The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 441

Ver. 1.-The power to impan-t power. "He gave them power." It does not strike us as remarkable tbat, being what Jesus was, be should have power over sickness disease, disability, and even death. B~t it c_ertainly is unusual, remarkable, and most suggestive, that our Lord was able to give his power to others, and enable others to do the healing work that he did. There have been men with a genius for magic. They had it, but they were never able to impart it, There have been men with a strange and mysterious gift for healing disease. They had it, but tbey have never been able to impart it, No master ever yet gave his power to his disciples. He can teach them, guide them, and even inspire them. He cannot give himsel,/ to them. But tbis is precisely what Jesus could do and did. I. THE LIGHT TBI8 THROWS ON CHBIBT'B Divnra NATURE. It may be fully argued and illustrated that " power belongeth unto God," and can only come to man directly from him. Man's gifts are Divine gifts ; man's endowments are Divine endowments; man's genius is Divine inspiration. It is an accepted truth that God only can "forgive sins;" it should be an equally accepted truth that God only can" impart power." But here we have Jesus doing as simply as possible what we feel is alone in the power of God to do. We say he has the trust of miraculous gifts; but that is only half the truth. He has the gifts in such a way that he is able to give the gifts, in trust, to others, No argument for the essential Deity of Christ(" God manifest in the flesh") could be so effective as this impression produced on us by the fact that he had "the power to impart power." II. THE LIGHT THIS THROWS ON CHRIST'S CON'l'INUING WOBK, we may be helped in our endeavour to understand that work by seeing that he still has the "power to impart power," and that be is actually imparting power to his people. Christ gives soul-healing from the diseases of sin; Christ quickens life from the death of trespasees and sins. He is come that we might" have life, and have it more abundantly." We can partly apprehend his work in souls by watching his work in bodies when he was here. But see how much more vivid and forcible the illustration becomes when we see that be can repeat his power, He can give life to men in such a way as will make those men what he himself is-life-givers. Quickening men so as to make them healers and saviours is Christ's continuing work.-R. T. Vere. 2-4.-Representative Christian characters. No doubt the number twelve was chosen by our Lord because twelve had been the number of the tribes of Israel. Very possibly a critical estimate of those two sets of twelve would bring to view this very interesting fact-the heads of the twelve tribes represent the different types of ordinary humanity, they classify human character; and the twelve apostles represent the different types of Christianized humanity, or of human character as influenced by Christian principles and the Christian spirit. This line of thought would yield some fresh and striking results. In the lists of the apostolate there is an evident division into three classes, each containing four persons. The late T. T. Lynch gave, in 11. very suggestive way, the marked characteristic of each class or group; but the indiviuuality of some of the apostles is not strongly enough marked, in the gospel narrative, for us to make a more precise analysis of character with any confidence. Those gifted with unusual powers of insight into character may differentiate the individuals from the slight hints that remain, but we may only venture to estimate tbe groups. I. THE BOBN LEADERS. Simon, Andrew, James, John. Two sets of brothers, and the only brothers in the apostolic company. Natural leaders, for it is evident they were master-fishermen, managers of their business. Their gift of leadership Christ took over for service in his kingdom. Simon was more prominent than Andrew, nnd the fact that James was the first martyr suggests that he was more prominent than John; and so we get this conclusion-two, Simon and James, were leaders by forca of character; two, Andrew and John, were faaders by gentleness of char11.cter. 'l'hose two kinds of leaders are always found. II. THE BOBN DOUBTERS. Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew. The Gospels give illustrations of their questioning, critical disposition. 'l'hey could not receive anything without well looking round it, and seeing it on all sides, Such men h11.vo their mission in the world. Faith is always in danger of becoming superstition, and the born doubters are always compelling us to look to the grounds of our faith. .SB THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [011. :r.1-42.