Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 23:1-39
Matthew 23:5 Old Samuel Johnson, the greatest soul in England in his day, was not ambitious. 'Corsica Boswell' flaunted at public shows with printed ribbons round his hat: but the great old Samuel stayed at home. The world-wide soul wrapt up in its thoughts, in its sorrows what could paradings, and ribbons in the hat, do for it? Carlyle. Reference. XXIII. 5. C. Jerdan, Pastures of Tender Grass, p. 291. Matthew 23:8 The passage before us presents us with the true foundation on which all... read more
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 23:38
(38) Your house.—The word “desolate” is omitted in some of the best MSS. The words “your house” may refer either generally to the whole polity of Israel, or more specifically to the “house” in which they gloried, the Temple, which was the joy of their hearts. It had been the house of God, but He, as represented by His Son, was now leaving it for ever. It was their house now, not His. We must remember that the words were spoken as our Lord was “departing from the Temple” (Matthew 24:1), never to... read more