Ver. 87.-Bulr:eta (crruplks); J)Gtmien. must no.turally present the same general La.rge wfoker reoeptaoles, whioh were eome- features. But oareful survey of the two times of BOoh size as to hold a man. It was narratives discloses many differences, whioh in suoh a basket that St. Paul was let down quite preclude the notion th1lt the latter is from the walls of DamRScus (Act.a ix. 25). a traditional reproduction of the former. To The number of the ba.sketfuls corresponded one who believes in the honesty and good to the original number of loaves; the in- faith of the evangelists, the allusion which cre&se of substance must therefore have been Christ makes to the two mire.oles is a suffl- enormous. oient argument for their separation. Our Ver. 38.-The oomputation is made in the Lord pointedly oalls to mind the two occa- 11&me way as in eh. xiv. 21, the greatness of sions when he multiplied food, and rebukes the miracle being thus enhanced. the apostles for their laok of apprehension Ver.39.--Sentawaythemultitude. Having in the fo.oe of these marvels. " Do ye not supplied their spiritual and material wants. yet perceive, neither remember the five He wished to avoid all disturbance or ool- loaves of the five thousand, and how many lieiou with constituted authorities; and the baskets (1eo,pl11ous) ye took up? Neither the people dispersed quietly, being less ex- seven loaves of the four thousand, and how citable than the inhabitants of Bethsaida, many baskets (,r,.,,p!llas) ye took up?" (oh. and not eo well acquainted with the Mes- xvi. 9, 10; Mark viii. 19-21). Many of the sianic claims. The number thus dismissed essential points of difference between the was less than on the previous oocasion, though two acoounts are notioed in the Exposition. the provision was greater-a di.ff'erenoe whioh and they will be seen to dispart wherever distinguishes one incident from the other, divergence was possible, in time, scene, e.nd and which no forger would have introduced, detail. Magdal&. The right reading ill it being much more natural to make the most probably Magadan, or Magedan.(Vul- B800nd wonder transcend, instead of falling gate), the better known Magdala having at short of, the previous one. We mention this an early date been substituted for it. Conder here, because some critics have assumed that identifies one of the two with a mud and the present is only an imperfectly remem- stone village called El M,jdel, a little north bered aocount of the feeding of the five thou- of Tiberiae, a poor place without any gar- sand &lre&dy narrated. There are, of course, dens, situated in a plain of partially arable many points of simila.rity in the two inci- eoiL dent.. Being of identical cb.Aracter, they
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-20.-Unwashen hands. I. CONTROVERSY WITH BOBIBES .lllD PHARISEES. 1. They were of Jer'U,Salem. It seems that a deputation had been sent by the leading men in J eru.salern. The great discourse related in John vi. had probably been reported to them; they had heard that the scribes and Pharisees of Galilee were unable to cope with our Lord; and they now sent some of their own body to watch him and td find oppor- tnnity for accusing him. Mark the reception which he met with on his return from the eastern aide of the lake. The people of Gennesaret knew his power and mercy. They brought their sick; they besought him that they might touch the hem of his garment. The poor and simple came in their simplicity, seeking help; the zealot~, the learned students of the Scriptures, came, with malice and envy in their hearts, seeking to com- pass the rnin of the Saviour. The outward show of sanctity will not deceive God, will not save our souls. Let us see that we come to Christ in single-hearted earnestness, seeking only to know him who is the Saviour of the world. 2. Their question. They busied themselves, as formalists do, about the infinitely little. 'l'he Lord's holiness, wisdom, power, were of no interest to them in comparison with the small matters of ceremonial observance enjoined in their traditions. They thought that it was enough to secure salvation if a man lived in the land of Israel, if he ate his food with duly washed hands, and spoke the holy language, and recited his phylacteries morning and evening. They regarded these traditions of theirs as more sacred than the written Law. The Lord's disciples had, it seems, neglected these frequent washings. The Pharisees wished to :fix: the responsibility on him: "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?" S!,range perversity, to insist on these trivialities in the presence of that unearthly holiness; to ask these petty ensnaring questions of him who could teach them the way to heaven! 3. The Lor<l's answer. (1) He anewera on. :r:\f, 1-89.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW. 10~