Matthew 20:22

Matthew 20:22

Even these great Apostles whom, from the ardent glow of their impetuous love, our Lord calls "Sons of Thunder," were, before the descent of the Holy Ghost, deceived in two ways. (1) They thought that our Lord would bestow by favour the glories of His kingdom and nearness to Himself. (2) They were mistaken as to themselves, and their own power to endure that hardness through which they were to enter into eternal bliss. In a word, they knew fully neither their master nor themselves.

I. The last thing in heaven or earth, which man by nature desires to know, is that which most concerns him: himself, his very self. Man will interest himself about all things around him. He will be curious to know the news of the day, what is passing in other countries, or perhaps the works of God, the courses of the stars or of the winds, the history of past ages, the structure of the world or even of the human mind, or the evil of his neighbour. One thing, unless touched by the grace of God, he will not wish to know nay, he will strive to forget, to bury it amid the knowledge of the things which he knows the state of his own soul.

II. If we know not ourselves we cannot know God, nor love God, nor become like Him. If we know not what is so nigh to us as our own souls, made in His image, how can we know Him who made them, who made, and who fills heaven and earth? If we understand not the least how can we understand the Infinite?

III. Men think that they know themselves because they are themselves. And yet of others we are all ready to think that they do not know themselves. Surely, if many so saw their own faults as others see them, they would be at more pains, by God's grace, to subdue them. Thou must examine thyself not by the examples of those around thee, nor by the maxims of the world; not heeding the praise which men give thee, but by the light of God's endowments.

E. B. Pusey, Selected Occasional Sermons,p. 61.

References: Matthew 20:22. J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes,3rd series, p. 70; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. xvii., p. 18; R. W. Evans, Parochial Sermons,vol. iii., p. 173.