The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 329

one log or oil" (Lev. xiv. 10), unless he be only compressed, but, if taken by itself, poor, in which case lesser sacrifices may be gives e. wrong idea. of what appears to have subRtituted (vere. 21, 22; cf. Keil, • Arch.,' e.ctnally taken place. But quod facit per § 59; and for dr•te.ils of the traditional cere- monial, Edersheim, • Temple,' pp. 815-318). aliumfacit per ,e, and ns Trench points ont, ll'or a testimony llllto them (.Z, µ.ap-r6p,011 this is "an exchange ot persons, of which all ab-roi,). Although a fair sense might be historical ne.rrati ve and e.ll the language of extracted by conneoting this clause with our common life is full. A comparison of the words, "Moses commanded," it would, Mark x. 85 with oh. :n:. 20 will furnish ilspecially in the parallel passages, be a very awkward addition to them. Rather it must another example of the same." The fact is represent the man's "offering" in its ulti- that St. Matthew (or, perhaps, tl:e original mate purpose, and this not necessarily in framer of the source that be used, or those the man's own mind. Bo more clearly the through whose bands it passed) seizes on " Westem " reading in, the parallel passage the Gentilio origin of the centurion, without in Luke, f11a el, /La.p-r6p,w r1 vµ.i11 -rovro. troubling himself to record his previous kind Whether " them " refers to the priests or to the nation generally is not of grave im- e.nd generous attitude towards the Jews, and portance, for the priests themselves, in net and the interest that they now show on bis behalf. feeling, represented the nation (of. eh. vii This led to the omission of the second group 29, note). Of more interest is the question of messengers also, and, of course, to the -What is that which is here testified of? modification of the language where neces- (1) Primafacie the man's own state. The performance of the rites 'l.oul,I be legal sary, e.g. ver. 18. For the same reason, evidence that he was clean. (2) Yet this St. Matthew records vere. 11, 12 in this interpretation is hardly borne out by the place. usage of the phrase. E1s µ.ap-r6p,011 in the For the contrast between this and the LXX. (never closely with the dative ns superficially similar miracle recorded in here) seems to e.lwe.ys refer to that which is both permanent and important (cf. Gen. John iv. 46, sqq., of. Trench on that xxi. 80; xxxi. 4-1; Dent. xxxi. 26; Josh. miracle. xxiv. 27; Hos. ii. 12). And in the New Ver. 5.-And when J'eeu1 (Revised Ver- Testament with the dative it elsewhere sion, he) we.a entered into Co.perna.um. (On refers either to work for the Lord ( eh. x. 18 ; Co.pernaum, see eh. iv. 13.) There oame xxiv. 14; Mark vi. 11) or to n solemn judg- unto him; ie. by messengers, as we learn ment (Jas. v. 8). So probably here. The from St. Luke (oide supra). A centurion, man's offering is to be a permanent testi- beseeching him. The centurion probably mony to the nation of our Lord's relation belonged to the soldiers of Antipe.s, in to the Law. His miracles confirmed bis whose district Cnp~rnnum lny. Tliey would profession (eh. v. 17). (8) Some, however, nnturo.lly be organized after the Roman accepting the above view in the me.in, manner; of. the forces of the Indian native translate, " for a testimony against them" states o.nd our own. It should be observed, (as Murk vi. 11 ; cf. Luke ix. 5, and as by the way, that even tlie imperial troop!! perhaps Jns. v. 8, but 'llide Plumpt1·e there); stationed in P0.lestine were drawn, not from but it is unlikely that so harsh a thought distant lands, but from the non-Jewish in- towards the nation would be expressed by he.bitants of the country, p~rhaps especially our Lord at this early stage of his ministry. from Samaritans (vide Schiirer, I. ii. p. 50). In Mark vi. 11 there is ll. definite reason for Vcr.6.-Mntthew only. Andae.ying, Lord, its use. my servant; Revised Version margin," boy" (6 ,rais µ.ou), just e.s in some English- Vere. 5-18.-Tlie healing of the centurion', speaking communities " boy" is cowmonly eervant. (Vers. 5-10; parallel passage: used for " manservant." lu t.he pnralld Luke vii. 1-8, 6-10. Vera. 11, 12, equiva- passage of Luke, the nnrrntive speaks or him as 6ov.\os, the message as ,rai's, Lieth. lent to Luke xiii. 28, 29.) According to St. Perforce (/3,/3.\71-ra,). At home; Revised Luke, the centurion sent first elders of the Version, in the house; i.e. of the centurion. Jews to plead for him, and afterwards Siok of the ps.lsy, grievow;ly to_rme~ted (cf. friends, o.nd expressly so.id by them that he 1 Maco. ix. 55, 56). "Puralys1s with con- did not think himself worthy to come to traction of the joint.a is acc,,mpanicd with intense suffering, and, wl.ten unitld, a. Jesus. 'l'bdr return in ver. 10 seems to it much oftener is in the hut climat,-s i:,f forbid the supposition that he eventually the East and of Africe. lhnu amoug us, came. This detailed narrative seems more with tetanus, both 'gricvou,ly lormentB,' and likel.7 than St. Mattbew's, wl.tich is not re.pi,lly brings on ,lissl>luti,,u" (Trenoh 0 ;~! THE GOSPEL ACCOilDI~G TO ST. MATTHEW. LcH. vm. 1 ~