A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
1. ANd Jeſus entred and paſſed through Jericho. 2. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, which was the chief among the Publicans, and he was rich. 3. And he ſought to ſee Jeſus who he was, and could not for the preſs, becauſe he was little of ſtature. 4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a ſycamore-tree to ſee him; for he was to paſs that way. 5. And when Jeſus came to the place, he looked up and ſaw him, and ſaid unto him, Zacheus, make haſt, and come down; for to day I muſt abide at thy houſe.
1 2, 3, 4, 5. Deſire, and diligent ſeeking, prepare for Chriſt's acceptance and abode with us.
6. And he made haſt and came down, and received him joyfully.
6. Note; He hoped but for a …ight of him, and obtaineth more. Mercy exceedeth the ſeekers expectation.
7. And when they ſaw it, they all murmured, ſaying, that he was gone to be gueſt with a man that is a ſinner.
7. Note; As if Chriſt were not holy and ſtrict enough, becauſe he went to ſinners for their Salvation.
8. And Zacheus ſtood, and ſaid unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken any thing from any man by falſe accuſation, I reſtore him fourfold.
1. Note 1. This proceeding from Faith in Chriſt, proved him a true Convert. 2. Falſe accuſation was the Publican… notable ſin.
9. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, This day is ſalvation come to this houſe, for ſo much as he alſo is the ſon of Abraham.
9. Note 1. Where true Faith and Converſion cometh, there Salvation cometh. 2. All true Believers are Children of Abraham, that is, of the Promiſe made to Abraham and his ſeed.
10. For the Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which was loſt.
10. To this end came I into the World, to redeem, convert, and ſave loſt ſinners.
11. And as they heard theſe things, he added, and ſpake a parable, becauſe he was nigh to Jeruſalem, and becauſe they thought that the kingdom of God ſhould immediately appear.
11. To take them off ſuch expectations.
12. He ſaid therefore, A certain noble man went into a far countrey to receive for himſelf a kingdom and to return.
12. Chriſt was to go from Earth to Heaven, to receive his own Kingly glory, and to reign there over Heaven and Earth, and to return to judge men according to their works.
13. And he called his ten ſervants, and delivered them ten pounds, and ſaid unto them, Occupy till I come.
13. He giveth men, that profeſs to be his Servants, his Gifts and Mercies, and commands them to uſe them faithfully in his Service, and to do good in his Church, and profit others, expecting his return.
14. But his citizens hated him, and ſent a meſſage after him, ſaying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
14. The Jews, to whom he firſt offered Grace, rejected him and his Government with ſcorn.
15. And it came to paſs, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded theſe ſervants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
15. When he came to exerciſe Judgment over his Subjects and Servants, he called firſt thoſe that profeſſed Chriſtianity, to take an account how they had uſed the bleſſings of the Goſpel.
16. Then came the firſt, ſaying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
16. Thy Grace …nd Gifts have been improved to the profit of many … …o my own increaſe in Holineſs.
17. And he ſaid unto him, Well, thou good ſervant: becauſe thou haſt been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
17. Thou ſhall have a reward above others, according to thy ſervice.
Note 1. Chriſt will praiſe his faithful Servants, and their Works. 2. He rewardeth them, becauſe they have been faithful, as the ſ…ral Qualification of the Receivers; but not in Commutative Juſtice, nor in Diſtributive Governing Juſtice, according to the Law of Innocency, or of Moſes, but in Diſtributive Paternal Juſtice, according to the Law of Grace and Faith.
18. And the ſecond came, ſaying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19. And he ſaid likewiſe to him, Be thou alſo over five cities.
18, 19. Their reward ſhall be anſwerable.
20. And another came, ſaying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21. For I feared thee, becauſe thou art an auſtere man: thou takeſt up that thou layedſt not down, and reapeſt that thou didſt not ſow.
20, 21. Here is thy own; I have waſted none of it: But thou art ſo ſevere, that I durſt not trade with it, leſt I ſhould loſe it.
22. And he ſaith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked ſervant: thou kneweſt that I was an auſtere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not ſow. 23. Wherefore then gaveſt not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with uſury?
22, 23. Note; Wicked men are apt to excuſe their ſloth, and accuſe God's ſtrictneſs: But out of their own confeſſions and words ſhall Hypocrites, that profeſs Chriſtianity, be condemned.
Qu. What Ʋſury is it which Chriſt by this Parable ſeemeth to countenance? Anſ. Such as God had not forbidden: To us now all Uſury is ſinful, that is againſt either Juſtice or Charity, or the publick good, and no other: For Moſes's Political Law bindeth not us.
24. And he ſaid unto them that ſtood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25. And they ſaid unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds. 26. For I ſay unto you, That unto every one which hath, ſhall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath ſhall be taken away from him.
24. Add it to his reward.
25, 26. He that hath gained by his faithful induſtry ſhall be truſted and rewarded with more; and he that unfaithfully neglected to uſe the mercy truſted with him, ſhall be deprived of that mercy, gifts, time, &c. which he neglected.
27. But thoſe mine enemies, which would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring hither, and ſlay them before me.
27. Thoſe Jews that hated and rejected me, and all ſuch Rebellious Infidels, ſhall be deſtroyed.
28. And when he had thus ſpoken, he went before, aſcending up to Jeruſalem. 29. And it came to paſs when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany; at the mount called the mount of Olives, he ſent two of his diſciples, 30. Saying, go ye into the village over againſt you, in the which at your entring ye ſhall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man ſ…t: looſe him, and bring him hither. 31. And if any man ask you, Why do ye looſe him? thus ſhall ye ſay unto him, Becauſe the Lord hath need of him. 32. And they that were ſent, went their way, and found even as he had ſaid unto them. 33. And as they were looſing the colt, the owners thereof ſaid unto them, Why looſe ye the colt? 34. And they ſaid, The Lord hath need of him.
28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. Note; Though Luke name only the Colt, that denyeth not the Aſs named by other Writers.
See Matth. 21.1, 7, 8.
35. And they brought him to Jeſus: and they caſt their garments upon the colt, and they ſet Jeſus thereon. 36. And as he went, they ſpread their clothes in the way. 37. And when he was come nigh, even now at the deſcent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the diſciples began to rejoyce, and praiſed God with a loud voyce, for all the mighty works that they had ſeen, 38. Saying, bleſſed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven, and glory in the higheſt.
37. See on Matth. 21.9, 10, 11.
39. And ſome of the Phariſees from among the multitude, ſaid to him, Maſter, rebuke thy diſciples. 40. And he anſwered and ſaid to them, I tell you, that if theſe ſhould hold their peace, the ſtones would immediately cry out.
39, 40. They do but what God doth cauſe them to do, and if they did not, God would have it done, though by Miracle.
41. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it; 42. Saying, If thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes.
41. O that thou hadſt known the things that are neceſſary to thy own peace and ſafety, before the day of Grace be paſt. But by thy wilful ſin and blindneſs, they are unknown to thee.
Note; Chriſt, as Man, by weeping over ſelf-deſtroying ſinners, ſheweth his love and pity, though not equal to that which he exerciſeth on hi… Elect whom he will ſave.
43. For the days ſhall come upon thee, that thine enemies ſhall caſt a trench about thee, and compaſs thee round, and keep thee in on every ſide, 44. And ſhall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they ſhall not leave in thee one ſtone upon another, becauſe thou kneweſt not the time of thy viſitation.
34, 44 All this was done about thirty eight years after, by the dreadfulleſt Siege, for Famine and Murder, that any Hiſtory recordeth.
45. And he went into the temple, and began to caſt out them that ſold therein and them that bought. 46. Saying unto them, It is written, My houſe is the houſe of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
45▪ 46. See Matth. 21.12. Note; Chriſt ſhewed his Authority by Reforming; and his Zeal even for the Temple, while the Law ſtood.
47. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief prieſts and ſcribes, and the chief of the people ſought to deſtroy him
47. It was the Prieſts and Rulers that were Chriſt's Enemies and Perſecutors.
48. And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
48. They durſt not lay hands on him, becauſe the multitude hearing and admiring him, were as his guard.