The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 185

' Vers. 17-48.-The second pa,·t of the serruin: the ruiunt of the Beatiturles and Mount Sinai: the new Law and the old. I. CIIRIST THE FULFILLER OF THE LAW, 1. He ca11Ul Mt to destroy. They must not misunderstand the purpose of his tea.ching. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; both speak of Christ. The com- mandments are as binding now upon the Christian conscience as when they were first delivered amid the thunders of Mount Sinai. "We establish the Law," Mys the apostle of faith (Rom. iii. 31). "No Christian man is free from the obedience of the commandments which are ea.lied moral." The law of ceremonies and rites, indeed, is no longer binding (Eph. ii. 15; Col. ii. 16, etc.); but even those rites and ceremonies, though no longer in force, are full of deep meaning, and convey holy teaching to the Christian, for they speak, one and all, of Christ and his righteousness. 2. He cams to fulfil. He fulfilled the Iighteousness of the Law. He exhibited it perfectly in his own most holy life. He fulfilled the types, the ritual teaching, the predictions of the prophets in his incarnation, in all the circumstances of bis earthly life, his precious death and burial, his glorious resurrection and ascension. He fulfilled .the doctrine of the Law, bringing out as he did the deep spiritual meaning of its teaching. " Christ is the End of the Law for righteousness to every one that believetb." 3. The Old Testament in its spiritual 11Maning is of eternal obligation. All must be fulfilled, even the minutest detail. Both Testaments come from the same God. The Christian, while he loves the New Testament with all his heart, must not depreciate the Old. The whole Word of God is holy and just and good. The teacher who is taught of God will declare to his flock the whole counsel of God. He who wilfully shuts his eyes to any part, though it may seem to him small and insignificant, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. Yet be shall enter therein if he has been faithful according to his light; fo(he has taught the truth, though he has not had grace and wisdom to discern its more delicate features. II. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE NEW LA w AND THE OLD. 1. The Spirit and the letter ; Ghrist and the Pharisees. Christians who neglect part of the Law of God shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but mere formalists shall not even enter therein. The righteousness of the Pharisees was outward, mechanical; the righteousness of Christianity is inward and spiritual It includes obedience in things outward. These are the " least commandments " which a Christian may not dare to neglect or despise. But it is far wider in its range, far deeper in its power; its influence extends over the whole of human life in all its details and circumstances. It reaches deep into the heart, into its desires, motives, thoughts. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. They were students of the letter. They knew the Scrip- tures; their knowledge was most exact and minute; but it was outward only, know- ledge of the letter. '!'hat knowledge is not to be despised; it is necessary, it is most interesting; but it is not enough. We must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God to understand the spiritual meaning of his Word, to enter into it, to work it into our own heart and life. Again, the Pharisees " say and do not;" we must do. They did -certain things, but they did them mechanically; we must work in faith and Jove. They thought to merit hr,.aven by their works; we must recognize our utter unworthiness, and trust only in the merits of Christ. '!'hey sought the praise of men; we must seek only the praise which cometh:from God. 2. The first instance. "Thou shalt not kill." (1) The traditional interpretation confined the application of the com- mandment to the actual crime of murder. The Lord shows that it extends to sinful anaer. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer;" he is a murderer in heart and will. In the sight of him who searcheth the hearts, the evil thought wilfully har- boured and brooded on, the wicked wish, the unjust, wrathful word, is as guilty as the wicked deed. "I say unto you;" the Lord speaks with authority. He gave the Law at first on Mount Sinai ; he interprets it now on the mount of the Beatitudes. "He that hath ears to hear, let him bear." "Blessed are the meek." (2) Two illustrations follow. (a) "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." We must not bring malice and cu. v. 1---48.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 177