[The twelve had evidently participated in the feelings of the other Disciples, though not to the same extent. This our Lord saw ; and therefore bade them come to a decision. Happy was it for them that the bias of their minds was the right way: and happy for them that they were called upon to decide, before the evil had got too deep a root in their minds. Had they been left to " go back, and walk no more with Jesus," how bitterly would they have lamented it to all eternity! Let us then be aware of the tendency of evil thoughts, and guard against their first introduction into the mind. If we be tempted for a moment to account any thing " a hard saying," or to turn aside in the smallest degree from the path of duty, let us remember, that they who draw back, " draw back unto perdition ;" and that " if any man draw back, God's soul shall have no pleasure in himg."]
Such was the instructive nature of our Lord's question : and,
II. The answer of Peter was worthy of an inspired Apostle —
Peter was forward on all occasions to speak his mind ; and often spoke but unadvisedly at best. But on this occasion he returned, both for himself and all his brethren, an answer fraught with wisdom. Two grounds he states for the determination which all of them had formed to adhere to Christ ;
1. The insufficiency of the creature —
[The conviction of his mind on this subject was very strong; insomuch that he ventured even to appeal to Christ himself, and to defy, if I may so speak, Omniscience itself to tell him, where any other refuge could be found, or any other source of solid good : " Lord, to whom shall we go ?" ' We are in pursuit of instruction : who can give it us, if we turn our back on thee ? We are in pursuit of happiness : where can we find it, but in thee ? We are bent upon the attainment of heaven: who can bring us thither, but thyself? If we go back to the world and cast off all care for these things, nothing but everlasting destruction awaits us : and if we go to the Scribes and Pharisees, we have had evidence enough what kind of teachers they are, " blind leaders of the blind." To whom then can we go, with the smallest prospect of attaining what we are seeking after?'
Now this part of Peter's answer furnishes us with a good reply to all who would turn us from the Lord. " To whom,
s lleb. x. 38, 39.