The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 290

you nre also ecrving your Saviour, and that in a we.y in which he most delights to be served. He ie s11ying to you, 'If you had eyes to see, yon would recognize me in those pinched faces 11nd ill-clad forms; if you he.d ears to hear, you would recognize my voice in those plaintive tones; it is my need that yon are supplying, it is my heart that you are gladdening: inasmuch as you are carrying sucrour, strength, hope, life, to one of the least of these, you are doing it unto me.'"-C. Ver. 20.-Better things. When Jesus BBid, "Rejoice not, .•. but rather rejoice" he did not mean to condemn the satisfaction which the seventy were expressin" i11 their triumph over the evil spirits. There was nothing wrong in such gratification. To exercise power, especially a newly acquired power, and more especi11lly a power that is possessed by few,-this is simply natural ; and to rejoice in the exercise or beneficent power is not only not wrong, but is distinctly and positively right anJ worthy. But there are other sources of joy that are more excellent; it is a question of the relatively rather than the absolutely good. We conclude from our Master's words- I. THAT IT IS BETTED TO BUILD ON 0HABACTER THAN ON CIRCUMSTANCE. This was a very pleasing incident in the life of the seventy; they would al ways look back to it with pleasure, and speak of it with interest to themselves and others. But it was only an incident. It was decisive of nothing. It did not determine their future course, their final destiny. They might have done what they did and yet have gone down- ward and reached an evil end. To have "their names written in heaven" mea.nt to ho right at heart, to be .reconciled to God, to be loyal citizens of the spiritual and heavenly kingdom, to be sound and true within. It is this which is to be desired and to be sought and to be built upon. Life may have a large number of interesting episodes, of gratifying circumstances; and may yet be e. miserable failure, may have to be looked back 11pon with pain and she.me. 'fo be right with God, to have "truth in the inward parts," to be such a one on earth e.s that those who live in heaven will recognize us as their kindred,-that is the thing to be concerned about, that is the goal to be gained at all costs, the true source of human joy. II. T!IAT IT IS BETTED TO ENJOY THE ABIDING FAVOUR OF GOD TRAN THE SIIORT- LIVEJ;) THANKS OF MAN. Doubtless one pa.rt of the satisfaction which the seventy enjoyed was the gratitude they received from those whom they relieved; but better than human gratitude is the favour of the living God. The thankfulness of a. sen8itive and responsive human soul is by no means to be despised or disregarded, but it is a very precarious basis of human happiness. It is sometimes denied where it is most due; it is sometimes very slight and transient when it should be deep and lasting. But God's favour a.bides. "Having loved his own, he loves them to the end ; " "In his favour is life.'' If we are upheld in our integrity, and God sets us before his face for ever (Ps. xli. 12), we can afford to pa.rt with other things. •· Better to walk the realm nnseen Than to watoh the hour's even, Bettllf' the smile of God alway Than the voice of man's consent." III, THAT IT IS BETTER TO EXERT A LASTING INFLUENCE FOR GOOD UPON THE SOUL THAN TO CONFER A TEMPORARY GOOD UPON THE BODY. The bodily service rendered by the seventy was great as far as it went and so long e.s it lasted. But the eyes then and by their means opened, and the ears then unstopped, were soon closed a.gain in death; and the feet then roe.de to walk were soon motionless in the grave. But to have their names written in heaven, and to be thus prepa.red to enlighten the minds and to quicken the souls of men, was to be in a position to render le.sting, even everlasting good; that was to confer immeasurable benefit on those whom they sought to bless. 1. Are our names written in that book of life? 2. Are we appreciating its inestimable value? 3 .. Are we making use of the qualifications it implies to serve O\ll fellow-men in the highest ways ?-C. Ver. 21.-The gladness of gratitude, etc. Our thought is directed to- I. TnE GLADNESS OF GRATITUDE, "Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and saicl, I thank thee, 292 TITE GOST'ltL ACCORDING TO ST, LUKE. [on, x 1--42.