A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
1. WHen the morning was come, all the chief prieſts and elders of the people, took counſel againſt Jeſus to put him to death.
1. Note, The Romans had taken from the Jews the power of putting men to Death: Therefore they conſulted how to get the Roman Government to do it: Prieſts, and Rulers, all Conſpire it.
2. And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governour.
2. When they had judged him to deſerve Death after their Law, they bring him bound to Pilate the Roman Governour, to have him Condemn, and Crucifie him.
3. Then Judas who had betrayed him, when he ſaw that he was condemned, repented himſelf, and brought again the thirty pieces of ſilver to the chief prieſts and elders, 4. Saying, I have ſinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent bloud. And they ſaid, What is that to us? ſee thou to that.
3, 4. N. 1. It is uncertain whether Judas was before emboldened to betray him for gain, by thinking that he would deliver himſelf by a miracle; or whether he was made ſenſleſs by the Devil, till now that God awakened his conſcience. 2. O how differently doth ſin appear in the hour of flattering temptation, and when conſcience is throughly wakened? It ſeems not then the ſame thing, becauſe conſcience is not in the ſame caſe. 3. We ſee here what cold comfort companions in ſin will give a man in miſery or deſpair? See thou to that, is all that can be got then from them that tempted and hired him to ſin. 4. O the ſtupidity of ſeared ſleepy conſciences! that theſe Arch-prieſts and Rulers ſhould not be touched with Judas's terror and repentance, but ſay, What is that to us, when it was they that hired him to ſin, and ſinned ſtill.
5. And he caſt down the pieces of ſilver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himſelf.
5. N. 1. Sinners gain will at laſt be like a hot iron, too hot to hold: Deſpair ſhall force reſtitution when true repentance will not do it. This will be all the comfort of unlawful gain at laſt. 2. That Judas ſtrangled himſelf, and that he fell headlong and his bowels burſt out, are both certain: But how he was ſtrangled, whether by mere terror, or by a cord, and how he burſt, whether by mere ſuffocation, or by the fall, and how he fell, whether by precipitation, or by breaking of the cord, &c. are things uncertain.
6. And the chief Prieſts took the ſilver pieces, and ſaid, It is not lawful to put them into the treaſury, becauſe it is the price of bloud.
6. N. Thus Arch-hypocrites make conſcience of Ceremony, and make no conſcience of Perjury, Perſecution, and Murdering the Innocent. Bloud they thirſt for and own; and they will give Money to procure it: but the price of bloud muſt not be conſecrated.
7. And they took counſel, and bought with them the potters field to bury ſtrangers in.
7. N. This was ſuppoſed to be a pious uſe, ſo holy and charitable would they be.
8, 9. Wherefore that field was called, The field of bloud to this day.
Then was fulfilled that which was ſpoken by Jeremiah the prophet, ſaying, And they took the thirty pieces of ſilver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Iſrael did value: 10. and gave them for the potters field as the Lord appointed me.
8, &c. N. How punctually was this foretold? But by whom is a doubt ſtill. The Text here ſaith by Jeremy: the words are found only in Zachary, Ch. 11.12. Some think that Zachary did but recite them from ſome Tradition from Jeremy: Others that Matth. forgot the names: Others that the Scribes ſince have miſtaken: But Mr. Mede thinks that this and the reſt of Zachary to the end, are truly part of Jeremy's Book, miſ-joyned with Zach. by old miſtake.
11. And Jeſus ſtood before the governour, and the governour asked him, ſaying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jeſus ſaid to him, Thou ſayeſt.
11. N. It's like Pilate ask'd in deriſion, but Chriſt affirmed it in earneſt, that he was their King by Right.
12. And when he was accuſed of the chief prieſts and elders, he anſwered nothing. 13. Then ſaith Pilate to him, Heareſt thou not how many thing they witneſs againſt thee. 14. And he anſwered him to never a word; inſomuch that the governour marvelled greatly.
12, &c. N. Chriſt knew the time to ſpeak, and the time to be ſilent, when ſpeaking would do no good.
15. Now at that feaſt the governour was wont to releaſe to the people a priſoner, whom they would. 16. And they had then a notable priſoner called Barabbas. 17. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate ſaid to them, Whom will you that I releaſe to you? Barabbas, or Jeſus which is called Chriſt? 18. For he knew that for envy they had delivered him?
15. &c. He knew that it was the doing of the Prieſts and Rulers to proſecute him, and thought that poſſibly the people might be for his life, rather than for ſuch a one as Barabbas.
19. When he was ſet down on the Judgment ſeat, his wife ſent to him, ſaying, Have thou nothing to do with that juſt man, for I have ſuffered many things this day in a dream becauſe of him.
19. Women and dreams may be better Monitors to ſome Rulers, than Arch-prieſts their wit and intereſt.
20. But the chief prieſts and elders perſwaded the multitude that they ſhould ask Barabbas and deſtroy Jeſus.
20. N. It is the Prieſts and Rulers that ſtir up the malignity of the rabble to do miſchief.
21. Then the Governour anſwered and ſaid to them, Whether of the two will ye that I releaſe unto you? they ſaid Barabbas.
21. N. The people were of two parties: One part were for Chriſt, and that ſo many that the Prieſts for tear of them durſt not take him openly: But the other party were the malignant rabble, who were ready to call for innocent bloud, if Prieſts and Elders did but ſet them on.
22. Pilate ſaid to them, What ſhall I do then with Jeſus which is called Chriſt? They all ſaid to him, Let him be crucified.
22. N. Nothing is ſo bad that ignorant wicked men may not do? nor any ſo good that they may not murder.
23. And the governour ſaid, Why, what evil hath he done? but they cried out the more, ſaying, Let him be crucified.
23. N. Its in vain to call for reaſon or juſtice to an ignorant malignant rabble. A Heathen Ruler was leſs unjuſt, than the Prieſts and their blind followers.
24. When Pilate ſaw that he could prevail nothing, but rather a tumult was made, he took water and waſhed his hands before the multitude, ſaying, I am innocent of the bloud of this juſt perſon, ſee ye to it.
24. N. Juſt Judges will do unjuſtly for the ſake of any: But this hypocrite thought the rabble, and the Prieſts importunity would excuſe him: and the guilt was only theirs.
25. Then anſwered all the people and ſaid, His bloud be on us, and on our children.
25. N. And ſo it hath been to this day with a moſt dreadful Vengeance; they being killed with a moſt horrid ſlaughter, their City and Temple Burnt, and the unbelieving off-ſpring being Vagabounds over the earth, abhorred by all Nations where they come. O dreadful curſe! What need any other than themſelves to make ignorant wicked people miſerable: They are the moſt direful enemies, yea Devils and a Hell unto themſelves.
26. Then releaſed he Barabbas to them, and when he had ſcourged Jeſus he delivered him to be crucified.
26. N. He was ſcourged after he was ſentenced to death: Yet John mentioneth it before.
27. Then the ſoldiers of the governour took Jeſus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of ſoldiers. 28. And they ſtripped him, and put on him a ſcarlet robe. 29. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, ſaying, Hail king of the Jews. 30. And they ſpit upon him, and took the reed and ſmote him on the head.
27. &c. N. It was God in fleſh that was thus made as a fool, the common ſport and ſcorn for our ſins: and ſhall we think to be ſaved in a life of fleſhly pleaſure; without partaking of the Croſs? No wonder if the Croſs was a ſtumbling block to the Jews, and fooliſhneſs to the Gentiles; to truſt Life and Soul on one that was thus uſed; till the Holy Ghoſt by miracle and power conquered unbelief.
31. And after that they had mocked him they took the robe off from him, and put his own rayment on him, and led him away to crucifie him.
31. When they had done with deriſion, they proceed to his Execution. All this was ſuffered for us.
32. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear his croſs.
32. Note, He that was compelled was innocent, but they that compelled him were the Murderers.
33. And when they were come to a place called Golgotha, that is to ſay, a place of a ſcull, 34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and when he had taſted thereof, he would not drink.
33. N. This called Gall, and by Mark, Myrrhe, is ſuppoſed to be a drink that was poyſonous, commonly given to Malefactors to haſten death for their eaſe; which Chriſt refuſed.
35. And they crucified him, and parted his garments caſting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the Prophets, They parted my garments among them, and upon my veſture did they caſt lo…s.
35. They divided his other Garments, and caſt lots for his ſeamleſs coat.
36, 37. And ſitting down, they watched him. And ſet up over his head, his accuſation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
36, 37. So it was pretended Treaſon or Ʋſurpation that he died for by the Romans, and Blaſphemy by the Jews; To bear the imputation of ſuch wickedneſs was not the leaſt of Chriſts ſufferings.
38. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left:
38. N. Thus was he numbered with the tranſgreſſours, to expiate tranſgreſſions.
39. And they that paſſed by reviled him, wagging their heads. 40. And ſaying, Thou that deſtroyeſt the temple and buildeſt it in three days, ſave thy ſelf: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the croſs. 41. Likewiſe alſo the chief prieſts mocking him, with the ſcribes and elders, ſaid, 42. He ſaved others, himſelf he cannot ſave. If he be the king of Iſrael let him now come down from the croſs, and we will believe him. 43. He truſted in God, let him deliver him, if he will have him: for he ſaid, I am the Son of God.
39, &c. Note, Had theſe known him, and foreknown what would follow, this ſcorn had been forborn. 2. They make his own words the matter of their accuſation, by perverting them. A way ſtill uſed by ſuch men. 3. They turn his profeſſion of himſelf into ſcorn, little knowing that this derided King would judge them and all the world. 4. They turn his ſaving of others into his deriſion: Neither the Goodneſs nor the Greatneſs of his miraculous works will reſtrain them. 5. They turn his very relation to God, and truſt in him, to his ſcorn. 6. Infidels will preſcribe Chriſt the terms on which they will believe in him, or elſe they will not believe: But the faithful take Gods terms and cogent evidences, and preſume not to preſcribe terms unto him.
44. The thieves alſo who were crucified with him, caſt the ſame in his teeth.
44. Note, 1. All conſpire to reproach the Son of God. 2. When we are in ſuffering, all ſorts take liberty to load him that is caſt down: As in wars all talk againſt them that are conquered. 3. The thieves here are ſaid to do that which only one of them did (a uſual Phraſe.)
45. Now from the ſixth hour there was darkneſs over all the land till the ninth hour.
45. N. 1. It was extraordinary darkneſs; but not ſo great as to hinder converſe: therefore it did not convince them. 2. The Sun muſt not ſhine on that odious fact, which yet the hardened agents glory in, and in darkneſs go on in the works of darkneſs.
46. And about the ninth hour Jeſus cried with a loud voice, ſaying, Eli, Eli, Lamaſabacthani, that is to ſay, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me.
46. Note, He either ſpake in the Syriack Tongue, Pſal. 22.1. (which was a Propheſi… of him) or as ſome think the expreſs Hebrew words, tho now variouſly written.
2. By Gods forſaking him, is not meant any abatement of Divine Love: but that God both expoſed him to this death by wicked men▪ and withdrew from his Humane nature the ſenſe of his complacence, and let out upon his Soul a deep afflicting ſenſe of his diſpleaſure againſt man for ſin, which was his penalty as he was our ſurety, and ſuffered in our ſtead as a Sacrifice for our ſin. 3. Chriſt was thus far forſaken for us, that we might never be quite forſaken.
47. Some of them that ſtood there, when they heard that, ſaid, the man calleth for Elias.
47. N, It is uncertain whether they ſpake this in ignorance of the Language, whether Hebrew (which the Jews had forgotten) or Syriack (which the Roman Soldiers might not underſtand:) Or, (which is more probable) in mere prophane ſcorn.
48. And ſtraitway one of them ran, and took a ſpunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49. The reſt ſaid, Let be, let us ſee whether Elias will come to ſave him.
48, 49. N. In mere ſcorn.
50. Jeſus when he had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghoſt.
50. N. Luke tells us his laſt words [Father into thy hand I commend my Spirit.]
51. And behold the vail of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. 52. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of ſaints which ſlept, aroſe, 53. And came out of the graves after his reſurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.
51, &c. N. By the Vail ſome think is meant a Curtain hanged; others ſay, The ſtone wall that was built between the inner Sanctuary and the outer: This renting ſignified the ending of the Jewiſh Law and Sanctuary, and the opening to us an acceſs to God by Chriſt. The Earthquake, and the rending of the Rocks, and opening of the Graves went ſometime before his Reſurrection: But the riſing and appearing of them was after. It is not the Souls of Saints that ſlept, but thoſe bodies that roſe. All this convinced not the hardened Jews.
54. Now when the Centurion and they that were with him, watching Jeſus, ſaw the earthquake, and thoſe things which were done, they feared greatly, ſaying, Truly this was the Son of God.
54. Note, The Heathen Soldiers were not ſo obdurate as the hypocrite Prieſts and Rulers and their followers.
55. And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jeſus from Galilee miniſtring to him. 56. Among which was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joſes, and the mother of Zebedees children.
55. Note, 56 Theſe women ſtuck cloſer to Chriſt than his twelve chief diſciples did.
57. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joſeph, who alſo himſelf was Jeſus diſciple. 58. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jeſus: then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
57, 58. Note, Chriſts death endeth not Joſephs love 2. Pilate was leſs malignant than the Jews.
59. And when Joſeph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linnen cloth: 60. And laid it in his own tomb, which he had hewed out of the rock; and he rolled a great ſtone to the door of the Sepulchre, and departed.
59.60. N. Well might he lend him a grave, who would ſave him from the grave by a reſurrection.
61. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, ſitting againſt the ſepulchre.
61. Note, To follow him in love as far as they were able.
62. Now the next day that followed, the day of the preparation, the chief prieſts and Phariſees came together unto Pilate; 63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver ſaid, while he was yet alive, After three daies I will riſe again. 64. Command therefore that the ſepulchre be made ſure untill the third day, leſt his diſciples come by night, and ſteal him away, and ſay to the people, He is riſen from the dead: ſo the laſt errour ſhall be worſe than the firſt. 65. Pilate ſaid, to them, Ye have watch, go your way, make it as ſure as you can. 66. So they went, and made the ſepulcher ſure, ſealing the ſtone, and ſetting a watch.
62, &c. Note, God permitted and over-ruled their malignant ſuſpicion, to prevent all ſuch calumnies and objections againſt our faith, ever after.