THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, J<:DITED BY Tllli
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DIIAN OF GLOUCESTER i
AND BY THE
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
WITH
INTRODUCTIONS BY THE
VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWLINSON, M.A. REV. A. PLUMMER, M.A., D.D.
NEW EDITION.
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND NEW YORK l907 PR.U.rrED DY WILLIAM CLOWES At,,."D SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BRCCLES. THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, F.DITED BY TilB
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAll 011' QLOUOESTEB;
AND BY Tllll
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
ST. LUKE. @xposftfon BY 'VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., 11.EAN or GLOUOEll'l'EB,
~omiletics BY REV. J. MARSHALL LANG, D.D., THE BABONY PAIIISH, GLASGOW.
1t!omfHes b12 1latfous ~utbots. REV. W. CLARKSON, B.A. BEV. B. M. EDGAR, l\I.A,
VOL.IL
NEW EDITION,
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LO:->.'DON AND NEW YORK 1907 THE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. EXPOSITION. two thousand perished in like manner (see CHAPTER XIII. 'Ant.,' xvii. 9. 3; xx. 5. 3; and 'Bell. Jud.,' Vers.1-9.-Signs of the times. The Lord ii. 5; v. 1). On another occasion disguised eontinues his solemn warnings. Israel pic- legionaries were sent by Pilate the governor tured in the parable of the barren fig tree. with daggers among the Passover crowds Ver. 1.-There were present at that see.son (see 'Ant.,' xviii 31). These wild and some that told him of the Ge.lilllle.ns, whose terrible collisions were of frequent occurrence blood Pile.te had mingled with their sacri- in these sad days. fices ; better rendered, now there were present Vera. 2, 3.-And J'esus answering said at that particular time; namely, when the unto them, Suppose ye that these Ge.lilma.ns Mo.ster was discoursing of the threatening were sinners above all the Ge.liliea.ns, because signs of the times, and urging men to repent they suffered suoh things l I tell you, Nay : nnd to turn and make their peace with God but, exoept ye repent, ye shall all likewise while there was yet time, for a terrible perish. "Yes," answered the Master," these, crisis was impending en that doomed land. you are right, are among the dread signs of Somo of those then present, probably Jeru- the times I spoke of; but do not dream that salem Jews, specially told off to wo.tch the the doom fell on those poor victims becans" great Teacher, struck with his grave fore- they were special sinners. What happened boding tone, when he spoke of the present to them will soon be the doom of the whole aspect of affairs, quoted to him a recent nation, unless a great change in the life of bloody fray which had taken place in the Israel takes place." temple courts. "Yes, Me.ster," these seemed Ver. 4.-0r those eighteen, upon whom to say, "we see there is a fierce hatred which the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, is ever growing more intense between Jew think ye that they were sinners above all and Roman. You know, for instance, what men that dwelt in J"eruse.lem l "You re- has just taken place in the city, only the member," goes on the Master, "the catas- victims in this case were Galilmane, not trophe of the fall of the tower in Siloe.m; scrupulous, righteous Jews. Is it not pos- the poor sufferers who were crushed there sible that these bloody deeds are simply were not specie.Uy wicked men." The Lord punishments of men who are l?fe&t sinners, used these occasions, we see, for something us thbSe doubtless were?" Such-like incidents more than the great national lesson. Men wore often now occurring under the Roman are too ready, now e.s then, to give way to rule. Thie, likely enough, he.d ta.ken ple.ce the unloving err-or of looking e.t individua, e.t some crowded Passover ge.thering, when misfortune e.s the consequence of individual a detachment of soldiers co.me dowu from crime. Such human uncharitable judg- the Castle of Antonia and had dee.It o. red- ments the Lord bitterly condemns. Ewuld's ho.nded "justioe" o.mong the turbulent conjecture in connection with this Siloam mob. Josephus relates several of the more acoident is ingenious. He supposes that formidable of such collisions between the the rigid Jews looked on the catastrophe Romans and the Jews. At one Passover 11s e. retribution because the workmen who he relates how three thousand Jews were perished were paid by Pilate out of the butchered, and the temple courts were filled sacred oorban money (see Josephus, 'Bell. with dead co1·pses; at another of these feasts Jutl.,' ii. 9. 4). The works were uo doubt LUKE.-ll. .II 2 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. LUKE. [cu. xm. l-05,