The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 106

uttered, m_en, "re:i.soning in their hearts/' believe not, Where Jesus to-day sees faith -and he 1s always on the look-out for it-there he heals. The faith of sufferers and, helpers must have respect to his promise and his power to heal, and not busy itself so much with listening for the word which declares the hea\ina- to be done. "Jesus se~i~g their f~ith," and knowing there was the suitable condition for the reception of spmtnal bl~mg~ even ~bov~ and beyond that for ~~ich they a~ked, •.• eaith, Son, thy sms are forgiven. So 1s faith r~warded; so are spmtuals put Ill their rightful place before t.emporals ; not really to hmder the temporal, but the better to prepare for it. Ill. THE OPPOSITION OF A1'"TAGO:s'ISTS IS USED BY CHRIST FOB TIIB GREATER CONFIR- MATION OF THE BELIEVING ONES; and, in mercy, also to awaken conviction in the unbelieving heart. "Perceiving in his [own] spirit that they so reasoned" within the dark chambers of their hearts, be graciously condescended to reason with them. "If I can do the harder c,f two works, surely I can the easier. 'l'hat ye will not doubt. But 'whether is easier' in your view, to say, • 'l'hy sins are forgiven • ' or to say •Arise take up thy bed and walk'? This must not only be said; to prov'e itself a r~al word of power, it ~ust be done. Of this ye can b_e j~dges. But that ye-even ye reasoning and unbehev1ng ones-may know the unltm1ted power of the Son of man in the spiritual realm, behold a proof of his power in the material I A word declares it, 'I say unto thee, arise.'" A word of power indeed; for" he arose and took up the bed and went forth before them all "-a visible, undeniable testimony that the true king: dom of God had come, that the true King was amougst them ; and they also were not only amazed, but "they glorified God," and conressed, "We never saw it on this fashion." So he who maketh " the wrath of man to praise him," maketh the thought of evil to turn to the greater good of them whom he would bless. IV. THE won>EBFUL POWER FOB THE GOOD OF ALL THAT FAITH IN THE SoN OF MAN CALLS Th""TO PLAY, Therefore let every one who has faith use it: in faith bringing the sin-stricken to Jesus; with strong faith encouraging all to seek him, to yield to him, to follow, and to trust in him. And let every worker work in faith; for the faith of the bearer of the sick is regarded. Let parents bring their children to Jesus in faith; and pastors bring their flocks before him in faith ; and friends, friends ; and lovers of men lay the world at his feet in lowly, loving, believing prayer. Unbelief stays the strong arm of Christ, because it presents the unsuitable conditions before him who al ways acts accc-rding to the " laws" of his own kingdom. Faith is not strength, but acknowledged feebleness. We can aid the consciously feeble, but the presumptuously strong put themselves beyond the power of men and the will of the Lord.-G, Vers. 13-22.-Fasting. "By the sea side" the great Teacher is heard by a listening multitude. Then passing near " the place of toll, his eye fell upon Levi, son of Alphams," whose service he imperatively claims. Levi, already called to be a disciple, now called to be an apostle, with much sacrifice arises to follow his Lord and Master to tbe end, so teaching for all future apostles and servants that the claims of the kingdom of Heaven stand first in importance, and must first be met. 'l'he simple, brief, authori- tative command," Follow me," may seem to need an exposition and expansion. It is the consummation, doubtless, of many words of instruction ; and, perhaps, the outward call corresponds to an inward conviction of duty and an inward preparedness for the sacrifice. The story of compliance is almost as brief as that of the call," And he aro~e and followed him." But this does not shut out the possibility of the calm adjustment by Levi of his affairs, as would be necessary before setting out upon a new course of life. Only the impetuous need hurry lest they should change their minds. Then as it would seem in commemoration of the great change, when the new name ldatthew may have been assumed, he, called like Elisha, to the sacred office, like him he makes his feast to his neighbours-his fellow tax-gatherers and friends-and his sacrifice to his God. And Jesus and his disciples are there. '!'hen the murmuring voice of " the scribes of the Pharisees" must needs accuse h.im to hie disciples : "He eateth and d.rinketh with publicans and sinners." Ah, happily for them and us he doth, He who did not always stoop to vindicate his ways, or tell wherefore or by "whati authority" he did such and such things, now, however, vouchsafes to declare his reason, First parabolically: "The 'whole have no need of a piiysician, but they ~hat are sick.' If these are the sick and faulty, as your words imply, they indeed need me." But. OD, II, 1-28,] 'fHE GOSPEL ACOOHDING TO ST. MARK. 103