A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
1. ANd when he called to him his twelve diſciples, he gave them power againſt unclean ſpirits to caſt them out, and to heal all manner of ſickneſs, and all manner of diſeaſe.
1. And as he bid them pray for more labourers, accordingly he choſe twelve, and gave them power to Preach and to work Miracles, and do good againſt Devils and Diſeaſes to confirm their words.
2. Now the names of the twelve apoſtles are theſe, the firſt Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the ſon of Zebedee, and John his brother, 3. Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the Publican, James the ſon of Alpheus, and Lebbeus ſirnamed Thaddeus. 4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iſcariot who alſo betrayed him. Theſe twelve Jeſus ſent forth, and commanded them, ſaying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6. But go rather to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Note, 1. Peter had a priority, though no Government over the reſt: 2. Lebbeus is Judas that wrote the Epiſtle extant. 3. Simon is not called a Canaanite as to Nation, but his name ſignifieth, the Zealot, Luk. 6.15. Act. 1, 13. 4. Chriſt choſe twelve in reſpect to the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, to whoſe ſervice they were firſt confined: But when the Jews rejected him, and the Gentiles were to be called, he added Paul, to ſhew that he confined not the Goſpel to the Jews, but the Church now muſt be Catholick.
5. By the Samaritans is meant thoſe that were not of Abrahams Seed, but were ſent thither at the tranſlation in King Hoſea's time: And by the Iſraelites is meant all Abraham's ſeed that were chiefly in Judea, but ſcattered alſo where the twelve Tribes had lived.
7. And as ye go, preach, ſaying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
7. As ye go, Proclaim to them, that the Kingdom of the Meſſiah whom God promiſed to ſend from Heaven, is now at hand: You may ſee the Chriſt ſo long expected.
8. Heal the ſick, cleanſe the lepers, raiſe the dead, caſt out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.
8. I give you power to heal, &c. Doing good is your work: Do it freely, as freely I give it you.
9. Provide neither gold, nor ſilver, nor braſs in your purſes; 10. nor ſcrip for your journey, nor two coats, neither ſhoes, nor yet ſtaves; for the workman is worthy of his meat.
9. You go not on your own work but mine: Provide neither Money nor victuals for your Journey, nor cloathing as for long time to come, nor a defenſive weapon or ſtaff: But look for your maintenance for your work.
11. And into whatſoever city or town ye ſhall enter, enquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go thence. 12. And when ye come into any houſe, ſalute it. 13. And if the houſe be worthy, let your peace come upon it: But if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
11, &c. Enquire who is a godly perſon, willingeſt to entertain the Goſpel: And when you come to any houſe ſay, Peace be to this houſe; that is, Gods bleſſing be here. And if the perſons be godly, and truly qualified for his bleſſing, it ſhall come upon them, elſe not, but you ſhall be clear. Note, 1. There is a worthineſs conſiſtent with free grace. 2. And a worthineſs before their receiving of the Goſpel. This had two degrees, 1. The higheſt degree was true ſaith and godlineſs ſuited to that knowledge that the faithfull had before Chriſts incarnation: who were in a ſtate of Salvation, but yet had not the knowledge of the Goſpel, (fully ſo called) and that Jeſus was the Chriſt. Such was Zachary and Elizabeth, and Nathanael, and the Centurion, Act. 10, &c. 2. And thoſe that had but preparatory grace, or a teachable tractable willing diſpoſition, were more worthy, (or leſs unworthy) than the refractory.
2. Miniſters being not heart-ſearchers, muſt pronounce Gods bleſſing on men, on uncertainties and meer probability of the event: 3. This benediction hath ever a condition implyed, if the perſon be worthy or capable of it. 4. If that perſon be unworthy and unbleſt, the Miniſter is blameleſs, if he went according to probable profeſſion: The fault was his own. 5. No Miniſterial bleſſing, (Baptizing, the Lords Supper, Abſolution, &c.) will ſave an unworthy perſon, that is, one not qualified for Salvation according to Gods promiſe.
14. And whoſoever ſhall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that houſe or city, ſhake off the duſt of your feet.
14. And ſeeing you come not for any gain of your own, but to bring them the joyfull tidings of Salvation, ſo heinous is the ſin of unthankful churliſh refuſal, that you ſhall ſhake off the duſt of your feet, as ſignifying the labour you uſed in vain for their Salvation, as a witneſs againſt them in time to come.
15. Verily I ſay to you, that it ſhall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom and of Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
15. Note, 1. There are different degrees of puniſhment hereafter: ſome are more tollerable than others. 2. Sodomes puniſhment ſhall be leſs than the refuſers of the Goſpel, becauſe they ſinned againſt leſs means, light and mercies. Falſe Chriſtians then will have a heavy doom.
16. Behold, I ſend you forth as ſheep in the midſt of wolves. Be ye therefore wiſe as ſerpents, and harmleſs as doves.
16. It is not a life or eaſe and worldly preferment, or man-pleaſing that I ſend you on; but as ſheep in the midſt of many Wolves, ſuch enmity againſt the Goſpel and godlineſs is in the corrupt nature and intereſt of man, and ſpecially of the obdurate, that inſtead of thankful entertaining you and your meſſage, they will tear and devour you, if God do not reſtrain them. Therefore be wiſe to carry your ſelves inoffenſively and cautelouſly, preſerving your ſelves by lawful means; but be ye harmleſs and innocent that they may have no juſt accuſation againſt you; and uſe no unlawfull means: Sheep and Doves are no good fighters againſt Wolves and Hawks.
17. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will ſcourge you in their Synagogues. 18. And ye ſhall be brought before governours and kings for my ſake, for a teſtimony againſt them and the Gentiles.
17, 18. But keep out of their hands, (as I do) by juſt means; For the Jews will deliver you up to their Councils of Prieſt and Elders, and they will ſcourge you as malefactors in their Synagogues; and if they can make your crimes ſeem capital, they will deliver you up to the Roman power; that both Jews and Gentiles while you are accuſed, may hear from you what the Goſpelis, and be unexcutable in their ſin.
19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye ſhall ſpeak, for it ſhall be given you in that ſame hour what ye ſhall ſpeak. 20. For it is not ye that ſpeak▪ but the Spirit of your Father that ſpeaketh in you.
19, 20. And let not your own ſlowneſs of Speech put you on anxiety (as it did Moſes and Iſaiah) For Gods Spirit in you, will help you and teach you what and how to ſpeak in ſeaſon.
21. And the brother ſhall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, and the children ſhall riſe up againſt the parents, and cauſe them to be put to death. 22. And ye ſhall be hated of all men for my names ſake.
21, 22. So great is the enmity of the Fleſh againſt the Spirit, and againſt Faith and Holineſs, that it will overcome even natural affection of brethren and parents, and children, ſo that they ſhall bring their neareſt relations to Martyrdom and other ſufferings. And the world will hate you for my ſake.
But he that endureth to the end ſhall be ſaved.
22. But he that overcometh all theſe trials, and holds out in faith and patience to the end, ſhall be ſaved.
23. But when they perſecute you in this city, flee ye into another: For verily I ſay to you, you ſhall not have gone over the cities of Iſrael, till the Son of man be come.
23. But it is your duty ſo far to preſerve your ſelves for further ſervice, as to flee from Perſecutors, to go Preach elſewhere (ſo it be not when you have any greater obligation to the contrary than your lives be worth.) And I tell you, you ſhall not have gone over all the Cities of Iſrael in the performance of this work that I lay upon you, till they ſhall ſee the Meſſiah in his own perſon, openly owning his Office, and preaching to them as ſuch himſelf.
N. This hard Text is variouſly expounded: 1. Some ſay, that the Romans deſtruction of Jeruſalem is Chriſt's coming here meant. 2. Others ſay, that it is his coming by Conſtantines Converſion to ſet up Chriſtianity in power and honour, and that the meaning is, that the Cities of Judea ſhall not be all converted till then. 3. Others ſay it is Chriſt's coming to Judgment; or, ſay others, to call the Jews at his perſonal Reign, till when they will not be generally converted. 4. It ſeems to me more probable that it is own open declaring himſelf to be the Chriſt, and that his Kingdom is come: For, 1. he yet preached but much like John, that the Kingdom of God (the Meſſiah) is at hand. 2. And he did not yet bring his own Diſciples to confeſs it, it being after extorted from Peter, Mat. 16. and he highly praiſed for confeſſing him. 3. And he forbad Peter, and thoſe he healed, and the very Devils to confeſs him. 4. So that properly his Kingdom began at his Exaltation, even his Reſurrection, Aſcenſior, and ſending down the Spirit. 5. There is another Expoſition of ſome that think he meant, Tho I ſend you from me now, let not my abſence diſcourage you: I will be with you again, before you have gone over all the Cities; As if he ſpake of their return to him at their next meeting.
24, 25. The diſciple is not above his Maſter, nor the ſervant above his Lord. It is enough for the diſciple that he be as his Maſter, and the ſervant as his Lord: if they have called the Maſter of the houſe Belzebub, how much more ſhall they call them of his houſhold?
24, 25. You are not greater or better than I: It's enough if you be uſed but as I am. If they ſay that I work by Belzebub, what words or falſe accuſations be ſo bad which you may not expect that are my followers.
26. Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered that ſhall not be revealed, and hid, that ſhall not be known.
26. Therefore fear not their falſe accuſations, or their threats: For there is nothing now covered with falſe pretences, reaſonings or ſlanders, which ſhall not be uncovered, and truly opened, and not any thing hidden by fraud or force, which ſhall not be made known.
27. What I tell you in darkneſs, that ſpeak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the houſe tops.
27. What I ſpeak to you alone or in Parables, that publiſh fearleſly to all the world.
28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoul: but rather fear him who is able to deſtroy both ſoul and body in hell.
28. Your bodies are mortal and muſt die, and God may ſuffer men to kill them: But fear not men that can do no more, nor can kill or undo the ſoul that is immortal: But fear God and offend not him, who can deſtroy both body and ſoul in hell.
29. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing? and one of them ſhall not fall to the ground. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred.
29, 30. If Gods providence diſpoſe of the leaſt motions and events of the leaſt of his Creatures, ſuch as a poor Sparrow is, will he not take care of you that are his Children. Yea, he regardeth every hair of your heads; how much more your lives and ſouls.
31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many Sparrows.
31. Truſt God and fear not men: For he that made you better than Sparrows, will regard you accordingly.
32, 33. Whoſoever therefore ſhall confeſs me before men, him will I confeſs alſo before my Father which is in Heaven: But whoſoever ſhall deny me before men, him will I alſo deny before my Father which is in Heaven.
32, 33. Note 1. By confeſſing Chriſt is meant, open owning him as our Lord and Saviour, what ever we ſuffer by it. 2. To be owned by God through Chriſt our advocate, is the great intereſt that we ſhould firſt ſecure.
34. Think not that I am come to ſend peace on earth: I came not to ſend peace, but a ſword. 35. For I am come to ſet a man at variance againſt his Father, and the daughter againſt her mother, and the daughter in law againſt her mother in law. 36. And a mans foes ſhall be they of his own houſhold.
34, 35, 36. Think not that the coming of the Meſſiah is to ſettle Iſrael in power, and bring all Nations to ſubjection or peaceable confederacy with them, and to ſet my diſciples in a ſtate of proſperity: you muſt expect the contrary, that by owning me and my doctrine, your very friends and kindred will turn your enemies, Parents and Children will hate and perſecute you, and out of your own houſes will ariſe your moſt dangerous enemies.
37. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth ſon or daughter, more than me, is not worthy of me.
37. And let not this turn you off: For if you love Father or Mother, Son or Daughter more than me, and would forſake me rather than be forſaken or perſecuted by them, you are not capable of being my true Diſciples ſuch as I will ſave.
38. And he that taketh not his croſs, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
38. And he that, if he be put to it, will not follow me under the croſs, and ſuffer a ſhameful Death rather than deny me, or forſake faith and godlineſs, is not a true Chriſtian, nor qualified for ſalvation; nor will I own him in the day of Judgment.
39. He that findeth his life ſhall loſe it: and he that loſeth his life for my ſake, ſhall find it.
39. He that will ſave his life by denying me, or by any ſin, ſhall loſe it, for he ſhall loſe everlaſting life, and ſhall die as well as others, and perhaps as ſoon: And he that is put to death for faith and righteouſneſs, hath not loſt his life, whenas death is but his paſſage to life everlaſting.
40. He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that ſent me.
40. And ſeeing you are my Meſſengers, and your Commiſſion ſhall be ſealed by the convincing evidence of the miraculous and ſanctifying operations of the Holy Ghoſt, I will own you in all you ſay, do, or ſuffer according to your commiſſion, and will reward them that receive you and your words, as if they received me my ſelf; (for I am not to ſtay on earth to do all my work my ſelf, but will do it by my Miniſters.) And he that receiveth me ſhall be accepted by my Father, as if he had received him.
N. As this is a moſt ſtrong and comfortable obligation to the receiving of Chriſts true Miniſters; ſo it is dreadful prophaneneſs to hear a proud domineering enemy of Godlineſs, that hath got by force into the title of the Miniſtery, and labours to make true Godlineſs odious, and perſecuteth the moſt faithful, to plead this Text, as if he that heard and received their malignant ſcorns at Piety, did hear and receive Jeſus Chriſt.
41. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, ſhall receive a prophets reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, ſhall receive a righteous mans reward.
41. Note, 1. This tells us that God rewardeth not men according to their gifts, but according to the will and heart: And it is a great comfort to every ungifted and poor inferiour Chriſtian, that they may have the reward of Preachers, if they do but receive them and further their works as they are able: yea, if they do but love them, and would receive them if they could, God taketh it as done.
2. But by the ſame reward, is meant the ſame in kind, but not in degree.
3. And by a Righteous man, is meant an eminent godly man; and that he that loveth ſuch, and entertaineth them, ſhall be numbred with the truly righteous: But it meaneth not that every wicked liver ſhall ſpeed as the Righteous, if he will but receive ſuch, tho he amend not himſelf. But he that loveth a good man becauſe he is ſuch, and ſheweth b… receiving him, tho to his coſt and danger, that his love is ſincere, ſhall be numbred with ſuch himſelf.
42. And whoſoever ſhall give to drink to one of theſe little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a diſciple, verily I ſay unto you, he ſhall in no wi…e loſe his reward.
42. He that loveth a Chriſtian as ſuch, more than his riches, and would give him more if he had it, if he give but a cup of cold Water, to the pooreſt weakeſt Chriſtian becauſe he is a Chriſtian, ſhall not loſe the reward that I here promiſe.
Note, 1. What a ſafe way of uſury hath Chriſt taught all Believers? He is an unbeliever who thinks he ſhall be a loſer by any obedience to Chriſt.
2. It is not the Rich only that ſhall have the reward of Charity, but the Poor alſo that do their beſt, and would give if they were able.
3. It is not only charity to Preachers and rare perſons, but to the leaſt Chriſtians, that Chriſt will reward.
4. Therefore it is not only ſlandering, reviling and … e…in…nt ſervants of Chriſt, but even the … Chriſtians, that Chriſt will con… … miſerable pretence to ſay, they … …ty (perhaps for diſſenting from … of uſurpers,) as if any men were free from all errour.