John Gill

He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

“And he taught in their synagogues,.... In the public places of worship used by the Galilaeans, where they met on sabbath days and weekdays, to read and pray, and hear the Scriptures expounded; and Christ engaging here as a public teacher, was the reason of…”

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.

“But unto none of them was Elias sent,.... That is, to none of the poor widows in the land of Israel was the prophet sent, to supply them with food, and relieve them in their famishing circumstances, as might most reasonably have been expected: save…”

and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

“And he stood over her,.... "At her head", as the Persic version reads: he inclined himself towards her, to see how she did, and to take her by the hand, and lift her up; and rebuked the fever.”

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.

“And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city,.... Or near it, hard by it, very probably Capernaum; Mat 8:1 Behold a man full of leprosy; a disease to which the Jews were very incident, and concerning which, many laws and rules…”

“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

“And he charged him to tell no man,.... Of his cure, and by whom he received it; but go show thyself to the priest.”

But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

“But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him,.... For the more he charged the man to keep silence, the more he blazed it abroad, being elated with the cure he received, and filled with gratitude to his benefactor; Mar 1:45.”

Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,

“And behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy,.... Four men brought him, as Mark says, Mar 2:3 and which the Ethiopic version expresses here: "and they sought means to bring him in": into the house where Jesus was…”

When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

“And when he saw their faith,.... That is, Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions express it; when he saw the faith both of the paralytic man, and of the men that brought him, which was shown in the pains they took, and trouble they…”

Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

“But when Jesus perceived their thoughts,.... Being God omniscient; he answering said unto them, what reason ye in your hearts?”

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined.

“And no man putteth new wine into old bottles,.... To which the Scribes and Pharisees are here compared, into whose hearts the new wine of Gospel grace was not put; or to whom was not made known the love of God Comparable to new wine…”

Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.

“But new wine must be put into new bottles,.... Such as the disciples of Christ were, and sinners called to repentance are, who are renewed by the Spirit and grace of God: and these are filled with spiritual joy and comfort, as with new wine…”

One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.

“And it came to pass on the second sabbath day after the first,.... Or "second first sabbath", concerning which interpreters are greatly divided.”

But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

“And they were filed with madness,.... Both at the cure, and because they could not answer him; nor properly fix a charge upon him, or accuse him before the people, without bringing their resentments on them: and communed one with another what they might do…”

When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:

“And when it was day,.... Or morning; having spent the whole night in prayer to God, no doubt for his disciples, whom he was about to send forth as his apostles, to preach his Gospel, and work miracles, and for their success therein: he called…”

Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

“Simon, whom he also named Peter,.... Which signifies a rock, or stone, as Cephas also does, see Joh 1:42 from his constancy, steadfastness, and solidity: and Andrew his brother; who was called at the same time with him, and were brethren, both in nature and…”

Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;

“Matthew and Thomas,.... The first of these was a publican, and who also was called Levi; and the latter had besides the name of Didymus, and was he that was so unbelieving of Christ's resurrection: James the son of Alphaeus; sometimes called James the less…”

Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over…

“And he came down with them,.... With the twelve apostles, from the top of the mountain, where he had been praying all night, and where he had been that morning, ordaining, and giving instructions to the twelve he had chosen: and stood in the plain…”

The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

“And the whole multitude sought to touch him,.... That is, the multitude of those that were sick and possessed; for they were persuaded, and they found it true by experience, that if they could but touch any part of his body, or his garments, they…”

Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples,.... Either the whole company of them, or rather the twelve apostles, whom he saw coming to him, and fixing his eyes on them, he sat, and said; what follows, with many other things recorded by Matthew…”

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

“And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek,.... The right cheek, offer also the other; the left cheek, by turning it to him, that he may smite that likewise, if he thinks fit: by which proverbial expression, Christ teaches patience in bearing injuries…”

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“And as ye would that men should do to you,.... In matters of justice and beneficence were they in your case, and you in theirs; do ye also to them likewise: a golden rule this, agreeably to the light of nature, and divine revelation, and…”

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.

“And if ye do good to them which do good to you,.... As one good turn deserves another: what thank have ye? what grace or goodness is there in such an action? what glory or merit is there in it?”

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

“And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive,.... The same again, as from their brethren the Jews; or usury, as from the Gentiles: what thank have ye?”

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return.

“But love ye your enemies,.... As before urged in Luk 6:27 and do good and lend; not to your friends only, but to your enemies; hoping for nothing again; either principal or interest, despairing of seeing either; lending to such persons, from whom, in all…”

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

“The disciple is not above his master,.... Or "more excellent", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it; that is, in learning and knowledge; if the master is ignorant, the scholar will be so too; and thus it is with teachers, and their people…”