Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. To whom. All must not be admitted into the house, nor treated with marks of particular esteem. Yet daily alms must be given without too scrupulous an enquiry. Lu. 6:30. Calmet.—It would be wrong to encourage sinners, who would run to their ruin. But we must relieve the penitent. Worthington.
Verse 2. Lord. Christ rewards what good is done to his poor brethren.
Verse 3. For. Greek (4.) “Give to the pious, and receive not the sinner, (6.) Do,” and so forth Bible.—The gospel enjoins us to do good to all. Saint Augustine (Dort. iii. 16.) and Saint Thomas Aquinas (ii. 2. q. xxxii. a ix.) explain this in a spiritual sense, that we must not partake in the crimes of others. We may also make presents to the virtuous, and pass over people of a different character, particularly when they would abuse our gifts. The honest poor must be preserved.
Verse 10. Rusteth. So his malice always returns, ( Calmet.) and he shews what he is. Vat.—Christianity does not blame due reserve in treating with those whom we know not, or who have formerly injured us. Though we must love them from our heart, yet we need not intrust our secrets to them, nor even to every friend. Joab always retained a hatred for Abner, and Absalom for his brother and father, though they dissembled their resentment. Calmet.—So the wicked commonly act. Bible.—We must love, but not trust them, being wise as serpents. Matthew 10. Worthington.
Verse 11. Of him. Greek adds, “and thou shalt be to him as one who has rubbed a mirror, (of brass from the rust. It returns perpetually. Calmet.) and shalt know that the rust is not removed for ever. Grabe. Bible.
Verse 13. Beasts. Vipers, and so forth Why should they familiarize themselves with such? Some Italians still handle serpents without fear, pretending that they are the descendants of Saint Paul. Calmet.—But he was never married, (1 Corinthians 7 Bible.) and they are rather of the race of the Marsi, who formerly claimed the same privilege, having made use of some drugs to prevent the poison. The ancients believed that they could charm serpents.
Verse 16. Blood. Jeremiah 41:6. Samson yielded to the tears of women. Judges 14:16 and 16:6.
Verse 18. Eyes. Is taken from verse 16. It is not in Greek Bible.—His tears are like those of crocodiles, which cry when they are going to kill a man. Calmet.
The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.
Or, punished