The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 197

CRme to save hie people from their sins. So the promise ie, " In the day that ye seek me ye shall find me, when ye search for me with your whok heart." (2) Then seize the candle of the Lord, and search your heart to see what has hindered your salvation. Have you made restitution in that you have robbed? Have you made reparation in that you have injured (see eh. v, 23, 24.)? (3) The faith that eaves is a higher gift than the faith of miracle-working. "Rejoice not thnt the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke x. 20). Rejoice not eo much that you have the miracle-working faith as that you have the faith that saves. "If I ha..-e all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. xiii. 2). Miracle-working faith is as nothing compared with that which is saving. 3. Godline,StJ is esseidial to tl,e faith of usefulness. (1) The goodness of Barnabas is significantly associated with his" faith" and usejulne$/I (see Acts xi. 24). This also may be noted in respect to persons eminently useful in the Church in follow- ing ages. (2) Dut what are we to say to the usefulness of those who are far from goodness? Not that they are useful in consequence of their faith; for they have none. The truth God may bless, whoever uses it. No credit in this case is due to the ungodly; nor will they receive any reward. (3) For the faith of usefulness we must pray. "This kind goeth not out but by prayer." Because without prayer we cannot have that goodness which renders us eligible for the gift of faith. (4) Fasting also i6 helpful to faith. Our Lord gave us his example in this (see eh. iv. 2). He also gives us directions as to the spirit in which we should fast (see eh. vi. 16). .Apostles associated fasting with their special prayer (~tc Acts xiii 2, 3).-J. A. M. Vere. 22-27.-Greatness in 1ubmisaion. The originality of Jesus meets us at every turn. The men of this world seek greatness in self-assertion and resistance-by force and cunning. Christ exhibits it in condescension and patience. L THE GREATNESS OF JESUS 18 SEEN IN HIS PASSION. 1. His submission there W<MJ voluntary. (1) He foresaw it. (a) It was predicted. He was perfectly conversant with the prophetR. (b) He enlarged upon their anticipations. How circumstantial are hill words (see vers. 22, 23) I (c) His clear foresight was an ante-Passion. (2') He could have avoided it. (a) For he was "the Son of man." As the true Adam- the innocent and perfect llfan-he might have claimed Eden. He was under no obliga- tion to suffer. (b) But he was also "the Son of God." In thi11 quality he was acknowledged at his Transfiguration (see ver. 6). Under these titles alike equally glorious attributes of Divinity are ascribed to Jesus. He was the Arbiter of life. His own life could not be forfeited without his consent. (3) Yet he died. The" betrayed" of the Old Version is "delivered up" in the New (ver. 22). His manhood was sur- rendered by bis Godhead. The voluntariness of the sacrifice of Christ was superlative, infinite. 2. Behold 110w his greatness in the grandeur of his pwrposes. (1) In the Passion of Christ we have the most wonderful revelation of God. Where eiie can we find an equal exhibition of the greatness of hie love? It is also the most glorious vindication of his truth (cf. eh. xxvi. 24; Acts ii. 23; iii. 18). (2) Atonement ie made for human eio. "They shall kill him." "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." (3) The gospel has to be authenticated in the resurrection. "And the third day he shall be raised." Death was the necessary prelude to a resurrection-. Note the occasion of the sorrow of the disciples. The prospect of the death of their Master swallowed up as it were that of the resurrection, of which also they had been prt:-informed. So do tLe trials aod sufferings of this life so fill our minds as to prevent our rejoicing io the blessedness of the glories that are to follow, (4) To all these great purposes of the Passion of Christ add this, viz. that in it he is Oll:f Pattern-. The believer is crucified with Christ. And that union with Christ which he finds at the cross carries him back into the life of bis earlier history, and forward into the life of bis resurrection. Men are at their greatest in this wonderful union with their Lord. IL THE GREATNESS OF JESUS 18 BEEN IN HIS BUBMIBBION TO TAXATION. 1. Loo!, at t}.r, fact (L88'Uming t/.r, tax to have been a R = impost. (1) Beza and Jeron1e wero of opinion that the tax here, as in eh. xxii. 7, was paid to Cll!ear. On that euppositioo the inquiry may have been, "Is y9ur Master of the opioion of Judas of Galilee, thafl tribute 6hould not be paid to Croi;ar ? " (2) Peter took it as matter of course thac his Master would pay the tax; but Jesus put the matter to him in an unexpecteli OH. xvu. 1-27,] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTJIEW, ZO}