But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
Ver. 13. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath] Or, Yet; or, Howbeit: q.d. These foul sinners, that have turned repentance into a form, and converted conversion itself into sin, though they see bad men made good and good men made better by their afflictions, and incorrigible persons destroyed before their eyes, yet they amend not by God's hand upon them, but are the worse for it; as iron grows more cold after a heat, and as naughty boys are more stupid and more stubborn after a whipping. Hypocritis nihit stupidius. These hollow hearted ones heap up wrath against the day of wrath, as St Paul makes up this saying, Romans 2:5, which shall fall upon the Jew first, because of his pretence to religion, and then upon the Gentile. Nemo enim magis iram meretur, quam amicum simulans inimicus, saith Bernard, No man more deserveth wrath upon wrath than a feigned friend but true enemy. Such are all hypocrites, whether gross or close. And hence our Saviour's severity against such in the Gospel, but especially Mat 23:1-39 Neither let any such goat in sheep skin think to steal on Christ's right hand at the last day; he shall uncase such and cashier them, yea, cast them into the hottest fire of hell, whereof hypocrites are as the freeholders, and other sinners but as tenants to them, for they shall have their portion with the devil and hypocrites. Some render it, Ponunt iram, and expound it incandescunt in Deum: When they are afflicted they wax hot against God, they gather wrath, as a toad swelleth when handled, as a serpent gathereth poison to spue out at those who meddle with him.
They cry not when God binds them] Cry they do after a sort, as hogs do when to be stuck; or dogs, when tied up from their meat. Murmur they do, and expostulate a wrong with God, as those Isaiah 58:2,3. Non ita Deos coluimus, as that heathen hypocrite said, We have not served God so well that he should serve us no better; but pray they do not, unless it be as those hypocrites in Zechariah 7:1,14, who fasted to themselves, and prayed for their own ends, more to get off their chains than their sins. They bear fruit to themselves, as Ephraim, and see what comes of it.