See note Matt. 2:4^1a.

See note Matt. 3:7^1a.

Phylacteries are small leather boxes containing parts of the law written on parchment. According to Deut. 6:8 and Deut. 11:18, they were worn on the forehead as a frontlet and on the left arm. The scribes and the Pharisees broadened them and considered them a charm.

The law required the Israelites to make fringes on the borders of their garments with a band of blue. The fringes signified that their conduct (typified by the garment) was regulated by the heavenly rule (indicated by the band of blue), and they were to be a reminder to them to keep God's commandments (Num. 15:38-39). The scribes and Pharisees enlarged the fringes, pretending that they were keeping God's commandments and were being regulated by them to a surpassing degree.

A title of honor meaning teacher, master.

Christ alone is our Teacher and Master.

God alone is our Father.

Lit., the Heavenly.

Or, guides, teachers, directors.

Christ alone is our Instructor, Guide, Teacher, and Director.

See note Matt. 6:2^2b. So throughout this chapter.

In today's Christianity some are just like this.

This verse is not found in the earliest MSS.

Or, condemnation.

See note Matt. 5:22^8d. So in v. 33.

Lit., he owes. So in v. 18.

To make the gold holy positionally by changing its position from a common place to a holy place. See note Rom. 6:19^2b.

This too was a positional sanctification, not a dispositional one, and was accomplished by changing the gift's location from a common place to a holy place. See note Rom. 6:19^2b.

Or, judgment.

Although the Lord stressed the weightier matters, He charged us not to neglect the lighter ones.

The New Testament apostles sent out by the Lord.

Referring to all the sins through which the blood of the righteous was shed on the earth.

It was always God Himself who cared for Jerusalem, as a bird flutters over her young (Isa. 31:5; Deut. 32:11-12). Hence, when the Lord Jesus said, "I desired to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her brood under her wings," He indicated that He was God Himself.

Since house here is singular, it must denote the house of God, which was the temple (Matt. 21:12-13). It had been the house of God, but now it was called "your house" because the Jews had made it a den of robbers (Matt. 21:13).

This prophecy corresponds with that in Matt. 24:2, which was fulfilled when Titus and the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

This is the Lord's second coming, when all the remnant of Israel will turn and will believe in Him and be saved (Rom. 11:23, 26).