TAKE HEED (προσεχετε). The Greek idiom includes "mind" (νουν) which is often expressed in ancient Greek and once in the Septuagint (Job 7:17). In the New Testament the substantive νους is understood. It means to "hold the mind on a matter," take pains, take heed. "Righteousness" (δικαιοσυνην) is... [ Continue Reading ]
SOUND NOT A TRUMPET (μη σαλπισηις). Is this literal or metaphorical? No actual instance of such conduct has been found in the Jewish writings. McNeile suggests that it may refer to the blowing of trumpets in the streets on the occasion of public fasts. Vincent suggests the thirteen trumpet-shaped... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SECRET (τω κρυπτω). The Textus Receptus added the words εν τω φανερω (openly) here and in Matthew 6:6, but they are not genuine. Jesus does not promise a _public_ reward for private piety.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND IN THE CORNERS OF THE STREETS (εν ταις συναγωγαις κα εν ταις γωνιαις των πλατειων). These were the usual places of prayer (synagogues) and the street corners where crowds stopped for business or talk. If the hour of prayer overtook a Pharisee here, he would strike his attitu... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THY CLOSET (εις το ταμειον). The word is a late syncopated form of ταμιειον from ταμιας (steward) and the root ταμ- from τεμνω, to cut. So it is a store-house, a separate apartment, one's private chamber, closet, or "den" where he can withdraw from the world and shut the world out and commun... [ Continue Reading ]
USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS (μη βατταλογησητε). Used of stammerers who repeat the words, then mere babbling or chattering, empty repetition. The etymology is uncertain, but it is probably onomatopoetic like "babble." The worshippers of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 8:26) and of Diana in the amphithea... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YE (ουτως ουν προσευχεσθε υμεις). "You" expressed in contrast with "the Gentiles." It should be called "The Model Prayer" rather than "The Lord's Prayer." "Thus" pray as he gives them a model. He himself did not use it as a liturgy (cf. Matthew 6:17). There is no e... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR DAILY BREAD (τον αρτον ημων τον επιουσιον). This adjective "daily" (επιουσιον) coming after "Give us this day" (δος ημιν σημερον) has given expositors a great deal of trouble. The effort has been made to derive it from επ and ων (ουσα). It clearly comes from επ and ιων (επ and ειμ) like τη επι... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR DEBTS (τα οφειληματα ημων). Luke (Luke 11:4) has "sins" (αμαρτιας). In the ancient Greek οφειλημα is common for actual legal debts as in Romans 4:4, but here it is used of moral and spiritual debts to God. "Trespasses" is a mistranslation made common by the Church of England Prayer Book. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BRING US NOT INTO TEMPTATION (κα μη εισενεγκηις εις πειρασμον). "Bring" or "lead" bothers many people. It seems to present God as an active agent in subjecting us to temptation, a thing specifically denied in James 1:13. The word here translated "temptation" (πειρασμον) means originally "trial... [ Continue Reading ]
TRESPASSES (παραπτωματα). This is no part of the Model Prayer. The word "trespass" is literally "falling to one side," a lapse or deviation from truth or uprightness. The ancients sometimes used it of intentional falling or attack upon one's enemy, but "slip" or "fault" (Galatians 6:1) is the com... [ Continue Reading ]
OF A SAD COUNTENANCE (σκυθρωπο). Only here and Luke 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of σκυθρος (sullen) and οπς (countenance). These actors or hypocrites "put on a gloomy look" (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even "disfigure their faces" (αφανιζουσιν τα προσωπα αυτων), that they may look like t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SECRET (εν τω κρυφαιω). Here as in Matthew 6:4; Matthew 6:6 the Textus Receptus adds εν τω φανερω (openly), but it is not genuine. The word κρυφαιος is here alone in the New Testament, but occurs four times in the Septuagint.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES (μη θησαυριζετε υμιν θησαυρους). Do not have this habit (μη and the present imperative). See on Matthew 2:11 for the word "treasure." Here there is a play on the word, "treasure not for yourselves treasures." Same play in verse Matthew 6:20 with the cognate acc... [ Continue Reading ]
RUST (βρωσις). Something that "eats" (βιβρωσκω) or "gnaws" or "corrodes.... [ Continue Reading ]
SINGLE (απλους). Used of a marriage contract when the husband is to repay the dowry "pure and simple" (την φερνην απλην), if she is set free; but in case he does not do so promptly, he is to add interest also (Moulton and Milligan's _Vocabulary_, etc.). There are various other instances of such us... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS (ουδεις δυνατα δυσ κυριοις δουλευειν). Many try it, but failure awaits them all. Men even try "to be slaves to God and mammon" (Θεω δουλευειν κα μαμωνα). Mammon is a Chaldee, Syriac, and Punic word like _Plutus_ for the money-god (or devil). The slave of mammon will o... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT ANXIOUS FOR YOUR LIFE (μη μεριμνατε τη ψυχη υμων). This is as good a translation as the Authorized Version was poor; "Take no thought for your life." The old English word "thought" meant anxiety or worry as Shakespeare says: "The native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cas... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO HIS STATURE (επ την ηλικιαν αυτου). The word ηλικιαν is used either of height (stature) or length of life (age). Either makes good sense here, though probably "stature" suits the context best. Certainly anxiety will not help either kind of growth, but rather hinder by auto-intoxication if no... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LILIES OF THE FIELD (τα κρινα του αγρου). The word may include other wild flowers besides lilies, blossoms like anemones, poppies, gladioli, irises (McNeile).... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NOT ARRAYED (ουδε περιεβαλετο). Middle voice and so "did not clothe himself," "did not put around himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRASS OF THE FIELD (τον χορτον του αγρου). The common grass of the field. This heightens the comparison.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST HIS KINGDOM (πρωτον την βασιλειαν). This in answer to those who see in the Sermon on the Mount only ethical comments. Jesus in the Beatitudes drew the picture of the man with the new heart. Here he places the Kingdom of God and his righteousness before temporal blessings (food and clothing)... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MORROW (εις τεν αυριον). The last resort of the anxious soul when all other fears are allayed. The ghost of tomorrow stalks out with all its hobgoblins of doubt and distrust.... [ Continue Reading ]