A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
1. ANd he ſpake a parable unto them, to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint,
1. To hold on in earneſt importunity and hope, and not to grow cold, and ſlack, and heartleſs.
2. Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. 3. And there was a widow in that city, and ſhe came unto him, ſaying, Avenge me of mine adverſary.
2, 3. Note; Woe to the Land that hath ſuch Judges. She ſaid, Do me Juſtice againſt my Adverſary.
4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he ſaid within himſelf, Though I fear not God, nor regard man, 5. Yet becauſe this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, leſt by her continual coming ſhe weary me.
4, 5. Note; Where there is no fear of God, yet avoiding clamor and ſhame for injuſtice, may make a Judge do Juſtice to the oppreſſed. But they that come 10 Diabolical Malignity, will delight to do miſchief, and deſtroy the Juſt, and will take their wickedneſs for their glory.
6. And the Lord ſaid, Hear what the unjuſt judge ſaith. 7. And ſhall not God avenge his own elect, that cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8. I tell you that he will avenge them ſpeedily. Nevertheleſs, when the Son of man cometh, ſhall he find faith on the earth?
6, 7, 8. Will importunity prevail with a wicked Judge? and will not importunate prayer prevail with God to do Juſtice for his choſen, praying people? I tell you, though the time ſeem long to you, he will make no delay to do them Juſtice in due time.
Note; Importunity moved the man by wearying him; but it procureth mercy from God only, by making us fit Receivers of it. Men will deſpond by impatience, before deliverance cometh.
9. And he ſpake this parable unto certain which truſted in themſelvs that they were righteous, and deſpiſed others:
9. He thought meet to rebuke thoſe who thought too well of their own goodneſs, and were too cenſorious and contemptuous of thoſe that ſeemed worſe than they.
10. Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Phariſee, and the other a publican. 11. The Phariſee ſtood and prayed thus with himſelf, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjuſt, adulterers, nor even as this Publican. 12. I faſt twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I poſſeſs.
10, 11, 12. The Phariſees Prayer was a boaſting of his goodneſs, and not a humble bewailing of his ſins and wants. All this was praiſe-worthy in it ſelf, but much more was neceſſary in him.
13. And the publican ſtanding afar off, would not lift up ſo much as his eyes unto heaven, but ſmote upon his breaſt, ſaying, God be mercifull to me a ſinner.
13. His Prayer was in …he deep ſenſe of his ſin, a humble begging mercy of God; (…ot with a purpoſe to go on in ſin, but with pe…tence and converſion, reſolving of a new life.)
14. I tell you, this man went down to his houſe juſtified rather then the other: for every one that exalteth himſelf, ſhall be abaſed; and he that humbleth himſelf, ſhall be exalted.
14. God took this for a juſter or better man, for his penitent confeſſion than the Phariſee, for all that formal righteouſneſs which he boaſted of: For God will exalt the humble, and abaſe the proud. (But this ſuppoſeth the Publican's Repentance to be a true Converſion, and not meer conviction and confeſſing in fear.)
15. And they brought unto him alſo infants, that he would touch them: but when his diſciples ſaw it, they rebuked them. 16. But Jeſus called them unto him, and ſaid, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of ſuch is the kingdom of God. 17. Verily I ſay unto you, Whoſoever ſhall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, ſhall in no wiſe enter therein.
15, 16, 17. See on Matth. 10.14. Matth. 19.13, 14, 15.
18. And a certain ruler asked him, ſaying, Good Maſter, what ſhall I do to inherit eternal life? 19. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Why calleſt thou me good? none is good ſave one, that is, God. 20. Thou knoweſt the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not ſteal, Do not bear falſe witneſs, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21. And he ſaid, All theſe have I kept from my youth up. 22. Now when Jeſus heard theſe things, he ſaid unto him, Yet lackeſt thou one thing: ſell all that thou haſt, and diſtribute unto the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in heaven, and come, follow me. 23. And when he heard this, he was very ſorrowful, for he was very rich.
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. See Matth. 19.20. & Mark 10.17.
Note, This renunciation of the World is not required by Chriſt, only to a high degree of holyneſs; but to the obtaining of Eternal Life.
Note, Multitu…es of nominal Chriſtians go not ſo far as this worldly Jew; in believing a Life Eternal, & in a care to inherit it, and in doing ſo much for it, from his youth.
24. And when Jeſus ſaw that he was very ſorowful, he ſaid, How hardly ſhall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25. For it is eaſier … a camel to go through a needles eye, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it, ſaid, Who then can be ſaved?
24, 25, 26. See Matth. 19.
Note, To enter into the Kingdom of God, and to be ſaved, was underſtood by the hearers to be all one.
27. And he ſaid, The things which are unpoſſible with men, are poſſible with God.
27. Note, Poſſibility, though with great difficulty, muſt make us true ſeekers and then we may attain to certainty.
28. Then Peter ſaid, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29. And he ſaid unto them, Verily I ſay unto you, There is no man that hath left houſe, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children for the kingdom of Gods ſake, 30. Who ſhall not receive manifold more in this preſent time, and in the world to come life everlaſting.
28, 29, 30. You ſhall be no loſers by me.
Note, The bleſſings even of ſuffering Chriſtians in this Life, are better than all that they forſake for Chriſt.
31. Then he took unto him the twelve, and ſaid unto them, Behold, we go up to Jeruſalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man ſhall be accompliſhed. 32. For he ſhall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and ſhall be mocked, & ſpitefully entreated and ſpit on: 33. And they ſhall ſcourge him, and put him to death, and the third day he ſhall riſe again. 34. And they underſtood none of theſe things: and this ſaying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were ſpoken.
31, 32, 33, 34. Note, We muſt not wonder if many of our Hearers then are dull of underſtanding.
35. And it came to paſs, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man ſat by the way ſide begging: 36. And hearing the multitude paſs by, he asked what it meant. 37. And they told him, that Jeſus of Nazareth paſſeth by. 38. And he cryed ſaying, Jeſus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39. And they which went before, rebuked him, that he ſhould hold his peace: but he cried ſo much the more, Thou Son of David have mercy on me. 40. And Jeſus ſtood and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near he asked him, 41. Saying, What wilt thou that I ſhould do unto thee? And he ſaid, Lord, that I may receive my ſight. 42. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Receive thy ſight, thy faith hath ſaved thee. 43. And immediately he received his ſight and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people when they ſaw it gave praiſe unto God.
35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. See on Matth. 20.18, 19, 20. N. Faith fitteth us to receive Mercy; and Mercy teacheth us to glorifie God.