Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

Matthew X. 41, 42 ; XI. 1. 415
merest trifle (a weaker counterpart of SextoOaC)—who is thus able to
recognise in him, under his insignificant outward appearance, the
effulgence of that which is divine—who is able to love it and to do
good to it, in its representatives, he thereby shews that he has dispositions
in harmony with this New Testament dispensation, and
hence will also receive the reward which, under it, is certain. But
this reward is an eternal one {ov [x?) d7zo?Jar] ~uv [iioObv avrov) ; and
in this it is implied, that the Old Testament awards to its saints
promises of a more earthly character. The thought is highly spu'i-
tual ; and hence has been so frequently misunderstood by inter-
preters. For it evidently involves also the thought, that while he
who occupies a lower position, can never be received in a higher
character, because the higher life is wanting in him ; yet the higher
may be received in a lower character. The disciple of Jesus has
already passed through the law. Many a benevolent, pious Jew,
might therefore receive the apostles as prophets or righteous men,
because, from his point of view, he could not apprehend them more
profoundly. But he w^ho, in the messengers of Christ, was able to
recognise their new and nobler character, and from love to this, received
them, he received from them the full, rich blessing of the new
birth ; while those, also, who occupied the lower ground, if turning
toward them with a heart of love, would receive an appropriate re-
ward. Hence the little ones appear here as bestowing blessings in
every direction ; indeed " as dying, but yet living ; as poor, and yet
making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all
things." (2 Cor. vi. 9, 10.)
§ 16. John the Baptist Sends His Disciples to Jesus. DiscouKSES
OF Jesus on the Occasion of this Mission.
(Matth. xi. 1-30; Luke vii. 18-35; x. 13-15, 21, 22.)
Ver. 1.—Matthew closes the preceding discourse with the words :
6ia~daao)v To7g ScjdeKa na07]Tair, instructing his tiuelve disciples, and
thereby clearly indicates the wish that the preceding discourse
should be understood as designed for the disciples who were sent
forth. Of the journey itself, however, he says nothing. Luke ix.
10, on the contrary, mentions the return in the same way as in chap.
X. 17, he mentions the return of the seventy. With an indefinite
Koi eyevero, and it cam« to pass, Matthew proceeds to another sub-
ject, viz., the report of the question put by John the Baptist
through his disciples. The same report is connected, in Luke vii.
18, with the history of the raising of the widow of Nain's son, but
likewise very loosely, by the general formula : And they reported to