In his commentary on Revelation James Durham adduces Matthew 9 below for the unfruitful ministry of the Pharisees. I'm having a hard time seeing it in chapter 9 unless someway 9:13. Should this rather be chapter 23 particularly the apparent reference not to cast at them? ie, maybe 23:3? Or other options? Any help much appreciated. It is not uncommon for references to be wrong, but this far wrong, a single digit chapter not two, and no 9 in common, makes this a tough one to call.
To the fourth, we say that although such a minister may not be altogether always without fruit; yet often great gifts with an unsound frame of heart have but little fruit and few converts: he has here names, but a few names, though he himself had a great name. And certainly in part it is imputed to his unsoundness, whose works were not perfect before God; so that although men could not censure him; yet before God he was not kindly and natively driving the design of that people’s edification, whereof this, of having a few names, is a consequent, as the real honesty, though with a little measure of gifts, of the angel of Philadelphia, did not [lack] its own influence upon the success of his ministry. This therefore shows the danger of an unsound lifeless ministry that often the fruits are exceeding few, where there are any at all. Hence these Scribes and Pharisees are in Christ’s account, as to fruit and to saving of souls, Matt. 9. as almost none at all, although he gave not people way at their own hand to cast at them.
