September 1924
T H E
K I N G ’ S
B U S I N E S S
573
chosen from the whole number of His disciples that they might be constantly with Him, as wit- LESSON nesses of His work and learners of His EXPOSITION doctrine. F. W . Farr Discipleship precedes apostleship. The number twelve suggests the twelve tribes of Israel. There was no attempt at tribal representation, for all were Galileans, except Judas, the man of Kerioth, a town in Judea. The subsequent fall of the traitor by no means shows that Christ made a mistaken choice nor does it prove that Judas was a traitor at heart when he was chosen. There might have been in him at that time the making of as grand an apostle as any of them. It was not long, however, before the demon in him began to betray itself to the Master’s searching eye. “ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6 :7 0 ). If he had only cast the demon out. of his own heart through the power of the Mas ter he followed, as perhaps he had cast the demons out of others, Luke 10:17, all would have been well. The highest privilege and the most favorable opportunities may not only be in vain, but may even lead to a condemnation and ruin that is far more terrible than would have been pos sible without them. The twelve apostles, without an exception, were from the lower ranks of life. Not a single person of eminence or rank was found among them. May we not suppose that none such were available? God is no respecter of persons. If a man like Paul had been available, would not the Master have given him a place among'the twelve? If Nicodemus had come out boldly on the Lord’s side, if Joseph of Ari- mathea had shown the splendid courage earlier that he had when the Master’s work was done, it is possible that these names might be found upon the roll. Their selection illus trates the principle of Divine choice in every age. “ God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” The work which they did was not the work of men but of God. Although they were from the lower walks of life, they had the greatest variety of gifts and temperaments. Some of them never seemed to rise out of obscurity. With their varied dispositions and powers, they may be looked upon as a fair sample of the church at large. From the human standpoint some of the selections seem strange. Judas must have had marked business ability to have been made the treasurer of thei apostolate. There were Matthew, the publican, and Simon, the Zea lot. To have a publican among the apostles, hated as such men were, was to invite the hostility and contempt of all who had any national feeling. Again, to have one who was known as a Zealot, whom we would now call a Bolshevist, a radical and revolutionist, who had identified himself with the wildest schemes for the overthrow of the Govern ment, .was to arouse the opposition of all peace-loving and law-abiding people. How could the Master prove more effectively that His kingdom was not of this world, that party politics had no place in it at all? It mattered little what a man had been, if he was renewed in the spirit of his mind, if he had dedi cated his life to do the will of God in the service of Christ. These twelve men had nothing to recommend them to the favor of the world and much to arouse prejudice against them, yet by the grace of God they have so triumphed over all that they have become immortalized, not as fishermen, publicans, or Zealots, but as “ the glorious company of the Apostles.”
V. 1. The Great Commission is the only commission. The church has no other business. The world-field is the only field. Anything less is inadequate as the field of Christ or of His church or of any disciples of His. The law of Chris tianity is propagate or deteriorate; COMMENTS expand or perish. The first work and FROM THE the chief work of the whole church is COMMENTARIES to give the gospel to the whole world. V. V. Morgan — Pract. Com. It is important to re member that God uses human agency in all His work. He can, therefore, use me in getting His message to others, and the value of His message is not lost because of the unworthiness or weakness of the mess enger. Ours is an absolutely impartial God. He is no respecter of persons. He will use any one who is fit to be used and willing to be used. The marvel is that He is able to use the men who do not have greater apparent fitness. But the one thing that most completely hinders God and thwarts His plan is unwillingness and disobedience on His people’s part. In the church life of today not one person in ten is giving testimony. And most preachers are not ask ing or expecting their members to be witnesses. To come closer still to the heart of the problem a great many of the ministers do little or no personal witnessing themselves. Little wonder that with all our manifold machinery and expensive equipment we add only about two per cent to our church membership on profession of their faith.— Warner. Y. 2. He appointed twelve. Three is the divine number and four is the world number. The sum of these make seven, the number of perfection, while their multiple makes twelve, the prophetic number symbolizing the redemptive process in making a meeting place between God and man. Hence, we have twelve sons of Jacob; twelve princes of Israel; twelve fountains at Elim; twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate; twelve loaves of shewbread; twelve spies sent to Canaan; twelve stones in the altar; twelve oxen supporting the brazen laver; twelve foundations of the Holy City and twelve gates for the same. Twelve tribes com posed the Old Testament kingdom and twelve apostles con stituted the beginning of the New Testament church and the sum of these, represented by the twenty-four elders, compose the united church in glory.— Fract. Com. There are four lists of the Twelve, found in (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3: 16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1 :1 3 ). The first four in each list contain the two pairs of brothers. The second and third fours are also the same, with the names in different order. In all four lists Peter’s name stands first and that of Judas last. In all four, also Philip heads the second division and James the Son of Alphaeus the third. To this list add Matthias, who took the place of Judas after the traitor’s suicide, also James the Lord’s brother, Barnabas, and Paul, who are called apostles though they did not belong to fhe Twelve. “Apostles,” from the Greek verb “ to send,” signifies a messenger or envoy and the word was used of a government messenger dispatched on foreign missions, especially to collect tribute money for the temple service. — Peloubet. V. 4. When I look down the names I find infinite variety and difference among the appointed Twelve. Do you want difference of temperament? Then you have it, say, in Peter and John; Peter the man of action, John the man of prayer. Peter the man of bold, impulsive, eager spirit; John the man of quiet, contemplative, loving heart. Do you want difference in spiritual gift? You have it, say, in Nathanael or Batholomew and Thomas. Nathanael of a believing soul, and Thomas of a skeptical spirit. Nathanael ready easily to say, “Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel.” Thomas slow to credit the assevera tion of all his fellow disciples, and saying sadly, “ Except I shall see in His hand the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Do you want a difference of political opinion? Well, you have it in its most extreme and violent form in the contrast between Matthew and Simon the Cananaean. Matthew the publican and Simon the Zealot. Matthew the servant of the Roman govern ment, and Simon the rebel against it. Matthew the tax- gatherer, and Simon the tax-hater. Matthew who wore the livery of Rome, and Simon who had drawn sword against it. And when I read this list, with its amazing contrasts, I know it is true that Christ is willing to receive men into His church and into His service of the most diverse tem perament, qualities, and gifts. “Whosoever will may come” is written over His church.—-Rev. J. D. Jones.
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