And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour,
and
every man his brother
Which is not to be understood of the outward ministry of the
word; in heaven indeed there will be no need of it, nor in the
New Jerusalem state; but in every period of time before it. In
the first times of the Gospel, persons were appointed and
qualified by Christ to be pastors and teachers; and in the latter
day men shall run to and fro, and increase knowledge; besides,
the saints in the present state stand in need of teaching; since
they know but in part, and there is room for a growth in grace,
and in the knowledge of Christ: nor does this contradict
brotherly teaching, or the private instructions of saints in
religious conversation and Christian conference, which are very
useful; but is rather opposed to pretended revelations of private
men; or to the magisterial dictates of persons in public office;
the word of God being the only rule of instruction in
righteousness: or this may be not absolutely, but comparatively
said; setting forth the abundance of knowledge under the Gospel
dispensation, that, in comparison of former times, there would be
no need of the means of further knowledge: saying, know the
Lord:
not naturally, or as by the light of nature; but spiritually; nor
in a general way, as the God of nature and providence, as a
Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor; but in a special manner, as
the God of grace, as the God and Father of Christ, and his people
in him; not legally, but evangelically; not speculatively, but
practically, and in a saving way and manner: this kind of
knowledge now under the Gospel dispensation is greater than under
the former; as the knowledge of God in his persons, in his
perfections, in his titles and characters, and in his Son; and as
to the manner of it, clearly, with open face as in a glass; and
as to the persons to whom it is communicated, not to Judah only,
but to men of all nations; all which is owing to a greater
effusion of the spirit, as it follows: for they shall all
know me, from the least of them unto the greatest
of them, saith the Lord:
not all mankind; but all the house of Israel, all the family of
God, all the children of God being taught by him; not all alike,
but all with the same kind of knowledge. This is frequently
applied to the times of the Messiah by the Jews F14:
for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
their sin no
more;
there was forgiveness of sin under the former covenant, but the
blood of Christ was not then actually shed for it; it was held
forth under types; and there was a remembrance of sin made every
year; and saints had not such a clear and comfortable sight of
pardon in common as now; and it was known and applied but to a
few. This is the staple blessing of the covenant, and the
evidence of all the rest.