The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 474

the unedu-cated is happily exempt. When we are Introduced to truths which the intellect fs too small to comprehend, we are tempted to reject them because the ordi- nary methods of inquiry fail us. Few men of intellect escape the mental perplexity and euffering which this entails. There are truths which we must accept in foith, on the word of him who is better informed than we, and whom we know to be true. Intellect has its place and its function in connection with Christian truth; but in point of fact and as matter of history intellect has not discovered God. Christ has done so, and that man makes best growth in Christ's school who has humility enough to accept his teaching. But while our Lord was thus on all hands met by repulse and unbelief, be bad one unfailing source of comfort. The Father knew who he was-that he was- no misllld enthusiast, no pretentious blasphemer; but God's own Son. Again, men might despise his unconventional teaching, mistaking genuine simplicity for ignorance of high matters, they might upbraid him with contradicting the received teaching about Goel, but he could say truthfully," No man knoweth the Father eave the Son, nnd he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." By this consciousness did he stimulate him.;. Self again to return, and once more to seek to convince men of the Father's love. And there was a third element in this sustaining consciousness. Judged by his• present success, he seemed feeble and of small influence, yet he reminded himself that " all things were delivered unto him of his Father." He was to be God so far as men and this world were concerned. Men might ignore him and deny his teaching, but they could not prevent him from raising the dead, froni·rebuking the winds and waves;from returning their contempt with compassion, their hatred with love, from living righteously and lovingly so as to be a light to all generations. They could not prevent' him from accepting God's Spirit and living in his humanity as the perfect image of the Father, and thus exercising an influence on human affairs that deepens as the world grows. But the practical outcome of our Lord's experience of the hostility, suspicion, and con- tempt of men was not merely to confirm his own consciousness of his fellowship with the Father, but also to lead him confidently to invite to himself all who found lif1t laborious and burdensome. And that he does this at the very moment when we should- have naturally-expected to find him most hopeless, is not without significance. He has been compelled by the cold reception given him to revise his claims, to cross-examine- his own colisciousness of a Divine commission, and the result of this is the tenderest and most assured invitation to weak and weary men that ever fell from his lips. It is not the cheerful and over-confident utterance of a happy moment; it ill the sober, weighty, reasoned deliverance of one who has pondered the matter all round, and who promises only what he knows he can stand to and make good. He bids you consider that you may have rest. However defeated and soiled with the dust of conflict, •however paralyzed and dismayed your heart, however weary of the little that comes of all your striving, to you he offers partnership with himself. He will make all things a school, i:n which you will be encouraged by his presence, and from which you shall pass into that full maturity and fitness for all the future which begin in meekness and lowly carrying of his yoke.-D, Vera. 1-6.-The credentiau of Meesiah. The precepts of the charge which Jesus had given to his di8ciples are here called his commands. Christ's commissions are con,mands (cf. Ps. cv. 8; 1 Cor. ix. 16). He "made an end of commanding." The instructions of Christ are complete. Then "he departed to teach," more privately, "and preach," publicly, "in their cities." His ministry leaves men without excuse. "Now when John had heard in prison," etc. We have here- L THE :INQUIRY OF JoHN. 1. As to its occasion. (1) Jesus wrought the works of the Christ. Miracles were expected of Messiah (see John vii. 31). (2) He wrought them in the cities of Galilee. The cities of Galilee were the cities of the disciples (cf. ver. 20, etc.; Acts ii. 7). Jesus took care of their cities while they visited others- perhaps the cities of Judrea. He does not allow the interests of those who do his work to suffer. The remotest connection with Christ is attended with blessing. Even the ungodly enjoy civilizing influences where the religion of Jesus is in the air. (3) The fame of the Messianic works reached John in bis prison. It was carried to him there by his own disciples (see Luke vii. 18). Bo John saw with gladness the folfilmcnt of his own words, "He mllSt increase, but I must decrease" (John iii. 30). He was truly oB, xi.1-30.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTilEW. 471