The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 343

Vers. 8, 9.-0onfeasin_q Christ. From these solemn words we gather- I. THAT CHRISTIANITY CENTRES IN THE PERSON 01!' JESUS CHRIST. Our Lord taught us much concerning ourselves-the inestimable value of our spiritual nature; the real source and spring of evil in our own souls; the true excellency of a human life; whom we should regard as our neighbour, etc. But he taught us still more of himself-of his relations with the Divine Father; of his essential superiority even to the greatest among mankind; of his sorrow and his death on behalf of the human race; of hi, mission to enlighten, to redeem, to satisfy the souls of men. And he not only affirmed, but fre- quently and emphatically urged, the doctrine that, if we would enter into life, we must come into the very closest personal relation with himself-trusting in him, loving him, abiding in him, following him, making him Refuge of the heart, Sovereign of the soul, Lord of the life. Not his truth, but himself, is the Source of our strength and our hope. II. THAT JESUS CHRIS'!' DEMANDS AN OPEN CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH IN HIM. More than once (see Mark viii. 38) he insisted upon a clear recognition of his authority and regal position. He will have us "confess him before men." How shall we do that? 1. In a heathen country, by avowing the Christian faith, renouncing Hinduism, Buddhism, Conrucianism, etc., and declaring before all that Jesus Christ is the one Teacher of truth and Lord of man. 2. In a Christian country, by making it clear that we have accepted him as the Lord whom we are living to serve. We shall probably think it right to do this by attaching ourselves to some particular Christian co=unity; also by regular, public worship of Christ ; but certainly, in all cases, (1) by paying honour to bis Name; (2) by upholding against his enemies the truth and worth of his religion; (3) by translating his will into active human life in all its departments- domestic, social, commercial, political, ecclesiastical. III. THAT COMPLIANCE WITH HIS DEMAND WILL SOON PROVE TO BE AN ACT 01!' THE FIRST IMPORTANCE, The day draws on when we shall meet our Master: then will he tell us what he thinks of us. Then, if we have failed to honour him, he will refuse to honour us "before the angels of God.n What is involved in that denial? The worst of all exclusions-exclusion from the favour, from the home, of God. A.nd then, if we have honoured him, he will acknowledge us as his own. A.nd what will that include? 1. Acceptance with the Judge of all. 2. The expression of his Divine approval-the "well done" of the Lord. 3. Admission to the heavenly kingdom, with all its advanc- ing glory, its deepening joy, its extending influence, its ,mlarging life.-C. Ver. 16.-A man's life. What is the worth of a man's life? Clearly that does not depend merely on duration. For while to the insect the term of seventy years would soem a most noble expanse, on the other hand, compared with the age of a mountain or the duration of a star, it is an insignificant span. The truth is that the value of human life depends on what is done within its bounda·ries. Here quality is of the chief account. To the insensible atone all the ages are as nothing; to the dormant animal time is of no measurable value. To a thinking, sensitive spirit, with a great cap,\city for joy and sorrow, one half-hour may hold an inestimable measure of blessedness or ~f w_oe. '!'here are three things it may include; we take them in the order of value, begmurng e.t the least. I. HAVING WIIAT IS GOOD. "The things which a man possesseth" are of "l":J.lne to him. "Money is a defence," and it is also an acquisition, for it stands for all thuse necessaries aud comfol'ts, all thuse physical, social aud intellectual ad vaut,,.;cs wLi.;h it  848 TTIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUK&. [en. zn. 1-69.