There are two considerable diversities in the narratives of this miracle: St. Matthew speaks of two blind men, while the other Evangelists mention one only; and both Matthew and Mark expressly say that the miracle was wrought when our Lord was going out of Jericho, whereas St. Luke places it on his approaching that city. See Note § p. 193. The first diversity presents no difficulty. From the mention of the name of Timæus, it is reasonable to suppose that he was a person well known at Jericho; and at any rate, the history of Bartimæus is alone recorded, as he would himself tell it, or, (just as that of the maniac of Gadara, see Note * p. 78,) owing to his being from some cause the most noted. St. Matthew having seen two blind men, speaks of two. As to the second point, there is a real discrepancy: not, however, in the least affecting the credibility of the miracle, or the faithfulness of St. Luke; and easily arising from the nature of his sources of information. His narrative of the approach of Jesus to Jerusalem, (ch. xviii. 15-43, continued in ch. xix. 29-38), is obviously derived from the same general source as that in Mark x. 13-34, continued in x. 46-xi. 10. Into that narrative, Mark (in common with Matthew) introduces the application of the mother and the sons of Zebedee, ch. x. 35-45; and St. Luke, introduces his record respecting Zacchæus, which was obviously a separate document, derived, we may reasonably suppose, from Zacchæus himself, or some one of his family. Let us suppose that the record which Luke had of the approach to Jerusalem, expressed the history in the words which he has himself given in ver. 35: these (see the Note on the verse) leave the reader at liberty to refer the words 'as he drew nigh, to Jerusalem (understood); just as in ch. xix. 29, ὡς ηγγισεν, εις Βηθφαγη και Βηθανίαν, προς το ορος το καλουμενον ελαιων, the original may well be rendered, and probably does mean, 'as he drew nigh Jerusalem, at (or near) Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the Mount of Olives.' In this case, εις Ιεριχώ would mean 'at (or near) Jericho;' and nothing could be determined, from the record alone, as to the locality of the miracle. The more copious information possessed by Mark enabled him to determine this; and he (as well as Matthew) has fixed it to the departure from Jericho-where, it may be observed, it is most probable that the blind men begging would take their station, as the concourse was towards Jerusalem for the Passover. In the ambiguity of the original record, which would naturally, in the train of events, lead any one to think of the approach to Jericho, St. Luke has so taken it, inserting the record respecting Zacchæus, (which begins with our Lord's entering and passing through Jericho), after the cure of Bartimæus. But for this, we might, with the other Gospels before us, have reasonably conjectured that St. Luke meant nothing more than that the miracle was wrought at Jericho, as our Lord was drawing nigh to Jerusalem. In this view of the matter, the whole of the discrepancy resolves itself into the verbal ambiguity of the original record, the train of events leading to a natural, but, as it proves, erroneous interpretation of it. Calvin (Harm. p. 265), says that Osiander imagines there were four blind mon; and that one was cured as Christ was entering Jericho, and another, and then two more, as he was going out: but he justly reprobates the supposition. His own supposition is, that the application of the blind man (with that of his companion) was made to our Lord as he was entering Jericho, but the cure actually wrought by him on his leaving the city. Close attention to the records of the first two Evangelists forbids the sup. position that they thought so. -Macknight (in addition to two other explanations) adduces some reasons for supposing that Jericho consisted of an old and a new town; and that the first two Evangelists speak of our Lord's coming out from one, and St. Luke of his entering the other. But the supposition is destitute of the necessary evidence. Mr. Greswell, (Diss. xxii.), following a "mode of reconciliation" "not more recommended (he says) by its antiquity, than by its simplicity," supposes that there were "two miracles, each at different times, and on a different individual;" St. Luke recording one wrought on entering Jericho, St. Mark another on leaving it, and St. Matthew both of them together. But could St. Matthew, who was accompanying our Lord, have so recorded them, and yet placed both at his leaving Jericho? and is it probable that the circumstances of each miracle, if separate, could have so corresponded as we find them to do in Mark and Luke? Mr. Greswell's theory is quite untenable. By those who have been accustomed to consider the effects of the ambiguities of language, and to observe the diversities in evidence, even when given by faithful and well-informed witnesses, and especially the diversities produced by these causes in the narratives drawn up from such testimony, the discrepancy which exists in relation to the circumstances of the miracle, cannot reasonably be thought to throw any impeachment on St. Luke's fidelity and diligence of research. In another case, (the cure of the Centurion's servant), his fuller and more precise information enables us to correct one particular in St. Matthew's brief record, (see p. 73), without in any way impeaching the faithfulness of the Apostle: here the advantages possessed by an eye-witness, and by another who would continally hear the circumstances of the last journey retraced by eye-witnesses, enable us to correct one particular in St. Luke's narrative, without in any way impeaching his fidelity or his diligence of research. This is the simplest way of viewing the matter; and "truth is simple." DATES OF THE OCCURRENCES IN PART VIII. The Six Days ending with the Crucifixion. According to the Jewish modes of calculation, any time between the sunset on Saturday and the sunset on Sunday, i. e. the 9th of Nisan, would answer the designation 'six days before the Passover' in John xii. 1. (See Observations at the end of this Part). If our Lord passed the night of the 9th, at the house of Zacchæus, (see Note + p. 193), then he probably arrived at Bethany in the forenoon of Sunday. Upon this calculation, the following distribution may be made of the 'Six Days.' Nisan 9 10 11 12 13 14 ending at Sunset on April 2. Sunday. Jesus arrives at Bethany: the Supper at the house of Simon. 3. Monday. Public Entry into Jerusalem: + Voice in the Temple. 4. Tuesday. Miracle on the Barren Fig-tree: The Temple cleared. 5. Wednesday.The Last Day in the Temple: Prophecy on the Mount of Olives. From St. Matthew's narrative, ch. xxi. 1., (see Sect. ii.), it would not have been known that our Lord even stopped at Bethany in his way to Jerusalem. Hastening to the public acts of the week, the Evangelist passes by the Supper at Bethany; and he adverts to it only in connection with the effect which the circumstances had produced on Judas's mind, at the time when this Apostle made his offer to the High Priest and his partisans. Mark's agreement with Matthew in this arrangement, was most probably owing to his being in possession of a record which had been derived from the same source as Matthew's. The great correspondence between Mark and Matthew, after the Return of the Apostles, renders it probable that a record by St. Matthew, of that period of our Lord's Ministry, was in possession of St. Mark, who en ployed it in writing his Greek Gospel, making, of course, those additions which his own knowledge, as an inhabitant of Jerusalem, and a companion of the Apostle Peter, might be expected to supply. + Mr. Groswell also (Diss. Vol. III. p. 19). refers to the Monday our Lord's "procession to the temple:" the common opinion, Le propoly observes, "rests on no better authority than that of prescription." RECORDS OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY. PART VIII. FROM OUR LORD'S ARRIVAL AT BETHANY, TILL THE DAY ON WHICH HE ATE THE PASSOVER. SECT. I. Day of Christ's Arrival at Bethany: the Supper at Simon's House.* JOHN XI. ΧΙΙ. 55 Now the passover of the Jews was nigh: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 They sought therefore for Jesus, and said among themselves, as they stood in the temple, "What think ye? that he will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the Chief Priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man should know where he was, he should declare it, that they might take him. CH. XII. Jesus therefore six days before the pass. over came to Bethany where Lazarus was that • The order of St. John is here followed, and our, therefore, in ch. xii. 2, (except for his frequent employment of the word as little more thau a connective), would be decisive in favour of it. Matthew and Mark obviously introduce the transaction in connection with the purposes of the Sanhedrim and the treachery of Judas, (see Note on Sect. viii.); and it is not difficult, therefore, to see why they might postpone it: but St. John's narrative gives no room for the supposition that he anticipated the time. The calm-judging Newcome, however, follows the order of Matthew and Maik; and in this he agrees with Marsh and other eminent critics. JOHN XII. had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 3 They made therefore a supper for him there; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him. Mary therefore took a pound of balsam of spikenard, pure and very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the balsam. One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, he who was about to deliver him up, saith therefore, "Why was not this balsam sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" 5 * But he said this, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the purse, and carried what was put therein. 7 Jesus therefore said, "Let her alone: for the day of my burial, she hath kept this. * For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always." THE FIRST DAY IN THE TEMPLE: Part 1. Christ's Public Entry into MATT. XΧΙ. Jerusalem: Miracles in the Temple. MARK XI. AND when they AND when they LUKE XIX. 29 AND it came to as JOHN XII.. 12 On the next day drew nigh unto Je- draw nigh to Jeru- pass, he drew a great multitude who rusalem, and came salem, at Bethphage nigh, at Bethphage had come to the feast, to Bethphage, at the and Bethany, at the and Bethany, at the when they heard that mount of Olives, then mount of Olives, he mount called the Jesus was coming Jesus sent two dis- sendeth two of his mount of Olives, he to Jerusalem, 13 took ciples, 2 saying unto disciples, 2 and saith sent two of his dis- branches of palm them, "Go ve into the unto them, "Go ye ciples, 30 saying, "Go trees, and went forth village over against into the village over ye into the village to meet him, and you, and straightway against you: and over against you; in cried, "Hosanna! ye will find an ass straightway on en- which as ye enter, Blessed be he that tied, and a colt with tering into it, ye will ye will find a colt cometh in the name her: loose them, and find a colt tied, where- tied, whereon no of the Lord! the King bring them unto me. on no man hath sat; man hath ever sat: of Israel "! 14 Now 3 And if any one say loose him, and bring loose him, and bring Jesus, having procuraught unto you, ye him hither. 3 And if him hither. 31 Anded a young ass, sat • The portion of St. John's Gospel in this Section may, in a Monotessaron, be conveniently interwoven with the other Gospels; but it cannot be arranged so as to show the degree of correspondence with the others, except by much derangement of his narrative: this peculiarly marks the vivid recollection of the circumstances that most struck him when they occurred-in particular as connected with the resurrection of Lazarus, recorded by him alone. |