Ver. 1. They watched him] Gr. παρατηρουμενοι, They superstitiously and maliciously observed him. (Aristot. lib. ii. Rhet.) Accipit pro eo quod est ulciscendi tempus captare. They watched as intently as a dog doth for a bone; they pried as narrowly into his actions as Laban did into Jacob’s stuff.
Ver. 2. A certain man before him] A fit object, and that was sufficient to move him to mercy, who himself, by sympathy, took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.
Ver. 3. And Jesus answering] viz. Their thoughts, which were naked and open; naked (for the outside) and dissected, quartered, and, as it were, cleft through the backbone (for the inside), before him with whom they had to deal, Hebrews 4:13.
Ver. 4. And he took him] Good must be done, however it be taken.
Ver. 5. Pull him out on the sabbath day] The Jew of Tewkesbury, that would not be pulled out of the outhouse whereinto he fell on their sabbath day, perished deservedly.
Ver. 6. And they could not answer] Yet ran away with the bit in their mouths.
Ver. 7. When he marked] Ministers, though they may not be time servers, yet they must be time observers, and sharply reprove what they meet with amiss in their people.
Ver. 8. When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding] When should a man rather feast than at the recovery of his lost rib?
Ver. 9. Thou begin with shame] As passing for a proud fool: a style good enough for a self-exalter.
Ver. 10. Then shalt thou have worship] Honor est in honorante, therefore to be the less esteemed, because without us, and mostly but a puff of stinking breath, not once to be valued.
Ver. 11. For whosoever] [See Trapp on “Mt 23:12”]
Ver. 12. Nor thy rich neighbour] Laudent te esurientium viscera, non ructantium opulenta convivia, saith Jerome. Bishop Hooper had his board of beggars, who were daily served by four at a mess, with wholesome meats, before himself sat down to dinner. (Acts and Mon.)
Ver. 13. Call the poor] Christ prefers charity before courtesy.
Ver. 14. At the resurrection of the just] Called theirs, because they only shall have joy of that day. It were well for the wicked if they might never rise to judgment, or trot directly to hell, and not be brought before the Lamb to be sentenced.
Ver. 15. Blessed is he, &c.] This man seems to have “tasted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come,” Hebrews 6:5. Happy he, if he fed heartily thereon. This, saith Luther, is sancta crapula.
Ver. 16. Made a great supper] Δειπνον, παρα το δειν πονειν. They are happy that get to heaven; they rest from their labours. The ancients dined frugally, supped liberally. Be of good cheer, said that martyr to her husband that suffered with her; for though we have but an ill dinner, we shall sup with Christ.
Ver. 17. See Matthew 22:3.
Ver. 18. I have bought, &c.] Licitis perimus omnes. It is ordained that all die. More die by food than by poison. Cavete, latet anguis in herba. Beware, a snake lies hidden in the food.What more lawful than a farm? what more honourable of all pleasures than marriage? But these men had not so much bought their farms, &c., as were sold to them: not so much married wives, as were married to them. Uxori nubere nolo meae, I refuse to be married to my wife. Martial.
Ver. 19. I have bought five yoke of oxen] This answers those that plead their necessities, and that they seek not superfluities (as farm upon farm, &c.), but only a sufficiency. What could be more necessary than oxen, since without them he could not follow his husbandry? Worldliness is a great hindrance to heaven, though a man cannot be charged with any great covetousness. These all excused themselves out of heaven, by bringing apologies why they could not go to heaven. Never yet any came to hell but had some pretence for their coming thither. Our vile hearts will persuade us that there is some sense in sinning, and some reason to be mad.
Ver. 20. And therefore I cannot come] Note that the voluptuary is peremptory, and saith flatly he “cannot come.” Sensual hearts are void of the Spirit, Jude 18,19. Miry places could not be healed by the sanctuary waters, Ezekiel 47:11; fleshly lusts fight against the soul, 1 Peter 2:11. Those that dance to the timbrel and harp, say, “Depart from us,” Job 21:11. Better be preserved in brine than rot in honey.
Ver. 21. Then the master of the house being angry] And good reason he had: for, Non modo pluris putare quod utile videatur, quam quod honestum, sed haec etiam inter se comparare et in his addubitare, turpissimum est, saith the honest heathen (Cicero de Officiis). Surely as Pharaoh said of the Israelites, “They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in,” Exodus 14:3, so may we say of many, They are entangled in the creature, the world hath shut them in, they cannot come to Christ: they are shut up in a cave, as those five kings, Joshua 10:16-18; and have hardness of heart, as a great stone, rolled to the mouth, and honours, riches, and pleasures as so many keepers, &c.
Ver. 22. See Matthew 22:9,10.
Ver. 23. Compel them] This may be meant (saith Mr Perkins) of the Christian magistrate; for that is the magistrate’s duty in respect of the outward profession.
Ver. 24. None of those men] Since they thus judge themselves “unworthy of eternal life,” Acts 13:46, and are miserable by their own election, Jonah 2:8.
Ver. 25. And there went great multitudes with him] Expecting great things from him, and gaping after an earthly felicity. These he strives to undeceive in the following verses.
Ver. 26. And hate not his father, &c.] Much more his farm and his oxen. It was not these, but the inordinate love of these, that detained them, as Christ here intimateth. Your house, home, and goods, yea, life, and all that ever ye have (saith that martyr), God hath given you as love tokens, to admonish you of his love, to win your love to him again. Now will he try your love, whether ye set more by him or by his tokens. μισει, ex סאמ ex odio reprobavit, respuit.
Ver. 27. See Matthew 10:38 16:24.
Ver. 28. Intending to build a tower] Rodulphus Gualther being in Oxford, and beholding Christchurch College, said, Egregium opus: Cardinalis iste iustituit collegium, et absolvit popinam. A pretty business! a college begun and a kitchen finished. Counteth the cost] Let him that intendeth to build the tower of godliness sit down first and cast up the cost, lest, &c.
Ver. 29. Begin to mock him, saying, &c.] Of all things, men love not to be jeered; for there is none but thinks himself worthy of some regard, and is therefore impatient of reproaches. If neither fear of God nor shame of men prevail with us, actum est.
Ver. 31. Sitteth not down first] To consult, and so with good advice to make war. Romani sedendo vincunt, The Romans conquer by sitting, saith Varro. Thou shalt help us out of the city, 2 Samuel 18:3.
Ver. 32. He sendeth an embassage] Mittamus preces et lachrymas cordis legatos, Let us send envoys the prays and tears of our heart, saith Cyprian. Currat poenitentia, ne praecurrat sententia, saith Chrysologus. Repent, ere it be too late.
Ver. 33. That forsaketh not] Gr. αποταξαμενος, that bids not farewell t o all.
Ver. 34. Salt is good] This was a sentence much in our Saviour’s mouth, Matthew 5:13 Mr 9:50; and is here used to set forth the desperate condition of apostates.
Ver. 35. He that hath ears to hear] This is usually added by our Saviour in matters of greatest consequence and nearest concernment. [See Trapp on “Mt 13:9”] [See Trapp on “Mt 13:43”]