The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 439

hie saints. Man, in the estimation of hie fellow, le of more value than many sparrowa. But how enormous is the contrast between the farthing that will purchase two sparrows and the price paid by God for the redemption of one human soul I (2) But amongst men the believer engages a peculiar loving care of God, and most of all when he is faithfully witnessing for Christ. "The very hairs of your heads are numbered n (cf. ver. 30; Luke x.xi. 18). (3) How different is this doctrine of Christ from that of Pope, _who says-- " He sees with equal eyes, as God of e.11, A hero perish or a sparr010 fall " I Or of Hume, who says, "In the sight of God every event is alike important; and the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than tha.t of an oyster" I 3. What, then, has the servant of <JhriBt to fear, "Nothing ca.n harm us "-even the killing of the body-" if we be followers of that which is good." III. TB.AT THE FAITHFUL SHALL BE EVERLASTINGLY REWARDED. 1. There ia a coming day of revelation. ( 1) " There is nothing covered that shall not" then " be revealed." In the day of judgment the malignity of the hypocrite who called the Master of the ho11Se Beelzebub will come out to the day (Eccles. xii. 14). (2) So will the fidelity of Christ's slandered witnesses. Already, even in this world, those who once were counted the offscouring of all things are justified and revered. What an anticipation this of the honour of the saint before an a.ssembled universe! 2. The day of revelation will be a day of retribution. (1) The confessor will be confessed. The confession will be the prelude and passport to the blies of heaven. (2) The denier will be denied. 'l'he truth itself will condemn those who dishonour it. The denial of the wicked will be the prelude to his destruction in both soul and body in Gehenna. 3. Therefore let the witness for <Jhrist be fearless. (1) What Christ tells him in the darkness of parable, that let him speak in the light of clear testimony. What he hears in the ear of privacy he is to proclaim as from '.the house-top, publicly and openly. The trumpet should have a certain sound. (2) What the apostles delivered they received. They received it iu privacy, not for themselves, but as "stewards" to dis- pense "the mysteries of God" (Eph. iii.1-l 2; Heb. ii. 3). "We preach not ourselves.n -J.A.M. Vera. 34-42.-The mission of the gospel,. These verses conclude the charge which Christ gave to his disciples when he commissioned them 1111 evangelist& Having instructed them how they were to behave (vers. 5-16), warned them of the hostility they should encounter (vers. 16-23), and encouraged them to be fearless (vers. 24-33), he now enlightens thflm concerning the mission of their message. l. IT WAS DESTINED TO DISTURB TBE OLD FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIETY, 1. T/iiJ family is the foundation of old Adam's kingdom. (1) The distinction of se:r. is every- where. It e:r.ists in man; also in animals; in plants. In the poles of magnetism; in the dualities everywhere present in na.ture, principles analogous to sex appear. (2) The offspring of sexual union stand in natural relationships. Thus the household or imme- dia.te family is expressed in the terms II parents and children," and II brothers and sisters." This is the first circle, and within it are close endearments. (3) In the multiplication of families grow up communities, nations, and races. The aggregate of these consti- tutes the one vast family of man. 2. Sin has demoralized this institution. (1) By the first transgression the cmTent was poisoned at the fountain. The iamily is infected in its birth. The race is universally depraved. (2) Out of the depraved heart rises the demoralized life. First come disintegrations through individual selfishness and ambition; then confederations of evil. (3) From the family these strifes work outward, giving rise to litigations and violence, heartburnings and revenges. Standing armies are at length maintained by a grinding taxation to wage destructive wars. 3. Jn grappling with these frightful, evils the gospel stirs wp -new strifea, (1) It sets up a new rallying-point. lt asserts the paramount cla.ims of Christ. He claims a love superior to that which is nourished in the family (ver. 37). He imperiously requires in homa.ge to his love the sacrifice of all selfish interests. (2) Those who rally round Obrist are naturally opposed and hated by those who cleave to the old evil tradi• tio1111. .A.ud the battle begins in the household. The unconverted father is again.st the  436 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oa. x. 1-42,