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| 1 And it came to pass thereafter, that he was going through every city and village, preaching and proclaiming good news of the reign of God, and the twelve [are] 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
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| 2 and certain women, who were healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone forth, |
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
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| 3 and Joanna wife of Chuza, steward of Herod, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to him from 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
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| 4 And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile: |
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
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| 5 'The sower went forth to sow his seed, and in his sowing some indeed fell beside the way, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the heaven did devour it.
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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
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| 6 'And other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it did wither, through not having moisture.
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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
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| 7 'And other fell amidst the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with it, did choke it.
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Among thorns – There are fifty kinds of thorny plants in Palestine, and the thistles sometimes grow to a height of 15 feet. R3763:2
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| 8 'And other fell upon the good ground, and having sprung up, it made fruit an hundred fold.'
These things saying, he was calling, 'He having ears to hear let him hear.'
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An hundredfold – A single grain of barley has been known to produce a fruitage of 276 grains. R3763:2
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| 9 And his disciples were questioning him, saying, 'What may this simile be ' |
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| 10 And he said, 'To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of God, and to the rest in similes; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
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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
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| 11 'And this is the simile: The seed is the word of God,
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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
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| 12 and those beside the way are those hearing, then cometh the Devil, and taketh up the word from their heart, lest having believed, they may be saved.
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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*
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| 13 'And those upon the rock: They who, when they may hear, with joy do receive the word, and these have no root, who for a time believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
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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
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| 14 'And that which fell to the thorns: These are they who have heard, and going forth, through anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, are choked, and bear not to completion.
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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
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| 15 'And that in the good ground: These are they, who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, do retain [it], and bear fruit in continuance.
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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
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| 16 'And no one having lighted a lamp doth cover it with a vessel, or under a couch doth put [it]; but upon a lamp-stand he doth put [it], that those coming in may see the light,
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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
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| 17 for nothing is secret, that shall not become manifest, nor hid, that shall not be known, and become manifest.
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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
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| 18 'See, therefore, how ye hear, for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever may not have, also what he seemeth to have, shall be taken from him.'
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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*
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| 19 And there came unto him his mother and brethren, and they were not able to get to him because of the multitude, |
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| 20 and it was told him, saying, 'Thy mother and thy brethren do stand without, wishing to see thee;' |
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| 21 and he answering said unto them, 'My mother and my brethren! they are those who the word of God are hearing, and doing.'
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And my brethren – In my new family, the "household of faith." (Gal. 6:10) F589
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| 22 And it came to pass, on one of the days, that he himself went into a boat with his disciples, and he said unto them, 'We may go over to the other side of the lake;'
and they set forth, |
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| 23 and as they are sailing he fell deeply asleep, and there came down a storm of wind to the lake, and they were filling, and were in peril. |
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
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| 24 And having come near, they awoke him, saying, 'Master, master, we perish;' and he, having arisen, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there came 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
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| 25 and he said to them, 'Where is your faith '
and they being afraid did wonder, saying unto one another, 'Who, then, is this, that even the winds he doth command, and the 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
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| 26 And they sailed down to the region of the Gadarenes, that is over-against Galilee, |
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| 27 and he having gone forth upon the land, there met him a certain man, out of the city, who had demons for a long time, and with a garment was not clothed, and in a house was not abiding, 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
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| 28 and having seen Jesus, and having cried out, he fell before him, and with a loud voice, said, 'What to me and to thee, Jesus, Son of God Most High I beseech thee, mayest thou not afflict me!' |
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
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| 29 For he commanded the unclean spirit to come forth from the man, for many times it had caught him, and he was being bound with chains and fetters guarded, and breaking asunder the bonds he was driven by the demons to the deserts. |
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| 30 And Jesus questioned him, saying, 'What is thy name '
and he said, 'Legion,' (because many demons 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
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| 31 and he was calling on him, that he may not command them to go away to the abyss, |
Out into the deep – Into the abyss, the second death, utter destruction. R3772:4
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| 32 and there was there a herd of many swine feeding in the mountain, and they were calling on him, that he might suffer them to enter into these, 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
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| 33 and the demons having gone forth from the man, did enter into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep to the lake, and were choked. |
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| 34 And those feeding [them], having seen what was come to pass, fled, and having gone, told [it] to the city, and to the fields; |
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| 35 and they came forth to see what was come to pass, and they came unto Jesus, and found the man sitting, out of whom the demons had gone forth, clothed, and right-minded, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid; |
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| 36 and those also having seen [it], told them how the demoniac was saved. |
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| 37 And the whole multitude of the region of the Gadarenes round about asked him to go away from them, because with great fear they were pressed, and he having entered into the boat, did turn back. |
Depart from them – Wherever the true Gospel goes its effect is to cause uproar and confusion in the kingdom of darkness. R1633:3
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| 38 And the man from whom the demons had gone forth was beseeching of him to be with him, and Jesus sent him away, saying, |
Might be with him – "Unto you which believe he is precious." (1 Pet. 2:7) R3773:2
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| 39 'Turn back to thy house, and tell how great things God did to thee;'
and he went away through all the city proclaiming how great things Jesus did to 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
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| 40 And it came to pass, in the turning back of Jesus, the multitude received him, for they were all looking for him, |
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| 41 and lo, there came a man, whose name [is] Jairus, and he was a chief of the synagogue, and having fallen at the feet of Jesus, was calling on him to come to 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
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| 42 because he had an only daughter about twelve years [old], and she was dying. And in his going away, the multitudes were thronging him, |
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| 43 and a woman, having an issue of blood for twelve years, who, having spent on physicians all her living, was not able to be healed by any, |
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| 44 having come near behind, touched the fringe of his garment, and presently the issue of her blood stood. |
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
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| 45 And Jesus said, 'Who [is] it that touched me '
and all denying, Peter and those with him said, 'Master, the multitudes press thee, and throng [thee], and thou dost say, Who [is] it that touched me!' |
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| 46 And Jesus said, 'Some one did touch me, for I knew power having gone forth from me.'
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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
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| 47 And the woman, having seen that she was not hid, trembling, came, and having fallen before him, for what cause she touched him declared to him before all the people, and how she was healed presently; |
She came trembling – Fearful she had stolen a blessing of which she felt unworthy. R4588:6
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| 48 and he said to her, 'Take courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee, be going on to peace.'
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| 49 While he is yet speaking, there doth come a certain one from the chief of the synagogue's [house], saying to him 'Thy daughter hath died, harass not the Teacher;' |
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
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| 50 and Jesus having heard, answered him, saying, 'Be not afraid, only believe, and she shall be saved.'
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Shall be made whole – Merely an awakening; nowhere styled resurrection. R5578:3; OV352:1
Not in heaven, purgatory, or hell. R5611:5
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| 51 And having come to the house, he suffered no one to go in, except Peter, and James, and John, and the father of the child, and the mother; |
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| 52 and they were all weeping, and beating themselves for her, and he said, 'Weep not, she did not die, but doth sleep;
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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
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| 53 and they were deriding him, knowing that she did die; |
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| 54 and he having put all forth without, and having taken hold of her hand, called, saying, 'Child, arise;'
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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
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| 55 and her spirit came back, and she arose presently, and he directed that there be given to her to eat; |
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
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| 56 and her parents were amazed, but he charged them to say to no one what was come to pass. |
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