Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. I. That the Saviour is speaking of MORE THAN THAT PRESENCE, WHICH IS INSEPARABLE FROM THE NATURE OF HIS OWN ESSENTIAL AND ETERNAL GODHEAD. In the case of our Lord the Godhead is so modified by its alliance with the Humanity — modified not in itself, for there no modification would be possible — but in its action upon the Church, — that what is brought into contact with us, is the human sympathy of the Saviour, glorified by its connection with the Deity of His person. II. The fact that communion with the Saviour is MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ADVENT OF THE COMFORTER; that the coming of the Spirit is, to all intents and purposes, a coming of the Saviour to the people who love Him. The personality that is in Him whom we address, must vibrate to the touch of the personality that is in us, — or else communion will not have taken place. This has been made possible, though Christ is absent in the body, by the advent of the Holy Ghost. No one will be disposed to question that the personality of God can reveal itself to the personality of man without the intervention of a visible form, and without the employment of articulate language. There are modes of fellowship between spirit and spirit with which we are unacquainted, yet real and efficacious. He is said to dwell in the believer. We speak not of grace but of living communication. And where the Spirit comes Christ comes; and where the Spirit and Christ come the Father comes. III. This coming of Christ to His people, precious as it is, is SUITED TO A STATE OF IMPERFECTION AND DISCIPLINE. We look forward to something beyond that which we enjoy now. There was the coming of Christ in the flesh. That passed away. It gave way to the coming by the Spirit. That is better, more spiritual, but insufficient. We look forward to the final, exhaustive coming. (G. Calthrop, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. |
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