The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 494

indred, it ie immedintely followed in Luke. men (Ps. li. 11 ; of. Luke xi. 13), suoh ns He that is not with me is aga.inst me ; and Christ had claimed to possess in a special he that gathereth not with me 1oattereth degree (Luke iv. 18). In inquiring, there- abroad. The first clause speaks of the inner disposition, that which forms the real being fore, for an explanation of our Lord's of the man; the seoond, of his energy. sayings, we must not begin e.t the Triui- Observe that the figure of the second clause tarian standpoint, and see in the words a appears to be connected with that of ver. contrast between " blasphemy " against one 29. If Christ's property is not collcct.erl, it Person of the Trinity, 11nd "blasphemy" is drfren further from him. Christ and Christians mnst gather (John xi. 52; cf. ago.inst another. The contrast is between Bengel). For gathereth (crw&,,..,v), cf. also "blasphemy" against Christ as Son of man, eh. iii. 12 ; nii. 30. In Beatfereth abroad Christ in his earthly work and under earthly (cr1eo,,,.1(«) the thought almost leaves the conditions, the Christ whom they saw and simile of the cr1e•l,11, and reg~rds the persons whom they did not understand, and "blas- signified. Notice that in John xi. 52, re- phemy" against God as such working upon ferred to above, the two verbs o-vv&,,.,,, and (8,a)cr1eo,,..-((,.,, o.lso occur; the figure earth. "Blasphemy " against -the former there, however, appears to be taken from might be due to ignorance and prejudice, sheep (cf. John x. 12). Further, Mark ix. but "blasphemy" age.inst the latter was to 40 and Lnke ix. 50 record the so.ying, "He speak against God's work recognized as tho.t is not against us is for us," which was such, age.inst God manifesting himseU to addressed to our Lord's disciples. Both their consciences (cf. vers. 27, 2B); it was sayings are necessary; earnest Christians need to remember that when outsiders do to reject the counsel of God towards them, anything in Cllrist's nnme, it must, on the to set themselves up in opposition to God, whol!', furward his cause (Phil i. 18); the and thus to exclnde from themselves for- undecided must face the fact that neutrality giveness, Just as under the Law there is impossible. were so.crifices for sins of ignorance and Vera. 31, 32.-Parallcl passages: Mark minor offences, but none for wilful disregard iii. 28---30 (where the verses immediately of and opposition to God, so must it be at follow our ver. 29) and Lnke xii. 10 (where all times even under the gospel itself. the context is not the same, he having Observe that the " blasphemy" is under- passed straight from our ver. 30 to our stood by our Lord as showing the state of ver. 43, ride infra). It is to be observed the heart (cf. Acts vii. 51). What the effect that all three acconnts differ a good deal of a change of heart, i.e. of repentance, would in form, though but slightly in substance. be does not enter into our Lord's utterance. TheApostolical Constitutions contain what All other sin is venial, b11t for heart-opposi- is probo.bly a mixture of these verses with tion there is no forgiveness. As Tyndale 2 Pet. ii 1 and other passages of the New says (' Expositions,' p. 232, Parker Society), Testament. Resch (' Agrapho.,' pp. 130, "Sin ago.inst the Holy Ghost is de!!pising 249, etc.), in accordance with his theory, of the gospel and his working. Where thinks that the Constitutions have preserved that bideth is no remedy of sin: for it a genuine utterance of the Lord, of which fi.ghteth against faith, whfoh is the forgive- only different fragments are presented in ness of sin. If that be put away, faith may various pe.rte of the New Testament. enter in, and all sins depart." (Cf. also A few words of introdnction to these Domer, 'System,' iii. 73; iv. 94.) diflicnlt verses. It has been strangely for- Ver. 31.-Wherefore (/Jilt .-ovro). Re- gotten, in their interpretation, that onr Lord ferring primarily to ver. 30, and to be joined closely to" I say unto you." Beco.use such 11poke in langnAge that he intended his is the terrible effect of what you think mere bearers to understand, and that probably indifferentism, I say this solemnly, Beware not a single one of those who stood by of committing the great sin. Luke's con- would understand by the expressions, " the nexion of our ver. 43 with ver. 30 gives a Spirit" (ver. 31), "the Holy Spirit" (ver. good but a weaker sense-Become fully 32), a Person in the Godhead distinct from decided, lest the devil return to you stronger than ever. Matthew's connexion is-Be- the First Person or the Second ( cf. eh. i. come fully decided, for the legitimo.te out- 18, note). At most they would understand come of want of decision is the sin that will ihem to refer to an influenee by God upon not be forgiven. I say nnto you (oh. vi. 25, cu. xu. 1-60.] THE GOSPEJ; ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 491