1._And the Lord spake. _This is the object of the exhortation: first, that they should not measure the service of God by their own conceits, but rather by His nature; and secondly, that they should begin by studying (281) to be holy. For nothing is harder than for men to divest themselves of their c... [ Continue Reading ]
Since this passage unquestionably relates to the explanation of the Fifth Commandment, it confirms what I have before shown, that the honor which God-commands to be paid to parents, does not consist in reverence only, but also embraces obedience. For the reverence which He now prescribes will render... [ Continue Reading ]
God here explains somewhat more clearly His mind and design, for He enumerates as thefts eases in which either deceit or violence is employed. The two words, which we have translated to _deny_, and to _lie_, signify also to _deceive_; as also to _lie_, or to _frustrate hope_. (98) There is no questi... [ Continue Reading ]
Since the Law comprehends under the word murder, all the wrongs whereby men are unjustly injured, that cruelty was especially to be condemned by which those wretched persons are afflicted, whose calamity ought rather to conciliate our compassion. For, if any particle of humanity exists in us, when w... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Thou shalt not go up and down_. The principle of the second clause is the same as that of the foregoing verse, for it is added to a general precept, whereby detraction is condemned: and much more ought we to be deterred from it, whilst we acknowledge that our tongue is thus armed cruelly to shed... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor_. Because many, under the pretext of conscientiousness, are not only rigid censors of others, but also burst out in the open proclamation of their defects, Moses seeks to prevent this preposterous zeal, shewing how they may best restrain it, not by enco... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself_. What every man’s mind ought to be towards his neighbor, could not be better expressed in many pages that in this one sentence. We are all of us not only inclined to love ourselves more than we should, but all our powers hurry us away in this direction; n... [ Continue Reading ]
Albeit in God’s sight there is no difference between bond and free, yet their condition is diverse as regards courts of justice; (70) nor do the same evil consequences ensue from adultery with a bond-maid, (as with a free woman.) (71) Notwithstanding, therefore, that the crime is worthy of death, st... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And when ye shall come. _There seems to me no question but that the circumcision of trees as well as of men appertains to the First Commandment, not only that the Jews might see a symbol of their own adoption in the very trees, but that they might learn that it was permitted to none but the chil... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Ye shall not round the corners. _It clearly appears that God had no other object than by the interposition of this obstacle to sever His people from heathen nations. For there is nothing to which men are more prone than to conform themselves to the customs of others; and hence it arises, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
This passage more clearly proves that all unlicensed connections (64) were always unlawful in God’s sight. It is a tame and forced interpretation to apply what is here said to spiritual fornication; and those also, who suppose that public stews only are forbidden, restrict the law too much, whereas... [ Continue Reading ]
Leviticus 19:30; 26:2._Ye shall keep my Sabbaths. _From these two passages it is manifest that the service of the tabernacle was annexed to the Sabbath, and that the two things were not only connected by an indissoluble tie, but that the rest from labor had reference to the sacrifices; since it woul... [ Continue Reading ]
32._Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head_. God teaches us that some sparks of His majesty shine forth in old men, whereby they approach to the honor of parents. It is not my purpose to gather quotations from profane authors in reference to the honor due to the old; let it _suffice _that what God... [ Continue Reading ]
Leviticus 19:33._And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land_. Before I pass on to the other iniquities, I have thought fit to introduce this precept, wherein the people are commanded to cultivate equity towards all without exception. Fob if no mention had been made of strangers, the Israelites... [ Continue Reading ]
Leviticus 19:35_Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment_. If you take the word judgment in its strict sense, this will be a special precept, that judges should faithfully do justice to all, and not subvert just causes from favor or ill-will. But since the word משפט, _mishpat_, often means rectitu... [ Continue Reading ]
36._I am the Lord your God. _In these first four passages he treats of the same points which we have observed in the preface to the Law; for he reasons partly from God’s authority, that the law should be reverently obeyed, because the Creator of heaven and earth justly claims supreme dominion; and,... [ Continue Reading ]