The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 301

e.s we.s Stephen. And when he was delivered back to the Jews by Pilato, with permission to judge him according to their Law, it is wonderful that he was not stoned, 'l'he fore- knowledge that saw it otherwise was manifestly Divine. How little did those cruel actors know that they were offering up the great Sacrifice for the world's salvation I How does God make the wrath of man to praise him I 4. It anticipated his resurrec- tion from the dead. (1) No fact, originally considered, could be more unlikely than this; yet it is circumstantially predicted, and fulfilled to the letter, (2) This elememt in the prediction was assuring to himselJ: The joy of its anticipation sustained him in his preparatory sufferings. In it he was" straightway glorified" (cf. John xiii. 31, 32; Heh. xii. 2). (3) It was also assuring to the disciples, When they heard of his approaching sufferings they were "amazed" and "afraid" (Mark x. 32), and the more so as they "understood none of these things" (Luke xviii. 34). Yet afterwards they remembered them as most memorable things. II. A DrvrNE PREDESTINATION. 1. Jesw couul have avoided his sufferings. (1) He was not surprised into them. He foresaw them all. Every thorn of his crown was fully in his vision. (2) He could have avoided Jerusalem. His boldness in going up there amazed his affrighted disciples (Mark x. 32). (3) At Jerusalem, were he so minded, he might have bad "twelve legions of angels," any of which could have frustrated the purposes of the Jews and the resources of the Romans. 2. But he resolutely faced them. (1) Because he would fulfil all righteousness. He must there- fore keep the Passover; and he must go to Jerusalem to keep it (see Deut. xii. 6), The moral here is tbat consequences must never be considered in competition with the will of God. (2) Because he would fulfil all benevolence. He went up to that Passover that he might himself become the world's salvation. (3) This thq multitude could not see. Note: The action of Jesus was allegorical, when he separated his disciples from the crowd on their way to the legal Passover, that he might unfold to them the mysteries of his Passion. The spirit of the Law is a special revelation, (4) What the disciples had heard they were in due time to testify. Not yet; events were not ripe. Hence also their separation from the crowd on the road (cf. eh. x. 27; xvii 9). (5) The Scriptures must be fulfilled (cf. Luke xviii. 31). The Divine power of Jesus in fnlfilling the predictions uttered by him ie as conspicuous and real as the Divine prescience which prompted their utterance. REJU..BKS. 1. It is good to converse with Jesus in the way. 2. It is good to anticipat.e so as to become familiar with our dying. 3. It is good to connect with our meditation upon death the matter of our resnrrection.--J. A. M. Vera. 20-28.-.Distinction in the kingdom. In the company of Jesus and his twelve apostles, as they went np to Jerusalem to the Passover, were probably other disciples, their relatives and friends. For here is" the mother of the sons of Zebedee," who came "worshipping, and asking a certain thing" of Jesus. The reply and discoun;e following show- L THAT DISTINC7J'ION IN THE KINGDOM 011' CHRIST IS NOT THE DISTINCTION 011' LORDSHIP, L This is the distinction of earthly kingdom,. (1) "The princes of the Gentiles lord it over them." 'l'hey have titles, insignia, robes, retinues, and cere- monies, to invest them with an air of auperiority. The spirit of the world is ostenta- tion-vanity and pride. (2) "Their great ones exercise authority over them." 'l'heir distinction is more than pageantry. They wield power civil and military. Thie they often use tyrannically. (3) "They are called benefactors" (see Luke xxii. 25). Their patron.sue iB courted. Their favours are applauded. 'fhey are worshipped and imitated by courtiers, sycophants, and slaves. 2. Christiana sometimes miatake it for the diBtinction of Christ's kingdom. (1) These, however, are imperfect Christians, as the apostles were before the Day of Pe!ltecost. The sons of Zebedee were evidently of this way of thinking when they sought places of distinction. For degrees of dignity in Eastern customs were denoted by proximity to the throne (see 1 Kings ii. 19 ; Ps, xliv. 9). They still cling to the notion of an earthly monarchy. Note: To desire to be preferred before a brother is to reflect upon him. Their fellow-disciples were no less vulgarly ambitious, Ambition was the source of their indignation against the sons of Salome. (2) Christ discerns the subtle pride that eludes the vision of its subject. On an earlier occ!M!ion Jesus rebuked James and John, and ea.id," Ye know not what ,;,a, xx. 1-34.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MATTHEW. 805