JONAH 1-4 Jonah buried and risen a type of Christ. I. More than once in the course of our Lord's ministry, among different persons and for different objects, He makes use of the similitude of the prophet's burial and resurrection. When the Jews asked for a sign He refused it, (i) because it was pre... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:4 _(with Ephesians 4:20)_ The former text implies that there is an anger which is sinful; and the latter text implies that there is an anger which is not sinful. The difference lies not so much in the character, or even in the degree, of the emotion; but rather in the motive which rouses it... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:5 I. Jonah sat in his booth, dark and moody plunged into deep distress by the very things which brought relief and hope to the great city. The reasons for his displeasure were manifold. He was jealous, with a needless jealousy, for the honour of God. His own reputation as a prophet was touch... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:6 I. Jonah's gourd was all but certainly the palm-Christ, so-called because it is a five-leaved plant, one leaf of which outspread resembles a man's hand. It was thought to represent the hand of Christ. This plant is indigenous in nearly all the Eastern countries. It grows to the height of e... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:9 I. The first thing which strikes us in this portion of sacred history is Jonah's selfishness. II. Another thing which strikes us unpleasantly in the history of Jonah is his ingratitude. III. The withering of Jonah's gourd should remind us how shortlived our earthly comforts are. IV. Ver... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:9 Notice: I. The sinfulness of absorbing passion. Its sinfulness is illustrated: (1) By Jonah's contempt of life. Nineveh was not to be destroyed as he had prophesied, and his pride was wounded, and he says: "Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech Thee, my life from me; for it is better for... [ Continue Reading ]
John 4:10 The Divine argument for mercy in these last verses is, if we may say so without irreverence, a masterpiece of Divine skill and simplicity. There are many single texts of the New Testament which express quite as strongly the unfailing readiness of the mercy of God to sinful men. But the be... [ Continue Reading ]