12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

hereafter, not now, in another state, not in this, the dignity to be enjoyed by the Messiah's friends would be bestowed, and the judgments which he would inflict would be endured. Besides, even the people who might have been expected to submit to his government on earth (namely, the Jews), he intimated, were cherishing a spirit of hostility to him, which would require that even they should be visited with his just indignation. For communicating this instruction, he spoke the parable which follows. The parable appears to exhibit these two thoughts: (1) That, at some indefinitely future time, the rewards and the punishments appropriate to the Messiah's reign would be distributed; and (2) that even the Jews, on account of their hostility to the Messiah, would fall under his displeasure. This displeasure was indeed to be, in part, manifested at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army. See Matt. 24: 15, 29, 30. And to this destruction, as being a signal one in a series of judgments, the Saviour probably had some allusion, while his principal object was to speak of a final retribution, both to his friends and to his foes.

12. A certain nobleman; a man of a noble family, one who had a just claim to the dignity which he was seeking. A kingdom; authority over a kingdom, royal power. The circumstance here stated, that this man went away to another country in order to be invested with royal

15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17 And he said unto him,

authority, was in accordance with a custom among the Jews. After they became subject to the Roman power, the principal ruler among them held authority by permission of the Roman emperor. Accordingly, after the death of Herod the Great, Archelaus his son, whom he had by will appointed his heir, went to Rome in order to be confirmed in the government of his country.

13. Servants; not domestic servants, but persons in his employ and devoted to his interests, whom he intended to elevate to power. || Pounds; a silver coin in the Saviour's time, equivalent, according to different accounts, to between fourteen and twenty dollars. Occupy; engage in business.

14. His citizens; the people of his country, over whom he was seeking the royal power. || Sent a message after him; sent ambassadors to the seat of supreme power, whither he himself was going. These ambassadors were to request, that his wishes might not be gratified. We will not have, &c.; we wish not to have, &c. The circumstance here represented was similar to what had actually taken place among the Jews. When Archelaus went to Rome, as above mentioned, the Jews sent to the Roman emperor fifty messengers to defeat his design. They did not, however, succeed. See on Matthew 2: 22.

17. Authority over ten cities. A reward corresponding to his faithful

29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Jesus and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

29-40. Compare Matt. 21: 1–16. 37. At the descent of the mount; as he was beginning to descend. The city of Jerusalem was then in full view.

38. Peace in heaven. Peace, in the Bible, often means prosperity, happiness. The idea, in this exclamation, was, May prosperity, or success, be appointed in heaven for the Messiah, that is, by Him who reigns in heaven. || Glory in the highest; praise to Him who dwells on high; or, praise be to God among the heavenly hosts.

40. The stones would immediately cry out. A strong method of approving the joy which the disciples were manifesting, and of showing how perfectly reasonable it was that the Messiah should be attended with demonstrations of welcome.

36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had seen;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in

41. Wept over it; in anticipation of the doom which awaited the city.

How affecting the picture! Jesus is surrounded with an admiring crowd, who rend the air with their shouts of joy. Yet he stops in view of the capital city, and weeps! A king, accompanied by admiring and enthusiastic friends, yet in tears! But he weeps not for himself; though he well knows, that in a few days these shouts of joy are to give place to the rancorous demands of enemies, that he be nailed to a cross like an impostor and a rebel!

42. If thou hadst known; if thou hadst considered. || This thy day; this time, so propitious for thee, hadst thou rightly regarded it. Peace,

now they are hid from thine

eyes.

43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee: and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought,

46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.

47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, and the scribes, and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

48 And could not find what they might do for all the peo

happiness, welfare. The Saviour,

overcome with emotion, here made an unfinished sentence; meaning, probably, If thou hadst duly considered the distinguished privileges which have been within thy reach, what bliss wouldst thou have secured! Hid from thine eyes; removed from "thee. An end is come to thy privileges and to all thy hopes of bliss.

43, 44. Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, &c. The destruction by the Roman army is here particularly foretold. Compare Matt. 24: 2, 15, 21. || Thy children; the inhabitants of the city. Knewest not. See v. 42. The time of thy visitation; the time of thy being mer

CHAPTER XX.

AND it came to pass, that on

one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him, with the elders,

2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me :

4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they answered, That cifully regarded, by having the Messiah in the midst of thee.

45, 46. See Matt. 21: 12, 13.

47, 48. Compare Mark 11: 18. Could not find what they might do; could not contrive any method of accomplishing their purpose.

CHAPTER XX.

1. Preached the gospel; announced the tidings of the Messiah's reign, as well as imparted more general religious instruction. Elders; mer of distinction among the Jews, from whom, as well as from the priests and scribes, the members of the Sanhedrim were chosen.

2-8. Compare Matt. 21: 23-27.