_THREE ESTIMATES OF CHARACTER_ ‘He was worthy.… I am not worthy.… I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’ Luke 7:4 I. THE ELDERS’ ESTIMATE OF THE CENTURION.—The ‘elders of the Jews’ besought the Lord for this centurion, saying that ‘he was worthy for whom He should do this.’ The fou... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PRINCE OF LIFE_ ‘He went into a city called Rain.’ Luke 7:11 The Gospels tell us of Jesus raising three people to life—an only daughter, an only brother, and an only son; these three are clearly to show His power over death in every stage. Jairus’s daughter was laid upon the bed when Jesus r... [ Continue Reading ]
_LIFE FROM THE DEAD_ ‘There was a dead man carried out.’ Luke 7:12 Let us fix our thoughts on some of the salient details and teachings of this instructive narrative. I. JESUS CHRIST WAS THERE.—So far as we know it was His only visit to Nain. He knew what had happened and what He would do. All... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE WEEPING WIDOW_ ‘And she was a widow.’ Luke 7:12 The power of the Gospel of Christ lies in its extreme simplicity. And so in this chapter we get one of the simplest and most beautiful stories. ‘And she was a widow.’ Surely this is the saddest relation of any life. Her all was taken, he whom s... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘WEEP NOT!’_ ‘And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.’ Luke 7:13 The poor widow of Nain had lost her only son; and, surely, as she followed his bier, the most stoical could not have rebuked her for weeping. Nature, with its poor dumb wounds, large and bl... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE FINAL REVELATION_ ‘Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another?’ Luke 7:19 That is the question to which we must all give a definite answer. I. A DEFINITE ANSWER REQUIRED.—If we have never yet settled accounts with ourselves as to our true attitude towards Christ, or if at any tim... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHILDREN OF WISDOM_ ‘But wisdom is justified of all her children.’ Luke 7:35 Our Lord is discussing the criticisms which the Jews of His day made upon Himself and upon John the Baptist. Whatever they might be, whatever they might do, it seemed that neither our Lord nor the Baptist would be free... [ Continue Reading ]
_TEARS OF PENITENCE_ ‘And, behold, a woman in the city … began to wash His feet with tears.’ Luke 7:37 The sweet grace of penitence put forth all its fruits in one rich cluster in that woman’s soul. The self-abandonment is perfect. She has found Jesus in all, and all in Jesus. I. HOW ‘TEARS OF P... [ Continue Reading ]
_NOTHING TO PAY_ ‘They had nothing to pay.’ Luke 7:42 In this parable of the two debtors, as well as in another of His parables, our Lord teaches us that our sins are like so many debts which we owe to Almighty God, and that we cannot possibly pay them ourselves. Endless are the devices by which... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE RESULT OF FORGIVENESS_ ‘Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.’ Luke 7:47 There is a slight shade of difficulty flung across this part of the most simple and beautiful incident. I. THE RO... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST AND THE PENITENT_ ‘And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee.’ Luke 7:50 This woman was a very parable of penitence. I. A SERVING WOMAN.—She stands; she is not kneeling, as she is generally painted; she stands. It is the attitude of work and service. And service is above praye... [ Continue Reading ]
_GO IN PEACE_ ‘Go in peace.’ Luke 7:50 Luke’s gospel abounds with lovely stories; it is he who tells of the penitent woman and the penitent thief. I. CHRIST SPOKE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT PEACE.—He knew the human heart through and through; He knew how restless it was, how much it needed peace. ‘I spe... [ Continue Reading ]