The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 152

Ver. 24-.-The gre,a,t conditwn. The heart-searching truths of this verse are too often neglected in popular presentations of the gospel. We have a Christianity made easy as an accommodation to an age which loves personal comfort. Not only is this unfaithful to the truth, no part of which we have any right to keep back; it is most foolish and shortsighted. It prepares for a surprising disappointment when the inevitable facts are discovered; and it does not really attract. A re\icrion of sweet- meats is sickening. There is that in the better nature of man which r~sponds to the doctrine of the cross; it is the mistake of the lower method that it only appeals to the selfish desire of personal safety, and therefore does not awaken the better nature at all. Christ sets the example of the higher and truer method ; he does not shun to eat before us the dangers and difficulties of the Christian course. If we meet with them we cannot say we have not been warned. L CHRIS'l'IANITY IS FOLLOWING CHRIST. It is not merely receiving certain blessings from him. If we think we are to enjoy the fruits of his work while we remain just as we were, we are profoundly mistaken. He does gi va us grace, the result of his life-work and atoning death. But the object of this grace is just that we may have strength. to follow him. It is all wasted upon us and received quite in vain if we do not put it to this use. Now, the following of Christ implies three things. 1. Imitating him. 2. Seeing him. 3. Obeying him. He whose experience comprises these three things is a Christian; no one else is one. II. FOLLOWING CHRiBT IS CONDITIONED BY SELF-SURRENDER TO mu. . This is what he means by self-denial. He was not an ascetic, and he never required asceticism in his disciples; those who did not understand him accused him of encouraging an opposite mode of life. There is no merit in putting ourselves to pain for the mere aake of enduring the suffering. Christ will not be pleased if we appro&ch him in agony because we have affixed a thumb-screw to our own person. It is possible to be very hard on one's body and yet to remain terribly self-willed. What Jesus requires is the surrender of our will to him-that we may not seek to have our own will, but submit to his will. III:" SELF-SURRE?-"DEB TO CHRIST LEADS TO BEARING THE OBOSS FOB HIM, It is impossible to give ourselves up to Christ without suffering some loss or trouble. In early days the consequence might be martyrdom; in our own_ day it always involves some sacrifice. Now, the cross which the Christian has to bear ie not inevitable trouble, such as poverty, sickness, or the loss of friends by death. These things would ha.!e been in our lot if we had not been Christians, They are our burdens, our thorns m the flesh. They are sent to us, not taken by us. But the cross is something additional. This is taken up voluntarily; it is in our power to refuse to touch it. We bear it, not because we cannot escape, but because it is a consequence of our following Christ; and the good of bearing it is that we cannot otherwise closely follow _him. ~e, _then, is t~e true Christian who will bear any cross and endure any hardship that lB involved 1n loyally following his Lord and Master.-W. F. A. Vers. 25, 26.-The gain that is loss, and the loss that is gain. Great confusion has been introduced into these verses in the Authorized Version by the rendering of the same Greek word as" life" in ver. 25, and "soul" in ver. 26. The Revisers have helped to a better understanding of the passage by translating the word" life" throughout. Christ was not speaking of the soul as we understand it, of the higher nature of man; but of life as opposed to the idea of being killed and so losing one's life, I. SELF-SEEKING IB BELF-LOBING. Jesus is warning his disciples of the _dangers: and hardships of his service. Many will be tempted to shrink from the cross ID _ord!r to save their lives. They are told that a cowardly unfaithfulness under per_secution lB not the way to eave their lives. It ia true a violent death may be thus avoided. But cu. xvi. 1-28.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. E'i