138

XVIII.

36

Blind Bartimeus and his companion beg to be cured.

Timeus, sat by the

LUKE XVIII. 36.

37 And they told

him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

MARK X. 47. And

SECT. that Two blind men sat begging by the way-side, blind men, [the one exliii. as beggars used to do in places that are much fre- Bartimeus, the son of Mat. quented; [the one] of whom was well known highway-side, begXX. 30. by the name of Bartimeus, that is, the son of Ti- ing.] [MARK X.—46. Luke meus: And hearing the noise of a great mul- LUKE XVIII. 35.] titude passing by, he, together with his compani- And hearing the mul on, asked what that unusual concourse of peo- titude pass by, he ask37 ple meant, and how it was occasioned. And ed what it meant. they told him that Jesus of Nazareth, that celebrated Prophet who had performed so many miracles, was coming by, and a vast number of the Mark people of the town were with him. And when X. 47. he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, as he had frequently been told what remarkable cures of this kind he had performed in other places, he could not but look upon it as a happy circumstance that he was now passing by the very place where he sat; and immediately he began to cry out with a loud voice, and with great eagerness to say, Jesus, thou Son of David, thou great and glorious Messiah, pity my sad condition, and have mercy on me! [yea, they both] cried out, saying in the same manner, and with one voice, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou illustrious Son of David, and exert thy almighty power to deliver us from this deplorable darkness and distress!

Mat.

when he heard that it
[passed by,] he began
was Jesus of Nazareth
to cry out, and sav, Je-
sus, thou Son of David,
[yea, they both cried
out, saying, Have mer-
cy on us, O Lord, thou
xx.-30.
Son of David.] [MAT.
XVIII. 38,

have mercy on me:

LUKE

MAT. XX. 51. And

and

he should hold his

And some of the multitude who went before the multitude [LUKE, XX. 31. Jesus, rebuked them for their making such a cla- which went before] mour; and as the voice of Bartimeus distin- rebuked them; guished itself on this occasion, many particularly many charged him that charged him that he should be silent, and not be peace; but they cried so importunate and troublesome: but they, know- the more [a great ing that if such an opportunity as this was lost deal], saying, Have it might never return, regarded nothing but the mercy on us, O Lord, success of their petition, and therefore cried out [Thou Son of David, a great deal the more earnestly, saying as before, have mercy on me.] [MARK Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David!

was near it compare Luke xix. 29;-to
which may be added [in confirmation of
the justice of this remark, which has been
called in question by a writer of great emi-
nence in the learned world], Luke x 9;
xv. 1; xviii. 40; Rom. xiii. 12; and the
Septuagint version of Isa. 1. 8; Jer. xxiii.
23. And it is necessary to understand it
thus, in order to reconcile Luke's account
of this miracle with that of Matthew and
Mark, who both expressly say it was per-
formed as he departed or went out of Je-
richo. Some have indeed fancied that he
restored sight to one blind man as he entered

and

thou Son of David,

in, and to another as he came out (see Lightfoot's Harmony, § Ixix.); but this is improbable, especially considering how the multitude rebuked Bartimeus for his importunity, which surely they would never have done if such a cure as this had but just now been wrought at the other end of the

same town.

b The son of Timeus.] It is very probable Timeus might have been a person of some note in that neighbourhood, whose son, by a complication of calamities, fell both into poverty and blindness.

© That

Jesus orders them to be brought to him.

139

cxliii.

[MARK X. 48. LUKE and Bartimeus especially repeated it again and SECT.
XVIII. 39.]
again, saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy
on me, and help me!

MARK X. 49. And

man, saying unto him,

50 And he casting away his garment, rose, and came to Je

sus.

Mark

And Jesus, as he was advancing forwards in X. 49. Jesus stood still, and his way, observed how earnestly they cried; and commanded [them] to be called, [LUKE, and as they still repeated their request, he graciously brought unto him:] stood still, and ordered them both to be called [and] and they call the blind brought to him, that they might tell him what it Be of good comfort, was they so earnestly desired. And upon this rise, he calleth thee. the people had their expectations raised, and as [MAT. XX. 32. LUKE they now concluded that they should see him XVIII. 40.-] work a miracle, they ran immediately to call the blind man and his companion, saying to him, as also to the other, Be of good courage, and rise up, for he calleth thee to him; and you may therefore hope that he intends to grant your request. And Bartimeus joyfully received the message, 50 and throwing aside his upper garment, that it might not hinder him a moment, he arose, and came to Jesus with all possible haste and eagerness; the other blind man also following as fast 51 And [LUKE, as he could. And when he was come near, Je-51 near,] Jesus answered Sus, to try his faith, and to encourage his deand said unto him, pendance on his power and goodness, answered What wilt thou that I and said unto him, What is the mercy yon so The blind man said un earnestly entreat? or what dost thou desire I to him, Lord, that should do for thee? And the blind man said unto might receive my him, Rabboni, that is, my Master and my Lord, sight; [They say, the favour which I beg is obvious from the cirLord, that our eyes may be opened. [MAT. cumstance in which thou scest me, even that I XX-32, 33. LUKE may be so happy as to recover my sight, the XVIII. 40, 41.] loss of which I cannot but lament as a great calamity to me, from which I know that thou art able to deliver me. The other likewise by this time came up, making the same request; and they both joined to say, Lord, we beseech thee, that our eyes might be opened.

when he was come

should do unto thee?

MAT. XX. 34.

passion on them, and

XX. 34

Then Jesus had compassion on them both, and Mat. So Jesus had com- touched their eyes; and, as a testimony of his ap touched their eyes; probation of that eminent degree of faith which [LUKE, and said unto they had each of them expressed, and Bartimeus him, Receive thy in particular in the strongest terms, he said to sight,] and go thy way; thy faith hath him and his companion, Be it unto thee as thou made hast desired; receive thy sight, [and] go thy way;

thy

That I may recover my sight.] This sensible of the calamity. Yet I acknowthe word ava adw exactly signifies, and ledge it appears from John ix. 11, 18. seems to import that he was not born blind, that the word is sometimes used in a greater but lost his sight by some disease or acci- latitude. dent, which made him so much the more

140

cxliii.

They have their sight restored, and follow him.

SECT. thy faith has saved thee from the sad condition made thee whole.] thou wast in; and if thou continuest to exercise [MARK X. 52. LUKĖ XVIII. 42.] it in a reliance upon me, thy eternal salvation XX. 34. and happiness will be secure.

Mat.

Luke

43

LUKE XVIII.43. And immediately [their eyes received sight, and they] followed [MARK, Jesus in the

and all the people when

And immediately their eyes were opened, and XVIII. received sight, so that they now could see distinctly; and, with grateful sense of their deliverance, they joined the company, and followed Jesus in the way to Jerusalem, glorifying God way; glorifying God: for this amazing instance of his goodness to them: and all the people likewise, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God, who in remembrance of his mercy had sent them so great a Prophet, to appear and act among them under the character of the Son of David.

Luke

And presently the news of this surprising miXIX. 1. racle was spread abroad; and [Jesus] having entered (as was said before) into the city, and having passed through Jericho, a vast number of people had followed him from thence; and this new instance he had given of his miraculous power increased his fame through all the neighbourhood, and drew the multitude as he passed along in crowds about him.

2

they saw it, gave praise unto God. [MAT. XX. -34. MARK X.-52.]

LUKE XIX. 1. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

was a man named Zac

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was,

press, because he was

And as he thus proceeded on his journey, be- 2 And, behold, there hold, another most remarkable occurrence hap-cheus, which was the pened, in which the efficacy of his grace was chief among the publisignally displayed; for [there was] a man in that cans, and he was rich. country whose name was Zaccheus, who was the chief among the publicans, or head-collector of the customs in those parts; and, having heaped up abundance of wealth by his gainful employ3 ment, he was very rich. And the great things which he had heard of Jesus made such a power- and could not for the ful impression on his mind, that when he was informed that he was coming by that way, he little of stature. diligently sought an opportunity to see this celebrated Jesus, what sort of a person he was; but he could not compass his design because of the crowd about him; for he himself was very little of sta4 And he ran be4ture. And running therefore before the rest of the company, without regarding what they into a sycamore-tree fore, and climbed up might think or say of him, he got up into a syca- to see him; for he was more tree, that he might see him there distinctly; to pass that way. for he perceived he was to pass that way, and the tree stood so near the road that he must go 5 close by it. And Jesus, when he came to the place where he was, looked up, and saw him; looked up and saw and knowing his disposition, character and cir- him, and said unto cumstances, he immediately said to him, Zac- bim, Zaccheus, make

cheus,

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he

haste,

Jesus goes to the house of Zaccheus the publican.

haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all mur

he was

141

cxliii.

Luke

cheus, make haste and come down; for to-day I SECT.
design thee a visit, and must abide for a while at
thine house; and, fully satisfied that I shall be a
welcome Guest, I take the liberty to invite my- XIX. 5.
self thither. And Zaccheus was so overjoyed 6
that Jesus should distinguish him in such a man-
ner, that he came down with all the speed he could,
and gladly entertained him at his house, thinking
himself highly honoured by the presence of so
excellent a Person.

And the Pharisees, and other self-conceited 7 mured, saying, That persons who saw [it], were very much offended gone to be at the particular regard that Jesus shewed him ; guest with a man that and they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to refresh himself at a man's house, who is certainly a notorious sinner, since he follows the scandalous employment of a publican.

is a sinner.

8 And Zaccheus

stood, and said unto

the Lord, Behold, Lord,

store him four-fold,

But as Zaccheus now was quite another man 8 than he had been before, and Divine Grace had the half of my goods i changed his heart, that he might fully obviate give to the poor; and these reflections, and manifest the truth of his if I have taken any conversion, he stood forth in the face of all the thing from any man by false accusation, I re- company, and said to the Lord with great reverence and affection, Behold, O Lord, I acknowledge the sins of my past life, and desire to testify my repentance for them by an entire and immediate reformation; as the first-fruits of which, I openly declare, that the half of my goods I give to the poor; and out of the remainder, if I wrongfully have taken any thing from any man by injurious charges or oppressive claims, I am ready, not only to restore a fifth part more than the principal (which is all that the law requires in such cases besides the trespass-offering, Lev. vi. 2-5. and Numb. v. 7, 8), but even to return [him] four-fold.

d He is gone in to refresh himself, &c.] The phrase alahuσar waga Tivi, properly signifies, to bait at a person's house on a journey, referring to the laying down their own burdens, or loosening them from their beasts at such times and places. See Wof. Vol. I. p. 733.

e If I wrongfully have taken any thing, &c.] The word ouopainoa (as Heinsius has abundantly shewn) may properly signify any kind of oppression, especially under the pretence of law. (Compare Eccles. iv. 1. and v. 8. Septung.) It seems therefore not so proper to limit it, as our translation does, to an injury done by a false accusation, which implies something of a formal trial, and defence of the party ac

And

cused; whereas many frauds and oppressions
might be practised by such a tax-gatherer
where nothing of this sort occurred.

f I restore him four-fold.] This was the
utmost that the Jewish law required, even
in cases of a fraudulent concealment and
conviction (unless where an ox had been
killed or sold, and so its labour lost to the
owner, and the discovery rendered more
difficult; Exod. xxii. 1.) for the phrase of
restoring seven-fold (Prov. vi. 31.) seems
only proverbial, to express making abun-
dant satisfaction. But if a man not legally
convicted or accused, voluntarily disco-
vered a fraud he had committed, besides
his trespass-offering, he was to add to the
principal only a fifth part. Lev. vi. 5.

$ 2

Zaccheus

142

SECT.

cxliii.

Luke

Reflections on the conversion of Zaccheus.

9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this

And Jesus said to Zaccheus, and to them that were about him, Surely to-day is salvation come to this house; and it is evidently to be seen that house: forsomuch as XIX. 9. spiritual blessings are imparted to it, and de- he also is the son of signed for it, when such a penitent and religious Abraham. temper is expressed; since, notwithstanding all the sins he has committed, it is now manifest that even this man also is a true son of Abraham, not only descended lineally from him, but of a character in some measure worthy of so 10 honourable a descent. And therefore, notwithstanding all your murmurings, I rejoice in the man is come to seek consequences of this happy visit to him, as answering the great purposes of my life; for the Son of man, as I have formerly declared (Mat. xviii. 11, sect. xciv.), is come to seek and to save that which was lost; and it is the grand design of his abode on earth to recover those who, like this poor Zaccheus in his unconverted state, were wandering in the way to everlasting ruin.

10 For the Son of

and to save that which was lost.

IMPROVEMENT.

THUS did our Lord Jesus Christ, wheresoever he came, scatter blessings around him, both to the souls and the bodies of men. Luke Who can wonder that Zaccheus had a curiosity to see such a perxix. 2,3. son! And how happily did that curiosity end! Christ graciously

observed him, and, with an amiable frankness and openness of heart, invited himself to be a Guest at his house; choosing to accept the 5 entertainment of a publican, and to distinguish with a particular regard one that was so desirous to see him. And let us diligently observe how happy a change this visit produced in the master of 9 the family. O Zaccheus, well wast thou repaid for thine hospitality when salvation came to thine house, and the Saviour himself bore witness to thee as a son of Abraham!

Zaccheus therefore shews the sincerity of
his repentance by such an offer.-Some
commentators (with Salmasius, de Fan.
p. 242) have remarked, that oppressive
publicans were by the Roman law required
to restore four-fold; but this was only af-
ter judgment obtained, where they had
been guilty of extorting by force; whereas
before conviction it was enough to make
restitution of what had been taken; and
even after it, in common cases, all that
the law required was restoring twice as
much. (Leg. locatio Vectigal. § quod. illic.
and L. hoc edicto effic. Digest. de Publica-

What

nis.)-Archbishop Tillotson justly observes, that had more than an eighth part of Zaccheus's possessions been unjustly gotten, he could not have been able to make such restitution, after having given away haif of what he now had to the poor, even though he had stripped himself of all. Tillotson's Works, Vol. III. p. 86.

Descended lineally from him.] The name of Zaccheus (which is the same with Zaccai, Ezra ii. 9) shews he was a Jew. See Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr. in loc, and Sal masius, de Fæn. p. 386.