sun or

city

Lamb

was of pure

street of the city

its

moon

saw no temple

I

temple

to

shew

the

is

shone

The

nations will live and

move

it;

the glory of

and the

radiance; the kings of the earth will bring

praise

and honour.

will be

no night

honour and

light.

it

the

God

in

there,

gave

temple

its

it;

Nor had

Lamb.

in

its

in

one

gold, that

it

their tribute of

All day the gates will never be shut (there

there),

their praise.

with their

as the nations flock into

it

Nothing

no source

that

is

corruption or deceit can ever hope to find

unclean, its

way

in; there

is

of

no

entrance but for those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of

life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

HE SHEWED me, Lamb.

the

street,

On

tree that gives life,

for each

to all the nations. city;

on

No

flows,

midway along

bearing

its

the city

fruit twelvefold,

the leaves of this tree bring health

the

is

There

Lamb's throne)

and

no more

will be

will reign for ever

and

will be there, with

to see his face, his

from lamp or sun; the Lord God

and they

it

longer can there be any profanation in that

worship him,

their foreheads.

light

And

month.

God's throne (which

his servants to

life;

from the throne of God, from the throne of

either side of the river,

grows the

one yield

whose waters give

too, a river,

clear as crystal,

night,

name

written

no more need of

will shed his light

on them,

ever.

V. 2. It is likely enough that the trees are represented as bearing twelve different kinds of fruit, but St. John's language does not make this certain.

[ 571 ]

APOCALYPSE Then

6

servants I

8

9

These words are sure and

the angel said to me,

Lord God who 7

The Promise

22

am coming

find

soon. Blessed

he

is

who

ecy this book contains.

All this

ing and seeing

down

who

angel

fell

I

it,

revealed

it

to

due accomplishment.

its

as

if

holds fast the words of proph-

worship

to

But he

me.

his

tell

Patience,

John, heard and saw,

I,

The

true.

inspires his prophets has sent his angel to

what must soon

of Jesus

Never

said.

hear-

till,

at the feet of the

that; I

am

only

a fellow-servant of thine, and of thy brother prophets, and of

who

hold

fast the

words which

this

book

contains.

all

Keep thy wor-

ship for God. 10

Then

the

command came

to me.

prophecy that are contained in 11

12

corrupt in his corruption, the just

man

the holy in his

I

life

me comes

am

he has

Alpha,

I

their

award

before

No room

and

lives in

Spirit

and

my

it.

this in I,

am

all, I

soon; and

according

at the

end of

Lamb;

all,

who

Blessed are those

and find

life,

so they will have

their

way through

the

there for prowling dogs, for sor-

and wantons and murderers and

this read

18

am

in the blood of the

spring of David's race,

The

I

which gives

you the assurance of

17

hand.

his justification,

am coming repaying each man I

things and their end.

all

garments

loves falsehood

close at

lived.

gates into the city. cerers

is

deeds of wrong, the

winning

in

Patience,

make,

I

am Omega,

access to the tree

16

of holiness.

the

the beginning of

wash

15

not seal up the words of

persist in his

to the life

14

Do

book; the time

Meanwhile, the wrong-doer must

with

13

this

I,

Jesus,

idolaters, for

have sent

your churches;

I,

my

who

anyone

angel to give

the root,

I,

the off-

the bright star that brings in the day.

bride bid

me

come;

out say. Come. Come, you

let

who

everyone

who

hears

are thirsty, take,

who will, the water of life; it is my free gift. To all who hear the words of prophecy this book

you

contains, I give

'The angel said to me'; literally, 'he said to me'. See note on xix. 10 above. V. 10. 'The command came to me'; literally, 'he said to mc'. The context seems to indicate that our Lord is here the speaker, not the angel, as in V. 6. V. 9.

verse

6.

Some Greek manuscripts have 'those who carry out his commandments', instead of 'those who wash their garments'. The words 'in the blood of the Lamb' are not given in the Greek, or in most Latin manuscripts. V. 14.

[572I

The Warning warning.

this

If

anyone adds

ment

the plagues

cels a

word

the

which

in this

book of

life,

who

Be

so,

then; come,

V.

ig.

scripts)

to

them,

God

add

will

book threatens;

book of prophecy, God

he

May

this

and

gives this

warning

Lord

the grace of our

says.

to his if

22

punish-

anyone can-

will cancel his share in

in the holy city, in all that this

And it

APOCALYPSE

of Jesus

Indeed

I

book promises.

am coming

soon.

Jesus.

Lord

Jesus Christ be with

you

all.

Amen.

For 'the book of life', the Greek (followed by many Latin manuhas 'the tree of life'; our text probably arises from a mistake in

the Latin. V. 20. The words 'Be it so' represent 'Amen' in the Greek, which is attached by some commentators to the sentence which goes before it. V. 21. The best reading in the Greek here is 'with the saints', or 'with all the saints', not 'with you all'; many of the Greek manuscripts omit the word 'Amen'.

[573]

I

?ii

%

me

new cnenr

^M-M-

in€ngUsh

-^

I

I

Anew Translation by

ronai:d

KNOX

II