Psalms 50:18

18 When you saw a thief, you were in agreement with him, and you were joined with those who took other men's wives.

Psalms 50:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 50:18

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him
Or "didst run with him" F1; joined and agreed with him in the commission of the same things; which was literally true of the Scribes and Pharisees: they devoured widows' houses, and robbed them of their substance, under a pretence of long prayers; they consented to the deeds of Barabbas, a robber, when they preferred him to Jesus Christ; and they joined with the thieves on the cross in reviling him: and, in a spiritual sense, they stole away the word of the Lord, every man from his neighbour; took away the key of knowledge from the people, and put false glosses upon the sacred writings;

and hast been a partaker with adulterers;
these teachers of the law were guilty both of theft and adultery, ( Romans 2:21 Romans 2:22 ) ; they are called by our Lord an adulterous generation, ( Matthew 12:39 ) ; and they were so in a literal sense; see ( John 8:4-9 ) ; and in a figurative one, adulterating the word of God, and handling it deceitfully.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (wme Urt) (sunetrecev autw) , Sept. "currebas cum eo", V. L. sic Eth. Syr. Targum, so Vatablus, Musculus, Piscator, Ainsworth.

Psalms 50:18 In-Context

16 But to the sinner, God says, What are you doing, talking of my laws, or taking the words of my agreement in your mouth?
17 Seeing that you have no desire for my teaching, turning your back on my words.
18 When you saw a thief, you were in agreement with him, and you were joined with those who took other men's wives.
19 You have given your mouth to evil, your tongue to words of deceit.
20 You say evil of your brother; you make false statements against your mother's son.
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