The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 537

eumption to desire that Jesus should come out to them. This was, moreover, an unseemly interruption of a heavenly discourse. It was also an unwa;rrantable dis- traotion to the hearers. Family influence is misplaced in interrupting the blessed work of God (see Luke x.i. 27, 28). (3) Their purpose WBB to stop his preaching; for his brethren were unbelieving, and. thought him beside himself (cf. Mark iiL 21, 31; John vii. 6). His mother was with them. Perhaps her motive may have been to caution him against offending the Pharisees. 3. The int1'UIJio-n was reproved. (1) "He answered and said unto him that told him, Who Is my mother? and who are my brethren? " And what follows suggests that upon this occasion, at least, they were not doing the will of his Father which is in heaven. (2) He proceeded with his discourse. His earthly mother's claims must not compete with the will and work of his heavenly Father. The opposition we may meet with even from our relatives must not drive us from the work of God. (3) The fault of Mary, together with its reproof, seriously discourage Mariolatry (d. Luke ii. 49; xi. 28; John ii. 4). III. HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH. 1. Ohrist's nearest relatiims are his true disciples. (1) They are defined to be those who do the will of his Father which is in heaven (see John vii. 17). Jesus himself came, not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him (John vi. 38). (2) His true disciples are preferred before his natural relatives. There is no saving relationship to Jesus according to the flesh. Spiritual relationship to him is saving. (3) Those who do the will of the Father are nearest of kin to the Son. He is his Father's Heir. Those who are the children of his Father are his co-heirs (cf. Rom. viii. 17; Gal. iv. 7). 2. Endearments of natural relationship are heightened in them. (1) "He is my brother." Jesus is more than a Friend to his true disciple. He will cleave to him when he is forsaken of all others. He is that Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (2) "And sister." He extends to his disciple that loving protection which a true brother extends to his sister. He delights in the happiness of the disciple as the brother delights in the happiness of his sister. (3) "And mother." As a good son gives the support of a strong arm to his mother in her failing strength, so does Jesus strengthen his disciples in the seasons or \heir weakness. (4) As the disciples who are worthy of Christ forsake for him all natural relationships, so does be forsake all natural relationships for them (cf. eh. iv. 22; :it. 87; Luke xiv. 26). Thus do they receive in him both the hundredfold and the eternal life (see eh. xix. 29). 3. Spiritual relationships are enduring. (1) Not so the natural. These are invaded by death. Saints in the resurrection are like the angels of God. (2) The family named after Christ is at once in heaven and earth. We are already come to the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn enrolled in heaven. (3) Christ will not be ashamed of his poor relations. He will confess them before BBsembled worlds,-J. A. M. Ver. 2.-Rigidity in sabbath rules. That which the disciples did was not regarded as a wrong thing in their day. Thomson tells us that, when travelling in harvest- time, his muleteers plucked off the ears of corn, rubbed them in their hands, and nte the grains, just as the apostles did. And this was quite allowable; it was never thought of as stealing. The Pharisees did not object to the thing that was done, but to the ~fringement of their stiff rule, that this particular act should not be done on the s{lb- bath, because it amounted to doing work on the sabbath day. Divine laws can gain adjustments and adaptations to fit to various conditions and circumstances; there is elasticity in their applications. Man-made laws are stiff and rigid; they scarcely permit exceptions; and require that men shall always adjust to them, and never expect law to adjust to meet their need. The Divine sabbatb law is large, comprehensive, spiritual, and therefore searching. But it is elastic, and adjusts to man's varying cor..- ditions; it does not expect men to force themselves to fit to it. Human sabbath rulfB were, in our Lord's time, and are still, most vexatious things-yokes that neither on fathers nor we have been able to bear. They required a woman to have no bow on her dress, unless it was sewn on, and so a part of the dress; for otherwise she would be carrying a bow. And these strange rules to-day permit a woman to use a pin on tta i!unday, but refuse to allow her to use a needle. SaLbath never can be really kept (''.'I man-made rules. "In their bigoted reverence for the sabbath some of the Jewij asserted that the day was first of all kept in heaven, and that the Jewish nation baa  53• THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, [oa. xn. 1-50.