$86. A LAWYER INSTRUCted. LOVE TO OUR NEIGHBOUR DEFINED. PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN.-Near Jerusalem. 25 LUKE X. 25-37. And, behold,' a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, 26 what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written 27 in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said,2 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 28 strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself,3 said unto Jesus, And who is my neigh30 bour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and 31 wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by 32 on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came 33 and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he 34 had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an 35 inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay 36 thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him 37 that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 38 87. JESUS IN THE HOUSE OF MARTHA AND MARY.-Bethany. LUKE X. 38-42. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village :5 39 and a certain woman named Martha 6 received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his 40 word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? 41 bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto 42 her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. § 88. THE DISCIPLES AGAIN [sce § 41] TAUGHT HOW TO PRAY.-Near Jerusalem. LUKE XI. 1-13. 1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John Our Lord had left the temple, and apparently the city, John 8. 59. The healing of the blind man (ch. 9. 1-12) occurred later: see Note 6 on p. 99. While thus absent from the city, and yet in its vicinity, Jesus visits Bethany [see § 87] and is received by Martha and Mary. That visit is placed by Luke in immediate connexion with the incident of the lawyer and the parable of the Good Samaritan; which therefore are inserted here. The scene of that parable also implies, that it was spoken in the vicinity of Jerusalem and Bethany. 2 Deut. 6. 5; Lev. 19. 18. Comp. Lev. 18. 5. 3 Rom. 10. 3. 4 Olive oil mixed with wine was, and still is, a means of healing in the East, Isa. 1. 6. 5 Greswell (Dissert. xvii. vol. ii.), holding the 7 Matt. 6. 33; John 17. 3. LUKE XI. 5 2 also taught his disciples. And he said unto them,1 When ye pray, say,2 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily 4 bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set 7 before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise 8 and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give 9 him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you,3 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to 11 him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for 12 a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a 13 scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? § 89. THE SEVENTY RETURN. [See § 81.]-Jerusalem? LUKE X. 17-24. 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils 18 are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld 19 Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and 20 nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so 22 it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father 23 is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the 24 things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. [See in § 86.] § 90. A MAN BORN BLIND IS HEALED ON THE SABBATH. OUR LORD'S SUBSEQUENT DISCOURSES.-Jerusalem. 1 JOHN IX. 1-41. X. 1-21. And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 1 Jesus repeats on this occasion the same model-form of prayer taught in the sermon on the mount, § 41. Luke's order is here retained; as there is no evidence by which to assign any other. 2 Comp. Matt. 6. 9-13. 3 Comp. Matt. 7. 7—11. 4 Luke relates the return of the seventy in immediate connexion with their appointment (Luke 10. 1-16), evidently by anticipation. Their appointment [see § 81] appears to have taken place in Samaria; and they went forth, probably into Samaria, Peræa, and elsewhere, while he proceeded to Jerusalem. Their return to him at or near Jerusalem, is therefore here placed as late as may be before the festival of dedication. 5 Comp. Ex. 32. 32; Phil. 4. 3; Rev. 3. 5. 6 With the healing of the blind man the discourse in John 10. 1, sq. stands in immediate JOHN IX. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his 3 parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest 4 in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the 5 night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am 6 the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man 7 with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,2 (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and 8 came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen 9 him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, 10 This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore 11 said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, 12 and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, Í know not. 13, 14 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it 15 was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner 17 do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened 18 thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they 19 called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth 20 he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our 21 son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: 22 he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did 23 confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, 25 Give God the praise:5 we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, 26 that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What 27 did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? 28 will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art 29 his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto 30 Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man connexion: see ch. 9. 40. And in the words of our Lord, John 10. 26, spoken at the festival of dedication, there is a direct allusion to the figurative representation of the shepherd and his sheep in the same discourse. This implies that the same audience was then present, at least in part; and consequently, that the discourse in question had been delivered not long before. For these reasons the healing of the blind man would seem also to have taken place near the beginning of the festival of dedication, or at least not long before. 1 Comp. 2 Kings 5. 14. JOHN IX. answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that 31 ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of 32 God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it 33 not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this 34 man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, 36 he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered 37 and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38, 39 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not 40 might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, 41 Are we blind also? And Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin :3 but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. X. 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a 2 robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth 4 his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they 5 know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from 6 him for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am 8 the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and rob9 bers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man 10 enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.5 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are 8 not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:6 and the wolf 13 catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he 14 is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and 15 know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even 16 so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I 18 might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? 10 1 Comp. Prov. 28. 9; Isa. 1. 15. 2 Isa. 6. 9, 10; Matt. 13. 13. 3 John 15. 22-24. 4 John 14.6; Eph. 2. 18. 7 2 Tim. 2. 19. a fold, as in the previous part of the verse. The meaning appears to be this, I have other sheep, not Jews, but among the nations (Gentiles); and there shall be one flock, namely, of true believers, from among both Jews and other nations. Eph. 2. 14-19. 10 John 9. 31-33. 22 § 91. JESUS IN JERUSALEM AT THE FESTIVAL OF DEDICATION. HE RETIRES BEYOND JORDAN.-Jerusalem. Bethabara beyond Jordan. JOHN X. 22-42. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication,1 and it was winter. 23, 24 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to 25 doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they 26 bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as 27 I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they 28 follow me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, 29 neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my 30, 31 Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up 32 stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself 34 God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law,2 I said, Ye are 35 gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the 36 Scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the 37, 38 Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, 39 and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him :3 but he escaped out of their hand, 4.0 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first 41 baptized; and there he abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there. 1 § 92. THE RAISING OF LAZARUS.-Bethany. JOHN XI. 1-46. Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of 2 Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed 5 the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was 3 sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom 4 thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified 5 thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in The festival of dedication (Tà èyKaivia, the renewal) was instituted by Judas Maccabeus to commemorate the purification of the temple and the renewal of the temple-worship, after the three years' profanation by Antiochus Epiphanes. It was held during eight days, commencing on the 25th day of the month Kislev, which began with the new moon of December. See 1 Macc. 4. 5259; 2 Macc. 10. 5-8. Josephus calls it pura, i. e. festival of lights or lanterns, and speaks of it as a season of rejoicing; Antiq. 12. 7. 6, 7. It was celebrated by the Jews, not at Jerusalem alone, like the great festivals of the law; but at home, throughout the whole country, by the festive illumination of their dwellings: see Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. in Joh. 10. 22.-According to John's narrative, Jesus was now at Jerusalem, not be- 2 Psa. 82. 6. Comp. Ex. 22. 28. 4 This place was Bethabara; see John 1. 28. On our Lord's stay here, and also the probable length of it, see Introd. Note to this Part, p. 91. 5 Which anointed; i. e. who was known as having done this, from the other Gospels, and the oral information of the apostles and evangelists (see Matt. 26. 13), though John himself does not relate the transaction till the 12th chapter: see § 131, |