is opposed to ayiov, sacred, nor does it always imply impurity or guilt.— See Lev. x. 10, and 1 Sam. xxi. 4.
6. As/w, / say) This form of speech expresses great autho rity. — rr>~j itpov, the temple) In which the priests minister. The Temple gives way to Christ, the Sabbath (ver. 5) to the Temple ; therefore the Sabbath (ver. 8) to Christ. — sortv ude, there is here) He does not say, " I am greater." Jesus was lowly in heart. See ver. 41, 42, ch. xi. 4, 5. Thus too in Luke iv. 21, He says, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears ; and again, ch. xix. 9, This day is salvation come to this house. See also Matt. xiii. 17 ; John iv. 10, ix. 37.
7. ' Eyvuxein, ye woidd have knoicri) The pluperfect tense. — fXtov, mercy) See ch. ix. 13. The disciples accorded mercy to themselves,1 and the Pharisees had violated it by their rash judgment. — dvalav, sacrifice) More sacred than the Sabbath. See ver. 5. — OVX, fiv xar?§/xa<rars, ye would not have condemned) Rashly, quickly, cruelly.2 By this argument an answer would have been given, if any one had doubted whether it were lawful to pluck the ears before the Passover.
8. Kvptog, Lord) The innocence and liberty of the disciples is guaranteed by the majesty of Christ, and the authority3 of the Son of Man manifests itself in mercy. — <ra/3/3arou, of the Sabbath) The Lord of the Temple, and of all things else, is undoubtedly the Lord of the Sabbath ; nor has He merely that right which David had.4
10. "Avfyums %v, X.T.X., there was a man, etc.) He had either come thither of his own accord, that he might be healed, or else he had been brought by others with an insidious design. — JVa airoD, that they might accuse Him) As if He had
1 Imitating David in this respect. — V. g.
2 By indulgence in condemning thoughts, one often falls into sin himself unawares, whilst he is arraigning another as guilty of sin. — V. g.
3 " Dominatio" — domination, lordship. There is a play on the words dominus (lord) and dominatio, which cannot be preserved in English. It might be expressed by sovereign and sovereignty. — (I. B.)
4 Ver. 9. Kxi) This was eight days after those things which have been just mentioned (V. g.), and eight days before the Passover. In this brief interval very many events happened of the greatest moment. The people were now getting ready for the feast. Hence a large (abundant) opportunity of doing good presented itself to the Saviour. — Harm., p. 309.