Chapter XXXVI.—Of Another Question Which Demands Our Consideration, Namely,
Whether, in Passing from the Account of the Man Whose Withered Hand Was Restored,
These Three Evangelists Proceed to Their Next Subjects in Such a Way as to Create No
Contradictions in Regard to the Order of Their Narrations.
83. Matthew continues his narrative, connecting it in the following manner with what
precedes: “But the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him, how they might destroy
Him. But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes fol-
lowed Him, and He healed them all; and charged them that they should not make Him
known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Esaias, saying;” and so
forth, down to where it is said, “And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”1007 He is the only
one that records these facts. The other two have advanced to other themes. Mark, it is true,
seems to some extent to have kept by the historical order: for he tells us how Jesus, on dis-
covering the malignant disposition which was entertained toward Him by the Jews, withdrew
to the sea along with His disciples, and that then vast multitudes flocked to Him, and He
healed great numbers of them.1008 But, at the same time, it is not quite clear at what precise
point He begins to pass to a new subject, different from what would have followed in strict
succession. He leaves it uncertain whether such a transition is made at the point where he
tells us how the multitudes gathered about Him (for if that was the case now, it might equally
well have been the case at some other time), or at the point where He says that “He goeth
up into a mountain.” It is this latter circumstance that Luke also appears to notice when he
says, “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray.”1009 For
by the expression “in those days,” he makes it plain enough that the incident referred to did
not occur in immediate succession upon what precedes.1010
1007 Matt. xii. 14–21. [Sperabunt, “hope,” as in Revised Version.—R.]
1008 Mark iii. 7–12.
1009 Luke vi. 12.
1010 [The Sermon on the Mount was delivered during the withdrawal here referred to.—R.]
Of Another Question Which Demands Our Consideration, Namely, Whether, in Passing from the Account of the Man Whose Withered Hand Was Restored, These Three Evangelists Proceed to Their Next Subjects in Such a Way as to Create No Contradictions in Regard to the Order of Their Narrations.
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Of Another Question Which Demands Our Consideration, Namely, Whether, in…