Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

It is customary with the sacred writers to speak of the result, as of the end to which the act was directed. The Spirit impelled Christ into the desert, that He might leave us the example of communion with God in prayer : but occasion was thence furnished for temptation. Christ was subject to no internal temptation, because He was altogether free from original, as well as actual, sin, which is the cause, either proximate or remote, of all temptation. He suffered Himself to be tempted exter- nally, and He underwent all kinds of severe trials from His enemies, for our example : " for we have not a high-priest, who cannot have com- passion on our infirmities ; but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin." Heb. iv. 15.

The change of stones into bread would be a direct act of Almighty power. The tempter challenges Christ to supply, by such an act, the cravings of his appetite.

Luke iv. 4. The term rendered word, often means thing, matter, or substance, but it here implies decree; whatever God may ordain. The meaning is, that human life may be sustained by whatever means God pleases, as the Israelites were supported by manna in the desert. Thus Moses spake to the ancient people : "He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for food, which neither thou nor thy fathers knew ; to show that not on bread alone doth man live, but on every word that pro- ceedeth from the mouth of God." Deut. y'lii. 2. The author of the book of \ isdom praises God for the manna in similar terms : " that Thy children, 0 Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but Thy word preserveth them that believe in Thee." Wisdom xvi. 26.

This may be understood of a turret, or spire on the temple. There were iron spikes fixed all over the roof. Some take it to mean the top of a very high portico, built by Herod, from which few could venture to look down on the precipice beneath.

The kingdoms could not be seen from a,ny elevation, however great ; but they might be pointed out, according to the direction wherein they lay, and their glory and power described.

He is said to have passed Nazareth, because he did not go there, although it had been his dwelling-place for many years. It was not the place whence he now departed.

Lit. " The way of" The tract along the bank of the lake of Tiberias, to the west of the Jordan.

By the Jordan. The Latin preposition trans, is often in Scripture used for the nearer side.

Galilee of the Gentiles took its name probably from the concourse of pagans of different nations who settled there. It was near the Tyrian territory. There was another Galilee in Judea, about Tiberias, aftd the land of Genesareth. The deliverance of the people from servitude and oppression, when Sennacherib was defeated, was a faint image of the blessings to be con- ferred by our Divine Deliverer. Christ is the true light. Literally, " in the region and shadow," that is, where darkness en- tirely prevails. Ignorance and sin cover the mind with utter darkness.

Mark i. 16; Luke v. 2. It is also called the sea of Tiberias, and lake of Genesareth.

He was so called when the evangelist wi-ote, since Christ had given him this appellation. .

Mark iii. 7 ; Luke vi. 17. Galilee embraced tracts of lan9 on each side of the Jordan. Ten small cities to the east of the Jordan, near the sea of Tiberias.

The south of Palestine between Samaria and Idumea was called Judea. The country east of the Jordan between Decapolis and the Dead Sea is thus designated.