A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
1. NOw when he had ended all his ſayings in the audience of the people, he entred into Capernaum. 2. And a certain centurions ſervant, who was dear unto him, was ſick and ready to die. 3. And when he heard of Jeſus, he ſent unto him the elders of the Jews, beſeeching him that he would come and heal his ſervant. 4. And when they came to Jeſus, they beſought him inſtantly, ſaying, That he was worthy for whom he ſhould do this. 5. For he loveth our nation, and he hath build us a ſynagogue.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5. See M…th. 8.9.
6. Then Jeſus went with them. And when he was now not far from the houſe, the centurion ſent friends to him, ſaying unto him, Lord, trouble not thy ſelf, for I am not worthy that thou ſhouldeſt enter under my roof. 7. Wherefore neither thought I my ſelf worthy to come unto thee: but ſay in a word, and my ſervant ſhall be healed. 8. For I alſo am a man ſet under authority, having under me ſouldiers, and I ſay unto one, Go, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and he cometh: and to my ſervant, Do this, and he doth it.
6, 7, 8. Note; The Devotion of this man in building a Synagogue, and his great Humility, ſhew that he was better prepared for Faith than many others.
9. When Jeſus heard theſe things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and ſaid unto the people that followed him, I ſay unto you, I have not found ſo great faith, no, not in Iſrael.
9. As Man, he marvelled; as God, he foreknew it.
Note; Whether he took Chriſt for his Saviour, is uncertain; but the …earing of his works had cauſed him ſtrongly to believe his power to heal.
10. And they that were ſent, returning to the houſe, found the ſervant whole that had been ſick. 11. And it came to paſs the day after, that he went into a city called Naim; and many of his diſciples went with him, and much people. 12. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out the only ſon of his mother, and ſhe was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13. And when the Lord ſaw her, he had compaſſion on her, and ſaid unto her, weep not. 14. And he came and touched the bier, (and they that bare him ſtood ſtill) and he ſaid, Young man, I ſay unto thee, Ariſe. 15. And he that was dead, ſat up, and began to ſpeak: and he delivered him to his mother. 16. And there came a fear on all, and they glorified God, ſaying, that a great Prophet is riſen up among us; and that God hath viſited his people.
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Note; This Saviour hath ſtill the ſame Love and Pity, though he uſe not Miracles ſo much. He is ſtill Lord of Life and Death.
17. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. 18. And the diſciples of John ſhewed him of all theſe things. 19. And John, calling unto him two of his diſciples, ſent them unto Jeſus, ſaying, Art thou he that ſhould come, or look we for another?
17, 18, 19. Note; It's like John did it to convince his Diſciples.
20. When the men were come unto him, they ſaid, John Baptiſt hath ſent us unto thee, ſaying, Art thou lie that ſhould come, or look we for another?
20. See Matth. 11.
21. And in that ſame hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil ſpirits, and unto many that were blind he gave ſight. 22. Then Jeſus anſwering ſaid unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have ſeen and heard, how that the blind ſee, the lame walk, the lepers are cleanſed, the deaf hear, the dead are raiſed, to the poor the Goſpel is preached. 23. And bleſſed is he whoſoever ſhall not be offended in me.
21, 22, 23. Tell John what is done, and let him judge by the works. But mens great danger is, of being ſcandalized at my viſible meanneſs, and my ſufferings.
24. And when the meſſengers of John were departed, he began to ſpeak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderneſs for to ſee? a reed ſhaken with the wind? 25. But what went ye out for to ſee? a man clothed in ſoft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeouſly appareled, and live delicately, are in kings courts. 26. But what went ye out for to ſee? a prophet? Yea, I ſay unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27. This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I ſend my meſſenger before thy face, which ſhall prepare thy way before thee. 28. For I ſay unto you, Among thoſe that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptiſt: but he that is leaſt in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.
24, 25, 26, 27, 28. The leaſt true Believer in my Church hath a more honourable ſtate and work, See Matth. 11.
29. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans juſtified God, being baptized with the baptiſm of John.
29. All the People that heard Chriſt ſpeak ſo highly of John, were pleaſed at it and juſtified God that ſent him; for they had been baptized by him. Or, as others expound it, [all the People that heard John, and the publicans received his Meſſage from God, &c.]
30. But the Phariſees and Lawyers rejected the counſel of God againſt themſelves, being not baptiſed of him.
30. [Rejected Gods Meſſage ſent by John] or [rejected Chriſts Teſtimony of John.]
31. And the Lord ſaid, Whereunto then ſhall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32. They are like unto children ſitting in the market-place, and calling one to another, and ſaying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33. For John the Baptiſt came neither eating nor drinking wine, and ye ſay, He hath devil.
31, 32, 33. See Matth. 11.33. That he is diſtracted.
34. The Son of man is come eating and drinking, and ye ſay, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and ſinners. 35. But wiſdom is juſtified of all her children.
34, 35. Ne…her his auſter…ty, nor my free converſation, do eſcape your cenſure. But the wiſe will juſtifie Wiſdom.
36. And one of the Phariſees deſired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Phariſees houſe, and ſat down to meat, 37. And behold, a woman in the city, which was a ſinner, when ſhe knew that Jeſus ſat at meat in the Phariſees houſe, brought an alabaſter box of ointment. 38. And ſtood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to waſh his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kiſſed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
36, 37, 38. A Woman who had been of a bad life.
39. Now when the Phariſee, which had bidden him, ſaw it, he ſpake within himſelf, ſaying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for ſhe is a ſinner?
39. Chriſt and the Phariſees agreed that ſin is hateful.
40. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto him, Simon, I have ſomewhat to ſay unto thee. And he ſaid, Maſter, ſay on. 41. There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors; the one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him moſt? 43. Simon anſwered and ſaid, I ſuppoſe that he to whom he forgave moſt. And he ſaid unto him, Thou haſt rightly judged.
40, 41, 42, 43. Note; When God forgiveth great ſins, it is that we may love him much.
44. And he turned unto the woman, and ſaid unto Simon, ſeeſt thou this woman? … entred into thine houſe, thou gaveſt me no water for my feet: but ſhe hath waſhed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45. Thou gaveſt me no kiſs: but this woman, ſince the time I came in, hath not ceaſed to kiſs my feet. 46. Mine head with oyl thou didſt not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
44, 45, 46. She hath ſhewed more Love than tho….
47. Wherefore I ſay unto thee, her ſins, which are many, are forgiven, for ſhe loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the ſame loveth little.
47. Her great Love ſheweth that her great ſins are forgiven, for it is her …rateful return: But they that think they need but little pardo…, will return but little thankfulneſs for it.
48. And he ſaid unto h…, Thy ſins are forgiven.
48. Note, No doubt they were truly repented of, hated, and forſaken.
49. And they that ſat at meat with him, began to ſay within themſelves, who is this that forgiveth ſins alſo? 50. And he ſaid unto the woman, thy faith hath ſaved thee, go in peace.
49. Note, None can forgive ſins againſt God but God, and man after (not before him) by declaring and delivering Gods pardon.
50. God pardoneth and ſaveth all true believers; And thou haſt ſhewed that thou art a believer. Though God freely give pardon and Salvation, thy faith maketh thee a qualified receiver, and ſo ſaveth thee.