soever they bid you observe" so that the people should not think that they were bound to observe the traditions of the Pharisees equally with the law of Moses ;l see ver. 4. — rqpfTre, observe} sc. mentally.2 — TO/E/TE, do) sc. actually. An imperative correspond ed with by the other which follows. — Xi/oucv, they say} Mosaic commands, which ought to be " observed " and " done"
4. Afe/Aivovffi 'yap, for they bind} This explains the words, They say and do not. — (3ap'ta, /.«/ Su<r/3a<r7-a/cra, heavy and grievous to be borne} epithets suitable to the doctrines of men.3 — w/zcu; — da/cr-jXw, shoulders — with the finger} There is an evident contrast intended between these words. — x/i/5j<ra/, to move} much less to bear. Scripture has an incomparable felicity in describing the inner characters of minds, of which the whole of this chapter affords a striking instance; see also Luke xii. 16, 17.
5. As, but} sc. although they appear to do many good things. — <pvXaxTqpia} phylacteries} see Ex. xiii. 9, 1 6 ; Deut. vi. 8, xi. 18. — xp dffxida, fringes} see Numb. xv. 38.
6. <J>/Xou<r/, z.r.X., they love, etc.) Both individually and for their order.
6, 7. 'Ei< ToTg btfavoig — tivvaywynTc, — ayopaTs, in banquets — syna gogues — market-places} public places.
8. M?} xXjjdJjre, be ye not called} i.e. do not ye be thus treated, nor seek to be thus treated. — E% yap l<snv upon » Ai&dtxaXof, for one is your Teacher4} Others read, ^ yap enrtv bftuv o Ka&jyjjri};, 6 Xf tffrogf for one is your Guide, even Christ. And this is indeed
have selected those sins which would most clearly show to the untutored populace why they should beware of the Scribes — viz., their haughtiness, their avarice, and their hypocrisy. — Harm., p. 472.
1 i.e., because it implies that their claim to obedience rested on their sitting in Moses' seat. — (I. B.) — i.e., so far, and only so far, as they really sat in Moses1 seat — viz., taught only what Moses in the written law com mands. — ED.
etvruv) Verse 5-7.
Verse 8-12. I 3 Which both are not contained in the law, and are contrary to the law.
-v.g.
* E. V. " one is your Master." — (I. B.)
5 Such is the reading of E. M.
In his App. Crit. Bengel writes thus : — " x»$wy*rrq$) cdd. Bas. at. ft. y. etc. Ex. v. 10 (^i^a.aKo.'hoi), Aug. 1. 4, in duabus pericopis, Bodl. 7, Cdb 3, Gal Go. Lin. Mont N. 1, Par. 1. 4, Roe. Seld. 1, Steph. e, Vsser.