INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
CHAPTER 11
"VERS. 1-5. Art Thou He that should come? John's inquiry" "Marks of convincing miracles: - I. They must be above the known powers of all natural causes. II. They must be done publicly & in the face of the world, that there may be no room to suspect artifice & collusion. III. The doctrines which they are brought to vouch must be every way worthy of God. IV. They should carry marks of good-will & beneficence to men. V. It is the more convincing if such miracles were foretold, & VI. If there be no appearances of self-interest & design in the worker of such miracles." "Our Lord's miracles distinguished Him from John." "Doubting - I. That there is NO SIN IN DOUBTING." "II. BUT FAITH IS BETTER THAN DOUBT." "III. There may exist honest doubt, NOTWITHSTANDING DILIGENT EFFORTS" "Christ's work is always open to examination, & testifies to His Messiahship" "Ver. 5. And the poor have the gospel preached to them." "The gospel is 'the tender mercy of our God.'" "Bad government is a public source of poverty." "Ignorance or undevelopedness of mind is a great cause of poverty." "To preach the gospel to the poor is to awaken the mind of the poor. It is a gospel of prosperity." "...the gospel must be preached where the poor can come & hear it." "It must be preached simply. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "...it is by the influence of the gospel alone that the world can be reformed." "...those only who believe the gospel can enjoy its blessings. (H. E. Thomas.)" "...'preached.' 1. Clearly. 2. Fully. 3. Affectionately. 4. Faithfully." "The gospel is glad tidings to the poor." "Ver. 6. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." "Some in His own day were offended with Him because of the humbleness of His appearance. They said, 'He is the son of a carpenter.' There are others who reject Him because of the fewness of His followers. Some are offended with Christ because of the grandeur of His claims. He claims to be God. Some are offended with our Lord because of His atonement. Some are offended because of the graciousness of the gospel. They prefer works. Some are offended because of the holiness of His precepts. They like liberty to sin." "I. WHO ARE THE PERSONS THAT ARE OFFENDED AT CHRIST? 1. Those who discredit the authenticity of His Word. 2. Who deny the Divinity of His Person. 3. Who reject the efficacy of His atonement. 4. Who despise the influences of His Spirit. 5. Who backslide from the profession of His name." "Vers. 7-9. What went ye out into the wilderness to see? - The attractiveness of John the Baptist" "In every action we should reflect upon the principles & ends, the reasons that move us to any duty." "...God bindeth Himself to be our God, & we bind ourselves to be His people." "I. THOSE THAT ATTEND UPON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD SHOULD PROPOSE UNTO THEMSELVES SOME END WHY THEY DO IT." "Remove those hindrances which prevent any soul business. Call yourself to account before & after hearing the Word of God." "Ver. 10 - Which shall prepare Thy way before Thee. - Preparations for Christ's coming: - God does not seem, as a rule, to allow any great truth or blessing to burst upon the world without some sort of preparation." "In what manner did he prepare the way of the Lord? 1. Not with any worldly pomp or splendour. ...It was by preaching repentance & turning men from their sins. (Matthew Hole.)" "Ver. 11. There hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist. - The least in the kingdom of heaven" "The heavenly treasure is in earthen vessels." "Yearn not to be eccentric but deep & real. (J. Brierley, B. A.)" "Real greatness is approximation to God. The man who knows God best is greatest. Who was ever brought into such near connection with God as John? He was the friend of the Bridegroom." "Ver. 12. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence." "God's earnestness visible in nature." "Earnestness visible in God's self-revelation." "The only thing that can answer God is earnestness in us." "Examine the reasons why indifference replaces earnestness." "Man's strongest inclinations are on the side of meriting heaven by works; hence the need of violence to resist this." "A life of faith is a life of self-denial." "If the captive must use force when he would wrench off his chains, then must we use force, for the fetters of an evil nature bind us to the earth." "God's kingdom can be really won by nothing but steady manly perseverance; it is a matter which demands a lifelong energy of prayer & watching, lest at any time we let it slip. (Dean Lake.)" "Earnest prayer: - Prayer pulls the rope below & the great bell rings above in the ears of God." "...he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly & pulls continuously, with all his might. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Ver. 15. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." "I. Take heed THAT ye hear. 1. This implies willingness to hear" "2. It implies devout earnestness to hear. II. Take heed HOW ye hear. 1. This means that we should seek to understand the gospel. 2. That we should endeavour to experience the gospel." "III. Take heed WHAT ye hear. 1. You should desire to hear the Word of God. 2. The pure Word of God. 3. The plain Word of God. 4. The sure Word of God. 5. The living Word of God. (J. C. Jones.)" "What a man can do, that he ought to do. If he can hear, let him hear; yes, & if he can see, let him see; if he can serve, let him serve; if he can pray, let him pray." "Ver. 16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets. - Excuses of sinners" "They were like sullen children resisting all efforts to interest them." "Ver. 19. The Son of man came eating. - Christ & common life" "...not exempt from the necessities of our nature" "Christ ate & drank WITH MEN." "He who recognizes the body as God's gift will never dishonour its appetites." "...a free life, guided by a holy wisdom, is the most sanctified life." "A friend of publicans & sinners." "But wisdom is justified of her children." "Ver. 20-21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! The damnation under the gospel more intolerable than that of Sodom: - I. THERE SHALL BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT. II. IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT SOME SINNERS SHALL FARE WORSE THAN OTHERS. III. IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT THERE WILL BE A DISTRIBUTION OF SINNERS' PUNISHMENT ACCORDING TO THE EXACT RULES OF JUSTICE. IV. IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT IT WILL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR SODOM THAN CAPERNAUM." "V. ...THE WORST OF THE HEATHEN WHO NEVER HAD CHRIST PREACHED TO THEM SHALL FARE BETTER IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT THAN THOSE THAT CONTINUE IMPENITENT UNDER THE GOSPEL." "Let us consider the privileges we enjoy in this favoured land." "Ver. 25. Because thou hast hid these things from the wise & prudent. - Why God reveals to babes: - The babe is the representative of the receptive spirit - trusting, open to impression, free from prejudice." "The prime requisites in the child-spirit are unconsciousness & humility." "...by revealing to babes, God gives hope to universal humanity. While few can be wise & learned, all may become babes." "The humble heart knows more than the massive intellect." "The feature of the babe is (1) helplessness, (2) ignorance. ...(3) Great teachability." "WHERE, & IN WHAT SENSE ARE THESE THINGS HID? 1. They are hid in Christ (Col. 2:3)" "They are hid in God's Word." "God will not force His truth & mercy upon man." "If men will presume to aim at the knowledge of God, without the knowledge of Christ, who is the Way, & the Door; if they have such a high opinion of their own wisdom & penetration as to suppose they can understand the Scriptures without the assistance of His Spirit; or if their worldly wisdom teaches them that these things are not worth their inquiry, what wonder is it that they should continue to be hid from their eyes?" "Ver. 26. Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight. - Submission to our Father's will" "Ver. 27. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father." "All nations of the earth are delivered to Him. All power in heaven & earth is given to Him. All hearts are His. The gifts & graces of the Spirit are His. Principalities & powers are His." "Ver. 28. Come unto Me all ye that labour & are heavy laden. - The burdened directed to Christ" "Heavenly rest for the people of God." "It is rest from sin - its guilt, misery, power." "WHO MAY OBTAIN THIS REST FROM HIM - 'All that labour.'" "HOW THEY WHO DESIRE MAY OBTAIN IT - 'Come.'" "We are said to come to God by... putting our whole trust & affiance in Him, relying upon Him for salvation, & placing all our hopes & confidence in His merits & satisfaction." "Rest not found in mere ceremonial observances." "'Come,' saith Christ, '& I will give you rest.' I will not show you rest, nor barely tell you of rest, but I will give you rest." "Ver. 29. Take my yoke upon you & learn of Me. - The school of Christ: - I. There must be docility, obedience, willingness to learn of that Teacher." "I. Christ's FITNESS to be man's Teacher. 1. He understands man's nature. 2. He understands all those things which man has need to know. 3. He understands perfectly the art of imparting knowledge." "If we are His disciples, let the humility of the Master correct the pride of His servants." "'Yoke.' 1. Subjection to the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). 2. Resignation to the will of Christ. Why called a yoke? 1. Because it opposes our corrupt nature. 2. Because it opposes the maxims of the world. 3. Because it is repugnant to the schemes of men." "His is a yoke for two. He would have us take the vacant place beside Him, & share with Him." "Ver. 30. For My yoke is easy & My burden is light." "It is an EASY yoke. 1. In comparison with the yoke of Satan. 2. In comparison with the yoke which self-righteousness imposes on mankind." "It is light compared with the burden of the unpardoned sin an another world." "What is impossible to nature, is easy to grace." "Easy, as it is an ASSISTED service; considering that we work not in our own strength, but in God's." "Easy, as it is the most gainful service; having the assurances of an eternal weight of glory as the reward of our obedience." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 198 - 228.
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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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