30 Under persecution, and even martyrdom, the followers of Christ have found the love of God to supply every want, and the peace of God to allay every fear. men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the Gospel's, 30 but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the Chief Priests, and unto the Scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him : and the third day he shall rise again. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal, shall ye be baptized: but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the 37 34 34 His foretelling these minute particulars brought this consolationthat he so proved himself to be God, as well as man. No one but God could so foresee events. 37 Zeal and ardent love for Him had originated the question to which this is a reply. Therefore the reply is mild, and gentle, and instructive, As if he had said-" Ye shall indeed share my cup of affliction in your persecutions-but for the rest, strive to be of the number of those righteous men for whom future glory is prepared by my Father in heaven. Leave all else to his supreme wisdom. ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, 42 He checks their bickerings, by adding a general exhortation to humility. Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall 45 He held up himself as an exbe servant of all. 45 For ample of humility. Is it too hard even the Son of man came for us to follow him? not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more, a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might 52 Thus when God, by the spirit of Christ, gives thee clearer views of his dispensations here, and opens to thee a brighter prospect of his glories hereafter; rejoice in that light.— Go; follow Jesus. CHAPTER XI. FEB. 11, JUNE 10, Oct. 8. AND when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And 4 4 This foreknowledge left no doubt upon the minds of his disciples that he was God. they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 8 They naturally hailed with triumph "the Prince of peace," who, as they fondly imagined, was "to restore" again the "temporal" kingdom to "Israel." (Is. Ixii. 11. Zech. ii. 9.) And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the even-tide was come, he went out unto Bethany with 12 Here we have proof of the huthe twelve. 12 And on the man nature of Christ. Thus God morrow, when they were come and man is one Christ. from Bethany, he was hungry*: 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. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. 1 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he 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. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for 15 15 Though Jehovah dwelleth not exclusively in temples made with hands-for He filleth all space-yet He deigns to bless the house of prayer raised to his honour, and accepteth graciously a reverent dedication of it to his service. * "The time of" gathering "figs is not yet." It is a peculiarity in the fig tree, that the fruit is formed before the leaves put forth. As on this tree there were leaves, but no fruit, it was evident that it would continue fruitless. they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. 20 On this occasion Jesus showed himself Lord of the natural world. And Peter calling to re And Jesus answering saith 20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots. membrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig-tree which thou cursedst is withered away. unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall prise, to convey a general instruction; 23 He takes advantage of their surshowing the importance of unwearied faith in our prayers. He would teach us that, if answer be delayed, the delay is in mercy. not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 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 ought against any: that your Father also which is trespasses. But if ye do not which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. 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, and say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 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. The baptism. of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven: he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 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 every view of his actions stamps his what authority I do these 25 The disciples had been disputing (chap. x. 41); hence the force of this exhortation to forgiveness. in heaven may forgive you your forgive, neither will your Father 27 The skill with which our Lord foils these unbelievers was successful. Surely never man spake like this man. things. 33 Jesus, though among his brethren he was 66 the meek and the lowly," never for one moment compromised the dignity of his office, nor yielded one particle of his authority. Thus example with perfection. CHAPTER XII. FEB. 12, JUNE 12, Oct. 9. 1AND he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and 1 The vineyard is the Church of God; whose " own right hand did plant it," and who did deliver it to the Jews to cultivate it. digged a place for the wine-fat, and built a tower, and let it 2 He sent, at different times, prophets and ministers, that the fruit— even holiness-might by them be gathered from the vineyard. These messengers the husbandmen evil entreated. out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 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. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; ing some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's. beat 8 God at last sent his Son Jesus Christ-Him they crucified. 9 The vineyard was given to others -the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles. destroy the husbandmen, and 10 Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the spiritual building-that the Jews rejected. which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or 15 His answer (ver. 17) was a tri |