The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 335

all ought to look for good grounds of faith. But the attitude of humility will be that of an inquirer, not that of a judge. (2) An irrelevant question. The charges Christ made were true; the things he denounced were wrong. Why, then, care so much about the question of hie authority? People raise technical questions and abstract difficulties, but often these only obscure the plain moral truths which cannot be denied. (3) An insincere question, Did these rulers thirst for knowledge concerning the mission of Christ? Were they troubled with grave doubts? We know that they wore only anxious to entrap our Lord. Flippant doubt ie culpable, but the most deadly doubt is that which hates the light. 2. The cownter-question of (!hrist. HI' postpones his reply to a question he desires to have answered by the rulers. (1) Showing his skill and wisdom. Christian apologists have acted too much on the defensive. It would be wiser to follow the example of Christ, and carry the war into the enemy's territory, (2) Proving the weakness of the rulers' position. They challenged Christ's status. What was theirs? People who reject Divine revelation, and the larger number who simply ignore it, will have to account for their conduct. At least they should be prepared to justify themselves. (3) Turning from a formal to a. moral inquiry, John the Baptist was an embodiment of the national conscience, How was S\!Ch a man to be treated? We make too much of questions of rank and office, and too little of those that touch right and wrong conduct. II. THE SUBSTANCE, That was indeed an important question which the rulers put to Christ. If it were asked humbly and sincerely, it might be regarded as most just and reasonable. When it is so asked, Christ does answer it. Indeed, if the rulers had not been blind, they would have found a twofold reply close at hand. Christ justifies and confirms his claims : 1. By the authority of conscience. When he startled the people in the temple by an unwanted exercise of authority, they submitted without an attempt at resistance, because their consciences confirmed his action. Christ speaks to the conscience, and the conscience echoes what he says. 2. By the authority of know- ledge. Who are the authoritative teachers? Surely the only teachers who can speak. to us with authority are those who know the subjects they undertake to teach. JeSWI "spoke with authority" (eh. viL 29), because he spoke out of knowledge. There was a self-evidencing truthfulness and clearness of vision in him. 3. By the authority of God. The rulers could not see this. If their blindness had not been morally culpable, they would have been excused for rejecting the claims of Christ, because those claims were so great that no mere man could have a right to put them forth. When we per- ceive the Divine nature of Christ, all his words and deeds are justified, and his authority comes upon us with more than kingly power.-W. F. A. ,. Vere. 28-32.-The two sons. In this parable our Lord illustrates the great principle which he more than once enunciated-that " many shall be last that are first; and first that are last." It has a special reference to the Pharisees and publicans of Christ's time. But there are publicans and Pharisees in our own day. Let us consider the parable in its bearing on ourselves and the present conduct of people. I. ;THE BON WHO REFUSED AND REPENTED, 1. His hasty refusal. Doubtless he spoke in impatience, His temper was hot, and the call to work amazed him. Thus he began the day badly, as many people begin life badly. This is altogether deplor- able, because no subsequent amendment can obliterate the fact that the beginning was spoilt. 2. His later repentance, We need not be the slaves of onr own pa.st. If we started wrong, we are not forced to continue in the path of evil. " It is never too late to mend." Ther.i is a pride of consistency which only comes of folly; and there is a noble inconsistency, a sublime inconsequence. The change in the son showed (1) reflectiveness; (2) humility; (3) a willingness to own himself wrong; (4) a desire to do better in future. These are all hopeful qualities. 3. His obedient action. He " went." That was everything. He may not have said another word; but he obeyed his father, though in silence. The one thing God looks for is obedience. The way to make amends for past negligence is not to promise better things for the future, but just to do them, 4. His improving conduct. We see this son in two stages, and the second is better than the first. He was evidently moving in the right direction. The most important question is not--To what have we attained hitherto? but-Which way ~re we moving_? towards the light or from it? 5, His accepted obedien~. This WU 840 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MATI'HEW. [on. xu.1-i8.