The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 110

tion of Peter, evidently acting as spokes- ones this spirit wonld in the end be over- man of the twelve, is repeated by the first come (at least in eleven of them) that he three cvo.ngelists. Strangely faithful in made the grand and mysterious promise of their o.ccounts of their own dealings with Matt. xix. 28. their o.dored Master, they never veil or hide The nanative here, in the three synopti- o.ny human weakness or error of their own which led to o.n important bit of teaching cal Gnspels, is not continuous; at this point from their Lord. Now, in this place, they, there is a break. There is little doubt but in the person of Peter, gave utterance to a that the sickness and death of Lazarus of very worldly, but a very natural, thonght. Bethany, and the summons of the sisters to The ruler had failed when the test was Jesus, took place about this period. The applied to him; he was a conspicuous ex- three synoptical evangelists are silent here ample of failure in the rich to enter the kingdom. But they had not failed when the for reasons we have discussed elsewhere. test had been applied to them; they had Between vers. 30 and 31 there probably given all up for his sake: what would be should be inserted the hasty journey to their reward ? Bethany. The Master was not far when the Vere. 29, 30.-And he said unto them, news of his friend's death reached him. Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or Immediately after the miracle there appears wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's to he.ve been a meeting of the Sanhedrin. sake, who shall not receive manifold more when it was decided to put Jesus to death, in this present time, and'. in the world to though not during the ensning Passover, come life everlasting, Evidently, from the with such precautions as were possible. reports of the three evangelists, the reply of Jesuij was a lengthy one, and contained The terrible decision became known. Jesus much deep teaching. St. Luke only gives then retired to Ephraim, e.n obscure village us, however, one section, so to speak, of about twenty miles from the city. Here e. the great discourse which followed upon very short time was spent in absolute retire- Peter's question. Here and in St. Mark ment and seclusion. But the Passover Feast Peter and the twelve receive a quiet rebuke in this genera.I promise. The Master seems was nigh at hand. In company with 8ome to say, "My promises are not espeoie.lly to of the crowded pilgrim co.ravans, and secure you, my first followers, but to e.ll who, not under their protection till his last few days for e.ny selfish hope of recompense or reward, of work were accomplished, Jesus journeys but for the kingdom of God's sake, give up to Jerusalem At this point the three what they hold deo.rest; tllere will be real, true happiness for them even in this world, synoptice.l Gospels take np the story age.in. and in the world to come unspeake.ble joy The eleventh chapter of St. John fills up will be their portion ; theirs will be the life this gap in the connected story. that knows no ending." St. Mark adds, with rare truth, that the happiness which his Vera. 31-42.-Jesus again tells them of hi, faithful a.re to enjoy in this world will be Pasaion. The healing of the blind at Jericho. accompanied with persecuti011s. It is the Ver. 31.-Then he took unto him the same beautiful thought which the Master twelve, and said unto them. St. Mark he.d put out before, only the gem now is set (x. 32) prefaces this announcement with th1r in dilferent words. " Blessed a.re they which words, "And they were in the way going e.re persecuted for righteousness' so.ke : for up to Jeruso.lem; and Jesus went before theirs is the kingdom of heo.ven" (Matt. them : and they were amazed ; and as they v. 10; see, too, vers. 11, 12). St. Matthew followed, tl1ey were afraid." There was deals especially with another division of the something unusue.1, evidently, in the man- Lord's discourse. Here Jesus speaks of the ner and behaviour of the l\laster; silently, future of the twelve; and, looking forward wrapped up in his own lofty medito.tinns, to the generally noble and self-devoted lives he strode ou in frout of the company of his ho saw theso would live, he tells them of followers. A feeling of e.we and fear stole the great destiny surely reserved for them over them as they watched the silent Mnster if they remained faithful to the enJ. But with the silo.dew of the coming cross foiling, even here, in his words, "the first shall be perhaps, across his countenance. Much he.d last" (llfott. xix. 30), and still more point- happened lately: the teaching growing edly in the pe.ro.ble of the labourers which more and moro solemn as the end drew followed (1'110.tt. xx. 1-16), he wo.rned these near: the raising of Lazo.rus ; the intense devoted but often mistaken men of the enmity of the great men of the nation; the danger of self-complo.cency. It wo.s only fixed determination to put the Master to because he foreso.w that in these reo.lly great death; his ~hort retire1neut; then the o.n- l,UliE,-U, l  114 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [en. xvru. 1-43.