The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 136

[JeaUB] the Chriet. The received text in- to learn thnt tho Wl\Y to glory, both for' eerb! the word "Jesus," but very many good him and them, led through suffering a.nil manuscripts omit it; and it seems to have death. Conscious of Christ's Divinity, they, been receh-ed by initdvertence, the point could now more patiently endure the being that he was Messiah. The injunction mystery of his cross and Pl\ssion. Unto to tell no ma.n (wiLh which comp. eh. viii. 4) Jerusalem. Tiro appointed scene of these we.s necessar'I" a.t this time for ma.n:v reasons. events (see oh. xx. 17). He muat (3,i) The time wo·s not ripe for the decla.ration, go thither to meet and endure these which might have led to tumult a.nd dis- sufferings, because it was so ordained in order among an excited populace. Any the counsels of God and announced by the a.mbitious ide&I! which the apostles might prophets (comp. eh. xxvi. 54; Luke :u:iv. have formed from what had just pu.ssed were 26, 46). Ma.ny things. These a.re detailed here nipped in the bnd. They were not in eh. xx. 18, 19; Luke xviii. 31-33. sufficiently familiar with the true notion of Elders, chief priests, and soribea. The ve.rioUB the Messiah, especially a. suffering l\'[essia.h, members of the Sanhedrin (11ee eh, ii. 4). to be competent to preach him to others. The three ola.ssos are, in Nosgen's opinion, This we see by Peter's inconsiderate re- intention:i.lly named here-the elders, as monstrance in vcr. 22. Till they received the most &ged and venera.ted members, or the Holy Ghost after Ohrist's ascension, such as were distinguished by ra.nk and they could not rlghlly and profitably prea.oh character; the chief priests, he.1ds of the of Christ's nature, office, and kingdom. twenty-four courses, a.s office-bearers of the Jesus may have looked forward to their theocracy; and scribes, at that time occu- desertion of him in his hour of trial, and pying al.most the position of the prophets. prevented them from proclaiming his real The whole religious world woul<l thus be character, which. in the face of such deser- combined against Christ. Be killed. He tion, wonld have proved a stumbling-block does not here say " crucified,'' a.s he did to the faith of believers. Some of these afterwardB (eh. xx. 19), only gra.dua.lly re- reasons we m:i.y reverently believe were vealing the whole awful truth. Ba ra.ised those which led Christ to lay this severe again the third day. '.rhis announcement restriction on the enthnsiasm of his follow- was intended to support the disciples in, ers (see on eh. xvii. 9). view of Christ's sufferings and death. · And "the third day" is mentioned, not only for Ver. 21-ch. XXV, 46.-SUFFEBING: JESUS typical reasons, but to assu1·e them that his ACCEPTS AND DOES NOT SllUl!1 IT. death should be speedily followed by his Vere. 21-28.-Jesru announce, p1ainly return to life from the grave, It is obvious Jiu c1.eat1. and remrT"ection. Bebukes Peter. to ns tha.t Jesus prophesied plainly con- (Mark viii 31-i.L 1; Luke ix. 22-27.) cerning his resurrection; but snch an event, so unprecedented, so unexperioneed, was Ver. 2L-l'rom that time. Henceforward not understood; and though the prediction Christ changes his teaching and his be- was so fa.r known a.s to cause his grave to ha,iom. He tells of his sntferings, and of be watched, it WILB only a vague kind of their necessity in the order of things, so expectation, without form or definiteness, that &ny on.e who opposes this design is tha.t wa.s cherished, and the actual fa.et oame fighting against God ; and shows how self- as a surprise (see Mark ix. 10, 32). denial e.nd pa.in mnst be the lot of L.is Ver. 22.-Peter took him ('1rpo<T>.a./J&p.,11os). followers. Bega.n to showllll.to hiB diBciples. Either ta.]p.ng him aside, or ta.king him by No longer obscurely, bnt plainly and with- the hand or dress-a reverent fa.milia.rity out reserve. He had already intimated his permitted by the Lord to his loviog &postle. futnre snfi'erings, though his disciples had And now this same Peter, who had just been slow to receive tha1e dark hints, so before made his noble confession, and had opposed to all their preconceived opinions been rewarded with unique commendation, of Messiah's glory and victorious career. unable to sha.ke otf the prejudices of his Such aayings a.a, "Destroy this temple, and age and his education, bega.n to rebuke in three days I will raise it up" (Jollll ii 01rrrip.ii.v) his Master. He presumed to 19); and, "As Moses lifted up the serpent chide Jesus for speaking of suffering an4 in the wilderness, even 110 must the Son of death. He, the Son of God most High, man be lifted up" (John iii. 14), h&d fallen what ba.d he to do with such things? How unheeded on the disciples' ea.rs, a.nd had not <;ould he no.me them in oonneotion with gnided them to forecast the fnture. Even himself? Peter, while a.ocepting the idea the allllllions to their own trials, in the of Messiah as Divine pnd triumphant, could we.rniags about bearing the cross e.nd not receive the notion of his death and following him (eh. x. 38), were not under- Passion. That the same person should be stood. The irree.t point of his real nature so humiliated· and yet so glorious, wa.a had !Jecome clear to them ; they had now beyond his oonception. He w&s as much in oe. xvx.1-28.] THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 139