Verse 38
Glory in the highest - Mayst thou receive the uttermost degrees of glory! See on [Mat 21:9] (note).
Verse 40
If these should hold their peace, the stones would - cry out - Of such importance is my present conduct to you and to others, being expressly predicted by one of your own prophets, [Zac 9:9], as pointing out the triumph of humility over pride, and of meekness over rage and malice, as signifying the salvation which I bring to the lost souls of men, that, if this multitude were silent, God would give even to the stones a voice, that the advent of the Messiah might be duly celebrated.
Verse 41
And wept over it - See [Mat 23:37].
Verse 42
The things which belong unto thy peace! - It is very likely that our Lord here alludes to the meaning of the word Jerusalem, ירושלים from ירה yereh, he shall see, and שלום shalom, peace or prosperity. Now, because the inhabitants of it had not seen this peace and salvation, because they had refused to open their eyes, and behold this glorious light of heaven which shone among them, therefore he said, Now they are hidden from thine eyes, still alluding to the import of the name.
Verse 43
Cast a trench about thee - This was literally fulfilled when this city was besieged by Titus. Josephus gives a very particular account of the building of this wall, which he says was effected in three days, though it was not less than thirty-nine furlongs in circumference; and that, when this wall and trench were completed, the Jews were so enclosed on every side that no person could escape out of the city, and no provision could be brought in, so that they were reduced to the most terrible distress by the famine which ensued. The whole account is well worth the reader's attention. See Josephus, War, book v. chap. xxii. sec. 1, 2, 3.
Verse 44
The time of thy visitation - That is, the time of God's gracious offers of mercy to thee. This took in all the time which elapsed from the preaching of John the Baptist to the coming of the Roman armies, which included a period of above forty years.
Verse 45
Went into the temple - See all this transaction explained, [Mat 21:12-16] (note).
Verse 47
And he taught daily in the temple - This he did for five or six days before his crucifixion. Some suppose that it was on Monday in the passion week that he thus entered into Jerusalem, and purified the temple; and on Thursday he was seized late at night: during these four days he taught in the temple, and lodged each night at Bethany. See the note on [Mat 21:17].
Verse 48
Were very attentive to hear him - Or, They heard him with the utmost attention, εξεκρεματο αυτου ακουων, literally, They hung upon him, hearing. The same form of speech is used often by both Greek and Latin writers of the best repute. -
Ex vultu dicentis, pendet omnium vultus.
The face of every man hung on the face of the speaker. - Pendetque iterum narrantis ab ore.
Virg. Aen. iv. 79
And she hung again on the lips of the narrator.
The words of the evangelist mark, not only the deepest attention because of the importance of the subject, but also the very high gratification which the hearers had from the discourse. Those who read or hear the words of Christ, in this way, must inevitably become wise to salvation.
The reader is requested to refer to Matthew 24 (note), and to [Mat 25:14] (note), for more extensive information on the different subjects in this chapter, and to the other parallel places. The prophecy relative to the destruction of Jerusalem is one of the most circumstantial, and the most literally fulfilled, of any prediction ever delivered. See this particularly remarked at the conclusion of Matthew 24 (note), where the whole subject is amply reviewed.
Introduction
The question concerning the authority of Christ, and the baptism of John, [Luk 20:1-8]. The parable of the vine-yard let out to wicked husbandmen, [Luk 20:9-18]. The chief priests and scribes are offended, and lay snares for him, [Luk 20:19], [Luk 20:20]. The question about tribute, [Luk 20:21-26]. The question about the resurrection of the dead, and our Lord's answer, [Luk 20:27-40]. How Christ is the son of David, [Luk 20:41-44]. He warns his disciples against the hypocrisy of the scribes, whose condemnation he points out, [Luk 20:45-47].
Verse 1
One of those days - Supposed to have been one of the four last days of his life, mentioned [Luk 19:47], probably Tuesday before the passover.
Verse 2
By what authority, etc. - See the note on [Mat 21:23-27] (note).
Verse 9
A certain man planted a vineyard, etc. - See this parable largely explained, [Mat 21:33-46] (note). See also on [Mar 12:4-9] (note).
Verse 10
That they should give him of the fruit - The Hindoo corn-merchants, that have lent money to husbandmen, send persons in harvest-time to collect their share of the produce of the ground.
Verse 16
God forbid - Or, Let it not be, μη γενοιτο. Our phrase, God forbid, answers pretty well to the meaning of the Greek, but it is no translation.
Verse 18
Grind him to powder - See on [Mat 21:44] (note).
Verse 20
They watched him - Παρατηρησαντες, Insidiously watching. See on [Luk 14:1] (note).
Spies - Εγκαθετους, from εν, in, and καθιημι, I let down, to set in ambush. One who crouches in some secret place to spy, listen, catch, or hurt. Hesychius explains the word by ενεδρευοντες, those who lie in wait, or in ambush, to surprise and slay. Josephus uses the word to signify a person bribed for a particular purpose. See War, b. ii. c. ii. s. 5, and b. vi. c. v. s. 2. No doubt the persons mentioned in the text were men of the basest principles, and were hired by the malicious Pharisees to do what they attempted in vain to perform.
Verse 22
Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar - See this insidious but important question considered at large on [Mat 22:16-22] (note).
Verse 29
There were therefore seven brethren - See on [Mat 22:23-33] (note).