say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his 6 mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did 7 Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto 8 greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Mat. xxiii. 16, 17, 18. The Lord took me (said Amos) as I followed the flock; and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now, therefore, hear thou the word of the Lord; thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore, thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword; and thy land shall be divided by line, and thou shalt die in a polluted land. And Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land. Am. vii. 15, 16, 17. Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, It is corban; that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall be free and ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered, and many such like things do ye. Mar. vii. 11, 12, 13. Peter and John answered and said unto them (to those who forbade their speaking in the name of Christ), Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Ac. iv. 19. Peter, and the other apostles, answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Ac. v. 29. It is a gift. If it be a beast whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord, all that any man giveth of such unto the Lord shall be holy. Only the firstling of the beasts which should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it: it is the Lord's. Le. xxvii. 9. 26. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Pr. xx. 25. Ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is corban; that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall be free: and ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother. Mar. vii. 11, 12. 6 Honour not his father, &c.] Honour widows that are widows indeed; but if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them that are widows indeed. 1 Ti. v. 3, 4. 8. 16. Thus have ye made the commandment, &c.] It is time for thee, Lord, to work, for they have made void thy law. My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Ps. cxix. 126. 139. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly, in vain made he it, the pen of the Scribes is in vain. Je. viii. 8. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Ho. iv. 6. The priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways; but have been partial in the law. Mal. ii. 7, 8, 9. Ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother (said Jesus to the Scribes and Pharisees), making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered. Mar. vii. 12, 13. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. iii. 31. 7 Hypocrites.] See chap. vii. 5. Ro. Well did Esaias prophesy.] Well hath Esaias prophesied of you, hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Mar. vii. 6. And when they (to whom Paul preached) agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted and I should heal them. Ac. xxviii. 25, 26, 27. 8 Draweth nigh unto me with their mouth.] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their 9 heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching 10 for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men, therefore I will proceed to do a marvellous work, &c. Is. xxix. 13. They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Ez. xxxiii. 31. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! John i. 47. He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. 1 Pe. iii. 10. But their heart is far from me.] My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Pr. xxiii. 26. Thou hast planted "them" ("the wicked"), yea, they have taken root, they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit; thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. Je. xii. 2. Thou (Simon the sorcerer) hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Ac. viii. 21. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. He. iii. 12. Ex. xx. 9 In vain they do worship.] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 7. If ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant, I also will do this unto you. I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart, and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. Le. xxvi. 15, 16. 20. Now David had said (as Abigail had come to meet him in order to pacify him), Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow (Nabal) hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. 1 Sa. xxv. 21. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew. Ps. xxxix. 6. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency. Ps. lxxiii. 13. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few. A fool's voice is known by multitude of words: when thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands; for in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities. But fear thou God. Ec. v. 2. 4-7. Bring no more vain oblations, incense is an abomination unto me. The new-moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity even the solemn meeting; your new-moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth. They are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Is. i. 13, 14, 15. Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins, yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righte ousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God; they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no know. ledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Is. Iviii. 1, 2, 3. Ye have said, It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? Mal. iii. 14. In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mar. vii. 7. I declare unto you the Gospel by which ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 1 Co. xv. 1. 2. Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Ja. ii. 20. Teaching for doctrines, &c.] What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it. De. xii. 32. Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Pr. xxx. 5, 6. Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: therefore, behold, I will multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that 11 which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which proceed to do a marvellous work among this people. Is. xxix. 13, 14. Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility, and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. And not holding the Head, from which all the body, by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances. (Touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using,) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Col. ii. 18-22. Neither give heed to fables, and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 1 Ti. i. 4. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1 Ti. iv. 1, 2, 3. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith, and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 1 Ti. iv. 6, 7. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the faith. Tit. i. 14. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. He. xiii. 9. I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book; if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. xxii. 18. Re. 10 Called the multitude.] Micaiah (the prophet) said, If thou (Ahab) return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me and he said, Hearken, O my people, every one of you. 1 Ki. xxii. 28. And when he (Jesus) had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand. If any man have ears to hear, let him ear. Mar. vii. 14. 16. Then, in the audience of all the people, he said unto his disciples, Beware of the Scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts, which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers, the same shall receive greater damnation. Lu. xx. 45, 46, 47. Hear, and understand.] See chap. xiii. 19. When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand). Mat. xxiv. 15. Go and tell this people (said the Lord to Isaiah), Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Is. vi. 9. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Is. lv. 3. Then opened "he" ("Jesus") their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. Lu. xxiv. 45. Wherefore I cease not to give thanks for you, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Ep. i. 16, 17. We do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Col. i. 9. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. Ja. i. 5. See verse 16. 11 That which goeth into the mouth.] There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Mar. vii. 15. When the Pharisee (with whom Jesus sat at meat) saw it (that he sat down to meat), he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. Give alms of such things as ye have, and behold, all things are clean unto you. Lu. xi. 38. 41. I have never eaten any thing (said Peter to the Lord) that is common or unclean. Ac. x. 14. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Ac. x. 15. See chap. xi. 8, 9. I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For meat, destroy not the work of God: all things indeed are pure. But it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. Ro. xiv. 14. 17. 20. Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God, and prayer. 1 Ti. iv. 4, 5. Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is de 12 cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees 13 were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not filed. Tit. i. 15. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. He. xiii. 9. But that which cometh out of the mouth.] See verses 18-20.- See chap. xii. 34-37. His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and fraud. Ps. x. 7. Under his tongue is mischief and vanity; they speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. Ps. xii. 2. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. Ps. lii. 2, 3, 4. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed, and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. Is. xxxvii. 23. Your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity and speak lies: they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. Is. lix. 3, 4. 13, 14, 15. "They' ("the Jews") bend their tongues like their bow, for lies; but they are not valiant for the truth, upon the earth, for they proceed from evil to evil. And they know not me, saith the Lord, take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother, for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders: and they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit, through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Je. ix. 3-6. Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Ro. iii. 13, 14. The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! and the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity, so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell; for every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind, but the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Ja. iii. 5-8. When " they" ("the false teachers") speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Pe. ii. 18. 12 Knowest thou, &c.] Lest we should offend "them" (" that received tribute money" said Jesus), go thou (Peter) to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money, that take and give unto them for me and thee. Mat. xvii. 27. The messenger that was gone to call Micaiah (the prophet, to king Ahab), spake unto him, saying, Behold, now the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth; let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. 1 Ki. xxii. 13, 14. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many that they be saved. 1 Co. x. 32, 33. We then beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain; giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed. 2 Co. vi. 1. 3. To “whom" (the “false brethren," said Paul) we gave place by subjection, no not for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you. Ga. ii. 5. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Ja. iii. 17. 13 Every plant, which my heavenly Father, &c.] See chap. xiii. 40, 41. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. Ps. xcii. 13. Thy" (" the church's”) people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Is. Ix. 21. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that beareth planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders 14 of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare 15 unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without 16 fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye (said Jesus), except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John xv. 2. 4, 5, 6. If any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Co. iii. 12-15. 14 Let them alone.] Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone. Ho. iv. 17. If any man teach otherwise (than Paul's doctrine), he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Ti. vi. 3. 5. See chap. xvi. 4. They be blind leaders of the blind.] Woe unto you (Scribes and Pharisees) ye blind guides, ye fools and blind, ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Mat. xxiii. 16, 17. 19. 24. The leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed. Is. ix. 16. Who is blind but my servant? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant. Is. xlii. 19. His watchmen are blind. Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Is. lvi. 10. Ye (the priests) are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts. Mal. ii. 8. And he (Jesus) spake a parable unto them; Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Lu. vi. 39. And if the blind lead the blind, &c.] The Prophets prophesy falsely, and the Priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so. And what will ye do in the end thereof. Je. v. 31. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush! Therefore they shall fall among them that fall, and at the time that I visit them, they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Je. vi. 15. See Je. viii. 12. If the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him. Ez. xiv. 9, 10. Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err; Night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision, and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine. And the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall cover their lips, for there is no answer of God. Mi. iii. 3. 6, 7. There were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 2 Pe. ii. 1. 17. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophets that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Re. xix. 20. Without (the New Jerusalem) are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Re. xxii. 15. 15 Declare unto us this parable.] See chap. xiii. 36. Without a parable spake he not unto them, and when they were alone he expounded all things to his disciples. Mar. iv. 34. Lo now speakest thou plainly (said his disciples, when Jesus had said unto them, "I came from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and go the Father,"), and speakest no proverb. John xvi. 29. to 16 Are ye also yet, &c.] See verse 10, and chap. xiii. 51. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine ? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little. Is. xxviii. 9, 10. They considered not the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. Mar. vi. 52. They understood not that saying, (that Christ should rise the third day), and |