Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Verse 2. … a certain Conturions servant]
PIscator thinks that this History is not the same with that Matthew 8. 5. His reasons may be read in his Scholia on that place. Videsis.
Verse 4. That he was worthy]
So they held him: but he held himself unworthy, vers. 6. God in like manner saith that Jerusalem had received double for her sinnes, Isaiah 40. 2. But Jerusalem her self saith, Our God hath punished us lesse then our sins, Ezra 9. 13. Too much, saith God: Too little, saith she: and yet how sweetly and beautifully doth this kind of contradiction become both?
Verse 5. Built us a Synagogue]
Antiochus had burnt up the Synagogues in sundry places. This man, now converted, is content to be at cost for God and his people. So the Israelites received to favour again after their foul fall in setting up the golden calf, brought enough and to spare toward the work of the Tabernacle.
Verse 6. For I am not worthy]
So saith Jacob of himself, Gen. 32. 10. so Paul, 1 Cor. 15. so the Baptist. Matt. 3. so Augustine, Non sum dignus, quem tu diligas, Domine, I am not worthy of thy love, Lord.
Verse 9. He marvelled]
See the Note on Matt. 8. 10.
Verse 12. There was a dead man]
Though a young man. Our decrepit age both expects death and sollicits it: but vigorous youth lookes strangly upon that grim sergeant of God. Senibus mors in jannis, adolescentibus in insidiis, Bern. Death seizeth on old men, and layes wait for the youngest.
Verse 13. He had compassion on her]
Of his own free accord, and unrequested, he raised him. Christ had a most tender heart. How shall he not pity and provide for his praying people?
Verse 19. Art thou he that should come]
The soul resteth not till it pitch upon Christ. See the Notes on Matt. 11. 2. &c.
Verse 23. And blessed is he]
This is check to them for their preposterous zeal for John, their Master. Therefore also our Saviour commends not John, till they were departed.
Verse 28. But he that is least]
This is no small comfort to the Ministers of the Gospel, against the contempts cast upon them by the world. They are some-bodies in heaven, what ever men make of them.
Verse 29. Justified God]
i. e. They glorified his word, Act. 13. 48. and acknowledged his righteousnesse, repenting of their sins, and beleeving Johns and Christs testimony, which the Pharisees so pertinaciously rejected.
Verse 30. Rejected the counsell of God]
Being ingrati gratiae Dei, as Ambrose speaketh, and so much the further off, for that they saw the people so forward.
Verse 33. Neither eating bread]
But Locusts and wild Hony.
Verse 35. Of all her children]
That is, her disciples, Psal. 34. 11.
Verse 36. Sat down to meat]
It was fit he should feast sometimes, that fared so hard mostly.
Verse 38. To wash his feet]
They that make their eyes a fountain to wash Christs feet in, shall have his side for a fountain, to wash their souls in.
Kissed his feet]
But how many now refuse those kisses of his mouth, Cant. c. 1. by despising the word preached, that sweet pledge of his love?
Verse 39. This man, if he were a Prophet]
See the picture of an hypocrite, slighting and censuring his betters.
What manner of woman this is]
Syr. What an ill name she hath, for a light huswife.
Verse 40. I have somewhat to say to thee]
He that receives a curtesie, we say, sells his liberty. But so did not Christ at Simons, at Martha's, &c. table. His mouth was not stopped with good chear. He entertains the Pharisees with as many menaces, as they do him with messes of meat.
Verse. 44. Washed my feet with tears]
We read not that the Virgin Mary ever did as this greater sinner did. Repentance is the fair child of that foul mother, sin, as the Romane said of Pompey. foreign.And it is question whether more glorifies God, Innocence or Penitence?
Verse 47. For she loved much]
Nam, notificativum est, non impulsivum. Her love was an Argument (not a cause) that her sins were forgiven her.
Verse 48. Thy sinnes are forgiven thee]
Melanchthon makes mention of a godly woman, who having upon her death-bed been much conflicted, and afterwards much comforted, brake out into these words; Now, and not till now, I understand the meaning of those words, Thy sins are forgiven. It is storied of another that courting a curtezan, and understanding that her name was Mary: he remembred Mary Magdelen, and forbearing to commit that act of filthinesse that he intended, became a sound convert.