The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 627

heeitaui not "1e1D1elves to be busied with a work of malice on it. Neither do the? heBitat.e to procure soldiers to mount guard upon it. Again they !ay, "We remember, eto. Thus these base hypocrites made it evident that they well enough knew that the words of Christ, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," referred to "the temple of hie body," when they perverted them at the trial (of. eh. xxvi. 61). 2. See how Proviiknce ,·e'buked it. (1) By their confession it was publicly known that Jesus had uttered tho prediction that he should rise again the third day. The prediction, then, was not road mto the narrative after the event of the -Resurrection. They were anxious "until the third day," because he had "said while yet alive, After three days I rise again." Note: The mode of computation was that which still obtains in the East. "After three days" means "until the third day." (2) They relied upon the seal and the guard, The seal snpplied the place of a lock, It was in use as anciently as the time of Daniel (see Dan, vi. 17), The sepulchre was cut into the rock, so had but one entrance, which was not only blocked by a great stone sealed, but guarded by sixty soldiers. The disciples could not possibly "steal him away." Their case rendered the evidence of the Resurrection all the more convincing. (3) "So the last error," etc. The devil never speaks the truth but when he intends to promote some evil purpose by it. The rulers were true prophets against their will, Little did they imagine that the measures they adopted would in the most powerful manner contribute to the result they dreaded. There is neither might nor council against God (see Acts v. 23; xvi. 23). III. TuosE WHO AFFECT INDIFFERENCE TO RIB CLAlllS, 1. Pi1ateajfected a haughty indi.ff=. (1) He conceded the body of Christ to the request of Joseph, He was the more willing to do so, having found no fault in Jesus at his trial. (2) He also conceded the guard to the request of the rulers. (3) He leaves the watch to the priosts, not caring to be seen himself in such a thing. "Make it as sure as ye can," looks like banter. 2. The soldier, of the watch were mercenariea, (1) They guarded the tomb becaUBe they were paid to render obedience to command. Can a man reduce hitnllelf to the condition of an automaton? (2) When they took the bribe of the ruler.; to conceal the resnrrection of Christ and give publicity to a lie, they acted as free agents. (3) There can be no neutrality in relation to Christ. To affect it cannot be innocent. Every age has its Pharisees, who make the written Word of God a sealed book, perverting the letter and denying the spirit (cf. Rev. xiii. 10). "Do thou hinder the resurrection of thy sin ; seal it down with strong purposes, solemn covenants, and watch it by a wakeful, circumspect walking" (Gurnall).-J. A. M. Ver. 4.-Tlie welessness of remortie. "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." There are various estimates of the character and motives of Judas Iscariot. Dr. A. Maclaren does not give sufficient scriptural reason for crediting him with mistaken zeal. and the intention of forcing Christ to act. He says, "Judas was simply a man of a low, earthly nature, who became a follower of Christ, thinking that he was to prove a Messiah of the vulgar type, or another Judas Maccabaiue. He was not attracted by Christ's charact.er and teaching. AB the true nature of Christ's work and kingdom became more obvious, he became more weary of him and it. , .. His burst of confession does not sound like the words of a man who had been actuated by motives of mistaken affection." The word "repented," found in ver. 3, is the word which merely means" regret," a simple change of feeling; it does not suggest humbled feeling, or sense of sin. A man may be vexed at the results of hie conduct without any recog- nition of the sin and shame of his conduct. Two of the apostolic band openly failed in those hours of strain. Penitence and remorse are illustrated in their two cases; Peter, through penitence, found recovery. Judas, through remorse, found doom. Penitence is useful. Remorse is useless. I. REMORSE IS BUT TBB SIIAHE OF HAVING FAILED, The word means "to bite back." It may be illustrated by biting one's lips through vexation. It involves shrinking from tile results of haring failed. It is the annoyance of having miscalcu- lated ; it iB the feeling of being convicted of stupidity; it is the regret of seeing a scheme fall about us in ruins because we made a false move. It may include some regret at the mischief we have made for others, without doing any good to ourselves. But there is no sense of the sin and shame of the thing done, The sec•ming confessiou, "J ott. uvtt. 1-66.j TlIE CiOSP:lllL ACCORDING 'fO BT. MATTHEW. eaa