The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 479

mined infidelity, the re!JU!t of perverse false reasoning and self-righteous pride, was not the sin of the heathen cities, 3. There will be a righteom apportionment of punish- ment to the degree of guilt. (1) Those who, like Capernaum, are exalted to heaven in opportunity, and still cleave to the earth, then they shall sink into hell. Capernaum was even more highly blessed with opportunity than Chorazin and Bethsaida, and its sin and misery are proportionately greater. (2) The enlargement of the faculties through the preaching of the gospel will be an increased capacity for reward or punish- ment. What a terrible punishment will be the reproach in hell of having missed the opportunity of getting to heaven I (3) But who can estimate the turpitude of that impenitence which is the very sinfulness of sin? No temporal punishment is sufficient to mark its heinousness. Hence even Sodom, which was destroyed by fire from l1eaven, will bave to come up again for punishment. Though the men of Sodom will have been damned more than four thousand years, yet are tbey still to come up for a final doom. (4) Will there not be a classification of characters at the judgment? How else will corporations such as Sodom and Tyre and Capemaum appear? May not the licentious be grouped under the heading of Sodom; the proud under the designation of Tyre; and the obstinately wicked under the style of the cities of Galilee? In what sense was Moses gathered to his people in contradistinction to hi& brother Aaron, who was gathered to his people ( cf. Deut. xx.xii. 50) ?-J. A. M. Vera. 26-30.-The knowledge of the Holy. The "things" to which our Lord here refers may be bettP.r gathered from what follows than from wbat goea before. They are evidently spiritual things (Luke xix. 42); things pertaining to- I. THE HIGHEST KNOWLEDGE. 1. The knowledge of the Father. (1) As the "Lord ·of heaven and earth." Thus known, he is recognized as the Source of all created things. Moreover, he is so constantly recognized as never to be merged or lost in second causes. He is the Ruler as well as tbe Creator of all. (2) As the " God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. i. 3). This knowledge recognizes the relationship of the Father to the Son in the mystery of tbe Incarnation. It moreover recognizes the covenant relationship in which the Father stands to the Son. (3) As "our Father," viz. in respect to our creation in his image and his care over us in nature (Gen. i. 26; cb. v. 45). In respect to our redemption through the Son of his love, by which we receive adoption into his family and renewal in his likeness. 2. The knowledge of the Son. (1) This knowledge recognizes the reality of his manhood. It was no· phantom. He was" bone of our· bone." (2) It recognizes also the reality of his Godhead. Those who only saw the manhood of Jesus never saw the Son of God. Tho discernment of the Father dwelling in him is essential to our seeing him as the Sou (see John xiv. 8-11). (3) The knowledge of tbe Son of God recognizes the beatification of the manhood in the Godhead. Christ as God is one with the Father. as Mediator he receives his power and glory from the Father (cf. ver. 27; eh. xxviii, 18; John v. 22, 27). We are encouraged to deliver our souls for their salvation into the hands into which the Father hath delivered "all authority and power" (see Zech. vi. 13). II. THE METHOD OF 1TB COMMUNICATION. 1. It is not attained by natural reason. (1) Deists boast of the powers of reason, and plead for natural theology. They would substitute this for the theology of the Bible. (2) But where would our natural 'theologians be but for the Bible? There are no natural theologians where the Bible has not been before them. Clearly, therefore, they credit their reason with the hints which they got from the Bible, whether tbey acknowledge it or not. (3) But, after all, how far has their natural theology carried them? In its chapters they discourse of the Creator. But what about the Fatherhood of God? What a.bout the Son of God and the Saviour of the world? These are matters about which sinners need to be certainly informed. 2. It ia attained by Divine revelation. (1) To this source we are indebted for the Dible. 'l'he evidence npon this subject is ample. The fact that there are no natural theologians without the Bible shows tbat human reason is not its source. (2) "No one knoweth the Son, save the Father." The mystery of the Incarnation is only perfectly known to God. "Neither doth any know the Father, save the Son." Tbe being and attributes of God are only perfectly known to Christ. (3) These great 1ubjects are only known to us just so far as they are revealed. We are drawn to tlrn  -ii6 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [OH. XI. 1-30.