§ 84. THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN IN THAT GENERATION


Mark 8:38-9:1 Matt. 16:27-28 Luke 9:26-27
38    For whosoever
shall be ashamed of
me and of my words
in this adulterous and
sinful generation, the
Son of man also shall
be ashamed of him,
when he cometh in
the glory of his Father
with the holy angels.
1 And he said unto
them, Verily I say
unto you, There be
some here of them
that stand by, which
shall in no wise taste
of death, till they
see the kingdom of
God come with power.




27             For the
Son of man shall
come in the glory of
his Father with his
angels; and then shall
he render unto every
man according to his
1deeds [see Ps. 62:12;
Prov. 24:12
]. 28 Verily
I say unto you, There
be some of them that
stand here, which
shall in no wise taste
of death, till they
see the Son of man
coming in his kingdom.
26    For whosoever
shall be ashamed of me
and of my words, of
him shall the Son of
man be ashamed, when
he cometh in his own
glory, and the glory
of the Father, and of
the holy angels. 27 But
I tell you of a truth,
There be some of
them that stand here,
which shall in no
wise taste of death,
till they see the
kingdom of God.
1 Gr. doing.




§ 85. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS ON A MOUNTAIN (PROBABLY HERMONa) NEAR CÆSAREA PHILIPPI


Mark 9:2-8 Matt. 17:1-8 Luke 9:28-36
2    And after six days
Jesus taketh with him
Peter, and James, and
John, and bringeth
them up into a high
mountain apart by
themselves: and he
was transfigured
before them: 3 and
his garments became
glistering, exceeding
white; so as no fuller
on earth can whiten
them. 4 And there
appeared unto them
Elijah with Moses:
and they were talking
with Jesus.









5    And Peter
answereth and saith
to Jesus, Rabbi, it
is good for us to be
here: and let us make
three 1tabernacles,b
one for thee, and one
for Moses, and one for
Elijah. 6 For he wist
not what to answer;
for they became sore
afraid. 7 And there
came a cloud
overshadowing them:
and there came a voice
out of the cloud, This
is my beloved Son:
hear ye him [see Deut.
18:15; Isa. 42:1;
Ps. 2:7
].c



8                     And
suddenly looking
round about, they
saw no one any more,
save Jesus only with
themselves.
1    And after six days
Jesus taketh with him
Peter, and James, and
John his brother, and
bringeth them up into
a high mountain
apart: 2 and he was
transfigured before
them: and his face did
shine as the sun, and
his garments became
white as the light.
3 And behold, there
appeared unto them
Moses and Elijah
talking with him.











4    And Peter
answered, and said unto
Jesus, Lord, it is good
for us to be here: if
thou wilt, I will make
here three 1tabernacles;
one for thee, and
one for Moses, and
one for Elijah.
5    While he was yet
speaking, behold, a
bright cloud
overshadowed them:
and behold, a voice out
of the cloud, saying,
This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am
well pleased; hear ye
him. 6 And when the
disciples heard it,
they fell on their
face, and were sore
afraid. 7 And Jesus
came and touched
them and said, Arise,
and be not afraid.
8 And lifting up their
eyes, they saw no
one, save Jesus only.
28    And it came to
pass about eight days
after these sayings, he
took with him Peter
and John and James,
and went up into the
mountain to pray.
29 And as he was
praying, the fashion
of his countenance was
altered, and his raiment
became white
and dazzling. 30 And
behold, there talked
with him two men,
which were Moses
and Elijah; 31 who
appeared in glory, and
spake of his 2decease
which he was about
to accomplish at
Jerusalem. 32 Now
Peter and they that
were with him, were
heavy with sleep: but
3when they were fully
awake, they saw his
glory, and the two
men that stood with
him. 33 And it came
to pass, as they were
parting from him,
Peter said unto Jesus,
Master, it is good for
us to be here: and let us
make three 1tabernacles;
one for thee,
and one for Moses,
and one for Elijah:
not knowing what he
said. 34 And while he
said these things,
there came a cloud,
and overshadowed
them: and they feared
as they entered into
the cloud. 35 And
a voice came out of
the cloud, saying,
This is 4my Son, my
chosen: hear ye him.


36    And when the
voice 5came, Jesus
was found alone.
1 Or, booths.
2 Or, departure.
3 Or, having remained awake.
4 Many ancient authorities read my beloved Son. See Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7.
5 Or, was past.

a The tradition which places the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor is beyond question false.

b Probably not long before the feast of tabernacles (near end of September) and Peter may have meant that they celebrate the feast on the mountains instead of going to Jerusalem.

c See § 24 for similar language at the Baptism of Jesus.





§ 86. THE PUZZLE OF THE THREE DISCIPLES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION AND ABOUT ELIJAH ON THEIR WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN


Mark 9:9-13 Matt. 17:9-13 Luke 9:36
9    And as they were
coming down from
the mountain, he
charged them that
they should tell no
man what things
they had seen, save
when the Son of man
should have risen
again from the dead.
10 And they kept the
saying, questioning
among themselves
what the rising again
from the dead should
mean. 11 And they
asked him, saying,
1The scribes say that
Elijah must first come.
12 And he said unto
them, Elijah indeed
cometh first, and
restoreth all things:
and how is it written
of the Son of man,
that he should suffer
many things and be
set at nought? 13 But
I say unto you, that
Elijah is come, and
they have also done
unto him whatsoever
they listed, even as it
is written of him.
9    And as they were
coming down from
the mountain, Jesus
commanded them,
saying, Tell the vision
to no man, until
the Son of man be
risen from the dead.


10 And his disciples
asked him, saying,
Why then say the
scribes that Elijah
must first come [see
Mal. 4:5-6
]? 11 And
he answered and said,
Elijah indeed cometh,
and shall restore all
things: 12 but I say
unto you, that Elijah is
come already,a and
they knew him not,
but did unto him
whatsoever they listed
[see 1 Kings 19:2,
10
]. Even so shall the
Son of man also suffer
of them. 13 Then
understood the
disciples that he spake
unto them of John the
Baptist.


36                     And
they held their peace,
and told no man in
those days any of the
things which they had
seen.
1 Or, How is it that the scribes say ... come?

a The Baptist's disclaimer about being Elijah (John 1:21) means only that he was not Elijah in person come back to earth according to popular expectation.





§ 87. THE DEMONIAC BOY, WHOM THE DISCIPLES COULD NOT HEAL

In the region of Cæsarea Philippi


Mark 9:14-29 Matt. 17:14-20 Luke 9:37-43
14    And when they came
to the disciples, they
saw a great multitude
about them, and
scribes questioning
with them. 15 And
straightway all the
multitude, when
they saw him, were
greatly amazed, and
running to him
saluted him. 16 And he
asked them, What
question ye with
them? 17 And one of
the multitude
answered him, 3Master,
I brought unto thee
my son, which hath
a dumb spirit; 18 and
wheresoever it taketh
him, it 4dasheth him
down: and he foameth,
and grindeth his
teeth, and pineth
away: and I spake to
thy disciples that
they should cast it
out; and they were
not able. 19 And he
answereth them and
saith, O faithless
generation, how long
shall I be with you?
how long shall I bear
with you? bring him
unto me. 20 And they
brought him unto
him: and when he
saw him, straightway
the spirit 5tare him
grievously; and he
fell on the ground,
and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked
his father, How long
time is it since this
hath come unto him?
And he said, From
a child. 22 And
oft-times it hath cast
him both into the fire
and into the waters,
to destroy him: but if
thou canst do anything,
have compassion
on us, and help
us. 23 And Jesus said
unto him, If thou
canst! All things are
possible to him that
believeth. 24 Straightway
the father of the
child cried out, and
said6, I believe; help
thou mine unbelief.
25 And when Jesus
saw that a multitude
came running
together, he rebuked
the unclean spirit,
saying unto him,
Thou dumb and deaf
spirit, I command
thee, come out of
him, and enter no
more into him. 26 And
having cried out, and
5torn him much, he
came out: and the
child
became as one
dead; insomuch that
the more part said,
He is dead. 27 But
Jesus took him by the
hand, and raised him
up; and he arose.
28 And when he was
come into the house,
his disciples asked
him privately, 7saying,
We could not cast
it out. 29 And he said
unto them, This kind
can come out by
nothing, save by
prayer.8











14    And when they were
come to the multitude,
there came to
him a man, kneeling
to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy
on my son: for he is
epileptic, and suffereth
grievously: for oft-times
he falleth into
the fire, and oft-times
into the water.
16 And I brought him
to thy disciples, and
they could not cure
him.


17        And Jesus
answered and said, O
faithless and perverse
generation, how long
shall I be with you?
how long shall I bear
with you? bring him
hither to me.
































18 And Jesus rebuked
him; and the 1devil
went out from him:
and the boy was
cured from that hour.














19 Then came the
disciples to Jesus apart,
and said, Why could
not we cast it out?
20 And he saith unto
them, Because of
your little faith: for
verily I say unto you,
If ye have faith as a
grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto
this mountain, Remove
hence to yonder
place; and it shall
remove; and nothing
shall be impossible
unto you.2





37    And it came to
pass, on the next day,
when they were
come down from the
mountain, a great
multitude met him.



38 And behold, a man
from the multitude
cried, saying, 3Master,
I beseech thee
to look upon my son;
for he is mine only
child: 39 and behold, a
spirit taketh him, and
he suddenly crieth
out; and it 9teareth
him that he foameth,
and it hardly departeth
from him, bruising
him sorely. 40 And
I besought thy
disciples to cast it out;
and they could not.
41 And Jesus answered
and said, O faithless
and perverse generation,
how long shall
I be with you, and
bear with you? bring
hither thy son. 42 And
as he was yet a com-
ing, the 1devil 10dashed
him down, and 5tare
him grievously.



























But Jesus rebuked
the unclean spirit,
and healed the boy,
and gave him back
to his father. 43 And
they were all
astonished at the
majesty of God.
1 Gr. demon.
2 Many authorities, some ancient, insert ver. 21 But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting. See Mark 9:29.
3 Or, Teacher.
4 Or, rendeth him.
5 Or, convulsed.
6 Many ancient authorities add with tears.
7 Or, How is it that we could not cast it out?
8 Many ancient authorities add and fasting.
9 Or, convulseth.
10 Or, rent him.




§ 88. RETURNING PRIVATELY THROUGH GALILEE, HE AGAIN FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION


Mark 9:30-32 Matt. 17:22-23 Luke 9:43-45
30    And they went
forth from thence,
and passed through
Galilee; and he would
not that any man
should know it. 31 For
he taught his disciples,
and said unto
them, The Son of
man is delivered up
into the hands of
men, and they shall
kill him; and when
he is killed, after
three days he shall
rise again. 32 But they
understood not the
saying,


                         and
were afraid to ask
him.





22    And while they
1abode in Galilee,
Jesus said unto them,
The Son of man shall
be delivered up into
the hands of men;
23 and they shall kill
him, and the third
day he shall be raised
up. And they were
exceeding sorry.

43    But while all
were marvelling at
all the things which he
did, he said unto his
disciples, 44 Let these
words sink into your
ears: for the Son of
man shall be
delivered up into the
hands of men.




45                     But
they understood not
this saying, and it
was concealed from
them, that they
should not perceive
it: and they were
afraid to ask him
about this saying.
1 Some ancient authorities read were gathering themselves together.




The season of retirement from Galilee is now ended (§§ 72-88). The remaining events at this time (§§ 89-95) probably occupied only a few days.





§ 89. JESUS, THE MESSIAH, PAYS THE HALF-SHEKEL FOR THE TEMPLE

Capernaum


Matt. 17:24-27

24    And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the 1half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your 2master pay the 1half-shekel [see Ex. 30:11-15]? 25 He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? 26 And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free. 27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a 3shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

1 Gr. didrachma.
2 Or, teacher.
3 Gr. stater.




§ 90. THE TWELVE CONTEND AS TO WHO SHALL BE THE GREATEST UNDER THE MESSIAH'S REIGN. HIS SUBJECTS MUST BE CHILDLIKE

Capernaum


Mark 9:33-37 Matt. 18:1-5 Luke 9:46-48
33    And they came
to Capernaum: and
when he was in the
house he asked them,
What were ye
reasoning in the way?
34 But they held their
peace: for they had
disputed one with
another in the way,
who was the 1greatest.
35 And he sat down,
and called the twelve;
and he saith unto them,
If any man would be
first, he shall be last
of all, and minister
of all. 36 And he took
a little child, and
set him in the midst
of them: and taking
him in his arms, he
said unto them,




37 Whosoever shall
receive one of such
little children in my
name, receiveth me:
and whosoever
receiveth me, receiveth
not me, but him
that sent me.
1    In that hour came
the disciples unto
Jesus, saying, Who
then is 1greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?






2 And he called to him
a little child, and set
him in the midst of
them, 3 and said,
Verily I say unto you,
Except ye turn, and
become as little
children, ye shall in no
wise enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself
as this little child,
the same is the
1greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. 5 And
whoso shall receive
one such little child
in my name receiveth
me:
46    And there arose a
reasoning among
them, which of them
should be 1greatest.








47 But when Jesus saw
the reasoning of their
heart, he took a little
child, and set him by
his side, 48 and said
unto them,









Whosoever shall
receive this little child
in my name receiveth
me: and whosoever
shall receive me
receiveth him that sent
me: for he that is
2least among you all,
the same is great.
1 Gr. greater.
2 Gr. lesser.




§ 91. THE MISTAKEN ZEAL OF THE APOSTLE JOHN REBUKED BY JESUS IN PERTINENT PARABLES

Capernaum


Mark 9:38-50 Matt. 18:6-14 Luke 9:49-50
38    John said unto him,
7Master, we saw one
casting out 8devils
in thy name: and we
forbade him, because
he followed not us.
39 But Jesus said,
Forbid him not: for there
is no man which shall
do a 9mighty work in
my name, and be able
quickly to speak evil
of me. 40 For he that
is not against us is for
us. 41 For whosoever
shall give you a
cup of water to drink,
10because ye are
Christ's, verily I say
unto you, he shall in
no wise lose his reward.
42 And whosoever
shall cause one of
these little ones that
believe 11on me to
stumble, it were better
for him if 2a great
millstone were hanged
about his neck, and he
were cast into the sea.










43            And if
thy hand cause thee
to stumble, cut it off:
it is good for thee
to enter into life
maimed, rather than
having thy two hands
to go into 12hell, into
the unquenchable
fire.13 45 And if thy
foot cause thee to
stumble, cut it off:
it is good for thee to
enter into life halt,
rather than having
thy two feet to be
cast into 12hell. 47 And
if thine eye cause
thee to stumble, cast
it out: it is good for
thee to enter into the
kingdom of God with
one eye, rather than
having two eyes to
be cast into 12hell;
48 where their worm
dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched
[see Isa. 66:24]. 49 For
every one shall be
salted with fire14 [see
Lev. 2:13
]. 50 Salt is
good: but if the salt
have lost its saltness,
wherewith will ye
season it? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at
peace one with
another.





















6        but whoso
shall cause one of
these little ones which
believe on me to
stumble, it is profitable
for him that
2a great millstone
should be hanged
about his neck, and
that he should be
sunk in the depth of
the sea. 7 Woe unto
the world because of
occasions of
stumbling! for it must
needs be that the
occasions come; but
woe to that man through
whom the occasion
cometh! 8 And if thy
hand or thy foot
causeth thee to stumble,
cut it off, and
cast it from thee: it
is good for thee to
enter into life maimed
or halt, rather than
having two hands or
two feet to be cast
into the eternal fire.





9 And if thine
eye causeth thee to
stumble, pluck it out,
and cast it from thee:
it is good for thee to
enter into life with
one eye, rather than
having two eyes to
be cast into the 3hell
of fire.
10    See that ye despise
not one of these little
ones; for I say unto
you, that in heaven
their angels do always
behold the face
of my Father which
is in heaven.4 12 How
think ye? if any man
have a hundred
sheep,a and one of
them be gone astray,
doth he not leave the
ninety and nine, and
go unto the mountains,
and seek that
which goeth astray?
13 And if so be that he
find it, verily I say unto
you, he rejoiceth over
it more than over the
ninety and nine which
have not gone astray.
14 Even so it is not
5the will of 6your Father
which is in heaven, that
one of these little ones
should perish.
49    And John answered
and said, Master,
we saw one casting
out 8devils in thy
name; and we forbade
him, because he
followeth not with
us. 50 But Jesus said
unto him, Forbid him
not: for he that is
not against you is for
you.
1 Gr. greater.
2 Gr. a millstone turned by an ass.
3 Gr. Gehenna of fire.
4 Many authorities, some ancient, insert ver. 11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost. See Luke 19:10.
5 Gr. a thing willed before your father.
6 Some ancient authorities read my.
7 Or, Teacher.
8 Gr. demons.
9 Gr. power.
10 Gr. in name that ye are.
11 Many ancient authorities omit on me.
12 Gr. Gehenna.
13 Ver. 44 and 46 (which are identical with ver. 48) are omitted by the best ancient authorities.
14 Many ancient authorities add and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. See Lev. 2:13.
15 Gr. lesser.

a Parable of the Lost Sheep.





§ 92. RIGHT TREATMENT OF A BROTHER WHO HAS SINNED AGAINST ONE, AND DUTY OF PATIENTLY FORGIVING A BROTHER (PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT)


Matt. 18:15-35

15    And if thy brother sin 1against thee, go, shew him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established [see Deut. 19:15]. 17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the 2church: and if he refuse to hear the 2church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21    Then came Peter, and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until 3seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likeneda unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his 4servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand 5talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The 6servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 And the lord of that 6servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the 7debt. 28 But that 6servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him a hundred 8pence: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. 29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due. 31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith unto him, Thou wicked 6servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: 33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?b 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. 35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

1 Some ancient authorities omit against thee.
2 Or, congregation.
3 Or, seventy times and seven.
4 Gr. bondservants.
5 This talent was probably worth about $1200.
6 Gr. bondservant.
7 Or, loan.
8 The word in the Greek denotes a coin worth about seventeen cents.

a Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

b The king forgave the servant $1,200,000; the servant refused to forgive $17. We might say in round numbers, a million, and ten dollars.





§ 93. THE MESSIAH'S FOLLOWERS MUST GIVE UP EVERYTHING FOR HIS SERVICE


Matt. 8:19-22 Luke 9:57-62
19    And there came 1a scribe,
and said unto him, 2Master, I will
follow thee whithersoever thou
goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto
him, The foxes have holes, and the
birds of the heaven have 3nests;
but the Son of man hath not
where to lay his head. 21 And
another of the disciples saith unto
him, Lord, suffer me first to go
and bury my father. 22 But Jesus
saith unto him, Follow me; and
leave the dead to bury their own
dead.
57    And as they went in the way,
a certain man said unto him, I will
follow thee whithersoever thou
goest. 58 And Jesus said unto
him, The foxes have holes, and the
birds of the heaven have 3nests;
but the Son of man hath not
where to lay his head. 59 And he
said unto another, Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first
to go and bury my father. 60 But
he said unto him, Leave the
dead to bury their own dead; but
go thou and publish abroad the
kingdom of God. 61 And another
also said, I will follow thee, Lord;
but first suffer me to bid farewell to
them that are at my house. 62 But
Jesus said unto him, No man,
having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God.
1 Gr. one scribe.
2 Or, Teacher.
3 Gr. lodging-places.




§ 94. THE UNBELIEVING BROTHERS OF JESUS COUNSEL HIM TO EXHIBIT HIMSELF IN JUDEA, AND HE REJECTS THE ADVICE