The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 248

tho.t oho.nge and chnnce will not aff'ect them, help of God and the strong hope of thu that they are, eo to speak, independent of future life. How a rich man may be dis- Providence; they love the world whioh is ciplined and elevated we see in the case of ao good to them and eo pleasant in their Zacchreus (Luke xix. 8). Many euch eyes, and they have no earnest longing for instances have occurred in our own days, as a better home. Buch is the natural conse- in all Christian times. quence of the poseeesion of wealth, and that Ver. 27.-Then answered Peter. This which makes the impossibility of entrance was not so mnch a reply to any direct word into the kingdom. of Jesus, as to the general purport of his Ver. 25.-Ellceedingly amazed. Tbe stem late utterances. He had intimated that teaching of vers. 23 and 24 thoroughly dis- self-renunciation was the passport to eternal mayed and perhaps off'ended them. Tem- life; that a just reward awaited those who poral prosperity hnd in their Law been held gave up all for Jesus' sake. This, Peter forth as the reward of righteousness and says, is exactly what the apostles had done. obedience, a foretaste of future happiness. We have forse.ken all, and followed thee. It They must unlearn this principle. Here, was not much that they had left, but it was as they understood it, was a doctrine novel, all they had, their whole means of sub!rist- unheard of, unnatural I Fancy the astonish- ence, old h11bits, old associations, to which ment that would be displayed nowadays if the poor cling as tenaciously as the wealthy. suoh a sentimeut were solemnly propounded All this, at a simple word of Christ, they had in the Stock Exchauge, the bank, the relinquished unreservedly, without regret market I The apostles could not minimize or complaint. They had reduced them- its import, or say that it might suit other selves to the condition which Christ had days and other states of society, but was enjoined. What shall we have therefore 1 inapplicable to their age and nation. We The question showed the usual ignorance can do this in the case of many seemingly of the nature of the kingdom of Messiah. stringent requirements of the gospel ; but Peter is thinking chiefly of temporal advance- they accepted the announcement in its fnll ment o.nd promotion, of success and dignity and simple meaning, and asked in sorrowful in an earthly realm. Even after their wonder, Who then oan be saved 1 If the Master's crucifixion and resurrection they way to heaven is barred to the rich man, had BBked, "Lord, wilt thou at this time how shall the poor pass therein ? The restore again the kingdom to Israel?" difficulty seemed to apply to everybody. (Acts i. 6). It was not till after the eft'nsion All who are not rioh are hoping and of the Holy Spirit at Pentecoet that their struggling to become rich, and therefore imperfect view was corrected, and they fall under the same category. If the understood who.t Christ m0Bnt when he apostles thought not of themselves in this said, "My kingdom is not of this world." question, they were grieved at the reflection But what a revulsion of feeling must have that, under the ci:roumstances, the majority taken plaoe in those who a few minutes of mankind were reokleBBly endangering before had despairingly thought that salva- their eternal salvation. With their views tion was unattainable, and now asked what of a temporal kingdom, the apostles probably their reward would be for the sacrifices were thinking of their own prospects. which they had made I The older commenta- Ver. 26.-Butleeus beheld them (lµJ)ll.bj,ar, tors have regarded Pater's inq airy as re- looking upon them). He turned on hie dis- ferring to eternal life after death, to which ciples a look full of eo.rneetness, sympathy, their e.ots had given them a olaim. But it and love, soothing their fears and clo.iming must be remembered that the Jews had their full attention for a spiritual truth. very vague ideas about the beatified state With men (rapci. w,8prfnro1r) this is impoBBible. in tho other world, which, as many thought, Men in their own strength, relying on their was to be inaugurated at the olose of the own natural powers, cannot eave their souls Messianio era, and which others put off or rise superior to the snare of riohes. From indefinitely to the unknown day of judg- the entanglements oooosioned by W0Blth, ment. It was never generally and popularly and the lowering eft'oots of its pursuit and anything more than an unoertain hope, 11.Dd enjoyment, the natural man is wholly unable was not regarded as a stimulant to life and to extrioate himself. With God all things action on earth. While, on the other hand, are posaibla. Here is the only solution of the terrestri11l prooeedinge of the Messiah tho difficulty, With the graoe of God, and were a subject of the keenest expeotation, embracing the ealls of his providenoe, the and the ground of national aspirations. lt rich man may be delivered from his dangers, is not probable that the apostles' notions may keep a heart unspotted, m11y use his had at this time risen superior to the popular wealth to God's glory and his own eternal view. Pater's question, therefore, WB!t good. Bo the impossibility is a oonditional doubtless prompted by the national oou- one, to be overcome by duo recour:re to the ception of Mcssiah's reign. 252 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on:. x1x, 1-30.