A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI.
1. AND when they drew nigh to Jeruſalem, and were to come to Bethphage to the mount of Olives, then ſent Jeſus two Diſciples. 2. Saying to them, Go into the Village over againſt you, and ſtraitway ye ſhall find an Aſs tyed, and a Colt with her, looſe them and bring them to me. 3. And if any man ſay ought to you, ye ſhall ſay, The Lord hath need of them, and ſtraitway he will ſend them. 4. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the Prophet, ſaying, 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh to thee meek, ſitting on an aſs and a colt the foal of an aſs.
1. &c. Note, Chriſts way of Travaile was as poor mens, on Foot: And it was the rich ſort of perſons that road on Aſſes, (they being there bigger than ours,) and onelyonly Men of great State or War that rode on Horſes. And Chriſt knowing that the People would at his Entrance into Jeruſalem, applaud him with Hoſanna, as the Meſſiah and King of the Jews, reſolved to own their Teſtimony ſo far, as to ride in, in ſome State. 2. Tho both the Aſs and Colt be looſed, and brought; it was the Colt onelyonly that Chriſt rode on.
6. And the Diſciples went and did as Jeſus commanded them. 7. And brought the aſs and the colt, and put on them their cloathes and they ſet him thereon, 8. And a very great multitude ſpread their Garments in the way, others cut down branches from the trees and ſtrewed them in the way. 9. And he multitude that went before, and that followed, cryed, ſaying, Hoſanna to the Son of David, Bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna in the higheſt.
6.7.8.9. N. This was the common peoples Pro…laiming him King, and the Meſſiah; ſpreading Garments …nd Boughs, being their Solemnization and Moſanna their Acclamation; (a Word which ſignifieth [Save now] and was uſed with that ſort of Pomp. [Bleſſed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord?] ſignified, Bleſſed be the Meſſiah and King, whom we have long looked for, and God hath now ſent.] To which in Luke is added, [Peace in Heaven, and Glory in the Higheſt:] That is, Let the Heavenly Proſperity and Glory come down upon this Kingdom, and his Kingdom tend to Heavenly Peace or Proſperity, and Glory to God, and Man with God.
10. And when he was come into Jeruſalem all the City was moved, ſaying, Who is this? 11. And the multitude ſaid, This is Jeſus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
10.11. The Citizens all came to ſee who it was that came in ſo applauded: And the people that accompanied him in, told them, It is Jeſus the famous Prophet whoſe Miracles you have heard of.
12. And Jeſus went into the Temple of God, and caſt out all them that ſold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the Tables of the Money changers, and the ſeats of them that ſold Doves. 13. And ſaid to them, It is written, My houſe ſhall be called a houſe of prayer, but ye have made it a den of Thieves.
12.13. In this State he went on to the Temple, and as one in Power, he caſt out them that had turned the Temple into a Market-place, to furniſh men with Sacrifices, and over-threw the Tables of them that like Goldſmiths, or Bankers Exchanged Money for advantage; Alledging, Iſa. 56.7. My Houſe &c. Ye have made a Market-place of it, where the Covetous Defraud Men for gain.
14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them.
14 He wrought out his Miracles openly in the Temple, as he had done in the Country.
15. And when the Chief Prieſts and Scribes ſaw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the Temple, and ſaying, Hoſanna to the Son of David, they were ſore diſpleaſed, 16. And ſaid to him, Heareſt thou what theſe ſay?
15.16. The Rulers that knew they were under the Roman Power, and ſaw that Jeſus was not like to deliver them from it, were greatly diſpleaſed when they heard the inferiour Multitude, and Youths crying him up as the King, Meſſiah, and ſaid, Heareſt thou what theſe ſay of thee; wilt thou ſuffer them to raiſe a Sedition for thee, and expoſe us all to the Romans Wrath.
16. And Jeſus ſaith to them, yea; Have ye never read, Out of the mouthes of babes and ſucklings haſt thou perfected praiſe.
16. Yea, As it is Written, Pſal. 8.2. &c. N. The Septuagint which Matthew uſeth, differs from the Hebrew: but not in ſence.
17. And he left them and went out of the city unto Bethany, and he lodged there. 18. Now in the morning as he turned into the City he hungred, 19. And when he ſaw a figtree in the way he came to it, and found nothing thereon but leaves onelyonly, and ſaid to it, Let no more fruit grow on thee henceforward, for ever: And preſently the figtree withered away. 20. And when the Diſciples ſaw it, they marvelled, ſaying, How ſoon is the Figtree withered away.
17.18.19.20. N. It began then to die: but it was the next day that the Diſciples ſaw it, and wondred.
21. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid to them, Verily I ſay to you, If ye have faith and doubt not, ye ſhall not onelyonly do this which is done to the figtree; but alſo if ye ſhall ſay to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou caſt into the Sea, it ſhall be done. 22. And all things whatſoever ye ſhall ask in prayer, believing ye ſhall receive.
21.22. Nothing ſhall be too hard which God hath promiſed, and ye by Faith and Prayer are fit to receive.
23. And when he was come into the Temple, the chief Prieſts and the Elders of the People came to him, as he was teaching, and ſaid, By what authority doſt thou theſe things, and who gave thee this authority?
23. The Chief Prieſts and Elders Examined him, to ſhew his authority.
24.25. And Jeſus ſaid to them, I alſo will ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I… likewiſe will tell you, by what authority I do theſe things? The baptiſm of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reaſoned with themſelves, ſaying, If we ſhall ſay from heaven, he will ſay to us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26. But if we ſhall ſay of men, We fear the People; for all hold John as a Prophet.
24.25.26. They perceived the advantage Chriſt would have by their Anſwer; Either Johns Teſtimony, or the power of the Multitude, who reverenced Prophets ſent from God, and would have ſtoned them, Luke 20.6.
27. And they anſwered Jeſus and ſaid, We cannot tell. And Jeſus ſaid to them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do theſe things.
27. If you will not anſwer my Queſtion, neither will I anſwer yours.
28. But what think you? A certain man had two Sons, and he came to the firſt and ſaid Son, go and work to day in my Vineyard. 29. He anſwered and ſaid, I will not, but afterward he repented and went. 30. And he came to the ſecond, and ſaid likewiſe: and he anſwered and ſaid, I go Sir, and went not: 31. Whether of them two did the will of his father?
28. &c. That you may ſee, that your higheſt profeſſion of Holineſs and Knowledge, while you diſobey God, doth leave you worſe than the Publicans, and vulgar whom you villifie: I will tell you a Parable, &c.
32. They ſay to him, The firſt: Jeſus ſaith to them, Verily I ſay to you, that the Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you. 32. For John came to you in the way of Righteouſneſs, and ye believed him not; But the Publicans and the Harlots believed him: And ye, when ye had ſeen it repented not afterward that ye might believe him.
32. Theſe deſpiſed Sinners Believed John, and repented; which you with all your Knowledge did not, nor yet do; and ſo are further from the Kingdom of God, than they; having no obedient religion, but Words and Ceremonies.
33. Hear another Parable: There was a certain houſholder who planted a Vineyard and hedged it round about, and digged a wine preſs in it, and built a town, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
33. Note, God did what was neceſſary to have made the Jews a happy Church▪ as to means prepared: By digging a Wine-preſs, is meant, hollowing a Trough to bruiſe the Grapes in, and building a Tower, is a Lodge, or Dwelling for the Workmen.
34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he ſent his ſervants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits of it.
34. God required the Fruit of all his Teachings, and Mercies to the Jews.
35. And the husbandmen took his ſervants, and beat one, and killed another, and ſtoned another. 36. And he ſent other ſervants more then the firſt, and they did to them likewiſe.
35.36. They Perſecuted and Murdered the Prophets, Age after Age, and yet ſeemed to honour Prophets.
37. But laſt of all he ſent unto them his Son, ſaying, They will reverence my Son.
37. N. This doth not mean, that God thought ſo, and was Miſtaken; But ſpeaking after the manner of Men, tells them, what he might requite in reaſon of them.
38. But when the huſbandmen ſaw the Son, they ſaid among themſelves, This is the Heir, Come let us kill him, and let us ſeize on the inheritance. 39. And, they caught him and caſt him out of the Vineyard, and ſlew him.
38.39. Note, This meaneth not, that the Jews reckon him to be the Son of God, but might and ſhould have known it.
40. When the Lord therefore of the Vineyard cometh. what will he do to thoſe huſband-men. 41. They ſay to him, He will miſerably deſtroy thoſe wicked men, and will let out his Vineyard to other Husband-men, who ſhall render him the fruits in their ſeaſon.
40.41. Thus God will deſtroy the Murderous Jews, and call the Gentiles.
N. Luke reciteth theſe words as Chriſts, and that the Phariſees ſaid, God forbid. It's like they conſented to it, till they heard it applyed to themſelves; and then ſaid, God forbid.
42. Jeſus ſaith to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, The ſtone which the builders rejected, the ſame is become the head of the Corner. This is the Lords doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
42. Note, Tho this was ſpoken Pſal. 118. immediately of David, it ultimately meant Chriſt, who ſhould be the Foundation and Head of the Church, when the Jews had Crucifyed him.
43. Therefore I ſay to you, The kingdom of God ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation, bringing forth the fruits thereof.
43. I tell you this doleful Truth, you that boaſted of your peculiarity and hopes of the Kingdom of the Meſſiah, ſhall be deprived of it for your Sin, and it ſhall be given to the Gentiles who will better entertain it, and obey it, and be thankful for it.
44. And whoſoever ſhall fall on this ſtone ſhall be broken, But on whoſoever it ſhall fall, it ſhall grind him to powder.
44. Bare Unbelief of ſuch as ſtumble at the Croſs, or turn away from Chriſt, through offence and Temptation, will undoe all that continue in it: But thoſe that prove Malignant Enemies, and fight againſt Chriſt, he will be as a Stone, too heavy for him that taketh it up to caſt away, which will fall upon them, to their greater Deſtruction.
45.46. And when the chief Prieſts and Phariſees had heard his Parable, they perceived he ſpake of them. But when they ſought to lay hands on him, they fear'd the multitude, becauſe they took him for a prophet.
45.46. N. 1. Perſonal cloſe reproofs, and denunciation of Gods Judgments enrageth hardned Sinners▪ 2. The Jews that applauded Chriſt, thought it no Sedition to defend a Prophet againſt their High Prieſt and Rulers, who for fear of them, durſt not openly take Chriſt.