The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 210

ropreaentativea-tbe apoatlea. Whether the worship. It is a simpler form of the word verdict we.a the excommunico.Ucn or the need in Hob. L 25, "Not forsaking the offender ("bind"). or hie pe.rdon and re- e.eeembling of olll'88lves together." In my storation (" loose '), the mtiflce.tion of the No.me (,i, -rb iµ),v 1/vop.ci); litero.lly, infb m11 apostles wo.a required, and would be made Name; i.e. with love to me, yearning for good in heaven. The treatment of the in- union with me, e.nd acting for my glory. cestuous Christio.n by St. Pe.ul is a pro.otical '.1'his would i!Dply decent and orderly meet. comn1ent on this passage. The congrega- mg for the highest ends. There e.m I in the tion decides on the me.u'e guilt, but St. Paul midst of them. Christ promises a ree.l, "binds" him, retains hie sins, and delivers actual presence, though invisible, as true o.s him to So.tan (1 Cor. v. 1-5); and when on when he appeared to his disciples after his hie repento.noe he is forgiven, it is the e.postle resurrection, e.s true o.e when the Sliechinah who "looses" him, acting as the repreeen- shone in tabernacle or temple. The re.bbis to.tive of Christ (2 Cor. ii. 10). In a general had e. saying that if two eat o.t table and con- sense, the judicial o.nd disciplinary powers versed a.bout the Lo.w of God, the Shechine.h of the Christian priesthood have been founded rested upon them. The promise in the ooxt, on this paeso.ge, which from early times ho.a of course, implies ChrLst's omnipresence e.ncl been used in the eervioe of ordination. Each omniscience. Thie is hie blessing on united, body of Chrietie.ns ho.e its own way of inter- congrege.tional prayer. preting the promise. While some opine that, epee.king in Christ's name and with hie Vere. 21-35.-The pardon of in}uriea, ancl authority, the priest can pronounoe or with- the parable of the unmerciful 1er11ant. hold pardon ; others believe the.t external discipline is o.11 tho.t is intended; others Ver. 21.-Peter wo.s greatly struck with again think that the terms are satisfied by what Christ ho.cl just said about recon- the ministration of the Word e.nd sacraments, cilio.tion of enemies; e.nd he wanted to a.a a physician gives hee.lth by prescribing know whe.t limits were to be imposed remedies. on hie generosity, especie.lly, it might be, Ver. 19.-Again I say unto you. The if the offender made no reparation for his following paragraph ho.a been thought by offence, and acknowledged not hie wrong- many to be addressed especially to the doing. My brother. As ver. 15, fellow-dis- apostles in confirmation of the powers con- ciple, neighbour. Till seven times 1 Peter ferred on them above ; but from ver. 20 we doubtless thought the.& he was uuneua.lly should judge the promise to be general. libero.I and generone in proposing such e, Herein is set forth the privilege of united measure of forgiveness. Seven is the number pre.yer. God confirms the sentence of his of completeness o.nd plurality, e.nd our Lord e.uthorized o.mbe.ssadors; he gives specie.I had used it in giving his sentence ubout heed to the joint intercessions of all Chris- forgi veneee : "If he trespass against thee tie.us. Two of you. Two of my followers, seven times in a day, o.nd seven times in 11 even the eme.llest number the.t could form an day turn to thee age.in," eto. (Luke xvii. 4). aesooiation. Shell agree (O'vp.<f,0>vf,O"o,rr1v), Some rabbis ho.d :fixed this limit from o.n Be in complete e.ooord, like the notes of a erroneous interpretation of Amos i. 3; ii I, perfect stre.in of musio. Here one me.n'e in- " For three transgressions, o.ncl for four,"· firmity is upheld by e.nother's strength; one eto.; but the usne.l precept enjoined forgive- me.n'e short-sightedness compensated by ness of three offences only, drawing the tin& another's wider view; this man's little fe.ith here, and he.ving no pity for a fourth offence. overpowered by tho.t man's firm confidence. Ben-Sira bids e. mo.n admonish e.n offending Anything. Of course, this is to be under- neighbour twice, but is silent o.e to o.ny stood with some restriction. The tliing asked further forgiveness (Ecclus. xix. 13-17), must be ree.sone.ble, good in itself, expedient The Jews were very fond of defining o.nd: for the petitioner; the prayer must be eo.rnest, limiting rooro.l obligations, o.s if they could fe.ithful, persevering. If such conditions a.re be o.coumtely prescribed by number. Chrisi so.tiefied, the desire will be granted in some demolishes this attempt to define by law the form, though, perhe.ps, not in the we.y or e.t meo.sure of grace. the time expected. Thus the Lord sanctions Ver. 22.-I say not unto thee, Jeane gives guilds or bodies of Christians united together the full weight of hie authority to hie pre- to offer up supplications for epeoio.l objeots oept, in distinction from Pater's suggestion or with some definite intention in which all o.nd ra!Jbinico.l glosses. Seventy times seven. are agreed. No specific number, but pre.otico.lly un• Ver. 20.-The promise is applied to the limited. There is no measure to forgive- publio prayer of the congregation, o.s we see ness; it must be practised whenever C'CCe.sion in what is oe.lltid " the prayer of St. Chry- arises. Some translate, "seventy-seven sostom" in the English Prayer-book. Are times,'' me.king o.n allusion to the retribution i:n.thorod together. For the purpose of exacted from Lo.mech: "H Cain shall be 214. THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [os. xvm. 1-35.