that those only can receive benefit firom Him who will confess that they are ruined, bankrupt, hopeless, misera- ble anners.
Let us use this mighty truth, if we never used it before. Are we sensible of our own wickedness and sinfulness ? Do we feel that we are unworthy of any- thing but wrath and condemnation P Then let us under- stand that we are the very persons for whose sake Jesus came into the world. If we feel ourselves righteous, Christ has nothing to say to us. But if we feel ourselves sinners, Christ calls us to repentance. Let not the call be made in vain.
Let us go on using this mighty truth, if we have used it in time pasi Do we find our own hearts weak and * deceitful P Do we often feel that " when we would do good, evil is present with us P '' (Rom. vii. 21.) It may be all true, but it must not prevent our resting on Christ. He "came into the world to save sinners," and if we feel ourselves such, we have warrant for applying to, and trusting in Him to our life's end. One thing only let us never forget: — Christ came to call us to repentance, and not to sanction our continuing in sin.
Notes. Lttkb V. 27—32.
27. — \A Publican named Levi.] The person called Levi here, is called Matthew in St. Matthew's Gospel, and Levi in St. Mark's. It is almost universally agreed that it is one and the same person, Matthew the apostle. Like some others in the Bihle, he had two names.
It is hardly necessary to ohserve that a puhlioan means a collector of puhlio taxes.
[At the receipt of custom.'] The Greek word so translated does not necessarily mean that Levi was in the very act of re- ceiving money. It might he rendered with equal correctness^
153
XXFOSnOKT THOUQHTB.
"At the place where taxes were receiyed." This seems the more probable meaniDg.
28. — [He left aJl, ro$e up, Se.'l We must be careful not to suppose that LeW neglected his duty to the gOTemment, and innicted loss on his employers, by this sudden action here recorded, in leaving his post. It is nighly probable that, like many tax gatherers and toll collectors, he hired the toUs, at the place where ova Lord found him, by the year, and paid in advance. This being the case, if he chose to leave his pott^ he did so entirely at his own loss, but the government was not oe^nded. Watson remarks, "Had Iicvi been a government servant hired at a salary like our custom-house oliioers, to collect the duties, he must in justice have remained until a successor was appointed. But havmg himself purchased the tolls and dues for a given period, he was at Uberty to throw up the office of exacting them at pleasure.'*
29. — [A great fectstJ] The word translated ** feast," is only used here and Luke xiv. 18. It means a kind of large reception banquet, such as only wealthy people could give, and at which the guests were numerous. The worldly sacrifice which Levi made in becoming Christ's disciple, was probably greater than that made by any of the apostles.
82. — [Gall,., to repentance.} Let it be carefully noted here, as well as elsewhere, that our Lord's call to sinners is not a bare call to become his disciples, but a call ** to repentance."
Stella, the Spanish annotator, remarks on this verse. " Tou must not tmderstand from this, that Christ found some who were righteous. For the sentence of Paul is true ; " all have sinned." Christ calls these Scribes and Pharisees righteous, not because they were really so, but only according to the common estima- tion and appearance of them."