The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 229

see him as the First Cauee, ever active behind all second causes? Do we never neglect to seek him in the revelations of bis Word? Do we loyally serve him in the conduct of our lives? 3. Owr lt'ather is perfoot in his relation to ua as SaviQ?J,r. (1) He pitied us in our fall. 11 He maketh his sun to shine on the evil and the good, and eendeth rain on the just and on lhe wnjust." He stooped to lift us up. He comforts us with his favour. He cheers us with hopes of heaven. (2) Have we repented of our sin? Accepted bis mercy? Aie we full of gratitude? Full of loving-kindness to our fellows? Full of the spirit of sacrifice? Ill. THE PERFECTION ENJOINED IS CHRISTIAN, 1. This is set forth in the term "yowr Father." (1) Seldom, in the Old Testament, do we find God spoken of under this endearing title. It is his most constant title in the New. (2) There is a reason of fitness in this. The spirit of the Law was not that of a son, but of a servant. It was II the spirit of bondage to fear." The Law was given amid the roar of flame, the hissing of storms, the rattle and crash of thunder, the clang of the trumpet, and the shaking of the very earth. (3) The gospel changes all this (see Gal. iv.1-7). 2. The standard of Christian perfection is higher. (1) Superior relations bring loftier claims. Hence the gospel law is broader and deeper, more comprehensive, more spiritual. (2) It shows: (a) Murder in the heart and lip (vers. 21-26). (b) Adultery in the heart and eye (vers. 27-32). ProfanHy in Pharisaic sophisms (vers. 33-37). (c) Revenge in resistance (vers. 38-42). (d) Heathenism in conventional Juda.ism (text). 3. L01Je is the badge of Christian disciplesliip. (1) Discipleships in general have their distinguishing marks. Hindu spots and strings. Monkish tonsure. Opinions. (2) So the Christian (see John xiii. 34, 35). The end of the commandment is love. Love is the means to the end. (3) But in what sense is this commandment (John xiii. 34, 35) new, It is not new in principle, for nature teaches it. It is distinctly taught in the Mosaic Law (see Lev. xix. 18). It is new in its measure. Moses says we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus says we are to love our brother better than ourselves. So be loved us (cf. Phil. ii. 17; Col. i. 24; 1 John ill. 16).--J. A. M. Ver. 2.-The new Preacher. "Ho opened h.is mouth, and taught them." Our Lord was both a Teacher and a Preacher. The teacher aims o.t instruction ; he seeks to arouse the activity of his scholars' minds. The preo.cher aims at persuasion, and seeks to arouse into activity the moral nature. The teacher will prefer the interlocutory method; the preacher will prefer the lengthened and systematic address. The so-called sermon on the mount i; the full outline, giving the chief points of a continuous address, whose subject is-" A new idel\ of righteousness." No doubt our Lord had previously spoken in the synagogues, and to small audiences in the houses, hut then be would adopt the conversational style. Matthew leads us to think that the pressure of the people led our Lord to adopt the open-air preaching, which became a characteristic feature of his ministry. At onco he was recognized as a new preacher, with a new theme, a new style, and a now power. I. THE NEW THEME. There is the virtually new· anu the actually new. That which has long been covered over and lost seems new when it is restored to its place again. The spiritual truths of Mosaism had long been hidden under a mass of rabbinical opinions amd ceremonies. Christ brought those spiritual truths and claims into power and prominence again. He took up the much-debated question, "What is righteousness ? and how is it to bo oLta.ined ? " The ruling theme of this first discourse is righteousness; and our Lord makes it a new thing, by sweeping away the rabbinical w.ea that righteousness is a ,·outine. He shows that it is (l}Cho.racter, and (2)conduct inspired and toned by character. IL THE NEW STYLE, The prevailing style was a series of petty quibbles and minute discussions, over which men were ever ready to quarrel, but which never touched the heart of truth. Christ's style was plain, searching, Epiritual ; it made appeal to the best and deepest in men, and woke into power the best and deepest by tbo appeal. Christ dealt with men as spirit=Z beings. Ill. THE NEW POWER. We respond at once to a speaker of power, who has full command of his suLject and of himself. We approve of the "accent of conviction," and that our Lord had. 'l'here is self-assertion, but it is the self-assertion o{ the commissioned Prophet or God.-R. T.  222 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on. v.1-48.