few candid inquiries made of him, for the purpose of obtaining information. Jesus answered it in the spirit of kindness, and commended the conduct of the man.

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord :

'Hear, O Israel.' This was said to call the attention of the Jews to the great importance of the truth about to be proclaimed. See Deut. vi. 4, 5. The Lord our God,' &c. Literally, Jehovah, our God, is one Jehovah. The other nations worshipped many gods, but the God of the Jews was one, and one only. Jehovah was undivided; and this great truth it was the design of the separation of the Jewish people from other nations to keep in mind. This was the peculiar truth which was communicated to the Jews, and this they were required to keep and remember for

ever.

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandinent. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

And thou shalt love,' &c. If Jehovah was the only God, then they ought not to love any other being supremely. Then they might not bow down before any idol. They were required to love God above all other beings or things, and with all the faculties of their minds.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

This answer of the scribe is not found in Matthew. 'Is more than all.' Is of more importance and value. Discreetly.' Wisely, according to truth. Not far from the kingdom of God.' This shows that a proper understanding of the Old Testament, of its Jaws and requirements, would lead a man to christianity, would

prepare his mind for it, and fit him at once to embrace it when presented. One system is grafted on the other, agreeably to Gal. iii. 24. No man-durst ask him any question. That is, no one of the scribes, the pharisees, or the sadducees, durst ask him a question for the purpose of tempting him, or entangling him. He had completely silenced them.

35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. 37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

See Matt. xxii. 41-46. 'The common people heard him gladly.' The rich and the mighty were too proud to listen to his Instructions. So it is still. This is not the fault of the gospel. It would bless the rich and the mighty as well as the poor, if they came with like humble hearts. God knows no distinctions of men in conferring his favours; and wherever there is a poor, contrite, and humble spirit, clothed in rags or in purple, on a throne or a dunghill, there he confers the blessings of salvation.

38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market-places, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

In his doctrine.' In his teaching, for so it should be rendered. 'Beware of the scribes.' Be on your guard. Be cautious about

,

hearing them or following them. Which love to go in long clothing. In long flowing robes, as significant of their consequence, leisure, and learning. Salutations,' &c. See Matt. xxiii. 6, 7.

40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damna tion.

'Which devour widows' houses.' Which devour the families of widows, or the means of supporting their families. This they did under pretence of aiding them, and counselling them in the knowledge of the law, and in the management of their estates. They took advantage of their ignorance and unprotected state, and extorted large sums from them. No wonder that our Saviour denounced them so sharply! If there is any sin of pecu liar enormity, it is thus taking advantage of the circumstances of

the needy and the helpless, and wronging them out of the pittance on which they have to support their families. For a pretence.' For show, or pretending great devotion.

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

'The treasury.' This was in the court of the women. See Matt. xxi. 12. In that court there were fixed a number of chests or coffers, made with a large open mouth, in the shape of a trumpet, for the purpose of receiving the offerings of the people.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

'Two mites.' The word translated 'mite' denotes a small coin made of brass, the smallest in use among the Jews. It was in value about three fourths of an English farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury:

"This poor widow hath cast more in,' &c. That is, more in proportion to her means, and therefore more that was acceptable to God, as it showed more love to the sacred cause, more self-denial, and of course more sincerity in what she did. This is the rule by which God will reward us. Compare 2 Cor. viii. 12.

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

'Of their abundance.' Of their superfluous store. They have given what they did not need; and in doing it they have shown no self-denial. She, of her want.' Of her poverty. 'All her living. All that she had to live on. She trusted in God to supply her wants, and devoted her little property entirely to him.

Very few practise self-denial for charity. Most give of their abundance, that is, what they can spare without feeling it. Among all the thousands who give to these objects, how few deny themselves of one comfort, even the least, that they may advance the kingdom of Christ!

CHAPTER XIII.

1 AND as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones, and what buildings are here! 2 And Jesus answering

said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The principal things in this chapter are fully explained in notes on the xxivth chapter of Matthew.

'What manner of stones.' The stones here referred to were those used in the building of the temple, and the walls on the sides of Mount Moriah on which the temple stood. The temple was constructed of white marble, and the blocks were of a prodigious size. Josephus says that these stones were some of them fifty feet long, twenty-four broad, and sixteen in thickness. 'What buildings.' The buildings connected with the temple, the main building, and the courts, and porches that surrounded it.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of

sorrows.

Upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple.' The mount of Olives was directly east of Jerusalem, and from it there was a fine view of the temple.

9¶ But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among

all nations.

Take heed to yourselves.' Take care of your lives, not to run into unnecessary danger. To councils.' The higher ecclesiastical courts of the Jews, including the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. Rulers and kings.' Referring to Roman officers. For a testimony against them.' Rather to bear

testimony to them; or to be witnesses before them of the truth, because they were attached to him. See Acts iv. vi. vii. xxiii, xxiv. 24, 25.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

'Neither do ye premeditate.' Do not think beforehand, or prepare an answer. You know not what the accusations will be; and God will furnish you with a reply that shall be adapted to the occasion. 'Not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.' This is a full promise that they should be inspired, and consequently their defences recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, are the words of the Holy Ghost. There could be no more explicit promise that they should be under an infallible guidance; and we are not left to doubt that they were taught of God. He gave them power, and they spake with a wisdom, fearlessness, pungency, and ability, which no other men have ever manifested-full proof that these illiterate fishermen were under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 ¶ But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let him that readeth understand) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the house-top not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But wo to

them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21