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; 8 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.

12

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.

13¶ 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.

Saw it.' Saw the conduct of his disciples.

'Was much dis pleased.' Because it was a pleasure to him to receive and bless little 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 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

to know the way of life. Zeal to know the way to be saved is proper, nor can it ever be too intense if well directed. Nothing else is so important, and nothing demands, therefore, so much effort and haste.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

'Defraud not.' To cheat or defraud supposes a covetous desire of a neighbour's property, and is attended with falsehood or false witness against a neighbour in obtaining it. It is thus a violation of the ninth and tenth commandments; and our Saviour, therefore, condensed the two, and expressed their substance in this-not to defraud. It is besides, expressly forbidden in Lev. xix. 13. 'Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour.'

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto 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. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

'Jesus-loved him.' This expression denotes, simply, natural affection, or means that Jesus was pleased with his amiableness, his morality, and his external regard for the law of God. At the same time, this was entirely consistent with deep sorrow that he would not give his heart to God, and with deep abhorrence of such a love of the world as to blind the mind to the beauty of true religion. One thing thou lackest.' When the young man came to Jesus, he asked him, What lack I yet? Matt. xix. 20. This question Mark has omitted, but he has retained the answer. The answer means, there is one thing yet wanting. See whether you love God more than you do your wealth. By doing that you will show that your love of God is supreme; that your obedience is not merely external and formal, but sincere and real; the thing, now lacking, will be made up.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the king. dom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through

the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

'Children.' An expression of affection, perhaps also implying a reproof that their slowness of understanding was like children. 'How hard.' With how much difficulty.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Out of measure.' Very much, or exceedingly.

28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say 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 my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

In this time.' 'Houses,' &c.

'An hundredfold.' A hundred times as much. In this life. In the time that he forsakes all. This means that the loss shall be a hundred times compensated or made up; or that, in the possession of religion, we have a hundred times the value of all that we forsake. This consists in the pardon of sin, in the favour of God, in peace of conscience, in support in trials and in death, and in raising up friends in the place of those who are left-spiritual brethren, and sisters, and mothers, &c. At the same time it is true that the favour of God is the security for every blessing. Obedience to his law secures industry, temperance, chastity, economy, prudence, health, and the confidence of others, all indispensable to success in life, and all connected, commonly, with success. Though the wicked sometimes prosper, yet the surest way to prosperity is to fear God and keep his commandments. Thus will all needed blessings descend on us here, and eternal blessings hereafter. With persecutions.' Jesus did not conceal this. But he consoled them. He assured them that amidst these they should find friends and comfort. It is easy to bear trials if God be our friend. With the promises of the bible in our hand, we may hail persecutions, and thank God that, amidst so many sorrows, he has furnished such superabundant consolations.

32 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 tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 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 condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

See Matt. xx. 17-19. 'Jesus went before them.' In the manner of an intrepid, fearless leader and guide, exposing himself to danger and death rather than his followers. And they were amazed,' &c. They were afraid that evil would befall him in the city; that the scribes and pharisees, who had so often sought to kill him, would then do it. Their fear and amazement were increased when he told them what would befall him there. They were amazed that he should still persevere in going up to the city.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldst do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they say unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great