The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 556

them. SacrednC'BB of office ie no security against rascality, "The rulere," who were members of the great Sanhedrin because of their influence, whether of wealth, or birth, or abilitiee. Men the most reputable ae seen by their fellows, may be the most odious as eeen by God. 2. We see God', pwrposes in their measures. (1) Their policy iR to have Jesus eecretly killen. This was manifestly from the devil, who would give sceptics the pretext to eay, "This thing was done in e. corner." The Sanhedrin feared the uproar of the people. (2) But the devil outwits himself. Iscariot appears upon the scene, and hie proposals induce them to hazard the bolder policy. It was customary at festivals to execute malefactors publicly, "that all Israel might see and {ear" (see Deut. xviL 13; Acts xii. 4), (3) Thus, then, the Passion of Christ became a matter of the utmoet celebrity. He suffers openly amiJst thousands of witnesses. His death was notorious, w"ich gave emphasis to the notoriety of the subsequent event of the glorious resurrection from the dead. (4) Thoughte of the suffering Christ sustain the suffering Christian, suffering for him and with him. And "if we suffer with him, we shall be also glorified together."-J. A. M. Vere, 6-16.-Troublers of the good. Jesue and his e.pustles were entertained at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. Simon probably had once been a leper, and was miraculously healed by Jesus (see eh, xi. 5), and became a disciple of the great Physician. Bishop Newcome has admirably harmonized the accounts of the anointing at Bethany given by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, and John. This Siiron prepare,i a supper, to which he invited Lazarus, his neighbour if not also his relative, who by the same· glorious Worker had been raised from the dead. The sisters of Lazarus also were present (John xii. 2, 3). !. MARY FIGURES IN THIS HISTORY AB A BEAUTIFUL TYPE OF GOODNESS. 1. In 1'.er love to Christ. (1) It was love to him as a personal J.t'riend. He had been intimate in the house of her brother (see John xi.1-44). Blessed is that family in whose homo I esus is a familiar, welcome, and beloved Guest? Love to a Person. Let us beware of sinking the personal Jesus in abstractions, however admirable. His Personality is not the less real because he is invisible to us and in the heavens (see John xx. 29; 1 Pet. i. 8). (2) It was love overflowing \vith gratitude. Her heart was especially bound to him by that miracle of grace in which he restored to her family circle her estimable brother alive from the tomb (see John xi. 2-5). Pure 11nd beautiful is the love of a grateful heart. (3) It was love exalted by reverence. She had precious opportunities ef estimating his wonderful character, every human attribute of which was radiated by the splendours, and exalted and intensified by the tenderness, of the Divine. We alsc have our precious opportunities. He is with us in his \Vord ann in his Spirit. Mary, in her improvement of her opportunities, is an example to us. 2. In the expression o/ that love. (1) She had a pound of ointment of spikenard, very precious, contained in an ale.baster cruso or flask. '!'his vessel she brake or opened, and poured the contents u.pon her gracious Lord, first anointing his bead and then his feet, wiping them with her hair, the odour of the ointment filling the house. (2) Note here the unselfish profusenoss of heart-love to Christ. Nothing is too precious to be expended upon the Blessed One who has shed his most precious blood for us. In Mary's just 11ppreciation of his infinite worthiness, there was no place for the cold and nice calculations as to what good might otherwise be done with this costly nard. "Were the whole refllm of n11ture mine, 'fhe.t were 11 present far too small; Love so 11mazin~, so Divine, Demands my life, my soul, my all." (3) Note also the indefinable spiritual insight and foresight or presentiment which works in an exalted love to Christ. Jesus himself brings this out, as his own Holy Spirit works it in: "Against the day of my burying bath she kept this" (John xii. '!); "She is come a.forehand 'to anoint my body to the burying" (Mark xiv. 8); "In that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial;" "None of the wicked shall underst11nd; hut the wise shall understand" (Dan. xii. 10). 8. Jn the influence of that love. (1) The fragrance of Mary's love filled more than the houso of Simon. Deeds of love to Christ come into every goJly fa:nily as a delightful MATTHEW-II. 20  562 TilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [UH. xxv1. 1-75.