566. MAT 26:51-54. THE HEALING OF MALCHUS’S EAR

Mat_26:51-54. The Healing of Malchus’s Ear

"And, behold, one of them who was with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword," &c.’97Mat_26:51-54.

The ministry of Jesus began with the manifestation of his miraculous power. Miracles also were constantly confirming the doctrines he taught. And his labors on earth, and his wondrous works, only ended together. Our subject introduces us to Christ subsequently to the agony which he endured in the garden. He had now by communion with his Father obtained the victory over that fear which so oppressed him. He had intimated to his disciples that the hour of his suffering was at hand, when, lo! Judas with a great multitude, and the chief priests and elders of the people, came with swords and staves to arrest him. The base and faithless kiss having been given, Jesus said unto him, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" Then came they and laid their hands on Jesus and took him, Mat_26:48-50. Then it was that Peter, under the influence of excitement, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his ear, &c. Let us contemplate the scene before us, and in doing so observe,

I. We have a striking instance of unhallowed zeal in a good cause. Behold the divine and lowly Jesus,’97the heavenly teacher,’97the true and tender friend of humanity in the hands of violent and unprincipled men. We marvel not that his disciples should burn with indignation at the rudeness manifested towards him. We would admire the soul that deeply felt and tenderly sympathized with the friend of sinners. Jesus had done nothing amiss. His was the cause of righteousness, and purity, and love. Peter therefore was connected with, and acting for, that which was equitable and right. But his errors were manifold.

1. Jesus knew best what to do, and not Peter. He was therefore impetuous and rash. He neither sought advice of his Master, nor of his brethren. "Do nothing rashly," is an admonition worthy of the regard of all men. One very wisely advises, "When ye know not what to do, do not then ye know not what." The cause of religion was never really served by precipitancy and rashness.

2. Peter’s spirit was unsuited to the occasion. Christ had once said to his disciples, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." How fully did Peter realize this on this occasion. Had Peter forgotten the intimations that Christ had so frequently given of what should come to pass? Had not the Saviour just reiterated that the Son of man should be betrayed, and that the very hour was at hand? Mat_26:43. Had he not been one of the witnesses of the Saviour’s agonizing devotion in the garden? How discordant was the rash and violent spirit of Peter, with the sacred solemnities of the night the Redeemer had spent in the garden. Peter’s mind was evidently under the power of carnal and earthly influences.

3. His weapon was inappropriate to the cause in which he had embarked. Had he been the servant of an earthly prince or worldly leader, he might have borne an instrument of worldly combat. But Christ’s kingdom was spiritual, heavenly, peaceable. He came to instruct, but the sword could not aid in that. He came to convince, but an earthly sword could not aid in that. He came to save and bless, but the sword could help in neither. He came not to destroy, and therefore the sword could be of no avail. Persuasion, conversion, consolation, were not within the province of the sword.

4. His act was in direct opposition to the spirit and life of Jesus. It was violent and cruel. It was an act which imperilled the life of man. All Christ’s acts were good, and gracious, and kind. He never cursed, or injured, or destroyed. He pitied, and saved, and blessed those to whom he came. He came not to condemn and kill, but to save and make alive. How opposite the spirit and act of the disciple to those of the Saviour.

II. We have the merciful interposition of Jesus on behalf of one of his enemies. The sword has smitten off the ear of Malchus,’97had not the restraining grace of Christ been at hand, it would probably have been his head, and thus murder and bloodshed would have characterized the ministry of Jesus. Christ, however,

1. Endeavors to allay the irritation which this act was calculated to excite. Hence he says to Malchus and those round him, "Suffer ye thus far," Luk_22:51. Don’t retaliate on my overheated servant. Don’t imagine we intend resistance even to your illegal violence.

2. He reproves and admonishes Peter. "Put up again thy sword." My cause requires not the use of carnal weapons. They indeed may injure it, but they cannot promote it. And observe, "they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword," Mat_26:52. Now by this, Christ might signify that men who used the sword would be met with the same weapons, and that the strongest would gain the mastery. And therefore how foolish for Peter to resist an armed multitude. Or, that all who trusted in the sword for defence and safety, should be abandoned by the providence of God, and the sword should prove their ruin. Or, that those who dared to invade God’s prerogative in taking away human life, should, in his righteous retributive providence, suffer in like manner. Or, this might be an indirect prediction of the end of Peter, who afterwards was put to a violent death for adherence to the cause of his Master. It is clear that the sword is forbidden in the propagation or defence of the religion of Jesus. And does not the sword here become the emblem of all that is carnal and earthly?’97

(1.) All force or coercion.

(2.) All fines and disabilities.

(3.) All secular interference.

(4.) All bigotry, rancor, and sectarianism. All these are unworthy of Christ’s cause, and cannot possibly extend his religion. The tongue, the spirit, the temper of religionists, are often of the same unhallowed kind as Peter’s sword.

3. He affirms his perfect ability to obtain all the aid his exigencies require. "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray," &c., Mat_26:53. Here he shows that he could have obtained at once by one single request of the Father, twelve legions of angels for his defence and service. In past ages, angels had served the people of God. They encamp constantly around the righteous. They are all ministering spirits, &c. But the empire of the Redeemer was to be based on Divine truth, and the truth itself, in the hands of Jesus, was destined to accomplish all his purposes.

4. He then heals the ear of the suffering Malchus. He remedies the evils of Peter’s rashness, and kindly interferes to bless one of his suffering enemies. Here was Divine magnanimity,’97heavenly generosity,’97tenderest goodness. He acts not with, but against the sword, and thus proves himself the Prince of Peace. Thus he gives a last display of his miraculous power in the midst of his disciples and enemies, and blesses with his healing influence one who had been sent to arrest him. Learn,

1. The spirituality of Chris’s religion. A heavenly kingdom set up in the heart of man. Not a worldly hierarchy. Not a secular establishment. Not a carnal institution.

2. The true spirit in which it should be promoted. In the spirit of its divine Lord and Founder. In the spirit of enlightened truth. In the spirit of universal love. In the spirit of calm self-denial. In the spirit of longsuffering and meekness. We often best promote it by passive suffering. Earthly resistance is incompatible with its true genius. See the early disciples,’97they promoted it by suffering. So the Reformers, Puritans, &c. This requires much more grace than does the spirit of aggressive action. Our subject reads a startling lesson,

3. To persecutors. How many of the wise and good have erred in fleeing to the sword,’97but how fearfully has it returned upon themselves. All history exemplifies this. Beware of the spirit, that you may avoid the doom.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS