this people Very contemptuous; this multitude of yours(comp. 35, 36), whose ignorant fancies you prefer to our deliberate decisions.

who knoweth not the law The form of negative used implies censure; knoweth not when it ought to know. They ought to know that a sabbath-breaker cannot be the Messiah.

are cursed A mere outburst of theological fury. A formal excommunication of the whole multitude by the Sanhedrin (comp. John 9:22) would be impossible. How could such a sentence be executed on the right individuals? It was reserved for a Christian hierarchy to invent the interdict. Excommunication en massewas unknown to the Jews.

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