The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 55

(see eh. i. 20; Luke i. 27). And Messiali mmt be the "Son of David" in order to satisfy the prophets. (3) They objected that "his mother was called Mary." She was of too humble a station to have any splendid title. Yet was this Mary by descent a princess· of the great house of David. Moreover, she was the mother of the Son of God. Mary's miraculous conception seems to have been unknown to them. Prejudices are fostered by ignorance. (4) They could name his brothers, and his 3isters they knew, though they did not deem them worthy of being named. Note: Those who should know Christ best are often most ignorant of him. "Mean and prejudiced spirits are apt to judge of men by their education, and to inquire more into their rise than into their reasons" (Henry). "His sisters, are they not all with us 1" Note: How thoroughly is Christ one "with us "-Immanuel I II. lTs DIREFUL CONSEQUENCES. 1. It hardened the Nazarenes in their unbelief. (1) "They were offended in him." Their astonishment was their offence. Prejudice is offended in wisdom, and resists the demonstration of power. Superior merit is envied, and envy turns the knowledge it has to the disadvantage of the envied. (2) If we approach the Scriptures in a cavilling humour we shall remain in ignorance, and become hardened in unbelief. 2. It exposed them to the reproof of Christ. (1) "Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in bis own country, and in his own house." Note: A prophet should have honour. A man of God is a great man. '!'he Son of God, how great 1 (2) But familiarity breeds contempt. The contempt a prophet experiences abroad is nothing to that he experiences at home. Even Columbus, when meditating the discovery of America, had to seek patrons out of bis own country. 3. It led to their abandonmenl. (I) "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.n Unbelief is an impediment to the performance of miracles. Hence the question, "Dost thou believe that I am able to do this?" "Unbelief is a sin that locks up the heart of a. sinner, and binds np the band of the Saviour" (Flavel). (2) Christ did not judge it suitable to obtrude his miracles upon the Nazarenes. "A few sick folk" among them had faith to be healed. "Many" remained in their misery "because of their unbelief." (3) "The reason why mighty works are not wrought now is not that the faith is everywhere planted, but that unbelief everywhere prevails" (Wesley). "All things are possible" to the faith of promise (cf. eh. xix. 26; Mark ix. 23; Rom. i. 16; Epb. ii. 8). (4) Soon after this Jesus finally abandoned the Nazarenes. Their pride and envy and resentment became their desolation and destruction. And those who now reject the claims of Christ are even less excusable than they, since they despise the addition&! evidence of bis resur- rection and ascension, and the coming of the Holy Ghost.-J. A. M. Ver. 10.-The reason/or the use of parables. It is not sufficiently observed that our Lord adopted the parabolic style only after he had been teaching for some time. His earlier discourses are full of illustrations, and they set truth in paradoxical sentences which excite thought and inquiry; but the parabolic was a new method of hiding truth for a while, and from some, which was called for by certain results attending Christ's teachings. It should be clearly seen that the parable is designed to wrap truth up so that it may be kept safe, but be hidden from the many for the present ; and nncovered and brought to light, by the spiritually minded now, and for all by-and-by. The previous chapters of Matthew have shown what a divided feeling was growing up, even in Galilee, concerning Christ. Some, indeed, held fast their hope i11 him ; but the official Pharisees took o. decided position against him, and they influenced very many; even our Lord's own relations bad joined the distrustful party. Jesus was influenced by these conditions. He wanted to warn, correct, and reprove; but these people would only turn to evil everything he said, and become more em bittered against him if he spoke out plainly. So he wrapped truth of warning and correction up in parables, which would carry his meaning without hie actue.lly speaking it out. Three reasons for the use of parables may bo given. I. One reason was related to his immediate disciples: IT ENABLED mM TO cox- TTh7JE BIS TEAOBING OF THEM. A obief part of our Lord's work was preparing the apostles for their future work. And he did this not only by direct teachings, but also by ea;amples of teaching. But opposition might hBve stopped these eumples if our Lord had not changed his stylo and adopted the parabolic, 56 TilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. [cH, xm. 1-oS.