John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 7:11 - 7:11

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John Bengel Commentary - Matthew 7:11 - 7:11


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Mat 7:11. Ὑμεῖς, you) Christ rightly excepts Himself, and no one else.[311]-The ὑμεὶς; here refers to ἐξ ὑμῶν, of you, in Mat 7:9.-πονηροὶ, evil) An illustrious testimony to the doctrine of original sin. Cf. the evil one,[312] Mat 6:13. The Panegyric of Gregory[313] Thaumaturgus (p. 20, 146), has a similar confession of the evilness of human nature, with an emphasis rare in that age. Man is addressed as evil in the Scriptures. See ch. Mat 10:17, and Joh 2:25.[314] It is wonderful therefore that Holy Scripture should have ever been received by the human race. Bread and fish are good things; man is evil, prompt to commit injury.[315]-οἴδατε, ye know) Distinguishing bread from a stone, etc. It is wonderful that this understanding (intelligentiam) has remained in us. We are so evil. Cf. Job 39:17[316] with the preceding verses.-ἀγαθὰ, good things) both harmless and profitable things.[317]-τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, to your children) especially when they ask you.-ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, which is in the heavens) In whom there is no evil.-τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν, to them that ask) sc. His children; for where true prayer begins, there is Divine sonship.

[311] What man of you, Mat 7:9, implies that all but Himself are included in His words.-(ED.)

[312] Men who are devoid of a godly disposition imitate him.-B. G. V.

[313] GREGORY, surnamed THAUMATURGUS, or the wonder-worker, was born at Neo-Cæsarea, in Cappadocia. He was originally a heathen, and highly educated, in the learning of the ancients. He afterwards embraced Christianity, and studied under Origen. Having taken orders, he was ordained Bishop of his native city about 239. He died between 264 and 271. He was a man of high attainments and great piety. Several valuable works of his are still in existence; that alluded to here, is his Panegyric on his master Origen, edited by Bengel, A.D. 1722.-(I. B.)

[314] E. B. and the later editions add Mat 16:23, Rom 3:4, etc.-(I. B.)

[315] It is in fact wonderful that a human father, when his son asks him for a fish, does not offer him a serpent.-V. g.

[316] Where the Vulgate has-Privavit enim eam Deus sapientiâ nec dedit illi intelligentiam-and E. V. “Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath He imparted to her understanding”-(I. B.)

[317] And therefore also the Good Spirit Himself. V. g.

In the original the expressions used are, Malus, malitiam, male audit.-As the first of these = the Evil One, I have rendered the others so as to correspond with it.-(I. B)