Verse 45. Lawyers. Men learned in the law; but it is not known in what way the lawyers differed from the scribes, or whether they were Pharisees or Sadducees.

Thus saying, thou, &c. He felt that the remarks of Jesus about loving the chief seats, &c., applied to them as well as to the Pharisees. His conscience told him that if they were to blame, he was also, and he therefore applied the discourse to himself.

Reproachest. Accusest. Dost calumniate or blame us, for we do the same things. Sinners often consider faithfulness as reproach -- they know not how to separate them. Jesus did not reproach or abuse them. He dealt faithfully with them; reproved them; told them the unvarnished truth. Such faithfulness is rare; but when it is used, we must expect that men will flinch, perhaps be enraged. Though their consciences tell them they are guilty, still they will consider it as abuse.