The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 520

Vcrs. 38-45, specie.Hy ver. 42 (see e.lso Luke xi. 16-18, 24-26).-One inevitable law of jwlgment. In introduction, notice the displeasure expressed by Christ in respect of the scribes and Pharisees asking a sign. This may have been for an accumu- lation of reasons. First, because (see Luke xi. 16) perhaps they e.sked e. "sign from heaven," marking in their wish a craving of curiosity for the novel and the more striking, regardless of the quantum of instruction that the sign might be charged with, at any rate, for others. Secondly, whether it ,vere a sign from heaven or not, in asking they asked without the higher wish, without any wish, probably, for the higher object of e. sign, when it is granted. Thirdly, without asking, they had already had many e. sign of the most effective and incontestable kind, and they were signs "nigh at hand, and not a.far off;" and yet these signs had not been used, not improved-had been seen, but resisted; and these men a.re the worst of all, who had "seen and yet believed not." And once more, fourthly, because if this passage finds its correct place immediately on the narrative that here precedes, as seems certainly to be the case, they had just seen e. sign, and had listened to what followed from the lips of Christ, and had been in the position to survey the entire scene, and to take awful warning from it. Note, further, that, trne thongh it was that these doubters and unbelievers and disbelievers had had, and were still sure to have, numerous signs of the kind just given, yet Christ takes their meaning when he adds," No sign shall be given but the sign of the Prophet Jonas;" and, alluding to this, he contrasts the practical conduct, the faith and repentance of Nineveh, on the preaching of Jonas, and the faith and zeal of the Queen of Sheba, when she heard the wisdom of Solomon, with the wilful unrepentingness of his hearers, e.nd the cold deadness of their mind and heart. Note once more, from the closing portion of these verses, the link which holds them to the beginning of the passage. 'l'heir text is the "evil and adulterous generation; " and these last sentences forecast the" worse" state, to which they ever sink who, with all e.ddedlight, gift, opportunity,shut, not eye and ear so much as mind and heart to them, while these are flung wide open for the evil spirits, who most ruthlessly victimize them, In the whole passage, select for special development the instance of the judgment and condemnation which the Queen of Sheba shall contribute, by the contrast of her example with that of the men to whom Jesus Christ was preaching, and manifesting forth his glory, his wisdom, and his mighty works. And leam that this example- !. REMINDS OF THE CREDIT THAT IT 18 TO HUJUN NATURE TO SEEK. It is one of the certain signs that its life and reality are not yet dried up and exhausted. We honour e.nd e.dmire the individual who seeks. Our admiration and honour grow when we see the seeking converted into thorough, earnest, persevering search. This, the onward, upward determination of our nature, constitutes one of the moral evidences of its immortality. Yet at the same time we ce.nnot leave out of the question what it is which is the object of its search. Endeavour, labour, decision, and enthusiasm directed to e. really worthy object-when any one labours for the thing he knows to his best light to be the highest-raise the whole scale of our admiration. Still, the man who exhibits these qualities may be wrong in not knowing a higher. It may be his fault, it may be even his sin, that he does not know e. higher. Of how much of both our darkness and ignorance are we ourselves not unfrequently the guilty causes I Not, then, does any arrive at the best till he has made sure that what he and his heart e.nd soul go in quest of is the truly highest that human mind may ree.ch after, and human heart love. Though the visitor of Solomon was e. queen, she journeyed far; e.nd not for money nor for presents, though with both did she journey, but in queet of wisdom; this fired her soul's desire, on this her imagination went to work, this her ears tingled to hear, this determined her journey. In her deed 1he we.11 blessed-blessed for her time of day. She acted up to an elevated and generous impulse, and she was not disappointed. And it is she, se.ys Christ himself, who will rise up in judgment with those who, so far from being athirst for wisdom, and for the highest type attainable, refuse that infinitely greater wisdom, so near, so graciously pressed on them, of him who is greater beyond all count the.n Solomon. Search long, toilsome, and honOllrahle for inferior Oll. x11, 1-50.] '!'HE GOSPEL ACCOllDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 1511