maturgus (p. 20, 146), has a similar confession of the evilness of human nature, with an emphasis rare in that age. Man is addressed as evil in the Scriptures. See ch. x. 17, and John ii. 25.1 It is wonderful therefore that Holy Scripture should have ever been received by the human race. Bread and fish are good things ; man is evil, prompt to commit injury.2 — o'i'dari, ye know) Distinguishing bread from a stone, etc. It is wonderful that this understanding ( intelligentiam) has remained in us. We are so evil. Cf. Job. xxxix. 17 3 with the preceding verses. good things) both harmless and profitable things.4 — roTs to your children) especially when they ask you. — 6 lv roTz ovpavofc, which is in the heavens) In whom there is no evil. — TO?( airouffiv, to them that ask) sc. His children ; for where true prayer begins, there is Divine sonship.
12, Otii/, therefore) The sum of all that has been said from the beginning of the chapter. He concludes [this portion of the discourse], and at the same time returns to ch. v. 17. The con clusion corresponds with the commencement. And we ought to imitate the Divine goodness, mentioned in ver. 11. — 6'eXrire ha voiudiv, ye would that they should do) " Ye would :" this is pointedly said (notanter) : for men often do otherwise [than what ye would that they should do]. We are not to follow their example. Sc. by benefiting, not injuring. — o/ civdpuxoi, men) The indefinite appellation of men, frequently employed by the Saviour, already alludes to the future propagation of His teaching throughout the whole human race. — o'uru, thus) The same things in the same way : or thus, as I have told you up to this point. — euros, this) The law and the prophets enjoin many other things, as for example the love of God : but yet the law and the prophets also tend to this as their especial scope, viz.
works of his are still in existence ; that alluded to here, is his Panegyric on his master Origen, edited by Bengel, A.D. 1722 — (I. B.)
1 E. B. and the later editions add Matt. xvi. 23, Rom Hi. 4, etc. — (I. B.)
2 It is in fact wonderful that a human father, when his son asks him for a fish, does not offer him a serpent. — V. g.
3 Where the Vulgate has — Privavit enim earn Deus sapientia nee dedit illi intelligentiam — and E. V. " Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath He imparted to her understanding." — (I. B.)
4 And therefore also the Good Spirit Himself. V. g.