produce^ if they are really doing us good. Without such fruit, a mere barren admiration is utterly worthless. It is no proof of grace. It will save no soul.
KoTBS. LuKB lY. 14—22.
14. — \Famsof him!] Here, as in other places, the word "of" is used by our trauslators in the sense of ** about/' or ** concerning.'*
16. — [He came to Nazareth.'] The date of this visit to Nazareth is not precisely known. There seems strong internal evidence that it did not take place immediately after the temptation. If this had been the case, we should not find the expression, " as his custom was," or reference to His works at Capernaum. The simple explanation appears to be, that St. Luke, having made a
• general statement of our Lord's practice of teaching " in the synagogues," takes occasion to describe what took place when he taught in the synagogue of Nazareth, — ^not only as an interesting event in itself, but as an illustration of our Lord's method of proceeding when He visited a synagogue.
17. — [Opened the hook!] The word "opened" would be more literally translated "unfolded," or "unrolled." — A book in the times when our Lord was upon earth, was a scroll of parchment rolled up, and in no respect resembled a modem book.
20. — [Closed the hook!] The word " closed" here, would be more literally rendered, "folded up," or "rolled up."
[The Minister!] We must not suppose that this word means the preacher, or teacher, of the synagogue. It means the officer or attendant appointed to take charge of the sacred writings.
21. — [He began to say!] It is evident that the full exposition of the passage in Isaiah, which oiur Lord gave, has been withheld from us. The words which are recorded in this verse are pro* bably the beginning of what our Lord said, and form the key-note of His sermon. The sermon itself is not recorded.