The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 348

Vers. 35-40.-Death a Divine 'l!Uitati(Jfl,. To 118 the coming of the Son of m11n means the hour of de11tb; that is the practical view and therefore the wise view of the su hject. And we may well regard our de~'\rture from this world ae a coming of God to 118. I. D_EATH AB A _D1nNE VISITATI~N. 1. ~t death God comes to us all in judgment. DM_th 1s the app01nt.ed pen_alty of sm. It 1s true that the burden of that penalty is epmtual rather thaa material, and that God grants us a kind reprieve bcf,ire he executes it; but still, in conformity with it., the accidents of deith have to occur to us· that ancient sentence has to be fulfilled; the shadows of the last hour must fall aro~d us; and whenever and however that may happen, with whatever mitigations, God will come t-0 us then in solemn penalty, saying, "My child, thou bast sinned, and thou must dio." 2. At death God_ comes to us in providence. (1) God has given to us a perishable frame, one that 1s only constructed to la.st for a term of years, that nftor a certain point begins to waste and wane. (2) He suffers, if he does not send, the special cir- cumstances which lead up to death; at the least, he withholds the interpo8ina act or imggt•stion which would prolong the life that is taken. Man never •• goes to his Iona home" but we may say, "Thou tumest man to de8truction; and sayest, Return, y: children of men." On each such occasion the Son of man comes aud says, " Put ofl thy tabernacle, and c<>me within the veil." 3. At death Christ comes to us in sacred summons. In life God's voice should be daily heard saying, " Put out those powers; use those opportunities; cultivate that spiritual nature I have entrusted to thee; serve thy brethren; glorify my N:i.me." But at death Christ comes to us and summons us to his presence; then we be&!' him say, " Give account of thy stewardship;'' " Reap what thou hast sown." • II. READINESS FOB DEATH A PA.BT OF HUllAN WISDOM. "Let your loins be girded about . . be like men that wait for their Lord . . . the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." 1. It is true that there is usually less suddenness than there seems in cases of sudden death; 011 inquiry, it is nearly al ways fouad that there were premonitory signs of danger, kiadly warnings from the Author of our nature, that the end was not far off. 2. But it is also and equa.lly·true that death is unexpected when it does arrive. (1) So do we cling t-0 life, that we are not willing to acknowledge con- cerning ourselves the fact which is obvious to every one else respecting us. (2) It is our menLa! habit to expect continuance where we ought to look for severance and ces11&tion. The oftener we have crossed the decaying and breaking bridge, the more confidently we do cross it, thou;;h we know well that it is nearer than ever to it& fa.11 \Ve may be almost sure that, in whatever form and at whatever hour the Son or man comes to us, we shall be surprised at bis appearance. 3. It will be a terrible thing to be unready; to have to do, if we can, in a few brief hours that for which a long life is not a day too long. 4. It will be a blessed thing to be ready for thi11 vision of our Lord; not merely, nor chiefly, because we shall thus be enabled to cros&, "'1ith calm hopefulness, into t_he other coun~y, but oeca_nse we shall then be read~ for those high services a.ad celestial honours wlllch our gracious and generollS Master intends to confer upon us (ver. 37).-C. Vers. 49, 50.-Spiritual strenuouana,. Our Lord's life deepened and enlarged aa it proceeded, like a great and fertilizing river. And as conflict became more frequent and severe and as the last scenes drew on, hie own feeling was quickened, his spirit was a.Garn~ with a more ardent and intense emotion. We look at the subject of spiritual atreuuousnees- L IN VIEW OF OUB Lonn's PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. In these two verses we tind him passing through some moments of very intense feeling; he was powerfully affected by two conside.-ations. 1. ..d wmpauionate deaire on behalf of the world. He came to the world to kindle a great tire which should be a light to ill-umina, a beat to clean,e, a flame to COnB'U~. Such would be the Divine truth of which be C&llle to be the Author, especially as it we.a made operative bf the J?ivine Spirit ~bO!'e coming shoul~ .. be so iutimatdy a.ssociated with and should unmedia.tely follow hie hfe-work (see eh. m. 16; Acts ii. 3). As he looked upon the gross and 11a.d darkness which th~t ligbi was. so much oecde.d to dis,;ipate, upon the errors that heat was so much required to punfy, II.poll the corrurtion that flame wu so eHential to extinguish, bis holy and loving on. xn. 1-60.) 'l'IIE GO8l'EL ACCOH1HNG TO BT. LUKE. ar,a