The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 240

If this be all the meaning of the words, they the next day if it be said In the evening express, in fact, only the ultimate result of (eo Bishop Lightfoot). Between (3) (a) and the consummation prayed for in the pre- (3) (b) it is very difficult to deoide. Against oeding cln use (hence this portion of the (a) ia the fact that it is hard to say why the prayer was in itself complete without our common form lr!OV"ra. would not have served; present words; cf. Luke xi. 2); but since it against (b), while the 11Be of the word is is so far a distinct thought that it would not perfeolly consistent with 011Sting all care immediately suggest itself, it has a worthy upon God for to-morrow ( oh. vi. 34), there still place in the fuller form of the prayer. remains the fe.ct that there is some tautology Possibly, however, more may be intended. in saying, " Our bread for the coming day The full establishment of the kingdom moy give us to-day," or even the formula in the be only a part of his loving will, which may, parallel passage in Luke, " Our bread for for all we 1.-now, have countless other things the coming day give usde.ybyday." On the in view. The highest prayer that we ca.n whole, perhaps (3) (a) presents the least diffl-' make in the fortherance of God's cause is culties. Bread. It is very doubtful if to that his gracious purpose, his will (whatever use this petition of spiritual food is anything it may include) may be fully brought about. more than e. legitimate application (me.de, In earth, as it is in heaven; 11.11 in Maren, indeed, as early as the 'Didache,' § x.) of ao on earth (Revised Version). Probably the words which in themselves refer only to words are to be joined to only the immedi- material food (see further Chase, loo.. cit.). ately preceding clause. In heaven God's Ver. 12.-And forgive us our debts, as we will is already realized ; not yet on earth, forgive our debtors. FMgive; a change in where sin has entered. God's relation to us and our sins. No plea Ver. 11.--Give us this de.your daily bread is urged, for tbe atonement had not yet been ( ..-hv llp-rov 7Jµi,;v ..-b,, bno6<Ttol' 5bs -1,µ:iv tNJp.<poY). made. Our debts (-rd. o~•il\.flp.a.n 71~") Here begin the petitions for our personal parallel passage in Luke, ..-d.s ap.ap-rC,u .;,µ.,;,,), needs. The first is for earthly food, the It is probable that Matthew tQpk one mean• means of maintaining our earthly life. For ing, perhaps the more primary, and Luke • " in order to serve God it is first of all another, perhaps the more secondary (of. Ge- necessary that we live" (Godet, on Luke). eenius,'Thee,'u,.:im, and Professor Marshall, GiTHJ us. The order in the Greek emphasizes, Ezpositor, IV. iii 281), of the original • not God's grace in giving, but the thing Aramaic word (11:i,n); but, e.s "debtors" e.sked for. This day. Parallel passage: comes in the next clause, it seems reasonable Luke :ri. 3, "day by day (..-h Ka.6' T/p.<pa.v)." to suppose that Matthew represents the sense The thought suggested there, of continuance ,m which our Lord intended the word to be in the supply, is seen also in the verb (5!5ov). understood. Luke may have a.voided it as Daily (ir,o,',,,.,o,,) ; and so Luke ( compare es- too strongly Hebraic a metaphor,even though pecially the classical append.ix in Bishop he does use ;,~.,11.fra., of men in relation to Lightfoot's •Revision,' etc., pp. 195, etc., and God (xiii 4). The 'Dido.cha,' viii., gives the Chase, 1,oc. cit.). It will be sufficient to do singular, 01/mll.fl" (cf. infra, eh. xviii. 32), little more than indicate the chief lines of which Dr. Taylor (' Lectures,' p. 62) thinks proposed derivations e.nd interpretations of is prefero.ble. The singular, espeoially with this~,ra{ 71.e-yop.El'OI'. (l)'Erl-outT!a.(a)physical, " debtors" following, would very nature.Uy "for subsistence,"" sufficient or necessary to be corrupted to the plural. Sins are termed sustain us;" (b) spiritual," for ouressentie.l •• debts," e.s not rendering to God hie due being" (cf. Jerome's rendering with a literal- (eh. xxii. 21; of. 11v. 27). A• toe; Revised ism that recalls the rabbis, BtLper-sub.tanti- Version, aa toe alao (tlis K«l -1,p.iis). In the alem. (2) 'E1rl-,l1<! •• to be,'' "bread which is same way e.s we have--a comparison of fa.ot, ready at band or suffices" (similarly De- not of proportion ( cf. eh. viii. 13 ; xv iii. 33), litzsch, in Thayer, 1.1,.). The chief and fate.I (For the thought, cf. Ecclus. xxviii. 2.) Luke's objection to both (1) and (2) is the.t the form "for we ourselves also" (Ka.1-yd.p a.~-roO lays would be iro6<Tws ( cf. especially Lightfoot, more stress on our forgiving others being e. Zoe. cit., p. 201 ). (3) 'E1r<-,lp.t., "to oome;" reaaon for God forgiving us. Forgive; Re- (a) with direct reference to "bread "--011r vised Version, have /Mgiven, in the pe.et "snceessive,'' "continual,"'' ever-coming" (aorist). Luke's present is of the habit. bread (so the Old Syriac, and partly the Our del,tor,. Luke individualizes (ra.,,.,-1 Egyptian versions), the.t which comes as each oq,•l>,.o,,.,.. 1/p.iv). supply is required ; U10 prayer then meaning, Ver. 13.-And lead us not into temptation, "Our bread as it is needed give ue to-day" but deliver us from evil Luke omits the (eo opparently Dr. Taylor, •Sayings,' etc., second half. And lead tU not (Ka.I µ~ p. HO); (b) derived mediately from h,oii<Ta. •icr<Y<-y1eps -/i1<a.s); and bring tU not (Revised ..,_ 71µ,ipa. (cf. Acts xvi. 11; 11. 15; xri 18), Version), for .1,,.~lp.,, thinks rather of the "bread for the coming day,'' i.e. the same issue (cf. Luke v. 18, 19; xii.11) than of the day, if the prayer be ea.id in the morning; personal guidance. Thie first clause is • -OH. v1. 1-34.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 233