The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 393

elples 11, leeeon in humility. The pr~oun (Ka871i"1-r1)t Lwder), even [the] Christ. Hera ie emphatie, "But ye, be not ye oailed." Jesus e.nnomces himself, not only e.s their They are not to be eager for auch die- Teacher, but e.s the Messiah, their Ruler and tinclioue, indiOBtive of spiritual superiority, Guide, He is censuring that secto.rian The prohibition must be understood in the spirit which began in the primitive Church, spirit, and not in the letter (comp. 1 Cor. when one so.id," I e.m of Paul; another, I of iii. 1 : 1 Tim. i. 2). Onr Lord does not Apollos," etc. (1 Cor. i. 12), and bas con- forbid respect for teachers or different tinued to this de.y in the di vision of the one gmdee in hie Olrnreh (see 1 Cor. xii. 28: body into innumerable sects and parties Eph. iv. 11-13); that which he censures ie ranged under varions leaders, ai:d generally the inordinate grasping at such personal bearing their founder's name. " What then distinctions, the greedy embition which is Apolloe? e.nd what is Paul? Ministers loves the empty title, 1md takes e.ny means through whom ye believed; e.nd eacl1 as to obtain it. One is your Me.star, even the Lord gave to him" (1 Cor. iii. 5). How Christ. The received text gives ,fs -yelp mournful to think that Christ's great prayer lnw ~,.;;,v 6 Ka871'l"'1-r1)s, 6 Xp,o--ros. Many for unity (John xvii.) is still unfulfilled, good me.nueoripts ree.d t1.15clo-1<aJ\os, Teacher frustrated or delayed by man's self-will I (Bo Revised Version) instead of Ka67!'Y"l-r17s, Ver. 11.-:eut he that is greatest , .. yo111 ~ . :e.nd omit 6 Xplo--ror. Both these servant; 3,4Kovos: minuteT (see eh. xx. variations seem rea.sone.ble and warranted. 26, 27). It was there said to the apostleij "Leader" h88 probably been introduced alone; here it is spoken more publicly to from ver, 10, whe1·e it occurs naturally; it is emphasize the contrast between Chri.stia.n out of place here, where, for the ea.ke of humility and Pharisaical pride and vanity, ooncinnity, "Teacher" is required in both Ver. 12.-Whosever shall emit I himsali' parts of the sentence. And it is unlikely shall be e.bs.sed (-ra,reivwOfitre-ra,, ,hall ba that Jesus should here expressly mention humbled); e.nd he that shall humble (-ra,ret- himself. He is speaking now of theil' VOJO'Et) himself shall be ex.a.J.ted. It is not heavenly Fe.ther; to himself he refers in clear why the rendering of the verb is not ver, 10. In support of the e.llusion to the uniform in this verse. The antithesis cer- Father, Bengel cites eh. xvi. 17; John vi. tainly requires it. The gnome, so often 45: Acts x. 28, eto. The Vulgate he.a, repee.ted (see references), seems to be, e.s it Unua est enim Magister 11ester; e.nd yet he.a been called, " e.n axiom in the kingdom Boman Catholic commentators interpret the of God." It is indeed a universe.I le.w in ~le.use of Christ, in spite of the purposed God's dealings with men, OlshaW10n quotes indefiniteness of the expression. J esne a saying! of Hillel to the same purport, points .to the inspiration of the Father or "My humility is my exaltation, e.nd my the Holy Spirit e.e that whieh teaches his exe.ltation is my humility." The first diecirlee. They were to follow no earthly clause we.s prophetic of the speedy over- re.bb1, but the heavenly Teacher. All ye throw of the haughty Pharisees: the second .are brethren. And therefore, so fe.r, eque.L is grandly illustrated in the example of They were diseiplee of our Lord, 11,nd to Ghrist, who humbled himself to the death them appertained equality e.nd fraternity. of the cross, and is now highly exalted: Ver. 9.-Your father. This we.a the title who "for the joy that was set before him, given to eminent teachers e.nd founders of endured the cross, despising shame, and .schools, to whom the people were taught to he.th sat down e.t the right hand of the look up .-ather than to God. It we.a e.leo throne of God" (Heb. xii. 2). St. Peter addressed to prophets (2 Kings ii. 12; vi. dro.ws the lesson, "Humble yourselves .21 ). In ver. 8 Ghrist so.id, "be not c11lled : " under the mighty hand cf God, that he m11y here he uses the active, "OBll not," e.s if he exalt you in due tinle" (1 Pet. v. 5, 6). would intinle.te that his followers must not Vere. 13-32.-Eigltt woe, pronounced on give this honoured title to any doctor out the Pharisees for their conduot and teacMng. of oomple.isance, or flattery, or affectation, Upon the earth. In contradistinction to (Comp. Luke xi. 42-52.) .hea.ven, where our true Father dwells. They Ver. 13.-Some authorities transpose were to follow no earthly eehool. They he.d vers. 13 and H-e. variation 11tti:ibutable .natural fathers o.nd spiritual fa.there, 'but to the oircumstanoe thA.t the oommencing the authority of all comes from God; it is claueee nre the same. As Christ inaugurated .delegated, not essential; and good teachers his publio teaching by pronouncing eight would make men look to God, e.nd not to benedietiona in the sermon on the mount, themsel ve!, as the souree of power o.nd truth. so here he closes hie ministry by inlpre- Ver. 10.-Neither be ye oe.lled masters; oe.ting or prophesying eight woes on the ..a871'l"'1-ral : leaders, guide,. This is just what perverse and unbelieving Pharisees. Iu the Phnrieees ele.imed to be (see ver. 16 Lango's commentary there ii proposed e. aad Rom. ii. 19, 20). One ii your master acheme of antithesis between ihe bene- 898 THE GOSrEL .ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH, xxm. 1-39.