The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 340

bodily agony, of that worst of all afflictions, the demoniacal possession, which was characteristic of those sad despairing times, lay before the door in the sight of Jesus. The sight of suffering always touched the Lord's compassionate heart; he moved among them in bis gracious mercy ; he laid his hands on every one of them ; he hen.led them all. We must trust our sick to bis mercy; we must ourselves care for the sick and suffering, for so did Jesus Christ. 2. The fulfilment of prophecy. "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." He was never sick (e.s far as we know) during bis earthly life; but bis compassion, in the full etymological meaning of the word, was complete and perfect. He was "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." He felt the anguish of others as if it were his own; he made it his own; he took it he bore it, he relieved it. He sighed when be healed the deaf-mute; he wept with those that wept. He was indeed "a Man of sorrows;" he suffered himself intense a(J'ony of body e.nd soul; be sorrowed for the sins of those whom he loved so dearly, whom he came to save, and he sorrowed for the sorrows of others; his entire unselfishness, his perfect love, enabled him to feel for the sufferings of others as we sinful men cannot feel. He feels for us now. We may come to him in our troubles ; we may open our griefs to him. He will listen; his sympathy will sweeten the bitter cup ; it will give real and precious comfort-; it will drive out the evil spirit of despondency and selfish repining; it will bring peace, the blessed peace of God. LESSONS. 1. Be humble: "God giveth grace to the humble." 2. Have faith in God: "As thou hast believed, so be it done to tbee." 3. Follow after charity: "Blessed are the merciful" 4. The Christian family should be hallowed by the presence of the Saviour: be brings peace; he comforts in sickness and sorrow; he blesses those whom he sanctifies. Vers. 18-27.-The departurefrom Capernaum. I. lTs ATTENDING OIRCUMBTANCES. 1. The multitudes. The Lord departs from them. It was not so when he saw the multitudes at the mount of the Beatitudes. He taught them then; now he departs. The enthusiasm and excitement had become very great; all the city was gathered together in wondering expectation. Perhaps they were wishing, like the five thousand after the miraculous feast, to take him by force to make him a King. He was a King, indeed, but his kingdom was not of this world; he would not use earthly means for the accomplishment of the Divine purpose; he would not avail himself of Jewish enthusiasm, the fanaticism of an excited multitude. The kingdom would come, but it must come in God's appointed way-through patient teaching and working; through a life of holy self-denial and perfect obedience; through a death of Divine self-sacrifice. The cross was to dra.w all men unto him; the cross was to give him the empire over human hearts. He had no yearning for popularity, no delight in the applause of crowds. He left them. "He gave commandment to depart unto the other side." 2. The proposal of the scrioe. A teacher himself, be addressed Christ as Teacher. He was struck with our Lord's power and wisdom; he had witnessed his miracles and beard bis teaching. The Lord was about to depart from Capernaum, to leaye the thronging and excited multitude. This one scribe wished to follow him; he we.s ready, he said, to go anywhere that he might be with Christ. The wish seemed good and holy, but the Lord did not encourage him in his purpose. Perhaps he was acting from a sudden impulse, carried away by the surrounding excitement. The Lord could see bis heart; it was not the heart of an apostle. Ha was ready to follow Christ now, in the season of his popularity; but would lie persevere in danger, in persecution, and in hardsLips? The Lord does not hide the self-denials of the Christian life. At all times there is the strait path and the narrow way; at that time there was danger and self- chosen poverty. He himself, the Messiah of whom Daniel had prophesied; who, though the Son of God from all eternity, had become in time the Son of man, had no settled dwelling, no home of bis own. His tlisciples must be as their Master. Would the scribe follow him now? We arc not told ; probably we should have been told had he pe1 severed. 3. The ezcuse of the disciple. The scribe, unbit!den, had offered to follow Christ. The Lord had first called this disciple. "Follow me," he had said, if the similar narrative in St. Luke, placed much later in the history, refers to the same incident. The disciple hesitated; he had a pressing home duty. His father was dead; he must, he thought, attend the funeral. (1) But the Lord had other work for him- -em, vm.1-M.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 3,'35