INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
CHAPTER 10
"VER. 1. And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples." "I. THEIR MISSION." "II. THEIR CHARGE." "III. THEIR RETURN. ...Christ gives you power for every duty." "Ver. 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles." "We may look on the men - I. OFFICIALLY. 1. They are selected, chosen, set apart by Christ as apostles." "Men of no rank. If the work had not been of God, it could not have been done." "II. PERSONALLY." "Ver. 3. Matthew the publican." "I. THE POWER & GRACE OF THE DIVINE CALL." "II. A SINNER'S CONVERSION IS A CAUSE OF JOY. III. CONVERTED SOULS DESIRE TO PROMOTE THE CONVERSION OF OTHERS. IV. MATTHEW'S CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC WAS HUMILITY. (W. F. Bishop.)" "Ver. 4. Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." "I. EARLY OPPORTUNITY. Called to be an apostle. Sharing, too, in the prayers of Christ. (Luke 6:12, 13)." "II. GROWTH OF EVIL (John 6:64-71; 12:1-6). III. THE PRICE OF A SOUL (John 13; Matthew 26:14-16). IV. THE END (John 18:2-5; Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1, 18-25, with Matthew 27:5)." "Ver. 5. These twelve Jesus sent forth." "HOW OFTEN FAITHFUL WORK IS UNRECORDED & FORGOTTEN. FORGOTTEN WORK IS REMEMBERED, & UNRECORDED NAMES ARE RECORDED ABOVE." "Ver. 7. And as ye go, preach. - Preaching & going: - I. WHO are to preach? II. WHAT are they to preach? 'The kingdom of heaven.'" "III. WHEN are they to preach? 'As ye go.' 1. We are always on the go in this busy world." "3. While you are walking. 4. As long as you live. IV. WHERE are we to preach?" "To kith & kin first. V. WHY are we to preach? 'Freely ye have received.' (T. Spurgeon.)" "Ver. 8. Heal the sick." "Cleanse the lepers." "For leprosy... was looked upon as a type of sin, was in most cases incurable, & was one that necessitated separation" "Freely ye have received, freely give." "Have you received at all? How have we received? 'Freely.'" "II. THE CONSTRAINING OBLIGATION - 'Freely give.' 1. Think what you have to give, give your own selves, your substance, your prayers." "I. Giving is an act of consecration. II. It is an act of grace. III. It is an act of communion. IV. It is a privilege." "Ver. 9. Provide neither gold. - The enthusiasm of poverty" "Ver. 10. Neither 2 coats. - No need for 2 coats" "Ver. 11. And there abide." "Vers. 12, 13. And if the house be worthy." "The peaceful salutation: - 1. The clergyman is to be a minister of peace." "'If the house is worthy' - i.e., if there be fitness in the house to receive it. What that peace means: 1. It is peace with God. 2. It is peace through the blood of Jesus Christ. 3. It is a peace within. 4. It is peace with the whole world. (J. Vaughan, M.A.)" "Ver. 14. Shake off the dust of your feet." "Ver. 16. Behold I send you forth." "Wise as serpents, & harmless as doves. - The union of simplicity & prudence" "THEIR IMMINENT PERIL - 'As sheep in the midst of wolves.'" "The bleating sheep finds no harmony in the howl of the wolf." "Amongst those who would hinder their endeavours." "'The Lamb shall overcome them.'" "...Grace knows how to pick the good out of the evil, the jewel out of the oyster shell, the diamond from the dunghill, the sagacity from the serpent; & by a Divine chemistry it leaves the good which it takes out of the foul place as good as though it had never been there." "We should be as doves: - 1. In respect of meekness. 2. In respect of innocency. 3. In respect of purity." "In doves there are many things commendable: - 1. Beauty. 2. Chastity. 3. Fruitfulness. 4. Amity. 5. Unity. They live in companies. 6. Their innocence. (T. Adams.)" "Ver. 20. For it is not ye that speak. - The Christian ministry a ministry of the Spirit" "Ver. 22. But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." "We must not enter the work of the ministry without counting the cost. I. PERSEVERANCE IS THE BADGE OF THE SAINT." "II. PERSEVERANCE IS THEREFORE THE TARGET OF ALL OUR SPIRITUAL ENEMIES." "III. PERSEVERANCE IS THE GLORY OF CHRIST. IV. PERSEVERANCE SHOULD BE THE GREAT CARE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Only he who reaches the goal may be accounted a Christian" "A man has begun to build a house, & has erected one side of it - do you consider him a builder if he stops there, & fails to cover it in or to finish the other walls? Do we give men praise for being warriors because they know how to make one desperate charge, but lose the campaign?" "The causes which make endurance difficult: - 1. Persecution arising because of the Word. 2. False christs & false prophets" "3. The spiritual weariness which steals over the soul with the lapse of time. 4. Trifling with conscience" "To win perseverance, prayer must persevere." "Perseverance is the only triumphing grace." "Ver. 23. But when they persecute you in this city." "Ver. 24. The disciple is not above his Master." "Ver. 27. What I tell you in darkness. - God's message & its proclamation:" "1. It is the great privilege of Christians to realize that Christ is still living with & conversing with them; this consciousness fits for service. 2. Feeling the gospel spoken by Christ directly & distinctly to our own soul." "If you get your message directly from Christ there will be a personality about it." "If you go to Christ for all you preach you will preach with unction. It will enable you to be certain about the truth." "What Jesus had told them in darkness they are now speaking in light." "Ver. 28. Fear not them which kill the body. - It is prudent to give up the body in order to save the soul; it is like casting the cargo of the vessel into the sea to preserve the crew from destruction." "God to be feared rather than man" "Ver. 29. And one of them shall not fall to the ground. - I. THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE." "Recognize the hand of God in all the events of life. No such thing as chance. Submit to God amid all trials. For comfort & confidence. Let it guide your practice." "The most tender mother never counted the hairs of her child, but God's providence extends to this." "It is of unspeakable importance to keep the remembrance of God's providence fresh upon the mind" "Ver. 30. But the very hairs of your head. - Hairs of your head are all numbered" "The difference between fate & providence: - Fate is blind; providence has eyes. Fate is blind, a thing that must be; it is just an arrow shot from a bow, that must fly onward, but hath no target. Not so, providence; providence is full of eyes. There is a design in everything, & an end to be answered; all things are working together, & working together for good." "Ver. 31. Ye are of more value." "Shall He not hold in exceeding value those for whom He has reserved mansions in His heavenly house, where they may abide for ever?" "Ver. 32. Shall confess Me before men." "Zealously promoting the cause of Christian truth." "We must confess Christ both before good men & bad men." "Double confession: - I. MAN'S CONFESSION OF CHRIST. ...II. CHRIST'S CONFESSION OF MAN." "I. WHAT IS MEANT BY DENYING OF CHRIST before men? It is (1) to deny His mission & Messiahship; (2) to disown Him for the Son of God & Saviour of the world; and (3) not to receive Him for the person annointed & appointed of God for the redemption of mankind." "A man's folly will be spread before the angels." "Ver. 34. Think not that I am come to send peace." "Ver. 35. To set a man at variance against his Father. - The great separation." "Ver. 37. He that loveth father or mother more than Me. - The Saviour's claims on our supreme affections" "...Christ is entitled to supreme affection." "Compared with Christ's love man's is selfishness." "Ver. 38. He that taketh not his cross. - Cross-bearing" "The consecrating all to Jesus. The endurance of my heavenly Father's will." "Welcome the cross of Christ, & bear it triumphantly" "Christ's cross is the sweetest burden that ever I bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour. (Samuel Rutherford.)" "Ver. 39. He that findeth his life. - The love of life" "Ver. 41. He that receiveth a prophet. The reception of a prophet" "...the 'seer,' men with burning eye to take in visions of the unseen." "When God's rains are descending, & His gracious breezes blowing from off the everlasting hills, keep the soul open. It is a grand opportunity on the receptive side." "Ver. 42. A cup of cold water." "The cup of cold water comes under the Divine notice." "The least desire to bless shall not lose its reward." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 172 - 198.
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CHAPTER 9
"Vers. 1 - 8. A man sick of the palsy." "The faith of the centurion obtained a cure for his servant." "CHRIST THE RESTORER OF HEALTH & THE FORGIVER OF SIN." "On our way to cure we have no time for speculation, or curiosity; but to draw near with faith." "Why does our Saviour begin with the pardon of sin? 1. To display His sovereignty. 2. To show that the soul is the principal care. 3. Perhaps the man suffered more from spiritual distress than from bodily pain." "The worst kind of paralysis, but, God be thanked, far the rarest of all, is that of the heart & conscience." "Ver. 6. But that ye may know that the Son of Man. - Forgiveness" "Forgiveness is reconciliation; the offence is no longer allowed to stand between the parties. When God forgives He receives us back to His favour. It is free, full & outruns our repentance. But He does not destroy the consequences of sin; the punishment remains." "...the paralysis, both moral & physical, was removed." "Ver. 9. He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom." "Whom are we to follow & on what road, & to what place? I. WE ARE TO FOLLOW CHRIST. Do not the soldiers follow their captain? Do not the redeemed follow their deliverer? Do not the disciples follow the teacher?" "II. WHAT IS THE WAY ALONG WHICH HE CALLS US TO FOLLOW?" "...a new & living way." "III. WHAT PLACE." "Ver. 10. As Jesus sat at meat in the house." "Ver. 11. Publicans & sinners." "You cannot bring the best out of a man if you do not believe that the best is somewhere in him." "Throw away your miserable, smouldering, fuming torch of conceit & hatred, lift up to them the light of love, and lo! they will arise & shine; yea, flame & burn with an undreamt of glory. (Canon Farrar.)" "Ver. 12. They that be whole need not a physician." "I. WHO NEGLECT THE HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN? 1. Those who depend for salvation upon their own good lives. 2. Those who depend for salvation upon their religious duties. 3. Those who depend for salvation upon their correct notions. II. THOSE WHO VALUE THE HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN - 'They that are sick.'" "I. THERE IS A MORAL DISEASE IN THE HEART & CHARACTER OF MAN. 1. Depraved mental appetite. 2. The faculty of moral vision is impaired. 3. Moral stupor & weakness & want of activity." "Jesus the Physician: I. WE ARE ALL SICK. Many are our ailments. Sin is the great malady. We need a Physician. The world has no medicines. He is adapted for it. Understands all cases. Neglects none." "The main remedy is His own precious blood" "IV. THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR TRUE CONDITION ARE VERY DESIROUS OF HIS HELP. (G. Burder.)" "Christ the Physician of souls: - I. SIN IS THE SICKNESS OF THE SOUL. It is the disease of the soul that makes the sinner a sick man." "Sickness takes away the beauty of the body. Sin spoils the beauty of the soul." "IS SIN THE SICKNESS OF YOUR SOUL? 1. Go quickly to the Physician for the cure of the disease of the soul which you labour under. Delay no longer. 2. Time is flying. No medicine will cure that wound, no argument will persuade it to return." "3. Death is approaching. ...4. Make frequent application to Christ." "3 things concur to the cure of the soul. I. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. II. THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. III. THE WORD OF CHRIST." "Other physicians are enriched by their patients, but He enricheth His making them heirs of glory." "Ver. 13. I will have mercy & not sacrifice. - Mercy preferred to sacrifice" "I came not to call the righteous - The main object of Christ's ministry, to call sinners to repentance." "Ver. 15. Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn?" "The joy of spiritual freedom." "Ver. 16. A piece of new cloth unto an old garment." "By an old garment I understand is meant a man's own righteousness." "1. Because it is old as Adam. 2. Because it is worn out." "Ver. 17. New wine into old bottles." "Ver. 20 - 22. And touched the hem of His garment. - Touching Jesus" "However deep-seated & desperate the condition of the soul's health, the Saviour can help us." "Faith comes with a deep despair of all other help but Christ's." "Faith comes with an implied trust in Christ." "Faith feels a change from the touch of Christ. (J. Ker. D. D.)" "The sun can send some of its light & heat through very murky skies, & the Sun of Righteousness can do the same, & even more." "All traces of the disease vanished. Complete - perfect. Faith goes to Christ: - Can you tell why the needle trembles to the pole? The buds feel their way to the spring? Flowers to sunlight? They are made for it, & souls are so made for Christ." "Vers. 23 - 25. The maid is not dead, but sleepeth. - The healing of Jairus's daughter." "Unbelief says it is useless to trouble the Master any more." "Jesus is the Resurrection & the Life, & He restores out of death in all its stages." "They were too wise in their own conceit to think of looking with the eye of faith." "How much there is in which a devoutly-trained faith may discern truth & comfort & promise of good, where the mere human eye might discover nothing but perplexity or disappointment. (J. Puckle, M. A.)" "Ver. 29. Then touched He their eyes." "Faith is not merely an emotion; it is a conviction of the understanding." "Faith is the bucket by means of which a man may draw water out of the wells of salvation, & drink to his heart's content." "...faith is that little cup, which we hold up to the flowing stream of Christ's grace: we fill it, & then we drink & are refreshed." "Vers. 32, 33. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake. - The dumb made to speak" "God does not want ability so much as availability. The demon of selfishness must be cast out." "The demon of wilfulness must be cast out." "Ver. 35. Healing every sickness. - Christ the Physician" "Ver. 36. But when He saw the multitudes. - Christ's look of sympathy" "THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. 1. Faint. 2. Scattered. 3. Shepherdless." "Christ was moved with the sight of physical suffering; here it was spiritual disease." "...compassion grows by what it feeds on, & is of the very nature of the love of God." "Ver. 28. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest." "THE FIELD is the world." "THE HARVEST LABOURERS. 1. All who try to win souls are in His eye as reapers gathering the wheat into the garner." "Few in proportion to the world's need" "Christ was deeply affected by the spiritual depression of the people - 'they fainted.' Christ was deeply affected at the spiritual destitution of the people - 'were scattered abroad.'" "Labourers are wanted." "OUR LORD DIRECTION HIS DICIPLES HOW TO OBTAIN A SUPPLY. 1. Pray ye. ...3. Pray to the Lord." "THE LORD JESUS HEARD THEIR PRAYERS." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 153 - 172. CHAPTER 8
"Vers. 1 - 4. And behold, there came a leper. - The leper's cure: I. THE LEPER'S FAITH" "...this disease is a type of moral corruption. God's grace alone can effect a cure. We see the power of prayer. (W. Wight, M. A.)" "THE LEPER'S PRAYER. He was convinced of Christ's ability to heal him." "THE LEPER'S CLEANSING. Jesus is moved with compassion, touches & cleanses." "Christ can heal the leprosy of pride." "He can cleanse from the leprosy of fear." "IMPURITY IS ANOTHER FORM OF LEPROSY." "Our Lord desired to AVOID ALL IDLE & UNPROFITABLE EXCITEMENTS." "He desired obedience rather than profession." "Christ's humility in touching a leper." "...are you willing to be made clean? Before you can find pardon, you must see your sin & hate it." "Vers. 5, 10. There came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him." "The intimate connection between great faith & great humility. (A. Peebles.)" "THE STRONGEST FAITH FOUND IN A GENTILE SOLDIER. The strength of his faith is connected with the depth of his humility; faith the root of every grace." "The faith which justifies does not merely behold; it claims its object." "'Your Majesty's word is sufficient.'" "The most astonishing & acceptable faith may be exercised by the most unlikely persons." "There is no sin too black for His blood to wash out the stain." "The centurion believed - 1. That Christ had absolute power over disease. 2. That He could heal his servant at a distance. 3. By His word." "'God is able to make you stand,' though your lot be cast in 'slippery places.'" "Vers. 11, 12. Many shall come from the east & west. - The extent of God's family" "The happiness of heaven will not be solitary" "Man does not enter heaven by virtue of his poverty or his riches, sufferings or rejoicings, morality or immorality, but by virtue of the atonement & the shedding of the precious blood of Christ." "All, whatever their station or circumstances, find but one entrance into eternal glory, even through our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ - the only door, the one way, by which alone any can be saved." "They were driven into the darkness of sorrow & affliction." "...why this happened - their unbelief." "Ver. 14. Sick of a fever." "Ver. 17. Himself took our infirmities." "Our Lord's union with our nature was actual & personal" "Ver. 19 - 22. Master, I will follow Thee. Impetuous & hesitating discipleship" "...he is sifted by Christ. The tardy follower is hastened by Jesus." "The last of the 3 followers is halting with a divided heart, & is reproved." "'I will' must be will & not impulse only." "...to follow Christ ...1. The candid reception of His revelation. 2. It involves a surrender of ourselves to Christ as our Saviour & Governor." "Some are prevented from an immediate compliance with their convictions, by the notion that their happiness is to be found in the world, which they would be required to abandon." "If offering to follow Christ, count the cost." "Vers. 23 - 27. And when He was entered into a ship." "Storms in the voyage - even when sailing according to the Master's orders." "Faith is the true antidote against fear. Much fear, little faith: little faith, much fear." "(1) Be prepared for storms. (2) Amid all storms call on Christ. (3) Adore & praise Him for the deliverance He affords." "The man whose hope is in the Lord his God has no cause for alarm. (J. Seger, M. A.). The storm: - I. The way of obedience leads through many a scene of boisterous trouble." "The calm is in answer to the earnest cry of the disciples. We should pray in time of need. The cry of the disciples brought deliverance to many around; we never pray for ourselves without benefitting others." "THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST OVER ALL TURBULENT & SEEMINGLY UNCONTROLLABLE FORCES." "Undertake no enterprize in which Christ does not accompany you." "Ver. 28 - 33. There met Him 2 possessed with devils." "Ver. 34. Besought Him that He would depart. - God coming near to us." "...they besought Him to depart." "How near salvation they were. How they wronged the Saviour. How they wronged themselves. (H. Bonar, D. D.)" "A drowning man throwing away the life-belt, a poisoned man pouring the antidote upon the floor, a wounded man tearing open his wounds, any one of these is a sad sight; but what shall we say of a soul putting from it the Redeemer & choosing its own destruction? (C. H. Spurgeon.)" The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 137 - 153. CHAPTER 7
"VER. 1. Judge not." "Our Saviour directs us to reform our own conduct before we undertake to sit in judgment on that of others." "God will punish those who have encroached upon His rights, & who have trampled down the rules of justice & charity. (H. Kollack, D. D.)" "Vers. 3-5. The mote that is in thy brother's eye." "...sin may exist in man to an enormous extent, & YET HE BE UNCONSCIOUS OF IT. 'the beam.'" "It is only when we have wrestled with & overcome our own besetting sins, that we have the insight & tact to direct others how to overcome theirs." "He that cleanses a blot with blurred fingers will make a greater blot." "Ver. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs." "...we know that sacred things are so liable to be abused by profane persons." "Ver. 7. Ask, & it shall be given you." "Prayer is not an experiment." "Prayer not a runaway knock: - Watch in prayer to see what cometh. Foolish boys, that knock at a door in wantonness, will not stay till somebody cometh to open to them; but a man that hath business will knock, & knock again, till he gets his answer. (J. Manton.)" "Prayer is not chiefly a petition for something that we want & do not possess. It is intercourse with God, often seeking no end. If prayer is to be persevered in, it must be on the conviction that it heard by a living Person." "Ver. 9. A stone. - The bread of God's Word not to be petrified by preachers" "To turn stones into bread was a temptation of our Master, but how many of His servants yield readily to the far worse temptation to turn bread into stone!" "The inspired Word is to us spirit & life, & we cannot afford to have it hardened" "...sublime, but cold; majestic, but lifeless; (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Vers. 9-11. How much more shall your Father." "He feels the tenderest concern for us. We have freedom of access to Him." "God surpasses every earthly parent in His nearness & observation." "The love of parents is far exceeded by the love of God." "Ver. 12. That men should do to you, do ye even so to them." "Labour to understand truly every man's condition so far as you have opportunity." "The golden rule" "That we practise toward our neighbour in such a manner as our hearts & consciences would think it reasonable he should practise towards us in a like case." "Vers. 13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate. - The strait gate not a shut gate" "God has told us the way is difficult." "If you are in the narrow way be thankful. (Dr. J. Matthews.)" "The broad way is easiest." "THE WAY OF DESTRUCTION. 1. The gate into it is wide. 2. The way itself is broad. 3. It is the way along which the great bulk of mankind are traveling." "THE WAY OF LIFE. 1. The gate into is is strait. 2. The way itself is narrow. 3. It is a way little traveled." "LET US JUDGE AS TO WHICH WAY WE ARE WALKING IN. (E. Cooper.)" "The way of sin easy: - You have nothing more to do than lie like a withered leaf upon the stream, & without a thought or an effort you are carried quickly down. Sinners do not find it difficult to sin." "Ver. 15. Beware of false prophets. - The false & the true" "A false prophet is one who assumes the office without a call from God, or who puts forward his own thoughts as if they had Divine sanction." "Vers. 16-20. Know them by their fruits." "By their FRUITS ye shall know them." CHAPTER 6
"VER. 1. Alms before men." "We are to avoid the desire of human applause." "We must aim at the advancement of the honour of God." "Ver. 2. Their reward. - Having one's reward" "The gospel... it charges man to use himself in this life that he may gain the higher. (Beecher.)" "Ver. 5. And when thou prayest." "Four things provoke us to pray. 1. God's commandment. 2. Sin in us. 3. Our weak nature. 4. Subtilty of the enemy." "It implies that you go to the closet for the purpose of prayer, you are to separate yourself from all outer things." "Ver. 6. Enter into thy closet. - Private prayer" "...the farther & deeper the roots spread beneath, the more the tree expands above. Christians! if you wish to prosper, if you long to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, strike your roots wide in private prayer. (Salter.)" "Vers. 7, 8. But when ye pray. - Prayer forbidden" "1. Vain repetitions. 2. Much speaking. 3. Undue length." "Ver. 9. Our Father which art in heaven." "The Creator who made you out of nothing can keep & preserve life when you have nothing. How WILL GOD PERFORM THE PARTS OF A FATHER? 1. In allowing us full leave to come to Him in all our necessities. 2. In supplying all our wants (Isaiah 49:16). 3. In pitying our miseries." "This is to be our model prayer: 1. Simplicity. 2. Brevity." "Hallowed be Thy name." "The name of God denotes His titles, perfections, etc. To hallow His name denotes - A reverential acknowledgment of God;" "...sanctification of Him in thought, word, & action; the diffusion of His name through the world; removal of the causes which prevent His name from being hallowed." "God is jealous of the glory of His name" "A full knowledge of God is necessary in order to hallow His name. To avoid superstition. Terror is not reverence." "We should consecrate His name - 1. On our lips. 2. In our lives. 3. In our hearts. (E. H. Chaplin.)" "Ver. 10. Thy kingdom come. - The coming of Christ's kingdom: - 1. Greater than all the kingdoms of the world is the kingdom of God." "The Messianic kingdom: - I. WHO is the King? 1. Christ as Son of man. 2. As the Son of David. 3. By virtue of His sufferings & death." "Thy will be done in earth. - Doing God's will" "...the secret will of God; the providential will of God; the revealed will of God - our sanctification." "We are here taught to pray that God's will may become the standard & rule of our actions. That God's will may become the regulator of our wishes & pleasures. That God's will may become ours, & not that it may destroy ours. That God's will may be ours, not fitfully & in part, but constantly & perfectly. (F. Edwards, B.A.)" "The BLESSINGS THAT FLOW from acquiescence with the will of God are innumerable. 1. It secures our happiness. 2. It secures our safety. 3. It secures our satisfaction. (Dr. O. Winslow.)" "We must try to look on things as God looks at them." "Ver. 11. Our daily bread." "...that God would give us to-day, or rather day by day; that is, that He would constantly dispense what is needful for us." "Bread means that which is needful to support the life of the body." "...prayer that we may have enough." "We do not ask for the bread belonging to others." "Each new day is a special gift from God, in which are contained all the possibilities of His grace." "Ver. 12. Forgive us our debts." "It is a prayer for the forgiving of our sins AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD." "God's forgiveness of us the rule & measure of our forgiveness of others. (1) God forgives immediately. (2) God forgives fully. (3) God forgives heartily. (4) God forgets as well as forgives. 'I will remember them no more for ever.' (Dr. O. Winslow.)" "Ver. 13. And lead us not into temptation. - GOD PERMITS US TO BE TEMPTED FOR HIS OWN GLORY..." "To HUMBLE US." "To CONFORM US TO CHRIST." "To MORTIFY SIN." "To MAKE US MORE MEEK TO OTHERS." "To give us EXPERIENCE OF THE CARE & PROVIDENCE OF GOD, & the comforts of His promises." "It implies a SENSE OF OUR OWN TEMPTABLENESS." "WHAT IS MEANT BY TEMPTATION? The primary idea is test, or trial for discovery." "We should specially guard weak places in our defence." "We should not bring others into temptation." "God never leads us into temptation to make us fall." "Men must not unnecessarily expose themselves to temptation" "Lead us not into temptation: - ...There is no evil in temptation unless complied with." "...IF WE BE LED INTO TEMPTATION, LET US BE KEPT FROM THE EVIL OF IT." "1. From the evil of sin. 2. From the evil of the world. 3. From evil men. 4. From the Evil One. (Dr. O. Winslow.)" "For Thine is the kingdom." "All excellencies which are in God, are eternally in God. (Thomas Manton, D.D.)" "WHAT IS HERE ASCRIBED TO GOD. The kingdom. The glory." "Praise is the language of the soul in communion with God." "Amen" "It is the seal of prayer. It is the voice of faith." "Ver. 14. If ye forgive men." "...however free the mercy of God is to man, A MERCIFUL DISPOSITION TOWARDS OUR FELLOW-CREATURES IS NECESSARY to its enjoyment." "Ver. 16. When ye fast." "What is the design of fasting? 1. To manifest & promote sorrow for sin. 2. Self-denial, & a means of mortification. 3. That it may help to prayer & other holy duties." "HOW THE HYPOCRITES FASTED. Partial, insincere, selfish, self-righteous, external, etc." "HOW THE TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD OBSERVE THIS DUTY. They are sincere & deeply affected with their own sins (Joel 2:12-17; Exodus 9:4; Daniel 9:3; James 4:9, 10). They intend the glory of God (Matthew 6:18), & the mortification of sin in themselves & others, & the reformation of the nation (Romans 13:14, 8:13; Galatians 5:16-24). They are humble, spiritual, consistent, practical (Joel 2:14; Isaiah 1:16, 55:6, 7; Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 3:7-9, 13:1-9; James 4:8; Isaiah 1:17, 58:7; Psalms 48:25; Luke 3:11). (J. Benson.)" "Ver. 19. Treasures upon earth." "Treasures in heaven" "The only true investment for an immortal being must be in eternity." "Every man has his time, talents, influence, & money, as working materials. If he use these that he is constantly considering their value for eternity, he is putting treasure in God's bank." "...Have a deposit on earth, if you must or can; but let your chief banking be in heaven. (H. W. Beecher.)" "Ver. 22. The light of the body is the eye. - Singleness of eye: - The man whose only object is to make good his eternity moves forward in an element of clearness, without the doubts which harass other men." "The 'eye' is 'single' not because it sees one thing, but because it looks in one direction." "It marks one ruling passion to which all others are pressed into subservience." "'One thing have I desired of the Lord.'" "'One thing is needful.'" "Undeviating attention to the object of our view." "WHAT IS HERE MEANT by singleness of eye? It is being wholly decided for Christ alone." "Ver. 24. Serve 2 masters." "God claims a whole service." "...God claims a heart-service." "You cannot sail under 2 flags." "Ver. 25. Take no thought." "Evils of anxious forethought" "Anxiety distorts the future. It brings men under the power of the imagination & phantoms" "If a man is constantly looking to the future in despondency, where is faith in his God? (Beecher.)" "Anxiety is useless because Jesus bids you get rid of it. Trust Him & let the spirit rest, & be strong & glad. (S. Martin.)" "Ver. 28. Consider the lilies." "Nature's text must be studied - 'consider.'" "God takes care of the lilies & the grass. They do not grow by chance." "Men are better than birds, & more useful." "Ver. 30. Much more clothe you." "It is absurd to suppose that a created object is independent of its Creator." "...God will certainly accomplish His ultimate end in creation." "Ver. 32. Your heavenly Father knoweth. The antidote to anxiety" "Ver. 33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. - The profitable pursuit" "What an enemy to our peace is a worldly spirit!" "Ver. 34. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. - Undue anxiety reproved" "...nothing can happen to any without God's general permission." "...nothing shall happen to His people without God's special direction." "Anxiety depresses." "It has a saddening influence upon others. (T. Jackson, B. A.)" "Do not add vexation to your life by forecasting & designing uncertainties." "Leave events to God's infinite, all-wise disposal." "The more we are conscious of our own ignorance & powerlessness, the more utterly can we leave the future in God's hands. (E. L. Hull, B. A.) The future does not belong to fear: - The past belongs to gratitude & regret; the present to contentment & work; the future to hope & trust. (Beecher.)" The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 82 - 117. CHAPTER 5
"VERS. 1-2, And taught them - The Disciples" "Is your character such as the Saviour describes?" "Christ was an INTELLEGENT preacher. He (1) had the spirit without measure (John 3:34); (2) Knew how to speak a word in due season, when to humble, when to comfort. He (3) understood what doctrine would best suit with them; as the husbandmen can tell what sort of grain is proper for such a soil." "Christ was a POWERFUL preacher. He (1) spake with authority; (2) could set men's sins before them, & show them their very hearts. (3) He preached to the conscience; (4) breathed as much zeal as eloquence: He often touched upon the heart-strings." "Christ was a SUCCESSFUL preacher. 1. He had the art of converting souls. 2. Many believed on Him." "As an ambassador waits for a day of audience, & then faithfully & impartially delivers the mind of his prince, so Christ's ministers, having a commission delegated to them to negotiate for souls, should be glad when there is a day of audience, that they may impart the mind & will of Christ to His people." "Ministers... in one hand holding the (1) bread of life, & feed the flock of God; in the other hand they must hold the (2) sword of the Spirit, & fight against error." "'How to be happy' is everybody's question. Jesus answers it in these 'beatitudes.'" "True happiness is WITHIN. Not in pleasure, wealth, etc." "Ver. 3. Poor in spirit." "Poorness of spirit involves (1) Humility; (2) Contentment; (3) Submission; (4) Gratitude." "...THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVINCED OF THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY. All without Christ are wretched, blind, naked, poor." "They are heirs of the kingdom of peace, righteousness, & joy. (D. Rees.)." "We must be ever looking at the Cross. (H. Alford, M.A.)." "Till we are poor in spirit we are not capable of receiving grace. 1. God doth first empty a man of himself, before He pours in the precious wine of His grace." "He that is poor in spirit is a Christ-admirer." "He that is poor in spirit is lowly in heart." "He that is poor in spirit is much in prayer." "Poverty of spirit consists in HUMILITY through every stage of the Christian's pilgrimage." "Ver. 4. They that mourn. - The mourners who are not entitled to the blessings here named: I. Those who indulge the sorrow of discontent. II. The inordinate sorrow for worldly losses. III. Sorrow for wounded pride." "Those who are blessed: - 1. There is a mourning arising from a sense of having offended God. 2. Those who mourn under the afflicting dispensations of God's providence." "May God give us grace to mourn so as to be comforted. (H. Alford, M.A.)." "It is not sorrow over temporal distress." "It is not sorrow because of disappointed hopes." "What are the causes of this mourning? 1. Sin is one - (1) Because it dishonours God; (2) Because it cleaves to himself. (3) The prevalence of sin causes him to mourn." "Another cause of his mourning is the absence of spiritual joys. Another cause is the imperfect & afflicted state of the Church." "Mourn for the sins of others" "By whom shall they be comforted? By God the Father, Son, & Holy Ghost." "The consolation promised. Spiritual, seasonable, abundant, gracious" "It is Divine, complete, unalloyed, comfort. (Dr. J. Cumming.)" "Spiritual comforts are pure." "The comforts God gives His mourners are - I. SWEET." "II. They are HOLY." "III. They are SATISFYING. They fill the heart & make it run over. IV. They are POWERFUL." "They strengthen for duty. Support under affliction." "V. They are ABIDING" "How is this comfort applied? It is the work of the Holy Spirit. (R. May.)" "Ver. 5. The meek." "A meek spirit is a spirit of goodwill & clemency: is placid & calm amidst the vexations & cares of life (I Peter 3:4); is tractable & submissive; forbearing & forgiving; bows to the rod of affliction." "It is an evidence of our union to Christ" "1. Willing to be instructed by God. 2. Yielding a ready belief to all Divine revelations. 3. Cheerfully obedient to Divine command. 4. With prompt submission of self to the wisdom & will of God. 5. Patiently enduring inflictions & dispensations of God's providence towards him." "Pride is an indefatigable enemy of weakness. (H.W. Beecher.)" "Ver. 6. They which do hunger & thirst. - Righteousness desired" "Worldly good cannot fill man. Intellectual attainment cannot." "(1) Hunger less after the world and (2) more after righteousness. (3) Say concerning spiritual things: 'Lord, evermore give me this bread.' (4) Hunger after that righteousness which delivereth from death." "God fills the hungry soul with 1. Grace... 2. Peace... 3. Bliss" "Imputed righteousness." "To desire ardently & intensely for spiritual sustenance." "Ver. 7. The merciful. - Christian mercy" "A merciful Providence will attend the merciful Christian." "The more you abound in mercy, the more will you resemble God. (J. Jordan.)" "WHAT IS MERCY?... It is sorrow at the suffering of a fellow-creature, rational or irrational; &, along with that sorrow, an earnest desire, if possible, to relieve it." "Ver. 8. The pure in heart." "PURITY OF HEART GIVES THE VISION OF GOD." "God is light & love. These are seen by the pure soul." "Purity is (1) the mind renewed, the (2) disordered spirit restored, & (3) conformed to the 'image of God,' in righteousness & true holiness." "...Pure Heart. He can see God's hand in every sorrow chastening for good; God's face in every blessing; God's smile in the morning light, the blossoming harvest, & the evening shade. His heart is attuned. (E. J. Haynes.)" "They shall see God: - 1. In the work of creation. 2. In the ordinances of the gospel. 3. In the dispensation of Providence. 4. In the day of judgment. 5. In heaven for ever. (J. C. Edwards, M.A.)" "Gold is pure when it has been separated by fire from all foreign matter. The diamond is pure, the crystal is pure, when there is nothing in them which hinders the refraction & reflection of light." "To see God is to see the central light which reveals the order & beauty of the universe." "Ver. 9. The peacemakers." "...CHRISTIANS AS PEACEMAKERS. 1. They love peace. 2. They make peace. 3. They promote peace." "Peacemakers are the children of the Most High." "The duty combines the attempt to reconcile men to God, through the peace-speaking blood of the cross, with the effort to heal the breach of friendship which has been made among individuals." "Ver. 10. Persecuted for righteousness. - Persecution" "...marked disrespect." "...the Christian's company being avoided." "...ridicule & slander." "THE CAUSES of persecution. 1. The degenerate state of the world. 2. The influence which Satan exercises over the minds of men. 3. The conduct of Christians in the world." "The way to heaven, though full of roses in regard of the comforts of the holy, is full of thorns in regard of persecutions." "Every person who suffers in his name, person, or family, for the faithful discharge of what he considers to be his duty to God" "Ver. 11. For My sake." "Let us seek clearer views of the INFLUENCE of Christian motive." "Ver. 12. Great is your reward. - The reward of the saints" "It is in heaven." "It is carefully prepared for us." "It is certain." "God's desire to stimulate us to a better life by revealing to us the great reward. (J.W. Hussey, M.A.)" "Ver. 13. Salt of the earth." "Salt is intended to preserve. Salt has also a consuming power. There is something sharp, biting, & aggressive in it. Laid on a wound it is painful. The Christian often pains men to heal them. (T. Christlieb, D.D.)" "Salt does its work by being brought into close contact with the thing which it is to work upon." "THE CERTAIN END OF THE SALTLESS SALT. You cannot put it upon the soil; there is no fertilizing virtue in it. You cannot even fling it into the rubbish heap; it will do mischief there." "God has no use for it; man has no use for it. (A. Maclaren, D.D.)" "...its EFFECTS. ...salt prevents corruption & decay in animal & vegetable matter, so Christian character is the antidote of vice in the individual & in society." "Ver. 14. Ye are the light of the world. - Christians the light of the world" "The world is dark in reference to God." "Believers are 'the light of the world.'" "It is the light of Christianity that solves the deepest questions & answers the most anxious inquiries of mankind. The object of light is to disclose what would be otherwise unseen. This light discloses God the way to heaven" "Example is the source of the Christian's most powerful influence on the world." "...Christian consistency requires non-conformity to the world, & the good works of an active Christian life." "A Christian that burns with holy love to God cannot be unnoticed." "The next thing to do with a lamp is to set it where it may be seen & give light." "We can bury the light of the Word under cowardly & indifferent silence." "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE." "If you are not warming the world, the world is chilling you." "The impressions which a Church makes on the moral consciousness of the community in which it lives is a fair test of its life & power. (H.W. Beecher.)" "Christian example must be free from inconsistency." "There must be nothing to mar the brilliancy of the light." "The purpose of letting our light shine is, that God, not ourselves, may be glorified." "Christians must be receptive of light: - Our measure of light will depend greatly upon the clearness & sensibility of our spiritual perceptive & receptive capacities." "The light to reveal the work, not the worker." "Shine by expressed conviction" "A good man or woman reveals the ugliness of evil by showing the beauty of holiness" "Ver. 17. But to fulfil." "Christ fulfilled the law in His teaching. He completed it. 2. Christ fulfilled the law by His own personal, unbroken obedience. 3. Christ fulfilled the law by His sufferings & death. (W. G. Barrett.)" "Ver. 19. Break one of these least commandments. - The perilous harmfulness of little sins" "See the peril of little sins, as they are sure to draw greater ones after them. It is fool's sport to play with firebrands." "Avoid the least sin: - If we would save the big ship, let us stop the small leak. If we would save the palace from flames, let us put out the spark. (Newman Hall.)" "Ver. 20. Your righteousness shall exceed." "The righteousness of Christ is the exceeding righteousness; in this only can we stand before a holy God. (J. Vaughan, M.A.)" "The righteousness of the Pharisee is at fault in its source. Its beginning & end is self. Christ is our righteousness. IT EXCELS." |
AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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