22. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

23. And2 there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

sort of chapel. No priests ministered in them, but only laymen (Geikie, I., 185). The rulers were like elders, deacons, or class leaders, so far as regards spiritual functions; but they were also invested with a civil power similar to that of justices of the peace. For the Bible was the statute book of Israel, and the expositors of the Bible law were the administrators of justice. - R. Glover. The services were more like our prayer-meetings, or a conference of churches, than like our usual Sabbath morning services.

THE SYNAGOGUE AT CAPERNAUM. It is of no little interest that at Tell Hum (Capernaum) have lately been discovered the ruins of a synagogue, probably this very one in which Christ taught. The walls were 74 feet 9 inches long by 56 feet 9 inches wide, and 10 feet thick. It appears to have been better finished than any other synagogue in Upper Galilee, and to have been ornamented more profusely. The interior was divided into five aisles by four rows of columns. If Tell Hum be Capernaum, this is, without a doubt, the synagogue built by the Roman centurion (Luke 7:4, 5), and one of the most sacred places on earth. It was in this building that our Lord gave the well-known discourse in John 6; and it was not without a certain strange feeling that, on turning over a block (in the ruins), we found the pot of manna engraved on its face, and remembered the words, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness" (John 6:48, 49).— Col. Edward L. Wilson. II. Jesus teaches with Authority. — Vers. 21, 22. And taught. It was common to call upon any suitable person to speak in the synagogue services. Jesus used the best means at hand, even though they were often misused by others. "Corruption in the church is not a sufficient reason for refusing to work in it." -L. Abbott. On the contrary, it is often a reason why we should show the kind of life and teaching that should prevail in it, and do our best to leaven it with the true Gospel. - P.

22. And they were astonished at his doctrine. Not his "doctrines," but his teaching. Both what he taught and the manner and spirit and authority of his teaching. For he taught them. The finite verb with the participle (in the Greek) denoting something continuous: was teaching.-M. R. Vincent in Word Studies. As one that had authority. (1) Not as an expounder of others' opinions, but with the original authority of the source of truth. His teaching was fresh, independent, and original. (2) He spoke with the authority of one who knows. He knew the way to heaven, for he had been there; he knew the principles of the kingdom of God, for he was God; and he spoke therefore with the authority of an expert. It is just this speaking with authority, and not by inferences and guesses and hopes, that the soul needs, and that distinguishes Christ's religion from all others. (3) What he said was pure, unalloyed truth, and therefore came with the authority of truth to the souls of men; the one made for the other by the Creator of both. (4) His conduct, his character, his unselfishness, his holy life, his divine deeds, gave Jesus great personal power in his teaching.-P. The teacher will speak with authority just in so far as the truth is a part of his own being, not merely an external dogma intellectually apprehended. - L. Abbott, And not as the scribes. The scribes were the learned men of the Jewish nation, the men who had to do with letters. Almost all the writing that was required in the nation would be done by them; most of the reading too. The transcribing of the Scriptures would devolve on thein. Hence the interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, in the synagogues, would devolve chiefly on them.-Morison. As a rule the scribe hardly ever gave his exposition without at least beginning by what had been said by Hillel or by Shammai, by Rabbi Joseph or Rabbi Meir, depending almost or altogether upon what had thus been ruled before, as much as an English lawyer depends on his precedents. - Ellicott.

III. The Authority confirmed by Miracle. Casting out Unclean Spirits. — Vers. 23-28. 23. And there was in their synagogue. As part of the audience on that day. The piteous outcry of the demoniac disturbs the assembly. Godwin. How could such a man be found in a synagogue audience? Of course the man was not always wild, under the influence of the demon, but at times would appear like any other man, and could enter the synagogue with the crowd. A man with an unclean spirit. Or, more literally, a man "in" an unclean spirit; that is, a man under the influence of an unclean spirit; just

24. Saying, Let us alone;1 what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to I know thee who thou art, the Holy One destroy us? of God.

25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26. And when the unclean spirit had torn2 him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

clean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, What have we to do reth? art thou come to destroy with thee, thou Jesus of Naza

us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And 25

Jesus rebuked him, saying,

Hold thy peace, and come out
of him. And the unclean 26

spirit, tearing him and crying

with a loud voice, came out

as we say, a man "in" drink, or, more pleasantly, a man "in" love. For the time being the man is absorbed, as it were, in love or in drink. So the demoniac was absorbed, as it were, into the demon, and was completely under its power, or, as we may say, within its power. Morison. In the "possessed" there were evidently two personalities, two wills; though that of the man was overborne and kept in subjection by that of the demon, who literally "possessed" his victim; and our Lord's words were plainly addressed to the demon, and not to the man. - Stock. For fuller discussion, see Les. VI. of this quarter. An unclean spirit. These spirits are called unclean because they are impure, unholy, defiling, and produce such effects both in the body and the spirit of those whom they possess. Demoniac possession is "the caricature of inspiration.” We know who inspires by the effects produced.-P. And he cried out. Made a sudden exclamation during the ex

ercises.

24. Saying, Let us alone. These words translate a single interjection “ěâ,” expressing "indignation or wonder mixed with fear." - Thayer. What have we. I and those like me. There was only one, as we see in vers. 24, 26, but "the demons," says Bengel, “make common canse." To do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Very literally, What to us and to thee? It is a peculiar idiomatic expression, meaning, What is there in common to us and to thee? As here applied it is deprecatory, and means, Why dost thou interfere with us? — Morison. The Saviour, so far as appears, had not been formally interfering with the demon; but his preaching was contrary to their nature, his character was opposed to theirs, his whole mission was the exact opposite of theirs; so that everything Jesus did and said was directly interfering with them. Art thou come to destroy us? To send us away from our work on earth to our place of torment. They realized that the mission of Jesus was indeed "to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).-P. Note the word destroy. It has no reference to the annihilation of being.— Morison. I know thee who

thou art. The demon knew something of the works going on in the invisible world. As the enemy of God in the great battle-field of good and evil, he was aware of the massing of the divine forces at this time in the world. — The Holy One of God. Such is Christ, both morally and officially. Christ is the exact opposite of the unclean spirits, being holy, and producing holiness in others.

It is quite likely that the very testimony of the demons to Jesus had a malignant poison in it, as if they would make men think he was one of themselves, thus blackening his character by the very finger that pointed him out as holy.—P.

25. And Jesus rebuked him: i.e., the evil spirit. The original word is very peculiar and strictly means rated. Our Saviour chid the evil spirit.—Morison. Hold thy peace. Lit., be muzzled or gagged. — M. R. Vincent. A word used for dogs and oxen. He silenced

the demons even when they spoke the truth. "For it was to bring the truth itself into suspicion and discredit, when it was borne witness to by the spirit of lies."- Trench. Come out of him. Two distinct personalities are here recognized. The demon is treated as a person as much as the man. The one was just as much a disease or a principle as the other; no more, and no less.. - Bible Union Notes.

26. And when the unclean spirit had torn him. Convulsed him. This proves the malignity of evil spirits, and their great power to do mischief. They will do all the harm they can, and only cease when compelled by the command of Christ. How vain are all human prescriptions to conquer a devil in the soul!- Jacobus. Luke says that the demon threw the man down in the midst of the crowd, but not in such a manner as to injure him (Luke 4:35). So it is ever apt to be when devils are cast out of men. Satan will not easily leave his prey. So was it when the Israelites were being delivered from slavery in Egypt: their bondage for a time was made worse. So evil habits show unusual power when

27. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

28. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

29. And forthwith,' when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

of him. And they were all 27
amazed, insomuch that they
questioned among themselves,
saying, What is this? a new
teaching! with authority he

commandeth even the unclean
spirits, and they obey him.
And the report of him went 28
out straightway everywhere
into all the region of Galilee
round about.

And straightway, when they 29
were come out of the syna-
gogue, they came into the
house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. Now 30
of a fever: and straightway

30. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; Simon's wife's mother lay sick and anon they tell him of her.

1 Matt. 8:14. Luke 4: 38.

we try to cast them off. So often matters seem worse than ever just before a revival of religion.-P. Cried with a loud voice. The word is quite different from the "cried" of ver. 23. It indicates simply the utterance of a natural, vocal cry; a cry of pain, of the demon through the man's organs.. - S. S. Times. The demon was not disobedient to Christ's command to keep silence, as would seem at first sight. For he did not speak, but only uttered a cry. He came out of him. He was compelled to obey the superior power of Jesus.

NOTE HOW SATAN MEETS JESUS: (1) With hypocritical homage; (2) Irreconcilable hate; (3) Cowardly fear. How Jesus meets Satan: (1) Intrepid calmness; (2) Pitying love for his victim; (3) Triumphant power. W. H. Van Doren. 27. And they were all amazed... questioned. Each turned to his neighbor, in astonishment, to ask his opinion, Saying, What is this? New teaching with authority! And he commanded the unclean spirits, and they obey him! Such is, apparently, the correct reading and rendering of the abrupt remarks which the astonished people made to one another. — Morison. Doctrine. Teaching, including matter and manner. Jesus taught the people by what he did as well as by what he said. With authority commandeth he. With the authority and power which compelled the unclean spirits to obey. Thus Jesus was shown to be the powerful friend of man, and opposed to and mightier than all sin and evil. 28. And immediately his fame. The report about him and his wonderful works. Throughout all the region round about Galilee. Better, as in Rev., into all the region of Galilee round about.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS. Satan's kingdom (1) is made up of demons and those filled with their spirit. (2) Its adherents are miserable themselves, and seek to make others so. (3) They tempt to sin. (4) They injure the body. (5) They ruin the mind and the soul.

Christ's kingdom is ever undoing the works of the devil. (1) Christ himself is the Holy One, and changes his disciples into his likeness. (2) He is full of heavenly joy, and gives to men joy unspeakable and full of glory. (3) He blesses the body, giving health and life. (4) He blesses the soul for this life and the life to come. (5) His true disciples are like him in labors and purpose.-P.

IV. Peter's Mother-in-law cured of a Fever. - Vers. 29-31. 29. And forthwith. The same word as immediately, in ver. 28. Jesus and his disciples went directly from the synagogue to Peter's house. Entered into the house of Simon (Peter) and Andrew. Peter and Andrew were natives of Bethsaida (John 1:44), but had removed to Capernaum. - Broadus. It is possible and probable that Peter's house was to Jesus in the north something like what the house of Lazarus at Bethany was in the south. Glover.

30. But Simon's wife's mother. This distinctly implies that Peter was married; and that his wife was not afterward put away from any feeling in favor of celibacy is evident from I Cor. 9:5, where it appears that she accompanied her husband in his apostolic journeyings. G. W. Clark. It seems strange that Romanists can so insist on the celibacy of the clergy, when Peter himself, of whom the Pope is imagined to be the successor, was a married man, and not only at this time, but long after, when at the height of his apostolic labors; and "the rest of the apostles" were likewise, except Paul. Broadus.

Lay sick

31. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

32. And1 at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33. And all the city was gathered together at the door.

34. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.2

they tell him of her: and he 31 came and took her by the

hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun 32

did set, they brought unto

him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with

devils. And all the city was 33

gathered together at the door. And he healed many that 34 were sick with divers diseases,

and cast out many devils; and he suffered not the devils to

speak, because they knew him.

See Acts 16: 17, 18.

"great

of a fever. In the very imperfect medical language of that day, fevers were simply divided into little and great fevers. Luke, who was a physician, characterizes this as a fever." That she was entirely prostrated by it is evident by the language here, “lay sick of a fever." Abbott. The quantity of marshy land in the neighborhood, especially at the entrance of the Jordan into the lake, has made fever of a very malignant type at times the characteristic of the locality, so that the physicians would not allow Josephus, when hurt by his horse sinking in the neighboring marsh, to sleep even a single night in Capernaum, but hurried him on to Tarichæa. Geikie. And anon they tell him of her. Peter and his family had none of that insipid nonsense about mothers-in-law which defiles so many would-be-witty people with stale jokes. Peter's wife was a part of himself; and he would not have been worthy to be an apostle, nor even a lowest disciple of Jesus, had he not cared for his wife's mother as he would for his own.

There are many people whom we cannot save ourselves, but of whose needs we can tell Jesus.-P.

31. And he came and took her by the hand. Not because it was necessary, but as an act of friendliness and courtesy. It would also make it evident that the miraculous cure proceeded from him. And immediately the fever left her. He willed, and it was done. This is the fiat of Omnipotence. The curative virtue is. in Christ's will, not in instrumentalities. Genius of the Gospel. She ministered unto them. The service would consist in supplying food and any other needed attentions a natural way for a woman in her home to express her gratitude. - Broadus. Such a fever invariably leaves the patient weak. The period of convalescence is always long and trying, often full of danger. The fact that she ministered to them, i.e., served in the ordinary duties of the household, shows that Christ in healing the disease also imparted health and strength; and it demonstrates the miraculous character of the cure. Abbott. We may see in this a lively emblem of Christ's dealings with sin-sick souls. He not only gives forgiveness; he gives renewing grace besides. Those whom he justifies he also sanctifies. He grants free forgiveness for the past; he also grants strength to minister to him for the time to come. Ryle. That hand ministered which had been touched and healed. - Jerome. The joy of health is labor. He who is restored must be a fellow-worker with God. - MacDonald.

V. Many cured of Many Diseases. — Vers. 32-34. 32. At even, when the sun did set, they brought. The news of the miraculous cures wrought by Jesus attracted multitudes to him, all supplicating for help. They came after sunset (1) because the heat of the day would have been too distressing to the sick; and (2), because they did not wish to violate the sacred rest of the Sabbath day. At sunset the Sabbath ended; and so they felt themselves free to act. Weidner. (3) By this time the news of Christ's miraculous power would have had time to spread over the city. Alexander. All that were diseased: i.e., sundered from ease, ill at ease, and thus sick. Possessed with devils. With demons or evil spirits. The word devil or devils is never used in the original when demoniacs are spoken of. It is always the word demon or demons, or the generic term spirit or spirits.

Morison.

33. All the city. The effect was to rouse and gather the entire population of the city, to obtain healing for themselves or friends, or at least to see and hear the new teacher. Alexander. At the door: of Peter's house, where Jesus was.

34. And he healed many. Not that some were left unhealed, but that he healed them

all (Matt. 8:16); and those whom he thus healed were many. - Alexander. That were sick. Literally, those having themselves badly; in a bad condition. Divers. Various. And suffered (or permitted) not the devils to speak: for the same reason that he silenced the demon in the earlier part of this lesson. Because they knew him. Knew that he was the Christ, the Son of God, and were tempted to state the fact, and, perhaps, to plead with him that he "torment them not before their time."

NOTE. (1) These were most difficult cases of disease to heal. (2) No natural causes can possibly explain these manifestations of Christ's power. (3) His miracles, too, were characteristically unlike the acts of a necromancer. He never shrouded them in mystery; he cured in his own name (Matt. 8: 3), in open day, and before all the people (Mark 3: 2-5; 9:25), by a word (Mark 3: 5), a touch (Matt. 9: 29), a command (John 5:8). ·Abbott. (4) The miracles were, both in manner and in matter, worthy of the Son of God.

THE OBJECT OF THESE MIRACLES. (1) They are the natural accompaniments of a divine being. He that is able to speak divine words will be able to do divine deeds. (2) Hence they were proofs of his divine mission. (3) Christ came to undo the evil which Satan had done, to counteract all the works of the devil. Diseases of the body are the result of the diseases of the soul, and thus are connected with the works of the devil. (4) Christ proved that he could heal the soul of sin by healing the body from disease, and thus that he could heal all the evils of mankind.-P. (5) These miracles were signs, not of power only or chiefly, but of the love, tenderness, pity, which were the true marks or 66 notes " of the kingdom of heaven. (6) Restoration to outward health was at once the pledge that the Son of Man had not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them; and often, we cannot doubt, served to strengthen that faith in the love of the Father, some degree of which was all but invariably required as an antecedent condition of the miracle (chap. 13: 58).— Ellicott.

In addition to the books noted under the last lesson, see Bruce's Miraculous Element in the Gospels, p. 172; Trench, MacDonald, Howson, etc., on The Miracles. On Jesus Christ as a healer and preacher, see J. B. Johnston's Ministry of Reconciliation, chap. on "Christ's Miracles of Healing"; MacKennal's Christ's Healing Touch; and Lyman Abbott's Jesus of Nazareth, chaps. 11, 12, and 13. On demoniacal possession, Whately's Good and Evil Angels. The Philanthropies (Cong. Pub. House, Boston), give a full summary of the beneficent effect of Christianity; so also the Ely Volume of the A. B. C. F. M. On the synagogue at Tell Hum, (Capernaum), see Land and Book, new ed., II. 417-421; and Century Magazine, December, 1887, p. 178. On Fever at Capernaum, Land and Book, II. 430.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.

1. Ver. 21. The true way to keep the Sabbath is to follow Christ to church, to keep the Sabbath religiously as well as restfully, restfully because religiously.

2. Ver. 22. We should have such an experience of religion that we may be able to speak to men with authority of experience and knowledge.

3. We can trust Christ perfectly because all he says is with the authority of one who knows all things, present and future, in this world and in the other.

4. Vers. 24, 25. All that evil men want is to be let alone, without interference in their evil works. But Christ and his church cannot let them alone. They must interfere in behalf of those who are injured and oppressed.

5. Jesus is continually casting out evil spirits from men.

6. Vers. 24-26. It is safe to follow one who has power over the principalities and powers of evil.

7. Ver. 27. Christ's wonderful deeds prove the truth of his wonderful words.

8. The efforts of Satan in opposition to the cause of truth are sometimes kindly overruled for its furtherance. "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee." — Mimpriss.

9. Vers. 29-31. When any one chooses the service of Christ, it is a good thing for himself, his children, his wife, his parents, his servants, and all around him.

10. Vers. 30-34. The nature of Christ and of Christianity is always to help, to save, to cure, both the body and the soul. This is the mark of their divineness.