The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 102

classes. The very sight of an old prophet of the extinct type was worth a day's journey to the wildcrne~s. It became the fashion to see John and be baptized. The 11.utliorities paid him a compliment they can have pa.id to very few-thEy sent a deputation to ask him if he was the Messiah. But a public character or a preaoher may be very popular, and yet the impression he makes may be superficial and transitory. Some were guided to Jesus by John, but it is difficult to say how far he succeeded in his object. V. TESTS OF THE REALITY OF THE IMPRESSION BE MADE WERE GIVEN DY mMSELF. No one was more surprised than he was at the kind of people that came to him. « Who bath warned you 1" They professed repentance, but it was not profession which fitted them for the kingdom, but the reality. Jesus was to come "with his fan in his hand," to make a thorough separation between bad men and good. Meanwhile judge of your repentance: 1. Not by its present expression in misery of mind or shame. Some derive a deceptive comfort from the remembrance of the wretched days they spent, the tears they shed, the shame they felt, when first they a.woke to their sin. Others suspect their own repentance because it brought no such sorrow. Other griefs have struck them so fair and indubitably, have left so distinct a. mark, have forced them to so genuine an expression of their pain, that they are staggered on finding no Euch evident sorrow in their repentance. But there are various temperamelilts, and you must not measure your grief with the grief of other men. And repentance is not like a worldly loss-it resembles not a fever or acute illness that seizes a man suddenly, but a chronic ailment, which hangs about him always, never making him cry out with pain, but always there, altering bis whole life. 2. Judge by the fruits. Wait to see if it destroys sin in the life. Only a trained eye distinguishes the different kinds of corn in the blade, but any passer-by knows the difference between an ear of wheat and an ear of barley. Sunset is often a good deal like sunrise; but wait a little, and the difference is unmistakable. Fine spirit is like water; but apply a match, and the difference ill apparent. Compare repentance about a worldly·matter....:... investing in a bad concern; how careful a man is afterwards! The man whose repentance is genuine will not be able to indulge in sin as he did. Especially his characteristic sins will be abandoned. CoNCLUSION. Christ is now revealed the Giver of the Holy Ghost. This is the gospel preached to us-that there is a river into which we may be plunged, and from it rise new creatures, the whole past swept away, and ourselves started on a new life. We have been baptized in sign that the Holy Ghost is freely given to us, God has by baptism opened to us individually this greatest Gift. We need the outward symbol, for we disbelieve in the Spirit's indwelling. So superficial has been our repentance, so unhelpful, so deceitful, that we always feel as if we were left to struggle alone against sin. We need to listen still to John, whose message was," There standeth One among you who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."-D. Vers. 13-17.-Baptism of Jesus. I. 1TB OCOABI0N. How long was Jesus to be knawn merely as the village carpenter of Nazareth? What is to transpire which shall show him that God's time has come for his public ministry ? Ambition makes opportunities. In general, kings have only to wait the demise of their predecessors. To our Lord came at last a summons he could not misunderstand nor resist. John's hearers longed for that which only Jesus could give. He could no longer hide.himself in Nazareth when a movement was afoot which he alone could guide, utilize, and prosper. When men truly seek Christ, he does not hide himself from them. He will uot cause by his absence the defeat of any righteous movement. II. !Ts MEANING. John did not recognize its meaning. He was taken aback when Jesus presented himself for baptism. This was a difficulty he had not foreseen. He bad foreseen trouble with scrupulouR con11cienccs; that he would be abused, perhaps endangered; that he would be the repository of disagreeable_ secrets-a nation's c~m- fessor. But this he had not foreseen. How could he bapt1ze One who had no sm? John's refusal a strong testimony to the sinlessness of Jesus. lie might not yet know he was the Messiah; it was his personal character and private conduct which had impreBBed him. He was abashed in hie presence, and would have changed places with him. But Jesus demanded the performance of t·he rite, because, as one with 11 ctI, ur.1-17.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 91