The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 356

first been Mllcd; then all the Gentiles; opportunity. They regarded the Herodi1Ln1 many were they 1rbo obeyed not the call; as little better than the heathen whom they and of those 1rho did come in, many were favoured, but sunk their differences in the not of the inner election, of tho86, that is, face of a general peril Detween these an- whose life and character 1rere worthy of tagonistic elements an impious leCLgue had the Christian name, showing the graces of been formed eo.rlier in Christ's ministry (see faith, holineee, and love. Applying the Mark iii. 6). Master; A18da-1ea11.,: Teacher, parable generally, Origen (ap. L Williams) equivalent to ",Rabbi;" owninf him for MYB, "If any one will obeerve the popnloU8 the nonce as one possessed o tesching congregations, and inquire how many tuere authority, though they willed not to be are who live a better kind of life, and a.re his disciples. True; trutbfnl. 'l'horoughly being transformed in the renewing of their misapprehending the character of Jesus, mind ; and how many 1rho are careless in they began by flattery. Nicodemus had their conversation and conformed to this spoken in sincerity when he Hid (John world, he will perceive the use of this iii. 2), "Rabbi, we know that thou o.rt a voice of our Saviour's, 'Many a.re called, Teacher come from God; " hut these make but few chosen;' and in another place it the admission in hypocrisy; it was a has heen said, • Many will seek to enter in, capta.tio beneoolentia!, prompted by the spirit and shall not be able' (Luke xiii. 24); and, of evil. The way of God. The precepts • Strive earnestly to enter in by the narrow and rules which men must follow if they gate; for few there be tuat find it' ( eh. vii would ple!1B8 God. The phrase is common 13, H)." in the Old Testament (Gen. xviii. 19; Dent. Yers. 15-22.-Seconda.tl.allk: Tl,equatwn L 12 ; Ps. xviii 21, etc.). Neither carest llt11lllffling th,i tribul.e u, Caar. (l\:l&rk xii. thou. What men think or say of thee is no concern· to thee. They cannot influence IS-17; Luke :u.. 20--26.) thy actions or disturb thy serenity. The Ver. 15.-Then went the Ph&riaees. After person of men. Thou art thoroughly im- they had heard the parables, and were for partial ; no considerations of rank, station, the time ailenced, they departed from the power, hi.as thy judgment, words, or e.ctions. pnblic comte of the t.emple, and betook This is said with the view of encouraging themselves to the hall ·Of the Sanhedrin, him to answer withont_fear of offending the that they might plot some stratagem against Roman anthorities. Jesus. Row they might en.tangle (ra-y,a,6- Ver.17.-Tell JIB therefore. Because you "~"'") him in his talk. The verb (not else- are so truthful and impartial, give us yolll' where found in the New Testament) means unprejudiced opinion about the following " to lay a. snare for" an object. The mnch-dispnted question. These people Pharisees did not dare to use open violence, assnme to be simple-minded inquirers, who but they now endeavonred by insidious came to Jesus to have a perplexity resolved. questions to make him compromise himself St. Luke gives their real character;" They eilher with the Romans, their political sent forth 1pies, which should feign them- masterB, or with the national and patriotic selves just men, that they might te.ke hold party. of his words.'' Is it lawful (l{Etr.-,) to give Yer. 16.-Their disciples. Men of their tribute (idivt1011, cemum) nnto Ceese.r, or not, own party, or students in the rabbinical The tribate is the poll-tax levied by the tiChool.s, like Paul, " brought up at the feet Romans. Cmsar at this time was Tiberius; of Gamaliel" and such-like teachers. They the title was now applied to the emperors, eent those tmlmowu and apparently simple- though its subsequent use was cilll'erent. By minded pereons, that they themselves, who uking • concerning the le.wfulness of the were open and bitter enemies of Christ, payment, they do not inquire whether it might not ap1-e.ar in the matter. With the was expedient or advise.hie to make it, but llerodia.Jll. TLe two bodies hated one whether it was morally 11nd religiously right, lil!othcr, hut made now e.n unholy e.lllimce consistent with their obligation as subjeota for the purpose of attacking Jesns. He.Ired, of the theocratio kingdom. Some, as Judas like poverty, me.k:es men e.cqna.inted with of Galilee (Acts v. 87; Josephwi, • Ant.,' strange companions. The Herodians were xviii. l. 1, 6), had resorted to violence in e. political sect wLich supported the dynasty their opposition to the tu:; and indeed, of Herod, and were more or less fayoura.l,le the question here put was much debated to the dominion of .Bome, ae that w Lich between opposite pe.rtiea. The Phariseea preserved their authority in the country. were strongly opposed to foreign domina- In religious opinions they were mostly tion, e.nd thought it derogatory and sacri- Sadduceee. The Pharise(:21, on the other legions fur the people of Jehovah to pay Land, in their nominal Y.eaJ. for God, were impost to a foreign e.nd heathen autho- ml.e11tly opposed to the claims of Home, rity. The Herodians, on the other hand, &nd ready to rebel at the tirat "vours.ble wl,mitted without reserve to the supremacy Cl.lL nn.1-46.] TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, 361