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ness. The words of Matthew Henry are most true on this verse, ** We cannot he safe, if we are secure."
[Unawares.] The Greek woid so rendered is only found in one other place in the New Testament, and in the same connec- tion. It is there translated, "sudden." Parkhurst defines it as "sudden, unexpected, unforeseen."
36. — [Watch.., pray alivays.] The Greek words so rendered are even more striking when translated literally. They would then be, " watch therefore, in every season praying."
[Accounted worthy to escape , dc.f.,,and to stand.] It admits of some question whether these words do not point to the possibi- lity of some believers being allowed ^o pass through great tiibu- lation in the last days, because of their sloth and inconsistency. There certainly are expressions in the New Testament which seem to indicate that all Christ's people will not "stand" before Him with equal boldness in the day of His appearing. St. Peter speaks of an "abundant entrance." St. Paul speaks of some "saved so as by fire." (2 Peter i. 11. 1 Cor. iii. 15.)
37. — [Day time... teaching in the temple.] Let it be noted, that from the time of our Lord's public entry into Jerusalem up to His death, He never withdrew from His enemies, but did all openly, and before their eyes. He knew that His time was come.
[Abode.] The Greek word so rendered is only found in one other place, and there is translated " lodged." Matt. xxi. 17. Major says, that the expression, " abode in the mount of Olives," means, " at Bethany, because it was a town on the mount of Olives." Comparison with the text just quoted in Matthew, makes this highly probable. It is not necessary to suppose that our Lord lodged in the open air.
LUKE XXn. 1—13.
1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Fass- orer.
2 And the Chief Priests and Scribes sought bow they might kill him ; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas •umamed Iscariot, being of the num- ber of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and com- muned with the Chief Priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
6 And they were glad, and coven- anted to give him money.
6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed.
8 And he sent Peter and John, say- ing, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.
9 And they said unto him. Where wilt thou that we prepare ?
10 And he said unto them. Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water ; follow him into
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the house where he entereth in.
11 And ye shall nay unto the good- man of the house, Tlie Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestohamber, where I shall eat the passoyer with my disciples ?
12 An^ he shall shew you a Urge upper room furnished : there inake ready.
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them : and they made ready the Passover.
Th£ chapter which opens with these verses, begins St. Luke's account of our Lord's sufferings and death. No part of the Gospels is so important as this. The death of Christ was the life of the world. — No part of our Lord's history is so fully given by all the gospel writers as this. Only two of them describe the circumstances of Christ's birth. All four dwell minutely on Christ's death. And of all the four, no onlB supplies us with such full and* interesting details as St. Luke.
We see, firstly, in these verses, that high offices in the church do not preserve the holders of them from great blindness and sin. We read that " the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill " Jesus.
The first step in putting Christ to death, was taken by the religious teachers of the Jewish nation. The very men who ought to have welcomed the Messiah, were the men who conspired to kill Him. The very pastors who ought to have rejoiced at the appearing of the LsCmb of God, had the chief hand in slajring Him. They sat in Moses' seat. They claimed to be " guides of the blind," and " lights of them which were in darkness." (Rom. ii. 19.) They belonged to the tribe of Levi. They were, most of them, in direct succession and descent £rom Aaron. Yet they were the very men who crucified the Lord of glory ! With all their bofisted knowledge, they were far more ignorant than the few Galilean fishermen who fol- lowed Christ.