The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 105

of St. Paul, inspired, as he tells us, by the Lord Jesos; the same Lord anticipates that teaching here. It is that which cometh out of the mouth which defileth a man; for out of the mouth come evil words, and evil words issue from the evil treasure of the heart. Evil words imply evil thoughts, and evil thoughts are wrought into the inner moral being of the man, into the very centre of his personality. The man, the true self, is defiled, not by things external, not by meats or by unwashen hands; these and such-like matters have to do only with his bodily frame. Cleanliness is good; it may be next to godliness; there is, as a ru)e, a certain connection between them; there must be a certain connection between the outward life and the inward, as long. as we reniain in the flesh. But cleanliness is not godliness; the body may be clean, but the heart within full of all uncleanness. It was so with these Pharisees who blamed the Lord; they .took the greatest pains to secure the exactest external cleanness; but the Lor4,,said to th.em, "Your inward part. is full of ravening and wickedness" (Luke xi. 39). Let us remember the words of the wiHe man, "Keep thy heart with ail dili- genc.e ;_ for out _of it are the issues of life." Let us labour for that inner purification of the heart which ii! granted unto those who walk in the light, whom the blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing from all sin. LESSONS. 1. 'l'he Pharisees found fault with our Lord; men will find fault with the holiest of his servants. Remember the eighth Beatitude; be patient. 2. God is our King; he is to be obeyed ; not men, when they would draw us from his com- mandments. 3. Follow.those who follow-Christ. There are blind guides; let them alone. 4. The pure in heart shall see God ; seek earnestly that precious grace of purity. Vera. 21-28.-Departure from the Holy Land. L THE JOURNEY NOBTHWABDS. 1. The Lord leaves Galilee. He bad been teaching there long, perhaps for two years. At first there _had been a time of dazzling popularity. The strange dignity of his personality, the Divine authority of his words, the singular originality of .his teaching, the pure holiµess of his perfect life, his many deeds of love and mercy and power, had drawn multitud!ls 11,I'Ound him. The wor)d was going after him, the Pharisees said; their opposition seemed useless; .they prevailed nothing. It seemed as if there would be no failur_es, no discouragements; but ii. steady progress, success after success, till he si)ould be raised to the throne of. his father David, and reign as the King Messiah with undis- puted sway over. his people Israel. But it was not to be so; a change was coming. The Lord's popularity had i,xcited th!) intense hostility of the Pharisees; it threatened their influence, . their authority. , They consp,ired against him. T.hey had ~pparently pro- cured his exclusion from the synagogues of J udai~; they .were now driving him from those of G!l,lilee, Their opposition was gathering strength, bitterness, determination. The Lord's followers: must I\0t look for .popularity ; if it comes, they must not be dazzled with it, they must not count on its continuance; it comes and it goes. The multitude a1:e uncerlain, fickle; they soon weary of those whom they once au.mired. Christ, the beloved Master, was. sometimes popular, sometimes despised and rejected of men; his. servants must be content to share the :Master's lot. There must be dis- appointments and discouragements in pastoral work; this mortal life is full of changes. Let the Christian seek, not s_uccess, not human praise, but righteousness and the praise which cometh from God to those who serve him wilh a single heart. 2. He departs into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Driven from the Holy Land, he retires to the heathen countries of the north, not for mission work, but for safety, for rest, for quiet inter- course with the twelve. The end of his earthly life was drawing near; be waa preparing his disciples to carry on the work ; they needed much _teaching, much undisturbed communion with the Lord. It was for this purpose, apparently, that our Lord, as St. Mark tells.us (vii. 24), would have no man know where he was. It is a touching thought that the Lord found more safety in heathen lands than in his own country, among his own people. II. 'l'RE WOMAN OF CANAAN. 1. Her circumstanedS. She was a Greek, St. Mark tells us, that is, a Gentile ; not one of God's chosen people, but a Gentile by birth, and, apparently, by religion. She was a Canaanite, too, living in Phcenicia; she wa.s descended from the ancient enemies of Isrnei. She had no claim either of kindred or religion. 2. Her trouble. Iler young daugnt,er had an unclean spirit· she was grievous] y  LOS THE G0SPBL ACCORDING TO ST. MAT1.'HtW. (ott. xv.1-30.