The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 243

at all than to fetter one's self with snoh an Paul ce.rri.ea forward the Lord's teaching inexorable obligation. Such a doctrine was when he writes (1 Oor. viL 82, 83), "He entirely novel in that age, and most nn- that is unmarried is oe.reful for the things palate.ble; and even the apostles receive it of the Lord, how he may plee.se the Lord ; with wonder and hesitation. They have but he that is married is oareful for the not yet leM'lled the.t in Messiah'e kingdom things of the world, how he may please hie grace oonquers ne.tural inclination, e.nd wife " ( oomp. Isa. l vi 8, 4). The celibate life, ,trengthens the weak will so the.t it rises deliberately embraoed for religion's se.ke1_is 1uperior to cnstom, prejudice, e.nd the here approved by Christ, not to the ais- ,romptings of the flesh. para.gement of matrimony, but as a oounsel - Ver. 11.-0ur Lord me.kee a gentle reply which some are enabled to follow to their to this obeerve.tion of the disciples concern- soul's great benefit. n may be added that ing the inexpediency of marriage under the counsel applies e.lso to married persons some ciroumetancee. Yon say true. he who se.crifice conjugal endeCLrmente for spiri- seems to mean, but all men oannot reoeive tual reasons-" have wives as though they this saying; i.e. their words, " It is not good had none" (l Cor.vii. 29). Let him receive it. to marry." But he endorses these words in This is not an injunction, but a permission: a different signification from theirs. Their it is no universal rule, prescribed to e.11 or objection to IIlBnJ' a.rose from the impos- to the many: it is a special grace e.llowed eibility of putting away a wife for any canee. to the few, and by few attained. "Ee.eh Christ pBBees over these ignoble samples, man," _says St. Paul, •• he.th his own gi~ and enunciates the only principle which from God, one after this manner, and should lead a man t.o abstain from marriage. another after that" (1 Cor. vii. 7, 26). Some They to whom it is given. They to whom think the Essenes are here referred to; are given the call and the grace to abstain but it is not likely that our Lord would from marriage. These persons' practice endorse the practices of a sect which in forms e.n exception to the general view of some of its tenets was by no means com- the propriety e.nd blessedness of the mar- mendable, Rather he is laying down e. riage state. limitation that, while self-sa.crifioe and Ver. 12.-0ur Lord proceeds to note three self-dedication to God a.re acceptable and classes of men to whom it is given to abstain fraught with _peculiar blessings, none should from marriage. There a.re some eunu.ohs, attempt to wm heaven in this way, unless whioh were 10 blJl'lL. The first clBBs consists they are specially prepared for such e. life of those who a.re physically unable to con- by the grace of God me.staring the human tra.et matrimony, or, having the power, la.ck will a.nd oontrolling every earthly desire. the inclination. They are compulsorily oon- The pre-eminent value set on celibacy by tinent, and are not voluntary abstainers. the early Church was learned from this Neither is the second clBBB : those whioh and simile.r pBBse.ges: but Christ institutes were me.de eunnchs of men. Snch were no comparison between the single and common enough in the ha.rams and courts ma.rried states: and it would he.ve been of Orientals. The cruel and infe.moll8 treat- wiser to imitate his reserve in estimating ment which such persons underwent WBB the spiritual merits of the two conditions. practised age.inst their will. and conse- Vers. 18-15.-Benediction of lit!Ze chil- quently their continence had no sort of dren. (Mark L 18-16: Luke xviii.15-17.) merit. The third is the only cl.e.ss which of choice and for high reasons lived e. celi• Ver. 13.--Christ, having le.id his blessing ba.te life: which have me.de themselvea on marriage, now blesses its fruit. Then. eunuohs for the kingdom of heaven'• sake. This happened direotly after the preceding This is not to be understood of excision ; conversation. Mothers were won to his side for th.i.e would be e. contravention of the by his elevation of woman to her true poei• order of nature and the good work of tion, and his marked tenderness to ohildren. creation. Origen, who took the passage Little ohildren ('ll'ru~la). St. Luke ce.lls them literally, and with his own hands mutilated Tc\ /Jp•tfn1, "their infants." These were be.bes hi1I111elf, WBB j 1l8tly condemned by the verdict whom the mothers carried in their 611Ill1, of the Church. The verb is to be under- and who were too young to understand the etood in a metaphorical sense of the morti- meaning and importance of the e.ot of Christ fication of the natural desires and impulses in blessing them, It was a oll8tom to take at the coet of much pain and trouble, the infants to the synagogues, that they might -epirit conquering the flesh by the special receive the prayers and blessings of the grace of God. The motive of such self- rabbis, or holy men. For this reason they denial is high and rure. It is practised were brought to Christ as e. holy and revered "for the kingdom o heaven's se.ke," that Teacher. That he 1hould put hill haudl on la, to be free from distraction and the cares them, a.nd praJ. The laying on of handa and dangers involved in e. married life. St, we.e 11111bolioal of ble111ing (see Gen. xMii. cu. xIX, 1-30,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 247