The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 296

the presence of the most holy One. He will open if we knock in faith and etr<>ng desire; for he himself, in the wondrous condescension of his infinite love, deigns to knock at the door of our poor unworthy heart. "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof." But he desires to enter, in his gracious mercy. "If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I-will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Then we know that he will open if we continue knocking; he will not keep the door shut against those souls of men whom he loved so very dearly. He will admit us, if we persevere in faithful prayer, into his most gracious presence now, into the joy of our Lord hereafter. 2. Our Father hears the prayer of his children. Earthly fathers give their children what they need; they will not give a stone for bread, a scorpion for fish. They are sinful; the inherited corruption of sin cleaves to them all; yet they love their children and care for them. How much more does our Father which is in heaven, our Father who is Love, care for us, his children I Our Father listens to our voice, but he listens in wisdom and true holy love. We ask him some- times for stones or scorpions, for earthly things which will only be a. weight and hindrance in our heavenward journey, or perhaps may even tempt us to fall into sin, which is the sting of death. He will not give the evil things which we blindly ask; but it is in love that he refuses. "My grace is sufficient for thee." He gives the true bread-the bread which, if a man take, he shall live for ever. He gives good things to them that ask him; not always the good things of this world, which are not reckoned good in the world to come-" Son, thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things"- but things really good, things that the souls of the blessed can take with them when the world passeth away. He gives, in answer to the prayer of the heart, the best of all good things-the Holy Spirit of God. 3. We must imitate him. "Be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." To be like unto God is not to be strong and beautiful and brave, like Homer's godlike heroes, but to imitate God in that which, his apostle tells us, enters into his very nature. "God is Love." If we would have him give good things to us, we must give good thiugs to our neighbours according to our power. Our Lord lays down a plain, simple rule to guide us in our daily walk: " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." We must ask ourselves how we would hnve our neighbour a.et towards us if our circumstances were reversed. Thus our own heart becomes our guide; it tells us just how we ought to act. Only let us be sincere, truthful with ourselves, a.nd we cannot be deceived. The rule is wide in its range. It is not, "Do not to others what you would not they should do to you; " others before our Lord ha.d said that much. 'l'he Lord's rule is far wider, far more stringent. It strikes hard at that selfishness which is the parent of so many sins; it extends over a.11 the circumstances of life; it substitutes for the minute rules of the Pharisees one comprehensive principle; it implies the energy of holy love in the heart, for only true Christian love can enable a. ma.n to apply this comma.udment of the Lord to the government of his own life and actions. This is the Law and the Prophets. All the commandments of the second tnble a.re briefly comprehended in this saying, nnmely, "Thou sbalt love thy neighbour a.s thyself." And it implies the commandments of the first table; for Christian love, that charity which is the greatest of all graces, flows out of the love of God. " By this we know- that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his comwa.nd- ments." Then this is the Law a.nd the Prophets. All the prnctical teaching of Holy Scripture is conte.ined in the one law of love; and one Teacher only can write that law upon our selfish hearts, and teach us to apply it to the details of our de.ily lives- the Holy Spirit of God, whom our Father which is in heaven will give (bis blessed Son has promised it) to them that ask him. III. THE OBSTAOLES WBIOH IMPEDE OUB OBSEBVANOE OF THE SAVIOUR'S RULES. 1, Their difficulty. (1) The Lord does not hide from us the difficulty of persevering obedi- ence. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. They seek the praise of men; they please themselves. There are many forms of the self-pleasing life, ve.rying with the character, the surroundings, the early influences; they all meet in one way. That way is broad, the Lord says. There is no difficulty in finding it; ''many there be which go in thereat;" you he.ve but to go with the multitude, to Jive as others live, to swim with tho stream. There is no need of e. guide to find the broad way; we have but to follow the devices e.nd desires of our own hearts, to live IU,TTHEW. V  290 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oa. vu. 1-29.