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Verse 39. Ye shalt not see me] I will remove my gospel and vows at pleasure: Ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever from you, and withdraw my protection.

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Our Lord plainly foresaw, that in process of time, a spiritual domination would arise in his church; and to prevent its evil influence, he leaves the strong warnings against it, which are contained in the former part of this chapter. A's the religion of Christ is completely spiritual, and the influence by which it is produced and maintained, must come from heaven; therefore, there could be no master or head but himself for as the Church (the assemblage of true believers). is his body, all its intelligence, light, and life, must proceed from him alone. Our forefathers noted this well; and this was one of the grand arguments by which they overturned the papal pretensions to supremacy in this country. In a note on ver. 9. in a Bible published by Edmund Becke in 1549, the 4th of Edward VI. we find the following words: Call no man your father upon the earth. Here is the Bishoppe of Rome declared a plaine Antichristz, in that he woulde be called the most holpe father; and that all Christen men shoulde acknowledge hym. for no less then their spyritnall father notwithstandinge these playne wordes of Christz. It is true, nothing can be plainer; and yet, in the face of these commands, the pope has claimed the honour; and millions of men have been so stupid as to concede it. May those days of darkness, tyranny, and disgrace, never return!

From the 13th to the 39th verse, our Lord 'pronounces eight woes or rather pathetic declarations against the Scribes and Pharisees. 1. For their unwillingness to let the common people enjoy the pure word of God, or its right explanation: Ye shut up the kingdom, &c, ver. 13..

shall swear by the temple, it is nothing, &c. ver. 16—22.

5. For their superstition in scrupulously attending to little things, and things not commanded, and omitting matters of great importance, the practice of which God had especially enjoined: Ye pay title of mint and cummin, &c. ver. 23, 24.

6. For their hypocrisy, pretending saintship, and endeavouring to maintain decency in their outward conduct, while they had no other object in view than to deceive the people, and make them acquiesce in their oppressive measures: Ye make clean the outside of the cup, ver. 25, 26.

7. For the depth of their inward depravity and abomination, having nothing good, fair, or supportable, but the mere outside.-Most hypocrites and wicked men have some good: but these were radically a totally evil; Ye are like unto whited sepulchres-within full-of all uncleanness, ver. 27, 28.

8. For their pretended concern for the holiness of the people, which proceeded no farther than to keep them free from such pollutions as they might accidentally and innocently contract, by casually stepping on the place where a person had been buried: and for their affected regret that their fathers had killed the prophets, while themselves possessed and cultivated the same murderous inclinations: Ye-garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been, &c. ver. 29, 20.

It is amazing with what power and authority our blessed. Lord reproves this bad people. This was the last discourse they ever heard from him: and it is surprising, considering their wickedness, that they waited even for a mock trial, and : did not rise up at once and destroy him. But the time was not yet come, in which he was to lay down his life, for no man could take it from him.

While he appears in this last discourse with all the authority of a lawgiver and judge, he at the same time shews the tenderness and compassion of a friend and a father he beholds their awful state-his eye affects his heart, and he weeps over them! Were not the present hardness and final.

Prophecy of the destruction

ST. MATTHEW.

of the temple. perdition of these ungodly men entirely of themselves? over the unavoidable consequences of his own sovereign deterCould Jesus as the Supreme God, have fixed their reprobation minations? How absurd as well as shocking is the thought! from all eternity by any necessitating decree; and yet weep | This is Jewish exclusion: Credat Judæus Apella-non ego.

CHAP. XXIV.

Christ foretells the destruction of the temple, 1, 2. His disciples enquire when and what shall be the signs of this destruction, 3. Our Lord answers, and enumerates them-false Christs, 5. Wars, fumines, pestilences, and earthquakes, 6-8. Persecution of his followers, 9. Persecution of his followers, 9. Apostacy from the truth, 10-13. General spread of the gospel, 14. He foretells the investment of the city by the Romans, 15-18. The calamities of those times, 19Warns them against seduction by false prophets, 23-26. The suddenness of these calamities, 27, 28. Total destruction of the Jewish polity, 29-31. The whole illustrated by the parable of a fig tree, 52, 33. The certainty of the event, though the time is concealed, 34-36. Careless state of the people, 37-41. The necessity of watchfulness and fidelity, illustrated by the parable of the two servants, one faithful, the other wicked,

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42-51.

A. M. 4033. A. D. 29. An. Olymp. CCII. 1.

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ND Jesus went out, and de-him the buildings of the temple. parted from the temple: and 2 And Jesus said unto them, See his disciples came to him for to shew ye not all these things? Verily I say

a Ch. 23. 38. Hag. 2. 9. Mal. 3. 1. Mark 13. 1. Luke 21. 5.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIV.

This chapter contains a prediction of the utter destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, and the subversion of the whole political constitution of the Jews; and is one of the most valuable portions of the New Covenant Scriptures, with respect to the evidence which it furnishes of the truth of Christianity. Every thing whh our Lord foretold should come on the temple, city, and people of the Jews, has been fulfilled in the most correct and astonishing manner; and witnessed by a writer who was present during the whole, who was himself a Jew, and is acknowledged to be a historian of indisputable veracity in all those transactions which concern the destruction of Jerusalem. Without having designed it, he has written a commentary on our Lord's words, and shewn how every tittle was punctually fulfilled, though he knew nothing of the scripture which contained this remarkable prophecy. His account will be frequently referred to in the course of these notes; as also the admirable work of Bishop Newton on the Prophecies.

Verse 1. And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple] Or, And Jesus going out of the temple, was going away. This is the arrangement of the words in several eminent manuscripts, versions, and fathers; and is much clearer than that in the common translation. The Jews say the temple was builded of white and green spotted marble. See Lightfoot. Josephus says the stones were white and strong; fifty feet long, twenty-four broad, and sixteen thick. Antiq. b. 15. c. xi. See Mark xiii. 1.

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b Mic. 3. 12. Luke 21. 3, &c.

A.M.4033 An. Olymp.

A. D. 29.

CCIL. 1.

Verse 2. See ye not all these things?] The common text, and many manuscripts have ou BETTE, do ye not see, or consider. But the negative particle is omitted by several excellent manuscripts, by the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Slavonic, Vulgate, and Itala versions, and by some of the primitive fathers, who all read it thus, See, or consider all these things.

There shall not be left here, one stone] These seem to have been the last words he spoke as he left the temple, into which he never afterwards entered: and when he got to the mount of Olives he renewed the discourse. From this mount, on which our Lord and his disciples now sat, the whole of the city, and particularly the temple, were clearly seen. This part of our Lord's prediction was fulfilled in the most literal manner. Josephus says, War, book vii. c. 1. "Cæsar gave orders that they should now demolish the whole city and temple, τε πολιν άπασαν και τον νέων κατασκεπτών, except the three towers, Phaselus, Hippicus, and Mariamne, and a part of the western wall, and these were spared; but for all the rest of the wall it was laid so completely even with the ground, by those who dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited." Maimonides, a Jewish Rabbin, in Tract. Taanith, c. 4. says, "That the very foundations of the temple were digged up, according to the Roman custom." His words are these, "On that ninth day of the month Ab, fatal for vengeance, the wicked Turnus Rufus, of the children of Edom, ploughed up the temple, and the places

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round about it, that the saying might be fulfilled, Zion shall be ploughed as a field." This Turnus, or rather Terentius Rufus, was left general of the army by Titus, with commission, as the Jews suppose, to destroy the city and the temple, as Josephus observes.

The temple was destroyed 1st. Justly; because of the sins of the Jews. 2dly. Mercifully; to take away from them the occasion of continuing in Judaism: and 3dly. Mysteriously; to shew that the ancient sacrifices were abolished, and that the whole Jewish economy was brought to an end, and the Christian dispensation introduced.

Verse 3. Tell us, when shall these things be?] There appear to be three questions asked here by the disciples. 1st. When shall these things be? viz. the destruction of the city, semple, and Jewish state. 2dly. What shall be the sign of thy coming? viz. to execute these judgments upon them, and to establish thy own church: and 3dly. When shall this world end? when wilt thou come to judge the quick and the dead? But there are some who maintain that these are but three parts of the same question, and that our Lord's answers only refer to the destruction of the Jewish state, and that nothing is spoken here concerning the LAST or judgment day.

Ead of the world] Tou alwvos; or, of the age; viz. the dewish ceconomy, which is a frequent accommodated meaning of the word alwy, the proper meaning of which is, as Aristotle (De Colo) observes, ETERNAL. Alwe, quasi an wy continual being: and no words can more forcibly point out eternity than these. See the note on Gen. xxi. 33.

Verse 4. Take heed that no man deceive you.] The world is full of deceivers, and it is only by taking heed to the counsel of Christ, that even his followers can escape being ruined by them. From this to ver. 31, our Lord mentions the signs which should precede his coming.

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Jer. 14. 14. & 23. 21, 25. ver. 24. John 5. 4S.—f ver. 11. 2 Chior. 15. 6. Isai, 19. 2. Hag. 2. zz. Zech. 14. 13.

them the signs of liberty, meaning redemption from the Roman power: and that an Egyptian false prophet led 30,000 men into the desart, who were almost all cut off by Felix. See Acts xxi. 38. It was a just judgment for God to deliver up that people into the hands of fulse Christs, who had rejected the true one. Soon after our Lord's crucifixion, Simon Magus appeared, and persuaded the people of Samaria that he was the great power of God, Acts viii. 9, 10. and boasted among the Jews that he was the son of God.

2. Of the same stamp and character was also Dositheus, the Samaritan, who pretended that he was the Christ foretold by Moses.

3. About twelve years after the death of our Lord, when Cuspius Fadus was procurator of Judea, arose an impostor of the name of Theudas, who said he was a prophet, and persuaded a great multitude to follow him with their best effects to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide for their passage; and saying these things, says Josephus, he deceived many: almost the very words of our Lord.

4. A few years afterwards, under the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of Judea, impostors of this stamp were so frequent, that some were taken and killed almost every day. Jos. Ant. b. xx. c. 4. and 7.

The SECOND sign, wars and commotions. Verse 6. The next signs given by our Lord are Wars and rumours of wars, &c.] These may be seen in Josephus, Ant. b. xviii. c. 9. War, b. ii. c. 10. especially as to the rumours of wars, when Caligula ordered his statue to be set up in the temple of God, which the Jews having refused, had every reason to expect a war with the Romans; and were in such consternation on the occasion, that they even neglected to till their land.

Verse 7. Nation shall rise against nation] This portended the dissentions, insurrections, and mutual slaughter of the Jews, and those of other nations, who dwelt in the same cities together; as particularly at Cæsarea, where the Jews and Syrians contended about the right of the city, which ended there in the total expulsion of the Jews, above 20,000 of

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several in those times to which our Lord refers; particularly one at Crete in the reign of Claudius: one at Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos. See Grotius. One at Rome, mentioned by Tacitus: and one at Laodicea in the reign of Nero, in which the city was overthrown, as were likewise Hierapolis and Colosse. See Tacit. Annal. lib. xii. and lib. xiv. one at Campania, mentioned by Seneca; and one at Rome in the reign of Gal

whom were slain. The whole Jewish nation being exasperated at this, flew to arms, and burnt and plundered the neighbouring cities and villages of the Syrians, making an immense slaughter of the people. The Syrians, in return, destroyed not a less number of the Jews. At Scythopolis they murdered upwards of 13,000. At Ascalon they killed 2,500. At Ptolemais they slew 2000, and made many prisoners. The Tyrians also put many Jews to death, and im-ba, mentioned by Suetonius, in the life of that emperor. Add prisoned more: the people of Gadara did likewise, and all the other cities of Syria in proportion, as they hated or feared the Jews. At Alexandria the Jews and heathens fought, and 50,000 of the former were slain. The people of Damascus conspired against the Jews of that city, and assaulting them unarmed, killed 10,000 of them. See Bishop Newton, and Dr. Lardner.

Kingdom against kingdom] This portended the open wars of different tetrarchies and provinces against each other. Ist. That of the Jews and Galileuns against the Samaritans, for the inurder of some Galileans going up to the feast of Jerusalem, while Cumanus was procurator. 2dly. That of the whole nation of the Jews against the Romans and Agrippa, and other allies of the Roman empire; which began when Gessius Florus was procurator. 3dly. That of the civil war in Italy, while Otho and Vitellius were contending for the empire. It is worthy of remark, that the Jews themselves "In the time of the Messiah, wars shall be stirred up in the world; nation shall rise against nation, and city against city." Sohar Kadash. Again, Rab. Eleasar, the son of Abina, said, When ye see kingdom rising against kingdom, then expect the immediate appearance of the Messiah." Bereshith Rabba, sect. 42.

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The THIRD sign, pestilence and famine.

to all these, a dreadful one in Judea, mentioned by Josephus (War, b. iv. c. 4.) accompanied by a dreadful tempest, violent winds, vehement showers, and continual lightnings, and thunders; which led many to believe that these things portended some uncommon calamity.

The FIFTH sign, fearful portents.

To these St. Luke adds that there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven, (chap. xxi. 11.) Josephus in his preface to the Jewish war, enumerates these. Ist. A star hung over the city like a sword; and a comet continued a whole year. 2d. The people being assembled at the feast of unleavened bread, at the ninth hour of the night, a great light shone about the altar and the temple, and this continued for half an hour. 3d. At the same feast, a cow led to sacrifice brought forth a lamb in the midst of the temple! 4th. The eastern gate of the temple, which was of solid brass, and very heavy, and could hardly be shut by twenty men, and was fastened by strong bars and bolts, was seen at the sixth hour of the night to open of its own accord ! 5th. Before sun-setting there were seen over all the country, chariots and armies fighting in the clouds, and besieging cities. 6th. At the feast of pentecost, when the priests were going into the inner temple by night, to attend their service, they heard first a motion and noise, and then a voice as of a multitude, saying, Let us de

It is farther added, that There shall be famines, and pesti- || PART HENCE. 7th. What Josephus reckons one of the most lences] There was a famine foretold by Agabus, (Acts xi. 28.)|| which is mentioned by Suetonius, Tacitus, and Eusebius; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar; and was so severe at Jerusalem, that Josephus says (Ant. b. xx. c. 2.)|| many died for lack of food. Pestilences are the usual attendants of famines as the scarcity and badness of provisions generally produce epidemic disorders.

The FOURTH sign, earthquakes, or popular commotions. Earthquakes, in divers places.] If we take the word σ from cu to shake, in the first sense, then it means particularly those popular commotions and insurrections which have already been noted: and this I think to be the true meaning of the word: but if we confine it to earthquakes, there were

terrible signs of all was, that one Jesus, a country fellow, four years before the war began, and when the city was in peace and plenty, came to the feast of tabernacles, and ran crying up and down the streets, day and night; "A voice from the east! a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against Jerusalem and the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides! and a voice against all the people!" Though the magistrates endeavoured by stripes and tortures to restrain him, yet he still cried with a mournful voice, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" And this he continued to do for several years together, going about the walls and crying with a loud voice; " Woe, woe to the city, and to the people, and to the temple ;" and as he added

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woe, woe to myself!" a stone from some sling or engine struck him dead on the spot! It is worthy of remark that Josephus appeals to the testimony of others, who saw and heard these fearful things. Tacitus a Roman historian, gives very nearly the same account with that of Josephus. Hist. lib. v.

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25. Some were imprisoned, as Peter and John, chap. iv. 3. Some were beaten, as Paul and Silas, chap. xvi. 23. Some were put to death, as Stephen, chap. vii. 59. and James the brother of John, chap. xii. 2. But if we look beyond the book of the Acts of the Apostles, to the bloody persecutions under Nero, we shall find these predictions still more amply Verse 8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.] fulfilled: in these, numberless Christians fell, besides those travelling pains. The whole land of Judea is represented two champions of the faith, Peter and Paul. And it was, as under the notion of a woman in grievous travail; but our says Tertullian, nominis prælium, a war against the very name Lord intimates, that all that had already been mentioned, were of Christ; for he who was called Christian, had committed only the first pangs and throes, and nothing in comparison crime enough in bearing the name, to be put to death. So of that hard and death-bringing labour, which should after-true were our Saviour's words that they should be hated of wards take place. all men for his NAME's sake.

From the calamities of the nation in general, our Lord passes to those of the Christians; and indeed the sufferings of his followers were often occasioned by the judgments sent upon the land, as the poor Christians were charged with being the cause of these national calamities; and were cruelly persecuted on that account.

But they were not only to be hated by the Gentiles, but they were to be betrayed by apostates:

Verse 10. Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another] To illustrate this point, one sentence out of Tacitus (Annal. 1. xv.) will be sufficient, who speaking of the persecution under Nero, says, At first several were seized, who conRa-fessed, and then by THEIR DISCOVERY, a great multitude of others were convicted and executed. ·

Verse 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted] ther, Then they will deliver you up to affliction, 50. By a bold figure of speech, affliction is here personified. They are to be delivered into affliction's own hand, to be harassed by all the modes of inventive torture.

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Verse 11. False prophets] Also were to be raised up; such as Simon Magus and his followers; and the false apostles complained of by St. Paul, 2 Cor. xi. 13. who were deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Such also were Hymeneus and Philetus, 2 Tim. ii. 17, 18.

Verse 12. The love of many shall wax cold.] By reason of these trials and persecutions from without, and those apostasies and false prophets from within, the love of many to Christ and his doctrine, and to one another, shall grow cold. Some

as ver. 11. and others growing indifferent about it, as ver. 12. Even at this early period there seems to have been a very considerable defection in several Christian churches; see Gal. iii. 1-4. 2 Thess. iii. 1, &c. 2 Tim. i. 15.

Ye shall be hated of all nations] Both Jew and Gentile will unite in persecuting and tormenting you. Perhaps TOYTWY TWY ay means all the Gentiles, as in the parallel places in Mark xiii. 9—11. and in Luke xxi. 12—15. the Jewish persecution is mentioned distinctly. Ye shall be delivered up to COUNCILS and be beaten in SYNAGOGUES, and ye shall stand before governors and kings for my name's sake-be not anxiously care-openly deserting the faith, as ver. 10. others corrupting it, ful beforehand what ye shall speak-for ye are not the speakers, but the Holy Spirit will speak by you-I will give you utterance and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict or resist. We need go no farther than the Acts of the Apostles for the completion of these particulars. Some were delivered to councils, as Peter and John, Acts iv. 5. Some were brought before rulers and kings, as Paul before Gallio, chap. xviii. 12. before Felix, xxiv. before Festus and Agrippa, xxv. Some had utterance and wisdom which their adversaries were not able to resist: so Stephen, chap. vi. 10. and Paul, who made even Felix himself tremble, chap. xxiv.

Verse 13. But he that shall endure] The persecutions that shall come―unto the end; to the destruction of the Jewish polity, without growing cold or apostatizing—shall be saved, shall be delivered in all imminent dangers, and have his soul at last brought to an eternal glory. It is very remarkable that not a single Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem, though there were many there when Cestius Gallus Ff

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