In approaching it, I take leave to point out that that learned critic unintentionally hoodwinks his readers by not setting before them in full the problem which he proposes to discuss.

Thoroughly to understand this matter, the student should be reminded that there is found in St.Matt.xv.

8,--and parallel to it in St.Mark vii.

6,-- St.Matt.
'Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips ([Greek: engizei moi ho laos houtos to stomati auton, kai tois cheilesi me tima]), but their heart is far from Me."' St.Mark.
'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honoureth Me with their lips ([Greek: houtos ho laos tois cheilesi me tima]), but their heart is far from Me."' The place of Isaiah referred to, viz.ch.xxix.13, reads as follows in the ordinary editions of the LXX:--[Greek: kai eipe Kyrios, engizei moi ho laos houtos en to stomati autou, kai en tois cheilesin auton timosi me].
Now, about the text of St.Mark in this place no question is raised.
Neither is there any various reading worth speaking of in ninety-nine MSS.

out of a hundred in respect of the text in St.Matthew.But when reference is made to the two oldest copies in existence, B and [Symbol: Aleph], we are presented with what, but for the parallel place in St.
Mark, would have appeared to us a strangely abbreviated reading.