Nor print any marks upon you] It was a very ancient and a very general custom to carry marks on the body in honour of the object of their worship.

All the castes of the Hindoos bear on their foreheads or elsewhere what are called the sectarian marks, which distinguish them, not only in a civil but also in a religious point of view, from each other. Most of the barbarous nations lately discovered have their faces, arms, breasts, &c., curiously carved or tattooed, probably for superstitious purposes. Ancient writers abound with accounts of marks made on the face, arms, &c., in honour of different idols; and to this the inspired penman alludes, Rev. xiii. 16, 17; xiv. 9, 11; xv. 2; xvi. 2; xix. 20; xx. 4, where false worshippers are represented as receiving in their hands and in their forehead the marks of the beast. These were called stigmata stigmata among the Greeks, and to these St. Paul refers when he says, I bear about in my body the MarkS (stigmata) of the Lord Jesus; Galatians vi. 17. I have seen several cases where persons have got the figure of the cross, the Virgin Mary, &c., made on their arms, breasts, &c., the skin being first punctured, and then a blue colouring matter rubbed in, which is never afterward effaced. All these were done for superstitious purposes, and to such things probably the prohibition in this verse refers. Calmet, on this verse, gives several examples. See also Mariner's Tonga Islands, vol. i. p. 311-313.

Matthew Henry Commentary

--There are some ceremonial precepts in this chapter, but most of thes precepts are binding on us, for they are explanations of the te commandments. It is required that Israel be a holy people, because the God of Israel is a holy God, ver. #(2). To teach real separation from the world and the flesh, and entire devotedness to God. This is now the law of Christ; may the Lord bring every thought within us int obedience to it! Children are to be obedient to their parents, very #(3). The fear here required includes inward reverence and esteem outward respect and obedience, care to please them and to make the easy. God only is to be worshipped, ver. #(4). Turn not from the tru God to false ones, from the God who will make you holy and happy, to those that will deceive you, and make you for ever miserable. Turn no your eyes to them, much less your heart. They should leave the gleanings of their harvest and vintage for the poor, ver. #(9). Work of piety must be always attended with works of charity, according to our ability. We must not be covetous, griping, and greedy of ever thing we can lay claim to, nor insist upon our right in all things. We are to be honest and true in all our dealings, ver. #(11). Whatever we have in the world, we must see that we get it honestly, for we cannot be truly rich, or long rich, with that which is not so. Reverence to the sacred name of God must be shown, ver. #(12). We must not detai what belongs to another, particularly the wages of the hireling, very #(13). We must be tender of the credit and safety of those that cannot help themselves, ver. #(14). Do no hurt to any, because they ar unwilling or unable to avenge themselves. We ought to take heed of doing any thing which may occasion our weak brother to fall. The fea of God should keep us from doing wrong things, though they will no expose us to men's anger. Judges, and all in authority, are commande to give judgment without partiality, ver. #(15). To be a tale-bearer and to sow discord among neighbours, is as bad an office as a man can put himself into. We are to rebuke our neighbour in love, ver. #(17) Rather rebuke him than hate him, for an injury done to thyself. We incur guilt by not reproving; it is hating our brother. We should say I will do him the kindness to tell him of his faults. We are to put of all malice, and to put on brotherly love, ver. #(18). We often wron ourselves, but we soon forgive ourselves those wrongs, and they do no at all lessen our love to ourselves; in like manner we should love ou neighbour. We must in many cases deny ourselves for the good of ou neighbour. Ver. #(31): For Christians to have their fortunes told, to use spells and charms, or the like, is a sad affront to God. They mus be grossly ignorant who ask, "What harm is there in these things?" Her is a charge to young people to show respect to the aged, ver. #(32) Religion teaches good manners, and obliges us to honour those to who honour is due. A charge was given to the Israelites to be very tende of strangers, ver. #(33). Strangers, and the widows and fatherless, ar God's particular care. It is at our peril, if we do them any wrong Strangers shall be welcome to God's grace; we should do what we can to recommend religion to them. Justice in weights and measures i commanded, ver. #(35). We must make conscience of obeying God' precepts. We are not to pick and choose our duty, but must aim a standing complete in all the will of God. And the nearer our lives an tempers are to the precepts of God's law, the happier shall we be, an the happier shall we make all around us, and the better shall we ador the gospel __________________________________________________________________

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