The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 338

F.nd m:m. The l'harhrcs whom onr Lord oondemned were not----at least we mRy In charity so suppose-intentionally false. If they prRyed to be seen of men, we need not irntl.gine that they secrelly mocked at and disbelieved in the dnty of prayer. The leaven was the endeavour to ~aintain a reputation with which they were credited; so mnch had this endeavour gamed on them, that they were far more anxious about it than about their po~session of truth in the inward parts. And thus they became pa.rt, actors. Now, so with regard to ourselves and our fellow-men, A person is observed doing, in some directions or at some times, whllt is inconsistent with his conduct rtt other times or in other directions. And worldly minded people, always eager to scent blemishes, cry out," Hypocrite!" This is a harsh, and may be a wrong, judgment. A lapse from the standard aimed &.t does not evidence insincerity. Nay, those who <>bserve most closely the facts of life, can oftcr. trace what seems a twofoldness of 11elf. The Apostle Paul in a most striking passa~e (Rom. vii.) has described the struggle in bis own heart, the conten<ling laws, the spiritual and the carnal, the opposi- tions and tbwartings of the sin that dwelt in him-oppositions so fiel'ce that it seemed as if he v.·cre sold unc1er sin. "0 wretched man that I am l" be cries. His hope, bis triumph, is," I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Looking up to Jesus Christ, be saw his right and higher self; looking down on the evil ever i,resent with him, on the body of death in which he appeared to be enslaved, he saw the lower and the wrong self. "I myself with the mind serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the· law of sin." The one feature in this portrait is the determination of the will. That was God's; the deflections from it were the signs of an alien force from which he wished to be free. So long as this feature is predominant, the sanctification may be imperfect, but the life is true. What constitutes hypocrisy is appearing to be what one is not; concealing the want of piety in the heart under the cloke of piety in the action; such a study of outward effect that the conduct gradually becomes a tissue of dishonesties. '.rbis posing to be something and this anxiety about the pose rather than the truth, constitute the leaven of hypocrisy. "Be no part-actor," says Christ (vers. 2, 3); "be no whisperer in darkness, be no mutterer in the ear in inner chambers. Be not one thing in secret, and another thing in public. Keep clear of pretences of all sorts. Remember, concealment CllllD0t avail. Walls have ears. 'l'he universe bas its libraries on which all that is whispered is written. And there is an Eternal Truth to whom • all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid."' 2. Next, there is the word as to CIJ'IJ,'l'age. Is it not the word which we might expect from him who had defied the most compact order in the land? Listen to the Christian's "Fear ,,wt," and the Christian's" Fear." "Fear not man, having power only over the body" (ver. 4). Have the courage of your convictions. Trust in God and do the right. Fear God (ver. 5). Fear not to speak the troth; fear to tell the lie. "Yea, I say unto you, fear the Eternal Righteousness." The lesson is enforced by three considerations. (1) 'l'he value to God of every true and honest life (vers. 6, 7). Not one sparrow is for- gotten, not one of the tiniest and least valued of God's creatures is outside his care. Every hair on your bead is numbered. You are dear to God. He is waiting for you to work with him. The life of each of you is of value to him. Fear not. (2) The danger of trifling with conviction (vers. 8-10). Do not refuse, for some fear of man, to give effect to it. You may possibly, says the Lord, quench the Holy Spirit. This was the sin of the Pharisees. This is the unpardonable sin. A word against Jesus may be spoken "i<Toorantly in unbelief;" and the Hedeemer says, "Father, forgive; for they know not wh~t they do." But to shut the eye to the light, to refuse to see light as light, to sophisticate the voice of God's Spirit speaking through reason and conscience, this is to destroy the possibility of spiritual health. Christ says to the disciples, " 'l'o confess me before men, no matter what the consequences to yourselves, is to deliver your souls, is to realize the confession in heaven; to deny me is to lose the fellowsliip of the holy angels, ie to approach the confines of the sin which shall not be forgiven." (3) The support assured for all testimony to him (vers. 11, 12). God is ever on the side of the true. Christ bids those who confess him dismisH anxiety when brought to "synagol!lles, magistrates, and powers." They are never alone. Moses, the stammer- ing, bad his Aaron with him when he went in unto Pharaoh. A Mightier than Aaron is with the most timid and stammering of the confessors of the kingdom of God. " The Holy Ghost sLa.11 teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say," OH, xn. 1-50,) TllE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 313