Mt 9:1; Mr 5:18.
Mr 5:21.
She is not dead but sleepeth - Her soul is not separated finally from the body; and this short separation is rather to be called sleep than death.
Mt 10:1; Mr 6:7.
There abide and thence depart - That is, stay in that house till ye leave the city.
It was said by some - And soon after by Herod himself. Mt 14:1; Mr 6:14.
That Elijah had appeared - He could not rise again, because he did not die.
Mr 6:30.
Mt 14:15; Mr 6:35; Joh 6:3.
Apart - From the multitude. And he asked them - When he had done praying, during which they probably stayed at a distance. Mt 14:13; Mr 8:27.
Saying - Ye must prepare for a scene far different from this.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross - The necessity of this duty has been shown in many places: the extent of it is specified here, daily - Therefore that day is lost wherein no cross is taken up.
Mt 16:25; Mr 8:35; Joh 12:25.
Mt 17:1; Mr 9:2.
In glory - Like Christ with whom they talked.
They saw his glory - The very same expression in which it is described by St. John, John 1:14; and by St. Peter, 2Pet 1:16.
A cloud came and overshadowed them all. And they, the apostles, feared, while they (Moses and Elijah) entered into the cloud, which took them away.
Mt 17:14; Mr 9:14.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears - That is, consider them deeply. In joy remember the cross. So wisely does our Lord balance praise with sufferings. Mt 17:22; Mr 9:31.
And there arose a reasoning among them - This kind of reasoning always arose at the most improper times that could be imagined.
Mt 18:2; Mr 9:37.
And said to them - If ye would be truly great, humble yourselves to the meanest offices. He that is least in his own eyes shall be great indeed.
Mr 9:38.
The days are fulfilled that he should be received up - That is, the time of his passion was now at hand. St. Luke looks through this, to the glory which was to follow. He steadfastly set his face - Without fear of his enemies, or shame of the cross, Heb 12:2.
He sent messengers to make ready - A lodging and needful entertainment for him and those with him.
His face was as though he would go to Jerusalem - It plainly appeared, he was going to worship at the temple, and thereby, in effect, to condemn the Samaritan worship at Mount Gerizim.
As Elisha did - At or near this very place, which might put it into the minds of the apostles to make the motion now, rather than at any other time or place, where Christ had received the like affront.
Ye know not what manner of spirit - The spirit of Christianity is. It is not a spirit of wrath and vengeance, but of peace, and gentleness, and love.
Mt 8:19.
But Jesus said to him - First understand the terms: consider on what conditions thou art to follow me.
Suffer me first to bid them farewell that are in my house - As Elisha did after Elijah had called him from the plough, 1Kings 19:19; to which our Lord's answer seems to allude.
Is fit for the kingdom of God - Either to propagate or to receive it.
Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he would thrust forth labourers - For God alone can do this: he alone can qualify and commission men for this work. Mt 9:37.
Mt 10:16.
Salute no man by the way - The salutations usual among the Jews took up much time. But these had so much work to do in so short a space, that they had not a moment to spare.
A son of peace - That is, one worthy of it.
Mt 10:11.
The kingdom of God is at hand - Though ye will not receive it.
Wo to thee, Chorazin - The same declaration Christ had made some time before. By repeating it now, he warns the seventy not to lose time by going to those cities. Mt 11:21.
Mt 10:40; John 13:20.
I beheld Satan - That is, when ye went forth, I saw the kingdom of Satan, which was highly exalted, swiftly and suddenly cast down.
I give you power - That is, I continue it to you: and nothing shall hurt you - Neither the power, nor the subtilty of Satan.
Rejoice not so much that the devils are subject to you, as that your names are written in heaven - Reader, so is thine, if thou art a true, believer. God grant it may never be blotted out!
Lord of heaven and earth - In both of which thy kingdom stands, and that of Satan is destroyed. That thou hast hid these things - He rejoiced not in the destruction of the wise and prudent, but in the display of the riches of God's grace to others, in such a manner as reserves to Him the entire glory of our salvation, and hides pride from man. Mt 11:25.
Who the Son is - Essentially one with the Father: who the Father is - How great, how wise, how good!