41. Talitha; the actual words used in the ordinary dialect of the people. This is an affectionate term commonly addressed to a young maiden, equivalent to "My child." - Cumi; arise. 43. Charged straitly; strictly commanded. This was of the highest order of miracles. If it was reported it would create great public excitement, draw still larger crowds around him, and tend to impede him in his further work. Given her to eat; to show that she was restored to full strength and health.

PRACTICAL THOUGHTS.

1-5. How pitiable the condition of those who are under the control of Satan! Who can tell what it will be when they are removed to his own abode

to suffer with him for ever? Matt. 25: 41.

7. Jesus is sovereign of the universe. To him every knee shall bow, every tongue confess. Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2: 10.

13. Men engaged in unholy pursuits often find in them the instruments of their own retribution.

17. The wicked could not be happy in heaven, the blessedness of which flows from the presence and love of Christ. Jno. 17:24.

26. Under the burdens and unrest of sin men resort to numerous methods to obtain relief, but in vain. A single application to Christ will do more for them than all beside.

34. Jesus is greatly pleased with the humble and entire confidence of those who come to him. To such faith he refuses nothing.

40. How calmly may we commit our dying children to our Saviour! They are still in his care, and through his grace we may hope to embrace them again with tears of joy.

CHAPTER VI.

SECTION 61. -1. His own country; Nazareth. Luke 4:23. A whole year

2 And when the sabbath-day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6 And he marveled because of

has now elapsed since Christ's preceding visit, when his former townsmen and neighbors sought to murder him for putting forth his claims as the Messiah. In this period his fame has spread far and wide; great crowds attend upon his ministry; his miracles have been numerous and of the most wonderful character: how then will they now receive him?

2. Whence. They do not pretend to deny the facts, but are puzzled to account for them, since they can not regard him as anything more than a man.

3. The carpenter; Matthew says, "the carpenter's son." Doubtless both he and his reputed father had worked at that occupation. All the trades were honorable among the Jews, and they were learned even by men of wealth and distinction. - Brother of James, etc. These were probably the children of Joseph and Mary, younger than Jesus. That they were not the persons of that name among the apostles, is proved from the fact that they did not at this time believe in him (Jno. 7 : 5), though probably converted before his ascension. Acts 1:14. They are mentioned after the apostles, as if distinct from them,

their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching.

63. THE APOSTLES SENT FORTH.

Matt. 10: 1, 5-42; 11: 1; Luke 9: 1–6. 7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits ;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

II And whosoever shall not receive you,.nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust

(Acts 1:13, 14; 1 Cor. 9:5); and almost always in immediate connection with Mary, as if part of her family. Matt. 12:46; Luke 8: 19; Jno. 2: 12. (It is inferred from this, also, that Joseph was now dead.) They are, besides, uniformly designated as his "brothers" and

sisters," and there is nothing to show that they were not such in the strictest sense, except the Romish doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary, which is absolutely without warrant. Matt. 1: 25; Gal. 1: 19. - Offended; literally, stumbled. Rom. 9:33.

4. A prophet. Jesus repeats the saying he had uttered during his former visit at this place.

5. No mighty work. Our Saviour required faith as a condition of his favors. Without this they were impossible; not because of any limitation of his almighty power, but because incompatible with the fundamental principles established by his wisdom and goodness.

6. He went. This clause is a brief statement of Christ's third circuit of preaching, corresponding to Matt. 9: 35-38.

SECTION 63.- Notes in Matthew.

under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

64. DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Matt. 14: 1-12; Luke 9: 7-9.

14 And king Herod heard of him, | (for his name was spread abroad,) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.1

1 Matt. 16: 14.

SECTION 64.-14. Herod; i. e. Herod Antipas. He was not properly king, but only tetrarch. Note Luke 3:1. Heard; by means of the preaching of the apostles. He said. Luke intimates that this opinion was first suggested by. others; Herod's guilty conscience, however, seems to have seized upon it, rather than any other explanation. Ver. 16.

15. Elias; i. e. Elijah. Mal. 4 : 5. A prophet; i. e. some prophet, they knew not who.

17. Had sent. The remainder of this narrative is a statement of what had taken place a considerable time before. The arrest of John was made about the time when Christ left Judæa and returned to Galilee. Matt. 4:12; Jno. 4:1-3. He was imprisoned in the fortress of Machærus, on the eastern coast of the Dead Sea, where a few months later he was beheaded as is here recorded. Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, a son of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas, Herod Philip, and Philip the tetrarch (Luke 3:1), were also sons of Herod, and brothers of Aristobulus. Herodias first married Herod Philip,

16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day. was come, that Herod on his birthday3 made a supper to his lords, 3 Gen. 40: 20.

2 Ezek. 2:5-7.

her own uncle, by whom she had the daughter mentioned ver. 22, named Salome. Herod Antipas first married a daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia (2 Cor. 11:32); but having, during a visit to his half-brother Herod Philip, become enamored of his wife, he persuaded her to forsake her husband and live with. him. This dishonor to his own wife involved him in a war with Aretas, who invaded his territory, and finally defeated him with great loss. Subsequently Herodias induced him to go to Rome to procure the title of king; instead of which, however, the emperor banished them both to Gaul, and afterward to Spain, where they died. Salome married also her own uncle, Philip the tetrarch, and afterward her cousin Aristobulus, king of Chalcis.

18. Not lawful; both because of near relationship (Lev. 18:16), and because each of the parties had a lawful partner still living; it was, therefore, both incest and adultery.

20. Observed him; rather, preserved him; i. e. kept him from the malice of Herodias.

high captains, and chief estates of Galilee ;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced,1 and pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me, by and by, in a charger, the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And-immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. 1 Isa. 3:16. 2 Num. 7:13, 85; Ezra 1:9.

29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

65. FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND. Matt. 14: 13-21; Luke 9: 10-17; John 6: 1-14.

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

81 Ki. 22:17.

whole affair for the express purpose of procuring the death of John.

25. By and by; immediately. Matt. 148. This shows that the festival was held at the same fortress. Ver. 17. Probably Herod was there, prosecuting his war with Aretas. Macharus had been captured by him from the latter. - Charger; an old English word meaning a platter or trencher.

29. His disciples; i. e. John's. Matthew adds, that they brought word of the event to Jesus. Matt. 14: 12.

SECTION 65. Notes in John.