are too proud to hear or speak of the was Herod Antipas, son of Herod th occupation of their parents or to follow Great to whom Galilee had been left as the same occupation. his part of his father's kingdom. The 52. In favor with God. That is in word tetrarch properly denotes one who proportion to his advance in wisdom. presides over a fourth part of a country This does not imply that he ever lacked or province; but it also came to be a 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 mitate 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 dewas the thirteenth year of his being sole scendants of Jetur by the tribes of Reu emperor. He was two years joint em- ben and Gad, and the half tribe of Ma peror 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- 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. Yet 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 paced entirely under Roman gover-office, and especially when they stil Hors, 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

that he would extirpate the robbers. T Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene. Abilene, was so called from Abila, its chief city. It was situated in Syr, northwest of Damascus, and southeast of mount Lebanon, and was adjacent to Galilee.

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 ha been dismissed from the office. It highly probable that he still held at office under the Romans, and was per.

came unto John the son of Zacha- | 8 Bring forth, therefore, fruits ' rias in the wilderness.

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 of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

с 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.

1

13 And he said unto them, Exact | shall we do? And he said untc no more than that which is ap- them, ' Do violence to no man, nei pointed you. ther accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what

a c.19.8. 1 Co.6.10.

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 thrs crushed themselves. The evidence of repentance in them would be to break off their sins, and to deal justly.

1

2

or, put no man in fear. b Ex.23.1. Le 19 11. c 1 Ti.6.8. 2 or, allowance.

way, and falsely accused the persons o crime. The word rendered falsely accused, is the one from which our word sycophant is derived, and means, be no. 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 13. Exact. Demand, or take, no who showed them), was one who dismore. Than that which is appointed. covered persons who had done it, to the That is, by the government. John does magistrate, or who made complaint; not condeinn the office, or say that and then the word came to be used in a the employment should be forsaken. general sense to denote any complainer; Though it was hated by the people-a calumniator; an accuser; an informer. though 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. xiii. 1-6.

14. The soldiers likewise. It seems that they also came to his baptism. Whether these were Jews or Romans cannot be ascertained. It is not improbable that, as Judea was a Roman province, they were Jews, or Jewish proselytes, in the service of Herod Antipas, 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 nhabitants. Neither accuse any falsey. 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

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 com plain, or take unlawful means to in crease your wages. Wages. This word means not only the money which was paid them, but also their rations of daily allowance of food. By this they were to show that their repentance was genuine; that it had a practical influ ence; that it produced a real reforma tion of life; and it is clear that no other repentance would be genuine. Every profession of repentance which is not attended with a change of life, is mere hypocrisy. It may farther be remarked that John did not condemn their profes sion, 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

is not a direct violation of the law of
O God, will be honorable.
15. In expectation. Expecting the
Messiah.
Mused in their hearts.
Thought of his character, his preach-
ing, and success, and anxiously inquired
whether he did not do the things which
were expected of the Messiah.

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.

21, 22. See Matt. iii. 13-17. Jesus being baptized. Or, Jesus having

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 came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

22 And the Holy Ghost descend. ed 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,

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 miraculous powers of language with which the apostles would be endowed; the appearance of fire, to denote their

baptized. This took place aft Power, &c. Acts ii. 3.

baptism, and not during its administration. Matt. iii. 16. Praying. This eircumstance is omitted by the other vangelists; and it shows, 1st. That Jesus was in the habit of prayer. 2d. That it is proper to offer up special prayer at the administration of the odinances of religion. 3d. That it is posble to pray in the midst of a great multitude, yet in secret. The prayer VOL. II. 4

23. Jesus began to be, &c. This was the age on which the priests entered on their office. Num. iv. 3, 47. But it is not evident that Jesus had any reference to that in delaying his work to his thir. tieth year. He was not subjected to the Levitical law in regard to the priest hood; and it does not appear that pro. phets and teachers did not commence their work before that age. As was supposed. As was commonly thought,

24 Which was the sm 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,

2. Being forty days tempted. That is, through forty days he was tried in various ways by the devil. The tempt ations, 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. vee Notes, Matt. iv 1-11. 1 See Matt. iv. 2, 3. ¶ He did eat nothing.