PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2
Henry Donald Maurice Spence [1836–1917] · 272,049 words · 292 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 241
R _leaf ulX'.n the. grouno.. Re "finds no fault in Jesus" (ver. 4), but he dares not acquit !um; he is nfra1d ot the men he is t.~1ere to go:vo~n. llc ?'\sts about for u. WBY of escnpo ; he Rt lnsts hits upon the poor expedient of shifting the difficulty to other shoulders. Ho rresent.s to us a "l'"cry pitiable object …
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Ver. 16.-Guilty compromise. Twice (are ver. 22) Pihte m~de thie offer to the Jews. He would chastise Jesus nnd release him; be would thus vatify them by put tin" the Object of their hntred to pain and humiliation, and he would satisfy Iiis own con: science by saving an innocent man from the last extremity. It was a poo…
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II. TIIAT HE WAS NOT DEVOID OF SPIRITUAi, DISCF:RNMENT. It is clenr thnt he was much impressed by all that he saw of Jesus. 'l'he calmness, patience, and nobility of our Lord called forth from Pilate a sincere respect. There was genuine admiration in his heart as he led forth the Divine Sufferer and exclaimed, " Beh…
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Vers. 21-31,-Sympathy and solicitude. Before reaching Calvary an interesting and instructivo incident occurred. Among the tumultuous crowd that surged round the soldiers and their victims were many women. These were better away, we are dis- posed to think, from a scene so brutal and so harrowing as this. But \Ve will b…
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Ver. 34.-l,fag11animity an attainment. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." ,vhen-at what particular point did he say that? It is commonly believed that be uttered this most gracious prayer just at the time of tbe actual crucifixion. Just when the nails were driven into those hand…
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Ver. 34.-Sin greater than it seems. "They know not what they do." Thero is more in our actions, and therefore in our life, than there seems to be to ourselves ( see "The l_argeness of our life," homily on eh. x. 16). There is more of good; more also of evil. 'l'hese soldiers imagined that they were doing nothing more t…
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\" er. 35.-.A sad spectacle and tlie supreme vision. "And the people slood beholdin"'." "Sitting down they watched him there" (Matt. xxvii. 36). Shall we envy th~se spectators the scene they then witnessed? Shall we wish that we had lived when, witli our mortal eyes, we could have seen the Saviour crucifiecl on our …
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Thie ie the supreme vision or human souls. We do well to gaze on nobility as we see it illustrated in human lives around us. We do well to look long and lovinuly on human virtue ns manifested in the lives and deaths of the glorious army of mirtyrs. But there is no vision so well worthy of our view; of our frequent, our…
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Vcrs. 39--43.-True penitena. These verses narrate what we may call a standard fact of the gospel ~f Christ-a fact to which appeal will always be made, as it has ahrnys been made, 10 reference to a late repentance. We have to consider- I. THE BREVITY WITH WHICH A GREAT SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION MAY BE WROUGHT n- A HuMAN =n.…
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Ver. 44.-The slielter of the darkness. The darkness which fell upon Jerusalem at midday and enshrouded the scene of the Crucifixion was a phenomenon for which it is impossible to account physically, and which it is not easy to explain morally. It is a matter for reverent conjecture, for thoughtful and devout inference,…
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Ver. 45.-The rent veil. At the time when Jesus died it is exceedingly probable that there would be priests in the "holy place." It wa.s now afternoon, it was drawing toward the time of evening sacrifice; they would be in attendance rendering the service of the sanctuary; they would certainly be aware of what was hap…
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Ver. 46.-How to die and to live. Our text treats of the dying of our Lord. We may distinguish between death and dying. All men die, but all men have not a dyin;; experience, Those who are killed instantaneously in wa.r or by accident, those who are attacked by fatal apoplexy, those who die in their sleep, have no such …
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Ver. 48.-Sacred impression,. There was a considerable company of spectators at the Crucifixion. They were attracted not only by the spectacle of a triple execution, but, far more, by the fact that the Prophet whose fame had filled the land was to be led forth to die. It was not the riffraff of Jerusalem merely that …
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Vers. 1-25.-Jesus vindicated by his enemies. We pass now from the ecclesiastical to the secular sphere. The charge brought forward in the Sanhedrin is blasphemy ; before Pilate ancl Herod the charge must be sedition and treason. Yet amid his unscrupulous enemies unimpeachable testimony is forthcoming of his innocence. …
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Vers. 26----46.-7'7,e merciful Saviour on the cross. Delivered unto the will of the Jews by the indecision of Pila.te, Jesus accepts the cross, and proceeds under its crushing weight towards Calvary. But seeing him fainting under it, they press Simon the Cyrenian into service, and he has the everlasting honour of ca…
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Vers. 47-56.-77ie consequences of our Saviour's death. Our Lord died in the light. The disappearance of the darkness before his o.ecease was an outward symbol of•'the light and serenity which came across his spirit. His departure exercised a powerful influence upon all around tb.e cross. Let us notice the consequence…
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EXPOSITION. Approx. time. CHAPTER XXIV. 5 o..m ...... Mary M~,gdalene, Mary the Vere. 1-49.-THE RESURRECTION. All fmother) of James and Sa- the four evo.ngelists give o.n o.ccount of the lome, probably with others, start for the sepulchre in the Resurrection. None of the four, however, twilight. Mary l\fog;dalene a…
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If this be assumed t<> be the fact, there (5) That uo future doubt should bo thrown will bo nothing improbable in the supposi- on the reality of the appearances of the tion that bot.h these groups of women, all Risen, he showed himself not only to solitary doubtless intimate friends belonging to the individuals, but…
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peared ; to nnotber, two. Mo.ry Magdalene, chier priests and Jewish leaders would a little l1Lter, so.w two angels in white sitting, apparently ho.ve been surprised if something as it were keeping watch and ward over the startling had not happened (see Matt. sepulchre for o. short time after the sacred xxvii. 00, et…
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ing or t.he Resurrection have been already and then add, "and they stood still, looking oommcnt.Pd upou. To a village C!Llled Em- sad." This change is, of course, of no great maua. This EmmRus, the narrative tells import1mce, but it considerably adds to the us. WM Rbout sixty furlongs-some six vividness of the pictu…
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dwolt e. short spnoe on tbe expressilln, "third Thus the Stranger led the "two" to see the doy," telling the Strnngor how their cleocl true meaning of the "prophets," whose Master, when a.live, bacl be.cle his friends burning wor<ls they had so often rend and wotoh for the third day from his death. hee.rd without gTasp…
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where ~ufferings and death are spoken of as of bread" been recognized by the Catholio belonging to the perfect picture of the Ser- Church as the sacrament, that later Romanist vant of the Lord and the ideal King. His divines ha".e even pressed it o.s a scriptural hearers would k'"llow well how strangely the demonstr…
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rear no longer the night-journey from which He "stood in the midst of them," though they had dissuaded their unknown Com- the doors were carefully closed and barred p1mion" (Bengel). And found the eleven "for fear of the Jews." Rumours of the gathered together, and them that were with Resurrection, no doubt, bad alr…
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The pnst is forgiven and forgotten." "I Von Gerlach has an interesting suggestion C'ome not," as Stier beautifully sugcsts, "RS thnt the feet wore especially rofel'red to a wrathful Judge to reckon with you for " because there was in the feet something ,·our unbelief and unfaithfulness. I bring more convincing and t…
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Cn.nncm, the Innd flowing with milk n.nd Resurrection rind the ARcension, Acts i. 3) is honey, wns common enough to enter into of comparatively small importance. What is, the cliet of tho poor (compn.re, o.mong mo.ny however, of real moment is the weight Jesus passages, Exod. iii. 8.17; Deut. xxvi. 9, 15; showed that h…
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ft, behov<'<l." The verse ehonld be read !.hue: in the Revelation of St. John, presuppoee " Thu• it ie written the.t Chriet should the Ascension, when they describe the l!uff<>r," eto. These worde probe.bly were heavenly glory of Jesus aud of his session l!poken on that first Euter e,·ening. They were apparently re…
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desoending valleys, into the de:pths of the supemBtural appearance3 vouchsafed to <listBnt JordBn Bnd its myatenous IBke" them since the Resurrection were now at an (Dean Stanley, 'BinBi and PBlestine,' end. Nor were they grieved at this final eh. iii.). Ke lifted up his hands, and parting ; for we read- ble11ed them. …
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were the prin,•ipnl resort of the teaahors oC how, when the disaipl(s' eyes were :fixed the new" w11v." 'We know that in an ex- on that cloud whiah veiled their 11,eaending tl'llordinarilv • short time the numbers of Master, they became aware of two strnnger- ndherente to the orueified and risen Jesus, forms with th…
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"whose countenance is like lightning, and h:S raiment white as snow," and prostrate on the ground are the Roman sentries, The women sta.rt, but the assuring word, "Fear not ye," is spoken, and the invitation (Matt. xxviii. 6) is given to "come and see the place where the Lord lay." Yes, guardians, and only guardians…
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Vers. !3-35.-Emmaus. (For a beautiful paraphrase of tbis Scripture, see tbe passage m Cowper's poem 'Conversation,' beginning, "It happened on a solemn even- tide." The incident is presented by him as an illustration of converse "such as it behoves man to maintain, and such as God approves." And it is impossible to …
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life? He is not in the form In which we expect him. Sometimes he hides himself, that he may get the more fully into our hearts. He is with us, wanting the halo, want- ing all that would at once declare him, that he may be more intimately our Friend, "familiar, patient, condescending, free." And we miss or mistake him, …
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him." He receives sinners for salvation; their recept:on of hitn is salvation (Rev. iii. 20). At meat with them he is revealed. What it was that disoloeed him we cannot exactly say. Theawhole manner is solemn and striking. At once he takes the bead of the table. The Master's place is conceded to him. And that always…
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day of hie power. Christ prescribes means; he ordains channels of grace; and, where there is the obedience of faith in the use of the means, there is blessing. "Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst of them." But in all that speaks of spiritual life, there is the witness for a spiritual sove…
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"Christ." And not only so; these Scriptures are to be expounded and enforced in the light and through the skill of the opened understanding. This is the secret of the effect; it is this that makes them the sword. Only when they al'e thus the weapon of the Spirit, illuminating the mind of the teacher, as well as acti…
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the scene of the last e.dieu, of the Ascension (ver. 50). In the earlier history of Israel (2 Kings ii.) there we.s e. de.y when the sons of the prophets, referring to Elijah, said to Elisha, "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to-day?" And his answer was," Yea, I know it; hold ye you…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-12.-Side-lightsfrom the Resurrection. The simple, unpretending story of the Resurrection, as here narrated, brings into view other truths than that great and supreme fact of the rising of our Lord. We have our attention called to- L THE CONSTANCY AND THE EAGERNESS OF TBUE AFFECT…
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Vers. 5, 6.-The ReS'IJ,rreetion and the Life. No smallest touch of censure can we trace in the words of these angels. On their errand of faithful love these women would not be greeted thus. It was but a strong, awakening appeal, calling them to consider that, while they had come in the right spirit, they had come on a.…
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. Vers._ 13-32.-Privi?ege; unconscious e.ompanionship; incredulity. In this most mterestmg narrative, beside a very pleasing and attractive picture, we have a variety of lessons. We may gather instruction respecting- !. OlIB LoRD's ELECTIVE LOVE. It was a very great favour he granted to these two men. Why, we ask, …
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III. TnE sTnANGE INCREDULITY OIi' CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP. Our Master, who was eo gentle cmd so considerate, here employs a very strong expression (ver. 25). This is the language of serious reproach; it is a weighty rebuke. The disciples of Christ ought to have read their Scriptures better, and they ought to have heeded…
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and so delightful to the awakened and renewed; holding mysterice insoluble to humBn learning, and yet intelligible and instructive from Genesis to RevelBtion to the enmeet inquirer after truth and life; valueless in the market, and yet precious beyond all price to all who want to know how to live and how to die. As …
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its youth and its prime. Most of these, perhaps nearly all, have fallen, and they are as the last leaf upon the wintry bough. "They are all gone, the old familiar faces," is the plaintive strain of their discourse; and some who still live have drifted a.way from them in space or in spirit. There is no one left who can …
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IJ. THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE WHICH THE FLESH RENDERS TO THE BPinIT. Chris• tianity is essentially spiritual. It makes its appeal to the spiritual nature•1 its aim is i;piritual ; and the weapons of its warfare are also spiritual-the efforts of the spirit of man and the energies of the Spirit of God. But it rests largel…
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prenched. Christ came to give peace to a world profoundly disturbed and disquieted by sin. "Come unto me," he said, " and I will give you rest." Not a.s the world gives rest or peace does he give. (1) Not mere comfort or gratification that is very short-lived; (2) nor satisfaction that is based on ignorance of ourselve…
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it is full, entire, complete. All past transgressions are absolutely forgiven, BO that they will never be alleged against us or stand between us and the love of God. W o oursolvos are taken into the gracious favour of our htavenly Father, admitted to bis family, counted o.mong his own children, constituted his heirs, h…
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Ver. 49.-The secret of spiritual strength. How came it to pass that the apostle& of our Lord became such strong men and did such noble work for their Master and for mankind so soon after they manifested such weakness as they did? We consider- !. THEIR INSUFFICIENCY UP TO THE TIMI!: OF THE AS0ENSION. '!'hey had been …
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III. ITB J,ASTINO LESSON. It is this which, if anything does, will make us strong also. What the Christian workman wants is the power which wmes immediately frO'f/1, God, the inspiration of the Divine Spirit; in truth, the same bestowal as that which the apostles were now promised and afterwards received. The miraculo…
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They" returned to J~rusalem with gr_eat joy.". Yet their Master was gone from them to ret~rn no more till that uncertam and distant day of which the angels spoke (Acts 1. 11). How do we account for this? The explanation is found here-they were 'TIOW pe1fectly assured of the Divine mission of Jesus Christ. His death …
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have been left largely to the women; for it is they who make their way, in the early morning of the first day of the week, to the sepnlchre. They seem to have had no knowledge, for they had no apprehension, of the Roman guard, which was manifestly placed at the sepulchre on the Jewish sabbath, when the disciples and th…
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Mat.thew's nccount, Rn i_nterview w)th the risen Lord hi_msel_f (Matt. xxviii. 9, 10), It w11s R remarkable testimony certainly, but at the same time 1t had ample warrant. I\7. THE BEST-ATTESTED FACTS MAY SEEM, TO DAZED MINDS, THE IDLEST FANCIES. (Yer. 11.) The poor disciples are, however, so overpowered with grief …
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at the sacramental meal. Not till then did they recognize their risen Lord in the devout Being who graced their board. Once recognized, and thus dispellin"' all their doubt, he vanishes into the invisible. Such experience could not be quietly kept at Emmaus. They resolve to return tho.t very night to Jerusalem, to repo…
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,ers. 36-53.-I11falli1Jle proofs and inevitable partings. The EmmallS pilgrims have hardly entered the upper room and reported their interview with Jesus, receiving the intelligence that perplexed Peter has got his perplexity resolved, when, notwith- standing that the doors a.re barred for fear of the Jews, the Rise…
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VOLUME II. CHAPTER xm. TDBll1~ p.a.o-. TBDIB PA.GB Christ and Kindred 35 The Barren Fig Tree 7 Ourselves as Salt 36 The Question e.nd the Answer 9 Table.Talk of Jesus 37 The Composure and the Emotion of The Cost of Discipleship 38 Jesus ... 11 The Significance of Suffering 13 CHAPTER XV. Fa.ta.I Fruitlessness 14 The …
1,125 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.