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12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

14¶The sower soweth the word.

15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a 'bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 'For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

24 And he saith unto them, Take heed what ye hear with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

25 For he that hath, to him shall be given and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

Matt. 13. 14. 31 Tim. 6 17. 7 Matt. 7.2.

4 Matt. 5. 15. 8 Matt. 13. 12.

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the sced should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is 'brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

30 And he said, 10Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

33 "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to

hear it.

34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

12

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

33 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The word in the original signifieth a less measure: as Matt 5. 15.

Matt. 10. 26.

9 Or, ripe. 10 Matt. 13. 31. 11 Matt. 13. 34. 12 Matt. 8. 23. Verse 21. "Is a candle," &c.-This verse contains a proverbial expression to denote that things are rendered useless by being applied to purposes for which they are not suited or designed. The renderings "candle" and "candlestick" sufficiently convey the meaning of the original, and are more intelligible to the English reader than any other. But correctly, and with a reference to ancient usages, we should read "a lamp" instead of "a candle," and "a stand" (i. e. a lamp-stand or candelabrum) instead of "a candlestick." Lamps were used, and placed upon stands to give them the elevation necessary to diffuse the light around. On this matter, see further under Luke viii. 16. The word μôdios, rendered "bushel," answers to the Hebrew measure called seah, containing a gallon and a half. It was a cornmeasure, in very general use (as a gallon with us) for common purposes. The alternative of putting the lamp under

"a bed." is also contained in Luke (viii. 16), but not in Matthew (v. 15). We cannot see clearly what Grotius and others have in view in proving that the "bed" had a cavity under it large enough to admit a candelabrum; for there is no allusion to the stand being put under a bushel or a bed, but the lamp; and the lamp was a small portable article, distinct from the stand, not permanently affixed to it, but removed when not in use, and set on again when required to give light to the house. This, so far as its size is regarded, might be thrust away almost anywhere, even under a mattress or cushion; but then its flame would be smothered out; and this we think is intended; for certainly any light would be extinguished if set under "a bushel;' and analogy would seem to indicate an intention to express that it would also be put out if thrust under a bed. Hence it appears to us that the research which has been employed to provide for the lamp-stand, or even for the lamp, a cavity large enough to allow the flame it bore to remain alive, but without giving its proper light to the house, proceeds entirely on a misconception.

38. "In the hinder part of the ship."-The original denotes the place at which the steersman usually sat; and which was also a convenient place for passengers. The conjecture of Michaelis, that Jesus himself steered the vessel, is almost gross. Would He have slept then?

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"On a pillow.”—ixì tò xgorni¢áda, better taken as "the pillow," the article having a peculiar force in referring to a particular part of the vessel's furniture called the pillow." Some regard it as denoting a piece of wood framed at the stern; but others prefer to consider it as a leather stuffed cushion. The word, in its ordinary acceptation, denotes not only a pillow for the head, but a cushion on which one might sit or lie down.

CHAPTER V.

1 Christ delivering the possessed of the legion of devils, 13 they enter into the swine. 25 He healeth the woman of the bloody issue, 35 and raiseth from death Jairus his daughter.

AND 'they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.

1 Matt. 8. 28.

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And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

2 Matt. 9. 18.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew

worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his gar

ment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and savest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

But

40 And they laughed him to scorn. when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee,

arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Verse 9. " Legion: for we are many."-This name, expressive of multitude, is taken from the division of the Roman army bearing the same title. This division always contained a large body of men; but the number so much varied at different times, that there is much discrepancy in the statements which are given. With the progress of time, the number of men in a legion seems to have increased from perhaps three thousand to six thousand, and beyond. Six thousand may be probably taken as the general number in the time of our Saviour, exclusive of horsemen, which usually formed an additional body of about one-tenth to the infantry. Examples might be cited from the Rabbinical writers of the use of the word "legion" to denote a great number, in such expression as "a legion of olives," and so on.

As all the divisions of the Roman army are mentioned in the New Testament, we may add that the legion was divided into ten cohorts, or regiments (see Matth. xxvii. 27); each cohort into three maniples or bands; and each maniple into two centuries, or companies of one hundred each, at least nominally. This smaller division, into centuries, from the form in which it is exhibited as a constituent of the larger divisions, clearly shows that six thousand had become at least the formal number of men in a legion.

23 "My little daughter."-We learn from verse 42, that she was twelve years of age, or, more properly, in her twelfth year. The Talmud defines that a daughter, till she had completed twelve years, was called "little," or "a little maid,”but when she became of the full age of twelve years, and one day over, she was considered a young woman.

26. "Had suffered many things of many physicians.”—“ And it is no wonder," says Lightfoot; "for we see what various and manifold kinds of medicines are prescribed for a woman labouring under a flux." He then cites several of these, and mentions many more which he does not adduce. His citations are instructive, from the insight which they offer into the medical practices of the Jews in and about the time of our Saviour. They consist of various simple or compound medicines, to be tried successively in case the preceding failed in their operation; and in the present case the series extends to at least fourteen changes. We observe that all the medicines are directed to be taken in wine. We think we can collect that there was no long perseverance with one course of medicine; but that, if it did not immediately, or very speedily, produce the desired effect, another and another was tried. This is still the case in the East. From the same citations we infer, that if the case was found to be stubborn, superstitious practices were resorted to in order to aid the medicine, and were gradually increased till at last medicine was altogether relinquished, and the cure sought by other means. This also is Oriental. We will quote one instance of simple medicine; another of mixed medicine and superstition; and a third wholly superstitious.

flux.'

Take of Persian onions thrice three logs; boil them in wine, and give it her to drink, and say, 'Arise from thy But if this does not prevail, set her in a place where two ways meet, and let her hold a cup of wine in her hand; and let somebody come behind her, and affright her, and say, 'Arise from thy flux.'

"But if this does not benefit, let them dig seven ditches, in which let them burn some cuttings of such vines as are not circumcised [that is, that are not yet four years old]. And let her take in her hand a cup of wine; and let them lead her away from this ditch, and make her sit down over that. And let them remove her from that, and make her sit down over another. And in every removal you must say to her, 'Arise from thy flux,'" &c. We shall have occasion again to advert to this subject.

CHAPTER VI.

7 He

1 Christ is contemned of his countrymen.
giveth the twelve power over unclean spirits. 14
Divers opinions of Christ. 18 John Baptist is
beheaded, 29 and buried. 30 The apostles return
from preaching. 34 The miracle of five loaves
and two fishes. 45 Christ walketh on the sea:
53 and healeth all that touch him.

AND 'he went out from thence, and came
into his own country; and his disciples fol-
low him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, 'A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own. house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.'

6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

7¶And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no 'money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, 'shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony

1 Matt. 13. 54.

against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

14 'And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and ohserved him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

John 4. 44. 3 Matt. 9. 35. Luke 13. 22. 4 Matt. 10. 1.

5 The word signifieth a piece of brass money, in value somewhat less than a farthing-Matt. 10. 9; but here it is taken in general for money.

6 Matt. 10. 14. 7 Acts 13. 51. 8 James 5. 14.

9 Matt. 14. 1. 10 Luke 3. 19. 11 Levit. 18. 16.

12 Or, an inward grudge.

19 Or, kept him, or, saved him.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent "an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

and

gave

29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as

to eat.

32" And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35 "And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred "pennyworth of bread, and give them to

cat?

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

14 Or, one of his guard.

15 Luke 9. 10.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before "unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

21

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out :

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched "him were made whole.

16 Matt. 14. 13.

17 Matt. 9. 36. 19 The Roman penny is seven pence halfpenny; as Matt. 18. 28. 20 Or, over against Bethsaida. 23 Or, it.

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