lays special stress in this passage on the Fatherly relation of Gnod to all oelievers, as an antidote to over-carefolness and anxiety.
83. — [Sell that ye have^ Sc!] This expression, if not confined to the Apostles, hut apnhed generally to all helieyers, must evidently he interpreted with some scriptural limitation. There is nothing in the Acts or the Epistles, which shows that helievers, in the primitive church, were expected to sell all their property, as soon as they were converted. On the contrary, St. Peter's words to Ananias, seem to show that it was quite optional with converts to sell their property or keep it. (Acts v. 4.) St. Paul goes even further, and says that *' if a man provides not for his own, he has denied the faith, and isj worse than an infidel." (1 Tim. V. 8.)
The whole verse is a strong figurative exhortation to self- Aenial, liherality, and carefdl provision for the soul. An ex'« cessively literal interpretation lands us in insuperahle difficulties, ft will surely not he said that Christians ought literally t6 provide themselves ** hags." Once concede that a figure is used* and a figurative explanation of the whole vierse must he reason* , ?ahly conceded.
The "thief" in the verse represents sudden and violent loss,- the " moth " gradual and silent waste or exhaustion.
36. — [Loins be girded.] This is a figure drawn from the hahits of dressing which prevailed in our Lord's time, and which are general at the present day throughout the East. Long flowing garments were the ordinary attire that men wore. When any tiling was to he done requiring hodily exertion, the first thing needful was to gird up the loins, or tie the garments tightly round the waist
[Your lights burning. ] To see the fiill force of this expression, we should read the parahle of the ten virgins. (Matt. xxv. 1.) Marriages often took place in the evening. It was the duty of the servants to meet the wedding party with lighted torches. The verse hefore us is an exhortation to he in an attitude of constant preparation to meet the hridegroom Jesus Christ at His second aaveut. 37. — [FTe shaU gird himself, de.] This is perhaps one of the most wonderful promises which is made to helievers anywhere in the New Testament. It must prohahly he interpreted figur atively. The meaning evidently is, that there is no degree of honour and glory which the Lord Jesus wDl not gladly hesto w on those who are roimd ready to meet Him, in the day of His second advent. Some think that there will he, in some way, a literal fulfilment of this promise, and that our Lord refers to this, when he says at the last supper, '* I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of Ood shall come.*' (Luke xxii. 18.) A reference to the same literal fulfilment is also supposed to exist in Isaiah xxv. 6.