in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves 26 roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of 27 heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man 28 coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your 29 heads: for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to 30 them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that sum31 mer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh 32 at hand. Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass 33 away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: 34 but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon 35 you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that 36 dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 37 And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the nations shall exist as nations. Newcome remarks, that this city has been subject to the Romans, the Saracens, the Egyptian Mamelukes, the Franks, and the Turks, and that the Jews have never possessed it since its overthrow by Titus. 25. Upon the earth distress of nations. Ör, upon the land of Palestine distress among the tribes. Mat. xxiv. 30. — The sea, &c. An image of great tumult. 28. For your redemption, &c. See verse 31. The disciples of Christ would no more be persecuted by the Jews, and Christianity would then take the place of Judaism, as the religion sanctioned by Heaven. 35. On the face of the whole earth. Rather, the whole land, i. e. the holy land. The Jews were surprised as by the springing of a snare or net, and shut up within the city at the feast of the passover, by the Roman armies. 36. To stand before, is a judicial phrase-to be acquitted or approved. 37. At night he went out. He might do this for two reasons—to prevent seditious tumults, and to secure for himself a season for rest, prayer, and meditation duties which he was most faithful in performing, and which he has thus recommended to us by example, as well as by precept. Mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning 38 to him in the temple, for to hear him. CHAPTER XXII. The Institution of the Supper, Treachery of Judas, Scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, Arrest of Jesus, and Denial of Peter. Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they 2 might kill him for they feared the people. Then entered Satan 3 into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and 4 captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were 5 glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and 6 sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. And they said unto 9 And he said unto them, 10 city, there shall a man Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover 7 must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and 8 prepare us the passover, that we may eat. him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? Behold, when ye are entered into the meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good man of 11 the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he 12 shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went and found as he had said unto them: and they 13 made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he 14 sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto 15 CHAPTER XXII. This chapter is chiefly explained in the parallel passage, Mat. xxvi. See also Mark xiv., and John xiii. and xviii. 1, 2. Which is called, &c. Luke would not make this explanation, if he was writing to Jews. For. This refers to sought, not to kill. Their fear of the people did not actuate them to kill him, but to seek to do it privily, or warily. 3. John xiii. 2, 27. Then entered Satan. This phrase was used, in common parlance among the Jews, to mean, that one had conceived a diabolical purpose, had laid a wicked plan. 4. Captains, i. e. according to Lightfoot, the prefects of the temple, or the captains of the watches of the Levites, appointed to keep guard in the temple. them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you 16 before I suffer. For I say unto you, I will not any more eat 17 thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it 18 among yourselves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the 19 fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do 20 in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, 15. With desire I have desired. An idiom in Hebrew for "I have earnestly desired." Jesus was soon to leave his disciples, and he wishes to prepare his own and their mind for approaching trials, and to bequeath to them a memorial of his dying love. 16. The sense here is like that in verse 18, and seems to be, that this was the last social entertainment, at which he would be present, before he suffered death and arose again; which was to be the completion of his ministry, and the firmer establishment of the kingdom of God. Some suppose reference is made to the joys of the future life. Mat. xxvi. 29. 17. The cup. Probably that one, with which the paschal supper began; though it has been suggested, that verses 17 and 18 ought, perhaps, to be placed after verse 20; but there is no authority for it. 19. He took bread, and gave thanks. He set apart both the bread and the cup to this consecrated use, by solemn prayer and thanksgiving.This do in remembrance of me. Here is an explicit announcement of the great leading object of the Lord's supper. See notes on Mat. xxvi. 26 -30. It is impossible to forbear quoting, in this connexion, the beautiful story related by Mrs. Sigourney. "Among those who serve at God's altar, was one who had faithfully discharged, through a long life, the holy duties of his vocation. He lingered after his contemporaries had gone to rest. By the fireside of his only son, he sat in peaceful dignity, and the children of another generation loved his silver locks. In that quiet recess, memory was lulled to sleep. The names of even familiar things, and the images held most indelible, faded as a dream. Still he lived oncheered by that reverence which is due to the hoary head, when found in the way of righteousness.' At length his vigor failed. The staff could no longer support his tottering steps, and Nature tendered her last repose. "It was attempted by the repetition of his own name to waken the torpor of memory. But he replied, ‘I know not the man.' Mention was made of his only son, the idol of his early years, whose filial gratitude had taken every form and office of affection: I have no son.' The tender epithet by which he had designated his favorite grandchild, was repeated: '1 have no little darling.' Among the group of friends who surrounded his bed, there was one who spoke of the Redeemer of man. The aged man suddenly raised himself upon his pillow. His eye kindled, as when, from the pulpit, in the vigor of his days, he had addressed an audience which he loved: 'I remember that Saviour. Yes-I do remember the Lord Jesus Christ." Two stanzas, by two different po saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is 21 with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth as it 22 was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it 23 was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should 24 be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings 25 of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall 26 not be so but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For 27 whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my 28 temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father 29 hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table 30 in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ets, breathe a kindred strain of senti- over, before that institution. Mat. 20. Testament. Covenant. Shed for you. Not to appease an angry Deity, but to stir up your sluggish natures to repentance, faith, and heavenly mindedness, and thus to procure the remission of your sins. 21-23. The hand of him, &c. This by no means proves, that Judas was present at the institution of the Lord's supper; for Luke, who is less observant of the chronology of events, evidently throws in here the account of a scene, which occurred, according to Matthew and Mark, while Jesus and his disciples were eating the pass xxvi. 21-25; Mark xiv. 18-21; John xiii. 30. 24. This passage, too, is the narrative of what took place before the supper, and what, perhaps, occasioned the lesson of humility, given by the symbolical act of Jesus. John xiii. 4-15. Furness supposes, that in taking their places at table, a dispute arose, and jealous looks were exchanged; and that, to show them how entirely out of place such feelings were, Jesus performed for them the lowest office at a social entertain 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired 32 to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, 33 strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am 34 ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before 35 that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and 36 shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell 37 his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an 38 end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. 39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the Mount of 40 Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temp41 tation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, 42 and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, 43 be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, 31, 32. Simon, Simon. This repetition is a natural mark of an earnest address. — Sift you as wheat. Reference is, perhaps, here made to the history of Job, chapters i., ii. See Amos ix. 9. It is figurative language, to describe urgent temptation. You is plural, referring to all the disciples.Prayed for thee. In not less than five or six places in this chapter, the devotional acts of Jesus, proofs of his dependence on God, are mentioned- -verses 17, 19, 32, 41, 44. Converted, i. e. when he was restored, after his denial of his Lord. 36. He that hath no sword, &c. Jesus contrasts, in this verse, their coming condition with their previous one, referred to in verse 35. He prophetically admonishes them, in figurative language, to prepare for the dangers and woes impending over them. 37. Have an end. Are having their accomplishment or fulfilment. 38. Two swords. Even the priests were accustomed to go armed when travelling, on account of the robbers who infested the land. — It is enough. The disciples misunderstood the import of Jesus; and he says, "It is sufficient, very well;" just as a reply, precluding further words, "is given to children when it is found impossible to make them understand." Deut. iii. 26. 43, 44. These verses are peculiar to Luke, and not deemed genuine 1 |