The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 427

unlooks Bll the myHtorios, but it opens the representatives of the whole body or be- drift of these wonderful n tter1rnces, 1md lievers. Wan and rumours of wan; i.e. enBbles us to see light Bmid the gloom. w1us neBr at hand, and distant wars or This will BppeBr more fully u we examine which the rumour only ree.ches you, but the details. Tue heed that no man deceive which three.ten to e.pproaah and men,.ce yon; w>..a.v~lTp: lead you aBtray (so ver. 5). your peace (cf. Jer. iv, 19). The peace Jesus does not answer the disciples' ques- which reigned at Christ's birth was rurlely ·tion as to the time when "these things" shattered after his death, though the wars shall occur: that is purposely left uncertBin. before the destruction or Jernsalem were of He proceeds to we.m them Bgainst the no great imp~rtance. We hear of e.n in- dBngers which would beset them in the tended expedition age.inst ~etas (Josephus, earning orisis. He withdraws them from 'Ant,,' xviii. 5. 3), of one of Caligula. age.inst the speoule.tive to the practical (see vers. the Jews (ibid., xviii. 8. 2), both of which, 23---25). however, came to nothing. Then there were Ver. 5.-Here begins whBt hBs been called certain insurrections in the reigns of the first strophe of the oracle (vers, 5-14), Claudius (ibid., xx. 5. 3) and Nero (ibid., which indicates certain prognostics common xx. 8. 6-10). The Roman empire was dis- to the close of the Jewish theocracy Bnd to turbed; four emperors-Nero, Ge.Iba, Otbo, the end of the world, Many shall come in and Vitellins-iied by violence within a my Name (l1rl .-,; ov&J,111-rl µ.av), resting on my short space of time; the restless Pe.rtbians Name, grounding their pretensions thereon. were a continual source of trouble. But Saying, I am Christ (the Christ). They these and Sllch-like occurrences do Ii ltle who really desired to follow Christ should to exhaust the meaning of Christ's pre- be tried by the temptation to see ui. other diction. He is looking forward to e. distant persons the MessiBh. The warning could future, and sees with prophetic eye the scarcely have been needed by the Bpostles at.ate of warfare which has prevailed from themselves; it must have been meant the disruption of the Roman empue, and primarily for their converts and the early which shall continue unto the end. Sae Christians. And though we have no account that ye be not troubled; rather, see, be ye in apostolic Churoh history of any such pre- rwt troubled. Look on it all, and yet be tenders, yet in the age succeeding our Lord's not afl'righted. All these things (,rcfwra) death we relld of many impostors who must come to pus. All that I announce asserted themselves to be inspired prophets, is sure to occur, not from any absolute if not the Messiah, and led a.stray many neces&ity, but because of men's pa.ssions e.nd credulous persons (see Josephus,• Ant.,' xx. perverscnei;s, wLich will bring it to pass 5. 1; 8. 6, etc.). There were doubtless many (see on eh. xviii. 7; and Ja.s. iv. I), The enci false Messiahs whose names a.re little known, is not yet. These signs might lead men to and critics have enumerated twenty-nine think tLot the final conslllllme.tion wa.s close suoh, The pretensions of these persons were at hand. Our Lord warns against such e. not generally admitted, and their adherents conclusion. St. Paul speaks of "the end" were commonly few o.nd uninflnentie.l. Our as occurring in Christ's seeond advent (1 Lord probably did not allude to these in his Cor. xv. 24). monition, But we may observe that the Ver. 7.-Nation shall rise against nation, warning may include such deceivers as eto. This part of the prediction is in- Simon Mo.gus oud those many false teachers applicable to the ere. preceding the ruin who vexed the early Church, and, without of Jerusalem, the disturbances lLe.t occurred e.ssummg the name of Christ, did Satan's then ( e.g. e.t Alexandria., Seleucie., J Bmn ie., work by undermining the faith. St. John and other looolities mentioned by Jo.epbus, speaks of there being '' many antiohriste" • Ant.,' xviii. 9. 8, 9; 'Dell. Jud.,' ii. 17. 10; in his day (1 John ii. 18), e.nd St. Paul hod 18. 1-8; iv. 8. 2; and by Philo, 'Legat. oocasion to warn hie oouverts e.~ainst e.d Caium,' § SO) oould ho.rdly ham Leen "heretical seducers'' (see 2 Cor. xi. 13; 2 indicated in suob grand terms. More to These. ii. ; 1 Tim. vi. 3, etc.). Since then the pu rpoeo is the sketoh of the period the prophecy he.e been fulfilled in the given by 'faoitus, at the opening of Lilt heretics who, professing to come in the history, though it embraces e.lso clete.ils Ne.me of Christ and toenlllloiate hisdootrine, belonging to e. somewhat later age : " I or, like Mohammed, to assume his pllloe, enter upon e. work fertile in vicissituJes, have taught lies. Thee,e she.11 a.bound in ete.iued with the blood of battles, embroiled the le.ttor days, and she.11 be e. sign of the with dissensions, horrible even in the approaching end. intervals of peace. Four princes slain by Ver. 6.-Ye shallhee.r(.u.•M~lf•-r• a.1<o~•u,), the sword; three oivil wal'll, mar,, with Ye are e.bout, ye e.re destined, to hear. foreign enemies, and sometimes both at "Futurum complicalum, audituri eritiBu once; prosperity in the East, disasters iu (Bengel). He addree~es the aposlles e.s tho West; Illyricum disturbed; tile Gouls 432 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [err. xx1v. 1-5:t,