The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 530

They sought to accuse the Son of God of profanity, This was to convert the highest virtue into the deepest vice, e.nd to confound e.11 moral order, Note: Matthew says, "And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the se.bbath day? that they might accuse him." According to Luke (vi. 8), Jesus read the question in their thought.s. Learn that in the Lord's sight speech and thought e.re one, (2) They sought to murder the Saviour of the world. This was, as far as in them le.y, to destroy God and man at a stroke. This was the expression of their vexation, bece.use the doctrine of Christ mortified their pride, exposed their hypocrisy, and crossed their worldly interests, and their honour we.s eclipsed by his life and miracles. (3) Their malignity was deliberate. It was not the sudden ebullition of unthinking passion. They evidently agreed, in the first instance, to tempt him. Then, certainly, they "took counsel against him, how they might destroy him." (4) 'l'his was all done under the mask of religion. The pretext was zeal for the sanctity of the sabbaeh. The wicked have no objection to the holiness of things; it is the holiness of persons that offends them. If they could convict Jesus of blasphemy in bis saying that he was greater than the temple, or of profanity in breaking the sabbath, death would be the penalty (see Exod. xxxv. 2). Note: There is a religion of Satan as well as a religion of God. The religion of Satan is a parody upon the religion of God. As love is the essence of the religion of God, malignity is the spirit of the religion of Se.tan. 2. Malignity is vanquished by ezposure. (1) The case of the sheep was a home-thrust. The ritualists allowed the exception, not out of mercy to the animal, but from selfish- ness. "Take tender care of the goods of an Israelite" was with the Jews a cherished canon. Self-interest is a casuist first consulted, decisive in the removal of scruples, and readily obeyed. (2) Ritualism had no mercy for the withered hand in which the Pharisee had no property. Our Lord invaded a heartless superstition when be established the principle that it is lawful to do good on the se.bbath day. (3) But the question returns, " Row much is a man of more value than a sheep?" Yet are there many called Christians who do more for the beast of burden or pleasure than they will for a me.n. They spend that npon hunters, coursers, spaniels, and hounds of which many followers of Christ are destitute. (4) The spiritual nature of man-his faculties for knowing, loving, and serving God-invest him with his vast superiority. How much better, then, is the philanthropy which blesses the soul even than that which terminates in the body I 3. Malignity is left to its own punishment. (1) "The Pharisees went out," viz. from the presence of Christ. Evil shuns the goodness that rebukes it. Falsehood shuns the truth that exposes it. (2) They went out, not like Peter to weep bitter tears of repentance, but to take evil counsel. (3) Jesus "withdrew" when they "went out." He "perceived " their purpose by his Divine faculty of reading hearts. Re left them in the desperation of their obstinacy. They were abandoned to themselves-murderers to murderers, human and infernal. (4) The withdrawal of Jesus is the presage of vengeance. So it was when be left the temple and the city of Jerusalem. At his second coming he will send forth judgment unto victory. II. To JU.GNIFY MEBOY. 1. He vindwates the spirit of the Law. (1) The spirit of the Law is love. The Law was given in love to man. Its end is to foster in him grate- ful and obedient love to God. The spirit of the LCLw is another name for the gospel. (2) Through excessive zeal for the letter, the Jewish ritualists lost sight of this. The Law was in consequence converted into an intolerable burden. (3) Jesus came not to destroy but to fulfil the Law, which he did by bringing out its spirit. In order to ~his be assailed the traditions which the ritualists bad confounded with the Law. 2. Re sets a high valU8 upon man. (1) "How much is a man better than a sheep?" Under the Law sheep were offered in sacrifice for the sin of man; but they could not take it away. Renee they appeared again and again upon the altar. The utmost they could do was to call sin to remembrance, and point to e. more worthy sacrifice. (2) Jesus himself became that more worthy Sacrifice. "He bath put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." So completely did he effect this" once for all," that there is now "no more remembrance of sin." The price he paid was the precious blood of the Son. of God. (3) He freely dispenses healing power. He" restored whole as the other" the withered hand with a word. He did not even give the pretext of the touch to those who would accuse him of breaking the sabbath law. So did be heal '' all " that followed him when he withdrew from the Pharisees. (4) But he required the faith of ou. xu. 1-60.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 527