With these words then, the Evangelist concludes his Divine narration. He does not tell us what followed: nor is it needful that he should. Simon Peter, followed by the Eleven Apostles, proceeded to the edge of the Lake; and, nothing doubting, cast an hook.' As anciently a whale, so now one of the lesser creatures which 'pass through the paths of the seas,' is prompt to obey the bidding of the CREATOR. The hook is no sooner cast, than a fish rises to the surface, and is captured instantly and in his mouth is found a piece of money called a 'stater,' in value about thirty pence, with which St. Peter pays jointly for himself and his LORD.

:

"Give unto them [as a ransom] for Me and thee."" Here comes out the deeper meaning of the LORD not paying for Himself only, but for Peter, who represents all the faithful. He came under the same yoke with men, that they might enter into the same freedom which was Hist."

Another excellent Writer, already quoted, observes," As the Virgin Mother made the offering of the turtle-doves, though she needed no Purification from that Birth; as CHRIST submitted to Circumcision, though He needed not mortification, and to Baptism, though He needed. no washing so now does He pay the token of Redemption," who came to redeem Mankind. Take notice that this Miracle,-(which is found

Ps. viii. 8.

t Trench.

only in St. Matthew's Gospel; St. Mark ever omitting the transactions which redound most to St. Peter's honour",)-is one of the three in which the second Adam asserts His "dominion over the fish of the sea." Was not that dominion given Him in the beginning?" the fish of the Sea,' being mentioned before either the fowl of the air,' or 'the cattle.'

It is still more worthy of notice how sublime an assertion of "His eternal power and Godhead," was the manner in which our Blessed SAVIOUR Satisfied the demand recorded in the text: as well as how splendidly the Miracle by which He paid the tax, compensated for the injury offered to His Divine Majesty, by its exaction. How convincing a proof was it, of that Divine SoNship which Simon Peter had already confessedz, and which our SAVIOUR had been just now declaring to Simon Petera! And it is ever thus, in the History of our LORD's Life. Some token of Heaven is ever found to appear, when He seems most despised and rejected,' most acquainted with grief,' 'a worm and no man.' Did not Angels and a Star herald His Birth in a Manger? and the quaking Earth and darkened Sun give tidings that He was expiring on the Cross?

"See the note prefixed to St. Mark i.

y Rom. i. 20. z St. Matth. xvi. 20. b Isaiah liii. 3.

See Genesis i. 26, 28.

a See above, ver. 25, 26.

c Ps. xxii. 6.

A

PLAIN COMMENTARY

ON THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER OF

St. Matthew's Gospel.

1 CHRIST warneth His Disciples to be humble and harmless: 7 to avoid offences, and not to despise the little ones: 15 teacheth how we are to deal with our Brethren, when they offend us : 21 and how oft to forgive them: 23 which He setteth forth by a parable of the King, that took account of his servants, 32 and punished him, who shewed no mercy to his fellow.

XVIII. At the same time came the Dis- 1 ciples unto JESUS, saying, Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

The "time" spoken of, will be discovered by a reference to the close of the foregoing Chapter. It was the occasion of our LORD's return to Capernaum, after a prolonged absence with His Disciples. It was the Autumn of the third and last year of His Ministry, shortly before the Feast of Tabernacles.-When the honour which had recently befallen three of the Apostles, and one of their number in particular, is remembered, it will perhaps be less a matter of surprise that, about this time, "by the way, they had disputed among

a St. Matth. xvii. 1.

b St. Matth. xvi. 17 to 19: xvii. 27.

2

themselves who should be the greatest" in that Kingdom of which they had lately heard so mucha; and to an actual view of the glories of which, three of their number had been recently admitted. If, after the Resurrection, the Disciples could ask Him, saying, "LORD, wilt Thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel," shall we wonder if they held wrong notions on the subject at the time spoken of in the text?

He

It is worth observing that though they had been disputing among themselves which of the three was greatest, that is not the form which the inquiry they addressed to our LORD assumed. indeed asked them, "What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the wayf?" Consciencestricken however, in the presence of One whom they knew to be so meek and lowly, they met His question by another. "Who" (they ask) "is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

St. Mark says that, in reply to this question,— "He sat down, and called the Twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all:" words which our LORD is found to have almost repeated on two other occasionsh.

And JESUS called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,

c St. Mark ix. 34.

d St. Matth. xvi. 19, 28.

e Acts i. 6. Consider St. Luke xxii. 29, 30.

f See St. Mark ix. 33.

h St. Matth. xx. 26, 27, and xxiii. 11.

g St. Mark ix. 35.

The thrice-happy object of the SAVIOUR'S Words on this occasion must have been more than an infant; since CHRIST is said to have 'called him unto Him, and set him in the midst:' unlike that other occasion when He is merely related to have graciously taken the children "up in His armsi."

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except 3 ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

It requires but moderate acquaintance with little Children to perceive how lofty a model our SAVIOUR CHRIST here sets before us. So truthful, guileless, and simple; so obedient and docile; so trustful and believing; so pure and loving; so forgetful of injuries, and grateful for kindness,— would He have all His Disciples to be. And those who exhibit no resemblance to this picture, "shall not [even] enter into the Kingdom of Heaven;" much less, occupy the place of "the greatest" in it.

But it is clear from the context, that the special attribute of Children which our SAVIOUR here recommends to the imitation of His Church, is their freedom from anything like Pride, and the desire of being preferred before others. Ambition is a passion which finds no place in their bosoms. Wherefore, little children are set before us evermore as patterns of Humility: and those who have allowed themselves in aspiring hopes, and vain

i St. Mark x. 16.