towards such persons, and she is therefore thus compelled at last to justify herself. Luke xv. 1, 2, etc. — V. g.]
20. TOTS vpZaro, then He began) He had not previously up - braided them. This upbraiding is the prelude to the Last Judgment. Every hearer of the New Testament is either much more blessed (v. 11) or much more miserable than them of old time. — dwduttc. mighty ivorks) See ver. 5. [Repentance and the
f v tf / l_ J.
knowledge of Jesus Christ are always conjoined. — V. g.]
21. Oval, icoe) This interjection is not imprecatory, but enunciatory. See ch. xxiv. 17. Its opposite is blessed. This should be observed everywhere.
21. 23. 'T/J,?V — ffoi\ you — thee) Two cities in the neighbourhood are compared with two mentioned in the Old Testament history, and one more miserable than the former is compared to one more miserable than the latter. — -raXa/, long ago) In that ancient time, in which it was more difficult to repent. See Acts xvii. 30. We must not say, " What doest thou ?" Cf. Ezek. iii. 6. — ev ffdxxw, in sackcloth) understand sitting, or some such word.
22. ' Avwrorspov, more tolerable) Because they were less im penitent, and would have repented, and have already been punished. — xptatu;, judgment) The Judge will be the very same in whom they were then offended.
23. Ka-rgpi/ao;)/.*. Capernaum) This city had been more highlv
blessed than Chorazin and Bethsaida, but from its sin became more miserable. It is therefore compared with Sodom, not with Tyre and Sidon. — seas ro\j ovpavov, even unto heaven) For the Lord from heaven had come to dwell there, and in bringing Himself, had brought heaven thither.1 — t^w^/fra, exalted) In the sight of God, of Christ, and of the angels. — adou, hell) Which is lowest in the nature of things. — t>j,stvav &v, they ivoidd have remained) Instead of having been destroyed. Great is the effect of the conditional form.2 The same verb occurs in John xxi. 22.
1 For specimens of this exaltation, see John ii. 12, iv. 47 ; Matt. iv. 13- xiii. 53 ; John vi. 24 ; Matt. xvii. 24. — Harm., p. 301.
2 For they, in that case, either would not have perpetrated the enormities which they did, or else would have repented of having committed them : in which case they would not have been destroyed, either then or subsequently.