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The three degrees of excommunication among the Jews were —

1. Niddui, putting out of the synagogue (Luke 6:22). And the effect of this excommunication was to exclude men from the communion of the Church and people of God and from His service, which was a great disgrace, because after this sentence none of the Jews were to converse with them, but to look upon them as heathens and publicans.

2. Cherem, which extended farther, to the confiscation of goods into the sacred treasury, and devoting them to God, after which there was no redemption of them (Ezra 10:7-9).

3. Shammatha, when the rebellious and contumacious person was anathematized and devoted, and, as some conceive, according to the law (Leviticus 27:29), was to be put to death; though other very knowing men in the Jewish learning think it amounted to no more than a final sentence, whereby they were left to the judgment of God, by some remarkable judgment of His to be cut off from the congregation of Israel. Of the first and last of these degrees of excommunication our Saviour seems here to speak.

(Archbishop Tillotson.)

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KJV: These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

WEB: "These things have I spoken to you, so that you wouldn't be caused to stumble.