19. "n<rre, wherefore ) The Summing up1 or Conclusion, and also a Statement of those things which follow, in three divisions. Excess in words and the affections of the tongue and the heart , ver. 26, is un- favourable to hearing with profit. — nag, every man ) This is opposed to no many ver. 13; for this 19th verse has reference to that, and not merely to the preceding verse. — myyg s lg rb axoveui, swift to hear) The true method of hearing ( receive ye ), together with the obe- dience and right disposition of the hearers, is treated of in verses 21—27, and the whole of ch. ii. — / 3padvg s/g to \u\yigui, slow to speak) This is treated of in ver. 26, and in ch. iii. Slow to speak; so that he speaks nothing against God, ch. i. 13; nor anything improperly concerning God, ch. iii. 1-13. — / Spadvg eig opyriv, slow to wrath) This is treated of, ch. iii. 13 and following verse, ch. iv. 5. Slow to wrath , or impatience, towards God, and proneness to anger as it respects his neighbour. He who is sloiu to anger will readily forbear all anger, and assuredly all evil anger. Hastiness drives to sin.
20. ’O pyyj wrath). A most powerful passion. — uvbp'og , of man) The male sex especially cherishes wrath, 1 Tim. ii. 8 ; and its actions, whether just or unjust, are more widely exposed to view. The wrath here intimated is that of nature, without grace. — bixaioGuvrjv 0soD, the righteousness of God) All duties which are divinely enjoined and pleasing to God. — ov xocrspyd^sra/, worketh not) That is, altogether hinders the righteousness of God ; although it seems to itself, while inflamed, especially to work that (righteousness) ; [and therefore it constitutes the principal part of these three-membered sentences. — Y. g.] Purer effects are produced without anger.
21. ’ AffoO's/jittvoi nadav pwaptav, laying aside all filthiness) A metaphor from a garment; ch. ii. 2. 'P wot eta, defilement , which is cleansed away by hearing the word : John xv. 3. — wpiM eiav xuxiag) abundance, excess, which is usually faulty, especially in speaking (Matt. v. 37). [In thoughts, words, gestures, and works, excess is not without fault. — Y. g.] KayJa does not mean malice or craftiness ; but badness or vice (faultiness), as opposed to virtue ; and the genitive zaxiag has here the force of an epithet \_faulty excess ; not as Engl. Yers.] — iv irputirnn, with meekness) This is opposed to wrath, and is shown in all things. Comp. 1 Pet. ii. 1, 2. Anger and sudden impetuo- sity of mind is a hindrance to hearing : therefore meekness is required. — bt%a<rOe, receive) with your mind, with your ears, and in action. [Act the part of ready hearers. — Y. g.] — rov e/j,<pvrov, en-
1 See on Symperasma, Append.