The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 247

accepted Fully a.nd he,utily, wonld h11ve that, had the alternative been eet before led him t-0 perfection. Reading theee words him in this blunt, palpable fashion, he too of our Lord, SL Anthony WBB so strioken in would have gone away sorrowful. hea.rt a.nd oonsoienoe that he obeyed them Vers. 23--30.-The danger• of riohea and litera.lly, stripped himself of everything that he bad, distributed to the needy, and went the blessing• of self-denial. (Mark x. 23-81; forth poor and ne.ked, trusting to God to Luke xviii. 2-l:--30.) proYide for him. Many in all ages, inspired Ver. 23.-Then said le1111& He derives by ardent lo'l"e of life eternal, have done the an importnn_t l~son from the sad result of same. We shall do well to recognize thnt the o.bove 1nc1dent. St Luke connects it there are two ways of serving God accept- with what had just preceded: "When ably-there is the good life required from Jesus saw that he (the ruler] was very all rc>ligions Christians, and there is the sorrowful, he so.id." It was o. strange and life of perfection to which eome, by God's moet emphatic assertion, quite a.lien from special grace, are called, and which they general opinion and sentiment. A rioh man embrace and fulfil. It was the latter life shall hardly (liva-1t0Ao,s, tDith difficulty) enter that Cilrist put before this young man. into the kingdom of heaven. Remembering Ver. 22.-When the young man heard that Christ had just invited the young ruler that 11aying. Such an injunction was to range himself on his side and become wholly unexpected; it completely staggered his disciple, we see that the primary mean- him; it appealed to the one point in his ing of the term, "kingdom of heaven," here cha.meter which was weak and imperfect. is the Christian Cl.lurch, the society which He would have endured any n.mount of Jeane came to establish. It was indeed legal requirements or of vexations and difficult for a man wealthy, honoured, digni- painful observances; he would gladly have fied, to etri p himself of his riches and rank, become a disciple of Christ; but the previons and openly cast in his lot with the despised sacrifice was too great ; he could not make Jesus and his followers, voluntarily sur- it; not that he was specially covetous or rendering all that hitherto had made life avaricions, but his heart was set on his beautiful and worth living, It is difficult riches ; he he.d a wealthy man's tastes and for a rich man in any oase to serve God position and self-confidence, and he could acceptably, 1111 Christ shows with reiterated not bring himself to cast away these even emphe.sis. at Christ's word. Such supreme self-denial, Ver. 24.-Age.in I say unto you. The such absolute devotion, he would not em- disciples, St, Mark notes, " were astonished bmce. So he went away sorrowful. He at his words," so he proceeds to state the saw the right l'OBd, but he turned away startling proposition more unreser\'edly and from it. Without any further word, casting energetically. It is easier for a oamel, etc. a.side all hope of the saintly life, yet grieved This is a proverbial expression for an impos- and dejeoted at the thought of what he sibility. A similar proverb is found in many was losing, he returned to his home. It countries, only substituting another great was hard to disobey the wise and loving animal instead of the oamel, e.g. the elephant. Teacher who had endeavoured to lead him From taking a too litere.1 view of the passage, to the noblest aims and the highest ambi- some commentators have invented e. gate at tion ; but it was harder to follow his severe Jerusalem, low and narrow, designed only counsels. The evangelist gives the reason for foot-passengers, which was called "the of this unhappy deciirion. J!'or he had great; needle's eye." Others have remedied the posslllllliODB j ~" -yap fx.,,, l<'MJ/J,IITII ToM& : supposed absurdity by reading it&,.,Aos (if, erat enim habens multaa poueasionea; he 'IDIH indeed, there is such a word) "rope," for one that had many po•se,siom, or had and 1tcl}'71l\.or, as if we were to say cable instead continued to har,e, implying poBBession and of camel. But there is no difficulty in the retention (comp. Luke v. 16, "he continued expression. Such hyperboles and paradoxes in retirement"). This fact was the snare are common in all languages (comp. oh, that trapped Lim, the stumbling-block O\'er xxiii. 24), The impossibility, indeed (as which he fell. The possession of riches ver. 26 shows), is relative, but the ·waming proved fatal to sainilinesa. It is this truth is none the less real and terrible. The Lord that our Lord emphasizes in the following says that the possession of riches prevents discourse. They who are uncoDBCious of the owner from following him, and endangers having been tried ae this young man was his eternal salvation; for that is what; U tried may condemn Lim 1111 worldly, covetons, comes to. In St. Mark (whether the words and insincere. A true Christian, who are genuine or not is uncertain) we find e. knows his own heart, may well feel that limitation introduced: "How hard it is for he can throw no stone at this defaulter; thall them that trnst in rioheel" Now, this is the he, any more than the Jew, could not give effect of riohes ; men leam to trust in them, o.p Ill! that he held dear for Chri.at's sake ; to deem that th4='ir earthly atate ill IIOOlll'8- on. ux. 1-30.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 251