_Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees_ See notes on Mark 7:1,
where the facts here spoken of are related more at large. _Why do thy
disciples transgress the tradition of the elders_ That is, of the
principal doctors or teachers among the Jews. _They wash not when they
eat bread_ Food in general... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye hypocrites_ To substitute superstitious observances of man's
invention, in the place of obedience to God's commands, is downright
hypocrisy; it is, however, the prerogative of Him who searches the
heart, and knows what is in man, to pronounce who are hypocrites. And
as hypocrisy is a sin which o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he called the multitude_ Having shown the hypocrisy of the
Pharisees, and condemned them for the unwarrantable stress which they
laid on their vain and precarious traditions, he took this opportunity
to undeceive the people, and let them see how insignificant that
outward strictness was on whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came his disciples_ Namely, when he was come into the house,
apart from the multitude; _and said unto him, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended_, &c. The apostles, it seems, would gladly
have conciliated the good-will of the Pharisees, thinking it might be
of service to their cause; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let them alone_ Do not trouble or concern yourselves about their
censures: neither court their favour nor dread their displeasure, nor
much care though they be offended. Seek not to please a generation of
men that please not God, 1 Thessalonians 2:15; and will be pleased
with nothing less than abso... [ Continue Reading ]
_Peter said, Declare unto us this parable_ That is, the sentence,
maxim, or proverb, mentioned Matthew 15:11. _Not that which goeth into
the mouth defileth the man_, &c. A declaration very intelligible, and
evidently true, and yet appearing to the disciples obscure, and
needing explanation, or doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon_ Not to those cities
which were to have no share in his mighty works, Matthew 11:21; but
into that part of the land of Israel which bordered on their coast.
_And behold a woman of Canaan_ Or, _a Syrophœnician_, as she is
called, Mark 7:26; Canaan bei... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus came unto the sea of Galilee_ The Jews gave the name of seas to
all large lakes. This was one hundred furlongs long, and forty broad.
It was called also _the sea of Tiberias._ It lay on the borders of
Galilee, and the city of Tiberias stood on its western shore. It was
likewise styled _the la... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus called his disciples, and said, I have compassion_, &c. For
some observations on the contents of these verses, see the notes on
Mark 8:1.... [ Continue Reading ]