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Mat_3:9. Δόξητε ] Do not allow yourselves to suppose, do not say to yourselves, 1Co_11:16; Php_3:4.
λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ] àÈîÇø áÌÀìÄáÌåÉ , cogitare secum. It objectively represents reflection as the language of the mind. Psa_4:5, Psa_10:6. Psa_14:1; Mat_9:21; Luk_3:8; Luk_7:49. Delitzsch, Psych, p. 180 [E. T. 213]. Comp. λέγειν πρὸς ἑαυτόν in Plat. Phaed. p. 88 C.
πατέρα … Ἀβραάμ ] The Jews of the common sort and their party leaders believed that the descendants of Abraham would, as such, become participators of salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom, because Abraham’s righteousness would be reckoned as theirs. Sanhedrin, f. 901: ìëì éùøàì éù ìäí çì÷ ìòåìí äáà . Bereschith, R. xviii. 7. Wetstein on the passage. Bertholdt, Christol. p. 206 ff. Comp. in the N. T., especially Joh_8:33 ff.
ὅτι δύναται , κ . τ . λ .] God is able, notwithstanding your descent from Abraham, to exclude you from the Messiah’s salvation; and, on the other hand, to create and bring forth out of these stones, which lie here around on the bank of the Jordan, such persons as are GENUINE children of Abraham,—that is, as Euth. Zigabenus strikingly expresses it: οἱ τὰς ἀρετὰς αὐτοῦ μιμούμενοι καὶ τῆς αὐτῆς αὐτῷ καταξιούμενοι μερίδος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν . Comp. Romans 4; Rom_9:6 ff.; Galatians 4; Joh_8:39 f. It is an anticipation, however, to find the calling of the heathen here indicated. It follows first from this axiom.