JUDGE NOT (μη κρινετε). The habit of censoriousness, sharp, unjust criticism. Our word critic is from this very word. It means to separate, distinguish, discriminate. That is necessary, but pre-judice (prejudgment) is unfair, captious criticism.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MOTE (το καρφος). Not dust, but a piece of dried wood or chaff, splinter (Weymouth, Moffatt), speck (Goodspeed), a very small particle that may irritate.THE BEAM (την δοκον). A log on which planks in the house rest (so papyri), joist, rafter, plank (Moffatt), pole sticking out grotesquely.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALT THOU SEE CLEARLY (διαβλεψεις). Only here and Luke 6:42 and Mark 8:25 in the New Testament. Look through, penetrate in contrast to βλεπεις, to gaze at, in verse Matthew 7:3. Get the log out of your eye and you will see clearly how to help the brother get the splinter out (εκβαλειν) of his ey... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH IS HOLY UNTO THE DOGS (το αγιον τοις κυσιν). It is not clear to what "the holy" refers, to ear-rings or to amulets, but that would not appeal to dogs. Trench (_Sermon on the Mount_, p. 136) says that the reference is to meat offered in sacrifice that must not be flung to dogs: "It is n... [ Continue Reading ]
LOAF--STONE (αρτον--λιθον). Some stones look like loaves of bread. So the devil suggested that Jesus make loaves out of stones (Matthew 4:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
FISH--SERPENT (ιχθυν--οφιν). Fish, common article of food, and water-snakes could easily be substituted. Anacoluthon in this sentence in the Greek.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH MORE (ποσω μαλλον). Jesus is fond of the _a fortiori_ argument.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT MEN SHOULD DO UNTO YOU (ινα ποιωσιν υμιν ο ανθρωπο). Luke (Luke 6:31) puts the Golden Rule parallel with Matthew 5:42. The negative form is in Tobit 4:15. It was used by Hillel, Philo, Isocrates, Confucius. "The Golden Rule is the distilled essence of that 'fulfilment' (Matthew 5:17) which i... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE NARROW GATE (δια της στενης πυλης). The Authorized Version "at the strait gate" misled those who did not distinguish between "strait" and "straight." The figure of the Two Ways had a wide circulation in Jewish and Christian writings (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19; Jeremiah 21:8; Jeremiah 21:1). Se... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE PROPHETS (των ψευδοπροφητων). There were false prophets in the time of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus will predict "false Messiahs and false prophets" (Matthew 24:24) who will lead many astray. They came in due time posing as angels of light like Satan, Judaizers (2 Corinthians 11:13.) an... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM (απο των καρπων αυτων επιγνωσεσθε). From their fruits you will recognize them." The verb "know " (γινωσκω) has επ added, fully know. The illustrations from the trees and vines have many parallels in ancient writers.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 7:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT--BUT (ου--αλλ'). Sharp contrast between the mere talker and the doer of God's will.... [ Continue Reading ]
DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN THY NAME? (ου τω σω ονοματ επροφητευσαμεν;). The use of ου in the question expects the affirmative answer. They claim to have prophesied (preached) in Christ's name and to have done many miracles. But Jesus will tear off the sheepskin and lay bare the ravening wolf. "I neve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DOETH THEM (κα ποιε αυτους). That is the point in the parable of the wise builder, "who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock" (Luke 6:48).... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS FOUNDED (τεθεμελιωτο). Past perfect indicative passive state of completion in the past. It had been built upon the rock and it stood. No augment.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DOETH THEM NOT (κα μη ποιων αυτους). The foolish builder put his house on the sands that could not hold in the storm. One is reminded of the words of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon in Matthew 5:19 about the one "who does and teaches." Hearing sermons is a dangerous business if one does... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MULTITUDES WERE ASTONISHED (εξεπλησσοντο ο οχλο). They listened spell-bound to the end and were left amazed. Note the imperfect tense, a buzz of astonishment. The verb means literally "were struck out of themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT AS THEIR SCRIBES (κα ουχ ως ο γραμματεις αυτων). They had heard many sermons before from the regular rabbis in the synagogues. We have specimens of these discourses preserved in the Mishna and Gemara, the Jewish Talmud when both were completed, the driest, dullest collection of disjounted... [ Continue Reading ]