Bible Commentary

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men’s] bones, and of all uncleanness. 27. like unto whited sepulchres ] In Luke the comparison is to “graves that appear not,” by walking over which men unconsciously defile themselves. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:27”

[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 26. that which is within the cup ] Rather, the inside of the cup. Cp. Mar 7:4. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Cleanse first that which is within the cup … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:26”

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 25. are full ] Observe how swiftly and naturally Eastern speech passes from the figurative to the literal. The outside of the cup and platter is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:25”

[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 24. strain out a gnat ] A correction for the reading of E. V. “strain at a gnat;” the reading in the text appears in the earlier editions of the English Bible from Tyndale to Bishops’ Bible. See Cambridge Paragraph Bible, Introd., Appendix … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:24”

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 23. ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin ] “Mint … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:23”

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. The throne of God – Heaven is his throne, Mat 5:34. It is so called as being the place where he sits in glory. Jesus says, here, that all who swear at all do, in fact, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:22”

And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. Him that dwelleth therein – That is, God. The temple was his house, his dwelling. In the first, or Solomons temple, he dwelt between the cherubims in the most holy place. He manifested himself there by a visible symbol, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:21”

Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. Verse 20. Whoso – shall swear by the altar] As an oath always supposes a person who witnesses it, and will punish perjury; therefore, whether they swore by the temple or the gold, (Mt 23:16), or by the altar or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:20”

[Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift The altar that sanctifieth the gift – The altar, dedicated to God, gave all the value or holiness to the offering, and must therefore be the greatest or of the most importance. If, therefore, either bound to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:19”

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. The altar – The altar of burnt-offerings, in the court of the priests. See the notes at Mat 21:12. It was made of brass, about 30 feet in length and breadth, and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:18”