Matthew 26:54
Verse 54: But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, etc. That is, the scriptures which foretold of his dying for the world. In some way that must be accomplished; and the time had come when, having finished the work which the Father gave him to do, it was proper that he should submit to a cruel death. This was said doubtless to comfort his disciples; to show them that his death was not a matter of surprise or disappointment to him; and that they, therefore, should not be offended and forsake him. (x) "that thus" Lk 24:26,46Matthew 26:56
Verse 56. Scriptures of the prophets. The writings of the prophets-- for this is the meaning of the word scriptures. He alludes to those parts of the prophets which foretold his sufferings and death. Then all the disciples, etc. Overcome with fear, when they saw their Master actually taken; alarmed with the terrific appearance of armed men, and torches in a dark night; and forgetting their promises not to forsake him, they all left their Saviour to go alone. Alas! how many, when attachment to Christ would lead them to danger, leave him, and also flee! Mark adds, that after the disciples had fled, a young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, attempted to follow him. Probably he was the owner of the garden, and a friend of Jesus. Aroused by the noise from his repose, he came to defend the Saviour. He cast, in his hurry, a garment at hand round his body, and came to him. The young men among the Romans and Jews attempted to secure him also; but he escaped from them, and fled. Mk 14:50,51. (y) "Scriptures" Gen 3:15, Ps 22:1-31, 69:1-36, Isa 53:1-12, Lam 4:20 Da 9:24,26 Zec 13:7 Ac 1:16John 2:22
Verse 22. When he was risen from the dead, &c. This saying of our Saviour at that time seemed obscure and difficult. The disciples did not understand it, but they treasured it up in their memory, and the event showed what was its true meaning. Many prophecies are obscure when spoken which are perfectly plain when the event takes place. We learn from this, also, the importance of treasuring up the truths of the Bible now, though we may not perfectly understand them. Hereafter they may be plain to us. It is therefore important that children should learn the truths of the sacred Scriptures. Treasured up in their memory, they may not be understood now, but hereafter they may be clear to them. Every one engaged in teaching a Sunday-school, therefore, may be imparting instruction which may be understood, and may impart comfort, long after the teacher has gone to eternity. They believed. That is, after he rose from the dead. The scripture. The Old Testament, which predicted his resurrection. Reference here must be made to Ps 16:10, comp. Acts 2:27-32, Acts 13:35-37, Ps 2:7, comp. Acts 13:33. They understood those Scriptures in a sense different from what they did before. The word which Jesus had said. The prediction which he had made respecting his resurrection in this place and on other occasions. See Mt 20:19, Lk 18:32,33. (s) "his disciples" Lk 24:8John 5:39
Verse 39. Search the scriptures. The word translated search here means to search diligently or anxiously. It is applied to miners, who search for precious metals--who look anxiously for the bed of the ore with an intensity or anxiety proportionate to their sense of the value of the metal. Comp. Job 28:3. It is applied by Homer to a lioness robbed of her whelps, and who searches the plain to trace out the footsteps of the man who has robbed her. It is also applied by him to dogs tracing their game by searching them out by the scent of the foot. It means a diligent, faithful, anxious investigation. The word may be either in the indicative or imperative mood. In our translation it is in the imperative, as if Jesus commanded them to search the Scriptures, Cyril, Erasmus, Beza, Bengel, Kuinoel, Tholuck, De Wette, and others, give it as in the indicative; Chrysostom, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wetstein, Stier, Alford, and others, regard it as in the imperative, or as a command. It is impossible to determine which is the true interpretation. Either of them makes good sense, and it is proper to use the passage in either signification. There is abundant evidence that the Jews did search the books of the Old Testament. It is equally clear that all men ought to do it. The scriptures. The writings or books of the Old Testament, for those were all the books of revelation that they then possessed. In them ye think ye have eternal life. The meaning of this is: "Ye think that by studying the Scriptures you will obtain eternal life. You suppose that they teach the way to future blessedness, and that by diligently studying them you will attain it." We see by this-- 1. That the Jews in the time of Jesus were expecting a future state. 2. The Scriptures teach the way of life, and it is our duty to study them. The Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11); and Timothy is said from a child to have "known the holy scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation," 2Ti 3:15. Early life is the proper time to search the Bible, for they who seek the Lord early shall find him. They are they, &c. They bear witness to the Messiah. They predict his coming, and the manner of his life and death, Isa 53:1-12; Dan 9:26,27, &c. Lk 24:27. (p) "they are" Lk 24:27, 1Pet 1:10,11John 7:38
Verse 38. He that believeth on me. He that acknowledges me as the Messiah, and trusts in me for salvation. As the scripture hath said. This is a difficult expression, from the fact that no such expression as follows is to be found literally in the Old Testament. Some have proposed to connect it with what precedes--"He that believeth on me, as the Old Testament has commanded or required"-- but to this there are many objections. The natural and obvious meaning here is, doubtless, the true one; and Jesus probably intended to say, not that there was any particular place in the Old Testament that affirmed this in so many words, but that this was the substance of what the Scriptures taught, or this was the spirit of their declarations. Hence the Syriac translates it in the plural--the Scriptures. Probably there is a reference more particularly to Isa 58:11, than to any other single passage: "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not." See also Isa 44:3,4, Joel 3:18. Out of his belly. Out of his midst, or out of his heart. The word belly is often put for the midst of a thing, the centre, and the heart, Mt 12:40. It means here that from the man shall flow; that is, his piety shall be of such a nature that it will extend its blessings to others. It shall be like a running fountain-- perhaps in allusion to statues or ornamented reservoirs in gardens, in which pipes were placed from which water was continually flowing. The Jews used the same figure: "His two reins are like fountains of water, from which the law flows." And again: "When a man turns himself to the Lord, he shall be as a fountain filled with living water, and his streams shall flow to all the nations and tribes of men" (Kuinoel). Rivers. This word is used to express abundance, or a full supply. It means here that those who are Christians shall diffuse large, and liberal, and constant blessings on their fellow-men; or, as Jesus immediately explains it, that they shall be the instruments by which the Holy Spirit shall be poured down on the world. Living water. Fountains, ever-flowing streams. That is, the gospel shall be constant and life-giving in its blessings. We learn here, 1st. That it is the nature of Christian piety to be diffusive. 2nd. That no man can believe on Jesus who does not desire that others should also, and who will not seek it. 3rd. That the desire is large and liberal--that the Christian desires the salvation of all the world. 4th. That the faith of the believer is to be connected with the influence of the Holy Spirit, and in that way Christians are to be like rivers of living water. (h) "out if his belly" Prov 18:4, Isa 58:11, Jn 4:14John 7:42
Verse 42. (n) "Christ cometh" Ps 132:11 (o) "town of Bethlehem" Mic 5:2, Lk 2:4 (p) "where David was" 1Sam 16:1,4John 10:35
Verse 35. Unto whom the word of God came. That is, who were his servants, or who received their dignity and honour only because the law of God was intrusted to them. The word of God here means the command of God; his commission to them to do justice. The scripture cannot be broken. See Mt 5:19. The authority of the Scripture is final; it cannot be set aside. The meaning is, "If, therefore, the Scripture uses the word god as applied to magistrates, it settles the question that it is right to apply the term to those in office and authority. If applied to them, it may be to others in similar offices. It can not, therefore, be blasphemy to use this word as applicable to a personage so much more exalted than mere magistrates as the Messiah."
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