A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 19
CHAP. IX.
1. THen he called his twelve diſciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diſeaſes. 2. And he ſent them to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the ſick.
1, 2. To Save Bodies and Souls.
3. And he ſaid unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither ſtaves, nor ſcrip, neither bread, neither money, neither have two coats a piece. 4. And whatſoever houſe ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5. And whoſoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, ſhake off the very duſt from your feet for a teſtimony againſt them.
3, 4, 5. See on Matth. 10.10, 11. To witneſs that it is not long of your unwillingneſs, but their own, that they are forſaken and periſh.
6. And they departed and went through the towns, preaching the goſpel, and healing every where. 7. Now Herod the tetrach heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, becauſe that it was ſaid of ſome, that John was riſen from the dead: 8. And of ſome, that Elias had appeared: and of others, that one of the old prophets was riſen again. 9. And Herod ſaid, John have I beheaded: but who is this of whom I hear ſuch things? and he deſired to ſee him.
6, 7, 8, 9. Note; Chriſt, that was familiar with the Poor, would not gratifie the deſire of the King, a perſecutor, that deſired to ſee him:
10. And the Apoſtles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aſide privately into a deſart place, belonging to the city called Bethſaida.
10. Note; Had we the Hiſtory of all the Apoſtles Miracles before and after Chriſt's Reſurrection, how large would it be!
11. And the people, when they knew it, followed him, and he received them, and ſpake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
11. Note; Chriſt rejected none that followed after him, with deſire and diligent ſeeking him.
12. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve and ſaid unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and countrey round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a deſert place. 13. But he ſaid unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they ſaid, We have no more but five loaves and two fiſhes, except we ſhould go and buy meat for all this people. 14. For they were about five thouſand men. And he ſaid to his diſciples, Make them ſit down by fifties in a company. 15. And they did ſo, and made them all ſit down.
12, 13, 14, 15. See Matth. 8. Then they obeyed, expecting ſome Miracle.
16. Then he took the five loaves and the two fiſhes, and looking up to heaven, he bleſſed them, and brake, and gave to the diſciples to ſet before the multitude. 17. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them, twelve baskets.
16, 17. See on Matth. 14.
18. And it came to paſs as he was alone praying, his diſciples [were with him:] and he asked them, ſaying, whom ſay the people that I am? 19. They anſwering ſaid, John the baptiſt: but ſome ſay Elias: and others ſay, That one of the old prophets is riſen again.
18, 19. Came to him. See Matth. 16.15, 20.
20. He ſaid unto them, But whom ſay ye that I am? Peter anſwering ſaid, The Chriſt of God. 21. And he ſtraitly charged them and commanded them to tell no man that thing.
20, 21. Q. What then was the Goſpel which they were ſent to preach, and which he preached? Anſ. Much like John Baptiſt's preaching that the Kingdom of God is come; and moreover, that Jeſus did ſuch and ſuch Miracles, as he told John's Diſciples; not directly ſaying, I am the Chriſt, but propoſing thoſe Evidences from whence they were themſelves to gather it: Becauſe his Reſurrection, &c. was to make the Evidence full, before the Goſpel was fully preached?
Q. But what then was the Baptiſm he uſed before his Reſurrection, if men were not to be told, and to profeſs that he was the Chriſt? Anſ. Juſt anſwerable to his preaching; and like Johns Baptiſm; but much different from the following Baptiſm in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt. Men were to profeſs Repentance and hope of Salvation, by learning of Chriſt, and ſo lifted themſelves under him as his Diſciples; but not yet to profeſs that He was the Chriſt; which after was neceſſary.
22. Saying, The Son of man muſt ſuffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and chief prieſts, and ſcribes, and be ſlain, and be raiſed the third day.
22. All this is part of the Goſpel which you muſt hereafter preach; and when this is done, it will be ſeaſonable to preach it.
23. And he ſaid to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf and take up his croſs daily, and follow me. 24. For whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it: but whoſoever will loſe his life for my ſake, the ſame ſhall ſave it.
23.24. Carnal Self love, and the love of wordly proſperity, being man's lapſed ſinful ſtate, it is from theſe that I come to ſave men; and therefore will ſave none, but by ſaving them from theſe, and teaching them to deny their carnal ſelves, and worldly proſperity.
25. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and loſe himſelf, or be caſt away.
25. See on Matth. 10. and Mark 8. Alas th… … how little a part of this vain World, do millions … their Souls!
26. For whoſoever ſhall be aſhamed of me and of my words, of him ſhall the Son of man be aſhamed, when he ſhall come in his own glory and in his Fathers, and of the holy angels.
26. They that, to ſave their eſtates or lives, are aſhamed now to own me and the Goſpel, I will reject them as aſhamed to own them, or ſuch as they, in the day of Glory, and their Extremity, in Judgment.
27. But I tell you of a truth, There be ſome ſtanding here which ſhall not taſt of death, till they ſee the Kingdom of God.
27. Note; All the three Evangeliſts prefixing this immediately before the Hiſtory of Chriſt's Transfiguration, do plainly tell us, that it was that glimpſe of his Glory which he meant.
28. And it came to paſs about eight days after theſe ſayings, he took Peter, and John, and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
28. Matth. 17.1. Saith, after ſix days, not reckoning the two parts of the foregoing and the laſt day.
29. And as he prayed, the faſhion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glittering. 30. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moſes and Elias. 31. Who appeared in glory, and ſpake of his deceaſe which he ſhould accompliſh at Jeruſalem. 32. But Peter, and they that were with him, were heavy with ſleep: and when they were awake, they ſaw his glory, and the two men that ſtood with him. 33. And it came to paſs, as they departed from him, Peter ſaid unto Jeſus, Maſter, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moſes, and one for Elias: not knowing what he ſaid. 34. While he thus ſpake, there came a cloud and overſhadowed them and they feared as they entred into the cloud. 35. And there came a voice out of the cloud, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, hear him.
29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. See on Matth. 17. I have largely opened all this in my Book called, My Dying Thoughts.
Note; If this glimpſe of Glory was ſo ſweet, why do we fear to paſs hence into the bleſſed Viſion and Fruition.
36. And when the voice was paſt, Jeſus was found alone: and they kept it cloſe, and told no man in thoſe days any of thoſe things which they had ſeen.
36. For Chriſt ſo commanded.
37. And it came to paſs, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. 38. And behold, a man of the company cried out, ſaying, Maſter, I beſeech thee look upon my ſon, for he is mine only child: 39. And lo, a ſpirit taketh him, and he ſuddenly crieth out, and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruiſing him, hardly departeth from him. 40. And I beſought thy diſciples to caſt him out, and they could not. 41. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid, O faithleſs and perverſe generation, how long ſhall I be with you, and ſuffer you? Bring thy ſon hither. 42. And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him: and Jeſus rebuked the unclean ſpirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. See on Matth. 17.15, 16. Since I have my ſelf known one yet living, that had an old and violent Epilepſy, once, twice or thrice a day, perfectly cured (near thirty years ago, and ſo continueth,) after other great means uſed, merely by faſting and earneſt prayer, ſuddenly in the midſt of prayer the ſecond day▪ I do the eaſilier believe that the Devil and …atural Diſeaſe, of which he is the Executioner, may conſiſt together.
43. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God: but while they wondered every one at all things which Jeſus did, he ſaid unto his diſciples. 44. Let theſe ſayings ſink down into your ears: for the Son of man ſhall be delivered into the hands of men.
43, 44. Let not my Glory and Power put you into vain expectations of earthly Dominion. Obſerve, and forget not that I tell you again and again, that I muſt ſuffer (and riſe again.)
45. But they underſtood not this ſaying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that ſaying.
45. Note; Even the Apoſtles underſtood not that Chriſt muſt be crucified and riſe again, though he oft told it them, and charged them that it might ſink down into their Ears. Therefore the belief of it was not then neceſſary to Salvation, as it is now.
46. Then there aroſe a reaſoning among them, which of them ſhould be greateſt.
46. Note; Alas, that Pride and Ambition ſhould begin ſo near to Chriſt, and foretel the Calamity of the Church!
47. And Jeſus perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and ſet him by him 48. And ſaid unto them, Whoſoever, ſhall receive this child in my Name, receiveth me: & whoſoever ſhall receive me receiveth him that ſent me: for he that is leaſt among you all, the ſame ſhall be great.
47, 48. Humility muſt be your greatneſs.
49. And John anſwered and ſaid, Maſter, we ſaw one caſting out devils in thy Name; and we forbade him, becauſe he followeth not with us. 50. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Forbid him not; for he that is not againſt us, is for us.
49, 50. See on Matth. 12.30.
51. And it came to paſs, when the time was come that he ſhould be received up, he ſtedfaſtly ſet his face to go to Jeruſalem.
51. The time of his approaching Crucifixion, and his Aſcenſion to Heaven.
52. And ſent meſſengers before his face, and they went and entred into a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. 53. And they did not receive him, becauſe his face was as though he would go to Jeruſalem.
52, 53. Note; For the Jews and the Samaritans diſowned each other upon their Controverſies about Worſhip.
54. And when his diſciples, James and John, ſaw this, they ſaid, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and conſume them, even as Elias did? 55. But he turned, and rebuked them, and ſaid, Ye know not what manner of ſpirit ye are of. 56. For the Son of man is not come to deſtroy mens lives, but to ſave them. And they went to another village.
54, 55, 56. That which you take for the Spirit of Elias, and Zeal for me againſt ſin, is a ſelfiſh, uncharitable, revengeful Spirit, and not that which I will give you, which is a Spirit of Love and Gentleneſs: You know not your own hearts, but take that for good in you, which is evil; and you know not me as you ſhould do: I come to ſave, and not to deſtroy men.
This is the third ſin againſt Charity, recorded of John, who was after the great Preacher of Love.
57. And it came to paſs, that as they went in the way, a certain man ſaid unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whitherſoever thou goeſt. 58. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have neſts, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
57, 58. I have no entertainment for any but ſelf-denying perſons, that can forſake all for me.
59. And he ſaid unto another, Follow me: but he ſaid, Lord, ſuffer me firſt to go and bury my father. 60. Jeſus ſaid unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
59, 60. The work of my Goſpel, and God's Kingdom, muſt be preferred before the burying of a Father.
Note; Chriſt fitteth his Anſwer to the diſpoſition of thoſe he ſpake to. He knew that this man was fitter to be put on, and the former to be ſtopt.
61. And another alſo ſaid, Lord, I will follow thee: but let me firſt go and bid them fare-well that are at home at my houſe. 62. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
61, 62. If thou wilt be my Miniſter thou muſt be like a man plowing, who looketh ſtill before him on the Furrow, and not behind him: The Kingdom of God muſt be firſt ſought, and all things that would hinder the true ſervice of it, muſt be put behind, and denied and forſaken: (Not that it diſſolveth Relation-duties, but puts all behind the works and intereſt of God, and forſaketh that which is againſt it.)