The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 162

Vers. 25-28.-Profit and loss. As the time of the brief ministry of Jesus drew to its close, he began to show his disciples how he must go to Jerusalem and suffer and• be killed, and rise again the third day. The sombre part of this anticipation was a- terrible shock to the strong Jewish prejudices of Peter; and he lost sight of the- glorious element of the resurrection. So is prejudice blind evermore. He had the presumption to take Jesus to task, and stoutly protested against any such issue. For this temerity Peter merited a terrible rebuke from Christ, who, after administering it, insisted upon self-denial and cross-lift.ing as essential to his discipleship. Then he- proceded to reason and expostulo.te in the words of the text. L WHAT IS THE GAIN? THE WORLD. 1. Not the empire of the universe. (1) "The· whole world," in the largest sense, includes not only this globe, but the sun, the planets, and the moons of this solar system; and, moreover, all the firmaments of such systems within the searching power of telescopes and beyond into immensity. (2) The pro- prietorship of the world in this large sense belongs to God alone. Such a sceptre could· be wielded only by the Infinite. 2. Not the empire of this earth. (1) Alexander the· Great is said to have "conquered the world," and then to have " wept because he had: not another world to conquer." Yet was that empire of Alexander but a small portion of the globe after alL And instead of conquering the other world of his own mind, his evil passions conquered hlm. (2) The Romans were said to be "masters of the world," but there were barbarians beyond they could never subdue. There were vast continents they never knew. (3) 'l'he British empire is the most extensive that the sun has seen. Yet are we far from possessing the monopoly of the globe. Universn.1 empire, in thiw- sense, is still reserved for the proper Man. 3. All the pleasures of the worldling. (1) In his enjoyment of all natural endowments. Health of body; symmetry of propor- tions; vigour of mind; hlla.rity of spirits. (2) All accidental advantages. The inheritance of wealth, of title, of position. (3) All opportunities of animal indulgence. Luxuries of the table-choice wines, rare fruits-all in profusion. Every conceivable gratification for the appetite and passion. (4) All opportunities for intellectual grati- fication. A taste cultivated to appreciate the finest poetry, the most exquisite music, the noblest eloquence, consummate painting and sculpture, and refinements of art, together with all these things. 4. But lwld, the colouring ia too high/ (1) Who can have all this with religion? Can it be all indulged if the claims of religion are respected?· (2) But who can have all this without religion? For are there not punitive sequences bound up with indulgence? (a) Health will not abide it. (b) Capacity is limited, and- to surcharge is to produce revulsion and disgust. (c) Conscience will have its reckon- ing. (d) Fear will intrude with thoughts of the coming of the" Son of man in the glory of his Father with his angels" to "reward to every man according to his deeds.•• It will bring alarmingly near the judgment in the doom of death. II. WHAT IS THE Loss? TnE souL. 1. Its greatnea, is ,een in its, achuvements. (1) Those of the astronomer. 'I 'he calculation of the Nautical Almanac. The discovery of the planet Neptune. Light thrown upon chronology. (2) Those of the chemist a.n<l electrician. (3) Those of the engineer. (4) What a loss when such great powerit- -cu . .x. vr. 1-28.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA 'I TIIE\\'. 165