The Leper Healed.
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed
him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord,
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand,
and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy
was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go
thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded,
for a testimony unto them.
The first verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon: the people
that heard him were astonished at his doctrine; and the effect was, that
when he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him; though
he was so strict a Lawgiver, and so faithful a Reprover, they diligently
attended him, and were loth to disperse, and go from him. Note, They to
whom Christ has manifested himself, cannot but desire to be better acquainted
with him. They who know much of Christ should covet to know more; and then
shall we know, if we thus follow on to know the Lord. It is pleasing to
see people so well affected to Christ, as to think they can never hear
enough of him; so well affected to the best things, as thus to flock after
good preaching, and to follow the Lamb withersoever he goes. Now was Jacob's
prophecy concerning the Messiah fulfilled, that unto him shall the gathering
of the people be; yet they who gathered to him did not cleave to him. They
who followed him closely and constantly were but few, compared with the
multitudes that were but followers at large.
In these verses we have an account of Christ's cleansing a leper. It
should seem, by comparing Mark i. 40, and Luke v. 12, that this passage,
though placed, by St. Matthew, after the sermon on the mount, because he
would give account of his doctrine first, and then of his miracles, happened
some time before; but that is not at all material. This is fitly recorded
with the first of Christ's miracles, 1. Because the leprosy was looked
upon, among the Jews, as a particular mark of God's displeasure: hence
we find Miriam, Gehazi, and Uzziah, smitten with leprosy for some one particular
sin; and therefore Christ, to show that he came to turn away the wrath
of God, by taking away sin, began with the cure of a leper. 2. Because
this disease, as it was supposed to come immediately from the hand of God,
so also it was supposed to be removed immediately by his hand, and therefore
it was not attempted to be cured by physicians, but was put under the inspection
of the priests, the Lord's ministers, who waited to see what God would
do. And its being in a garment, or in the walls of a house, was altogether
supernatural: and it should seem to be a disease of a quite different nature
from what we now call the leprosy. The king of Israel said, Am I God, that
I am sent to, to recover a man of a leprosy? 2 Kings v. 7. Christ proved
himself God, by recovering many from the leprosy, and authorizing his disciples,
in his name, to do so too (ch. x. 8), and it is put among the proofs of
his being the Messiah, ch. xi. 5. He also showed himself to be the Saviour
of his people from their sins; for though every disease is both the fruit
of sin, and a figure of it, as the disorder of the soul, yet the leprosy
was in a special manner so; for it contracted such a pollution, and obliged
to such a separation from holy things, as no other disease did; and therefore
in the laws concerning it (Lev. xiii. and xiv.), it is treated, not as
a sickness, but as an uncleanness; the priest was to pronounce the party
clean or unclean, according to the indications: but the honour of making
the lepers clean was reserved for Christ, who was to do it as the High
Priest of our profession; he comes to do that which the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh, Rom. viii. 3. The law discovered
sin (for by the law is the knowledge of sin), and pronounced sinners unclean;
it shut them up (Gal. iii. 23), as the priest did the leper, but could
go no further; it could not make the comers thereunto perfect. But Christ
takes away sin; cleanses us from it, and so perfecteth for ever them that
are sanctified. Now here we have,
I. The leper's address to Christ. If this happened, as it is here placed,
after the sermon on the mount, we may suppose that the leper, though shut
out by his disease from the cities of Israel, yet got within hearing of
Christ's sermon, and was encouraged by it to make his application to him;
for he that taught as one having authority, could heal so; and therefore
he came and worshipped him, as one clothed with a divine power. His address
is, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. The cleaning of him may
be considered,
1. As a temporal mercy; a mercy to the body, delivering it from a disease,
which, though it did not threaten life, embittered it. And so it directs
us, not only to apply ourselves to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases,
for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply ourselves
to him; with an assurance of his power, believing that he is as able to
cure diseases now, as he was when on earth, but with a submission to his
will; Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. As to temporal mercies, we cannot
be so sure of God's will to bestow them, as we may of his power, for his
power in them is unlimited by a regard to his glory and our good: when
we cannot be sure of his will, we may be sure of his wisdom and mercy,
to which we may cheerfully refer ourselves; Thy will be done: and this
makes the expectation easy, and the event, when it comes, comfortable.
2. As a typical mercy. Sin is the leprosy of the soul; it shuts us out
from communion with God, to which that we maybe restored, it is necessary
that we be cleansed from this leprosy, and this ought to be our great concern.
Now observe, It is our comfort when we apply ourselves to Christ, as the
great Physician, that if he will, he can make us clean; and we should,
with an humble, believing boldness, go to him and tell him so. That is,
(1.) We must rest ourselves upon his power; we must be confident of this,
that Christ can make us clean. No guilt is so great but that there is a
sufficiency in his righteousness to atone for it; no corruption so strong,
but there is a sufficiency in his grace to subdue it. God would not appoint
a physician to his hospital that is not par negotio--every way qualified
for the undertaking. (2.) We must recommend ourselves to his pity; we cannot
demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour; "Lord,
if thou wilt. I throw myself at thy feet, and if I perish, I will perish
there."
II. Christ's answer to this address, which was very kind, v. 3.
1. He put forth his hand and touched him. The leprosy was a noisome,
loathsome disease, yet Christ touched him; for he did not disdain to converse
with publicans and sinners, to do them good. There was a ceremonial pollution
contracted by the touch of a leper; but Christ would show, that when he
conversed with sinners, he was in no danger of being infected by them,
for the prince of this world had nothing in him. If we touch pitch, we
are defiled; but Christ was separate from sinners, even when he lived among
them.
2. He said, I will, be thou clean. He did not say, as Elisha to Naaman,
Go, wash in Jordan; did not put him upon a tedious, troublesome, chargeable
course of a physic, but spake the word and healed him. (1.) Here is a word
of kindness, I will; I am as willing to help thee, as thou art to be helped.
Note, They who by faith apply themselves to Christ for mercy and grace,
may be sure that he is willing, freely willing, to give them the mercy
and grace they come to him for. Christ is a Physician, that does not need
to be sought for, he is always in the way; does not need to be urged, while
we are yet speaking, he hears; does not need to be feed, he heals freely,
not for price nor reward. He has given all possible demonstration, that
he is as willing as he is able to save sinners. (2.) A word of power, Be
thou clean. Both a power of authority, and a power of energy, are exerted
in this word. Christ heals by a word of command to us; Be thou clean; "Be
willing to be clean, and use the means; cleanse thyself from all filthiness;"
but there goes along with this a word of command concerning us, a word
that does the work; I will that thou be clean. Such a word as this is necessary
to the cure, and effectual for it; and the Almighty grace which speaks
it, shall not be wanting to those who truly desire it.
III. The happy change hereby wrought: Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Nature works gradually, but the God of nature works immediately; he speaks
it, it is done; and yet he works effectually; he commands, and it stands
fast. One of the first miracles Moses wrought, was curing himself of a
leprosy (Exod. iv. 7), for the priests under the law offered sacrifices
first for their own sin; but one of Christ's first miracles was curing
another of leprosy, for he had no sin of his own to atone for.
IV. The after-directions Christ gave him. It is fit that they who are
cured by Christ should ever after be ruled by him.
1. See thou tell no man; "Tell no man till thou has shown thyself to
the priest, and he has pronounced thee clean; and so thou hast a legal
proof, both that thou wast before a leper, and art now thoroughly cleansed."
Christ would have his miracles to appear in their full light and evidence,
and not to be published till they could appear so. Note, They that preach
the truths of Christ should be able to prove them; to defend what they
preach, and convince gainsayers. "Tell no man, till thou hast showed thyself
to the priest, lest if he hear who cured thee, he should out of spite deny
to give thee a certificate of the cure, and so keep thee under confinement."
Such were the priests in Christ's time, that they who had any thing to
do with them had need to have been as wise as serpents.
2. Go show thyself to the priest, according to the law, Lev. xiv. 2.
Christ took care to have the law observed, lest he should give offence,
and to show that he will have order kept up, and good discipline and respect
paid to those that are in office. It may be of use to those that are cleansed
of their spiritual leprosy, to have recourse to Christ's ministers, and
to open their case to them, that they may assist them in their enquiries
into their spiritual state, and advise, and comfort, and pray for them.
3. Offer the gift that Moses commanded, in token of thankfulness to
God, and recompence to the priest for his pains; and this for a testimony
unto them; either, (1.) Which Moses commanded for a testimony: the ceremonial
laws were testimonies of God's authority over them, care of them, and of
that grace which should afterwards be revealed. Or, (2.) "Do thou offer
it for a testimony, and let the priest know who cleansed thee, and how;
and it shall be a testimony, that there is one among them who does that
which the high priest cannot do. Let it remain upon record as a witness
of my power, and a testimony for me to them, if they will use it and improve
it; but against them, if they will not:" for so Christ's word and works
are testimonies.
Christ Heals the Centurion's Servant.
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him
a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home
sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I
will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not
worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only,
and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having
soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And
I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall
sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the
centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.
And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
We have here an account of Christ's curing the centurion's servant of
a palsy. This was done at Capernaum, where Christ now dwelt, ch. iv. 13.
Christ went about doing good, and came home to do good too; every place
he came to was the better for him.
The persons Christ had now to do with were,
1. A centurion; he was a supplicant, a Gentile, a Roman, an officer
of the army; probably commander-in-chief of that part of the Roman army
which was quartered at Capernaum, and kept garrison there. (1.) Though
he was a soldier (and a little piety commonly goes a great way with men
of that profession), yet he was a godly man; he was eminently so. Note,
God has his remnant among all sorts of people. No man's calling or place
in the world will be an excuse for his unbelief and impiety; none shall
say in the great day, I had been religious, if I had not been a soldier;
for such there are among the ransomed of the Lord. And sometimes where
grace conquers the unlikely, it is more than a conqueror; this soldier
that was good, was very good. (2.) Though he was a Roman soldier, and his
very dwelling among the Jews was a badge of their subjection to the Roman
yoke, yet Christ, who was King of the Jews, favoured him; and therein has
taught us to do good to our enemies, and not needlessly to interest ourselves
in national enmities. (3.) Though he was a Gentile, yet Christ countenanced
him. It is true, he went not to any of the Gentile towns (it was the land
of Canaan that was Immanuel's land, Isa. viii. 8), yet he received addresses
from Gentiles; now good old Simeon's word began to be fulfilled, that he
should be a light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his
people Israel. Matthew, in annexing this cure to that of the leper, who
was a Jew, intimates this; the leprous Jews Christ touched and cured, for
he preached personally to them; but the paralytic Gentiles he cured at
a distance; for to them he did not go in person, but sent his word and
healed them; yet in them he was more magnified.
2. The centurion's servant; he was the patient. In this also it appears,
that there is no respect of persons with God; for in Christ Jesus, as there
is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, so there is neither bond nor
free. He is as ready to heal the poorest servant, as the richest master;
for himself took upon him the form of a servant, to show his regard to
the meanest.
Now in the story of the cure of this servant, we may observe an intercourse
or interchanging of graces, very remarkable between Christ and the centurion.
See here,
I. The grace of the centurion working towards Christ. Can any good thing
come out of a Roman soldier? any thing tolerable, much less any thing laudable?
Come and see, and you will find abundance of good coming out of this centurion
that was eminent and exemplary. Observe, 1. His affectionate address to
Jesus Christ, which speaks,
(1.) A pious regard to our great Master, as one able and willing to
succour and relieve poor petitioners. He came to him beseeching him, not
as Naaman the Syrian (a centurion too) came to Elisha, demanding a cure,
taking state, and standing upon points of honour; but with cap in hand
as a humble suitor. By this it seems that he saw more in Christ than appeared
at first view; saw that which commanded respect, though to those who looked
no further, his visage was marred more than any man's. The officers of
the army, being comptrollers of the town, no doubt made a great figure,
yet he lays by the thoughts of his post of honour, when he addresses himself
to Christ, and comes beseeching him. Note, the greatest of men must turn
beggars, when they have to do with Christ. He owns Christ's sovereignty,
in calling him Lord, and referring the case to him, and to his will, and
wisdom, by a modest remonstrance, without any formal and express petition.
He knew he had to do with a wise and gracious Physician, to whom the opening
of the malady was equivalent to the most earnest request. A humble confession
of our spiritual wants and diseases shall not fail of an answer of peace.
Pour out thy complaint, and mercy shall be poured out.
(2.) A charitable regard to his poor servant. We read of many that came
to Christ for their children, but this is the only instance of one that
came to him for a servant: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick. Note, it
is the duty of masters to concern themselves for their servants, when they
are in affliction. The palsy disabled the servant for his work, and made
him as troublesome and tedious as any distemper could, yet he did not turn
him away when he was sick (as that Amalekite did his servants, 1 Sam. xxx.
13), did not send him to his friends, not let him lie by neglected, but
sought out the best relief he could for him; the servant could not have
done more for the master, than the master did here for the servant. The
centurion's servants were very dutiful to him (v. 9), and here we see what
made them so; he was very kind to them, and that made them the more cheerfully
obedient to him. As we must not despise the cause of our servants, when
they contend with us (Job xxxi. 13, 15), so we must not despise their case
when God contends with them; for we are made in the same mould, by the
same hand, and stand upon the same level with them before God, and must
not set them with the dogs of our flock. The centurion applies not to witches
or wizards for his servant, but to Christ. The palsy is a disease in which
the physician's skill commonly fails; it was therefore a great evidence
of his faith in the power of Christ, to come to him for a cure, which was
above the power of natural means to effect. Observe, How pathetically he
represents his servant's case as very sad; he is sick of the palsy, a disease
which commonly makes the patient senseless of pain, but this person was
grievously tormented; being young, nature was strong to struggle with the
stroke, which made it painful. (It was not paralysis simplex, but scorbutica).
We should thus concern ourselves for the souls of our children, and servants,
that are spiritually sick of the palsy, the dead-palsy, the dumb palsy;
senseless of spiritual evils, inactive in that which is spiritually good,
and bring them to the means of healing and health.
2. Observe his great humility and self-abasement. After Christ had intimated
his readiness to come and heal his servants (v. 7), he expressed himself
with the more humbleness of mind. Note, Humble souls are made more humble,
by Christ's gracious condescensions to them. Observe what was the language
of his humility; Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my
roof (v. 8), which speaks mean thought of himself, and high thoughts of
our Lord Jesus. He does not say, "My servant is not worthy that thou shouldest
come into his chamber, because it is in the garret;" But I am not worthy
that thou shouldest come into my house. The centurion was a great man,
yet he owned his unworthiness before God. Note, Humility very well becomes
persons of quality. Christ now made but a mean figure in the world, yet
the centurion, looking upon him as a prophet, yea, more than a prophet,
paid him this respect. Note, We should have a value and veneration for
what we see of God, even in those who, in outward condition, are every
way our inferiors. The centurion came to Christ with a petition, and therefore
expressed himself thus humbly. Note, In all our approaches to Christ, and
to God through Christ, it becomes us to abase ourselves, and to lie low
in the sense of our own unworthiness, as mean creatures and as vile sinners,
to do any thing for God, to receive any good from him, or to have any thing
to do with him.
3. Observe his great faith. The more humility the more faith; the more
diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Jesus
Christ. He had an assurance of faith not only that Christ could cure his
servant, but,
(1.) That he could cure him at a distance. There needed not any physical
contact, as in natural operations, nor any application to the part affected;
but the cure, he believed, might be wrought, without bringing the physician
and patient together. We read afterwards of those, who brought the man
sick of the palsy to Christ, through much difficulty, and set him before
him; and Christ commended their faith for a working faith. This centurion
did not bring his man sick of the palsy, and Christ commended his faith
for a trusting faith: true faith is accepted of Christ, though variously
appearing: Christ puts the best construction upon the different methods
of religion that people take, and thereby has taught us to do so too. This
centurion believed, and it is undoubtedly true, that the power of Christ
knows no limits, and therefore nearness and distance are alike to him.
Distance of place cannot obstruct either the knowing or working of him
that fills all places. Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God
afar off? Jer. xxiii. 23.
(2.) That he could cure him with a word, not send him a medicine, much
less a charm; but speak the word only, and I do not question but my servant
shall be healed. Herein he owns him to have a divine power, an authority
to command all the creatures and powers of nature, which enables him to
do whatsoever he pleases in the kingdom of nature; as at first he raised
that kingdom by an almighty word, when he said, Let there be light. With
men, saying and doing are two things; but not so with Christ, who is therefore
the Arm of the Lord, because he is the eternal Word. His saying, Be ye
warmed and filled (Jam. ii. 16), and healed, warms, and fills and heals.
The centurion's faith in the power of Christ he here illustrates by
the dominion he had, as a centurion, over his soldiers, as a master over
his servants; he says to one, Go, and he goes, &c. They were all at
his beck and command, so as that he could by them execute things at a distance;
his word was a law to them--dictum factum; well-disciplined soldiers know
that the commands of their officers are not to be disputed, but obeyed.
Thus could Christ speak, and it is done; such a power had he over all bodily
diseases. The centurion had this command over his soldiers, though he was
himself a man under authority; not a commander-in-chief, but a subaltern
officer; much more had Christ this power, who is the supreme and sovereign
Lord of all. The centurion's servants were very obsequious, would go and
come at every the least intimation of their master's mind. Now, [1.] Such
servants we all should be to God: we must go and come at his bidding, according
to the directions of his word, and the disposals of his providence; run
where he sends us, return when he remands us, and do what he appoints.
What saith my Lord unto his servant? When his will crosses our own, his
must take place, and our own be set aside. [2.] Such servants bodily diseases
are to Christ. They seize us when he sends them; they leave us when he
calls them back; they have that effect upon us, upon our bodies, upon our
souls, that he orders. It is a matter of comfort to all that belong to
Christ, for whose good his power is exerted and engaged, that every disease
has his commission, executes his command, is under his control, and is
made to serve the intentions of his grace. They need not fear sickness,
nor what it can do, who see it in the hand of so good a Friend.
II. Here is the grace of Christ appearing towards this centurion; for
to the gracious he will show himself gracious.
1. He complies with his address at the first word. He did but tell him
his servant's case, and was going on to beg a cure, when Christ prevented
him, with this good word, and comfortable word, I will come and heal him
(v. 7); not I will come and see him--that had evinced him a kind Saviour;
but, I will come and heal him--that shows him a mighty, an almighty Saviour;
it was a great word, but no more than he could make good; for he has healing
under his wings; his coming is healing. They who wrought miracles by a
derived power, did not speak thus positively, as Christ did, who wrought
them by his own power, as one that had authority. When a minister is sent
for to a sick friend, he can but say, I will come and pray for him; but
Christ says, I will come and heal him: it is well that Christ can do more
for us than our ministers can. The centurion desired he would heal his
servant; he says, I will come and heal him; thus expressing more favour
than he did either ask or think of. Note, Christ often outdoes the expectations
of poor supplicants. See an instance of Christ's humility, that he would
make a visit to a poor soldier. He would not go down to see a nobleman's
sick child, who insisted upon his coming down (John iv. 47-49), but he
proffers to go down to see a sick servant; thus does he regard the low
estate of his people, and give more abundant honour to that part which
lacked. Christ's humility, in being willing to come, gave an example to
him, and occasioned his humility, in owning himself unworthy to have him
come. Note, Christ's gracious condescensions to us, should make us the
more humble and self-abasing before him.
2. He commends his faith, and takes occasion from it to speak a kind
word of the poor Gentiles, v. 10-12. See what great things a strong but
self-denying faith can obtain from Jesus Christ, even of general and public
concern.
(1.) As to the centurion himself; he not only approved him and accepted
him (that honour have all true believers), but he admired him and applauded
him: that honour great believers have, as Job; there is none like unto
him in the earth.
[1.] Christ admired him, not for his greatness, but for his graces.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled; not as if it were to him new and surprising,
he knew the centurion's faith, for he wrought it; but it was great and
excellent, rare and uncommon, and Christ spoke of it as wonderful, to teach
us what to admire; not worldly pomp and decorations, but the beauty of
holiness, and the ornaments which are in the sight of God of great price.
Note, The wonders of grace should affect us more than the wonders of nature
or providence, and spiritual attainments more than any achievements in
this world. Of those that are rich in faith, not of those that are rich
in gold and silver, we should say that they have gotten all this glory,
Gen. xxx. 1. But whatever there is admirable in the faith of any, it must
redound to the glory of Christ, who will shortly be himself admired in
all them that believe, as having done in and for them marvellous things.
[2.] He applauded him in what he said to them that followed. All believers
shall be, in the other world, but some believers are, in this world, confessed
and acknowledged by Christ before men, in his eminent appearances for them
and with them. Verily, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Now this speaks, First, Honour to the centurion; who, though not a son
of Abraham's loins, was an heir of Abraham's faith, and Christ found it
so. Note, The thing that Christ seeks is faith, and wherever it is, he
finds it, though but as a grain of mustard-seed. He had not found so great
faith, all things considered, and in proportion to the means; as the poor
widow is said to cast in more than they all, Luke xxi. 3. Though the centurion
was a Gentile, yet he was thus commended. Note, We must be so far from
grudging, that we must be forward, to give those their due praise, that
are not within our denomination or pale. Secondly, It speaks shame to Israel,
to whom pertained the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and all the assistances
and encouragements of faith. Note, When the Son of man comes, he finds
little faith, and, therefore, he finds so little fruit. Note, the attainments
of some, who have had but little helps for their souls, will aggravate
the sin and ruin of many, that have had great plenty of the means of grace,
and have not made a good improvement of them. Christ said this to those
that followed him, if by any means he might provoke them to a holy emulation,
as Paul speaks, Rom. xi. 14. They were Abraham's seed; in jealousy for
that honour, let them not suffer themselves to be outstripped by a Gentile,
especially in that grace for which Abraham was eminent.
(2.) As to others. Christ takes occasion from hence to make a comparison
between Jews and Gentiles, and tells them two things, which could not but
be very surprising to them who had been taught that salvation was of the
Jews.
[1.] That a great many of the Gentiles should be saved, v. 11. The faith
of the centurion was but a specimen of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and a preface to their adoption into the church. This was a topic our Lord
Jesus touched often upon; he speaks it with assurance; I say unto you,
"I that know all men;" and he could not say any thing more pleasing to
himself, or more displeasing to the Jews; an intimation of this kind enraged
the Nazarenes against him, Luke iv. 27. Christ gives us here an idea, First,
of the persons that shall be saved; many from the east and the west: he
had said (ch. vii. 14), Few there be that find the way of life; and yet
here many shall come. Few at one time, and in one place; yet, when they
come altogether, they will be a great many. We now see but here and there
one brought to grace; but we shall shortly see the Captain of our salvation
bringing many sons to glory, Heb. ii. 10. He will come with ten thousands
of his saints (Jude 14), with such a company as no man can number (Rev.
vii. 9); with nations of them that are saved, Rev. xxi. 24. They shall
come from the east and from the west; places far distant from each other;
and yet they shall all meet at the right hand of Christ, the Centre of
their unity. Note, God has his remnant in all places; from the rising of
the sun, to the going down of the same, Mal. i. 11. The elect will be gathered
from the four winds, ch. xxiv. 31. They are sown in the earth, some scattered
in every corner of the field. The Gentile world lay from east to west,
and they are especially meant here; though they were strangers to the covenant
of promise now, and had been long, yet who knows what hidden ones God had
among them then? As in Elijah's time in Israel (1 Kings xix. 14), soon
after which they flocked into the church in great multitudes, Isa. lx.
3, 4. Note, When we come to heaven, as we shall miss a great many there,
that we thought had been going thither, so we shall meet a great many there,
that we did not expect. Secondly, Christ gives us an idea of the salvation
itself. They shall come, shall come together, shall come together to Christ,
2 Thess. ii. 1. 1. They shall be admitted into the kingdom of grace on
earth, into the covenant of grace made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
they shall be blessed with faithful Abraham, whose blessing comes upon
the Gentiles, Gal. iii. 14. This makes Zaccheus a son of Abraham, Luke
xix. 9. 2. They shall be admitted into the kingdom of glory in heaven.
They shall come cheerfully, flying as doves to their windows; they shall
sit down to rest from their labours, as having done their day's work; sitting
denotes continuance: while we stand, we are going; where we sit, we mean
to stay; heaven is a remaining rest, it is a continuing city; they shall
sit down, as upon a throne (Rev. iii. 21); as at a table; that is the metaphor
here; they shall sit down to be feasted; which denotes both fulness of
communication, and freedom and familiarity of communion, Luke xxii. 30.
They shall sit down with Abraham. They who in this world were ever so far
distant from each other in time, place, or outward condition, shall all
meet together in heaven; ancients and moderns, Jews and Gentiles, rich
and poor. The rich man in hell sees Abraham, but Lazarus sits down with
him, leaning on his breast. Note, Holy society is a part of the felicity
of heaven; and they on whom the ends of the world are come, and who are
most obscure, shall share in glory with the renowned patriarchs.
[2.] That a great many of the Jews should perish, v. 12. Observe,
First, A strange sentence passed; The children of the kingdom shall
be cast out; the Jews that persist in unbelief, though they were by birth
children of the kingdom, yet shall be cut off from being members of the
visible church: the kingdom of God, of which they boasted that they were
the children, shall be taken from them, and they shall become not a people,
not obtaining mercy, Rom. xi. 20; ix. 31. In the great day it will not
avail men to have been children of the kingdom, either as Jews or as Christians;
for men will then be judged, not by what they were called, but by what
they were. If children indeed, then heirs; but many are children in profession,
in the family, but not of it, that will come short of the inheritance.
Being born of professing parents denominates us children of the kingdom;
but if we rest in that, and have nothing else to show for heaven but that,
we shall be cast out.
Secondly, A strange punishment for the workers of iniquity described;
They shall be cast into outer darkness, the darkness of those that are
without, of the Gentiles that were out of the church; into that the Jews
were cast, and into worse; they were blinded, and hardened, and filled
with terrors, as the apostle shows, Rom. xi. 8-10. A people so unchurched
and given up to spiritual judgments, are in utter darkness already: but
it looks further, to the state of damned sinners in hell, to which the
other is a dismal preface. They shall be cast out from God, and all true
comfort, and cast into darkness. In hell there is fire, but no light; it
is utter darkness; darkness in extremity; the highest degree of darkness,
without any remainder, or mixture, or hope, of light; not the least gleam
or glimpse of it; it is darkness that results from their being shut out
of heaven, the land of light; they who are without, are in the regions
of darkness; yet that is not the worst of it, there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. 1. In hell there will be great grief, floods of tears
shed to no purpose; anguish of spirit preying eternally upon the vitals,
in the sense of the wrath of God, is the torment of the damned. 2. Great
indignation: damned sinners will gnash their teeth for spite and vexation,
full of the fury of the Lord; seeing with envy the happiness of others,
and reflecting with horror upon the former possibility of their own being
happy, which is now past.
3. He cures his servant. He not only commends his application to him,
but grants him that for which he applied, which was a real answer, v. 13.
Observe,
(1.) What Christ said to him: he said that which made the cure as great
a favour to him as it was to his servant, and much greater; As thou hast
believed, so be it done to thee. The servant got a cure of his disease,
but the master got the confirmation and approbation of his faith. Note,
Christ often gives encouraging answers to his praying people, when they
are interceding for others. It is kindness to us, to be heard for others.
God turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends, Job xlii.
10. It was a great honour which Christ put upon this centurion, when he
gave him a blank, as it were; Be it done as thou believest. What could
he have more? Yet what was said to him is said to us all, Believe, and
ye shall receive; only believe. See here the power of Christ, and the power
of faith. As Christ can do what he will, so an active believer may have
what he will from Christ; the oil of grace multiplies, and stays not till
the vessels of faith fail.
(2.) What was the effect of this saying: the prayer of faith was a prevailing
prayer, it ever was so, and ever will be so; it appears, by the suddenness
of the cure, that it was miraculous: and by its coincidence with Christ's
saying, that the miracle was his; he spake, and it was done; and this was
a proof of his omnipotence, that he has a long arm. It is the observation
of a learned physician, that the diseases Christ cured were chiefly such
as were the most difficult to be cured by any natural means, and particularly
the palsy. Omnis paralysis, præsertim vetusta, aut incurabilis est,
aut difficilis curatu, etiam pueris: atque soleo ego dicere, morbos omnes
qui Christo curandi fuerunt propositi, difficillimos sua matura curatu
esse--Every kind of palsy, especially of long continuance, is either incurable,
or is found to yield with the utmost difficulty to medical skill, even
in young subjects; so that I have frequently remarked, that all the diseases
which were referred to Christ for cure appear to have been of the most
obstinate and hopeless kind. Mercurialis De Morbis Puerorum, lib. 2. cap.
5.
