A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
1. AND when they came nigh to Jeruſalem unto Bethphage, and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he ſendeth forth two of his diſciples. 2. And ſaith to them, Go your way into the Village over againſt you, and as ſoon as ye be entred into it, ye ſhall find a colt tied, whereon never man ſat, looſe him, and bring him. 3. And if any man ſay to you, Why do ye this? ſay ye that the Lord hath need of him, and ſtraightway he will ſend him hither. 4. And they went their way, and found the colt tyed by the door without, in a place where two ways met: and they looſe him. 5. And certain of them that ſtood there, ſaid to them, What do ye looſing the colt. 6. And they ſaid to them even as Jeſus had commanded: and they let them go.
1. N. Chriſt knew things diſtant, and what men would ſay and do. Though mans Acts be free, God accompliſheth his will, by mans freeſt Acts. 2. It was an Aſs with her Colt; though Mark name but the Colt.
7. And they brought the colt to Jeſus, and caſt their garments on him, and he ſat upon …im. 8. And many ſpread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches of the trees, and ſtrawed them in the way. 9. And they that went before, and they that …ollowed, cryed, ſaying, Hoſanna, bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 10. Bleſſed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna, in the higheſt.
7. We receive with all joyful Applauſe the Meſſiah …hat is come from God; Bleſſed be He, and bleſſed be his Kingdom; Let the Heavens applaud and bleſs it.
11. And Jeſus entred into Jeruſalem, and …nto the temple; and when he had looked …ound about upon all things, and now the …ventide was come, he went out unto Betha…y with the twelve. 12. And on the morrow when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry. 13. And ſeeing a figtree afar off, having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
11. &c. N. Its not likely that Chriſt was ignorant, that Figgs hit not that year, and that this Tree was fruitleſs: But by this Miracle he ſhewed, The Deſtruction of Fruitleſs Jews and Hypocrites. 3. Its like he lay out of Door at Bethany, as he uſed to do by night in the Garden where he was taken, becauſe he would not burden poor mens Houſes with all his followers: Elſe ſure he would not have come away hungry.
14. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his diſciples heard it.
14. Note, 1. This Phraſe of anſwering to a fig-tree, muſt be expounded by the uſe of the word in thoſe times, when to [anſwer] ſignified but [to ſay] 2. The Curſe hurteth not the Tree, but to inſtruct Men.
15. And they come to Jeruſalem, d… Jeſus went into the temple, and began to caſt out them that ſold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the ſeats of them that ſold doves. 16. And would not ſuffer that any man ſhould carry any veſſel through the temple.
15. N. He Shewed that he had the authority of a King, tho he would not ſet up a temporal Kingdom 16. Chriſt now ſeemed to be more ceremonious than the Phariſees: But he was made under the Law, and would not abrogate our little till all were fulfilled by him: He was to keep it to ſave men from it. 3. He yet teacheth us to Reverence the place of ſolemn worſhip for the worſhip ſake.
17. And he taught, ſaying unto them, Is it not written, My houſe ſhall be called of all nations the houſe of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
17. The Temple was dedicated for Holy worſhip for Jews and Proſelites of all Nations; but theſe uſe Merchandize here and rob men by deceit.
Queſt. May places now be temples dedicated to Holy worſhip? Anſw. No doubt of it, but that the reverence of Gods name and worſhip, not only alloweth but requireth us when we can, to ſeparate comely places, to Holy worſhip from common uſe; And why they may not be called Temples I know not.
18. And the Scribes and chief prieſts heard it, and ſought how they might deſtroy him, for they feared him, becauſe all the people were aſtoniſhed a… his do…trine.
18. Tho one would think Chriſts zeal for the Temple ſhould have pleaſed them that crved it up as their Glory, and accuſed Chriſt, and Stephen and Paul for diſhonouring it, yet becauſe C…riſt did it as he did by the peoples countenance, they feared the wrath of the Romans, leſt they would take it for Sedition, and ſo they ſhould ſuffer by it.
19. And when even was come, he went out of the city.
19. Leſt they ſhould ſurprize him in the Night, as they did at laſt.
20. And in the morning, as they pa…ſed by, they ſaw the fig-tree dried up from the oot. 21. And Peter calling to rem…mbrance, ſaith unto him, Maſter, b…hold, the fig-tree which thou curſed …t is withered away. 22. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaith unto them, Have faith in God. 23. For verily I ſay unto you, that whoſoever ſhall ſay unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou caſt into the ſea, and ſhall not doubt in his heart, but ſhall believe that thoſe things which he ſaith ſhall come to paſs, he ſhall have whatſoever he ſaith. 24. Therefore I ſay unto you, What things ſoever ye deſire when ye pray, believe that ye recieve them, and ye ſhall have them.
23. No difficulty ſhall hinder you from obtaining what God hath promiſed, and is fit to be done, if you firmly truſt his Love and promiſe.
25. And when ye ſtand praying, forgive if ye have ought againſt any: that your Father alſo which is in heaven may forgive you your treſpaſſes.
25. And forgiving and Charity is neceſſary to ſucceſs as well as Believing: Believing ſuppoſeth other requiſites.
26. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive you your treſpaſs.
26. Note, This ſheweth that the promiſe of granting believers Prayers, meaneth caeteris paribus, other requiſites being anſwerable.
27. And they come again to Jeruſalem, and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief prieſts, and the Scribes and the elders. 28. And ſay to him, By what authority doſt thou theſe things, and who gave thee this authority to do theſe things.
27. Note, They judged truly that they were not to be done without authority: But knew not his authority from God.
29. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid to them, I will alſo ask of you one queſtion, and anſwer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do theſe things. 30. The baptiſm of John, was it from heaven, or of men? anſwer me.
30. Note, Had they confeſt John to be of God, he would have produced his teſtimony: Had they denyed it, they had gainſayed themſelves and the peoples voice: For the generality of them were baptized by John, in hope that their Meſſiah and his Kingdome, and their deliverance were at hand.
31. And they reaſoned with themſelves, ſaying, if we ſhall ſay, From heaven, he will ſay, Why then did ye not believe him? 32. But if we ſhall ſay, Of men, they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33. And they anſwered and ſaid unto Jeſus, We cannot tell. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do theſe things.
31. N. It was well that they conſidered what might be ſaid againſt them, which now moſt Chriſtians do not in their diſputes. 2. Theſe Perſecutors and the Romans had ſome Charity and conſideration, in that they were reſtrained by the fear of the People, and did not accuſe and fine them as for Routs, Ryots and Seditions 3. They that deny neceſſary premiſes are not to be diſputed with.