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33¶ And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

See notes on Matt. xviii. 1-5.

38¶ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

'We saw one,' &c. There is no improbability in supposing that this might have been one of the disciples of John, or one of the seventy whom Jesus had sent out, and who, though he did not personally attend on Jesus, yet had the power of working miracles.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

"Forbid him not.' Do not prevent his doing good. If he can work a miracle in my name, it is sufficient proof of attachment to me, and he should not be prevented. Can lightly speak evil of me.' The word here rendered lightly' means quickly, or immediately. The meaning of the passage is, that he to whom God gave the power of working a miracle, by that gave evidence that he could not soon be found among the enemies of Jesus. He ought not, therefore, to be prevented in it. Wherever he might be, or whatever his work, yet, if he did it in the name of Jesus, and with the approbation of God, it was evidence sufficient that he was right. Christians should rejoice in good done by their brethren of any denomination. There are men calling themselves christians, who seem to look with doubt and suspicion on all that is done by those who do not walk with them. They undervalue their labours, attempt to lessen the evidences of their success, and to diminish their influence. True likeness to the Saviour would lead us to rejoice in all the good accomplished, by whomsoever it might be done. Compare Phil. i. 18.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to. drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Whosoever shall give you a cup,' &c. But it must be in his name-that is, because he is a christian, because he is attached to the Lord Jesus, and therefore out of love to the Saviour. This is very different from giving it from a mere motive of common kindness. If done from love to Christ, it will be rewarded; and hence we learn that the humblest acts of christians, the lowest service that is rendered, will be graciously noticed by Jesus. None so poor or humble in his kingdom as not to be able to do good and show attachment to him. Their feeblest service will be accepted; and acts of love, that may be forgotten by man, will be remembered by him, and rewarded in heaven.

42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were banged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy 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: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: 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 : 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

See Matt. xviii. 7-9. • Millstone.' See Matt. xviii. 6. Their worm.' This figure is clearly taken from Isa. lxvi. 24. In describing the great prosperity of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says that the people of God shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of men who have transgressed against God. Their enemies shall be overcome. The people of God shall triumph. The figure is taken from heaps of the dead slain in battle; and the prophet says that the number shall be so great that their worm-the worin feeding on the dead-shall not die, shall live long, as long as there are carcases to be devoured; and that the fire which was used to burn the bodies of the dead shall continue long to burn, shall not be extinguished till they are consumed. The figure, therefore, denotes great misery, and certain

and terrible destruction. In these verses it is applied to the state beyond the grave, and is intended to denote that the destruction of the wicked will be awful, wide-spread, and eternal.

49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

"Every one shall be salted with fire.' As salt is sprinkled on the victim preparatory to its being devoted to God, see Lev. ii. 13.) so should the apostles, by trials, calamities, &c. represented here by fire, be prepared as a sacrifice and offering to God. The chief object of the passage was to teach them that every thing which would endanger their salvation should be sacrificed; that they should deny themselves of all indulgences, and practise all selfdenials, in order to obtain eternal life. In this way they would be preserved to eternal life. The word 'fire,' here, therefore, denotes self-denials, sacrifices, trials in keeping ourselves from the gratification of the flesh. As if he had said: Look at a sacrifice on the altar. It is an offering to God, about to be presented to him. It is sprinkled with salt, emblematic of purity, of preservation, and of fitting it, therefore, for a sacrifice. So you are devoted to God. You are sacrifices, victims, offerings to him in his service. To make you acceptable offerings, every thing must be done to preserve you from sin, to purify you, and to make you fit offerings. Self-denials, subduing the lusts, enduring trials, removing offences, are the proper preservatives in the service of God. Doing this, you will be acceptable offerings, and be saved: without this, you will be unfit for God's eternal service, and will be lost.

50 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.

'Lost his saltness,' &c. See note, Matt. v. 13. 'Have salt in yourselves. Have the preserving purifying principle always; the principles of denying yourselves, of suppressing pride, ambition, contention, &c., and thus you will be an acceptable offering to God. 'Have peace. Avoid contention and quarrelling, struggling for places, honours, and office, and seek each other's welfare, and religion will be honoured and preserved in the world.

CHAPTER X.

1 AND he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judea by the further side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2 And the pharisees came

to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4 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 your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

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See this question about divorce explained on Matt. xix. 1-12. And if a woman shall put away her husband.' It would seem from this, that a woman, among the Jews, had the power of separating herself from her husband; yet this right is not given her by the law of Moses. And though instances of this kind might have been attempted to be defended by the example of pagans, yet our Saviour was desirous of showing them that it did not free them from the charge of adultery. The apostles were going forth to teach pagan nations, and it was proper for Christ to teach them how to act in such cases, and to show them that they were cases of real adultery.

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And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

See notes on Matthew xix. 13-15.

'Should touch them.' That is, should lay his hands on them, and pray for them, and bless them. Compare Matthew xix. 13. It was common to lay the hands on the head of a person for whom a blessing was asked. See the case of Jacob, Gen. xlviii. 14.

14 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: for of such is the kingdom of God.

'Was mucn dis

'Saw it.' Saw the conduct of his disciples. pleased. Because it was a pleasure to him to receive and bless ittle children; and they were interfering in a case where it was evidently improper.

15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

'Whosoever shall not receive.' Whosoever shall not manifest the spirit of a little child. "The kingdom of God.' The gospel. The new dispensation by the Messiah, or the reign of God through a Mediator. See Matt. iii. 2. As a little child.' With the temper and spirit of a child, teachable, mild, humble, and free from prejudice and obstinacy. Shall not enter therein.' Shall

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not be a christian; shall not be a real member of the family of Christ on earth, though he may be a professor; and shall never enter heaven.

16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

"Blessed them.' Prayed for them, or gave them the assurance of his favour as the Messiah.

How happy would it be if all parents felt it to be their privilege to present their children to Christ! Our children are given to us but for a little time. They are in a world of danger, sin, and woe. They are exposed to temptation on every hand. If God be not their friend, they have no friend that can aid them in the day of adversity, or keep them from the snares of the destroyer. If he is their friend, they have nothing to fear. The proper expression, then, of parental feeling, is to come and offer them early to God. A parent should earnestly seek God's favour as the best inheritance of his children; it is all that he should ask.

So, children who have been the daily objects of a father's prayers and a mother's tears, should never forget that their parents sought the favour of God as the chief blessing; and having been offered to Jesus by prayer in their first days on earth, they should make it their great aim to be prepared to meet him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven.

17¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.

See this passage illustrated in Matt. xix. 16―30.

"Gone forth.' From the place where he had been teaching. 'Running.' Thus showing the intensity with which he desired

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