markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

See Matt. xxiii. 1-12, 14.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 AND he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

See this explained in Mark xii. 41-44. 'Penury.' Poverty. 5¶ And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

'Goodly stones. Beautiful stones. Referring to the large and well-finished stones of which the eastern wall was built. See notes on Mark xiii. 1. 'Gifts.' This word properly denotes any thing devoted or dedicated to God. Anciently warriors dedicated to their gods the spoils of war, the shields, and helmets, and armour, and garments of those slain in battle. These were suspended in the temples of their gods. It would seem that something of this kind had occurred in the temple of Jerusalem, and that the people to express their gratitude to God had suspended on the pillars and porches of the temple gifts and offerings. Josephus mentions particularly a golden vine with which Herod the Great had adorned the columns of the temple.

6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near go ye not therefore after them.

See Matt. xxiv. 2. The account of the destruction of Jerusalem contained in this chapter has been fully considered in the

notes on Matt. xxiv. All that will be necessary here will be an explanation of a few words that did not occur in that chapter.

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

'Commotions.' Insurrections.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

'Fearful sights.' See Matt. xxiv. 7.

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

'Synagogues, and into prisons.' See notes on Mark xiii. 9, 10. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

'Settle it in your hearts.' Fix it firmly in your minds, so firmly as to become a fixed principle, that you are always to depend on God for aid in all your trials. See Mark xiii. H.

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor

resist.

A mouth. Eloquence, ability to speak as the case may demand. Gainsay.' Speak against. They will not be able to reply to it, or to oppose the force of what you shall say.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18 But there shall not a hair of your head perish.

'A hair of your head perish.' This is a proverbial expression, denoting that they should not suffer any essential injury. It was strikingly fulfilled in the fact that in the calamities of Jerusalem there is reason to believe that no christian suffered. Before those calamities came on the city, they had fled to Pella. See notes on Matt. xxiv.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

'In your patience.' Rather, by your perseverance. The word 'patience,' here, means constancy, perseverance, sustaining affliction. 'Possess ye your souls." The word 'possess' means here to preserve, or keep, and the word 'souls' also means lives. The passage may be thus translated: By persevering in bearing these trials, you will save your lives, or you will be safe. Compare Matt. xxiv. 13.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But wo unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

All things which are written may be fulfilled.' Judgment had been threatened by almost all the prophets against that wicked city. They had spoken of its crimes, and threatened its ruin. Particularly was this very destruction foretold by Daniel, ch. ix. 26, 27.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

'Shall fall,' &c. No less than one million one hundred thousand perished in the siege of Jerusalem. Shall be led away captive.' More than ninety thousand were led into captivity. See notes on Matt. xxiv. 'Shall be trodden down by the Gentiles.' Shall be in possession of the Gentiles, be subject to them. The expression also implies that it shall be an oppressive subjection, as when a captive in war is trodden down under the feet of the conqueror. Anciently conquerors trod on the necks of those who were subdued by them, Josh. x. 24; 2 Sam. xxii. 41; Ezek. xxi. 29. The bondage of Jerusalem has been long and very oppressive. It was for a long time under the dominion of the Romans, then of the Saracens, and now of the Turks, and is aptly represented by a captive stretched on the ground, whose neck is trodden by the foot of the conqueror. 'Until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.' This passage has been understood very differently by different expositors. The meaning clearly is, 1. That Jerusalem should be completely destroyed. 2. That this should be done by

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Gentiles, that is, by the Roman armies. 3. That this desolation should continue as long as God should allow them, as long as he should judge it proper in a fit manner to express his abhorrence of the crimes of the nation, that is, until the times allotted to them by God for this desolation should be accomplished, without specifying how long that should be.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

See Matt. xxiv. 29. The word translated distress,' denotes anxiety of mind, such an anxiety as men have when they do not know what to do to free themselves from calamities; and it means that the calamities would be so great and overwhelming, that they would not know what to do to escape. With perplexity.' Rather, on account of their perplexity, or the desperate state of their affairs. The sea and the waves roaring.' This is an image of great distress. As when in a storm the ocean roars, and wave rolls on wave, and dashes against the shore, and each succeeding wave is more violent than the one that preceded it, so should the calamities come upon Judea, until the whole country should be desolate. The same image is also used in Isa. viii. 7, 8, and Rev. xii. 15.

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

'Men's hearts failing them.' This is an expression denoting the highest terror. The word rendered 'failing,' commonly denotes to die; and here it means that the terror would be so great, that men would faint and be ready to die in view of the approaching calamities. And if this was true in respect to the judgments about to come upon Judea, how much more so will it be in the day of judgment, when the wicked shall be arraigned before the Son of God, and when they shall have before them the prospect of the awful sufferings of hell: the pains and woes of which shall continue for ever!

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the figtree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these

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things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

'Your redemption draweth nigh.' See Matt. xxiv. 33. This is expressed in the thirty-first verse thus: "the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." That is, from that time God will signally build up his kingdom. It shall be fully established when the Jewish policy shall come to an end; when the temple shall be destroyed, and the Jews scattered abroad. Then the Jews shall no longer be able to persecute you, and you shall be completely delivered from all these trials and calamities in Judea.

34¶ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

'Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged,' &c. The meaning of this verse is: "Be continually expecting these things. Be always waiting for them. Do not forget them, and do not be secure and satisfied with this life and the good things which it furnishes. Do not suffer yourselves to be drawn into the fashions of the world, to be conformed to its customs, to partake of its feasts and licentiousness, so that these calamities shall come upon you when you least expect them." How many, alas! who bear the christian name have forgotten this caution of the Saviour, and live as if their lives were secure, as if they feared not death, as if there were no heaven, and no judgment. Overcharged.' Literally, be made heavy, as is the case with those who have eaten and drunk too much. "Surfeiting. Excessive eating and drinking, so as to oppress the body. Indulgence in the pleasures of the table. 'Drunkenness.' Intoxication, intemperance in drinking. The ancients had no distilled spirits. They became intoxicated by wine, and strong drink made of a mixture of dates, honey, &c. All nations have contrived some way to become intoxicated. And in nothing is the depravity of men more manifest than in thus endeavouring to promote the ravages of crime and death.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

'As a snare.' In Matthew and Mark, Jesus compares the suddenness with which these calamities should come, to the deluge coming in the days of Noah. Here he likens it to a snare. Birds are caught by a snare, or net; it is sprung on them quickly, and when they are not expecting it. The figure is often used to