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baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

See this passage explained in Matt. xv. 32-39. 'In those days.' While in the wilderness, where he had cured the deat and dumb man. Having nothing to eat.' Having come unprovided, or having consumed what they had brought. I have compassion.' pity their condition. I am disposed to relieve them. Four thousand.' Four thousand men, besides women and children. See Matt. xv. 38.

10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 'Dalmanutha.' In Matt. xv. 39. it is said that he came into the coasts of Magdala. See note on the place.

11 And the pharsiees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. 13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again, departed to the other side.

See this passage explained in Matt. xvi. 1-12. Sighed deeply in his spirit.' His soul, his heart, was deeply affected at their wickedness and hypocrisy. The word 'spirit,' here, means human soul. No sign be given.' That is, no such sign as they asked, no sign from heaven. He said a sign should be given, the same as was furnished by Jonas, Matt. xvi. 4. But this was not what they asked, nor would it be given because they asked it.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many

baskets full of fragments took ve up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Beware of the leaven of the pharisees. See Matt. xvi. 6. 'Of Herod.' Of the Herodians-of Herod and his followers. Matthew, instead of Herod, has, the sadducees. It is not improbable that he cautioned them against them all. Matthew has recorded his caution to avoid the pharisees and sadducees, and Mark has added, what Matthew had omitted, the caution to beware of the Herodians.

22

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

'To Bethsaida.' See note on Matt. xi. 21. 'Besought him to touch him.' That is, to heal him; for they believed that his touch would restore his sight.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

'Led him out of the town.' Jesus chose to perform the miracle alone; thus showing, that while he did good he desired to do it in such a way as to avoid ostentation. "Spit on his eyes.' The eyes were probably closed. To apply spittle to them, to wet them, would be a sign, a natural expression of removing the obstruction and opening them. The power was not in the spittle, but it attended the application of it. 'Saw ought.' Saw any thing.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men, as trees, walking.

'I see men, as trees, walking.' I see men walking, but see them so indistinctly, that but for their motion I could not distinguish them from trees. I cannot distinctly see their shapes and features.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

'Every man clearly.' Could see their form and features. His sight was completely restored. Though our Lord did not by this, probably, intend to teach any lesson in regard to the way in which the mind of a sinner is enlightened, yet it affords a striking illustration of it. Sinners are by nature blind, 2 Cor. iv. 4. 1 John ii. 11. John ix. 39 The effect of religion, or of the influence of the Holy Spirit, to open the eyes, to show the sinner

bis condition and his danger. But he does not at once learn to distinguish objects. When converted he is in a new world. Yet he sees at first indistinctly. It is only by repeated applications to the source of light that he sees all things clearly. At first religion may appear full of mysteries. Doctrines and facts appear on every hand that he cannot fully comprehend. Yet let him not despair. Light, in due time, will be shed on obscure and mysterious truths. Faithful and repeated application to the Father of lights in prayer, in searching the scriptures, and in the ordinances of religion, will dissipate all these doubts, and he will see all things clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Nei. ther go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

'The town.' The town of Bethsaida. Nor tell it,' &c. Lest it excite the jealousy of the pharisees, and produce commotion and danger.

27¶ And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, 'Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

See this passage illustrated in Matt. xvi. 13-28.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of

men.

'He spake that saying openly. Without parables or figures; so that there could be no possibility of misunderstanding him. 34 ¶ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever

will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

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'Ashamed of me.' Ashamed to own attachment to me on account of my lowly appearance, and my poverty, contemp', and sufferings. And of my words. My doctrines, my instructions. "This adulterous and sinful generation.' This age given to wickedness, and to spiritual adultery. In the glory of his Father.' In the day of judgment. See notes on Matt. xxvi. 64. The meaning of this verse is, Whosoever shall refuse, through pride or wickedness, to acknowledge and serve Christ here, shall be excluded from his kingdom hereafter. They that would not ac knowledge him here must be rejected by him there; they that would not serve him always, will never enjoy him; they that would cast him out and despise him, must be cast out by him, and consigned to eternal, hopeless sorrows.

CHAPTER IX.

1 AND he said unto them, Verily I say unto you That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

'Verily I say,' &c. See notes on Matt. xvi. 28. This verse properly belongs to the preceding chapter, and the preceding discourse.

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

'And after six days,' &c. See this passage explained on Matt. xvii. 1-9.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

'No fuller.' Rather, no scourer. The office of the person here mentioned was, to scour or whiten cloth; not to full it, or to ren der it thicker.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son hear him. 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising om the dead should mean.

'He wist not.' He knew not. He was desirous of saying something, and he knew not what would be proper.

11 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? 12 And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

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Why say the scribes.' &c. See notes on Matt. xvii. 10-13. 14 ¶ And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

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See this passage explained in the notes on Matt. xvii. 14—21. Questioning with them.' Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. In Christ's absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers.

15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

'Were greatly amazed.' Were astonished, surprised at his

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