The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 53

salvation. (1) Salvation from the associations of the wicked. Those associatic,ns are now uncongenial. They a.re contaminating. They are damaging to the better repn ta--- tion, In the now enrth there will be" no more sea" (Rev. xxi, 1). There will be no more Gentiles in wickedness; all will be Israelites in goodness. (2) The good will be "gathered into vessels." Are not these the antitheses of the "bundles" into which the wicked are gathered, as in the corresponding parable of the tares? Docs not this suggest order and class in heavenly society ? (3) The time of this separation is when the net shall be "filled." The gospel must first fulfil its commission in witnessing to all the world (cf. Isa. Iv. 10, 11; eh. xxiv. 14).-J. A. M. Vera. 51, 52.-77ie Householder. This is the last of a connected series of pambles. It was intended to emphasize and fix upon the minds of the disciples the lessons of those already spoken. It has also precious lessons of its own. I. CHRIST IS THE HouBEHOLDEB. 1. He is the Head of a spiritualfami1y. (1) Ile is the second Adam (cf. Rom. v. 14; 1 Cor, xv. 45; Eph. v. 31, 32). (2) He is the Founder of the new creation. "The Father of the everlasting age'' (cf. Isa. ix. 6; Col. i. 15; Rev. iii. 14). (3) His children a.re the sons of God. They are the children of the everlasting covenant. "Children of Abraham's faith." (4) They are the "children of God, being children of the resurrection." Spiritually risen with Christ already. Entitled to the better resurrection of the last day. 2. He ha.s an ample treasure for their maintenance. (1) "His treasure." The allusion is to the house- holder's store for the maintenance of bis establishment. (2) The bountifulness of the store is expressed in the phrase, "things new and old." The old produce is not exhausted when the fruits of the new year are gathered in (cf. Lev. x.xvi. 9, 10). (3) The stores of Christ are the infinite treasure of his wisdom and knowledge. These he :ierived not from human sources. He never studied under the doctors of the Hebrew colleges. Yet even at the early age of twelve he could astonish them. He drew his resources from heaven (cf. John iii. 36; Col. i. 19). (4) This store is for his children first (see Eph. i. 6-8; Col. ii. 9, 10). 'l'he servants also have their nourishment. The dogs may be thankful for the crumbs. The world l.s indebted to the gospel for the better elements of its civilization. II. HE DBINGETH FOBTH OUT OF HIS TREASURE THINGS NEW AND OLD. 1. He discover3 a monarchy in l,umi'lity. (1) This was a new thing. The Jews expected the King Messiah to appear after the type of Solomon in ill his glory. They had yet to learu that the "Greater than Solomon" is Jesus in his humility. The dignity and glory of suffering had never been so seen. (2) Yet was this thing of the New Testament also in the Old. Messiah must first come in humiliation for purposes of redemption before he can appear, as he will in his second advent, "without sin unto salvation" (see Luke xxiv. 25-27). (3) In the depths of bis humility he asserts Divine claims. He claims to be the Son of God (see John x. 36). To be the Lord of the sabbath day (see Mark ii. 27, 28; Luke vi. 5). 'l'o be David's Lord though David's Son (eh. xxii. 41-46). 'l'o have power on earth to forgive sins (see Mark ii. 7 ; Luke v. 21-26). 2. He proclaims a spiritual kingdom. (1) This was a new thiug. Secular kingdoms were old enough. So familiar were these that the Jews expected Messiah to establish a. "kingdom under the whole heaven" after their type (see Dan. vii. 27). (2) What, then, was their astonishment, while they were dreaming of release from the Roman yoke, and ruling the Gentiles with a rod of iron, to be told that the kingdom "cometh not with observation;" that it is a spiritual kingdom "within," in the heart? (3) What was their astonishment when they heard the requisites which made it hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom? (4) When they heard that love is the principl& of the kingdom? Not only love supreme to God, but love also to the brotherhood. Love, moreover, to our neighbour, which is every man. Lov~ven to our enemies. Such love as constrains us to bless when we are cursed, to requite hatred with benevo- lence, to answer persecution witb supplication (see eh. v. 43-45). 3. In his go,pel ha fulfils the Law. (1) That Messiah should dignify and perfect the Law of Moses was nothing new to the Jews. They looked for this. But the manner of its accomplish- ment astonished them. (2) They did not see that in his death he should become the antitype of all the s11crilices; that summing up in himself all their virtues, and infinitely more, they should disappear, and henceforth be seen only io. his cross. (J)  54 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [cu. xm. 1-68.