A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
1. ANd it came to paſs when Jeſus had made an end of commanding his twelve diſciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
1. Having given his twelve Diſciples their inſtructions, he went about alſo to preach himſelf.
2. Now when John had heard in the priſon the works of Chriſt, he ſent two of his diſciples, 3. And ſaid to him, Art thou he that ſhould come, or do we look for another?
2, 3. Note, It is doubtful whether (John being in Priſon and not ſeeing Jeſus) the meaning be, Art thou the ſame Jeſus that I baptized, &c. Or, (as is more likely) that he ſent his Diſciples that they might be convinced by more than John's teſtimony.
4. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid to them, Go and ſhew John again thoſe things which ye do hear and ſee. 5. The blind receive their ſight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleanſed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raiſed up, and the poor have the goſpel preached to them. 6. And bleſſed is he whoever ſhall not be offended in me.
4, 5, 6. It is not my bare word but my works that ſhall anſwer you: it is by the fruit that the tree muſt be known: The miraculous works of Divine Power are done, and the works of love to mens bodies, and the Goſpel of Salvation is preached for their Souls. And theſe being Gods works, are Gods teſtimony what I am. And yet the meanneſs of my appearance, and my contempt and ſuffering from men, will be to many, a ſtumbling block, and make the work of believing difficult, and bleſſed are they that believe notwithſtanding all theſe difficulties.
7. And as they departed, Jeſus began to ſay to the multitude concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderneſs to ſee? a reed ſhaken with the wind; 8. But what went ye out to ſee? A man clothed in ſoft raiment? Behold, they that wear ſoft cloathing are in kings houſes? 9. But what went ye out to ſee? A prophet? yea, I ſay to you, and more than a prophet.
7, 8, 9. Jeſus took this occaſion to deſcribe John to the people; ſaying, What went you to John in the Wilderneſs to ſee? not a toy like a ſhaken Reed? Nor yet a pompous Gallant in gay cloaths? ſuch be not in Wilderneſſes but in Kings houſes: you'l ſay A Prophet? Yes, and greater than any foregoing Prophets; A nearer Meſſenger of the Kingdom of God.
10. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I ſend my meſſenger before thy face, which ſhall prepare thy way before thee.
10. For this is the Harbinger of the Meſſiah, promiſed by other Prophets.
11. Verily I ſay to you, Among them that are born of women, there hath not riſen a greater than John the Baptiſt. Notwithſtanding he that is leaſt in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.
11. There hath not been a greater than John before him: as being neareſt the Kingdom of the Meſſiah: But yet, the leaſt of my Miniſters in this my Kingdom, is greater than he, and ſhall have more eminent gifts of the Spirit, as well as a more excellent office and work; ſo far ſhall my Kingdom begun after my Aſcenſion, excell all ages that were before it.
12. And from the days of John the Baptiſt until now, the kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
12. And as the people crowded to John in the wilderneſs, and now as you ſee flock after me, ſo ſince John began to preach, I may ſay, that theſe multitud…s of inferiour people, croud as it were into the Kingdom of Heaven, and will not loſe it, while it is neglected by the higher ſort.
13. For all the prophets and the law propheſied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was to come. 15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
13, 14, 15. The Law and Prophets till John indeed foretold the Meſſiah; but not ſo determinately and nearly as John did: And if you can receive it, I tell you, John is that Elias that Malachi foretold ſhould go before to prepare the way to Chriſt. The belief of this is of great moment to your faith.
16. But whereto ſhall I liken this generation? It is like to children ſitting in the Market, and calling to their fellows; 17. We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not lamented.
16, 17. But the unbelievers of this generation, do as children in their games complain of one another; you will neither dance when we pipe, nor lament when we mourn to you; you are croſs to us whatever game we play.
18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they ſay, He hath a Devil. 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they ſay, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and ſinners. But wiſdom is juſtified of her children.
18, 19. John lived auſterely on Locuſts and wild-honey: and they took him for a poſſeſſed mad-man: And of me that exerciſe no ſuch unuſual auſterity of diet, but mere temperance, they ſay, I am a gluttonous man, and a lover of wine, No innocency will ſuffice to eſcape the falſe cenſures of Malignants: But the ſons of Wiſdom will juſtifie it.
20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein moſt of his mighty works were done, becauſe they repented not. 21. Wo to thee Chorazin, Wo to thee Bethſaida: for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sydon, they would have repented long ago in ſackcloth and aſhes. 22. But I ſay to you, It ſhall be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon at the day of judgment than for you.
20, 21, 22. Note, 1. Chriſts own Preaching and Miracles had ſo little ſucceſs, as that he is put to upbraid the places where he had wrought them for their impenitence: Therefore the beſt Preachers may be put to the like. 2. The puniſhment of ſuch as are unconverted under the moſt convincing Preaching, will be moſt intollerable. 3. Tho it be Gods grace which converteth Souls, yet he uſually ſo proportioneth it to the means he uſeth, that the ſame means ordinarily would convert ſome, which converts not others.
23. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven, ſhalt be brought down to hell: For if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24. But I ſay to you, that it ſhall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
23, 24. Thou Capernaum where I have dwelt, haſt by my preſence, preaching and works been honoured with the heavenly gifts; but for impenitence ſhalt be deſtroyed: If Sodom had ſeen and heard what thou haſt, their repentance would have prevented their deſtruction. But their doom at the day of Judgment ſhall be more tollerable than thine.
25. At that time Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becauſe thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them to babes. 26. Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight.
25, 26. Then Jeſus ſaid to God his Father, I thank thee, O Father, who being Lord of Heaven and Earth, haſt the abſolute right to diſpoſe of all, that thou haſt choſen the deſpiſed unlearned ſort of men to make known effectually the Goſpel of Salvation to, rather than the men of reputation for learning and wiſdom in the world, and haſt left proud ſelf-conceited men in their ignorance, whilſt thou haſt taught the humble and meek. This pleaſeth me, as being the choice and good pleaſure of thy wiſdom.
27. All things are delivered to me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, ſave the Son, and he to whomſoeever the Son will reveal him.
27. All things are delivered by the Father to me, upon my right of Redemption, in order to the ends of my ſaving office; ſo that I am (under the Divi… nature) even in my humanity made the univerſa… … Ruler, and Benefactor. And as none can comprehend the myſtery of my Perſon, Office, and Works, ſave the Father that ſent me, ſo none can ſavingly know God the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the …n will make him known, by the Goſpel and the illumination of the Spirit.
28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt 29. Take my yoke on you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye ſhall find reſt to your ſouls. 30. For my yoke is eaſie, and my burthen is light.
28, 29, 30. Come to me all ye that are under the ſlavery of Sin and Satan, and under Gods diſpleaſure by your guilt, and under the burdenſome ceremonious and curſing Law, and the Phariſees tutorage, and under the toil of a poor afflicted condition in the world; and I will give you deliverance and reſt: Take on you the yoke of my Government and Covenant, and learn of me as your Teacher by my Doctrine and Example: for I am meek and lowly, and my Doctrines are not ſuited to the Pomp and grandeur of this world, nor to the intereſt and mind of the proud and covetous, but to men of a low and humble quality; and in this you ſhall find reſt to your tired troubled fearful Souls: For my Service and Law is gracious, and …aſie, fitted to the relief of the guilty and diſtreſſed, and all that I lay on you by my word and works is ſight in compariſon of the heavy burdens that you undergo.