The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 316

expl'ellses the perfection of the graoe. The that they were not to expect to be able, like latter verb means '' to disoriminate," to see their Master, to work the wonders needed A differenoe in things, henoe to debate in for the oonfirmation of the gospel by their one's mind. The Vulgate gives, Si habueritu own power. Buch effects could be aohieved (idem, et non lu&ita"6riti,. What is here only by prayer and faith. (On the general ·.,njoined is that temper of mind which does promise to faithful pra.yer,seech. vii. 7-11.) not stop hesitatingly to oonsider whether a thing can be done or not, but believes that Ver. 29-oh. x.xii. 14.- Our Lor~', a 11 is possible-that one oan do all things authority questioned: h6 replies by uttering through Christ who strengthens him. So thru parable.a. (Mark xi. 27-xii. 12; the apostles lll'8 assured by Cllrist that they Luke xx. 1-18.) should not only be able to wither a tree Vera. 23-27.-First at-tack, refeN'ing to with a word, but should acoomplish far more diffioult undertakings. This which is his 1.ate actions; and Christ', ans1DBr, done to the fig tree (Tb '7'7JS D"ll~S); as, Ver. 23.-Wben he was oome into the "what was befallen to them that were temple. The conversation recorded here possessed with devils(..a.,.,;,v Sa.,uov,(oµlvaw)" belongs to the Tuesday of the Holy Week, (eh. viii. 33). The promise may intimate and took place in the courts of the temple, that it was to be through the preaching of at this time filled with pilgrims from all the apostles, and the Jews' rejection of the parts of the world, who hung upon Christ's, salvation offered by them, that the judgrnent words, and beheld his doings with wonder should fall on the chosen people. Thus they and awe. This sight roused to fury the . would do what was done to the fig tree. envy and anger of the authorities, and they And in the following words we may see a sent forth sections of their oleverest men to prophecy of the destruction of the mountain undermine his authority in the eyes of the of paganism. Or it may mean that theo- people, or to force from him statements on cratic Judaism must be cast into the sea which they might found oriminal accusation of nations before the Church of Christ against him. The ohief priests and the should reach its full development (Lange). elders of the people. According to the other This mounta.in. As he speaks, he points evangelists, there were also scribes, teachers to the Mount of Olivet, on which they of the Law, united with them in this deputa- were standing, or to Moriah crowned by tion, which thus comprised all the elements the glorioUB temple. Be thou removed ; be of the Sanhedrin, T!Jis seems to have been thou taken up; ti.p871Tt, not the same word as the first time that the council took formal in eh. xvii. 20. The sea. The Mediterranean notice of J esUB' claims and actions, and de- (see a Bimilar promise, Luke xvii 6). Ii manded from him personally an acoonnt of sh&ll be done. It was not likely that any himself. They had been quick enough in. such material miracle would litere.lly be inquiring into the Baptist's credentials,· needed, and no one would_ ever pray for when he suddenly e.ppeared on the banks of such a sign; bnt tl.ie expremon is hyper- Jordan ( see John i. 19, etc.) ; but they had bolically UBed to denote the performance of studiously, till quite lately, avoided any things most difficult and apparently im- regular investigation of the pretensions of possible (see Zech. iv. 7; 1 Cor. xiii 2). Jesus. In the fe.ce of late proceedings, this Ver. 22.-All things. The promise is ex- could no longer be delayed. A. crisis had tended beyond the sphere of extraordillary arrived; their own peculiar province wu miracles. Ill prayer; •• 'lj .. poawx,fi: in publicly invaded, and their authority the pra-per ; or, in yonr prayer. The use of attacked ; the opponent must be withstood the u.rti.cle may point to the prayer given by by the action of the constituted court. As onr Lord to his disciples, or to some definite he was teaching. Jesus did not confine form need from the earliest times in publio himself to beneficent acts ; he need the op- wol'8hip (comp. Acts i. 14; Rom. xii. 12; portunity of the ge.thering of crowds around J Cor. vii. 5; Col iv. 2). Believing, ye 1h&ll him to preach unto them the gospel (Lnke receive. The condition for the 11uccess of xx. 1), to teach truths which came with prayer is stringent. A. man must l.iave no double forco from One who had done such latent doubt in his heart ; he mnst not de- marvellous things. By what authority l,ate whether the thing desired can be done doest thou these things 1 They refer to the or not; he must have absolute trust in the triumphal entry, the reception of the power and good will of God; and he must homage offered, the healing of the blind and believe that "what he se.ith oometh to pass" le.me, the teaching as with the authority of (Mark xi.. 23). The faith required is the a rabbi, and especially to the cleansing of 8.Bllnrance of things hoped for, such u gives the temple. No one could presume to teach substance and being to them while yet out without a proper commission: where was of sight. The words had their special his authorization? They were the gue.rdiana IP.pplication to the apo1tlea, instructing them and rulen of the temple: what right had he oe. XXI, 1-46.J THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 321