And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Second, of the "better promises" (Hebrews 8:6).
They shall not - `have to teach.'
His neighbour. So Vulgate х pleesion (G4139)]. But 'Aleph (') A B Delta f х politeen (G4177)], 'his (fellow) citizen.'
Brother - a closer and more endearing relation than fellow-citizen.
From the least to the greatest - Greek, 'from the little one to the great one' (Zechariah 12:8). Under the old covenant, the priest's lips were to keep knowledge; at his mouth the people were to seek the law; under the new, the Holy Spirit teaches every believer. Not that the mutual teaching of brethren is excluded while the covenant is being promulgated; but when once the Holy Spirit shall have imparted remission of their sins and inward sanctification, there shall be no further need of man teaching his fellowman. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1: an earnest of that perfect state. On the way to it every man should teach his neighbour. 'The teaching is not hard, because grace renders all teachable; for it is not the ministry of the letter, but of the spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6). The believer's stedfastness does not depend on authority of human teachers. God Himself teaches' (Bengel), The New Testament is shorter than the Old, because, instead of letter details, it gives the all-embracing principles of the spiritual law written on the conscience, leading to instinctive obedience in outward details. None except the Lord can teach effectually. "Know the Lord."