31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

He who had compassion on the bodily infirmities of those that called upon him, and restored their sight, will still more surely have compassion on the dark and wandering mind, that "the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, we may know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to those who believe."

LECTURE LI.

ENTRY OF CHRIST INTO JERUSALEM.-THE FIG

TREE WITHERED.

MATT. xxi. 1-22.

1

1-10.

1. And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were Mark xi. come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Luke xix. Jesus two disciples,

1 Bethphage, a village on the hill adjoining Jerusalem, called the mount of Olives from the trees with which it abounded.

29-40. John xii. 12-16.

2. Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straitway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her; loose them, and bring them unto me.

3. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

2

6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the high

est.

10. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

2 Zech. ix. 9. The exact words of the prophet are, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass." According to the usage of that time and country, there was nothing especially remarkable in the choice of the ass for this purpose, except as the entrance of a spiritual king was shown to differ from that of an earthly monarch, or conqueror, with his triumphal horses and chariots.

Taken from Psalm exviii. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Hosanna: that is, Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send us prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

11. And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Among the things written in the prophets, and relating to "him who shall come," were the words of Zechariah which were thus fulfilled. The accomplishment of the prophecy gave to the people a last opportunity of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. A last opportunity: for this took place on the first day of the week of the crucifixion. The Jew who was reasonable and dispassionate, should have been led by what he saw and heard to consult his Scriptures, and compare them with the facts which were taking place before his eyes, and so learn that this was indeed "he who should redeem Israel." But the veil of prejudice was so closely drawn, that seeing they saw not, and hearing they did not understand and God, who does all things well, saw no reason why the "veil should be taken away."

12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

There were certain offerings and sacrifices which the law required. Mary, at her purification, "offered a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons." (Luke ii. 24.) With the purveyors of these the courts of the temple were filled.

So quick-sighted are men, to perceive an oppor tunity of gain.

14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

16. And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

17. And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

pro

To the question of the priests, Hearest thou what these say? our Lord answers, yes, I hear it and you who undertake to teach the people, ought to hear in it the fulfilment of David's phecy, (Ps. viii. 2,) "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the ene my and the avenger."

There is something emphatic in what follows; and he left them, and went out of the city. He leaves hearts like these, that he may go to those more worthy of him; to such as were to be found at Bethany, where Martha lived, who cordially wel comed him, and Mary, who "sat at his feet and heard his word."4

May we never provoke him, by obstinacy or unfruitfulness, to abandon us and abide else

where !

4 See Luke x. 38.

18. Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19. And when he saw a fig-tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig-tree withered away.

20. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig-tree withered away?

21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig-tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The immediate use made of this withering of the fig-tree, was to confirm the faith of the apostles, by an evident example of that power, a share of which was to be communicated to themselves. You have witnessed the power of God. Have faith in Him; ask in such faith, and ye shall be enabled to exercise a like power.

But though our Lord seized the opportunity of this miracle for the confirmation of his apostles' faith, its significant nature, and the particular season when it was performed, show clearly that it conveyed a further meaning. It was intended to signify the judgment of which this and the three succeeding chapters are full, the rejection of the Jewish nation. It declares the accomplishment of Isaiah's prophecy, (v. 3—5,) “O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?