ger now for ye shall be filled. | for in the like manner did their Blessed are ye that weep now: fathers unto the prophets.

for ye shall laugh.

22 Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven:

who are hungering for spiritual good. Compare Matt. 5: 6. || Ye that weep now; ye that are afflicted, and that mourn on account of sin. || Shall laugh; shall be made happy. "Compare Matt. 5: 4.

a

22, 23. Compare Matt. 5: 10-12. 24. You that are rich; you who cherish the disposition which state of wealth naturally engenders; namely, attachment to this world, and neglect of God and heaven. || Your consolation. All the happiness which you can have while indulging this disposition is already yours, and none is reserved for you in another world.

24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

had not manifested a resemblance to their Master, and consequently ought not to regard themselves as candidates for the blessings which he promises to his faithful followers. || False prophets. False prophets accommodated their instructions to the popular desires. See 1 Kings 22: 614. Jer. 28th chapter. The disciples of Jesus, like their Master, must not seek popular favor.

NOTICE. While the purity and benevolence of Christian character do not fail to command respect, yet some of the fundamental principles of the Christian religion are regarded with aversion by those who do not give their hearts to Christ. And therefore some men, who betray bitter feelings towards the distinctive principles of the Christian religion, cannot but applaud the fruits of those very principles. There are men, too, who, viewing Christians solely in the light of those distinctive principles, would join in denouncing the followers of Christ, notwithstand

25. You that are full; abounding in every worldly enjoyment, and satisfied with your present portion - -a condition and character the opposite of those which are expressed by the word hunger in v. 21. | Ye shall hunger; ye shall be reduced to want, to a destitution of all good. Of course, the future world is here meant. You that laugh now; you who possess present worldly pleasure, and are negligent of heavenly good. || Mourning the acknowledged excellence of and weep. Your present joy will be turned to sorrow.

many Christians. Thus they would show what is really in their hearts. 26. When all men shall speak well The Saviour, however, seems in this of you; when men who are unfriend- language rather to refer to such times ly to the Messiah, and to his religion, of opposition as were then speedily shall see nothing in you which they to come, and long to continue. If, dislike; when men who would dislike while he himself was an object of hayour Master, will yet not dislike you. tred, the disciples should be objects of In such circumstances, there would favor with all men, they could have litbe reason to fear that the disciples | tle ground for claiming to be his fol

27 But I say unto you which | what thank have ye? for sinners hear, Love your enemies, do also lend to sinners, to receive

40 The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

46 And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which

42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest built a house, and digged deep, not the beam that is in thine and laid the foundation on a own eye? Thou hypocrite! cast rock; and when the flood out first the beam out of thine arose, the stream beat veheown eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by his own fruit: for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble-bush gather they grapes.

45 A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil:

mently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth, against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

CHAPTER VII.

NOW, when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion's

40. This verse, too, was probably 45. Compare Matt. 12: 34, 35. spoken on a different occasion. See The remark, as here introduced, hapMatt. 10: 24, 25. But, like the pre-pily explains and enforces the thought ceding, being of the nature of a pro- presented in the two preceding verbial saying, the principle involved verses. in it may apply to the following parts of our Lord's discourse. As introduced here, it seems to convey the hint that a religious teacher, in order fully to perform his office, should be free from fault. Shall be as his Master; should be, should aim to be.

41, 42. Compare Matt. 7: 3-5. 43, 44. Compare Matt, 7 : 16—18.

46-49. Compare Matt. 7: 22-27. When the flood arose; when there was an inundation.

CHAPTER VII.

1-10. Compare Matt. 8: 5—13. The elders of the Jews. This title was given to men whose age, and ex|perience, and weight of character,

servant, who was dear unto him, | things, he marvelled at him, and was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

6 Then Jesus went with | 12 Now, when he came nigh them. And when he was now to the gate of the city, behold, not far from the house, the cen- there was a dead man carried turion sent friends to him, say-out, the only son of his mother, ing unto him, Lord, trouble not and she was a widow; and much thyself; for I am not worthy people of the city was with her. that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier; and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers; and I say unto one, 15 And he that was dead sat Go, and he goeth; and to an-up, and began to speak. And other, Come, and he cometh; he delivered him to his mother. and to my servant, Do this, and 16 And there came a fear on he doeth it. and they glorified God, sayThat a great prophet is

9 When Jesus heard these

caused them to be selected for various offices. In the present instance, the term may refer to the Jewish magistrates of the town, or to the officers of the synagogue.

11. Nain; a town in Galilee about

two miles south of mount Tabor.

12. Gate of the city. Anciently, towns were surrounded by walls, in which gates were built.

14. The bier. Among the Jews,

all

ing,

coffins were not used for the dead. The corpse was wrapped in folds of linen, and placed on a bier, to be carried out for burial. Hence there was no impediment to the young man's sitting up, as soon as life was restored.

16. A fear; amazement.

NOTICE the deep interest which our Lord felt in human woes, and the

risen up among us; and, That [ out into the wilderness for to God hath visited his people. see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment ? Behold, they which 18 And the disciples of John are gorgeously apparelled, and showed him of all these things.live delicately, are in kings'

20 When the men were come 27 This is he of whom it is unto him, they said, John Bap- written, Behold, I send my mestist hath sent us unto thee, say-senger before thy face, which ing, Art thou he that should shall prepare thy come? or look we for another?

18-35. Compare Matt. 11: 2—19. 29. All the people and the publicans. These are the same that, in Matt. 11: 12, are called the violent, that is, those who eagerly received the news of the Messiah's having come. Justified | own injury.