Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 4:27

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elis[illegible: 1 letter]us the prophet: and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

The two Stories to which our Saviour referreth are those 1 Kings 17.9. 2 Kings 5.14. But the question is what our Saviour intended to teach them by these stories, which made them so exceeding angry as we shall find by and by. I answer, several things none of which pleased them. 1. The [illegible: 1 letter]reeness of Gods distinguishing Grace. That God was not bound to give to all the same aid, and means of Grace, that he gave some. This is a Doctrine the World were never patient to hear. That God will have Mercy on whom he will have Mercy, we would fain make God a debtor to us, those of Nazareth, think they had as good, if not a better right to Christs Miracles then those of Capernaum. I tell you, saith Christ, God is a Soveraign in his acts of Grace, and acteth freely, and I can do no Miracles, but where he will have them done. 2. That it is through the fault of Men, if they receive not the benefits of Divine Grace. If the Israelites would have entertained Elijah, he might have been sent to them, as well as to Sarep[illegible: 1 letter]a. If the Lepers in Israel, would have sought out, and come to Elijah they might have been healed, if you would have received me, and believed in me, you might have seen what those of Capernaum did, it is because of your contempt and unbelief, that I can shew you no Miracles. If any say, if God had put it into the hearts of the Widdows in Israel, or the Lepers there, they would also have entertained Elijah, and have sought out and came to Elisha, why did not God put it into their hearts? To this the answer is ready▪ Who art thou that disputest with God? Why doth the Clay reply upon the Potter? Even so O Father, for so it pleaseth thee, how ever the failurs of the Lepers in Israel, and the Widdows there, and of those in Nazareth, was in a great measure in their duty, as to things within their Power to do by vertue of that common Grace, which God denieth to none, he might justly deny his special influences, while they neglected to make use of his more common influences. 3. That in every Nation he that feared God, and wrought Righteousness, was ever accepted of him. God had no respect to this Country, or that Country, he sent Elias to do good to a Sydonian, and Elisha to do good to a Syrian, whiles he neglected the ingrateful, and disobedient Israelites. Thus he also not obscurely hinteth, that for their unbelief, and rejection of, and disobedience to him, God would send his Gospel to the Gentiles, and reject them, which came to pass within a few years after. None ofall these were grateful sounds in the ears of the Men of Nazareth; you ask me (saith our Saviour) why I do not such things here at Nazareth, as I did at Capernaum. I was not sent to you. No? but were not they some of the lost Sheep of Israel? Ah! but Christ was no more sent to all Israel, than Elias was sent to all the Widows in Israel. He was sent to Preach to them all, but for any special signal favours, he was sent but to some, and those some were such as did not proudly reject and contemn him▪ but receive him.