The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 48

l. THAT THIS LIFE IB A saE1''E OF TRIAL. 1. The fiel,d is the wol'ld. (1) So we have it in the _in~rpretation (~er. 38).. It is a wide _field, whether viewed physically 01: morally. Still 1t 1.s the Lords ..domam. One day 1t will be universally fruitful to his glory (see Isa. x1. 9; Hab. u. 14). (2) Here we are now on our trial. Thie ~bought makes life solemn. 'fhe_ more so since _there is no second probation. (3) 'l'he issues are tremendous. In quality. In duration. (4) How precious are the oppor- tunities of the present I 2. The soil will ,wuri.sJa any treed. (1) It will nourish the good. This, as interpreted in the parable of the sower, is the" Word of the kincrdom" (ver. 19). In the interpretation here it is those in whom that Word is incorpor~ted- " the sons of the kingdom" (ver. 38). Note : The sons of the kingdom are distinguished by their relation to the truth. (2) It will nourish the euil. The truth of God is opposed by the perversions of Satan. Those ruled by error are the " sons of the evil one." 'l'he wicked do not consider their spiritual lineage (see John viii. 44; Eph. ii. 2). (3) Note: Here are only t,vo classes. There are orders of good, and there are orders of evil. Bnt if the seed be not good, then it is evil. To which of these classes do you belong? 3. There are two seed-sowers. (1) The Son of man, as in the parable of the sower, is one. The seed he sows is good. He is the incarnation of Infinite good. Christ sowed this good seed in person when he preached. He still sows it by his ambassadors (2 Cor. v. 20). (2) The enemy, not mentioned in this capacity in the parable of the sower, is the other. The devil is the enemy of Christ (ver. 39; see also Gen. iii. 15). So is he the enemy of the sons of Jesus. The enemy is the anti-Messiah, possessed of the devil, as was J uda.s Iscariot ( cf. Isa. xi. 4 ; 2 Thess. ii. 8). (3) Note the differences in the sowing. The Son of man sows openly in the day. The evil one works in the darkness of night. " While men slept" (ver. 25). Satan takes every advantage of our drowsiness, indolence, lukewarmness. The approaches of evil are stealthy. (4) Note what follows. The evil one" went his way." He takes care not to be seen in his work.. He can trust his weeds to grow. "When the blade WIUI up." Beware of the seeds of evil They may be small, but they grow. II. THAT THIS SCE!.'E OF TRIAL PRESENTS DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. 1. There is the origin of moral evil. (1) It puzzled the servants to see the darnel, or the bastard wheat, spring up among the good wheat (ver. 27). We may puzzle ourselves with :many things. (2) Christ disclaims this authorship. He owns to sowing the good seed. He is infinitely good. Evil he can neither be nor do. (3) He fixes this author- ship upon Satan. He is the enemy alike of God and man. Further than this in the solution of the question of the origin of evil we cannot go. (4) Note: The personality of the devil is here asserted. The author of moral evil must be a moral, and therefore an intelligent, agent. 2. There is the forbearance of God towards evil. (1) Thie also J>uzzled the servants. "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" " Wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?" (Luke ix. 54- 56). Zeal is co=endable only when it is discreet. (2) God tolerates the evil for the -salre of the good. (a) Were he to root all the wicked out of the earth, the population would be so reduced that the wild beasts could not be kept under. (b) The graces of the good are exercised by the toleration of the wicked. (c) So the grace of God is exemplified in supporting the good amongst the evil (3) The wicked are tolerated to render it possible for the grace of God to convert them. 3. There is the difference letween discipline and persecution. (1) Persecution is an evil against which zeal must be guarded. .Men may think they do God service when they make havoc of his Church (cf. .Acts viii. 3; Gal. i. 13; 1 Tim. i. 13). (2) The darnel so resembles the wheat that it may be mistaken for it. So may the unbeliever be mistaken for the believer, the hypocrite for the true man. So, on the contrary, some saints are so clumsy and awkward that they may be mietaken for deceivers. Where there is a doubt let the subject have the benefit. The wheat rather than the damel has generally suffered from persecution. (3) But the toleration of darnel, which resembles wheat, is no reason for the toleration of thorns, which resemble it not (cf. ver. 22; 1 Cor. v. 13). The teaching of our parable is not directed against discipline, but against perBecution. (4) Note:: Our Lord giv01 us no authority to expect a perfect Church in this age. 'l'he objection against joining a Church because it is imperfect is unreasonable. IIL TB.AT THE GREAT JUDGMENT WILL VINDIOATE THE WAYS OF Goo. 1. Tl1en will lie separate the evil from, the good. (1) Angels will be employed in this service. on. xm. 1-58.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 4!)