John vi, 35. that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that be- Capernaum. lieveth on me shall never thirst. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. It is probable that our Saviour alluded to this tradition, as well as to the ideas of Philo and the Rabbis, discussed at great length by Whitby, on John vi. 31. 37, &c. The comparison of food which nourishes the body, and wisdom which nourishes the soul, is common in many parts of Scripture. Thus Isaiah-Ye that are thirsty, come buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, &c. &c. Lightfoot quotes also Chajigab, fol. 14. 1. and Gloss. in Succah, fol. 52. to prove that bread was frequently used among the Jewish doctors for doctrine- ̄nb mban feed him with bread; that is, make him take pains in the warfare of the law, as it is written. It may be observed here that an acquaintance with the Jewish traditions would materially assist the theological student to form a more accurate notion of many subjects of controversy between the Church of Rome and the Protestants. This discourse of our Lord in John vi. has been much insisted upon by the Romanists, as defending and supporting the doctrine of transubstantiation. This notion originated in the sixth century, and is founded on the literal interpretation of passages which were commonly used by the Jews, to whom the Scriptures were addressed, and by the inspired writers who primarily wrote for their use, in a metaphorical sense. I do not observe that Fulke has noticed this point in his remarks on John vi. in his work on the Rhemish translation of the New Testament.See that work, p. 275-280. folio edit. 1633. London. John vi. 46. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which Capernaum. is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on 48. 49. me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day, For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwell- As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the This is that bread which came down from heaven: not These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth But there are some of you that believe not. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John vi. 69. 70. 71. vii. 1. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, Capernaum, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. SECTION IX. Julian Pe- Christ converses with the Scribes and Pharisees on the riod, 4741, Subject of the Jewish Traditions. MATT. XV. 1-20. MARK Vii. 1—23. Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the Scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked him, Matt. xv. 1. saying, 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition"? 14 To prove that the Evangelist has here spoken with the utmost correctness, Schoetgen has quoted from Jevachim, fol. Et sapientes וחכמים עשו חיזוק מדבריהם יותר משל תורה: .1 .101 fecerunt robur verbis suis, plusquam verbis Legis. Lightfoot also has given many others to the same purpose. The words of the Scribes are .חביבים דברי סופרים מדברי תורה: more lovely than the words of the law.-Hieros. berac. fol. 3. 2. The error of the Pharisees was the same as that of the Romanists. They substituted unauthorized tradition in the place of their inspired writings, and ritual observances in the place of spiritual worship. The ordinances of external religion are only valuable, as they are the emblems, and the appointed means of spiritual blessings. While their proper value is set upon the records of history, the inquiries of the critical, the labours of the learned, the opinions of the judicious, the decisions of the early Church, and all the sources of accurate information, it ought never to be forgotten, neither is it forgotten by the Protestant Churches, that Scripture is the one unerring test of truth, to which every conclusion must be submitted. The Jews Mat. xv. 4. 11. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and Capernaum. thy mother: and, Mark vii. 10. Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, It is Corban, that is to say a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mat. xv. 6. And honour not his father or his mother, And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Mat. xv. 6. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Mat. xv. 7. Mark vii.13. which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do. Matt. xv. 8. draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth Mark vii. 7. Howbeit, in vain do they worship me, teaching for adopted many traditions, which were not only contrary to, but The Church that teaches these doctrines is as justly worthy Mark vii. 8. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the Capernaum. tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 14. 15. Mat. xv. 11. Markvii.16. 17. Matt.xv.12. 13. 14. 15. 16. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand; There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man ; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered, and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Markvii.18. unto them, Mat. xv. 16. Are ye also yet without understanding? 17. Do ye not yet understand, that whatsoever Mark vii.18. it cannot defile him; 19. 20. 21. Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For Mat. xv. 18. those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart: and they defile the man. Markvii.21. from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil Markvii.22, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23. Mat. xv. 20. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. These are the things that defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. |