A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
1. NOw upon the firſt day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the ſepulcher, bringing the ſpices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
1. Obj. Did not Nicodemus and Joſeph wrap his body in Spices at his Burial? Anſ. They laid it in haſte in the dry Aloes and Myrrh, deferring the full Embalming of it, with the added Ointments, till after the Sabbath.
2. And they found the ſtone rolled away from the ſepulcher. 3. And they entred in, and they found not the body of the Lord Jeſus. 4. And it came to paſs, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men ſtood by them in ſhining garments. 5. And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they ſaid unto them, Why ſeek ye the living among the dead?
2, 3, 4, 5. See the reconciliation of the ſeeming differences of the Evangeliſts herein, on Mat. 28. & Mark 16. & Joh. 20.
6. He is not here, but is riſen: remember how he ſpake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7. Saying, The Son of man muſt be dilivered into the hands of ſinful men, and be crucified, and the third day riſe again.
6, 7. N. Luke ſaith more of this Sermon of the Angels to the Women, than the other Evangeliſts did.
8. And they remembred his words, 9. And they returned from the ſepulcher, and told all theſe things unto the eleven, and to all the reſt. 10. It was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna, and Mary the Mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told theſe things unto the apoſtles. 11. And their words ſeemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
8, 9, 10, 11. N. Here is much paſt by which the other Evangeliſts have: For no one of them pretended to write all that was done.
12. Then aroſe Peter, and ran unto the ſepulcher, and ſtooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themſelves, and departed, wondering in himſelf at that which was come to paſs.
12. Se… t…is more fully in John 20.
13. And behold, two of them went that ſame day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jeruſalem about threeſcore furlongs. 14. And they talked together of all theſe things which had happened. 15. And it came to paſs, that while they communed together, and reaſoned, Jeſus himſelf drew near, and went with them.
13, 14, 15. Chriſt came to them but as unknown.
16. But their eyes were held, that they ſhould not know him.
16. It's like the cauſe was partly in them, and partly in the change of the countenance of Chriſt.
17. And he ſaid unto them, What manner of communications are theſe that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are ſad?
17. N. He was not ignorant of their diſcourſe, but aſkt them, that he might inſtruct them.
18. And the one of them, whoſe name was Cleopas, anſwering, ſaid unto him, Art thou onelyonly a ſtranger in Jeruſalem, and haſt not known the things which are come to paſs there in theſe dayes? 19. And he ſaid unto them, What things? and they ſaid unto him, Concerning Jeſus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God, and all the people:
18, 19, In Miracles, and Prophecy, and Doctrine.
20. And how the chief prieſts and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21. But we truſted that it had been he which ſhould have redeemed Iſrael: beſide all this, to day is the third day ſince theſe things were done.
20, 21. N. They ſtill believed that he was a Prophet: For many Prophets were murdered: But they now ſeemed to doubt, yea almoſt to give up their belief that he was the Meſſiah.
22. Yea, and certain women alſo of our company made us aſtoniſhed, which were early at the ſepulcher: 23. And when they found not his body, they came, ſaying that they had alſo ſeen a viſion of angels, which ſaid that he was alive. 24. And certain of them which were with us, went to the ſepulcher, and found it even ſo as the women had ſaid, but him they ſaw not.
22, 23.24. And yet we know not what to think, but are under meer aſtoniſhment, and further expectation; for certain Women, &c.
25. Then he ſaid unto them, O fools, and ſlow of heart to believe all that the prophets have ſpoken:
25. Were you not very ignorant Men, and of dull hearts, you would not be ſo unacquainted with, and backward to believe, that which all the Prophets did foretel.
26. Ought not Chriſt to have ſuffered theſe things, and to enter into his glory?
26. Have they not all foretold that Chriſt muſt thus ſuffer, and then enter into the heavenly glory, where is his Throne, where he is to reign?
27. And beginning at Moſes, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the ſcriptures, the things concerning himſelf.
27. N. Though it hath not pleaſed God to give us down this Expoſitory Sermon of Chriſt, yet his Spirit, by his Apoſtles, hath given us enough for our uſe.
28. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone further.
28. N. Not by any falſe words, but by his carriage, concealing his purpoſe to ſtay with them.
29. But they conſtrained him, ſaying, Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day is far ſpent: and he went in to tarry with them.
29. N. Importunity is the means to prevail for Chriſt's preſence, even when he purpoſeth to ſtay.
30. And it came to paſs as he ſat at meat with them, he took bread, and bleſſed it, and brake, and gave to them.
30. N. Not the Sacrament, but as the Maſter of the Family was wont to do; ſave the peculiar holineſs of his manner of doing it.
31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vaniſhed out of their ſight.
31. It's like partly by God's change on them, and partly by Chriſt's more diſcernible diſcovery, they knew him.
N. Though Chriſt roſe in the ſame Body, and was not yet fully glorified, it was greatly changed, ſo that he could appear and vaniſh when and where he pleaſed, and be known or unknown to beholders.
32. And they ſaid one to another▪ Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the ſcriptures?
32. N. They told each other how they felt their hearts affected while he preached to them.
33. And they roſe up the ſame hour, and returned to Jeruſalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34. Saying, The Lord is riſen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon.
33, 34. As ſoon as they came in among them, the eleven firſt told theſe two, that the Lord was riſen, &c.
35. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
35. Then the two alſo told the eleven, and the company what they had ſeen and heard in the way, &c.
36. And as they thus ſpake, Jeſus himſelf ſtood in the midſt of them, and ſaith unto them, Peace be unto you.
36. N. We need not feign that he opened the door, when he could appear and diſappear, when and where he would: He did not lie hidden in ſome corner, when they ſaw him ſo ſeldom in forty days, but diſappeared. N. 2. Peace is the voice of a riſen Saviour, who purchaſed it ſo dearly, and giveth it as the great Peace-maker.
37. But they were terrified and affrighted, and ſuppoſed that they had ſeen a ſpirit.
37. If he had opened the door, and come in as other men, it's like they would not have taken him for a Spirit.
38. And he ſaid unto them, Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts ariſe in your hearts? 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my ſelf: handle me and ſee, for a ſpirit hath not fleſh and bones, as ye ſee me have. 40. And when he had thus ſpoken, he ſhewed them his hands and his feet.
38, 39▪ 40. Troubling thoughts are ready to ſurprize ignorant perſons; but Chriſt to ſuppreſs them, appealed to their ſenſes: For man is apt to believe what he ſeeth and feeleth, but is hardly brought to believe any thing above ſenſe. N. Spirits have not fleſh and blood.
41. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he ſaid unto them, Have ye here any meat?
41. N. There was ſome belief called Hope, or elſe they could not have had joy: But it's hard fully to believe great things which we deſire, through the power of fear, leſt it ſhould not prove true.
42. And they gave him a piece of a broiled fiſh, and of an hony-comb. 43. And he took it, and did eat before them.
4…, 43. N. 1. They dieted ſkilfully: Broiling and Hony correct both the pituitous frigidity, and the corruptibility of fiſh.
2. Eating proved Chriſt to be no meer Spirit. When Angels did eat, they firſt took Bodies, or elſe ſeemed to do what they did not: Therefore glorified Bodies eat not, becauſe they are ſpiritual, though not meer Spirits, and have their ſuſtenance without eating.
44. And he ſaid unto them, Theſe are the words which I ſpake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things muſt be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moſes, and in the prophets, and in the pſalms, concerning me.
44. N. This Teſtimony of Chriſt confirmeth the Law of Moſes, the Prophets and the Pſalms, to be the true Word of God.
45. Then opened he their underſtanding, that they might underſtand the ſcriptures,
45. N. This was a greater effect of Divine Power, (to open mens underſtandings,) than to appear without opening the door: The underſtanding of man is ſhut up againſt the underſtanding of things ſpiritual, till Chriſt open it. O pray for this opening.
46. And ſaid unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Chriſt to ſuffer, and to riſe from the dead the third day:
46. This ſhould not ſeem new or ſtrange to you, which the Scriptures ſo fully foretold.
47. And that repentance and remiſſion of ſins ſhould be preached in his Name among all nations, beginning at Jeruſalem. 48. And ye are witneſſes of theſe things.
47, 48. I have by Redemption purchaſed an Act of Grace and Oblivion, a free univerſal pardon of ſin to all that repent and will accept it, as my gift: This muſt be preached to all Nations; and you muſt do it firſt by Office, who are my Witneſſes of the matter of fact.
49. And behold, I ſend the promiſe of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jeruſalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
49. And the great Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, for Miracles, Tongues, and Holineſs, as my Agent, Sea… and Earneſt, I will quickly pour out upon you. But wait together at Jeruſalem, till it be done, and you be endued with the foreſaid power from God.
50. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lift up his hands, and bleſſed them. 51. And it came to paſs, while he bleſſed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
50, 51. Afterward, at the end of forty days, when he had oft appeared to them, and given them their Commiſſion to go and Diſciple all Nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, teaching them to obſerve all things that he had commanded them, promiſing to be with them to the end of the World, Mat. 28.19.20. Mark 16.15, 16. See Acts 1.9.
N. Chriſt, that parted from Earth with a Bleſſing, will bleſs his Church here and for ever.
52. And they worſhipped him, and returned to Jeruſalem with great joy;
52. Note; Though their Lord was gone from them on Earth, they were now aſſured that they had a King and Saviour in Heaven▪ whence his influence would be moſt extenſive and efficacious.
53. And were continually in the temple, praiſing and bleſſing God. Amen.
53. As they worſhipped their glorified Redeemer; ſo they continued together aſſembled in the Temple, (not yet alienated from all Jewiſh Worſhip,) praiſing and magnifying the Name of God, who had beſto…ed a Saviour and his Grace upon them▪ and had given the Church ſo gracious and glorious a Saviour and Head, and done ſuch wonders to confirm their Faith. Amen.