The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 396

Vers. 14-17.-Oonsistency in diversity. Three classes of persons made up what might be called the religious community of Palestine, viz. the Pharisees, the disciplea of John, and the disciples of our Lord. The ground of the question here was why one of these should neglect what the others preached as a religious duty. The answer here teaches- I. TIIAT THERE IS A MORAL FITNESS IN RELATION TO OIRClTIISTANOES, ], Fasting might be proper to the disciple of John. (1) "John preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Fasting, which is a sigu of grief, is fitting to one who mo'tlI'Ils for his sins. So John himself "came neither eating nor drinking" ( eh. xi. 18). His habit as a Nazarite was in keeping with bis doctrine and dispensation. (2) Rejoicing in an unpardoned penitent would be incongruous. But unpardoned, however penitent, be must be who remains a disciple of John as distinguished from the disciples of Jesus. The new piece on the old garment would look badly. (3) John, as Grotius notes, was now in prison. This circumstance would give additional con- sistency to the fasting of his disciples. But the case was different with the disciples of Jesus, who had their Master with them. 2. Fasting might be proper to the Pharisee. (1) The ostentatious fast would be consistent in the hypocritical Pharisee who dis- figured his face that he might secure applause of men (see eh. vi. 16). (2) But some of the Pharisees were probably sincere men. To such there would be a fitness in their fasting. For the spirit of the Pharisee was the spirit of the Law, i.e. the "spirit of bondage to fear." Wbo conld consistently rejoice within the roar of the thunders and clang of the great trumpet of Sinai? (3) Neither the ritual of Leviticus nor the traditioru; of the elders can deliver the Pharisee from the yoke of terror. 3. Bui fasting might be improper to the disciple of Jesus. (1) Christ is the Bridegroom of his Church (cf. Ps. xlv. and Song of Sol.; also 2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 23, etc.; Rev. xix. 17). (2) Individnal disciples are the" sons of the bride-chamber," the chosen friends of the Bridegroom. (3) It would be unfitting in them to mourn while the Bridegroom was with tbem--during the festivities of the marriage. These festivities usually lasted seven days (see Judg. xiv. 17). The Spirit of Jesus is the spirit of love. With love is joy and peace. (4) Jesus was not with the Pharisees or these disciples of John as the Bridegroom with the sons of the bride-chamber. For they were the sons of the bondwoman (Gal. iv. 25, 31). (5) These disciples are herein significantly rebuked for their fasting in the presence of Jesus by the use of a simile which John used when he came into the presence of Jesus (see John iii. 29). '.!'he sorrows of penitence in the presence of Jesus should be turned into the joys of salvation. These disciples of John had degenerated from the spirit of their master. Note and avoid tendencies to formality as tendencies to degeneration. IJ. THAT THE MORAL FITNESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES IS FATAL TO UNIFORMITY, 1, Obviously so, because circumstances are ever varying. (1) Minor circumstances are infinitely \'arious. Yet may these be generally ranged under two classes (cf. Eccles. vii. 14; Jas. v. 13). In the text they are distinguished as mourning and rejoicing, fasting and fe.asting. (2) No man, therefore, should make himself the standard of religion for his fellows. Herein the disciples of John and the Pharisees erred. 'l'he new wine of the gospel could not be restrained in the old wine-skins of the Law. It must have the elastic wine-skili1s of new forms suitable to its expansive genius. 2. Christians have their seasons of mourning. (1) Of the Bridegroom himself the only rt·cord of his fasting i.& that which took place when he was in the wilderness. (2) In l:lR, Ix.1-38.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 393