Geneva Study Bible And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, {1} Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
(1) A form of true prayer. Give us day by day our daily bread. Give us {a} day by day our daily bread.
(a) That is, as much as is needed for us this day, by which we are not prevented from having an honest care for the maintenance of our lives; but that complaining care, which kills a number of men, is cut off and restrained. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; {2} And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
(2) We must pray with faith. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his {b} importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
(b) Literally, impudence: but that impudency which is spoken of here is not to be found fault with, but is very commendable before God, for he is well pleased by such importunity. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. {3} But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
(3) An example of horrible blindness, and such as cannot be healed, when the power of God is blasphemed by an evil conscience and pretended malice. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. {4} But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
(4) The true way to know the true Christ from the false is this, that the true Christ has no harmony or agreement with Satan: and once we know him it is left for us to acknowledge him. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils {c} through Beelzebub.
(c) By the name and power of Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. But if I with the {d} finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
(d) That is, by the power of God: so it says in Geneva Ex 8:19. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: When a strong man armed keepeth his {e} palace, his goods are in peace:
(e) The word properly signifies an open and empty room in front of a house, and so in translation is taken for noblemen's houses. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. {5} He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
(5) Against indifferent men, and such as love to have a compromise, who seek means to reconcile Christ and Satan together. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. {6} When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
(6) He that does not continue, but is in a worse case, than he that never began. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. {7} And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
(7) Christ does not seek praise for himself, but in our salvation. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. {9} No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
(9) Our minds are therefore lightened with the knowledge of God, that we should give light unto others, and therefore our main labour ought to be to pray for that light. 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. 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. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. {10} And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
(10) The service of God consists not in outward cleanliness and planned rites or ceremonies, but in the spiritual righteousness of the heart and charity. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But rather give alms {f} of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
(f) That is, according to your ability: as one would say, instead of your extortion which hindered you so that you could not eat cleanly, use charity, and in accordance with your ability be good to the poor, and in this way will that which is within the platter be sanctified even though the platter is unwashed. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. {11} But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye {g} tithe mint and rue and {h} all manner of herbs, and pass over {i} judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
(11) It is the characteristic of hypocrites to stand firmly for little trifles and to let greater matters pass. (g) You decide by God's law that the tenth part is due to be paid. (h) Of all types of herbs, some as Augustine expounds it in his Enchiridion to Laurence, chap. 99, where he shows in like manner how that place of Paul, (God will have all men to be saved), 1Ti 2:4, is to be expounded after the same manner. (i) That is to say, that which is right and reasonable to do, for this word judgment contains the commandments of the second table, and the other words, the love of God, contain the commandments of the first. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. {12} Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
(12) Hypocrisy and ambition are commonly joined together. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. {13} Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
(13) Hypocrites deceive men with an outward show. Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also. {14} Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
(14) Hypocrites are very severe against other men, but think that all things are lawful for themselves. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. {15} Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
(15) Hypocrites honour those saints when they are dead whom they persecute most cruelly when they are alive. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Truly {k} ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
(k) When you persecute God's servants like mad men, even as your fathers did, though you try and cover it with a pretence of godliness, yet nonetheless, by beautifying the sepulchres of the prophets, what else are you doing but glorying in your father's cruelty, and setting up monuments (as it were) in glory and triumph of it? Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and {l} persecute:
(l) They will so vex them and trouble them, that at length they will banish them. That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; That the blood of all the prophets, which was {m} shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
(m) That you may be called to give an account for it, yea, and be punished for the shedding of that blood of the prophets. From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. {16} Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have {n} taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
(16) Those who ought to be the door keepers of the Church have for a long time mainly hindered the people from entering into the knowledge of God. (n) You have hidden and taken away, so that it cannot be found anywhere. And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: {17} And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to {o} provoke him to speak of many things:
(17) The more the world is reprehended, the worse it is, and yet we must not betray the truth. (o) They proposed many questions to him, to draw something out of his mouth which they might traitorously find fault with. Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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