Ver. 1. [See Trapp on “Mt 13:54”]
Ver. 2. [See Trapp on “Mt 13:54”]
Ver. 3. Is not this the carpenter?] τεκτων. Not the smith, as Hilary and Ambrose render it. Christ made yokes and ploughs, saith Justin Martyr. And hence in his preaching he drew similitudes from the yoke, Matthew 11:29 Lu 9:62, saith a Lapide. [See Trapp on “Mt 13:55”]
Ver. 4. See Matthew 13:57 Joh 4:44
Ver. 5. He could do there no mighty work] He could not, because he would not. Note here the venomous nature of infidelity, that transfuseth, as it were, a dead palsy into the hands of omnipotence, disabling Christ, in a sort, to do such a man good. Christ by his absolute power can do all things: by his actual power he can do no more than he will do.
Ver. 6. And he marvelled] Unbelief must needs be a monstrous sin, that puts Christ to the marvel.
Ver. 7. By two and two] Both for more authority, and for mutual comfort. Two are better than one, Ecclesiastes 4:9. [See Trapp on “Ec 4:9”] [See Trapp on “Mt 10:1”] [See Trapp on “Mt 10:2”]
Ver. 8. Save a staff] Such a one as may ease and relieve you, not such as may cumber and hinder you, Matthew 10:10. So that seeming contradiction is assoiled. No money in your purses] Gr. No brass, χαλκον, in your belts. The most usual material of money among the Roman princes was seldom gold or silver, most times brass, sometimes leather. Corium forma publica percussum, as Seneca hath it. The like is said to have been used here in England, in the times of the Barons’ Wars. And why not? since opinion sets the price upon these outward good things; and anno 1574, the Hollanders, then being in their extremities, made money of pasteboard.
Ver. 9. [See Trapp on “Mt 10:9”] [See Trapp on “Mt 10:10”]
Ver. 10. [See Trapp on “Mt 10:11”]
Ver. 11. [See Trapp on “Mt 10:14”]
Ver. 12. That they should repent] This must be done; or men are utterly undone, Aut poenitendum aut pereundum. Hence repentance is so pressed and preached in both Testaments, Exodus 23:20 cf. 33.2-4. Immediately after God had given the Law by the rules of threats whereof God the Father was to proceed (saith one), and after they had transgressed it, he could not go along with them, for he should destroy them: but his Angel, that is, Christ, he would send with them; who also would destroy them, if they turned not and repented according to the rules of his Law, the Gospel.
Ver. 13. And anointed with oil many, &c.] By the misunderstanding of this text, and that James 5:14, Pro pastoribus habuit Ecclesia unguentarios, et pigmentarios; qui hoc praetextu miseras oviculas non tantum ungerent, sed etiam emungerent. This oil in the text was used, not as a medicine, but as a sign and symbol of that power of miraculous healing. Bezae Confess.
Ver. 14. For his name was spread] By miracles, as by wings the gospel quickly spread far and near. Eusebius saith that the gospel spread at first through the world like a sunbeam. When Luther first stirred, it was carried through the Christian world as on angels’ wings. This was that miracle, which we, in these last times, are to look for. αθροως οια τις ηλιου βολη.
Ver. 15. Or as one of the prophets] Luke hath it, “One of the old prophets is risen again.” Some great changes they looked for, now that the Messiah was expected, according to Haggai 2:7.
Ver. 16. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:2”] [See Trapp on “Mt 14:3”]
Ver. 17. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:2”] [See Trapp on “Mt 14:3”]
Ver. 18. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:3”] [See Trapp on “Mt 14:4”]
Ver. 19. Herodias had a quarrel against him] Gr. ενειχεν αυτω, hung over him, as highly displeased at him, and waiting an occasion to be even with him. Veritas odium parit, they that follow truth close at heels, may have their teeth struck out, though she be a good mistress. Tange montes et fumigabunt. As wild beasts cannot endure fire, so neither can carnal hearts fervency and plain dealing. Poor Zegedine suffered many years’ captivity in misery and irons by the Turk, for one word in a sermon, which distasted a woman, without the least cause. Melch. Adanl. in Vita.
Ver. 20. For Herod feared John] Holiness is majestic. “Holy and reverend is God’s name,” Psalms 111:9; therefore reverend, because holy. He honoureth his saints in the consciences of their greatest enemies. He did many things] Or, as some copies have it, πολλα ηπορει, multum haesitabat, “He doubted in many things”; he was often set at a stand, and knew not how to ward off the dry blows of the word, nor which way to look, it came so close to him.
Ver. 21. Made a supper] The ancients took a light dinner usually, and therefore called it prandium quasi perendium: at supper they feasted more freely, and therefore called it Δειπνον παρα το δειν παυειν, because then their day’s work was done.
Ver. 22. Came in and danced] With immodest gesticulations and trippings on the toe, wherewith the old fornicator was so infla med, that he swore she should have anything of him. ωρχησατο, tripudiabat Baccharum more.
Ver. 23. To the half of my kingdom] What was his whole kingdom to the life of that precious man, of whom the world was not worthy? Shortly after he was turned out of his kingdom, and (it is to be feared) out of God’s too.
Ver. 24. And she went forth] The men and women dined not together. In Barbary, ‘tis death for any man to see one of the Zeriff’s concubines.
Ver. 25. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:8”]
Ver. 26. And for their sakes that sat with him] Sic plerique, malum iter ingressi, post cum se errare resciscant, non desciscunt tamen, ne leves videantur: sui dicti domini, ut dicunt, esse volunt. (Cartwright.) Some, rather than be worse than their words, will violate their consciences.
Ver. 27. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:10”]
Ver. 28. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:11”]
Ver. 29. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:12”]
Ver. 30. And the apostles gathered themselves to Jesus] As the chickens, frightened by the kite, hover and cover under the hen’s wing, that had before lain dusting themselves in the sunshine. So the disciples, terrified perhaps with the tidings of John’s death, run to Christ for shelter, συναγονται, under the shadow of the Almighty, Psalms 91:1. Fides est quae te pullastrum, Christum gallinam facit, ut sub pennis eius speres; nam salus in pennis eius, saith Luther. It is faith that maketh thee the chicken, Christ the hen, that thou mayest hope for help under his wings.
Ver. 31. Rest a while] God would not have the strength of his people to be exhausted in his service, but that respect be had to the health of their bodies, as well as to the welfare of their souls. Therefore the priests of the law took their turns of serving in the order of their course, as Zacharias, Luke 1:8. And the ministers of the gospel are allowed to drink a little wine for their health’s sake, as Timothy. Those that neglect, their bodies must reckon for it. Colossians 2:23.
Ver. 32. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:13”]
Ver. 33. Ran afoot thither] That is, they came thither by land, not by sea. Κατα θαλασσαν και πεζη ubique opponuntur. (Scultet.) Whether on foot or on horseback, for many of them were not able to foot it, as being weak, lame, maimed, &c.
Ver. 34. They were as sheep, &c.] They were all slaves to the Romans, and many of them lame and diseased, but nothing troubled Christ so much as this, that they lacked pastors and teachers. They that are without a teaching priest are said to be without God in the world, 2 Chronicles 15:3.
Ver. 35. And when the day was now far spent] Beza renders it, Cum iam multus dies esset. Our forefathers had a saying, The summer’s day is never so long, But at length ‘twill ring to even song.
Ver. 36. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:15”]
Ver. 37. Shall we go and buy, &c.] q.d. Yes, a likely matter surely; where’s your money? have we 200 pence to cater for such a company? It is interrogatio cum admiratione, atque adeo cum ironia quadam coniuncta, saith Beza. A question not without a jeer.
Ver. 38. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:17”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:8”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:9”]
Ver. 39. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:17”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:8”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:9”]
Ver. 40. Sat down in ranks] Gr. ranks, ranks, that is, rank by rank, as rows or borders of beds in a garden. Ordinatim res in Ecclesia faciendae. Church work is to be done decently, and in order. πρασιαι πρασιαι, Hebraismus, ut Exodus 8:14.
Ver. 41. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:20”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:12”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:13”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:14”]
Ver. 42. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:20”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:12”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:13”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:14”]
Ver. 43. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:20”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:12”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:13”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:14”]
Ver. 44. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:20”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:12”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:13”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:14”]
Ver. 45. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:20”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:12”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:13”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:14”]
Ver. 46. And when they had sent them away] viz. the people, Mark 6:45, and that with tokens of singular good will, as the Greek word αποταξαμενος signifies, and so is used Luke 9:61 Ac 18:21.
Ver. 47. [See Trapp on “Mt 14:23”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:18”] [See Trapp on “Joh 6:19”]
Ver. 48. Would have passed by them] Either the more to try them, or rather to spare them, because he foresaw they would be further frightened else.
Ver. 49. A spirit] Gr. a phantom, or apparition, φαντασμα.
Ver. 50. It is I?] with an emphasis; q.d. It is I; not a spirit. A concise kind of speech, importing his haste to comfort them. He comes “leaping over the mountains of Bether,” all lets and impediments, Song of Solomon 2:17.