nor does he call the house any longer his own. — apapruXoi, publicans and sinners) who had sinned grievously against the sixth and seventh [seventh and eighth] command ments. — (fwavsxiivro, sat down together witJi) Kind and condescend ing was the intercourse of Jesus.1
11. To/j f^adr^aTs, to the disciples} The Pharisees acted in an oblique manner, with cunning, or at least with cowardice ; to the disciples they said, Why does your Master do so ? to the Master, Why do your disciples do so ? see ch. xii. 2, xv. 2 ; Mark ii. 16, 18. — diart, x.r.X., ivhy, etc.} The sanctity of Jesus was held in the highest esteem by all, even His adversaries. See Luke xix. 7.
12.2 Xpslav, need) xptfai, needs, are to be seen everywhere. — 3xax£)£, ill) Such is indeed the case with sinners.4
13. Uop'tvfavTts, having gone) sc. into the synagogue, where you may refer to Hosea [sc. vi. 6.] Our Lord often said to those who \vere not His own,5 " noptvou" " depart" see John viii. 1 1. His style of quoting the Scriptures is full of suitableness and majesty, and different from that of the apostles ; for He does it in such a manner as not Himself to rest upon, but to convince His hearers by their authority ; and He employs it
glory of Jesus by His acts, and especially by the raising of Jairus' daughter, ch. ix. 19; and he was sent forth, at no long interval afterwards, with the rest of His apostles : on which occasion he has called himself Matthew the publican, ch. x. 3; and, from the deepest sense of gratitude (as is natural), has recalled to remembrance with what marvellous speed grace transferred him from his state as a publican (ch. xviii. 17) to an Apostolic embassy which was distinguished by miracles. — Harm. p. 282.
1 For whose sake the banquet was given, to which, without any command on His part, publicans and sinners came. Therefore the objection of the Pharisees, even looking at it in a mere external point of view, was void of all justice. — V. g.
2 Jesus, as a faithful master, brings help to his disciples. — V. g.
8 Dost thou feel infirmity (oi xctxu; f%ovrfs), as opposed to strength (oi laxvovn;) ? In that case betake thyself to the Physician, and seek His help.
-v. g.
4 In the original, " Sic sane habent peccatores." There is a play here on the word habent, sc. jgfituf t^ovaiv — x.<tx.u$ e-^ovng. — (I. B.)
8 In the original " Alieniores," — an expression which is used several times by Bengel in the course of this gospel, and which it is easier to understand than to translate. — (I. B.)