SUMMARY.--The Twelve Apostles Sent Forth.
Herod's Wonder About Jesus.
The Five Thousand Fed.
Peter's Confession of Faith.
Saving and Losing Life.
The Transfiguration.
The Child Healed.
Who Shall Be Greatest?
James and John and the Samaritan Village.
Excuses for Not Following Christ.
1-6. He called the twelve. This Commission of the Apostles is
given in
Matt. 10:1-42
and
Mark 6:7-13.
Matthew's account is the fullest, on which see
notes.
7-9. Now Herod the tetrarch. Herod Antipas. See notes on
Matt. 2:1.
For Herod's perplexity about Christ, see notes on
Matt. 14:1-12
and
Mark 6:14-29.
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10-17. Went aside privately into a desert place. See notes on
Matt. 14:13-27,
for the feeding of the five thousand. Also
Mark 6:30-44
and
John 6:1-21.
Bethsaida. Near the mouth of the Jordan into the Sea of Galilee.
The desert place was near it on the eastern shore.
18-21. Whom say the people that I am? See notes on Peter's
confession of faith,
Matt. 16:13-20;
also
Mark 8:27-30.
Luke only informs us that he was alone praying, his disciples
being present, when he asked the question. [259]
22-27. For the first announcement to his disciples of his death,
and the discourse, see notes on
Matt. 16:21-28
and
Mark 8:31 to 9:1.
28-36. About an eight days after. See notes on
Matt. 17:1-9,
for the Transfiguration. Also
Mark 9:1-8.
Luke adds the fact that the Lord went into the mountain to pray;
that as he prayed, [260]
he was transfigured;
that the fashion of his countenance was altered;
that the theme of conversation with Moses and Elias was the Lord's
decease;
that the apostles were awake when they saw the vision;
that they
told no man in those days,
even as Jesus directed
(Matthew).
They kept it close. Until after the death and resurrection of
the Lord.
37-42. Look upon my son. For the healing of the lunatic child see
Matt. 17:14-21
and
Mark 9:14-29.
Matthew
calls the boy a lunatic. The symptoms are like epilepsy.
43-45. For this second statement of the Lord's suffering at
Jerusalem, see notes on
Matt. 17:22, 23
and
Mark 9:31, 32.
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46-50. Which of them should be greatest. See notes on
Matt. 18:1-6
and
Mark 9:33-50.
For notes on the question of John and the Lord's answer, see Mark as
above.
51, 52. When the days were well-nigh come. The time of his
suffering was not far away. He was about to leave Galilee.
He stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. Knowing what he
should suffer there. Just when this was we are not told.
Sent messengers. To secure a stopping place for himself and
disciples on their journey.
Went into a village of the Samaritans. To go from Galilee to
Jerusalem "he must needs go through Samaria,"
unless he went down on the east of the Jordan. The Samaritans were
hereditary enemies of the Jews, and the two peoples had no
intercourse.
53, 54. They did not receive him. Because he was evidently
journeying to Jerusalem. This stirred up their bigotry. They thus not
only refused Jesus as a prophet, but violated the sacred duties of
hospitality. The refusal to receive a religious teacher was considered
a rejection of his claims.
Wilt thou that we command fire? These gentle apostles were
filled with wrath at the insult to the Master. Their zeal for the Lord
led them into a sanguinary feeling that was sinful. Thus, often,
religious zeal has led men to sinful acts and a persecuting spirit.
As Elias did? See
2 Kings 1:9-12.
55. He rebuked them. Their spirit was not his. He quietly left
the inhospitable village and went elsewhere. He was not a destroyer,
but a Savior. Zeal for Christ is no excuse for fanaticism.
57-62. On these excuses, see notes on
Matt. 8:18-22;
also
Mark 4:35.
Luke adds a few new facts which [262]
I notice.
A certain man. A scribe
(Matthew).
I will follow thee. The Lord tries his sincerity by telling him
of the hardships before him.
The Son of man. The Messiah (see note on
Matt. 10:23).
He had no permanent home. Often his only shelter at night was the open
sky.
Another. A disciple. See note on
Matt. 8:21.
Let the dead bury their dead. Let the world attend to its
own duties. To preach the kingdom rises above every other duty. The
disciple was probably an apostle, who wished to stay with his father
until his father's death.
No man having put his hand to the plough. An agricultural
figure. The plowman must look ahead instead of back. So, too, of the
Christian. The Savior's words were suggested by a request of one to go
home for a farewell before following him. In thousands of instances it
has been shown that the convert who goes to confer with unbelieving
relatives before the final step is likely to part with Christ instead.
Heathen, ready to be baptized, who go home for a final farewell before
the step, are likely to be persuaded not to take it, so missionaries
tell us.
