The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 378

all without including the 'l'Rtisfaction of our best aff'~ctions and the eJtercise of our highest p0wers. No satisfactory idea of salvation can be cherished which doos not include the prospect of a time when we can frame a life for ourselves according to our late acquired wisdom and our fruitless repentance here. But this emphatio assertion of immortality by our Lord is made in connection with the resurrection of the body. ,ve are conscious that our body is one thing and we ourselves another. Still, the soul bas rec~ived a great part of its character from the body it has worn, so that, even after i:eparation from the body, the soul will retain the character the body has impressed upon it, and this again must determine the character of the new body which the soul i_g to receive. It is, however, of very little moment to ascertain what kind of life is in reserve beyond the grave, if we are not ourselves sure we shall attain it, Christ puts this in our power. His Spirit, received by us now as a Spirit of holiness, will ,quicken our mortal bodies, and will raise us to be with him in the life to come.-D, Vere. 1-14.-The invitation8 of the gospel,. The priests and elders having left in e. rage (see Mark xii. 12), Jesus continued his discourse, addressing the people. This parable brings before us the invitation of the gospel, first to the Jew, and then also to the Gentile. Consider- !. THE Th'VIT .&.TION SPECIAL TO THE JEW. 1. The olessings of the gospel are pre.~entetl, under the similitu<k of a marriage/east. (1) Under this similitude also the ble~sings of the everlasting covenant are presented in the prophets (see Cant. v. 1; Isa; lxii. 5). Marriage is the highest emblem of that union which constitutes heaven. There good- ness and truth in perfection a.re united. Heaven must be in a ma.n before a man can be in heaven. (2) The feast is royal It is made by the King, viz. of the heavens ; for the kingdom of the heavens is the subject of the parable. If a royal banquet in this world is the occasion of a nation's joy, the banquet of the King of heaven is a joy to the great universe. (3) It is the marriage feast for the King's Son. Christ is the Bridegroom.. 'l'be Church is the bride. The see.son of the banquet is the gospel day, -00mmencing upon this earth but ending in the heavens (see eh. ix. 15; 2 Cor. xi. 2; Eph. v. 32; Rev. xix. 7-9). 2. Prophets and apostks are the King's messengers. (1) They are called his " bondservants." Bondservice to God is the noblest freedom. The more absolute this service, the more glorious the freedom. (2) They came to those who were bidden. The J ewe were the people elected from among the nations to be the people of the covenant, and every way specially the favoured of the Lord. To them also the gospel ea.me in the first inatanoe. (3) The old prophets made the gospel law t.o emanate from Jerusalem (see Isa. ii. 3; Jer. xx.xi. 31-34). The message of John Baptist and of the seventy disciples was to them that "the kingdom of .the heavens was at hand." The commission to the apostles after the Day of Pentecost was," Tell them that a.re bidden, Behold, I ha.ve made ready my dinner ; my oxen and my fe.tlings are killed, and all things are ready." (4) They came to the bidden with entreaty. They urged the will of God, the need of man, the richness of the bounty, the quality of the guests, the blessedness inconceivable to follow. 3. But tM favowetl, people proved themsebve1J unworthy. (1) For they "made light" of the invitation. "Con- siderations which should have the mightiest power upon the spirits of men may still .Rignify less and less, when those to whom they come continue long under the gospel and the gospel is hidden to them. 'If you cannot speak to me of something greater than heaven and hell, eternal blessedness and eternal misery, you move not me; for these things I have heard of and ma.de light of long ago'" (Howe). The soft, idle, vo_luptuous people, who th}nk _only_ of quietly ~njoyiug life, conv~nie!1ce~, richest pnvate pleasures, and public diversions, ma.ke light of the gospel mv1tallon. {2J "They went their we.ye, one to his own farm," equivalent to "immovable goods," viz. -deluded by e. false security; "another to his merchandise," equivalent to "movable ,,.oods," viz. lured by desire of ga.i.n. "His farm," equivalent to" what be has;" "his ~erchandise," equivalent to" what he desires to have." How many perish by misusing lawful things I (3) ".And the rest laid hold on his servants! and entre;ated them -shnmefully, and killed them." These are the openly unjust and v10lent, the -outrageously wicked, sinners by profession. (-l) Note: Worthiness consists in accept- ing the gospel invitation; uoworthioess, in reflll!ing it (see Acts xiii. 46). He only is "JI thy to he a disciple who is willing to lift the cross (see eh. L 37, 38). 4. They are -oa. xxn. 1-46.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHE\V. 383