The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 233

II. A RIGHTEOUSNESS MAY BE ESTIMATED BY THE DEPTH TO WHICH IT oor,;,. "They that worship the Father must worship him in spirit and in truth." In this line set, in strong contrast, the righteousness of a characteristic Pharisee and the righteousness of a characteristic Christian. Granted that both are equally diligent in worship and outward obedience, what do we find if we go below the surface? Cain and Abel were alike "righteous" in bringing their thank-offering; but what a difference down deep, in motive and feeling I David and Solomon were both "righteous" in attending to Jehovah's temple; but what a difference down deep, in motive and feeling ! Christ's righteousness is the highest type ; it begins within and. flows through all the life and relations.-R. T. Vera. 22, 23.-Tlie Cfhristian idea of 'brotherhood. Our Lord illustrated the application of the new Christian principles to various spheres and relations. Or to state more precisely his point, he showed how the regenerate character would put a. new tone on all the life-associations, In a general way, the Christian light is to shine freely all abroad. In a particular way, the Christian influence is to affect a man's first sphere, the sphere of human relationships, represented by the term "brotherhood." From the Christian point of view, our human brother is our second self, and we are to "love our neighbour as owrself," I. THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BBOTHEBBOOD IS ESSENTIAL TO PIETY. This is illustrated in vers. 23, 24. Worship cannot be acceptable to God, when offered by men who are out of brotherly relations. The offering to God is not acceptable as offering, but as the expression of the man, the declaration of his mind and heart, which God accepts in the offering. He must put his mind and heart right towards his brother, or God will never accept it as right towards him. 'l'he unforgiving never worship God aright. "If we love not our brother whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen; " " He-who loveth God should love his brother also." II. THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BROTHERHOOD BESTS WITH THE CHRISTIAN, That is Christ's point. It is his mission to culture and ennoble his disciples by putting them under the pressure of serious responsibilities. And this is one of them. How- ever aggravating our brother may be, we, as Christians, are bound to keep up the brotherhood. If there are yieldings to be done, we must do them. The Christian cau never excuse· himself by saying, "My brother will not be reconciled to me." He must be; and the Christian must not rest until he is. The burden of right relations rests on him. III. THE MAINTENANOE OF THE BBOTBEBBOOD MAY INVOLVE BELF-BESTBAINTB AND DISABILITIES, This is one of the great spheres of Christian self-denial and self- sacrifice. Every true Christian will be willing to suffer rather than break the brotherhood.-R. T. Ver. 28.-Cfherished evilfuling is sin before God. It is not possible to de:i.l, iu o. general audience, with the precise subject introduced in this text; but it is possible to treat it as illustrating the searching character of God's Law, which goes iu behind all acts of sin, and recognizes the states of mind and feeling out of which acts of sin would surely come if opportunity offered. " Man looketh on the outwnrd appearance, but God looketh on the heart." And yet we have to make a very precise distinction. It is not the evil that comes into our heart which Christ declares to be sin; it is the evil that ia cherished in our heart. In the cherishing lies the sin, because that cherishing is as truly the act of the will, the ect of the personality, as any overt act •f transgression could be. I. TEMPTATION IB NOT em. Illustrate "l>y the threefold temptation of our Lord. To havo those thoughts suggested to his mind was in no sense sin. We may say, he could not help their coming. They were presented from without. Bodily passion may present to us temptation; the presence of others may become force of temptation ; circumstances may prove temptations; evil spirits may suggest temptations ; but we must see clearly that temptation is outside our true selves. "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust;" something he has, not something he is. An old divine quaintly says, "If Satan comes up to my door, I cannot help IUTTHEW, Q  226 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [en. v.1-48.