11:53 {17} And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to {o} provoke him to speak of many things:
(17) The more the world is reprehended, the worse it is, and yet we must not betray the truth.
(o) They proposed many questions to him, to draw something out of his mouth which they might traitorously find fault with.
11:53,54 The scribes and the Pharisees. For the manner in which they tried to entrap Jesus, see Mt 22:15-46 Joh 8:1-59 9:1-41.
11:37-54 We should all look to our hearts, that they may be cleansed and new-created; and while we attend to the great things of the law and of the gospel, we must not neglect the smallest matter God has appointed. When any wait to catch something out of our mouths, that they may insnare us, O Lord, give us thy prudence and thy patience, and disappoint their evil purposes. Furnish us with such meekness and patience that we may glory in reproaches, for Christ's sake, and that thy Holy Spirit may rest upon us.
