For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ver. 21. For Moses of old time, &c.] This is alleged as a reason why they should as yet abstain from those indifferents, because the Jews, having been accustomed to Moses's writings, could not quickly be drawn to let go the legal ceremonies, which were now to have an honourable burial, by degrees to be abolished. The ceremonies before Christ's passion were neither deadly nor dead; after his passion they were not deadly for a time (whiles the temple stood), though dead after a sort. But from that time forward they were both dead and deadly, saith Aquinas.