The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 300

in the Church for every qualified labourer, All are q1111lified by accepting the House- holder's conditions. (2) 'l'he work io pleasant. We are called inl;o the vineyard of the Church to weed and dress, to plnnt and water, to fence and train. The training of living growths is not dull work. The production and maturing of immortal fruits for the service and glory of a gracious Master is inspiring service. (3) The time for vineyard work ie short. One day, at most, to be followed by the "night in which no man can work." The eleventh hour of life may be earlier or later. It was early to Thomas Spencer, Henry Martyn, Kirk White, Robert McCheyne. (4) Every labourer has his hire. 3. Consider the lessons of the reckoning. (1) God gives to every one his right under the agi·eement he bas made with him {see Rom. iii. 5, 6). The heavenly reward will be given to all who seek it in God's way, without reference to time or accidents. Further than this we must not insist upon the equality of wages (see Luke xix. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 8). (2) God exercises a free and sovereign grace beyond bis engagements of promise. It would be sad for the best of us were be to limit us to our merits. Then the highest creature must go away into nothing; the wicked into misery. (3) The goodness of God will astonish some who have come in late to find themselves preferred before others who have laboured long. Some who followed Christ when :first he preached afterwards became offended and walked no more with him. Paul was as one chosen out of due time, yet he came not behind the chiefest of the apostles, and took the throne forfeited by Iscariot. (4) Many who occupy the first rank here for culture, standing, and influence, will there be last. Ga.lilreans, in these respects inferior to the scribes and priests, were chosen to be the inspired teachers of the gospel. The lowest will in many cases be preferred to the self-righteons Pharisee (see eh. viii. 11, 12; xxi. 31, 32; Luke vii. 29, 30; xiii. 28---30). The disciples evidently thought the advantages of the rich in favour of salvation were such that if they should fail, there could be little hope for the poor; but were "astonished exceedingly" to hear the teaching of Christ (see eh. xix. 23---26). John Newton said, "When I get to heaven I shall see three wonders. The first will be to aee many persons there whom I did not expect to see; the second will be to mis9 many whom I did expect to see; the greatest wonder of all will be to fi..nd myself there."-J. A. M. Vers. 17-19.-Prophetic anticipations. The roads are now crowded with people journeying to Jerusalem to celebrate there the great annual Feast of the Passover (see Deut. xvi. 1-7). Jesus sepa.1-ated his disciples from the crowd, probably by retiring into some sylvan shade to rest, that he might discourse to them privately of his approaching Passion, His discourse evinces- I. A DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE. 1. It anticipated his betrayal. (1) He was able to read its history in that of Ahithopbel (cf. 2 Sam. xv. 12; Ps. xii. 9; Iv. 12, 14, 20; John xiii. 18). (2) As yet he had not named Juda.s; but, had Judas already meditated his infamous act, what must have been his feelings when Jesus now said in his hearing, "And the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes"? No disciple of Christ can apostatize from him unwarned. 2. It anticipated the malignity of the rulers. (1) Delivery "unto the ohief priests and scribes" is a periphrasis for the Sanhedrin, which sat at "Jerusalem" (see Luke xiii. 33). (2) The corporate conscience is proverbially elastic; yet who but God could have foreseen that the San- hedrin would ilgree to condemn Jesus to death? (3) The Sanhedrin might "condemn" to death under the Mosaic Law, but the Romans had deprived it of the power to carry out the sentence (see John xvii. 31). In this note a symptom of the departure of the sceptre or magistracy from Judah, which was to be preceded by the coming of Shiloh (see Gen. xlix. 10). 3. It anticipated the violence of the Romans. (1) 'l'his is now the third time that Jesus clearly predicted his sufferings (cf. eh. xvi. 21; xvii. 22, 23). But here, for the first time, the part the Gentiles were to take in that tragedy is indicated. It was meet thr,t the Saviour of a sinful world should suffer from the com- bined malice of Jew and Gentile (see Eph. ii. 16). (2) "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock." This was done by Herod and his Roman soldiers (see Luke xxiii. 11). (3) "And to scourge." This was done by Pila.ta (see John xix. 1). And his soldiers followed up the scourging with many dreadful insults. (4) "And to crucify." 'l'he punishment of the cross was Roman, not Jewish. It was, originally con- sidered, more probable that Jesus should be privately slain or stoned to death in a. tumult, ~04 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oa, xx. 1-84.