Matthew 8:1

LAW AND LIFE

‘When He was come down from the mountain great multitudes followed Him.’

Matthew 8:1

The mount from which our Lord descended to work this miracle of healing was the Mount of the Beatitudes.

I. The two mounts.—As the scene of that sermon rises before us, in all its sweet attractiveness, we are reminded, by contrast, of another mountain and another lawgiving; the mount even to approach which was death; the mount on which stood, in solitary, isolated, unseen community with God, the great lawgiver of the Jews, and from which he descended, but not, as Christ, to heal and to bless, but to denounce and punish.

II. Points of difference.—What is it, then, that constitutes the real difference between these two scenes? Not that Christ has proclaimed to us an easier law than that of Moses. On the contrary, His laws are far harder of fulfilment, setting before us a higher ideal of life. Why should the one be pictured as a law of misery and terror, and the other of blessing and attractiveness? Consider the laws (equally Divine) of the kingdom of Nature. Not one of these can be braved or broken with impunity. But there is this difference between these great laws of Nature and the law of righteousness in Christ’s kingdom, that, when we understand the former, we can obey them. But this is just what we cannot do as regards the law of righteousness. Do we not know that we are constantly transgressing and falling short of the perfect law of God?

III. Not law, but life.—What the world needs, and has ever needed, is not law, but life; the grace and power faithfully to fulfil the moral law. And this it was that Christ came to give us (St. John 10:10). He came not merely to give Himself for us, but to give Himself to us; to dwell in us. This it is which makes the essential difference between His law and that of all other law-givers.

IV. We must come down to others.—And ought we not to learn from this scene the great secret of all work for Him?—that it is not enough that His disciples should preach to men—nay, that it is not enough that we should set the example of what we preach, but that we should do as He did, come down to others—as He alone of all teachers came down, and that from the highest place, to mingle with the suffering multitude—that we should strive to seek and save that which is lost.

—Archbishop Magee.

Illustration

‘We are told in the Gospel to come to Jesus, to believe on Jesus, to live the life of faith in Jesus; we are encouraged to lean on Him, to cast all our care on Him, to repose all the weight of our souls on Him. We may do so without fear: He can bear all; He is a strong rock; He is Almighty. It was a fine saying of an old saint, “My faith can sleep sound on no other pillow than Christ’s omnipotence.” He can give life to the dead; He can give power to the weak; He can “increase strength to them that have no might.” Let us trust Him and not be afraid. The world is full of snares: our hearts are weak. But with Jesus nothing is impossible.’