to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned
to follow the directions of our great Physician.
Verses 14–17
John was at this time in prison; his circumstances, his character, and the nature of the message
he was sent to deliver, led those who were peculiarly attached to him, to keep frequent fasts. Christ
referred them to John's testimony of him, Joh 3:29. Though there is no doubt that Jesus and his
disciples lived in a spare and frugal manner, it would be improper for his disciples to fast while
they had the comfort of his presence. When he is with them, all is well. The presence of the sun
makes day, and its absence produces night. Our Lord further reminded them of common rules of
prudence. It was not usual to take a piece of rough woolen cloth, which had never been prepared,
to join to an old garment, for it would not join well with the soft, old garment, but would tear it
further, and the rent would be made worse. Nor would men put new wine into old leathern bottles,
which were going to decay, and would be liable to burst from the fermenting of the wine; but putting
the new wine into strong, new, skin bottles, both would be preserved. Great caution and prudence
are necessary, that young converts may not receive gloomy and forbidding ideas of the service of
our Lord; but duties are to be urged as they are able to bear them.
Verses 18–26
The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to
the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ,
must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps was because
of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him, and which He
who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy
from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment by living faith,
our worst evils will be healed; there is no other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things
which are a grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Christ
entered the ruler's house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails,
it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's daughter was really dead, but not so
to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a sleep. The
words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised.
The people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper
witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless Christ
take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ's raising
one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that are in their graves shall
hear his voice, and come forth; those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that
have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!
Verses 27–31
At this time the Jews expected Messiah would appear; these blind men knew and proclaimed
in the streets of Capernaum that he was come, and that Jesus was he. Those who, by the providence