The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 344

the motive is unwo,·thy of the StJ.it. (1) Is our prayer for business prosperity? But is the motive good? Else the answer may oome in anger. To how many ls the acces- sion of material wealth the wasting of the infinitely more precious moral properties! (2) Is our prayer for the spiritual conversion of a child? 'l'he end here is undoubtedly good. But what is the motive? Is it that his consequent dutifuluess may increase the comfort of the home, rather than bring glory to God and save a soul from death? Feather the arrows of prayer with the very best motives. 3, As when the disposition of the suppliant is inoonsistent with sincerity. (1) Such is the case when the lazy pray for a revival. Work for it while you pray, (2) When the impenitent seek salva.tion. This is like a rebel suing to his sovereign for pardon with a loaded revolver in his hand. The salvation of the gospel is a salvation from sin. Repentance is therefore indispensible (see Ps. !xvi. 18; Isa. i 16-20; eh. v. 28-26). There is no mercy for the implacable (see eh. vi. 12-15).---J. A. M. Vers. 23-32.-The authority of Jesus. The" things" in reference to the doing of which this question of the authority of Jesus was raised by the chief priests and elders, were his purging the temple from the traffickers, his publicly teaching and working miracles of healing there. Mark, by more clearly placing the miracle of the withering of the fig tree in order before these things, brings them into closer connection with the passage before us. We may profitably consider the authority of Jesus- L AB IT rs EVIDENT IN HIS CONDUCT. 1. Hu qtJ.e&tioners were Mt ignO'l'ant of hi, daiffllJ. (1) He had long before plainly told them who he was (see John v. 36, 43). (2) He had but the day before claimed to be the Lord of the temple. He called it the "temple of God," and spoke of it a.s hie own house (see vers. 12, 13). .And the passages he quoted in connection with this claim spake of the temple as the house of Jehovah (see Isa.. lvi. 7; Jer. vii 11). (3) Their object was now to get him to assert this again, that they might make it a pretext to fix upon him the charge of blasphemy; for they had plotted to destroy him (see Mark xi 18). 2. His conduct vindicated hia daiffllJ. (1) His expulsion of the traffickers was a miracle. It was a work which an army might hesitate to undertake. Yet single-handed he did it effectually. (2) He wrought miracles of healing whlch, the rulers and Pharisees themselves being witnesses, no man could do unless God were with him (see John iii 1, 2). (3) Moral miracles also attended his ministry. Publicans and harlots-unjust and immodest persons- notorious sinners, were converted into reputable citizens and exemplary saints. These were the people represented by the son in the parable who "said, I will not; but afterwards repented, and went" (ver. 29). The life of the sinner is an actual clamour of" I will not." But as there are those who promise better than they prove, so are there those who prove better than they promise. • Seest tbon yon harlot, wooing all she meets : The wom-out nuisance of the public streets: Herself from mom to night, from night to morn, Her own abhorrence, and as much your scom? The gracious shower, unlimited and free, Shall fall on her when Heaven denies it thee." (Cowper.) 3. Note liere the gospel call. (1) It is a call to work for Christ. "Go, work in mi vineyard." It is charged upon the Pharisees that they say, and do not (eh. xxiii. 3); upon the chief priests and rulers !Jere that they said, "I go, sir, and went not." Buds and blossoms are not fruit. (2) It is a call to work for Christ MW, "Go, work to-day in my vineyard." (3) It is a call from the common Father. It comes to the " two sons1 " and these represent the two great classes of sinners, viz. the openly irreligious and the hypocritica.l professors. (4) But t~ou&h. coming equally to all,_ i~ differs in its effects. There is more hope of the openly mehg10us than of the hypocritical professor. (5) True repentance is practical. When he repented "he went.'' II. AB IT IB EVIDENT m THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN. 1. John's baptism was proved to be "from heaven." (1) By the scope of his ministry. He "came in the way of right- eous.ness." He came walking in it as well as preaching it. He did not affect the "11-/t c\"thing" of the courtier, as be might have done, being the son of a notable en:, xxi.1-46.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 849