PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Gnomon of the New Testament — Volume 1
Bengel, Johann Albrecht, 1687-1752 · 248,436 words · 558 reading sections
434 St Matthew Xxiv. 40-43.
45. T/; apa, earh, x.r.X., who then is, etc.) Who is there who would wish to be such ? The up a (then) in Luke xii. 42, refers to the question in the preceding verse ; but here it expresses the magnitude and rarity of the matter. — visrog KO.I tppovipos, faithful and prudent) Two cardinal virtues of a good servant,…
250 wordsSECTION 422436 St Matthew Xxiv. 46-51.
xii. 42. — iv xaipu, in due season) This refers to the epithet prudent. 46. Evpqffsi, shall find} Therefore we are not under compul sion. 48. 'o xaxbc doSXo? Iscs/i/oj, THAT evil servant) whom the Lord knoweth. — xpovifyi, delayetli) See xxv. 5 [cf. Eccles. viii. 11]. 49. SovSouXous, fellow-servants) They are cal…
394 wordsSECTION 423Chapter Xxv.
crites is a specimen of punishment. In the parallel passage, Luke xii. 46, we find avtaruv, unbelievers or faithless, i.e. those who are not faithful ; cf. ver. 45. — ^fati, shall appoint) by a judg ment, just, severe, and irreversible. 1. [Ton, then) sc. when the last day is close at hand. — B. G. V.] — dexa, ten…
387 wordsSECTION 424438 St Matthew Xxv. 4-9.
4. 'A~/ysioi;, vessels) These represent the recesses of the heart. 5. 'Evuffragav, dozed) The Hebrew verb DU, to slumber or doze, is rendered by the LXX., wsreifyiv. Dozing takes place, either after sleep, as in Prov. vi. 10, or before it, as in Isa. v. 27, which is the case in the present passage. — [vacat, all) T…
430 wordsSECTION 425St Matthew Xxv. 10~15. 439
You ought previously to have followed the example of the pru dent. — vopeve&e, x.r.X., (fo i/£, etc.) Let us do in time what will then prove to have been wise. — vpb; rov$ wXovvras, to them that sell) although they are not traders [i.e. do not make salvation a matter of traffic]. — ayopdffars, buy) See Rev. iii. 18…
450 wordsSECTION 426440 St Matthew Xxv. 18-24.
by five parts "? We may compare with this the circumstance, that Plato, in his book on Laws, has not permitted any citizen to possess an income more than five times that of the poorest. See Arist. Polit. ii. 5. A. Rttimer, the Flemish preacher, was of opinion that the Reformed Church had five talents, the Lutheran …
420 wordsSECTION 427St Matthew Xxv. 25-29. 441
transcends the comprehension of the creature. — crx>.?!f>o;, hard) In Luke xix. 21, we find auffr^oc, austere. — This Lord was not such ; but let those earthly lords who really are so, consider what servant they will resemble on the judgment day. — ou fl/- effx6p<ffiffa,s, thou hast not strawed) Though, in reality,…
443 wordsSECTION 428442 St Matthew Xxv, 30-33.
30. 'AffltTov, unprofitable) sc. now and hereafter;1 cf. Gnomon on ver. 21, and Luke xvi. 11. — uyjt'i'oc, is in Attic Greek writ ten ajspeioz, according to Eustathius. — Ix/SaXsrs, X.T-.A., cast forth, etc.) There is a contrast between this and ver. 21. The Lord Himself commands [the good servants] to enter ; He d…
461 wordsSECTION 429St Matthew Xxv. 34, 35. 443
34. Ton, K.T.X., then, etc.) cf. this address with that to the kids [Eng. Vers., goats] in ver. 41. Here, Come : There, Depart from me : ye blessed of my Father : ye cursed : inherit the kingdom : into the fire : prepared for you : prepared for the devil and his angels : from the foundation of the world. eterna…
373 wordsSECTION 430444 St Matthew Xxv. 37-40.
those only which have been done to the body are mentioned, which are both more despised in the world, and will then be a more evident specimen of faith, inasmuch as a man in them expends somewhat of his material resources and trouble (whereas those which concern the spirit are without expense), and will come more …
438 wordsSECTION 431St Matthew Xxv. 41. 445
resurrection (John xxi. 5), vaidla, children,1 and brethren (cf. ch. xxviii. 10 ; John xx. 17 ; and cf. therewith Ib. xiii. 1) ; and this appellation He will repeat at the judgment-day. How great is the glory of the faithful ! see Heb. ii. 10, 11, 12, etc. During the time of His humiliation (exinanitionis) the hono…
439 wordsSECTION 43244G St Matthew Xxv. 42—46.
42. Ovx., K.T.\., not, etc.) Sins of omission. 44. Ka/ auro/, jc.r.X., £/i£*/ a£so, etc.) The process is distinctly described : they will answer either altogether or one by one. — fore, JC.T-.X., when, etc.) The ignorance of the wicked, and their endeavour to justify themselves, will remain up to that time. 45. TO…
441 wordsSECTION 433Chapter Xxvi.
1. 'ETiXtas fl-carac, ended all) He had said all that He had to say. He did not enter on his Passion sooner, or defer it later than this point. A regular systematic plan of our Lord's Dis courses may be produced from the Harmony of the Gospels. 2. Msra d-jo ipspa;, after two days) Our Lord foretold His death by va…
408 wordsSECTION 434448 St. Matthew Xxvi. 4-7.
4. A&'Xw, ly craft) An unworthy consultation. 5. 'EC TTJ soprjj, in the feast1) Even then ! They wished to delay the matter until the people, who were then collected in great numbers on account of the Passover, should have departed, after the conclusion of the festival. But as the traitor offered his services, the…
528 wordsSECTION 435St Matthew Xxvi. 8-13. 449
behoved Christ rather to be anointed whilst living : after His death it was needless. 8. 'A-7rwXe<a, waste) or perdition. — Nay, thou, Judas, art [the son] of Perdition j1 see John xvii. 12. 9. ' Hdwaroj might) The disciples exhibit in this instance great ignorance of comparative theology. — ro/g crrw^o/s, to the …
428 wordsSECTION 436450 St Matthew Xxvi. 14-17.
Christianity. No earthly monarch can bestow immortality on any action, even though he employ all his wealth and power to do so. — fLvrtfioewov, a memorial) The memory of the godly may flourish, even though their names be unknown.1 14. TiopsuSiis, departing2} The disciples were not under re straint. The wicked coul…
498 wordsSECTION 437St Matthew Xxvi. 18-24. 451
was wont to perform all things which were enjoined by the law. — 2o/, for Thee) Jesus was as the father of a family, surrounded by the family of His disciples. 18. Tii* dtii/a, a certain man) This word is put instead of a proper name.1 — 6 A/<3a<rx.a>.oj, the Master) Therefore the host in question was a disciple, …
470 wordsSECTION 438452 St Matthew Xxvi. 25, 2G.
Son of Man. A consolatory consideration. — oval 3s, but woe !) The Divine foreknowledge of the traitor's sin does not diminish its heinousness. — IXE/KW, to that man) ; concerning which very man also it has been written. — Kapaoiborai, is betrayed} By this word something further is added to vvdyti, goeth. — £/' oux…
424 wordsSECTION 439St Matthew Xxvi. 26. 453
Judas1 therefore was present ;2 cf. the Kdvrsg, x.r.X. (all, etc.) in Mark xiv. 23, and vXqv, x.r.X. (but, etc.) in Luke xxii. 21. — 1 i.e. In ver. 21 it is said, " AND AS THEY WERE EATING, He said, " Verily, I say unto you that one of you (sc. of those who were then at table) shall betray Me." The repetition of th…
585 wordsSECTION 440454 St Matthew Xxvi. 26.
v, taking) sc. in His hand. This implies the supreme dig nity of the holy supper ; cf. John iv. 2.1 — rbv aprov, the bread) which was at hand. — siXoy^tfas, having blessed) In the next verse we find ju^af/or^a?, having given thanks (corresponding to the Hebrew T"Q). Each verb explains the other. He gave thanks to …
466 wordsSECTION 441St Matthew Xxvi. 27, 28. 455
ance of the words, This is My body. We readily allow that there is an allusion to the formula of the Jews, who, in cele brating the Passover, when asked by their children, What is this ? replied, lil nos ?£' 5)13 HT, This is the body of the Lamb ichich our fathers ate in Egypt. — TO ff5>fj,d Mov, My body) un derst…
453 wordsSECTION 442456 St Matthew Xxvi. Lkj.
Jewish theology ; but Scripture expresses the New divin e economy in this case, as it is wont in other cases, by a word belonging to the Old scheme, although employed in a sense not exactly coinciding with its original meaning : nor can we easily speak of the NEW, 6/a^x?j, or Dispensation (Dispositio), except in c…
440 wordsSECTION 443St Matthew Xxvi. 30 457
guage of the inhabitants of earth, and therefore the more suitable to the meaning of the Saviour who was about to leave the earth. — ysw^a and yevripa occur in the LXX., also pro miscuously, when wine and the vine are spoken of. — tuf rrjs rift'ipae exiivqs x.r.X., until that day, etc.) Which had been fore told : …
488 wordsSECTION 444458 St Matthew Xxvi. 31-33.
mystery of Redemption is notably expressed. The hymn also contained the words which are quoted in ch. xxi. 9, 42. Our Lord is frequently said to have prayed while on earth ; never to have sung. 31. UdvTig u/z£%, all ye) Our Lord had before foretold the crime of a single traitor. — tfxavSaX/otfjjffgffde, shall be o…
435 wordsSECTION 445St Matthew Xxvi. 34~37. 459
have said — " Even though no one else should deny Thee, yet I will do so." — ovdsvori, never) Not merely, not this night. 34. 'Ei> ravrp rr\ VJKTI in this very night) It was already night ; and it was more wonderful that this should happen by night than by day. — irph, before that) A considerable portion of the ni…
436 wordsSECTION 446St Matthew Xxvi. 38, 39.
very heavy} St Mark says, ixta/t»j8fft&flM xai adr^ovi^, " to be sore amazed and to be very heavy" Both Xtm/zfta/ and ixdapfaTffdai de note the presence and effect of an object of horror, — a^aovs/v, the loss of all power of deriving enjoyment from other sources. The same word occurs in Phil. ii. 26, where see Gnom…
758 wordsSECTION 447462 St Matthew Xxvi. 43-49.
as an incentive to watchfulness. — aadevqs, weaK) for the right performance of the matter in hand. 42. 'Eav py, x.r.X., except, etc.) Whilst Jesus drank the cup it passed away. — T/W, / drink) And now by this very utterance of that word He brings Himself nearer to the act of drinking. — ytvrfifiru, be done) The pr…
537 wordsSECTION 448St Matthew Xxvi. 50-54. 4Gs
in the preceding verse, and did so as if from kindly feeling. He violated the inviolable countenance of Jesus with the utmost temerity. 50. *Era//?£, comrade1} Ammonious says, " eraT/Jos does not cor respond exactly with p/'Xog" (a friend) " and ira/po/" (in the plural number) " are those who have associated toget…
391 wordsSECTION 449O ' '
must be) The Scriptures had said that thus it must oe ; see ver. 56.1 55. To/5 o^Xo'Sj the multitudes) Our Lord calmed their vio lence, so that, even though now under the influence of the chief men they did not return to sanity, they might do so more easily at a future period. — -w? kvi Xrj<rr^v, as against a thie…
446 wordsSECTION 450St Matthew Xxvi, 61-64. 465
61. At/ca,«.a/ xaraXDffa/, x.r.7.., lam able to destroy, etc.) He had not said so. False evidence seizes upon some true par ticulars ; and a great calumny may frequently be produced by no great change of words. They distort the expression used by our Lord three years before, and now unconsciously subserve to its f…
435 wordsSECTION 451466 St Matthew Xxvi. 65-60.
Jesus this is the first thing, that He is the Son of God : that He will come to judgment is the last. The former is the foun dation of the latter ; the latter the most glorious proof of the former. In the most adverse circumstances, it always especially consoles the sons of God to contemplate the consummation of a…
411 wordsSECTION 452St Matthew Xxvi. 70-73. 467
consider all who were present. [She feared lest it might bring her into trouble, if she were to admit any one of our Lord's followers, and on this ground she took Peter to task ; the others took up the matter after her. None of them appear to have intended to bring Peter into danger. Careless worldlings fre quentl…
435 wordsSECTION 453468 St Matthew Xxvi. 7A, 75.
godly, especially in cases of misdirected zeal. Even as far back as the days of the Judges, tribes had peculiar dialects.1 74. "Hp^aro, jc.r.X., he began, etc.) Hitherto he had not gone so far : now he altogether lost command of himself. — xaTa^i^a- Tifyiv,2 to curse) others read xaramdiparlfyiv : 3 that double com…
454 wordsSECTION 454Chapter Xxvii.
u*;, bitterly) Tears are bitter or sweet, according to the emotion from which they spring. Even if Peter's weeping was not of long duration, his grief was so undoubtedly : see Mark xvi. 7. [All his former presumption ceased then and for ever. — B. G. V.] The tears of the godly, even of men, who do not easily weep …
341 wordsSECTION 455470 St Matthew Xx Vii. 5~8.
remark, the question as to the innocence of their Victim.1 — a-j 0-4/s/, see thou to that) The ungodly, though associating in the commission of a crime, desert their associates when it has been accomplished :2 the godly, though not taking part in the crime, endeavour, after its commission, to save the sinner's soul…
417 wordsSECTION 456St Matthew Xxvii. 9. 471
belief, viz., that within four and twenty hours it reduces the bodies of the dead to dust, which virtue, even when carried into other regions, it still preserves ; for when, by command of the Empress Helena, as much earth, they say, as 270 vessels could hold, was taken from this field to Rome, and unloaded close by…
481 wordsSECTION 457472 St Matthew Xxvii. 10, 11.
(whether it be good) in the same manner that I was assayed by them. And I took the thirty silver pieces, and cast them into the house of the Lord, into the melting furnace. The Evangelist re gards the scope of the matter, and adds a paraphrase. — rqv TI/ATJV ro\j nnfuffumt) ov sn^ffavTo, the value of Him that was v…
447 wordsSECTION 458St Matthew Xxvii. 13-17. 473
and this is clearly the sum of all that St John records to have been said by our Lord to Pilate in ch. xviii. 34, 36, 37.1 13. Tore, then) Pilate conducted himself moderately at first in the judgment of the cause. — n/Xaro?,2 Pilatus, Pilate) Non- nus shortens the middle syllable ; and passim, the Greeks sharpen3 …
433 wordsSECTION 459474 St Matthew Xxvii. 18-24.
18. A/a e>86vov,for envy) They envied Jesus because the people had adhered to Him. 19. Ka07;/i£i/ou dt avrov, K.T.X., but when he was set down, etc.) In the very moment of urgent business and impending decision. Warnings of a strange and marvellous character ought not to be neglected in times of noisy excitement. …
405 wordsSECTION 460St Matthew Xxvii. 25-29. 475
Jews said to Judas, so Pilate says to the Jews. A formula of rejection ; see Acts xviii. 15. 25. Ha; o Xao$, x.r.x., all the people, etc.) An argument against the Jews why they are at present in exile, although that exile is somewhat less severe than formerly. — i<p was, x.r.7.., upon us, etc.) cf. Deut. xxviii. 1…
446 wordsSECTION 461476 St Matthew Xxvii. 31-36.
31. Kcu or«, x.r.X., and when, etc.) When the mockery was concluded, they removed also the crown of thorns.1 32. Kvp rtm?ov} a Cyreniati) There was neither Jew nor Roman who was willing to bear the burden of the cross. Men were present at that time from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Even in the remotest regions Christ…
471 wordsSECTION 462St Matthew Xxvii. 37-44. 477
37. 'Effnv, zV)Yes; He truly is so ! The inscription, perhaps, remained longer on the cross than the body of Jesus.1 39. Oi <& <rapa'7ropiv6{jM>6i, lut they that were passing by) Many did not even condescend to stand still. — x/voSmj rag xspaXac, shaking their heads) The gesture of one who refuses to acknow ledge …
438 wordsSECTION 463478 St Matthew Xxvii. 45, 46.
seems to be no place for Synecdoche; nor are there wanting instances of men who, in the course of dreadful and lingering punishment, have at first blasphemed, and afterwards been con verted. 45. Haaav, all) The whole of our planet is meant ; for the sun itself was darkened.1 — 'tu* upag indrqs, until the ninth hou…
473 wordsSECTION 464St Matthew Xxvii, 47. 479
as being now in a degree estranged ; ] yet He does so twice, and adds " MY" with confidence, patience, and self-resignation. Christ was 13JJ, the servant of the Lord :2 and yet He calls Him God, not Master (&0*tfnp>). In Ps. xxii. (xxi.) 1, the LXX. have o o &io5 {AOUj Kpdeyjs [tot, ivari lyy.u.r'tki'xiz ^ '•, uMy …
444 wordsSECTION 465480 St Matthew Xxvii. 48-51.
48. "o£ou£, with vinegar) The soldiers were accustomed to drink vinegar1 themselves, as Gataker remarks, Posthumous Miscel lanies, ch. vi. 49. Oi ds Xo/cro/, but the rest) i.e. of those present, opposed to those whose speech and conduct is related in ver. 47, 48.2 — iteyov, JC.T-.X., said, etc.) After the fearful …
478 wordsSECTION 466St Matthew Xxvii. 52, 53. 481
(see ver. 45), but especially the Land of Israel and the vicinity of Jerusalem.1 — ai nerpai, x.r.X., the rocks, etc.) Travellers re late that rents in the rocks, the opposite sides of which corres pond to each other, are still to be seen. 52. Tuv xexoiwAtvuv cc-yluv, of the saints that had slept) The name saints …
451 wordsSECTION 467482 St Matthew Xxvii. 54-58.
their coming forth from the tomb. The first who rose from the dead to die no more was Christ ; he had however companions. After His resurrection, that of the saints also took place ; but it is recorded that their egress from the tombs, and their ingress into the Holy City, occurred after His resurrection ; because …
454 wordsSECTION 468St Matthew Xxvii. 59-62. 4»3
minals." — ro <rw,aa, the body} All the Evangelists use this word for our Lord's frame when dead, since it would not have been becoming to designate it by the expression corpse (cadaver}. Such is the Divine propriety of style, which has indeed been abandoned by human commentators. — avododijvat, to be restored*) T…
406 wordsSECTION 469Chaptee Xxviii.
63. Aiyovresj xvpu, saying, my Lord) They cringe to Pilate : they had not addressed him so before. — ext/vo;, that) They al ready desired Jesus to be obliterated from the memory of all. — eyu'popai, I am raised) The present tense. 64. 'AtfpaX/a^jjyaw, to be made sure, to be secured) They igno- rantly minister to t…
351 wordsSECTION 470St Matthew Xxviii. 1. 485
tween these two.1 — rJj [sc. r\i^f^\ ifc/paaxefapj as it began to dawn} When the period of death had elapsed, our Lord rose as quickly as possible. — tig piav [sc. ftfjupat] on the first day, i.e. the whole day, the first of the week. The first day of the, week had already begun on the preceding evening ; now the …
539 wordsSECTION 471486 St Matthew Xxviii. 2~5.
2. 'ATO 7%$ %vpag, from the door) sc. of the sepulchre. It did not behove that the sepulchre should remain closed. — Jxa^ro, sat) Afterwards the angel arose with his companion. See Luke xxiv. 4 [where it is said, " Behold two men stood by them in shining garments.] — J-racw aurov, upon it) sc. the stone : so that …
497 wordsSECTION 472St Matthew Xxviii. G~12. 487
security, and conciliates attention. — vptTs, ye) Although the soldiers are left to their fear. — oTda, / knoiv) Thus the angel impresses his words on their heart. G. O\IK sanv, x.r.X., He is not, etc.) This verse contains short clauses which are exceedingly appropriate to the subject matter. — 6 Kupioc, the Lord)…
425 wordsSECTION 473488 St Matthew Xxviii. 13-18.
Roman soldiers, and induce them to lie contrary to the truth, at their own great peril.1 13. E/Vocrg, x.r.X., say, etc.) The priests were a great stumbling- block to the soldiers, and sinned most heinously against God. — 6Y/, K.T.X., that, etc.) A specimen of Jewish perfidy and calumny. — Kuxroj, by night) They in…
436 wordsSECTION 474St Matthew Xxviii. 19. 489
\vliy He institutes baptism;1 see Ephesians cited below. — sv ovpavp xai ex) yr^, in heaven and on earth) see ch. ix. 6, xvi. 1. Hitherto He had been on earth, now He ascends to heaven : He fills all things ; see Eph. iv. 10, with the preceding and following verses. 19. 2llop£&evrs£ ovv, xrX., go ye therefore, etc…
465 wordsSECTION 475490 St Matthew Xxvi11. 20.
act acknowledge the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of the Son. — fig rb ovopa, x.r.X., into the name, etc.1) This formula of Baptism is most solemn and important ; in fact it embraces the sum of all piety.2 After our Lord's resurrection, the mystery of the Holy Trinity was most clearly revealed, to…
397 wordsSECTION 476St. Mark I. 1.
1 . A.px*\ roD eCiayysX/cu 'ir^ou XpiffroZ T/oD roD 0?oD, £/te beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God) There is a con siderable correspondence of Mark, in part with Matthew, in part with Luke. There is described by Mark, 1. John prepares the way, . . Ch. i. 1—8 2. He baptizes Jesus, who is thereat …
359 wordsSECTION 477St. Mark I. 1. 493
d 7. The Nazarites offended at Him, Ch. vi. 1-6 I 8. The sending forth of the L apostles, . . . 7—13 B. John killed: ... 14 1. Herod hearing of Jesus, and his opinion of John, whom he had killed, being revived, . . 14—29 2. The withdrawal of our Lord with His apostles on their return, . 30, 31 3. The eagerness…
250 wordsSECTION 478St Makk I. 1.
lunatic ; again foretells His Pas sion, . . . Ch. ix. 3. Teaches the disciples moderation, leniency [sequitatem], and concord, 33, 34 ; 2. In Judea : a. In the borders, 2,3 1. He treats of divorce, 2. Of little children, 3. Of obtaining eternal life, and of the hinderance caused by riches, . 17, 18 ; 23, 24;…
281 wordsSECTION 479Iii. The Gospel,
1. The two disciples get ready the passover, . . . 12—10 2. At evening time, the supper, 17, 18 ; 22, 23 3. After the hymn, He foretells that the disciples would be of fended at Him, and Peter deny Him, . . . 20-31 4. In Gethsemane, a. Jesus prays; rouses the sleeping disciples, . . 32-42 [3. Is betrayed; tak…
472 wordsSECTION 480St Mark 1. 2. 497
principles of action, course, and consummation of the Gospel, concerning Jesus Christ the Son of God (ver. 11, God's declaration at His baptism, " Thou art my beloved Son" etc.):1 ch. i. 1, 14, etc., viii. 35, x. 29, xiii. 10, xiv. 9, xvi. 15. Hence it is that he so often employs the term, the Gos pel : hence too …
463 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical edition (1857-1858); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.