glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christ seeks and shepherds His children "Christ Seeks And Shepherds His Children. Juan De Valdes: Christ proceeds to show, in relation to his children, that he values and esteems them, however insignificant they may be; and in these words tells three things: First, that the main design of his coming into the world was "to save that which was lost." He means to give eternal life to those who lost it in Adam. And here it is right to say that just as through Adam's disobedience we all died, so through Christ's obedience we all rise again; through the resurrection will only be glorious for those who believe that they have died in Adam, and that they have risen again in Christ, they will study to live in the present life as dead and as risen again, imitating that life which has to be lived in the life eternal, the pattern of which, as to purity, goodness, sincerity, and fidelity, and so on, we see in Christ. Second, that it is the joy of Christ's heart that every one of those whom he leads to believe that they have died in Christ and they they are risen in Christ do study to live a dead and as risen again. Christ compares this his joy so that the shepherd, who, going in search of a sheep that he had lost, finds it, so that the comparison of the shepherd goes diligently in search of the lost sheep, and when he finds it, rejoices over it, so Christ came diligently in search of those who are his sheep, predestinated to life eternal, who were lost, wandering among people of the world, condemned to eternal death, and it rejoiced his heart when he found them, having died for them, and having risen again for them; and he rejoices continuously with every one of them who accept his death and his resurrection for their own. Third, that it is the will of God that these children, whom Christ sought and found and whom he seeks and finds, should in no wise perish; understanding that they would be in danger of perishing were they to be despised, scandalized, and maltreated by others; especially by those who are preeminent in Christian life; to whom I understand that Christ here principally addresses himself; admonishing them that they should not despise or scandalize his children when they shall be infirm and weak in faith. COMMENTARY UPONN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW Matthew 18:1-35 pg. 237,238 'Matthew' New Testament I (Reformation Commentary On Scripture 11:48 a.m. - 2021-11-09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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