A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
1. THere were preſent at that ſeaſon, ſome that told him of the Galileans, whoſe blood Pilate had mingled with their ſacrifices.
1. Some Pilate had killed for ſtirring up the People againſt the Romans Government.
2. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto them, Suppoſe ye that theſe Galileans were ſinners above all the Galileans, becauſe they ſuffered ſuch things? 3. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh.
2, 3. Note, We muſt not judge them the greateſt ſinners that ſuffer moſt here: The Judge on the b…nch may do more wrong than the thief whom he hangeth: And famous conquerors, than robbers. The day is coming that muſt ſet all right. Theſe Jews after ſuffered much more.
4. Or thoſe eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloe fell, and ſlew them, think ye that they were ſinners above all men that dwelt in Jeruſalem? 5. I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh.
4. Note. Worſe did befall the other Jews.
6. He ſpake alſo this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and ſought fruit thereon, and found none. 7. Then ſaid he unto the dreſſer of his vineyard, Behold, theſe three years I come ſeeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground? 8. And he anſwering, ſaid unto him, Lord, let it alone this year alſo, till I ſhall dig about it, and dung it: 9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou ſhalt cut it down.
6, 7, 8, 9, Chriſt had three years preach't to the obſtinate Jews.
10. And he was teaching in one of the ſynagogues on the ſabbath. 11. And behold, there was a woman which had a ſpirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wiſe lift up her ſelf.
10, 11. Satan was the executioner of her diſeaſe.
12. And when Jeſus ſaw her, he called her to him, and ſaid unto her, Woman, thou art looſed from thine infirmity. 13. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately ſhe was made ſtraight, and glorified God.
12, 13. By Divine Power.
14. And the ruler of the ſynagogue anſwered with indignation, becauſe that Jeſus had healed on the Sabbath-day, and ſaid unto the people, There are ſix daies in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed; and not on the ſabbath-day. 15. The Lord then anſwered him, and ſaid, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the ſabbath looſe his ox or his aſs from the ſtall, and lead him away to watering? 16. And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo theſe eighteen years, be looſed from this bond on the ſabbath-day?
14, 15, 16. Note; It is the part of Hypocrites to ſet up Ceremony and Circumſtances againſt Moral Duties, (or neceſſary good Works) to Body or Soul,
17. And when he had ſaid theſe things, all his adverſaries were aſhamed: and all the people rejoyced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
17. His Reaſon and h…s Miracle convinced the common people of the ſhameful … that ….
18. Then ſaid he, unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto ſhall I reſemble it? 19. It is like a grain of muſtard-ſeed, which a man took, and caſt into his garden, and it grew, and waxed a great tree: and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20. And again he ſaid, Whereunto ſhall I liken the kingdom of God. 21. It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three meaſures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
18, 19, 20, 21. Note; Though Chriſt's Flock was little at firſt, the Kingdoms of the World were after to become his Kingdom, and Nations to be diſcipled and baptized.
22. And he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jeruſalem. 23. Then ſaid one unto him, Lord, are there few that be ſaved? And he ſaid unto them. 24. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate: for many I ſay unto you will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able.
22, 23, 24. Inſtead of enquiring, How many? do thou labour to be one: And know, that the Gate is ſtrait: A life of Faith and Holineſs muſt coſt men ſufferings in the fleſh; therefore do not lazily wiſh and ſeek, but ſtrive, and ſpare no pains or coſt: For many that ſeek erroneouſly, or ſlothfully, and, as Hypocrites, give God but the ſecond place, ſhall never be ſaved.
25. When once the maſter of the houſe is riſen up, and hath ſhut to the door, and ye begin to ſtand without, and to knock at the door, crying Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he ſhall anſwer and ſay unto you, I know you not whence you are: 26. Then ſhall ye begin to ſay, We have eaten and drunk in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets. 27. But he ſhall ſay, I tell you, I know you not whence you are: depart from me all ye workers of iniquity.
25, 26, 27. All would be ſaved, and cry for mercy, when it is too late; therefore ſtrive without delay: And then all pretences of familiarity with Chriſt, or Clergy, or Church-Priviledges, will ſave no unſanctified man.
28. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth, when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, and Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you your ſelves thruſt out.
28. It will increaſe your torment to ſee thoſe that never ſaw and heard what you have done, to be in Heaven, and you thruſt out to Hell for your unbelief and wickedneſs.
29. And they ſhall come from the eaſt, and from the weſt, and from the north, and from the ſouth, and ſhall ſit down in the kingdom of God. 30. And behold, there are laſt which are firſt, and there are firſt which ſhall be laſt.
29, 30. The faithful ſhall be received from all parts of the Earth: And ſome that ſhall be born and called long hence, ſhall be more excellent perſons, and have a more glorious Crown, than many that are called now; and when you Jews are rejected, who were a Church before them.
31. The ſame day there came certain of the Phariſees, ſaying unto him, Get thee out, & depart hence, for Herod will kill thee. 32. And he ſaid unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold, I caſt out Devils, and I do cures to day and to morrrow, and the third day I ſhall be perfected.
31, 32. Note; He liken's Herod to a Fox for ſubtilty and cruelty. This Example of Chriſt will not juſtifie any contumelious Language againſt Kings; though they, that are called to it, may plainly and humbly tell them of their ſin and danger, regarding their due honour. And Hiſtorians may truly deſcribe them when they are dead.
33. Nevertheleſs I muſt walk to day and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet periſh out of Jeruſalem.
33. Whatever Herod do, I ſhall do my work, and finiſh it; and ſhall not ſuffer by Herod in Galilee, which is his Juriſdiction, but at Jeruſalem, the place of killing Prophets.
34. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, which killeſt the prophets, and ſtoneſt them that are ſent unto thee: how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not?
34. O ſinful, miſerable Jeruſalem! How oſt would I have gathered thy whole City and Nation (old and young) into my boſom of Love, and my Church, by making you my Diſciples, as tenderly as a Hen doth gather and love her Chickens, not caſting out your Children, but taking in your Nation, as God did before, if you had not cut off your ſelves by unbelief, and obſtinate rejecting the Grace offered to your Nation?
35. Behold, your houſe is left unto you deſolate: And verily I ſay unto you, Ye ſhall not ſee me, until the time come when ye ſhall ſay, Bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
35. Your Temple, which you glory in, ſhall ſhortly be demoliſhed, and your City deſtroyed: And I tell you, that you ſhall not rejoyce in the Salvation of the Meſſiah, for whom you wait till you learn to honour me with Hoſannah's, and to welcom them that preach my Goſpel to you.