The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 545

n<'edy. Why, then, did not our Lord take the same view of his enthusiastic disciplo's action? B0cause be would not hurt the feelings of Mary, would not grieve her love. Still, even that painful course must have been taken if her conduct had been unac- ceptable to Christ on account of any blameworthy extravagance. It is plain that he did accept adoration. This was seen on Palm Sunday, when he received the" Hosannas I" of the multitude, and defended the children from the rebukes of the interfering Jews. It is right to give honour to Christ, for he is good and great; but above his human excellence his Divine glory makes this homage supremely fitting. III. WE SHALL BEST SERVE OUR F'ELLOW-IIIEN WHEN WE ABE IIIOST DEVOTED TO CRRIST. He was not robbing the poor in order to accept a l=ury for himself, as Judo.s rudely insinuated. We must set this incident over against our Lord's recently spoken words about the kindness shown to others being really given to himself (eh. xxv. 40). There is no rivalry between the two kinds of gifts. Mary would not be the less charitable to her neighbours because of her expenditure on her Master. It is more likely that her heart would flow out in richer kindness towards them. Devotion to Christ is the greatest inspiration for sympathy with suffering fellow-men. What is spent on the cause of religion does not detract fro:n the help of the poor. The reason is that the funu of possible generosity is never exhausted. We have not such a limited amount to give away. Few contribute a tithe of what they ought to give. But when the heart is moved to offer directly to Christ, its new warmth of love will prompt it to be more liberal in giving to all other good objects. It is not a fact that, for the most part, those people who refuse to help religious objects are the most generous in charity to their neighbours. The poor would not be grateful to be banded over to the tender mercies of the Judascs. On the other hand, we find that those men who are foremost in supporting the cause of Christ are most earnest in human charity. The very people who maintain foreign missions do most for the suffering poor at home.-W. F. A. Ver. 22.-The betrayal of Ohrist. This is one of the saddest scenes in the life of the Man of sorrows. Leonardo di Vinci has commemorated it pictorially, although his famous fresco is fast fading from the walls of the refectory of the monastery at Milan. Familiar copies of this wonderful picture must have impressed the scene upon all our memories. It is alive with heart-searching lessons for all time. L IT IS POSSIBLE FOB A DISCIPLE OF CHBIBT TO BETRAY ms MABTEB. We might have thought that the spell of Christ's presence would have effectually prevented such -& fall. That there should be a Judas in the college of the apostles is a startling fact. I. Jesus does not hold any by force. '!'his is not a case for considering the scope of omnipotence. Here we trench on the awful region of the human will. God does not override that mysterious power. If he did, he would destroy the man himself; he would crush the personality in which alone true service can be rendered to God. 2. It u possible to know muck of Ohrist, and yet to escape from his influence. Judas appears to have been a man of great intelligence. He had heard the wonderful teachings of One who "spake as never man spake," yet they had made no final impression on his character. We are not saved by our knowledge of Christ. We may be disciples without being Christians; scholars in the school of Jesus, and yet not saints in his household. II. No CIIBIBTIAN CAN BE BURE THAT BE WILL NEVER BETRAY BIS M:ABTEB. It is pathetic to see these humble men each putting the anxious question, "Is it I, Lord?" But the very utterance of the question suggests the wisdom of those who breathed it. We do not know ourselves. There are volcanic depths which may reveal themselves in sudden explosions, fires that slumber far beneath the green fields and the flowery gardens. The rose and the lily bloom on the surface; but who shall say what will happen when the eruption takes place? No one has fathomed the depth of the hidden possibilities of evil in his own heart; and no one can tell what force of temptations l:!.e will be called upon to face. For aught we know, any one of us might become a Judas. Ill. THE ONLY SEC0BITY AGAINST BETRAYING CHBIBT 18 TO BE FOUND OT A BUMBLE TRUST m BIS GB.ACE. The disciples acted wisely in uttering their anxious question This was the best way to get a negative answer. "Let him that thlnketh he standeth take heed, lest he fall." The very fear of falling will be a help against falling, by on. xxv1. 1-76.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 651