And when they shall say unto you
These are the words of Christ continued, as making his appearance
in Israel; and are an address to his people among them, even to
his children, disciples, and followers, advising them what they
should do, when those among whom they dwelt should press them to
seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto
wizards, that
peep, and that mutter;
meaning the Scribes and Pharisees, the doctors among the Jews,
who sat in Moses's chair, and who were very much given to
sorcery, and the magic art, and used enchantments, which were
performed by "muttering"; hence we read of muttering over a wound
for the healing of it; and muttering over serpents and scorpions
at the driving of them away F25; and of such a Rabbi
muttering in the name of such an one F26; and of such and such a
doctor skilled in wonders or miraculous operations: (See Gill
on Matthew
24:24) yea, even such as were chosen into the sanhedrim,
or great council, were to be skilled in the arts of soothsayers,
diviners, and wizards, and the like, that they might know how to
judge them F1; now the Jews would have had the
disciples of Christ to have applied to these men to direct their
judgments in religious affairs, and be determined by them
concerning the Messiah and other things: should not a
people seek unto their God?
"to" Christ, who is the Lord God omniscient and omnipotent, who
knows all things, and whose name is called Wonderful, Counsellor,
the Angel of the great council; and who is able to give the best
counsel and direction in matters of moment and consequence, and
able to do everything for his people they stand in need of; and
who being present with them, God manifest in the flesh, it would
be egregious folly to apply to any other, and especially such as
are here described; see ( John 6:68 ) : for
the living to the dead?
that is, should men seek to such who are no other than dead men,
for the sake or on the account of such who are living? The
disciples of Christ, the children that God had given him, were
quickened and made alive by the grace of God, had principles of
grace and spiritual life implanted in them, had passed from death
to life, lived by faith on Christ, lived holy lives, and were
heirs of eternal life; and therefore it does not become them, nor
any of them, to consult persons dead in trespasses and sins, who
knew no more, and were no more capable of judging of spiritual
things, than dead men are. See ( 1
Corinthians 2:14 1
Corinthians 2:15 ) .
F25 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 101. 1.
F26 T. Hieros. Avoda Zara, fol. 40. 4.
F1 Maimon. Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 1.