The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 269

I. RECErTIVENESS DEPENDS ON NATURAL DISPOSITION, There is in this. a. marked· distinc_ti_on between men _&'?-d women. As a rule, b1 nature, wome~ are rcceptivo, and- not ci:1tical; ~en are cnt1~!• an~ not receptive.. So!Iletimes we find tbo womanly recept1vene~ m man; ~ut It 1s a s1~ of a weak d1spos1tion. Strong men only receivfr on ~o.mpuls1on. Rec_ept1v~ness may h~nder rather than help education; and it prevents. activity. He who 1s satisfied to receive makes little effort to attain. True education. deals with natural receptivity, and is anxious about its effect.ive limitation. It makes. teaching easy, but too easy. He who can only receive becomes only a crammed storehouse. II. RECEPTIVENESS DEPENDS ON MORAL DISCIPLINE. While the receptiveness which. we have as an element of our natural dispositi9n may prove a perilous weakiiees the receptiveness which we gain by self-discipline becomes an effective power in' our life. It is a qualifying receptiveness. It is related to the will, It is held in control. The man who is not subject to influence, who cannot be persuaded, who is as a hard field-path into which no seed can sink, is a manifestly undisciplined man self- centred, self-satisfied-a man who can learn nothing, and grow no better.-R. T: Ver. 13.-Thefolk who are interested in the chudren, It is difficult for ns to- conceive of the good man who does not love flowers, song, spring-time, and children. We might be quite sure that the" best of men who e'er wore earth about him" loved the children. But in the East all children are kept in the background; female children are despised by their fathers, and even male children are in the women's hands until quite big. So our Lord's interest in children seemed new and strange to his disciples. At this time, his mind was filled with the thought of coming sorrows, and H was relief and comfort to be made to think of simple, guileless childhood. If Jesus honoured the children, it is also true that the children comforted Jesus. Beware of exaggera- tion in representing Christ's dealings with children. Very few instances .are recorded. On one occasion he " set a. child in the midst" of the disciples ; then there is the incident of the text; and also the "hosa.nnah" of the children at~the triumphal entry. Fixing attention on the persons prominent in the incident of the text, see- I. WIIAT THE MOTHERS WA1'"T FOR THEm CHILDREN, 1. Their physical health. Subtle connection between health and character. Relation of health to success in life. Importance of laying foundations of health in early years. 2. Their mental culture. Age of education; danger of overstrain; and of thinking learning more important than character. 3. Their social position. So they try to secure for them right companions, good eociety, advautageous connections. 4. Their moral:character. This. ought to come first. Ileginillllgs of character and piety are reverence, truthfulness, obedience, trustfulness. IL WIIAT DISCIPLES MAY WANT FOB THE CHILDREN, 'l'hese disciples, in their conduct on this occasion, may represent all who have narrow and limited views of the sphere of God and religion. They wanted these children to run away and play, and not trouble or hinder the Master. Deal with the once-prevailing idea. that religion. is only the concern of grown-up folk. There has been over-pressure of the idea of " con version." There is an unfolding into the service of Christ. : III. WHAT THE LORD JES'OB WANTS FOB THE CHILDREN. 1. To come to him for their own sakes. And "coming to Christ" is simply this-setting our love upon him. 2. To come to him for their mothers' sakes ; because, through them, he can get a gracious influence on the mothers. 3. To come to him for the sake of what he can teach with their help. Bring out the reproofs and lessons, for the disciples, involved in our Lord's act.-R. T. Ver. 16.-~ ruler's mlst,akes. The assumption that this ruler was a youth has no foundation. The man could not have been a ruler if he had been a youth. He must have been in what we should call the prime of life; but he evidently retaineJ. some- thing of the impetuousness of youth. His mistakes suggest the impulsive temperament, that readily yields to emotion, and is wont to act before it thinks. Our Lord skilfully dealt with individuals. "He needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man." He was "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'' In the ruler's abrupt and impulsive question we may trace three forms of mistake. on. nx.1-30.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 2'i3