The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 341

work thnt required his immediate attention, He mu5t go and preach the kingdom ot Grnl, for Christ had calJcd him. To bury the dead is an act of Christian charity: "Honour thy father and thy mother," is one of the commanilments of God. But there a.re slill higher duties: "Seek first the kingdom of God;" "Thou sbalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart." And in the presence of that higher duty the calls of human affection must sometimes be disregarded, though it be at the cost of a sharp fltruggle. The Lord bad called this disciple. There was no room for doubt; the Lord knew where bis duty lay. We mny not leave our family duties unless there be a clear and distinct call to other work; in this case there was plainly such a call. (2) And there were others who could perform the last offices for the dead; others whom Christ had not called to preach the gospel. "Let the dead bury their dead,n the Lord said. They were spiritually dead; they had no spiritual life; they felt no call to spiritual work. They might attend to the funeral, and leave the disciple free to work for Christ. Perhaps, too, it was dangerous for him to return home ; his relations, who were dead in sin, might draw him from the life of Christ. (3) Again the Lord teaches in these words that the press of seeming duties may sometimes distract the heart. The first -0uty of the awakened soul is to follow Christ, to cling to him, to be always with him. Sometimes when we are immersed in business, or even in what seems to be religions work, we are tempted to lose our own hold on Christ. Then his voice sounds in our ears, "Follow me." Everything must be subordinated to that holiest call, that one highest duty. No amount of outward work, no labour, however arduous and self- denying, will compensate us for the loss or weakening of onr own spiritual life; and that spiritual life can be maintained only by walking close with Christ. "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead." "Cling to Christ," the Lord says to the Christian soul ; leave worldly cares to the worldly minded. The life of the worldly is a continual burying of their dead-dead hopes, dead joys, The Christian hath a life that dieth not -the life that is hid with Christ in God. II. THE OBOSSING OF THE LAKE, 1. The tempest. The Lord and his disciples entered a boat, seekin~ perhaps quiet and retirement. Suddenly e. violent storm swept down upon the lake; the boat was covered with the dashing billows-it was rapidly filling; the danger was great; the disciples, hardy sailors as they were, were terrified. But the Saviour slept. The Church of Christ seems often in exceeding peril amid the chances and changes of this mortal life; dangers arise, when least expected, in the midst of calm and prosperity. Christ's people are fearful; their faith fails them. Ilut he is in the ship, though he may seem asleep. And the ship that bears the Saviour of the world, the Church tbat bath the presence of the Lord, may be tempest-tossed, grievously vexed, driven hither and thither by the raging billows, but it cannot be lost, it cannot sink; it must at last reach the blessed haven-the haven where we would be. 2. 'l'he prayer of the disciples. (1) The Lord slept-a c:i.lm, majestic repose amid the wild tumult of the storm, "So he giveth his beloved sleep." He who slept in the raging tempest gives rest to the harassed soul. "Come unto me," he saitb, in those sweetest words of loving invitation, "all ye that labour and are heavy le.den, 1md I will give you rest." 'l'hey find rest unto their souls who seek rest in Christ, 'l'his life is full of unrest, full of anxieties, full of disappointments and perplexities; but there is rest for all who seek it in the bosom of the Lord. 'l'he outward life may seem full of care and trouble, but within the Christian heart there is peace ; the soul that bath found Christ resteth in the Lord. (2) The terrified disciples awoke him. Their faith was weak, but it was real; they trusted in his power and love. Their cry was not like that of the shipmaster who awoke Jonah from his sleep: "What meanest thou, 0 sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not," The disciples asked not Christ for his prayers; they asked for more. He could do more than pray; they felt that. 'l'hey knew not what he would do. Probably they did not realize the fulness of his power and majesty. But they had trust in him-like the trust which children have in the presence of their parents when the lightning flashes and the thunder rolls; and, like children, they were not satisfied with the mere presence of the sleeping Lord; they woke him, that he might know their danger and their terror. "Lord, save us 1" they said: " we perish! " It was the "Hosanna 1" the cry so often lifted up in praise, now used in its literol meaning. "Save us, we pray I" 3. The miracle. The Lord heard not  3-36 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [011. vm.1-34.