The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 429

I. GoD WORKS THROUGH HUMAN AGENTII. The Old Testament had its prophets the New its apostles. The sheep are scattered if true pastors are wanting; the harv:sl is unreaped if labourers are not forthcoming. Even the Incarnation did not dispense with a various human agency. Although the Word was now made flesh and dwelt amon" us, even this human brotherhood of Christ did not make the mission of apostles super~ fluous. Christ trained twelve men to carry on his work after his brief earthly life was over-nay, to help him while he was on earth himself, preaching the gospel, and healing the sick. To-day Christ seeks for apostolic men to spread his kingdom through the world. II. CHRIST'S DISCIPLES MUST BECOME APOSTLES. First the twelve were learnern, then they became teachers. He who sits at the feet of Christ must listen to the Master's word that bids him rise up and go forth to minister to others. The true Christian is at heart a missionary, and his evangelic spirit will be seen in his active life. If Christ calls any to himself, it is that he may send them forth for the good of the world. Christ lived for men; apostles lived like him for others. So should all Chris'tians live. III. THE .A.POSTLES MUST BEOEIVE THEm COMMISSION FROM CHRIST, The twelve were selected from among the followers of Christ. They followed him before they went forth from him. We must come to Christ ourselves before we can be sent out by him. 'fhe missionary must be a Christian. Moreover, the closeness of our personal following of Christ is the measure of our power for his service. They are his truest apostles who walk most closely in his footsteps. In the special mission of Christian work it is necessary to be authorized by Christ. All are not called to the highest office, but all are called to some service, and even the lowest ministry in the kingdom is not possible to those who have not listened for the voice of Christ and endeavoured to obey him. IV, THE SERVANTS OF CHRIST ABE ENDUED WITH POWER FilOM ABOVE FOR THEIR MINISTRY, Christ gave a miracle-working faculty to the twelve, so that if they were to do his work they might have some of his power. It would be cruel to send a soldier to the wars without supplying him with ammunition. We do not receive the miracu- lous gifts, and we do not need them, because our circumstances and our commission differ from those of the apostles. But some grace is needed for every Christian work ; without it the ablest and most devoted would fail. Therefore he who gives the command supplies the grace. Christ has now ascended up on high to give gifts unto men (Eph. iv. 8-12), end to different men different gifts-as to the twelve, who were vario•Jsly gifted, yet each of whom had some power for his special mission.-W. F. A. Ver, 6.-The lost sheep of the hoose of Israel. When our Lord first sent forth his apostles, he directed them to confine their ministry to their fellow-countrymen. Their very number, twelve, would suggest a relation to their people, as though one were chosen for each tribe. Let us consider the significanco of this a1Tangement. I. SPEOIAL PIIIVILEGES WERE GIVEN TO THE JEWS. This is not a delusion of their own nationnl pride; it does not depend on their claim to a leading placo; it is mani- fest in history. The fact is apparent in the very existence of the Old Testament; in the birth or Jesus at Bethlehem, a Jew among the Jews; in the appointment uftwelve Jows lo be the pillars of the Church; in the preaching of the kingdom first among the Jews; in the formation of the first Christian Church of Jewish members, and in the city of Jerusalem. Plainly Israel was favoured, as St. Paul himself asserts (Rom. iii. 2). There are many favoured people in the present day. All Christendom bas privileges from which the heathen are ex.eluded by their ignorance. England is a highly favoured land. Nevertheless, God is no respecter of persons, because (1) privilege is given for the sake of service, and (2) at last ea.eh will be judged according to his light. II, CHnIST DESIRES THE RESTORATION OF lsRAEL, Undoubtedly the work of the apostles was directed in the first p1ace to saving the Jews. ,ve are thereby encouraged to carry on Christian missions among the Jews. To each mce some especial gift is allotted; to Israel is given in a pre-eminent degree the genius for religion. Failure, disappointment, oppression, and, in some cases, wealth and worl,lly prosperity, seem to have buried the talent. Yet it is farael's natural heritage. H it could but be brought forth and used, the Jews might yet develop into the missionaries of the world.  4,26 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oo. x.1-42,