The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 379

punfsl,ed accordingly, (1) The murdorere were destroyed. The Romans were God's armies sent in his wrath to destroy them. The Assyrian armies were the rod of hi~ Qngor against Ephraim (~ee Isa. x. 5). The Medes and Persians were the armies of God's wrath against Babylon (see Isa. xiii. 4, 5). The angels of famine, pestilence, and war nre hie armies which he sent against Israel by the Romans (cf. 1 Kings nii. 19). -(2) Their city was burnt. What an anticipation of the destruction of Jerusalem is here (cf. Ezek. xvi. 41; Luke xiii. 33, 34) ! II. THE INVITA.TION GENERAL TO THE WORLD. 1. The messenger9 are the mme. (1) The prophets anticipated the calling of the Gentiles (cf. Deut. xxxii. 21; Rom. x. 19; Isa. lxv. 1; Rom. x. 20; Hos. ii. 23; Rom. ix. 26). (2) The apostles, accordingly, when the Jews refused their invitation, carried the gospel to the Gentiles (cf. Rom. xi. 11, 12 ; Eph. iii. 8). These were the people found by the King's messengers in the "partings of the highways" (ver. 9). (3) Divine benevolence is even enlarged by human perversity. " Where sin abounded grace doth superabound." 2. But they had bettel'-fluccess. (1) All sorts, "bad and good," were invited, e.nd all sorts came in. As an invitation to a king's banquet would astonish a wayfarer, so did the invitation of the gospel come as e. surprise to the Gentiles (see Acts xvii. 19, 20; Rom. x. 20). (2) The visible Church is e. mixture of hypocrites and unbelievers in amongst the gent1ine saints. It is the floor where the bad and good wheats are mingled (eh. iii. 12). It is -the field where the bastard wheat aud true grain grow together (eh. xiii. 26, 27). The •net which collects bad fish and good (eh. xiii. 48). The h=e in which the wise and -foolish a.re found (eh. xxv. 1). '!'he/old in which are the sheep and the goats (eh. xxv. 33). (3) For this imperfect state of things there is no present help. The minister's .commission is to call all The King alone can infallibly distinguish between the bad and the good. 3. A royal inspection wi1,l determine the true. (1) The King will behold the guests. 'l'his survey will take place at the last judgment. God takes particular notice of those who profess his religion (see Cant. vii. 12; Rev. ii. 1, 2). 'fhose who are worthy he will then approve and welcome. (2) He will see who has not on the festal garment. The garment whicli distinguishes the good is worn upon the heart. It is therefore invisible to the minister, but visible to the King. As the festal robe constituted meetness for the feast, so is the garment here spoken of the ,complete meetness for heaven. The" fine linen is the righteousness of the saints," so imputed and imparted; for unless imparted as well as imputed the wearers could not be "saints " or holy ones. (3) He will search the reasons : "Friend, how earnest thou in hither?" etc. (ver. 12). Why art thou willing to receive the King's bounty, ·but not to comply with the King's conditions? Garments a.re provided. Not to wear one is a mark of contempt towards the King. The filthy rags of self-righteousness ·cannot be tolerated in heaven. (4) The most presumptuous will be speechless in the presence of the King. Into speechlessness must all objections to the gospel be ultimately resolved. 4. Fe-arful will be the punishment of the wicked. (1) "Bind him hand e.nd foot." Restraint will be laid upon the worlrs and ways of sinners in perdi- tion. Satan also will be bound with e. great chain in the bottomless pit. It is punishment to the wicked to be restrained from doing mischief. (2) " Cast him out into the outer darkness." From the brilliantly liglited banqueting-he.11. What e. contrast from the brightness of heaven's glory to the darkness of hell's misery I Joy and pride converted into sorrow and shame. (3) "There shall be weeping and ·gnashing of teeth." Useless regrets; remorse; despair. ( 4) " Many are called, but few chosen." Many hear; few believe. Many e.re in the visible Churches, few of them e.t the same time in the invisible Church. You are among the many called: are you also among the few chosen? Exclusion is for neglect.-J. A. M. Vers.16-22.-The ethics of the t'1'1.1mte. The Pharisees he.d hitherto questioned our Lord on points of ecclesiastical ethics, and werf, invariably worsted. Now they face round and assail him with the weapon of political ethics. "Is it lawful to give tributa to Cwse.r, or not?" Behold in the scene before us- I. THE WISDOM OF THE SERPENT IN ITS VENOM. 1. It la seen in tlUJ question pro- posed. (1) The issue is not whether it was lawful for an individual Jew to pay the Roman te.x. The.t question was already practically settled. It was a maxim common awong all people, and acknowledged among the Jews, that the prince who caW1e1 hill. 384 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oa. um. 1-48,