In sections 52 to 54 we see Christ choosing the Twelve Apostles and delivering the Sermon on the Mount to them and to the multitudes.
§ 52. JESUS TEACHES AND HEALS GREAT MULTITUDES BY THE SEA OF GALILEE
| Mark 3:7-12 | Matt. 12:15-21 |
| 7 And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed: and from Judea, 8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumæa, and beyond Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon,a a great multitude, hearing 2what great things he did, came unto him. 9 And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him: 10 for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had 3plagues 4pressed upon him that they might touch him. 11 And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. 12 And he charged them much that they should not make him known. |
15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all, 16 and charged them that they should not make him known: 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 1by Isaiahb the prophet, saying, 18 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgement to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgement unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. |
1 Or, through.
2 Or, all the things that he did.
3 Gr. scourges.
4 Gr. fell.
a Note the wide territory from which the crowds now come, from Idumea in the south to Phoenicia in the north and from Perea in the east.
b Isaiah 42:1-4.
§ 53. AFTER A NIGHT OF PRAYER, JESUS SELECTS TWELVE APOSTLES
| Mark 3:13-19 | Luke 6:12-16 |
| 13 And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would: and they went unto him. 14 And he appointed twelve1, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out 2devils; 16 3and Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder: 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphæus, and Thaddæus, and Simon the 4Cananæan, 19 and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him. |
12 And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples: and he chose from them twelve, whom also he names apostles;a 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphæus, and Simon which was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas, the 5son of James, and Judas Iscariot, which was the traitor. |
1 Some ancient authorities add whom also he named apostles. See Luke 6:13.
2 Gr. demons.
3 Some ancient authorities insert and he appointed twelve.
4 Or, Zealot. See Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13.
5 Or, brother. See Jude 1.
a Matthew postpones giving the names of the Twelve till they are sent out to preach in Galilee (Matt. 10:1-4. § 70). There is a fourth list in Acts 1:13. See the four compared in note at the end of this volume, note 8.
§ 54. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. PRIVILEGES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE MESSIANIC REIGN. CHRIST'S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
A level place on a mountain, not far from Capernaum
a There is little doubt that the discourses given by Matthew and Luke are the same, Matthew locating it on "the mountain," and Luke "on a level place," which might easily be a level spot on a mountain. (See note at end of this book, note 9.) Observe that they begin and end alike, and pursue the same general order. Luke omits various matters of special interest to Matthew's Jewish readers (e.g. Matt. 5:17-42), and other matters that he himself will give elsewhere (e.g. Luke 11:1-4; 12:22-31); while Luke has a few sentences (as ver. 24-26, 38-40), which are not given by Matthew.
| Matt. 5:1-2 | Luke 6:17-19 |
| 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: 2 and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, |
17 And he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. 19 And all the multitude sought to touch him: for power came forth from him, and healed them all. |
| Matt. 5:3-12 | Luke 6:20-26 |
| 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 1Blessed are they that mourn [see Isa. 61:3]: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth [see Ps. 37:11]. 6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled [see Ps. 55]. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [see Ps. 18:25; Prov. 11:17]. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God [see Ps. 24:3-5]. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. |
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. |
1 Some ancient authorities transpose verses 4 and 5.
Matt. 5:13-20
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men [see Mark 9:50; Jesus often repeated his sayings]. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house [see Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16]. 16 Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:21-48
21 Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement [see Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17]: 22 but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother1 shall be in danger of the judgement; and whosoever shall say to his brother, 2Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, 3Thou fool, shall be in danger 4of the 5hell of fire. 23 If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, 24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge 6deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery [see Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18]: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into 7hell. 30 And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into 7hell. 31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement [see Deut. 24:1]: 32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.a
33 Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths [see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11; 23:21]: 34 but I say unto you, Swear not at all [see Matt. 26:63-64]; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor 8by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King [see Isa. 66:1]. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black [see Ps. 48:2]. 37 9But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of 10the evil one.
38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth [see Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21]: 39 but I say unto you, Resist not 11him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also [see John 18:23]. 40 And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall 12compel thee to go one mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour [see Lev. 19:18; Deut. 23:6; 25:19],
| Matt. 5:21-48 | Luke 6:27-30, 32-36 |
| and hate thine enemy: 44 but I say unto you [see Luke 23:34], Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; 45 that ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the 13publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same? 48 Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. |
27
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, 28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. 29 To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloke withhold not thy coat also. 30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, 14never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36 Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful. |
1 Many ancient authorities insert without cause.
2 An expression of contempt.
3 Or, Moreh, a Hebrew expression of condemnation.
4 Gr. unto or into.
5 Gr. Gehenna of fire.
6 Some ancient authorities omit deliver thee.
7 Gr. Gehenna.
8 Or, toward.
9 Some ancient authorities read But your speech shall be.
10 Or, evil: as in ver. 39; 6:13.
11 Or, evil.
12 Gr. impress.
13 That is, collectors or renters of Roman taxes: and so elsewhere.
14 Some ancient authorities read despairing of no man.
a See further Mark 9:43-47; 10:11-12; Matt. 18:8-9; 19:9.
Matt. 6:1-18
1 Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father which is in heaven.
2 When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee. 7 And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not therefore like unto them: for 1your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us this day 2our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from 3the evil one.4 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18 that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.
1 Some ancient authorities read God your Father.
2 Gr. our bread for the coming day.
3 Or, evil.
4 Many authorities, some ancient, but with variations, add For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matt. 6:19-34
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves 1break through and steal: 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not 1break through nor steal: 21 for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also. 22 The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? 26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto his 2stature? 28 And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 Gr. dig through.
2 Or, age.
| Matt. 7:1-6 | Luke 6:37-42 |
| 1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you. |
37 And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released: 38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit? 40 The disciple is not above his 1master: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his 1master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. |
1 Or, teacher.
| Matt. 7:7-12 | Luke 6:31 |
| 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; 10 or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12 All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets. |
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. |
| Matt. 7:13 to 8:1 | Luke 6:43-49 |
| 13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide 1is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many be they that enter in thereby. 14 2For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out 3devils, and by thy name do many 4mighty works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore which heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, which built his house upon the rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. 26 And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus ended these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching: 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. 1 And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. |
43 For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon a rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: 5because it had been well builded. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great. |
1 Some ancient authorities omit is the gate.
2 Many ancient authorities read How narrow is the gate, &c.
3 Gr. demons.
4 Gr. powers.
5 Many ancient authorities read for it had been founded upon the rock: as in Matt. 7:25.
In sections 55 to 58 we see the rapid spread of Christ's influence and the inquiry from the Baptist in prison.a
a Here we have only Matthew and Luke, a block from the Logia of Matthew.
§ 55. JESUS HEALS A CENTURION'S SERVANT AT CAPERNAUM
| Matt. 8:5-13 | Luke 7:1-10 |
| 5 And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 and saying, Lord, my 1servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not 2worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but only say 3the word, and my 1servant shall be healed. 9 For I also am a man 4under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my 5servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 And when Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, 6I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall 7sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven [see Ps. 107:3; Isa. 49:12]: 12 but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee. And the 1servant was healed in that hour. |
1 After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's 5servant, who was 8dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death. 3 And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his 5servant. 4 And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him: 5 for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue. 6 And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not 2worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: 7 wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say 3the word, and my 1servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my 5servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the 5servant whole. |
1 Or, boy.
2 Gr. sufficient.
3 Gr. with a word.
4 Some ancient authorities insert set: as in Luke 7:8.
5 Gr. bondservant.
6 Many ancient authorities read With no man in Israel have I found so great faith.
7 Gr. recline.
8 Or, precious to him; or, honourable with him.