178 Mark it, No man eat fruit grow on thee hencehis disciples heard it; [and presently the figtree withered away.] [MA1. XXI.-19.] forward for ever.] And Reflections on the danger of empty profession. SECT. been expected they would be growing still upon cxlix. it. And Jesus, finding it to be a barren tree, 14 And Jesus anthat only made a promising appearance, but had swered and said unto XI. 14. produced no fruit, said to it upon this occasion, of thee hereafter for As thou art fruitless now, continue always so; ever: [Let no fruit let no man from henceforwards ever eat fruit of thee, nor any fruit hereafter ever grow upon thee. And his disciples heard [it], and took notice of the words; and as soon as he had spoken them (though his disciples, as they were passing on, did not observe it at that time), the fig-tree immediately withered away; Christ intending by that significant action to intimate that the curse of God should thus wither and destroy the Jewish nation, which he had before compared to an unfruitful fig-tree. (See Luke xiii. 6-9. sect. cxvi. p. 9.). John IMPROVEMENT. How evidently necessary is the operation of Divine grace ta xii. 37 conquer the prejudices of a sinful heart; since even the preaching of Christ himself, enforced by all his stupendous miracles, could not overcome those prejudices without it! And how cautious should sinners be that they do not stop their ears to the joyful 38--40 sound of the gospel, and shut their eyes against its glorious light; lest God should leave them to their own delusions, and in his righteous judgment seal them up under final blindness and impenitence! Then will they never be converted and healed; but die with that poison in all the faculties of their souls, which will make them for ever restless and miserable. 42 Can we find words sufficient to express the madness of these Pharisees, who, while they were in their consciences convinced that Jesus was the Christ, would not confess that conviction, and publicly pay their homage to him, because they loved the praise of 43 men more than the praise of God? Strange infatuation of the human mind! that it should be capable of believing there is a God, and yet of preferring the creatures before him; and should sometimes imagine the vain breath of popular applause or popular censure so considerable, as that God should be offended to please man; and all the honours and rewards of his heavenly presence lost, to secure a little regard from those who are perishing in their crimes, ▸ And Jesus said to it upon this occasion.] It is plain that in this place this must be the sense of that phrase, Jesus answered and said. Compare note f, on Mat. xi. 25. Vol. VI. p. 311. a To Jesus comes to Jerusalem, and again purges the temple. 179 cxlix. crimes, and will ere long be themselves the objects of everlasting SECT. shame and contempt. May none of us ever indulge such a temper, or ever rest in an Mark empty profession; lest, being like the fig-tree before us, which had xi. 13,14 leaves, but no fruit, the curse of Christ should be pronounced upon us, which would immediately wither us amidst all our verdure! Let us remember that this was intended as one of those significant Mat. actions by which the holy messengers of God frequently intimated approaching judgments. Happy would it have been if some, instead of searching out objections against it, had seriously considered its design, and the sad aspect with which it looks on those who, like them, receive the grace of God in vain! xxi. 10. SECT. CL. Christ, arriving at Jerusalem, visits the temple again; and, after a repeated effort to reform the continued abuses there, discourses with the people in a manner which farther exasperates the priests; and in the evening goes out of the city. Mark XI. 15-19; John XII. 44. to the end. MARK XI. 15. AND they come to Jesus Jerusalem and went into the AND, MARK XI. 15. cl. Mark XI. 15. soon after the fig-tree had been cursed, SECT. they come to Jerusalem; and Jesus entering, temple, and began to as he had done the day before, into the temple, cast out them that sold observed, as he was passing through the court of and bought in the temthe Gentiles, that the people who had polluted it by their traffic were seated there again; and being displeased to see that sacred place so shamefully profaned, he presently renewed his testimony against them, and began to drive out them that sold and bought in the limits of the temple, ple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. a To drive out them that sold and bought in the temple.] The time when this was done is fixed by Mark to the day after Jesus made his public entry into Jerusalem, and so (as was observed before, note c, on Mat. xxi. 12, p. 163) this must have been a different fact from that related by Matthew, which he has introduced on the preceding day, before the shoutings of the children. We have supposed it, therefore, to be repeated by our Lord; for as it is improbable that he would not purge the temple on the day of his triumphant entry, when Mark expressly says that he looked round about upon all things; so it is plainly intimated here that he did it after his return from Bethany on the next day. Nor is it at all unlikely that, VOL. VII. Z and after Jesus was departed out of the city, there the 180 should carry any ves He asserts his mission and authority from the Father. SECT. and overthrew the tables of the money changers, cl and also the seats of them that sold doves: And he 16 And would not Mark permitted not that any one, for the sake of shor- suffer that any man XI. 16. ten ng his way. should carry any burden or any sel through the temkind of vessel through the courts of the temple; ple. but strictly insisted on a due reverence to i', as a place that was entirely set apart to God's im17 mediate service And he taught them at large the evil of such practices; saying to them, Is it not written (as I observed but yesterday), house shall be called an house of prayer, and that not only for the Jews themselves, but (as the prophet says) for the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, or for those pious proselytes who from all the neighbouring nations shall resort to it?" (Isa. lvi. 6, 7.) John XII. 44. My But you And then, as considerable numbers of people 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have it not written, My made it a den of thieves. seeth me, seeth him 45 does an honour to the Father bimself. And 45 And he that he that sees me, and regards me with a lively that sent me. faith, does also in effect see him that sent me, as the perfections of the Father are displayed in me; whereas, he that shuts his eyes against me, excludes the only means of being brought to the 46 true knowledge of him. For, full of the inspiration of his blessed Spirit, I am come a light that whosoever believ into the world, that every one who really believes eth on me, should not in me, might not any longer abide in darkness, abide in darkness. but might attain to the knowledge of all necessary truth, and the enjoyment of the most solid 47 and excellent happiness. And if any one of you the former day Christ drove them out of hear 46 1 am come a light into the world, 47 And if any man hear wares into the inner-court, for which the He that rejects his word shall be condemned. not: for I came not to save the world. judge him in the last day. 181 John hear my words, and hear my words, which I am so frequently and SECT. believe not, I judge him freely speaking, and will not believe in me, I do cl. judge the world, but to not now condemn him, or immediately execute judgment upon him; for (as I formerly declar- XII. 47. ed, John iii. 17, sect. xxvi.) I am not come at present to condemn the world, or to perform any work of wrath and terror, whatever ill usage I may meet with in it; but the design of my appearance is mild and gentle, and I am come to save the world, and to make its inhabitants happy for time and for eternity, if they will be so wise as to hearken to the proposals I offer. 48 He that rejecteth Nevertheless, though I do not immediately judge 48 me, and receiveth not any, yet he that rejects me, and does not receive my words, hath one that judgeth him: the my words, will not escape final condemnation, word that I have spo- but will find, to his surprise and confusion, that ken, the same shall he has one that judges him: for the word that I have spoken, though heard with indifference from day to day, is recorded in the book of God's remembrance; and as the time will come when the proposals I have made shall be review ed, [even] that very word shall judge him in the last awful day, as the tenor of it is so excellent, that to have rejected it will prove a man ignorant of God, and alienated from true religion and goodness. For I have not spoken of my-49 self, either on my own motion, or on any precame, he gave me a com- rious conclusions drawn from principles divinemandment, what Ily taught; but the Father who sent me, he gave me ample instructions, and a particular commandment, what I should say, and what I shall yet speak in that part of my work which is still be50 And I know that fore me. And I will faithfully conform myself 50 his commandment is to his instructions, whether men be pleased or life everlasting: whatsoever I speak there- offended with me; for I know that his commandfore, even as the Fa- ment is of the greatest consequence, and that ther said unto me, so eternal life depends upon the knowledge and observance of it; and therefore I would by no means vary in a matter of so much importance; but whatever I say unto you, I speak it just as the Father has given it me in charge, and alter 49 For I have not spoken, of myself; but the Father which sent should say, and what I should speak. I speak. b. That very word shall judge him, &c. ο λογο ον ελάλησα, sxvxgive aulov.] Our Lord, by this manner of speaking, represents his word as a person that should sit in judgment upon unbelievers at the last day. (Compare Heb. iv. 12. But I can see no ground for Mr. Fleming's interpretation (Christology, Vol. I. p. 156), who would render it, The Logos, which I have spoken of, shall judge him; as if he had said, nothing "Though it is not my present business to 182 Reflections on the regard due to Christ and his word. cl. John Mark MARK XI. 18. And authority. Thus did our Lord continue to reform abuses, the scribes and chief XI. 18. and to teach the people with the utmost serious- priests heard it and ness and earnestness, on the second day of that sought how they might week in which he suffered. And the scribes and destroy him, for they feared him, because all chief priests were much offended when they the people was astoheard [of it], and diligently sought how they might nished at his doctrine. find out some expedient to destroy him. for they not only envied, but dreaded him, because all the people were visibly struck into attention and wonder at his doctrine, and seemed disposed to receive it with a respect proportionable to its importance and solemnity. 19 And, that he might give them no unseasonable advantages against him, when the evening was come, he went out of the city, and spent the night as he had done before, in a retired place with his disciples. 19 And when even was come, he went out of the city. Mark XI. IMPROVEMENT. How hard is it to purge a carnal heart, and disentangle it from 15-17. the snares of a deceitful world! No sooner were these traders driven from the temple, but they return to it again; and are as busy the next day in the pursuit of their unlawful gain as they had been before. And thus how often are convictions stifled by the love of this world! And if the voice of conscience, or the word of God, may interrupt us for a while in our unlawful courses, yet where it may affect our worldly interest, how ready are we to return to them again! and with what difficulty are we brought so far to lay aside our earthly projects, as not to take them with us into the house of God! Purge us, O Lord, from every irregular desire; pursue and perfect thine own work; and incline our hearts unto thy testimonies, and not unto covetousness! (Psal. cxix. 36.) John 44, 45. Most important is that proclamation which our Lord made in XII: the temple, and is still making to us in his word: believing in him, we believe in the Father; and seeing him, we see the Father. Let' us be ready therefore to receive him out of regard to his Divine authority, as well as with a view to our own happiness; for without him we can have no access unto the Father, nor can we ever see him as a reconciled God.-The sacred light which he diffuses around him is not intended merely to amuse our eyes with pleas ing speculations, but to animate our hearts with holy affections, and to guide our fect into the way of peace. (Luke i. 79.) If we |