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Annotations on S. MATTHEW, Chap. XV.
[ a] * 1.1 V. 1. Wash not their hands] A custome this was taken up among the Jewes, and so strictly commanded one another, that he that should not observe it, was thought guilty of an heavy crime, and a capitall. So saith Rabbi Aquiba, He that takes meat with unwash'd hands, is worthy of death, and therefore having, in prison, water given him for his use, to wash, and to drink, having by accident spilt one half of it, he wash'd his hands in the remainder, thinking it more necessary to doe so, then to drink, and to die, then to violate the traditions of his Ancestors. Hence is that of another Jew, Rabbi Jose, that to eat with unwash'd hands, is all one as to lie with a whore.
[ b] * 1.2 V. 4. Curseth &c.] The words of this second Text, being by our Saviour taken out of Exod. 21. 17. and set down punctually out of the Septuagint, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the scope of Christ, must have the extent of the signification of the Hebrew radix, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and therefore it signifies 1. Positively, doing, or, speaking injuriously to any, and 2ly, Privatively, lightly regar∣ding, in words, or deeds, and so not maintaining them in their need. For as this is the thing to which Christs scope directs the signification of it here, so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the word used in all the Texts, to which this referrs, Exod. 21. 17. Levit. 20. 9. Prov. 20. 20. signifies vilepen∣dere, contemnere, parvi facere, to slight, and contemne, and set at nought (as in Pihel most usually maledicere) So Ezech. 22. 7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, say the Septuagint, where we rightly render it, set light by father and mother, and although every part of 'this was not so farre meant, Exod. 21. 17. as to bring tem∣porall death on all, that did thus neglect their Parents, yet it is thus fitly extended by Christ in the following words, as bringing danger of eternall death on those, who though they did not in plain words curse their parents (which the Pharisees told them, was all that was meant by that text) would not yet doe ought for them, and so in S. Pauls judgment, 1. Tim. 5. 8. were worse then infidels. It is here farther observable, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies here indefinitely, every man, whosever he be, not accepting any, under what vow soever, for so 'tis in Lev. 20. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, say the Septuagint, every man, or what man soever.
[ c] * 1.3 V. 5. Gift] A solemn form of Devoting there was among the Jewes, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and though very contrary to charity, yet frequent among them, to bind a man's self by vow, or execration, that he will in nothing be beneficiall to his neighbour, his parent &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Philo, he confirms by oath the barbarousnesse and ferity of his dis∣position. And this was called by them Corban, and is often in this sense to be met with in the Misnaioth, and in Maimonides, and is the word used in Mar. 7. 11. and as all one with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a gift here. And what hath thus passed under their vow, is, say they, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, utterly forbidden or unlawful, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unlawful as Corban, which being consecrated, must not be touch'd, or imployed to any other uses: Which therefore in all probability is the word omit∣ted in the Ellipsis, which others supply by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he shall be free, but should rather be, he is obliged, may not give his Father. So that the plain meaning of the place is, A Father being in want requires releif of his Son; the Son answers that he hath vow'd he will not, and so that to him it remains not lawful to relieve him: And the Pharisees approve of this practise, that he may thus evacuate his duty to his parent, and, though quite contrary to the precept of honouring and releiving them, yet it was by them thought obligatory to the frustrating of that commandement, and many cases are set down wherein it doth so, in Maimonides and the Rabbins. See Mr. Pococke Not. Miscell. p. 414. and so this without question is it, which is here charged on the Pharises by Christ; But that which is more ordinarily received by the Ancients, and which Origen had from an Hebrew, is, that Corban and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are (in the sence of it Lev. 1. 2. and 7. 14. &c.) a gift consecrated to God, and so saith Theophylact the Pha∣risees (covetous greedy persons) perswading chil∣dren to give nothing to their parents, but to consecrate all to the treasury of the Temple, taught them to say, O Father, that which thou desirest to be profited by me (that is, releived) is a gift, that is, consecrated to the Temple, and so they divided with the children all that they had, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the poor old parents were left without any releif in their old age. This interpretation is probable also, yet ap∣pears not to be agreeable to the Jewish practise, for among them are no foot-steps of any cleaving to God, or consecrating, in this matter, as the testimonies produced by Mr. P. doe evidence. However it be, the words in Greek have an Ellipfis, most fitly to be supplied, as was said by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an interdict, or it is un∣lawfull to breake my vow, and not as others supply it by adding, shall be guiltlesse, or, shall be free, that is, from the obligation or punishment attending that pro∣hibition, or, there is no more required, or, this is enough, or the like.
[ d] * 1.4 V. 13. Plant] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 plantation here signifies not one single plant, but a garden, or nursery of plants; And so fitly belongs to a multitude of men, a sect, or sort, as here of the Pharisees v. 12. which followed Christ, and heard his doctrine. The only difficulty is, what is meant by such a plantation being planted, or not planted by God. And that will be best conjectured from the Context. At one saying of Christ, the Pharisees were scandalized, gall'd, and discouraged from following him, or entertaining his doctrine, v. 12. And when Christ is told of this, his only answer is, Every plantation which is not planted by God, shall be rooted out, Where as their being scandalized, or dis∣couraged from following him, is the rooting out of his plantation, so their manner of following, beleiving, en∣tertaining of his doctrine is express'd by Gods having not planted that plantation. The bottome of it is, That Faith, which comes from God, as founded on his testi∣mony, and terminated in his doctrine, will extend it self infinitely to all that shall come so testified, and so to the whole doctrine of Christ, as well as to any part of it, it being certain that God cannot lie, or bear testi∣mony to any, that shall say any thing false, and as certain, that all Christs doctrine, particularly this, v. 11. hath a tincture of Divinity upon it. And therefore they that professe to hearken to Christ, and to receive his doctrine in some things, but not in all, to follow him a while, and then to quarrell with his doctrine, when it agrees not with their humour, 'tis hereby evi∣dent, that the Faith, which is in them, is not founded on Gods teaching, or testifying, (see c. 16. 17.) is not his seed received into a humble, obedient, honest heart, (which is a mould that receives all that comes from God, and brings forth fruit abundantly c. 13. 23.) but is founded on some other principle, the gratifying their humours, or interest &c. and accordingly as the seed that fell on stony ground, soon withered away, (that kind of beleiver, when tribulation came, was scandalized, fell off and forsooke Christianity,) so this kind of partiall, hypocriticall faith, of them that be∣leive Christs doctrine no farther then they like it, is sure not long to last, whensoever a crosse doctrine comes, as here they are scandalized, and fall off from Christ, the plantation, being none of Gods, is rooted out. By this will be discern'd,* 1.5 what is meant by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, being taught of God, by having any thing revealed from God, c. 16. 17. that is, when as God by his testimony of Christ, or the holy Ghosts descent on the Apostles, testifies the truth of any doctrine, so the humble, obe∣dient