| Scripture |
Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
| |
| |
| 1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, |
Glad tidings – Thus far, only to God's servants; but it shall be to all. R5370:3
The same good tidings that were heralded by the angels at Jesus' birth. R5370:3
Of the kingdom of God – This is the key to all the preaching that Jesus did; his one message was the good tidings of the Kingdom of God. R5370:2
Not only was the Kingdom the topic with which the Lord began his public ministry, but it was really the main topic of all his preaching, other subjects being mentioned merely in connection with, or in explanation of, this one subject. A274
The very center and essence of the hope of the Church and the world. R5370:3
|
|
| 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, |
Mary – Apparently a woman of wealth. R5370:6, 2797:5
Called Magdalene – Not the same woman who washed and anointed our Lord's feet in the house of the Pharisee. ( Luke 7:37) R2797:5
Signifying that this Mary was of, or from, Magdala, a town on the sea of Galilee. R2797:5
Went seven devils – The poor woman was in the condition which many are who are in insane asylums. Her trouble was not organic, but caused by the harassing of the seven fallen angels who had taken possession of her. R5370:6
Being set free from their control, she became a very loyal servant of the Lord. R2173:3
|
|
| 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. |
The wife of Chuza – Some suppose Chuza to be the nobleman of John 4:46 who traveled 25 miles from Capernaum to Cana to appeal to Jesus for the healing of his son, who was at the point of death. R4132:6
Herod's steward – Or chamberlain, the king's officer. R4132:6
Ministered unto him – Voluntarily contributing to the Master's support. R5552:1
The moneys contributed were given to Jesus, and not to the disciples. He voluntarily shared with them. R3257:2
The disciples evidently never lacked, though it is equally evident that they never solicited alms. F286
We have no suggestion that he ever took up a collection or in any manner solicited money. Many think that this is a suggestion that the followers of Christ should likewise make no appeals for money, but merely use of their own substance and such other moneys as shall voluntarily be given unto them. R5370:3
Such voluntary donations made it proper that there should be a common treasurer for the company, and that he should be of superior business acumen. R5552:1
His seamless robe, so beautifully representing his own personal perfection, had probably been a gift from one of these noble women. R2316:1
|
|
| |
| |
| 4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: |
Much people were gathered – As the fame of Jesus increased his opposition became more and more pronounced; especially from the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees, as they were brought into competition and unfavorable comparison with him as public teachers. R1735:3
Many of them illustrated truths not revealed at that time, and hence not understood. R1742:1
|
|
| 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
|
A sower – It is never said, "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a sower." There was no Church of Christ, or Kingdom of heaven, until the day of Pentecost. R97:3*
The work of sowing the word was to prepare them for a place in the Kingdom. Thus this parable prepares the way for that of the wheat and tares. This deals with the individual, the other with the Church collectively. R97:4*
Sow – First the Jewish wheatfield, then that of Christendom, and not in heathendom where the Word has never gone. R3764:3
By the way side – The fields of Palestine are not fenced and the paths of travel frequently cross them. R3763:2
Trodden down – By life's experiences. R3764:3
And the fowls – Representing Satan and his agents. R2634:6
The birds of Palestine are so numerous as to be one of the farmer's chief pests. R3763:2
|
|
| 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
|
Upon a rock – Palestine abounds with limestone, which renders the soil very rich but, when shallow, very hot. R3763:2
It withered away – Under the hot sun of persecution. R5650:5, 4910:5
|
|
| 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
|
Among thorns – There are fifty kinds of thorny plants in Palestine, and the thistles sometimes grow to a height of 15 feet. R3763:2
|
|
| 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.
And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
|
An hundredfold – A single grain of barley has been known to produce a fruitage of 276 grains. R3763:2
|
|
| |
| |
| 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? |
|
|
| 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
|
Unto you – The Little Flock, the faithful, the saints. NS524:2
So constituted through acceptance of Christ, consecration to him, and begetting of the holy Spirit. NS598:1
The meek, honest and faithful of God's people only--in God's due time and way. D614
Not only to the disciples of that day, but to the disciples all through the age. R1742:1
The wise who will understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of the Melchizedek Priesthood are not the worldly-wise or great; they are chiefly the poor of this world, rich in faith. SM13:2
Truth is not intended for all. SM109:2
Not for the blind, not for the deaf, but for those "blessed," favored ones who have eyes and ears. R2414:5
"Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear." (Matt. 13:16) SM109:2
It is given to know – At the first advent, the humble Israelites indeed were not confused, but enlightened; and the same is true now in the second advent. D599
Passing from grace to grace, and from knowledge to knowledge. SM14:2
Our Lord thus indicated that his disciples should have been able to interpret this parable, because of their knowledge of the truth it was designed to illustrate. R1742:1
While "given," it is not given indiscriminately; it is given only to those of certain character. R4444:6
Those wholly consecrated now, and gladly following the "Lamb whithersoever he goeth" (Rev. 14:4), know that their Master will continue to give them meat in due season (Matt. 13:52), both in things new and old, as they are able to bear it. (John 16:12) R1151:1*
The mysteries – Even partially. R1149:1*
"The Mystery hidden from past ages and dispensations, but now revealed unto the saints." (Col. 1:26) SM246:T
The Mystery is this: that God's purpose from the first was that the great Deliverer should be not only the Lord Jesus, but should include also the elect Little Flock of this Gospel age. SM246:T
It is proper that the saints should know this Mystery, for now the strength which this knowledge would give will be of special value in their combat with the special trials and difficulties immediately before them. SM246:T
The Pentecostal blessing, evidencing our forgiveness, has reached every member of the consecrated class to enlighten the eyes of our understanding and to enable us to see the deep things of God and his gracious promises. R3590:6
We may tell of these mysteries, knowing that none will be able to comprehend thoroughly all of these mysteries except such as have taken several degrees in the Order of the Melchizedek Priesthood. SM14:2
Parables, which illustrated truths, can only be seen as the truths they illustrate become manifest. R1742:4
"Ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thess. 5:4) C215
Israelites indeed, learn precept upon precept, line upon line. (Isa. 28:9, 10) SM109:2
The permission of evil was not understood until the Gospel age, and more fully in this harvest period; but only by the spirit-begotten. R1506:1
But to others – All not members of the inner circle of Israelites indeed. NS632:3; SM109:2
Not disciples. R72:2
The masses of Christendom. NS307:2
"Them that are without"--outside the pale of the believing disciples, which included the whole nation of Israel except a small "remnant." R1742:4
We need not be afraid of giving away the secrets of the Lord. SM246:T
In parables – Not understood by the people who heard them, and which seem to be but little better comprehended today. HG394:6
Because they are not in the right attitude of heart to properly profit by the knowledge. NS524:2
Dark sayings. D614
It was not because of Israelitish stupidity that they did not perceive the antitypes, not because of superiority of acumen that we see them now and they do not. NS598:1
So that they might fail to perceive the blessings of which they were proving themselves unworthy. R1742:4
Jesus taught a punishment and trouble now and in the future for the wicked, but it was always by parable. R1151:1*; A128
That seeing – They had indeed the natural sight and the natural hearing, but they lacked the mental sight and hearing. R2414:4
They might not see – So hard for the Jew to understand, and equally impossible for the natural man of the Gentiles to comprehend. R3590:6
Our Lord spake in this dark manner with the very intention that the majority might not understand. NS307:2
Natural men and not new creatures, never begotten of the holy Spirit, cannot see and understand spiritual things. R3328:4
Might not understand – Even if we tell it, all cannot hear. SM246:T
"I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:41) NS632:3
The parables and teachings were not uttered with the intention of making the blind see and the deaf hear, but purposely so that the deaf might not hear, and so that the blind might not see. R2414:4
Even now the dark sayings of our Lord are not understood except by his footstep followers. A128; D614; R2414:4, 1149:1*; SM109:2
Parables can be understood only as the truths they illustrate become manifest. R1742:4
|
|
| 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
|
The word of God – The good seed represents the message of the Kingdom, not a truth about the philosophies of men, or some scientific truth. R5736:5
Even as false teaching, human philosophies and doctrines of devils are not wheat-seed, but tare-seed. R2627:3
Matthew says, "the word of the kingdom." Our Lord, no doubt, used both expressions. R2628:5
The entire revelation which God has made to us--the Bible. R3764:1, 2627:3
|
|
| 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
|
By the way side – Hardened by prosperity, needing the plowshare of trouble. R3764:3
Their hearts being solid and compact with selfishness; not bad people, but unsuited to the Lord's present work and call. R2627:3
They that hear – But into whose hearts it did not enter at all. They simply heard with the outer ear and forgot. It made no impression. R5736:2
Cometh the devil – We have so much more to contend with than the weaknesses of our own flesh and the imperfections of fellow men. F609
Whose very existence is denied by many. F609
Taketh away the word – Stealing away from them every element of truth they once had seen. R3764:3
The Adversary would always, if possible, prevent the seed from entering the heart and taking root. R5736:2
Out of their hearts – In this parable the field of operation is the heart of each individual, while in the wheat and the tares the field is the world. (Matt. 13:38) R97:2*
|
|
| 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
|
They on the rock – Having a veneer of outward grace but at heart a character of selfishness. R2627:5
Receive the word – At first give evidence of great fruitfulness and vigor. R2791:2, 5650:5, 4910:4, 3764:4
With joy – At first very much enthused, but they lack depth of character. They will not bring forth the fruitage, for they have not sufficient depth for rooting. They are shallow. R5736:2
Have no root – They lack depth of character. R5736:2, 5650:5, 3764:4, 2627:5
In time of temptation – As soon as they find out that the truth is not popular, they foresee persecution or social ostracism; then their ardor cools and their interest in the harvest message wanes and gradually dies out. R5736:2
Fall away – Not endure. R4910:5, 2791:2
Wither under the sun of persecution. R4910:4, 5736:2, 2791:2, 3764:4, 5650:5
Such cannot be of the Kingdom class. R2791:2, 4910:5, 2627:6
|
|
| 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
|
Among thorns – Good ground, with fine prospects for developing the fruits of the holy Spirit, but it is infested with thorns--not frivolous pleasures, theater, cards, dancing, etc., but the cares and ambitions of life, the deceitfulness of riches. R5736:3
Earthly projects and ambitions whose interests conflict with the interests of the Kingdom. R3764:5
In Palestine these thorns or thistles grow in the very best kind of soil. R2627:6
Are they – They may be good business men, fine politicians, or immersed in some kind of study. Others may be fine housekeepers, having a pride in how well things are kept, or they may be leaders in society or in works of reform. R5736:3
And are choked – The ground, while good, is otherwise occupied, and the message of the Kingdom and its work are crowded out to a large degree, so that no fruit is brought to perfection. R5736:3
Riches – There are but few of the Lord's people that can be trusted with riches. R2520:2
And bring no fruit – "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." ( Luke 16:13) We cannot bring forth both thorns and wheat. R3764:5
|
|
| 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
|
But that – The truth is represented by the seed, and the individuals are also represented by the seed. A grain of truth is planted in an honest heart and it produces a character which is in harmony with that truth. R5736:5
On the good ground – This condition represents entire consecration to God. Everything which would hinder has been cast out. The cares of this life are not permitted to enter this heart and choke the word. R5736:3
Honest and good heart – Proper quality or depth of character, honesty being the most important feature of all. R5736:3,5
Keep it – His words should lead to self-examination, as not the hearers only, but the doers of the Word, are acceptable with God. R1741:3
Bring forth fruit – Those of this class grow daily in knowledge, in love, and are building one another up in the most holy faith. R5737:1
Their very best, according to circumstances, conditions and ability. R5736:5
To the very largest degree of our possibilities, surroundings and opportunities. R3765:4
Which will be measured by the degree of our zeal and our love for the Lord. R2628:4
With patience – The Greek word hypomonee has a deeper and fuller significance than attaches to the English word. It signifies rather constancy--the thought of being an endurance of evil in a cheerful, willing, patient manner. R2971:1, 4910:4, 3584:3
Patient endurance follows after the receiving and sprouting of the seed, and is necessary in order that the fruit may be developed and thoroughly ripened. R5650:5, 4910:5, 2791:2
|
|
| 16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
|
Lighted a candle – "Ye are the light of the world." (Matt. 5:14) E293; R3243:2, 2036:3
A measure of light in the world, emanating from our dear Redeemer, and still shining forth from all those who are truly his. R3686:2, 5769:5
It is "the light that is in you," a light of faith, hope and love ignited in the heart. R3686:2
|
|
| 17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
|
Nothing is secret – Faithfulness consists in a proper and diligent use of our gifts in harmony with the divine purpose and methods; and both the Lord and the Apostle point to a day of reckoning when the secret things will be brought to light. R1972:3
The day of his presence will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the secret counsels of the heart. (1 Cor. 4:5) R2979:6
That shall not – In the Millennial age. A303
Be made manifest – A testimony dreaded but disbelieved by unjust stewards of wealth and power. C20
The murderer will be faced by his victim, the debtor by his creditor, the thief by his dupe, the defamer by the one defamed. R1655:1
|
|
| 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
|
Take heed – Divine truth, coming to us through the appointed channel of God's Word, comes with a moral and logical power, proving its authority and enforcing it with an emphasis which carries warning with it. R2057:3*
How ye hear – See that your heart is in a right condition to receive the truth. R2627:3
For whosoever hath – Hath used. R2496:6
Whosoever hath not – Hath not used. R2496:6
That which he seemeth to have – The flood is sweeping away what little faith nominal Christians have. R2142:5*
|
|
| |
| |
| 19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. |
|
|
| 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. |
|
|
| 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
|
And my brethren – In my new family, the "household of faith." (Gal. 6:10) F589
|
|
| |
| |
| 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.
And they launched forth. |
|
|
| 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. |
He fell asleep – Evidently thoroughly exhausted with the labors of his journey and ministry. R3324:3
Came down a storm – Picturing the experiences of the Church during the Gospel age, tempest-tossed by the Adversary. R3325:1
Of wind – The Sea of Galilee is quite subject to such wind storms. R3324:2
This storm may have been supernatural and of the Adversary. R3324:4
|
|
| 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. |
Awoke him – Tired, weary and asleep. R1063:2*
Raging of the water – Symbolizing the restless, anarchistic masses. A318
There was a calm – "Peace be still" (Mark 4:39)--after the time of trouble. R3325:4, 5058:3,6
Waters lashed to a fury cannot thus be quickly calmed except by a miracle. R3324:4
Yet he refused to miraculously deliver himself from his captors in Gethsemane. F650
"He maketh the storm a calm." (Psa. 107:29) R3324:1
Whoever can, by faith, take hold upon the Lord will find a great peace and calm come into his heart and affairs. R5058:6
Picturing the world's great rest from the evil one for a thousand years. R3325:4
|
|
| 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith?
And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. |
Where is your faith? – When the adversary brings a whirlwind of temptation, opposition or persecution, with waves of adversity or affliction, and the Lord seems heedless, our faith is being tested. R3324:6
We today, by faith, are able to see the Lord with us in the ship, about to speak peace to the world. R3325:4
|
|
| |
| |
| 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. |
|
|
| 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. |
Which had devils – Apparently the human will must consent before these evil spirits have power to take possession. But when they do take possession apparently the will power is so broken down that the individual is almost helpless to resist their presence, even though he so desires. R2173:3
|
|
| 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. |
Torment me not – Implying that an interference with their tormenting of mankind would be an injury to their rights. Similarly today, some men claim that their rights are interfered with when they are stopped from pillaging and injuring their fellow-creatures. R3772:2
|
|
| 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) |
|
|
| 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?
And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. |
Many devils – The tendency of fallen spirits to congregate in one person indicates the desire they have still to exercise the power originally given them--namely, the power to materialize as men. R2173:3
|
|
| 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. |
Out into the deep – Into the abyss, the second death, utter destruction. R3772:4
|
|
| 32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. |
Herd of many swine – Unclean to the Jew, and unlawful for them to eat. R2173:3
And they – Not attempting to palm themselves off as spirits of deceased human beings. F626
Assuredly these were persons and not merely a disease of the man's mind. R3772:5
Besought him – Evidently fallen angels cannot impose themselves upon even the dumb animals until given some sort of permission. R2173:3
|
|
| 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. |
|
|
| 34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. |
|
|
| 35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. |
|
|
| 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. |
|
|
| 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again. |
Depart from them – Wherever the true Gospel goes its effect is to cause uproar and confusion in the kingdom of darkness. R1633:3
|
|
| 38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, |
Might be with him – "Unto you which believe he is precious." (1 Pet. 2:7) R3773:2
|
|
| 39 Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee.
And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. |
Had done unto him – Our Lord's journey on that occasion seems to have resulted in the conversion of but one person, the demonic, who then became the Lord's mouthpiece there. R3773:4
|
|
| |
| |
| 40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. |
|
|
| 41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: |
He fell down – Figuratively expressing his homage, obedience and faith. R4588:5
Besought him – Here the faith was exercised by another on behalf of the patient, who, being dead, had no ability to exercise faith. R1939:2
|
|
| 42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. |
|
|
| |
| |
| 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, |
|
|
| 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. |
Touched...his garment – Believing in his greatness and power, she immediately felt the thrill of life and strength in her body like an electric current. R4588:6
Who touched me? – Our Lord was full of vital energy, and felt the loss of it as electricity is drawn from a battery. R4588:6
|
|
| 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me?
When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee. |
|
|
| 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
|
I perceive – He felt the consequent weakness. R1359:4
Virtue is gone out – Since he could not suffer pain and sickness because of sin, he was placed among sinners, where their weaknesses and pains bore down upon him--he "himself took our infirmities and bare our sickness." (Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4,5) R2000:1
Every cure performed by Jesus served to exhaust his very life forces, yet he gave himself--spent his life in acts of love and kindness to poor, fallen humanity. R105:4
Jesus experienced the woes and sufferings of humanity without sharing in the imperfections and sins. R454:3
He impoverished himself to bless others. R1735:4
It is daily more recognized among scientific men that some persons possess greater vitality than others, and can communicate it to others who have less, though such are liable to feel for a time the weakness which is cured in the weaker one. R574:4
Power, vitality, strength, healing vigor. R574:4, 4588:6, 2000:1, 454:3, 105:4
|
|
| 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. |
She came trembling – Fearful she had stolen a blessing of which she felt unworthy. R4588:6
|
|
| 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
|
|
|
| |
| |
| 49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. |
Trouble not – Their faith in the power of Jesus was a very weak faith. When they saw the child was dead all hope departed. They had considerable faith in Christ, but they did not believe that his power extended to the raising of the dead. R1939:2
|
|
| 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
|
Shall be made whole – Merely an awakening; nowhere styled resurrection. R5578:3; OV352:1
Not in heaven, purgatory, or hell. R5611:5
|
|
| 51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. |
|
|
| 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
|
But sleepeth – As in the case of Lazarus, our Lord here referred to death as a sleep, in view of the fact of the resurrection. R1939:4
All the dead are to be reckoned as sleeping, waiting for his return and his exaltation with his elect bride in glory. R2197:6
The second death, from which there shall be no resurrection, is never called "sleep" in the Bible. R1939:4
|
|
| 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. |
|
|
| 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
|
He put them all out – Because they manifested their lack of faith. While he rewarded their faith, weak though it was, he reproved them also. R1939:4
|
|
| 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. |
Her spirit came again – Simply signifying, "And her breath returned," and is so rendered in the Diaglott. The Greek word pneuma, translated "spirit" in the Common Version, signifies breath, wind, or the spirit or breath of life. R1939:4
And she arose – Thus the Lord rewarded even the weak in faith, and gave them additional and overwhelming evidence to strengthen and establish their faith. R1939:4
Did not come back from heaven or hell, and was not resurrected, but was merely awakened out of the sleep of death. Christ was "the first fruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20), "the first that should rise from the dead." (Acts 26:23) R2618:2,4; OV352:1
Foreshadowing or illustrating the resurrection. R4603:4
|
|
| 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done. |
|
|