Annotations Upon the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 19 – Chapter 21
CHAP. XIX.
Verse 2. BEhold there was a man named Zacheus] His name (saith Grotius) is purely Hebrew,Nomen Hebraeum seu Syriacum Zaccai, est à munditìa, innocentia, seu justitia deductum. Lucas Brugen. as appeares Esra. 2.9. and 7.14. It is exprest for the certainty of the history, especially since he was a famous man. Brugensis.
Which was the chief among the Publicans] A Publican is one that gathers publick payments. He exacted tribute for the Romans, and so he seemed an oppressor of the Jews, and therefore was odious to them, and they did often exact more than the Romans required, which they reserved for themselves. Luk. 3.13.
Vers. 4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a Sycamore tree, to see him; for he was to passe that way] Being forgetfull of his own dignity and estate, running before as a man of mean condition. He might easily divine that all which should see this thing would scoffe at him, that he a chief and rich man should climbe a tree like boyes, whence he might see Christ passing by. But his love and desire of seeing Jesus, and especially an impulse of the Holy Ghost took away all his modesty from him.Polyc. Lyser.
Vers. 5. And saw him] He saw him not only with a corporall aspect, but with that which was every where saving; nor only saw him, but vouchsafes to speak to him, calling him by his proper name, as familiarly known unto him, See Iohn 1.48. for Christ calls his own sheep by name,Polyc. Lyser. Iohn 10.3.
To day I must abide in thy house] A wonderfull thing! we read in the Gospell that the Lord being invited by others went to them, but we never read that of his own accord he came to their feast, as he did to this Prince of the Publicans; so faith alwaies obtaines more than it wished, Zacheus desired to see Jesus, now he hath him his guest. Christ requires haste, that his readinesse to bestow faith may appeare to all.
Vers. 7. Murmured] The Inhabitants of the Town, and perhaps some of Christs companions murmure, that he goes in to a man of an evill and reproachfull name, when yet no man invited him;Calvin. so when the world neglects the grace of God offered, it takes it ill that it should be given to others.
A man that is a Sinner] That here, as in many other places, notes a man of a wicked and flagitious life.Id. ibid.
Vers. 8. The halfe of my goods I give to the poore) From this time I consecrate and depute them to the poore.
Vers. 9. This day is salvation come to this house] Because Zacheus should convert his whole family, as Cornelius the Centurion, and others did, or because the greatest part of his house were now turned to God.Polyc. Lyser.
For so much as he also is the Son of Abraham] Because he was taken into Abrahams Covenant, Rom. 4.16.
Vers. 10. To seek and to save that which was lost) The first shewed his diligence; the second his power; both his singular Philanthropie. Such as were lost indeed, and in their own apprehension.
Nobilis foreign bene natus, ingenuus & illustris. Syrus filius magni stemma is. Lucas Brugensis.Vers. 12. A certaine nobleman] That is, our Lord Jesus Christ, and he truly calls himselfe noble, for he is Coeternall and coequall with his Father in respect of his Deity, in respect of his humane nature he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of a pure and immaculate Virgin, Christ hath in his Genealogie above twenty Kings and Princes.
Into a far Country] That is, to heaven, it is a long while from the time of his death to his last comming.
Vers. 13. And he called his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds] He observes a certaine number, ten, for God knows well both the number of his Servants, and gifts. His pound] That is, the Doctrine of the Gospell concerning the kingdom of heaven. Let him occupie] This was spoken parabolically,Polyc. Lyser. as a diligent Merchant spares not labour, but is intent upon all occasions, that even with the danger of his life he might promote his gaine; So let the Servant of Christ studiously strive by a diligent preaching of the Gospell, and faithfull administration of the Sacraments, to gaine many men to Christ.
Vers. 14. His Citizens] That is, the Jews. Iohn 1.11.
Vers. 15. And it came to passe when he was returned, &c.] This shall be in the last day, when he shall returne to the judgement of the quick and dead.
Vers. 21. Neither acceptest thou the person of any] Or the face of any. The Greek word foreign may be rendred either way. Although the Hebrews, and Syrians, from whence that phrase proceeded,See Mat. 22.16 alwaies say, to respect the face, yet the Latine Interpreters use the word person, in judging to be moved with the person, face, or any outward quality, or appearance, nothing pertaining to the merits of the cause.
Vers. 22. Thou knewest that I was an austere man] Then this should not have made thee sluggish, but have moved thee to the greater diligence.
That at my comming I might have required mine owne with usury] Christ would no more note the rigour of God than praise Usury, when he brings in the Master of the Family so speaking, that money should be given to the banke that at least it might grow with Usury: Only Christ signifieth that there will be no excuse for their sloath who both suppresse the gifts of God, and consume their time in idlenesse.Calvin.
Vers. 23. But he perceived their craftinesse] The Greeke word rendred craftinesse signifieth a skill in ill doing gotten by long practice and experience.Significat foreign quandam ad malè agendum solertiam, longo scillicet usu & tractandis rebus plurimis quaesitam, à foreign & foreign composita. Brugensis.
Into the banke] Where either by the change of monis, or by a contract of the loane they make a gaine, and thou with them mightest have been partaker of the same gaine.
Ver. 24. Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds] That so by his deed he may shew that he did not so much look after money as the gaine of it.
Ver. 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and stay them before me] Christ gave up the Jews his enemies which would not have him for their King to the Romans to destroy them, who wasted their City,Polyc. Lyser. and dispersed the whole nation into perpetuall exile. But in the last day he will condemne to eternall death all his enemies the Devills, Jews, Heathens, false Christians.
Vers. 42. If thou hadst known] The more ancient Divines take the words optatively,Beza Quam felix e…les & beata. Calvin, curares, thou wouldst have taken heed, wouldst have embraced these things.Pathetica est oratio, ideoque abrupta. Duo affectus hic simul permisti, neque enim tantum miseretur Christus urbis cladem, sed simul ingrato populo extremum scelus exprobrat, quòd repudians oblatam sibi salutem ultro horribile Dei judicium accersat. Calvinus. Oh that thou hadst known, the moderne otherwise, that is, if thou hadst considered and taken speciall notice, Esay 1.3. Thou even thou] That is, Jerusalem, this is emphaticall. At least] That is, after thou hast so often rejected me, and slaine the Prophets that came before me.
In this thy day] That is, of visitation. Vers. 44. By the word, the things that belong] To thy safety temporall, or salvation eternall; Christ, the Gospell, and the preaching of it.
Jerusalem in the Hebrew tongue signifies the vision of peace, these words then may meane, that contrary to her name she saw not her peace, Jerusalem was not Jerusalem.
Vers. 45. And he went into the Temple and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought] Christ purged the Temple but twice, first, at his entrance into his Ministery. Secondly, at his going out, Mat. 21. Marke 11.
Vers. 48. Were very attentive to heare him] Greeke, hung upon him hearing him.foreign.
This very word is used Mat. 22.40. hang or depend upon, as a vessell upon a peg or naile on the wall: Others render it, pendebant ex ore ejus, as Bees on flowers, to suck out the moisture which is in them.
CHAP. XX.
Verse 5. THey reasoned with themselves] foreign, (Whence Syllogismus) signifieth to reason, by arguing to conclude, to infer one thing from another.
Vers. 10. At the season] The word foreign here notes a certaine time of the yeare, viz. of fruits, as Matthew expresly names it, ch. 21.34.
Vers. 20. And they watched him] foreign is to be curiously intent, cunningly and treacherously to observe. As in war all the actions of the Enemy are wont to be studiously observed, or as in hunting, the steps of the wild beasts are wont to be observed.Gerh. Harm. Evang. The Pharisees were intent upon all occasions and waies how they might intangle Christ.
Vers. 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] Christ cites a place out of Moses, because he had to do with the Sadduces, who did not much beleeve the Prophets,Calvin. at least esteemed them no more than we do the Book of Ecclesiastes or the Macchabees: Moreover, because they brought Moses, he chose rather to answer them out of Moses than to oppose any one of the Prophets.
Spanhemius dub. Evang. parte 3 tia. p. 3. & Canaeus de Republica Heb. p. 476. say, the Sadduces received the whole Scripture, and not the Pentateuch only. The originall of the other assertion came thence (saith Hottinger) that some made the Sadduces the same with the Samaritans,Thes. Philol. l. 1. c. 1. Sect. 5. which acknowledged only the five Books of Moses for Scripture.
CHAP. XX….
Vers. 1. ANd he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the Treasury] Not because the Treasury was in a high place that he had need to lift up his eyes;Novarinus. Brugensis. but because Christ being a patterne of modesty had cast his eyes upon the ground. The Greek word foreign signifieth studiously to behold, which notion doth best agree here. See Chap. 8.25.
Ver. 3. Hath cast in more than they all] Qualitate, animi intentione, quantitate, pro facultatum ratione.
Ver. 4. Hath cast in all the living that she had] That is, all the meanes she had to sustaine her self that day.
Ver. 11. And fearefull sights, and great signs shall then be from heaven] Josephus of the wars of the Jews l. 7. c. 12. recites divers signes which happened before the destruction of Jerusalem, Vide Grotium in loc.1. That a blazing star in fashion of a sword hung over the City. 2. That at the feast of unleavened bread a light shone round about the Altar as cleare as day. 3. That a Cow led to be sacrificed calved a Lambe. 4. That the brazen Gate of the Temple, which twenty men could scarcely open, was seene to open at midnight of it own accord. 5. That in the first of May there were seen in the aire Chariots and standing battles skirmishing in the clouds, and compassing the City. 6. In the Temple was heard the sound of a wonderfull terrible voice which said, Migremus hinc, let us go hence.
Ver. 13. And it shall turne to you for a testimony] That is, you shall have great honour by it, as you give testimony to Christ, so Christ shall give testimony unto you.
Ver. 19. In your patience possesse ye your soules] As if he should say, if you would save your soules,Mr Perkins. you must labour to beare all crosses that fall on you with patience.
Patience and strength to beare afflictions must be ours, not by usurpation, nor yet by lawfull use and occupation, as a thing borrowed for the present, but by just title and possession, we must have it of our own, and be provided of it to use when time shall serve. When one is comfortable and cheerefull, we say he enjoyes himself, so when one keeps himself quiet in crosses he possesseth his soule in patience.
Ver. 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword] In the Greek by the mouth of the sword:So Judges 18.27. Acies gladij tam Hebraeis quam Graecis os vocatur, quòd acie tanquam ore gladius mordeat & occidat omnem carnem obviam. Lucas Brugensis. For the sword bites in that part in which it is sharper, therefore the sword is called foreign two mouthed for two edged, Heb. 4.12.
Vt solent qui de loco superiore liberationem expectant. Hoc est quod foreign dixit Paulus. Grotius in loc.Ver. 28. Then look up and lift up your heads] That is, be of good courage, as the Syriack hath exprest the sense in its Paraphrase by a metonymy of the effect, for when men are merry they lift up their heads, when sad they cast them down, and the reason which is added confirmes this exposition.
For your Redemption] That full deliverance in which death shall be triumphed over, draweth nigh.
Vers. 34. Be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse] With a surfetting arising from drunkennesse, or a drunkennesse which produceth a surfetting; but it is better in this place to take the metonymicall signification of this word for too much cramming or pouring in of meat or drink,Gerh. Harm. from whence a surfet ariseth as an effect, so it is taken by the Septuagint in 77. Psal. 71.
And so that day come upon you unawares] It comes unawares when peoples hearts are hardned against the threatnings and Judgements of God, as the deluge came on the People in the old world.Luke 17. Erasmus reddidit ut liceat vobis effugere, sed graecum est significantius, ut digni reddamini vel efficiamini. Geth. Harm.
Vers. 36. Worthy to escape all these things.]