and in ver. 47, the word affvdffqfffa, salute, corresponds with ytTrt in the present verse. — ruv s^r,psa^6vruv upas, them which despitefully use you) eirfipeia, [the substantive from which the verb eKqpid^u is derived] signifies an injury inflicted, not for the benefit of the injurer, but for the damage of the injured party. — See my notes to Chrysostom on the Priesthood, p. 429. It is, therefore, a sign of extreme hatred. A striking contrast. Pray for such persons as these : obtain by your prayers blessings for those, who take blessings from you.
45. "Ocrw? yzvrtff6e, that ye may become) When they love their enemies, they become His sons [but] in such a manner as [not to contravene the fact], that they already previously have Him for their Father.1 An instance of Ploce : 2 Sons become sons, as disciples become disciples. — Cf. John xv. 8. Thus, the God of Israel became the God of Israel ; 2 Sam. vii. 24. Great is God's condescension in not disdaining to invite His sons to imi tate Him. on, x.r.X., for, etc.) Such is the principle upon which the Father is to be imitated. As God treats and rules us, so ought men to treat and rule each other. — rbv rtXiov AvroZ, His sun) A magnificent expression. He both made the sun and governs it, and has it exclusively in His own power. — dvars7^ei, maketh to rise. — $p'?xti, raineth, sendeth rain) It is the part of piety to speak of natural things as received from God, rather than to say impersonally, It rains, it thunders. — See ch. vi. 26, 30 ; Job xxxvi. 27, 28, and chapters xxxvii.— xli. ; Ps. civ., etc. Franzius urges this strongly in his treatise on the Interpretation of Scrip ture, pp. 83, 632. Rain is a great blessing.
46. Tiva (juadbv, what reward) God seeks in us an occasion for giving us a reward. — nXuvcu, publicans) who refer all things to gain ; but have none in Heaven.
47. Eav atrvaffqede, if ye salute) contrasted with, bless ye, etc., in ver. 44. The very verb aya-raw, to love, is repeated in ver.
303 omit fv^oyiJTe r. x,ot,TctpufAivovg i>fta$, x.ctKu$ vottiTt TO?; piawaiv vf^oig. Dcd Lucif. insert these words with Eec. Text (which, however, has r. fttaovvrot;.) — ED.
1 i.e. He first loves them, and is their Father already ; but they become His sons, and prove their sonship afterwards, when they love their enemies, even as He loved them when still enemies. — ED.
2 See Appendix. — ED.