Heaven and earth shall pass away— It seems as if our Saviour had been aware of some such misapplication of his words, as is intimated in the preceding note, by adding yet greater force and emphasis to his affirmation; heaven and earth shall pass, &c. It is a common figure of speech in the oriental languages, to say of two things, that the one shall be, and the other shall not be, when the meaning is only, that the one shall happen sooner or more early than the other,—as in this instance of our Saviour: the meaning therefore is, "Heaven and earth shall sooner or more easily pass away, than my words shall pass away: the frame of the universe shall sooner or more easily be dissolved, than my words shall fail of being fulfilled." See Luke, xvi
One would be ready to think it next to impossible, that any man should duly consider these prophesies, and the exact completion of them; and if he be a believer, not be still more confirmed in the faith; or if he be an infidel, not be converted to the faith. Can any stronger proof be given of a divine revelation than the spirit of prophesy? And can any stronger proof be given of the spirit of prophesy, than the example now before us? in which so many contingencies, and we might say improbabilities, which human wisdom or prudence could never foresee, are so particularly foretold, and so punctually accomplished! At the time when Christ pronounced these prophesies, the Roman governor resided at Jerusalem, and had a force sufficient to keep the people in obedience; and could human prudence foresee, that the city as well as the country would revolt and rebel against the Romans? Could any human prudence foresee famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places? Could human prudence foresee the speedy propagation of the Gospel, so contrary to all human probability? Could human prudence foresee such an utter destructionofJerusalem,withallthecircumstancespreceding and following it? It was never the custom of the Romans absolutely to ruin any of their provinces; it was improbable therefore that such a thing should happen at all, and still more improbable that it should happen under the humane and generous Titus, who was indeed, as he was called, the love and delight of mankind. Yet, however improbable this was, it has happened, and it was foreseen and foretold by Christ. But how was it possible for him to do it, unless his foresight was divine, and his prediction theinfallible oracle of God? See Bishop Newton, and Dr. Macknight.—Eusebius observes well upon this place, that whoever shall compare the words of our Saviour with the history of the war which Josephus has written, cannot but admire the wisdom of Christ, and acknowledge his prediction to be divine.