A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
1. AT that time Jeſus went on the Sabbath day through the corn, and his diſciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Note, Both the labour and the early eating ſeem here meant, but ſpecially the firſt.
2. But when the Phariſees ſaw it, they ſaid to him, Behold, thy diſciples do that which is not lawful to do on the ſabbath day.
2. Art thou a good Teacher who ſuffereſt thy Diſciples to break Gods law?
Note, That the Phariſees controverſie againſt Chriſt was, that he was not religious, and ſtrict enough in keeping Gods Law: ſo that pretended ſtrictneſs is no proof that men are in the right.
3. But he ſaid to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungred, and they that were with him, 4. How he entred into the houſe of God, and did eat the ſhew-bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but only for the prieſts? 5. Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the ſabbath days the prieſts in the temple profane the ſabbath, and are blameleſs?
3, 4, 5. Your ſtrictneſs and your accuſation of my Diſciples, are but from your ignorance of the Scripture. Have ye not read that hunger juſtified David and his company for eating the conſecrated Bread, which elſe none but the Prieſts might lawfully eat. And that the Prieſts in the temple labour on the Sabbath, and break the outward reſt of the day, which would be profanation, did not the Temple ſervice juſtifie it.
6. But I ſay to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.
6. But if the Temple ſervice can juſtifie labour, I am greater than the Temple, and my ſervice and authority can juſtifie it.
7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not ſacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltleſs.
7. If inſtead of ignorant preciſeneſs for Ceremonies, you had but learnt the true meaning of God, in his preferring mercy before Sacrifice, you would not have thought that Ceremonies and externals are commanded men for their hurt, and muſt be obſerved againſt mercy to our ſelves or others: Gods commands are all for mans good; and he maketh not externals and ceremonies for a ſnare to hurt men. You would not have cenſured the guiltleſs as ſinners had you underſtood this.
Note, This (twice repeated) moſt openly condemneth the Papal Church Government.
8. For the Son of man is Lord even of the ſabbath-day.
8. And as Moſes's Law was but to lead men to Chriſt, in whom it is fulfilled; ſo it cannot bind any againſt him and his authority and ſaving work; for which works ſake all things are delivered into his hands; even the Law and Sabbath, of which he is Lord.
9, 10. And when he was departed thence, he went into their Synagogue: And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered, and they asked him, ſaying, Is it lawful to to heal on the ſabbath-day? that they might accuſe him.
9, 10. Note, That the ceremonial outward ſtrictneſs of hypocrites, is uſed to enſnare and hurt thoſe that are not of their mind.
11. And he ſaid to them, What man ſhall there be among you that ſhall have one ſheep, and if it fall into a pit on the ſabbath-day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
11. Will you not draw a ſheep out of a pit on the Sabbath-day, if you have but one.
12. How much then is a man better than a ſheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the ſabbath-days.
12. It is lawfull to prefer and do a greater duty before a leſs.
13. Then ſaith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand: and he ſtretched it forth, and it was reſtored whole like as the other.
14. Then the Phariſees went out, and held a council againſt him, how they might deſtroy him.
13, 14. Note, That it is part of the Religion of Hypocrites, to deſtroy men for doing the greateſt good, againſt their Laws.
15. But when Jeſus heard it, he withdrew himſelf from thence, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all: 16. And charged them that they ſhould not make him known.
15, 16. Note, 1. It is a duty to avoid the hands of Murderers and Perſecutors, unleſs when our ſufferings are like to do more good than our lives. 2. Chriſt forbid them making him known, partly to avoid the envy and rage of perſecutors, and partly becauſe the time was not yet come, till all his works ſet together with his Reſurrection and Spirit, ſhould make up a full proof.
17, 18. That it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by Eſaias the prophet, ſaying, Behold, my ſervant whom I have choſen, my beloved in whom my ſoul is well pleaſed: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he ſhall ſhew judgment to the Gentiles. 19. He ſhall not ſtrive, nor cry, neither ſhall any man hear his voice in the ſtreets. 20. A bruiſed reed ſhall he not break, and ſmoaking flax ſhall he not quench, till he ſend forth judgment unto victory. 21. And in his name ſhall the Gentiles truſt.
17, &c. In all this he fulfilled what was propheſied by Iſaiah, Behold, &c. Him whom I have ſelected for this work of Salvation, in whom I am well pleaſed, as fulfilling all my will; He ſhall have the fulneſs of the Spirit, and he ſhall teach the Nations the way of Truth and Righteouſneſs; He ſhall not ſubdue men by tumults, violence, or wars, but as the Prince of Peace and Grace, he ſhall deal gently with the weak, and cheriſh the leaſt degree of goodneſs, and pardon the faults of the penitent, and not uſe ſeverity of Juſtice, till he have gathered his Church out of the world, and overcome and judged his final enemies: And it is he in whom all nations ſhall be bleſſed.
22. Then was brought to him one poſſeſſed with a devil, blind and dumb, and he healed him, inſomuch that the blind and dumb both ſpake and ſaw.
23. And all the people were amazed, and ſaid, Is not this the ſon of David?
22, 23. This people were ſo aſtoniſhed to ſee his works, that they ſaid, Sure this is the Meſſiah the ſon of David.
24. But when the Phariſees heard it, they ſaid, This fellow doth not caſt out devils, but by Beel-zebub the prince of the devils. 25. And Jeſus knew their thoughts, and ſaid to them, Every kingdom divided againſt it ſelf is brought to deſolation; and every city and houſe divided againſt it ſelf ſhall not ſ…and. 26. And if Satan caſt out Satan, he is divided againſt himſelf: how then ſhall his kingdom ſtand.
24, &c. The Phariſees could not deny the matter of fact, it being notorious, and therefore they had no ſhift left for their unbelief, but ſaying, that All ſuch works are not of God; The Prince of Devils to deceive the people, giveth him power to caſt out devils, and do his miracles. But Chriſt ſaid, If the Devil have a Kingdom, he hath wit to preſerve it; Is it the Devils work to▪ do good to mens Souls and Bodies? If holy doctrine, and caſting out … and healing the diſeaſed, be againſt Satan …, then he is againſt himſelf, if he be …. Kingdom, City or Houſe will not ſtand … …vid…d and fight againſt it ſelf.
27. … …z…bub caſt out devils, by … …en caſt them out? ther…ore … be your judges. 28. But if I caſt out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
27, 28. And if you think me a Conjurer and confederate with Satan, what ſay you of your own Countreymen my Diſciples who caſt them out by the power they receive from me? Are they all conjurers too? Therefore they ſhall be witneſs againſt your unbelief and blaſphemy: But if all this be certainly done by me by no leſs power than the Spirit of God, you ſhould ſee that this is Gods atteſtation to me, and that his Kingdom is come, in which the Meſſiah is to conquer Satan, and deſtroy his works.
29. Or elſe, how can one enter into a ſtrong mans houſe, and ſpoil his goods, except he firſt bind the ſtrong man, and then he will ſpoil his houſe.
29. How could I caſt out Satan from his poſſeſſion and deſtroy his works, if I did not overcome him.
30. He that is not with me is againſt me; and he that gathereth not with me ſcattereth abroad.
30. So far am I from working by the Devil, that I take him for mine enemy that doth not ſerve me in my oppoſition to his Kingdom, and will judge him as one that is for Satan.
N. In War men uſe to ſay of their own Soldiers, [He that is not for us is againſt us, and to be counted an enemy] But of the Countreymen and the enemies quarters [He that is not againſt us is for us:] that is, If he do us no harm, he doth us good, and let us uſe him kindly. So Chriſt ſaith of profeſt Chriſtians; If they be not effectually for me, I will judge them as treacherous and againſt me, and ſhall not ſave them. But of thoſe without the Church, he ſaith, He that is not againſt us is for us; that is, tho he be not himſelf in a ſtate of Salvation as true Chriſtians are, yet its commendable to do us no harm, and the Church is aſſiſted by ſuch fair and moderate unbelievers.
31. Wherefore I ſay to you, All manner of ſin and blaſphemy ſhall be forgiven to men: but the blaſphemy againſt the Holy Ghoſt ſhall not be forgiven to men. 32. And whoever ſpeaketh a word againſt the Son of man, it ſhall be forgiven him, but whoſoever ſpeaketh againſt the Holy Ghoſt, it ſhall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come.
31, 32. All other ſin and blaſphemy againſt me as I appear in my humane nature, hath ſome excuſe, and may be cured, and ſo be pardoned: But ſeeing the Great works of the Holy Ghoſt done by me and to be done by my Diſciples, in Miracles and Sanctification, are the greateſt evidences that God will give the world to convince them of the truth of my Goſpel, he that is convinced of the fact that all theſe Miracles and this holineſs is wrought, and will yet deny it to be Gods atteſtation, and blaſphemouſly ſtand to it, that its the work of the Devil, this man rejecteth the greateſt evidence and ſhall have no greater, and ſo his infidelity is incurable, and aggravated with blaſphemy and obſtinacy, and will never be repented of nor forgiven.
Note, This blaſpheming the Holy Ghoſt, 1. Is the ſin of none but reſolved Infidels: 2. And ſuch of them only as are convinced of the great works of the Holy Ghoſt, miraculous and others. 3. And yet rather than they will believe in Chriſt by this Divine teſtimony, will believe and ſay, that it is by the Devil and Conjuration that all this is done.
See my Treat of the Blaſphemy of the Holy Ghoſt, in my Book called, The unreaſonableneſs of Infidelity.
33. Either make the tree good and his fruit good, or elſe make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruits.
33. Judge of the tree by the fruit: Of the power which I work by, by the works: If it be no good work to heal the Sick, and Blind, and Lame, and caſt out Devils, and preach repentance and forgiveneſs of ſin, to convert and ſave Souls, then God is not the Author of them. If they be bad works, they have a bad cauſe; If they be good works, they have a good Author: either ſay plainly (you that aſcribe them to the Devil) that the works are good, and the Devil is good: or elſe that the Devil is bad and the works are bad: Or if you confeſs the works to be good, confeſs that they are done by the Spirit of God.
34. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, ſpeak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh.
34. I need go no farther for an inſtance than your ſelves; were you not a generation of Vipers, the Serpents ſeed, ye would not blaſpheme the Holy Ghoſt and his works: for your mouths ſpeak out of the evil of which your heart is full: As you are, ſo you ſpeak; you are ſo bad that you cannot ſpeak well: And if I work'd by the Devil, my works would be bad as the Devil is.
35. A good man out of the good treaſure of his heart, bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treaſure bringeth forth evil things.
35. Good men are ſuch, firſt at the heart, where goodneſs is a ſetled habit and nature, and out of this treaſure, they bring forth good words and deeds: And a bad man being ſuch at the heart, doth ſpeak and do accordingly.
Note, Tho hypocrites may have words and deeds much better than their hearts, that is but in ſome by inſtances, and not in the tenor of their lives: Fictions are narrow and ſoon overcome.
36. But I ſay to you, That every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
36. And think not lightly of you belying and blaſpheming the Holy Ghoſt; for I tell you, that for every Lye you ſhall give account in the day of judgment, and be condemned if you be not proved penitent believers.
N. In the Hebrews uſe, Idle and Vain were taken for deceitful, falſe or lying.
37. For by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned.
37. For (tho thou muſt be made and accounted by God, a juſt man, by thy inward change, and thy forgiveneſs, in order before thy words or works, yet) ſuppoſing, that thou ſurvive, God who hath made a Law for thy words (and works) will judge thee by that Law, as juſtified and rewardable, or as unjuſt and puniſhable, in the day of Judgment. Chriſt hath not made us lawleſs, nor made us a Law (of Grace) in vain: No man ſhall be ſaved that is not juſtifiable againſt the accuſation, that he lived and died an impenitent ungodly man, any more than if he had died an infidel.
38. Then certain of the Scribes and of the Phariſees anſwered, ſaying, Maſter we would ſee a ſign from thee.
38. We would ſee ſome certain ſign from Heaven that indeed God doth own thee thy word.
39. But he anſwered and ſaid to them, An evil and adulterous generation ſeeketh after a ſign, and there ſhall no ſign be given to it, but the ſign of the prophet Jonas: 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly, ſo ſhall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
39, 40. A falſe hearted people that will not be convinced by miracles, but aſcribe them to the Devil, yet would have a ſign from Heaven, of their own chuſing: But God will not gratifie their inſolent demand: They ſhall have no ſign but that of Jonas who was a Type of me, lying in the Whales belly three days and nights (as I ſhall, part for three days.)
41. The men of Nineveh ſhall riſe up in judgment with this generation, and ſhall condemn it, becauſe they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42. The Queen of the ſouth ſhall riſe up in judgment with this generation, and ſhall condemn it; for ſhe came from the uttermoſt parts of the earth to hear the wiſdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here.
41, 42. Nineveh repented at a far leſs warning and convincing means, than the Miracles and words of the Meſſiah ſent from heaven: And the Queen of the South came from a far land to hear the wiſdom of Solomon; but theſe men deſpiſe a far greater than Solomon; theſe therefore ſhall condemn them.
43. When the unclean ſpirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, ſeeking reſt, and finding none. 44. Then he ſaith, I will return into my houſe, from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, ſwept, and garniſhed: 45. Then goeth he and taketh with him ſeven other ſpirits, more wicked than himſelf, and they enter in and dwell there; and the laſt ſtate of that man is worſe than the firſt: even ſo ſhall it be alſo to this wicked generation.
43. &c. The caſe of this wicked generation is like that of a man that had the Devil caſt out of him, but being unthankful, and continuing in his ſin, the Devil (by Gods permiſſion) poſſeſſeth him again, and bringeth with him ſeven worſe ſpirits, and ſo his end is worſe than he was before he was delivered: So I have preached the Goſpel, and caſt out Devils in this land; but being rejected by the obſtinate unbelievers, the Devil will get a worſe poſſeſſion of them than that from which I did eject him, and they ſhall be cut off for their unbelief.
46, 47. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren ſtood without, deſiring to ſpeak with him: Then one ſaid to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren ſtand without, deſiring to ſpeak with thee: 48. But he anſwered and ſaid to him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
46, &c. Doſt thou know who they be that I eſteem as my Mother and brethren?
49, 50. And he ſtretched forth his hand toward his diſciples, and ſaid, Behold, my mother, and my brethren: For whoſoever ſhall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the ſame is my brother, and ſiſter, and mother.
49, 50. Note, 1. Chriſt ſpake not this to teach men to diſhonour Parents, or to lay by natural affection; but to let all know that Regeneration puts men into a more honourable, beloved, and happy relation to him, than natural generation or kindred: 2. Which is exceeding comfort for every true Chriſtian, 3. And direction to us how to love ſuch, 4. And a terrible prognoſtick of the miſery of thoſe that hate and perſecute them.