John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base , etc.] When their city and temple were destroyed by the Romans, and they were carried captive by them, and became a taunt and a proverb in all places where they came: before all the people ; the nations of the world, among whom they were scattered: according as ye have not kept my ways ; neither those which the law directed to, either moral or ceremonial; nor what the Gospel directed to, the ordinances and institutions of Christ, particularly baptism, which the Jews rejected against themselves, ( Luke 7:30): but have been partial in the law ; in the observance of it, attending to the lesser, and taking no notice of the weightier matters of it, as the Jews are charged by Christ, ( Matthew 23:23) and in the interpretation of it, restraining its sense only to outward actions, for which they are reproved, ( Matthew 5:1-48) or “received faces”, or “accepted persons in the law” f45 ; in matters of the law they were concerned in, they had respect to the persons of men, by giving the sense of it, and pronouncing judgment, in favour of some, to the prejudice of others, wrongly.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - What is here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in that to come. It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as his messengers. The priest's lip should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not onl consult the written word, but desire instruction and advice from God' messengers, in the affairs of our souls. Ministers must exer themselves to the utmost for the conversion of sinners; and even amon those called Israelites, there are many to be turned from iniquity Those ministers, and those only, are likely to turn men from sin, wh preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the Scripture Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Such as wal with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honou God; he will honour them, while those who despise him shall be lightl esteemed.
Original Hebrew וגם1571 אני589 נתתי5414 אתכם853 נבזים959 ושׁפלים8217 לכל3605 העם5971 כפי6310 אשׁר834 אינכם369 שׁמרים8104 את854 דרכי1870 ונשׂאים5375 פנים6440 בתורה׃8451
