In what manner she endeavoured to requite this favour we shall see by considering,
II. The service she rendered him —
We are not to estimate services by the intrinsic worth of them, so much as by the affection manifested in them. In this view her services were as acceptable as any that could be rendered ; " she arose and
a Perhaps the gift of miracles was not yet bestowed upon the church. But after it was, the Apostles could only exercise that gift when they were moved by God to do so. Why else did Paul leave Trophimus at Miletum sick (2 Tim. iv. 20.) or suffer the sickness of his dear fellow-labourer Epaphroditus to proceed to such extremity 1 (Phil. ii. 27.)
b The loss of divine ordinances was that which David chiefly re- gretted when he fled from Absalom, Ps. Ixxxiv. 1 — 3.
ministered unto them." By this conduct she unwit- tingly discovered,
1. The reality of the miracle —
[Had she merely joined her family, the departure of her fever might have been imputed to a fortunate coincidence of circumstances. Nor would they, who ascribed the expulsion of devils to the agency of Beelzebub, have been ashamed to adopt such a sentiment : but, if this had been the case, her body must have still continued in a state of debility ; whereas she was able to exert herself as much as before her sickness. This then was an unquestionable proof of the reality of the miracle0 ; and she became a witness for Jesus while she intended nothing more than to testify her love towards him.]
2. The goodness of her own heart —
[The hearts of all are, strictly speaking, most " desperately wicked." But our Lord tells us that " a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things.'''' In this sense she discovered much goodness of heart. So far from being puffed up with the favour conferred upon her, she was glad to execute the meanest offices. Her heart glowed with a desire to honour her benefactor : nor was she unmindful of the obligations she owed to those who had assisted her, or inter- ceded for her. She ministered not to him only, but to " them" also. She rejoiced in an opportunity to testify her gratitude to all. How different was this from the conduct of the nine lepers d ! Who does not reprobate them as the basest of man- kind ? Whereas she did not delay one moment to testify her sense of the mercy vouchsafed unto her. The one thought of her heart was, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits he hath done unto mee ?" O that all were like-minded with her in performing a duty which is so " lovely and of such good report!"]
3. The duty of all who have received mercies from God—
[God is to be acknowledged as much in the blessing given to our food or medicine, as in the more visible effects of his miraculous interpositions. Have we then been preserved in health, or restored from sickness ? Surely we stand indebted to God as much as if a miracle had been wrought in our behalf. And shall we be satisfied with making a few cold acknowledg- ments, and not render any active services to our benefactor ? Or shall we pretend that there is nothing that we can do for him ? Let us do what our capacity and situation enable us to do. However mean the service, it shall be accepted of him.
c Matt. ix. 6 — 8. A Luke xvii. 17. e Ps. cxvi. 12.