The Pulpit Commentary: St. Matthew (Vol. II)

by H. D. M. Spence

Publisher:

Funk & Wagnalls

, 1909

Overview

One of the largest homiletical commentary sets of its kind, this work gives a verse-by-verse exposition, a translation, and historical and geographical information, followed by the homiletics section, homilies by numerous authors, and a homiletical index to the Bible.

Contents

Top Highlights

“I doubt not that the right solution is to be found in regarding the oil as symbolical of the Holy Spirit, or the graces of God. This is a truly scriptural notion, as declared by the use of this substance in holy rites. Accepting this view, we should say that the ten virgins had so far alike taken and used the grace of God, but that they differed in this—that, while the wise maintained the supply of grace by constant recourse to the means thereof, the foolish were satisfied with their spiritual state once for all, and took no pains to keep their spiritual life healthful and active by the renewal of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. They retained the outward show and form of faith, but neglected the true inward life of faith; they had the appearance without the reality.” (Page 473)

“But the Lord was not only in the full strength of early manhood, with a bodily frame which had never been weakened by sickness; but he was the Life, the essential, self-existent Life; he had life in himself, therefore it seems the conflict with death must have been in him far more terrible than in ordinary men.” (Page 542)

“St. Jerome gives a mystical reason; the ass represents the Jewish people, which had long borne the yoke of the Law; the colt adumbrates the Gentiles, as yet unbroken, ‘whereon never man sat.’ Christ called them both, Jew and Gentile, by his apostles. Loose them, and bring them unto me. He speaks with authority, as One able to make a requisition and command obedience.” (Pages 312–313)

“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Hosanna!’ is compounded of two words meaning ‘save’ and ‘now,’ or, ‘I pray,’ and is written in full Hoshia-na, translated by the Septuagint, Σῶσον δή. The expressions uttered by the people are mostly derived from Ps. 118, which formed part of the great Hallel (Ps. 113–118) sung at the Feast of Tabernacles. ‘Hosanna!’ was originally a formula of prayer and supplication, but later became a term of joy and congratulation. So here the cry signifies ‘Blessings on [or, ‘Jehovah bless’] the Son of David!’ i.e. the Messiah, acknowledging Jesus to be he, the promised Prince of David’s line. Thus we say, ‘God save the king!’” (Page 314)

Product Details

• Title: St. Matthew (Vol. II)
• Author: H. D. M. Spence
• Series: Pulpit Commentary
• Publisher: Funk & Wagnalls
• Print Publication Date: 1909
• Logos Release Date: 2004
• Era: era:modern
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Bible. N.T. Matthew › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:29.45.23
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-11T16:26:39Z

About H. D. M. Spence

H.D.M. Spence (1836–1917), or the Very Reverend Henry Donald Maurice Spence, was an Anglican dean and author at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth.

Spence was educated at Westminster School and Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, and ordained in 1865. He lectured in Hebrew at St. David’s College in Lampeter until 1870. He later became rector of St. Mary de Crypt in Gloucester. From 1886 until his death in 1917, Spence served as the Dean of Gloucester. In 1904, he took on his wife’s surname and went by Donald Spence Jones. 

Spence served as the general editor of the best-selling The Pulpit Commentary series, and is the author of several other commentaries and church histories.