The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 301

the mote from bis brother's eye. To do so is to perform e. very delicate operation. Any obscurity of vision will allow only of e. bungling attempt, that will give much po.in and yet will not effect its purpose. The beam must go first. While a man is blinded t-0 his sin, he cannot save his neighbour. Christ, the Saviour of the world, we.s sinless. Christians must seek deliverance from their own sins before they under- take a crusade for the saving of their brethren. 'l'he humility that confesses personal unworthiness is the spirit best fitted for seeking to save lost and degraded fellow-men and women.-W. F. A. Ver. 6.-Pearl,s and swine. At the first blush of it this reads more like a motto of the scribes than a proverb from the large-hearted Christ. It is quite e.s important to see what it does not mean as to lay hold of its positive teaching, because we are all tempted to abuse it in order to excuse our narrowness and selfishness. I. MISAPPREHENSIONS OF THE PR-OVERB. 1. In neglect of the poor. This is the most gross and insulting abuse of the principle which can be thought of. No one would venture to express it in so many words when he was thus misdirecting it. Yet virtually such an application of it is very common. It is thought that any coarse fa.re will be good enough for the poor; not only coarse food and clothes, but coarse treat- ment, coarse methods of religion, coarse amusements, and the ministration of coarse men. To bring works of art and good music to "the lower classes" is thought to be wasteful. Refined people are not t-0 spend themselves on the common people. This is Pharisaism without its religion-the pride of the cultivated Roman with the bitter- ness of the scornful Pharisee. 2. In contempt of the illiterate. The Gnostics reserved their choicest ideas for the inner circle of the initiated. Ignorant people might walk by faith; Gnostics ha.cl attained to knowledge. This is not the religion of Ghrist. , He rejoices that God reveals his best truth to babes and sucklings. 3. In despair of the sinful. We are tempted to shrink from speaking of Christ to the very lowest people. It looks like a profanation to set the treasures of the gospel before them. They can hear the Law tha, condemns their sin; the beautiful thoughts of God's grace in Christ are too good for them. This, too, is unchristian. Christ brought his good tidings to all men, and the first to leap up and grasp it were the publicans, the sinners, and the harlots. IL THE TRUE APPLICATION OF THE PBOVERB. If these obvious uses of it are all contrary to the mind and method of Christ, how does he wish u:s t-0 use it? Let us look at it on two sides-in regard to men and in regard to truth. 1. In regard to men, Who are the dogs and the swine ? Not the poor and the illiterate ; not only or al ways the abandoned and degraded. (1) The cynical. Cynicism most effectually excludes the gospeL It is not best conquered by being offered the gems of Divine grace. It needs to be made ashamed of itself. (2) The greedy. Dogs and swiue are proverbially gluttonous. We must here think of the former animals not as we know them in England-as man's true friends and companions-but as they are in the East, pariahs of the animal world, surly scavengers of the streets. Low, selfish greed prevents its victims from appreciating Divine trnth. (3) The unclean. 'l'he animals named are typical of foulness. Now, we have seen tha~ the g?spel is for_ sin~ers.. But it comes •to their better selves. It has no contact with their corrupt 1magmation. Sensuous pictures of religioUB experience lead the degraded to defile the very religion of holiness. 2. In regard to truth. (1) In personal experience. 'l'he Christian is not to hang his heart upon his sleeve. There is a spiritual modesty, a decency in religion. We need to be careful how we unveil the choice experience of communion between the soul and its Saviour, (2) In revealed truth. .All men may have all truth, but not at all times and in all ways. We must choose an opportunity. There is a word in season. Some e.spects of truth are beet for publicity, others for private meditation, though all are for every seeking soul.-W. F • .A. Vera. 7-11.-.Enr,ou,ragements for '{Yf'ayer. Jesus·is revealing the Fatherhood of God, and now he is showing h?w that great truth is the basis of faith, and, in parti- cular, the ground for confidence in prayer. I. THE CALL TO PBA YER. 1. Thrice repeatw. This threefold invitation shows us (i) the import.a.nee of prayer; (2) the backwardness of unbelief; (3) the gracious on. vn.1-29.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW 295