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Mat 9:13. Πορέυθεντες, having gone) sc. into the synagogue, where you may refer to Hosea [sc. Mat 6:6.] Our Lord often said to those who were not His own,[409] πορεύου,” “depart,” see Joh 8:11. His style of quoting the Scriptures is full of suitableness and majesty, and different from that of the apostles; for He does it in such a manner as not Himself to rest upon, but to convince His hearers by their authority; and He employs it more towards His adversaries than towards the disciples who believed on Him.-μάθετε, learn ye) ye who think that ye are already consummate teachers.-ἔλεον θέλω, I will have mercy) A few read with the LXX. in Hos 6:6, with whom the other words in this passage agree, ἔλεον θέλω.[410] The LXX. more commonly use ΤῸ ἜΛΕΟς in the neuter, as in Hos 6:4. Sometimes, however, Ὁ ἜΛΕΟς, like the ancient Greeks. Isa 60:10; Isa 63:7; Dan 1:9; Dan 9:20; Psa 101:1; 1Ma 2:57; 1Ma 3:44; and especially in the minor prophets, Jon 2:9; Mic 6:8 (which passage is also parallel with the evangelist), Ibid. Mat 7:20; Zec 7:9; Hos 12:6. Thus Ὁ ἜΛΕΟς occurs in the present passage, in Mat 12:7; Mat 23:23; Tit 3:5; Heb 4:16; but ΤΌ ἜΛΕΟς occurs frequently in St Luke, St Paul, St James, St Peter, St John, and St Jude; and in Mic 7:18, the LXX., have ΘΕΛΗΤῊς ἘΛΈΟΥς ἘΣΤῚΝ, He is a willer of mercy. We have here an axiom of interpretation, nay, the sum total of that part of theology which treats of cases of conscience. On mercy, cf. ch. Mat 23:23. The word θυσίαν, sacrifice (victimam), is put synecdochically.[411] It is an act of mercy to eat with sinners for their spiritual profit.[412]-ἦλθον, I have come) sc. from heaven.-καλέσαι, to call) Such is the mission, such the authority of Christ.-ἁμαρτωλοὺς, sinners) The word is purposely and emphatically repeated by our Lord. Cf. Mat 9:11.
[409] In the original “Alieniores,”-an expression which is used several times by Bengel in the course of this gospel, and which it is easier to understand than to translate.-(I. B.)
[410] So BC corrected later, D. This is the Hellenistic form, as τὸ πλοῦτος, τὸ ζῆλος found in LXX. and oldest MSS. of N. T. for ὁ πλοῦτος, ὁ ζῆλος. Rec. Text has ἔλεον, the classic form.-ED.
[411] A part for the whole of positive performances.-ED.
[412] So far ought you to be from despising repentance; for repentance is in fact the curing of the soul.-V. g.
Καὶ οὐ θυσίαν) This is one portion of the rigorous observance of those things, which are contained in the Law.-V. g.