warning contained in this verse does not apply solely and exclu sively to the first division, but has the force of a general proposi tion. The design of the whole discourse is to teach true righteous ness ; (see ch. v. 6, 10, 20, and vi. 33); and this reading accords with that design. Others read eXeq/Aoovvriv,1 almsgiving.2 Righteous ness is the whole (cf. Gnomon on ch. v. 6), three divisions of which follow immediately ; viz., almsgiving, as being our especial duty towards our neighbour — prayer, as occupying the same position with regard to God — fasting, as holding the same place with re ference to ourselves. These three relations, to God, to ourselves, and to our neighbour, are frequently enumerated in Holy Writ; see Rom. ii. 21, 22-vii. 12-xiv. 17 ; 1 Cor. vi. 11-xiii. 5, 6, 13; Eph. v. 9 ; 1 Tim. i. 13; Tit. i. 8-ii. 12 ; Heb. xii. 12, 13.— Sea^qvai, to be seen as a spectacle) Theatre and hypocrite3 (spoken of in the next verse) are words of cognate meaning.
2. M?5 ffaXKiffqs f/jwrpM&b aov, do not sound a trumpet before thee) This affected and insolent ostentation of actually sounding a trumpet is not inconsistent with the practices of hypocrites among the Jews of that age : cf. ver. 5, 16. The poor would be easily summoned by a trumpet : hypocrisy, therefore, employs it as a means of display. — o/' i/croxp/ra/, the hypocrites) Hypocrisy is the combination of actual vice with apparent virtue, by means of which a man deceives either himself or others. — a/ufa, assuredly) our Lord [by virtue of His essential and proper divinity] knows the secrets of the Divine counsels. — a'Tri^ouei rbv fua&bv avruv, they have their reward4) An example of metonymy of the antecedent for the consequent, i.e. they will not receive any reward here after at the hands of their Heavenly Father ; see ver. 1.
3. MJ} yvuru 57 apiffrtpa, x.r.X., let not thy left hand know, etc.) So far from holding a trumpet, let it not even know what thy right hand doeth. Do not thou even consider over again the good that thou doest.
1 See f. n. 7 to last page.— (I. B.)
2 BDa6c Vulg. Hilary read IOCXIOVVVYIV. But Z supports l^tnuoavvfiv, the reading of the Rec. Text. — ED.
3 The word originally signifies one who answers, thence, one who takes part in a dramatic dialogue, thence, one who assumes a feigned character. — (I.E.)
4 Which consists in (he praise of men. — B. G. V.