The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 243

of the worldly twelve. "The child etnnrle ns P"TIY, who hl\rl heen uirlng, t.o aome efl't•,·t tho typo of the humble and chil<llike di"ciple, evidently, that ""me J\fast~r's Name, which an<l (the dispute havi11g been iibont the eotn- possessed, ae John eaw, w•,ndro11A power. pamtive greatueee of the disciples) eneh a !lad be !'nd his [rienrls been doing ri!:;ht disoiple is the greatest; he is so honoure,'. tn rt~buk1ng the compn.ra.tive strnngc:r for by God thot he stands on rarth ne the rnpre- u~ing & Name which Jesus, i □ l.tia wnr,la sontiitive of Christ, and of God hims,•lf (ver. just spoken, seemed to rcganl as the comm,,n 47), sinoe "he that is [willingly] JenHt u111011g property of ki]J(lly devout men? Meyer you all, the same shall be [truly] greut' remarks here " that outside the company of (ver. 48)" (Meyer), disciples of Jesus there were, even then, Ver. 48.-"Whosoever shall receive this men in whose hearts his teaching and acts child in my Name receiveth me. The had evoked a higher and even a snper- genera.I lesson here-and it is one that bRs natnral power. Certain sparks which had gone to the heart more or less of all profess- fnllen here and there beyon,l the little circle ing Chriatiiina-ia tbiit all the fol lowera of of bis own, kinrlle,.I flames occaaionally a;rny Jesus should practise humility before, aml , from the central lire." Thnae who were show tenderness to, the weak. It is one of ever close to the Master seemed to dread the great sayings of the Master which has lest, if these were allowed unchecked to teach stirred that practical charity which he.a ever and to work in tlie Name, gra,·e error ruight been one of the great characteristic features be disseminated. Some natural j.-alousy or of Christianity. But while the general lesson these outsiders no doubt influenr.erl men like is clear, the particular reminder still claims John in their wish to confine the work in attention. Singular an,! touohing was the the limits of their own circle. affection of Jesus for children. Several Ver. 50.-And Jesus said U!ltO him, Forbid marked instances of this are uoted in the him not : for he that is not against us is for Gospels. To this pa.Ree.go. however, e.nd to us. The older authorities, mannscriplil, anrl the sequel BB reported in St. Mork (ix. 42), the more venerable versions here read for may be especially referred the thought the last clause, " He that is not e.gainHt you which has founded the countless child- is for you." Exegetically 11.S well as critically homes, schools, and hospitals in all lands in tli is amended reading is to be preferred. different ages, and in our own time the , The offence of the stranger, if it were an institution of the Sunday school, not the ' offence, was not against Jesus, whnse '.Ii ame least beautiful of Christian works done in had evidently been nsecl reverently aucl with the Master's Name. faith, but age.inst the Jisciples, "bose righta Vere. 49, 50.-.A question put by John. and privileges were presumably infringed Ver. 49.-And J'ohn answered and said, upon. The Ma1ster's reply contained a broad Master, we saw one casting out devils in and far-reaching truth. No earthly society, thy Name; and we for bad him, because he however holy, \"l"ould be able exolnsively to - followeth not with us. The oLaracter of claim the Divine po\"l"crs inseparably con- John is a strangely interesting one. With necte<l with a true nn<l faithful use of his the exception of hie forming one of the Name. This is the grand and m!l.Ssi-;e chosen three who were in a peculiar manner nnswer which stretches over a history of received into their Master's confidence, John eighteen centuries, and which will possibly seldom appears, during the public ministry extend over many yet to come; the answer of Christ, to have played a prominent part. which gives an ample rellson why nobb Many years had to elapse before be e.tt,1ined Cllristi:i.n work is done whether emanating that unique position of influence in the early from Churches bearing the nlillle of .Frotes- CLuroL which no one seems to hnrn<lispute<l. taut, or Roman, or Greek. 111 the mean t:me, his charnder wu.s slowly TIIE S0-CJ.LLED JOcRNEYl!<OS TOW.\RDS JE- forming. Fiery and impetuous, although reserved and retiring, it seemed iu these RCBALEM, The great chl\ractcristio fealnre first days scarcely probable thllt suoh a nature in St. Luko's Gospel, distinguishing- it esp<'- wonl,I ever deepen or ripen into that Johu cu,.lly frnm the other two synoptical Gospels whn IK,camo the world-teacher of his l\foster's of SS. llfatthew and Mark, are the events in l .. ve. ~t. Luke bore reoor<le two circum- otau,·cs wh ieh suggested some of tho l\foster'a the pub:ic ministry of Jesus dwelt oi: in the i1Hpnrt1rnt teaching, in both of which John next ten ohapters of this Gospel. Many pluys the prominent part. Tbe question of inoidents in the suoceeding cLapters are John WLLS evidently Sll""ested hv Jeans' 0 recorded by this evangelist alone. Two wor,ls spokon in connectio7,"with his teaohing questions snggesL themselves. ro,pccting litUe ones, "·whosoever," said th.., l\foater, "•hnll receive this child in my 1. To what period of the Lo.nl's publio Name." llut John an<l others had just been work does this large and importelnt secliu:i ■ leruly rcbuki11g somo one not of their oom- of our Gospt.ll r1Jfer? 244 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [err. n:. 1-6!,