Geneva Study Bible Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, {1} Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
(1) None commonly are more bold condemners of God, then they whom God has appointed keepers of his law. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they {a} wash not their hands when they eat bread.
(a) Which they received handed down from their ancestors, or their elders allowed, who were the governors of the Church. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? {2} But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
(2) Their wicked boldness in corrupting the commandments of God (and that upon the pretence of godliness) and usurping authority to make laws, is reproved here. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. For God commanded, saying, {b} Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
(b) By honour is meant every duty which children owe to their parents. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; But ye say, {c} Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
(c) The meaning is this: whatever I bestow upon the temple, is to your profit, for it is as good as if I gave it to you, for (as the Pharisees of our time say) it will be meritorious for you: for under this form of religion, they gathered all to themselves, as though he that had given anything to the temple, had done the duty of a child. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none {d} effect by your tradition.
(d) As much as you could, you destroyed the power and authority of the commandment: for otherwise the commandments of God stand fast in the Church of God, in spite of the world and Satan. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, {3} Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(3) The same men are condemned for hypocrisy and superstition, because they made the kingdom of God to consist of outward things. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: {4} And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
(4) Christ teaches us that the hypocrisy of false teachers who deceive our souls is not to be endured at all, not even in small matters, and there is no reason why their office or position should blind our eyes: otherwise we are likely to perish with them. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the {e} coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
(e) Coasts which were next to Tyre and Sidon, that is in that region where Palestine faces toward Venice, and the sea of Syria. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. And, behold, a woman of {f} Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
(f) Of the people of the Canaanites, who dwelt in Phoenicia. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. {5} But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
(5) In that Christ sometimes shuts his ears, as it were, to the prayers of his saints, he does it for his glory, and our profit. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the {g} house of Israel.
(g) Of the people of Israel, who were divided into tribes, but all those tribes came from one family. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. {6} And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
(6) Christ does not cease to be beneficial even where he is condemned, and in the midst of wolves he gathers together and cares for his flock. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, {h} maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
(h) Whose members were weakened with paralysis, or by nature, for after it is said that he healed them. Now Christ preferred to heal in this way, that such members as were weak, he restored to health, and yet he could easily, if he had wanted, have given them hands and feet and other members which they lacked. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. {7} Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they {i} continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
(7) By doing this miracle again, Christ shows that he who follows Christ will never be in need, not even in the wilderness. (i) Go not from my side. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he commanded the multitude to {k} sit down on the ground.
(k) Literally, to lie down backwards, as rowers do in rowing, when they draw their oars to themselves. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven {l} baskets full.
(l) A kind of container made with twigs. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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