are too proud to hear or speak of the occupation of their parents-or to follow the same occupation. and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch_of Iturea, and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God b Jno.11.49,51. 18.13. Ac.4.6. was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great to whom Galilee had been left as his part of his father's kingdom. The word tetrarch properly denotes one who presides over a fourth part of a country or province; but it also came to be a 52. In favor with God. That is in proportion to his advance in wisdom. This does not imply that he ever lacked the favor of God, but that God regard-general title, denoting one who reigned ed him with favor in proportion as he showed an understanding and spirit like his own. Happy are those children who imitate the example of Jesus-who are obedient to parents-who increase in wisdom- who are sober, temperate, and industrious; and who thus increase in favor with God and men. CHAPTER III over any part, a third, a half, &c. In this case, Herod had given him a third of the dominions of his father, but he was called tetrarch. It was this Herod who imprisoned John the Baptist, and to whom our Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by Pilate. Iturea was so called from Jetur, one of the sons of Ishmael. Gen. xxv. 15. 1 Chron. i. 31. It was situated on the east side of the 1. Now in the fifteenth year. This Jordan, and was taken from the de was the thirteenth year of his being sole scendants of Jetur by the tribes of Reuemperor. He was two years joint em- ben and Gad, and the half tribe of Maperor with Augustus, and Luke reck- nasseh. 1 Chron. v. 19. ¶ Regions of ons from the time when he was admit- Trachonitis. These regions were also ted to share the empire with Augustus on the east of the Jordan, and extended Cæsar. See Lardner's Credibility, vol. northward to the district of Damascus, 1. T Tiberius Cesar. Tiberius suc- and eastward to the deserts of Arabia, ceeded Augustus in the empire, and and were bounded on the west by began his sole reign, Aug. 19, A. D. 14. Gaulanitis, and south by the city of He was a most infamous character-a Bostra. Philip had obtained these reScourge to the Roman people. Hegions from the Romans on condition reigned twenty-three years, and was succeeded by Caius Caligula, whom he appointed his successor on account of his notorious wickedness, and that he might be, as he expressed it, a serpent to the Romans. Pontius Pilate. Herod the Great left his kingdom to three sons. Note Matt. ii. 22. To Ar that he would extirpate the robbers. ¶ Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene. Abilene, was so called from Abila, its chief city. It was situated in Syria, northwest of Damascus, and southeast of mount Lebanon, and was adjacent to Galilee. 2. Annas and Caiaphas being high chelaus he left Judea. He reigned nine priests. There was, properly speaking, years, when, on account of his crimes, but one high priest of the Jews. Yel he was banished into Vienne, and Ju- the name of high priest continued to be dea was made a Roman province, and given to those who had been in that placed entirely under Roman gover-office, and especially when they still nors, or Procurators, and became completely tributary to Rome. Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor that had been sent, and of course had been in Judea but a short time. See the chronological table at the end of the volume. Herod being tetrarch of Galilee. This possessed some civil office after they had left the high priesthood. In this case it appears that Caiaphas was high priest, and Annas had been, but had been dismissed from the office. It is highly probable that he still held an office under the Romans, and was per. CHAPTER III came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; b 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? a Matt.3.1. Mar.1.4. b c.1.77. c Is.40.3. d Ps.98.2. Is.40.5. 49.6. 52.10. Ro.10.12,18. e Matt.3.7. haps president of the Sanhedrim. He is mentioned before Caiaphas, because he was father-in-law to Caiaphas; and probably was the eldest, and had been longest in office. Instances similar to this may be found in Josephus. 8 Bring forth, therefore, fruits 1 worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able or these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. C 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. There is one remark to be made here about the manner in which the Gospels were written. They have every mark of openness and honesty. An impostor does not mention names, and times, and places, particularly. It would be easily seen that he was an impostor. But the sacred writers describe objects and men as if they were perfectly familiar with them. They never appear to be guarding themselves. They speak of things most minutely. And if they had been impostors, it would have been easy to detect them. If, for example, John did not begin to preach in the fifteenth year of Tiberius; if Philip was not tetrarch of Iturea; if Pontius Pilate was not governor of Judea; how easy would it have been to detect them in falsehood! Yet it was never done. Nay, we have evidence of that age in Josephus that these descriptions are strictly true; and consequently the Gospels must have been written by men who were person ally acquainted with what they wrote, who were not impostors, and who were honest men. If they were honest, then the Christian religion is true. 3-9. On the baptism of John, see Notes on Matt. iii. 10. What shall we do, then? John had told them to bring forth fruits appropriate to repentance, or to lead a life which showed that their repentance was genuine. They very properly, therefore, asked how it should be done, or what would be such a life. 11. He that hath two coats, &c. Or, in other words, aid the poor according to your ability; be benevolent, and you will thus show that your repentance is genuine. It is remarkable that one of the first demands of religion is to do good; and it is in this way that it may be shown that the repentance is not feigned. For, 1st. The nature of religion is to do good. 2d. This requires self-denial, and none will deny themselves who are not attached to God. And, 3d. This is to imitate Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. ¶ Coats. See Note on Matt. v. 40. ¶ Meat. Provision of any kind. 12. The publicans. See Note on Matt. v. 47. There is reason to think that the publicans or tax-gatherers were peculiarly oppressive and hard in their dealings with the people; and that, as they had every opportunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus crushed themselves. The evidence of repentance in them would be to break off their sins, and to deal justly. 13. Exact. Demand, or take, no more. Than that which is appointed. That is, by the government. John does not condemn the office, or say that the employment should be forsaken. Though it was hated by the peoplethough often abused, and therefore unpopular-yet the office itself was not dishonorable. If there is a government, it must be supported; and of course there must be men whose duty it is to collect taxes, as the means of the proper support of the government. And as such a support of the government is necessary, so, the people should pay cheerfully the just appointment of the rulers, and regard favorably those who are authorized to collect it. See Rom. way, and falsely accused the persons of crime. The word rendered falsely accused, is the one from which our word sycophant is derived, and means, be not sycophants, or false accusers, for the sake of flattering or fawning on any one. The proper meaning of the word sycophant was this. There was a law in Athens which prohibited the import ation of figs. The sycophant (literally the man who made figs to appear, or who showed them), was one who discovered persons who had done it, to the magistrate, or who made complaint; and then the word came to be used in a general sense to denote any complainer; a calumniator; an accuser; an informer. As such persons were usually cringing and fawning, and looked for a reward, the word came to be used to denote a fawner or flatterer. It is always used in a bad sense. It is correctly rendered here, do not accuse any falsely.' ¶ Be content, &c. Do not murmur or complain, or take unlawful means to increase your wages. Wages. This word means not only the money which was paid them, but also their rations or daily allowance of food. By this they were to show that their repentance was 14. The soldiers likewise. It seems genuine; that it had a practical influthat they also came to his baptism. ence; that it produced a real reformaWhether these were Jews or Romans tion of life; and it is clear that no other cannot be ascertained. It is not im- repentance would be genuine. Every probable that, as Judea was a Roman profession of repentance which is pot province, they were Jews, or Jewish attended with a change of life, is mere proselytes, in the service of Herod An-hypocrisy. It may farther be remarked tipas, or Philip, and so were really in the Roman service. Do violence, &c. Do not take the property of any by unlawful force, or do not bear unjust force against the person or property of any individual. It is probable that they were many of them oppressive, or prone to violence, rapine, or theft, and burdensome even in times of peace to the inhabitants. Neither accuse any falsely. It is probable that when they wished the property of others, and could not obtain it by violence, or when there was no pretext for violence, they often attempted the same thing in another xiii. 1-6. that John did not condemn their profession, or say that it was unlawful to be a soldier, or that they must abandon the business in order to be true penitents. It was possible to be a good man, and yet a publican or a soldier. What was required was, that in their professions they should show that they were really upright, and had abandoned crime. It is lawful to defend one's self, one's family, or one's country; and hence it is lawful to be a soldier. Man everywhere, in all professions, should be a Christian; and then he will do honor to his profession, and his profession, if it 2 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, Lindeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 17 Whose fan a is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 18 And many other things, in his exhortation, preached he unto the people. 1 or, suspense. 2 or, reasoned; or, debated. a Je.15.7. b Mi.4.12. Matt.13.30. d Ps.21.9. Mar.9.44,48. 4. c Ps.1. is not a direct violation of the law of 16-18. See Notes, Matt. iii. 11, 12. 19, 20. See Matt. xiv. 1-13. Added this above all. To all his former crimes he added this-not implying that this was the worst of his acts, but that this was one of his deeds, of like character as the others. The event here mentioned did not take place until some time after this, but it is mentioned here to show what was the end of John's preaching, or to fill out the account concerning him. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, it ƒ came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, e Matt. 14.3. Mar.6.17. Jno.1.32, &c. f Matt.3.13,&c. g Ma.t.13.55. Jno.6.42. consisted, doubtless, in lifting up the heart silently to God. So we may do it any where about our daily toil, in per plexity, in the midst of multitudes, in affliction-and thus may pray always. 22. In a bodily shape. This was a real visible appearance, and was doubtless seen by the people. The dove is an emblem of purity and harmlessness, and the form of the dove was assumed on this occasion to signify, probably, that the spirit with which Jesus would be endowed would be one of purity and innocence. The Holy Spirit, when he assumes a visible form, assumes that which will be emblematic of the thing to be represented. Thus he assumed the form of tongues, to signify the niraculous powers of language with which the apostles would be endowed; the appearance of fire, to denote their power, &c. Acts ii. 3. 21, 22. See Matt. iii. 13-17. Jesus being baptized. Or, Jesus having been baptized. This took place after the 23. Jesus began to be, &c. This was baptism, and not during its administra- the age on which the priests entered on tion. Matt. iii. 16. Praying. This their office. Num. iv. 3, 47. But it is circumstance is omitted by the other not evident that Jesus had any reference evangelists; and it shows, 1st. That to that in delaying his work to his thirJesus was in the habit of prayer. 2d. tieth year. He was not subjected to the That it is proper to offer up special Levitical law in regard to the priest prayer at the administration of the or- hood; and it does not appear that prodinances of religion. 3d. That it is pos-phets and teachers did not commence sible to pray in the midst of a great their work before that age. As was multitude, yet in secret. The prayer supposed. As was commonly thought, VOL. II.-1 24 Which was the son of Matthat, I was the son of Booz, which was the which was the son of Levi, which son of Salmon, which was the son was the son of Melchi, which was of Naasson, the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattahias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was he son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was he son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the on of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the 107 of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, hich was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, or perhaps being legally reckoned, as his son. 24-38. See, on this genealogy, Matt. i. 1-16. 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, e 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. f CHAPTER IV. AND & Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. Is.64.8. f Ge.1.26. 2.7. 1 Co.15.45.47. g Matt.4.1,&c. Mar.1.12,&c. ver. 14. h Ex. 34.28. 1 Ki.19.8. 2. Being forty days tempted. That is, through forty days he was tried in various ways by the devil. The temptations, however, which are recorded by Matthew and Luke did not take 1-14. On the temptation of Jesus, place until the forty days were finished. see Notes, Matt. iv 1-11. CHAPTER IV. See Matt. iv. 2, 3. THe did eat nothing. |