Ver. 1. Other seventy also] As his heralds, to foreshow his coming to Jerusalem, and to proclaim the true Jubilee.
Ver. 2. See Matthew 9:37.
Ver. 3. Go your ways] Christ had no sooner bidden them pray, but he answers their prayers. When we bid our children ask us for this or that, it is because we mean to give it to them. As lambs among wolves] Sed sollicitudo pastoris boni effici ut lupi in agnos audere nil possint saith Ambrose. The care of the good shepherd is the safety of the flock.
Ver. 4. Salute no man] For that your task is long, your time is little.
Ver. 5. See Matthew 10:11-15.
Ver. 6. See Matthew 10:11-15.
Ver. 7. See Matthew 10:11-15.
Ver. 8. Such things as they set before you] Not seeking after dainties. It becomes not a servant of the Highest to be a slave to his palate. Epicurei, dum palate prospiciunt, coeli palatium non suspiciunt, saith the heathen. (Cicero).
Ver. 9. See Matthew 3:2 4:17.
Ver. 10. See Matthew 10:14 Ac 13:51
Ver. 11. That the kingdom of God] There is in unbelief an odious unthankfulness; such judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, Acts 13:44; they are condemned already, John 3:18.
Ver. 12. See Matthew 11:24.
Ver. 13. See Matthew 11:21.
Ver. 16. He that despiseth you] Julius Pflugius, complaining to the emperor of wrong done to him by the duke of Saxony, received this answer from him, Tua causa erit mea causa; so saith Christ to all his servants. Causa ut sit magna, magnus est actor et author eius; neque enim nostra est, saith Luther to Melancthon.
Ver. 17. And the seventy returned again with joy] We are all naturally ambitious, and desirous of vain glory. A small wind blows up a bubble. Pray down this vanity.
Ver. 18. Fall from heaven] That is, from men’s hearts, which he accounts his heaven; but is cast out by the mighty gospel.
Ver. 19. To tread on serpents] [See Trapp on “Mr 16:18”] Good ministers tread so hard on the old serpent’s head, that it is no wonder he turns again, and nibbleth at their heels.
Ver. 20. That your names are written] That you are enrolled burgesses of the new Jerusalem. Paul by his privilege of being a Roman escaped whipping; we by this escape damnation. The sinner engrosseth his name in the book of perdition.
Ver. 21. I thank thee, O Father, &c.] With this prayer the Anabaptists of Germany usually began their sermons, thinking thereby to excuse their lack of learning. (Scultet. Annal.) And then protested that they would deliver nothing but what was revealed to them from above.
Ver. 22. See Matthew 28:18 Joh 3:35.
Ver. 23. Blessed are the eyes, &c.] How blessed, then, are they that hear this arch-prophet in heaven. Moses and Elias, conversing with Christ on the mount, could much better discourse about his decease, and other divine doctrines, than ever they could while here upon earth. An infant of one day there is much beyond the deepest doctor here.
Ver. 24. Many prophets and kings] Many righteous, saith Matthew, Matthew 13:17. Righteous persons are kings.
Ver. 25. See Matthew 22:35.
Ver. 27. With all thy heart, and, &c.] Serviendum Deo toto corde; id est, amore summo, more vero, ore fideli re omni: Hoc non sit verbis. Marce, ut ameris, ama. (Martial.) Here some weak Christians are troubled, as conceiting that they love their children, friends, &c., better than God. But it is answered, 1. When two streams run in one channel (as here nature and grace do) they run stronger than one stream doth. When a man loves God and the things of God, grace is alone; nature yields nothing to that. 2. We must not judge by an indeliberate passion. (Dr Sibbs on 1 Corinthians 2:9) The love of God is a constant stream; not a torrent, but a current, that runs all our lifetime, but runs still, and without noise, as the waters of Shiloh and of Nile, nullas confessus murmure vires, that runs smoothly. (Claudian.) With all thy strength] That is, saith a divine, in our particular places. A magistrate must execute justice for God’s sake, &c.
Ver. 28. See Matthew 19:17.
Ver. 29. Who is my neighbour?] They counted no man their neighbour but their near friends.
Ver. 30. And Jesus answering] Gr. υπολαβων. Taking the tale out of his mouth, being ready with his answer. For he is that Palmoni Hammedabber, in Daniel 8:13, that prime prolocutor.
Ver. 31. And by chance] Indeed by the providence of God overruling the matter, as it doth in things that to us are merely casual and contingent.
Ver. 32. Passed by on the other side] Αντιπαρηλθεν. For fear of legal pollution. But two duties never meet so as to cross one another; the one of them yields, a nd the execution of the yielding duty for the present hath reason of an offence. This Levite’s legal strictness was here a vice; he should rather have showed mercy to his brother in misery. So that the rule, negatives always bind, intends not that they are of an indispensable nature; but that every particular instant of time is to be observed for their obedience, while and where they stand of force. (Huet. of Cons.)
Ver. 33. A certain Samaritan] Turnebus dictos putat Parabolanos, quasi aemulos Samaritani. Hoc autem nomine vocabantur, qui curandis debilium corporibus deputabantur. Those who looked to sick people were hence called Parabolanes, or Samaritans. This Samaritan is Christ. So they called him, John 8:48, but in a worse sense. [See Trapp on “Joh 8:48”]
Ver. 34. Pouring in oil and wine] Wine to search, and oil to supple. Wine signifies the sharpness of the law (saith Melancthon), oil the sweetness of the gospel. Now, so great is the natural sympathy and harmony between the vine and the olive; that the olive being grafted into the vine, brings forth both grapes and olives.
Ver. 35. Two pence] The Old and New Testament, say Optatus and Ambrose.
Ver. 36. [See Trapp on “Lu 10:29”] God delights to make men their own judges, that they may be self-condemne d, αυτοκατακριτοι.
Ver. 37. Go, and do thou likewise] Help him that hath need of thee, though he be a stranger; yea, or an enemy.
Ver. 38. A certain village] viz. Bethany, John 11:1. [See Trapp on “Joh 11:1”]
Ver. 39. Sat at Jesus’ feet] As his disciples, Acts 22:3. So the children of the prophets of old, whence that expression, “Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?” 2 Kings 2:3.
Ver. 40. Martha was cumbered] Diversely distracted, περιεσπατο. In multitude of worldly business, the soul is like a mill, where one cannot hear another, the noise is such as taketh away all intercourse. We should look at the world but only cut at the eye’s end, as it were.
Ver. 41. Thou art careful] Christ prefers attention before attendance. To hearken is better than the fat of rams, 1 Samuel 15:22.
Ver. 42. But one thing is necessary] That bonum hominis, good of humanity, Micah 6:8, that totum hominis, Ecclesiastes 12:13; the happiness, the whole of a man, viz. to hear the word of God and keep it. The original hath it thus, there is need of one thing; that is, say some, of one dish only: but the other sense is the better. That good part] Non tu malam, sed illa meliorem, saith Augustine. Thou hast done well, but she better.