A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
1. NOw the feaſt of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the paſſeover. 2. And the chief prieſts and Scribes ſought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
1, 2. The feaſt of unleavened Bread, was the day of the Paſsover, and ſeven days after.
3. Then entred Satan into Judas ſurnamed Iſcariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4. And he went his way, and communed with the chief prieſts and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
3, 4. Note; There is more of Satan in ſin, than ſinners think: He hath acceſs as a Tempter to the Imagination, and when his Temptation prevaileth, he gets greater poſſeſſion of the heart.
5. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
5. Note 1. Wicked purpoſes or deſires, uſe to meet with encouragement from wicked men. 2. It is a heinous crime, when men dare covenant to ſin for gain.
6. And he promiſed, and ſought opportunity to betray him unto them in the abſence of the multitude.
6. To avoid tumult.
7. Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the paſſeover muſt be killed. 8. And he ſent Peter and John ſaying, Go and prepare us the paſſeover, that we may eat. 9. And they ſaid unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10. And he ſaid unto them, Behold, when ye are entred into the city, there ſhall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water, follow him into the houſe where he entreth in. 11. And ye ſhall ſay unto the good man of the houſe, The maſter ſaith unto thee, Where is the gueſt-chamber where I ſhall eat the paſſeover with my diſciples? 12. And he ſhall ſhew you a large upper room furniſhed, there make ready. 13. And they went and found as he had ſaid unto them: and they made ready the paſſeover.
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Note 1. Chriſt knew what would befal them out of ſight. 2. Being made under the Law, he would keep even that part that typified himſelf.
14. And when the hour was come, he ſat down, and the twelve apoſtles with him. 15. And he ſaid unto them, With deſire I have deſired to eat this paſſeover with you before I ſuffer.
14. Note; Chriſt earneſtly deſired the fulfilling of his undertaken work, and holy Communion with his Servants.
16. For I ſay unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and ſaid, Take this, and divide it among your ſelves. 18. For I ſay unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God ſhall come.
16, 17, 18. Till we meet in Heaven; or till I celebrate that Sacrament which is the Chriſtian Paſsover with you, in the holy Aſſemblies, where I will be ſpiritually preſent.
Qu. How comes the Cup twice mentioned? Anſ. The firſt was part of the Paſsover. But Beza noteth, that the 18th and 19th verſes are not in the Syrian Tranſlation, which is moſt ancient: And in his very old Greek Copy now at Cambridge, [This do in remembrance of me,] is left out of the 19th verſe; and he conjectures ſome verſes are tranſpoſed.
19. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them▪ ſaying, This is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me. 20. Likewiſe alſo the cup after ſupper, ſaying, This cup is the new teſtament in my blood, which is ſhed for you.
19, 20. See Matth. 26. Note; Seeing the Evangeliſts uſe not all the very ſame words, it ſeems not of abſolute neceſſity to uſe juſt the ſame ſtill: Yet all the ſubſtance muſt be retained; and it's ſafeſt repeating all ſet together which they recite; and as Paul moſt fully reciteth them.
21. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table. 22. And truly the Son of man goeth as it was determined, but wo unto that man by whom he is betrayed. 23. And they began to enquire among themſelves, which of them it was that ſhould do this thing.
21, 22, 23. Note; How hard was Judas's heart, that took not this warning!
24. And there was alſo a ſtrife among them, which of them ſhould be accounted the greateſt.
24. Note; This ſtrife was before, Matth. 20. But Luke keepeth not to the order of time.
25. And he ſaid unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exerciſe lordſhip over them and they that exerciſe authority upon them, are called benefactors. 26. But ye ſhall not be ſo; but he that is greateſt among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth ſerve.
25, 26. (I am not for parity among all my Diſciples: You know I have choſen you only to be Apoſtles: But though you be over the Churches, you muſt not be Rulers of one another: And that ſort of Preeminence which you have, muſt not be like that of the Princes of the World, who Rule by the Sword, or outward Force, and in worldly Pomp or State, conſtraining Subjects to flatter them with high Titles; but it muſt be grounded in an excellency of Grace and Gifts, Love, Meekneſs, Humility, being the moſt uſeful, and devoted to the good of all; as Ruling only the voluntary, and therefore by the cleareſt Reaſon, and greateſt Love, and moſt exemplary profitable Lives: Strive and ſpare not, for this Preeminence and Diſparity.)
27. For whether is greater, he that ſitteth at meat, or he that ſerveth? Is not he that ſitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that ſerveth.
27. Would you rule as greater than I? what hath my Government of you been, but to do you good, by Doctrine, Love, and good Example, without force?
28. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me:
28. As a reward for your faithful ſticking to me in all my Tryals and Sufferings. I appoint, &c.
Note; This Promiſe is three ways expounded; 1. The aſpiring Clergy ſay it is, I make you Apoſtles the Chief Rulers of my Church, though in perſecuting t…es, and y…ur Succeſſors ſhall be Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Arch-Biſhops, &c. and over top Emperours and Kings.
2. Others ſay, that this lower World is but a ſhadow of the upper; and that the Office of Angels, and the Titles in Daniel of [M… your Prince] and ſo of other Angels, ſheweth thi… …e…e be Kingdoms in the Spiritual World above us, anſwerable to all the Kingdoms on Earth, and incomparably more; and that therefore Chriſt ſaith, In my Father's houſe are many Manſions: And that there the twelve Apoſtles have their Kingdoms, (at leaſt over the twelve Trib…) as being equal with the Angels.
3. But moſt think that it is only an expreſſion of the eminent Glory of the Apoſtles after the Reſurrection.
I ſee not but part of all three Expoſitions may be included, that is, you ſhall be Chief in my Church on Earth, and equal with Angels after Death, but ſpecially after the Day of Judgment.
30. That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and ſit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Iſrael.
30. That ye may be feaſted by me in Heaven with ſpiritual everlaſting Joys, and may be Superiors to the glorified Iſraelites, and in the mean time on Earth may be the chiefeſt in my Church.
31. And the Lord ſaid, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath deſired to have you, that he may ſift you as wheat: 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not? and when thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy brethren.
31, 32. Satan hath got leave to try and ſift you all, and thee in ſpecial: But I have by Prayer prevailed, that tho thou ſin in denying me, thou mayeſt not fall from ſincere Faith: And when by Repentance thou art recovered from thy fall, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, who will forſake me alſo.
33. And he ſaid unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into priſon, and to death. 34. And he ſaid, I tell thee, Peter, the cock ſhall not crow this day, before that thou ſhalt thrice deny that thou knoweſt me.
33. Note; Chriſt that knew Satan's Requeſt, and knew the Event, knew Peter's weakneſs better than he himſelf did.
35. And he ſaid unto them, When I ſent you without purſe, and ſcrip, and ſhoes, lacked ye any thing? And they ſaid, Nothing. 36. Then ſaid he unto them, But now he that hath a purſe, let him take it, and likewiſe his ſcrip; and he that had no ſword, let him ſell his garment, and buy one. 37. For I ſay unto you, That this that is written, muſt yet be accompliſhed in me, And he was reckoned among the tranſgreſſors: for the things concerning me have an end.
35, 36, 37. When the People followed and applauded me for my Cures and Miracles, I knew that they would receive you, and provide for you for my ſake: But now I am to be crucified and ſcorned as a tranſgreſſor, they will alſo caſt you off: Therefore now look for hard uſage, and moderately provide for your ſelves.
38. And they ſaid, Lord, Behold, here are two ſwords. And he ſaid unto them, It is enough.
38. I do not mean that you ſhould now fight for me, but that you take care of your ſafety.
39. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives, and his diſciples alſo followed him.
39. It ſeems he uſed there to lodge out of doors on the ground, and his Diſciples with him.
40. And when he was at the place, he ſaid unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
40. Prayer is the way both to eſcape Temptation, and in it to overcome.
41. And he was withdrawn from them about a ſtones caſt, and kneeled down, and prayed. 42. Saying; Father, If thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheleſs, not my will, but thine be done.
41, 42. N. For Chriſt in the firſt act by a ſimple Nolition to be unwilling to ſuffer, was no ſin, nor reſiſting God, but the property of Humane Nature: But if he had been averſe in the ſecond comparative act, called Election, when he knew it was God's Will, this would have been evil.
43. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, ſtrengthening him.
43. N. Had Chriſt, as Man, need of an Angels ſtrengthening? What need then have we in the approach of death and great ſufferings? And may we not alſo expect Angels help?
44. And being in an agony, he prayed more earneſtly, and his ſweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
44. N. This was not from the fear of death, but the deep ſenſe of God's wrath againſt ſin, which he, as our Sacrifice, was to bear, in greater pain than meer dying, which his Servants oft bear with peace.
45. And when he roſe up from prayer, and was come to his diſciples, he found them ſleeping for ſorrow, 46. And ſaid unto them, Why ſleep ye? Riſe and pray, leſt ye enter into temptation.
45, 46. N. We are apt to ſleep when we have moſt need to watch and pray, and have need to be awakened.
47. And while he yet ſpake, behold, a mulitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jeſus, to kiſs him. 48. But Jeſus ſaid unto him, Judas, betrayeſt thou the Son of man with a kiſs?
47, 48. N God permitted one ſo near Chriſt to betray him, to warn us how far to expect evil from our profeſſed friends.
49. When they which were about him, ſaw what would follow, they ſaid unto him, Lord, ſhall we ſmite with the ſword? 50. And one of them ſmote the ſervant of the high prieſt, and cut off his right ear.
49, 50. Self-defence is natural, but God's Law muſt rule it: They were the more put to fly, becauſe they had reſiſted.
51. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
51. N. This Miracle, wrought for one that came to deſtroy him, neither melted nor convinced hardened ſinners.
52. Then Jeſus ſaid unto the chief prieſts & captains of the temple, and the elders which were come to him, Be ye come out, as againſt a thief, with ſwords and ſtaves? 53. When I was daily with you in the temple, ye ſtretched forth no hands againſt me: But this is your hour, and the power of darkneſs.
52, 53. This is the time which God hath granted Satan to make uſe of you his Inſtruments againſt me, and the Prince of darkneſs will ſeem to conquer.
54. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high prieſts houſe. And Peter followed afar off. 55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midſt of the hall, and were ſet down together, Peter ſat down among them. 56. But a certain maid beheld him as he ſat by the fire, & earneſtly looked upon him, and ſaid, This man was alſo with him.
54, 55, 56. N. When Tryal muſt come, Inſtruments will not be wanting.
57. And he denied him, ſaying, Woman, I know him not.
57. N. Had he not been conſcious of ſmiting with the Sword, he had not been in ſo much danger of fear.
58. And after a little while another ſaw him, and ſaid, Thou art alſo of them. And Peter ſaid, Man, I am not.
58. N. It was a Woman, here called Man only as one of Mankind, not to diſtinguiſh the Sex.
59. And about the ſpace of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, ſaying, Of a truth this fellow alſo was with him; for he is a Galilean.
59. N. To belong to Chriſt, and follow him, is crime enough, when Enemies are Judges.
60. And Peter ſaid, Man, I know not what thou ſayeſt. And immediately while he yet ſpake, the cock crew. 61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter; and Peter remembred the word of the Lord, how he had ſaid unto him, Before the cock crow, thou ſhalt deny me thrice. 62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
60, 61, 62. N. Chriſt's own danger did not make him forget a ſinning Diſciple.
63. And the men that held Jeſus, mocked him, and ſmote him. 64. And when they had blindfolded him, they ſtroke him on the face, and asked him, ſaying, Propheſie, who is it that ſmote thee? 65. And many other things blaſphemouſly ſpake they againſt him.
63, 64, 65. N. What is it that the ignorant Rabble will not ſay and do againſt the beſt of men, when men called Sacred and Great encourage them?
66. And aſſoon as it was day, the elders of the people, and the chief prieſts and the Scribes came together, and led them into their council, ſaying, 67. Art thou the Chriſt? tell us. And he ſaid unto them, If I tell you, you will not believe. 68. And if I alſo ask you, you will not anſwer me, nor let me go.
66, 67, 68. It's in vain to diſcourſe with you; for you are reſolved what to do with me, and truſt to force, and not to Truth.
69. Hereafter ſhall the Son of man ſit on the right hand of the power of God.
69. I ſhall ſhortly be advanced in Heaven as Man, to be Lord of all.
70. Then ſaid they all, Art thou then the Son of God? and he ſaid unto them, Ye ſay that I am. 71. And they ſaid, What need we any further witneſs? for we our ſelves have heard of his own mouth.
70, 71. N. Though Chriſt anſwered not their other Accuſations, he would not, to ſave his life, by ſilence ſeem to fear to own his Nature, Dignity and Office; elſe he that laid our Salvation upon our open confeſſing him in the face of greateſt danger, ſhould have required more of us, than he would do himſelf. Paul ſaith, With the mouth confeſſion is made to Salvation; and giveth Timothy Chriſt's Example, who before Pontius Pilate witneſſed a good confeſſion, Rom. 10, 9, 10. 1 Tim. 6.13.