came into the world to save sinners, of Gentiles and idolaters. They considered whom I am chief" (1 Tim. i. 15). Follow that it was contrary to the liberty and me ; me, that ie, whom you have alre&dy dignity of the children of God that they heard pre&<'hing the gospel of the kingdom should pay tribute to them, a view which in Capernaum, and confirming it by many increased their prejudice against the tax- miracles, and especially by that conspicuous gatherers. And indeed this we.11 one me.in miracle spoken of by all, the healing of the cause of the rebellion of the Jews, whioh paralytic. St. Chrysostom says that "our led finally to their overthrow by Titus and Lord called Matthew, who was aheady con- Vespasian. E'trained by the report of his miracles." Ver. 16.-According to the most approved The condescension of Christ is shown in readings, this verse should run thus : And this, that be called Matthew the "publi- the soribes of the Pharisees, when they saw can," "·ho on that account was odious to that he was eating with the sinners and the Jews, not only to be a partaker of his pnblioans, said unto his disoiples, He eateth gra.oe, but to be one of his chosen followers, and drinketh with publioans and sinners. a friend, an apostle, and an evangelist. The words "publicans and sinners" are It has been urged a,,,a-ainst the truth of thus inverted in their order in the two Christianity, by Porphyry and others, that clauses, as though they were convertible the first disciples followed Christ blindly, terms. Of course, the scribes and Pharisees as though they would have followed with- had not sat down at this feast, but some of out reason any one who called them. But them had probably found their way into they were not men who acted upon mere the chamber in which the feast was going impulse and without reason. The miracles, on, where they would comment freely upon no doubt, produced an impression upon what they saw, and condemn our Lord's them. And then we may reasonably sup- conduct as inconsistent with his character. pose that their moral faculties perceived the It is as though they said, "By this conduct majesty of Deity shining through the coun- he transgresses the Law of God and the tenance of the Son of God. As the magnet traditions of the elders. Why, then, do you attracts the iron, so Christ drew Matthew follow him ?" and others to himself; and by this attrac- Ver. 17.-JeSUB heard their murmurings, tive power he communicated his graces &nd and his answer was, They tha.t a.re whole virtues to them, Bllch as an ardent love of have no need of a physician, but they that are God, contempt of the world, and burning siok. As the physician is not infected by the zeal for the salvation of souls. disease of the patient, but rather overcomes Ver. 15.-Alld it ea.me to pas&-l-yl11E'To it and drives it from him, so it is no dis- seems the best ree.din~-as he was sitting at grace but rather an honour to the physician meat in his hoUBe, This was the house of to associate himself with the sick, and so Matthew. St. Matthew (ix. 10) modestly much the more, the greater the sickness. says, "in the honse," keeping himself as So that it is as though Christ said, "I who much as possible in the background. St. am sent from heaven by the Father, that I Luke, with greater fnlnees, says (v. 29) that might be the Physician of the souls of ' Levi made him a great feast in his house." sinners, am not defiled by their sins and 4
From this it appears that Matthew at once spiritual diseases when I converse with ,marked the occasion of his call by inviting them: but rather I cure and heal them, hill associates, publicans and sinners, that which is alike for my glory and for their they too, being won by the example and good, and so much the more, the greater teaching of Christ, might be led in like their sins. For I am the physician of manner to follow him. Good is ever dif- sinners, not their companion. But you, 0 fUBive of itself; and Christian love prompts scribes and Pharisees, are not the physicians those who have experienced the love of but the companions of sinners, and so yon Christ to draw others to the same fountain are contaminated, Nevertheless, you desire of mercy. We find publicaI!B and sinners to be thought righteous and holy ; and constantly e.esociated together; for, although thererore I do not associate with you, (1) be- there is nothing necessarily unlawful in the cause the whole, such as you think your- office of a tax-gatherer, yet, since men fre- selves to be, need not the spiritual Physician; .q uen tly followed that calling because it and (2) because your insincerity and hy- offered the opportunity for fraud and extor- pocrisy a.re an offence to me." tion, hence the "publicans" were, generally Ver. 18.-The first sentence of this ver~e speaking, odious to the Jews, and regarded should be rendered thus: And the disciples as nothing better than " sinners." More- of John and the Pharisees were fasting(;jua11 over the Jews of old maintained that they V1JU-r•6011ns). In all the synoptio Gospels were Abraham's seed, and protest.eel that as we find this incident followrng closely upon a people dedicated to God, they ought not what goes before. It is not improbable that tD be 1111bject to the Romans, who were the Pharisees and the diaciples of .Joh11 OH. II, 1-28,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MARK. 87