Matthew 19:1,2
1, 2. JESUS GOES TO JUDÆA FROM GALILEE Mark 10:1... [ Continue Reading ]
1, 2. JESUS GOES TO JUDÆA FROM GALILEE Mark 10:1... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΕΤΗ͂ΡΕΝ�.Τ.Λ. From the parallel passage in Mark we learn that this means: Came into Judæa by the trans-Jordanic route through Peræa, thus avoiding Samaria. It does not mean that any portion of Judæa lay beyond Jordan. St Matthew here omits various particulars, of which some are to be supplied from... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΙΡΆΖΟΝΤΕΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. For present participle containing an idea of purpose cp. Soph. _El._ 68, δέξασθέ μʼ εὐτυχοῦντα ταῖσδε ταῖς ὁδοῖς. ΕἸ ἜΞΕΣΤΙΝ�.Τ.Λ. The words ‘for every cause’ are omitted in Mark. In Matthew they contain the pith of the question: ‘Is the husband’s right to divorce his wife quite... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUESTION OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE Mark 10:2-9 are peculiar to Matthew. St Mark mentions the part of the conversation contained in Matthew 19:9 as having taken place ‘in the house,’ Matthew 19:10-12.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠʼ ἈΡΧΗ͂Σ. An appeal from the law of Moses to a higher and absolute law, which has outlived the law of Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΝΕΚΑ ΤΟΎΤΟΥ. The lesson of Nature is the lesson of God, ‘Nunquam aliud Natura aliud Sapientia dicit.’ Juv. _Sat._ XIV. 321. ΚΟΛΛΗΘΉΣΕΤΑΙ. This word and the compound προσκ. in N.T. use are confined to St Paul and St Luke except Revelation 18:5. This passage and Mark 10:7 (where the reading is doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὅ, the neuter strengthens the idea of complete fusion into a single being. ΣΥΝΈΖΕΥΞΕΝ. The aorist of the divine action undetermined by time. Cp. εὐδόκησεν, ch. Matthew 3:17, παρεδόθη, Matthew 11:27, ἐδόθη, Matthew 28:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒΙΒΛΊΟΝ�. See ch. Matthew 5:31-32.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡῸΣ ΤῊΝ ΣΚΛΗΡΟΚΑΡΔΊΑΝ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. Having respect to, with a view to the hardness of your hearts towards God. So the law was relatively good, not absolutely. A great principle. Even now all are not capable of the higher religious life or of the deepest truths. Some interpret ‘hardness of heart,’ of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
See ch. Matthew 5:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is difficult to fix the precise meaning of ἡ αἰτία. It is either: (1) the cause or principle of the conjugal union: ‘If the union be so close as thou sayest;’ or, (2) the cause or reason for divorce, namely adultery, referring to αἰτία, Matthew 19:3 : ‘If for this reason, and for this alone, divo... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΩΡΕΙ͂Ν is to have or make room for, so (1) to contain: ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν, Mark 2:2; ὑδρίαι χωροῦσαι�, John 2:6; ὁ κρητὴρ χωρεῖ�, Hdt. I. 151; (2) to receive (in love): χωρήσατε ἡμᾶς, 2 Corinthians 7:2; (3) to receive intellectually, ‘comprehend,’ or ‘accept;’ (4) the Homeric... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣῚΝ ΓΆΡ. The γὰρ explains οἷς δέδοται. ΔΙᾺ ΤῊΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΊΑΝ ΤΩ͂Ν ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝΩ͂Ν. In old days some men abstained from marriage in order to devote themselves to the study of the law, in later times men have done so for the furtherance of Christianity. Ὁ ΔΥΝΆΜΕΝΟΣ ΧΩΡΕΙ͂Ν ΧΩΡΕΊΤΩ. Let him accept the rule w... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΗΝΈΧΘΗΣΑΝ (א B C D L and others) for προσηνέχθη, an early grammatical change. 13. It appears that it was customary for Jewish infants to be taken to the synagogue to be blessed by the Rabbi. Smith’s _Dict. of Bible_, Art. ‘Synagogue,’ note E. ἽΝΑ ἘΠΙΘΗ͂Ι. For the sequence of the subjunctive on... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT TO CHRIST Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17 In Luke the incident is placed immediately after the parable of the Pharisee and Publican; there it is an illustration of humility. Here, and in Mark, the connection between the purity of married life and the love of little childre... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ν ΓᾺΡ ΤΟΙΟΎΤΩΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. Love, simplicity of faith, innocence, and above all, humility, are the ideal characteristics of little children, and of the subjects of the kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΘΕῚΣ ΤᾺΣ ΧΕΙ͂ΡΑΣ. No unmeaning act, therefore infants are capable of receiving a blessing, though not _conscious_ of an obligation. It is the authorization of infant baptism. St Mark, as often, records a further loving act of Jesus, ἐναγκαλισάμενος αὐτά.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἿΣ ΠΡΟΣΕΛΘΏΝ. ‘Came one running, and kneeled to him’ (Mark). ‘A certain ruler,’ i.e. one of the rulers of the synagogue, like Jairus. The ‘decemvirate’ (see ch. Matthew 4:23) of the synagogue were chosen from ‘men of leisure’ (Hebr. _Batlanin_, cp. the same thought in Greek σχολή, from which ultima... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG RICH RULER Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23 From Luke alone we learn that he was a ‘_ruler_;’ from Matthew alone that he was _young_. Each of the three Synoptists states that ‘he was very rich’ (Luke); ‘had great possessions’ (Matthew and Mark).... [ Continue Reading ]
16, 17. Here the _textus receptus_ has: Διδάσκαλε�, τί�; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Τί με λέγεις�; οὐδεὶς�, εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός. The omission of ἀγαθὲ has the most ancient evidence in its favour. τί με ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ� rests on the authority of א B D L and other MSS., several versions and patristic quotations.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΊ ΜΕ ἘΡΩΤΑ͂ΙΣ ΠΕΡῚ ΤΟΥ͂�; The form in which our Lord’s answer is reported in Mark and Luke is: τί με λέγεις�; οὐδεὶς�, εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός. According to St Matthew’s report, our Lord seizes upon the word ἀγαθὸν in the ruler’s question; according to the other gospels the reply turns on the use of the w... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΊΑΣ; What commandments? written or unwritten? human or divine? the law of Moses or the traditions of the elders? or perhaps the young ruler expected a specimen of the rules with which this new Rabbi would instruct his disciples to ‘fence round’ the law. In N.T. ποῖος may perhaps always be distingu... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΦΎΛΑΞΑ (א B D L) for ἐφυλαξάμην (C and later uncials). The latter perhaps influenced by Mark; in Luke ἐφόλαξα should be read. ἐκ νεότητός μου omitted in א B L. (D omits μου.) The insertion supported by אcb C D, later uncials, some versions and Fathers, may be accounted for by the occurrence of the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΈΛΕΙΟΣ. Used here in relation to τί ἔτι ὑστερῶ, ‘complete;’ not (1) in the deeper sense which the word sometimes bears in reference to the ancient mysteries, as 1 Corinthians 2:6, σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις (see also Colossians 1:28); nor (2) in the sense of ‘perfect’ in manhood, opposed t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΥΠΟΎΜΕΝΟΣ. A conflict of opposite desires vexed his soul. He wished to serve God and mammon. He was sorrowful because he saw that the special sacrifice required to win eternal life was too great for him. He was lost through the ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου (ch. Matthew 13:22).... [ Continue Reading ]
τὴν βασ. τῶν οὐρ. Comparing this with Matthew 19:16-17, we note that ζωὴ αἰώνιος, ἡ ζωὴ and ἠ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν are used as synonyms.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF RICHES, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD Mark 10:23-27; Luke 18:24-27 These reflections follow naturally on the last incident.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΆΜΗΛΟΝ ΔΙᾺ ΤΡΥΠΉΜΑΤΟΣ ῬΑΦΊΔΟΣ. An expression familiar to Jews of our Lord’s time. The exaggeration is quite in the Eastern style. Some attempts however have been made to explain away the natural meaning of the words. κάμιλον, which is said to mean ‘a thick rope,’ has been read for κάμηλον. But the... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΕΠΛΉΣΣΟΝΤΟ ΣΦΌΔΡΑ. The extreme amazement of the disciples, which can find no echo in souls trained to Christianity, is not quite easy to understand. But there was present to the disciples, perhaps, a latent Jewish thought that external prosperity was a sign of the favour of heaven. Then in a town... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΒΛΈΨΑΣ. These heart-searching looks of Christ doubtless gave an effect to His words which it is impossible to recall, but which would never be effaced from the memory of those who felt their meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΦΉΚΑΜΕΝ … ἨΚΟΛΟΥΘΉΣΑΜΕΝ. The aorists have their proper force, ‘left,’ ‘followed.’ ΤΊ ἌΡΑ ἜΣΤΑΙ ἩΜΙ͂Ν; Peter, still not perfect in the Spirit of Christ, suggests a lower motive for following Christ. The answer of Christ shews that all true sacrifice shall have its reward, but all that looks like sa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CLAIM OF THE DISCIPLES Mark 10:28-31; Luke 18:28-30... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΠΑΛΙΝΓΕΝΕΣΊΑΙ. These words qualify καθίσεσθε, and are themselves defined by ὅταν καθίσῃ κ.τ.λ. ΠΑΛΙΝΓΕΝΕΣΊΑ, ‘a return to life,’ a new birth. Late and rarely used. It expressed a Stoic thought, ἡ περιοδικὴ παλινγενεσία τῶν ὅλων, ‘the periodic restitution of all things’ (M. Antoninus XI. 1,... [ Continue Reading ]
After Ἢ ΜΗΤΈΡΑ the leading editors omit ἢ γυναῖκα with B D and some versions and on good patristic evidence. ΠΟΛΛΑΠΛΑΣΊΟΝΑ (B L) for ἑκατονταπλασίονα (א C D and other uncials). The best editors adopt πολλ. notwithstanding the strong support of the other reading. ἑκατονταπ. probably introduced from... [ Continue Reading ]
Note the connecting particles—δὲ in this verse, γάρ (Matthew 20:1), οὕτως (Matthew 20:16); δὲ marks the contrasting statement, γὰρ introduces the illustration of it, οὕτως closing the illustration reverts to the statement illustrated.... [ Continue Reading ]