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CURSED BE HE THAT MAKETH THE BLIND TO WANDER OUT OF THE WAY.-Deut. xxvii. 18.

SECTION 47.—(G. 5.)-[Lesson 46.*]-JESUS COMES BY SEA TO DALMANUTHA, OR MAGDALA, AND MAKES ANSWER TO THE PHARISEES THERE, WHO DEMANDED OF HIM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN. Matt. xv. 39-xvi. 4. Mark viii. 10-.2.-[Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxiii. pp. 360-..2.]

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Mt. xv. 39. Mk. viii. 10. Having sent away the second multitude which he had fed on the eastern side of the sea of Galilee, Jesus comes by ship with his disciples into the coasts of Magdala,' &c.

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sky; if they were equally honest in their inquiries in
the things of God, they might as well discern the
signs of the times;' and not thus, at his first coming,
ask for a sign connected with his second advent.
Mt. xvi. 4. Mk.
To that wicked and
but that of the prophet Jonas.
adulterous generation' there should no sign be given,
viii. 12. Jesus sighs deeply in
spirit, and intimates that the sign, the sufferings of
Christ, to be given in that generation, they were un-
prepared to perceive.

MARK Viii. 10-.2.

"And straightway he-entered into a ship 10
with his disciples,

and-came into the parts of-Dalmanutha.
And the Pharisees

d came-forth,

and began to-question with-him," seeking of him a-sign from ano heaven, tempting him.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mt. xv. 39. sent away the multitude-the four thousand whom he had miraculously fed in the wilderness eastward of the sea of Galilee, ver. 32-.8; Mk. viii. 1-9. § 46, p. 26; so after feeding the five thousand, Mt. xiv 22; Mk. vi. 45, § 41, p. 317.

Mk. viii. 10. with his disciples-he now accompanied his disciples to the western side of the lake, whereas after the former feeding he had constrained them to go away alone, Mt. xiv. 22, &c., § ib.

parts of Dalmanutha-'coasts of Magdala,' Mt. xv.39. Mt. xvi. 1. the Pharisees-see on ch. iii. 7, § 7, p. 52 their attention was much occupied with outward washings-see before, Mk. vii. 1-13, § 44, p. 4-to the neglect of inward purity, Mt. xxiii. 25-.8, § 85, p. 317-they rested in the typical sacrifices, and saw not their need of Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness,' Rom. x. 4; as coming in the flesh to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself,' He. ix. 26.

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27, § 50, p. 43-but the possibility of this the Sadducees denied, in refusing to acknowledge the existence of angel or spirit, Ac. xxiii. 8, or to believe in a resurrection of the body, Mt. xxii. 23, § 85, p. 300-thus had these two sects made void the word of God-the one, with regard to Christ's first coming; and the other, the promise of his coming in glory.

tempting-they had before asked why he ate with sinners, ch. ix. 11, § 36, p. 277-why his disciples prepared food on the sabbath, Lu. vi. 1, 2, § 24, p. 188 why they partook of food with unwashen hands Mt. xv. 2, § 44, p. 5-all these questions had been concerning eating, on which subject Jesus had lately spoken so as to offend them, ver. xv. 12, § ib. p. 8hereafter, their questions are of various kinds, and seem to have been proposed with a desire to entangle him in his talk-see ch. xix. 3, § 74, p. 218; xxii. 15 8, 35, .6, §§ 84, .5, pp. 295, 304; Jno. viii. 6, § 55 p. 99. a sign-they may have thought that he had rather evaded the demand made in the synagogue at Capernaum, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?' Jno. vi. 30, § 43, p. 327-a like demand had been previously made by the Pharisees, Mt. xii. 38, § 31, p. 238-they NOTES.

Sadducees-as the Pharisees denied the truth connected with Christ's first coming, so did the Sadducees the truth regarding his second advent: Christ comes to 'reward every man according to his works,' ch. xvi.

knowledging our Lord as the Messiah, was owing, neither to the want of evidence, nor capacity to judge of that evidence. This our Saviour signified in the reproof which he gave them; for discerning so accurately, by the appearance of the sky, what sort of weather would be, whilst they were so stupid as not to understand, by the accomplishment of the ancient prophecies, Ge. xlix. 10; Is. xi. 1; Xxxv. 5; Da. ix. 24, (see Scrip. Illus.' ver. 3, p. 29,) and by the miracles which he performed, that the time foretold by the prophets, and expected by all ages, even the time of the Messiah, was at hand. By a sign from heaven,' was probably meant some peculiar manifestation from thence, as fire from heaven,' 1 Ki. xviii. 23-38; or a glorious appearance in the second instance of the kind in the first three Gospels.' heaven-see on Mt. xii. 38, § 31, p. 238. This is the

Mt. xv. 39. Magdalu means Tower, and from which | probably was Mary Magdalene, ch. xxvii. 55, .6, § 92; xxviii. 1, § 93; Lu. viii. 2, § 30, p. 233. Mary Magdalene was a native of Galilee. Had Magdala been on the eastern side of the lake, she would have been a native of Peræa. Mk. viii. 10. Dalmanutha was west of the sea of Tiberias, in the district of Magdala. These were either different denominations for the same region, or separate denominations for distinct but contiguous regions. And as our Lord before was at Bethsaida, on the eastern side of the lake, and in order to arrive at Magdala would have to cross "to the other side," we may infer that each of these regions, whether the same or adjacent, were yet situate on the western side of the lake.'-Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxiii. p. 360. [Mt. xvi. 1. A sign from heaven. Their not ac--Greswell, Vol. II. p. 360.] PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[Mt. xvi. 1. It is no new thing for superstition to league itself with infidelity, in opposition to the cause of truth; thus even when our Saviour was personally upon earth, the Pharisees were joined with the Sadducees in this evil work.

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Although it be fair and right to question religious teachers as to the truth and tendency of their doctrines, yet we must beware of a cavilling spirit, and of evil intent in so doing.

* Lesson 46, in the System of Graduated Simultaneous Instruction, embraces Sections 47, .8, .9.

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THEIR WINE IS THE POISON OF DRAGONS, AND THE CRUEL VENOM OF ASPS.-Deut. xxxii. 33.

LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS: FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS

MATT. xvi. 2-4.

2 He answered and-said_unto-them, Whenit-is evening, ye-say, It will be fair-wea3 ther evdia for the sky is-red. And inthe-morning, It will be foul-weather xeuwv to-day for the sky is-red and - lowring στυγνάζων. Ο ye hypocrites, ye-can γινωσKETE discern the face of-the sky; but can4 ye not discern the signs of-the times? Awicked and adulterous generation seeketh

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

are now more definite, and ask a sign from heaventhe mission of Moses was attested by numerous signs, some of which were from heaven-at the word of Joshua the sun was stayed in its course in the heaven, Jos. x. 12-4-and at that of Isaiah it went back ten degrees upon the sun dial of Ahaz, Is. xxxviii. 8-in the case of Samuel the sign of thunder was given, 1 Sa. xii. 16-8-Elijah had made his public appearance with the announcement, 'As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word,' 1 Ki. xvii. 1- and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit,' Ja. v. 17, .8-it had been intimated that Messiah should himself appear in the heavens, Da. vii. 13-and that wonders in the heavens &c., should precede the day of the Lord, Joel ii. 30, .1,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 '-. looking the coming of the Messiah in humiliation, as Is. liii., &c., and applying to the first advent predicetions that belong to the second, these men were wise in their own conceit, in place of being wise to know the signs of that particular time-see ver. 3-Jesus had already given a sign correspondent to the object of his first coming-his coming to give himself, the bread of life, for the life of the world-see on Jno. vi. § 43, pp. 325-34-and see on ch. ii. 18, § 12, p. 81, &c.

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Mt. xvi. 2, 3. when it is evening, ye say, &c., and in the morning, &c.-they were able to discern between the signs belonging to the evening, and those belonging to the morning-had they exercised their minds with equal impartiality and diligence upon spiritual things, they would have distinguished between the signs of their time, which was to be followed by a long and dark night, Jno. ix. 4, § 55, p. 109, during which they were in danger of being left to wander in darkness, xii. 35, § 82, p. 269, and the signs belonging to that blessed morning, in the prospect of which the disciples are invited to lift up their heads, Lu. xxi. 25-8, § 86, p. 337.

3. hypocrites-this was their general character, see ch. xxiii. § 85-and particularly so in the present instance they had come tempting him, ver. 1, p. 28. but can ye not discern-so Lu. xii. 54-.6, § 63, p. 170Je. viii. 7-9, 'Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and

MARK.

the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. 8, How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. 9, The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?'

the signs of the times-not signs of the time; but the signs belonging to one time, from those belonging to another-the signs to precede or accompany the first appearing of Christ were come-the messenger before his face, Mal. iii. 1-the seventy weeks predicted in Daniel ix. 24-the departure of the sceptre from Judah, Ge. xlix. 10-Edom had in the family of Herod been given the dominion, xxvii. 40-comp. Ps. ii. 1, 2, Why do the heathen rage?' &c., and Ac. iv. 27, For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together and especially was it predicted that Messiah should appear in the very circumstances in which Jesus is now found, Is. liii. 2, 3, 'For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3, He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not-thus their very unbelief and despite witnessed to the truth of his Messiahship. 4. a wicked and adulterous generation-alluding, probably, in a pointed manner to the characteristics of the two sects-the wicked or malevolent Pharisees, ch. xxiii. 25-34, § 85, p. 317; and the adulterous Sadducees or Herodians, who were willing to prostitute the church to worldly purposes, giving unto Casar the things that were God's, xxii. 15--21, § 84, p. 295, &c.-when a people repose that confidence in the creature, and yield that obedience which belongs to God alone, they are said to be 'adulterous.'

seeketh after a sign- The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts,' Ps. x. 4-they seek not after God: they desire not fellowship with the Father of lights, the eternal, the everlasting God, but after a sign; that which for a while gratifies the sense- that whose existence is limited, and which is only the outward indication of something more important-the Jews continued seeking after a sign, 1 Co. i. 18-25.

NOTES.

Mt. xvi. 2, 3. He answered, &c. The meaning of this answer is, There are certain indications by which you judge about the weather. In the evening you think you can predict the weather to-morrow. You have evidence in the redness of the sky by which you judge. So there are sufficient indications on which you should judge concerning me and this time.

In the morning...the sky is red and lowering. That is, there are dark and threatening clouds in the sky, which in the east are made red by the rays of the

[p. (91).

rising sun. This, in Judea, was the sign of a tempest.

Ye can discern the face, &c. The wise men published an annual judgment on the rains of the coming

year.

Can ye not discern the signs, &c. If they had not been influenced by malice, and if their minds had not been blinded by prejudice, the Jews might with very little sagacity have discerned the variety of signs which marked out this time for the arrival of the Messiah.-See Scrip. Illus.' supra.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[Mt. xvi. 2, 3. The same faculties of observation, | in discerning the signs of the times,' with regard to which are occupied successfully in noting the pheno- God's great working in providence. We ought not to mena of nature, connected with our temporal interests, be ignorant of what God has predicted in his word, would, if we were truly in earnest about the cause nor of what he, in his providence, is accomplishing, of God, be as sedulously and successfully employed according as he foretold.]

VOL. II.]

BE YE.... FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN.-Eph. v. 1.

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COMETH THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE.-Eph. v. 6.

IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN

MATT. xvi. 4.

after a-sign; and there-shall- no sign -begiven unto-it, but the sign of-the prophet Jonas.

[Remainder of ver. 4, 2 48, p. 31.]

MARK viii. 12.

And he-sighed-deeply avaσTeva as in-his 12 spirit, and-saith, Why doth- this generation -seek-after a-sign? verily I-say untoyou, There-shall-no sign -be-given untothis generation. [Ver. 13, 248, p. 31.]

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mk. viii. 12. sighed deeply in his spirit, &c.-longing for the full accomplishment of that of which he spoke to the woman of Samaria- The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him,' Jno. iv. 23, § 13, p. 94-' he sighed,' Mk. vii. 34, § 46, p. 25.

Why doth this generation seek? &c.-why should they be so desirous of seeing the sign of Messiah's coming in glory, seeing they are so unprepared to stand in the judgment? Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?' Mal. iii. 2— Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light,' &c., Am. v. 18-20.

no sign...unto this generation-no sign such as they desired-a sign from heaven,' ver. 11, p. 28-a sign of Messiah's appearing in glory-this was about to take place on the Holy Mount, Mt. xvii. 1, &c., § 51, p. 51 but they who could not, in his humiliation, see the sign of his exaltation, were not to be privileged with seeing the king in his beauty-in this sign even the chosen disciples had previously to be instructed, ver. 31; ix. 1, § 50, p. 44-in looking for another sign than what belonged to their time, the Pharisees were overlooking the signs already given, and which were the very signs predicted-refusing these, they were to have none whatever-see on signs of the times,' Mt. xvi. 3, p. 29.

NOTES.

[Mt. xvi. 4. But the sign of the prophet Jonas. Christ had already wrought miracles sufficient to demonstrate both his divine mission, and his divinity; only one more was necessary to take away the scandal of his cross and death, to fulfil the Scriptures, and to establish the Christian religion; and that was, his resurrection from the dead, which he here states was typified in the case of Jonah.]

[The prophet Jonas, who, as a propitiation, was cast out into the devouring deep, where he remained three days and three nights; at the expiration of which he was cast forth alive, Jon. i., ii., p. (28). So was Jesus, as a propitiation, exposed for three days and three nights to the deepest humiliation, amid the rage of priests and people; and at length he arose in resurrection life, three days and three nights after he knew that his death was determined upon-see Mt. xxvi. 14-6, [Mk. xiv. 10, .1; Lu. xxii. 3-6,] § 86, p. 356. And as Jonah went to Nineveh, whither

Israel was to be carried: so Christ, after his resurrection, in the preaching of the gospel, has come in the direction in which the lost sheep of the house of Israel were afterwards to be found, Rev. vii. 2.] [Mk. viii. 12. Sighed deeply in his spirit. àvaoTeválas τῷ πν. The ava is intensive, and signifies what is deep (for the notions of height and depth concur); i.e. 'having fetched a deep groan, or sigh from the very heart; his soul, his heart, was deeply affected at some new proof of the obduracy of the people.] their wickedness and hypocrisy-revolving in his mind

In this history, the answer which St. Matthew ascribes to Jesus was most probably returned to the inquirers on the spot. The conduct and language ascribed to Jesus by St. Mark, we may suppose would be to his disciples in private, when the parties concerned in it had been dismissed.'-See Greswell, Vol. II. pp. 361, ..2.

PRACTICAL REFLECTION.

Mt. xvi. 4. To have the advantage of the signs which | God is pleased to give, for confirmation of his word, it is necessary that we be sincere seekers after truth, and simply obedient thereto, when it is made known

to us. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign in vain. None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Da. xii. 10.

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
DALMANUTHA, P. 28.

DALMANUTHA-see NOTE, Mk. viii. 10.-Of DALMANUTHA nothing is left which can lead us to conjecture its site, but the gospel history, From that history it seems that Magdala and Dalmanutha were both on the western side of the lake. The Evangelists Matthew and Mark agree in determining the second miracle of feeding the multitude to have occurred 'nigh to the sea of Galilee;' Jesus passed through the midst of Decapolis, a region on the eastern side of the lake: after which, according to Mt. xv. 39, he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of MAGDALA and Mk. viii. 10, as plainly affirms, that he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of DALMANUTHA.'

If Jesus crossed the lake from the region of Decapolis, he must have gone to the western side of it. The narrative proceeds in Mt. xvi. 4, 5, § 48, p. 31: (the Pharisees having demanded a sign,) 'he left them, and departed. And when his disciples were come to the other side:' this must have been to the eastern side; which is corroborated by Mark-see viii. 13, And he left them, and entering into the ship again, departed to the other side.' In the 22nd ver. he expressly says, And he cometh to Bethsaida,' after which both these Evangelists state, that Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, with which neighbourhood Bethsaida, on the eastern side of the lake, is easily reconcilable.

MAGDALA, p. 28.

MAGDALA 'is recognised in the modern el-Mejdel, about three miles north of Tiberias, on the western side of the lake. The name Mejdel is obviously the same with the Hebrew Migdal-el, of Joshua xix. 38, "in the tribe of Naphtali," and the Greek Magdala of the New Testament, chiefly known as the resideuce of Mary Magdalene. The ancient notices of its

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position are exceedingly indefinite; the Rabbins in the Jerusalem Talmud, compiled at Tiberias, several times speak of Magdala as adjacent to Tiberias and Hammath, or the hot springs. Mejdel is at present a miserable little Muslim village, looking much like a ruin, though exhibiting no marks of antiquity.* It lies at the S.E. corner of the plain, supposed to be

*The houses are certainly mean enough; but we observed among them some indications of ancient ruins, both of walls and foundations. In the rocks on the clefts adjoining the place there are several conspicuous caverns.'-Dr. Wilson, Lands of the Bible,' Vol. II. p. 136.

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IS THERE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD? GOD FORBID.-Rom. ix. 14. VOL. II.

THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.-Rom. x. 9.

MAGDALA (continued).

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and other shrubs which margin the lake, give rise to many sad, yet pleasing emotions. From Mejdel, the margin of the lake takes a turn to the S. E.; and as the hills approach close to the lake, the pathway is often a considerable height above the water: sometimes a wady, or mountain stream, descends from the hills, and the shore forms a gentle sloping cove, with a pebbly beach, and then again becomes abrupt.' It was probably on such pebbly spots that Jesus walked, and the people gathered around him till the pressure of eager listeners was so great, that to escape their importunity he entered into a ship, and sat and taught, as the whole multitude stood on the shore. And perhaps it was in one such solitary walk, round one of these retired coves, that he called James and John, having left Andrew and Simon, and passed on a little further thence.'

'From el-Mejdel is to be viewed the whole of the upper margin of the lake, which appears like a semi--Ibid. circle; and where Jordan enters is easily seen in the opening of the hills. The eastern mountains in the region of Bashan are steep and lofty, not a single tree to be discerned. The ridge of Hermon in the north, sprinkled with snow, forms the grandest object in sight. The deep serenity and calm, with the bright sun playing upon the waters, and the curious insects-one species shaped like a frog, and green as the leaves on which they sat-peopling the oleanders

THE CURSE OF THE LORD IS IN THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED: BUT HE BLESSETH THE HABITATION OF THE JUST.-Prov. iii. 33.

SECTION 48.-(G. 6.)-[Lesson 46, continued.]-JESUS RETURNS TO BETHSAIDA; AND ON THE WAY CAUTIONS HIS DISCIPLES AGAINST THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES, AND CERTAIN OTHER SECTS. Matt. xvi. 4-12. Mark viii. 13-21.-[Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxiii. pp. 362, ..3.]

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS.

THE WISE IN HEART WILL RECEIVE COMMANDMENTS: BUT A PRATING FOOL SHALL FALL.-Prov. x. 8.

xvi. 5.

Mt. xvi. 4. Mk. viii. 13. Jesus leaves the Pharisees; and, re-entering the ship, departs to the other side. - viii. 14. The disciples having forgotten to take bread have only one loaf with them in the ship. xvi. 6.

- viii. 15.

NOTE

the number of loaves, and the number of the men that were fed, and the quantity left in each case. Mt. Mk. viii. 19, 20. He makes the disciples repeat to him these particulars. Giving them thus an example of the manner in which they were to instruct others, when given the Jesus charges his dis-keys of the kingdom of heaven, and privileged to dispense the bread of life to the famishing multitudes, both of Jews and of Gentiles.

ciples to take heed,' and also to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and of the leaven of Herod. NOTE-Herod seems to have made use of religion as an instrument of state policy; as the Jewish sects did, for the exaltation of the priesthood: the Pharisees looking for their support from the people, and the Herodians putting their trust in the

prince.

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No. 48.

xvi. 12.

xvi. 11. - viii. 21. Again he asks them How is it that ye do not understand?' It was not concerning bread for the body that he bade them beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees; but regarding that food for the soul, which, as being made stewards of the household of faith, they were to be employed in distributing to the people. They now understand that he had bidden them beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. NOTE-They, by leaning upon earth, the one upon the people, the other upon the prince, had alike come short of the truth respecting the great object of divine revelationChrist in his first and second advents; the knowledge of which was now more fully to be given to the disciples. And see NOTE, ver. 6, p. 32.

Line from Dalmanutha across the lake to Bethsaida in Decapolis.

MATT. xvi. 4-12.

[Ver. 4, xlvii. p. 30.]
And he-left them, and-
departed.

MARK viii. 13-21.
[Ver. 12, xlvii. p. 30.]
"And he-left them, and
entering into the ship again
departed to the other-side.'

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mk. viii. 13. entering into the ship again-Jesus reembarked in the same vessel in which he had passed from the eastern side of the lake, ver. 10, p. 28-he now went 'to the other side' from where the preceding conversation took place-Mark says that they 'departed to the other side,' and Matthew speaks of what took place when they were come to the other side,' Mt. xvi. 5, p. 32-they now, therefore, appear THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS

VOL. II.]

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to have returned to the same side where Jesus parted with the multitude that had followed him from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and from Decapolis, Mk. vii. 24-viii. 9, §§ 45, .6, pp. 13-27-his short stay on the western side of the lake may have been just sufficient to give time for the multitude to disperse entirely-see also after the feeding of the five thousand, Jno. vi. 15, &c., § 41, p. 317.

TO HATE EVIL.-Prov. viii. 13.

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TAKE FAST HOLD OF INSTRUCTION; LET HER NOT GO: KEEP HER; FOR SHE IS THY LIFE.-Prov. iv. 13.

ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED, AND GO NOT IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN.-Prov. iv. 14.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Mt. xvi. 6. Take heed-the disciples had need of the admonition- Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen,' De. iv. 9- Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. 10, Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes,' xxvii. 9, 10-the need they had of being admonished to remember the works, and attend to the words of the Lord immediately appears, ver. 18-23, &c., § 50, pp. 37-41.

beware of the leaven, &c.-see on ch. xiii. 33, § 32, p. 248-in reproach of ancient Israel it was said, Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings for this fiketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD,' Am. iv. 5-the same ostentatious love of display actuated the scribes and Pharisees- All their works they do for to be seen of men,' Mt. xxiii. 5, § 85, p. 313-in place of humbling themselves to be taught of God, their religion consisted in pomp and lording it over others-the disciples of Christ were not to follow such teachers, 1-12 § ib. p. 312-To the

Corinthians, 1 Co. v. 6-8, who were puffed up, it is said, 'Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7, Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed [or siain] for us: 8, therefore let us keep the feast [or the holy day], not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.'

of the Pharisees-who fashioned their doctrine and deportment so as to give them favour with the people -teaching self-righteousness, to the rejection of the Lord our Righteousness, Ro. x. 1-11; Ph. iii. 5-9the leaven of the Pharisees is said to have been hypocrisy, Lu. xii. 1, § 63, p. 163-all their works they did to be seen of men-Peter was in danger of being biassed in his statements and conduct by the character and opinions of those around him-see on Mt. xvi. 3, p. 29.

Mk. viii. 15. leaven of Herod-see on Mt. xvi. 6supra.

NOTES.

Mt. xvi. 5. Were come to the other side, viz., the coast of Bethsaida. Our Lord was now on his way to CESAREA PHILIPPI, see ver. 13, § 50, p. 35; and Mk. viii. 22, .7, §§ 49, 50, pp. 34, .5.

[6. Take heed (an emphatical expression, mind and studiously attend to-Be on your guard) and beware of the leaven, &c. Our Saviour fitly compared the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees to learen, because of its pernicious influence to sour men's tempers with pride and other evil passions. Leaven is used in making bread. Its use is to pass through the flour, and cause it to ferment or to swell, and become light. It passes secretly, silently, but certainly. None can see its progress. So it was with the doctrines of the Pharisees. They were insinuating, artful, plausible. They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines, they instilled them secretly into the mind, and they pervaded all the faculties, like leaven. The doctrine of the Pharisees led to superstition, pride, and hypocrisy; that of the Sadducees to the denial of a divine Providence and of a future state of existence. This was the leaven of which Christ bade his disciples beware. For the tenets of the Pharisees and Sadducees-see the No1 Es on ch. iii. 7, § 7, p. 52. Erroneous doctrines are like leaven in the following respects: 1st. They are at first slight and unimportant in appearance. 2nd. They are insinuated into the soul unawares and silently, and are difficult of detection. 3rd. They act gradually. 4th. They act most certainly. 5th. They will per

vade all the soul, and bring all the faculties under their control.]

Mk. viii. 15. The leaven of Herod. In Matthew, it is of the Sadducees;' which are both the same, Herod and his courtiers being Sadducees or favourers of them; or the Sadducees being sticklers for Herod and his government, of which the Pharisees had no good opinion.

Mt. xvi. 6. And of the Sadducees, whose rejection of the resurrection and other truths connected with the second advent, allowed of their bending considerably to expediency in order to please the ruling power. Of this sect, probably, were the sect called after Herod, who was himself a singular example of looseness of principle.

[Notice the practical refutation given to the docby the same means, without those distinctions on actrine of the Pharisees- all being fed in company, and count of ceremonial cleanness which was the great burthen of their teaching. The leaven of the Pharisees' was still farther opposed by this, that the same appears to have been in the second miracle of feeding, wrought for Gentiles, as had been in the first for Jews indiscriminately.]

[The practical atheism of the Herodians, who treated religion merely or chiefly as a matter of state policy, and who conducted matters upon the supposition that God does not directly interfere in human affairs, was also contradicted by the fact of

PRACTICAL REFLECTION.

[Mt. xvi. 6. We should take heed and beware of the | ficulty we can be kept from their influencing our false principles that prevail around us; as, although opinions and conduct.] we may not formally adopt them, yet it is with dif

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PONDER THE PATH OF THY FEET.-Prov. iv. 26.

[VOL. II.

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