When a person
addressed him by the name of good master, he was rebuked as having done
an improper thing. [40] "Why, says our Saviour, callest thou me good?
There is none good but one, that is God." This censure they believe to
have been passed upon him, because Jesus Christ knew, that when he
addressed him by this title, he addressed him, not in his divine nature
or capacity, but only as a man.
[Footnote 40: Matt. xix. 17.]
But Jesus Christ not only refused to receive such titles of distinction
himself in his human nature, but on another occasion exhorted his
followers to shun them also. They were not to be like the Scribes and
Pharisees, who wished for high and eminent distinctions, that is, to be
called Rabbi Rabbi of men; but says he, "be[41] ye not called Rabbi, for
one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren;" and he makes
the desire which he discovered in the Jews, of seeking after worldly
instead of heavenly honours, to be one cause of their infidelity towards
Christ,[42] for that such could not believe, as received honour from one
another, and sought not the honour, which cometh from God only; that is,
that those persons, who courted earthly honours, could not have that
humility of mind, that spirit that was to be of no reputation in the
world, which was essential to those, who wished to become the followers
of Christ.
Pages:
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279