The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 385

Christianity the att~mpt is made to confine the ferment of new enthusiasm within tha walls of ancient order. Thus the Churches fetter the new fresh life of Christian experi- ence. Perhaps they have some excuse for themselves. There is a rashness, a rawness, an unsettled ferment, about the new enthusiasm. Nevertheless, if this is real and living, they who resist it do so at their peril. They run a great risk of being them- selves shattered in the process. The fact is new ideas absolutely refuse to be limited by old formulie. New spiritual forces cannot be bottled up in antiquated customs. In personal life the new gr9:0e of Christ. cann~t be confined to the old ways of Ii ving. It those old ways are obstinate and still claim to rule the man, there will be a dreadful conflict. The only wise thing is to make a fresh start. Many a hopeful movement has been wasted by the attempt to limit it to the ideas and practices of the past. If men had more faith in God they would learn that he belongs to the present as well as to the past, and that therefore the present has equally sacred rights and promises.- W. F.A. Vers. 18, 19, 23-26.-The ruler's ooughrer. I. THE APPEAL. 1. The applicant. A ruler. Rulers were slow to believe in Christ. But some from al.most every class were found among his disciples. Distress breaks down pride and shatters prejudices. They who would never seek Christ in prosperity may be found crying out for bis help in trouble. 2. The ob;'ect. The ruler asks for his child a favour which possibly he would have been too proud to have sought for himself. Suffering children touch the hearts of all. One such here touched the heart of Jesus. 3. The occasion. The child il!I nearly dead. It looks as though the father bad tried every other remedy before apply- ing to the great Healer. Many will only turn to Christ as a last resort. Yet much distress would be saved if men and women would seek him first, not last. II. THE nESPO)';SE. Jesus arose and followed the ruler. He had been seated before, for be had been teaching. The ruler had interrupted his discourse. But Jesus did not care for this; he was always ready to respond to the cry for help. We never read of his refusing to go anywhere but once, and then the invitation waa to a king's palace, and the object of it was only the satisfaction of a superficial worldling's empty curiosity. .A.11 genuine appeals were met at once. IlL THE DELA.Y. Jesus was hindered on the way by another case of distress. This must have tried the poor father's patience most terribly, for it would have just given time for the sick child to die. .A.nd, indeed, this seems to have been the case. During the slow approach of Jesus the child died. But the poor suffering woman had as mucb claim on Christ as the great ruler. He is no respecter of persons. He is never iu a hurry. He bas time and sympathy for all comers. IV. THE REBUKE. Jesus found the house in all the uproar that resulted Crom the performance of a band of hired mourners. This disgusted him. We should consider such a performance in the house of death most unseemly. To Christ it was worse. It was a po.rt of that empty formalism that be met at every turn. Its hollowness and unreality offended him. Moreover, in so far as it bad a meaning, this was not one that he could encourage. The wild abandonment of despair is not Christian. It is not the lanauage 0 of faith. Better is Job's calm expression of resignation," The Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord" (Job i. 21). V. THE BEVl!:LATION. 'l'he damsel is not dead. 'l'o Jesus there is no death but sin and its doom. .An innocent child's passing away is but a falling asleep. Christ has transformed death. The grim shadow has melted into an angel of God, who giveth hie beloved sleep. VI. THE SECLUSION. The great work of Chrbt cannot be carried out amid the uproar of the hired mourners. He shuns our noisy, fussy gatherings. .A.rtiliciality and pretence are quite incompatible with his presence. When he works wonders it is with those who believe in him. VIL TBE BEBUllBE<n'IOllT. Jesus lays hold of the cold little hand of the dead child. In a moment his wonderful life-power thrills through her, and she sits up alive again. No need is too hard for him who could raise the dead. Even now his great compassion goes out to dead sonls, and a touch of his hand brings life.-W. F. A. Vers. 20-22.-The healing touch. This little incident inserted in the middle of th• cm, IX. 1-38.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHI~\V. 381