The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 308

HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-8.-Tlie support of the ministry the duty of God'., people. In a note on a. corresponding passa;:;c in Numb. xviii. 21, 22, Dr. Jameson remarks, "Neither the priests nor the Levites were to possess any allotments of land, but to depend entirely upon him who liberally provided for them out of his own portion; and this law was subservient to many important purposes, such as that, being exempted from the cares and labours of worldly business, they might be exclusively devoted to his service; tho.t a bond of mutual love and attachment might be formed between the people and the Levites, who, as performing religious services for the people, derived their sub- sistence from them; and further, that, being the more easily dispersed among the different tribes, they might be more useful in instructing and directing the people." 'l'his suggestive note seems to us to contain the pith of the Mosaic instructicns con- cerning the maintenance of the Levites. (For the several details, see Exposition.) \Ve can scarcely fail to see in this passage principles far wider in their application than to the Jewish people alone, and reaching much further onward than the times of the old covenant. And though, as it falls to the lot of the preacher to expound these prin- ciples, it may not quite fall within his preference to do so, if he is, like the Levites, supported by the contributions of the people, yet, when he is continuously expounding the Word of God, he may not omit to teach the people that" he that is taught in the Word should communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." This is part of the "counsel of God," and should not be withheld, since it is not for his own sake, but for the sake of the entire ministry of the Lord Jesus, for which, if he is faithful, he will plead. The principles which may be expounded by the ministers of the New 'l'estament are these- I. A GODLY, ABLE MlliISTRY IS THE WANT OF TI1E PEOPLE. True, there are now no sacrifices to be offered, nor is there any complicated ritual of service to be performed; but there is a mighty work to be done in heralding the gospel "to every creature," and in "building up the body of Christ." And so long as sin and ignorance prevail, so long will the people need those who will lead the way in seeking their ,expulsion and extinclion. For this end our Lord has instituted a New Testament ministry. The work now to be fulfilled is that of teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (Eph. iv. 1-16; 1 Cor. ix.). "Faithful men, able to teacb," are to be appointed. These are the quali- fications. The Church needs no priesthood in it. It is itself the priesthood for t1e world. Ministers do not come now in a family, a tribe, or line. The figment of apostolical succession is "less than nothing, and vanity." It is not by the law of "a carnal commandment" that any ministry is valid now. But wherever God's Spirit fills a man with holy yearning for this work, where the needful gifts are imparted, where God's providence leads and clears the way, and the divinely inspired voice of a free Christian people says to him, "Come and be our teacher and guide in the ways of the Lord," there are calls to a ministry such as cannot be mistaken, and such as ought not to be ignored. And when, on such a ministry, the seals of Divine approval are set, when the minister can see the law of Christ which is promulgated by his lips, repro- duced in men's hearts and lives, when he can see many a wanderer reclaimed through his pleading and prayers,-then can his ministry show a like validity even with that ol Paul, for he, like him, can point to one and another and say, "If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you, for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in tho Lord." !I. 'l'HE MINISTRY OF TIIE WORD DEMANDS THE I,EYOTION OF THE E:STIRE LIFE, We by no means intend here that none should teach or preach but those who can give their whole time thereto. But that, as a part of the application of the "division of labour" in the Church, the demands on those who make the ministry of the \Vord their care are such, that only the entire consecration of their life to it will enable them fittingly to meet them. To take the oversight of the flock of God: to give unto each one their portion of meat in due season: to visit the fatherless and widow, the poor and the sick: to observe the signs of the times: to know what Israel ought to do, and to direct them in doing it: to keep abreast of the thinking of tl+e day, whether helpful or adverse: &nd t>EP''fl!llWN0?4Y, '- 306 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [on. XVIII, 1-22.