to know the way of life. proper, nor can it ever be else is so important, and effort and haste.

Zeal to know the way to be saved is too intense if well directed. Nothing nothing demands, therefore, so much

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

'Defraud not.' To cheat or defraud supposes a covetous desire of a neighbour's property, and is attended with falsehood or false witness against a neighbour, in obtaining it. It is thus a violation of the ninth and tenth commandments; and our Saviour, therefore, condensed the two, and expressed their substance in this-not to defraud. It is besides, expressly forbidden in Lev. xix. 13. 'Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour.'

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great pos

sessions.

Jesus-loved him.' This expression denotes, simply, natural affection, or means that Jesus was pleased with his amiableness, his morality, and his external regard for the law of God. At the same time, this was entirely consistent with deep sorrow that he would not give his heart to God, and with deep abhorrence of such a love of the world as to blind the mind to the beauty of true religion. One thing thou lackest.' When the young man came to Jesus, he asked him, What lack I yet? Matt. xix. 20. This question Mark has omitted, but he has retained the answer. The answer means, there is one thing yet wanting. See whether you love God more than you do your wealth. By doing that you will show that your love of God is supreme; that your obedience is not merely external and formal, but sincere and real; the thing, now lacking, will be made up.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disci

ples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through

the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Children.' An expression of affection, perhaps also implying a reproof that their slowness of understanding was like children. 'How hard.' With how much difficulty.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Out of measure. Very much, or exceedingly.

28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

'An hundredfold.' A hundred times as much. In this time.' In this life. In the time that he forsakes all. Houses,' &c. This means that the loss shall be a hundred times compensated or made up; or that, in the possession of religion, we have a hundred times the value of all that we forsake. This consists in the pardon of sin, in the favour of God, in peace of conscience, in support in trials and in death, and in raising up friends in the place of those who are left-spiritual brethren, and sisters, and mothers, &c. At the same time it is true that the favour of God is the security for every blessing. Obedience to his law secures industry, temperance, chastity, economy, prudence, health, and the confidence of others, all indispensable to success in life, and all connected, commonly, with success. Though the wicked sometimes prosper, yet the surest way to prosperity is to fear God and keep his commandments. Thus will all needed blessings descend on us here, and eternal blessings hereafter. With persecutions.' Jesus did not conceal this. But he consoled them. He assured them that amidst these they should find friends and comfort. It is easy to bear trials if God be our friend. With the promises of the bible in our hand, we may hail persecutions, and thank God that, amidst so many sorrows, he has furnished such superabundant consolaions.

32¶ And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them. and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes ; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

See Matt. xx. 17-19. Jesus went before them.' In the manner of an intrepid, fearless leader and guide, exposing himself to danger and death rather than his followers. And they were amazed,' &c. They were afraid that evil would befall him in the city; that the scribes and pharisees, who had so often sought to kill him, would then do it. Their fear and amazement were increased when he told them what would befall him there. They were amazed that he should still persevere in going up to the city.

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35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldst do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they say unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye' know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great

ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

See notes on Matt. xx. 20-28. And James and John-came unto him.' They did this through the instrumentality of their mother. They did not come in person, but they got their mother to make the request for them. Compare Matthew.

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the son of Timeus, sat by the highway-side begging.

See this passage explained in notes on Matt. xx. 29—34. 'Blind Bartimeus.' Matthew says there were two. Mark mentions but one, though he does not say that there was no other. He mentions this man because he was well known. Bartimeus, the blind man.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

'Casting away his garment.' That is, his outer garment; the one that was thrown loosely over him. See Matt. v. 40. He threw it off, full of joy at the prospect of being healed, and that he might run without impediment to Jesus. This may be used to illustrate the manner in which a sinner should come to Jesus. He must throw away the garments of his own righteousnesshe must rise speedily-must run with joy-must have full faith in the power of Jesus, and cast himself entirely upon his mercy.

51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

CHAPTER XI.

1 AND when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. 3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. 4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without, in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. 5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. 8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest.

6

See this passage illustrated in Matt. xxi. 1-11. 'Bethphage and Bethany.' Two villages, about two miles east from Jerusalem, at the foot of the mount of Olives. They came first to Bethphage, and he sent his disciples over into Bethany, a village near at hand. Compare Matthew. The Lord.' The word means, here, the Master. The word rendered Lord often means master, as opposed to servants or dependents. See Matt. vi. 24; x. 24. Eph. vi. 5. Two ways met.' Cross roads. A public place, probably near the centre of the village. What do ye, loosing the colt? Or, why do ye do this? What authority have you for doing it?

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11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the even-tide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.