Matt. xxi. Nazareth of Galilee.-14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read,' Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Mark xi. " and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. § 113. BARREN FIG TREE. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE.-Bethany, Jerusalem. Second Day of the Week. Matt. xxi. 12, 13, 18, 19. 18 Now in the morning' as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.— Matt. xxi. 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God," and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves," ? Psa. 8. 2. See Note on § 21. Mark xi. 12-19. 12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 13 and seeing a fig tree' afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. Mark xi. the moneychangers, and Luke 21. 37, 38 is inserted here, because in Luke's order it is only retrospective; being placed after our Lord's discourses on the mount of Olives, when he had already taken leave of Luke xix. 45-48. 45 And he went into the temple," and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;" the temple, to which he returned no more. A fig tree. On mount Olivet, over which our Lord was passing, there grew not only olives but also fig trees, as the name of the place, Bethphage, indicates, for it signifies house of figs. u John 2. 13-17. Deut. 14. 24-26. taught, saying unto them, Is it not written," My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19 And when even was come, he went out of the city. : Luke xix. 46 saying unto them, It is written," My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 and could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. Luke xxi. 37, 38. 37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. § 114 THE BARREN FIG TREE WITHERS AWAY.-Between Bethany and Jerusalem. Third Day of the Week. 23 For Mark xi. 20-26. 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. Matt. xxi. 20-22. 20 And when the 21 And Peter calling to remembrance disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig How soon is the fig tree withered away! tree which thou cursedst is withered 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, away. 22 And Jesus answering saith Verily I unto you, say If have faith, unto them, Have faith in God. ye and doubt not, ye shall not only do this verily I say unto you, That whosoever which is done to the fig tree, but also if shall say unto this mountain," Be thou ye shall say unto this mountain," Be removed, and be thou cast into the sea; thou removed, and be thou cast into the and shall not doubt in his heart, but sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, shall believe that those things which he whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believ- saith shall come to pass; he shall have ing, ye shall receive. whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.* w Isa. 56. 7; Jer. 7. 11. The account of the withering away of the fig tree might well in itself be connected with the preceding Section. But according to Mark 11. 20, this occurrence took place on the subsequent day. y 1 Cor. 13. 2. ≈ Matt. 6. 15. § 115. CHRIST'S AUTHORITY. PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS.-Jerusalem. Matt. xxi. 23- 32. 23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority a doest thou these things ? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heahe will say unto us, ven; Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. : Third Day of the Week. Mark xi.27-33. 27 And they come again to Jerusalem and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, 28 and say unto him, By what authority" doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do thesethings. Luke xx. 1-8. 1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, 2 and spake unto him, saying, Tellus, by what authority doest thou these things?" or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. 7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he Matt. xxi. answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that believed him ye might believe him. § 116. PARABLE OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.—Jerusalem. Matt. xxi. 33-46. 33 Hear another parable; There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first and they did unto them likewise. : 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son,' say d Luke 7. 29, 30. h 2 Chron. 24. 21. Third Day of the Week. Mark xii. 1-12. 1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, e Isa. 5. 1-4. 9 Jer. 26. 20-23. His only and beloved son. This is very striking and important, as showing how Christ Luke xx. 9-19. 9Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent a third and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son it may made an essential distinction betwe n himself and all former messengers of God; they were but servants, while he stood in the wholly peculiar relation of Son to God, that is, he was a Divine person: comp. Heb. 1. 1-3, and 3. 5, 6. Matt. xxi. ing, They will reverence ance. Mark xii. he sent him also last unto reverence my son. 10 And have ye not read 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous is marvellous in our eyes ? in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. k 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, hold on him, but feared 12 And they sought to lay j Psa. 118. 22. * Comp. Acts 13. 46-48. Luke xx. be they will reverence him when they see him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our's. 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them ? 16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner ? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same Comp. Isa. 15; Zech. 12. 3; Dan. 2. 34, 35, 44. |