The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 131

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-6.-The man with the. withered hand ; or, keeping the sabbath. 1n •the most sacred and joyous scenes there may be circumstances of pain and sorrow. There are often some iu God's house who are hindered in their enjoyment by personal affliction. But even these may be of service in testing the spirit and disposition of God's professed people. I. IT 1B IN SPIBIT ALONE THAT THE SABBATH IS TBULY KEPT. 1. Outward observances are of tJalue only as expressing and fostering this. 2. Evil hearts will f ai1, to keep the day even whilst seemingly engaged in its special duties. 3. Institutions that were .designed for the highest ends may be perverted to the worst. II. WORKS OF MEROY HONOUR THE SABBATH. 1. Because they are always urgent. 2. They exercise the holiest emotions and faculties of human nature. 3. They are tJ.e 1iervice of God. 4. TheiJ may be the means of others keeping the day and serving him. III. 'l'HE TRUE BABBATIO SPIRIT CONVICTS AND INFLAMES THE FALSE. 'l'he hatred manifested is all but incredible. Yet it was already in their hearts. They bad been ,condemned where they thought to have been judges. False religion (Pharisees) and worldliness (Herodians) are united in their hatred of the spirit and work of Christ, because they are both exposed by him.-M. Ver. 4.-" But they held their peace." "There is m·11ch silence that proceeds from the Spirit of God, but there is also a devilish silence," says Quesnel ; and it is not difficult to pronounce upon the character of this. I. WBAT WAS INTENDED BY IT. It was evasive. Christ had propounded a dilemma which those who watched him dared not answer, since, had they done so, they would ~ither have compromised themselves or committed themselves to approve.l of his action. It was doubtless intended also to suggest that the problem was too difficult for them to solve, at any rate without due consideration. II. WHAT IT SHOWED. 'l'here was no concealing from his eyes its real meaning, which he at once denounced. The circumstances of it and the expoaure it received made it evident that it was due: 1. To unwillingness to be convinced. The state called • • hardness of heart" it is not ea:sy to resolve into all its elements, but this is undoubtedly the chief one. These men had come into the synagogue with sinister designs against Cluist, and so strong was their prejudice that they refused to assent to the most cogeu,  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [oa. m. 1--35.