The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 478

e.11 men should be saved, aml coma unto the of the eick has become e. common term amon"' knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. ii. 4). us. It implies properly going to see, though Ver. 35.-l!'or. Jeeus here gives the reason other idea.a a.re connoted. Ye ea.me unto wbiob influences him in conferring this great me. It we.a easier in those days to visit boon on " the sheep " of hie tlook. He friends in prison than it is e.t the present inetimoee certain works of mflroy which they time. Good men, if they could not obtain performed during their earthly pilgrimage, release of prisoners, might comfort and sym- as examples of the kind of e.cts which he pathize with them. The seven corporal deems worthy of eternal reward. It is not works of mercy which antiquity has endorsed that he regards no other with favour, but he.ve been preserved in the mnemonic line, tbeee six worke, e.e they show the temper "Visito, poto, cibo, redimo, tego, colligo, e.nd virtue of the doer, a.re to.ken 11e the type condo." All these might be performed by of thoee which e.re approved. They are non-Christians who professed the fear of God proofs of self-denie.l, pity, sympathy, charity; and followed the guidance of conscience. they demonstrate that the doer has some- God never lee.ves himself without witness; thing of God in him, that e.ccording to his his Spirit strives with man, and in the lights he possesses ana has exercised the absence of higher e.nd completer revelation, supreme grace of love. The Lord conJines to be wholly guided by these inner motions himself to one detail; be does not disparage is to work out salvation, as far as circum- other requirements necessary for sal vo.tion, stances allow, and in a certain restricted as faith, prayer, sacraments, chastity, truth, sense. In a universal judgment regard ls honesty ; but he looks on one partioular had to this consideration. " In return for claes of worke as the great result of all the what do they receive such things? For aids and provocatives offered by his Spirit, the covering of e. roof, for a garment, for and herein sets forth the principle by which bread, for cold water, for 'risi.ting, for going judgment is guided, e.nd which can be ap- into the prison. For indeed in every case plied universally. The.Judge aeks not what it is for what is needed; and sometimes we have felt ·or thought, but what we have not even for the.t. For surely the sick and done or left undone in our dealings with he that is in bonds seek not for this only, others. "It is plain," se.ys Bishop Bull but the one to be loosed, the other to be (' Harm. Ap.,' dies. i. 5. 4), " the.t our works delivered from his infirmity. But he, being are considered as the very things on account gracious, requires only wha.t is within our of which (by the merciful covenant of God power, or rather even less than what is through Christ) eternal life is given us." within our power, leaving to us to exert our He quotes Vossius (' De Bon. Op.,' 10): "It generosity in doing more " (Sl Chrysostom, is asked wh&ther a raward is promised to in loc.). works e.s signs of faith? Now, we conceive Vera. 37-39.-Shall the righteous a.newer they sny too much who suppose it promised him. The righteous are those on the right to works as deserving it, and that they say hand, those who have pe.ssed through earthly too little who think it promised to them only probation, e.nd have come forth holy and as signs of faith. For there are many po.s- pure. Their reply (whicu is given before ee.gee of Soripture where it is 6hown tlle.t the Lord's explanation) is oontained in three our works, in the business of salvation, are verses, which recapitulate the deeds specified reg11rded as indispensably requisite, or as e. by the Lord, with some slight variation in primary condition, to which the rew11rd of the wording. When saw w11 thee, eto.? eternal life is inseparably conneoted." I we.e If this reply is conceived as spoken by the an hungred, equi ve.lent to " very hungry" followers of Christ, who must be supposed to (eh. xii. 1). Christ enumemtes tho chief of know what he had so.id (eh. x. 40-42, "He what are called the corporal works of mercy, that receiveth you receiveth me," etc.), it omitting burie.l of the dce.d (see on ver. 36). must be considered as expressive, not so We mny note here an o.rgnwent a fortiori: if muoh of surprise, e.s profound humility, such simple acts (comp. eh. x. 42) meet with which he.d never hitherto realized the grand so gree.t e. reward, what shall bo the portion idea. They he.d dona so little, they had of thoso who are enl\bled to 1·ise to more por- reudered him no service persona.Uy, they feot obcdicncennd highe1· dcgrces of devotion wero unworthy so to do-how could they o.nd self-so.crifice? Ye took me in (ut1V11')'lt· merit suoh a reward? If the answer is -yE-ri p.E); i.e. into your houses, received mo taken e.s given by non-Christiims, it shows with hospito.lity,or as ono of your own fomily. ignorance of the high value of their service, We he.ve instances of such hospitality inGcn. and nstonishment that, in following the dio- xl'iii. 3; J udg. xix. 20.- 21; aud or this use of te.tes of conscience and chnrity, they he.d the verb uvvci;,Eiv in 2 Sam. xi. 27, Scptungint. unwittingly had tho supreme honour of Why Christ speo.ks of himself ns receiving serving Christ. Medimvnl logemls have these ministrations is explained in vor. 40. exemplified tbe identity of Christ and his Vor. 86.-Ye visited me. 'rhc visitation suffering members by telling how Bt\inta  Ml4 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH, x.xv. 1--46.