The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 329

whioh consisted in plnying the renega,lo followers of Jesus whir,h we possess is the nnd the oownrd; which refueocl to euff"r for grave and ete.tely A.pology of St0pl1en before him here; which, out of slavish fear of man, the Sanhedrin. Peter'e epi;ech before tho consented to abandon hie pure and righteous same tribunal, e.nd Paul's before Felix and muse ;-that offence, which would be pro- Feetus, 141'0 also fair instances. 1ilaimed before the angels of heaven, would Ver. 13.-And one of the oompany BBid in the end find forgi veneee. Some com- unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that mentators point, ns an illustration of this, he divide the inheritanoe with me. Ap- to the fact of the dyi11g Lord praying on parently there we.a a pause here in the the cross for his murderers; but the offence Lord's teaching. 'fbe MaHter we.e about to alluded to here, which ehoulcl in the end be enter on a new subject, and at this juncture blotted out, wae of far deeper dye. He one of the crowd, wa.i ti og for such a brenk prayed on his cross for those Romans who in the Me.eter's discourse, ea.me forward with sinned, but sinned in the face of little light. a question. It was purely connected with But this forgiveness wae to be extended to hie own selfish interests. He seems to have men who, through fear of men and love of been a younger brother, diHcontented with the world, should deny him whom they the dll!tribution of the fo.m iIy property, of knew to be their Redeemer. This is one which, most likely, in accordance with the o( the most hopeful passages which treats n,,ua.1 Jewish practice, a dou hie portion he.cl of sin eventually to be forgiven, in the whole been taken by the elder brother. Thie wae New Testament. But even here there is no likely enough the point which be eubmittetl so-called universal redemption announced, to the Lord. Snch a. reference to a scribe for in the next sentence the Lord goes on and rabbi of eminence was then not un- to speak of a sin which he emphatically common. Jeans, however, here, as on other said sbe.11 never he.ve forgivenese. But unto occasions (see John viii. 3-11), firmly re- him that ble.ephemeth e.gainst the Holy fuses to interfere in secular matters. His Ghost it shall not be forgiven., What is work was of another e.nd higher kind. The thiB awful sin? We have only to speak of word he addresses to the q ueetioner has in ite connection in this place. Here there is it a tinge of rebuke. The utter selfisl1 no possibility of mistake; it was that deter- worlt.lliness of the man, who, aftE>r hearing mined hatred of holineeY, that awful love the solemn and impressive words just spoken, of self, which bad induced the Pharisee could intrude sucll a. question, comes strongly leaders to ascribe his beneficent and loving into view. Was not this poor unimpreseion- works to the spirit of evil and of darkness. a.ble Jew, eo wrapped up in his own paltry The accusation was no chance one, the fruit concerns that be had no thought or care for of impulse or of passion. They who accused loftier things, perhaps a specimen of most him knew better. They had heard him of the material upon whom the Lord llad teach, not once, but often; they had seen to work ? Is he an unknown figure in our his works; nnd yet, though they knew that day e.nd time? the whole life and thoughts and aspiratious Ver. 15.-And he said unto them, Taka were true, who were conscious tl.iat every heed, and beware of oovetousnees : for a word and work was holy, just, and pure, in me.n's life consisteth not in the abundance order to compass their own selfish ends, of the things which he posaeeseth. The simply because they felt bis life and teach- older authorities read, "beware of eYery ing would interfere with them, they dared kine! of covetousness." No vice is more to a8cr,'be to the devil what their own hearts terribly illustrated in the Old TeBtament told them oame direct from God. This siu, story than this. Prominent illustratiuus of now as then, the merciful Saviour telLI us ruin overtaking the cuvetous mo.u, even in haB no forgiveness. this life, a.re B.i.laam, Achan, e.:iJ Geluzi. Ver. 11.-A.nd when they bring you unto Has not this ever been one of the IJesetti:ig the syne.gogues, and unto magistrates, and sins of the chosen race, the,1 as now, uow ad powers, take ye no thought how or what then 1 Jesus, as the Reader of hearts, saw thing ye shall a.newer. The Master comes what was at the bottom of tile queatiun: bnck age.in to his old ce.lm, a.ml continues greed, rather tllan a fiery indignation at his loving instructions to his disciples; and e. wrong enJured. "A man's life." His true turning again to the little group of his life, would 1.,e a fair paraphrase of the G, eek friends, he se.ys to them, " When they bring word used here. The Mt<ster's own life, la11d- you befc.re hostile tribuua\s, special help, you less, homeless, penniless, illustrated u,,l.,ly will find, will be given you. He.ve no fear, these words. '.l'hat life, a.s far as , e.rth was then, thnt you will bd wanting in wisdmn concerned, was hill dolibem.te choice. Tue or courage; the H,,\y Spirit of God will world, Uhristian as well a~ pt<gc1n, in encll be your Advocate, nnd will whisper to you succeeding age, with a re1aurkable agreo- words for your defonco." The best t'Xamplo menl, utterly declines to rec.1,;uizo the .~rmt of this supcrnuturul a.iu to the o.:cu,ed 'l'co.d er·~ view of life here. Tu wailic hi~  834 THE GOSrEL ACOOHDINO TO ST. LUKre. [err. m. 1-60.