The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 59

the need was great, and H was simply the need of man that brought Christ into the world. II. TIIERE 18 ROOM 11'011. ANOTHER KING BESIDES THE EARTHLY RULEB., Herod was still reigning, and yet the Christ came to set up bis kingdom. The sovereign at Jerusalem naturally suspected the new-born King to be a rival to bis throne. Most of the Jews would have shared his opinion if they bad believed in Jesus, though they wouhl have regarded the situation with very different feelings. But Christ did not come to sit on the throne of Herod, and we cannot think of him simply as the rightful Heir who will expel the insolent usurper. His kingdom is not of this world. Earthly monarchs rise and fall, and still he reigns. His is the kingdom of heaven set up on earth. There is a reign of life which they that hold the sword of external government cannot hinder. They cannot restrain its glorious liberty, nor can they reform it.~ evils. The world wants a King who can rule in the realm of ideas, who can sway hearts, who can conquer sin. Therefore the apostles were commissioned to make known "another King, one Jesus" (Acts xvii. 7). Ill. THE RULE OF CHRIST 18 IN STRONG CONTRAST TO 1TB EXTERNAL SURROUNDINGS. Christ and Herod-what a contrast the two names suggest I Yet they are the names of the two kings of the Jews of the same day. Force, selfishness, cruelty, characterize the degenerate visible rule. Truth, gentleness, love, mark the invisible spiritual rule. So it is always, though not necessarily in the same dramatic form. When we come to Christ and his kingdom we reach a higher level, we breathe purer air, we walk in the light. Then, though the days may be adverse and altogether unpropitious, we have reached what is above daily vexations, we have attained some of the peace of the eternity in which Christ lives.-W. F. A. Vere. 1-12.-The pilgrimage of the Magi. The way in which these men acted throws a flood of light on their characters; at the same time, it opens up to us lessons of general application. The Magi are examples to us in their effort to find Christ, and in their conduct when they had found him. I. THE SEARCH ~-on CHRIST. 1. Its origin. The Magi had seen "his star in the East." This appearance was in accordance with the character of their own study and observation. God can use a variety of methods to bring us to Christ-the science of the naturalist, the literature of the book-student, the work of the business man. He even used the astrology of the Magi. 2. Its method. (1) The pursuit of knowledge already attained. These men knew their star, and to this they clung. We can bes, reach new truth by following the revelation already possessed by us. (2) A trust in heavenly guidance. '!'he star in the physical heavens was regarded as a beacon from the spiritual heavens. Jn this case God permitted it to serve as such a beacon. Thus the guidance was from God. We must lift up our eyes to the heavens if we would see the way to Christ. (3) A use of earthly means. At Jerusalem the Magi consulted Herod, and he took counsel of the rabbis.· The fresh star in the heavens did not eclipse the light of ancient Hebrew prophecy. This still had its sphere in discovering Bethle- hem. Divine revelation does not dispense with human study. New lights do not extinguish old truths. 3. Its character. (1) An energetic search. The Magi set ofI on a. long journey to find Cbiist. They did not wait for him to find them; they made it their business to discover him. Such a search deserves the reward of finding. Many do not know Christ because they will not take the trouble to seek him. (2) A persevering search. The Magi travelled far and pressed their suit, not resting till they had attained their end. '!'he truly wise man will not abandon his search because of any amount of discouragements. II. 'l'BE DISCOVERY OF CHBIST. At length the Babe was found. Every true seeker after Christ will be rewarded by seeing him. Such a discovery is full of fruitful issues. l. Its blessedness. The Magi seem to have lost eight of the star during their anxious interviews with Herod at Jerusalew. When they were out in the country again the star reappeared; for the heavens are larger and brighter in the solitudes of nature than where they bend over the crowds of city life. It was a happy sight when the star reappeared, but only becauRe this was the promise of the nearing sight of the infant Saviour. To reach him is to come to the heart's greatest joy. 2. Its result. The Magi opened their rich stores and presented them to the Child. They set out with the 46 TilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA.'M.'HEW. [cu. n. 1-2& --- ----------------------------- l)bjcct of worebipping him; this is the way in which they perCormed their intention. Their liturgy was an act of @acrifice. It is unworthy only to seek Christ for the sake of the good we hope to obtain for ourselves. Re is worthy of adoration, and we can best express onr adoration by service and 11aerifice. Some will not measure the gift. He whOt!e heart is on fire with devotion to Christ will not aak with what minimum will bis Lord be satisfied; he will love to give his best. The Christian can now give to the babe Jesua in giving to one of his little ones (eh. L 42).-W. F. A.. Ver. L-Tlr.e Wi.M Men from the F.,aat. These Magi come to giTe their homage to Cb rist. Their own personal characters and circumstances enhance the value of thei-r gift& L HoKAGB FBOll TBB GD-""TrLFA. It is aingula.r that St. Matthew, and not St. Luke the evangelist or the Gentiles, gives 1111 this narrative of Gentile faith and adoration. Thus we see that all parties among Christ's true disciples recognized the great fact that the gospel was for the whole world. At the very commencement of Chrisfs life thia was seen. Yet etill the greater part of the world is quite ignorant of his very Name. Here is a reason for greater missionary activity. II. HollAGE FBOll A DISTANCS. These men had come from a far country. They had made a long and tedious pilgrimage to Christ. None are so remote but that they may find Christ if they will truly seek him. Yet some who dwell io. a Christian land are really farther from Christ than some who are commonly reckoned 88 heathen. Surely Soorat.es 'WllB nea.rer to Christ than Cesar Borgia. IIL BollAGE FBOII ABTIQUITT. These Magi represented the ancient Persian priest- hood. But the old order of the Magi had been broken up, and many now took the n&me who were not in any recognized rank or office. Yet in the very degeneracy of the name it reminds ua of its mysterious antiquity. The past looka forward to the future. Nothing in the past will satisfy the hearts of men. We may ransack antiquity. but we shall find there no substitute for Christ. IV. THE BOllAGB OF SCIENCE. Evidently the Magi were astrologers. In old timea all tha.t was known of astronomy was mixed up with astrology, and all that was known of chemistry was liable to be confused by ideas of alchemy and magic. N everthelese, this does not mean that nothing was known of the true sciences. - Here we see the acience of the day bowing before Christ. Science cannot be contrary to Christ if he is the Truth. for it is but accurate and systematized truth, and all truth must be harmonious. But neither science nor learning can ever be a &ubstitute for Christ. The student cannot find the Bread of "life in his books ; and the man of science will not discover it in his laboratory. After all earthly attainments have been reached, the soul still needs Christ. V. THE Boll.AGE OF WEALTH. Tradition has called the Wise Men "kings." Certainly they were men of substance, 88 they brought with them costly gifts. We think or Christ 88 the Friend of the poor, bnt we have no right to narrow our conception of his sympathy to auy one class of society. He is equally the friend of the rich, when the rich accept his friendship--e.g. Zacclueus. Moreover, the rich need Christ as much as the poor. The rich, too, have the privilege of giving to him from their wealth.- W. F. A. Vere. 16-18.-71ie uinocent,. This is one of the most heartrending scenee in all history. The que11tions which it suggests are myeterious, and some of them quite manswerable. I. fuBOn's CBillE. People have said, "This is impossible I" But Herod's character, as painted by the eecnlar hietorian, shows him to be gloomy and morose in his later day11 and capable of almost any cruelty. We execrate the enemies of Obrist a.a monsters ~f wickedness. Herod and Judas are names-that make-us shudder, and we think of their owners aa half-demons. Yet the wickedne&11 of their crimes i11 not nu.approached in our own day. The slow murder of young children by 11ta"ation and ill treatment, simply to escape the coet and trouble of keeping them, or because their death will be a source of gain to their gua1dian11, is worse than Herod's crime, because it ii committed in cold blood and without the provocation or terror at the appearao.ce of a dangero111 rival "·hici.J excited the jealou.e passions or the ldumrean prince. Then there is a slaughter illI. u.1--23.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW. 47