We may remark that, when the Lord answers Peter, it was the consequence of
having left all for Christ upon His call. The motive was Christ Himself:
therefore He says, "Ye which have followed me." He speaks also of those who
had done it for His name's sake. This was the motive. The reward is an
encouragement, when, for His sake, we are already in the way. This is
always the case when reward is spoken of in the New Testament.
[see note #59] He
who was called at the eleventh hour was dependent on this call for his
entrance into the work; and if, in his kindness, the master chose to give
him as much as the others, they should have rejoiced at it. The first
adhered to justice; they received that which was agreed upon; the last
enjoyed the grace of his master. And it is to be remarked that they accept
the principle of grace, of confidence in it. "Whatsoever is right I will
give!" The great point in the parable is that-confidence in the grace of
the master of the vineyard, and grace as the ground of their action. But
who understood it? A Paul might come in late, God having then called him,
and be a stronger testimony to grace than the labourers who had wrought
from the dawning of the gospel day.
The Lord afterwards pursues the subject with His disciples. He goes up to
Jerusalem, where the Messiah ought to have been received and crowned, to be
rejected and put to death, but after that to rise again; and when the sons
of Zebedee come and ask him for the two first places in the kingdom, He
answers that He can lead them indeed to suffering; but as to the first
places in His kingdom, He could not bestow them, except (according to the
Father's counsels) on those for whom the Father had prepared them. Wondrous
self-renunciation! It is for the Father, for us, that He works. He disposes
of nothing. He can bestow on those who will follow Him a share in His
sufferings: everything else shall be given according to the counsels of the
Father. But what real glory for Christ and perfection in Him, and what a
privilege for us to have this motive only, and to partake in the Lord's
sufferings! and what a purification of our carnal hearts is here proposed
to us, in making us act only for a suffering Christ, sharing His cross, and
committing ourselves to God for recompense!
The Lord then takes occasion to explain the sentiments that become His
followers, the perfection of which they had seen in Himself. In the world,
authority was sought for; but the spirit of Christ was a spirit of service,
leading to the choice of the lowest place, and to entire devotedness to
others. Beautiful and perfect principles, the full bright perfection of
which was displayed in Christ. The renunciation of all things, in order to
depend confidingly on the grace of Him whom we serve, the consequent
readiness to take the lowest place, and thus to be the servant of all-this
should be the spirit of those who have part in the kingdom as now
established by the rejected Lord. It is this that becomes His followers.
[see note #60]
With the end of verse 28 this portion of the Gospel terminates, and the
closing scenes of the blessed Saviour's life begin. At verse 29
[see note #61]
begins His last presentation to Israel as the Son of David, the Lord, the
true King of Israel, the Messiah. He begins His career in this respect at
Jericho, the place where Joshua entered the land-the place on which the
curse had so long rested. He opens the blind eyes of His people who believe
in Him and receive Him as the Messiah, for such He truly was, although
rejected. They salute Him as Son of David, and He answers their faith by
opening their eyes. They follow Him-a figure of the true remnant of His
people, who will wait for Him.
