The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 350

Vers. 58, 69.-The in~Of'able. From the lips of such a parabolic teacher as Jesus Christ we expect to have some striking illustration of a general principle, our duty being to detect that principle and to make our own practice.I applications of it. Here the grea.t Teacher adduces an illustration drawn from the legal practice of his time; the general truth underlying it is evidently this-that law is a rigorous thing, a broken law a terribly exacting thing; that, if we are in any danger of coming under its power, we should refrain from so doing with the greatest carefulness ; that, if we do not act thus p1udeutly, we must be prepared to pay a very heavy penalty a little way on. 'l'he principle applies to- I. A BREACH OF THE LAW OF PEACE. We &Te here in this world to sustain toward one another interesting and important relationships. It is the will of Goa that, in all of these, we should be actuated by the spirit and be ruled by th1> law of love, of kind- ness, of charity, of peace. But in this world of sin the Divine Law is continually broken, and the broken Law exacts a terrible penalty What wretched homes it makes! what lamentable feuds in families I what miserable ruptures of friendship I what deplorable contentions even iu Christian Churches I what social dissensions I what national and international strife! '!'be violated law of love exacts" the uttermost farthing" from those who break it. Christ's word of wisdom is this-Look to it at once; do not !OBI< a day; fill up that little crack; tear up that small root; let every- thing, even devotion itself (Matt. v. 24), give piace to the sacred work of reconciliation; do your l,est, your quickest, your utmost, to heal the breach before it widens into a gulf, or the ~light difference, the fimall suspicion, the trivial offence will grow and deepen. and hearts that once were the home of trust and love will become the haunts of doubt and enmity. 'l'berefore agree with thine adversary quickly. The same principle applies to- ll. A BREACH OJI' THE LAW OF VIRTUE. We owe it to ourselves to be tempt1re.te, truthful, pure, industrious; we owe it to others to be jUBt, fair, kind, considerate; wo a.re under le.w to be all this-the sacred Law of God. This Law we break, and it becomes our "adversary;" it arraigns us as itli debtors, and it makes us pay the penalty that is due. .And what a penalty J In the body--disease, pain, weakness, shattered nerves, death; in oirctvmatwncell--loss, poverty, beggary; in reputation-humiliation and dis- gra.ce; in heart-compunction, agony of soul; in character-deterioration, baseness, ruin. Christ says, " Bewllll'e of the first step ; if tempted to violate any law of virtue of 11.ny kind, consider what you will have to pay a little further on; think how that Lrukeu 111.w will .ri0e against you and condemn you, and you will nut escape until the en. X!L l--60.J TIIE rlOSPEL ACCOnnrnG TO ST. LUKE. 356