A. D. 31. MATT. VI. 14-16. that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; | Alleluia, xix. 4. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus, xxii. 20. VER. 14. VER. 16. Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταί, σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰς τὰ πρόσωπα αὑτῶν, ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες. ̓Αμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὑτῶν. Moreover a when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward. a Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast, Matt. ix. 14, 15. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread, 2 Sam. xii. 16. 21. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, Neh. i. 4. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three me, A. D. 31. days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish, Esth. iv. 16. But as for when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom, Ps. xxxv. 13. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach, Ixix. 10. My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness, Is not this the fast that I cix. 24. And have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that Is it not to deal thy bread to the hunbreak t ye every yoke? gry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him ; thine own fesh ? Isa.lviii. 6, 7. And and that thou hide not thyself from I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, Dan. ix. 3. And she was a widow of departed not from the temple, but about fourscore and four years, which served God with fastings and prayers night and day, Luke ii. 37. Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, Acts x. 30. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away, xiii. 2, 3. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed, xiv. 23. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, 1 Cor. vii. 5. In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 2 Cor. vi. 5. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, xi. 27. b And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly, 1 Kings xxi. 27. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to 'smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Isa. lviii. 3-5. And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? Zech. vii. 3-5. Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? Mal. iii. 14. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking, Ruth iii. 3. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead, 2 Sam. xiv. 2. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment, Eccl. ix. 8. In those days 1 Daniel A. D. 31. was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled, Dan. x. 2, 3. VER. 18. Ὅπως μὴ φανῆς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρὶ σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ· καὶ πατής σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. | d a Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him, 2 Cor. v. 9. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth, x. 18. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ, Col. iii. 22-24. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the LORD'S sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, 1 Pet. ii. 13. See parallels on third clause, ver. 16. chap. v. c See parallels on second clause, ver. 4. d See parallels on last clause, ver. 4. VER. 19. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: a If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much, Job xxxi. 24, 25. Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them, Psal. xxxix. 6. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery : if riches increase, set not your heart upon them, lxii. 10. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death, Prov. xi. 4. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver? xvi. 16. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven, xxiii. 5. For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is va nity and vexation of spirit, Eccl. ii. 26. He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: This is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail : and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand, v. 10-14. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land, Zeph. i. 18. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God, Luke xii. 21. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, xviii. 24, 25. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced them A.D. 31. selves through with many sorrows, 1 Tim. vi. 8-10. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, Heb. xiii. 5. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days, James v. 2, 3. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, 1 John ii. 15, 16. But a lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: a Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me, Matt. xix. 21. He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the LORD, and that which he hath given will he pay him again, Prov. xix. 17. Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days, Eccles. xi. 1. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth, Luke xii. 33. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations, xvi. 9. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life, 1 Tim. vi. 17-19. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance, Heb. x. 34. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward, xi. 26. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Jam. ii. 5. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. i. 4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, y. 4. know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan, Rev. ii. 9. VER. 21. Ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν. For a where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. a And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure, Isa. xxxiii. 6. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, Luke xii. 34. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, 2 Cor. iv. 18. b For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. viii. 5-7. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Phil. iii. 19, 20. If ye | A. D. 31. then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God, Col. iii. 1-3. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God, Heb. iii. 12. VER. 22. Ο λύχνος τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλμός· ἐὰν οὖν ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ἁπλοῦς ᾖ, ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου φωτεινὸν ἔσται· The a light of the body is the eye: bif therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. a The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness, Prov. ii. 14. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. thy whole body therefore be full of shall be full of light, as when the bright light, having no part dark, the whole shining of a candle doth give thee light, Luke xi. 34-36. If And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts ii. 46. But I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ, 2 Cor. xi. 3. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ, Ephes. vi. 5. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God, Col. iii. 22. A. D. 31. MATT. VI. 23. A. D. 31. a Is it not lawful for me to do what | law of the LORD is with us? Lo, cerI will with mine own? is thine eye tainly in vain made he it; the pen of evil, because I am good? Matt. xx. the scribes is in vain. The wise men 15. They have not known, nor under- are ashamed, they are dismayed and stood for he hath shut their eyes, taken; lo, they have rejected the word that they cannot see; and their hearts, of the LORD; and what wisdom is in that they cannot understand. And them? viii. 8, 9. And he said, Unto none considereth in his heart, neither you it is given to know the mysteries is there knowledge nor understanding of the kingdom of God: but to others to say, I have burned part of it in the in parables; that seeing they might fire; yea, also I have baked bread not see, and hearing they might not upon the coals thereof; I have roasted understand, Luke viii. 10. And Jesus flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make said, For judgment I am come into the residue thereof an abomination? this world: that they which see not shall I fall down to the stock of a might see; and that they which see tree? He feedeth on ashes: a de- might be made blind. And some of ceived heart hath turned him aside, the Pharisees which were with him that he cannot deliver his soul, nor heard these words, and said unto him, say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Are we blind also? Jesus said unto Isa. xliv. 18--20. Thefts, covetous- them, If ye were blind, ye should have ness, wickedness, deceit, lascivious- no sin: but now ye say, We see; ness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, therefore your sin remaineth, John ix. foolishness, Mark vii. 22. Having the 39-41. Professing themselves to be understanding darkened, being alien- wise, they became fools, Rom. i. 22. ated from the life of God through the For the preaching of the cross is to ignorance that is in them, because of them that perish foolishness; but unthe blindness of their hearts, Ephes. to us which are saved it is the power iv. 18. For ye were sometimes dark- of God. For it is written, I will deness, but now are ye light in the Lord: stroy the wisdom of the wise, and will walk as children of light, v. 8. But bring to nothing the understanding he that hateth his brother is in dark- of the prudent. Where is the wise? ness, and walketh in darkness, and where is the scribe? where is the disknoweth not whither he goeth, be- puter of this world? hath not God cause that darkness hath blinded his made foolish the wisdom of this world? eyes, 1 John ii. 11. 1 Cor. i. 18-20. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, ii. 14. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, iii. 18, 19. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see, Rev. iii. 17, 18. bWoe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Matt. xxiii. 16, &c. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him, Prov. xxvi. 12. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight, Isa. v. 20, 21. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, viii. 20. For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge, Jer. iv. 22. How do ye say, We are wise, and the |