The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 163

arc prosUtuted, wasted, blighted, damned I 2. It is evident in its capalJt1Uy of God. 1) Powers to contemplo.te his being and attributes; his government and hie claims. 2) Enjoying bis friendship. Reciprocating his love. Working out his purposes. ,~3) Hoping in bis promises of heaven. (4) But all this capability is capability also of suffering. Awful to the sinner is the very justice of his judgment. Thoughts of the being and attributes of an infinite Enemy. How terrible are the fires of bis wrath! 3. It is seen in God's estimate. (1) He framed the creation for man (see l's. viii.). (2) He gave himself for man. Became incarnate in our nature. In that nature suffered and died for us. (3) Carried our nature into heaven. There it is exalted above all principality. (4) In it he will come forth "in the glory of his Father with his angels." (-5) The distance between heaven's rapturous height and hell's horrible depth is the measure of God's estimate of man. III. 'WHAT 1s THE PROFIT? 1. For what do yoo barter yoor sool1 (1) "All that .is in the world" is soon summed up. "For all that is in the worlcl, the lust of the ,flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vain-glory of life, is not of the Father" (1 John ii. 16). (2) But what have we here? (a) Sensuality. Wine. Women. (b) Cove- tousness. Gain by meanness. Gain by fraud. Ga.in by oppression. (e) Ambition. The esteem of the deceived. Or the esteem of the vain. What does it profit? 2. What is the profit when life is spent 1 (1) What would a damned soul give for the oppor- tunity to retrace his steps? (2) But life is spent before a man is dead. What does the world profit when a man outlives its pleasures-when his energy is ~pent? 3. What must we sacrifice for the soul1 (1) Not the world, in its use. (2) We must sacrifice the world in its abuse. All sin must go. (3) Life must be sacrificed if necessary. But then "to die is gain."-J. A. M. Ver. 4.-77ie sign of Jonas. There are many indications of the persistency with which our Lord was worried and hindered by a. hostile party from among the Pharisees. They were ever trying new devices for entangliug him. They hoped to nonplus him; or to get him to try something in which he would fail, or to say something which they could. turn into an accusation. On this occasion the Pharisaic party united with the Galila,a.n Sadducees (who may be the same as the Herodia.ns) in what seemed a clever scheme. 'fhey were to plead that such miracles as he wrought could not prove bis Divine claim, because they were all susceptible of natural explanations. They were -t-0 say that, if he meant them to believe in him, be must do some really wonderful thing-make thunder in a clear sky, as Samuel did (l Sam. xii. 18), or bring fire from heaven, as Elijah did (1 Kings xviii. 38). Of course, they intended the people to hear :them put this test, and they would make use of his refusal as proof of his inability. Our Lord did refuse. He understood the temper and needs of his time far better than they did; and if they wanted manifest signs from heaven, the people did not; or if they did, such signs were not really best for them. What would most help to awaken ,men was the mystery of his death and resurrection. That was the true sign of his apiritual being and mission. These Pharisees might take that sign. It was fore- shadowed in the story of J onab. It was all they would get. They must do the best ,they could with it. I. THE BIGN OF JONAS .WAS INTENDED TO PUZZLE. Those who knew nothing of the spiritual nature of Christ, or of his redemption by suffering and sacrifice, could make nothing of this sign. It is a good way in which to treat malicious questioners, to answer them by giving them something to puzzle over, a "hard nut to crack." -Oan we imagine how these Pharisees, who were so clever at " splitting hairs " in argu- ·ment, discussed this "sign of Jonas"? 'l'he people must have smiled when they saw them so answered and so discomfited. II. THE Bl<lN OF JONAS WAS INTENDED TO SUGGEST, For U8 it suggests what was ,then the special burden on the mind of Christ. He was anticipating the time of his suffering and death. For them the sign seemed to say," Your prejudiced opposition to me will grow until it consummates in securing my death. You will throw me over- board, as Jonas was thrown over. But you will be baffled even then. Like Jonas, I .shall rise again." Ill. THE SIGN OF JONAS WAS INTENDED TO TEACH, Only one point in the story .is recalled by Christ. The only likeness between Jonas and Christ is that " ril.ing  166 TUE GOSPEL ACCOUDIKG TO ST. MATTHEW, [cu. nr. 1-2&