The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 499

judgmont-seat with them, for what purpose only swept and garnished, and the evil is shown hy the following words (cf. Winer, spirit returns. § xl vii. 1,). And ahBll condemn it : because they repented at the preaching of JonBe Ver. 43.-Wben; Tmt . . . u,hen (Revised (Jonah iii. 5, sqq.). Observe that this was Version); l'rra.v Ill. St.Matthewdoesnotbring without mir11oles or signs being wrought. this forward as e. separate utterance; he At ( •/s). Marking the direction or their faith wishes the connexion between it and the (Rom. iv. 20). And, behold, a greater than preceding to be seen. There is a contrast - " Gr. more than " (Revised Version between the behaviour of the Ninevites and margin )-J OD.BI is here ( ver 6, note). the Queen of Sheba, and that of the Jews. Ver. 42.-Almost verbally identical with The 11J1olee.n spirit ( eh. x. 1, note) is gone Luke xi. 31. The queen of the south out of a (the, Revised Version) man (,,.b (/Ja.u/J-.10-0-a. 11.l-rav, anarthrous; ver. 41, note). 'ltv•iiµa. •.. Toii lt.v8pdnrov). The first article The south here doubtless represents po.rt of is inserted for the sake of vividness; the Arabia Felix (see Dr. Lum by, on 1 Kings x. second points be.ck to the spirit; he leaves I). Shall rise up. Does i-y•p8710-<-ra., here the man in whom he had dwelt. The two imply more effort than lu,a.o-,,.1,o-aVTa., (ver. together make the se.ying parabolic instead 41)? This would e.t least be consistent with of abalract. He walketh ; paueth (Revised the energy which the mention of the Queen Version); lidpxe,,.a.,. Perhaps merely "goes of Sheba always suggests. In the judgment through," with the connotation of distance with this generation, and shBll oondemn it : traversed (John iv. 15; Acts ix. 38), but for she oame from the uttermost parts (the probably " goes about," i.e. to different spots ends, Revised Version) of the earth. Observe (of. Luke ix. 6; Acts viii. 4, 40; xx. 25, the contre.8t; the message wes brought to and so of e. rumour being spread abroad, the Nil)evites in their own homes. She Luke v. 15), in restless wandering. Through marks e. higher stage of inquiry and faith. dry (waterlesa, Revised Version; Ii,' a.volipwv) To hear the wisdom of Solomon ; i.e. not out places. Which supplied nothing wherewith of mere curiosity to eee him. And, behold, a he might refresh himself (Pa. l.xiii. 1), nnd greater tha.n Solomon is here (ver. 41, note). which would, of course, have no houses (Pa. Observe that Christ claims for himself cvii. 4-7, 33-36). Seeking rest (eh. xi. 28, superiority to the one prophet that was 29, notes), a.nd findeth none ; and findeth it listened to by a Gentile nation, and to the not (Revised Version). one king whose wisdom drew an inquirer Ver. 44.-Then he saith, I will return into from " the ends of the earth." Rightly; my house from whenoe I came out. In the for the claim is confirrned by history ; the true text the emphwiis lies on the words, Gospels have had greater in.tluence than all "into my house;" i.e. the place that I have the Prophets, both "former•• and "later," found so comfortable before, where I was so and than all the l;lokmah literature. Jesus thoroughly at home; which, in fact, is still of Nazareth has drawn all meu unto him mine. Observe the ourious parallel to eh. (John xii. 82;. cf. 19). x. 25. The Jews had ea.lied Christ Beel. zebub absolutely without ree.soo, but in their Vere. 43-45.-Parallel passage: Luke xi. own case it was only too possible that they 24-26, almost verbally, but omitting the had an unolean spirit as "master of the application at the end of our ver. 45. A house." And when he is oome, he findeth solemn warning against a merely negative it empty, unoccupied (uxo;\.cl(o.,,,.a.). Swept; improvement. External prep1nation, me- "cleansed with besoms" (Wickliffe); u,ua.• pwµ,11011. And garnished;" mnde ftLir •· (Wick- chnnical religion, is insufficient; a definite liffe); Ka.I K<Kao-µ11µ.,vw. It had no tenant, acceptance of my teaching is required. Our but it was fully prepared for one; e.11 the Lord's primary thought would appear to rubbish had been removed, and suitable be the relation in which those to whom he preparations been me.de. WBI! speaking stood to himself. But he Ver. 45.-Then. On seeing that this is the frames his words so e.s to include the whole case (cf. eh. iii. 5, note). Ooeth he (1rop<6,,,.a.,). Pe.rt of the figure ; the others would not be of that generation of Jews (vers. 89, 45) fe.r off. And taketh with himself seven other For his present hearers truly represented apirita more wioked (e'Oil, rollTJp&,,..pa.) than their oont.emporories. himself. Christ em phe.sizes the force and Observe (1) the close of this discourse the mnlignity of e. spiritual relapse. And resembles that of the sermon on the mount; they enter in. Into the heart, e.nd thence in to the whole body and souL And dwell there. (2) the connexion of thought is the se.me in Permanently. And the last state of that Luke, though there the p11ssnge comes imme- man is worse than the flnt. Our Lord's diat.ely aft.er our ver. SO ; i.e. if you are not words arc e.ppe.rontly quoted in 2 Pet. ii. 20. with me you are really against me; you are Obeerve that the idea of pollution i~ fuun<.l  4c96 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. xn.1-50