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Luk 2:35. Καὶ σοῦ δὲ αὐτῆς, and indeed thine own) In antithesis to οὗτος, This child.-τὴν ψυχὴν, soul) Answering to ἐκ π. καρδιῶν, of many hearts.-ῥομφαία, a sword) ῥομφαία is a greater ξίφος than μάχαιρα. [a dirk], and yet it often does less injury than the other. There is implied her grief on account of the contradiction of the world against Jesus, or even some kind of internal temptation, most acute, but of short duration, affecting Mary, and in fine made beneficial to her salvation. For the holy Virgin did not understand [comprehend] all things; Luk 2:33; Luk 2:50. The sword may have pierced through her soul, for instance, on the occasion mentioned in the end of Luk 2:48, Mar 3:31, Joh 19:25. Who would suppose that Mary was perfected without internal temptations? Her faith attained its height by proving victorious through the height of temptation. [Therefore, whereas heretofore only most delightful things were mentioned in connection with her, something of a bitter is now announced even to her, who was Blessed among women. All, it seems, have to bear the part assigned to them in chastisement.-V. g.] Yet nevertheless it is the soul, not the heart, which is put in antithesis to the spirit; Heb 4:12. The hearts of many are agitated with thoughts: the soul of Mary only experienced the sword. Comp. the phrases, Psa 42:11; Psa 73:21.-ὅπως, that) This expresses the consequence of the greatest adversity.-ἂν) ἂν is not redundant (παρέλκει), i.e. it implies here, [in order that] by that very fact.-ἐκ πολλῶν, on the part of many) So πολλῶν, of many, Luk 2:34.-διαλογισμοὶ) the thoughts, good as well as bad, coming from hearts good as well as bad: whence it is that the contradiction results. Both faith and unbelief are in the heart, and are put forth by the mouth. Rom 10:8-9; Rom 10:21; Rom 15:5-6; Act 13:46; Act 14:2; 2Co 4:13; 2Co 6:11; 2Ti 2:12-13.