be filled} with righteousness; see Rom. xiv. 17. This was the meat of Jesus himself: see John iv. 34 ; cf. Matt. iii. 15. This satisfying fulness He proposes to His followers in the whole of this sermon, and promises and oifers them in this very verse.
7. 'EXtJipoves, the merciful) The Greek word s'Xeog, ruth, from which eXerpoves is derived, corresponds to the Hebrew "pn,1 and does not refer merely to miserable objects.
8. Ot xadapoi ry -/.apdi'a, the pure, in heart) Ceremonial purity is not sufficient. Jesus requires, and teaches, the virtue of the heart. Purity of heart includes both chastity and freedom from the other defilements of sin. — rfo &sbv o-4/oi/ra/, shall see God) A clear knowledge of God is promised even now, but in words which will be more literally fulfilled in life eternal : see 1 John iii. 2, 3, 6 ; cf. concerning the opposite to purity, 1 Thess. iv. 5.
9. E/VTJVOTO/O/, peacemakers) They who make all lawful peace between those who are at variance, at discord, or at war. — u/V, sons) How great is this dignity! — ®tov, of God) who is the God of peace. — xAjj^<roi/ra/, shall be called) i.e., shall be in name and in reality.
10. O/ dtdiuyp'svoi, they who endure persecution) In the next verse, dsdiuypevoi signifies, Those who have offered themselves to undergo persecution. Our Lord already announces the treat ment which He and His followers will receive from the world. He unfolds this truth, however, gradually. He speaks of His yoke in ch. xi. 29 ; of His cross in xvi. 24. By comparing Mark viii. 34, and Matt. x. 38, it appears that He speaks of His cross to His disciples alone. — tvexsv dixaioevvri;, for righteousness' sake) In the next verse, He says, for My sake ; cf. ch. x. 39, 42, xvi. 25, xviii. 5, xix. 12, 29.
11. ' Oveibi'auffiv, shall revile) sc. in your presence: understand r/vfywTo/, men. They inflict insult by words, persecution in fact. — \ifiac, you) Jesus speaks sometimes in the first person plural of Himself, and mankind, taken collectively, when the matter treated of is one plainly external (see John xi. 7), or when He speaks as one unknown (see ch. iii, 15, John iv. 22) ; but mostly
1 "'?'!! • • (1) in a good sense, seal towards any one, love, kindness, spe cially (a) of men amongst themselves, benignity, benevolence, as shown in mutual benefits ; mercy, pity, when referring to those in misfortune : Gen. xxi. 23 ; 2 Sam. x. 2. LXX. often thios. — GESENIUS. — (I. B.)