The Gospel According to Saint Matthew
Matthew 26
Chapter XXVI · Vol. IV, pp. 102–106
3 The rulers conspire against Christ. 6 The woman anointeth his feet. 14 Judas selleth him. 17 Christ eateth the passover: 26 instituteth his holy supper: 36 prayeth in the garden: 47 and being betrayed with a kiss, 57 is carried to Caiaphas, 69 and denied of Peter.
1 And ita came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,Cited in WCF 8.4
a Jn.13.1, with 17.4.
2 Yeb know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
3 Thenc assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high-priest, who was called Caiaphas,
c Jn.11.47-53. Ac.4.25-28. ch.21.45,46. Is.53.2,3. Ps.2.1,2; 64.4, 41.7; 56.6; 22.12,13.
4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
5 But they said, dNot on the feast-day,1 lest there be an uproar among the people.
d Ge.3.1. ch.21.26; 14.5. Lu.20.6. Jn.7.12,40. Pr.21.30; 19.21.
1 Not on the feast day. Rather, 'Not during the festival,' which lasted seven days.—C.
6 Nowe when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
e Jn.11.1,2; 12.3-9. Mar.14.3-9. Lu.7.37,38. ver.12.
7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10 When Jesus understood3 it, he said unto them, gWhy trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
3 Rather, 'But Jesus knowing it.'—C.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it ifor my burial.
i ch.27.57-60. Mar.15.42-47. Lu.23.50-56. Jn.19.38-42.
13 Verily I say unto you, jWheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
j Mar.16.15. ch.28.19. Ro.1.8; 10.18; 15.19. Col.1.6,23. Is.xlii.xlix.liv.lx.
14 Thenk one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
k Mar.14.10,11. Lu.22.3-6. ch.10.4. Ps.41.9; 55.12,14. Jn.6.70,71; 13.27.
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of 4silver.
4 Zec.11.12,13. ch.27.3. Ex.21.32; i.e. £3, 8s. 5¼d.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
17 Nowl the first day of the feast of unleavened bread,5 the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
l Mar.14.12-17. Lu.22.7-13. Jn.18.28. Ex.12.6,18; 13.3,6. Le.23.5,6. Nu.9.3; 28.16,17. De.16.1-4.
5 'The first of unleavened bread' was Thursday, the 14th of Nisan. On that day the Jews put away all leaven out of their houses, and killed the paschal lamb. The lamb was not eaten till after sunset, when, according to the Jewish mode of reckoning, the 15th day began. Their day (of 24 hours began at sunset; but as the 24 hours was divided into two parts, the one called night, the other day, we often find the word day applied to the latter alone. It was on this 14th the disciples prepared for the passover.—P.
18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, nThe Master saith, oMy time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
19 Andp the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
p 1 Sa.15.22. Ex.23.21. Jn.15.14. De.12.28.
20 Nowq when the even was come,6 he sat down with the twelve.
* The evening of the 14th, at, or after sunset; or as it is described in Hebrew idiom, 'between the two evenings,' i.e. between sunset and darkness, during the brief space of an eastern twilight. See Ex.12.6. Le.23.5. Nothing can be clearer than that our Lord and his disciples sat down to eat the passover; and the following verse proceeds to describe what occurred 'as they did eat.' However the apparently discordant statements of the evangelists are to be reconciled, the plain narrative of Matthew cannot be twisted into conformity with any theory that our Lord did not eat the passover. For a solution of the difficulty see notes on Jn.13.29 and 18.28.—P.
q Mar.14.18-25. Lu.22.14-30. Jn.13.21-34. Ex.12.4,6. De.16.1.
6 See note * in first column.
21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that rone of you shall betray me.
r Jn.6.70,71. ver.2. Ps.41.9; 55.12-14.
22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23 And he answered and said, sHe that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.7
s Ps.41.9; 55.12-14. Jn.13.18,26. Lu.22.21,22.
7 The parallel passage in Mar.14.20 is substantially the same; but John (13.20), whose narrative is much more minute, thus writes: 'He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped.' I can see no contradiction, no real discrepancy in the two accounts. Jesus may have used both expressions, following up the more general recorded by Matthew, with the more specific recorded by John. He may have said, 'He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish—he to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped—the same shall betray me.' Jesus and Judas dipped together; Jesus on dipping presented his morsel to Judas, a thing of common occurrence at an eastern banquet. John, who was close to Jesus, heard and saw all.—P.
24 Thet Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but uwoe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
t Ge.3.15. Ps.22.1-21; 69.1-21. Is.52.14; 53.1-12; 50.5,6. Da.9.24,26. Zec.13.7.
u Ps.55.15-23; cix. ch.27.3-5. Ac.1.16-20.
25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, vanswered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, xThou hast said.8
26 Andy as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and 9blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.Cited in WSC 92 · WLC 162, 164, 168, 169, 170, 171 · WCF 29.2, 29.3, 29.5 · HC 75, 78 · SC Altar 2
y 1 Co.11.23-29; 10.4,16,17. Mar.14.22-25. Lu.22.19,20. Jn.6.55.
9 Many Greek copies have, gave thanks.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it:Cited in WSC 92 · WLC 162, 164, 168, 169, 176 · WCF 27.2, 27.3, 29.2, 29.3, 29.5 · HC 66, 75, 78 · SC Altar 2
28 For this is my sblood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.Cited in WSC 92 · WLC 162, 164, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176 · WCF 27.2, 27.3, 29.3, 29.5 · HC 66, 75, 78, 80 · SC Altar 2
s Ex.24.8. Zec.9.11. He.9.14-17; 13.20. ch.1.21; 20.28. Ro.5.10,11,15-21. Je.31.31. He.8.10-12.
29 But I say unto you, 1I awill not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you bin my Father's kingdom.Cited in WCF 29.5 · HC 78
† These words are very suggestive, they carry forward the joys and blessings of this solemn ordinance from earth to heaven. 'The Lord's Supper,' Thiersch says, 'points not only to the past, but to the future also. It has not only a commemorative, but also a prophetic meaning. In it we have not only to show forth the Lord's death until he come, but we have also to think of the time when he shall come to celebrate his holy supper with his own, new, in his kingdom of glory. Every celebration of the Lord's Supper is a foretaste and prophetic anticipation of the great marriage supper which is prepared for the church at the second appearing of Christ. This import of the sacrament is declared in the words, "I will not drink henceforth," &c. These words ought never to be omitted in any liturgical form of administering the communion.'—P.
1 See note † in first column.
a Lu.22.16. Ps.104.15. Ac.10.41.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
b ch.3.2; 4.17. Is.25.6. 1 Co.15.24,28. Lu.22.29,30.
31 Then saith Jesus unto them, dAll ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, eI will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
d Mar.14.27-31. Jn.16.32. ch.11.6.
33 Peterh answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
h Mar.14.29-31,66-72. Lu.22.31-34,54-62. Jn.13.36-38; 18.15-27. ver.69-75. Ps.30.6.
34 Jesus said unto him, iVerily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow,3 thou shalt deny me thrice.
i Jn.13.38. 1 Co.10.12.
3 His principal crowing about three o'clock in the morning.
35 Peter said unto him, jThough I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. kLikewise also said all the disciples.
36 Thenl cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane,4 and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.Cited in HC 44
l Mar.14.32-42. Lu.22.39-46. Jn.18.1. He.5.7. Ps.22.2.
4 Gethsemane was a garden (Jn.18.1) just on the other side of the Kidron from Jerusalem. The torrent-bed of the Kidron runs in the bottom of a deep ravine, about 200 yards from the city-wall. Immediately beyond it rises the steep side of Olivet; and on the lower slope of that hill, the garden of 'the oil-press' (such is the meaning of Gethsemane) must have been situated. It had been a favourite place of retirement with Christ during his visits to Jerusalem, Jn.18.2. Lu.22.40.—P.
37 Andn he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be osorrowful and very heavy.5Cited in WCF 8.4
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and pwatch with me.Cited in WLC 37 · WCF 8.4
p ch.24.42; 25.13. 1 Pe.5.8. Ep.6.18,19.
39 And he went a little further, and qfell on his face, and prayed, saying, rO my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.Cited in WLC 185
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What! could ye not watch with me one hour?Cited in WLC 192
41 Watch,s and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: tthe spirit indeed is willing,6 but the flesh is weak.Cited in WSC 106 · WLC 192, 195 · HC 127
s ch.24.42; 25.13; ver.38,43. Mar.13.33-37; 14.38. Lu.22.40. 1 Co.16.13. 1 Pe.5.8. Re.3.10; 16.15. Ep.6.18. Pr.4.14,15.
t Is.26.8,9. Ca.5.2. Ro.7.18-25. Ga.5.17,24. Ps.78.39.
6 The spirit indeed is willing. The renewed spirit is bold, courageous; but flesh still requires to be mortified by the Spirit, Ro.8.13.—C.
42 Heu went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, xSleep on now, and take your rest: ybehold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
47 And zwhile he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude, with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
z Mar.14.43-52. Lu.22.47-53. Jn.18.8-11. Ac.1.16. ver.55. Ps.3.1; 2.1,2. Jn.18.3.
48 Nowa he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend,7 wherefore art thou come? Then came they and blaid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, cone of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high-priest's, and smote off his ear.
c Jn.18.10. ver.33,35.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, dPut up again thy sword into his place: efor all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.Cited in HC 105
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and ghe shall presently give me more than twelve legions8 of angels?9
g ch.4.11. 2 Ki.6.17. Da.7.10. Ps.91.11; 34.7.
8 A Roman legion generally consisted of about 6000 soldiers.—C.
9 It is remarkable to find our Lord under such circumstances speaking of angels. His own power as God was supreme. He frequently pressed this truth on his disciples. Why then speak of angels at all, and not simply declare his own omnipotence? The reason seems to be, that in the mystery of the divine government of this world angels are the regularly constituted ministers for executing God's plans in relation to the whole church. Angels announced the Messiah's advent; counselled the flight into Egypt, ministered to him in the wilderness; in Gethsemane an angel strengthened him; angels were present at his resurrection and ascension.—P.
54 But how then hshall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
h Is.liii. Ps.22.1-21; 69.1-21. Ge.3.15. Le.i.vi.xvi. Nu.xix.xxviii.xxix. Is.52.13; 50.5,6. La.4.20. Da.9.24-26. Zec.13.7. Lu.24.25,26,44,46. Ac.17.3; 26.23.
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, ithat the scriptures of the prophets might be 1fulfilled. jThen all the disciples forsook him, and fled.Cited in WLC 49
i ver.54. Ac.1.16. Nu.23.19. 1 Sa.15.29. Tit.1.2. Is.44.26.
1 Especially the prophecy of Judas, Ps.41.9; of Christ being treated as a sinner, Is.53.12; and of the desertion of the disciples, Zec.13.7.—C.
j ver.31. Jn.16.32. Job 19.13,14. Ps.88.8,18; 38.11. Is.63.3,5. 2 Ti.1.15; 4.16.
57 Andk they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high-priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the high-priest's palace, and went in, land sat with the servants, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, nsought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
n Ps.27.12; 35.11. Ac.6.13. 1 Ki.21.10,13.
60 Buto found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.2 At the last came two false witnesses,Cited in WLC 145
61 And said, This fellow said, pI am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.Cited in WLC 145
p Jn.2.19-21. ch.27.40. Mar.15.29. Ac.6.13.
62 And the high-priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus qheld his peace. And the high-priest answered and said unto him, I radjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be sthe Christ, the Son of God.
q Is.53.7. Ac.8.32. Ps.38.13,14. ch.27.12,14.
r 1 Sa.14.26,28. Jos.6.26. Mar.5.7. Ac.19.13. 1 Ki.22.16. Le.5.1.
s ch.11.4,5; 16.16. Jn.1.34,49-51; 10.30,36; 6.69. Is.9.6,7.
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou3 hast said:4 nevertheless5 I say unto you, tHereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Thenu the high-priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
u Le.21.10. 2 Ki.18.37; 19.1. Ge.37.29,34.
67 Thenx did they spit in his face, and buffeted6 him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,7
69 Nowz Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus aof Galilee.Cited in WLC 195 · WCF 18.4
z Mar.14.66-72. Lu.22.55-62. Jn.18.15-18,25-27, with Ps.1.1; 119.115.
a ch.2.22,23; 3.13; 4.12,13.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.Cited in WLC 195 · WCF 17.3, 18.4
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with bJesus of Nazareth.Cited in WLC 195 · WCF 18.4
b ch.2.23; 21.11. Lu.2.39,51; 4.16. Jn.1.45.
72 And again he denied with an oath, cI do not know the man.Cited in WLC 195 · WCF 17.3, 18.4
c ch.16.16; ver.33,35.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Thend began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.Cited in WCF 17.3
d ver.34. Lu.22.60. Mar.14.71. Jn.18.26,27.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, eBefore the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. gAnd he went out, and wept bitterly.8Cited in WCF 11.5
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
e ver.34. Lu.22.31-34. Mar.14.30. Jn.13.38.
g Ps.119.59,60. Eze.7.16. Zec.12.10. Je.31.18. 2 Co.7.11.
8 On comparing this narrative with the parallel passages in Mar.14.66-72; Lu.22.56-62; and Jn.18.17-27, we find considerable verbal differences. The difficulties hence arising may be satisfactorily solved by considering, 1st. That Peter disputed at some considerable length with those who charged him with being a follower of Jesus. 2d. That one of the evangelists would record one part of the conversation, and another another. Alford rightly remarks: 'I do not see that we are obliged to limit the narrative to three sentences from Peter's mouth, each expressing a denial, and no more. On three occasions during the night he was recognized; on three occasions he was a denier of his Lord. Such a statement may well embrace reiterated expressions of recognition, and reiterated and importunate denials on each occasion.'—P.
Notes
Ver. 26-28. Christ conjoined the passover and supper to intimate that the former, having been long a type, should now be fulfilled in his death; and that the other should succeed as a memorial of his finished sufferings till the end of the world. The bread represents him as God-man, chosen, appointed, and furnished by his Father, and suffering unto death for the redemption of his people. The wine represents his fulfilling all righteousness for the securing and bestowing all promised spiritual blessings, particularly the full remission of sins to his faithful followers. 29. I will never more feast with you in this manner, never more so indulge you with my bodily presence; but instead thereof, will hold fellowship with you in a far more spiritual and comfortable manner in the gospel dispensation, and especially in the heavenly state.
Ver. 2. Betrayed. Rather, 'Is to be betrayed.' Bloomfield. —More literally, 'delivered up.' C.
Ver. 7. Whether this woman was Mary the sister of Lazarus, mentioned Jn. 12. 3, and whether there were two anointings, one of the head, and another of the feet, has been matter of deep question. Lightfoot, Doddridge, Gill, Guyse, &c., may be consulted for the different views and arguments. The more probable opinion seems that of one anointing—the different circumstances being related by different historians, each, as moved by the Holy Spirit, filling up some circumstance omitted by the other. C.
Ver. 11. But me ye have not always. Therefore the Popish figment of transubstantiation cannot be true; for the wafer which it asserts to be the very body, and blood, and soul, and divinity of Christ, the Romanists have always with them. C.
Ver. 14. Then—or rather, 'about that time.' The cupidity of Judas being probably excited by what he considered the useless waste of so much valuable ointment.—Note, Evil feelings are often stirred up by the sight of what is good. Let believers watch and pray that they enter not into this temptation. C.
Ver. 15. Thirty pieces of silver. Most probably thirty shekels[≈ 340 g · 12 oz]—about £3, 15s.—the price of a slave accidentally torn by a beast, see Ex. 21. 32. 'A goodly price at which they valued him!' But, alas! alas! how often is he sold again, and 'crucified afresh' for a far inferior price! 'Be not high-minded, but fear,' and 'let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.' C.
Ver. 21. As they did eat. Whether our Lord did eat the passover has been matter of serious debate. The course of the narrative in this chapter is clearly in favour of his eating it (see also Lu. 22. 14). But then, in Jn. 18. 28; when our Lord was already a prisoner, the Jews, it appears, had yet to eat the passover. The solution of this difficulty arises from recollecting that the passover was to commence with first full moon of the month Nisan. But as this day was settled, not by astronomical calculation, but by the actual appearance of the new moon, a difference might readily arise with regard to the exact day on which the feast should commence. And as the Pharisees and Sadducees differed on almost every other point, it is most probable they would differ upon this likewise. And thus our Lord might eat the passover on the fourteenth, which the Sadducees calling but the thirteenth, they would eat it the day after. C.
Ver. 23. He that dippeth his hand. An instance of the manner of eating common in several eastern countries, in which the whole party at table eat by dipping the hand into one common dish. C.
Ver. 26. This is my body. The Romanists say our Lord spake literally, and that therefore the bread in his supper becomes his literal body. But if so, surely 'the cup' becomes 'the new testament,' see 1 Co. 11. 25, for both are equally asserted. But such conversion of the cup the Romanist denies; therefore, with equally valid reason, such conversion of the bread the Protestant rejects.
And in this he agrees with the apostle Paul, who thrice declares that what the communicant eats is simply bread, 1 Co. 11. 26-28. Besides, as our Lord says, Jn.15.5, 'I am the vine, ye are the branches'—and yet cannot mean that he was changed into a vine, or his disciples into branches, but merely that he was like the vine, while they were like the branches—so, when he says of bread, 'This is my body,' he means, as in the case of the vine, 'this is (like) my body.' For the use of the verb to be, in which it is put for 'to be like, represent, or signify, or answer to,' see Da. 7. 23; 1 Co. 10. 4 Ga. 4. 24,25. But if the Romanist still repeat, 'This is my body;' the Protestant replies, 'And so indeed it is—it is his body to faith;' for while Sense perceives and uses bread, faith discerns and partakes of 'his body and blood, with all their benefits, to spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.' C.
Ver. 45. Sleep on now. This has been termed 'an ironical reproof;' but surely such a figure is totally unbecoming the unequalled solemnity of the occasion. Is not the meaning this? I left you to watch, but the necessity of it being now past, sleep on, and forget both my sorrows and your own, for the few moments of my time that are yet unexpired. C.
Ver. 50. Friend. Rather, Companion: though as a title, the word Friend, that is, one that has been so named, might still be justly applied to the ungrateful and faithless traitor. C.
Ver. 52. This statement, if taken in a literal and unlimited sense, is not strictly accurate—for many take the sword who do not perish by it. The meaning must therefore be sought thus: 1. The sword is a general name for all weapons and means of warfare. 2. The warfare in the case is a private opposition to public authority. 3. It is a warfare undertaken rashly, and revengefully, in defence of or for propagation of religion. Now all who thus take, and continue to hold the sword, shall finally perish by it, either literally, as the Jews soon after did; or spiritually, by making shipwreck of their holy faith. C.
Ver. 61. To speak against the temple was a capital offence, Je. 26. 11, 12, 15, 24, according to the Jewish common law—which, as is evident, both from the case of Jeremiah and of our Lord, meant little else than any decision that pleased the rulers, or any ebullition of the popular will. C.
Ver. 74. To curse. 'To anathematize himself,' to imprecate judgments upon himself, if his denial were untrue.—To swear. To swear by the name of God. So deep; alas! was the fall of Peter! But, oh! what a scale does it furnish whereon poor backsliding sinners may measure out the mercy and love of God!—Cock. The rabbinical writers assert that, 'on account of the holy things,' no cocks were kept in Jerusalem; and therefore it has been asserted that the narrative is untrue, as Peter could not hear what the city did not contain. Let the rabbinical account be admitted for true, so far as Jewish authority extended, and will it follow that no Roman soldier kept a cock for his own pleasure or profit? or will it follow that Peter, from the house of Caiaphas, adjoining the city wall, could not hear one from a distance in the country, where no one has questioned the bird's existence? C.
Reflections.—Unbounded was the foreknowledge of our Redeemer, and astonishing his delight in the view of his sufferings for the world. Great is his care to vindicate all good conduct, to honour all that honour him, and to direct all to opportunities of doing good to their brethren; and infinite his regard to his Father's oracles and ordinances and the salvation of the world. In view of death—a dreadful death— he joins believers in the seals of the promise, and appoints them a permanent feast for spiritual nourishment: representing all his labours of love, and sealing and applying his person and righteousness to their soul! And faithful and reasonable were his warnings against temptation.—How heavy the weight of our sins lay on him! How fearful his agonies! how fervent his prayers! Yet great was his submission to his Father's will: marvellous his readiness to suffer, and kind his rebukes even to the worst !—But, alas! how was he hated by men—plotted against without cause— envied of his honours—betrayed for a trifle—shamefully discredited and contradicted, even by his saints—presumptuously apprehended—despitefully abused—and basely denied, after the most solemn warning! Let me learn to watch and pray against temptation. I know not whether Satan may drag or my corruption drive me. Let me always honour Jesus whatever be the expense; be liberal to his poor, and always given to embrace his preached gospel. And, on his demand, gladly let me receive him into my house and heart. A deep sense of my sinfulness should make me always ready to suspect the worst of myself. If I indulge self-confidence, if I disregard a Saviour's warning, I shall quickly fall, fearfully fall, before the slightest temptations. If I indulge one sin, it will quickly plunge me into a worse. If then I have been overtaken in a fault, let me quickly and bitterly repent. It is not the greatness or number of my sins that can ruin me, but my obstinate impenitence and unbelief.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.