Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 7].
7:9 {Loaf--stone} (\arton--lithon\). Some stones look like loaves
of bread. So the devil suggested that Jesus make loaves out of
stones (Mt 4:3).
7:10 {Fish--serpent} (\ichthun--ophin\). Fish, common article of
food, and water-snakes could easily be substituted. Anacoluthon
in this sentence in the Greek.
7:11 {How much more} (\pos•i mallon\). Jesus is fond of the _a
fortiori_ argument.
7:12 {That men should do unto you} (\hina poi•sin h–mŒn hoi
anthr•poi\). Luke (Lu 6:31) puts the Golden Rule parallel with
Mt 5:42. The negative form is in Tobit 4:15. It was used by
Hillel, Philo, Isocrates, Confucius. "The Golden Rule is the
distilled essence of that 'fulfilment' (5:17) which is taught
in the sermon" (McNeile). Jesus puts it in positive form.
7:13 {By the narrow gate} (\dia t•s sten•s pul•s\). The
Authorized Version "at the strait gate" misled those who did not
distinguish between "strait" and "straight." The figure of the
Two Ways had a wide circulation in Jewish and Christian writings
(cf. De 30:19; Jer 21:8; Ps 1). See the _Didache_ i-vi;
Barnabas xviii-xx. "The narrow gate" is repeated in verse 14
and {straitened the way} (\tethlimmen• h• hodos\) added. The way
is "compressed," narrowed as in a defile between high rocks, a
tight place like \stenoch•ria\ in Ro 8:35. "The way that leads
to life involves straits and afflictions" (McNeile). Vincent
quotes the _Pinax_ or _Tablet_ of Cebes, a contemporary of
Socrates: "Seest thou not, then, a little door, and a way before
the door, which is not much crowded, but very few travel it? This
is the way that leadeth unto true culture." "The broad way"
(\euruch•ros\) is in every city, town, village, with the glaring
white lights that lure to destruction.
7:15 {False prophets} (\t•n pseudoproph•t•n\). There were false
prophets in the time of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus will
predict "false Messiahs and false prophets" (Mt 24:24) who will
lead many astray. They came in due time posing as angels of light
like Satan, Judaizers (2Co 11:13ff.) and Gnostics (1Jo 4:1;
1Ti 4:1). Already false prophets were on hand when Jesus spoke
on this occasion (cf. Ac 13:6; 2Pe 2:1). In outward appearance
they look like sheep in the sheep's clothing which they wear, but
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