The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-21
Matt. XIV, 31-46.

, Hero Is an intimatiOn that from the be-
ginning of human history it was de-
tCrminCd to establish at the end of the
dispcnsations a company or congregation
of the Lord QIeb. II, 100. The reason for
that invitation is given i'm two particu-
lars, both descriptive of the persons ad-
dressed. They had been blessed Of the
Father-they had received His spirit
CGal. iv, Cd, making them children. As
the result of the spirits influence they
had wrought good deeds which the Judge
rchCarsed. They had furnished Him with
food, drink, clothing and cOmpanionship
in trouble. Here are the two elements
of true Christion life, accepted at the
Judgment, neither of which is valuable
or even possible without the other an in
terror, regenerating influence the bless
ing of God (Phil. ii, l3), and the fruitaEe,
tho outward result in conduct Matt. xii,
33), praiseworthy and beautiful
EXPLANATION text represents
Oversees 81 to 800 that those thus addressed
were surprised, not because of the invi-
tation chat they must have expected.
but because of its terms. They could
not remember any occasion when that
had rendered such service to Jesus, ana
with one voice they enquire when ii oc-
cured The question was Il further lndi-
cation of their character, as revealing an
unwllingncss to accept praise to which
they We're entitled, mark of becoming
humility, or it may be, that they expect
ed some further disclosure OF Divine jus
| tiCe and wisdom. lnasmuCh as this IS
the time of closing up accounts, and an
nouncng the final decisions, it was nat
ural that they should dcrirc to under
stand the method and basis of reckoning
| The explanation was quickly given (verse
40). What they had done to the follow
crs of Jesus was accounted as done to
| Him prov. xiv, 80. The principle is else
where stated mark. tx, All, and was an
nounced at the conversion of Paul (Acts
| ix, A., and made the basis of final ad-
| Indication QIeb. vi, 10). 1t was worth
while to bring out this principle at the
judgment day, to set forth the unity of
the people of God and their oneness with
| Him (John xvii, 2D.
REJECTION.-This explanation ap-
pears to have satisfied the millions of the
righteous. and the judge turns to those on
the left hand one word fixes their
| doom, Depart" spoken by one who with
| infinite tenderness once said, Come. IL"
| Their destination is announced, Into
| everlasting fire prepared for the devil
| and his angels" (verse 4D. Three items
are here-scparation from Christ, in COM
pany with Satan, in the midst of fire
| Ihe nrSC ana second Will OCC1SlOn no
| question. He who rejects Christ ought
| 10 be rejected by Him. lie who follows
| Satan ought to be with him. But that
word, everlasting fire, has shocked many.
| Let it represent a guilty conscience and
all difficulty is removed mark tx, 4D.
| Whatever the meaning we must remcm-
| Der that Jesus employed the term more
| than once (Matt. xiii. I2), and that John,
| the beloved, also used it CRcv. xix, 2O).
| The ground for rejection in this case IS
| the opposite of that which led to the in
| Vitation oversees AZ and 49,. These who
| were driven away lacked both the IN
| ward and outward conditions of aCCepta-
| biity. They had not done to the king
| acts of charity and kindness, ana they
are called cursed. That means, not only
| that malediCtior rested upon them, 0ut
! that they deserved such malcdiCtion
| (John ill., 1S. They We're destitute Cf
| Christ-like character and hence of Christ
| like conduct.
| INTERPRETATION. sentence of
| the judge awakened even greater surprise
| than the other. The rejected multitudes
| had no reason to hope for any welcome
| or invitation, aftr their separation and
| the word spoken to the others. But on
what ground could such an accusation be