The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 206

ness will do much to revive the soul, vexed, bumbled, worn by the evil speech of the world, This contrast and the effect of it can hardly have been undesigned, in the merciful calculation of the Lord and Master of souls. Nor undesigned the combi- nation of the joy, of" the glorious company of the apostles" with "the goodly fellow- ship of the prophets." For is not this the inspiriting outcome of the last sentence, "For so persecuted they the prophets, which were before you"? "Their reward great in heaven" had already been ascertained. And apostles now in their earliest training-, putting on of the armour, and young fresh aspirations, emulate tkir historic renown, their everlasting reward.-B. Ven. 13-16.-17ie startling salutation. The announcements of the Beatitudes were necessarily startling in their matter, even when considered as delivered simply generally, whether the world or any in it hear or forbear. They breathed a spirit and plainly laid down views with which those of the world were so utterly et variance. The estrangement was almost absolute, ancl amounted to the rigour of alienation. Notice, then, in these words- I. THE ASSISTANCE THEY OFFER TO THE DISCIPLES TOWARDS REALIZING THEIR OWIJ &ELATION IN PABTICULJ.ll TO THESE BEATITUDES, If they are to be, in truth, disciples of Christ, it is necessary that they at least get a firm grip upon the principles under- lying the Beatitudes, And it is a great assistance to this-how many significant analogies we know I-to have their own position, i.e. that awaiting them, placed so as to confront them at once. Great theoretic surprises are often converted most benefi- cently into startling personal and practical surprises. The theoretic surprise would end .in nothing but vague dissipation of mind; the personal surprise startles into thought, duty, enterprise. And of such nature surely were these two descriptions of themselves addressed so unexpectedly to the disciples, viz. "Ye are the salt of the earth ••• ye are the light of the world." The value of the bracing effect of them cannot be overestimated. II. 'fIIE ASBIBTAN0E THEY GA VE TO THE DISCIPLES TOW ARDS C0l!PREJIENDING TIIEIB OWN 0ALL. Of oral lessons, these must have been among the first; and in the nature of energizing, refreshing salutations to minds and lives that had never dreamed ot what was in store for either the one or the other. Now must have dated the birth within them of some more adequate sense of the dread responsibility of that calL This awakening was not by the path of despairing, overawing, crushing convictions, but by the very contrary: (1) by the challenge of great truths; (2) by the incite- ments of grace, peace, honour, dignity, so soon as once they took the true idea of dignity, what it is; (3) the almost unfailing stirrings of consciousness of great, active work before them. How could they sleep, how could thought be dead, how heart or hand be slow, after the voice of such a salutation had gained entrance to their power to hear? III. TIIE OBOWNING ASSIBTAN0E THEY GAVE IN THE TWO FIGURES THEY UBE, They are such very strong figures. They can't fall on listless ears. They can't fail of making their due impression, They well utltir out their unambiguous significance to those disciples. 'fhey are of world-wide interpretation-" salt" for and of the earth, "light" for heaven and the whole procession of things created. The absolute plain- ness and boldness of these figures enhance immensely their likely usefulness, and go no little way to disarm them of one possible danger, viz. the danger, had they beau more covert in their manner, of feeding self-importance, self-assertion, and vanity in those newly called disciples. St. Augustine well says, "Not he that suffers persecution is trodden underfoot of men, but he who through fear of persecution falls away." IV. THE DISTINCT REFERENCE TO TIIE 0ABDINAL FACT THAT O0D WAS TO BE GLORIFIED IN ALL, The "light" of these men is to be the light of those who are "light in the Lord." Their light is to shine; it is not to be hidden; it is not to be obscure. Their light is to be the light and lustre that assuredly belong to " good works." These" good works" are to be now "seen of men," and in one certain sense they are to be done. so that and in order that men may see them ; but the eud is to rea, not there, and the glory i~ not to be reflected back on the disciples. The end is that "men may glorify n the_l'ather, of whom the grace and power and light come that make" good works," and who himself is" all Li~ht," and tbo "Giver of all lii;;ht."-li, l!JS THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTllEW. [oH. v. 1-48.