Such was the act : let us next consider,
II. The commendation given it —
The Disciples blamed it as an act of extravagance and waste : and thinking lightly of the honour done to their Master, reflected only on the loss sustained by the poor ; since if it had been sold and given to them, it would have provided relief for many6. The person who first raised the objection was Judas, who, being a thief and carrying the bag, would have alien- ated the money to his own use. He being disappointed of his prey, pretended to feel for the poor ; (for the worst of men will profess a regard for virtue, when their only object is to condemn and obstruct its
b 1 Pet. i. 11. c John xi. 49—52.
d See the words immediately following the text. e It was worth about ten pounds of our money. VOL. XII. N
exercise ;) and the rest of the Apostles too readily adopted his views ; so prone are even the best of men to adopt uncharitable sentiments, rather than be at the pains to make a full inquiry into the things which they condemn. But our blessed Lord, who knew the pious dispositions of her heart, proceeded,
1. To vindicate the act —
[" She hath wrought a good work upon me," says our Lord. If acts of charity are not to be omitted, so neither are acts of piety. " The poor are always with us ; and we have opportunities of doing them good at all times :" we may be, and we ought to be, in the daily habit of administering to their wants, and consulting their welfare. But there are occa- sions that call for particular exertions : occasions which have more especial respect to the glory of God, and the honour of the Lord Jesus ; (such as the dispersion of the Holy Scriptures, and the conversion of Jews and Gentiles to the faith of Christ ;) and to these we should lend our aid with more than usual liberality, even though we should thereby contract our ability to relieve the temporal wants of men ; for though we are cer- tainly to do the latter, yet we must on no account leave the former undone. It is a very erroneous idea that our fellow- creatures only are to occupy our regard. Is God to have no appropriate token of our love ? Are the wonders of redemption so insignificant, that they call for no expressions of gratitude on our part ? So far are these considerations from deserving only a subordinate place in our esteem, that they should operate as the leading motive in all our exertions for the poor ; and whatever we do, we should do it as "constrained by the love of Christ," and " with a view to his glory."]
2. To applaud the agent —
[Greater commendation could not be bestowed than that which is contained in our text ; " She hath done what she could." An angel from heaven could in that respect have done no more. David's desire to build the temple, and his endeavour to make preparations for it, were as acceptable to God as the actual erection of it by Solomon. And the widow, who gave two mites, not only equalled, but far exceeded the liberality of the rich, though it is confessed that " they cast in much into the treasury f." And thus it is with us, whether we possess ten talents, or only one, if only we labour to improve what we have, " it shall be accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath notC
f Mark xii. 12— 44. s 2 Cor. viii. 12.