For my own part I am unable to see that these allegorical views are sound, and according to the mind of the Spirit.
51. — [Suffer ye thin far.] The meaning of these words is a point on which commentators are not agreed. The following are the three principal interpretations.
1. Some think that the words were addressed to our Lord's enemies* and had special reference to His disciples. " Bear with them. Suffer them to go away quietly. Let them go away." This is the view of Whitby, Scott, and Henry.
2. Some think that the words were addressed to our Lord's disciples, and were intended to calm them, and restrain them from fighting. " Suffer them to take me. Permit them to lay hands on me. Do not attempt resistance. Let them carry out the will of God, by taking me." This is the view of Calvin, Brentius, Gerhard, Bengel, Major, Olshausen, Burgon.
8. Some think that the words were addressed to our Lord's enemies, but with special reference to the case of Malchus. "Suffer me to heal this wounded man. Before binding me, let me do an act of kindness, to repair the wrong done by my hasty disciple." This is the view of BuUinger, Barradius, bod- dridge, Clarke, Alford.
The first and second views are certainly in harmony with the account given by the other evangelists. The last is perhaps the one most in accordance with the simple view of the Greek words.
[He toucJied.., ear.,, healed him.] There are several remarkable things about this miracle.
It is the only instance in the Gospels of our Lord healing a fresh wound caused by external violence.
It is a striking instance of a miracle worked on an enemy, unasked for, without faith in the person healed, and without any apparent thankfulness for the cure.
It is an extraordinary proof of the wickedness and hardness of our Lord's enemies, that so wonderful a miracle as this could be wrought without any effect being produced on them. Some think that in the darkness the miracle was not seen by any one except those immediately round Malchus.
52. — [The chief priests.] Let it be noted, that so much importance was attached to making our Lord a prisoner, that men of the rank and dignity of high priests were not ashamed to go out at night to accompany the soldiers who went to arrest Him.
63. — [Your hour.„power of darkness.] Two parties seem to be brought in here, — the wicked Jews, who were about to deliver our Lord to Pilate, and the devil, under whose instigation they were acting. It was the brief " hour " of triumph which the
tXJKB, GHAP. XXII. VBK. 64—62.
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unbelieving Jews, by tbe detenninate counsel and foreknowledge of God, were to en]oy. It was the little season, during which the prince of the danmess of this world was to have " power,'* and to all appearance to prevail over the second Adam, as he had prevailed over the first. And yet neither wicked men nor a midicious devil could go a hair's breadth beyond the limit appointed by God, or triumph over the Son of God a minute beyond the time decreed by the eternal counsels. They knew it not, but 80 it was. Even now, our Lord would have them know they were only able to take Him prisoner because God permitted them a little season of ^* power."
LUKE XXn. 54^62.
54 Then took they him, and led Asm, and brought him into the High Priest's house. And Peter followed aCar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were aet down together, Peter sat down among them.
66 ^ut a certain maid beheld him as he eat by the fire, and earnestly Uxdced upon him, and said. This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, wo- man, I know him not.
68 And after a little while another him, and said, Thou art also of
them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 69 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him : for he is a Galihean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immedi- ately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the eock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
The verses we have now read describe the fall of the apostle Peter. — It is a passage which is deeply humbling to the pride of man, but singularly instructive to true Christians. The fall of Peter has been a beacon to the Churchy and has probably preserved myriads of souls from destruction. — ^It is a passage which supplies strong proof that the Bible is inspired and Christianity is from Grod. If the Christian religion had been the invention of uninspired men, its first historians would never have told OS «that one of tbe chiefest apostles denied his Master three times.