7. "Is it not they that blaspheme?" &c. as in
Jas 2:6
[ALFORD]. Rich heathen must here chiefly be
meant; for none others would directly blaspheme the name of Christ.
Only indirectly rich Christians can be meant, who, by their
inconsistency, caused His name to be blasphemed; so
Eze 36:21, 22;
Ro 2:24.
Besides, there were few rich Jewish Christians at Jerusalem
(Ro 15:26).
They who dishonor God's name by wilful and habitual sin, "take (or
bear) the Lord's name in vain" (compare
Pr 30:9,
with Ex 20:7).
that worthy name--which is "good before the Lord's saints"
(Ps 52:9; 54:6);
which ye pray may be "hallowed"
(Mt 6:9),
and "by which ye are called," literally, "which was invoked" or,
"called upon by you" (compare
Ge 48:16;
Isa 4:1,
Margin;
Ac 15:17),
so that at your baptism "into the name" (so the Greek,
Mt 28:19)
of Christ, ye became Christ's people
(1Co 3:23).
JFB.
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