The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 433

escaped Ohristiane, who offered up uncee.eing revelation given from heaven for the pu:rpose pro.yer for their brethren and countrymen, of improving the existing faith or intro- God lessened the duration of the oolo.mities. ducing a. new one. Shall show (M,o-ovo-i., "The supplication of a. righteous man •hall gi'IHl, ee Acts ii. 19) great signs and a.vaileth much in its working" (Ja.e. v. 16). wonders. 'l'wo usual terms for miracles, the Ten riglitcous would have saved Sodom ; former rege.rding rather the evidenoe e.tforJed Lot's intercession did preserve Zoar (comp. by them, the le.lter the element of the mar- Ise.. vi.13; Jer. v. I; Acts xxvii. 24). Some, vellous inherent in them (comp. John iv. 48; not so suitably, explain "the elect" to be Acts ii. 22; vii. 36,. .eto.). Tlio.t each men those Jews who should hereafter tum to the did work e.etnal miracles, or who.t were re- Lord; or the elect seed, " beloved for tile garded a.e each, cannot be reasonably doubted. fathers' sake" (Rom. xi, 28). We me.y well Satan we.a on tl,eir side, e.nd, e.s fo.r a.a he wa.s believe that the looe.l tribulations, such a.e permitted, confirmed their teaching by snper- are intimated by Daniel e.nd Christ, and their natural e.sHiatance. St. Pa.al testifies that limitation in time, e.re a picture of what shall such should be the e.ction of the antichrist, happen in the le.et de.ye, the intermediate "whose coming is e.fter the working of Se.tan. fulfilment being the prelude of the fine.I with a.11 power and signs e.nd lying wonders" e.ccomplishment. (2 Thess. ii 9 ; comp. Rev. xiii. 13, 14). Ver. 23.-And then. The third section of Many of these wonders may he.ve been effect- the prophecy,conte.inedin vers. 2~!1, passes ne.ted by na.turo.l forces unknown to the from the fortunes of Jernsalem to the end of me.jority of men, and tlierefore considered a.a the world. To the Lord's hearers was con- superhuman; others may have been derived veyed the truth that the signs e.nd events from the spiritual world, but neoea.earily from now indicated were to be subseqnent to the that realm thereof which is under the control destruction of the city. No further note of of evil demons. Whatever may have been chronology wa.e given. The uncertainty of their source, they were displayed in snpport the future co.used a state of constant ex- of lies and errors, e.nd ha.d e. certain success. pectation and hope. And this is the feeling Insomuoh that if it were possible, they sha.11 which we Christians a.re intended to embrace deoeive (C,o-TE 1r1'.anjua., ,l BwaTb11) the very and cultivate. "The word 'then' relates (1<11I, e'llen) elect. The Authorized Version not to the connection in the order of time seems to make our Lord imply that such with the things just mentioned, . . . not seduction we.s e.bsolntely impossible. The meaning what should follow straightwe.y translation ought to run, o.s in the Revised after these things, but what should be in the Version, 10 as to lead astray, if po,sible, e-v,m time when these things were to be done of the elect, signifying the difficulty, not the which he wa.e about to speak" (St. Chrysos- impossibility, of drawing them a.way from tom, 'Hom.,' in Zoe.). Lo, here is Christ I the truth. "The elect" a.re Christie.ns, true This refers to something different from the followers of Jesus, e.nd members of his announcement in ver. 5. Some analogous Church. These me.y fe.11 from the faith, for deceptions doubtless occurred e.t the siege of they a.re not yet finally safe, and on that Jerusalem, but the Lord is predicting the cha.nee Satan builds; but as long a.e they remote events o_f the latter da.7s, of which rest on Christ, looking to him for guidance previous ooourrences were types e.nd e.nti- and protection, trying the spirits by the oipe.tions. :Believe it not. When Christ Word of God and by the truths which they does come the second time, there shall be no he.ve learned in creed e.nd worship, tbey doubt or ignore.nee of his appea.ranoo (see stand firm ago.inst the strongest temptations. ver. 27, and compare the we.ming in Dent. Ver. 25.-I he.ve told you before (see xiii. 1-3). John xvi 1-4). The warning was needed Ver. 24.-l!'a.lse Christa. He shows the in the first age; it will be needed in the ne.ture of the dangers to which believers will last. The prediction was known before the be subject. He does not confine his view to ruin of J oruse.lem, and doubtless preserved Jewish history; he foretells the a.ppeare.nce many from falling victims to the seducers at of pretenders who shall e.ssume the pa.rt of the.t period ; it must be used na-11 and till Obrist, and blasphemously assert that they the end to preserve Ohristians from the are Messiah. False prophets. Without errors of infidelity, false philosophy, agnosti- assuming the na.me ofOhrist, many impostors cism. That such a&to.cks on their faith she.11 eh111l be found who, professing to be inspired be made is u. proof of Cbriet' s omniscience ; or lawful tea.ohers, shall lead hearers into thu.t he gives here and in the next verses false dootrino, or cle.im to possess a new re- premonitions of de.nger, with counsel how to velation, or something additional and sup- a. void it, is evidence of his love and care for plemental to the etemo.l gospel. Buoh we.a his elect. Mohammed; such were the founders of Bud- Ver. 26.-Whersfore if (</av a~v, if there- dhism, Mormonism, a.nd other so-oa.lled fore). The Lord proceeds to m11ke the matter .r11ligions, who based their views on speoia.l more plain by entering into details which 438 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [ea. xxrv. 1-61.