The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 119

la already transformed into the woman. "Great is thy faith." "Jesua admires this faith to the end we may admire and imitate it" (A. Clarke). "Be it done unto thee even as thou wilt." There is faith in willing. "And her daughter was healed from that hour." Healed at her home (see Mark vii. 30). (4) Here was a gleam of that light which was to lighten the Gentiles; a presage of that mercy to be fully revealed after hia death. Here also is a proof that the curse upon Canaan wae only meant for thoae of hie race who should follow his unbelief. The doom of corporate bodies does not necessarily fall upon all their individual membere. True faith is saving evermore.- J. A. M. Vere. 29-31.-The power of Ohrist. In this narrative there is no word of Christ recorded; yet the scene is fall of animation. It ie the animation of power. We have in it- I. CHRIST IN 'l'HE POWER 01!' BIB ATTRACTION. 1. He sat upon the 'TM'Untain. (1) Possibly Tabor. "The mountain," meaning some particular mountain which he was accustomed to frequent; for whenever it ie spoken of at a time when Jesus is in Galilee, it ie always distinguished by the article (cf. eh. iv.18; v. 1; xiii. 54; xiv. 23; xxviii. 16). "I suppose it was Mount Tabor" (Wakefield). (2) Mountains were symbols of powers. So they are put for kingdoms. Thus the powerful kingdom of Babylon is described as a "destroying mountain" to be devoted to destruction (see Jer. li. 25). Places of power and authority within a kingdom are also compared to mountains (see Amos iv. 1). Powerful obstacles to the progress of the gospel are described as mountains which have to be removed (see Isa. xl. 4; xii. 5; xlix. 11). The exaltation of the kingdom of Christ above the kingdoms of the world is called the establishing of the mountain of the Lord's house in the top of the mountains and its exaltation above the hills (see Isa. ii. 2; Micah iv. 1). And the kingdom of Christ is described as a little stone destined to swell into a great mountain which shall fill the whole earth (see Dan. ii. 85). (3) The attitude of Jesus, seated upon this mountain, silently asserted his enthronement above all power, material and spiritual, secular and sacred. 2. Great multitudes came to him. (1) See them streaming out from the sur- rounding towns and villages. Yet are these but portents of the millions through the a~es to be influenced by his attractive power (see John xii. 82). Surely this is that Sniloh to whom shall be the gathering of the people (Gen. :xlix. 10). (2) Some came to him. These were the more healthy. It is a sign of spiritual health when a man can come to Jesus in faith. Conspicuous amongst those who came would be those upon whom, on former occasions, Jesus had shown miracles of healing. (3) Others were 1Yrought. These were the diseased who could not come without help. It is the purest benevolence to bring to Jesus, the Healer, in faith those who are morally diseased. Perhaps many who now bring the sick were formerly themselves brought as sick. So the attractive power of Christ is ever multiplying. II. CHRIST IN BIS POWER OF HEALING. 1. Physical maladies owned this power, (1) The sick of all sorts were brought to him. Note: Sin has turned this world into a hospital. (2) The spectacle moved his compassion as the accumulation of living misery was "cast down at his feet." The oratory of misery is eloquent in the ear of mercy. (3) "And he healed them." Here was no case so malignant as to baffle the resources of this great Physician. As from the Mount of Beatitudes Je8us delivered in his memorable sermon lessons of wisdom, so now from this, probably the same mountain, he dispenses the blessings of his power. 2. The physical are typical of the spiritual. (1) The lame. LamenesR here is perhaps limited to the legs, and is thus distinguished from the maiming mentioned afterwards. Those are morally lame whose walk or conduct is irregular or inconsistent, or who cannot move in the ways of righteousness, (2) The dumb. These are also generally deaf. And there are those who are deaf to the voice of God calling them to duty; aod who have not the moral courage to confess tbe truth, or the moral disposition to praise God. (3) The blind, Those the vision of whose 11'.nderstanding is blinded by prejudice. Those whose judgment ie at fault througl. ignorance, error, or malignity. Moral blindness is voluntary, and therefore the more difficult of cure (see John ix. 41). (4) The maimed. These would include those who had lost a member; those who had lost the use of a member, as by palsy; and those whose limbs were diSQbled by distortion through 122 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on xv.1-39.