25

26

One of the ancients observes,-"Because, after the Cross, we require a new strength, He adds And follow Me."" "And this," (remarks another Father,) "is because it may happen that a man may suffer, and yet not follow CHRIST; that is, when he does not suffer for CHRIST's sake."

In St. Luke's Gospel, it is "take up his Cross daily." Bp. Wilson recommends that men should every day, in some small matter, practise selfdenial perform some one act, which may conform them more and more to the image of their LORD.... See the note on St. Mark viii. 34.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

A few remarks on the sayings contained in verses 24 and 25, will be found in the notes on St. Matthew x. 38 and 39,-to which the Reader is referred.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole World, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

"Having thus called upon His Disciples to deny themselves, and take up their Cross," (says an old Writer), "He filled them with terror. These severe tidings are therefore followed by more joyful:"

e St. Luke ix. 23.

For the Son of Man shall come in the 27 Glory of His FATHER With His Angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

By which words, our LORD seems to convey the blessed assurance that "He will come hereafter with glory to recompense men abundantly for the sacrifices which He now calls upon them to make for His sake."-He says "the Glory of the FATHER," because "the FATHER hath given Him authority to execute judgment"."

It is to be observed moreover that this Discourse is so adjusted as to convey to the minds of the Apostles as near a view of the Truth as they were able as yet to receive. The mention of ‘a Church,' and 'the kingdom of Heaven,' had awakened proud thoughts and lofty hopes: it had been accordingly followed by an outline of the Mystery of the Atonement, the circumstances of Pain and Humiliation which must first be, as the condition of future Glory. Strangely perplexing was the picture thus presented to the eyes of the Disciples. Our LORD therefore reconciles them to it by speaking of that future coming in Glory, which they had ever been accustomed to connect in their minds with the Advent of MESSIAH. And to support them in their expectation of this event, yet so distant, He promises, (in the next verse), an immediate, sensible manifestation, as an earn

d St. John v. 27.

est of that glorious Coming which might not take place till the end of the world. As it follows,28 Verily I say unto you, There be some

standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

This announcement will be found in the three first Gospels; and on each occasion it is introduced in exactly the same way. From the close connexion in which it stands with the History of the Transfiguration, which immediately follows on all three occasions, it is impossible to resist the conviction that the words themselves refer to that great event. It is here described as the "Son of Man coming in His Kingdom." St. Mark's words are-"Till they have seen the Kingdom of GoD come with power." St. Luke says simply "till they see the Kingdom of GOD." The meaning must be, that the great Dispensation which would then only be fulfilled when CHRIST should come to judge the World at the last Day,-was about at once to begin. A glorious foretaste of that His final coming, was about to be at once revealed. In the words of a learned Latin Father,-"As was His appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration, such will it be at the Day of Judgment."

e See St. Mark ix. 1 and St. Luke ix. 27

A

PLAIN COMMENTARY

ON THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER OF

St. Matthew's Gospel.

1 The Transfiguration of CHRIST. 14 He healeth the lunatick, 22 foretelleth His own Passion, 24 and payeth tribute.

It will be remembered that the preceding Chapter ended with the following remarkable prophecy : Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here which shall not taste of Death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom." As already explained, these words cannot be referred to any recorded event so reasonably as to the Transfiguration of CHRIST, which is next brought before us: but the Reader must be referred on this head to what has been already offered in the notes on St. Matthew xvi. 28, and St. Luke ix. 27.

The chief events which go before must be borne distinctly in mind by him who would profit by what is to follow. It should be remembered that during the recent sojourn of our SAVIOUR and His Twelve Apostles in 'the towns of Cæsarea Philippia,' St. Peter's splendid confession of the Divinity of the Son of Man had occurred: whereupon followed the splendid promise which was discussed at so much length in the last Chapter.

a St. Mark viii. 27. Compare St. Matth. xvi. 13.

1

Then came some remarkable predictions; and closely connected with these, (as we believe,) stands our LORD's Transfiguration. For, as He had been preparing the minds of His Followers for His own coming Humiliation, and their's also, so had He supported them by an allusion to that final Advent in Glory, when He will reward the just, and in the sight of Men and Angels confess them to be His own. Yet more completely to build up His Apostles, and support their Faith, the Almighty One proceeds to give them an immediate earnest of His future glorious Advent©; by revealing Himself to three of their number as HE IS. "He took with Him three," (says an ancient Writer,) "that in the mouths of two or three witnesses every word might be established." St. Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, (the only Disciples on whom He had bestowed a new name,) are accordingly admitted to a sight of His Glory, and to a foretaste of the brightness of His Kingdom. As it follows,

XVII. And after six days, JESUS taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

If the 'high mountain' which was the scene of this mysterious transaction was Mount Tabor, (as Tradition relates,) the Blessed Company will have

b St. Matthew xvi. 21 to 25.

Surely St. Peter alludes to the Transfiguration in this very point of view,-1 St. Peter v. 1.