Luke 20:47

which devour widows" houses Josephus expressly tells us that the Pharisees had large female followings, and an absolute sway in the Gynaekonitis or women's apartments, Jos. Antt.xviii. 2, § 4.

for a shew Rather, in pretence. Their hypocrisy was so notorious that even the Talmud records the warning given by Alexander Jannaeus to his wife on his deathbed against paintedPharisees. And in their seven classes of Pharisees the Talmudic writers place "Shechemites" Pharisees from self-interest; Stumblersso mock-humble that they will not raise their feet from the ground; Bleeders somock-modest, that because they will not raise their eyes, they run against walls, &c. Thus the Jewish writers themselves depict the Pharisees as the Tartuffes of antiquity.

long prayers Such as the twenty-six forms of prayer at ablution; the Eighteen Benedictions (Shemoneh Esreh), &c.

damnation Rather, judgment. The word is not even katakrima, or -condemnation." Their -judgment" shall be more severe than that of those who practised noneof these religious ordinances. It should be "more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment" than for these, Luke 10:14.