Matthew 21:36

Mat 21:36.[938] Πλείονας, more) sc. superior (potiores), like the Hebrew רבים (great or numerous): superior, certainly in number, and without doubt also in virtue, dignity, etc. The increase of calling[939] is no sign of a more faithful people.

[938] πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους) We may regard the servants first sent as meaning the Prophets of the middle period, which is called that of the Kings, the servants subsequently sent, as meaning those who flourished about the time of the Captivity in Babylon.—V. g.

[939] i.e. An increase in the number of those who are sent to call men to repentance.—(I. B.)

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mat 21:36 . πλείονας τ . π ., more than the first. Some take πλ . as referring to quality rather than number: better than the former (Bengel, Goebel, etc.), which is a legitimate but not likely rendering. The intention is to emphasise the number of persons sent (prophets). ὡσαύτως : no difference in the treatment; savage mood chronic.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Again, he sent other servants more than the first; and they did unto them likewise--see Kg2 17:13; Ch2 36:16, Ch2 36:18; Neh 9:26.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 36. Other servants] There is not a moment in which God does not shower down his gifts upon men, and require the fruit of them. Various instruments are used to bring sinners to God. There are prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers: some with his gift after this manner, and some after that. The true disciples of Christ have been persecuted in all ages, and the greatest share of the persecution has fallen upon the ministers of his religion; for there have always been good and bad husbandmen, and the latter have persecuted the former.

More than the first] Or, more honourable, so I think πλειονας should be translated; for, as the fulness of the time approached, each prophet more clearly and fully pointed out the coming of Christ.

Our translation, which says, more than the first, conveys no meaning at all. πλειος is the meaning I have given it above, in Mt 6:25. πλειον της τροφης, of MORE VALUE than food; and in Nu 22:15 πλειους και εντιμοτερους, persons higher in dignity and office.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(36) Other servants more than the first.—There is, perhaps, a reference here to the greater power and fulness of the work of the later prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stretching onward to that of the Baptist, as closing the whole line.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Again he sent other servants,.... Meaning, perhaps, such as suffered in the times of the Maccabees:

more than the first; their number was greater, though their office was the same, at least not higher:

and they did unto them likewise; they beat them with rods, they killed them with the sword, and stoned them, Heb 11:36.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

Ver. 36. Again he sent other servants] Oh the infinite goodness and longsuffering of Almighty God! Jonah upbraided him with it most unworthily, in that brawl of his, Jon 4:2. Paul admires it, Rom 9:22, teaching us to improve it to the practice of repentance, Rom 2:4. Ezekiel {Eze 4:4-5} describes it by God’s lying on one side for three hundred and ninety years together, which must needs be very troublesome. We cannot lay for a few hours on one side, but we must turn us. David, for the abuse of his ambassadors, fell very foul on the Ammonites. Rehoboam, for one servant of his slain by the ten tribes, raised a mighty army to chastise them. But God bears with men’s evil manners, though he have power enough in his hand to deal with them at his pleasure.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Other servants. God"s loving kindness was not wearied out with the husbandmen"s cruelty and violence. Each step of their wickedness and obstinacy was met with renewed mercy, with fresh calls to repentance. More ( pleionav). More in number. In the latter days the number of God"s messengers was much greater than in earlier times; so it is unnecessary to take pleionav in the sense of "more honourable," "of higher dignity," though such interpretation is supported by its use in Mat_6:25 Mar_12:33 Heb_11:4. Likewise. They resisted these new envoys as they had resisted these first sent, treating them with equal cruelty and violence.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(M) 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did to them likewise.] Mk. has: “And many others; beating some, and killing some.” In Mk. there is before the final sending of the son a triple sending of a single messenger, vv. 2, 4, 5, followed by a general statement, v. 5 “and many others.” Mt. simplifies this into a double sending of several messengers, vv. 34, 36, but seems to show a trace of Mk.’s first three messengers in his ὃν μέν, ὃν δέ, ὃν δέ, v. 35. He avoids Mk.’s rare and uncertain (probably corrupt) word ἐκεφαλίωσαν. Further, in Mk. the treatment of the first three messengers is climactic: the first they beat and sent away, the second they put to shame, the third they killed. After this “the many others” comes in very weakly. Mt., with his double sending of several messengers, avoids this anticlimax. Lk. has a triple sending of a single messenger. The first was beaten and sent back empty-handed, the second beaten and dishonoured and sent away, the third wounded and cast out. Thus the crime of murder is not reached till the son is sent.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.