The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 218

of a human ehopherd. It is en illustration (as far as Divine truths can be shadowed by human things) of the love of Goel for each separate human soul. It is not his will that one should perish; he willeth that all men should be saved. Then let not any Christian man dare to despise one of those whom God so greatly loved. The Lord repeats this precious parable in Luke xv. under different circumstances, with a some- what different application. It cannot be repeated too often or studied too deeply. LESBONB, 1. Evon apostles had their rivalries: how earnestly we ought to strive against envy and jealousy I 2. A true conversion is of all blessings the greatest; seek it with all your might, 3. There is no true conversion without a humble, childlike spirit. 4. An evil example involves fearful guilt; avoid it at any cost. 6. Honour all men, especially believers ; each one is prccioWl in the sight of God. Vera. 15-20.-The method of dealing with offenra. I. THE DUTY or PRIVATE CHRISTUNB. 1. Secret admonition. The Lord had warned the apostles that offences must come; be had urged the necessity of exceeding carefulness against giving offence to others; now he tells us how to act when others put a stumbling-block in our way by their trespasses. Go and tell thy brother his fault, he says; speak to him secretly, do not publish his transgression, do not make a talk of it; charity endureth all things, charity hideth a multitude of sins. Speak to him; it is better to tell him his fault than to brood over it. But speak to him gently for his own soul's sake. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother-gained him to Christ, gained his soul ; for he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. And oh I what is the exceeding great privilege of gaining a. soul which Christ loved, for which he came clown from heaven that he might seek it I 2. The second step, admonition before two O'J' three witnesses. If the first attempt fails, still publicity should be a.voided as far as possible ; a second should be made with the help of one or two Christian friends. They may bring the erring brother to a. sense of bis own guilt, of the offence which he is causing to others, of the wrong which he is doing to the Church of which he is a. member by his wilful- ness and obstinacy. II. THE OFFICE OF THE CHURCH. 1. Its discipli'/1,e. If the sinful brother again and again refuses to listen to Christian reproof in private, the sin which is causing offence to the brethren must be brought before the Church. By the word "Church" the Lord must mean the Christian Church, that Church of which be had spoken for the first time at Cresarea Philippi, which he was building upon the Rock. He was speaking prophetically, looking forward to the growth and increase of the Church. "Tell it unto the Church." This is the le.st resort; if he neglect to bear the Church be must be regarded as a. heathen man 6Ild a publican, no longer a brother in the full Christian sense of the word. But we must remember that the Lord's mercy extended to heathen and publicans. He came to call sinners to repentance. The sinful brother may repent, he may be forgiven and saved. The censure itself is inflicted not only for example's sake, not only that the ea.use of offence may be removed, but also for the sake of the offender, "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor. v. 5). 2. Its authority. The Lord here confers upon all the apostles as representatives of the Church that authority which he had already (cb. xvi. 19) given to St. Peter as the representative of the apostolic college. 'l'be Church, then, bath authority in contro- versies of faith-authority to declare what is of faith and what is not, what is of obliga- tion and what is indifferent, what is allowed and what is forbidden. Christians a.re bouud to regard the decisions of the Church with respect and reverence, for if rightly made they are ratified in heaven. Yet St. Peter certainly erred (Gal. ii. 11); Churches may err, and alas I have erred. It is only while the Church stands firm upon the Rock, which is Christ; only when the two or three are gathered together in the name of Christ, and he himself according to his promise is in the mid~t of them; when those two or three are men who have turned to God in the simplicity and lowliness of little children; it is only then that the conditions are fulfilled on which this promise depends. What a tremendous re~ponsibility rests upon those who are called to guide and rule the Church of God I All Christian men should feel for them in the many difficulties of their arduous work, should pray for them constantly and earnestly. 3, The ,trmgth of Uw, (Jhurch. 'fhat strength lies ln prayer. Tle power of united prayer  222 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [cH, xvm. l-80.