to repay, his lord ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 Then the servant fell and bowed down to him, saying, Sire, have patience with me, and I will repay thee all.' 27 And the lord of that servant, having compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant going forth found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii. And laying hold of him, he seized him by the throat, saying, 'Repay me whatever thou owest.' 29 Then his fellow-servant falling down at his feet, entreated him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay thee.' 30 And he would not, but going away committed him to prison, until he should repay what was owing. 31 And his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were exceedingly distressed: and they went and made known to their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord summoning him said to him, 'Wicked servant. I forgave thee all that debt, because thou didst entreat me; 33 and was it not right for thee to pity thy fellow-servant, even as I pitied thee?' 34 And his lord being indignant, delivered him to the officers, until he should repay all that was owing to him. 35 Thus also will my heavenly Father do to you, if 35. The same declaration had been made before, vi. 15. As the previous divisions of this part presented indications of the rejection of Christ, so in this division the principle of his own conduct is set forth, in the lessons which he gave his disciples. They learned humility, love, and forgiveness, not only from his words, but from his whole life. And they were to learn these lessons still more fully from his death. The whole of this part of the history is some preparation for the close and this preparation is continued in the next part. The Apostle was probably not with our Lord in the interval; and therefore gives no account of what took place between the departure from Galilee, in the autumn, and the last journey to Jerusalem, in the spring of the following year. From the more complete narrative of St. Luke it appears that, at the close of the ministry in Galilee, our Lord went through Samaria to Jerusalem. He was there at the festival of : you do not forgive, from your hearts, each one the offences of his brother." Tabernacles, and at the festival of Dedication in the winter. After this he went for some time to Peræa, as indicated by all the Evangelists. In the spring of the next year, after some residence in Ephraim, the last journey was made to Jerusalem, not directly, but through Samaria, Galilee, and Peræa. Luke xvii. 11. DIVISION I. RESPECTING MARRIAGE. I. try in Peræa. 1And it came to pass when Jesus ended these dis- Miniscourses, he departed from Galilee. And he went to the border country of Judæa, on the other side the Jordan. 2 And great multitudes followed him; and he cured them there. II. on divorce. 3 And the Pharisees came unto him to prove him, Question saying to him, "Is it allowed a man to dismiss his wife, for every cause?" And he in reply said to them, "Did you never read that the Maker, from the 4 1. These statements are similar to those respecting the beginning of our Lord's ministry in Galilee, iv. 23. The ministry in Peræa mentioned here, and Mark x. 1, accords with what is stated John x. 40; Luke xiii. 31. Two journeys to Jerusalem are noticed by St. Luke, after the departure from Galilee, ix. 51; xiii. 22; xvii. 11. Some months intervened between what is mentioned, iv. 11, and the following verse as between what is stated in these verses and those which follow. 3. The subject of divorce is referred to in the Sermon on the Mount, v. 31. Our Lord's judgment is also given on another occasion, in opposition to the teaching of the Pharisees. Luke xvi. 18. The question may have been proposed to our Lord to test his wisdom as a teacher; and to lead him, either to contradict the law of Moses, or to condemn the conduct of Herod Antipas. 4. The fact recorded, Gen. i. 27, is an indication of the Divine appointment, and the words of the historian are a true expression of the will of God. Gen. ii. 24. |