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The Gospel of Jesus Christ According to
St. Matthew Pasquier
Quesnel Translated
by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, D.D., Vicar of Islington and now Bishop of Chapter XXI. Sect. I. Christ’s Entry Into Jerusalem. 1. AND when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, The entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem
is a figure of his reign in the church and in the soul. It is by his death
that he is to reign; by humiliation that he is to conquer; and by the cross
that he is to triumph over sin, the world, and the devil. He enters therefore
with some kind of pomp, only in order to meet death; his whole equipage has
nothing in it but what tends to humble him; and his triumph serves only to incense
his enemies, and to pave his way to the cross. 2. Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straight way ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. Christ, in this triumphant entry, gives a
representation of the church, for which he came to triumph by his death, and which
he designed to compose of two sorts of people the Jews, accustomed to the
yoke of the law, and the Gentiles, who had never borne it. The Christian,
consisting of two parts, serves the law of God according to the Spirit, and
the law of sin according to the flesh. By the bonds which tied these creatures,
thou showest me, Lord, my bondage under the law of
sin; but at the same time thou showest me, that
thou art about to untie them, and to leave to thy church, and the ministers
of it, the power of loosing sinners, Jews and Gen tiles, without distinction.
3. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. Jesus Christ, still uniform in his
conduct, is always intent on humbling himself, that he may prepare a remedy
for our pride; and on setting off his humiliations by marks of his almighty
power, that he may establish the belief of his divinity. Nothing resists his
will, when he intends to loose the sinner, or make use of him for his own
purposes and designs. 4. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5. Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. See to what the outward magnificence of
this triumph is reduced! but to the sight of God,
nothing can appear more great and magnificent, than a God who despises
greatness and magnificence so far as to divest himself thereof, and who teaches
the great ones of the earth to despise it, even while they possess it. What
an example is here, that the son of God should come meek, and full of
gentleness, to those whose hearts he knew to be full of hatred and rage
against himself, and entirely employed in contriving his death, and that he should
come even to deliver himself up to them! This is such an instance of charity,
as will cover the revengeful with shame, and overwhelm them at the tribunal
of God, if they do not profit by it. The kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of
meekness and of love, by which he subdues both Jews and Gentiles the spirit
and the flesh. 6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, A ready and faithful obedience to the word
of Jesus Christ is a sacrifice due to him from the reason and will of man. When
God commands, there is no time for dispute. When ever, by his order and
authority, we undertake to loose souls, and to bring them to Christ, we must
do our duty in following his instructions, without regarding the censures of
men. There may happen some certain occasions, wherein, through zeal to serve
souls and obey Christ, we are obliged to expose ourselves to grievous and
mortifying suspicions; as the disciples here expose themselves to pass for
robbers. Herein they imitate their Master beforehand, who was treated as such
at the time of his death, being crucified between two thieves. 7. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. All here is mystery and instruction. Pastors
should learn from hence to strip and divest themselves of every thing, that they
may prepare souls for the reception of Jesus Christ as their King; to cover
the sins of others with the garment of an inviolable secresy;
to hide their infirmities by a wise condescension, their bashfulness by a
preventing charity; and to spare nothing which may engage them to take upon
them the yoke of Christ, and to carry Christ himself in their hearts, by a
sincere faith and imitation of his virtues. 8. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. The people celebrate Christ’s triumph over
their hearts with out knowing it. Their simple and more sincere faith renders
them more disposed to receive him and his word. God accepts more favourably
the artless praise and small offerings of the poor, than the studied praises
of the learned, and the magnificent presents of the great. We do not see here
either learned, or rich, or great men come to meet Christ, and contribute to
the glory of his triumph; this is for them a very bad presage: knowledge,
which puffs up, being not apt to in cline men to the obedience of faith, nor
riches to the love of poverty, nor greatness to the humility of Christ. 9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Some praise Jesus Christ to-day, who will
crucify him to morrow by their sins. See the vanity of the world’s applause! To-day
men acknowledge Christ to be the Son of David and the Messias;
and we shall presently hear them renounce him, require his blood, and place
him below thieves and murderers. There are abundance
of these well-meaning, but weak souls, who would die for the truth when there
is nothing to fear; but who, as soon as it is attacked, are the first who
turn their backs upon it, and declare against it. All the Scriptures give
witness to Jesus Christ, the Old which preceded, as
well as the New which followed him. Let us read and meditate on them all with
reverence and faith. 10. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? That saving trouble
with which the elect are affected at the belief of Christ’s coming, is very
different from that trouble of envy and infidelity, which the establishment
of his kingdom causes in the wicked. Had he come to flatter the passions of
men, he would then have been welcome to the world; but the world would not
have been converted. Had he adapted himself to the desires of sinful men,
they would not indeed have been moved or troubled at his coming; but then
they could have had no Saviour. This is a dreadful instance of forgetfulness
and ingratitude, to ask who Christ is, after so many wonders and miracles! Such
is the forgetfulness of a sinner, who, having been healed and sanctified by
his grace, loses it afterward through his ingratitude. 11. And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. The people are readier to acknowledge and
confess Jesus Christ than the great; but faith and piety, which have not yet
been tried, are very unsteadfast and wavering. Those
truths of the gospel, which, in some season or other of their lives, many
have known and commended, will serve only to condemn them at the judgment of
God. Sect. II. The Buyers And Sellers Cast Out
Of The Temple. Little Children Commended. 12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, Avarice, covered with the veil of
religion, is one of those things upon which Christ looks with the greatest
indignation in his church. It is a sure mark of the terrible punishments which
he reserves for the profaners of his true temple, the church, that he suffers
in it those whose very shadow and figure he would
not suffer in the Jewish temple. Merchandise of holy things, simoniacal presentations, fraudulent exchanges, a
mercenary spirit in sacred functions; ecclesiastical employments, obtained by
flattery, service, or attendance, or by any thing which is instead of money;
collations, nominations, and elections, made on any other motive than the
glory of God, and the good of the church, these are all fatal and damnable
profanations, of which those in the temple were only a shadow. 13. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. If to do common and ordinary actions in a
temple, which contained no more than a figure of the Christian mysteries, denominate
a man a thief in God’s house; what name do those deserve, who, by criminal
and scandalous discourses, by lascivious looks and shameful dresses, profane
the churches where Christ is present? They who are
placed in the church on purpose to serve souls, and do not do it; or who
enjoy the revenues of the church, and neglect the service of it, are thieves
in more senses than one. 14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Jesus Christ soon returns to his kind and
charitable inclination, whatever cause of anger has been given him; how can we
refuse to imitate him with respect to our brethren? After having condemned
the profane use of the house of God, he shows what is the holy and lawful use
of it; namely, by prayer, adoration, praise, and sacrifice, to use our utmost
endeavours to obtain the cure of those who are under the blind ness of sin,
and the lameness of irregular affections; or to enlighten them by the divine
word. 15. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, The blindness and obstinacy of priests and
teachers are generally the effect of ambition, avarice, and pride. Would to
God, that they who ought most to promote the advancement
of his work, and the kingdom of Christ, were not too often those who obstruct
and hinder it the most! The envy, jealousy, and worldly interest of corrupt
ecclesiastics, will ever do more mischief to the church than her declared enemies.
The most wonderful success of holy bishops, their reputation, and the
veneration which the people have for them, are so far from gaining the hearts
of their secret enemies, that they do but exasperate them the more. 16. And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? A great reputation is a very great crime,
when a man has envious, incensed, or powerful enemies. It is not always a well-regulated
humility to disavow praise and public esteem, when the glory of God and of
truth is concerned. The praise of the common people is least to be suspected,
because they are least capable of affectation and artifice. God willingly accepts
the praises of the simple, because his Spirit draws them out of their mouths.
17. And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. It is wisdom not to persist in
endeavouring to instruct those who are blinded with envy. When a pastor has
discharged all he owes to truth and the dignity of his office, he should consider
what is due to prudence and humility, giving way for a time to the envy of
his enemies, and withdrawing him self from the excessive affection of his
friends. Sect. III. The Fig-Tree Withered. The
Prayer With Faith. 18. Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, he hungered. How barren is the friendship of men toward
Jesus Christ. Their hard-heartedness often leaves his members to suffer hunger
as well as himself. We may conclude, from his hunger, that his triumph was
followed by fasting and prayer, two powerful means to suppress human
complacency, and expel the poison of applause. Christ had no need of these
preservatives himself, but his members wanted this example and instruction. 19. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Can the Christian, who affords Jesus
Christ nothing but barren words and desires, expect any thing but his malediction
and curse? We must continually watch, and employ ourselves in good works,
especially those of our salvation, still expecting the hour when Christ will
come to demand the fruit of all his gifts and graces. A fig tree in the way,
and a Christian exposed to all the temptations of the world, either bear or
preserve but very little fruit. Dryness and barrenness are, without
comparison, more terrible in the other world, where there is not the least
hope of any more grace. Let us take great care not to let the season pass
which is proper for producing fruit; one moment will deprive us of it all. 20. And when the disciples saw it they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! The desertion and malediction of sinners
ought to strike even the just with fear and amazement. We say every day one
to another, See how suddenly this man died; but who takes
warning by such examples? What we say to-day of others, will perhaps be said
to-morrow of us. God is more to be admired in the fertility which he restores
to trees and plants every year, than in the sterility wrought by him in this
fig tree; but the more wonders he produces, the less we admire them. 21. Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Nothing is impossible to a faith which
doubts not; but this faith is very rare. Few or no miracles are done in our
days, because there is so little faith, and so little necessity for them. 22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Faith is the source of prayer. The measure
of faith is the measure of our success in prayer; and prayer is the interpreter
of faith; it nourishes, increases, preserves, and makes it fruitful in good
works. Abundance of people pray, but few proportion
the fervency, humility, and perseverance of their prayers to the greatness of
those gifts for which they pray. The church is the house of prayer, because
it is the house of faith. Whoever prays not within the pale or faith of it,
pray unprofitably, and somewhat worse. Sect. IV. Christ Is Asked Concerning His
Authority. Publicans And Harlots Preferred To The Pharisees. 23. And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? The wicked cannot believe that the
authority which condemns their maxims is lawful; and are always ready to oppose
it. It happens but too frequently in the church, that other persons, as well
as the wicked, interrupt the chief pastors in the exercise of their proper
functions, by carrying on unjust actions and vexatious suits against their
authority and jurisdiction. The miracles of Jesus Christ are a sufficient proof
of his authority; Scripture shows that of his ministers. 24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The wisdom of God very easily finds means
to confound the designs and malice of men. It is not out of a spirit contrary
to simplicity, that our blessed Lord opposes one question to another; but to
expose the insincerity of the enemies of his ministry, and to hinder them
from obstructing the gospel. There is a pious dexterity and address, as well
as criminal and wicked artifices. 25. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26. But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. One single word of the Son of God puts a
stop to the malice, and disconcerts all the wisdom, of the world. Simplicity
gives a wonderful confidence and peace of mind; double dealing causes a
thousand disquiets and troubles. To what extremity are they reduced, whom
envy and obstinacy engage to oppose those whom God sends to instruct them?
They are forced even to confess their incredulity, and to acknowledge them selves
set only against that which is good. Let a man do his utmost to conceal
within his own heart the conviction which he has of truth and innocence, to
avoid yielding thereto, or being condemned before men; God, who sees the
heart, will, by the light of the last day, produce it as a witness against him,
and make it his judge. 27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. They
who are once engaged against the truth, never scruple a lie. Pharisaical pride, according to its different interests, prompts
men equally, either to pretend to know every thing, or to affect to know
nothing. By a real ignorance, God often punishes the feigned and counterfeit
ignorance of the envious, who will not acknowledge the good which they see in
others. 28. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. Labour is the universal penance imposed on
all the children of Adam, and yet all the world
declines it. Our soul is not our own. It is the vineyard of God, which we
ought to cultivate by fulfilling his commands; and this not out of self-love,
but for the love of him. That which would have been the delight of man in innocency, is become a painful work to him since his fall.
29. He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went. The just perceive at first the opposition
of nature to obedience; but grace remains victorious. How happy is it for a man
to receive the gift of repentance, when he has been so unhappy as to
transgress the divine law in the first years of his life! There are very few
Christians who have not lost their innocence by disobeying God; and very few
sinners, who, touched with true remorse, “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”
30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; and went not. The pretended just man is full of
presumption, and very eager to embrace the good proposed to him, he promises every
thing, and performs nothing. Christian righteousness consists not in making
ostentation of a great zeal for God’s law, or of great application to every thing which contributes to make it more understood, nor
in appearing always ready to fulfil it; but in fulfilling it with humility,
exactness, and per severance. Men often deceive themselves in this matter; there
are abundance of false lovers of the gospel. 31. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. True repentance saves the greatest sinners;
a false righteousness does but blind and harden the worldly-wise the more. Men
recover more easily from gross and public disorders, than from a false
righteousness and secret pride, which corrupt the whole life, and lull the
sinner asleep. 32. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. If the word and good example had been
sufficient for con version, what sinners would not St. John have converted? Pride,
which is the greatest obstacle thereto, requires other remedies. When a soul
is not wrought upon, either by the innocency of the
just, or the repentance of sinners, what hope can be entertained of its
salvation? Worldly men perish continually amid all sorts of good examples. That
of saints, frights and discourages them; that of
great sinners converted, they are ashamed to follow; and that of the
generality of good men is not strong enough to affect or stir them. It belongs
to thee only, Lord, to render all these examples useful, and to make them
subservient to thy designs concerning souls! Sect. V. The Parable Of The Husbandmen. 33. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. This is a representation of the
perfidiousness of the Jews. The vineyard is the synagogue; the hedge, the
divine protection; the winepress, the law; the tower, the temple and sacrifices;
and the husbandmen, the priests and doctors of the law. How great ought the
fidelity and gratitude of Christians to be, who have received the truth and
substance of all these things in Jesus Christ! The vineyard is now the
church; the hedge, the faith which separates it from Jews and heretics; the
winepress, the sacrament from whence the blood of Christ, and the merits of
his cross, stream into our souls; the tower is the promise of his presence
and protection against all the powers of hell; the husbandmen are the pastors;
and the far country is heaven, whither Christ ascended, having given them his
mission and authority. 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. The church, which has existed in all
times, has, according to the difference of them, had prophets, apostles,
pastors, and teachers. There is not a moment in which God does not shower
down his gifts upon us, and require the fruit of them. The church has been
persecuted in all ages, under the law and under the gospel, under the
prophets and under Jesus Christ; and the greatest share of persecution has
still fallen on the ministers of it. There have been always good and bad
husbandmen; and the former have still been ill used by the latter. How happy
is the lot of those who have faith enough to choose rather to suffer in
serving the church, than to enjoy worldly peace by declining the service of
it! 37. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. The Son of God incarnate, by his word, his
example, his mysteries, and his ministers, demands the fruit of those graces which
God has bestowed on mankind. Neither the infidelity of the Jews, nor their
abuse of God’s benefits, could put a stop to his goodness, or hinder him from
sending his Son into the world. My God, how far from this spirit are the children of Adam! The least trifle is enough to
raise their resentment, and to stifle their good-will. 38. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among them selves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. The sinner, to enjoy the miserable peace
of his sin, would destroy both Christ and his gospel, if it were in his power.
To conspire against the church and its doctrine, as heretics do, is to
conspire against Jesus Christ. We put him to death in every one of his
members, which, by the poison of bad doctrine, example, or conduct, we rob of
the life of faith and grace; or deprive of the food of prayer, of the word,
and of the body and blood of Christ. 39. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. Let us take great heed, lest, while we
detest these murderers of the Son of God, we ourselves be reckoned of their
number, on the account of our corrupt will. To be rejected and crucified by
the Jews, who knew him not, was less grievous to him than to be despised and
outraged by Christians, who make profession of adoring him. To cast him out
of our heart, is to “cast him out of the vineyard,” which he has purchased
with his blood, and to take away the life which he had in us. How many hearts
are guilty of murder in the sight of God! How many, which are
at least a prison, where Jesus Christ is detained captive! 40. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41. They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jews and wicked Christians shall both be
terribly punished; but the latter so much the more severely, as the gifts
they have received are more excellent, and their ingratitude more abominable.
If the first coming of Christ, which was all grace and mercy, proved so fatal
to the Jews, by reason of their incredulity, how terrible will his second,
consisting all of justice and vengeance, be to such Christians as have not lived
according to their faith? Faith, without the fruits of it, distinguishes the
Christian from the Jew, to no other end but his condemnation. We must render
these fruits in their season, and that season lasts all our life. Sect. VI. The Corner-Stone. 42. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? They had read these words, but with a veil
over their eyes, which hindered them from perceiving Jesus Christ,
and their own heinous crime therein. What wonders should we discover in the
Scriptures, if the corruption of our heart did not draw a veil like theirs
over our eyes! How admirable would Christ appear to us in them, if we had but
an earnest desire to find him there! This passage contains an abridgment of the
whole knowledge of Jesus Christ: (1.) He is the workmanship of God by way of
eminence. (2.) He was rejected, humbled, and crucified by the Jews. (3.) Raised again by his Father. (4.) Constituted the head
and foundation of the church. (5.) Made the cement and union of its members, and
the peace of Jews and Gentiles. (6.) Rendered the object of the joy and
admiration of the faithful, an object which ought continually to employ them
here, and which will yield them eternal happiness hereafter. 43. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation* bringing forth the fruits thereof. [* Fr. people.] What we see here, in this just rejection
of the Jews, and merciful calling of the Gentiles, is fulfilled every day in
particular persons. Let not those, who seem the most forsaken, despair, any
more than the Gentiles, of the mercy of God. Let not those, whom he has
favoured the most, be too much exalted thereby; but let them fear the
miserable lot of the chosen and beloved people. None but a God could, with so
much freedom and resolution, pronounce on his enemies the sentence of their
condemnation. He who did it must needs have a great
desire to die. And it was his earnest zeal to do his Father’s will, and to
form his chosen people, which kindled this desire in his heart. Christ
answers for the fidelity of his people, who are his members; because he will himself engrave his laws upon their minds, and write
them in their hearts. For it is he who produces in them, by his grace, the
fruits which they bring forth by their will. Lord, since by thy mercy I am of
the number of thy people, do thou cause me to bring forth the fruits of the
kingdom of God. 44. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. All the vain efforts of Christ’s enemies,
while he was on earth, served only to the establishment of his designs, and
to the confusion of all those who opposed them. But how dreadful will it be,
when the storms of his vengeance shall fall upon the enemies of his kingdom
and glory, after his resurrection, and at his second coming! They who, being
scandalized at the humiliations of the Son of God, and the ignominy of the cross,
rejected him before his resurrection, are those who fell on this stone, and
were broken; but yet had opportunities of being converted, after the descent
of the Holy Ghost. But as for those who, after the glory of his resurrection,
and the miraculous effects of the Holy Ghost in the establishment of the
church, continued still obdurate, this stone, lifted up to heaven, fell upon them
at the destruction of Jerusalem; and will again fall upon them at his last
coming, and grind them to powder. 45. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. The word of Jesus Christ darts light
sometimes into the heart of the wicked, but such light as blinds and hardens them
the more. The most wholesome advice passes for an affront with those who have
shut their hearts against the truth. When that which should incline men to
repentance does only kindle the flame of spite and revenge, there is no more
hope of salvation, without a very extraordinary grace. 46. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. He who abstains from evil, only through
fear of punishment, commits it in his heart, and is already guilty before God.
Men are apt to fear those who can kill the body; but they fear not him who
can destroy both body and soul eternally. A true pastor fears nothing but
God, when his glory is concerned; a hireling fears every thing, except him whom
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