The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 265

20; ver. 58). He risked the attachment of another (ver. 60); and again of this man (text), How was this? It was that he had such absolute confidence in the rectitude of his cause, in the support of his Divine Father, and therefore in the triumph of his truth and grace. It is never well to hurry even good issues; we should only work with right instruments, content to wait for the result. "He that believeth will not make haste." To the too-anxious workman there needs to come tlie remembrance of his Master's holy confidence; it says to such a one, "Be still, and know that. I am God." We shall better understand our Lord's reply if we consider- lL WHAT SUPERHUMAN KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUAL HEARTS the Saviour shows I He did not commit himself to men; "for M knew what wa., in man." This is the key which unlocks the difficulty in many instances. It is this which explains how it was that he encouraged or accepted. how it was that he tested or declined, the services of men. And it is this which explains the differences in his treatment of us now ; how it is that to one man he sends BO many more trials and sufferings than to another; how it is that he withholds from one man BO many bounties or privileges which he gives to another. He knows both perfectly; he knows their nature and their need, and he treats them accordingly. III. THE FACT THAT CHRIST REQUIRES SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOB SPECIAL WORK, There is a faith that" removes mountains" of difficulty; but there is also a faith, much more common, which will do good work, though it will not accomplish such great things. Christ had work for the contemplative John which that man of speech and action, Peter, could not have done; Work for the many-sided and devoted Paul which John could not have done. To" follow Christ" as this scribe (of our texi) proposed to do was work which meant many and great things-the severance of old and strong ties, the endurance of 'privation, exposure to hatred and violence, readiness to look death in the face, ·self-immolation on the altar of a sacred cause. Jesus probably knew that this man had not the spiritual qualifications for such a sacrificial post as this. Even the common labourer must have concentration of mind; he must not have his hand on the plough while his eye is off the field. And the workman in his field of holy service must be a man of unflinching steadfastness, of unwavering resoluteness of soul. No other would be fit for such work as be had on hand. Surely it is far kinder of the Master to keep back, even by strong and apparently hard words, the unfit servant from the sphere in which he would fail miserably, than to let him go on and reap all the bitter. fruits of failure; and surely it is wiser far, on our part, to reckon well before- hand, and see whether our mental and spiritual resources will carry us through a proposed service and to retire if we find ourselves unequal to it, tha.n to go blindly forward and to have to come back with something else upon onr brows than the crown of honour and success. We may also learn- IV. WHAT ABE THE PRESENT, ·CONSTANT REQUIREMENTS which Jesus Christ makes of those who work for him. He is saying to us," Follow me into the vineyard of holy usefulness," It is in our hearts to say, "Lord, I will follow thee." What must we have in order that he will readily engage us in his a.ctive service? We must have that spirit of self-surrender which will make us willing to give up to our Lord all that he asks us to part with ; we must be whole--hearted, single-eyed. We must be work- men that have the hand on the plough and the eye on the field. We must be thorough in all tha.t we do for him, contributing all our strength and energy in his cause. And there is every reason why we should be. 1. Our Master is worthy of the very best we can bring to him. 2. The sinful, suffering world around us is crying for our pity and our help. 3. It is well worth our while to do our utmost. In full-hearted senice is the present recompense of sacred joy as we warm to our work and spend ourselves in it, while in the future there await us those" many cities,n that enlarged sphere of inflaence which will reward the faithful followers of their Lord.-C. Vere, 1-17.-The mission of the twelve, After the group of miracles, we have our Lord next conferring the power of working miracles upon the twelve. This wa.-1 miraculous power in its highest form. It is important to work well on11's self; but it is a still greater feat to get all about one's self into working order too. Jesus was trainmg his disciples to be workers like himself. Let us, then, consider- !. 'l'uE CONDITIONS OF TilE MISSION OF TH.& TWboLVE, (V ~rs. 1-6.) And here WQ f66 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKE. [en. 1:1. 1-02 -------------------------- ha'l'e to _noti~e : 1. The power dele~ted was healing and =rcising power. ·That le to s:w, tlic1r miraculous power was to change the sick and the insane into able-bodied members of society. The aim of our Lord's philanthropy and of theirs was to enablo m,·n to become usef~) worker_11._ .W:hen _men can help tbemHelves, then are they in the happiest of all cond1t.1ons. 'I Ins 1s 1nfimtely beUer than spoon-feeding and panperizing penple. . 2. The disciples wer~ not to use mira?le to make the77'1/lelt1ea independe11t of the hosp,tahty of the people. Chnst never used miracle to make lifo easier for himself· nor did he allow hie delegates to do so. It would seem to· 110010 a wiser arrangeme~t to mak~ them independent of random hospi!-3lities. Bu~ it was better for all parties that hosp1ta~1t.l'.' should be looked for. Rabbis were hosp1lably eutertaincd, and 110 should these d1sc1ples be. They were also to accept of hospitality as it came, and not to be ohoosere of the grand and pretentious houses which might be opened to them. There ID.l\y be as much magnanimity in accepting hospitality as ill extellding it.l 3. In case of rejection, they were simply to ,ymbolize Uieir separation by shaking off' the dust of their feet agaillst them. This was the symbol of hostility and war; but there WIU! no further outward act to be undert,.ken. 'l'he war was spiritual, and the judg- ment of the rejectors must be left with God. 'l'oleration was thus made consistent with faithfulness to their collvictions; and was freed from all laxity. 4. Their career of preaching a11d of accompanying phiJanthropy waa continued throughout the town11 of Galilee. The gospel they brought to men was one of trust in the Saviour who had come and of devotion to him. It was a gospel of work inspired by that faith which operates through love. Hence it carried philanthropy with it, and this philanthropy was of the most useful and stimulating character. lL HEROD'S FEARS AIH> CUllIOSITY. (Vera. 7-9.) The mission of the twelve had proved tmfficiently influential to attract the notice of Herod. It led him to consider his sin &nd danger in murdering the Baptist. 'l'he miracles of which he heard, however, were merciful, aud not wrathful; and 110, though he was perplexed about the Saviour, he wu curious to see him. Most likely he thought he would get Jesus into his power, a.s he had got John. But John's ideas about the kingdom and its coming were essentially different from those of Jesus. Hence Herod is left in isolation; hia curiosity alld desire to see Jesus are alike unsatisfied. III. 'I'ini: RETIREMENT INTO wmc11 JESUS TAIES THE DISCIPLES AFTER TREIB CAREER OF SUCCESS. (Ver. 10.) The disciples, as we learn from the other Gospels, returned with joy, highly elated with their success. It was on this account doubtleBB that our Lord deemed retirement eo needful for them. There is nothing so wholesome for us when dangerously elated as solitude and prayer. In this way the true character of success is appreciated, and all undue elation about it overcome. IV. T11E INCONVENIENCES oF POPULARITY. (Ver. 14.) 'l'he seasons of retirement so salutary for public men are apt to be invaded, and more work forced upon them than they would themselves desire. The disciples and Jesus had moat likely secured 11ome fellowship with God before the popular invasion; for our Lord anticipated both friends alld foes, and wrought out his beautiful plan in 11pite of interruption. So when the people came crowding arowid him, he was able to receive them with unruffled spirit, and to give them the counsel and the healing they needed. It was the same policy which the disciples had ptmued by his directions which he hero pursues. Miracle is used to heal and render useful, but not to minister to self-indulgence or render life easier to men. He made the multitu:ie hopeful through hie preaching, and healthy i.hrough his miraculous power. V. THE FEEDING AND DISMIBSAL OF THE PEOPLE. (Vere. 12-17.) This miracle ie narrated by all the evangelists. The sending of the multitude away is urged by the disciples. They have got the healing, and ~hould expec,t no more. As for hospitality, the five thousand should have entertained Jesus and the disciples, rather than be enter- tained by them. But our Lord would go beyond his previous limitations, and becume the Host instead of the Guest of men. For after all, he is really men'e Host, and we all sit at his board, though he condescends to be our Guest and to take of what we provide. Hence he shows by this miracle how all men really depend upon his bounty and are fed from his hand. The multiplication of the five loaves and two fishes, that is, of evvked food, caunot Le assigned to aay natural law, and could only hn.ve been miraculoua. 1 Cf. Ewenon'1 'E118a.ye,' vol. ii., No. v., on ' Gilt..' on. Ix. 1-G2.] TIIE OOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 2137