more widely extended signification than sorrowing for one's own sins. See Gnomon on 1 Cor. v. 2.
4. Tlapaxhridfaovrcu, shall be comforted} The future tense indi cates promises made in the Old Testament, and now to be per formed ; see Luke xvi. 25, and 2 Thess. ii. 16. The poor and the meek are joined together in ver. 3, 5, as in the frequently- occurring )V2X1 ^y, poor and needy, cf. also ch. xi. 29.
5. O/ Tpa?/$, the meek} Those are here named for the most part, whom the world tramples on. — vpyos is connected with the Latin pravus, which has frequently the meaning of segnis, slow, slug gish, etc. — -A.T-.ripoMwGovai, shall inherit) the future. The meek are seen everywhere to yield to the importunity of the inhabi tants of the earth ; and yet they shall obtain possession of the earth, not by their own arm, but by inheritance, through the aid of the Father : cf. Rev. v. 10. In the mean time, even whilst the usurpation of the ungodly continues, all the produce 'of the earth is ordered for the comfort of the meek. In all these sen tences, blessedness in heaven and blessedness on earth mutually imply each other. See Ps. xxxvii. (xxxvi.) 11, — O/' d; <xpqt7z
• xXripovof&rieovGi yi}\>, KO.I xararpvtprjffo'jSiv i<xl vXqdsi tifyvitf, But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abund ance of peace. This is, indeed, the subject of that whole Psalm ; see ver. 3, 9, 22, 29, 34.
6. O'i xtivuvns xai di-^uvrif, x.r.X, who hunger and thirst, etc.) who feel that of themselves they have no righteousness by which they may approve themselves either to God or man, and eagerly long for it. Faith is here described, suitably to the beginning of the New Testament. — rrtv diKaioa-Jv^v, righteousness) Our Lord plainly declares Himself here to be the author of righteousness. That which is signified here is not the right (jus) of the human, but of the Divine tribunal. This verse is the centre of this pas sage, and the theme of the whole sermon. Our Lord does not say, Blessed are the righteous, as he presently says, Blessed are the merciful, etc. ; but, Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Pure righteousness will become their portion in due time. (See 2 Pet. iii.13; Is. lx.21.) — '^opraffdr^ovrai, they shall
implied that the contraries to these beatitudes shall be the portion of those oppositely disposed. — Vers. Germ.