The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 27

hum:m ancestors. His birth was miraculous; but on his mother's side he ea.me uut of J u~ah, Judah from Abraham, Abraham from Adam. He represents huma,n nature; he is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh ; be was made in all thinas like unto ns yet without sin. 7. The genealogy shows his Divine birth; for" Jacob begat Joseph: the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." He was boru of Mary; he 'IYaS not the Son of Joseph; be had no earthly father. Joseph was the husband uf Mary, but not the father of Jesus; he was born of lier. . The first men lion of bis birth points at once to other than a human origin. He who is the Son of Abra- ~am is also the Son of God. 8. The numbers. 'l'he three fourteens e.re probably mtendcd to assist the memory, but they may possibly contain a mystical meaniua. Seven is the signature of perfection; two, of human witness; three, of God. The bi~- t_ory which we are_ approaching is the history of One who, though he appeared in the i?rm of m:m, was ln truth God. It is reldted by human witnesses; it is perfect, suffi- crnnt for all our needs. "These are written, that ye miabt believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might b~ve life through bis Name." The boo~ which we are opening is" the book of the '.generation of Je8US Christ," the h?ok winch rcl;tes the redeeming work of" the Son of God, who loved me, and gave b1msclf for me. lleverence, awe, and adoring lo\'e are the tempers of mind meet for such a study. LEsso:--s. 1. Search the Scriptures; they testiry of Christ, e.nd Christ is our Life. 2. Receive the word as the word of God; it has a message for you. 3. Delicve in him ; do his will. The study of the Scriptures must not end in knowledge; it must lead to faith and to obedience; it must lead to Christ. 4. Life is short; eternity is long. Set yonr affections on things above. "Vers. 18-25.-The birth of Jesus Ohi·ist. L TIIE DISTRESS OP MABY, 1. She was betrothed to Joseph. They bad loved one anotbe'r with a pure and holy love; now they were betrothed. The tie of betrothal was in the eyes of the Jews as sacred as that of marriage. The bridegroom bad not yet taken home bis bride; she was still in her parents' house. They were looking forward to the coming nuptials. It was the time upon which, years afcerward~, men look back with such tender ;recollections-the time when young love was budding in all its freshness and purity; the time gilded by so many bright hopes of happiness to come; a time especially blessed when both are living in the faith and love of God, and are looking forward to live together in that holy estate of matrimony, which represents the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and the Church. 2. She was found with child. Every rose has its thorns; that bright, happy time is often, in ordinary experience, clouded with difficulties and anxieties. Never was there a. ~eater trial for a betrothed pair than this which befell Joseph and Mary. They loved one another, we may be sure, deeply, sincerely. Now there w~s a barrier between them; it seemed an impassable barrier. Mary knew the secret: <lid she tell her betrothed? It may be that she thought it too sacred, too awful; she could not tell even Joseph. She had received the angel's message in implicit faith. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," she had said; "be it unto me according to thy_ word." PerLaps she kept the secret in her heart; it was a strange mixture of awful Jo_y and very bitter anguish. Those who are nearest to the Lord are often called to dnpk_ of bis cup and to be baptized with his baptism. It was so now with ihe blessed virgm, She was to have that highest grace for which Jewish matrons lo~ged so earnestly-~he was to be the mother of the Christ; but she had to undergo a tnal most o.cutely pam- ful, a shame most terrible io a pure maiden soul. She seemed unworthy of the l~ve_ of him who loved her best, whom she loved with the deep affection of a tender v1rgm- heart. She bore it in patience tbouoh her heart was breaking; it was the agony which 1,he haJ anticipated when she yielded heri,elf in faith to the holy will of God. Perhaps she Lore it in silence; the my,;tery was too deep, too awful for words. P~rbaps_(for we cannot tell) she whiBpered it to Joseph. But it was too strange, too rncrcd1blc. He luvcd her and he trusted her· there is no real love without mutual confi<luncc. But there is a limit to the trustfulness of the most loving heart. And this story 1,eemed altogether impossible. Joseph could not believe it. His suspicions were natural, c::xcusaLle; but bow cruelly they must have wounded the ten~er heart of Mary! 3. It wua of tl,e Holy Ghost. The evangeliijt !elates in few and s11nplc words en. 1. 1-25.] '!'HE GOSPEL ACCOJ:DING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 13