2 Corinthians, Chapter 4, verses 7-15
7 and how the troubles and persecutions which he daily endured for the same did redound to the praise of God's power, 12 to the benefit of the churchMatthew, Chapter 20, verses 20-28
20 by answering the mother of Zebedeus' children teacheth his disciples to be lowly20
20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children - Considering what he had been just speaking, was everany thing more unreasonable? Perhaps Zebedee himself was dead, or was not a follower of Christ. Mar 10:35.
20:21 In thy kingdom - Still they expected a temporal kingdom.
20:22 Ye know not what is implied in being advanced in my kingdom, and necessarily prerequired thereto. All who share in my kingdom must first share in my sufferings. Are you able and willing to do this? Both these expressions, The cup, the baptism, are to be understood of his sufferings and death. The like expressions are common among the Jews.
20:23 But to sit on my right hand - Christ applies to the glories of heaven, what his disciples were so stupid as to understand of the glories of earth. But he does not deny that this is his to give.It is his to give in the strictest propriety, both as God, and as the Son of man. He only asserts, that he gives it to none but those for whom it is originally prepared; namely, those who endure to the end in the faith that worketh by love.
20:25 Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them - And hence you imagine, the chief in my kingdom will do as they:but it will be quite otherwise.
20:26 Your minister - That is, your servant. Mat 23:11.
4
4:7 But we - Not only the apostles, but all true believers.Have this treasure - Of divine light, love, glory. In earthen vessels - In frail, feeble, perishing bodies. He proceeds to show, that afflictions, yea, death itself, are so far from hindering the ministration of the Spirit, that they even further it, sharpen the ministers, and increase the fruit.That the excellence of the power, which works these in us, may undeniably appear to be of God.
4:8 We are troubled, etc - The four articles in this verse respect inward, the four in the next outward, afflictions.In each clause the former part shows the "earthen vessels;" the latter, "the excellence of the power." Not crushed - Not swallowed up in care and anxiety. Perplexed - What course to take, but never despairing of his power and love to carry us through.
4:10 Always - Wherever we go. Bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus - Continually expecting to lay down our lives like him. That the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body - That we may also rise and be glorified like him.
4:11 For we who yet live - Who are not yet killed for the testimony of Jesus. Are always delivered unto death - Are perpetually in the very jaws of destruction; which we willingly submit to, that we may "obtain a better resurrection."
4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you - You live in peace; we die daily. Yet - Living or dying, so long as we believe, we cannot but speak.
4:13 Having the same spirit of faith - Which animated the saints of old; David, in particular, when he said, I believed, and therefore have I spoken - That is, I trusted in God, and therefore he hath put this song of praise in my mouth. We also speak - We preach the gospel, even in the midst of affliction and death, because we believe that God will raise us up from the dead, and will present us, ministers, with you, all his members, "faultless before his presence with exceeding joy." Psa 116:10.
4:15 For all things - Whether adverse or prosperous. Are for your sakes - For the profit of all that believe, as well as all that preach. That the overflowing grace - Which continues you alive both in soul and body. Might abound yet more through the thanksgiving of many - For thanksgiving invites more: abundant grace.