1Christ sendeth his apostles to work miracles and preach the gospel. 7Herod desireth to see him. 10The apostles return: 12Christ feedeth five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. 18The different opinions concerning Christ; Peter's confession of him: Christ foretelleth his own death and resurrection: 23he sheweth his followers the necessity of self-denial, and that they must not be ashamed of owning his gospel: 28he is transfigured: 37healeth a demoniac: 43again foresheweth his sufferings: 46checketh the ambitious disputes of his disciples: 49will not have them forbid any one to work miracles in his name: 51reproveth the fiery zeal of James and John against the Samaritans who would not receive him: 57and proposeth terms to three persons who offer to follow him.
1THEN he called hisa twelve disciples together, and gave them power and 1authority 2over all devils, and to cure diseases.
a Mat. 10:1; Mark 3:13; 6:7; Luke 6:13.
1 Or, strength.
2 That is, against all devils to cast them out, Mat. 10:1.
2Andb he sent them to preach 3the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
b Mat. 10:7.
3 That is, the Gospel of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
3And he said unto them, 4Takec nothing for your journey, neither 5staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4 See hereof the annotation at Mat. 10 on verse 10.
c Mat. 10:9; Mark 6:8; Luke 22:35.
5 Other, staff.
4And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence 6depart.
6 That is, abide there so long until you depart, without going for your ease to lodge from one house to another, seeing your abode there may not last long.
5Andd whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very 7dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
d Mat. 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51; 18:6.
7 What this signified, see Mat. 10 on verse 14.
6And they departed, and 8went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
8 Or, went from the one town to the other.
7¶Nowe Herod the 9tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was 10perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
e Mat. 14:1; Mark 6:14.
9 Of the tetrarchs, see Mat. 14 on verse 1.
10 Namely, not knowing what to think or do.
8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
9And Herod said, 11John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
11 See hereof Mat. 14:10; Mark 6:27.
10¶Andf the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. Andg he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called 12Bethsaida.
f Mark 6:30.
g Mat. 14:13; Mark 6:31, 32.
12 This was a city of Galilee, situated at the lake of Gennesaret, over against Capernaum, Mark 6:45; John 12:21.
11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had 13need of healing.
13 Namely, those who desired it.
12Andh when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the 14towns and country round about, and 15lodge, and get victuals:i for we are here in a desert place.
h Mat. 14:15; Mark 6:35; John 6:5.
14 Gr. fields, that is, country houses.
15 Gr. unloose.
i food*
13Butj he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
j Mat. 14:16; Mark 6:37; John 6:9.
14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a 16company.
16 That is, companies that sit together, or parties. See Mark 6:39, 40.
15And they did so, and 17made them all sit down.
17 Other, they all sat down.
16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, hek18blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
k 1 Sam. 9:13.
18 Of this blessing, see Mat. 14:19.
17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
18¶Andl it came to pass, as he was 19alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
l Mat. 16:13; Mark 8:27.
19 Namely, separated from the multitude.
19They answering said, Johnm the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
m Mat. 14:2.
20He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, 20The Christn of God.
20 That is, the Messiah, or Anointed, promised and sent by God.
n John 6:69.
21And he straitly 21charged them, and commanded them to 22tell no man that thing;
21 Gr. threatened.
22 Namely, for that time.
22Saying, Theo Son of man must suffer many things, and be 23rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
o Mat. 16:21; 17:22; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33; Luke 18:31; 24:7.
23 That is, not owned nor received for the Messiah, but condemned as a deceiver and blasphemer. See Mat. 21:42; 1 Peter 2:4, 7.
23¶And he said to them all, Ifp any man will come 24after me, let him deny himself, and take up his 25cross daily, and follow me.
p Mat. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27.
24 That is, will be My disciple.
25 That is, suffering and tribulation, how grievous so ever it may be, which He calls the cross, because the suffering of a cross is the most grievous.
24Forq whosoever will save his 26life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his 27life for my sake, the same shall 28save it.
q Mat. 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; John 12:25.
26 Gr. soul.
27 Gr. soul.
28 Namely, hereafter.
25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose 29himself, or be cast away?
29 That is, bring upon himself eternal destruction to body and soul.
26Forr whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
r Mat. 10:33; Mark 8:38; Luke 12:9; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 John 2:23.
27Buts I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, 30which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
s Mat. 16:28; Mark 9:1.
30 See the exposition hereof in Mat. 16 on verse 28.
28¶Andt it came to pass about an 31eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
t Mat. 17:1; Mark 9:2.
31 Matthew speaks in Mat. 17:1 of six days; how this accords, see the exposition there, Mat. 17 on verse 1.
29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was 32altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.u
32 Gr. other, that is, altered, namely, in glory.
u shining
30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his 33decease which he should 34accomplish at Jerusalem.
33 Namely, out of this life, that is, spoke with Him of His suffering, death and resurrection.
34 Gr. fulfill.
32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33And it came to pass, 35as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
35 That is, as they were upon parting.
34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as 36they entered into the cloud.
36 Namely, Moses and Elias.
35Andv there came 37a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hearw him.
v Isa. 42:1; Mat. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; Col. 1:13; 2 Peter 1:17.
37 Namely, from God the Father, as appears by what follows.
w Deut. 18:19; Acts 3:22.
36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man 38in those days any of those things which they had seen.
38 That is, at that time, namely, before His resurrection, seeing He had forbidden it them, Mat. 17:9.
37¶Andx it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
x Mat. 17:14; Mark 9:17.
38And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, 39look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 Namely, with an eye of compassion.
39And, lo, 40a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and 41bruising him hardly departeth from him.
40 Namely, an evil or unclean spirit.
41 That is, endeavors to bruise him, as these things also use to happen in grievous falling sicknesses.
40And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
41And Jesus answering said, O faithless and 42perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
42 Or, wretched, which cannot be corrected, Philip. 2:15.
42And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43¶And they were all amazed at 43the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
43 That is, the exceeding power of God whereby the miracles were done.
4444Let these sayings sink down into your ears: fory the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of 45men.
44 That is, take good notice of these things and remember them; for, they may serve to strengthen you against the offense of My sufferings.
y Mat. 17:22; Mark 9:31.
45 Namely, of the unrighteous. See Acts 2:23.
45Butz they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they 46perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
z Luke 2:50; 18:34.
46 Gr. they sensed.
46¶Thenaa there arose a 47reasoning among them, which of them should be 48greatest.
aa Mat. 18:1; Mark 9:33; Luke 22:24.
47 Or, conference. See Mark 9:33, 34.
48 Gr. greater, or, more.
47And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48Andab said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: andac whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: forad49he that is least among you all, the same shall be 50great.
ab Mat. 18:5; Mark 9:37; John 13:20.
ac Luke 10:16; John 13:20.
ad Mat. 23:11; Luke 14:11; 18:14.
49 Gr. the less, that is, the most humble.
50 Namely, in the Kingdom of heaven, Mat. 18:1, 2.
49¶Andae John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we 51forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
ae Mark 9:38.
51 Or, hindered.
50And Jesus said unto him, 52Forbid him not: 53for heaf that is not against us is for us.
52 Or, Hinder.
53 See Mark 9:40.
af Mat. 12:30; Luke 11:23.
51¶And it came to pass, when the time was 54come that he should be 55receivedag up, he stedfastly 56set his face to go to Jerusalem,
54 That is, began to be fulfilled, or to draw near.
55 Namely, out of this world into heaven, Mark 16:19; Acts 1:11.
ag Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2; 1 Tim. 3:16.
56 Gr. confirmed, that is, purposed boldly to go to Jerusalem, notwithstanding that He knew what would befall Him there.
52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53And they did not receive him, becauseah his face was as though he 57would go to Jerusalem.
ah John 4:9.
57 Namely, there to exercise God’s worship, which the Samaritans did on mount Gerizim, John 4:20, Josephus, Antiq. lib. 11, cap. 8, from which arose great hatred and enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, John 4:9.
54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Eliasai did?
ai 2 Kings 1:10, 12.
55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not 58what manner of spirit ye are of.
58 That is, that you, having My Spirit, ought not to desire the ruin of men. Or, you consider not that hereunto the spirit of revengefulness drives you to it.
56Foraj the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
aj John 3:17; 12:47.
57¶Andak it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
ak Mat. 8:19.
58And Jesus said unto him, 59Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 That is, do not expect from Me any worldly ease or riches, for, I have them not for Myself.
59Andal he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
al Mat. 8:21.
60Jesusam said unto him, 60Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
am Mat. 8:22.
60 See the exposition at Mat. 8 on verse 22.
61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but letan me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
an 1 Kings 19:20.
62And Jesus said unto him, 61Noao man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
61 A similitude taken from a husbandman, who, being at the plow, must always look forward, or else he cannot make straight furrows. Philip. 3:14.
ao Prov. 26:11; Philip. 3:14; Heb. 6:5; 2 Peter 2:20.