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Matthew Henry, with characteristio kindliness, seems to think, that this interpretation and the former one may both be correct at the same time.
3. Somethink that "the eagles" mean false prophets. This is the Tiew of Aretius and Arias Montanus.
4. Some think that "the eagles** mean all mankind, and *' the body,'* the judgment day. This is the view of Barradius, Stella and Maldonatus.
6. Origen thinks that "the body** means the Church, and " the eagles gathered together,*' the unanimous consent of doc- tors and early fathers.
6. Ghemnitius thinks that " the eagles " mean Christ Him- self.
7. Heinsius thiiiks that the whole sentenqe is only a figur- ative prediction of the extreme rapidity of Christ's second advent. He shall come as rapidly as eagles come to a carcase.
8. Alford thinks that " the eagles " mean the angels of ven- geanoe, and " the body " the whole world.
I cannot undertake to decide amidst so many conflicting judgments. I only venture the opinion, that, looking at the context, the eagles are more likely to be emblems of the angels who will be employed . at our Lord's second coming, than of anything else. The verse immediately preceding that before us speaks of the separation between the just and the unjust which shall take place at our Lord's appearing. In that separation we are distinctly told elsewhere, the agents employed shall be the angels. (Matt xiii. 49.) Is it ^o much then, to conjecture that our Loras simple meaning is, that wherever " His body" is. His professing Chiurch, there the angels shall gather together at the last day, and sever the wicked from the just, in order to give to each his appointed place ?
It is, however, verv probable that all the interpretations hitherto proposed will prove at last incorrect, and that the true one may yet remain to be discovered at the second advent. That our Lord purposely meant it to be regarded as a mysterious saying is very evident
LUKE XVni. 1-8.
1 And he spake a parable unto fhem to thu €ndt ttiat men ought always to pray, and not to ftdnt ;
2 Saying, There was in a citv a judge, whidi feared not God, neither
regarded man :
3 And there was a widow in that city ; and she came unto him saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while :
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AZiJWIltXn VHOmOKTB^
hot tftflrwvrd h.0 Mddinfliiii hiTiWHif* Tfaough I fear oot God, nor regard man; 6 Yet because this widow tronbleth
I, I will aTCDge her, lest by h«r cqii«> tinnal coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord saio, Hear what tke unjnat judge taith.
7 And dull not Qod a^moge hiB own elect, which cry day and ni^ht unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell yon that he will areage them speemly. Nererthelen when the Son of man cometh, shall he find ikilh on the earth ?
Thb object of fhe parable before us^ is explained by Christ Himself. To use the words of an old divine, ''The key hangs at the door." — ''He spake a parable to this end ; that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." These words, be it remembered, are dosely ooimected with the solemn doctrine of the second advent, with which the preceding chapter concludes. It is prayer without fainting, during the long weary interval between the first and second advents, which Jesus is ui^ng His disciples to keep up. In that interval we ourselves are standing. The subject therefore is one which ought to possess a special interest in our eyes.
These verses teach us, firstly, the great importance of perseverance in prayer. Our Lord conveys this lesson by telling the story of a fiiendless widow, who obtained justice from a wicked magistrate, by dint of sheer im» portunity. — " Though I fear not God, nor regard man," said the unjust judge, " yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me." — Our Lord Himself supplies the application of the parable : " Hear what the unjust judge saitih. Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them P *' If importunity obtains so much from a wicked man, how much more will it obtain for the children of God £roin the Righteous. Judge, their Fathw in heaven !