receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one cast- 38 ing out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid 39 him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not 40 against us, is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup 41 of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever 42 shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is 43 better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where 44 their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy 45 foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the 46 fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: 47 it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire: where their 48 worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one 49

can be given on that point. Furthermore, it is not stated whether he was successful or not in curing demoniacs. Compare, as illustrative of this passage, Num. xi. 27-29.

40. The converse of the proverb in Mat. xii. 30, is equally true in the circumstances to which it is applied.

41. The thread broken at verse 38 is here resumed by Jesus.

49, 50. Difficult verses, for which a variety of interpretations has been given. The mention of fire, in verse 49, appears to be connected with the use of the same word in verse 48. A transition is made from fire to the sacrifice which is burnt by it, and to the salt which is sprinkled upon the sacrifice, and then to the emblematic ideas of wisdom and of peace sug

shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with 50 salt. Salt is good but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

CHAPTER X.

Jesus continues his Teachings, and restores the Blind to Sight.

AND he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Ju

dea, by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto 2 him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. And

the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man 3 to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said 4 unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of 6 your heart, he wrote you this precept: but from the beginning 7 of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause

shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 and they twain shall be one flesh : so then they are no more twain, 9 but one flesh. What, therefore, God hath joined together, let not 10 man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him 11 again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery 12 against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

13

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch 14 them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: 15 for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he

shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put 16 his hands upon them, and blessed them.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one 17 running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto 18 hin, Why callest thou me good? there is none good, but one, that is God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit 19 adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother. And he answered 20 and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto 21 him, One thing thou lackest go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at 22 that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, 23 How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Je- 24 sus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than 25 for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were 26 astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them, saith, With men it is 27 impossible, but not with God for with God all things are possible.

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and 28 have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily, I say 29

by some, that infants "are born infe ted with the contagion of sin, and precipitated into eternal death," when they are cut off in childhood.

16. "A person of a very austere character would have contented himself with praying for these children, without taking them up in his arms. The action shows an affectionate love of children, and, we may add, a pleasant and amiable temper."

19. It is worthy of note, that Jesus mertions only those commandments that relate to social obligation, which

was the point in which the young man was really deficient, as was subsequently proved; viz., in the benevolent appropriation of his property.

24. The explanatory and emphatic word is trust. It is not riches that are noxious, but the trust in riches, the confiding in wealth as a god. So it is not money, as is often erroneously quoted, which is declared by the apostle to be the root of all evil, but the love of money. 1 Tim. vi. 10. The distinction is important.

32

unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for 30 my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, 31 eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. And they were in the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to 33 tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall con34 demn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles; and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon kim, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

35

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatso36 ever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye 37 that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us

that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left 38 hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not

what ye ask can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be 39 baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism 40 that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: but to sit on ny right hand and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it shall 41 be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten

30. With persecutions. Though they would be blessed by the hospitalities and friendships of the Christian brotherhood, they would not be exempt from suffering in the cause of Christianity. Archbishop Nowcome, however, is persuaded that these words are a marginal gloss, and he intimates, too, his belief that the passage originally read as in the other Gospels.

32-34. Mat. xx. 17-19, comments; Luke xviii. 31-34.

and

32. Went before them. As a courage us leader, ready to meet danger. - Amazed- afraid. "They were alarmed and agitated at the recollection of what Jesus had told them of his sufferings and death," and also at the prospect of going to Jerusalem, the very seat of his enemies.

35-45. Mat. xx. 20-28, and notes.

42. It was a partial apology for the ambitious disciples, that they had the examples of temporal power and

heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know 42 that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles, exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be 43 great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you 44 will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son 45 of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

:

And 48

And they came to Jericho and as he went out of Jericho 46 with his disciples, and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging. And 47 when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on ine. many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called: and 49 they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, 50 and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, 51 What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus 52 said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in

the way.

magnificence before their eyes to seduce them from humility.-Accounted to rule. An idiom for rule simply.

46-52. Mat. xx. 29-34, and comments; Luke xviii. 35-43.

46. Bartimeus. Mark mentions only one, probably the more celebrated of the two, whom Jesus cured on that occasion.

47. Thou son of David. His earnest desire to propitiate the favor of Jesus, might have had something to do with his very honorable salutation. 50. Casting away his garment. The flowing garments of the east

would obstruct one in haste; hence the graphic picture of the historian, descriptive of the impetuous movement of the blind man towards Je

sus.

52. Though our Saviour was now on his way to Jerusalem, and the cross was in full view to his mind, it is touching to behold in him the same care and compassion for others, which distinguished him in all his journeys. The same remark is applicable to the case of his blessing the children above. What tenderness united with what collectedness of soul!