The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 436

Alford ho.a cnrloavoured to remove objections how this ignorance is disciplinary. Of that by to.king ·r•v•ci 11,S equiv&lent to -yl,,o,, a day (di, die ilia, Vulge.te) and hour, viz. ruoo or fumi y of people, and referring it to when Christ sbe.ll appear in judgment. The the oonlinued existence of the Jew& He expression pie.inly implies that a definite cites J er. viii. 8 (Bepluagint); oh. xii. 45: day e.nd moment are fixed for this great :a.vii. 17; uiii. 86, oto., in confirmation of this appearing, but known only to God. Know- eignific&tion. His eXBmples, however, are eth no me.n, no, not ( o~6~, not e11en) the not une.seailable, though such use iB certe.inly angels of heaven. A kind of climax. Ma.n claseice.l: but at the same time, it is un- is naturally excluded from the knowledge; likely that Christ shonld thus indefinitely but even to the angels it has not been postpone 11, period of infinite importe.nce to revealed. A further climax is added in St. hie hearers. But there is no necessity for Mark, and from the.t Gospel baa been intro- assuming e.ny unusue.l meo.ning in the term duced by some very good manuscripts into "this generation," Its pie.in and obvious this place, neitlu!r the Bon (the Revised reference is to the oontempore.ries of the Version admits the clause). The words have spee.ker, or those who shall live some thirty given occasion to some erroneous statements. or forty yee.re longer; this period would bring It is said by Arians and semi-Ariane, and them to the siege of Jerusalem. A.nd remem- modem disputants who have followed in bering that Christ has dre.wn no definite line their steps, that the Son cannot be eqnal to between this crisis and the final consumme.- the Father, if he knows not what the Father tion, we are justified in regarding all these knows. Alford says boldly, "Thie matter things ae mee.ning, prime.rily, the signs pre- was hidden from him." But when we con- cecling or accompanying the downfe.11 of the sider such passages as "I and my Father city. In a secondary sense, "this gene- e.re one;" "I am in the Father, a.nd the re.tion" may mean the spiritual Israel, the Father in me" (John L 80; xiv. 11, etc.), generation of them the.t seek the Lord we ce.nnot believe that the time of the great (Pa. uiv. 6). "All these things shall consummation we.a unknown to him. What surely come to pass," so.ye Chrysoetom, is meant, then, by this BSBertion? How is it " and the genere.tion of the fe.ithful shall true? Doubtless it is to be explained (if remain, cut oft' by none of the things that capable of explanation) by the bypostatic have been mentioned. For both Jeruse.lem union of two natures in the Person of Christ, shall perish, and the more part of the J ewe whereby the properties of the two natures shall be destroyed, but over this genere.tion are interchangeably predicated. From shall nothing prevail-not famine, not pesti- danger of error on this mysterious subject lenoe, not earthquake, not the tumults of we are preserved by the precise terms of the ware, not false Christ&, not false prophets, Athanasian Creed, according to which we not deceivers, not traitors, not those the.t affirm that Christ is "equal to the Father, cause to offend, nor the false brethren, nor as touching his Godhead; ond inferior to tLe any other such-like temptations whatever." Father, as touching his manhood ... one e.1- Some critics have combined the three mean- togetber : not by confusion of substance, but ings of" genero.tion" given e.bove, and have by unity of Person," eto. If, then, Christ seen in Christ's words a threefold reference, asserts that be is ignorant of anything, it first, to the oontempore.ry people: secondly, must be that in hie human nature be bath to the Jewish nation; thirdly, to the Chris- willed not to kuow that which in his Divine tian believers or dispensation. According nature be was cognizant of. This is a part to Lange, " this generation" means the of that voluntary self-surrender and self- genero.tion of those who kuow and discern limitation of wLich the apostle speaks when these signs. he says that Christ "emptiecl himself" Ver. 35.-Christ adds a solemn assure.nee (Phil. ii. 7). He condescended to assume that his words he.ve in them a vitality and e.ll the conditions of humanity, even willing endure.nee which the mightiest works of to share the imperfection of our knowledge nature do not possess. The facts ond truths in some particulars. How the two natures embodied in bis words are sure and stead- thus interworked we know not, and need fast, e.nd what he hns promised or predicted not oonjeoture; nor can we always divine shall inevitably be fulfilled. This verse is why prominence e.t one time is given to the omitted by N, but it is most probably Divine, at another to the bum.an. It ia genuine, as it undoubtedly be.e its plo.ce in enough for us to kuow that, for reasons which the other two synoptiets (oomp. 1 Pet. i. seemed good unto him, he imposed restriction 24, 25). on bis omniscience in this matter, and, to Ver. 86.-The apostles had asked (ver. enhance the mysteriousness and awfulness S), " When ahall these things be ? " Christ of the great de.y, announced to hie disciples does not now expressly answer this ques- his ignore.noe of the preoiee moment of its tion; be puts forth strongly the uncertainty occurrence. This is e. so.fer exposition than in the knowledge of these great events, and to 8/lJ, with some, tha.t Christ knew not the  TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [en. :n:1v. 1-51.