The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 657

lllrth are the permanent members from amongst those that are visible (see Rom. ii. 28, 29). ~ut t~ey cannot be certainly_ known ;until the judgment. (3) The Ohurch ,)f the bapt1zed 1s a very noble corporat1on. It 1s a great honour to be connected with ,t. To be permanently so connected, we must have vital union with Christ, (4) This is that Chu~ch f~ bui)t by a ti:ue faith in the Son of God, that the gates of Hade■ cannot prevail against 1t (eh. xvi. 18). For the weeding out of the tares, at death, is a benefit, not an injury to it. The dissolution of the body does not for an instant interrupt the life of faith in Christ (see John xi. 26).-J. A. M. Ver. 2.-Angel-miniserla. Concerning the nature or the location of angels we do know, probably we can know, nothing. When they have come into the earthly spheres they have always appeared to be men like ourselves; their peculiarity has not been their ~gs, but their purity and radiancy. But one thing does come out quite clearly and impressively from every case of angel-visitation. They are always ministers, engaged in some form of ministering. Whatever dignity we may think to belong to the angels, it is the dignity that lies in service.. Here in our text the angel is no mere figure ; he has something to do ; be waits upon the rising Lord, rolls hack the stone from the door, and sits npon it. Summarizing the work of the angels, it is said, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall he heirs of salvation? " I. THE BIOBEST DIGNITY IN THE OTHEB WOBLD. Angels are beings that belong to the other world ; and if we can get to know about them, we get to know something of the occupations, interest.., and sentiments of the other world. And this is the thing which the angels more especially teach us-in that other world their highest and noblest idea is" serving one another in love." There is one characteristic of the eternal state. It is even so characteristic as to seem to be the only characteristic worth mentioning-it is ministry. Heaven is heaven because every member can say, "I am among you a.s he that serveth." They learn this of Christ. II. THE HIGHEST DIGNITY Ill THIS WOBLD. The angels illustrate it, and the Lord Jesus taught it. "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant." Instances may be taken from the several ages, pre-Christian and Christian; and it may be shown that we never have an angel exhibiting himself or getting for himself; they are always doing two things-obeying and serving. Then show what a.n impression of the grandeur of angels we have. But what is our notion of them? Do we think of them as having extraordinary privileges? That is not their dignity, This is it-they have risen into the full joy of ministering. The circle is complete : God, Christ, the Spirit, beings of the other world, redeemed men and women in ,this world, are one in this-all are ministeriDg.-R. T. Ver. 6.-C!hrid, resurrection the aclmowkdgment of ma11J,'1J soul-1,klo!f'y. Our Redeemer's work lacks completeness until his soul-triumph of trust and submission ha.a manifestly, in some open way, gained the acknowledgment and a.cceptance of God. And this is precisely what we have in the Resurrection. In Gethsemane a. soul-triumph ,0f obedience and trost was won. That soul-trinmph was tested by the physical woes -of Calvary. That soul-triumph was seen to have gained Divine acceptance on the morning of the Resurrection. And the acceptance of the perfect Son involves the acceptance of that humanity of which he was the Head and Representative. Our Lord's humanity was headship. By natural generation all men are in Adam; by spiritual regeneration all men are in Christ, or may be in Christ. Examine this relation carefully. L Timm: OF GETHBEllilTE. There is the conflict between flesh and spirit, between the shrinking from duty which involved suffering, and the obedience and trust of the Son. Just the kind of struggle carried on in onr souls many a. time since then, We may say, " That conflict was undertaken for me. It was a aecessary part of the .working ont of salvation for me which the Lord Jesus undertook.'' But we may also say, "That conflict was mine." The fight between flesh and spirit was always -.ending in the mastery of the flesh, while I managed it myself. But I watoh that great ,.,.aul-fight of Gethl!emane with the holiest and inteIIJlelt feeling, becau,e it '8 mjne. In ,cbrist its Champion, humanity won liberty from the bondage of self, won the trust and. t.he obedience of the Son. <1n. xxvm. 1-20.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 663