Matthew 4:17

Verse 17. See Mt 3:2

(m) "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" Mt 3:2, 10:7

Matthew 10:7

Verse 7. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Or, more literally, the reign of heaven, or of God, draws near. Mt 3:2.

(y) "saying" Mt 3:2, 4:17, Lk 9:2, 10:9

Matthew 21:34

Verse 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, etc. The time of gathering the fruit. The vineyard was let out, probably for a part of the fruit, and the owner sent to receive the part that was his.

Sent his servants. These doubtless represent the prophets sent to the Jewish people.

(w) "servants" 2Kgs 17:13

Matthew 26:45

Verse 45. Sleep on now, and take your rest. Most interpreters have supposed that this should be translated as a question, rather than a command. "Do you sleep now, and take your rest? Is this a time, amidst so much danger, and so many enemies, to give yourselves to sleep?" This construction is strongly countenanced by Luke, Lk 22:46,) where the expression, "Why sleep ye?" evidently refers to the same point of time. There is no doubt that the Greek will bear this construction; and in this way the apparent inconsistency will be removed between this command, to sleep, and that in the next verse, to rise and be going. Others suppose that, his agony being over, and the necessity of watching with him being now passed, he kindly permitted them to seek repose till they should be roused by the coming of the traitor; that, while they slept, Jesus continued still awake; that some considerable time elapsed between what was spoken here and in the next verse; and that Jesus suffered them to sleep until he saw Judas coming, and then aroused them. Others have supposed that he spoke this in irony: "Sleep on now, if you can; take rest, if possible, in such dangers, and at such a time." But this supposition is unworthy of the Saviour and the occasion. Mark adds, "It is enough." That is, sufficient time has been given to sleep. It is time to arise and be going.

The hour is at hand. The time when the Son of man is to be betrayed is near.

Sinners. Judas, the Roman soldiers, and the Jews.

Mark 1:16

Verse 16.

(t) "Now as he" Mt 4:18, Lk 5:4

Luke 21:20

Luke 21:28

Verse 28. Your redemption draweth nigh. Mt 24:33. This is expressed in the 31st verse thus: "the kingdom of God is nigh at hand"--that is, from that time God will signally build up his kingdom. It shall be fully established when the Jewish policy shall come to an end; when the temple shall be destroyed, and the Jews scattered abroad. Then the power of the Jews shall be at an end; they shall no longer be able to persecute you, and you shall be completely delivered from all these trials and calamities in Judea.

(a) "your redemption draweth nigh" Rom 8:23

Acts 7:17

Verse 17. The times of the promise. The time of the fulfillment of the promises.

The people grew, etc. Ex 1:7,8

(b) "the people grew" Ex 1:7-9

Romans 13:12

Verse 12. The night. The word night, in the New Testament, is used to denote night literally, (Mt 2:14, etc.;) the starry heavens, (Rev 8:12;) and then it denotes a state of ignorance and crime, and is synonymous with the word darkness, as such deeds are committed commonly in the night, 1Thes 5:5. In this place it seems to denote our present imperfect and obscure condition in this world as contrasted with the pure light of heaven. The night, the time of comparative security and sin in which we live even under the gospel, is far gone in relation to us, and the pure splendours of heaven are at hand.

Is far spent. Literally, "is cut off." It is becoming short; it is hastening to a close.

The day. The full splendours and glory of redemption in heaven. Heaven is often thus represented as a place of pure and splendid day, Rev 21:23,25, 22:5. The times of the gospel are represented as times of light, (Isa 60:1,2,19,20, etc.;) but the reference here seems to be rather to the still brighter glory and splendour of heaven, as the place of pure, unclouded, and eternal day.

Is at hand. Is near; or is drawing near. This is true respecting all Christians. The day is near, or the time when they shall be admitted to heaven is not remote. This is the uniform representation of the New Testament, Heb 10:25, 1Pet 4:7, Jas 5:8, Rev 22:20, 1Thes 5:2-6, Php 4:5. That the apostle did not mean, however, that the end of the world was near, or that the day of judgment would come soon, is clear from his own explanations. See 1Thes 5:2-6. Comp. 2Thes 2.

Let us therefore. As we are about to enter on the glories of that eternal day, we should be pure and holy. The expectation of it will teach us to seek purity; and a pure life alone will fit us to enter there, Heb 12:14.

Cast off. Lay aside, or put away.

The works of darkness. Dark, wicked deeds, such as are specified in the next verse. They are called works of darkness, because darkness in the Scriptures is an emblem of crime, as well as of ignorance, and because such deeds are commonly committed in the night. 1Thes 5:7, "They that be drunken, are drunken in the night." Comp. Jn 3:20, Eph 5:11-13.

Let us put on. Let us clothe ourselves with.

The armour of light. The word armour--(οπλα)--properly means arms, or instruments of war, including the helmet, sword, shield, etc., Eph 6:11-17. It is used in the New Testament to denote the aids which the Christian has, or the means of defence in his warfare, where he is represented as a soldier contending with his foes, and includes truth, righteousness, faith, hope, etc., as the instruments by which he is to gain his victories. In 2Cor 6:7, it is called "the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." It is called armour of light, because it is not to accomplish any deeds of darkness or of crime; it is appropriate to one who is pure, and who is seeking a pure and noble object. Christians are represented as the children of light, 1Thes 5:5. Note, Lk 16:8. By the armour of light, therefore, the apostle means those graces which stand opposed to the deeds of darkness, (Rom 13:13;) those graces of faith, hope, humility, etc., which shall be appropriate to those who are the children of the day, and which shall be their defence in their struggles with their spiritual foes. See the description in full in Eph 6:11-17.

(d) "therefore cast off" Eph 5:11 (e) "put on the armour of light" Eph 6:13
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