The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 234

)t; if be lifts the latch and walks in, I cannot help it. But if I offer him a chair, and oegin mtb him a parley, I put myself altogether in the wrong." II. SIN DEPEKDS ON MAN'S WAY OF DEALING WrrB TD 'l'RMPl'ATION. H 1>ears no relations to a man's will until the man exercises bis will n1on it. And that will may refuse a parley or may admit a parley. That will may reject the temptation or may cherish the temptation. Sin comes with the cherishing. 'l'he possibilities of man's dealing with temptation are abown to us in the threefold triumph won by the Lord Jesw, Christ over tempt.ation when in the wildemesa.-R. T. Ver. 29.-Se?f-discipline. Plumptre suggests the proper way in whioh to treat these strong figures of speech. "The bold severity of the phrase excludes a literal in~rpretation. The seat of the evil lies in the will, not in the organ of sense or act10n, and the removal of the instrument might leave the inward taint unpurified,- What is meant is, that any sense, when it ministers to sin, is an evil and.not a good, the loss of which ,~ould be the truest gain." Pursuits and pleasures, innocent enough in themselves, may bring temptation and involve us in sin. There should be resolute dealing with them, so as to ensure that they are held in safe and wise bonds of self- restraint.. I. SELF-DISCIPLINE MAY TAKE EXTRAVAGANT FORMS. It does whenevef the body is regarded as in itself an evil thing. Then the supreme work of life seems to be the humiliation of the body, and the silencing of its demands. This extravagance is illustrated by the hermits; by such action as that of St. Simeon Stylites; by the orders of monks and nuns; by the self-mortification -of wearing hair-shirts or sharp crosses next the skin; or submitting to prolonged fasting, etc. It is said that the holy Henry Martyn yielded to this extravagance, and tried to mortify the flesh by, walking about with stones in bis shoes. The abuse of a thing should never prevent our making a right and good nse of it. (See also the self-discipline, system of. Buddhists.) II. SELF-DISCIPLINE SHOULD TAKE REASONABLE FORMS. There is quite room enqugh for stern, strong dealing within wise limitations. A man is not required to ruin bis, health by bis self-discipline; becaUBe the soul needs II sound and healthy body through which to gain its full expression. It may be shown that· Christian self-disciplin11, should (1) keep within reasonable spheres; (2) use reasonable methods; and (3) see~ to attain only reasonable results. Men form an unnatural conception of the Christian requirement, and think to attain eminent piety. This leads them into extravagances. If we bad worlby conceptions of what piety is, its attainment-without adding any idea of eminent-would seem the all-sufficing effort of a life.-R. T. Ver. 38.-The mi1dness of Mosaism. "An eye for an eye, and a tooth· for a tooth."- This is supposed to represent the severity of Mosaism. But its proper estimate depends on the contrast in which it is set. Contrast it with Christ's doctrines of self-denial in order to serve others, and of -non-.resistance of evil, and :it. 11eems severe. But conu-ast it with the previoUB, and the widely pre:vailing doctrines -of. early days, and its mildness will at once come to view . . Illustrate that:the primary idea of man is--kill the man who does you any wrong, It .is the sign of good order, wise government, worthier estimate of life, and II milder tone, when money payments, and restoration of equivalents, take the place of the revengeful demand.for life. The tendency of civilization to require II more moderate, restrained, and reformative dealing with wrong-doers, may be observed in all ages; and it should be applied to the Mosaic civilization, as a distinct advance on the social systems of that day .. But it 13hould be. borne in mind that our Lord is dealing with the private offences of disciples, and, not with public offences against law. The expression of the regenerate character iin the ordinary associations of life is his theme. And he is dealiug, not with the -MosaiQ le:,; talwniB, but with the common and vulgar idea of revenging offences, which ,eought, to gain support by making an undesigned application o( the :Mosaic,Law. ··Christian, disciples must not avenge themulves. • · . I. OBSEBVE THE CIBCtTMSCBIBED ABEA OF THIS BULK. ]t is .safe when officially applied in a court of justice. 'l'he wrong-doer can reasol!Ably be made. to replace hia wrong. It is llllsafe when applied, under personal feeling, in private life. .Then lt ~n. v1. 1-M.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW. 2'27