MOST MEN WILL PROCLAIM EVERY ONE HIS OWN GOODNESS: BUT A FAITHFUL MAN WHO CAN FIND? JOHN xix. 37. were done, that the scripture should-be-fulfilled, A-bone of-him shall-not-be-broken 37 σuvтρißησεтa. And again another scripture saith, They-shall-look on him-whom theypierced. Jno. xix. 36. shall not be broken-This had been foreshewn of Jesus our passover-see the type, Ex. xii. 46; Nu. ix. 12-Ps. xxxiv. 20, He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.'-Which type and prophecy were fulfilled, notwithstanding the evil design of his enemies, ver. 31, supra. 37. They shall look on him, &c.-The prediction referred to is Zec. xii. 10-as the result of the pouring out of the spirit of grace and of supplication' upon the house of David' (or the royal priesthood), 'they shall look upon me (saith the blessed Saviour) whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him' (Judah), for whom Jesus bade the daughters of Jerusalem weep, Lu. xxiii. 28, § 91, p. 457-In the Joseph of Arimathæa, midst of the throne' was beheld 'a Lamb as it had been slain,' Rev. v. 6. 38. Joseph He seems to have worthily kept in memory the name of Joseph the son of Jacob, who was so remarkable a type of Christ, and upon whose posterity the blessing in Christ was more especially xlviii. 15-20; xlix. 22-6, and by Moses, De. xxxiii. promised to come, as predicted both by Jacob, Ge. 13-7. Mk. xv. 43. an honourable counsellor, &c.—so Joseph was made to Pharaoh, over all the land of Egypt, Ge. xli. 33-45. Lu. xxiii. 50, a good man, and a just-so in the sight of God was Joseph in his stewardship, Ge. NOTES. Jno. xix. 36. A bone of him shall not be broken. What can offer so probable a reason for the otherwise unaccountable injunction, that not a bone of the paschal lamb should be broken, as that it might point to the sacrifice of that lamb as a type of the sacrifice of Christ? [There is evidently a correspondence between the type and antitype. And as the passage referred to at the next verse, in the margin, is (as Lampe and Tittman prove) plainly prophetic of the piercing of the Redeemer's side, so we have here both a correspondence of type and antitype, and a fulfilment of prophecy, viz., of the piercing.] 37. Again another scripture, &c. Comp. Rev. i. 7, from which passage it appears that this prophecy, Zec. xii. 10, will have its complete fulfilment at our Lord's second coming.'-Lonsdale. Mt. xxvii. 57. When the even was come. This even ended at sunset, when, according to the Jewish mode of computation, the sabbath day began. The Jews were forbidden in their law to suffer the bodies of persons who were hanged upon a tree to remain there all night.-See SCRIP. ILLOS., Jno. xix. 31, supra. [When the even. This must have been about three o'clock, or a little after; for our Lord having expired about three o'clock, ver. 46, § 91, p. 466, and the Jewish passover beginning about four, it was necessary that Joseph, who would not fail to eat the passover at the usual time, should have obtained and buried the body of Christ some time before four o'clock. But such was the general consternation, occasioned by the prodigies that took place on this most awful occasion, that we may safely conjecture nothing was done in order, and perhaps the passover itself was not eaten at the usual hour, if at all that day.'-4.C.] [Mk. xv. 43. Arimathaa. This place, in Luke called "a city of the Jews," is supposed to have been the same with "Ramathaim," or "Ramah," mentioned as the city of the parents of Samuel, 1 Sa. i. 19. “In the tribe of Benjamin."-A.C.-See GEOG. NOTICE, p. 479.] An honourable counsellor. The word honourable PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Jno. xix. 35-7. Let us be truly grateful for the assurance we are given that Jesus our passover, who was crucified for us, is indeed the Christ of God. 37 ver. Soon may that scripture be fulfilled in mercy, They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, Zec. xii. 10. Awful must be the case of those who refuse to look upon Christ until they see [36 ver. Let us compare type and antitype, predic-him coming to judgment. tion and fulfilment. Is it not presumption to suppose that our faith is independent of those means which God has provided for its establishment and sustenance ?-that we can, without serious spiritual injury to ourselves, allow the contents of either the Old or the New Testament to remain a dead letter?] Mk. xv. 42. Let us not merely rest on the sabbath, but make due preparation for doing so; that both we ourselves and those under our care may do so according to the commandment. (Lu. xxiii. 50-.2. Among the twelve disciples *The time which these particulars (Mt. xxvii. 57-61, [Mk. xv. 42-7; Lu. xxiii. 50-.6; Jno. xix. 38-42]) would take up may be defined in general as comprehended between the ninth hour of the day and sunsetafter the one but before the other-and perhaps equi-distant from both. And here the events of the fourteenth of Nisan would properly expire.'-Ibid., p. 254. 474] HE THAT GLORIETH, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD.-2 Cor. x. 17. [VOL. 11. THE JUST MAN WALKETH IN HIS INTEGRITY: HIS CHILDREN ARE BLESSED AFTER HIM.-Prov. xx. 6, 7. THE SPIRIT OF MAN IS THE CANDLE OF THE LORD, SEARCHING ALL THE INWARD PARTS OF THE BELLY.-Prov. xx. 27. xxxix. 1-9-ver. 2, 'And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man ;'-When tempted to unfaithfulness, he said, ver. 9, How.... can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Lu. xxiii. 51. waited for the kingdom of God-Was anxiously desirous of the appearance of the Messiah; he was a good man, and a just;' he had nobly set himself against the wicked purposes of the sanhedrim; he was a disciple of Jesus,' though he was not openly his follower, because he feared the Jews, Jno. xix. 38-Jacob, when blessing his sons, says, Ge. xlix. 18, I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.'See in the blessing of Judah the king described, ver. 8-12; and the kingdom in the blessing of Joseph, ver. 22-.6. Jno. xix. 38. for fear of the Jews-ch. xx. 19, § 95, p. 498, The doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews,' when Jesus after his NOTES. here is not a mere title of office, but is given in reference to his personal character, as being a man of integrity and blameless life. Mk. xv. 43. Went in boldly unto Pilate. Rather, 'taking courage." The word translated boldly, seems to be added with reference to his previous conduct, who was, according to Jno. xix. 38, A disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, The disciples of Jesus had fled, and if they had not, they had no influence with Pilate. Unless there had been a special application to Pilate, in behalf of Jesus, his body would have been buried that night in the common grave with the malefactors: for it was a law of the Jews that the body of an executed man should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. of the last years of Tiberius, that he refused burial Jno. xix. 39. Myrrh and aloes. It should seem (as the best commentators are agreed) that we are not to suppose the myrrh and aloes (or the latter at least) to have been in a liquid state (namely, the distillation from the trees), but to have been the wood of those trees, dried and pulverized. This, Mt. xxvii. 58. Begged the body of Jesus. Male- indeed, appears by the great weight of the spices factors were buried ignominiously; but at the re(100 lb. troy weight). The body could not have quest of relatives or friends, permission was given been regularly embalmed, since there was not time to bury an executed criminal in the regular way. sufficient for that; but spices and unguents were Cicero reckons it among the greatest crimes of brought to wash and anoint the body, and to envelop Verres, that when in Sicily, he sold this permission it in aromatic drugs. for gold; and Tacitus reckons it among the cruelties An hundred pound weight. 'Spices were somePRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. chosen by Christ to be his apostles, there was one living, should yet boldly come forward in order to Judas Iscariot; and belonging to the Jewish sanhe- provide for the dead body of the Redeemer !] drim by whom Jesus was condemned, there was at least one Joseph of Arimathæa. Let us discriminate, not only class, but also individual character and conduct.] [Mk. xv. 43. God can raise up instruments to accomplish his good pleasure even from quarters the least expected. Who would have thought that Joseph, who seems not to have openly confessed Christ when VOL. II.] [It is worthy of notice, that it was a Judas who betrayed Christ to be crucified, and that it was a Joseph who came forward in behalf of Christ crucified.] Jno. xix. 39. Let us pray that we may escape the error both of Peter and of Nicodemus-may we meekly but boldly confess Christ at all times and in all circumstances. MAN'S GOINGS ARE OF THE LORD;-Prov. xx. 24. [475 IT IS BETTER, IF THE WILL OF GOD BE SO, THAT YE SUFFER FOR WELL DOING, THAN FOR EVIL DOING.--1 Pet. iii. 17 GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.-Gal. vi. 14. d and he-rolled agreat stone to-the door of-the sepulchre, and-departed.* and rolled astone unto the door of-the sepulchre. be the place indicated, Is. xxii. 16-It is full of sepulchres hewn in the rock, Mk. xv. 46-As being buried on the side of Gehenna, and in the tomb of Joseph, Jesus would most literally fulfil the prediction, Is. liii. 9, He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;' SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jno. xix. 41. the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha,' ver. 17, § 91, p. 458-Probably not the place which is usually pointed out as the place of crucifixion, but the mount south of Jerusalem, now called the hill of evil counsel, over the valley of the son of Hinnom, into which the bodies of malefactors were cast, and where they were burnt-The north face of that hill appears to have been used by the rich for the interment of their dead, and seems to Mk. xv. 46. a stone-This stone is afterwards referred to as being sealed, Mt. xxvii. 66, p. 478-as 'rolled back' by the angel, xxviii. 2, § 93, p. 485. NOTES. times used in such quantities as to form a heap or bed, on which the dead body was laid. Thus it is said of Asa, 2 Chr. xvi. 14, they laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices,' &c. Both materials appear to have been pulverized (the wood by crisping or burning?), and strewed in the folds of the linen in which the body was wrapped-perhaps the whole body was encased, after the wrapping, in the mixture, and an outer wrapper fastened over all. The proceeding was hurried, on account of the approaching sabbath: and apparently an understanding entered into with the women, that it should be more completely done after the sabbath was over.'-Alford. [A great quantity was used at the funeral of Aristobulus; and it is said that five hundred servants bearing aromatics attended the funeral of Herod. See Josephus, Ant. b. xv. c. 3, s. 4; and b. xvii. c. 8, 8. 3: and fourscore pounds of spices were used at the funeral of R. Gamaliel the elder.] Jno. xix. 40. Wound it, &c. See ch. xi. 44, § 58, p. 132. To bury. evrapiale. To prepare for sepulture, either by anointing, rolling up, or in any other way. Mt. xxvii. 60. In his own new tomb. In this tomb Luke and John inform us that no man had been laid. This was so ordered, in the providence of God, doubtless, that there might be no suspicion about his identity when he rose; that it might not be alleged that another person had risen; or that he was raised by touching the bones of some prophet, as happened to the corpse that touched the bones of Elisha, 2 Ki. xiii. 21. Further, by being buried here, an important prophecy was remarkably fulfilled, 476] LET US NOT BE WEARY IN Is. liii. 9, He made his grave.... with the rich in his death.' A circumstance apparently at variance with part of the same prophecy, ver. 12, which spoke of him as 'numbered with the transgressors,' and unlikely to happen to one who was crucified as a malefactor. Hewn out in the rock. The ancients had not that indecent and unwholesome custom which now prevails, of crowding all their dead in the midst of their towns and cities, within the narrow precincts of a place reputed sacred, much less of amassing them in the bosom of their fanes and temples. The burying places of the Romans were at a distance from their towns; and the Jews had their sepulchres in gardens (Jno. xix. 41), in fields, and in the sides of mountains. In the former of these places, we find that Joseph of Arimathæa, mindful of his mortality, had hewn out of the rock in his garden a sepulchre, in which he intended his own remains should be deposited. We are informed by modern travellers that numerous excavations of this kind remain to the present day, and not only afford places of shelter for the wearied traveller; but are likewise hiding places for thieves and murderers, who sally forth from them to commit their nocturnal depredations. [This circumstance relative to the burial of our Lord, and the place in which he lay, minute as it may appear, completely obviated the absurd objec tion of the Jews, that his disciples....stole him away; since, from such a tomb as this, there was no possible way by which his body could be removed, except by the mouth or door of the cave, at which (as we are afterwards told) a guard was placed, and where a great stone was rolled. It is worthy of WELL DOING:-Gal. vi. 9. [VOL. II. THERE ARE MANY DEVICES IN A MAN'S HEART; NEVERTHELESS THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD, THAT SHALL STAND.-Prov. xix. 21. (Ch. xvi. 1, 93, p. 484.) And they-returned, 56 JOHN. and-prepared spices and ointments; and (G. 103.)-On the evening of the seventh day of the week, Saturday, the sixteenth of the 62 SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. xxiii. 56. prepared, &c.-Luke does not give the names of these women who prepared the spices and ointments before the sabbath-see ch. xxiv. 1, § 93, p. 488. the commandment - Ex. xx. 8-11- The conduct of the disciples on this trying occasion was a sufficient refutation of the accusation against Jesus, with regard to the sabbath, Jno. v. 18, § 23, p. 177-Certain it is that the followers of Jesus had not learned from him to think lightly of the sabbath. NOTES. observation, that the evangelists are not more particular in anything relating to the Saviour than in the narrative of his burial. They seem to have been thus particular for the purpose of proving, beyond all possibility of doubt, these two great points of the Christian religion, the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was necessary that every possible conviction should be given to the world of these two events. If we were not well assured that he was really dead, we should not be certain that an atonement was Laade for the sins of the world; and if we had any doubt respecting his resurrection, we could not depend on that atonement being accepted.] [Mk. xv. 47. Beheld where he was laid. The courage and affection of these holy women cannot be too much admired. The strength of the Lord is perfected in weakness; for here, a timid man, and a few weak women, acknowledge Jesus in death, when the strong and the mighty utterly forsook him.] 'Human strength and human weakness are only names in religion. The mightiest MAN, in the hour of trial, can do nothing without the strength of God; and the weakest WOMAN can do all things, if Christ Z strengthen her. These truths are sufficiently exemplified in the case of Peter and all his brother disciples on the one hand; and Joseph of Arimathæa and the two Marys on the other. And all this is recorded equally to prevent both presumption and despair. Reader, let not these examples be produced before thee in vain.'-A. C. Mt. xxvii. 61. Sitting over against the sepulchre. In the time of our Saviour it was usual for the nearest relative to visit the grave of the deceased, and to weep there. We are informed also by many modern travellers that this custom prevails at this day in Egypt, and many parts in the East. Lu. xxiii. 56. Prepared spices and ointments, &c. They bought their spices in the short time before sunset.'-Alford. This was in order to embalm him; which sufficiently proves that they had no hope of his resurrection the third day. Mt. xxvii. 62. The next day that followed.... the The chief preparation. That is, of the sabbath. priests, &c., did not go to Pilate on the sabbath, but in the evening after the termination of the sabbath.' -Alford. [The day before the sabbath being called "the preparation," Mk. xv. 42, p. 474. It was so called, because on that day of the week the Jews made the necessary preparation for the solemn rest of the sabbath. It must, however, be remembered that the day of the preparation ended and that the sabbath began at sunset, the Jews reckoning their days by the chief priests and Pharisees' to Pilate, lest from sunset to sunset. The apprehension expressed the disciples of Jesus should come by night, and steal him away,' shews that their application to have the sepulchre secured must have been made before the night came on. By the next day,' therefore, we must here understand, not the next day, according to our mode of reckoning, but the time which immediately followed the setting of the sun on the day of preparation. The Jewish sabbath being on a Saturday, this time answers to our Friday evening.'Lonsdale and Hale.-See Greswell, infra. 63. Sir. The word Kupis, is here very properly translated Sir, which in many other places is as improperly translated Lord. When a Roman is the speaker, translated Sir; when strangers address our Lord, or the person addressed, Kóps should always be general, be translated in the same way. the word is a title of civil respect; and should, in That deceiver. One of the charges against him was, that he deceived the people. By this title they still chose to designate him, thinking that his death had fully confirmed the truth of the charges against him. The next period in the gospel history will extend from sunset on the fourteenth to sunset on the fifteenth of the same month, or throughout the whole of the Jewish sabbath, and from thence to the morning of the sixteenth, when our Saviour rose again from the dead. The times of the two incidents, viz.-the application of the sanhedrim to Pilate for permission to set a guard over the door of the sepulchre, and the appointment of that guard accordingly, might possibly be different: the application might be made in the course of the sabbath, or just when the sabbath was about to expire-but the setting of the guard we may conclude for various reasons could not have been until after. VOL. II.] THE SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN US LUSTETH TO ENVY.-Jas. iv. 5. [477 COUNSEL IN THE HEART OF MAN IS LIKE DEEP WATER; BUT A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING WILL DRAW IT OUT.-Prov. xx. 5. IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS VAIN; YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS.-1 Cor. xv. 17. MATT. xxvii. 64-.6. 64 while-he-was-yet-alive, After three days I-will-rise-again. Command therefore that-the sepulchre be-made-sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by-night, and-stealhim-away, and say unto-the people, He-is-risen from the dead: so the last error shall65 be worse than-the first. Pilate said unto-them, Ye-have a-watch: go-your-way, make66 it-as-sure as ye-can. So they went, and-made-the sepulchre -sure, sealing the stone, and-setting-a-watch. [Ch. xxviii. 1, 93, p. 484.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xxvii. 63. that deceiver-And when some had said, Jno. vii. 12, § 55, p. 91, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.'-Ver. 47, § ib., p. 96, Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?' After three days, &c.-Jesus had predicted this at his first cleansing of the temple, see Jno. ii. 19, § 12, p. 82-also before and after the transfiguration, Mt. xvi. 21, § 50, p. 40, and xvii. 23, § 52, p. 71-and upon his last journey to Jerusalem, xx. 19, § 77, p. 235. 64. Command therefore-Thus they helped to render more evident the truth of our Lord's resurrectionsee ch. xxviii. 13, § 93, p. 487. pointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.'-xii. 17, 'He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.'-Pr. xix. 21, The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.'-xxi. 30, 'No wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.' — Isa. viii. 10, Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is 66. sealing the stone-When Daniel was cast into the lion's den, a stone being laid upon the mouth of the den;.. the king sealed it with his own signet, with us.' 65. as sure as ye can-Job v. 12, .3, He disap- and with the signet of his lords,' Da. vi. 17. NOTES. [Mt. xxvii. 63. After three days. Merà тpeis huépas. Rather, within three days,' or on the third day, according to the Jewish mode of speaking. Thus, in the next verse we read until the third day.'-See SCRIP. ILLUS., supra. So in 2 Chr. x. 5, where Rehoboam said to the people, Come again unto me after three days, it is added, in ver. 12, So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.'] 64. The last error. That is, the people's state of delusion, should they be persuaded that this man 'is risen from the dead,' will be worse than that in which they have hitherto been with respect to him. 65. Ye have a watch. This alludes to the guard of Roman soldiers which was at this time allowed the Jewish rulers, for the purpose of quelling tumults, and preserving the public peace. We learn from Josephus, that the tower of Antonia, which overlooked the temple, was always garrisoned by a legion of Roman soldiers; and that, on the side where it joined to the porticos of the temple, there were stairs reaching to each portico, by which a company, band, or detachment descended, and kept guard (xovaTadiar) in these porticos, to prevent any tumults at the great festivals. It was a detachment of these soldiers that Pilate gave the Jews leave to employ to watch the tomb. 66. Sealing the stone, and setting a watch. They set Pilate's signet, or the public seal of the sanhedrim, upon a fastening which they had put on the stone. And all this uncommon caution was overruled by the providence of God, to give the strongest proofs of Christ's ensuing resurrection; since there could be no room for the least suspicion of deceit, when it should be found, that his body was raised out of a new tomb, where there was no other corpse, and this tomb hewn out of a rock, the mouth of which was secured by a great stone, under a seal, and a guard of soldiers. ['So everything was done which human policy and prudence could, to prevent a resurrection, which these very precautions had the most direct tendency to authenticate and establish. How wonderful are the wisdom and goodness of God!-and how true is it, that there is neither might nor counsel against him!-1. The death of Christ was ordered so as to be witnessed by thousands; and if his resurrection take place, it must be demonstrated; and it cannot take place without being incontestable, such are the precautions used here to prevent all imposture.2. The more the circumstances of the death of Christ are examined, the more astonishing the whole will appear. The death is uncommon-the person uncommon and the object uncommon; and the whole is grand, majestic, and awful. Nature itself is thrown into unusual action, and by means and causes wholly supernatural. In every part, the finger of God most evidently appears.-3. How glorious does Christ appear in his death! Were it not for his thirst, his exclamation on the cross, and the piercing of his side, we should have found it difficult to believe that such a person could ever have entered the empire of death; but the divinity and the manhood equally appear, and thus the certainty of the atonement is indubitably established.'—A.C.] PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. [Mt. xxvii. 62, .3. It is strange how the hopes and the fears of men will modify their powers of perception. The disciples, whose hopes were so different, could not understand what Christ had plainly predicted respecting his death and resurrection; whereas the chief priests, who dreaded his influence when living, could more truly guess at his meaning while denying the whole truth respecting him.] resurrection well known and well authenticated! [62-6 ver. How wonderfully everything was arranged so as to make the death of Christ and his First, because it is not probable that the sanhedrim themselves would take such a step during the continuance of the sabbath; for that would have been to break the sabbath. Secondly, in the day-time on the sabbath, and for so public a place as Calvary, there would have been no occasion to set a guard over the grave at all. Thirdly, they had not applied for the same permission, nor, therefore, thought it necessary to appoint such a guard, on the eve of the sabbath; they must consequently, have supposed that the grave would be sufficiently protected, during the sabbath, by the sanctity of the sabbath itself. Fourthly, the proposed end of setting a guard would be answered by stationing it at the sepulchre on the eve of the first day of the week: for the night of that eve was the first and the only time when any attempt at the removal of the body of Christ by his disciples for such a purpose as they suppose, could be expected to take place. Fifthly, the design of the measure being expressly to defeat any clandestine attempt on the part of the followers of our Lord, it was natural that the step should be taken with as much secrecy as possible, especially with respect to them: and it is certain that the women, who visited the sepulchre on the morning of the resurrection, were ignorant at the time of the existence of the watch about it: but this could scarcely have been the case, had the guard been posted at an earlier period than the night preceding.'-Ibid., p. 255. FOLLOW AFTER CHARITY,-1 Cor. xiv. 1. [VOL. II. 478] THE MAN THAT WANDERETH OUT OF THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING SHALL REMAIN IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE DEAD. Prov. xxi. 16. |