Ver. 1. The chief priests and scribes came] Gr. επεστησαν, “came suddenly upon him.” As an unexpected storm; the devil drove them.
Ver. 2. [See Trapp on “Mt 21:23”] See Mark 11:27.
Ver. 3. [See Trapp on “Mt 21:23”] See Mark 11:27.
Ver. 4. The baptism of John, &c.] q.d. If John were sent by God to testify, as he did, there is no colour of cause why ye should question mine authority.
Ver. 8. Neither tell I you, &c.] God’s servants should be ready with their answer upon sudden assaults, and not to seek such arguments as may stop the mouth of an adversary. When a nimble Jesuit asked, Where was your religion before Luther? answer was presently returned, In the Bible, where your religion never was.
Ver. 9. See Matthew 21:33 Mr 12:1.
Ver. 16. God forbid] viz. that they should ever kill the Son of God sent unto them. We cannot get men to believe that their hearts are half so bad or their ways so dangerous as the preacher makes of them.
Ver. 17. What is this then that is written, &c.] q.d. If it be not so as I say, that you shall kill the Messiah, how is it that the Scripture saith as much? Press men with Scripture testimonies; that is the readiest way of sound conviction. It was a good speech of Augustine to Manichaeus, contesting with him for audience: Hear me, hear me, said the heretic. Nay, saith Augustine, Nec ego te, nec tu me, sed ambo audiamus apostolum dicentem, peccatum non cognovi, &c. It is not what I say, or what thou sayest, but what the Scripture saith, that we must stand to.
Ver. 19. They perceived] Conscience, their domestic chaplain, told them so much. God hath a witness to his truth in every man’s bosom.
Ver. 20. They sent forth spies] Gr. εγκαθετους, fishers, that with net and bait catch the silly fish and feed on them; such were thes e emissaries, these catchpoles. Which should feign themselves just men] Hypocrites only act religion, play devotion; as stage players they act a sultan, when they are but so many shoemakers; as ferrymen, they look one way and row another; they have holiness written upon their outsides, as Vorstius’ book had De Deo in the front and blasphemy in the text. They cry out Templum Domini, the temple of the Lord, but care not for the Lord of the temple. But religion, as it is the best armour, so it is the worst cloak; and will serve hypocrites as the disguise Ahab put on and perished, or as Absalom’s mule served her master, &c. A petty officer of justice; a sheriff’s officer or sergeant, esp. a warrant officer who arrests for debt, a bum-bailiff. ŒD
Ver. 21. See Matthew 22:16 Mr 12:14.
Ver. 27. See Matthew 22:23, &c.; Mark 12:18.
Ver. 28. See Matthew 22:23, &c.; Mark 12:18.
Ver. 35. Nor are given in marriage] Hence some collect, that the difference of sexes shall continue after the resurrection: wherefore else should our Saviour say, that they shall then neither marry nor be given in marriage? Sed hic επεχω. Haymo is over confident, I suppose, in that gloss he gives here, Quod viri in suo sexu resurgent, feminae in sexu muliebri. Erunt habentes membra genitalia, non autem voluntatem coeundi.
Ver. 36. Die any more] That there should be any further use of matrimony, for the propagation of mankind.
Ver. 38. For all live to him] Even in their bodies also, which he now by rotting refineth; and shall as certainly raise, as if they were already raised, since all things are present with him.
Ver. 39. Thou hast well said] Because he had set down the Sadducees, who were their counterfactionists.
Ver. 41. See Matthew 22:42 Mr 12:35.
Ver. 45. See Matthew 23:1-5 Mr 12:38 Lu 11:43.
Ver. 47. Greater damnation] Shall be double damned, because dissembled sanctity is double iniquity.