The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 138

IV. THE surEnADUNDANOE wmcn rs m CnmsT. This poor pnmlytio sought much of the Lord, but he found 11_ great deal more than he sought; seeking he11ling for his body, he found that, and Wlth that mercy for his soul. Uhrist has more to give us than we count upon receiving: Manr a man has gone to him asking only for preRent r<'hef fro~ 11 burdC'n of conscious guilt, and be has found that salvatiou by faith iu Je~us Christ means VILStly more tbau that. He finds that the forgiveness of sin is the initial step of II bright and blessed future, thnt it is the earnest of II noblo inheritance. In Christ our Lord are" unsearchable rich!'s;" and they who have receiver\ the most ha"e only begun to find what II world of excellency and blessedness they have gained by hearkening to his voice and hastening to his side and entering his holy service.-C. Vars. 27, 28.-Following (Jhrut. Who can fail to be struck with- I. 'l'BE COMMANDING AUTHORITY OF CHRIST. It will be observed that he speaks in the imJ:"l:ative; not "Wouldest thou," but" Do thou follow me I" He speaks, also, unconditionally, absolutely, not "Follow me if or when," but simply and without reserve, "Follow me! " Consider what large consequences would result from Matthew's choice-the complete breaking up of his old life, the forsaking of his old pursuits and of his old friends, the entering an entirely new sphere of thought and action. Yet :Matthew appears to have recognized the right of Jesus Christ to make this demand of him. Must he not have acted under Divine illumination and guidance to decide so promptly and so wisely? So authoritatively and unconditionally the: Saviour comes to ns and summons us to his service. Bis claim rests on incontestable facts which prove him to be the Son of God who has a sovereign right thus to address us, to be the Son of man whose life of love and whose death of shame entitle him to ask the most and the best of us. Il. THE MEANING OF oue. SA vroue.'s 0ALL. The form of service our Master desires of us when he bids us follow him is obviously different from that he asked of Matthew, What does be \\'ant of us? What is the precise thing be requires us to do? Taking, as we should take, one passage with another, we answer that he desires us to come intu the closest possible union which a human spirit can sustain to the Divine; or, more spe- cifically, he wants us cordially to accept him for all that he offers to be to our soul-to accept him as our Teacher from whom we learn all needful truth, as our Saviour in whose redeeming work we trnst for God's abounding mercy, as our Lord to whom we dedicate our powers and our days, as our Divine Friend and Refuge in whom we hide. III. THE EXCELLENcY OF AN lllMEDIATE RESPONSE. Matthew did well that he "left all, rose up, and followed him." Had he waited for another occasion, he would have been more entangled in human relationships and worldly interests; he might never have had so direct and personal an appeal made to him. As it was, by forsaking all to follow Christ, he lust a profitable calling and a company of friends; but what did he find instead? 1. The protection and friendship of Jesus Christ. 2. A new and nobler manhood, an exalted life. 3. The esteem and the gratitude of the Church of Christ for all time to come. 4. Eternal blessedness in the future. And so with us; when the Master comes and calls us, as he may do in one of a number of ways, we act most wisely when we immediately respond. (1) We lose the least that can be lost. (2) We make sure of ihe heritage which the truly wise are determined to gain. Jesus of Nazareth is "passing by;" we must avail ourselves of his offer while opportunity ellows. (3) We gain immeasurable good-peace of mind, blessed consciousness of the favour and friendship of God, spiritual rectitude, a life that is worthy of our origin and our ca1,acities, a hope that maketh not ashamed. That was a supreme hour tu Mattuew, the crisis of his life: who shall say how soon we may reach the supremo and critical hour of our career? Blessed are they who recognize it when it comes, and who come forth from it having "laid hold on eternal life."-C.