The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 392

by aelf-eooking 11nd ambition. They never sacred Law. They e.re also intended to re- penetrated beyond externalism. See this mind ne of the goodness of the Almighty in spirit reproved in the sermon on the mount having delivered our forefathers from the (eh. vi. 1, 2, etc.). " They loved the glory slavery in Egypt." of men more than the glory of God" (John Ver. 6.-The uppermost rooms;.,.~,,.,,,.,.,.,,. xii. 43). Christ then gives proofs of this ,c~urlav : primo, recubitw ; chi,,f place (Luke spirit of ostenta.tion in religion and in private xiv. 7). The custom of reclining on oushiona life. Phylaoteries; 4>u~czrn-,fl''": literally, set in horseshoe fashion at three aides of the presen,atiT1a; equivalent to" amulet.!;" the table was now prevalent, the old oustom of translation of the Hebrew word tephiUin, squatting round a low table, as at presen, '" prayer-fillets." These were either strips pre.otised in the Ee.et, he.ving been long of parchment or smell onbes covered with abandoned. The place of honour is ae.id to leather, on or in: which were written four have been at the upper end of the right side, seotione of the Law, viz. Exod. xiii. 1-10; the president being plaoed, not in the centre 11-16; DeuL vi. 4-9; xi. 13-21. They of tlie.t eud of the table which faced the were worn festened either to the forehead, opening, but at the Bide. The most honoured or inside the left arm, so as to be near the guest would be at hia right hand (but see heart. Their nee arose from II literal and on eh. x:xvi. 23). There was often much snperstitions interpretation of Exod. xiii. 9; manmuvring to obtain this post, e.nd many Deut. vi. 8; xi. 18. Their dimensions were petty sq~bbles e.bout precedence arose on defined by rabbinical rnles, but the extra every festal oocaeion (see Luke xiv. 1, 7, pious formalists of the day set these at etc.). The chief seats in the aynagoguea. nanght, and increased the breadth of the The usual arrangement of the synagogue is strips or of the bands by which they were given by Dr. Edersheim (' Life and Times fastened, in order to draw attention to their of Jesus,' L pp. 484, eto.). It we.a built of religiousness and their strict attention to stone, with an entrance generally on the the least observances of the Law. These south, and so arranged the.t the worshippers phylacteries a.re still in nee among the might direct their prayers towards J eru- Jews. Thus in a• Class-Book for Jewish se.lem. In the centre was placed the lectem Youth' we rea.d., "Every boy, three months of the reader; the women's gallery w11s at before he attains the age of thirteen, com- the north end, "The inside plan is generally mences to make use of the tephillin, which that of two double colonnades, which seem must be worn at least during: ~he time of the to have formed t.he body of the synagogue, morning prayers. The orainance of the the aisles east and west being probably tephillin is one of the signs cf the covenant used as pa.sBRges. At the south end, fe.oing existing between the Almighty and our• north, is e. movable ark, containing the selves, that we may continually bear in sacred rolls of the Law and the prophet& mind the miracles God wrought for our Right before the ark, and fe.oing the people, forefathers." Enlarge the borders of their are the seats of honour, for the rulers of the garmenm ; .,.a "l''fo-..-.aa .,.;;,,, iµ.a.,.~11 ab.,.ii,11, aynagogue and the honourable." These were the fringes of their mder garment& The best the places for which the Pharisees con• manuscripts have merely their fringe,. So the tended, thinking more of gaining these, V ulgate, magnificant fimbriaB. These fringea where they could sit enthroned in the eight of or tassels (r.izitk, zizijotb) were fastened to the congregation, than of the Divine worship thecomersofthege.rmente,ine.ccorde.ncewith which nominally they came to offer (comp.. Numb.:xv.38--41,andwerecomposedofwhite Jae. ii. 2, 3). and blue three.de. They were intended to re- Ver. 7.-Greetinge in the markets. They mind the wearers of the commandments of loved to be denoted" as superiors by respect- the_ Lord, e.nd were rege.rdecl as peculiarly ful salutations in public places. To be se.cred (see eh. iL 20). Christ condemns oalled Rabbi, Rabbi; "My Master" ( com- the ostentatious enle.rgement of these fringes pare the French Monsieur, used not only voca- M e. badge of extraordinary piety and tively, but absolutely); the term addreaeed obt:dience. We quoteegain from the Jewish by scholars to their teacher, and repee.ted 'Class-Book:' "Every male of the Jewish for ostentation's sake, of course implying nation must wear e. garment [not 111JU&lly superiority in those thus called. Christ an uuder-ge.rwent] me.de with four comers, himself was thus addressed by those who having fringes fi.xed at each oomer. These desired to denote his e.uthority e.nd pre. fringes are ce.lled taet.Bia, or, memorial eminence ( eh. x:xii. 16, 24, 36; comp. John i. fringes. In the synagogue, during the morn- 38). These greetings and 1111lutations we~6 ing prayera, e. BC&rf wit.h fringes e.tta.ched enjoined on acholara e.nd inferiors, under ~a1n to it ie worn, which is called wllece, • ace.rf of ecclesi.8.lltice.l censure and loss of se.lnhon. or \'eil.' These memorial fringes typically Ver. 8.-Be not ye oe.lled Rabbi. After point out the six hundred and thirteen stating the customs of the Phurisees, Ohris, precep~ oontained in the \'olume of the proceeds (ven. 8-12) to give hie own di.a,- m. :n:m.1-30.J TllE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 397