The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 560

now "e.waking" from ite slumber of forbee.rance was fully in his view. He saw the malignity of those human h11nds into which it was given to be wielded against him. Yet did he not seek to evade its edge. He could e.lready see those" wounds in bis hands" with which he we.s to be" wounded in the house of his friends n (see Zech. 'xiii. 6). He could have a.voided them; but his sheep must be redeemed. (3) Tho "scattered" ones must 11gain be gathered into their fold. To this end the smitten Shepherd must rise a.gain from the dead. "But after I am re.ised up I will go before you into Galilee." This implies that he would deliver himself out of the hands of his enemies and theirs. "I will go before you," equivalent to "I will bring my hand age.in to the little ones" (see Zech. xiii. 7). "I will go before you," viz. as the Shep- herd before his gathered flock (see John x. 4). "Into Galilee." He even mentioned the particular hill which was to be the place of their meeting (see eh. xxviii. 16). (4) We have "strong consolation" in the "mercy" which "endureth for ever." II. IN THE DISCIPLES WE SEE AN EMBODIMENT OF WEAKNESS. 1. Their weakness appears in their self-confidence. (1) Peter had more faith in himself than he had in the Scriptures of God. They anticipated the offence which the sheep were to take when the Shepherd should be smitten. In the face of this Peter said, "If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended." It is easy to talk boldly an<l carelessly of death at a distance. (2) "If all shall be offended." Those who think too well of themselves are apt to be suspicious of others (see Gal. vi. 1). (3) Peter's self-confidence grew with his unbelief. For when Jesus said unto him," Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou she.It deny me thrice. Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." He should ha.ve been diffident in respect to words which never failed wben the most stupendous miracles depended on them. (4) The foremost in self-confidence a.re the first to fall. Such was the case with Peter. Then- " Beware of Peter's word, Nor confidently se.y, 'I never will deny thee, Lor<l, But, 'Gre.nt I never me.y.' Man's wisdom is to seek His strength in God alone; A.nd e'en an e.ngel would be weak Who trusted in his own." 2. Their weakness appears in their unbelief. (1) They could see tha.t Jesus was in peril of his life. This they inferred rather from their knowledge of the hostility of the rulers than from their faith in the Scriptures of prophecy or from the prophetic words of Christ. They could not see who it we.a that was in peril. Had they seen the Father in the Son, the peril would not have affrighted them. Note: Offences will come among the disciples of Jesus in times of peril. The cross of Christ is evermore the stumbling-block (1 Cor. i. 23). Satan is busy when our faith is weak. (2) They could not see wha.t it truly is to die with Christ. To die with him is to die to self e.nd the world-voluntarily to crucify our entire evil nature. Because, for lack of faith, they were unprepared thus to die with Jesus, they "forsook him, e.nd fled." The heart can await the hour of temptation when the truth is rooted in it. (3) They could not see that their Lord would rise again from the dead. This unbelief was not for want of being told about the Resurrection, either by the prophets or by Christ himself. They were foolish in the slowness of their hearts to believe (see Luke xxiv. 25, 26). Had they understood and realized the resurrection of Christ on the third dl<J after hi.:! Passion, their faith would have steadied them (cf. 1 Cor. xv. 58). (4) If all the apostles forsook their Lord, who has not reason to fear? Did not the apostles represent all the flock which they were afterwards to bring together? Who can boast? The Lord permits us to be tried, that we me.y see ourselves e.s we sre, e.nd he humbled by our experience. The strength of prida is but for a moment.-J. A. M. Vere. 36-46.-The agOAy in the garden. Jesus, with his apostles, after the eventful IIlD!DMight walk from Jeruse.lem, came to a place at the foot of the Mount of Olives, called "Gethsemane," or the oil-presses. Ilere he entered upcn a scene the mornl 5GG THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MATTHEW'. [au. XXVI, 1-75,