I have quoted this passage from a desire to meet the possible objections of scrupulous consciences. To my own mind it seems surprising that any one can stumble at the expression before us, or can find ground for supposing that our Lord meant to deceive. Our Lord used the readiest and most natural means to draw out the feelings of His disciples, by walking on as if He intended to go further. But it seems to me as unreasonable to see in this an intention to deceive, as it would be to see dishonesty in His first question, " What manner of commimications are these that ye have?" He knew all things, and had no real occasion to ask. But He asked in order to draw out the minds of His disciples.
29. — [They constrained him.l Let it be noted that we have several instances of expressions like this in Scripture used upon similar occasions. Abraham said, " Pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant." (Gen. xxxii. 26.) Gideon said, " Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee." (Judges yi. 18.) Manoah and nis wife said, " I pray thee, let us detain thee." (Judges xiii. 15.) All show that God loves to be entreated of His people, and that those who would have much must ask much, and eves use a holy violence.
80. — [He took bread.. .ble88ed..,brake...gave, dc] The action men- tioned here has occasioned much difference of opinion.
1. Some think that no particular sense is to be attached to the expression, and that it means that Jesus was recognized at the time when He brake bread.
2. Some think that there was something peculiar in our Lord's manner and demeanour at breaking of bread, which was well known to the disciples. Lyranus and Stella even go so far as to say that He broke bread in a miraculous manner, like one cutting with a knife. According to Schottgen, Jewish teachers used to be known and recognized by their disciples by their peculiar gestures.
8. Some think that the whole passage refers to the Lord's Supper. This opinion is stoutly defended by Maldonatus and Cornelius a Lapide, the Bomish commentators, and maintained even by Wordsworth among modem English Protestants. — ^The two Bomish writers go so far as to maintain that the passage shows the propriety of the bread only and not the cup being given to the laity in the Lord's Supper. It is only fair to say that not all Bomish writers maintain this opinion respecting the Lord's Supper being meant. Jansenius and Stella deny it entirely. Barradius and Bellarmine allow that it is just as probable that the Lord's Supper is not meant, as that it is meant !
I have little doubt that the expression refers to some well- known and peculiar gesture of our Lord in the act of breaking bread, ^ih which all His disciples were familiar. I think it even