The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 132

t?,idence. The l1mguage used by their intended Victim conveys the impression tha• tbis "hardening" was in process whilst the scene lasted. It is impossible to dissooiate religious opinion from character. Prejudice and malice incapacitate the mind for the reception of truth. Here the most cogent evidence was resisted ; for they evidently expected that he would heal the man, and yet were unwilling to attach its due weight to the miracle as a proof of Christ's Divine mission. How much of modern scepticism is to be att.ributed to similar causes it is impossible to say; but that a lar<re proportion of it is to be so explained cannot be doubted. The hesitation to reply'"is the more noticeable in this instance as the question is one turning, not upon material evidence, but upon moral considerations. 2. To lack of sympathy. The condition of the sufferer did not move them to compassion, even in the house of God. A touchstone of the reiigious professions of men may still be found in the poo1, the suffering, etc. 3, To di,shonesty and cowardia. They knew how the question ought to have been answered, hut they feared the consequences. The question as to killing alarmed their own guilty consciences, for they knew that they had come thither not to worship but to compass tbe destruction of a fellow-creature. 'l'here is still a great deal of suppressed religious conviction amongst men; how are we to interpret it? When moral obligations are evaded, and scepticism is made an excuse for uncertainty of conduct and laxity of life, we a.re justified in attributing such behaviour to the same principles. There a.re circum- stances that demand candour and outspokenness, and in which silence is dishonourable;. we ought" to have the courage of our convictions:" occasions when it is wrong to be silent; when religious zeal is ma.de a cloak for murder, cruelty, injustice, and licentious- ness; when the difficulty of theological problems is made an excuse for compromise, or inaction, or moral indifference; when, in the face of the clearest evidence, a man says he "does not know." III. WnAT rr EARNED, 1. The anger of Christ. His look must have searched their hearts and abashed them. There would be in it something of the awfulness of the judgment day. This moral indignation, in which there is surely an element of contempt, is still the sentence upon all similar conduct. 2. Consciousness of guilt. They were self-convicted, but the condemnation of one so pure and loving would sea.I their sense of unworthiness and dishonour. 3. Ezporure. No one in that crowd was deceived as to their real motive. The same law still prevails; the moral obliquity which refuses to pronounce upon great questions of duty and righteousness will sooner or later be made evident to others. Just as there are circumstances which precipitate opinion, so there are circumstances in every life which call for decided action, and reveal the manner in which one has dealt with one's convictions. At such junctures the man who has been true to hie best lights and sincere in following out his convictions, will be honest, , fearless, chivalrous ; the man who has not been truly in earnest, or disinterested in his attachment to truth, will be seen to shuffle, to shirk responsibility, and to shrink from sacrifice ; or, worse still, he will yield to the lusts and tendencies of his baser nature, and act with unscrupulousness, inhumanity, and godlessness. It is the. law: that opinions determine character; and that, in the course of life, character must 1Dev1tably make itself known.-M. Ver. 5.-" Stretch forth thy hand I" I. CHRIST SOMETIMES ENJOINS WHAT SEEMS TO !IE IMPOSSIBLE. IJ. F AlTH IS SHOWN IN DOING WHAT HE COMMANDS, EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS TO Bill DII'OSSIBLE. llL \VHERE THERE IS THE" OBEDIENCE OF FAITH," POWER WILL BE GRANTED.-M. Vers. 13-19.-The choosing of the aposiles. I. THE RELATION BETWEEN CHRIST AN» ms SERVANTS WAS DELIBERATELY ENTERED UPON AND VOLUNTARY IN lTS NATURE, 1. It wa:, furmally commenced in retirement: We may suppo~e a season. of devotion. 'l'he absence of µublic excitement or external JDterference was evidently desired. 2. The utmost /ree@m existed on both sides. He called " whom he himself would : and they went unto him." There was no coercion. The highest principles and emotions w~re arldressed. On the one hand the teaching and the work of the Master were not domma.ted by the influence now asi:ociated with him ; nor, on the oth~r, was their service other than the fruit of enthusiaBm, intelligent conviction, and willing sympathy. OH, DI, 1-.:,::,,J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 129