The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 455

following emperors notice many in Asia and the islands of the lEgean. They took place in Crete, in Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos; in Laodicroa in the consulship of ~ero; at Hierapolis and Colosse. Jn all these pl11ces the Jews resided, Add to these that dreaJful one in JudmR mentioned by Josephus(' Wars' iv. 4), accompanied by a furious tempest, with continual lightnings, thunders, and 'rain. (2) 'l'he thought- ful observer of the signs of these times cannot overlook the earthquakes by which they are ever increasingly distinguished (eee Mallett's tables), lY. THE WIDE PUBLIOATION 01'' THE GOSPEL. 1. The ptlblication was a,t first limited to the LTews. (1) Our Lord in Person came to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." (2) Occasionally, however, be presaged the publication of his gospel to the Gentiles. (3) Though be commissioned bis disciples to preach the gospel to every creature, he instructed them to begin at Jerusalem. 2. When tht, Jews rejected it, then the apostlea turned to tht, Gentues. (1) It soon was carried throughout the Roman empire, then styled the world (see Rom. i. 8; x. 18; Col. i. 6, 23). Then followed "the end" ill the judgment upon Jerusalem. (2) Now, through the great evangelistic societies- Bible societies and missionary societies-the testimony of the gospel is carried into "all the world" in the wider sense. May we not therefore look for the day of judg- ment upon the antichristian nations? Of all these things Christians are to take heed. For the confirming of their faith. For the inspiration of their hope. For their personal safety.-J. A. M. Vers. 15---28.-Salutary warnings. Having announced the signs of his advent, first for the destruction of the Jewish antichrist, and secondly for that of its Gentile counterpart, Christ gives to his disciples salutary warnings suited to the crises. I. IN RESPECT TO SECULAR Evn.s. 1. We do well to take heed to the sure Word of prophecy. (1) "The abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet," equivalent to the Roman army with its ensigns. The 9D in Dan. ix. 27 may denote the Roman tDing or army (cf. Isa. viii. 8). Josephus shows that the ancient Jews understood this prophecy of Daniel to relate to the Romans. The ensign was an eagle, an unclean or abominable creature, and especially abominable as it was an idol. (cf. 1 Kings xi. 5, 7). Images of the Cmsars were inscribed in tho shields on the ensigns. Our Lord fixes the interpretation in this sense (cf. Luke x.xi. 20). (2) "Standing in the holy place." This cannot be the temple, for the Romans did not stand there until after the opportunity for the flight had passed. The circuit of the holy city was in the holy place (cf. Acts vii 7). Before this time the Roman soldiers stationed in Jerusalem, in deference to the scruples of the Jews, had ensigns without the effigies of Cmsar. Pila.te attempted to introdnce the images, but yielded to the remonstrances of the Jews, and commanded them to be carried back to Cmsarea. (3) "Whoso readeth let him understand." Those who read the Scriptures shoulrl endeavour to understand them. We ahould have understanding of the times (cf. 1 Chron. :tii. 32; eh. xvi. 3). "The wiBe shall understand." Daniel is intelligible in the interpre- tations of Chrillt. When untoward things occur, the people of God should confer with the prophets. 2. Christ i8 a mountain of safety to those who fly to him for ref1.UJe. (1) "Then let them which be in J udma flee into the mountains." Cestius Gallus, Prefect of Syria, besieged Jerusalem for some years, and then raised the siege. This was the sign to the Chriatians to flee. They accordingly removed to Pella and other towns in the mountainons region of Gilead, east of the Jordan. In the territories of Agrippa, who remained faithful to the Romans, they were safe. When Titus came some months later, there was not one Christian remaining in the city. "'fhe Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly." (2) "Let him which is on the house-top not," etc. In the promptitude of obedience there is safety. Had the Christians delayed their flight when Cestius GaliUB raiaed the siege, they must have suffered for their unbelief with the unbelieving Jews. Josephus relates that Titus completed his lines of circum- vallation with incredible celerity. "None of the wicked shall understand." The Jews perished because they would not understand the salutary warning of Jesus. (3) Life is more than property. If we sacrifice property to secure the life of the body, much more ahould we sacrifice it to aecure the more precioUB life of the spirit. Flight must not be hindered by burdens. The Christian carriea all his property in Christ. lt is not to truat, but to tempt God, when we refuse to paas through the door whir,h CH,lllv.1-51.] THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO BT. MATTHEW. •s1