thought that the wages which Christ will give to His believing people will be far out of proportion to anything they have done for Him. Their tears will be found in His bottle. Their least desires to do good will be found recorded. Their weakest efforts to glorify Him will be found written in His book of remembrance. a cup of cold water shall miss its reward.

NOTES. LUKE XXII. 24-30.

Not

[There was a strife among them, &c.] Let it be noted that this is the second instance of contention for pre-eminence among the apostles, recorded by St. Luke. On the first occasion it was a "reasoning," (Luke ix. 46); here it was a "strife."

It is impossible to reconcile this twice-recorded contention with the Roman Catholic theory, that Peter was the recognized head of the apostles. Neither here nor elsewhere is there any intimation of such primacy being known in our Lord's times! If our Lord had really appointed Peter the chief of the apostles, the strife before us in this passage could not have taken place. 25.-[Benefactors.] The Greek word so translated, ("euergetes,") was a title often assumed by heathen monarchs, who prided themselves on being special benefactors of their subjects.-One of the Ptolemies, king of Egypt, was so called.

26.-[He that is greatest.] This expression here may perhaps mean "greatest in age," the oldest. It is so translated in Rom. ix. 12. In the following verse it clearly means "greater in dignity."

27-[As he that serveth.] There is an evident reference here to the act of washing the disciples' feet, recorded by St. John, which had taken place a very short time before the conversation we are now considering. At the same time the expression describes the whole tenor of our Lord's course on earth. 'He took on Him the form of a servant." "He came not to be ministered to, but to minister."

66

In making a practical use of our Lord's words in this place, we must carefully draw a distinction between a genuine, and a self-imposed, voluntary, ostentatious humility. It would be absurd and profane to compare the Pope's annual practice of publicly washing the feet of a certain number of poor people with the "serving" to which our Lord refers. Cornelius à Lapide, in his commentary on the passage before us, gives a melancholy list of instances of self-imposed humility.

28.—[In my temptations.] This expression probably includes the whole course of our Lord's earthly ministry. It was a period of almost uninterrupted trial and suffering. It would be manifestly impossible to confine the word to the special temptations of Satan to which our Lord was subjected.

29.—[I appoint.] The Greek word so rendered seems to bear a stronger sense than our translators have put upon it. It might be translated, "I appoint unto you by covenant." It is the root of the words used in the well-known passage in Hebrews: Where a testament is, there must be the death of the testator." (Heb. ix. 16.)

[A kingdom.] The meaning of this phrase must probably not be pressed too closely. It signifies honour, dignity, reward, majesty, of which a king's position in this world furnishes the only emblem. Christ will have a real kingdom, covenanted to Him from all eternity. In that kingdom of Christ, the apostles will have a principal place. They will be like kings within a kingdom.

30.-[Eat and drink at my table.] This expression admits of two interpretations. We must either interpret it literally, as referring to the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the Lamb's wife shall have made herself ready, (Rev. xix. 7—9,) to which our Lord seems to refer in Matt. xxvi. 29. Or else we must interpret it figuratively, as signifying that complete satisfaction of every want, which the saints in glory shall enjoy, when they shall "awake up after Christ's likeness and be satisfied."

[Sit on thrones judging...Israel.] This remarkable expression is differently interpreted by commentators.

1. Some think, with Brentius, that our Lord only meant that the doctrine of the Gospel preached by the apostles, should be the rule by which not only Israel, but all the Church should be judged at the last day.

2. Some think, with Gualter, that the words mean that the apostles shall rise in the judgment and condemn the Jews at the last day, because they believed the Gospel, while Israel remained unbelieving. Like the Ninevites and the queen of Sheba, they shall deprive the Jews of all excuse.

3. Some think that the word "judging," means that the apostles shall literally be assessors with Christ in the judgment day, just as St. Paul says to the Corinthians, "we shall judge angels." (1 Cor. vi. 3.)

4. Some think that the word "judging," means that the apostles shall have a pre-eminent place in the government of Israel, after Christ has come again and the Jews have been restored to their own land. It is clear that the word "judge" in many places in the Bible, means nothing more than "ruling

or governing," and has no reference to passing a judicial

sentence.

I cannot pretend to speak decidedly on a question so mysterious as this. I am however inclined to think, that the last view of the four is the most probable one. The following quotations given by Ford, throw light on this view, and are worth reading.

Bishop Smalridge says, "However difficult it may be to determine wisely the full meaning of these expressions, yet certainly we may rationally infer from them, that there are some particular marks of glory, with which the apostles of our Lord will be honoured above other Christians."

Mede says, "Whatsoever is meant by the reward, it is plain there is some peculiar and eminent degree of glory promised here to the apostles, which shall not be common to others with them;-firstly, because it is the reward of their proper and peculiar service of Christ;-secondly, because these twelve thrones, in regard of their number, can befit no more but these twelve-thirdly, because supposing the twelve tribes of Israel to be in a condition of bliss, it must needs be that those who sit on twelve thrones to judge or govern them, must be in a higher degree of dignity than those over whom they are set."

Let us add to this, that we are told that on the twelve foundations of the mystical city described in Revelation, there were the names of the "twelve apostles of the Lamb." (Rev. xxi. 14.)

[Twelve tribes of Israel.] Let it be noted, that the "twelve tribes" are four times mentioned in the New Testament, here, and in Matt. xix. 28; Acts xxvi. 7; and James i. 1. It is clear that although the ten tribes never came back from captivity, they were regarded in the New Testament time as still existing, distinct and separate, and not lost and mingled among other nations. We need not therefore doubt that the ten tribes exist now somewhere on the face of the globe, and in due time will be brought forth and shown to the world.

LUKE XXII. 31-38.

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

36 Then said he unto them, But

WE learn, from these verses, what a fearful enemy the devil is to believers. We read that "the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." He was near Christ's flock, though they saw him not. He was longing to compass their ruin, though they knew it not. The wolf does not crave the blood of the lamb more than the devil desires the destruction of souls.

The personality, activity, and power of the devil are not sufficiently thought of by Christians. This is he who brought sin into the world at the beginning, by tempting Eve. This is he who is described in the book of Job as "going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it." This is he whom our Lord calls "the prince of this world," a "murderer" and a "liar." This is he whom Peter compares to a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." This is he whom John speaks of as "the accuser of the brethren." This is he who is ever working evil in the churches of Christ, catching away good seed from the hearts of hearers, sowing tares amidst the wheat, stirring up persecutions, suggesting false doctrines, and fomenting divisions. The world is a snare to the believer. The flesh is a burden and a clog. But there is no enemy so dangerous as that restless, invisible, experienced enemy, the devil.

If we believe the Bible, let us not be ashamed to believe that there is a devil. It is an awful proof of the

hardness and blindness of unconverted men, that they can jest and speak lightly of Satan.

If we profess to have any real religion, let us be on our guard against the devil's devices. The enemy who overthrew David and Peter, and assaulted Christ Himself, is not an enemy to be despised. He is very subtle. He has studied the heart of man for six thousand years. He can approach us under the garb of an "angel of light." We have need to watch and pray, and put on the whole armour of God. It is a blessed promise, that if we resist him he will flee from us. It is a still more blessed thought, that when the Lord comes, He will bruise Satan under our feet, and bind him in chains. (James iv. 7. Rom. xvi. 20.)

We learn, secondly, in these verses, one great secret of a believer's perseverance in the faith. We read that our Lord said to Peter, "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." It was owing to Christ's intercession that Peter did not entirely fall away.

The continued existence of grace in a believer's heart is a great standing miracle. His enemies are so mighty, and his strength is so small, the world is so full of snares, and his heart is so weak, that it seems at first sight impossible for him to reach heaven. The passage before us explains his safety. He has a mighty Friend at the right hand of God, who ever lives to make intercession for him. There is a watchful Advocate, who is daily pleading for him, seeing all his daily necessities, and obtaining daily supplies of mercy and grace for his soul. His grace never altogether dies, because Christ always lives to intercede. (Heb. vii. 25.)