Matthew 12

Matthew 12:1

TO plucke,] according to the permission of the Law, Deut, 23. 25.

Matthew 12:2

Is not,] the law did forbid them to dresse an food upon the Sabbath day, Exodus 16:23. which the Pharisees did superstitiously extend to these petty actions of plucking and rubbing of eares of corne.

Matthew 12:3

Have ye not,] the meaning is, the rigorous observation of ceremonies must yeeld to necessity, when there is no contempt nor profane rebellion, as David did without being reproved for it.

Matthew 12:5

Or have ye not,] Seeing God hth not tied the officers of his Temple to the observation of the Sabbath, they doing that day their most painfull and laborious services: my servants and officers following me and serving me may also be free from the observation of it, seeing that I am true God with my father, and that my service sanctifieth these actions, as the service of the Temple sanctified those.

Matthew 12:6

Is one,] namely I my selfe, everliving God, Lord of the Temple, and the Messias, who really and in truth am all that was figured by the Temple and the service belonging to it.

Matthew 12:7

If ye had,] another reason which hath a relation to the Pharisees cruell hypocrisie, who thorow an ostentation of externall discipline went against charity not pittying the Apostles distresse who did eat ears of corne for meer necessity.

Matthew 12:8

For the,] he yeelds a reason for the Apostles innocency, for if there were any sin in their act, he was to judge of it, being the Soveraigne Lord of all exteriour service, and of the due observance of it. And therefore since he did not finde fault with it they were not to cavill about it.

Matthew 12:10

To heale,] The Pharisaicall tradition did forbid the use of artificiall and naturall phisick upon the Sabbath day, unlesse it were in cases of extreame necessity: and now they doe superstitiously and malignantly apply the same to miraculous cures and healings. See Luke 13:14. Iohn 9. 16.

Matthew 12:15

Them all,] that had need of being healed.

Matthew 12:16

And charged,] See upon Matthew 8:4.

Matthew 12:19

Not strive,] he shall not seek after worldly glory, whereupon arise great strifes in the world, hee shall proceed in all humility in himselfe, and mildnesse towards others.

Matthew 12:20

Till he send,] till he be entred into possession of his everlasting kingdome to overcome and subdue all his enemies Vnto victory,] or everlastingly according to the phrase of the holy language.

Matthew 12:22

Blinde,] by the meanes of the devill which possessed him, as Mat. 9 32. & 17. 15. Luke 13:11.

Matthew 12:23

The Son,] the Ital. addeth the Christ the Son] namely the promised Messias of Davids progeny.

Matthew 12:25

Beclzebub,] See upon Matthew 10:25.

Matthew 12:26

If Sathan,] the ground of this reason is because the Lord did drive devils out of mens souls by his saving doctrine, as well as out of their bodies by his Almighty word: wherefore one could not imagine that there was any collusion with the evill Spirit as Impostors often times do, at whose instance the Devill comes out of a body to gaine any soules, by seduction, superstition, false doctrine, &c.

Matthew 12:27

If I,] You shew your malice in judging evill of me, because that having exorcists of your own nation which make profession of driving Devils out of men,Acts 19:15 and do not condemn them, though you have no more reason to condemn mine actions thentheirs. Now it is uncertain whether these lewish Exorcists mentioned also in other histories did operate by any gift of God, and calling upon his name, or by some unlawfull art. Christ also doth not approve of them nor reprove thē, but is content with confuting his adversaries, by the example of these.

Matthew 12:28

But if I,] if you do plainly perceave that I dispossesse the Devill of the tyrannie, which he hath usurped over soules and bodies; Acknowledge that I am that great and onely King of the Church, who onely have power to subdue mine enemie, and take away his prey from him, which otherwayes, and to every other man would be impossible.

Matthew 12:29

Or else,] if the kingdome of God were not come, the devill could not be overcome, and consequently could not be spoiled Enter,] words taken out of Isay 49. 24.

Matthew 12:30

He that,] here Christ begins another discourse. The meaning is, all those that are not joyned to me, are mine enemies, there is no mean between these two waies; yet some sin through ignorance, and those may be pardoned, 1 Timothy 1:13. others through hatred and malice, against the light & motion of the H. Ghost: and in such the sin is irremissible Gathereth not,] he that doth not concurre with me in my work, doth spoile and undoe it as far as in him lieth. Or he that seekes his salvation any where but in me, shall lose it everlastingly.

Matthew 12:31

Wherefore,] because that in this contrariety between you & me, you may fall in an extream degree which is irremissible, I will give you notice of what nature this sin is, that you may take heed of it Forgiven,] may be pardoned by true conversion in faith and repentance Against the,] that is to say, against his action and proper operation, which is to enlighten inwardly, and to seale Gods truth within the heart, giving it some relish there of, and exciting some motion of Gods grace in it. See Heb. 6. 4. & 10 29 Shall not,] the cause whereof is Gods will, who hath not appointed two regenerations, or spirituall resurrections Nor hath not promised to begin again the work of his grace which was brought so farre as the gift of the Spirit, when it is once destroyed by a generall apostacy, and utter extinguishing of the gift.

Matthew 12:32

Speaketh] shall out of his ignorance, without illumination of the Spirit have thought or uttered blasphemy against Christ. See 〈◊〉 Tim 1. 13 Against the Son,]not only against his person and his offices, but chiefly against that which i his proper operation, namely his word; which he doth outwardly reveal and teach, as being the word and wisdome of God But whosoever,] that hath loosened the reines to the extreame wickednesse of his heart, in words of blasphemy and outrage against God and his truth, of which he hath had the seale and knowledge in his heart, by Gods Spirit, which is the extreame sinne of the devill and the damned, and the very height of the wickeds malice Neither in this world,] that is to say never. as S. Mark saith. Or in this world by the effectuall application of the ministery of the Gospell, and by finding the peace of conscience, nor in the other by Christ his sentence at the last judgement. See Acts 3:19. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.

Matthew 12:33

Make the,] that is to say put the case, or grant that the tree be good or bad, the fruits will be like it, therefore seeing you are perverse, you can neither thinke nor speak but perversely of me and of my workes.

Matthew 12:36

Idle word,] vaine and unprofitable word, which serveth neither for the glory of God, nor for the edifying of ones neighbour, how much more then of blasphemous words?

Matthew 12:37

By thy,] this seemes to be taken from such judgements in which malefactors are absolved or condemned according to their answers and confessions. But the Lord doth extend it to a more generall sense, namely, that in Gods judgement man shall be judged by his words as the neerest and most ordinary effects, and signes of what is in his heart.

Matthew 12:38

We would see,] a demand for curiosity, or for a prophane cloak for their incredulity. As much as to say, worke some miracle as may be beyond all exception, doubt, or contradiction.

Matthew 12:39

Adulterous,] that is to say, disloyall in Gods service, Isay 57. 3. or a bastard and degenerate generation But the signe,] instead of the miracle which you desire, I will give you an instruction by the figure of Ionah. For as he after he had beene three dayes in the fishes belly, went out to preach the will of God to the Ninivites: so three dayes after my death, I will rise againe. Or by my resurrection, Romans 1:4. I will convince all that shall contradict me, and it shall be an undoubted evidence of the truth of my word.

Matthew 12:40

In the heart,] that is to say in the earth: a popular kinde of speech, for Christs sepulcher being hewne out of a rock, was rather above then under ground.

Matthew 12:41

Shall condemne it,] that is to say their example shall serve to aggravate this peoples rebellion. See Ier. 3. 11. Ezekiel 16:51. Rom. 2 27.

Matthew 12:43

When the,] after Christ had confuted his malignant adversaries, upon the occasion of the possessed mans deliverance, he instructeth the people wishing them to beware that the devill have not any occasion to returne, by Gods just judgement upon any new sinne: for in that case the precedent benefit will aggravate the new ingratitude. And under this figure he teacheth all them who have been delivered from the devils spirituall tyranny, to beware left they fall into it againe, for that he being driven out of his old habitation, will endeavour to come into it againe with greater fury and ruine. Now this threatning, set forth to terrifie all men, takes effect in none, but only in such whose faith is but only for a time, not lively nor soundly rooted, as the elects is, in whom Christ dwelleth, and never departeth from them Dry places,] receptacles of evill spirits which are driven out of heaven, and are not yet shut up in the infernall cloisters. See Isay 13. 21. and 34. 19 Revelation 18:2. and wandring in this lower part of the world, to tempt, seduce, and hurt men, taking no delight nor rest but in doing evill. See 1 Peter 5:8.

Matthew 12:44

Empty,] Of Christ and of his Spirit, to whō as to the stronger he had yeelded the place Swept,] figurative tearmes, as much as to say made ready to receive him, all vertues which are hinderances and odious to the devill being rooted out, and vices established theren instead of them.

Matthew 12:45

Seven,] that is to say a great number, many spirits often possessing one body. See Mark 5. 9. and 16. 9.

Matthew 12:46

His brethren,] according to some they were his neerest kinsmen. But yet some ancient write 〈◊〉 have beleeved they were some of Iosephs children which he had by a former wise; and so commonly held to be Iesus his brethren, seeing that Ioseph was held to be his father: and those followed the holy Virgin, as mother of their family after Iosephs death. See Matthew 13:55. Mark 6:3. Iohn 2. 12. and 73. Acts 1:14. 1 Corinthians 9:5. Galatians 1:19.

Matthew 12:48

Who is,] in mine office, and order of spirituall life. I acknowledge no kindred in the flesh, but onely and equally all true beleevers who are the children of God in spirit, adopted and regenerate by him, and my brethren and allies, that shew themselves to be such by their works.