The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 27

Ver, 17.- OlwiBtians enjoying what pophets desired. They who truly receive the teaching of Christ and profit by it enjc,y privileges which prophets and righteous men longed for in vain. I. Tm: PROPHETS' DEBIREB. The saints and seers of antiquity were not satisfied with the revelations made to them and the favour bestowed upon them. They looked forward to a glorious future when fuller light should appear, and when greater works of heavenly power should be accomplished. Let us consider the objects of the prophets' desire, what things they were the prophets longed to see and hear. 1. The vision oJ God. Job yearned to Bee God (Job xxiii. 3). The older revelations of God awakened a hunger for a nearer vision. 1'he best men of antiquity desired above all things to "see the King in his beauty." 2. The redemptim of man. Some were satisfied with the course of events and the condition of the world. But two classes of men were profoundly dissatisfied, viz. (1) prophets, who saw the truth of God and perceived the falseness of the world, its direct antagonism to the Divine will ; and (2) righteous men, who had a keen conscience, and were horrified at the sin and guilt of mankind. Both of these saw that only ruin faced man when left to himself; both cried out for a Divine redemption. 3. The advent of the kingdom of heaven. This was the grand topic of Messianic prophecy; it was the supreme object of the patient hope of devout people, such as Anna and Simeon at the time of our Lord's infancy (Luke ii. 25-38). Such a hope went beyond deliverance and redemption; it pointed to a golden age in the future, excelling the best days of the past. II. TllE CBBIBTIANB' PBIVILEGEB.. Christ congratulates his trne disciples on their happy estate. Let us consider what privileges this brings. 1. The presence of Christ. (1) He is the Revelation of God, longed for by prophets, but never seen in Old Testa- ment times. Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us;" and Jesus replied,~• He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John xiv. 8, 9). (2) He, too, brings redemption, for he is the Redeemer, and he comes to save the world by the sacrifice of himself. (3) He establishes the kingdom of heaven, for he is its King. When Christ has come to us the kingdom is among us. But many saw Christ "after the flesh," in his bodily presence, and yet discerned none of these things. We do not see him.walking in our streets or sitting at our table. Yet when we see him with the eyes of the heart, and perceive his Divine anrl redeeming presence, ours also is the vision longed for by the good and wise in ancient time. 2. The Word of life. This is what Christians hear. It is the good· news of salvation in Christ. But it is also a living Word that awakens dead souls and quickens the Divine life within men. All who are within reach of the gospel may be familiar with the sound of this Word. But, alas I how many never perceive that to them has come a privilege greatly desired by prophets and righteous men of old. This Ward must be heard in the heart to be appreciated. Then its gracious tones awaken responses of faith and love, because then it speaks in deep harmonies as the very music of heaven.,--W. F . .A. Vers. 24--30.-The tares. The parable of the soils showed the various results of sowing the same good seed according to the various conditions of soil on which the seed fell ; now this parable of the tares disregards differences of soil, but treats of different kinds of seed sown by different hands. Thus it introduces us to something worse than the failure of good work, to the existence of evil influences in the world. l. CHRISTIAN PEOPLE ABE THE GROWTH OF SEED BO~ BY CHRIST L."I THE WORLD. lo his explanation of the parable our Lord tells us three things about this branch of his teaching. 1. Ohrist is the Sower. All good spiritual life springs from him. 2. The field is the world. Christ is no narrow ecclesiastic confining his interests to the Church. Nor has he the parochial mind. His gospel is for the whole world. Christians are to be "the salt of the earth." 3. The good seed represents the "sons of the kingdom," i.e. Christian people. Christ is not satisfied with teaching ideas; he aims at growing souls. His harvest is not of thoughts and doctrines, but of men and women. II. BAD MEN ARE LIKE TARES SOWN BY SaTAN. 1. Evil influences are at work in the world. There is worse than the negative failure of good seed. Weeds spring up; nettles and poison plants take their place ill the garden of nature. The worl<l. as we know it has been sown with the seed of sin. Here is positive evil, alive and propagating further evil. . 2. These evil influences are due to the g1·eat enemy of soi1ls. A malignant ~8 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [ou. xm.1-58.