_He began to speak unto them by parables_ “Christ having showed the rulers, chief priests, and scribes, the heinousness of their sin, in rejecting John the Baptist, (Matthew 21:28,) judged it proper, likewise, publicly to represent the crime of the nation, in rejecting all the messengers of God from... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sought to lay hold on him. but feared the people_ Greek, τον οχλον, _the multitude._ How wonderful is the providence of God, using all things for the good of his children! Generally the multitude is restrained from tearing them in pieces, only by the fear of their rulers. And here, the rulers... [ Continue Reading ]
_They send unto him certain of the Pharisees_, &c. See notes on Matthew 22:15. _They marvelled at him_ At the wisdom of his answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses are explained in the notes on Matthew 22:23. _He is not the God of the dead, but of the living_ That is, (if the argument be proposed at length,) since the character of his being the God of any persons, plainly intimates a relation to them, not as dead, but as living; and since he canno... [ Continue Reading ]
_One of the scribes came_ So Luke also, Luke 20:19; but Matthew, εις εξ αυτων νομικος, _one of them being a lawyer._ In this diversity of words, however, there is no difference in sense. For the scribes not only transcribed the Scriptures, but were generally, also, teachers of the law, from which th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart_ The summary of piety contained in these words, (see notes on Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37,) is introduced by the preceding emphatical and strong assertion of the unity of God; because, “it is necessary that men should be deeply impressed wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the second is like_ Of a like comprehensive nature; comprising the whole of our duty to man. _Thou shalt love thy neighbour_ “The precept enjoining love to our neighbour is like to the great commandment which enjoins the love of God, because charity is the sister of piety, clearly proving its r... [ Continue Reading ]
_The scribe_ Who had proposed the question to try him, being struck with the solidity and spirit of his answer, _said, Well, Master_ In the original it is, καλως, _excellently, finely_, or _beautifully;_ a phrase which expresses his high satisfaction in the reply much more strongly than the word _we... [ Continue Reading ]
See the note on Matthew 22:41, where this paragraph is explained. _And the common people heard him gladly_ They heard him with great attention and pleasure; for the clear and solid answers which he returned to the insnaring questions of his foes, gave them a high opinion of his wisdom, and showed th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beware of the scribes_ See that ye do not imitate their hypocrisy, or imbibe their principles, and be on your guard against their insidious counsels and designs. There was an absolute necessity for these repeated cautions of our Lord. For, considering the inveterate prejudices of these scribes agai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus sat over against the treasury_ “Jesus was now in the treasury, or that part of the women's court where the chests were placed for receiving the offerings of those who came to worship. These chests, being thirteen in number, had each of them an inscription, signifying for what use the offering... [ Continue Reading ]