LET NOTHING Be Done through strife or VAINGLORY; BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. 3 and straightway he-will- SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Ho. i. 7; Mi. v. 10, .1; and Zec. ix. 10- It is therefore with great propriety that Christ in his most public triumph, chose, according to the prophecy before us, to ride on an ass-Nor are we to imagine there was anything mean or ridiculous in it, for the eastern asses are a much larger and more beautiful animal than ours; and it plainly appears that the patriarchs and judges thought it no disgrace to ride upon them; of which Abraham, Ge. xxii. 3; Moses, Ex. iv. 20; and Jair's family, Ju. x. 4, are instances -Nay, magistrates are spoken of by the general description of those that rode on white asses, v. 10 -comp. Nu. xxii. 21; 2 Sa. xvi. 2; xvii. 23; xix. 26. Mk. xi. 2. whereon never man sat-In this it is supposed is implied, that he for whose use the colt was to be brought, was a sacred person; thus in Nu. xix. 2, De. xxi. 3, we find that heifers to be offered in sacrifice were to be such as had never been employed in labour-Animals which had never borne the yoke were preferred for sacred uses by other nations, as well as by the Jews; so when the Philistines returned the ark, they laid it upon 'a new cart,' drawn by two milch kine, on which there [had] come no yoke,' 1 Sa. vi. 7-15-In further consistency with the sacredness of our Lord's person, he was buried in a tombwherein never man before was laid,' Lu. xxiii. 53; Jno. xix. 41, § 92, p. 476. Mt. xxi. 4. by the prophet-Zec. ix. 9, is here specially referred to-see on Jno. xii. 15, infra, p. 262 but here, as in Mt. xxi. 5, &c., more prophets than one appear to be quoted; but indeed all the prophets were but different media for the one 'Spirit of prophecy,' 2 Pe. i. 20, .1; Re. xix. 10. 5. Tell ye, &c.-This appears to be taken from Is. lxii. 11, Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation [thy Jesus] cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.-A pledge of Jesus' coming in glory, was now being given in his coming to Jerusalem in order to be lifted up upon the cross-see Jno. xii. 31, .2, infra, p. 268. Sion-see in GEOG. NOTICES of Jerusalem, § 6, P. 42. meek-Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, was remarkable for meekness, Nu. xii. 3-The meekness of our Lord is particularly noticed by Paul, 2 Co. x., xi.; Ph. ii. 3-5-Jesus requires that his followers learn of him, as being 'meek and lowly in heart,' Mt. xi. 29, § 29, p. 228. meek, and sitting upon an ass-The words of the prophet, Zec. ix. 9, seem to have a reference to the coming of Christ in glory, to be manifested as 'just, and having salvation; when he shall come to execute justice, and for the full deliverance of his people; of which an assurance was given in his coming the first time, 'lowly' and riding upon an ass-see on Jno. xii. 15, infra, p. 262. NOTES. seldom to be met with. Mark and Luke mention the sending for the colt only, as being that alone whereon our Lord rode; not mentioning the ass, though also brought (agreeably to the prophecy of Zecharias), because they do not mention that prophecy. There is plainly in the latter assertion no negation of the former. In Judea there were few horses, and those were chiefly used in war. The ass, the mule, and the camel are still most used in eastern countries by princes and chief persons. To ride on a horse was sometimes an emblem of war; a mule or an ass the emblem of peace.-See SCRIP. ILL., p. 260. Mk. xi. 2. Whereon never man sat. No animal previously used in any way was employed for sacred uses even among the heathen. Mt. xxi. 3. airy T. A popular mode of expressing "if he shall make objection,' which is found in Mark The Lord, &c. & xbpcos, not the Lord,' but the master,' Rabbi, as at ch. vii. 21, § 19, p. 140, and viii. 25, § 34, p. 266; Jno. xi. 12, § 58, p. 128; xiii. 13, .4, § 87, p. 367. 4. All this was done, &c. Events were so admirably and Luke. disposed to fulfil God's purposes, and by minute circumstances mark the advent of Christ. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion. This prophecy was constantly applied in the Jewish writings to the Messiah they expected; our Lord, therefore, by thus publicly fulfilling it, declared himself so. And so the people understood him.-See ver. 9, p. 264. Thy King cometh. It had been foretold that Messiah should sit upon the throne of his father David; and the people thus applied to Christ his true title; although the time when he shall take to himself his great power and reign was not yet. Sitting upon an ass, &c. The Prince of Peace did not take a horse, a warlike animal; but he will ride on that by and by, Rev. xix. 11. In the patriarchal ages, illustrious persons thought it no disgrace to make use of the ass; but it by no means appears that this opinion prevailed, or this custom continued till the reign of Tiberias. Was it a mean attitude wherein our Lord then appeared? Mean even to contempt? soul, for the honour of his humility, and for the I grant it; I glory in it; it is for the comfort of my utter confusion of all worldly pomp and grandeur.'Wesley. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. predicted respecting his second and glorious advent. [5 ver. Let us tell the daughter of Sion that the despised Nazarene, who came to Jerusalem meek, and riding upon an ass, will as assuredly, when he comes in the clouds of heaven, be manifested as 'just, and having salvation."] VOL. 11.] DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT MURMURINGS AND DISPUTINGS:-Phil. ii. 14. [261 LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.-Phil. ii. 3, 4. EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE: HE IS A SHIELD UNTO THEM THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.-Prov. xxx. 5. Lu. xix. 32. and found even as he had said-He had told them the most minute particulars :1st. In the village over against them, Mk. xi. 2. 2nd. As soon as they were entered, Mk. xi. 2. 3rd. They should find an ass tied, Mt. xxi. 2. | Zep. iii. 14-.7, Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15, The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more. 16, In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: 4th. And a colt whereon never man sat, Mk. xi. 2. and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17, The 5th. Both of them tied, Mt. xxi. 2. LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest 6th. What they should be asked when loosing in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.'-Thus them, Lu. xix. 31. might it have been, had Jerusalem known the things that belonged to her peace; but in place of rejoicing, he had to weep over her-see Lu. xix. 41, .2, p. 264. 16. understood not-see also Lu. xviii. 31, § 77, p. 235. xxi. 3. 7th. What should be done upon their reply, Mt. Jno. xii. 15. Fear not, &c.-Probably referring to NOTES. Mt. xxi. 7. Set him thereon. On the clothes which they had put upon the colt. The people would put the trappings on both the ass and the colt, to do the more honour to Jesus; and as not knowing on which he would ride. Thus, though there is a minute diversity in Matthew and Mark, as compared with Luke, yet it is no real discrepancy, since it does not involve any contradiction. Jno. xii. 15. Sitting on an ass's coll. There is much similarity to the preceding, Zep. iii. 14-.7, in the passage more particularly referred to, Zec. ix. 9, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daugh ter 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.'-See before on Mt. xxi. 5, p. 261, supra. 16. These things understood not, &c. That is, His disciples understood not, at the time when this entry into Jerusalem took place, that it was a fulfilment of the prophecy of, Zec. ix. 9; but when he ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS, LEST HE REPROVE THEE, AND THOU BE FOUND A LIAR. -Prov. xxx. 6. SING UNTO THE LORD; FOR HE HATH DONE EXCELLENT THINGS: THIS IS KNOWN IN ALL THE EARTH-Isa. xii. 5. multitude of the disciples-Many appear to have followed him at this time, from even so far as Galilee, Mt. xxvii. 55, § 92, p. 472. works-One of the last miracles recorded by Luke was opening the eyes of a blind man-see ch. xviii. 35-43, § 78, p. 240-It seems to have been fol lowed by another of a similar kind, Mk. x. 46-52, § 79, p. 242. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jno. xii. 16. glorified, &c.-ch. vii. 39, § 55, p. 96, The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.'-xiv. 26, § 87, p. 385, 'But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,When the Holy Ghost was given, Peter testified, saying, Ac. iii. 13, The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;'-1 Pe. i. 21, God, raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.' remembered-see also ch. ii. 22, § 12, p. 82. Mk. xi. 8. spread their garments-a mode of doing honour to kings, 2 Ki. ix. 13. cut down branches-as at the feast of tabernacles, Lev. xxiii. 40-see Jno. xii. 12, .3, p. 259. Lu. xix. 37. come nigh-'unto Jerusalem,' Mt. xxi. 1, p. 260-see again Lu. xix. 41, infra, p. 264. ... 259, .62, and Mt. xxi. 5, supra, p. 261, also on 'make 38. the King that cometh-see on Jno. xii. 13, .5, pp. him a king,' Jno. vi. 15, § 41, p. 318. glory in the highest-The song of the heavenly host at the birth of the Redeemer was, ch. ii. 14, § 4, p. 21, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' Jno. xii. 17. called Lazarus, &c.-Jno. xi. 42, .3, § 58, p. 131. NOTES. had been glorified by his resurrection and ascension from victory, or a king entering into his kingdom, was a common way of testifying joyful and triumphant feeling. John says, xii. 13, supra, p. 259, that these were branches of the palm tree. Lu. xix. 38. Peace in heaven. May there be peace. in heaven, and glory to God in the highest heavens, for the blessings of Messiah's kingdom." 39. Rebuke thy disciples. For proclaiming thee as the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [Mt. xxi. 8. Let the children of Israel, unto whom more especially Jesus has been made known as a Prince and a Saviour, not be behind their Jewish brethren in preparing the way of the Lord.] [Lu. xix. 37; Jno. xii. 17. He who, before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, raised up Lazarus from the grave, hath given us greater cause to rejoice, VOL. II.] and praise God, in that he hath raised up from the death of sin, multitudes who were asleep in spiritual death.] Lu. xix. 38. Let us rejoice in the triumphs of our King, through whom there is peace in heaven, which shall yet prevail among men; and glory in the highest, which shall also yet cover the earth. HONOUR SHALL UPHOLD THE HUMBLE IN SPIRIT.-Prov. xxix. 23. [263 CRY OUT AND SHOUT, THOU INHABITANT OF ZION FOR GREAT IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL IN THE MIDST OF THEE.-Isa. xii. 6. MATT. xxi. 9. THE SAINT BELIEVES THAT CHRIST SHALL HAVE A KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD; 10 'Blessed be the kingdom And when he-was-come-near, 41 he-beheld the city, and-wept over it, saying, If thou-hadst-known, 42 even thou, at-least in this thy day, the-things which belong unto thy peace! but now theyare-hid from thine eyes. For 43 the-days shall-come upon thee, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. xix. 40. the stones, &c.-John the Baptist, probably with a similar reference to the Gentiles as contrasted with the Jews, who esteemed themselves as fruit-bearing trees, said to the latter, Mt. iii. 8-10, § 7, pp. 52, .3,Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9, and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10, And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. The twelve tribes, most of whom were lost among the Gentiles, were represented by twelve stones, Jos. iv. 9, 19-24- but they were usually spoken of as branches, as Rom. xi. 16-26, &c. Mk. xi. 9. Hosanna-see on Jno. xii. 13, p. 260, supra -comp. 2 Sa. xiv. 4, and 2 Ki. vi. 26, where the cry is to an ordinary monarch, and where the word is translated'Help.' Mt. xxi. 9. Hosanna in the highest-Same words Mk. xi. 10-Lu. xix. 38, 'glory in the highest.'-Ps. cxlviii. 1, 'Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.' Lu. xix. 41. wept over it-Ps. cxix. 136, Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.'-Je. ix. 1, 'Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!'-xiii. 17, But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive." 42. this thy day-this season of respite in which salvation is still offered thee; in which the power of choice is still in thy hand-comp. Ps. xcv. 7; 2 Co. vi. 2; He. iii. 7, 13, .5-The day here spoken of is contrasted with the days when her enemies would be allowed to triumph over her, mentioned ver. 43; Jno. xii. 35, .6, p. 269. thy peace!.... thine eyes-alluding to the meaning of the name Jerusalem, the seeing of peace-see on ver. 44, p. 265, thy children.' NOTES. [Lu. xix. 40. The stones would, &c. ol xioo expákovтai. | Said to be a proverbial and hyperbolical form of expression, to denote that it is a moral impossibility for a thing to be otherwise than it is. Here, however, it is meant, that if those should be checked, God would even, miraculously, animate the very stones to celebrate his triumph. Of the examples adduced of this mode of expression, the most apposite is the following: Hab. ii. 11, The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam.... shall answer it, meaning, that even if men should be silent, the very stones would exclaim.'-Bloomf.] Mt. xxi. 9. Hosanna to the Son of David. When persons applied to the king for help, or for a redress of grievances, they used the word hosanna, or rather from the Hebrew, NW HOSHIAH NA! Save now!' or, 'Save, we beseech thee!' Thus both the words and actions of the people prove that they acknowledged Christ as their Messiah, and looked to bim for deliverance. The Son of David. It was promised that MESSIAH, the King to reign in RIGHTEOUSNESS, should come of the family of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. May the kingdom of the Messiah, promised to our father David, be established. Blessed be he whom God hath sent to be our king and deliverer. To come in the name of the Lord, is to come by the authority of the Lord.--Jno. xii. 13, p. 260, SCR. ILL. Mk. xi. 10. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David. The kingdom promised to David and his seed, 1 Ki. ii. 4; viii. 25. In the highest. In the highest heavens. The sense is, May angels in the highest heavens join with us in doing homage to our king!- See Ps. cxlviii. 1. Lu. xix. 41. He beheld the city, and wept over it. See on Mt. xxiii. 37-.9, § 85, p. 320. 42. If thou hadst known. May be rendered, 'O that thou hadst known.' emphasis in wal où, q.d., Even thou, notwithstanding [Even thou. The pathos is increased by the high that thou art the bloody and rebellious city, that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee. Notwithstanding that thou hast hitherto returned but hatred for my love, and hast so repeatedly sought to accomplish my destruction.] The things which belong unto thy peace! Our Lord lem, from yereh, he shall see,' and probably alludes to the meaning of the word Jerusa shalom, peace or prosperity." 43. For the days shall come upon thee. Every PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [Lu. xix. 40. May we, by the Spirit of God, be built up together an holy temple to the Lord; so that, as lively stones, we may shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into light.-See 1 Pe. ii. 5, 9.] 264] [Mt. xxi. 9; Mk. xi. 10. Soon may Christ claim his rightful sovereignty over the kingdom of his father David, the whole house of Israel;' over which no king after Solomon did reign in Jerusalem.] GOD IS MY DEFENCE.-Psa. lix. 9. [VOL. II. AT THE SAME TIME HE BELIEVES CHRIST'S KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD THE RICH MAN SHALL LIE DOWN, BUT HE SHALL NOT BE GATHERED: HE OPENETH HIS EYES, AND HE IS NOT.-Job xxvii. 19. LUKE xix. 43, .4. that thine enemies shall-cast-a-trench-about thee, and compass-thee-round, and keep44 thee -in ovverovo on-every-side, and shall lay-thee -even-with-the-ground, and thy children within thee; and they-shall-not-leave in thee one-stone upon another; because ανθ' ων thou-knewest not the time καιρον of-thy visitation επισκοπής. (Ch. xix. 45, lxxxiii. p. 276.) All the city is moved: the Pharisees displeased. 10 "And when-he-was-come into Jerusalem, MARK Xi. 11. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, 11 and into the temple :" SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. xix. 43. thine enemies shall cast a trench, &c.-as had been long threatened, De. xxviii. 49, 52-Ís. xxix. 3, 'And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.'-Je. vi. 6, For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.' -Da. ix. 26, And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and ("the Prince of Peace" having been rejected, and they, being given their choice, "No king but Cæsar ") 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.' 44. shall lay thee, &c.-see the words of the Lord to Solomon, when the latter had finished the building of the house of the Lord, &c., 1 Ki. ix. 7, 8-also what he said by the prophets, Is. xxix. 4; Mi. iii. 12. thy children, &c.-in contrast to what would have been their case, had Jerusalem been worthy of her name, seeing the things that belonged to her peace: then it might have been said to her, as Ps. cxlvii. 12-4, Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 13, For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within 11. the prophet-see on Jno. vi. 14, § 41, p. 317. NOTES. épa, &c., for days will come adverse to thee,' πí oè, as it is said, Ge. xlii. 36, all these things are against me.' Here is a manifest prediction, and, in some measure, description of the siege of Jerusalem; as will appear by referring to Josephus, Bell. v. 6. 2. 3. ix. 1. 11. 1. 5, which passages illustrate the first stage —the χάρακα περιβ. Lu. xix. 43. Trench. xápaxa, 'a bank or rampart.' So called from the xápakes, or strong poles, which were driven down to preserve the agger, or mound of earth, in due form. The word trench now means commonly a pit or ditch. When the Bible was translated, it meant also earth thrown up to defend a camp. This is the meaning of the original here. The next term, πeρIKUKλwoovσi, and compass thee round,' denotes the effectual blockade of the city by the building of a wall, which could not be burnt as the xápač had been. Josephus informs us that Titus, in order that he might compel the city to surrender by famine, built a wall around the whole of the city. This wall, nearly five miles in circumference, and furnished with thirteen castles or towers, was completed with incredible labour in ten days. The professed design of this wall was to keep the city in on every side. By this means the people were reduced to such awful extremities, that the revolting excesses of parents towards their children, and the sufferings that existed, are too awful to relate. The time of thy visitation. The time when God had visited and redeemed his people by sending the promised Messiah, ch. i. 68, § 3, p. 16. This time is, ver. 42, called 'this thy day.? Mt. xxi. 10. All the city was moved. Was in commotion;' agitated with hope, fear, wonder, or disap. probation, according as each person stood affected. 11. This is Jesus the prophet, &c. & πроуτs, THAT prophet whom Moses spoke of, De. xviii. 18. Every expression of the multitude plainly intimated that they fully received our blessed Lord as the promised Messiah. Mk. xi. 11. Into the temple. Jesus, the true Paschal Lamb, thus presented himself, as was required by the law, that the victim to be offered should be set 44. Shall lay thee, &c. idapovoí. The best com- apart four days before the great day of atonement. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Lu. xix. 43, .4. The walls of Jerusalem might seem impregnable, but without the protection of God, other defences are altogether vain, and may even contribute to the ruin of those who look to them for shelter: safety can only be found under the wings of the Almighty." [Let us be warned by the case of Jerusalem, not to neglect the voice of God in prophecy: not to remain VOL. II.] ignorant of the Divine proceedings in providence, HE HATH FULFILLED HIS WORD.-Lam. ii. 17. BEHOLD, THE FEAR OF THE LORD, THAT IS WISDOM; AND TO DEPART FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING.-Job xxviii. 28. [265 |