Mat 10:23, 12:15, Mar 6:32, Luk 9:10, Joh 6:1-2 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 23. When they persecute , etc. They were not permitted to throw away their lives. Where they could preserve them, without denying their Lord, they were to do it. Yet all the commands of Christ, as well as their conduct, show that they were rather to lay down their lives than deny their Saviour. We are to preserve our lives by all proper means; but rather die than save ourselves by doing anything wrong. Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel , etc. That is, in fleeing from persecutors, from one city to another, you shall not have gone to every city in Judea, till the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the Jewish economy. . By the coming of the Son of man , that is, of Christ , is probably meant the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened about thirty years after this was spoken. The words axe often used in this sense. See . (o) "flee ye into another" (1) "Ye shall not" or "end" or "finish"

Matthew 10:23

Verse 23. When they persecute, etc. They were not permitted to throw away their lives. Where they could preserve them, without denying their Lord, they were to do it. Yet all the commands of Christ, as well as their conduct, show that they were rather to lay down their lives than deny their Saviour. We are to preserve our lives by all proper means; but rather die than save ourselves by doing anything wrong.

Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, etc. That is, in fleeing from persecutors, from one city to another, you shall not have gone to every city in Judea, till the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the Jewish economy. Mt 24:28-30. By the coming of the Son of man, that is, of Christ, is probably meant the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened about thirty years after this was spoken. The words axe often used in this sense. See Mt 24:30, Mk 13:26, Lk 21:27-32.

(o) "flee ye into another" Acts 8:1 (1) "Ye shall not" or "end" or "finish"

Matthew 12:15

Verse 15. Jesus--withdrew himself, etc. He knew the design against his life. He knew that his hour was not yet come; and he therefore sought security. By remaining, his presence would only have provoked them farther, and endangered his own life. He acted, therefore, the part of Christian prudence, and withdrew. Mt 10:23.

Mark adds, that he withdrew to the sea; that is, to the sea of Galilee, or Tiberius. He names, also, the places from which the multitude came; an important circumstance, as it throws light on the passage quoted by Matthew, Mt 13:21 "In his name shalt the Gentiles trust."

Pressed by the crowd, Mk 3:9 he went aboard a small vessel, or boat, called by Mark a ship. This he did for the convenience of being separated from them, and more easily addressing them. We are to suppose the lake still and calm; the multitudes, most of whom were sick and diseased, standing on the shore, and pressing to the water's edge; and Jesus thus healing their diseases, and preaching to them the good news of salvation. No scene could be more sub- lime than this.

Mark 6:32

Verses 32-44. Mt 14:13 and Mt 14:14-21

Verse 32. By ship. By a boat, a small vessel.

Privately. Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them.

Luke 9:10

Verses 10-17. Mt 14:13, also Mt 14:14-21.

Verse 10.

John 6:1-2

Verse 1. Jesus went over. Went to the east side of the sea. The place to which he went was Bethsaida, Lk 9:10. The account of this miracle of feeding the five thousand is recorded also in Mt 14:13-21; Mk 6:32-44, Lk 9:10-17. John has added a few circumstances omitted by the other evangelists.

(a) "after these things" Mt 14:15, Mk 6:34, Lk 9:12 Verse 2. Because they saw his miracles, &c. They saw that he had the power to supply their wants, and they therefore followed him. See Jn 6:26. Comp. also Mt 14:14.