The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 208

emptied himself of bis glory and beeame which, catching clouds and dew, are never mo.n in order to save them ? The general without fresh grass. So Pa. cxlvii. 8, "Who term," that whioh was loet," is expresll(d by covereth the heaven with clouds, who pre- the neuter po.rtioi pie, to show tho.t there is pareth rain for the earth, who maketh graee no exception to the wide scope of Olirist's to grow upon the mountains." Beeketh. mercy. The race of mo.n is lost; infants The lost sheep would not retam of itself. e.re born in sin; all need redemption. Every- Buch erring souls Jesus eeeke by the in- body, poor, helpless, ignorant, tempted, comes spiration of his Spirit, by allowing distreBS under this co.tegory, and to save such Christ and sorrow, by awakening conscience and co.me down from heaven. Therefore their memory, by ways manifold which may lead souls are very precious in his sight. the sinner to "come to himself." Ver.12.-Tbe parable that follows teaches Ver. 13.-If eo be that he find it. The the same lesson as the preceding verse. quest is not sure to be rewarded. Man's It is found in Luke xv. 1-7, with some perversity makes the result uncertain. No variations, delivered to a different audience one may safely go on sinning, or living in and nnder different circumstances, as Jesus careless unconcern, with the expectation of often repeated his instructions and teaching being finally found and eaved. There is a. according to the occasion, B:ow think ye 1 limit to the patience of the Lord. If a man What say ye to the following case? Thus will not open hie heart to good inspirations the Lord engages the disciples' attention. and co-operate with preventing grace, he An hundred sheep. A round number, repre• will not be found and brought home. God eentiug a considerable flock. If but one of forces no one to be en ved against bis will. these stray, the good Shepherd regards only Bejoiceth more. A natural feeling. Thll!l- the danger and possible destruction of this a mother loves better an afflicted child wanderer, and puts aside every other care whom she has nursed through a long malady, in order to secure its safety. The ninety and than the strong and healthy children who nine. These must he left for a time, if he have caused her no trouble and anxiety. is to conduct the search in person. It may The joy at the recovery of the strayed sheep be that some idea of probation is here in- is proportional to the sorrow occasioned by tended, as when Jesus let the disciples its lose and the pains and trouble expended embark on the lake while he himself re- in the search ; and this pleaslll'0 would at mained on the shore. Many of the Fathers the moment be greater than the satisfaction interpret the ninety-nine u representing with which the other members of the flock the sinless angels, the lost sheep as man, to are regarded. seek and save whom Christ left heaven, i.e. Ver. 14.-Even so. The teaching of the became incarnate. This, indeed, may bo a parable is summed up: the conduct of the legitimate application of the paro.ble, but is earthly shepherd is a figure of that of the inexact u an exposition of the passage, heavenly Shepherd. The will of your Father which regards the whole flock as figuring . . . perish. To sco.ndalize one of these the human race. The sheep that remained little ones, or lead him into sin (which is safe and true to their Master are the right- to cause to perish), is to figl.it against God's eous; the errant are the sinners, which, will, who would have all men to be saved however few, are the special care of the (1 Tim. ii. 4): " When the dignity of the merciful Lord. Into the mountains (i1rl .-a lilt~ ones was asserted, it was ria.-p6s µ.au, 6p11), There is muoh doubt whether these • my Fo.ther:' now that o. motive directly words are to be joined with goeth (1rope119,ls), acting on the conscience of the Christian is as in both our versions, or with leave (oi4>,ls),urged, it is m,.-pbs ~µ.oiv, your Father " as in the Vnlgate, NonM relinquit nonaginta (Alford). St. Paul teaches that Christ died no11em in montibue 1 In the former case we for the weak brethren (Rom. xiv. 15: I Cor. have a picture of the toil of the shepherd viiL 11). With this text (ver. 14) before tmversing the mountains in search of the him, it is inconceivable that any one can lost. But this does not seem to be the hold the doctrine of the eternal reprobation of particular point contemplated, nor is any certain souls. The whole passage is opposed special emphasis assigned to this part of the to the theory of irrespective predestination transaction. Iu the parable WI recounted by and irresistible grace. St. Luke (xv. 6). we read, "Doth he not Vera. 15-20.-Correction of an offending leave the ninety and nine in the wildemesa, and go?" So here it is best to render, Doth 1uJ brothet". not leave the ninety and nine upon tluJ moun- Ver. 15. -Hitherto tho discourse has lains 7 The shepherd ie not regardless of warned against offending the young and the safety and comfort of the flook during weak; it now teaches how to behave when hie temporory absence; be leaves them the ofl"enoe is directed against oue's self. where they are 11111'8 to find pasture, as they llloreover(8~, "now," introducing a new sub- roam over (l1rl with accusative) the hill-tops, ject) if thy brother shall treapaBB a.gai.D.at 212 TITE GOSrEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. xvnt. 1-35,