ΙΟ

The Call to Repentance.

[S. MATT. IV. 10. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Our trial may end at any moment; the decree goes forth, and our time for work is over. God grant that we may not be found without fruit, and fit only for destruction. May He spare us a while till we are ready.

11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

John's baptism was a mere outward form, signifying purity of heart and a changed life; but Jesus Christ gives us the Holy Spirit, which makes us God's children and kindles love in our hearts. Christians are the disciples and friends of God's own Son, Who heals and sanctifies them with His almighty power.

12. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

John's ministry effected a temporary separation, distinguishing outwardly those who then repented from those who went on in their sins; but Jesus Christ knows the difference that exists within though men see it not, and will one day make a lasting separation between those who are His and those who love Him not. We are becoming fit either for the one condition or the other, either for God's garner as the good wheat, or for His fire of refuse as the empty chaff.

13.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Our Lord waited in retirement and led a homely life till His Father's time was fully come. This rebukes our haste and selfpleasing. When called to do any work for God, we should pray and seek to know His will, and give up ourselves wholly to His leading. He came forth at last, not to declare Himself the Christ, but to join the repenting sinners who flocked to John's baptism. He was not ashamed to be reckoned as one of them.

14. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

We all have need to be baptized by Jesus, viz. to be washed from our sins in His cleansing Blood. There is no one, even though he be as holy as John the Baptist, but has something to be forgiven, and where else can we obtain forgiveness but from our Saviour? Let us, who know Jesus Christ, frequently seek this cleansing, and strive to bring in those who as yet know Him not to the same Fountain of mercy.

VER. I.]

Christ's Baptism.

II

15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

The Son of God came to humble Himself, to empty Himself of His glory, and take the form of a servant, and so it became Him to be in all things like us, obeying, working, suffering, and dying, as one of the children of men. We must also try to fulfil all righteousness, not seeking our own glory, but content to be despised and overlooked here, if God will but acknowledge us hereafter.

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Christ our Lord, as man, received before He began His ministry the sign of the Spirit's presence with Him. When we are baptized and confirmed, we too have heaven opened to us, and receive the Holy Spirit to fit us to be Christ's soldiers. Let us not by wilful sin drive away the Heavenly Guide and shut fast again the heavenly doors. 17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

We can please God only in and for His dear Son.

Through Him we

must offer prayers and praises and good works, joining them to His perfect sacrifice, and praying God to accept them for His sake. All peace and blessing and mercy come to man through this Man Who is alone acceptable to God. If our Elder Brother is in such favour, shall not we too find a kind regard and welcome?

CHAPTER IV.

1. Christ fasteth, and is tempted. 11. The angels minister unto him. 13. He dwelleth in Capernaum, 17. beginneth to preach, 18. calleth Peter, and Andrew, 21. James, and John, 23. and healeth all the diseased.

THEN

HEN was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Immediately after His baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him, Jesus is led into a bare and lonely wilderness, and is there sharply tempted by Satan. We too after moments of spiritual joy and progress must look for seasons of trial. The kingdom of evil is near us so long as we live in this world, and it requires all our watchfulness to fight against it. There is no harm in being tempted if only we resist boldly.

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The Temptation.

[S. MATT. IV. 2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

He was for forty days in an ecstasy of prayer and communion with His Father, and felt no need of earthly nourishment, like Moses on the mount, or Elijah in the desert for a like time; but then His human nature gave way, and He felt the pain and weakness of hunger. The many who have to live very hardly, and often lack sufficient food, may take comfort when they remember that their pain was shared by their Master; and let us who are better provided take care not to indulge our appetites.

3. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

The tempter first bade our Lord use His wonder-working power, and this, not for His brethren's needs or as a proof of His Divine mission, but to supply His own bodily wants. It is much the same as when he says to us, "How desirable is such and such a pleasure or indulgence! it is in your power, enjoy it without fear." We are tempted through our own bodies and their appetites.

4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Not by bread alone shall man live, not merely on what pleases the appetite, but by every word of God. He has something else to look to, a heavenly nourishment, a Divine promise, something better than earthly food to sustain him, if he will remain stedfast to God's will. Life is not true life if spent in mere indulgence, but requires a striving after higher things.

5. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6. and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The tempter urged our Lord to leap from the summit of the temple. The angels would bear Him up, the people would admire, He would be gloriously recognised as God's Son. This is the tempta tion of pride, which inclines us to rely on our own privileges, to despise others, to be confident of our own state. Satan misuses these verses of Scripture, which encourage us to a quiet trust in God, that he may lead us to a presumptuous security. He bids us think "I am a favoured person, my salvation is assured, I cannot fall away," and so throws us off our guard.

7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." Avoid pride and singu.

VER. 13.]

The Tempter overcome.

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larity in religion, do not boast of special revelations, or lofty gifts, or warm feelings, nor desire to be highly esteemed by men, but walk in the common path of duty, humbly trusting that God will protect you there whatever trials come.

8. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9. and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me..

Again, the tempter placed our Saviour on a mountain, and showed Him, by some strange power, all that was most rich and splendid and mighty in the world, promising that he would make Him master of it all on easy terms; and he tempts us in the same way whenever money or power are to be won by means which we know are not right. He does not show us kingdoms, but baits his trap more cheaply with some small advantage.

10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Worship and serve God only, He is the true Master and Lord to Whom all those things belong, though Satan claims them and seems to bestow them for a while. Do not be covetous or worldly-minded, or follow dishonest ways to get rich, for the only safe prosperity comes of serving the heavenly Master with a perfect heart. He will reward His servants in due time.

II. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The temptation was over and Jesus had overcome. Then He was left for a while in peace, and was refreshed by heavenly messengers. Satan came back later on and assailed Him more fiercely, and He then conquered even more gloriously. Let us resist evil after the example of our Captain, knowing that all through this life we shall never be long without temptation. God will help us. Jesus is with

us.

The angels are watching by. There is a home of love and purity awaiting us where the tempter will never enter.

12. ¶ Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13. and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

An interval of some months at least appears to come in before verse 12; for John the Baptist was not cast into prison till after the events related in the first four chapters of S. John's Gospel, so that the Lord had worked the first miracle, and then spent some time in Judæa, before beginning His ministry in Galilee, which this chapter goes on to relate. Notice, the principle of his movements was obedience. He went nowhere of self-will, or to profit Himself, but as His Father's will and the good of souls guided Him.

14

Peter called.

[S. MATT. IV. 14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16. the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Our Saviour's teaching brings us “great light," light about God, our duty, prayer, repentance, the world to come. All these most important subjects, on which we long to know something and yet grope about in vain to find the truth, are lighted up for us by the words of Jesus Christ. Those who listened to Him then, or we who read His words now, find in Him peace and strength and grace. He becomes our Guide and leads us through the dark valley. Nature by itself is but darkness and gloom, but God's Word enables us to see our way.

17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Repentance is the first step in the recovery of fallen man, no other way for sinners but this only. We are told to repent if we would become fit for the kingdom of heaven. It is close to us now, and one day it will be revealed openly. Though earthly things seem nearer, God and heaven are close by, even though unseen.

18. ¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Here our Lord first began to call His ministers. They were not people of learning or position, but they had found out Jesus and opened their hearts to Him before this time (John i. 40), and then had returned to their ordinary labour, waiting His further good pleasure. A simple life, diligence in our employment, patient waiting for God's time to come, such are a fit preparation for pastoral work. Here are two brothers who worked together, sought Christ together, and were called together to preach His Word. The ties of nature were blessed and strengthened by grace.

19. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

That is a Christian teacher's object. He does not covet praise, or honour, or wealth, but he wants souls. His object is to be a fisher of men, bringing souls within the net of God's Word, so that they may not wander away on the stormy sea of the world, but find Jesus their Saviour and love Him for ever. Often the nets break, or the storm sweeps them away, but the fisherman must go on perseveringly, doing his best to gain men's hearts for Christ.

20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Such is the effect of Christ's voice. Lord, speak to me with this voice