The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 147

(John i. 48; Ii. 1). Thence he returned to Judrea to celebrate tbe Passover (John ii. 18). Then he be.ptized in Judrea, while John baptized e.t 1Enon (John iii. 22, 23). After the imprisonment of John, Jesus returned to Nazareth. Here the people rejected his testimony and sought to kill him. So he left them (Luke iv. 16, 29-31). Beware how you trifle with the Light of life. (4) Let Caperuaum know the day of her visita- tion. Else, "exalted to heaven" by the presence of Christ, she may be "thrust down to hell" by his absence. Privileges bring responsibilities. The brightest blessings, by misimprovement, a.re converted into the blackest curses. 2. This repenttJ.nce is in prospect of the kingdom. (1) The kingdom of heaven here is the gospel dispensation e.s opposed to the Mosaic. (2) It is, moreover, the faithful acceptance of the gospel as opposed to the prep11re.tory repentance (cf. Mark i. 15). Otherwise it is the perfecting of repentance in faith. Faith is here preached, though the term is not used. (3) Furthermore, the kingdom of heaven here is hearty submission to the rule of Christ; (a) in the heart (Luke xvii. 21); (b) in the life; (c) at any cost. Jesus took up the preaching of John when John was cast into prison. It is Christ-like to be baptized for the dead. (4) Jesus adopted the dispensation of John as "the beginning of his gospel" (see Mark i. 1). There is no true Christian faith without repentance and reformation.-J. A. M. Vere. 18-22.-The ministerial vocation. The Sea of Galilee, on the shore of which Jesus walked, was e.n inland lake of about six miles broad and seventeen long. It was surrounded by e. varied scenery of mountain and valley, amidst which were em bosomed several populous villages and towns. Henceforth this region was destined to become the theatre of many e. wonderful history. The history before us invites attention to e. vocation, a voice, and persons called. I. ~ VOCATION. 1. The call was to tM Christian ministry. (1) The persons now called were already disciples of Jesus. They were, in tbe first instance, disciples of John, and upon John's testimony to Jesus they accepted Jesus e.s the Christ of promise (see John i. 35-42). John does not mention the name of the second disciple of the Baptist who followed Jesus, which is presumption that it was himself. Nor does he tells us how, doubtless, he brought his brother James, as Andrew brought his brother Simon. (2) The call here, then, was not to piety, but to work. Some call to holy service has come to you. Have you heeded it? Have you discerned in it the voice of Jesus? Have you neglected it? (3) Hitherto their discipleship was con- sistent with secular business. They were with Jesus at Cane.. They accowpanied him to Jerusalem, and were with him in Judrea. Yet they kept hold of their trade. (4) Now they are to be separated from the secular. (a) They have to forsake their property. They left their nets and boats by which they had their living. (b) They have to sacrifice their worldly prospects. Simon and Andrew, when called, had their nets in the sea; but they did not wait to haul them in. The call of Christ to work for him, like the call of death, breaks the thread in the shuttle before the piece is woven. (c) They have to renounce the comforts and endearments of home. They left their father and the servants (cf. eh. viii. 19-22; Luke xiv. 26, 27). 2. The call was a promotion from the secular to the spiritual. (1) The fishermen are to become" fishers of men." Their business henceforth is to be with men-rational, emotional, immortal, God-like men. How much is a man better than a. fish? (2) Their employment hence- forth is to be eminently beneficent. Their fishing is not to be the gaining of e. living by the death of God's creatures. It is to save the precious life of men by bringing them out of the waters of worldliness. It is to transfer them from an element foreign to their true nature, and brighten them with the congenial prospects of e. blissful eternity. (3) Note: ministers of Christ are out of their calling when they fish for wealth. Though the Lord bath ordained that they that preach the gospel should live of it, the minister who makes merchandise of his office proves himself to be a hireling (cf. 2 Cor. xii. 14-16; Heb. xiii. 17). 3. lt wa.s a call to holy a.ssociation. (1) In the first place, a more intimate and constant association with Jesus. If ministers have not oloser communion with Christ tha.n other persons the fault is their own. Their very profession brings them into the closest relations to him, as they lead the devotion of the Churches, and carry the mcssagt11 of God to men. The message of the true minister Is not simply from the written Word, but, in the written Word, from the living God.  138 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on. 1v. 1-25.