The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 258

.ruins the home, Discordant sentiments may also ruin it; but they indicate failure to reach an ideal, Freedom of divorce destroys the very idea.I. The home which may be broken up at any moment is no home. (2) It is unjust. It cannot always happen that both husband and wife desire to be separated when one is tired of the union; and if the wish is on one side only, injustice is done by divorce, and a. wron" inflicted. Even 0 ·,if the divorce cannot be carried out without mutual consent, the one person who does not wish for it is placed in a. cruelly distressful position. (3) It lowers the idea. of .marriage. Instead of studying to make the best of the marriage union, people who ·have freedom of divorce a.re tempted to be looking abroad for new attractions. This is immoral; it tends directly to degrade the thoughts, and to throw open the flood-gates of unrestrained desires.-W. F. A. Ver!!. 13-15.-0hrist blessing little children. This incident, familiar to us from our .childhood, not only throws light on the character of our Lord and bis interest in cbild- Jife. It reveals something in all who took part in it. I. THE MOTHEDB. 'l'he word " then," with which the paragraph opens, is deeply significant, because it closely connects this para.graph with that which precedes. Jesus bad been vindicating the sanctity of marriage. The degenerate Jews bad come ,to regard the subject too much, if not exclusively, in regard to the relations of man and wife. Here we see its bearings on the great and wonderful fact of motherhood. Marriage should be protected for the sake of the children. Troe pa.rents do not live -0hie:6.y for their own happiness. They live for their children. The nnselfish love of .motherhood is one of the most striking facts in nature. It softens the tigress when she is playing with her cubs; it gives ferocity to the hen when she is protecting her -chickens. Now mothers, naturally yearning for the good of their children, can do nothing better for the little ones than to bring them to Christ, and train them for him. . Y:et some pa.rents, who study the bodily health of their children with deepest solicitude, scarcely give a thought to their souls' welfare. II. THE CHILDREN. They showed certain traits of character. 1. Obediena. The ,children came at their mothers' bidding. Obedience to pa.rents is the root of obedience «i God. 2. .A perception of the attractiveness of Christ. Obedience would bring the children with their mothers. But more was wanted to induce them to go up to Christ and permit him to take them in his arms. There are some people who only terrify .children, although they try to coax them into favour. Jesus, however, was evidently one who won children by his own gentleness, kindness, and childlikeness. Pharisees were uncomfortable in his presence, but children were quite at home. Ill.. THE DISCIPLES. They rebuked the mothers. Why? 1. For Ohrisfs sake. They would not have him troubled. They wished to serve Christ, but they did not understand bis mind; therefore they blundered. We most know his will and do it, if we would serve him acceptably, 2. For their own sakes. They would keep :Chri~t .to themselves. The advent•of these mothers and children interrupted a discus- sion which was very interesting to them. But Christ preferred to tum from a. subject which was distressing to him to the innocent simplicity of the little children. Further observe: (1) Children will come to Christ if we will suffer them. It is our part to .remove every hindrance from their approach to him. (2) All children need Christ's blessing. (3) Very young children are old enough to receive it. IV. CHRIST He appears as the children's Friend and the Champion of their mothers. This well-known incident reveals him to us in his most winning grace. 1. Love of .children. We should give the children a good place in our arrangements for Christian work, if we would please our Lord, who is their Friend. 2. Childlikeness. Jesus is drawn to the children by a natural affinity. 3. Gracious kindness. He blesses the -children. This he does with persona.I touch, putting his hands upon them. Christ .will take trouble to help and save children.-W. F. A, Vere. lf;>-22,-The great refusal. The young man who won the love of Christ by .his ardour and enthusiasm, and who grieved our Lord by his refusal to make an unex- J)ected sacrifice, stands before us in vivid portraiture-an example, and yet a. warning. Let us consider the successive tra.Hs of his character revealed by his conduct. I. llis WISE QUESTION. It is much for a man to have a definite object before 262 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. XIX. 1-ao,.