" I will not trust you," is far worse woe than to apportion him the "outer darkness, the weeping, and the gnashing of teath,"-R. T. Ver. 31.-The Son of man eurcisingjudgment. The advent of Messiah was, in the Jewish mind, associated with general judgment. The people looked forward with dread to the Messianic era. There are some who can regard the passage commencing with this verse as descriptive. Others regard it as parabolic, with the scenery taken from men's ideas of the after-life. It is difficult to follow the passage as descriptive, because human thought and human language are incapable of dealing with actual events beyond the earthly sphere. What we may find in it is an indication of what Christ makes the basis of his judgrnent of men. There are two things which may reasonably surprise us. I. Oun JUDGE IS THE "SoN OF MAN." It may be said that God is our Judge. But that brings in the element of fear. It seems to us that he must have an absolute and awful standard, and tested by it there will be no chance at all for any of us. "If thou wert strict to mark iniquity, who should stand?" But the God who judges ue is revealed to us as the " Son of man," and then confidence takes the place of fear. The Son of man is one of us; he has passed through our experience. He knows us . .A.nd what we feel is that, if abstract justice needs to be qualified by a consideration of circumstances, he can safely so qualify it. This point may be illustrated by our familiar distinction between "justice" and "equity." "Justice" is precisely and enctly what the law lays down; and that is what we, rightly or wrongly, expect from God. "Equity" is that law applied with due consideration of relations between man and man, or of special human infirmity. And that is what we expect from the "Son of man "-from One" in all points tempted like as we are." Christ in no sense relieves the august solemnity of judgment, hut he makes us fully, freely, lovingly, willing to accept his e.ppre.isement. II. Oun JUDGE UiiEI! AN UNEXPECTED BASIS OF JUDGMENT. We should be puzzled with it if the parable dealt with the world and sinners. It pictures the judgment of Christ's disciples. Ea.stem flocks are made up of sheep and goats, but all are the shepherd's property and care. Christ seems to propose judging on a basis of mere humanity or charitableness. But he goes deeper than that, The charity of which he speaks is the most satisfactory revelation of character, and it is character, not action, that is the basis of his ju.dgm.ent.-R. T. Ver. 40.-Christ's acceptance of vicarioU8 service. What is striking and suggestive is, that our Lord should make no reference to the cultured and sanctified personal life of his disciples, but fix attention on their service to others, their sympathies, generosities, and charities. .A.t first it may seem a.s if his praise rested on their good works; but soon we come to see that what our Lord accepts is the best indication of character, and precisely of Chmtly character. There is a sort of goodness which is only sentimental. That goodness is always self-centred and self-sphered. That goodness Christ neither_ approves nor ~pt~. Tha:t goodness is esseD:ti~lly un-Ohris~ly. '.!.'here is a goodness which finds expres51on m servrng others for Christ s sake; servmg others because we have not Christ to serve. That goodness is principle. That goodness is Christ-likeness. "Even Christ pleased not himself;" "I am among you as he that 11erveth." I. V1cABIOUS SERVICE IS SERVING OTHERS. To mutual service humanity is called. To the special service of all distressed, disabled, and suffering ones, the ~hristian humanity is called. This "serving others" becomes an absolutely efficient o.nd sufficient test of the Christ-spirit in us. Christ was good; but we know it because he "went about doing good." Over his whole life shines the glory of something dontJ to relieve, and comfort, and raise, and save his fellow-men. II. VrcABIOUS SERVIOE IS SERVING CHRIST '!'BROUGH SEBVlNG OTHERS. It is not mere neighbourlineSB, sympathy, or charity, that is here commended. 'Fhese, st~nding alone, are not the conditions of acceptance with Christ. He was speakrng to ~1s o:wn disciples. '.!.'he basis of acceptance for them was their love to him a.nd trust Ill hun. But they could not show such love directly to Jesus. Perhaps it would have been easier for ihetn if they could. We are all put under this strain. We cannot miuist(lr ou. xxv1. 1-75,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 61B
to Jesus himRelf; will we minister to him vicariously, through his suffering brethren? When he comes for bis reckoning, it is of this our Lord will take account; and if he finds we have been, consciously, vicarious ministrants, he will say, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me." C.:harity,for Christ's salce, is acceptable. III, VIOARIOUB IIERVIOE OF CHRIST, THROUGH THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, PROVES L" TIIE END TO BE THE BEST SERVICE OF OURSELVES. For we "enter the joy of our Lord." But this point needs to be pre~ented with great care, lest self-seeking con- siderations, entering in, should spoil the Christly service.-B. 'l'.