Mat 10:22, 18:6, 20, 19:29, 24:9, Mar 9:41, 13:13, Luk 21:12, 17 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 22. Ye shall be hated of all men. That is, of all kinds of men. The human heart would be opposed to them, because it is opposed to Christ. But he that endureth to the end , etc. That is, to the end of life, be it longer or shorter. He that bears all these unspeakable sufferings, and who does not shrink and apostatize, will give decisive evidence of attachment to me, and shall enter into heaven. See . (n) "but he that"

Matthew 10:22

Verse 22. Ye shall be hated of all men. That is, of all kinds of men. The human heart would be opposed to them, because it is opposed to Christ.

But he that endureth to the end, etc. That is, to the end of life, be it longer or shorter. He that bears all these unspeakable sufferings, and who does not shrink and apostatize, will give decisive evidence of attachment to me, and shall enter into heaven. See Rev 3:21,22.

(n) "but he that" Dan 12:12,13, Rev 2:10

Matthew 18:6

Verse 6. Whoso shall offend. That is, cause to fall, or to sin; or who should place anything in their way to hinder their piety or happiness; Mt 5:29.

These little ones. That is, Christians, manifesting the spirit of little children, 1Jn 2:1,12,18,28.

It were better for him that a millstone, etc. Mills anciently were either turned by hand, Mt 24:41 or by beasts, chiefly by mules. These were of the larger kind; and the original words denote that it was this kind that was intended. This was one mode of capital punishment practised by the Greeks, Syrians, Romans, and by some other surrounding nations. The meaning is, it would be better for him to die before he had committed the sin. To injure, or to cause to sin, the feeblest Christian, will be regarded as a most serious offence, and will be punished accordingly.

(z) "shall offend" Mk 9:42, Lk 17:1,2

Matthew 18:20

Verse 20. For where two or three, etc. This is a general assertion, made to support the particular promise made Mt 18:19 to his apostles. He affirms that wherever two or three are assembled together in his name he is in the midst of them.

In my name. That is,

(1.) by my authority, acting for me in my church. Jn 10:25; 16:23

(2.) It may mean, for my service, in the place of prayer and praise, assembled in obedience to my command, and with a desire to promote my glory.

There am I in the midst of them. Nothing could more clearly prove that Jesus must be everywhere present, and, of course, be God. Every day, perhaps every hour, two or three, or many more, may be assembled in every city or village in the United States, in England, in Greenland, in Africa, in Ceylon, in the Sandwich Islands, in Russia, and in Judea--in almost every part of the world--and in the midst of them all is Jesus the Saviour. Millions thus at the same time, in every quarter of the globe, worship in his name, and experience the truth of the promise that he is present with them. It is impossible that he should be in all these places, and not be God.

(r) "gathered together" Jn 20:19, 1Cor 5:4

Matthew 19:29

Verse 29. Forsaken houses, etc. In the days of Jesus, those who followed him were obliged generally to forsake houses and home, and to attend him. In our times it is not often required that we should literally leave them, except when the life is devoted to him among the heathen; but it is always required that we love them less than we do him; that we give up all that is inconsistent with religion, and be ready to give up all when he demands it.

For my name's sake. From attachment to me. Mark adds, "and the gospel's;" that is, from obedience to the requirements of the gospel, and love for the service of the gospel.

Shall receive an hundredfold. Mark says, "an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters," etc. An hundredfold means a hundred times as much. This is not to be understood literally, but that he will give what will be worth a hundred times as much, in the peace, and joy, and rewards of religion. It is also literally true, that no man's temporal interest is injured by the love of God. Marks adds, "with persecutions." These are not promised as a part of the reward; but amidst their trials and persecutions, they should find reward and peace.

(u) "And every one" Mk 10:29,30, Lk 18:29,30, 1Cor 2:9

Matthew 24:9

Verse 9. To be afflicted. By persecution, imprisonment, scourging, etc. "They shall deliver you up to councils," Mk 13:9: to the great council, or sanhedrim--for this is the word in the original. Mt 5:22. This was fulfilled when Peter and John were brought before the council, Acts 4:5-7. Mark further adds, Mk 13:9 that they should be delivered to synagogues and to prisons to be beaten, and should be brought before rulers and kings for his name's sake. All this was remarkably fulfilled. Peter and John were imprisoned, Acts 4:3; Paul and Silas also, Ac 16:24. They were also beaten, (Acts 16:23.) Paul was brought before Gallio, Ac 18:12; before Felix, Ac 24:24; and before Agrippa, Acts 25:23.

And shall kill you. That is, shall kill some of you. Stephen was stoned, Acts 7:59; James was killed by Herod, Acts 12:2, and in addition to all that the sacred writers have told us, the persecution under Nero took place before the destruction of Jerusalem, in which were put to death, with many others, Peter and Paul. Most of the apostles, it is believed, died by persecution. When they were delivered up, Jesus told them not to premeditate what they should say, for he would give them a mouth of wisdom, which all their adversaries could not gainsay or resist, Lk 21:14,15. The fulfillment of this is recorded in the case of Stephen, Acts 6:10; and of Paul, who made Felix tremble, Acts 24:25.

Ye shall be hated of all nations. This was fulfilled then, and has been in all ages. It was judged to be a crime to be a Christian. Multitudes for this, and for nothing else, were put to death.

For my name's sake. On account of attachment to me; or because you bear my name as Christians.

(h) "Then shall" Lk 21:12 (i) "kill you" Jn 16:2, Acts 7:59

Mark 9:41

Verse 41. Whosoever shall give you a cup, etc. How easy it is to be a Christian! What is easier than to give a cup of cold water to a thirsty disciple of Jesus! But it must be in his name--that is, because he is a Christian, and therefore from love to the Saviour. This is very different from giving it from a mere motive of common kindness. If done from love to Christ, it will be rewarded; and hence we learn that the humblest acts of Christians, the lowest service that is rendered, will be graciously noticed by Jesus, and rewarded. None are so humble in his kingdom as not to be able to do good; and none so poor that, in his circumstances, may not show attach merit to him. Their feeblest service will be accepted; and acts of love, that may be forgotten by man, will be remembered by him, and rewarded in heaven.

(u) "for whosoever" Mt 10:42, 25:40

Mark 13:13

Verse 13.

(k) "hated" Lk 6:22, Jn 17:14 (l) "but he that shall endure" Dan 12:12, Rev 2:10

Luke 21:12

Verses 12-13. Synagogues, and into prisons. Mk 13:9, Mk 13:10

(i) "into prisons" Acts 4:3, 5:18, 12:4, 16:24, Rev 2:10 (k) "brought before kings" Acts 25:23

Luke 21:17

Verse 17.

(q) "hated of all men." Jn 17:14