T HE K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S 2:25, An answer is to be retu rned in meekness to any one asking a reason for the Christian’s hope. I Pet. 3:15. Meekness must be shown to all men. T itus 3:2. I t is one of th e fru its of the Spirit. Gal. 5:23. It im parts fitness for ruling since the meek are to in h erit th e earth. Matt. 5 :5 ; Ps. 37:11. It is closely connected w ith rig h t eousness. Zeph. 2:3. Moses was called th e meekest of men, made so by the discipline of Divine grace. This is a higher eulogy th an to be called the wisest of men like Solomon or Socrates, or th e w ealthiest of men like Croesus or Midas, or the m ightiest of men like Hercules or Samson, or th e conqueror of th e world like Tam erlane or Caesar. The Gospel has not only revolution ized the standard s of hum an life but has changed th e meaning of the words men use. A prom inent New Testament word usually tran slated “lowliness” sig nified in classic Greek, "m ean-spirited- ness.” It was something despicable and contemptible. In th e Gospel vocabulary it becomes a praiseworthy and noble quality to be coveted and cultivated. “Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer,” i. e., tu rbu len t, irascible, implac able, virulent, was th e p o rtra it of a hero of one of the first poets of an tiqu i ty. This was th e pre-Christian ideal of manhood. The Christian is th e oppo site of this, meek, quiet, gentle, peace ful, easy to be en treated and full of all good fruits. “Humble, Lord, my haughty spirit, Bid my swelling thoughts subside, Strip me of my fancied m erit— W hat have I to do w ith pride? Was my Savior meek and lowly— And shall such a worm as I, W eak and earth ly and unholy, Dare to lift my head on high?”
51 v. 7. He p u t fo rth a parable. On th e surface th is portion of our Lord’s table ta lk w ears th e aspect of moral advice ra th e r th a n of a parable. But through th e ine- OOMMENTS FROM dium of a counsel MANY SOURCES of prudence relat- K eith L, Brooks ing to ordinary social l i f e , the Teacher of th e doctrine of th e kingdom communicates a lesson of tru e wisdom concerning the higher sphere of religion. The evangelist perceived th is and th e re fore called th is piece of advice a parable. Christ had- no serious intention to give a lesson in social deportm ent and the parabolic element in H is words is con fined to this— He rem inds His fellow- guests th a t th ere is a society in which hum ility is held in honor and pride gets a downsettingj^-B ruce. He m arked how they chose th e chief rooms. He marked th e ir conduct and He always m arks our conduct a t social and o ther gatherings. It was characteristic of those tim es for men to squabble for places of honor (11 :43 ; 2 0 :4 6 ), and it is not altogether unknown in modern Christianized so ciety. In believers it is absolutely w ith out excuse (Phil. 2 :5 -8 ).— Torrey. T. 8. S it n o t down in th e high est room. I t need scarcely be said th a t the pride th a t apes hum ility violates the spirit of th is teaching. There should be genuine self-abasement.— Crit. Com. L est a more honorable m an be bidden. The parable teaches th a t it is according to the will of God th a t honor should be given to those to whom honor belongs. The law of Christ does not ju stify any one in any rudeness or incivility. The disciples of Christ ought to have regard to th eir reputation— to do nothing they may be ashamed of__ Pole. v. 9. Thou begin to ta k e th e lowest ro om This vividly suggests th e reluc tance and lingering w ith which a pre sumptuous guest leaves th e higher and goes to th e lower place. He has to go to the lowest room as th e other good places have been tak en possession of in th e meantime.—Horn. Com. W ith sh«™«. No shame attaches to him who ta k es a low place, bu t shame is felt by him who is sent down from a higher place.— Bellarm ine. v. 10. S it thou in th e lowest room. Every man ought to desire a high place, but. th e re is a wrong way of getting th e higher place. As a general rule, high character will be called into th e higher place (Prov. 25:6, 7 ).— Schleiermacher. All th a t false hum ility by which men
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