The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 8

nution plMes itself under the protertiou of a Ver. 83.-The parabk of the leaven. Christian nation, and more truly fulfilled Parallel passage: Luke xiii. 201 21. The whenever a nalion accepts Christianity o.s growth of the kingdom regar<1ed in its its own religion. It is parodied when a na- quiet and secret influence. This is to be ultimately complete and universal. The tion or a collection of nutionB submits its prophecy is partially fulfilled with every politiclll freedom to tbe dictates of claimants fresh recognition of Christian principles in t-0 spiritn&l superiority, whether these claim publio opinion, or customs, or l11ws. For to have reoei'l'ed lllloh superiority !IS an in- "every thought" shall be brought "captive heritance from the pRSt, or to have acquired unto the obedience of Obrist" (2 Cor. x. 5). it in the present. Another pa.rable spake he unto them ; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven. Ver. SL-Another pan.ble put he forth This is the only passage where leaven is unto them (ver. 24, note), saying, The king- spoken of with reference to its permeating dom of heaven is like unto (ver. 24, note; qualities alone, without any trace of the also eh. ri 16, note) a grain of mustard notion of defilement, which the Paschal nnd seed. •• The Common Mustard of Palestine other regulations (Exod. xii. 15, 18; uiii. is Sinapu nigra, of the order CrucijertB, 15, 18; Lev. ii. 11) so readily suggested. the Black Mustard, which is found abun- Even in 1 Cor. v. 6 and Gal. v. 9 this conno- dan Uv in a wild state, and is also cultivated tation of evil is not altogether absent. In in the gardens for its seed. It is the eame Talm. Bab., 'Beracb.,' 17a, it is used as a ..a our own Mustard, bnt grows especially figure of the "evil impulse" within us. in the richer soils of the Jordan valley to Hence some have interpreted it in a similar a much greater size than in this country. sense here, and have understood our Lord W-e noticed its great height on the banks of to be referring to the spread of worldline88 the Jordan, as have several other travellers; in the Church (especially after the conver- an<l Dr. Thomson remarks that in the Plain sion of Constantine); but (1) this is opposed of A.ere he has seen it as tall as a horse and to the prima facie mea.ning; (2) it is un- its rider" (Trist-ram, •Nat. Hist. of Bible,' reasonable to insist that a symbol must p. 472, et.lit. 1889). Which a me.n took. always have the same connotation; (3) it The inBertion of 7'.a.fJ,l,v is probably to ex- is opposed to the idea of deliberate purpose clude the idea of a cha.nee sowing. True underlying the action of the woman; (4) tl,at the seed might, under certain circum- the closing words would cast too awful a stances, then grow as well, but tLe reality shadow-they would meo.n that Christianity which is being described was the result of fa.ils. Whioh a woman took (ver. 81, note), long and deliberate purpose (Titus i. 8; and hid. The woman probably belongs 1 Pet. i. 20). And sowed in his field. "His entirely to the framework of the varable garden" (Luke) suggests a piece of ground (cf. Luke xv. 4, 8). For the work described that was at once smaller and more cared for. is always, in normal societies, performed Ver. 32.-Whioh indeed is the least of (ill by women. Of other interpretations that leas than, Revised Version) &I.I seeds; i.e. which sees in her the Church as the agent all those ordinarily sown in Palestine then. by whom the kingdom of God is wrought Instances of the proverbial use in the into the world is the best. In three mea- Talruuds of the size of a grain of mustard BllreB of meal; i.e. an ephah. This appears to express something very small, may be to have been a con'l"8nient quantity (about seen in Levy, '·"'· ',,,n. But when it ia a peck) for kneading at one time (Gen. grown, it is the grea.test a.mong herbs; it i, xvi.ii. 6; J udg. vi. 19). Until the whole greater than the herbs (Revised Version); wu leavened; literaII-r., ul'ltil it was lea11ened, i.e. than those which are usually called e11en the whole of it ( EOIS o~ i(vµ.d,9r, 87'.ov). 7'.axa.va.. And becometh a tree, ao that the While our Lord thus promises that the bi.rdB of the air. There is not necessarily permeating influence of the kingdom of a.ny connotation of evil about these ( cf. heaven shall ai last be entirely snocessfuJ, vers. 4, 19); the thought is simply that it is unfair to so press the parable as to those who e.re nature.Uy outsiders e.re glad deduce from it that the world as such will to come under cover of this tree. Compare, continue to be gradually and continuously for both thought and language, Dan.iel's improved up to the Lord's return. It may description of the empire of Babylon (Da.u. be so (contrast, however, Luke xviii. 8), iv. 12, 21), and Ezekiel's prophecy of the but ev~n direct prophecy, and still more kingdom of JudJl.h (Ezek. xvii 23). Come parable, frequently regards the ultimate re- a.n.d;lod.ge in the bra.nches thereof. Lodge sult, and passes over the intermediate ( 1<a..-cur1<71voiv); eh. vill. 20, note. In Pales- stages. tine the goldfinches and linnets settle on tlie musta.rJ in docks (Tristram, 'Nat. Hist. Vers. 34, 35.-The parallel p11.11B11ge in 0f Bible,' p. 473, edit. 1889). Mark iv. 33, 34 ia as follows: "And with llll. xm. 1-68.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTH~W. 9