See Lightf. — vapadoffiv, the tradition} Its correlative is they have received, ver. 4.
4. Hteruv, pitchers [larger vessels]) Whence the contents are emptied into the cups. — xXivuv, [tables, Engl. Vers.] couches) which were used by persons in reclining to eat at table.
5. ' EKtpur&ieiv, ask Him) The Pharisees were always giving their whole zeal to mere questionings. — vepixaroZff/v, walk) "pn is often found in this sense among the Hebrews.
6. 'TiKoxpiruv, hypocrites) Indeed, we may derive from this passage a definition of hypocrisy. These Pharisees were a sample of hypocrites in general.
8. 'Ap'svrt;, laying aside) The antithetic word to hold. The terms akin are, to reject, A^er. 9, and to make of none effect, ver. 13. — TTJV ivrokqv, the commandment) The commandment is one, even as virtue is one and uncompounded ; as opposed to the multiplicity of traditions. — rot &<oi> — ruv avSpuvuv, of God — of men) An evident antithesis. — Ba/mgpwit %t<fr5jv, the washings of pitchers) worthless petty observances.
9. KaXug adtTiTrs, full well ye reject) Ton, for which the LXX. have xaXus, i.e. it is well said, when it is so said [It is a true saying that ye, etc.] Just as a true picture of a conflagration is well done. And also they had supposed they were doing well in doing so. — 'Iva, in order that) This is a true accusation against them, although the hypocrites did not think that this was their own intention.
10. MUOTJS, Moses) by Divine direction.
13. rH xapzduxart, which ye have delivered) Ye have made into a tradition what was a mere custom among the ancients.
14. 'AXO-JSTS, hearken) An admonition salutary to all, in oppo sition to the prejudice which is most hostile to true Divine worship.
16. E'I ric, lytt, if any 'man have) Few of them comprehended what He had said. See verses following.
18. "E^ufe*;, from without) This is added for the sake of ex planation.
19. Kat)dpi?ov) not polluting, but purging, whilst the whole some nutriment remains, and the mere refuse so purged away goes out.
22. nXsov££/a<) nXsovs^/a, TXfO!/=xr»;j, -rXEoi/sxrew, as involving
f>28 ST MARK VII. 23-26.
the comparative by implication, denote a kind of mean between theft and rapine, viz., when you aim by various artifices to effect, that your neighbour of himself, but with injury to him self, may unwittingly or unwillingly offer, concede, and assign to you some possession which it is not right you should receive. Yet it approaches nearer to theft, and is more opposed to rapine or open violence ; and it is a sin chiefly characteristic of the rich, as the two former are sins of the poor ; 1 Cor. vi. 10, v. 10. — aff'&ysia) a diffuse wantonness [lasciviousness] of mind. Comp. the Syr. Version. This and an evil eye are contrary to the ninth and tenth commandments. — opdal.^; Toi/jjpof, an evil eye) envy and joy at the misfortunes of others. — appoffvvq, foolishness) under which they were labouring, who are refuted in this passage : with this comp. Ye fools, Luke xi. 40. This is the reason why foolishness is placed last of all, inasmuch as being that which renders even all the rest incurable. Human cor ruption has its seat not merely in the will [but in the under standing also. Comp. ver. 18.]
23. ndvra, all things) O how impure is the fountain of our heart !
24. Mtdopia) the common boundaries. — ou3e*a, no man) For He was still within the borders of the land of Israel.1
25. 'Axoixraffa, having heard) If faith could thus be originated by a mere rumour, how much more ought it to be by a text of Scripture, even though but a short one ! — yap, for) Referring to the words, fie could not be hid, ver. 24. Jesus put Himself in her way, along with the help He meant to give her : but He so controlled the affair, that He seemed to have acted as He did towards this Grecian woman, as it were fortuitously, whereas He had undertaken this whole journey for her sake. Comp. Matth. xviii. 12. — TO ^uydrpiov, young daughter) Boys also are capable of being the subjects of demoniacal possession, ch. ix. 21, 24: as also heathens.