Ver. 1. And it was noised] The Son of righteousness could as little lie hidden as the sun in heaven.
Ver. 2. Many were gathered together] Erasmus observeth that Origen, in his sermons to the people, chideth them for nothing more than for their thin assemblies to hear the Word, and for their careless hearing of that, which they ought to attend to with utmost diligence; recte iudicans, saith he, hinc esse praecipuum pietatis profectum aut defectum.
Ver. 3. Which was borne of four] Apprehensis quatuor lecti extremitatibus, vivo cadaveri persimilis. Wicked men are living ghosts, walking sepulchres of themselves. Bring them to Christ that they may be cured.
Ver. 4. They uncovered the roof] Which in those countries was flat, so that they might walk upon it, Deuteronomy 22:8, preach upon it, Matthew 10:27, &c.
Ver. 5. When he saw their faith] By their works; as the goodness of the promised land was known by the grapes and fruits brought back by the spies. In all our good works, Christ’s eye is upon our faith, without which “it is impossible to please God.”
Ver. 6. But there were certain of the scribes] Little do preachers know when they preach, what hearers sit before them. Araneo fel est, quod api mel. Some of our hearers carry fel in aure, as it is said of some creatures, they carry their gall in their ears.
Ver. 7. Who can forgive sins, &c.] Man may remit the trespass, God only the transgression.
Ver. 8. Perceived in his spirit] That is, by his Deity, as 1 Timothy 3:16 Heb 9:14. Or by his own spirit, as 1 Peter 3:18, not by inspiration, as 2 Peter 1:21.
Ver. 9. [See Trapp on “Mt 9:5”]
Ver. 10. Hath power on earth] Christus iure divino omnia faciebat, non iniusta aliqua virtute ac tyrannica. Christ did all in his Father’s right, and not of necessity.
Ver. 11. I say unto thee, Arise] See here our Saviour’s letters testimonial, whereby he approves his authority and power to be authentic. “Ye are our epistle,” saith the apostle, 1 Corinthians 3:2.
Ver. 12. We never saw it on this fashion] Or thus, ουτως: Bullinger observeth of this evangelist, quod facum saecularis sapientiae et eloquentiae, rei per se alioqui splendidissimae, nusquam allevit, that he cares not to gild gold, or muddle over a topaz, but sets down things plainly without welt or guard of worldly wisdom or eloquence. Truth is like our first parents, most beautiful when naked.
Ver. 13. And he taught them] To teach us, that nothing can be better and more useful to the Church than wholesome teaching; which therefore our Saviour never neglected. It was grown to a proverb at Constantinople, Better the sun should not shine than Chrysostom not preach.
Ver. 14. And as he passed by he saw Levi] Our calling is of free grace, Ezekiel 16:6 Isa 65:1. The scribes and Pharisees are let alone; and this publican called to the work. And he arose and followed him] Leaving his gainful trade, and following his own ignominy, ruin, death. Nihil hic disputat unde vivere debeat: faith fears no famine: Christ is a universal good, an “All in all.”
Ver. 15. Many publicans and sinners sat also] All at Matthew’s charge, and he thought it well bestowed, to bring them to Christ. So Paul, being himself assured of salvation, could do or suffer anything for the salvation of his poor countrymen. Romans 8:38,39 cf. 9:1,2.
Ver. 16. They said unto his disciples] They dared not say it to him, where the hedge is lowest the beast breaks over. The devil, as the poet— quae desperat renitescere posse, relinquit. What he hopes not to effect, he never attempts. (Horat. de Arte Poet.)
Ver. 17. He saith unto them] Though not for their sakes (for he knew it was to no purpose) yet for his other hearers’ sakes, he makes apology, Jeremiah 3:14,15. God often gives a pastor after his own heart, for a few that are to be converted.
Ver. 18. The disciples of John and of the Pharisees] Beza notes, that only here, and Matthew 22:16 Lu 5:24, is mention made in the gospel of the Pharisees’ disciples, unhappy doubtless in such perverse tutors, somewhat akin to Protagoras, of whom Plato writeth (in Menone.) that he bragged of this, that whereas he had lived sixty years, he had spent forty of them in corrupting of youth.
Ver. 19. While the bridegroom is with them?] Christ is mel in ore, melos iu aure, iubilum in corde. There cannot be but music in his temple.
Ver. 20. Then shall they fast] Novices are not to be tied to the austerities of religion. The Pharisees are revived in the Anabaptists, qui initiatis Christo ne risum quidem mediocrem adraittunt, saith Calvin, in Matthew 9:15. Capistranus the minorite, sent by the Pope into Germany and other countries, A. D. 1453, to preach obedience to the see of Rome, got a great deal of credit to his corrupt doctrine, by such a Pharisaical severity. Sed tales Doetores meretur mundus suo fastidio veritatis, saith one, they that will not receive the truth in love, are left to the efficacy of error. (Funccius in Chronolog.)
Ver. 21. No man soweth] [See Trapp on “Mt 9:16”] [See Trapp on “Mt 9:17”]
Ver. 22. [See Trapp on “Mt 9:17”]
Ver. 23. [See Trapp on “Mt 12:1”]
Ver. 24. [See Trapp on “Mt 12:2”]
Ver. 25. Have ye never read?] Satis salse, q.d. Ignoratis adhuc, quod adeo notum et tritum. Miter ego vestram vel inscitiam, vel ignaviam. It is a shame for you, that you are yet so stupid or so stubborn.
Ver. 26. And to them that, &c.] Though meaner men than David.
Ver. 27. The sabbath was made for man] That is, for man’s safety and advantage. As he would be undone without it, he would grow wild, and forget God; so, if it stand in the way of his safety, it is not to be observed, as if an enemy then assault us, we may fight with him. Pompey could never have taken Jerusalem, but that the religious Jews refused to defend themselves on the sabbath; which when he observed, he then on that day most fiercely assaulted them, and took their city. (Dio Cassius.)
Ver. 28. Therefore the Son of man] This Lordship taking beginning in Christ, seems to be, from him, derived to all that are in Christ. As Psalms 8:4,5 cf. Heb 2:6,7. Whatever David speaks of man, is applied to Christ, and so is proper to the saints, by virtue of their union with Christ. Is Lord also of the sabbath] And can dispense with it. The schoolmen say that God can dispense with the materiality of any precept in the decalogue, the three first excepted.