from the leaven of the doctrine.1 The word doctrine, in oppo sition to bread, is taken in a wide signification, so as to mean even hypocrisy. The leaven was this hypocritical doctrine.
13. 'EX6uv o 'lj]<roC;?, K.T.X., But token Jesus had come.) etc.) A noticeable interval of time occurred between the things just narrated and those which are now declared.2 The connection, therefore, of the passages is not close. The matters which fol low took place a short time before our Lord's Passion ; and the shortness of this interval3 assists the right interpretation of the promises made in ver. 18, 28, and of the prohibition uttered in ver. 20, ch. xvii. 9, etc.4 — Kaiffaptlag, of Ccesarea) This very- name, which had not heretofore been given to the towns of Palestine, might have warned all that the Jews were subject to Caesar, that the sceptre had departed from Judah, and that the Messiah had therefore come. See, however, James Alting,5 Schilo, pp. 147, 153. In Scriptural exegesis, the reader ought to place himself, as it were, in the time and place where the words were spoken, or the thing was done, and to
1 Of which a specimen occurs in ver. 1 . — V . g.
2 Mark and Luke, it seems, as well as Matthew, here begin a new section, wherein, with a common design, they show how He proceeded upon His last journey (tour of preaching), replete with salvation, in the northern coasts of the land of Israel. Near Cseserea Philippi, He asks the disciples, when He was alone with them, " Whom do men say that I am ?" and then He informs them of His Passion. Then He so arranges His departure (the course of His journey), as that He now imbues the whole land of Israel with the good seed. After having exhibited His glory on the mountain of Transfiguration, He returns to Capernaum, directing His course from thence through the midst of Samaria and Galilee ; then onward beyond Jordan, bending His course towards Judea, He bids farewell to Bethabara [John x. 40, comp. with i. 28], and, having crossed the Jordan afresh, He came finally to Jericho and Bethany, Matt. xvi. 13-xx. 34, etc. — Harm., p. 367.
3 Consisting of about one month and a half. — V. g.
4 A few weeks later, all the details of the truth concerning Him were published on every side, the restraints (which He had imposed on them, ver. 20) being removed. The sum of all which the disciples heretofore learned was this, Jesus is the Christ : This is repeated and confirmed, ver. 16, and furthermore on it this additional thesis is built, Christ shall suffer, etc., which constitutes the sum and substance of the rest of the Gospel history. — V. g.
6 JAMES ALTING was born at Heidelberg in 1618: he studied at the Academy of Groningen, where he attained distinction as a divine, a Hebrew philologist, and a Syriac scholar. He died in 1679. — (I. B.)