Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.… (ver. 4): — Why was this reserve insisted on? What would have led the restored leper to act at variance with Christ's command? Two motives — a desire of bearing personal witness to the miraculous power of his Benefactor: or a wish to draw the eyes of men on the favour he had received. Both these we can conceive our Lord. would be likely to prohibit — the one, because it was needless; the other, because it was exposed to harm. 1. The first of these objects was prohibited for reasons of our Lord's showing. He did not wish to be the idol of strong excitement. 2. It was not His purpose to take men's minds, as it were, by force. He would lay no compulsion on faith. 3. Then there was also the fact itself, clear and patent to the observation of all men. Then see, on the other hand, how the injunction of our Lord seems to have borne on the personal case of the leper himself. "Go show thyself to the priest." As if our Lord had said, "Be not occupied with thine own self, make no display of what I have clone, let not that distract thee from what thou oughtest to do, thy duty is more than words, more than even magnifying thy blessings." Thus our Lord prohibited words that He might enjoin actions. The full heart can seldom find adequate vent in words; deeds do not fail us. This is a comfort to the poor. (J. Puckle. M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.WEB: When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. |
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