The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 261

Vers. 27-30.-The great reward. St. Peter's question strikes us as a little low in tone. It often happens that this disciple, who has ~ee~ exalted as the prince of the apostles, betrays some human weakness. And yet 1t 1s nowhere sug"ested to us in Scripture that all consideration of future rewards are to be suppressed, though certainly Paley's feeble conception of Christianity as morality with the added sanctions of future rewards and punishments revealed in the teaching and confirmed by the miracles of Christ, is far below the New Testament standard. Christ claims our service, and unless enthusiasm for Christ draws us on, mere hopes of payment or fears of penalties will not succeed. But for those who are won to Christ by the purest influences, all innocent motives are needed to iwist in the difficult task of maintaining their. fidelity. Our Lord, therefore, condescends to encourage us by mentioning some of the rich rewards of self-denying service. It must be borne in mind that these rewards a.re gracious favours, like school prizes, not wages due and paid on demands of justice. The rewards are both heavenly and earthly. L THE HEAVEl!l'LY REWARD. This is presented to us in two forms. 1. .d glorious lhrone. The miDds of the disciples are full of vague but splendid :Messianic dreams, and Jesus approaches them a.long the lines of their own imaginations. The splendour of the throne will not be enjoyed on earth. Here there is to be sacrifice, toil, poverty, martyrdom. But there will be a throne in the future world. Not only will Christ reign. His apostles will reign with him. Similarly, all Christiane a.re to have .a' kingly status-to be both" kin,,,"ll and priests." This means more than future joy, a mere elysium of delights; it involves power, honour, responsibility~like the man who had gained ten pounds being appointed to rule over ten cities (Luke xix. 17). 2. Eternal life. The first reward was external ; it pointed to status, function, honour. The second is wholly internal and persona.L It is more than bare existence in the future. It is a new order of life-exalted being, enlarged capacity. To live in the vast ages of eternity, to live really and truly, not to dream for ever in an indolent paradise,-this is the exhilarating prospect of the faithful servant of Christ. We do not know what life is as yet. When we die we shall begin to live. IL THE EARTHLY BEW ARD. Their reward is to be a great reward on earth. In St. Mark the words, "now in this time," are added (Mark x. 30). He who gives to a irenerous king will certainly receive back far more than he sacrifices. The difficulty is to see how this can be on earth. Now, we cannot take the words of Christ literl\lly, for no one would wish to have hundreds of fathers and mothers. But as Christ owned kinship with all who do God:s will (eh. xii. 50), so may Christiana. The Church should be the new family for those who have been cast out of their old home on account of their Christian confession. The pearl of great price, the inward life and joy of pardon and renewal and communion with God.-this is a great possession; and it may be a present possession. It is better to have the peace of God in a life of sacrifice, than houses and acres with a heart in selfish unrest.-W. F. A. • Ver. 20.-The rich yOfJfll,g man. "What lack I yet? n Plainly the young man who put this question was in earnest. He was not one of those who approached Jesus merely from curiosity, or for the sake of measuring themselves with this renowned Dialectician and Teacher. With him the search for life eternal was au important persona.I matter. He went away sorrowful, with no heart to prolong the conversation, as soon as bis own case was pronounced upon. Probably he had an idea that our Lord would recommend him to build a synagogue, or ransom some of hie countrymen who were slaves, or do some striking religious act. For when our Lord reµlies, "Keep the commandments," he asks," What commandments ?'.'-fancying he mi;sht refer to some rules for the attainment of extraordinary saintliness not divulged. tu tl..e common people. And so, when Jesus merely repeated the time-wom Decalogue, the young man was disappointed, and impatiently exclaimed, "All these have I kept; oH, xu. 1-30.J THE GOSPEL ACCOTIDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 265