Matthew 23

Matthew 23:2

SIt] they hold the degree of Doctors and ordinary expositors of Moses his Law: though that were but only by humane introduction, for want of Priests and Levites to whom God had given that office.

Matthew 23:3

Whatsoever they] according to the Law which they instruct you in, Deuteronomy 17:11. for otherwise Christ had warned them to beware of their false doctrines, Matthew 16. 6. 12. See 1 Thess. 5. 21. 1 Ioh. 4. 1.

Matthew 23:4

They binde] They tye and binde mens Consciences, to a rigorous and exact observation of the Law, for which they care but little themselves.

Matthew 23:5

Phylacteries] So the Greekes called certaine writings which they did weare about them against witchcrafts and Sorceries: to the resemblance of which, though to a diverse use, were made certaine borders of skinnes or some other such kinde of stuffe, whereupon the Iewes writ certaine passages of the Law and did weare them upon their Gownes, Deuteronomy 6:8. for a remembrance. Now for to make a shew of greater holinesse, the Pharisees did weare those borders, broader then the ordinary sort of people The borders] See the Law concerning this, Numbers 15:38. Deuteronomy 22:12.

Matthew 23:7

Rabbi] that is to say Master.

Matthew 23:8

Be not yee] avoid this vaine glory of titles, and doe not attribute unto your selves the authority of absolute masters of my Church. But referre the glory to me onely, and teach nothing but that which you have learned of mee. See 2 Corinthians 1:24. 1 Peter 5:3.

Matthew 23:9

Call no man] as the precedent commandement was directed to the Pastors: So this teacheth the beleevers not to yeeld that absolute reverence, nor power over their Consciences to any living man which belongeth to God onely, as ignorant people did use to do to the Pharisees. For laying these abuses aside, these titles of honour may bee used in a good sence and meaning. Sec 1 Corinthians 4:15. 1 Thessalonians 2:11

Matthew 23:12

Shall humble] by a true and sincere humility.

Matthew 23:13

Yee shut up] ye hinder, as much as in you lyeth, by your false doctrine, authority and example, men from participating of that salvation and redemption which I being to the world, and the spirituall re-establishment of my Church, in the grace, conduct, and glory of God That are] that seemed to have some desire thereunto, and were readie to enter into it.

Matthew 23:14

Long] which you make them dearely pay for, either directly, or indirectly, by begging, and other trickes of Covetousnesse Therefore] because you cover your Covetousnesse with the vaile of pietie.

Matthew 23:15

Yee compasse] you bestow a great deale of studdy and labour Proselyte] a Greeke name signifying a man that commeth home from without. And so were called the Gentiles that embraced the Iewish Religion, and there were of diverse sorts and degrees, some turning to their religion, and living and inhabiting amongst them, and being circumcised. Others turned to their religion, and dwelt amongst them, but were not circumcised. Others turned to their religion, but neither dwelt with them nor were circumcised Yee make him] teaching him to set his righteousnesse, and ground his salvation upon his works, and not upon me who am the only end of the law. And turning him from the true spirituall sence of the law by your false doctrines and from Gods pure service by your traditions: and infecting him with your hypocrisie and other vices, you cause his conversion to Iudaisme, to serve him for nothing but for his greater condemnation Twofold more] far more superstitious and servent in our Sect, as ordinarily the Disciples of false Doctors are worser than they themselves.

Matthew 23:16

By the Temple] See upon Matthew 5:33-34.

Matthew 23:17

That sanctifieth] which being holy causeth the Gold which is offered unto it to bee ho¦ly also.

Matthew 23:18

By the gift] See upon Matthew 15:5.

Matthew 23:20

Who so] all your distinctions are frivolous and false, for the Altar and she gift have an inseparable relation one to the other: the Altar being appointed only for gifts, and they being not holy without the Altar.

Matthew 23:21

Shall sweare by] the Temple hath no divinitie in it, whereby one ought to sweare by it. Wherefore either such oathes are vicious and unlawfull, or if swearing by the Temple, man hath a relation to God, who is present in it, they can not bee held for vaine.

Matthew 23:23

Pay tithe] pay tithe of the smallest hearbs, which is not commanded by God, thorow an affectation of greater devotion.

Matthew 23:24

Straine] a proverbiall kinde of speech, as much as to say, you are very scrupulous in small and indifferent things, and very licentious in principall and necessary ones.

Matthew 23:25

Extortion] he points out the two chiefe vices belonging to worldly goods, namely the getting and using of them.

Matthew 23:26

Cleanse] cause the use of the goods to be cleane from sinne, and sanctified by prayer, thanksgiving, and faith, 1 Timothy 4:5. Titus 1:15. and then thou shalt not need to feare that the uncleannesse of the vesell should defile thy conscience.

Matthew 23:32

Fill yee up] the meaning is you confessing your selves to bee the sonnes of those, which slew the servants of God and having hitherto imitated them, there remains nothing but that you should accumulate your rage upon me, and upon my servants, to cause the fulnesse of Gods judgments to fall upon you: seeing that according to his justice the wicked children of wicked parents doe oftentimes beare the punishment of both, Genesis 15:1-21. ver. 16. Psalme 69. 28.

Matthew 23:34

Wherefore behold] because I know that you are wicked and cruell as your fathers were, I doe foretell you that you will persecute my servants to the uttermost. Whereupon shall follow your utter ruine Prophets] by these names are meant all the ministers of the Gospell, some called and inspired immediately, as Apostles Evangelists, and Prophets: other some mediately as Pastors, mean by wise men; and Teachers, meant by the name of Scribes. See Ephes. 4. 11.

Matthew 23:35

All the] namely the punishment for all my servants innocent bloud Zacharias]it is the same man as is called the sonne of Iehoiada, 2 Cro: 4. 20, 21. and we must imagine that the father had wo names according to the custome of the Iewes. Now Christ makes mention of him, not because he was the last of all the Prophets that the Iewes slew: but because lie is the last of them that were mentioned in the ancient Scripture.

Matthew 23:36

All these things] the accumulated punishments for all the murthers, which had been formerly committed.

Matthew 23:37

How often] seeing that Gods will cannot bee an unperfect will of desire onely, which is a signe of infirmity, Psalme 115. 3. and that his decree is immutable and will suffer no opposition, Isaiah 46:10. Romans 9:19: wee must of necessitie understand this to be meant of the dispensation of outward meanes by the word, exhortations, commandements, &c. which are the rules, and the object of mens obedience, and the argument of the condemnation of their rebellion: though oftentimes GODS secret will was not to accomplish the worke, but that all was done either to trie 〈◊〉 wickednes, or for some other ends. See Deuteronomy 29:29.

Matthew 23:38

Your house,] God will quickly forsake your City and your Temple, withdrawing his protection and presence from thence, whereby all things will runne into utter ruine.

Matthew 23:39

I say unto you,] my corporall presence shall shortly leave you, and soone after that I will take away from you the spirituall presence of my grace and vertue, untill the time come of the conversion of your whole nation. Romans 11:25. 2 Corinthians 3:16. at which time you shall acknowledge me to be the true Messias according to the meaning of the words, Psalms 118:26. for the applying of which title unto me, you have reproved the people, Mat. 21. 9. 16. and then in the end of the world you shall see me come in glory to your everlasting happinesse.