INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
CHAPTER 13
"The general teaching of these 7 parables: - No one should miss gathering from these parables some notion of the all-embracing character of the kingdom which Christ came to set up among men." "...Christ derives a parable from an army, to teach soldiers; from legal principles, to instruct lawyers; from the field & sowing, to speak familiarly to the husbandman's capacity. (T. Adams.)." "Ver. 3. And He spake many things unto them in parables. - Christ a moral painter" "He often presented to His hearers a moral picture - flashed upon the mind's eye a whole scene of truth with such vividness & power that it could not be well perverted or forgotten." "A truth felt is more than a truth stated." "He knew how to talk with them in such a way as to make them feel that what He did not tell them was considerably more than what He did tell them. (C. H. Parkhurst, D. D.)" "Behold, a sower went forth to sow." "Four kinds of soil: 1. The impenetrable. 2. The superficial. 3. The preoccupied. 4. The prepared." "The seed is the same in every case: the difference is in the kinds of soils." "God does not predestinate men to fail." "The parable of the sower: - 1. The careless hearer. 2. The temporary hearer. 3. The worldly-minded hearer. 4. The sincere hearers of the Word. (1) They understand it; (2) They receive it; (3) They retain it; (4) They practise it. (G. Burder.)" "III. THE SOIL. 1. The wayside hearer. 2. The stony-ground hearer. The emotional hearer. 3. Among the thorns - the double-minded hearer. 4. Good soil - the man who hears aright. (G. F. Pentecost.)" "All Christian people are sowers. By our words & actions we are sowing some kind of principle in the minds of others; we cannot help it." "Ministers have no seed of their own; their doctrine & word belong to Christ." "Until the seed is sown there will be no increase. So the heart must take in the Word by faith." "Vers. 4 & 19. Some seeds fell by the wayside, & the fowls came & devoured them up. - Way seed devoured by birds" "...a heart trodden down by the feet that have gone across it; & because trodden down, incapable of receiving the seed sown. The seed falls upon, not in it." "The heart is trodden down by sin." "Every transgression deprives us, in some degree, of power to receive the Divine word of God's truth, & making it our own." "If the seed is good, & the ground well prepared, a very poor & awkward kind of sowing will suffice." "...there may be much hearing, much reading, much attendance at public services, & very small result; & all because the Word was not the subject of thought, & was never embraced by the understanding. What is not understood is like meat undigested, more likely to be injurious than nourishing. (C.H. Spurgeon.)" "Vers. 5, 20, 21. - Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth." "Stony ground is cold" "These persons are without spiritual warmth." "Stony ground doth not drink in the rain that falls from heaven. All the hearts of men are naturally hard." "Stony ground by reason of the little earth that is found there, never brings forth fruit to perfection." "Stony or hard hearted hearers may go a great way in the profession..." "They believe for a while." "They may become members of a visible church." "They go no further because of their pride." "This sin of withering is generally punished with other sins, (1) with blindness of mind; (2) with judicial hardness of heart; (3) with a seared conscience; (4) with final impenitence." "'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.'" "Shallow soil like superficial character." "The superficial servant's work is done: but lazily, partially - not thoroughly." "Do not keep Christ on the surface; let Him possess the centre, & thence direct all the circumference of your life." "That which is hasty is not lasting. Grace, in almost every case, is slow & progressive; for, in the human heart, it has much to contend against; & God treats us as free agents, putting no force on any man's will. (J. Ford.)" "Vers. 7, 22. And some fell among thorns." "Anxieties about work, clothes, etc. become the thorn plants, harmless in appearance at first, which in the end may choke the seed of grace in your heart. Worldly cares nursed by indulgence into a dangerous strength are further like thorns growing in a corn field, in that they interpose a veil between the face of Jesus & the opening, trustful look of a longing soul." "Wealth is deceitful in taking the place of legitimate enjoyments in life." "'No man can serve 2 masters.'" "'If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'" "Can'st thou set thy heart upon a thorn without piercing thyself through with many sorrows? (Venning.)" "Vers. 8, 23. But other fell on good ground & brought forth fruit." "Good ground: - 1. A good & honest heart is a perfect & sincere heart. 2. It is an obedient heart. 3. It is a faithful heart. 4. It is a jealous heart. 5. It is a fruitful heart. (B. Keach.)" "Vers. 11, 12. Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. - The preparation necessary for understanding the mysteries of the gospel" "There is a connection announced in Scripture between desire & its accomplishment. The hungry are filled." "We ought to have a habit of prayer conjoined with a habit of inquiry; & to this more will be given." "It is for want of seeking if you do not find." "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given" "God heaps upon His faithful & elect people new graces & benefits day by day, so that they abound in virtue & holiness; but from the unbelieving, the ungrateful, & the unworthy, He gradually takes away His gifts, both of nature & of grace." "We are to become rich in grace, but it is to be by heavenly trading." "Ver. 13. Because seeing they see not; & hearing they hear not. - Insensibility to the truth" "WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS BY WHICH THIS GROSS, INSENSITIVE STATE IS REACHED. 1. It is induced by all kinds of depravity. It is one of the penalties of wrong-doing that the moral nature is made unresponsive to spiritual things. 2. It grows on a man through the mastery of worldly pursuits - of business, home, social, & political life. 3. The habit of cherishing doubt is another circumstance which tends to weaken spiritual vision & understanding." "Worldliness causes insensibility" "Sin causes insensibility" "As a person may sit down before a piano, possessing a capital knowledge of the technicalities of music, & able to touch skillfully, & yet never enter into the spirit of the piece he is playing, so you may sit down before the Word of God, sweep your fingers over its glorious keys, & yet never bring forth one strain of its sweet Divine harmony." "Our faith, to be strong & healthy, must rest on conviction." "Neglected opportunities will aggravate future woe" "Labour to know the mind of God 'Search the Scriptures.'" "Look up to Christ as your 'all in all.'" "They had eyes, though they saw not; not by the want, but abuse of these capacities. The Jews rejected Christ in spite of clear evidence." "Vers. 16, 17. But blessed are your eyes, for they see." "To be a righteous man is more desirable than to be a prophet. Grace is a higher endowment than inspiration or genius." "Vers. 34 - 30; 34 - 41. But while men slept, his enemy came & sowed tares - The tares & the wheat; - This parable relates chiefly to the condition of the Church." "It is likeness to wheat which makes tares specially mischievous." "'An enemy hath done this.' It is Satan's chief triumph to hinder Christ's work by false brethren" "It is sad to retain in Church impostors, more sad to cast out faithful. Better trust men too much than too little. (E. Gray, M.A.)" "The policy of the Master, though more perplexing, is far better. It leaves things less satisfactory for the time, but accomplishes the greatest good in the end. The policy of the Master will prevail, despite all the efforts to the contrary, even to the end of the age." "...false disciples ...they are useless & noxious." "The good in their intercourse with the bad may reclaim them." "It is one of the mysteries of the Divine government that God should allow an enemy in the field at all." "Many a sinner might have been worse than he is, but for restraining contact with Christians." "Men are to be known by their fruits, but the fruits of a man's life cannot be fairly judged until they are ripened & complete." "The season - 'while men slept.' It is said of the ungodly that 'they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.'" "Why are the saints compared to wheat? - 1. Wheat is the product of a rare & choice seed; they are the product of the Holy Ghost. 2. The seed of wheat must first be sown in men's hearts before they can bear God's image or bring forth fruits of holiness. 3. Wheat is a profitable sort of grain. So the saints & people of God are a profitable people to the world (Prov. 10:21; 2 Cor. 6:19). 4. Wheat will abide & live in the sharpest winter, when some other grain will not. So true believers do abide, endeavour & live in the times of sharpest trials, persecutions, tribulations, & temptations." "Full ears of wheat hang down their heads, being full of corn. So sincere believers are humble & lowly-minded." "Labour to add to your faith virtue (2 Peter 1:5, 6, 7). The way to ripen for heaven is to strive against all those things that hinder or obstruct your growth, as thorns & briars (Matt. 13:22)." "DO AS WE WILL, WE SHALL NEVER GET EVIL ENTIRELY OUT OF THE CHURCH - the ideal Church is in heaven (Rev. 21:27)." "AT THE LAST JUDGMENT THERE WILL BE AN ABSOLUTE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE GOOD & THE BAD." "Peace in a church is essential to progress." "Vers. 31, 32. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed." "...the smallness of its beginning & the greatness of its increase." "ITS PRESENT APPARENT INSIGNIFICANCE." "ITS FUTURE GRANDEUR." "To all disheartened in work; we must not measure work by size but by vitality. Have we joined the Church because it is large or because it is living. (M. Dods, D.D.)" "Ver. 33. The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven." "It was not leavened in an instant, but by gradual infection; an emblem of the spread of the gospel in the soul." "The gospel is the power of God at work for the salvation of souls." "It is in the nature of leaven to make all the meal like itself; so it is in the nature of the gospel to Christianize those who receive it; i.e., Christ subjugates, penetrates, & assimilates the believer to Himself." "...the life of His thoughts into his thinking" "...the life of His love into his heart" "...the life of His righteousness into his conscience" "...the life of His obedience into his will" "The PENETRATING power of Divine grace." "The TRANSFORMING power of Divine grace. The grace of God works slowly, successfully. (J.T. Woodhouse.)" "...Christianity is not a matter of places & days, rites & observances; it is a matter of having the leaven of God to work in us that we shall be gentle & pure, unselfish & sympathetic as God is." "Leaven is of a diffusive quality. So the Word of God, through the Spirit, is of a diffusive nature, but in respect to every soul that receiveth it, & also in respect of people to whom it comes" "Leaven diffuses itself gradually." "...the Word of God & the grace of God makes the whole soul like itself, or a whole family or nation where it is once in truth received, the very same people, both in doctrine & conversation." "...so the Word of God must be hid in the heart, both in the understanding, will, & affection, if the person be spiritually leavened with it (Psa. 119:11)." "...the Word of God makes the hard heart soft & tender." "...men are most susceptible to the influence that flows from character." "Ver. 38. The field is the world." "THE MEANS BY WHICH THIS MORAL REVOLUTION IS TO BE EFFECTED. By the preaching of Jesus Christ & Him crucified. (F. Wayland, D.D.)" "Send the gospel to all. Value souls." "Ver. 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. - The glory of the righteous" "...the germ of faith will ripen unto eternal glory." "'Like the sun' - visible, pure, active, glorious." "...at the day of the resurrection, the saints shall shine forth gloriously." "The sun is so glorious, that mortals cannot behold it, but their eyes will dazzle. So the glory of the saints will be too great for sinners to behold, it would even put out their eyes, or confound them. (B. Keach.)" "Ver. 44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field." "This treasure can only be discovered by careful search." "Having discovered the excellency of Divine things, we should be ready to renounce such pleasures & habits as hinder their attainment." "...the true convert will give up worldly vanities, unfair dealing, uncharitableness, insincerity, & will learn to 'crucify the flesh with its affections & lusts.' (Essex Remembrancer.)" "The pearl-seeker seeks with determination." "THE EXCELLENCY OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD BY MEN. It is a hid treasure." "The treasure is offered to all freely & fully." "This spiritual treasure makes all that find it very rich (Rev. 3:18)." "...believers, rich in faith, rich in promise, rich in experience, can do more good to others - they can give better counsel, more & better comfort (Prov. 10:21)." "Ver. 45, 46. Seeking goodly pearls." "The soul, seeking good, wants a better until it finds Christ the best." "Time does not rust a pearl." "How must the pearl of great price be sought? I. Diligently
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CHAPTER 12
"VERS. 1-6. Behold Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day." "Ver. 6. That in this place is One greater than the temple. - Christ greater than the Church" "Christ... He liberates, elevates & purifies." "The Church is nothing without its head. Whatever it is, He has created it. Whatever it does, He is its life! It is righteous, but it is with His righteousness. It is royal, its royalty comes from Him. It is a priesthood, He conferred the priesthood. Its love, its power, its faith, its hope, everything it is, everything it expects to do, find their explanation & root in its relations to Him." "The Divine must be greater than any human workmanship" "Every human authority must yield to His." "Ver. 7. I will have mercy, & not sacrifice." "Morals before rituals." "Ver. 10. And behold there was a man which had his hand withered." "Christ's power is displayed on our inability." "The stretching forth of the hand was - 1. An act of faith. 2. An act of decision." "THE RESULT OF THIS STRETCHING OUT OF THE MAN'S HAND IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND. 1. The healing was manifest. 2. It was immediate. 3. It was permanent. (C. H. Spurgeon.)" "Ver. 12. How much then is a man better than a sheep!" "The cross proves God's esteem for the sinner. Man's worth explains redemption; not redemption man's worth. (C. H. Parkhurst.)" "MAN IS BETTER THAN THE ANIMAL." "He ought to live better than an animal." "BECAUSE WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN SHEEP JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SEEK & SAVE US." "BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER THAN SHEEP GOD & HIS ANGELS ARE GLAD OVER EVERY ONE THAT REPENTS OF SIN. (W. Harris.)" "Vers. 14-21. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet." "Our Lord did not wish His fame spread abroad." "If Christ needed the Spirit of the Lord upon Him, how much more do we?" "If Christ does not manifest ostentation, why should we?" "Ver. 20. A bruised reed shall He not break. - The tenderness of Christ" "The love of Christ is the root of His tenderness." "The metaphor of a 'bruised reed' conveys the idea of (1) a state of weakness." "(2) A state of oppression." "The metaphor of 'smoking flax' conveys the idea of grace, true & sincere, but languishing & just expiring." "Go to the cross & there learn this love & compassion. (President Davies.)" "...nothing good in you ever escapes the notice of God." "Whatever beautifies you glorifies Him." "Whatever beautifies you glorifies Him." "How is the world to be redeemed if you put a limit to God's love?" "Of all things in the world flax is the most combustible. The smallest spark will kindle it into a blaze." "How great a consolation there is in this Divine tenderness of Christ." "Grace never blown quite out: - Grace can never be so blown out, but there will be some smoke, some spark, whereby it may be rekindled. The smoking snuff of Peter's grace was lighted again by a sudden look of his Master." "Vers. 22, 29. One possessed with a devil, blind & dumb." "Adore the gracious power of Christ amongst the enemies of Christ. (J. Fletcher.)" "Ver. 30. He that is not with Me is against Me. - Neutrality... impossible" "How inevitable is the destruction of the Saviour's enemies." "In the battlefield of life, whose side have you chosen? In the great harvest-field of the world, whose interests are you serving? 1. The battlefield is the world. We are soldiers. Are we fighting? Are we clad in armour? 2. The harvest-field. Are you gathering or wasting?" "Neutrality here is opposition." "...man's natural state is one of antagonism to God." "The human heart cannot be in a state in which neither Christ nor the world has the supremacy." "Christ requires the whole heart, life, etc." "Neutrality is seen to be practical hostility to the kingdom of Christ" "Ver. 31. All manner of sin & blasphemy. - Sin against the Holy Ghost: - 1. This is not a sin which one can commit by accident, & without knowing it." "Men are not likely to fall into it suddenly." "Constant resistance of good impulses may lead to it. (H. W. Beecher.)" "...by this sin men resist their last remedy, & oppose the best & utmost means of their conviction." "If the Spirit be scorned, it follows, pardon is impossible." "We have in the Bible 4 separate sins against the Holy Ghost laid out in a certain order & progression - grieving, resisting, quenching - these have been forgiven. But there is a 4th stage when the mind, through a long course of sin, proceeds to such a violent dislike of the Spirit of God, that infidel thoughts & horrid imaginations come into the mind. They become habitual. This sin against the Holy Ghost does not lie in any particular act or word; it is a general state of mind. It is unpardonable because the mind of such a man cannot make one move towards God. (J. Vaughan, M. A.)" "Ver. 33. Either make the tree good & his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt." "If the tree is permitted to grow up & grow old in evil, there is danger lest, by storm or fire, it should be destroyed, & so never be made good." "Ver. 34. 35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart." "1. A good heart contains good affections. 2. Good desires. 3. Good intentions. 4. Good volitions. 5. Good passions." "THE EVIL MAN." "He is evil because he possesses an evil heart, mixes with an evil world, is under the influence of an evil devil." "...the train of thought in which we delight will betray itself in speech, as well as in our general course of action" "Ver. 36. That every idle word. - Idle words" "Idle words... 1. Tattling. 2. Tale-bearing. 3. 'Slang' conversation. 4. Boasting. 5. Swearing. (H. W. Beecher.)" "By idle words we may understand such words as proceed from vanity or deceit." "Idle words may imply such as are the product of a loose & idle mind, such as represent the impure conceptions of a mind polluted with lust." "The tongue cannot speak better than the understanding can conceive." "Language a heart reflector" "Happy are the friends of those whose conversation 'ministers grace to the hearers.'" "Ver. 38. Master, we would see a sign from Thee." "GOD NEVER GIVES ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES WHEN THOSE POSSESSED ARE NOT USED." "...The men of Ninevah shall rise in judgment" "If the Ninevites gave heed to the prophet of wrath, how much more should the Jews to a messenger who would rejoice if repentance should turn away their woe." "Ninevah was only threatened with destruction. The Jews were urged to reform." "Ver. 42. The Queen of the South shall rise up in judgment." "She went to hear the wisdom of a mortal" "We are invited to hear One greater than Solomon." "Solomon's speech was regal, but the Saviour's was Divine." "Ver. 43, 45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man. - Furnished, but vacant" "A FEARFUL RELAPSE DESCRIBED. 1. When the evil spirit returned he found the house unoccupied." "...if one comes out of these evils, & lapses back into them, the dangers are increased." "The Divine flame cannot often go out & be re-kindled. Once out, it is apt to stay out." "Vers. 46-50. The same is My brother, & sister, & mother. - Christians are Christ's Relations" "The family of our Lord" "'They do the will of His Father.'" "The Christian makes the will of God the rule of his life." "CHRISTIANS ARE THE RELATIVES OF CHRIST. The ground of the relationship not natural, ecclesiastical, but spiritual - faith & obedience." "The great principle of this relationship. Obedience. God's will is revealed to us. Obedience must be evangelical, affectionate, full, constant." The Biblical Illustrator, Baker, pgs. 228 - 256. 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. 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. 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." CHAPTER 1
"Vers. 1 - 15. The book of the generation. - The lessons of Christ's genealogy: - 1. It is a proof of the reality of Christ's humanity. 2. It suggests the relation of Christ's work to the whole human race. 3. It marks the importance of the birth of Christ as a historical epoch. Let it remind us also (1) Of the shortness of human life; (2) Of the subserviency of persons of every class & character to the purposes of God's moral government." "For the setting forth the pedigree of the Messiah, lest it should be thought that He were some obscure or secret person. (R. Ward.)." "It connects Jesus & His teachings with all God's revelations & promises which had been given before." "The Lord's ancestral roll serves to identify Him in closer connection & sympathy with the race whom, as their God, He came to redeem." "Vers. 16, 17. A just man. ...Joseph's belief in the angelic communication, & OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE COMMAND." "Joseph: - 1. His natural suspicion, 2. His merciful determination." "Vers. 21, 22. Jesus. ...Consider IN WHAT MANNER HE SAVES HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS. 1. He redeems them by price. 2. He saves them by power. 3. He saves from the guilt of sin. 4. He saves from the love of sin. (W. Jay.)." "Christ a Saviour: - THE WORK HE IS TO ACCOMPLISH is a most great, glorious, & blessed one. 'He shall save.' ...He shall destroy. 'For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.'" "He demolishes the works of Satan because they stand in His way as Saviour. 1. He saves His people from the penalty of their sins. 2. From the dominion & practice of sin." "Some would rather that He had come to save them from poverty, pains, death; not knowing that to save from sins is to save from all these. (J. Bennet, D.D.)." "Sin is itself the greatest of all miseries. It is (1) deeper; (2) vaster; (3) more abiding; (4) the source of all other miseries." "Jesus is a WILLLING Saviour." "Jesus is a LIVING Saviour." "Jesus is a PRESENT Saviour." "Jesus is a PERSONAL Saviour." "Jesus is a SYMPATHIZING Saviour. (G. H. Smyth.)." "1. Jesus saves from sin by bestowing forgiveness - full forgiveness, free, immediate. 2. Jesus saves His people from the pollution of sin; not in their sins, but from their sins." "The name of Jesus - 'This name Jesus,' said St. Bernard, 'it is honey in the mouth, harmony in the ear, melody in the heart.'" "Salvation from sin. - You must be saved from sin, not in sin, as some seem to imagine. The latter is like saving a man from drowning by keeping him under the water which is destroying him; or like recovering a man from sickness by leaving him under the malady which constitutes the complaint. (W. Jay.)." "Vers. 23 - 25. Child. ...God can come to us in the smallest of things." "Emmanuel. - Emmanuel: ...Christ came AS GOD WITH MAN." "GOD IS WITH HIS PEOPLE. 1. He is with them in their lives. 2. In their labours. 3. In their trials & afflictions. 4. In their worship. 5. In death & in glory. (C. H. Wetherbe.)." "The birth of Christ... No other birth has ever involved such important consequences to the human race." "We come short of the full grandeur of the gospel when we take the clause, 'God with us,' as signifying only one among us - a Deity moving among individuals, outside of them all, &, however friendly & gracious, still an external Person, saving them only by a work wrought all above them." "Emmanuel, God with us" "We exist not by chance" "He is in the world, not to exhibit His power merely, but that the world of men may be redeemed" "Is Christ our Emmanuel?" "...His incarnation united to our nature - God with man - God in man. He is God with us to comfort, enlighten, protect, & defend us in time of temptation & trial, & in the hour of death, & God with us, & in us, & we with & in Him to all eternity. (A. Clarke, LL.D.)." "By the light of nature we see the eternal as a God above us: by the light of the law we see Him as a God against us; but, by the light of the gospel, we see Him as a God with us, reconciled to us, at peace with us, interested for us, interceding in our behalf. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift! (Dr. Hughes.)" CHAPTER 2 "VER. 1. Wise men from the East. - They were wise, not so much for their learning, but because they sought God diligently." "They were earnest seekers. They sought Christ reverently. God assisted them in the search." "THE SEEKERS. Magi, not magicians; astronomers, not astrologers; scientists, not wizards." "THE SIGN. 'His star.'" "God never lacks the means to guide earnest inquirers." "THE SEARCH. Earnest. Gave up friends & home, & took a wearisome journey." "THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT. 1. To see His star was a great favour. 2. It was a great responsibility. 3. They did not regard it as a matter to be rested in." "THEIR EXAMPLE. 1. They saw the young child. 2. They worshipped Him. 3. They presented gifts. (C.H. Spurgeon.)" "A remarkable illustration of God's superintending providence." "A PORTRAIT OF THE BLIND WISDOM OF WORLDLY MEN, AS SEEN IN HEROD'S PERSECUTION OF JESUS CHRIST. 1. This false wisdom is at enmity with God. 2. God is at enmity with this reprobate wisdom. What did the new-born Saviour to Herod; - 1. He troubled him. 2. Made him odious. 3. Confounded his counsel. 4. Made him, in defiance of himself, subservient to the designs of providence. (Bourdalone.)." "They who are desirous of finding Christ will not miss HIm for want of direction." "We should deem no difficulties too great to encounter, no sacrifices too great to make, in seeking after Christ." "...the Christian faith is not to be viewed as exclusively embraced by the poor & illiterate." "From first to last they were divinely guided." "THE FEELINGS WITH WHICH THE MAGI CONTEMPLATED HIM. 1. With exceeding great joy. 2. With devout adoration. 3. They presented most costly offerings." "The Universal Father sooner or later has a word, a star, for all of us." "It was in BETHLEHEM. In Bethlehem, 'the house of bread,' was born the Living Bread. Before Christ was born, the world was full of starving men, hungering after pleasures, riches & honours. He Himself satisfies all men's hunger." "Ver. 2. Seen his star. - The guiding star: - It was revealed to the shepherds & then to the wise men." "The star & the wise men: - 1. Science helps religion. 2. Nature needs revelation. 3. Knowledge requires action. (T. R. Stevenson.)" "There were thousands about them who looked upon the same star, & saw no meaning in it. It lead them through the long desert to kneel before the Satisfier of their hopes." "So it is with Christ's children in this world. They see by an insight of faith what other men do not see. (W. B. Carpenter, M.A.)" "Ver. 3. Herod. ...1. Blind. 2. Luxurious. 3. Revengeful. 4. Flattered. 5. An habitual sinner. (J. M. Ashley.)" "Ver. 4. Priests & scribes. ...Numbers are within sound of 'the river of the water of life' without an actual, personal experience of its benefit. (Rev. T. R. Stevenson.)" "Ver. 6. A Governor. ...THE CHARACTER OF HIS GOVERNMENT. Divine and spiritual, Mild & equitable, Vigorous & effective, Staple, prosperous, everlasting" "Application: Let the enemies of this government tremble ...submit & find peace" "Ver. 7. Search diligently. ...Men like Herod ...endeavour to deceive the simple, allure the unsuspecting, & to beguile the weak, to answer their purposes of wickedness." "Ver. 11. Worshipped Him - Gold & frankincense & myrrh. - Action, Prayer, Sorrow." "Give the best you have to Jesus" "Ver. 13. Flee into Egypt. ...CHILDHOOD IS EXPOSED TO IMMINENT DANGERS." "Evil is never so active or persistent as when it seeks the ruin of the young." "...parental love should seek at any cost the safety of a child." "The parents of Jesus did not trust to their own wisdom." "Joseph & Mary obeyed the will of God." "...at all times, especially in peril & perplexity, IT IS THE DUTY & PRIVILEGE OF GOD'S CHILDREN TO OBEY. Obedience may for - 1. Prompt action 'Flee.' 2. It may call for sacrifice of friends & home - 'Into Egypt.' 3. It sometimes calls for patient waiting - 'Be thou there.' 4. It always brings God's further direction & blessing - 'I will bring thee word.' (T. Kelly.)" "Ver. 14. Departed into Egypt." "Ver. 16. Slew all the children. ...The tyrant's utmost endeavours are all in vain against the child." "Jesus in His cradle is mightier than Herod on his throne." "Learn the importance of having our children in close relation to Christ. (J. A. Seiss, D.D.)" CHAPTER 3 "Ver. 1. John the Baptist. - THE SPECIAL MISSION OF THE BAPTIST. 1. He was the herald of the Messiah. 2. He belonged, properly, neither to the Mosaic nor to the Christian dispensation. His was a transition ministry. 3. He was appointed to prepare for, as well as to announce, the introduction of the Gospel. ...4. His character corresponded with his office - stern. The chief SUBJECT OF HIS PREACHING. 1. The nature of repentance. 2. The duty of repentance. 3. The connection of repentance with faith in Christ. 4. The evidences of repentance." "In the wilderness his company was angels. His employment meditation & prayer." "Solitude is a good school" "Privacy is best for devotion." "Only in quiet, in solitude with God, in unbroken questioning with his own soul, can a prophet of God discover what God is saying to his spirit. (S. Brooke, M.A.)" "Repentance - after-thought & consideration; hence arises conviction, humiliation. A change of mind & heart" "What God means when He says 'Repent.' It is not remorse, sorrow, conviction, but a change of mind. You want a great change before Christ comes. (J. Vaughan. M.A.)" "The Lord treads upon no paths that are not (1) hallowed & made smooth by the sorrows & cares of contrition; (2) cleared of the impediments of sin by dereliction, & the succeeding fruits of emendation." "If only a year of life remains let that be a whole year of repentance." "The soul of a penitent man should be as FIRM AGAINST FUTURE RELAPSE as it is sorrowful for past iniquity. (Sydney Smith.)" "IT IS ONE THING FOR A MAN TO BE PRICKED IN HEART, & ANOTHER FOR A MAN TO REPENT." "Ver. 3. Prepare ye the way. ...The Forerunner: - John was Christ's forerunner, as the ploughman goes before the sower." "Ver. 4. Raiment of camel's hair. ...Locusts. ...They are roasted & eaten as butter upon loaves of bread, resembling shrimps in taste, or they are boiled in water with a little salt, dried in the sun, &, being deprived of their wings & legs, are packed in bags for use. They are also beaten to a powder, which is mixed with flour & water, made into little cakes, & used as a substitute for bread when flour is scarce." "Wild honey. Orientals are very fond of honey, & usually eat it in the comb." "Ver. 5. All the region round about Jordan." "Ver. 6. Baptized of Him. ...In BAPTISM we (1) give our names to Christ; (2) are matriculated & adopted into our Father's house." "Confessing their sins. - The nobility of confession" "Vanity teaches men to regard more the opinions of men than of God." "...is there anything nobler than confession of wrong done? It is a way of pleasantness & peace. Do not be afraid to confess your sin to Jesus." "Ver. 7. Wrath to come. ...The necessity of a renewal of heart." "Man has broken the law." "God is 'angry with the wicked every day.'" "'Flee from the wrath to come.'" "You should do this because the means are given for avoiding it (sin & the judgment of sin)." "FROM WHAT ARE WE TO FLEE?" "How & WHEN ARE WE TO FLEE. 1. Now. Opportunities pass away like clouds. 2. Earnestly... 3. Looking to Jesus. Eager for relief" "1. Hear the voice of warning. 2. Flee to Christ the only refuge. 3. Be in earnest. Keep close to the place of shelter. (John Johnson, M.A.)" "Ver. 8. Fruits meet for repentance. ...There are many who shed tears which seem to be those of repentance, but whose hearts remain as a adamantine rock. Their tears are those out of a rock - a rock that never crumbles." "The whole of man should be completely melted by repentance, so as to be purged of all the dross of sin & be remodeled by the plastic influences of God's Spirit, & made to bear anew the Divine image. (R. Hughes.)" "Ver. 9. Abraham to our father." "Ver. 10. Axe is laid. ...THE KIND OF FRUIT WHICH GOD REQUIRES FROM US - 'good fruit.'" "1. God has endowed you with a capacity to produce this kind of fruit. 2. In order to enable you to bring forth good fruit, God has supplied you with the gospel of His Son, which contains the means, the motives, & influences of fruitfulness. 3. God has visited you with various dispensations of providence, & with various convictions of conscience." "THE AXE IS LAID. 1. God's judgments are certain & inevitable. 2. They are near at hand when least expected, least prepared for. 3. These judgments already begin to operate. (B. Beddome.)" "Ver. 11. And with fire. ...Fire gives warmth. It comes to kindle in men's souls a blaze of enthusiastic Divine love, melting all the icy hardness of the heart" "This baptism gives cleansing by warmth. Fire purifies. The Spirit produces holiness in heart & character. All other cleansing is superficial." "God's presence in man's heart is His greatest gift; how truly it may be called a fire! It separates good from evil. It purifies. It tests." "The influence of fire (1) softens; (2) purifies; (3) sanctifies; (4) is a solace. The Holy Spirit is a Comforter through (1) grief; (2) sorrow; (3) tribulation; (4) poverty. (H.T. Day.)" "The heart of man is by nature cold - cold towards God, & cold towards his fellow-creatures. Not so the man whose heart has been touched by the Holy Spirit." "If God baptized us with fire, it is because He means to fit us for hot & tremendous work. (Dr. Talmage.)" "Ver. 12. Whose fan. ...A sifter for the sake of the truth." "Sow chaff & grain together if you choose; the chaff rots, while the vital seeds sprout & grow & yield 'some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred.' (Bishop Huntington.)" "Wheat - chaff. In the Christian Church there is a MIXTURE of nominal & real Christians." "The false are the careless or indifferent. The self-righteous or sentimental; the hollow-hearted or hypocritical. The true are penitents, believers, new creatures." "The wheat to the garner. The chaff to the fire. 1. Examine yourselves. 2. Prepare for judgment." "The TWO GREAT CLASSES into which the world is divided." "Either believers or unbelievers. No third class." "God has placed us here to glorify Him" "Ver. 13. Baptized of him. The baptism of our Saviour" "Faith is nothing else but a long-continued astonishment, which knows not how to utter itself, because the Lord hath done marvellous things for us." "What so Divine an instigation to press us all to come unto the flood of living waters, to thirst for that immortal spring of grace than this, that the Son of God Himself did not decline to be partaker of the baptism of repentance." "Ver. 15. Then he suffered Him. - When the pilot of a ship will not turn his sail to the winds, nor observe how to let a turbulent wave pass by him, he splits his vessel" "Ver. 16. Heavens were opened unto Him. ...What a practical view of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity." "God the Father planned the way of redemption. God the Son willingly came to accomplish our salvation . And God the Spirit guides us into all truth. The whole Trinity joins in man's salvation." "The HONOURS Christ received at His baptism. 1. The opening of the heavens. 2. The descent of the Spirit followed. 3. The proclamation of the Father closed the scene of wonders. (J. Bennett, D.D.)" "WHAT GOD IS OUT OF CHRIST to the sinner. (1) An angry God; (2) a threatening God; (3) a dishonoured God; (4) a distant God." "WHAT GOD IS IN CHRIST. (1) A reconciled God; (2) a promising God; (3) a glorified God; (4) a near God. (Ralph Erskine.)" CHAPTER 4 "Ver. 1. To be tempted of the devil. ...The ship that lies at anchor in the harbour when hardly a breath of wind ripples the surface of the water, may hold to her moorings, but this is no proof of the strength & soundness of her cable, for no strain has been put upon it; but if she is out at sea, & caught in a furious storm, & drifting fast on to a lee shore, & then lets go her anchor, & it holds, there is proof enough of the quality of her cable." "All Christ's temptations came to Him from without, not from within Him." "...temptation may appeal to what is best within us, to satisfy lawful appetites by unlawful means." "...it is never the will of God we should voluntarily enter into temptation. We ought to pray that God would not 'bring' us into it. But should God lead us, as He led Christ, into temptation, then we may confidently appeal to God for grace to overcome." "Reasons why our Lord was led to be tempted: - 1. In order that the reality & glory of His Sonship might be made manifest. 2. That He might redeem man from the evil to which he was subjected by the fall of the first Adam. 3. That He might become experimentally acquainted with the evil of sin. 4. The temptation of our Lord was a chief element in His sufferings for us as our Mediator. 5. Evil is compelled to glorify God." "The TIME of the temptation." "The opening of heaven from above was followed by the opening of hell from beneath. We have to guard the treasure of grace after it is given." "We must not enter into temptation unless it be under the guidance of the Spirit of God in the way of providence." "WHY was Jesus tempted? 1. Because He was a man, 2. Because He was the Messiah." "Scripture may be misapplied to lead us into sin. Resistance of temptation is aided by familiarity with God's Word. A Divine peace follows the resistance of temptation." "HOW TO OVERCOME temptations. 1. To have God's Word in our hearts. 2. To have God's fear before our eyes." "To be tempted may cause us much pain & sorrow, but it is not sin." "In the stress & agony of the conflict, when we are tempted to yield by the fear that resistance is hopeless, let us remind ourselves that GOD HAS PROMISED GRACE TO SUPPORT us in the struggle, & a glorious reward when the victory is won." "If Satan can foil the leaders, the bands are soon overcome; smite the shepherd & the sheep will be scattered; cast down cedars, & they will crush many shrubs with their fall." "Some deny the existence of Satan. He knows that he can often work most effectually where his presence is least suspected." "Ver. 2. Fasted. ...He fasted as an example to teach us one of the means for vanquishing the tempter." "The CONDITIONS of Christ's fast." "It must be a real self-denial." "It was in secret, in the depths of the desert." "Vers. 3. If Thou be the Son of God. ...Tempted to distrust the Divine Providence. (Dr. O. Winslow.)" "Faith determines victory: - If Satan take away our root, how can our branch flourish? If he break our band, all that is bound up will shatter in pieces. If he cut off our anchor, our vessel will be driven upon the rocks. It he overcome our trust in God, he will subdue all unto himself, for this is the victory that overcometh the world (I John 4:5)." "Ver. 3. Command that these stones. An inducement to satisfy lawful needs & desires by unlawful means" "When we have bread we must still live by the Word of the Lord. 5. When we appear to be without bread the Word of the Lord can sustain us." "Ver. 4. It is written. - The infallible book" "Christ used it: - 1. To defend His Sonship; 2. To defeat temptation; 3. As a direction to His way; 4. For maintaining His own Spirit. How to handle the word: - 1. With deepest reverence. 2. Have it always ready. 3. Understand its meaning. 4. Learn to appropriate Scripture to yourself. 5. Stand by the Scriptures, whatever they may cost you. (C.H. Spurgeon.)" "Bread alone. - The bread of life" "Let me URGE UPON YOU THE HIGHER LIFE. 'Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' 'I have bread to eat that ye know not of.'" "Every word. - Man's spiritual food; - spiritual food adapted to man's spiritual nature, & also to its condition as guilty & impure. (Studies for the pulpit.)" "We should thankfully receive it, believingly feed upon it, grow & improve by it, constantly apply it. (Dr. Burns.)" "Ver. 5. Pinnacle of the temple. - Tempted to self-destruction." "He urged on Christ an act of self-destruction." "'If Thou be the Son of God.' The point of attack was our Lord's Sonship." "God does not promise to keep us in ways of our own choosing." "The devil may suggest; compel he cannot. (St. Chrysostom.)" "Ye who dwell in lofty places remark that Satan is ever near to take advantage of your unwatchfulness & give you a shameful fall." "Ver. 6. Angels charge. - The angelic ministers of the good: Commissioned by God. They are 'His angels' - obey His behests, carry out HIs purpose." "Ver. 7. Not tempt the Lord thy God. - The essential DIFFERENCE between faith & presumption." "Proving God is different from tempting Him. (Wiseman.)" "Ver. 8. Again, the devil. - The 3rd temptation" "As an enemy that besiegeth a city will go about it, & espy where the wall is weakest, & most fit for his entrance, & there will be sure to give his strongest onset; & as a man that would strike fire with a flint will turn it about in his hand, to see what part is fittest, so is the devil: he goes about a man, &, as it were, turns him to & fro to spy out his weakness, & to what sins he is most inclined; & there he will be sure to try him often, & to assault him with the greatest violence." "Kingdoms of the world. - His aim was to induce Jesus to seek universal dominion in an easier way than the prophets had foretold, & which the Father had marked out." "It is a constant device of Satan to present to us a partial & false view of the world." "Our Lord reveals to us the true riches. (L. H. Wiseman.)" "Ver. 9. Will I give." "Ver. 10. Worship the Lord thy God. - Divine worship" "Man's natural tendency has never been not to worship; but to worship too many objects." "WE MUST WORSHIP. 1. A man can never be too reverent to God. ...The wandering eye must learn to be fastened on Him. ...Jacob, though he were not able to stand or kneel, yet leaned upon his staff, & worshipped God." "WE MUST SERVE. ...We must serve God with our sacrifices." "God must be above all. (Bishop Lancelot Andrews.)" "Ver. 11. The devil leaveth him." "He had exhausted his temptations." "...Christ tempted in all points as we are. Had Satan remained he had no more weapons to try." "The victory: 1. It was complete. 2. It was not final. 3. It was the precursor of other victories, even that of the cross. (L.H. Wiseman.)" "Angels ...Human nature stands between heavenly & Satanic influences. (W. H. Hutchings, M.A.)" "Ver. 16. Sat in darkness. ...The DEEP DARKNESS which envelops the world without the gospel." "The heathen world is in this darkness" "The UPRISING OF A GLORIOUS LIGHT for the transformation of the darkness." "The gospel is 'light,' & this marks its divinity." "The gospel offers pardon for the guilty" "A 'great light' - penetrating." "In how many dark places has 'light sprung up,'" "Has the light arisen upon your soul? Are you manifesting it in your life? Are you doing doing what you can to communicate it to others?" "Light for those who sit in darkness" "The darkness of ignorance. The darkness of error. The gloom of discomfort & sorrow, attended with fear. Hopelessness, 'sat in darkness.' In the region of death." "The true light for a soul in darkness is ALL IN CHRIST. There is light in Christ's name for a troubled sinner." "Ver. 17. Jesus began to preach." "One is 'evangelize' which means to declare good tidings" "...to declare as a herald" "...preaching is the sole agency for man's salvation. It is the unlimited privilege of all believers. (S. H. Tyng.)" "Repent. - Repentance..." "Repentance & the kingdom of God: REPENTANCE SIGNIFIES A CHANGE OF MIND. 1. There is conviction of sin. 2. Sorrow for sin. 3. Confession of sin. 4. Amendment of life." "The utter forsaking of sin." "Repentance does not only give us a future evidence for heaven, but PUTS US INTO ACTUAL POSSESSION." "Let your sorrowing for your evils demonstrate itself by departing from the evils you have used. Let your certainty of pardon of your sins through Christ, & your joy in Him be demonstrated by pursuing the good things which God's Word teacheth you." "Earnestly pursue a new life, bringing forth worthy & true fruits of repentance. (John Bradford.)" "Ver. 18. Sea of Galilee. ...THE CHIEF OBLIGATION OF MAN IS TO FOLLOW CHRIST." "...THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST QUALIFIES A MAN TO RESCUE HIS FELLOW-MAN." "Ver. 19. Follow Me. ...Follow Christ as your Teacher. As your Example. As your Friend. If you see to the following what will Christ do?" "...successful work for Jesus must spring out of a devout imitation of Him." "Fishers of men. - Ministers fishers of men" "The world is the sea, the scene of their labours, gently, skilfully." "Be cheerfully devoted to the work. Our resources are infinite & exhaustless. (Dr. Burns.)" "Fishers of men ...You must go to the fish. (Beecher.)" "They were to leave their work that they might engage in higher work. How shall we hope to be successful? 1. We must follow Christ. 2. We must submit to His teaching & influence. 3. Christ only can qualify us for the work. (A. Thomas.)" "Ver. 21. He called them. - Jesus calls all to follow Him." "The purpose. To bring from toil to rest, from danger to safety, from nature to grace." "They left, renounced, gave up, not to return: forsook, parted with possessions, relations. The reason was to follow Him" "What remarkable faith! What ready obedience! (J. R. Taft, M.A.)" "You are called too - Renounce evil ways ...to endure loss, pain, death. (G. Venables.)" "Vers. 23 - 25. Healing all manner of sick. ...when a soul comes to God, he does not ask where you came from, or what your ancestry was. Healing for all your wounds. Pardon for all your guilt. Comfort for all your troubles. (Dr. Talmage.)" The Biblical Illustrator, Joseph. S. Exell, pgs. 1 - 42. |
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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