1The parable of the unjust judge and the importunate widow. 9The parable of the Pharisee and publican. 15Christ's tenderness to the little children that were brought unto him. 18He teacheth a ruler how to attain eternal life: 24he sheweth how hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God: 28promiseth rewards to those who have foregone ought for the gospel's sake: 31foretelleth his own death and resurrection: 35and giveth sight to a blind man.
1AND he spake a parable unto them to this end, thata men ought 1always to pray, and not to faint;
a Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes. 5:17.
1 That is, at all opportunities continue to pray until one obtains, and not be negligent or loose the courage, even if it is that one is not heard right away.
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, 2Avenge me of mine adversary.
2 Or, Do me right, as also verse 7.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her 3continual coming she 4weary me.
3 Gr. to the end, that is, by continually dropping in.
4 Or, break mine head. The Greek word properly signifies to strike under the eyes, or, as it were, with blows on the face to make one’s head dazed and stunned.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7Andb shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he 5bear long with them?
b Rev. 6:10.
5 That is, seems slowly to come to this, by punishing the ungodly to deliver His elect.
8I tell you that he will avenge them 6speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man 7cometh, 8shall he find faith on the earth?
6 Gr. in haste, that is, unexpectedly.
7 Namely, to judgment.
8 That is, the number of the faithful shall then be small. Yet there shall be some then also, 1 Thes. 4:15, 17.
9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted 9in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
9 Or, with themselves.
10Two men went 10up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
10 Because the temple was built on Mount Moriah, in the highest part of the city, 2 Chron. 3:1.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus 11with himself, God,c I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
11 Or, standing by himself.
c Isa. 1:15; 58:2; Rev. 3:17, 18.
12I fast 12twice in the week, I 13give tithes of all that I possess.
12 Gr. on the sabbath, that is, per week. See Mark 16:9.
13 Or, tithe all.
13And the publican, standing 14afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but 15smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 Namely, far from the altar and from the holy place, in the first entrance of the court of the temple, as a sign of shame for his sins.
15 As a sign of hearty sorrow for the same sins.
14I tell you, this man went 16down to his house 17justified rather than 18the other: ford every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
16 Namely, from the temple. See verse 10.
17 That is, accounted for righteous by God, whereof see more in detail in Rom. 3 on verse 20, etc.
18 Namely, the pharisee, seeing the publican was justified before God, and not the pharisee, though he accounted himself justified, and was also so accounted by men.
d Job 22:29; Prov. 29:23; Mat. 23:12; Luke 14:11; James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5.
15Ande they brought unto him also infants, that he would 19touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked 20them.
e Mat. 19:13; Mark 10:13.
19 That is, lay hands upon them to bless them. See Mat. 19:13; Mark 10:16.
20 Namely, those who brought the children.
16But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and 21forbid them not: forf22of such is the kingdom of God.
21 Or, hinder them not.
f Mat. 18:3; 19:14; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2.
22 See hereof Mat. 19:14.
17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God 23as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
23 That is, in humility, simplicity and uprightness, Psalm 131:1, 2.
18Andg a certain 24ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
g Mat. 19:16; Mark 10:17.
24 See of this history in Mat. 19:16.
19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
20Thou knowest the commandments, Doh not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honouri thy father and thy mother.
h Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9.
i Eph. 6:2; Col. 3:20.
21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou 25one thing: sellj all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
25 Namely, whereby you shall be able to understand how far you are yet from the perfection, which you advocate yourself. See further hereof Mat. 19:21.
j Mat. 6:19; 19:21; 1 Tim. 6:19.
23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, Howk hardly shall they 26that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
k Prov. 11:28; Mat. 19:23; Mark 10:23.
26 That is, they who are rich and put their trust in riches, as is declared in Mark 10:24.
25For it is easier for 27a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
27 Or, cable. Of this proverb see Mat. 19 on verse 24.
26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27And he said, Thel things which are impossible with men are 28possible with God.
l Job 42:2; Isa. 32:17; Zech. 8:6; Luke 1:37.
28 See Mat. 19 on verse 26.
28Thenm Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
m Mat. 4:20; 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:11.
29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, Theren is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
n Deut. 33:9.
30Whoo shall not receive 29manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
o Job 42:12.
29 This promise is always fulfilled by spiritual gifts and oftentimes also by temporal.
31¶Thenp he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things 30thatq are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
p Mat. 16:21; 17:22; 20:17; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32; Luke 9:22; 24:7.
30 Other, that is written by the prophets concerning the Son of man.
q Psalm 22:6; Isa. 53:7.
32Forr he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
r Mat. 27:2; Luke 23:1; John 18:28; Acts 3:13.
33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34And they 31understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
31 Forasmuch as they were yet taken by the common error concerning the worldly Kingdom of Christ.
35¶Ands it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, 32a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
s Mat. 20:29; Mark 10:46.
32 Matthew in, Mat. 20:30, speaks of two blind men; whereof see the comparison in Mark 10:46. Although some, because of the differences of the places where this occurred, think that it is another history, but this difference is by others thus compared that these blind men began indeed to cry out in the entrance of Jericho, but that Christ first restored them to their sight when He was gone through Jericho.
36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, 33that I may receive my sight.
33 That is, that mine eyes may be opened, as Mat. 20:33 states.
42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.