Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Clfist Berjiniteih to Preach. LUKE V. MiracvJxyus Draught of Fishes. saving—' but only.' (Cf. Mark 13. 32, Greek.) Sarepta— "Zarephath," 1 Kings 17. 9, a heathen village between Tyre and Sidon. (See Mark 7. 24.) 28, 29. when they heard these tilings—these allusions to X,\\q heathen, jUHt as afterwards with Paul (Acts 22. 21, 22). rose up—Ijroke up the service irreverently and rushed forth, thrust him—with violence, as a prisoner in their liands. brow, &c.—Nazareth, though not built on the ridge of a hill, is in part surrounded by one to the west, having several such precipices. (See 2 Chronicles 25. 12; 2 Kings 9. 33. It was a mode of capital punishment not unusual among the Romans and others.) This was the first insult which l?ut He so'.ects a passage announcing tlie sublime object of His wliole. mission, its Divine cliiiracter, and His special en Uowments for 11; expressed in the first person, and 80 singularly adapted to the first opening of the mouth in His prophetic capacUy, that it seems as if made expressly for this occasion. It is from the well-known section of Isalali's prophecies whose burden is that mysterlbus "Servant of the Lord," despised of man, abhorred of the nation, but before whom kings on seeing Him are to arise, and princes to worship ; in visage more marred than any man and His form than the sons of men, yet sprinkling many nations; labouring seemingly In vain, and spending His strength for naught and in vain, yet Jehotlie Son of God received, and It came from "them of his own household !" (Matthew 10. 36.) 30. passing through the midst, &c.—evidently in a miraculous way, though perhaps quite noiselessly, leading them to wonder afterwards what spell could have come over them, that they allowed him to escape. (Similar escapes, however, in times of persecution, are not unexampled.) 31. down to Capernaum—it lay on the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4. 13), whereas Nazareth lay high. vah's Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and be His Salvation to the ends of the earth (Lsaiah 49., &c.). The quotation is chiefly from the Septuagint version, used in the sj-nagogues. acceptable year—an allusion to the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25. 10), a 3'ear of universal release for person and property. See also Isaiah 49.8; 2 Corinthians
6. 2. As the maladies under which humanity groans are here set forth under the names of poverty, broken-hearted-
Demoniac Healed, unclean—the frequency with which this character of impurity is applied to evil spirits is worthy of notice, cried out, &c.—see on Matthew 8. 29; Mark 3. 11. rebulied them, &c.—see on v. 41. thrown him, &c,—see on Mark 9. 20. what a word— ness, bondage, blindtiess, bruisedness (or crushedness), so, as the glorious Healer of all these maladies, Christ announces Himself in the act of reading it, stopping the quotation just before it comes to " the day of vengeance," which was only to come on the rejecters of His message (John 3. 17). The first words, "The Spirit of the Lord word from the Lord of spirits.
38-41. Peter's Mother-in-law, and Many Others, Healed. See on Matthew 8. 14-17. 41. suffered them not to speak—the marginal reading here is wrong. Our Lord ever refused testimony from devils, for the very reason why they were eager to give it, because He and they would thus seem to be one interest, as His enemies actually alleged. (See on Matthew 12. 24, &c.) See also Acts 16. 16-18. is upon Mii," have been noticed since the days of the Chnrch Fathers, as an illustrious example of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being exhibited as In distinct yet harmonious action In the scheme of salvation. 20. the minister— the Chazan or synagogue-officer, all eyes fastened on Him—astounded at His putting in such claims, ai. began to say, &c.—His whole address was just a detailed application to Himself of this and perhaps other like prophecies. 33. gracious words— ' the words of grace,'
42-14. Jesds, Sought Out at Morning Prayer, and Entreated to Stay, Declines from the Urgency of His Work. See on Mark 1. 35-39, where we learn how early He retired, and how He was engaged in solitude when they came seeking Him. stayed him- ' were staying Him,' or sought to do it. What a contrast to tlie Gadarenes ! The nature of His mission required Him to keep moving, that all might hear the glad tidings. (Matthew referring both to the richness of his matter and the sweetness of His manner (Psalm 45. 2). Is not tUls, AcSee on Matthew 13. 54-56. They knew he had received "no rabbinical education, and anything supernatural they seemed incapable of conceiving. 23. this proverb—like our ' Charity begins at home.' whatsoever, &c.—'Strange rumours have reached our ears of Tliy doings at Capernaum ; but if such power resides in Thee tocurethe ills of humanity, why has none of it yet come nearer home, and why is all this alleged power reserved for strangers?' His choice of Capernaum as a place of residence since entering on public life was. It seems, already well known at Naza-
8. 34.) I must, Ac-but duty only could move Him to deny entreaties so grateful to His spirit.
CHAPTER V.
Ver. 1-11. Miraculous Draught of Fishes—Call op Peter, James, and John. Not their.first call, however, recorded John 1. 35-42; nor their seconri, recorded Matthew reth ; and when He did come thither, to give no displays of His power when distant |)lace8 were ringing with His fame, wounded their pride. He had indeed " laid his hands on a few sick folk and healed them," Mark
4. 18-22; but their third and last before their appointment to the apostleshlp. That these calls were all distinct and progressive, seems quite plain. (Similar stages are observable in other eminent servants of Christ.) 3. taught out of the ship—see on Matthew 13. 2. 4. for a draught -munificent recompense for the use of his boat. 5. Master—betokening not surely a first acquaintance, but a relationship already formed, all nlghtthe usual time of fishing then (John 21. 3), and even now Peter, as a fisherman, knew how hopeless it was to " let down his net" again, save as a mere act of faith, "at His word" of command, which carried in it, as it ever does, assurance of success. (This shows he must have been already and for some time a follower of Christ.) 6. net brake—rather 'was breaking,' or 'beginning to break,' as v. 7, "beginning to sink." 8. depart, Ac—Did Peter then wish Christ to leave him? Verily no. His all was wrapt up in Him. (John 6. 68.) 'Twas rather, 'Woe Is me. Lord ! How shall 6.5; but this seems to have been done quite privately, the general unbelief precluding anything more open. 84. and he said, &c. —He replies to the one proverb by another, equally familiar, which we express in a rougher form — 'Too much familiarity breeds contempt.' Our Lord's long residence in Nazareth merely as a townsman had made him too common, incapac.- tating them for appreciating Him as others did who were less familiar wUh hi* every-day demeanour in private life. A most important principle, to whlcli the jvise will pay due regard. (See also Matthew 7. 6, on which our Lord Himself ever acted.) 25-27. But I tell you, &c.—falling back for support on the well-known examples of Elijah and Elisha (EUseus), whose miraculous power, passing by those who were near, expended Itself on those at a distance, yea on heathens, 'the two great prophets who stand at the commencement of prophetic antiquity, and whose miracles strikingly prefigured those of our Lord. As He Intended like them to feed the poor and cleanse the lepers, I abide this blaze of glory 7 A sinner such as I am Is not fit company for Thee.' (Cf. Isaiah 6. 5.) 10. fear not, Simon—this shows how the Lord read Peter's speech. The more highly they deemed of Him, ever the more grateful
Ylf: points to these miracles of mercy, and not to the fire from heaven and the bears that tore the mockers.' [Stier.] three years and six month*—So James 5. 17, including perhaps the six months after the last fall of rain, when there would be little or none at any rate; whereas In 1 Kings 18. 1, which says the rain returned "In the third year," that period is probably not reckoned, save . . . it was to the Redeemer's spirit. Never did they pain Him by manifesting too lofty conceptions of Him. from Itenceforth —marking a new stage of their connection with Christ. The last was simply, "I will make you fishers." flahers of men—' What wilt thou think, Simon, overwhelmed by