its depth : " I have seen an end of all perfection ; but thy commandment is exceeding broad." But the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of it were open to the view of Jesus, who saw it in all its spirituality, and in its utmost perfection. He was able to expose and refute all the false glosses with which their most learned teachers had obscured the law ; and to set it forth as reaching, no less to the thoughts and intents of the heart than to the most open actions of the life.
There was also a luminousness in his statements, which, like the light of the sun, carried its own evidence along with it. And his illustrations were so a/j^, so easy, so familiar, so convincing, that every one who was open to conviction was constrained to assent to every word he spoke. Nor did he ever, like the Scribes, dwell upon matters that were altogether useless and unedifying ; but he was always on subjects of 2^ rime importance, the knowledge of which was necessary for the salvation of the soul. In a word, as at an early period of his life the doctors in the temple " were astonished at his under- standing and answers," so now, on this and many subsequent occasions, his hearers wondered ; " How knoweth this man letters (the Scriptures), having never learned," or had a learned education ?]
2. His faithfulness —
[He flattered not the people by countenancing for a mo- ment their expectation of a temporal Messiah, but shewed the spiritual nature of that kingdom which he was come to esta- blish. Moreover, in his reproofs he spared not any : the greatest and the wisest among the people were rather the more exposed to his censures, on account of the influence which they exerted over the minds of others. The fallacy of their reasonings, the defectiveness of their morals, and the hypocrisy of their religious acts, (their alms, their prayers, their fastings,) were held up to universal reprobation ; and all the multitude were warned plainly, that " unless their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, they should in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." They were warned too that they must yield a cordial and unreserved obedience to his instructions ; that the retaining of any bosom lust would infallibly destroy their souls for ever : that every sinful affection, though dear as a right eye, or apparently necessary as a right hand, must be cut off"; or else they would assuredly take their portion " in hell-fire."
These were plain truths ; not such as the people had been accustomed to hear from their teachers, who only " prophesied smooth things, or amused them with deceits :" they were such truths as commended themselves to the consciences of all, and made them feel that they were sinners before God. Every
1335.] THE EFFECT OF OUR LORD's PREACHING. 285
person that heard him bore him witness, that " truly he was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgressions, and to Israel his sin^."]
3. His authority —
[The Scribes were in the habit of founding their instruc- tions on their own fallacious reasonings, or on the dogmas of some of the more learned Rabbins. But our Lord appealed to no authority above his own. He reasoned indeed for the conviction of his hearers ; but the ground on which he required every word of his to be received, was his own authority; " / say unto you ; / say unto you." In this he differed from all the prophets that had gone before him : they delivered their messages, as from Jehovah ; " Thus saith the Lord :" — but Jesus, being himself " God manifest in the flesh, assumed a right to dictate as from himself;" " Ye have heard from others" such or such a thing; but " I say unto you" the very reverse ; and require you to receive the word on my authority. To this his hearers were ready to submit : for the miracles which he had already wrought without number had evinced his almighty power and Godhead, and were a standing testimony, that his every word was to be received with implicit faith and unreserved obedience.