A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
1. FOR the Kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an houſholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his Vineyard.
2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he ſent them into his vineyard.
1.2. Note, The Parable is to ſhew, That God will not give men more Glory than others, becauſe they were the firſt Chriſtians; but, becauſe his Grace hath made them the beſt: tho in time after others.
3. And he went out about the third hour, and ſaw others ſtanding idle in the market-place. 4. And ſaid unto them, Go ye alſo into the vineyard, and what ever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5. Again, he went out about the ſixth and ninth hour, and did likewiſe. 6. And about the Eleventh hour he went out, and found others ſtanding idle, and ſaith to them. Why ſtand ye here all the day idle? 7. They ſay to him, Becauſe no man hath hired us. He ſaith to them, Go ye alſo into the Vineyard, and what ever is right, that ſhall ye receive.
3. &c. The hours were about Nine a Clock, and at Twelve, and at Three, and at Five. God is not for idleneſs; but hath work for all times and Ages.
8. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard ſaith to his Steward, Call the labourers and give them their hire; beginning from the laſt unto the firſt.
8. Note Gods Reward is in the evening of our days, and the evening of the World; when Work is done.
9. And when they came that were hired at the Eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10. And when the firſt came, they ſuppoſed that they ſhould have received more, and they likewiſe received every man a penny. 11. And when they had received it, they murmured againſt the good man of the houſe. 12. Saying, Theſe laſt have wrought but one hour, and thou haſt made them equal with us, who have born the burder and heat of the day.
9.10.11.12. He made no difference in their Wages for the Time of their Work: But he will make difference for the Work it ſelf: They that are called, near the end of the World, ſhall have as much, as thoſe that heard Chriſt Preach: And thoſe that are Converted in their Age, if they be more Holy, than thoſe that began in Youth, will be more Happy. 2. This Parable meaneth not, that our Reward is Wages for the value of our Work as beneficial to God, in Commutative Juſtice; but only ſpeaketh of the proportion. 3. Nor doth it imply, That any in Heaven will murmur at other mens Salvation, but that the Jewiſh Diſciples were yet inclined to grudge, that the Gentiles were equalled with them. And it is to cure ſuch envy now.
13.14. But he anſwered one of them, and ſaid, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didſt thou not agree with me for a penny. Take that thine is and goe thy way: I will give to this laſt, even as unto thee: 15. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil becauſe I am good?
13.14.15. I break no Covenant with thee: Thou art not meet to give me Laws of Equity: Liberality to another, is no wrong to thee. Am I not the rightful diſpoſer of my own? Muſt I give none more than the Value of their Work deſerveth? All ſhall have Equity, but all ſhall not have equal bounty. Thou ſhouldſt be glad of thy Brothers receivings.
16. So the laſt ſhall be firſt, and the firſt laſt: for many are called, but few choſen.
16. So the laſt called in time, may be made the Chief in Dignity; and the firſt called in time, may be in Grace and Glory among the loweſt. Yea, of many that come into the Church at the firſt calling (as the Jewiſh Diſciples) few may prove ſincere and Saved.
17. And Jeſus going up to Jeruſalem, took the Twelve Diſciples apart in the way, and ſaid to them. 18. Behold, we go up to Jeruſalem, and the Son of man ſhall be betrayed to the Chief Prieſts, and to the Scribes, and they ſhall Condemn him to Death: 19. And ſhall deliver him to the Gentiles, to mock, and to ſcourge, and to Crucifie him: and the third day he ſhall riſe again.
17.18.19. He fore-told them that at Jeruſalem he ſhould Suffer, be Crucified, and Riſe again, &c.
Note, This frequent Prediction was a full proof of Chriſts truth, and voluntary Suffering.
20. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children, with her Sons, worſhiping him, and deſiring a certain thing of him. 21. And he ſaid to her, What wilt thou? She ſaith to him, Grant, that theſe my two ſons may ſit the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy Kingdom.
20.21. N. Ambition is even in Chriſt's Diſciples, till ſpecial Grace humble them; ſeeking Preferment and Honour in the Church, is a Vice that Chriſt giveth us this warning to avoid. Carnality is apt to corrupt the Minds even of Eminent Miniſters, and Diſciples.
22. But Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, Ye know not what ye ask; are ye able to drink of the Cup that I drink of, and to be baptized with …he baptiſme that I am baptized with? They …a… to him. We are able.
22. You think to find Worldly Honour and Dignity in my Kingdom, But you are miſtaken; It is Suffering for me, that you muſt expect: Can you drink of this bitter Cup, as I muſt do, and be Baptized in Blood, as I muſt be? And they over-confidently anſwered, We are able: Not knowing their tryal, or their weakneſs.
23. And he ſaith to them, Ye ſhall drink indeed of my Cup, and be Baptized with the baptiſme that I am baptized with: But to ſit on my right hand, and on my left is not mine to give, but it ſhall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
23. Ye ſhall indeed ſuffer more than now ye think of (James was quickly Martyr'd:) But to be next me in my Kingdom, is not to be given by me upon ſuch Petitioning, but onelyonly to thoſe to whom my Father hath prepared it; and who ſhall be fitteſt for it?
24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation againſt the two brethren.
24. Note, 1. As ſome are prone to Ambition, ſo others to envy them, and be too much offended. 2. This ambitious part of Chriſts Miniſters here, bega… Diſcontent that tended to Schiſm, had not Chriſt ſoon rebuked it. 3. Chriſts own Twelve Apoſtles had their mutual Diſtaſts.
25. But Jeſus called them to him and ſaid, Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exerciſe dominion over them, and they that are great exerciſe Authority over them. 26. But it ſhall not be ſo among you; but whoſoever will be Great among you, let him be your Miniſter. 27. And whoſoever will be chief among you, let him be your Servant.
25.26.27. Chriſt rebuketh theſe Ambitious deſires of Superiority among them, and ſaith, The Civil Government by the Sword, which the Gentiles exerciſe, is as Lords by force and fear, and the Great in ſtrength command the reſt to do their wills. But in my Church as ſuch, among you my Diſciples it ſhall not be ſo: But (tho you muſt be ſubject to the coercive Government of Magiſtrates, yet) your own proper Government and pre-eminence ſhall be, by ſerviceable Humility and Love, over Volunteers: Church-greatneſs ſhall conſiſt, in being moſt greatly ſerviceable to the converſion and Edification of Souls▪ and in moſt humble condeſcention to that end: And he ſhall be accounted the Chief Paſtor and Chriſtian, who is moſt humbly ſerviceable to all. And the Proud, and Domineering, and Unſerviceable, ſhall be the loweſt or baſeſt.
28. Even as the Son of man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to miniſter; and to give his life a ranſome for many.
28. As I my ſelf came not to live in State, with great Attendance of Servants, but to ſerve Men for their good; not to receive by their ſervice to me, but to ſave them by my Service for them, and giving my very Life a Ranſome for many.
29. And as they departed from Jerico, a great multitude followed him: 30. And behold, two blind men ſitting by the way-ſide. 31. When they heard that Jeſus paſſed by Cryed out, ſaying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
29.30.31. The Blind hearing by fame, that he Healed all, cryed to him for Mercy, believing that he could heal them.
32. And Jeſus ſtood ſtill and called them and ſaid, What will ye, that I ſhall do t… you?
32. Note, Believers may have what they will of Chriſt which is meet for them, and they for it.
33.34. They ſay to him, Lord that ou… eyes may be opened. So Jeſus had compaſſion on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received ſight, and they followed him.
33.34. Note, 1. Bodily Calamities are eaſily felt, and Bodily Welfare is eaſily deſired. 2. And tho Chriſt moſt value thoſe who prefer Spiritual Mercies, yet he hath compaſſion alſo on mens Bodies, as ſerviceable to their Souls, and to his Glory.