A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
1. ANd it came to paſs that on one of thoſe daies, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the Goſpel, the chief prieſts and the ſcribes came upon him, with the elders. 2. And ſpake unto him, ſaying, Tell us by what authority doeſt thou theſe things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
1, 2. Such things are not to be done without Authority.
3. And he anſwered and ſaid unto them, I will alſo ask you one thing, and anſwer me. 4. The baptiſm of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 5. And they reaſoned with themſelves, ſaying, If we ſhall ſay, from heaven, he will ſay, Why then believed ye him not? 6. But and if we ſay, of men, all the people will ſtone us; for they be perſwaded that John was a prophet. 7. And they anſwered, that they could not tell whence it was. 8. And Jeſus ſaid unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do theſe things.
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. They ought to have known his Authority by his Miracles. See Matth. 21.
9. Then began he to ſpeak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far Countrey for a long time. 10. And at the ſeaſon he ſent a ſervant to the husbandmen, that they ſhould give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him and ſent him away empty. 11. And again he ſent another ſervant, and they beat him alſo, and entreated him ſhamefully, and ſent him away empty. 12. And again he ſent the third, and they wounded him alſo, and caſt him out. 13. Then ſaid the lord of the vineyard, What ſhall I do? I will ſend my beloved ſon: it may be they will reverence him when they ſee him. 14. But when the husbandmen ſaw him, they reaſoned among themſelves, ſaying, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15. So they caſt him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore ſhall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16. He ſhall come and deſtroy theſe husbandmen, and ſhall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they ſaid, God forbid.
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The Vineyard is the Land of Iſrael; the Huſbandmen are the Iſraelites; the Owner is God; the Meſſengers are the Prophets; the Son is Chriſt, &c. See Matth. 21.
17. And he beheld them, and ſaid, What is this then that is written, The ſtone which the builders rejected, the ſame is become the head of the corner? 18. Whoſoever ſhall fall upon that ſtone, ſhall be broken: but on whomſoever it ſhall fall, it will grind him to powder.
17, 18. Whoever ſins againſt Chriſt by unbelief, will periſh in his ſin: But they that ſtrive againſt him by malignity and oppoſition, will fall under his victorious; Judgement, which will make them the moſt miſerable.
19. And the chief prieſts and the Scribes the ſame hour ſought to lay hands on him, and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had ſpoken this parable againſt them.
19. Note; That which is ſaid againſt their ſin, enrageth the impenitent, be it never ſo true and needful to their conviction.
20. And they watched him, and ſent forth ſpies, which would fain themſelves juſt men, that they might take hold of his words, that ſo they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governour.
20. Blood-thirſty Hypocrites would enſnare him, to get ſome word for which they might accuſe him, to the Romans Governour, as Treaſon againſt Caeſar.
Note; How like in all Ages are the nature and ways of wicked men! Thus was Naboth uſed by Jezabel, &c.
21. And they asked him, ſaying, Maſter, we know that thou ſayeſt and teacheſt rightly, neither accepteſt thou the perſon of any, but teacheſt the way of God truly. 22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Ceſar, or no? 23. But he perceived their craftineſs, and ſaid unto them, Why tempt ye me? 24. Shew me a penny: whoſe image and ſuperſcription hath it? They anſwered and ſaid, Ceſars. 25. And he ſaid unto them: Render therefore unto Ceſar the things which be Ceſars, and unto God the things which be Gods. 26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people, and they marvelled at his anſwer, and held their peace.
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. Note; There is poiſon in the ſeeming kindneſs of cruel Hypocrites; they flatter that they may hurt. Note; It is lawful to put off bloody enſnarers with doubt…l Anſwers.
27. Then came to him certain of the Sadduces, (which deny that there is any reſurrection,) and they asked him, 28. Saying, Maſter, Moſes wrote unto us, If any mans brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother ſhould take his wife, and raiſe up feed to his brother. 29. There were therefore ſeven brethren, and the firſt took a wife, and died without children. 30. And the ſecond took her to wife, and he died childleſs. 31. And the third took her, and in like manner the ſeven alſo. And they left no children, and died. 32. Laſt of all the woman died alſo. 33. Therefore in the reſurrection, whoſe wife of them is ſhe? for ſeven had her to wife.
27, …8, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. Carnal men, from their own Errour, do fooliſhly cavil againſt the Truth which they underſtand not.
34. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35. But they which ſhall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the reſurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 36. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the Reſurrection.
34, 35, 36. Note; Worthineſs of that World, is ſuch a qualification as is required in God's Promiſe. Note; The Bleſſed ſhall be like the Angels, and with them, and be immortal. Note; By the Reſurrection here is meant the next Life, even to ſeparated Souls, and not only the Reſurrection of the Body. O why do we not long for ſuch a change!
37. Now that the dead are raiſed, even Moſes ſhewed at the buſh, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Iſaac, and the God of Jacob. 38. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him.
37, 38. See Matth. 22. He is the Lord and Owner of the Dead and Living: But to be Their God, ſignifieth more, even to be their Governour and Protector, and their End and Portion, and their All.
39. Then certain of the Scribes anſwering ſaid, Maſter, thou haſt well ſaid. 40. And after that, they durſt not ask him any queſtion at all.
39, 40. T…y were out of hope of entrapping him by their Queſ…ns.
41. And he ſaid unto them, How ſay they that Chriſt is Davids Son? 42. And David himſelf ſaith in the book of pſalms▪ The LORD ſaid unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 43. Till I make thine enemies thy footſtool, 44. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his Son?
41, 42, 43 44. See Matth. 22.
45. Then in the audience of all the people he ſaid to his diſciples, 46. Beware of the Scribes, who deſire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the higheſt ſeats in the ſynagogues, and the chief rooms at feaſts, 47. Who devour widows houſes, and for a ſhew make long prayers: The ſame ſhall receive greater damnation.
45, 46, 47. Note; The Character of formal Hypocrites, … to be worldly, cruel, unjuſt, proud, …nd to be devout in a ceremonious Religion and …p labour, to quiet their Conſcience, and keep their reputation. N. Tho' no doubt but ſome Hypocrites can uſe long prayers extempore, it is moſt likely that the Scribes and Phariſees was a Form or Liturgy.