The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 534

(3) The value of word~ will be seen in the day of judgment. For by their words will they be juaged (vers. 36, 37). (a) Wicked words will pB88 In review. The bla.sphemy against the Holy Ghost. The word against the Son of man. (b) Idle words-words wanting in seriousness and caution; discourse.that does not tend to the glory of God; the desecration of the solemn language of Scripture in garnishing idle talk (cf. Prov. x. 9; Eph. iv. 29; v. 4; 1 Tim. v. 13). (c) Of these we shall have to give an account. Picture the Pharisee explaining his blasphemy in the very presence of the Blessed One whom he had attempted to identify with the devil I III. TEAT THE TONGUE IS CONQUERED IN THE HEART. 1. Speech is the"fl.atural ven• of the heart. (1) The heart will have expression or it will break. The growing tree will displace rocks. The overflowing fountain will carry away.obstructions. Pent-up feeling is like steam in a close vessel. (2) The heart will have adequate expression. This it can only find in speech, It is ready. "Nearest the heart, nearest the mouth." The idsa most forcibly impressed on the mind will naturally claim first utterance. The tongue also is flexible aud mobile, and words are versatile and apt. 2. Language i·s the sure indea; to character. (1) This follows, for the heart is the character. Jesus is the good tree whose fruit is good. The Pharisee is the evil tree whose fruit is evil. (2) As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the heart by the conversation. "The kind of speech in a man betokens the kind of action you will get from him" (Carlyle). (3) The tree after its kind is folded up in the seed, and can be evolved from it again; so from our words the Judge of all will evolve again our character in the great day of doom. (4) Every word has its moral history. (5) Though Jacob may simulate the raiment of Esau, he cannot simulate his voice. 3. Therefore the tongue must be cured in the heart. (1) They begin at the wrong end who would reform the heart by reforming the tongue. " A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; but whilst the root abides in strength and vigour, the beating down of the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more" (Dr. Owen). (2) Reso- lution can only transiently cure, viz. while the matter is present to the mind. But thought cannot evermore remain upon any single subject. The most vigilant sentinel must sometimes sleep, and the truant heart will out. (3) But let the heart be full of love to God and man, and its malice may be trusted anywhere. (4) Nothing but the salt of grace will heal the bitter spring of the bad heart. Nothing but a good graft can convert an evil tree (see 1 Sam. xxiv. 13; Isa. xxxii. 6). (5) It should be more our care to be good than to seem good (cf. Prov. xxv. 26; Jer. vi. 7).-J. A. M. , Vers. 3~5.-.The sign-seeker,. After Jesus had denounced the blasphemy of the scribes and Pharisees, and threatened them with the severity of -the judgment, certain of their number demanded of him a sign to sustain his asserted authority. In his reply we notice- L THAT THE BTh"NEBII ABE REBUKED IN .MEROY. 1. They sought a sign, viz., from heaven. (1) The sign of the Prophet Daniel was evidently that for which they looked (cf. Dan. vii. 13; eh. xvi. 1; Luke xi. 16; 1 Cor. i. 22). They were eager for the visible kingdom. (2) In this clamour former miracles are ignored. He who is uncon- vinced by proofs so stupendous as those on which Christianity rests is an unbeliever, not from want of evidence, but from an evil bia.s upon his judgment and will which no additional demonstration can remedy. 2. But this sign was not/or that generation. (1) They were "evil" The Pharisees and scribes were eminently so. Speaking against the Son of man. Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost. A "generation of vipers." (2) They were adulterous. Literally so. They were guilty of polygamy, frequent divorces, and other sensualities, which they covered by hypocri~y or defended by immoral casuistry. About this time the Rabbi Joachim ben Zacchai abrogated the trial by the bitter waters of jealousy, because so many were found to be thUB criminated. (3) Figuratively. 'l'he Hebrews were by the Sinai covenant married to their Maker, as Christians become the spouse of Christ by the covenant from Zion. Idolatry and worldliness, which is a form of idolatry, are spiritual adultery (see Jae. iv. 4). (4) The clamourers did not consider that the sign from heaven is the signal for judgment. Had they faithfully read the Prophet Daniel they would have seen that the judgment precedes the visible kingdom. It is in his mercy that God does not answer the prayers of wicked men. 3. He gave them the sign from the earth. (1) Jonah was a type of GB, UL 1-60.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 631