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Matthew Henry’s Commentary – Mark XI

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Matthew Henry
Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721)




M A R K.

CHAP. XI.



     

We are now come to the Passion-Week, the week in which Christ died, and

the great occurrences of that week.

I. Christ’s riding in triumph into Jerusalem,

ver. 1-11.

II. His cursing the barren fig-tree,

ver. 12-14.

III. His driving those out of the temple that turned it into an

exchange,

ver. 15-19.

IV. His discourse with his disciples concerning the power of faith and

the efficacy of prayer, on occasion of the withering of the fig-tree he

cursed,

ver. 20-26.

V. His reply to those who questioned his authority,

ver. 27-33.













Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem.

     

1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and

Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his

disciples,

  2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over

against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find

a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

  3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the

Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

  4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door

without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

  5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do

ye, loosing the colt?

  6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they

let them go.

  7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments

on him; and he sat upon him.

  8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut

down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

  9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried,

saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the

Lord:

  10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in

the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

  11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and

when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the

eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

     

We have here the story of the public entry Christ made into Jerusalem,

four or five days before his death. And he came into town thus

remarkably,

1. To show that he was not afraid of the power and malice of his

enemies in Jerusalem. He did not steal into the city incognito,

as one that durst not show his face; no, they needed not send spies to

search for him, he comes in with observation. This would be an

encouragement to his disciples that were timorous, and cowed at the

thought of their enemies’ power and rage; let them see how bravely

their Master sets them all at defiance.

2. To show that he was not cast down or disquieted at the thoughts of

his approaching sufferings. He came, not only publicly, but cheerfully,

and with acclamations of joy. Though he was now but taking the field,

and girding on the harness, yet, being fully assured of a

complete victory, he thus triumphs as though he had put it off.

     

I. The outside of this triumph was very mean; he rode

upon an ass’s colt, which being an ass, looked contemptible, and

made no figure; and, being but a colt, whereon never man sat, we

may suppose, was rough and untrimmed, and not only so, but rude and

ungovernable, and would disturb and disgrace the solemnity. This

colt was borrowed too. Christ went upon the water in a

borrowed boat, ate the passover in a borrowed chamber,

was buried in a borrowed sepulchre, and here rode on a

borrowed ass. Let not Christians scorn to be beholden one to

another, and, when need is, to go a borrowing, for our Master did not.

He had no rich trappings; they threw their clothes upon the colt, and

so he sat upon him,
v. 7.

The persons that attended, were mean people; and all the show they

could make, was, by spreading their garments in the way

(v. 8),

as they used to do at the feast of tabernacles. All these were marks of

his humiliation; even when he would be taken notice of, he would be

taken notice of for his meanness; and they are instructions to us, not

to mind high things, but to condescend to them of low

estate. How ill doth it become Christians to take state,

when Christ was so far from affecting it!

     

II. The inside of this triumph was very great; not only

as it was the fulfilling of the scripture (which is not taken notice of

here, as it as in Matthew), but as there were several rays of Christ’s

glory shining forth in the midst of all this meanness.

1. Christ showed his knowledge of things distant, and his power over

the wills of men, when he sent his disciples for the colt,

v. 1-3.

By this it appears that he can do every thing, and no thought

can be withholden from him.

2. He showed his dominion over the creatures in riding on a

colt that was never backed. The subjection of the inferior part of

the creation to man is spoken of with application to Christ

(Ps. viii. 5, 6,

compared with

Heb. ii. 8);

for to him it is owing, and to his mediation, that we have any

remaining benefit by the grant God made to man, of a sovereignty in

this lower world,

Gen. i. 28.

And perhaps Christ, in riding the ass’s colt, would give a shadow of

his power over the spirit of man, who is born as the wild ass’s

colt,
Job xi. 12.

3. The colt was brought from a place where two ways met

(v. 4),

as if Christ would show that he came to direct those into the right

way, who had two ways before them, and were in danger of taking

the wrong.

4. Christ received the joyful hosannas of the people; that is,

both the welcome they gave him and their good wishes to

the prosperity of his kingdom,

v. 9.

It was God that put it into the hearts of these people to cry

Hosanna, who were not by art and management brought to it, as

those were who afterward cried, Crucify, crucify. Christ reckons

himself honoured by the faith and praises of the multitude, and it is

God that brings people to do him this honour beyond their own

intentions.

     

(1.) They welcomed his person

(v. 9);

Blessed is he that cometh, the ho erchomenos,

he that should come, so often promised, so long expected; he

comes in the name of the Lord, as God’s Ambassador to the world;

Blessed be he: let him have our applauses, and best affections;

he is a blessed Saviour, and brings blessings to us, and blessed

be he that sent him. Let him be blessed in the name of the Lord,

and let all nations and ages call him Blessed, and think and

speak highly and honourably of him.

     

(2.) They wished well to his intent,
v. 10.

They believed that, mean a figure as he made, he had a kingdom,

which should shortly be set up in the world, that it was the kingdom of

their father David (that father of his country), the kingdom

promised to him and his seed for ever; a kingdom that came in the

name of the Lord, supported by a divine authority. Blessed be

this kingdom; let it take place, let it get ground, let it come in

the power of it, and let all opposing rule, principality, and power, be

put down; let it go on conquering, and to conquer.
Hosanna to this kingdom; prosperity be to it; all happiness

attend it. The proper signification of hosanna is that which we

find,

Rev. vii. 10.

Salvation to our God, that sitteth on the throne, and to the

Lamb; success to religion, both natural and revealed,

Hosanna in the highest. Praises be to our God, who is in the

highest heavens over all, God blessed for ever; or, Let him be

praised by his angels, that are in the highest heavens, let our

hosannas be an echo to theirs.

     

Christ, thus attended, thus applauded, came into the

city, and went directly to the temple. Here was no banquet of

wine prepared for his entertainment, nor the least refreshment; but he

immediately applied himself to his work, for that was his meat

and drink. He went to the temple, that the scripture

might be fulfilled; “The Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to

his temple, without sending any immediate notice before him; he

shall surprise you with a day of visitation, for he shall be

like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap,

Mal. iii. 1-3.

He came to the temple, and took a view of the present state of it,

v. 11.

He looked round about upon all things, but as yet said nothing.

He saw many disorders there, but kept silence,
Ps. l. 21.

Though he intended to suppress them, he would not go about the doing of

it all on a sudden, lest he should seem to have done it

rashly; he let things be as they were for this night, intending

the next morning to apply himself to the necessary reformation, and to

take the day before him. We may be confident that God sees all the

wickedness that is in the world, though he do not presently reckon for

it, nor cast it out. Christ, having make his remarks upon what he saw

in the temple, retired in the evening to a friend’s house at Bethany,

because there he would be more out of the noise of the town, and out of

the way of being suspected, a designing to head a faction.
















The Barren Fig-Tree Cursed.

     

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was

hungry:

  13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if

haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he

found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

  14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of

thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

  15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple,

and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple,

and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of

them that sold doves;

  16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel

through the temple.

  17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house

shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have

made it a den of thieves.

  18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how

they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the

people was astonished at his doctrine.

  19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

  20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree

dried up from the roots.

  21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master,

behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

  22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

  23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto

this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;

and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those

things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have

whatsoever he saith.

  24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when

ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have

them.

  25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against

any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you

your trespasses.

  26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is

in heaven forgive your trespasses.

     

Here is,

I. Christ’s cursing the fruitless fig-tree. He had a convenient

resting-place at Bethany, and therefore thither he went at

resting-time; but his work lay at Jerusalem, and thither therefore he

returned in the morning, at working-time; and so intent was he upon his

work, that he went out from Bethany without breakfast, which, before he

was gone far, he found the want of, and was hungry

(v. 12),

for he was subject to all the sinless infirmities of our nature.

Finding himself in want of food, he went to a fig-tree, which he

saw at some distance, and which being well adorned with green

leaves he hoped to find enriched with some sort of fruit. But he

found nothing but leaves; he hoped to find some fruit,

for though the time of gathering in figs was near,

it was not yet; so that it could not be pretended that it had

had fruit, but that it was gathered and gone; for the season had not

yet arrived. Or, He found none, for indeed it was not a season of

figs, it was no good fig-year. But this was worse than any

fig-tree, for there was not so much as one fig to be found upon it,

though it was so full of leaves. However, Christ was willing to make an

example of it, not to the trees, but to the men, of that

generation, and therefore cursed it with that curse which is the

reverse of the first blessing, Be fruitful; he said unto it,

Never let any man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever,
v. 14.

Sweetness and good fruit are, in Jotham’s parable, the honour of

the fig-tree

(Judg. ix. 11),

and its serviceableness therein to man, preferable to the preferment of

being promoted over the trees; now to be deprived of that, was a

grievous curse. This was intended to be a type and figure of the

doom passed upon the Jewish church, to which he came, seeking fruit,

but found none

(Luke xiii. 6, 7);

and though it was not, according to the doom in the parable,

immediately cut down, yet, according to this in the history,

blindness and hardness befel them

(Rom. xi. 8, 25),

so that they were from henceforth good for nothing. The

disciples heard what sentence Christ passed on this tree, and

took notice of it. Woes from Christ’s mouth are to be observed and kept

in mind, as well as blessings.

     

II. His clearing the temple of the market-people that frequented it,

and of those that made it a thoroughfare. We do not find that Christ

met with food elsewhere, when he missed of it on the fig-tree; but the

zeal of God’s house so ate him up, and made him forget himself, that he

came, hungry as he was, to Jerusalem, and went straight to the temple,

and began to reform those abuses which the day before he had marked

out; to show that when the Redeemer came to Zion, his errand was, to

turn away ungodliness from Jacob

(Rom. xi. 26),

and that he came not, as he was falsely accused, to destroy the

temple, but to purify and refine it, and reduce his church to its

primitive rectitude.

     

1. He cast out the buyers and sellers, overthrew the tables

of the money-changers (and threw the money to the ground, the

fitter place for it), and threw down the seats of them that sold

doves. This he did as one having authority, as a Son in his own

house. The filth of the daughter of Zion is purged away, not by

might, nor by power, but by the spirit of judgment, and the spirit

of burning. And he did it without opposition; for what he did, was

manifested to be right and good, even in the consciences of those that

had connived at it, and countenanced it, because they got money by it.

Note, It may be some encouragement to zealous reformers, that

frequently the purging out of corruptions, and the correcting of

abuses, prove an easier piece of work than was apprehended. Prudent

attempts sometimes prove successful beyond expectation, and there are

not those lions found in the way, that were feared to be.

     

2. He would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel, any

sort of goods or wares, through the temple, or any of the courts

of it, because it was the nearer way, and would save them the labour of

going about,

v. 16.

The Jews owned that it was one of the instances of honour due to the

temple, not to make the mountain of the house, or the court of the

Gentiles, a road, or common passage, or to come into it with any

bundle.

     

3. He gave a good reason for this; because it was written, My house

shall be called of all nations, The house of prayer,
v. 17.

So it is written,

Isa. lvi. 7.

It shall pass among all people under that character. It shall be the

house of prayer to all nations; it was so in the first institution

of it; when Solomon dedicated it, it was with an eye to the sons of the

strangers,

1 Kings viii. 41.

And it was prophesied that it should be yet more so. Christ will have

the temple, as a type of the gospel-church, to be,

(1.) A house of prayer. After he had turned out the oxen and

doves, which were things for sacrifice, he revived the appointment of

it as a house of prayer, to teach us that when all sacrifices

and offerings should be abolished, the spiritual sacrifices of prayer

and praise should continue and remain for ever.

(2.) That it should be so to all nations, and not to the people

of the Jews only; for whosoever shall call upon the name of the

Lord, shall be saved, though not of the seed of Jacob, according to

the flesh. It was therefore insufferable for them to make it a den

of thieves, which would prejudice those nations against it, whom

they should have invited to it. When Christ drove out the buyers and

sellers at the beginning of his ministry, he only charged them with

making the temple a house of merchandise

(John ii. 16);

but now he chargeth them with making it a den of thieves,

because since then they had twice gone about to stone him in the temple

(John viii. 59; x. 31),

or because the traders there were grown notorious for cheating their

customers, and imposing upon the ignorance and necessity of the country

people, which is no better than downright thievery. Those that suffer

vain worldly thoughts to lodge within them when they are at their

devotions, turn the house of prayer into a house of

merchandise; but they that make long prayers for pretence to devour

widows’ houses, turn it into a den of thieves.

     

4. The scribes and the chief priests were extremely nettled at this,

v. 18.

They hated him, and hated to be reformed by him; and yet they feared

him, lest he should next overthrow their seats, and expel

them, being conscious to themselves of the profaning and abusing

of their power. They found that he had a great interest, that all

the people were astonished at his doctrine, and that every thing he

said, was an oracle and a law to them; and what durst he not

attempt, what could he not effect, being thus supported? They

therefore sought, not how he might make their peace with him, but

how they might destroy him. A desperate attempt, and which, one

would think, they themselves could not but fear was fighting against

God. But they care not what they do, to support their own power and

grandeur.

     

III. His discourse with his disciples, upon occasion of the fig-tree’s

withering away which he had cursed. At even, as usual, he

went out of the city

(v. 19),

to Bethany; but it is probable that it was in the dark, so that they

could not see the fig-tree; but the next morning, as they passed

by, they observed the fig-tree dried up from the roots,
v. 20.

More is included many times in Christ’s curses than is

expressed, as appears by the effects of them. The curse was no

more than that it should never bear fruit again, but the effect goes

further, it is dried up from the roots. If it bear no fruit, it

shall bear no leaves to cheat people. Now observe,

     

1. How the disciples were affected with it. Peter remembered Christ’s

words, and said, with surprise, Master, behold, the fig-tree which

thou cursedst is withered away,
v. 21.

Note, Christ’s curses have wonderful effects, and make those to wither

presently, that flourished like the green bay-tree. Those whom he

curseth are cursed indeed. This represented the character and state

of the Jewish church; which, from henceforward, was a tree dried up

from the roots; no longer fit for food, but for fuel only. The first

establishment of the Levitical priesthood was ratified and confirmed by

the miracle of a dry rod, which in one night budded, and

blossomed, and brought forth almonds

(Num. xvii. 8),

a happy omen of the fruitlessness and flourishing of that priesthood.

And now, by a contrary miracle, the expiration of that priesthood was

signified by a flourishing tree dried up in a night; the just

punishment of those priests that had abused it. And this seemed very

strange to the disciples, and scarcely credible, that the Jews, who had

been so long God’s own, his only professing people in the world, should

be thus abandoned; they could not imagine how that fig-tree

should so soon wither away: but this comes of rejecting Christ,

and being rejected by him.

     

2. The good instructions Christ gave them from it; for of those

even this withered tree was fruitful.

     

(1.) Christ teacheth them from hence to pray in faith

(v. 22);

Have faith in God. They admired the power of Christ’s word of

command; “Why,” said Christ, “a lively active faith would put as great

a power into your prayers,

v. 23, 24.

Whosoever shall say to this mountain, this mount of Olives,

Be removed, and be cast into the sea; if he has but any word of

God, general or particular, to build his faith upon, and if he shall

not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he

saith, according to the warrant he has from what God hath said,

shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Through

the strength and power of God in Christ, the greatest difficulty shall

be got over, and the thing shall be effected. And therefore

(v. 24),

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye

shall receive them; nay, believe that ye do receive them,

and he that has power to give them, saith, Ye shall have them. I say

unto you, Ye shall,

v. 24.

Verily I say unto you, Ye shall,”

v. 23.

Now this is to be applied,

[1.] To that faith of miracles which the apostles and first

preachers of the gospel were endued with, which did wonders in

things natural, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out

devils; these were, in effect, the removing of mountains. The apostles

speak of a faith which would do that, and yet might be found where holy

love was not,

1 Cor. xiii. 2.

[2.] It may be applied to that miracle of faith, which all true

Christians are endued with, which doeth wonders in things

spiritual. It justifies us

(Rom. v. 1),

and so removes the mountains of guilt, and casts them into the

depths of the sea, never to rise up in judgment against us,

Mic. vii. 19.

It purifies the heart

(Acts xv. 9),

and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plains

before the grace of God,

Zech. iv. 7.

It is by faith that the world is conquered, Satan’s fiery darts are

quenched, a soul is crucified with Christ, and yet lives; by faith we

set the Lord always before us, and see him that is invisible, and have

him present to our minds; and this is effectual to remove mountains,

for at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

the mountains were not only moved, but removed,

Ps. cxiv. 4-7.

     

(2.) To this is added here that necessary qualification of the

prevailing prayer, that we freely forgive those who have been any way

injurious to us, and be in charity with all men

(v. 25, 26);

When ye stand praying, forgive. Note, Standing is no improper

posture for prayer; it was generally used among the Jews; hence they

called their prayers, their standings; when they would say how

the world was kept up by prayer, they expressed it thus,

Stationibus stat mundus–The world is held up by standings. But

the primitive Christians generally used more humble and reverent

gesture of kneeling, especially on fast days, though not on Lord’s

days. When we are at prayer, we must remember to pray for others,

particularly for our enemies, and those that have wronged us; now we

cannot pray sincerely that God would do them good, if we bear malice to

them, and wish them ill. If we have injured others before we pray, we

must go and be reconciled to them;
Matt. v. 23, 24.

But if they have injured us, we go a nearer way to work, and must

immediately from our hearts forgive them.

[1.] Because this is a good step towards obtaining the

pardon of our own sins: Forgive, that your Father may

forgive you; that is, “that he may be qualified to receive

forgiveness, that he may forgive you without injury to his honour, as

it would be, if he should suffer those to have such benefit by his

mercy, as are so far from being conformable to the pattern of it.”

[2.] Because the want of this is a certain bar to the obtaining of the

pardon of our sins; “If ye do not forgive those who have injured

you, if he hate their persons, bear them a grudge, meditate revenge,

and take all occasion to speak ill of them, neither will your Father

forgive your trespasses.” This ought to be remembered in prayer,

because one great errand we have to the throne of grace, is, to pray

for the pardon of our sins: and care about it ought to be our daily

care, because prayer is a part of our daily work. Our Saviour often

insists on this, for it was his great design to engage his disciples to

love one another.








The Pharisees Nonplussed.

     

27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in

the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes,

and the elders,

  28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things?

and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

  29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of

you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what

authority I do these things.

  30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer

me.

  31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say,

From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

  32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all

men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

  33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And

Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what

authority I do these things.

     

We have here Christ examined by the great Sanhedrim concerning his

authority; for they claimed a power to call prophets to an account

concerning their mission. They came to him when he was walking in

the temple, not for his diversion, but teaching the people,

first one company and then another. The Peripatetic philosophers were

so called from the custom they had of walking when they taught.

The cloisters, or piazzas, in the courts of the temple, were fitted for

this purpose. The great men were vexed to see him followed and heard

with attention, and therefore came to him with some solemnity,

and did as it were arraign him at the bar with this question, By

what authority doest thou these things?
v. 28.

Now observe,

     

I. How they designed hereby to run him aground, and embarrass him. If

they could make it out before the people, that he had not a legal

mission, that he was not duly ordained, though he was ever

so well qualified, and preached ever so profitably and well, they would

tell the people that they ought not to hear him. This they made

the last refuge of an obstinate unbelief; because they were resolved

not to receive his doctrine, they were resolved to find some flaw or

other in his commission, and will conclude it invalid, if it be not

produced and ratified in their court. Thus the Papists resolve their

controversy with us very much into the mission of our ministers, and if

they have but any pretence to overthrow that, they think they have

gained their point, though we have the scripture ever so much on our

side. But this is indeed a question, which all that act either as

magistrates or ministers, ought to be furnished with a good answer to,

and often put to themselves, By what authority do I these

things? For how can men preach except they be sent? Or how

can they act with comfort, or confidence, or hope of success, except

they be authorized?

Jer. xxiii. 32.

     

II. How he effectually ran them aground, and embarrassed them, with

this question, “What are your thoughts concerning the baptism of

John? Was it from heaven, or of men? By what authority did

John preach, and baptize, and gather disciples? Answer me,
v. 30.

Deal fairly and ingenuously, and give a categorical answer, one way or

the other.” By this resolve of their question into this,

our Saviour intimates how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to

John’s; they had the same original, and the same design and

tendency–to introduce the gospel kingdom. Christ might with the better

grace put this question to them, because they had sent a

committee of their own house to examine John,

John i. 19.

“Now,” saith Christ, “what was the result of your enquiries concerning

him?”

     

They knew what they thought of this question; they could not but

think that John Baptist was a man sent of God. But the

difficulty was, what they should say to it now. Men that oblige

not themselves to speak as they think (which is a certain rule)

cannot avoid perplexing themselves thus.

     

1. If they own the baptism of John to be from heaven, as really

it was, they shame themselves; for Christ will presently turn it

upon them, Why did ye not then believe him, and receive his

baptism? They could not bear that Christ should say this, but they

could bear it that their own consciences should say so, because they

had an art of stifling and silencing them, and because what conscience

said, though it might gall and grate them a little, would not shame

them; and then they would do well enough, who looked no

further than Saul’s care, when he was convicted, Honour me now

before this people,
1 Sam. xv. 30.

     

2. If they say, “It is of men, he was not sent of God, but his

doctrine and baptism were inventions of his own,” they expose

themselves, the people will be ready to do them a mischief, or a

least clamour upon them; for all men counted John that he was a

prophet indeed, and therefore they could not bear that he should be

reflected on. Note, There is a carnal slavish fear, which not only

wicked subjects but wicked rulers likewise are liable to, which God

makes use of as a means to keep the world in some order, and to

suppress violence, that it shall not always grow up into a

rod of wickedness. Now by this dilemma to which Christ brought

them,

(1.) They were confounded and baffled, and forced to make a

dishonourable retreat; to pretend ignorance–We cannot tell (and

that was mortification enough to those proud men), but really to

discover the greatest malice and wilfulness. What Christ did by his

wisdom, we must labour to do by our well doing–put to silence the

ignorance of foolish men,
1 Pet. ii. 15.

(2.) Christ came off with honour, and justified himself in refusing to

give them an answer to their imperious demand; Neither tell I you by

what authority I do these things. They did not deserve to be told;

for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory; nor

did he need to tell them, for the works which he did,

told them plainly that he had authority from God to do what he did;

since no man could do those miracles which he did unless God were with

him. Let them wait but three or four days, and his resurrection shall

tell them who gave him his authority, for by that he will be

declared to be the Son of God with power, as by their rejecting

of him, notwithstanding, they will be declared to be the enemies of

God.


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Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721)


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