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plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me, Luke vii. 18-23.

b Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee, Matt. iv. 12. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife, xiv. 3. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife, Mark vi. 17, 18. But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison, Luke iii. 19, 20. For John was not yet cast into prison, John iii. 24.

VER. 3.

Εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἡ ἕτερον προσδοκώμεν;

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

a Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and Scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel, Matt. ii. 2-6. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the multitudes that went before, and

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that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest: xxi. 5. 9. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head; and thou shalt bruise his heel, Gen. iii. 15. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed, xii. 3. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be, xlix. 10. I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of 'Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth, Num. xxiv. 17. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well I will raise them up a Prophet from spoken that which they have spoken. and will put my words in his mouth; among their brethren, like unto thee, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him, Deut. xviii. 15-18. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The LORD at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath, Ps. cx. 1-5. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel, Is. vii. 14. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son

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is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this, ix. 6, 7. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it, Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the streets shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined, Dan. ix. 24-26. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days, Hos. iii. 5. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

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your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said; and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call, Joel ii. 28-32. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and ĺ will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this, Am. ix. 11, 12. And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S, Obad. 21. But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, Mic. v. 2. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts, Hag.ii.7. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass, Zech. ix. 9. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts, Mal. iii. 1. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall, iv. 2. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called

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Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things, John iv. 25. Then those men, when the had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world, vi. 14. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? vii. 31. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 41, 42.

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Tuphoìávačλéπovci, nai xwλol weginaτοῦσι, λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται, καὶ κωφοὶ ἀκούουσι, νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται, καὶ πτωχοί εὐαγγελίζονται·

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a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house, xlii. 6, 7. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke iv. 18. And in the same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way; and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised, to the poor the Goslepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the pel is preached, vii. 21, 22.

b And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glori

The blind receive their sight, band the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, e the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preach-fied the God of Israel, Matt. xv. 30, ed to them.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it, Matt. ix.30. The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous, Psl. cxlvi. 8. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness, Is. xxix. 18. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, xxxv. 4-6. I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for

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31. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them, xxi. 14. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him withJohn, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have 1 none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ancle-bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping,and praising God, Acts iii.2-8.

See on clause 2. ver. 2. chap. viii. d Bring forth the blind people that

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MATT. XI. 5, 6.

have eyes, and the deaf that have ears, Is. xliii. 8. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, Mark vii. 37. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him, ix. 25.

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e He said unto them, Give place for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose, Matt. ix. 24, 25. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people, Luke vii. 14-16. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached, 22. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go, John xi. 43, 44.

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ceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified, Is. Ixi. 1-3. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been,saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word, lxvi. 2. And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock, Zech. xi. 7. The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Luke iv. 18. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Jam. ii. 5.

VER. 6.

Καὶ· μακάριός ἐστιν ὅσ ἐὰν μὴ σκανδα vμo.

And a blessed is he, b whosoever shall not be offended in me.

a See on clause 1. ver. 3. chap. v. b Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his Blessed are the poor in spirit: for brethren, James, and Joses, and Sitheir's is the kingdom of heaven, mon, and Judas? And his sisters, are Matt. v. 3. The meek shall eat and they not all with us? Whence then hath be satisfied: they shall praise the this man all these things? And they LORD that seek him: your heart shall were offended in him. But Jesus said live for ever, Psl. xxii. 26. For he unto them, A prophet is not without shall deliver the needy when he crieth; honour, save in his own country, and the poor also, and him that hath no in his own house, Matt. xiii. 55-57. helper. He shall spare the poor and Then came his disciples, and said needy, and shall save the souls of the unto him, Knowest thou that the Phaneedy, lxxii. 12, 13. The Spirit of risees were offended, after they heard the Lord God is upon me; because this saying? But he answered and the LORD hath anointed me to preach said, Every plant, which my heavenly good tidings unto the meek; he hath Father hath not planted, shall be sent me to bind up the broken heart-rooted up. Let them alone: they be ed, to proclaim liberty to the captives, blind leaders of the blind. And if and the opening of the prison to them the blind lead the blind, both shall that are bound; To proclaim the ac- fall into the ditch, xv. 12-14. Woe

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unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the of fence cometh! xviii. 7. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another, xxiv. 10. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad, xxvi. 31. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhahabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken, Is. viii. 14, 15. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against, Luke ii. 34. And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the hea: ren was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong, iv. 23 -29. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? John vi. 60, 61. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him, 66. Others said, This

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is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? vii. 41, 42. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, Rom. ix. 32, 33. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, 1 Cor. i. 23. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, ii. 14. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased, Gal. v. 11. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed, 1 Pet. ii. 8.

VER. 7.

Τούτων δὲ πορευομένων, ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰσοῦς λέγειν τοῖς ὄχλοις περὶ Ἰωάννου τί ἐξήλθετε εἰς τὴν ἔρημον θεάσασθαι; κάλαμον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον;

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, a What went ye out into the wilderness to see? b A reed shaken with the wind?

a The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins, Mark i. 3-5. And when the messengers of John were departed,he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet?

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