The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 342

Cb1istian in the world is n~t of it. (2) In the Church he is at home. (3) He meets Jesus there. (4) He see his "wonders" there----miraoles of moral healing miracles of wholesome discipline. (5) He raises the "Hosanna I '' there, The "ba~s 1md suck- lings," who perfected praise, were not infants literally, but childlike disciples (cf. oh. xvi ii. 1-6; xi. 25; 1 Pet. ii. 2). 4. He finds the ritualist and the traditionalist there. (1) "The chief priests and the scribes" (ver. 15). Ritua.list and traditionalist a.re fre- quently met in company. (2) They saw, but could not•interpret, the wonders wrought by Christ. They could not see his Godhead in the wonderful submission of the traffickers. Neither could they see this in his miracles of healing. (8) They were angry with those who could interpret the wonders. They were scandalized that the disciples should shout " Hosanna to the Son of David I " Proud men cannot bear that honour should be given to any but themselves. To hypocrites everything that is not commonplace and traditional is extravagant. (4) Prejudice could censure "t,he blind and the lame" for coming into the temple to be healed, but could see no evil in the traffickers stalling their oxen there. Superstition is often the companion of irreverence. The priests probably had a. pecuniary interest in the traffic, particularly in those animals sold for sacrifice which they had to examine and approve. Interest blinds. Il. WHAT SORT OF TREATMENT BA.VE THEY TO EXPECT FROM HIM? 1. JV7iat ha, the secularist to expect, (1) To be violently ejected from the Church. See the tables and seats overthrown and the money scattered. What a. different estimate of its value has Jesus to that cherished by men of the world I (2) To have their characters exposed. "Rohbers ! " Extortioners and cheats, viz. in their business, a.re robbers. The slyness of the fraud does not diminish its villainy. How monstrous the sin when the very Church of God is made a" den of thieves "I (3) Those who are not admonished by the soorchings of truth must suffer the retributions of power. On the first day when Jesus entered the temple he" looked ronnd about upon .all things." It was not until the second day that he gave the sterner rebuke (cf. Mark xi. 11, 15). (4) 'l'his was the second time that Jesns purged the temple. The first was a.bout three years earlier (see John ii 14). Note: Secularists ejected from the Church will return. They must be expelled again. (5) As onr Lord purged the temple first at the commence- ment of his ministry and now again a.t the close of it, so a.t the beginning of the Christian dispensation the Jewish anti-Messiah was driven out by the Romans, and at the end of it the Gentile antichrist will be cast out. (6) Never, unLil the anti- christian secularism is purged out of the temple of the Lord, will the glory of the Lord come into it as in ancient times. The millennial reign will set in with the return of the Shechinah. 2. Wnat have the afflicted to expect, (1) Miracles of healing.· The physical miracles have tlieir moral counterparts. The "blind" come to spiritual conception. The "lame" come to render moral obedience in a steady, even walk. (2) Christ alone wrought miracles in the temple of the Lord. He only can work out spiritual marvels. (8) Note: Christ brought in the afflicted as he turned out the secularists. Concession to the spirit of the world is not the way to win men to Jesus. We have too many sensuous "entertainments." ( 4) Spiritual glory is grander than material splendour. By hie healing mercy Jesus ma.de the glory of the latter house to surpass that of the former. 3. What have the true disciples to expect, (1) Mutual encouragement. The hosannas were in chorus. If "children," literally taken, raised their voices, it was in imitation of the childlike disciples. (2) The defence of Christ. The expulsion of the traffickers was for the defence of pious Gentiles; for it was in the court of the Gentiles the traffic was carried on. The privileges of the Gentile believer must not be diverted from him. Jesus also defended his disciples against their enemies, the ritualists and traditionalists. (8) His commendation. God makes the wrath of men to praise him. But hie praise is " per- fected" by his disciples. With them his praise is intelligent, generous, and free. 4. Wnat have the haughty to ezpect1 (1) Rebuke from Christ.. 'l'here Js e. ~een sarcasm in the question, "Did ye never read?" when addressed to the," chief pnests a.ad scribes." (2) Abandonment by Christ. "And be left the_m.' H? had no sympathy with their spirit. He found a more congenial lo<lging· m the ohve-sha.de of Bethauy. (3) The groat Redeemer is e. great Refonner.-J. A. M. Vern. 18-22.-The cmnipotence of faith. The miracles of Jesus were genera.Uy OR. xu.1-46,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 347