A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
1. THen came to Jeſus Scribes and Phariſees which were of Jeruſalem, ſaying, 2. Why do thy diſciples tranſgreſs the traditions of the elders? for they waſh not their hands when they eat bread.
1, 2. N. Poor Souls that know not God, do take up with ceremonies of their own and their forefathers making, and put the name of Religion on theſe to cheat themſelves, when ſuch things are not ſo much as an image of true Religion. O what baſe thoughts have theſe men of God, who think he is pleaſed or diſpleaſed with men, as they keep or neglect ſuch trifles.
3. But he anſwered and ſaid to them, Why do ye alſo tranſgreſs the commandment of God by your traditions.
3. N. The Rebels that break Gods Laws by their Laws, yet charge Gods ſervants with ſin, for not keeping their Laws and Traditions againſt Gods Laws. They think Gods Laws too many and too ſtrict, and yet make more of their own, and are preciſe for keeping them.
4. For God commanded, ſaying, Honour thy father and mother: and he that curſeth father or mother, let him die the death. 5. But ye ſay, Whoſoever ſhall ſay to his father or mother, It is a gift, by whatſoever thou mighteſt be profited by me, 6. and honour not his father or his mother (he ſhall be free) thus ye have made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
4, 5, 6. Gods command to honour Parents binds you to relieve them, if they be in want: And duty to Parents is ſo great, that contempt of them deſerves death. But ye have like hypocrites got a trick to pretend to devote your eſtates to God, that you may defeat your parents, and ſo quite fruſtrate Gods commandment.
7. Ye hypocrites, well did Eſaias Prophecy of you, ſaying, 8. This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 9. But in vain do they worſhip me, teaching for doctrines the traditions of men.
7, 8, 9. Note, 1. It is the part of hypocrites to pretend Religion, for lip labour, and Traditions and Ceremonies of their own, and think God is honoured and pleaſed with the injunctions and Canons of men, while they break Gods Commands (an… hate and perſecute thoſe that keep them) 2. This humane Religion of hypocrites is vain, (and worſe than vain) It is loſt labour and ſinful prophanation.
10. And he called the multitude, and ſaid to them, Hear and underſtand. 11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
10, 11. It is not the quality or uncleanneſs of your food, that is ſin and ſoul defilement; but it is ſinful words (and deeds) the product of ſinful hearts, that God will charge on you as your uncleanneſs.
12. Then came his diſciples, and ſaid to him, Knoweſt thou that the Phariſees were offended, when they heard this ſaying?
12. Note, Erroneous men and hypocrites are offended at the cleareſt truth which croſſeth their old opinions and way.
13. But he anſwered and ſaid, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted up. 14. Let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, they ſhall both fall into the ditch.
13, 14. Their Opinions and Traditions, and their Sect in making a Religion of theſe, are not of God, but of their own invention, and therefore God will root them up. God will not bleſs Humane Religions. Let them alone a while; their judgment is near. They and their Diſciples as blind Leaders and followers, will fall into the ditch of temporal and eternal perdition.
15. Then anſwered Peter and ſaid to him, Declare to us this parable. 16. And Jeſus ſaid, Are ye alſo yet without underſtanding? 17. Do not ye yet underſtand, that whatſoever cometh in at the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is caſt out into the draught. 18. But thoſe things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and they defile a man.
15, &c. Meat that paſſeth through a man cannot defile his Soul: but it is the products of a ſinful heart that defile it.
19. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murthers, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falſe-witneſs, blaſphemies, 20. Theſe are the things which defile a man: But to eat with unwaſhen hands defileth not a man.
19, 20. It is out of a ſinfull heart that all ſins proceed, as evil thoughts and deſigns, &c.
Note, The heart it ſelf is not here excluded from guilt, but included as the defiled and defiling cauſe of all actual ſin.
21. Then Jeſus went thence, and departed into the coaſts of Tyre and Sydon. 22. And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cried to him, ſaying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a devil.
21, 22. Then he went to the borders of Iſrael near the Heathen Countrey, and a heathen Canaanitiſh or Syropheni…ian woman hearing of his fame, went to him, and begged of him to heal her daughter vexed with a Devil.
23. But he anſwered her not a word: And his diſciples came and beſought him, ſaying, Send her away, for ſhe crieth after us. 24 But he anſwered, and ſaid, I am not ſent but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
23, 24. Diſmiſs her, that ſhe trouble us not. He ſaid; My perſonal Miniſtery is to be to the ſtraying Jews, and not to the Heathens.
25. Then came ſhe and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord, help me. 26. But he anſwered and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread and caſt it to the dogs. 27. And ſhe ſaid, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat the crums which fall from their maſters table.
25, &c. To give that which is deſigned for Iſrael to Heathens, is but like caſting the Childrens bread to Dogs. She ſaid, It is true Lord, and I confeſs my ſelf to be but as one of the Dogs, and claim not the Childrens portion, but if I have as dogs the crums that fall, they will have never the leſs.
28. Then Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid to her, O woman, great is thy faith, Be it unto …hee even as thou wilt: And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
28. Note, Great faith maketh men capable of great mercies, even of having what they juſtly deſire.
29. And Jeſus departed thence, and came nigh unto the ſea of Galilee, and went up into a mountain, and ſat down there. 30. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them thoſe that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and caſt them down at Jeſus feet, and he healed them.
29, 30. Note, How earneſtly will men ſeek for bodily hea…th, who are ſenſeleſs of their Souls concerns: If Chriſts Miniſters could give all men health and wealth, what abundance of followers would they have, and who would for this, impriſon, perſecute or ſilence them:
31. Inſomuch that the multitude wondered when they ſaw the dumb to ſpeak, …e maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to ſee, and they glorified the God of Iſrael.
31. Note, Great and ſenſ…ble Miracles and … force men to acknowledge the hand of God and to praiſe him.
32. Then Jeſus called his diſciples to him, and ſaid, I have compaſſion on the multitude, becauſe they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; I will not ſend them away faſting, leſt they faint by the way. 33. And his diſciples ſay to him, Whence ſhould we have ſo much bread in the wilderneſs as to fill ſo great a multitude? 34. And Jeſus ſaith to them, How many loaves have ye? and they ſaid, Seven, and a few fiſhes. 35. And he commanded the multitude to ſit down on the ground. 36. And he took the ſeven loaves, and the fiſhes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his diſciples, and the diſciples to the multitude. 37. and they did all eat and were filled, and took up of the broken meat that was left, ſeven baskets full. 38. And they that did eat, were four thouſand men, beſide women and children. 39. And he ſent away the multitude, and took ſhip, and came into the coaſts of Magdala.
32, &c. This was the ſecond Miracle of compaſſionate feeding the hungry. Is not Chriſt in Heaven as merciful and ſufficient for Soul and body, as he was on Earth?