The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 205

when they were asb!lmed to e.nswer, be to wbfob was upbolden e.s the o.cme of ex- added, "If any man desire to be first, the cellence, Obrist here asserts to be the only same shall be last of all, and sorvant of e.11." paesport to his idee.l Church on earth or ita Oar Gospel here takes up the story. The eternal development in heo.ven. Not the paradox 1!80med incomprehensible; so they self-esteeming, proud m1tn (.u.-yaA&l/,vxos) of pnt the question, Who ia the greatest in the Aristotle's worship (' Eth. Nio.,' iv. S), but kingdom of heaven t The Greek is, Tls l!ipa the bumble (.-a,.. ..v~s), the lowly, the self- µ,l(o,v /,,-,·lv, 1<.'l",A.; W1w then u greater f deprecie.ting, is the me.n who oan reo.lize his Vulga.te, Qui3, puta.a, major est f The position in the spiritual world, o.nd shall be iUative particle "then" refers to what is e.dmitted to its blessings and benefits. St. recordrd in St. Me.rk (ix. 34), or to some Paul l.ie.e eumme.rized the ideal o!Jaro.oter of such difficnlty in the querists' mind. They the members of the kingdom in l Cor. xiii., make the inquiry in the present tense, e.s especio.Uy vers. 4, 5, and 7. though Christ had alrea<ly selected the oue Ver, 4.-Whosoevertherefore, This verse who was to preside ; and by the ldngdom of gives a direct application of the prinoiple hM,un they mean the Messianic J..ingnom on just enunciated, and supplies an e.nswer to earth, concerning which their notions did the e.pnstles' question. Shall humble him- not yet rise abon those of their oontempo- self. Not the.t e. child oonscinusly bumbles re.ries (comp. Acts i. 6). The comp&r&tive itself, but is bumble by nature. The disoiple in the original," greater," is virtually equiva- must become that by deliberate choice which lent to the superlative, as it is translated in the child is by reason of his constitution and the Authorized Version. Such a question natural disposition. The same is greatest; as the above could not have been asked had ro.ther, greater (µ,{(,.,11), Christ using the the e.postles at this time recognized any same term e.e the questioners in var. I. The absolute pre-eminence in Peter or e.oknow- more a man annihilates self e.nd co.ate away ledged his supremacy. pride, conceit, obstinacy, the fitter is he to Ver. 2.-A little oh.ild. Our Lord tee.ches, become a living member of Christ's king- not only by spoken pe.rables, but by sym- dom. "Qnanto bumilior, to.nto e.ltior," says bolical e.ctiollll also. This was not a mere in- Thoma.a Aquinas. But this ie a joint work. fant, as Christ is eaid to be.ve called him unto St. Gregory says well, "The good which a him. A tranition., mentioned by Nioophorus man doeth is both the work of God e.nd the (' Hist. Eccl.,' ii. 35), asserts that this child work of man: of God, o.s being the Author, was the famous martyr Igne.tius. Set him in giving grace; of man, as being actor, in m the midst of them. Te.king him in his using grace, yet so that he co-operate with arms, as St. Me.rk tell.s. Whe.t a pictnre of grace by grace" (quoted by Ford, in loo.). Christ's tenderness and h nman love I From Vers. 5-14.-The treatment due lo such. tl.ie boy's trustfulness and submission be draws a needed lesson for the ambitioua Ver. 5.--Shall receive (&s U1.11 6{~71.,.a,). The apostles. word is pregnant with meaning. It includes Ver. 3.-Except ye be converted (rr.,.p11- not only the showing of tender affection and c,,fjH); i.e. turned from proud, ambitious the giving of material succour, such as thoughts of worldly dignity. There is no hospitality, shelter, eto., but also the bestowal question here about what is popularly known of help and support in spiritual things, en- as converaion-the change from b11.bitual sin couragementinholiness, instruction in Divine to holiness. The conversion here spoken of lore. One auch little ohild. Primarily, Jesus ie confined to e. che.n ge in the present state refers to children, pure and confiding o.s the of mind-to a new direction given to the one be had placed in the midst; but his thoughts e.nd wiebee. The apostles be.d words are applicable to e.ll who have the ahown rivalry,jealousy, ambition: they must childlike spirit e.nd character, the graces tum e.way from sncb failings, and learn a which be specially loves e.nd rewards. The different lesson. lleoome a.s little children. expressions here and in the next verse must Christ points to little children as the model be understood to belong in some oases to the t.o which the members of hie kingdom must symbol. and in othera to the symbolized. In 88Similate themselves. The special attri- my Name ( 1-n·l ...,; ov&µa,.,./ µ.ov); for the ,ake o/ bntes of children which be would recommend my NafTl!J; beoe.use he belongs to me; not are humility, nnworldlinees, simplicity, merely from ne.tore.l affeotion e.nd pity, but teache.bleneas,-the direct contraries of self- from a higher motive, because the child has aeelring, world.linese, distrust, conceit. Ye in him somewhat of Christ-is the child of shall not enter. In the sermon on the mount God, e.nd e. member of Obrist. Beoeiveth Cltrist he.d said, " Blessed are the poor in me. That which iB done t.o hiB little ones spirit : for theirs ie the kingdom of heaven " Christ rege.rcls e.e done to himeelf(oomp. oh. (oh. v. 3). To all who are not such the ge.te L 40-42). What a blessing waits on those opens not. That virtue which was unknown who teach the young, working laboriously to pagan antiquity, the oppoeite character in echools, and training souls for heaven I  OR. xvm. 1-35.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 209