Teks -- Matthew 10:17 (NET)

10:17 Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mat 10:17 - Beware of men

Beware of men ( prosechete apo tōn anthrōpōn ).

Ablative case with apo . Hold your mind (noun understood) away from. The article with anthrōpōn points back to lukōn (wolves) in Mat 10:16.

Robertson: Mat 10:17 - To councils

To councils ( eis sunedria ).

The local courts of justice in every Jewish town. The word is an old one from Herodotus on for any deliberative body (concilium ). The same word is used for the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

Robertson: Mat 10:17 - In their synagogues

In their synagogues ( en tois sunagōgais autōn ).

Here not merely as the place of assembly for worship, but as an assembly of justice exercising discipline as when the man born blind was cast out of the synagogue (Joh 9:35). They were now after the exile in every town of any size where Jews were.

Vincent: Mat 10:17 - Of men

Of men ( τῶν ἀνθπώπων )

Lit., " the men," already alluded to under the term wolves.

Wesley: Mat 10:17

But think not that all your innocence and all your wisdom will screen you from persecution.

Wesley: Mat 10:17 - They will scourge you in their synagogues

In these the Jews held their courts of judicature, about both civil and ecclesiastical affairs. Mat 24:9.

JFB: Mat 10:17 - But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils

The local courts, used here for civil magistrates in general.

JFB: Mat 10:17 - and they will scourge you in their synagogues

By this is meant persecution at the hands of the ecclesiastics.

Clarke: Mat 10:17 - But beware of men

But beware of men - Or, be on your guard against men, των ανθρωπων These men; i.e. your countrymen; those from whom you might have reasonably expected comfort and support; and especially those in power, who will abuse that power to oppress you

Clarke: Mat 10:17 - Councils

Councils - Συνεδρια, sanhedrins and synagogues. See on Mat 5:22 (note). "By synagogues we may understand here, not the places of public worship, but assemblies where three magistrates, chosen out of the principal members of the synagogue, presided to adjust differences among the people: these had power, in certain cases, to condemn to the scourge, but not to death. See Act 22:19; 2Co 11:24, compared with Luk 12:11."See Lightfoot.

Calvin: Mat 10:17 - But beware of men // For they will deliver you up to councils // For a testimony to them and to the Gentiles

17.But beware of men Erasmus has inserted the word these, (beware of these men,) supposing that the article has the force of a demonstrative pronoun. ⁵⁸⁴ But in my opinion it is better to view it as indefinite, and as conveying a declaration of Christ, that caution ought to be exercised in dealing with men, among whom every thing is full of snares and injuries. But he appears to contradict himself: for the best way of exercising caution would have been to remain at home, and not to venture to appear in public. I reply, he points out here a different sort of caution, — not that terror and alarm which would keep them from discharging their duty, but a dread of being excessively annoyed by sudden calamities. We know that those who are surprised by unexpected afflictions are apt to fall down lifeless. Christ, therefore, desired that his disciples should foresee at a distance what would happen, that their minds might be early prepared for maintaining a conflict. In short, he sounds the trumpet to them, that they may quickly make ready for the battle: for as foresight, when it is excessive or attended by unnecessary anxiety, reduces many to a state of weakness, so many are intoxicated by an indolent security, and, rushing on heedlessly, give way at the critical moment.

For they will deliver you up to councils It may readily be inferred from these words, that the contests of which Christ forewarns the apostles must not be limited to the first journey, in which they met with nothing of this description. The object of this prediction is to prevent them from being ever cast down: for it was no ordinary attainment for poor and despised men, when they came into the presence of princes, to preserve composure, and to remain unmoved by any worldly splendor. He warns them, too, that not in Judea only, but in more distant places, they will be called to fight; and he does so, not merely for the purpose of preparing them by long meditation for that warfare, but that, as instructed and experienced masters, they might not scruple to yield themselves to heavenly guidance.

For a testimony to them and to the Gentiles This means that the will of God must be proclaimed even to foreign princes, and to distant nations, that they may be without excuse. Hence it follows, that the labor of the apostles will not be lost, for it will vindicate the judgment of God, when men shall be convicted of their obstinacy.

TSK: Mat 10:17 - beware // for // councils // scourge

beware : Mic 7:5; Mar 13:9, Mar 13:12; Act 14:5, Act 14:6, Act 17:14, Act 23:12-22; 2Co 11:24-26; Phi 3:2; 2Ti 4:15

for : Mat 24:9, Mat 24:10; Mar 13:9; Luk 12:11, Luk 21:12, Luk 21:13; Joh 16:2; Acts 4:6-22, 5:26-42; Act 23:1-11

councils : Mat 5:22, Mat 26:59; Joh 11:47

scourge : Mat 20:19, Mat 23:34; Deu 25:2, Deu 25:3; Act 5:40, Act 22:19, Act 26:11; 2Co 11:24, 2Co 11:25; Heb 11:36

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mat 10:17-18 - and they will scourge you in their synagogues

Ver. 17,18. The last word, Gentiles maketh it plain, that our blessed Lord is not here arming his disciples so much against any opposition they were like to meet with upon this their first going out, for they were not to go to the Gentiles, as those they should meet with some years after his ascension; yet not excluding what they should meet with from the Jews, for what is said about delivering up to the councils and scourging in the synagogues seemeth to have a particular reference to the Jews. This scripture was most eminently fulfilled, as to the apostles, Act 4:1-3 &c Act 5:27 6:12 : and as to being brought before governors and kings, there are instances enough in the Acts, more in ecclesiastical stories. Neither do I think our Saviour hath in these words any reference to the distinction of their councils amongst the Jews; he only designed to let them know the time would come, when, for their owning him, and preaching his gospel, they should be brought before all sorts of magistrates, and in all kinds of courts. That phrase,

and they will scourge you in their synagogues hath mightily perplexed some, especially such as have dreamed religious synagogues too holy places for such offices: but there is no need that we should take the term synagogues here for the places of their worship, it doth as well signify, in their conventions; and there are some that think that they had, adjoining to their synagogues, a place in which they punished offenders upon the account of religion; certain it is, 2Co 11:24 , that Paul was five times scourged by the Jews according to their law, Deu 25:3 . For a testimony against them and the Gentiles: a testimony for me, that is expressed in those words, for my sake; and against them, whether Jews or Gentiles. A testimony against them in the day of judgment, eiv marturion , hence our terms of martyr and martyrdom, the one signifies a witness, the other a testimony.

Lightfoot: Mat 10:17 - They shall scourge you in their synagogues

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;   

[They shall scourge you in their synagogues.] Beza here, as he does very often when he cannot explain a case, suspects it: for thus he writes; "When I neither find synagogues elsewhere to have their names from houses of judgment; as the Hebrews speak, nor that civil punishments were taken in synagogues, I suspect this place." But without any cause, for,   

I. In every synagogue there was a civil triumvirate, that is, three magistrates, who judged of matters in contest arising within that synagogue; which we have noted before.   

II. Scourging was by that bench of three. So that fivefold scourging of St. Paul (2Co 11:24) was in the synagogue; that is, By that bench of three magistrates; such as was in every synagogue.   

It is something obscure that is said, But beware of men. Of whom else should they beware? But perhaps the word men may occur in that sense, as men in these forms of speech;... the men of the great assembly; and, the men of the house of judgment etc. But we will not contend about it.

Haydock: Mat 10:17 - They will deliver you up in councils

They will deliver you up in councils. Christ, in this and the following verse, warns his apostles of the many troubles and persecutions to which the preaching of the faith would expose them. St. Chrysostom assigns several reasons for his choosing to foretell them such sufferings: 1st. that he might shew that he had the gift of prophecy; 2nd. that they might not think such evils came upon them on account of his weakness; 3rd. that knowing beforehand the great trials to which they would be exposed, they might not be discouraged when they happened. (St. John Chrysostom, in St. Thomas Aquinas)

Gill: Mat 10:17 - But beware of men // for they will deliver you up to the councils // And they will scourge you in their synagogues

But beware of men,.... Of these men, comparable to wolves, before spoken of: the phrase is somewhat uncommon and emphatical, and designs not merely wicked men in common, the men of the world, and enemies of the Gospel; but chiefly such of them as were men of note and authority, ecclesiastical and civil governors of the people, the Scribes, Pharisees, elders, and chief priests, and other rulers; and the advice to the apostles is, to take care how they came into their company, and put themselves into their hands; who would seek all opportunities and occasions against them, and use their power and interest to do them hurt:

for they will deliver you up to the councils, or sanhedrim, of which there were three sorts; the greater, which consisted of seventy one persons, and was only held in Jerusalem; the lesser one, which was made up of twenty three members, and was kept in every place where there were an hundred and twenty Israelites; and the third, where there was not that number, and was a triumvirate, or a bench of three judges only ^b.

And they will scourge you in their synagogues; where the triumvirate, or bench of three Judges kept their court; under whose cognizance were pecuniary judgments, and such as related to thefts, damages, restitutions, ravishing, and enticing of virgins, and defamation; also to plucking off of the shoe, and refusing a brother's wife, to the plant of the fourth year, second tithes whose price is unknown, holy things, and the estimations of goods; to these belonged also laying on of hands, the beheading of the heifer, and, among the rest, מכות בשלשה, "scourging was by the bench of three" ^c. The manner of performing it was this ^d:

"they bind both his hands to a pillar, here and there; and the minister of the synagogue takes hold of his clothes, and if they are rent, they are rent; and if they are ripped in the seam, they are ripped till his breast is uncovered; for he is not to beat him on his clothes, as it is said, "he shall beat him", but not his clothes: and a stone is placed behind him, on which the minister that scourges stands, and a white leather whip in his hand, doubled two and two with four, and two lashes of an ass's hide, going up and down: the breadth of the whip was an hand's breadth, and the length of it, so as to reach to the navel, and the handle of the whip, by which he took hold, was the length of an hand; and he lifts up the whip with both his hands, and strikes with one hand, with all his might; and gives him the third part of his stripes before, upon his breast, between his paps, and two thirds behind him; one third upon this shoulder, and the other upon the other shoulder. He that scourges neither stands, nor sits, but bows; as it is said, "the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face"; for the eyes of the judge shall be upon him, that he do not look upon anything else, and smite him from thence; for no two strokes are as one; the greatest of the judges reads all the time he is scourging, viz. these passages; "if thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law", &c. and "the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful", &c. and he intends to finish the verses with the stripes; but if he does not finish, he returns to the beginning of the Scripture, and reads, and returns, and reads until the whole scourging is over: and the second of the judges numbers the stripes; and the third says to the minister strike: every time he strikes, it is at his orders he strikes.''

Now, as this punishment was inflicted by the chazan, or minister of the synagogue, who was a sort of sexton, so it was done in the synagogue itself: and according to our Lord's predictions here, and in Mat 23:34 as the former of these, delivering up to councils, had its accomplishment in part, in the apostles, Act 4:1 so the latter, scourging in their synagogues, was fulfilled both by Paul, Act 22:19 and upon him, 2Co 11:24. Epiphanius tells ^e us of one Joseph, a Jew, who was caught by the Jews reading the Gospels in his own house; upon which they dragged him away, and had him to the synagogue, and there "scourged" him. Now as these things did not befall the apostles till after the death of Christ, it is clear that the context refers not to their first, but to an after mission.