that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. i

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride

h Pr.21.3. Ho.6.6. Mi.6.8. c.12.7. i Lu.24.47. Ac. 5.31. 2 Pe.3.9.

low-men were indulged. God demands mercy or love first of all; and all His precepts (even the 4th Command) must have an eye to mercy. See Matt. 12. 7, where this is referred to, as excusing the plucking of corn by the disciples on the Sabbath. -T For I am not come. This was not the object of His mission, to company with such as proud Pharisees who count themselves already righteous, but to call sinners and furnish them a perfect righteousness, and thereby lead them to righteousness of life, in genuine repentance. His object was not to get a mere punctilious Pharisaic obedience, but to show mercy, and preach mercy. Here was also a proverbial expression, to signify the consistency of one's course with his object-" Physicians are with the diseased."

14, 15. The disciples of John were drawn into the controversy by the Pharisees, whom Luke represents as speaking, while Mark seems to connect the two. John's disciples were trained to fastings, twice a week at least, in keeping with all that austerity and seclusion which belonged to John's ministry in the wilderness. It served the purpose of Christ's enemies to oppose this strictness against His apparent indulgences. Fasting is abstinence from food, either wholly or in part. Its design is to deny the fleshly appetites, and its use is more exclusively to cultivate spiritual dispositions, to humble us at the thought of our dependence for daily food on the goodness of God, and to check

chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of1 new cloth unto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

jc.25.1,10. Jno.3.29. Re.21.2. k Is.22.12. 1 Or, raw, or, univrought cloth. the carelessness and sensuality of life. But it was abused to self-righteousness by the Pharisees, and John's disciples had not fully come into the light.- -T The bridegroom. Christ points out the circumstances as justifying this. It was not a time to fast any more than at a wedding. His presence with the disciples was fit to excite joy, as at a marriage feast, where the festivity would seem highly proper. He is the bridegroom; they were the children of the bride-chamber-the groomsmen, who conducted the arrangements, and took special part in the joy. Can they mourn at such a time? Luke has it, “Can ye make" them mourn? It is not fit that they fast, and use the expressions of grief while the marriage is going on and the groom is with them; but when He should be taken away from them, then the expressions of grief would be fit.

16. The illustration here used applies to the same effect, viz.: to show that there is a fitness of things. It would be as unfit and hurtful even to put on these forms of sorrow and lamentation, while Christ is present with them, as to patch an old garment with new cloth, or to put new wine into old bottles; for in both cases, there would not only be impropriety, but injury done. So, He would say, my doctrines do not suit the old and legal rites of the Pharisees. They whe have embraced Christ, and find Him present, have no right to go in mourning, any more than they have to turn Jews. Because joy is appropriate to

the believer, and freedom also, he must not go in bondage and sackcloth; for so he does, in heart, return to the old way of the law-do this and live-to the beggarly elements. Besides, the day for mourning will soon enough come, and to tender and weak converts there is need of all the joy which comes from the presence of Christ with them.

17. Bottles. Bottles made of skins were used, especially for wine. They would become dry and cracked at length, unfit to hold new wine that should ferment greatly; hence there would be impropriety and injury in using old bottles for it. So, every thing in its time and place. The law for Pharisees-the gospel for disciples: milk for babes--strong meat for full-grown men joy in Christ's presence-fasting and grief for His abFor the form of these skin bottles, see Cut from Kitto's Bib. Cyclop.

sence.

n Jno.11.22,25.

18. This occurred while our Lord was at Matthew's feast. Mark and Luke speak of this man as a "ruler of the synagogue," and call him by name, Jairus. In Mark it is said he was "one of the rulers of the synagogue," which shows that in this office there were more than one (see Acts 13. 15). He was one of those church officers whom we call Ruling Elders. "Elders of the Jews" (Luke 7. 3).- -¶ Worshipped. "He fell at his feet" (see Mark and Luke, and note on ch. 2. 11). He paid Him this outward homage as an expression of reverence, which could be done without any hearty worship; yet he humbled himself in prayer. Mark has it, "he besought Him greatly." The ruler was convinced of Christ's marvellous power, and though he regarded his daughter as dead, or dying (Mark 5. 23. Luke 8. 42), he had faith in the touch of Christ, though he seemed to think it necessary for the hands of Christ to be laid upon her. He did not feel with the centurion, that a word would be enough.

Even now dead. Mark has it, "at the point of death;" Luke reads, "she lay a dying." Our faith must reach to this: that Christ is able to meet the extremest case-to raise dead souls.

19. Jesus arose. Here again we see Christ's willingness to relieve the distressed who called upon Him. This was His work, in a higher sense, that might be shown by these outward and visible doings. The maid was one only daughter, about 12 years of age" (see Luke 8. 42).

20. Here there occurred, on the

22 But Jesus turned him about; and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort;

o Mar.5.25. Lu.8.43.

way, a case which shows the sinner in another light, and exhibits the power and grace of Christ.

And behold, a woman. Here was a great sufferer, whose disease had been of 12 years' standing. It was held to be unclean by the Jewish law (Levit. 15. 25), and hence she would not give her case publicity if it could be helped. So the sinner, though a sufferer, conceals his sin and shame, and keeps back from Christ and from humble confession to Him. Mark and Luke tell us that she had spent all that she had upon physicians, and was nothing bettered, but only grew worse. "I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, LIVE."- -T Touched the hem of His garment. She thought there must be virtue in touching Him, since His touch was seen to give cures. This was as far as she could see

p Ac.19.12. q Lu.7.50; 17.19; 18.42. Ac. 14.9.

of His Divine power. Her faith was full of trembling, yet she did well to think that He was so full of grace, that this touch of His clothes could cure her. She touched the hem or fringe on the border, as having peculiar sanctity with the Jews (Matt. 23. 5). This was the hem or fringe of the outer robe, cloak or mantle; and hence it was not at the feet, but below the waist (see fig. and note 5. 40). Fringes on the borders of the garments were commanded (see Numbers 15. 38). The Holy Spirit put this into her mind, and recorded it here that we may see how earnestly Christ must be sought in all circumstances, and how much virtue there is in any contact with Him, and how the power of Christ can make the simplest means efficacious. Many press upon Christ like the care

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the t minstrels and the people making a noise,

24 He said unto them, Give

r Jno.4.53. 8 Mar.5.38. Lu.8.51. t 2 Ch.35.25.

less crowd. She, with her heart full, touched Him; and the touch of faith was more than the common press upon Him.

22. Jesus inquired after her, as we find from Mark and Luke. He showed an interest in her, and a disposition to encourage her. Then she saw how fully He knew her and her case, and that she could conceal no longer. She came forward and confessed. So every one finds who truly finds Christ. He inquires after such, and emboldens them to speak out, and shows by the very cure itself, how ready He is, beyond all that they had dared to think, and then they are impelled by His goodness to "tell Him all the truth." We should not tremble and doubt when we see His readiness to bless, but should "come boldly to a throne of grace." Christ is found to be beforehand with the seeking soul, and shows us His foregoing love. "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." - Thy faith. Her faith cured her, because it led her to Him, who alone could cure, and who was so able and ready to heal. It was thus that Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness. Faith must take hold, for comfort, upon Christ's power and willingness to save.

23. After this miracle wrought by the way, Christ came to the house of the ruler.- -T The minstrels. These were musicians, hired to play at funerals. It was a method among the Jews of expressing their grief on such occasions. The daughter of the ruler being now dead, the minstrels were already there, to serve at the funeral. In Eastern countries, the people set up a wail for the dead, as

He

24. Give place-make room. meant to intimate that He had come to show His power, and that to Him it was like raising her out of sleep. They scoffed at this. Thus He obtained their testimony that she was fully dead, and not otherwise, so that when they should see her rise, they could not say she had not been dead, but He should have the credit of raising her from the dead. Sinners scorn the thought of Christ's Divine power with their souls.

24. He chose not to have the multitude present, but only Peter, James and John, and the father and mother of the damsel (Mark 5. 40). He would have quite enough there to witness the miracle, so that it should not be done in secret (see 2 Kings 4. 33). But it would speak for itself.

26. The fame of Christ went abroad, though He did not desire the publicity at present. He charged them (Luke 8. 56) that they should tell no man. "He charged them straitly" (Mark). The miracle was manifest-they must all have admitted it; and yet to publish it then, would only excite jealousies against such a power in the state, and throw obstacles in the way

of His work (see Mark 1. 45). It would also encourage the idea of His temporal authority and rule, since He was showing His great work of redemption by these outward and visible doings. Presently, they could better understand, that He came to save sinners, and that this was but incidental, as yet, to His grand object. "Her spirit came again (Luke), is precisely the same language as in 1 Kings 17. 22, in the Greek version. "He commanded to give her meat" (Luke), to show that it was no phantom, but a real return to life.

OBSERVE, (1.) There are but three miracles of this kind recorded of our Lord; and these, as they are deeply significant of His regenerating power, are different cases. This one had just died the widow's son was just about to be buried-and Lazarus had been dead four days. (2.) How carefully the proofs are brought forward to show that this was a case of actual death: the father confessed it, the minstrels were there for the funeral, and the people ridiculed any other idea. If men are not dead in sin, Christ's work is shorn of its glory.

60. Two BLIND MEN HEALED, AND A DUMB SPIRIT CAST OUT.-Capernaum?

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him and Jesus saith

unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes,

sinners the way of salvation. Every variety of case is therefore given, to show that in all various circumstances, the great business is, to find Christ, and seek His power and grace, as the only hope.

The blind were a numerous class at the East (Levit. 19. 14. Deut. 27. 18). These Elind men acknowledged Christ as the Messiah by calling Him the Son of David. So He was prophesied of, and so His genealogy had proved as a standing confirmation of His claims, among the Jews.

28. Here Christ allows them to call upon Him till He gets into the house. He would have them earnest enough to follow Him whithersoever He went, and not willing to give up their suit. Who can doubt that they desired sight the more, that they might see Him who was the great object of wonder?- -¶ Believe ye. He would not only put their faith to the trial of some delay at first, but to this test as to its nature. He would also have their case attract the more public attention. It was most important that He should have credit for His ability. This would imply His Divine authority and power, and as yet, this was the great point with the people. His willingness they should also find out. But this could be fully known only when His saving work as Jesus should be revealed. They believed in Him as the Messiah, all-powerful to work bodily cures. But as yet they saw no farther. So some would seem to know of Christ as a Saviour, but only partially as a sanctifier.

29. According to your faith. So far as they believed, so far He was willing to show Himself for their cure.