The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 280

vineyard." A threerold lesson seems to be conveyed. 1. A lesson a.s to the spint of mind proper to the serva.nt of Christ. 2. A lesson a.s to the ministry a.ppointed to th" serv1rnt of Obrist. 3. A lesson as to the confession of hilll dema.nded from the servant of Christ. I. THE SPIRIT OP MIND PROPER TO THE TRUE SERVANT OF CHRIST. Turn, for guidance as to this, to the words contained between the seventeenth and twenty-fourth verses of the tenth chapter. The seventy have returned triumphant. They ha.ve succeeded far beyond their expectation. Healing of the sick? " Even the devils are Rubject to us through thy Name." Wha.t a strange new sensation! Men, hitherto utterly obscure, the custodiars of a power so marvellous, beholding, at the word which passes from them, the most marvellous results in the lives and characters of men! 'l'here is no such jubilation in the tone of the twelve when they return; perhaps the issue had fallen below their expectations. But the seventy, the special and temporary execu- tive of Jesus, are filled with the supreme joy of the conqueror-" the devils are subject to us." Now, there is no rebuke of this spirit. On the contrary (ver. 19), they are told that, in Christ's strength, they shall tread on all sorts of evil spirits-on the serpent and the scorpion, opposing them in serpent and scorpion-like natures-on "all the power of the enemy." .And the Lord shares their elation. In their tidings (ver. 18) he sees the presage of the complete victory of the good over the evil. He pours forth (ver. 21) a fervent stream of praise that, at length, and through these poor babe-like souls, his holy love has been declared as victorious over the kingdom of darkness. Was not the message brought (ver. 2~) a. new sign of the Father's acceplance of tbe Man Christ Jesus, and of the universal sovereignty which bad been assigned to him? But mark the "notwithstanqing" of ver. 20. It is the interposition of a great check. Undoubtedly, nothing is more thrilling than the sense of strength. It may be tyrannous to use, but it is great to have, a giant's strength. But there is nothing more hurtful than a complacent resting on the evidences and results of power. Many a good man is spoiled by the overweening consciousness of force; he becomes inflated with pride; and, as he does so, he loses rank before God; he is not far from the loss of power even with men. Therefore the importance of Christ's" Notwithstanding, rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." "Not, i.e. in the tokens of command, but in the capacity of service; not that you rule, but that you are ruled; that God in his grace has called you to work with him, has written your name in the register of the citizenship of heaven, bas allowed you a part in the heavenly life and ministry." Both in what he thus said, and in the glimpse into his own mind (vers. 21, 22), he indicates that the true disciple finds his joy, not in what he does, but in what God does by him; not in trophies of power, but in signs of Divine acceptance and anointing; not in the subjection of spirits to him, but in the subjection of his own life to, and his sympathy with, the eternal Father and the purpose of his love. II. This being the spirit of the mind, look back to the narrative from vers. 10-17 of eh. ix., and recognize in it A SYMBOL OF THE TRUE DISCIPLE-WORK-the work in which Master and scholar are at one. This work is set forth in its essential character, and its Divine order, or method. 1. Its essential character is giving. (Ver. 13.) "Give ye them to eat." The most typical pictures of the Divine love are those which most purely bring out the relation of the Giver-man wanting, God supplying; man's argu- ment," I need," God's argument, "I have." The babe cries, settles at once to the kindly bosom-the argument being the need. The mother has, and her abundance is the life of the child. '!'his is a reflection of God and man. So, on that grassy plain near Bet hsaida, we are introduced to a scene and work most significant of the love of God in Christ. All the evangelists relate it. It is the occasion of one of the most memorable of Jesus' discourses-that conceruing the Bread of life. Altogeth~r, it is a notably royal act, the picture of the ministry of the kingdom of God. How it came _about we are told (vers. 10-12). The compassionate heart of Jesus is moved with pity by the sight of the great multitude which has followed him. "Send them away, Master," is the whisper, "We are here in a lonely place. '!'hey are hungry; they may become funon~; let them go into the towns and viUages, and lodge, and get victuals." The answer is, " Give ye them to eat." This is the manifestation of God in the flesh-God in his power, no Jes~ tl.um hi~ will. "Wh~L I ifastcr," excbi~ l'hllip, ":ill our store  28! THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. (011. x. 1--42,·