The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 165

their action; for they lay stress on the one s~i~I_I infirmity while they \el\ve unrogarded aud _unack?owlerlged man:i: hono~1rable _11cqu1R1t1o_ns? many Vl\l~:ible vi,tnes, 2. They are mcons1derate of the d1fficult1es which the v1ct1ms of their severity have had to c,,utcnd with, and. in doing battle with which they may have put forth the most c<>rnmenrlahle exertion. 8. They forget that every one of us is and will be HUbject to the jndgrnent and (where it is due) the condemnation of God (see Hom. xiv. 4, 10). 4. T~ey show a perverted ingenuity. It would be a most excellent quality to culti- vate 1~ they would only ex~rt the same _subtlety and patient observation in descrying the virtues a~d. the ~ut1?s of ~hose 1~ whom they detect so many failures. Thie keenness ~f spmtual ~s!on _is a mistake m two other ways. (1) It is usnally unprofit- able; for 1t IB more 1rntatmg than advantageous to those on whom it is expended. (2) It is odious to man, and it is unpleasing in the sight of God. Both in the human an~ in the Divine estimate, severity is the unattractive and charity is thll becoming thmg. II. Tm: DULNESS OF SPIRITUAL VISION other men manifest. They do "not perceive th_e bPam that is in their own eye." This fact in human experience is only too palpable. VI' e see men_ whose souls ar_e pain_fully charged with selfishness, or pride, or frivolity, or cruelty, or 1rre,·erence, or 1mpunty, who have no eonception that they are in a-rave spiritual delinquency and danger. There is not a mote but a beam in their eye: and they are blind to it altogether. They are not entitled to offer a judgment on the defects or transgressions of others, BO far are tbey themselves from thtl straight line of truth. And any note of censure from their lips is utterly and even ludicrously misplaced. UL OUR WISDOM IN VIEW OF THESE MISTAKES. It is to be far more concerned to be right and pure in our own hearts than to be keen in \be detection and exposure of otber people's shortcoming. Since men do so seriously and so fatally mistake their own spirit and condition, it behoves us to do these three things : 1. To examine our own hearts with impartial and anxious eye. 2. To welcome any friendly counsel or warning that may be offered us; and "it is lawful to lea.m even from an enemy." 3, To be often and earnestly asking God to show us what is wrong within, that we may see our- lle!ves as be sees us. "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults!" (Ps. x:ix. 12, 13 ; and see P.s. c:uxiL 28, 24).-C. Vers. 43--45.-Being and doi'fl{J. The great Teacher here puts into figurative language the truth which was afterwards su t,·rsely and forcibly expressed by his most appreciative disciple, "He that doeth righteousness is righteous." We have here- L THE FOUNDATION-TRUTH on which our Lord's word is built, viz. that life is the outcome of character; tbat as men are BO they will live, "A good man out of thQ good tre&Bure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good," etc. Granted that a man is sound at heart, it is certain that he will spend a good life, that he will shrink from the evil and pursue and practise the holy thing. Granted that a man is radically corrupt, it is certain that his life will be unworthy and sinful. Character must come forth into conduct; behaviour is the manifestation of the secret spring which is within tbe soul. " A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit," etc. II. THE APPAHENT EXCEPTIONS, which a.re only apparent, and not real. If this be true, we want to know how it is, on the one hand, (1) that men we feel sure are bad at heart are found living lives that a.re blameless and even devout; and how it is, on the other hand. (2) that men we feel sure are sound at heart deviate so of~n from the straight line of propriety. The answer to this question is manifold. 1. It must be remembered th11.t much of that which seems goodness of life, and which seems as if it must have come from a true heart, is not real goodness-it is only pretence. Hypocrisy, the affectation of piety and vir~ue, !s not a good fruit, though it m~y look very much like it; it is no more "good fruit" m th~ ~arden of the Lord 1h~n poisonous berries are good fruit on the trees or shrubs of our vunble garden. 2. And 1t must also be taken into account that much of that which seems like departure from moral excellence, and which seems as if it cannot have proceeded from the good heart, is not really "evil•" it is either mannerism that is only skin-deep, to be regretted indeed, but not to be confounded with essential moral evil; or it i.,, undeveloped, struggling rigL~e1111, ihe crude and imR9rfect alteml,t of a soul that i, lll•Jving upwards from on, v1. 1- -40.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 163