Notes on Matthew
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes

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Mt 1:1

1:1 The {1} {a} book of the {b} generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the {c} son of Abraham.

(1) Jesus Christ came of Abraham of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David as God promised.
(a) Rehearsal: as the Hebrews used to speak; see Ge 5:1 , the book of the generations.
(b) Of the ancestors from whom Christ came.
(c) Christ is also the son of Abraham.

Mt 1:11

1:11 and Josias begat {d} Jechonias and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away of Babylon.

(d) That is, the captivity fell in the days of Jakim and Jechonias: for Jechonias was born before the carrying away into captivity.

Mt 1:17

1:17 All {e} the generations, therefore, from Abraham to David [were] fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the carrying away of Babylon unto the Christ, fourteen generations.

(e) All those who were considered to be in the lineage of David's family, as they begat one another orderly in turn.

Mt 1:18

1:18 Now the birth of (2) Jesus Christ was thus: His mother, Mary, that is, having been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of [the] Holy Spirit.

(2) Christ is the true Emmanuel, and therefore, Jesus (that is, Saviour) is conceived in the virgin by the Holy Spirit, as foretold by the prophets.

Mt 1:20

1:20 but while he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of [the] Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to {f} take to [thee] Mary, thy {g} wife, for that which is {h} begotten in her is of [the] Holy Spirit.

(f) Receive her from her parents and kinsfolks hands.
(g) Who was promised, and made sure to you to be your wife.
(h) Of the mother's substance by the Holy Spirit.

Mt 1:21

1:21 And she shall bring forth (3) a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save {i} his people from their sins.

(3) Christ is born of the same virgin who never knew a man: and is named Jesus by God himself through the angel.
(i) Save, and this shows us the meaning of the name Jesus.

Mt 1:23

1:23 Behold, a {k} virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

(k) There is an article added in the Hebrew and Greek text, to point out the woman and set her forth plainly: as we would say, the virgin, or a certain virgin.

Mt 1:25

1:25 And knew her not {l} till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

(l) The word "till", in the Hebrew language, gives us to understand that a thing will not come to pass in time to come: as Michal had no children "till" her death day, 2Sa 6:23 . And in the last chapter of this evangelist: Behold, I am with you "till" the end of the world.

Mt 2:1

2:1 Now when {1} Jesus was born in Bethlehem of {a} Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came {b} wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

(1) Christ a poor child, laid down in a crib, and though given no attention by his own people, receives nonetheless a noble witness of his divinity from heaven, and of his kingly estate from strangers: which his own people unknowingly let happen, although they did not acknowledge him.
(a) For there was another in the tribe of Zebulun.
(b) Wise and learned men: It is a Persian word which they use frequently.

Mt 2:3

2:3 When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was {c} troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

(c) Was much moved, for he was a foreigner, and became ruler by force; and the Jews were troubled; for wickedness is mad and raging.

Mt 2:4

2:4 And when he had gathered all the {d} chief priests and {e} scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

(d) The chief priests, that is, such as were of Aaron's family, who were divided into twenty-four orders. 1Ch 24:5 2Ch 36:14 .
(e) They that expound the law to the people, for the Hebrews take this word for another, which means as much as to expound and to declare.

Mt 2:6

2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the {f} least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that {g} shall rule my people Israel.

(f) Though you are a small town, yet you will be very famous and notable through the birth of the Messiah, who will be born in you.
(g) That will rule and govern: for kings are rightly called leaders and shepherds of the people.

Mt 2:11

2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and {h} fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their {i} treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

(h) A kind of humble and lovely reverence.
(i) The rich and costly presents, which they brought him.

Mt 2:12

2:12 And being {k} warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

(k) God warned and told them of it, even though they did not ask him.

Mt 2:13

2:13 {2} And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

(2) Christ having just been born, begins to be crucified for us, both in himself, and also in his members.

Mt 2:17

2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken {l} by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

(l) For God speaketh by the mouth of the prophets.

Mt 2:18

2:18 In Rama was there {m} a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, {n} Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

(m) A voice of lamenting, weeping and howling.
(n) That is to say, All who live around Bethlehem: for Rachel, Jacob's wife who died in childbirth, was buried by the road that leads to this town, which is also called Ephratah, because of the fruitfulness of the soil, and the plentifulness of corn.

Mt 2:19

2:19 {3} But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

(3) Christ is brought up in Nazareth, after the death of the tyrant by God's providence: that by the very name of the place it might plainly appear to the world that he is the Lord's true Nazarite.

Mt 3:1

3:1 In {a} those days came {1} John the Baptist, preaching in the {b} wilderness of Judaea,

(a) Not when Joseph went to dwell at Nazareth, but a great while after, about fifteen years: for in the 30th year of his life Jesus was baptized by John: therefore "those days" means the time when Jesus remained as an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth.
(1) John, who through his singular holiness and rare austerity of life caused men to cast their eyes on him, prepares the way for Christ who is following fast on his heels, as the prophet Isaiah foretold, and delivers the sum of the gospel, which a short time later would be delivered more fully.
(b) In a hilly country, which was nonetheless inhabited, for Zacharias dwelt there, Lu 1:39,40 , and there was Joab's house, 1Ki 2:34 ; and besides these, Joshua makes mention of six towns that were in the wilderness, Jos 15:61,62 .

Mt 3:2

3:2 And saying, {c} Repent ye: for the {d} kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(c) The word in the greek signifies a changing of our minds and heart from evil to better.
(d) The kingdom of Messiah, whose government will be heavenly, and nothing but heavenly.

Mt 3:3

3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, {e} make his paths straight.

(e) Make him a plain and smooth way.

Mt 3:4

3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was {f} locusts and wild honey.

(f) Locusts were a type of meat which certain of the eastern people use, who were therefore called devourers of locusts.

Mt 3:5

3:5 Then went out to him {g} Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

(g) The people of Jerusalem.

Mt 3:6

3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, {h} confessing their sins.

(h) Acknowledging that they were saved only by free remission and forgiveness of their sins.

Mt 3:7

3:7 {2} But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

(2) There is nothing that shuts up the way of mercy and salvation from us so much as the opinion of our own righteousness does.

Mt 3:8

3:8 {3} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

(3) True repentance is an inward thing which has its seat in the mind and heart.

Mt 3:9

3:9 {4} And {i} think not to say {k} 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.

(4) The faith of the fathers does not benefit you unbelieving children at all: and yet for all that, God does not play the liar, nor deal unfaithfully in his covenant which he made with the holy fathers.
(i) Think not that you have any reason to be proud of Abraham.
(k) In your hearts.

Mt 3:11

3:11 {5} I indeed baptize you with water unto {l} repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire:

(5) We may neither dwell upon the signs which God has ordained as means to lead us into our salvation, neither upon those that minister them: but we must climb up to the matter itself, that is to say, to Christ, who inwardly works that effectually, which is outwardly signified to us.
(l) The outward sign reminds us of this, that we must change our lives and become better, assuring us as by a seal, that we are ingrafted into Christ; by which our old man dies and the new man rises up; Ro 6:4 .

Mt 3:12

3:12 {6} Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly {m} purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

(6) The triumphs of the wicked will end in everlasting torment.
(m) Will clean it thoroughly, and make a full riddance.

Mt 3:13

3:13 {7} Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

(7) Christ sanctified our baptism in himself.

Mt 3:15

3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil {n} all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

(n) All such things as it has appointed for us to keep.

Mt 3:16

3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto {o} him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

(o) To John.

Mt 3:17

3:17 {8} And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am {p} well pleased.

(8) Christ's full consecration and authorization to the office of mediator is shown by the Father's own voice and a visible sign of the Holy Spirit.
(p) The Greek word signifies a thing of great worth and such as highly pleases a man. So then the Father says that Christ is the only man whom when he beholds, looking at what opinion he had conceived of us, he lays it clean aside.

Mt 4:1

4:1 Then was {1} Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

(1) Christ is tempted in all manner of ways, and still overcomes, that we also through his virtue may overcome.

Mt 4:2

4:2 And when he had fasted {a} forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

(a) A full forty days.

Mt 4:5

4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a {b} pinnacle of the temple,

(b) The battlement which encompassed the flat roof of the Temple so that no man might fall down: as was appointed by the law; De 22:8 .

Mt 4:7

4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not {c} tempt the Lord thy God.

(c) Literally, "Thou shalt not go on still in tempting."

Mt 4:12

4:12 {2} Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

(2) When the Herald's mouth is stopped, the Lord reveals himself and brings full light into the darkness of this world, preaching free forgiveness of sins for those that repent.

Mt 4:13

4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in {d} Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

(d) Which was a town a great deal more famous than Nazareth was.

Mt 4:15

4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the {e} sea, beyond Jordan, {f} Galilee of the Gentiles;

(e) Of Tiberias, or because that country went toward Tyre, which borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
(f) So called because it bordered upon Tyre and Sidon, and because Solomon gave the king of Tyre twenty cities in that quarter; 1Ki 9:11 .

Mt 4:17

4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at {g} hand.

(g) Is come to you.

Mt 4:18

4:18 {3} And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

(3) Christ, thinking that he would eventually depart from us, even at the beginning of his preaching gets himself disciples of a heavenly sort, poor and unlearned, and therefore such as might be left as honest witnesses of the truth of those things which they heard and saw.

Mt 4:23

4:23 And {4} Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in {h} their {i} synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the {k} kingdom, and healing {l} all manner of sickness and all manner of {m} disease among the people.

(4) Christ assures the hearts of the believers of his spiritual and saving virtue, by healing the diseases of the body.
(h) Their, that is, the Galilaeans.
(i) Synagogues, that is, the Churches of the Jews.
(k) Of the Messiah.
(l) Diseases of all kinds, but not every disease: that is, as we say, some of every kind.
(m) The word properly signifies the weakness of the stomach: but here it is taken for those diseases which make those that have them faint and wear away.

Mt 4:24

4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and {n} torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were {o} lunatick, and those that had the {p} palsy; and he healed them.

(n) The word signifies properly the stone with which gold is tried: and by a borrowed kind of speech, is applied to all kinds of examinations by torture, when as by rough dealing and torments, we draw out the truths from men who otherwise would not confess: in this place it is taken for those diseases, which put sick men to great woe.
(o) Who at every full moon or the change of the moon, are troubled and diseased.
(p) Weak and feeble men, who have the parts of their body loosed and so weakened, that they are neither able to gather them up together, nor do with them as they wish.

Mt 5:2

5:2 {1} And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

(1) Christ teaches that the greatest joy and happiness is not in the conveniences and pleasures of this life, but is laid up in heaven for those who willingly rest in the good will and pleasure of God, and endeavour to profit all men, although they are cruelly vexed and troubled by those of the world, because they will not adapt themselves to their ways.

Mt 5:3

5:3 Blessed [are] the {a} poor in {b} spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(a) Under the name of poverty are meant all the miseries, that are joined with poverty.
(b) Whose minds and spirits are brought under control, and tamed, and obey God.

Mt 5:8

5:8 Blessed [are] the {c} pure in heart: for they shall see God.

(c) Fitly is this word "pure" joined with the heart, for as a bright and shining resemblance or image may be seen plainly in a clear and pure looking glass, even so does the face (as it were) of the everlasting God, shine forth, and clearly appear in a pure heart.

Mt 5:13

5:13 Ye {2} are the salt of the {d} earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be {e} salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

(2) The ministers of the word especially (unless they will be the most cowardly of all) must lead others both by word and deed to this greatest joy and happiness.
(d) Your doctrine must be very sound and good, for if it is not so, it will be not regarded and cast away as a thing unsavoury and vain.
(e) What will you have to salt with? And so are fools in the Latin tongue called "saltless", as you would say, men that have no salt or savour and taste in them.

Mt 5:14

5:14 Ye are the {f} light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

(f) You shine and give light by being made partakers of the true light.

Mt 5:17

5:17 {3} Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but {g} to fulfil.

(3) Christ did not come to bring any new way of righteousness and salvation into the world, but indeed to fulfil that which was shadowed by the figures of the Law, by delivering men through grace from the curse of the Law: and moreover to teach the true use of obedience which the Law appointed, and to engrave in our hearts the power for obedience.
(g) That the prophecies may be accomplished.

Mt 5:19

5:19 {4} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the {h} least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

(4) He begins with the true expounding of the Law, and sets it against the old (but yet false) teachings of the scribes: He is in no way abolishing the least commandment of his Father.
(h) He shall have no place in the Church.

Mt 5:21

5:21 {5} Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

(5) The true meaning of the first commandment.

Mt 5:22

5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be {i} in danger {k} of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the {l} council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of {m} hell {n} fire.

(i) He speaks of the judgment of God, and of the difference of sins, and therefore applies his words to the form of civil judgments which were then used.
(k) Of that judgment which was ruled by three men, who had the hearing and deciding of money matters, and such other small causes.
(l) By that judgment which stood of 23 judges, who had the hearing and deciding of weighty affairs, as the matter of a whole tribe or of a high priest, or of a false prophet.
(m) Whereas we read here "hell", it is in the text itself "Gehenna", which is one Hebrew word made out of two, and is as if to say "as the Valley of Hinnom", which the Hebrews called Topheth: it was a place where the Israelites cruelly sacrificed their children to false gods, whereupon it was taken for a place appointed to torment the reprobates in Jer 7:31 .
(n) The Jews used four kinds of punishments, before their government was taken away by Herod: hanging, beheading, stoning, and burning. It is burning that Christ meant, because burning was the greatest punishment; therefore by making mention of a judgment, a council, and a fire, he shows that some sins are worse than others are, but yet they are all such that we must give account for them, and will be punished for them.

Mt 5:23

5:23 {6} Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the {o} altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

(6) The covetous Pharisees taught that God was appeased by the sacrifices appointed in the law, which they themselves devoured. But Christ on the contrary side denies that God accepts any man's offering, unless he makes satisfaction to his brother whom he has offended: and says moreover, that these stubborn and stiff-necked despisers of their brethren will never escape the wrath and curse of God before they have made full satisfaction to their brethren.
(o) He applies all this speech to the state of his time, when there was then an altar standing in Jerusalem, and therefore they are very foolish that gather from this that we must build altars and use sacrifices: but they are bigger fools who consider this to be purgatory, which is spoken of as peace making and atonement one with another.

Mt 5:25

5:25 {p} Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

(p) Remove all cause for enmity.

Mt 5:26

5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast {q} paid the uttermost farthing.

(q) You will be dealt with in this manner, to the utmost extremity.

Mt 5:27

5:27 {7} Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

(7) He is taken for an adulterer before God, whoever he is, that covets a woman: and therefore we must keep our eyes chaste, and all the members we have, yea and we must avoid all opportunities that might move us to evil, no matter what it costs us.

Mt 5:29

5:29 And if thy {r} right eye {s} offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(r) He names the right eye and the right hand, because the parts of the right side of our bodies are the chiefest, and the most ready to commit any wickedness.
(s) Literally, do cause you to offend: for sins are stumbling blocks as it were, that is to say, rocks which we are cast upon.

Mt 5:33

5:33 {8} Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

(8) The meaning of the third commandment against the perverse opinion and judgment of the scribes, who excused by oaths or indirect forms of swearing.

Mt 5:37

5:37 But let your communication be, {t} Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of {u} evil.

(t) Whatever you affirm, affirm it alone, and whatever you deny, deny it alone without any more words.
(u) From an evil conscience, or from the devil.

Mt 5:38

5:38 {9} Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

(9) He shows that contrary to the doctrine of the scribes, that the sum of the second table must be so understood, that we may in no wise render evil for evil, but rather suffer double injury, and do well to them that are our deadly enemies.

Mt 5:45

5:45 {10} That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

(10) A double reason: the one is taken of the relatives, The children must be like their father: the other is taken of comparisons, The children of God must be better than the children of this world.

Mt 5:47

5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the {x} publicans so?

(x) They that were the toll masters, and had the oversight of tributes and customs: this was a type of man that the Jews hated to death, both because they served the Romans in those offices (whose heavy bondage they could not overthrow) and also because these toll masters were for the most part given to covetousness.

Mt 6:1

6:1 Take heed that ye do not your {1} alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no {a} reward of your Father which is in heaven.

(1) Ambition makes alms vain.
(a) This word "reward" is always taken in the scriptures for a free recompense, and therefore the schoolmen fondly set it to be answerable to a deserving, which they call "merit".

Mt 6:2

6:2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the {b} hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

(b) Counterfeits, for hypocrites were players that played a part in a play.

Mt 6:5

6:5 {2} And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

(2) He rebukes two revolting faults in prayer, ambition, and vain babbling.

Mt 6:7

6:7 But when ye pray, use not {c} vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

(c) Long prayers are not condemned, but vain, needless, and superstitious ones.

Mt 6:9

6:9 {3} After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(3) A true sum and form of all christian prayers.

Mt 6:11

6:11 Give us this day our (d) daily bread.

(d) That which is suitable for our nature for our daily food, or such as may suffice our nature and complexion.

Mt 6:13

6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from {e} evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

(e) From the devil, or from all adversity.

Mt 6:14

6:14 {4} For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

(4) They that forgive wrongs, to them sins are forgiven, but revenge is prepared for them that take revenge.

Mt 6:16

6:16 {5} Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they {f} disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

(5) That is, those that desire a name of holiness by fasting.
(f) They do not let their original pallor to be seen, that is to say, they mar the natural colour of their faces, that they may seem lean and palefaced.

Mt 6:19

6:19 {6} Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

(6) The labours of those men are shown to be vain, which pass not for the assured treasure of everlasting life, but spend their lives in scraping together stale and vain riches.

Mt 6:22

6:22 {7} The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine {g} eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

(7) Men maliciously and wickedly put out even the little light of nature that is in them.
(g) The judgment of the mind: that as the body is with the eyes, so our whole life may be ruled with right reason, that is to say, with the Spirit of God who gives light to us.

Mt 6:24

6:24 {8} No man can serve {h} two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and {i} mammon.

(8) God will be worshipped by the whole man.
(h) Who are at odds with one another, for if two agree they are as one.
(i) This word is a Syrian word, and signifies all things that belong to money.

Mt 6:25

6:25 {9} Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

(9) The perverse burdensome carefulness for things of this life, is corrected in the children of God by an earnest thinking upon the providence of God.

Mt 6:26

6:26 Behold the fowls of the {k} air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

(k) Of the air, or that line in the air: in almost all languages the word "heaven" is taken for the air.

Mt 6:27

6:27 Which of you by {l} taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

(l) He speaks of care which is joined with thought of mind, and has for the most part distrust yoked with it.

Mt 6:28

6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they {m} toil not, neither do they spin:

(m) By labour.

Mt 7:1

7:1 Judge {1} not, that ye be not judged.

(1) We ought to find fault with one another, but we must beware we do not do it without cause, or to seem holier than others or because of hatred of others.

Mt 7:6

7:6 {2} Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your {a} pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

(2) The stiff-necked and stubborn enemies of the gospel are unworthy to have it preached unto them.
(a) A pearl is known among the Greeks for its oriental brightness: and a pearl was in ancient times greatly valued by the Latins: for a pearl that Cleopatra had was valued at two hundred and fifty thousand crowns: and the word is now borrowed from that, to signify the most precious heavenly doctrine.

Mt 7:7

7:7 {3} Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

(3) Prayers are a sure refuge in all miseries.

Mt 7:12

7:12 {4} Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the {b} law and the prophets.

(4) An explanation of the meaning of the second table.
(b) That is to say, The doctrine of the law and prophets.

Mt 7:13

7:13 {5} Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

(5) The example of life must not be taken from the multitude.

Mt 7:14

7:14 Because {c} strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

(c) The way is straight and narrow: we must pass through this rough way and suffer, endure, be changed and so enter into life.

Mt 7:15

7:15 {6} Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

(6) False teachers must be taken heed of: and they are known by false doctrine and evil living.

Mt 7:21

7:21 {7} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

(7) Even the best gifts that exist are nothing without godliness.

Mt 7:22

7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy {d} name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many {e} wonderful works?

(d) By "name" here is meant mighty working power of God, which every man witnesses that calls upon him.
(e) Properly, powers: Now these excellent works which are done are called powers because of those things which they bring to pass, for by them we understand how mighty the power of God is.

Mt 7:23

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, {f} I never knew you: depart from me, {g} ye that work iniquity.

(f) This is not of ignorance, but because he will cast them away.
(g) You that are given to all kinds of wickedness, and seem to make an art of sin.

Mt 7:24

7:24 {8} Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

(8) True godliness rests only upon Christ, and therefore always remains invincible.

Mt 8:2

8:2 {1} And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

(1) Christ in healing the leprous with the touch of his hand, shows that he abhors no sinners that come unto him, be they ever so unclean.

Mt 8:5

8:5 {2} And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

(2) Christ by setting before them the example of the uncircumcised centurion and yet of an excellent faith, provokes the Jews to jealousy, and together forewarns them of their being cast off and the calling of the Gentiles.

Mt 8:11

8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall {a} sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

(a) A metaphor taken of banqueters, for they that sit down together are fellows in the banquet.

Mt 8:12

8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into {b} outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(b) Who are outside the kingdom: For in the kingdom is light, and outside the kingdom is darkness.

Mt 8:14

8:14 {3} And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

(3) Christ, in healing many diseases, shows that he was sent by his Father, that in him only we should seek remedy in all our miseries.

Mt 8:16

8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [his] word, and healed {c} all that were sick:

(c) Of all sorts.

Mt 8:18

8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the {d} other side.

(d) For Capernaum was situated upon the lake of Tiberias.

Mt 8:19

8:19 {4} And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

(4) The true disciples of Christ must prepare themselves for all kinds of miseries.

Mt 8:20

8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] {e} nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.

(e) Literally, "shades made with boughs".

Mt 8:21

8:21 {5} And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

(5) When God requires our labour, we must cease all our duty to men.

Mt 8:23

8:23 {6} And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

(6) Although Christ often seems to neglect his own, even in most extreme dangers, yet in due time he calms all tempests, and brings his own to the haven.

Mt 8:28

8:28 {7} And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

(7) Christ came to deliver men from the miserable enslavement of Satan: but the world would rather go without Christ, than the vilest and least of their conveniences.

Mt 8:30

8:30 And there was {f} a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

(f) On a hill, as Mark and Luke witness: Now Gederah, as Josephus records, book seventeen chapter thirteen, lived after the order of the Greeks and therefore we must not be surprised if there were swine there.

Mt 8:34

8:34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would {g} depart out of their coasts.

(g) Where men live as swine, there Christ does not abide, but demons.

Mt 9:1

9:1 And he {1} entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his {a} own city.

(1) Sins are the cause of our afflictions, and Christ only forgives them if we believe.
(a) Into Capernaum, for as Theophylact says, Bethlehem brought him forth, Nazareth brought him up, and Capernaum was his dwelling place.

Mt 9:2

9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus {b} seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

(b) Knowing by a manifest sign.

Mt 9:3

9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This [man] {c} blasphemeth.

(c) To blaspheme, signifies among the divines, to speak wickedly: and among the more eloquent Greeks, to slander.

Mt 9:9

9:9 {2} And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the {d} receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

(2) Christ calls the humble sinners unto him, but he condemns the proud hypocrites.
(d) At the table where the tax was received.

Mt 9:10

9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and {e} sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

(e) The publicans who were placed by the Romans, after that time Judea was brought into the form of a province, to gather the taxes, and therefore by the rest of the Jews they were called sinners, that is to say, very vile men.

Mt 9:14

9:14 {3} Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

(3) That is, wicked rivalry in matters of small importance.

Mt 9:15

9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the {f} children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

(f) A Hebrew idiom, for they that are admitted into the marriage chamber are as the bridegroom's closest friends.

Mt 9:16

9:16 No man putteth a piece of {g} new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

(g) Raw, which was never processed by the fuller.

Mt 9:18

9:18 {4} While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

(4) There is no evil so old, and incurable, which Christ cannot heal by and by, if he is touched with true faith, but lightly as it were with the hand.

Mt 9:23

9:23 {5} And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the {h} minstrels and the people making a noise,

(5) Even death itself gives place to the power of Christ.
(h) It appears that they used minstrels at their mournings.

Mt 9:27

9:27 {6} And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, [Thou] Son of David, have mercy on us.

(6) By healing these two blind men Christ shows that he is the light of the world.

Mt 9:32

9:32 {7} As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

(7) An example of that power that Christ has over the devil.

Mt 9:36

9:36 {8} But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

(8) Although the ordinary pastors cease, yet Christ has not cast off the care of his Church.

Mt 9:38

9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will {i} send forth labourers into his harvest.

(i) Literally, "cast them out": for men are very slow in a work so holy.

Mt 10:1

10:1 And {1} when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

(1) The apostles are sent to preach the gospel in Israel.

Mt 10:2

10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The {a} first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;

(a) Theophylact says that Peter and Andrew are called the first, because they were first called.

Mt 10:4

10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas {b} Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

(b) A man of Kerioth. Now Kerioth was in the tribe of Judah; Jos 15:25 .

Mt 10:7

10:7 {2} And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(2) The sum of the gospel, or preaching of the apostles.

Mt 10:8

10:8 {3} Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

(3) Miracles are signs verifying the word.

Mt 10:9

10:9 {4} Provide {c} neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

(4) The ministers of the word must cast away all cares that might hinder them, even the least of them.
(c) For this journey, namely, both that nothing might hinder them, and also that they might feel some taste of God's providence: for at their return back, the Lord asked of them whether they lacked anything by the way, Lu 22:35 .

Mt 10:10

10:10 Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his {d} meat.

(d) God will provide you with food.

Mt 10:11

10:11 {5} And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

(5) Happy are they that receive the preaching of the gospel: and unhappy are they that refuse it.

Mt 10:13

10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your {e} peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

(e) It is an idiom taken from the Hebrews, by which they meant every type of happiness.

Mt 10:16

10:16 {6} Behold, I send you forth as {f} sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and {g} harmless as doves.

(6) Christ shows how the ministers must behave themselves under the cross.
(f) You will be in great danger.
(g) You will not so much as take revenge for an injury: and by the mixing of these beast's natures together, he will not have our wisdom to be malicious, nor our simplicity mad, but a certain form of good nature which is composed exquisitely of both of them.

Mt 10:17

10:17 But beware of {h} men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

(h) For in the cause of religion men are wolves to each other.

Mt 10:23

10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have {i} gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

(i) Bring to an end, that is, you will not have gone through all the cities of Israel and preached in them.

Mt 10:25

10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house {k} Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of his household?

(k) It was the idol of the Acronites, which we call the god of flies.

Mt 10:26

10:26 {l} Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

(l) Truth will not always be hidden.

Mt 10:27

10:27 What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the {m} housetops.

(m) Openly, and in the highest places. For the tops of their houses were made in such a way that they might walk upon them; Ac 10:9 .

Mt 10:28

10:28 And {n} fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(n) Though tyrants rage and are cruel, yet we must not fear them.

Mt 10:29

10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a {o} farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

(o) The fourth part of an ounce or seven grams.

Mt 10:32

10:32 {7} Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

(7) The necessity and reward of openly confessing Christ.

Mt 10:34

10:34 {8} Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

(8) Civil dissentions follow the preaching of the gospel.

Mt 10:37

10:37 {9} He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

(9) Without exception, nothing is to be preferred before our duty to God.

Mt 10:39

10:39 He that {p} findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

(p) They are said to find their life, who deliver it out of danger: and this is spoken against the opinion of the people, who think those that die are certainly lost, because they think not of the life to come.

Mt 10:40

10:40 {10} He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

(10) God is both author and revenger of his holy ministry.

Mt 10:41

10:41 {11} He that receiveth a prophet in {q} the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

(11) We will lose nothing that is bestowed on Christ.
(q) As a Prophet.

Mt 10:42

10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these {r} little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

(r) Who in the sight of the world are vile and abject.

Mt 11:1

11:1 And {1} it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of {a} commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in {b} their cities.

(1) Christ shows by his works that he is the promised Messiah.
(a) Of instructing them with precepts.
(b) The disciples' cities, that is to say, in Galilee, where many of them were born; Ac 2:7 .

Mt 11:7

11:7 {2} And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

(2) The similarity and the difference between the ministry of the prophets, the preaching of John, and the full light, of the gospel, which Christ has brought.

Mt 11:11

11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the {c} kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(c) In the new state of the Church where the true glory of God shines: the people are not compared together, but the types of doctrines, the preaching of John with the law and the prophets: and again, the most clear preaching of the gospel is compared with John's.

Mt 11:13

11:13 For all the prophets and the law {d} prophesied until John.

(d) They prophesied of things to come, which are now present, and clearly and plainly seen.

Mt 11:16

11:16 {3} But whereunto shall I liken this generation? {e} It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

(3) There are none who are more stout and stubborn enemies of the gospel, than they to whom it ought to be most acceptable.
(e) He blames the perverseness of this age, by a proverb, in that they could be moved neither with rough nor gentle dealing.

Mt 11:19

11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. {4} But {f} wisdom is justified of her children.

(4) That which the many refuse, the elect and chosen embrace.
(f) Wise men acknowledge the wisdom of the gospel when they receive it.

Mt 11:20

11:20 {5} Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

(5) The proud reject the gospel offered to them (to their great hurt and pain) which leads to the salvation of the simple.

Mt 11:25

11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast {g} revealed them unto babes.

(g) Through the ministry of Christ, who alone shows the truth of all things pertaining to God.

Mt 11:26

11:26 {h} Even so, Father: for so it seemed {i} good in thy sight.

(h) This word shows that he contents himself in his Father's council.
(i) God's will is the only rule of righteousness.

Mt 11:27

11:27 {6} All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

(6) There is no true knowledge of God, nor quietness of mind, but only in Christ alone.

Mt 11:30

11:30 For my yoke [is] {k} easy, and my burden is light.

(k) May easily be carried. For his commandments are not grievous, for all who are born of God overcome the world; 1Jo 5:4 .

Mt 12:1

12:1 At {1} that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

(1) Of the true sanctifying of the sabbath, and the breaking of it.

Mt 12:4

12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the {a} shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

(a) The Hebrews call it "bread of faces", because it stood before the Lord all the week upon the golden table appointed for that service; Le 24:6 .

Mt 12:5

12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple {b} profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

(b) When the priests do God's service on the sabbath day, they do not break the law: much less does the Lord of the Sabbath break the sabbath.

Mt 12:9

12:9 {2} And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

(2) The ceremonies of the law are not against the love of our neighbour.

Mt 12:14

12:14 {3} Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

(3) How far and in what aspect we may give place to the unbridled rage of the wicked.

Mt 12:18

12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew {c} judgment to the Gentiles.

(c) By judgment is meant a godly kingdom, because Christ was to proclaim true religion among the Gentiles, and to cast out superstition; and wherever this is done, the Lord is said to reign and judge there, that is to say, to govern and rule matters.

Mt 12:20

12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he {d} send forth judgment unto victory.

(d) He will pronounce sentence and judgment, in spite of the world and Satan, and show himself conqueror over all his enemies.

Mt 12:22

12:22 {4} Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

(4) A truth, be it ever so obvious, is subject to the slander of the wicked: however, it ought to be resolutely defended.

Mt 12:25

12:25 {5} And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

(5) The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the devil cannot abide together.

Mt 12:32

12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: {6} but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.

(6) Of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Mt 12:34

12:34 {7} O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

(7) Hypocrites at length betray themselves even by their own mouth.

Mt 12:36

12:36 But I say unto you, That every {e} idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

(e) Vain and unprofitable trifles, which for the most part, men spend their lives in search of.

Mt 12:38

12:38 {8} Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

(8) Against perverse desires of miracles.

Mt 12:39

12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and {f} adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

(f) Bastard, who fell from Abraham's faith or forsook the true worship of God.

Mt 12:41

12:41 {9} The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here.

(9) Christ teaches, by the sorrowful example of the Jews, that there are none more miserable than they who put out the light of the gospel which was kindled in them.

Mt 12:42

12:42 The queen of the {g} south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the {h} uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.

(g) He means the Queen of Sheba: whose country is south in respect to the land of Israel; 1Ki 10:1-13 .
(h) For Sheba is situated in the farthest coast of Arabia at the mouth of the Arabian Sea.

Mt 12:46

12:46 {10} While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

(10) Christ teaches by his own example that all things ought to be set aside in respect of God's glory.

Mt 12:49

12:49 {11} And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

(11) None are more near unto us than they that are of the household of faith.

Mt 13:2

13:2 {1} And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

(1) Christ shows in putting forth this parable of the sower, that the seed of life which is sown in the world does not do as well in one as in another, and the reason for this is that men for the most part, either do not receive it, or do not permit it to ripen.

Mt 13:11

13:11 {2} He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

(2) The gift of understanding and faith is given only to the elect, and all the rest are blinded through the just judgment of God.

Mt 13:16

13:16 {3} But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

(3) The condition of the Church under and since Christ, is better than it was in the time of the fathers under the law.

Mt 13:19

13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his {a} heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

(a) Though there is mention made of the heart, yet this sowing is referred to as hearing without understanding. For whether the seed is received in the heart or not, yet he that sows, sows to the heart.

Mt 13:24

13:24 {4} Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

(4) Christ shows in another parable of the evil seed mixed with the good, that the Church will never be free and rid of offences, both in doctrine and manners, until the day appointed for the restoring of all things comes, and therefore the faithful have to arm themselves with patience and steadfastness.

Mt 13:31

13:31 {5} Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

(5) God begins his kingdom with very small beginnings so that by its growing (even though men neither hope nor expect it to) his mighty power and working may be displayed all the more.

Mt 13:37

13:37 {6} He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

(6) He expounds the first parable of the good and evil seed.

Mt 13:44

13:44 {7} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

(7) Few men understand how great the riches of the kingdom of heaven are, and that no man can be a partaker of them but he that redeems them with the loss of all his goods.

Mt 13:47

13:47 {8} Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

(8) There are many in the Church who nevertheless are not of the Church, and therefore at length will be cast out: but the full and perfect cleansing of them is deferred to the last day.

Mt 13:51

13:51 {9} Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

(9) They ought to be diligent, who have to be wise not only for themselves, but who have to dispense the wisdom of God to others.

Mt 13:54

13:54 {10} And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

(10) Men not only sin because of ignorance, but also knowingly and willingly they lay stumbling blocks in their own ways, that when God calls them, they may not obey, and so most plainly destroy and cast away themselves.

Mt 14:1

14:1 {1} At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

(1) Here is in John, an example of an invincible courage, which all faithful ministers of God's word ought to follow: in Herod, an example of tyrannous vanity, pride, and cruelty, and in short, of a refined conscience, and of their miserable slavery, who have given themselves over to pleasure: in Herodias and her daughter, an example of whore-like licentious women, and womanly cruelty.

Mt 14:2

14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty {a} works do shew forth themselves in him.

(a) By works he means that force and power by which works are performed, and not the works which are often seen before.

Mt 14:6

14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased {b} Herod.

(b) There were three Herods: the first of them was Antipater's son, who is also called Ascalonius, in whose reign Christ was born, and it was he that caused the children to be slain. The second was called Antipas, Magnus his son, whose mother's name was Malthaca or Martaca, and he was called Tetrarch, because he enlarged his dominion, when Archelaus was banished to Vienna in France. The third was Agrippa, Magnus his nephew by Aristobulus, and it was he that slew James.

Mt 14:14

14:14 {2} And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

(2) Christ feeds a great multitude with five loaves and two little fish, showing by it that they will lack nothing who lay all things aside and seek the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 14:24

14:24 {3} But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

(3) We must sail even through mighty tempests, and Christ will never forsake us, so that we can go wherever he has commanded us to go.

Mt 14:25

14:25 And in the {c} fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

(c) By the fourth watch is meant the time nearer to day break: for in ancient times they divided the night into four watches in which they posted watches.

Mt 14:26

14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a {d} spirit; and they cried out for fear.

(d) A spirit, as it is taken here, is that which a man imagines to himself vainly in his mind, persuading himself that he sees something when he sees nothing.

Mt 14:28

14:28 {4} And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

(4) By faith we tread under our feet even the tempests themselves, but only by the power of Christ, which helps that faith, which he by his mercy has given.

Mt 14:34

14:34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of {e} Gennesaret.

(e) This Gennesaret was a lake near Capernaum, which is also called the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias; so the country itself grew to be called Gennesaret.

Mt 14:35

14:35 {5} And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

(5) In that act where Christ heals the sick, we are shown that we must seek remedy for spiritual diseases at his hands: and that we ourselves are bound to not only run to him, but also to bring others unto him.

Mt 15:1

15:1 {1} Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

(1) None commonly are more bold condemners of God, then they whom God has appointed keepers of his law.

Mt 15:2

15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they {a} wash not their hands when they eat bread.

(a) Which they received handed down from their ancestors, or their elders allowed, who were the governors of the Church.

Mt 15:3

15:3 {2} But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

(2) Their wicked boldness in corrupting the commandments of God (and that upon the pretence of godliness) and usurping authority to make laws, is reproved here.

Mt 15:4

15:4 For God commanded, saying, {b} Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

(b) By honour is meant every duty which children owe to their parents.

Mt 15:5

15:5 But ye say, {c} Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

(c) The meaning is this: whatever I bestow upon the temple, is to your profit, for it is as good as if I gave it to you, for (as the Pharisees of our time say) it will be meritorious for you: for under this form of religion, they gathered all to themselves, as though he that had given anything to the temple, had done the duty of a child.

Mt 15:6

15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none {d} effect by your tradition.

(d) As much as you could, you destroyed the power and authority of the commandment: for otherwise the commandments of God stand fast in the Church of God, in spite of the world and Satan.

Mt 15:7

15:7 {3} [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

(3) The same men are condemned for hypocrisy and superstition, because they made the kingdom of God to consist of outward things.

Mt 15:10

15:10 {4} And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

(4) Christ teaches us that the hypocrisy of false teachers who deceive our souls is not to be endured at all, not even in small matters, and there is no reason why their office or position should blind our eyes: otherwise we are likely to perish with them.

Mt 15:21

15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the {e} coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

(e) Coasts which were next to Tyre and Sidon, that is in that region where Palestine faces toward Venice, and the sea of Syria.

Mt 15:22

15:22 And, behold, a woman of {f} Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

(f) Of the people of the Canaanites, who dwelt in Phoenicia.

Mt 15:23

15:23 {5} But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

(5) In that Christ sometimes shuts his ears, as it were, to the prayers of his saints, he does it for his glory, and our profit.

Mt 15:24

15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the {g} house of Israel.

(g) Of the people of Israel, who were divided into tribes, but all those tribes came from one family.

Mt 15:29

15:29 {6} And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

(6) Christ does not cease to be beneficial even where he is condemned, and in the midst of wolves he gathers together and cares for his flock.

Mt 15:30

15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them [those that were] lame, blind, dumb, {h} maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

(h) Whose members were weakened with paralysis, or by nature, for after it is said that he healed them. Now Christ preferred to heal in this way, that such members as were weak, he restored to health, and yet he could easily, if he had wanted, have given them hands and feet and other members which they lacked.

Mt 15:32

15:32 {7} Then Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they {i} continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

(7) By doing this miracle again, Christ shows that he who follows Christ will never be in need, not even in the wilderness.
(i) Go not from my side.

Mt 15:35

15:35 And he commanded the multitude to {k} sit down on the ground.

(k) Literally, "to lie down backwards", as rowers do in rowing, when they draw their oars to themselves.

Mt 15:37

15:37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven {l} baskets full.

(l) A kind of container made with twigs.

Mt 16:1

16:1 The {1} Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and {a} tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

(1) The wicked who otherwise disagree with one another, agree well together against Christ, but do what they can, Christ is victorious, and triumphs over them.
(a) To see whether he could do that which they desired, but their purpose was useless for they thought to find something in him by it, in which case they might have just occasion to reprehend him: or else distrust and curiosity moved them to do so, for by such means also is God said to be tempted, that is to say, provoked to anger, as though men would strive with him.

Mt 16:3

16:3 And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O [ye] hypocrites, ye can discern the {b} face of the sky; but can ye not [discern] the signs of the times?

(b) The outward show and countenance, as it were, of all things, is called in the Hebrew language, a face.

Mt 16:4

16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but (c) the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

(c) The article shows how notable the sign is.

Mt 16:5

16:5 {2} And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

(2) False teachers must be taken warning of.

Mt 16:8

16:8 [Which] when Jesus {d} perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

(d) Not by others, but by virtue of his divinity.

Mt 16:9

16:9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the {e} five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

(e) That five thousand men were filled with so many loaves?

Mt 16:11

16:11 How is it that ye do not {f} understand that I {g} spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

(f) A demand or question joined with wonder.
(g) "Spake" for commanded.

Mt 16:13

16:13 {3} When Jesus came into the coasts of {h} Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

(3) There are many judgments and opinions of Christ, nevertheless he is known by his followers alone.
(h) There were two Caesareas, the one called Stratonis upon the Mediterranean Sea, which Herod built extravagantly in the honour of Octavius; Josephus lib. 15. The other was Caesarea Philippi, which Herod the great the Tetrarch's son by Cleopatra, built in the honour of Tiberius at the foot of Lebanon; Josephus lib. 15.

Mt 16:14

16:14 And they said, Some [say that thou art] {i} John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

(i) As Herod thought.

Mt 16:17

16:17 {4} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for {k} flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

(4) Faith is of grace, not of nature.
(k) By this kind of speech is meant man's natural procreation upon the earth, the one who was made, not being destroyed, but deformed through sin: So then this is the meaning: this was not revealed to you by any understanding of man, but God showed it to you from heaven.

Mt 16:18

16:18 {5} And I say also unto thee, That thou art {l} Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the {m} gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(5) That is true faith, which confesses Christ, the virtue of which is invincible.
(l) Christ spoke in the Syrian tongue, and therefore did not use this discourse to distinguish between Petros, which signifies Peter, and Petra, which signifies a rock, but in both places used the word Cephas: but his meaning is what is written in Greek, in which the different word endings distinguish between Peter, who is a piece of the building, and Christ the Petra, that is, the rock and foundation: or else he named him Peter because of the confession of his faith, which is the Church's as well as his, as the old fathers witness, for so says Theophylact. That confession which you have made, shall be the foundation of the believers.
(m) The enemies of the Church are compared to a strong kingdom, and therefore by "gates" are meant cities which are made strong with wise preparation and fortifications, and this is the meaning: whatever Satan can do by cunning or strength. So does Paul, calling them strongholds; 2Co 10:4 .

Mt 16:19

16:19 {6} And I will give unto thee the {n} keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt {o} bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(6) The authority of the Church is from God.
(n) A metaphor taken from stewards who carry the keys: and here is set forth the power of the ministers of the word, as Isa 22:22 says, and that power is common to all ministers, as Mt 18:18 says, and therefore the ministry of the gospel may rightly be called the key of the kingdom of heaven.
(o) They are bound whose sins are retained; heaven is shut against them, because they do not receive Christ by faith: on the other hand, how happy are they to whom heaven is open, who embrace Christ and are delivered by him, and become fellow heirs with him!

Mt 16:20

16:20 {7} Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

(7) Men must first learn, and then teach.

Mt 16:21

16:21 {8} From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the {p} elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

(8) The minds of men are at this time to be prepared and made ready against the stumbling block of persecution.
(p) It was a name of dignity and not of age: and it is used for those who were the judges, whom the Hebrews call the Sanhedrin.

Mt 16:22

16:22 Then Peter {q} took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

(q) Took him by the hand and led him aside, as they used to do, which meant to talk familiarly with one.

Mt 16:23

16:23 {9} But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, {r} Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou {s} savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

(9) Against a preposterous zeal.
(r) The Hebrews call him Satan, that is to say an adversary, whom the Greeks call diabolos, that is to say, slanderer, or tempter: but it is spoken of them, that either of malice, as Judas, Joh 6:70 , or of lightness and pride resist the will of God.
(s) By this word we are taught that Peter sinned through a false persuasion of himself.

Mt 16:24

16:24 {10} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(10) No men do more harm to themselves, than they that love themselves more than God.

Mt 16:25

16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall {t} find it.

(t) Shall gain himself: And this is his meaning, they that deny Christ to save themselves, not only not gain that which they look for, but also lose the thing they would have kept, that is, themselves, which is the greatest loss of all: but as for them that doubt not to die for Christ, it goes well with them otherwise.

Mt 16:27

16:27 For the Son of man shall come {u} in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

(u) Like a King, as Mt 6:29 .

Mt 16:28

16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his {x} kingdom.

(x) By his kingdom is understood the glory of his ascension, and what follows after that, Eph 4:10 , or the preaching of the gospel, Mr 9:1 .

Mt 17:1

17:1 And {1} {a} after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

(1) Christ in his present company is humble in the gospel, but all the while he is Lord both of heaven and earth.
(a) Luke counts eight days, containing in that number the first and last, and Matthew speaks but of the days between them.

Mt 17:2

17:2 And was {b} transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

(b) Changed into another colour.

Mt 17:5

17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is {c} my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

(c) The word "my" distinguishes Christ from other children. For he is God's natural son, we by adoption; therefore he is called the first begotten among the brethren, because although he is by right the only son, yet he is chief among many, in that he is the source and head of the adoption.

Mt 17:6

17:6 And when the disciples heard [it], they {d} fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

(d) Fell down flat on their faces and worshipped him, as in Mt 2:11 .

Mt 17:9

17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the {e} vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

(e) Which they saw, otherwise the word used in this place is usually used in referring to that which is seen in a dream.

Mt 17:14

17:14 {2} And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, {f} kneeling down to him, and saying,

(2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he pays attention to them.
(f) As men used to do when making supplication.

Mt 17:15

17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is {g} lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

(g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled with the falling sickness, or any other kind of disease: but in this case, we must so understand it, that besides the natural disease he had a demonic derangement.

Mt 17:19

17:19 {3} Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

(3) Incredulity and distrust hinder and break the direction of God's benefits.

Mt 17:21

17:21 {4} Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by {h} prayer and fasting.

(4) The remedy against distrust.
(h) To help us to understand the watchfulness and diligence of earnest prayer, which cannot be without sobriety.

Mt 17:22

17:22 {5} And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

(5) Our minds must be prepared more and more for the offence of the cross.

Mt 17:24

17:24 {6} And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth {i} not your master {k} pay {l} tribute?

(6) In that Christ willingly obeys Caesar's edicts, he shows that civil policy is not taken away by the Gospel.
(i) He does not deny, but he asks.
(k) Should he not pay?
(l) They that were from twenty years of age to fifty, paid half a shekel to the Sanctuary, Ex 30:13 . This was an Attic didrachma which the Roman exacted after they had subdued Judea.

Mt 17:25

17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own {m} children, or of strangers?

(m) By children we must not understand subjects who pay tribute, but natural children.

Mt 17:27

17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a {n} piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

(n) The word used here is "stater", which is in value four didrachmas; every drachma is about five pence.

Mt 18:2

18:2 {1} And Jesus called a {a} little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

(1) Humbleness of mind is the right way to preeminence.
(a) A child in years.

Mt 18:3

18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be {b} converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(b) An idiom taken from the Hebrews which is equivalent to "repent".

Mt 18:6

18:6 {2} But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

(2) We ought to have great respect for our brethren no ma