The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 189

Ver. 5.-Patriotism and piety. The mutual respect shown here by Jew and Roman is very pleasing, anJ the more so that it was so rare. Disdain rather than regard, hatred rather than affection, characterized both peoples ; and it is a very agreeable change to find so different a state of mind. Here the Roman loves the Jewish nation, and the elders of the Jews come out to serve the Roman. The plea which they present to Christ, that out of attachment to their nation he had built them a synagogue, was very forcible, and it did not fail. The conjunction of the two clallSe6 of the text suggests the close connection between piety and patriotism. I. OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO THE RELIGION OF OUR NATIVE LAND. The centurion loved the nation, and why? The Jew had one thing to give the Roman, and that was a very great thing. Civilization, military science, and law, were of the Roman; but "salvation was of the Jews" (John iv. 22). This Roman, who probably saw many things in Galilee that he pitied, found something that first surprised, then convinced, then satisfied and ennobled him-he found a true theology and a pure morality. With this he found rest of soul, domestic purity, health and sweetness of life; he became another man, and lived another life. He was indebted to the religion of this country of his adoption. What do we owe to the religion of the land in which we were born ? Bow much more do we owe to the Christianity we have learned in England than the centurion (of the text) owed to the Judaism he learned in Galilee I Our holy faith, taught us in childhood a1.,d impressed upon us through all our days, has brought into our view a heavenly Father, a Divine Saviour and Friend, a Holy Spirit and Comforter, a hlessed service, a godly brotherhood, a noble life, a glorious hope of immortal blessed- ness. What shall we render to the country of our birth which has trained us in such trur hs as these? IL Oua DEBT ACKNOWLEDGMENT. This man "loved the nation and built them a synag;ogut:." What better thing could he do than this? What kindlier or truer service could he render them? Those syn~ogues had been the homes of devotion and tLe sourct:11 of sacred instruction for four hundred yea.ri, and they had rendered on. vu. 1-50.J TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 187