16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Magians, was greatly enraged; and sent and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had 17 learnt exactly from the Magians. Then was fulfilled that which 18 was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “A voice was 19 heard in Ramah, [wailing, and] weeping, and great lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were not.” But, when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord 20 appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, and take with thee the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought the young 21 child's life." Then he arose, and took with him the young 22 child and his mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea, instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: but, having been warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of 23 Galilee; and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: so that it was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene."] CH. III. Now in those days cometh John the Baptist *, preach2 ing in the desert of Judea, and saying, "Repent ye: for the 3 kingdom of heaven draweth near." For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, who saith, "The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 4 make his paths straight."" Now this John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and 6 all the country about Jordan; and were baptized by him in * The gospel of the Ebionites, or Hebrews, which did not contain the account of the miraculous conception of Jesus, began in this manner: "It came to pass in the days of Herod the king of Judea, that John came baptizing with the baptism of repentance in the river Jordan,” `See Epiphanius, Hæres. 30. sect. 13. 7 Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, "O offspring' of vipers, who hath warned you to flee 8 from the anger which is about to come? Bring forth there9 fore fruit worthy of repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father:' for I say unto you, that from these stones God is able to raise up chil10 dren unto Abraham. And now the axe also is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not. 11 forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance: but he who cometh after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry he will baptize you with the holy spirit and with 12 fire: whose winnowing-shovel is in his hand, and he will 13 thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will gather [his] wheat into the granary; but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire *." THEN Cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to 14 be baptized by him. But John forbad him, saying, "I have 15 need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?" And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Then John suf16 fereth him. Now when Jesus had been baptized, he went up immediately out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." CH. IV. THEN was Jesus led up by the spirit into the desert +, +aesus was led up by the spirit into the desert.-This form of expression denotes that the historian is about to describe a visionary scene, and not a real event, See Rev. i. 10. Acts xi. 5. Our lord was intrusted with the power of working miracles at pleasure, John iii. 34, 35; and by the visionary scene presented to his mind upon this occasion, he was instructed that he was not to exert 2 to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty 3 days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came to him, and said, "If thou be the Son of God, 4 command that these stones be made bread." But he answer ed and said, "It is written, 'Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word which goeth forth out of the mouth of 5 God."" Then the devil taketh Jesus with him to the holy 6 city, and setteth him on a wing of the temple, and saith unto him, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, 'He shall give his angels1 charge concerning thee and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou 7 strike thy foot against a stone.'" Jesus said unto him, "It is also written, 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” 8 Again the devil taketh Jesus with him to a very high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the 9 glory of them; and saith unto him, "All these things I will 10 give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Then saith Jesus unto him, "Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him 11 only thou shalt serve."" Then the devil leaveth him: and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him +. 12 Now when [Jesus] had heard that John was delivered up 13 to prison, he withdrew into Galilee. And having left Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the side 14 of the lake, in the borders of Zebulon and Naphtali: so that 1 Or, messengers, Sn. 2 Get thee hence, R. T. his miraculous powers for his own personal advantage or aggrandizement, but solely in subservience to the great design of his mission and ministry. See Farmer on Christ's Temptation. Some have thought that the account of the temptation is a figurative description of the train of thoughts which passed through the mind of Jesus. See Cappe's Dissertations. The introduction of the devil into this scenical representation no more proves the real existence of such a being, than the introduction of the lamb, or the red dragon, in the apocalyptic vision is a proof of the real existence of those symbolical agents. * v. 1, 5, 8, 11, the devil; v. 3, the tempter; v. 10, satan,—are all used synonymously. Simpson's Ess. no. ii. § 6. The figurative terms must be explained by the clear unfigurative word. Su. i.e. he received peculiar divine aid; expressed in Jewish language. Sn. it was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, say15 ing, "The land of Zebulon, and the land of Naphtali, to ward the way of the lake by the side of Jordan, in Galilee of 16 the gentiles; the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; and to those who sat in the region and shadow of death light hath sprung up." 17 18 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven draweth near." Now as he walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, cast19 ing a net into the lake: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of 20 men." And immediately they left their nets, and followed 21 him. And he went on thence, and saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets and he 22 called them. And immediately they left the ship and their father, and followed him. : 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of his kingdom, and curing every disease and every malady among the people. 24 And his fame went through all Syria: and they brought unto him all their sick who were seized with various diseases and torments, and those who had demons*, and those who were lunatic, and those who had the palsy; and he cured 25 them. And great multitudes followed him from Galilee, As Jesus walked, R, T. 2 preparing, N. *Insane and epileptic persons were supposed to be possessed by demons, or the ghosts of wicked men, who were thought to have the power of entering into the bodies of living men, and of tormenting them at pleasure. And the cure of these diseases is described as the casting out of the demons. The account which the gospel reveals of the state of the dead is so inconsistent with this hypothesis, that it was soon exploded among Christians. But, that lunatics and epileptics were possessed by devils, or fallen angels, though it is an opinion which prevailed early, is no where asserted, nor even hinted at, in the New Testament, and is totally destitute of foundation both in reason and revelation. See Farmer's EsBay on the Demoniacs of the New Testament, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. 66 CH. V. AND when he saw the multitudes, he went up a mountain and he sat down, and his disciples came near unto 2 him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 'Happy are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom 4 of heaven. Happy are those who mourn: for they shall be 5 comforted. Happy are the meek: for they shall inherit the 6 land. Happy are those that hunger and thirst after righte7 ousness for they shall be filled. Happy are the compas8 sionate for they shall obtain compassion. Happy are the 9 pure in heart: for they shall see God. Happy are the peace10 makers for they shall be called the sons of God. Happy are those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake1: for 11 theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and speak all kind 12 of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad for great shall be your reward in heaven : for so men persecuted the prophets that were before you. 13 2 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, with what shall it be salted? it is no longer good for any thing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under 14 foot by men. Ye are the light of the world. A city which 15 is placed on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a measure, but on a stand: and it 16 shineth to all that are in the house. In like manner let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father that is in heaven. 17 "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the pro18 phets: I came not to destroy but to establish3 them. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass away from the law, 19 till all be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men 1 for their righteousness, N. 2 very, N. 3 fulfil, N. |