The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 219

1s such that if any two troe believers agree as touching anything that they shall aek it shall be done for them. They pray on earth, our Father hears in heaven. United prayer brings to their help the almighty power of God. That union of human wills into concordance with the holy will of God must be the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the suppliant~\ an~ when the Holy Spirit prompts the prayer, the prayer is always heard, the petition 1s always grant.ed. Only let us not misunderstand the Lord's promise, as perhaps the sons of Zebedee did at the time (comp. Mark x. 36, where they almost quote these words of Christ's). Instruct.ed Christians will ask for spiritual blessings, which alone are blessings always and under all conditions• or, if they sometimes ask for earthly things (and they are encouraged to do so in the 'Lord's Prayer itself), it will always be with the Lord's own condition, "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." The strength of the Church lies in prayer, and the strength of prayer lies in the presence of Christ. The union of only two Christiane in real earnest prayer represents the Church. For Christ himself is present wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, or rather, as the literal rendering is, into his Name. Christians are united by the one Spirit into one body, into that spiritual unity which is called by the one name (1 Cor. xii. 12). Believers are gathered together into that name, into that spiritual fellowship which can only be realized by those who walk in the light as he is in the light (1 John i. 7). And wherever that fellowship is, there is Christ the Lord manifesting himself to those who meet in bis name and are gathered together iat.o bis name. He is in the midst of that little gathering, for he is God, omnipresent, ready to hear bis servants in whatever corner of the world they lift up their prayers to him, ready to grant their petitions, to guide their counsels, to ratify the decisions, to give effect to the sentence issued in his name by those who met together in bis name in the simple earnestness of childlike Christians, in the energy of that faith which has turned wholly to the Lord. LEssoNs. 1. It is a difficult task to reprove a sinful brother; it is sometimes our duty; it must be done with gentleness and wisdom. 2. To gain a brother's soul is an exceeding great reward ; it is worth much prayer, mnch thought, much time. 3. The Lord bids us hear the Church ; the Christian must respect the authority of the Church. Vere. 21-35.-21ie law of forgiveness, L THE CONVERSATION WITB &r. PETER, 1. Peter's question. The Lord had intimated the duty of gentleness in dealing with offences. Every effort WII.S to be used to reconcile the offending brother ; he was to be approached with all gentleness, with all Christian tact, if so be that he might be won back to Christ and to the Church. Peter wished for a definite rule to guide him in carrying out the Lord's directions. .According to the rabbis, an erring brother should be forgiven three times. Peter suggested a larger number, the sacred number seven, as the limit of Christian forgiveness. 2. 21ie Lorirs answer. "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: bot, Until seventy times seven." There seems to be a refer- ence to the words of La.mech (Gen. iv. 24). Lamech desired a seventy and sevenfold· vengeance. The Lord commands a. seventy and sevenfold forgiveness. There is l!l'me doubt as to the numerical value of the word!!. But it is of little importance which rendering we adopt," seventy times seven," or" seventy-seven times,"for the Lord certainly means that acts of forgiveness are not to be counted. It is a question not to be settled by arithmetic, hut by Christian love and by the grace of God. " Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgi ,re them that trespass against us." IL THE PAlUllLE OF THE KING AND THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. 1. The account. The Lord illustrates the duty of forgiveness by the parable of a. human king and his servants. The king would take account of his servants. God takes account from time to time. There are preliminary reckonings preparatory for the great day of account., In the visitations of his providence, in dangerous sickness, in the hour of deep and heartfelt penitence, the Lord brings home to onr hearts the exceeding guilt of our sins, the greatness of our debt. A servant was brought who owed ten thousand talents. The reckoning had only just begun; there may have been other even greater debts to come. It was a terrible beginning. The servant was brought; he would not have come of his own will. The sinner shrinks in terror from the awful presence of the Judge. Adam and Eve hid themselves when first the King came to take account, cm. xvrn. 1-35.] THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 223