44, for men pursuing you. Sir Thomas More (“ Utopia ”’), “ Whiles their enemies rejoicing in the victory have persecuted (i.e., pursued) them.”
21. For my name’s sake (Sia 7d dvoud pov). Lit., on ae- count of my name. The name of Christ represented the faith, the attitude, the claims, and the aim of the disciples. His name was their confession. Luther says: “The name of Christ from your mouth will be to them nothing but poison and death.”
22. Had sin (duapriav elyov). See on ix. 41; 1 Johni. 8.
Cloke (rpofacw). From mpd, before, in front of, and dnt, to say or affirm. Hence something which is placed in front of the true cause of a thing, a pretext. Compare 1 Thess. ii. 5; Acts xxvii. 30. Pretext carries the same idea, Latin, pre- teatum, something woven in front, with a view to concealment or deception. Rev., ewcuse. Wyc., ewcusation. The A.V. fol- lows Tyndale: nothing to cloke their sin withal. Latimer (“Sermons”): ‘ By such cloaked charity, when thou dost offend before Christ but once, thou hast offended twice herein.” The word appears in the low Latin cloca, a bell (compare the French cloche, and English clock), and the name was given to a horse- man’s cloak because of its resemblance to a bell. The word palliiate is from the Latin palliuwm, a cloak.
25. Without a cause (dwpedv). Gratuitously. Akin to SiSwpst, to give. Their hatred was a voluntary gift.
27. Shall bear witness (waprupeire). Present tense, bear wetness. So Rev. Or, it may be taken as imperative: bear ye witness.
CHAPTER XVI. 1. Be offended (cxavdadiodjre). Rev., made to stumble.
In this Gospel only here and vi. 61. See on Matt. v. 29. Wye. be not slandered.