Christ or of St. Luke, whether they are a continuation of our Lord's speech or a remark of the Evangelist's. The question is discussed at length hy Maldonatus.
The ancient commentators, including Amhrose, Beda, Euthy- mius, and, according to Thomas Aquinas, Chrysostom also, regard the two verses as the words oi our Lord. Ghemnitius supports this opinion.
Lyranus and the modem commentators regard the two verses as the inspired comment of the Evangelist on what our Lord had just been saying.
The question, perhaps, is not one of much importance. To me the two verses appear to read awkwardly and unnaturally, if taken as the words of the Lord. I should never have thought of regarding them as anything but the words of St. Luke, if the idea had not been suggested to me by others.
[Justified God, . . being baptized.] The meaning of this expression appears to be, that "they declared their belief that John was a pro- phet sent from God, by submitting to his baptism." Burkitt says, " Those who believe the message that God sendeth, and obey it, justify God. They that do not believe and obey, accuse and condemn God." Burgon says, "They acknowledged God's jus- tice, mercy, truth, and goodness."
Let it be noted, that here as elsewhere in the New Testament, it is impossible to interpret the word "justify" in the sense of " to make just." Man cannot make God just, (see Ps. li. 4.) The word means always, "To declare, count, or reckon just." "Justified" persons are not persons who are made righteous, but persons who are reckoned and counted righteous.
80. — [R^ected the counsel of God against themselves.] The mean- ing of this expression appears to be, that they despised, and frustrated, and made of no avail the gracious ofier of repentance and salvation, which God sent to them by John the Baptist.
The Greek word translated "rejected" is more frequently translated "despised." It is also rendered by the words to "disannul," to "cast oflP," to "frustrate," and to "bring to nothing." Luke x. 16 ; Gal. iii. 16 ; 1 Tim. v. 12 ; Gal. ii. 21 ; 1 Cor. 1. 19.
The " counsel" spoken of here can in no wise be interpreted as the everlasting counsel of God, whereby He has decreed to save His own elect by Christ. This counsel shall stand. It is not in the power of man to disannul or frustrate it. It probably means here God's gracious purpose in sending Jolm to preach repentance, and that will of benevolence which God declares Himself to have towards all mankind, and reveals in the Gospel.
The words " against themselves" might equally well have been