{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/vws/mat018.htm","path":"bib/cmt/vws/mat018.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/vws/mat018.htm","text":"Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent, [1886]\nThe Rev. inserts then after who, thus restoring the Greek \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1, which the A. V. overlooks. Who then? Who, as things stand. Since one of our number has been doubly honored in being called \"the rock,\" and in being appointed to take part in a special miracle, who then is greatest?\nBe converted (\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c4\u03b5)\nThe word converted has acquired a conventional religious sense which is fundamentally truthful, but the essential quality of which will be more apparent if we render literally, as Rev., except ye turn. The picture is that of turning round in a road and facing the other way.\nShall not enter (\u03bf\u1f50 \u03bc\u1f74 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03ad\u03bb\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5)\nBut the double negative is very forcible, and is given in Rev. in nowise. So far from being greatest in the kingdom of heaven, ye shall not so much as enter.\nAs this little child\nNot, as this little child humbles himself, but, shall make himself humble as this little child is lowly; shall willingly become by spiritual process what the child is by nature.\nIn my name (\u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f40\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03af \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5)\nLit., upon my name; on the ground of, or on account of; for my sake.\nA millstone (\u03bc\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f40\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2)\nTwo kinds of millstones were in use; the one turned by hand, the other, and larger, by an ass (\u1f44\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2). Here Jesus says an ass-millstone; or, as Rev., a great millstone; Wyc., millstone of asses.\nLeave upon the mountains\nThe text here is disputed. Both A. V. and Rev. follow a text which reads: \"Doth he not, leaving the ninety and nine, go into the mountains?\" Rather join leave with on the mountains, and read, \"Will he not leave the ninety and nine upon (\u1f10\u03ba\u03c0\u1f76, scattered over) the mountains, and go,\" etc. This also corresponds with \u1f00\u03c6\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9, leaving, letting out, or letting loose.\nIf so be (\u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9)\nIf it should so come to pass. God's grace is not irresistible.\nThe will of your Father (\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1 \u1f14\u03bc\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f51\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd)\nThough some read my Father (\u03bc\u03bf\u1fe6). Lit., There is not a will before your (my) Father. So Wyc., It is not will before your Father. Meyer paraphrases, There is not before the face of God any determination having as its object that one of these, etc.\nGo (\u1f55\u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u03b5)\nDo not wait for him to come to you.\nTell him his fault (\u1f14\u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03be\u03bf\u03bd)\nRev., shew him. The verb means, first, to test, try, search out; therefore, to cross-examine with a view of convincing or refuting; thence to rebuke or chide. The Rev. shew is better than tell, which implies merely naming the fault; whereas the injunction is, go and prove to him how he has erred. Wyc., reprove, with snub as explanation.\nIn the mouth (\u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c3\u03c4\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2)\nBetter Rev., \"at the mouth,\" or on the testimony of.\nShall agree (\u03c3\u03c5\u03bc\u03c6\u03c9\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd)\nFrom \u03c3\u03cd\u03bd, together, and \u03c6\u03c9\u03bd\u03ae, sound or voice. Transcribed in our word symphony. It has so far lost its distinctive character as a concord of voices as to be used for agreement in the deeper and more inward sense.\nConcerning anything that they shall ask (\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03ac\u03b3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f57 \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03b1\u1f30\u03c4\u03ae\u03c3\u03c9\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9)\nThe literal rendering is, if any thing, stronger: Everything, whatever it be, for which they may have asked. Wyc., Shall consent of everything whatever they shall ask. Tynd., Shall agree in any manner thing whatsoever they shall desire. The word \u03c0\u03c1\u1fb6\u03b3\u03bc\u03b1, thing, is used like the Latin res; a matter, affair, business; with the meaning at bottom of something to be done, since it is cognate to the verb \u03c0\u03c1\u03ac\u03c3\u03c3\u03c9, to do. Shall be done, however, is \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03ae\u03c3\u03b5\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9, it shall come to pass.\nIn my name (\u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03bc\u1f78\u03bd \u1f44\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1)\nLit., \"into my name.\" When two or three are drawn together into Christ as the common centre of their desire and faith.\nSeventy times seven (\u1f11\u03b2\u03b4\u03bf\u03bc\u03b7\u03ba\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03ac\u03ba\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f11\u03c0\u03c4\u03ac).\nIt was a settled rule of Rabbinism that forgiveness should not be extended more than three times. Even so, the practice was terribly different. The Talmud relates, without blame, the conduct of a rabbi who would not forgive a very small slight of his dignity, though asked by the offender for thirteen successive years, and that on the day of atonement; the reason being that the offended rabbi had learned by a dream that his offending brother would attain the highest dignity; whereupon he feigned himself irreconcilable, to force the other to migrate from Palestine to Babylon, where, unenvied by him, he might occupy the chief place (Edersheim). It must, therefore, have seemed to Peter a stretch of charity to extend forgiveness from three to seven times. Christ is not specifying a number of times greater than the limit of seven. He means that there is to be no limit. \"Forgiveness is qualitative, not quantitative.\"\nA certain king (\u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03ce\u03c4\u1ff3 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u1fd6)\nLit., a man, a king. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a human king.\nTake account of his servants (\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u1fb6\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b4\u03bf\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6)\nThe rendering of the A. V. is loose and inadequate, and might be taken to mean to reckon the number of his servants. The verb \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u1fb6\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9 is compounded of \u03c3\u03cd\u03bd, with, and \u03b1\u1f34\u03c1\u03c9, to take up, and means literally to take up together, i.e., cast up, as an account. The A. V. also overlooks the force of \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70, with. Therefore, Rev., better, make a reckoning with his servants.\nWhich owed him (\u1f40\u03c6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bb\u03ad\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2)\nLit., a debtor of ten thousand talents.\nTen thousand talents\nAn enormous sum; about twelve millions of dollars.\nTo be sold\nAccording to the law of Moses: Exo 2:3; Lev 25:39, Lev 25:47.\nFound\nEither went in search of him, as he himself had been sought out by his lord, or came upon him accidentally in the street.\nA hundred pence (\u1f11\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u03b7\u03bd\u03ac\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1)\nLess than a millionth part of his own debt.\nTook him by the throat (\u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u1f14\u03c0\u03bd\u03b9\u03b3\u03b5\u03bd)\nLit., throttled. Wyc., strangled. Compare were choked, Mar 5:13. Creditors often dragged their debtors before the judge, as the Roman law allowed them to do, holding them by the throat. Thus Livy (4:53), relates how, a difficulty having arisen between the consul Valerius and one Menenius, the tribunes put an end to the contest, and the consul ordered into prison (collum torsisset, twisted the neck) the few who appealed. And Cicero (\"Pro Cluentio,\" xxi.) \"Lead him to the judgment-seat with twisted neck (collo obtorto).\" Compare Cicero, \"In C. Verrem,\" 4:10.\nWhat thou owest (\u03b5\u1f34 \u03c4\u03b9 \u1f40\u03c6\u03b5\u03af\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2)\nLit., If thou owest anything. Not that the creditor is uncertain about the fact of the debt, though some uncertainty about the exact amount may be implied. This would agree with found, in the sense of coming upon accidentally. Compare Mat 13:44. He came suddenly upon him and recognized him as a debtor, though not certain as to the amount of his debt. Meyer remarks, \"The if is simply the expression of a pitiless logic. If thou owest anything (as thou dost) pay!\" The word pay (\u1f00\u03c0\u03cc\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2) is emphatic in position.\nBesought (\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03af\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9)\nThe imperfect has the force of earnestly besought.\nWent (\u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u1f7c\u03bd)\nLit. went away: dragging the other with him to judgment.\nTold (\u03b4\u03b9\u03b5\u03c3\u03ac\u03c6\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd)\nMore than merely narrated. The verb is from \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac, throughout, and \u03c3\u03b1\u03c6\u03ad\u03bd, to explain. They explained the circumstances throughout.\nTheir Lord (\u03c4\u1ff7 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af\u1ff3 \u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd)\nLit., \"their own Lord;\" as befitted their position, and as a mark of their confidence in him.\nTo the tormentors (\u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2)\nLivy pictures an old centurion complaining that he was taken by his creditor, not into servitude, but to a workhouse and torture, and showing his back scarred with fresh wounds (ii., 23).","title":"Vincent's Word Studies: Matthew: Matthew Chapter 18","type":"page"}