(Mat 9:11; Luk 5:30; Luk 18:11; Jud 1:19). Applicable to the hypocritical self-justifiers of our Lord’s time.
smoke - alluding to the smoke of their self-righteous sacrifices; the fire of God’s wrath was kindled at the sight, and exhibited itself in the smoke that breathed forth from His nostrils; in Hebrew the nose is the seat of anger; and the nostrils distended in wrath, as it were, breathe forth smoke [Rosenmuller] (Psa 18:8).