The Scribes and Pharisees, so often mentioned in the gospels, were the great doctors and spiritual guides amongst the Jews. Scribe is the name of an office; Pharisee the name of. sect. They were both learned in the law, and teachers of the law of Moses. Our blessed Saviour, in the former part of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
These heavy burdens which the Pharisees laid upon the people's shoulders, were counsels and directions, rules and canons, austerities and severities, which the Pharisees introduced and imposed upon their hearers, but would not undergo the least part of those severities themselves. If we do not follo... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our blessed Saviour admonishes his disciples and the multitude to take heed of imitating the Pharisees in their ostentation and hypocrisy, in their ambition and vain-glory; and he instances, in three particulars, wherein they expressed it: 1. ALL THEIR WORKS, says Christ, THEY DO TO... [ Continue Reading ]
The word RABBI signifies. DOCTOR or TEACHER, eminent, endowed with variety of knowledge, whose place it was to sit in an exalted chair, or chief seat in the synagogue; their disciples and scholars sat upon lower forms at the feet of their teachers. Our Saviour doth not simply condemn the giving or r... [ Continue Reading ]
From the thirteenth verse to the thirtieth, the Pharisees have eight several woes denounced against them by our Saviour; the first is, for perverting the scriptures, and keeping the true sense and knowledge of them from the people. This St. Matthew calls THE SHUTTING UP OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AGAI... [ Continue Reading ]
The second woe denounced against the Pharisees, is for their gross hypocrisy, in colouring over their covetousness with. pretence of religion; making long prayers in the temple and synagogues for widows, and thereupon persuading them to give bountifully to the corban, or the common treasure of the t... [ Continue Reading ]
The next woe denounced is for their false-ended zeal and earnestness in proselyting heathens to the Jewish religion; not with. pious intention to save them, but to serve themselves upon them, to have their consciences and purses under their power: and when you have poisoned them, says our Saviour, b... [ Continue Reading ]
The fourth woe which our Saviour denounceth against Pharisees is for the false and erroneous doctrine concerning oaths. 1. They taught men to swear by the creatures. 2. They taught that some oaths made by the creatures were obligatory and binding, others not; particularly they affirmed, that IF. M... [ Continue Reading ]
The next woe denounced is for the Pharisees ostentation of. precise keeping of the law in smaller matters, and neglecting weightier duties: THEY PAY TYTHE OF MINT, ANISE, AND CUMMIN; but at the OMITTED JUDGMENT, MERCY AND FAITH; that is, just dealing with men, charity towards the poor, and faithfuln... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour doth not here condemn their legal, or traditional washing of pots of cups, or any external decency and cleanliness in conversation; but his design is to shew them the vanity of outward purity, without inward sancity, and to convince them of the necessity of cleansing the heart, in order... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. woe denounced against the Pharisees for cheating and deceiving the people with an outward shew, and external appearance of piety and religion: their lives were seemingly very religious but their hearts were full of hypocrisy and all impurity, like sepulchres painted without, and full o... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the eighth woe denounced by our blessed Saviour against the Pharisees for their grand hypocrisy, in pretending great honour to the saints departed, building their tombs, and garnishing their sepulchres, and declaring against their fathers impiety, That HAD THEY LIVED IN THEIR DAYS, THEY WOUL... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here,. prophetical prediction, and. severe denunciation. 1. prediction foretelling what cruel usage the apostle should meet with from the Jews, killing and crucifying some, scourging and stoning others; which accordingly was fulfilled in the crucifying of St. Peter, the scourging of St. Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Lord concludes this chapter with. pathetical lamentation over Jerusalem. His ingemination or doubling of the word, O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, shews the vehemency of Christ's affection towards them, and the sincerity of his desires for their salvation. Observe, 1. The great kindness and compassion... [ Continue Reading ]