The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 96

ue of God's judgment. 3. Its me1·ciful warning. Why is the axe laid at the root of the tree? why is it not used at once? Here is mercy in the midst of judgment. 'l'he Baptist points to the axe that he may drive his hearers to repentance. Our attention is drawn to it that we may escape-though at the eleventh hour.-W. F. A. Ver. 11.-The two baptisms. John here contrasts himself and his work with Christ and the work of Christ.. We cannot but be struck with the humility and the discern• ment of the Baptist. Thus he reveals himself as true to bis mission; he is but the forerunner, preparing the way of the Lord. I. TnE COX'.l'RAST BETV,'EEN THE ADMINI~TRATORS. John was regarded as the great prophet of his <lay; yet he considered himself to be infinitely inferior to the coming Christ. Wherein were the great differences between the Baptist and Jesus Christ? 1. In cliam,cter. John was a holy man, but still a sinner, Christ was faultless, quite pure, and supreme in all goodness. Thus he was and is far above the best of men, as the stars are above the highest mountains; in comparison with the stars the distinction between mount.ain and plain sinks into insignificance. 2. In power. John was a strong and gifted man, yet how little could he do for the reformation of Israel, for the redemption of the world? He is but the labonrer digging out the foundation; Christ is the Master-Builcler who raises the great temple. 3. In office. John is the prophet, the messenger of God. Christ is the King. His office is regal, and his honour is the highest. 4. In =tu-re. John is but a man, though the greatest man of his day; Jesus is the very Son of God. This may not have been known to the Baptist, but an instinctive foreshadowing of the great mystery may have touched him with an awed perception of the wonderful greatness of the Coming One. IL THE CONTRAST DETWEEN THE SACRAMENTS. 1. The water-baptism. This baptism of John's was a token of repentance. It seemed to express the desire of the penitent to wash away his past sin. It was concerned with his guilt and with the aeed of cleansing it. But it contained no power for the future. It did not regenerate; it did not quicken the dead soul. 'l'hus it must be recognized that repentance by itself is not enough.. The penitent still waits for his renewal. 2. The fire-baptism. It might have been thought that the consuming element of fire was better adapted to th0 ministration of the terrible prophet of the wilderness, while the gentler purifying water would be suitable for the milder methods of the Son of man. Yet the prophecy of the llaptist was fulfilled. We cannot confine hie words to the second advent of Christ in judgment. Christ ea.me in his first appearance with flames to burn the evil out of th0 hearts of men in the consuming power of the Holy Spirit. For here the fire seems to i;tand for the Holy Spirit, as it did on the Day of Pentecost, when the Gift came in cloven tongues of fire. When Christ enters the soul he both burns up the old evil and kindles the fire of a new life. All life is fire. Even applied physiologically this idea is true; we only live by burning up our own bodies, and that is why we need food, wh_ic_h is fuel Christ's baptism is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of that Spmt is the lighting of a fire in a man's heart. Thus it is life.-W. F. A. Vers. 13-17.-The baptism of Jesll,6, This is a narrative which authenticates itself. No Christian writer of a later generation would have invented a story of the baptism of Jesus b_v John; nor could any current ideas have started a myth in this form. The very difficulties of the story prove its historicity. L LET US INQUIRE WHAT WAS TIIE MEANING OF TIIE BAPTISM OF JESUS. 1. Note some errors to be avoided. (1) This was not a baptism of repentance. John saw that, and although he did not yet know who Jesus was, the pure and spotless life of his mysterious Relative was evidently not unknown to him. He saw that Jesus did not need the baptism as it was commonly understood. (2) Thie was not a mere form. Chrut coutinually contended against the hypocrisy of formalism. He could not have begun hie public life with a purely formal action. (3) This was not only intended as an example for othel'II. In that case the action of Christ would have been simply a theatrical performance, unworthy of him, not to be countenanced by the s_erious Baptist. Moreover, the results of the baptism show that it had to do direct!)'.' with the Person and work of Christ. 2. Consider the truths of the incident. Baptism has a double meaning. It looks forward as well as backward. As a rite in rezard to the future 0 on. IIL 1-17.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 85