ii. 10 ; 1 Cor. iii. 13. — ev sxsivy rr\ n^'ipy-, on that day} that great day, in comparison with which all previous days are nothing. — 2£, THY) The emphasis and accent fall upon this word in each of the three clauses: THY, sc. that of the Lord. — <rpo«p»jti6«K/*w, we kaoe prophesied) We have openly proclaimed the mysteries of Thy kingdom. Add also: We have written commentaries and exege- tical observations on books and passages of the Old and New Testament, we have preached fine sermons, etc. — dai/j,6via, devils) It is not said fro/SlXovfj because S/a/3o>.o$ is only used in the sin gular number.1
23. Ton, x.r.X., then, etc.) although they had not thought so before. — o/xoXoy^aw, / will profess) sc. openly. Great was the authority evinced by tin's saying : see ver. 29. — ovB'svore, x.r.x., never, etc.) although you cite My Name. — o/ Jpya£o,«,evo/, x.r.X., that work, etc.) Not even then will their iniquity have been changed.2 — ace/A/av, iniquity) how much soever they may boast of the Law.3 Unbelief exclusively damns (Infidelitas proprie damnat) ; and yet in the Judgment the Law is rather cited ; see ch. xxv. 35, 42 ; Rom. ii. 12, because the reprobate, even then, when they see Christ visibly manifest, will not comprehend the true nature of faith.
24. 'O/io;w<rw, I will liken) In ver. 26 it is, he shall be likened. God refers salutary things4 to Himself; He removes evil things5 from Himself; cf. ch. xxv. 34, 41. — (ppovipu, prudent) True prudence spontaneously accompanies true righteousness ; cf. ch. xxv. 2.
25. Kal — 7.CK.I — xa/ — x.r.X., and — and — and — etc.) In the last days of a man and of the world, temptations throng together to the attack (concurrunt), sc., rains on the roof, rivers at the base,
1 Sc. with its technical meaning : for S/«/3oAoj, in its original sense of acciiser, may be used indiscriminately in all three numbers. — (I. B.)
2 He means that our Lord will address them as even then working iniquity with hearts still unconverted. — (I. B.)
8 There is a play upon the words «i/o^/«, the state or conduct of those •who are without law, and o i/o'^o?, the Law, on which they self-righteously and delusively relied. — (I. B.)
* i.e. things connected with salvation, as ex. gr. the building on the rock. —ED.
5 As ex. gr. the building on the sand ; therefore it is here, " he shall be likened" not " I will liken." — ED.