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Mat_15:7 ff. Καλῶς ] admirably, appropriately characterizing.
προεφήτ .] has predicted, which de Wette unwarrantably denies to be the meaning of the word in the present instance, understanding προφ . in the sense of the inspired utterance generally. Jesus regards Isa_29:13 (not strictly in accordance with the LXX.) as a typical prediction, which has found its fulfilment in the conduct of the scribes and Pharisees.
μάτην δέ ] δέ denotes a continuation of the matter in hand; and μάτην indicates, according to the usual explanation, that their σέβεσθαι is attended with no beneficial result (2Ma_7:18, and classical writers), produces no moral effect upon their heart and life, because they teach as doctrines the commandments of men. But seeing that the μάτην σέβεσθαι consists of mere lip-service in which the heart plays no part, thus according with the idea involved in ὑποκριταί ,—and inasmuch as διδάσκοντες , etc., is evidence that such is the nature of the service, the interpretation: sine causa, found so early as in the Vulgate, is better suited to the context. Their σέβεσθαι of God is meaningless (temere, comp. Soph. Aj. 634, and Lobeck’s note, Ast, Lex. Plat. II. p. 285), because they do not teach divine, but human doctrine, the consequence of which is that the σέβεσθαι has no motive principle in the heart, where, on the contrary, human interest takes the place of the fear of God. Comp. the μάταιος θρησκεία of Jam_1:26. For the opposite of such worship, consult Joh_4:24. See Apol. Conf. A., pp. 206, 256.
There is no Hebrew word corresponding to μάτην in the above quotation from Isaiah; probably the text made use of by the LXX. contained a different reading.
ἐντάλμ . ἀνθρ .] promulgating as doctrines, precepts of a merely human origin; comp. Col_2:22.