ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗΝ (א*BD, 1. 209) for ἐλεημοσύνην of the receptus. ἐλεημοσύνην was doubtless a marginal explanation. 1. ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗΝ for ἐλεημοσύνην. See crit. notes for the evidence for the reading. The two words were nearly synonymous with the Jews, partly because the poor had a right to share in the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΛΕΗΜΟΣΎΝΗ, not classical: it occurs in a poem by Callimachus of Cyrene, librarian of the famous Alexandrian library, _circa_ 260 B.C. Elsewhere it seems to be confined to LXX. and to two writers in the N.T., St Matthew and St Luke. With Christianity the word became frequent and is found in all west... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΟΥ͂ ΔῈ ΠΟΙΟΥ͂ΝΤΟΣ. Observe the singular number here and Matthew 6:6; the duties of prayer and almsgiving are taught in their personal and individual aspect. The teaching of the Talmud commends secresy in almsgiving in such sayings as ‘he that doeth alms in secret is greater than Moses.’ But the spi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤΌΣ omitted before ἀποδώσει, (אBL and others) its presence emphasises the reward. ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΦΑΝΕΡΩ͂Ι inserted in _textus receptus_ after ἀποδώσει σοι, a rhetorical gloss arising from a search after antithesis. For the real antithesis see note. 4. The restored reading in this verse (see above crit... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΕΎΧΗΣΘΕ ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΕΣΘΕ, instead of the singular προσεύχῃ οὐκ ἔσῃ, the singular introduced to harmonise with context ὅταν ποίῃς Matthew 6:2, ὅταν προσεύχῃ Matthew 6:6. 5. ΠΡΟΣΕΎΧΗΣΘΕ. Plural, because here the reference is to public worship. It is a rule for the Church. ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΛΑΤΕΙΩ͂Ν. See note Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΑΜΕΙ͂ΟΝ has high authority (אBDE) for ταμιεῖον; cp. the late form ὑγεία for ὑγίεια. 6. ΤΑΜΙΕΙ͂ΟΝ. A private oratory or place of prayer. These were usually in the upper part of the house; in classical Greek ‘storehouse’ or ‘treasury’, the meaning of the word Luke 12:24. See Matthew 24:26. ΠΡΌΣΕΥΞΑΙ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΒΑΤΤΟΛΟΓΉΣΗΤΕ. It is not the length of time spent in prayer or the fervent or reasonable repetition of forms of prayer that is forbidden, but the mechanical repetition of set words, and the belief that the efficacy of prayer consists in such repetition. ΒΑΤΤΟΛΟΓΕΙ͂Ν, not classical, and ἅπαξ λεγ.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἾΔΕΝ ΓᾺΡ Ὁ ΠΑΤῊΡ Κ.Τ.Λ. Our Father knows our wants, still we are bound to express them. Why? because this is a proof of our faith and dependence upon God, which are the conditions of success in prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD’S PRAYER St Luke 11:2-4, where the prayer is found in a different connection, and is given by our Lord in answer to a request from the disciples to teach them to pray, ‘even as John taught his disciples.’ The text of St Luke as it stands in E.V. has probably been supplemented by additions... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΛΘΆΤΩ Ἡ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΊΑ ΣΟΥ. Note the loss in the A.V. of the emphasis given by the position of ἁγιασθήτω—ἐλθάτω—γενηθήτω. See note ch. Matthew 3:2. Lightfoot (_Hor. Heb._) quotes an axiom from the Jewish Schools, ‘that prayer wherein there is not mention of the Kingdom of God is not prayer.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΡΤΟΝ, ‘Bread,’ primarily in a literal sense, subsistence as distinct from luxury; but the spiritual meaning cannot be excluded, Christ the Bread of Life is the Christian’s daily food. The address to God as Father influences each petition—to feed, to forgive and to protect his children, are special... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΦΉΚΑΜΕΝ for ἀφίεμεν or ἀφίομεν: this important change has the highest support (אBZ). See notes. 12. ἌΦΕΣ ἩΜΙ͂Ν ΤᾺ ὈΦΕΙΛΉΜΑΤΑ ἩΜΩ͂Ν. ἀφιέναι and ἄφεσις are the words used in the N.T. to express the act of forgiveness whether on the part of God or of man. It is important to fix as precisely as possib... [ Continue Reading ]
The doxology was an early insertion from the liturgy, it is absent from the oldest MSS. (אBD). The receptus reads ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας�. 13. ΜῊ ΕἸΣΕΝΈΓΚΗΙΣ ἩΜΑ͂Σ ΕἸΣ ΠΕΙΡΑΣΜΌΝ. The statement of James 1:2, χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλο... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΑΠΤΏΜΑΤΑ. Another conception of sin, either (1) a false step, a blunder, or (2) a fall beside the way (cp. παραπεσόντες, Hebrews 6:6), so a transgression. In ὀφειλήματα sin is viewed in its aspect toward another, in παραπτώματα in its relation to the offender himself, παράπτωμα is later and rarer... [ Continue Reading ]
Fasting, in itself a natural result of grief, as any one who has witnessed deep sorrow knows, easily degenerates into a form without reality. ἈΦΑΝΊΖΟΥΣΙΝ. Either (1) make unseen, ‘veil,’ or (2) cause to disappear, so ‘destroy’, hence (3) ‘mar,’ by leaving the face unwashen, or by throwing ashes on... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΔῈ ΝΗΣΤΕΎΩΝ ἌΛΕΙΨΑΙ, as if feasting rather than fasting: cp. τὼ δὲ λοεσσαμένω καὶ�ʼ ἐλαίῳ | δείπνῳ ἐφιζανέτην, _Il._ X. 577.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΡΥΠΤΩ͂Ι is read for κρυφαίῳ from the occurrence of the word in Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΗΣΑΥΡΟῪΣ ἘΠῚ ΤΗ͂Σ ΓΗ͂Σ. Cp. ἐκ γῆς γὰρ τάδε πάντα καὶ ἐς γῆν πάντα τελευτᾷ (Xenophanes). Love of amassing wealth has been characteristic of the Jews in all ages. Oriental wealth consisted to a great extent in stores of linen, embroidered garments, &c., which were handed down and left as heirlooms.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΟΥ is rightly restored for ὑμῶν. The sing. individualises the action. 21. ὍΠΟΥ … Ὁ ΘΗΣΑΥΡΌΣ. The words gain point if we think of the hoards buried in the _earth_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΛΎΧΝΟΣ. ‘The lamp.’ See ch. Matthew 5:15, where the A.V. gives to λύχνος the meaning of ‘candle’; the translation here ‘light’ is still less correct. The eye is not its self the light, but contains the light; it is the ‘lamp’ of the body, the light-conveying principle. If the eye or lamp is single... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΦΩ͂Σ, here correctly in A.V. ‘the light.’ If the light be darkened by the diseased and impervious medium which prevents it gaining an entrance all will be darkness within. Covetousness permits no ray of divine light to enter.... [ Continue Reading ]
Another illustration of the singleness of the Christian character, ‘the simplicity that is in Christ’ (2 Corinthians 11:3), drawn from the relation of master and slave. ΔΥΣῚ ΚΥΡΊΟΙΣ ΔΟΥΛΕΎΕΙΝ. Strictly, be a slave to two masters. The absolute subjection of the slave must be considered. The interest... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ, i.e. because this double service is impossible there must be no distraction of thought. ΜῊ ΜΕΡΙΜΝΑ͂ΤΕ. ‘Do not be anxious,’ which was the meaning of ‘take no thought,’ when the E. V. was made. The same word occurs Philippians 4:6, μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, where, as here, the tense marks continu... [ Continue Reading ]
The parallel passage (Luke 12:22-31) follows immediately the parable of the Rich Fool.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΒΛΈΨΑΤΕ. The aorist implies the instantaneous glance possibly at large flocks of birds whirling at that moment in the sky, just as Canon Tristram observed on that very spot ‘myriads of rock pigeons. In absolute clouds they dashed to and fro in the ravine, whirling round with a rush and a whirr tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΘΕΙ͂ΝΑΙ ἘΠῚ ΤῊΝ ἩΛΙΚΊΑΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ ΠΗ͂ΧΥΝ ἝΝΑ. ἡλικία, either ‘stature’ or ‘duration of life,’ so that the meaning may be ‘add a cubit to his life.’ Comp. Psalms 39:5, ‘Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth.’ This rendering falls in better with the connection. With all his anxiety man cannot add... [ Continue Reading ]
In the _textus receptus_ the verbs are in the sing. according to rule: this and τὰ ἑαυτῆς Matthew 6:34 are grammatical corrections. 28. ἘΝΔΎΜΑΤΟΣ. The birds are an example of God’s care in providing food, the flowers of His care in providing apparel. The Creator promises that the care shown to the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΡΙΕΒΆΛΕΤΟ, ‘arrayed himself.’ The middle voice has a special force. Though he arrayed himself, the lilies, who trusted to God for their array, are more beautiful than he.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΌΡΤΟΣ, lit. (1) ‘an enclosed place,’ especially for feeding cattle, hence (2) ‘provender,’ grass, hay, (3) then generally ‘vegetation,’ flowers and grass growing in the fields, which when dried are used for fuel in the East. For the first sense cp. Hom. _Il._ XI. 774, αὐλῆς ἐν χόρτῳ; for the second... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΖΗΤΟΥ͂ΣΙΝ. Either (1) ‘seek with eagerness’; ἐπὶ having the force of ‘on,’ ‘further,’ so earnestly. See Vaughan on Romans 11:7. Or (2) ‘make special objects of pursuit,’ from the sense of direction or aim in ἐπί. Cp. ἐπικωμωδεῖν, ‘to select for caricature.’ Riddell, Plato, _Apol. Socr._ 31 D. Wit... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ΔΙΚ. ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂, i.e. τὴν δικ. Θεοῦ (Romans 1:17), the leading thought in that epistle. It is the aim (ζητεῖτε) of the Christian life. Note how Christians are taught at least to _aim_ at (ζητεῖν) righteousness, when the heathen _earnestly_ aim at (ἐπιζητεῖν) lower objects. ΤΑΥ͂ΤΑ ΠΆΝΤΑ ΠΡΟΣΤΕΘΉΣΕΤ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΜΕΡΙΜΝΉΣΗΤΕ ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ΑΥ̓́ΡΙΟΝ. Lightfoot, _Hor. Hebr._, quotes a Rabbinical saying in illustration: ‘there is enough of trouble in the very moment.’ Ἡ ΚΑΚΊΑ. Here in the unclassical sense of ‘trouble,’ ‘sorrow,’ cp. Amos 3:6, εἰ ἔσται κακία ἐν πόλει ἣν Κύριος οὐκ ἐποίησεν;... [ Continue Reading ]