The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 520

hlL!l boen gratlunlly introduced, yet Obriet in Galilee was by appointment, and of most so etl'iolly obeervod the Law that he would eolemn import, Christ then reuniting the doubtlees hnve obeyed its injunclion in this apostolic body, and renewing the apostolio particular if he had been keeping the legal commission (eh. xxviii. 18-20). solemnity. The Mount of Olives. Hither he Ver. 33.-Peter answered and aaid unto had rceorted every night during the weok him, This self-confident answer seems to (Luke xxi. 37 ; xxii. 39). have been ma<le after he hnd received the Ver. 31.-Then se.ith J'esus. The warning, warning recorded by St. Luke (xxii. 31), according to the other evangelists, was given " Simon, Simon, behold, Sato.n asked to have in the upper chamber, unless, as is very un- you, that he might sift you as wheat; but I likely, it wo.e twice repeated (see Luke made snpplication for thee, that thy faith xxii. 31-34; John xiii 36-38). The "then" fail not." He ce.nnot believe that he, the of St. Matthew must not be to.ken strictly o.e rock-man, can be guilty of Huch defection. denoting exact chronological sequence, but Though all [men] shall be offended becane'3 11e mo.rking a change of scene or a new in- of(Jv, ver. 31) thee. The addition of" men" cident. All ye shall be offended because ot in the Authorized Version alters tue in- me Uv lµol, in me). There is nn emphasis tended meaning. Peter contrasts himself on "all ye;" even ye eleven, wl10 have been with his fellow-disciples. Though they all steadfast hitherto. One, J ude.s, he.d alree.dy should fall awe.y, he, at any rate, woultl re- departed ; but Chrillt we.rns the eleven that main steadfast. He could not endure to be they too she.II for a time lose their faith in included in the "all ye" of Jesus' warning him, and sin by forsaking their Lord. Hie (ver. 31); and as for failing" this night," he appl'eheneion and trial would prove a roek will never at any time (ouornO'l'e) be offended of offence to them. It is written. In Zech. in Christ. Commenting on Lis offence, St. xiii. 7, where the prophet's words are, Chrysostom says, "The matters of blame "Awake, O eword,againetmy Shepherd, and were two: both that he gainsaid Christ, against the Man that is my Fellow, saith the and that he set himself belore others; or, Lord of hosts ; smite the Shepherd, and the re.ther, e. third, too, namely, that he attri- sheep shall be scattered." It is here shown buted all to himself." the.t all that happened took ple.ce e.ccordiog Ver. 34.-Peter's boast elicits a crushing to " the dete1·minate counsel and foreknow- reply from his Lord, foretelling the special ledge of God." That Christ may be the sin of which he would be guilty, and the Saviour he must be a sacrifice. In Zechariah very time of the night when it should be the Lord gives the command lo the sword; committed. This night, before the cock hence Christ can say, I will &mite, 'fhe orow. The word "cock " is without the Shepherd is Chrillt, the sheep are the dis- article, so the meaning may be " before a ciples, who, at the sight of the officers cock crow;" i.e. probably before midnight. coming to seize him, "all forsook him, and Cocks were unclean birtls, and not kept by fled" (ver. 56), The prophecy in Zechatiah strict Jews, and their voice was not much is rem11J:kably full of references to Christ, heard in Jerwalem; though it is quite dif- his nature and his position. ferent now, where barn-door fowls swarm Ver. 32.-After I am risen again. He round every house. One of the night comforts his followers now, as always, with watches, the.t about 3 a..m., was known e.s the e.nnouncement that after hie Passion and "cock-crow" (see Mark xiii. 35). Some think death he would rise again and meet them. this is what is meant here. Thou shalt deny So in the prophet's words succeeding the me thrice. What Peter denied wns that h~ quotation there is 11, similar encoure.gement, knew anything of Christ, or hail ever been "I will turn mine he.nd upon the little ones;" his follower (see vers. 69-75; Luko :uii. i.e. I will cover and protect the humble and 34). meek, even after they fled and were scat- Ver. 35.-Though I should die with thee tered. I will go before you ( ,rpo~., uµa.s) (1</tv li'r, µ• al,v aol a.,ra9a.v,iv,e'l]en if I must die into Galilee ( oh. xxviii. 7). The verb is of with thee). Christ's explanation of his ruean- pastore.l signification, I\B in the East the ing only drew from Peter 11, more energelio shepherd does not drive his sheep, but leads asseveration of his constancy even unto death. them (John x. 4). The apostles, or many of "He thought he was e.ble," says St. Augus- them, after the Resurrection, roturnetl to their tine," bec,mse he felt that he wished." 'l'he old homes in G1Llilee, but Christ preceded other apostles made a sim.ila.r assertion, lllld them, and they found him there before thom Jesus soid no more, leaving time to prove (Mark xvi. 7; John xxi.; Acts i. 3; 1 Cor. the truth of Lis so.d foreboding. xv. 6). He again gathered around him his Vera. 36-46.-The ag<my of JeBU3 fo the little flook lately scattered. True, he had garden of Get/1uma11e, (Mark xiv. 32-42; then already appeared to them at Jerusalem more than once; but this was, as it were, Luke xxii. 39-46; John xviii. l.) forLuitouely and unexpectedly. The meeting Ver. 36.-0ethsemane (equivt\font to'' oil,  526 'l'ilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. xxn, 1-76.