Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 20

2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

We have along the History of the Gospel observed, that the Scribes and Pharisees, took all advantages imaginable against our Saviour; failing in all their acts they now come to question his Authority, which seemeth not so much to have respect to his Preaching, as to his act in casting of the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple, for as to Preaching, they seemed by the History of Scripture to have given a great liberty, especially if any had the repute of a Prophet.

Marginal references: Acts 4.7. & 7.27.

8 And Jesus said unto them, Nether tell[illegible: 1 letter] you by what authority I do these things.

See the Notes on Matth. 21.24, 25. Mark 11.28, 29. The substance of our Saviours answer is this. From whence had Iohn his Authority? he Preached, and Baptized, who gave him his Authority? They had sent much such another Message to Iohn, Iohn 1.21, 22, 23. was Iohns Authority ordinary or extraordinary? It is plain that he had no Authority from them, for then they would not have sent to him to know who he was. He must therefore have it from Heaven, now if they had allowed Iohn's call extroardinary, why should not they allow Christs to be such, to whom Iohn gave so large a testimony, and who confirmed his extroardinary M[illegible: 1 letter]ssion by Miraculous Operations, which we do not read that Iohn ever did? Besides the Pharisees saw that if they allowed Iohn's Mission to be extraordinary, and from Heaven, they had obviously exposed themselves to a check, for not believing what he said, they therefore refuse to make any answer, and Christ refuseth also to satisfie them.

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

We met with this Parable at large both in Matth. 21.33. to the end, and in Mark 12.1. Its obvious Scope is to let them know, that God in righteous Judgment, for the Iews abusing the Lord's Prophets, Iohn the Baptist, and himself, who was in a few Days to be killed by them, would unchurch and destroy them, and raise up to himself a Church amongst the Gentiles, and that this was no more then was Prophecied of, Psal. 118.22▪

20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they mig[illegible: 2 letters] deliver him unto the power and authority of the governour.

There is nothing in these verses, but what we before met with, and is opened in the Notes on Matth. 21.45, 46. or Mark 12.12, 13. They let us see as in a Glass the Spirit, and Genius of Wicked Men filled with Malice against the Gospel. They are continually seeking to destroy such as have any relation to Christ, and to effect their ends, they will judge no means unfair, and their great art is to represent them as dangerous Persons to the Civil Government, so as if good Men find the same things still, they have this to comfort them, That the Disciple is not above his Master, nor the Servant above his Lord.

Marginal references: Math. 22.15.20.

26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

This piece of History we have likewise met with both, in Matth. 22.16. and Mark 12.13. See the explication of it there.

38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

See the Notes on Matth. 22.23. &c. and on Mark 11.18, &c. where all the passages in this piece of History are fully opened. By equal with the Angels, in v. 36▪ we must not understand in all things, but in the thing mentioned; the number of the Elect shall be perfect; so there shall be no need of Marrying, or giving in Marriage, to multiply the number of Men. 2. There shall be no more Marriages amongst Men, than amongst Angels, v. 38. All live unto God. Tho Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, were dead at the speaking of those words, yet they were not so in Gods Eye, who was determined to raise them up in the last Day, and who with the same Eye beholds things past, present, and to come. But see more in the Notes before mentioned.

40 And after that, they durst not ask him any question at all.

The Scribes were the Jewish Doctors of the Pharisees Faction, and [illegible: 1 letter]nemies to the Sadduces; they applaud our Saviour's answer, [illegible: 1 word] as the Herodians before (in the case of the Tribute) so the Sadduces here are put to silence. He will now put the Scribes and Pharisees to silence.

44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

The answer had been easy if the Scribes and Pharisees, who (Matthew saith) were there also, had owned Christ to be the Son of God. But this they did not own, and so (as Matthew tells us) ch. 22.46. No Man was able to answer him a Word, neither durst any Man from that Day forth ask him any more questions. Thus Christ Nonplust all his Adversaries.

47 Which devour widows houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

We have met with all this before, ch. 11.43. Matth. 23.6, 7. Mark 12.38, 39, 40. See the Notes on those Texts.