to," or, *'is willing to." It is not a future tense, but the same Greek word that is used in John v. 40. ; " Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life ; " which means, " ye have no will, or wish to come."
[Take up his cross.] Campbell remarks on this expression, " Every one condemned by the Romans to crucifixion, was com- pelled to carry the cross on which he was to be suspended to the place of execution. In this manner our Lord was treated."
"As this was not a Jewish but a Roman punishment, the mention of it on this occasion may justly be looked on as the first hint given by Jesus, of the death He was to suffer. If it had been usual in the country to execute criminals in this manner, the expression might have been thought proverbial for preparing for the worst."
Quesnel remarks on the whole verse, " Take particular notice of the three words, " to them all," and " daily." No person is excused, and no day is excepted. Of what therefore, do those think, and to what do they aspire, who make every day a day of pleasure, luxury, and diversion ? Who has a right to shake off* the yoke of the cross, but only he who designs to have a right to nothing but hell?"
24. — [Will save his life shall lose it."] There is here, as it were, a play upon words. He that is determined to save his life, — in the sense of keeping it and all that is good in this world con- nected with life, — shall lose it, shall lose that which is after all the great object of our existence, his immortal soul. It is the same use of words in two different senses that we have in the expression, " let the dead biu-y the dead," which means, " let those who are spiritually dead, attend to such matters as the burial of the naturally dead."
25. — [Lose himself.] Let it be noted, that our Lord speaks of this as a perfectly possible event. A man may lose or destroy himself.
26. — [When he shall come, dc] This means our Lord's second coming to judge the world. Let it be noted, that there are three kinds of glory mentioned here, as accompanying the second advent of Christ, His own, the Father's, and the glory of the angels.
27. — [Not taste of death till they see.] These words are interpreted two ways. Some think that they mean "They shall not die till they see the Church of Christ established and settled on earth." This is a very unsatisfactory explanation. The right view appears to be that which connects the verse with the transfiguration, and regards the glorious vision of the kingdom, which the transfigur- ation supplied, as the fulfilment of the promise of the verse. This is the view of Jerome, Hilary, Chrysostom, Theophylact, and many more.
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EXPOSITORY THOl^OH'IS.
To apply the expreaBion, as some do, to people '* not dying until they are converted," is a very unjustifiable accommodation of the words, and a most improper use of Scripture.