_And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness_ THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST How is the temptation of Christ to be understood? As a history, a parable, a myth, or an undesigned, though not accidental, compound of the three? Let us begin--... [ Continue Reading ]
_Being forty days tempted of the devil._ And in these days He did eat nothing THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST; A great part of the force and power of Christ’s example here is lost upon men, through their slipping it aside, by secretly imagining that, after all, His case and theirs are wholly different. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_If Thou be the Son of God_ THE DEVIL’S PREFACE Satan knows how to write prefaces: here is one. He began the whole series of his temptations by a doubt cast upon our Lord’s Sonship, and a crafty quotation from Scripture. He caught up the echo of the Father’s word at our Lord’s baptism, and began... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jesus answered him saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God_ THE ARMOURY OF SCRIPTURE In the plague time none will go abroad without some preservative. None will go forth into the fields, but take at least a staff with them for fear of the worst.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time_ SATAN A CLOSE SOLICITOR 1. The importunity of Satan: he is upon our Saviour again: “Again the devil taketh Him up.” 2. The variety of his shifts: from the pinacle of the Temple... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this power will I give Thee_ THE DEVIL’S BOUNTY His bounty is treacherous. (_D. Dyke._) BOUNTY ATTRACTIVE Bounty in a master is a great attraction to his service. (_D. Dyke._) SATAN’S PROMISES 1. That the very desires of abundance and greatness are in themselves unlawful, though we desir... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time_ SATAN A CLOSE SOLICITOR 1. The importunity of Satan: he is upon our Saviour again: “Again the devil taketh Him up.” 2. The variety of his shifts: from the pinacle of the Temple... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the Temple, and said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence_ IT IS SATAN’S POLICY IN TEMPTING TO RUN FROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER Reasons of this policy are-- 1. The avoiding of one extreme gives the soul su... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the Temple, and said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence_ IT IS SATAN’S POLICY IN TEMPTING TO RUN FROM ONE EXTREME TO ANOTHER Reasons of this policy are-- 1. The avoiding of one extreme gives the soul su... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee_ THE HIGHER SPIRITUAL LIFE Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. This is full of interest in every way. 1. As bringing up the question of Christ’s Divinity. Can One who is Divine receive augmented powers? Especially can H... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day_ THE TIDES OF THE SPIRIT The moment was overcharged with a certain sad intensity. Since last He stood upon that spot, a change had passed upon Him; a light, long struggling... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor_ THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD Every Christian would wish to know what were the first words spoken by Jesus as a preacher of good tidings. Two of the evangelists seem to gratify this natural curiosit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye will surely say unto Me this proverb, Physician, heal Thyself_ THE TREATMENT OF CHRIST BY THE NAZARENES 1_._ No man should be undervalued on account of humble parentage. If a man behave well himself, even the sins of his parents ought not to be imputed to him as a fault, much less ought their... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save unto Sarepta_ DESCRIPTION OF SAREPTA The ruins of Sarepta are scattered over the plain, at intervals, for more than a mile: one group is on the coast, and may be the remains of the ancient harbour. These lie on a tongue of land which forms a small bay, and pleasantly varies the monotony of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath_ NAZARETH; OR, JESUS REJECTED BY HIS FRIENDS I. WHO WERE THESE REJECTORS OF CHRIST? They have their types and representatives now. 1. They were those who were nearest related to the Saviour. They were the people... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath_ NAZARETH; OR, JESUS REJECTED BY HIS FRIENDS I. WHO WERE THESE REJECTORS OF CHRIST? They have their types and representatives now. 1. They were those who were nearest related to the Saviour. They were the people... [ Continue Reading ]
_For His word was with power_ THE WORD AND POWER Witness the ministry of Chalmers. It is said that Professor Young, who occupied the chair of Greek in the university, on one occasion “was so electrified that he leaped up from his seat upon the bench near the pulpit, and stood, breathless and motio... [ Continue Reading ]
_And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil_ THE EXPULSION OF THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT I. Observe THE CONFESSION THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT MADE concerning the Redeemer. Here Christ’s righteousness and purity are admitted. 1. He is declared to be “the Holy One of God.” (1) Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about_ THE FAME OF JESUS I. Now, you will plainly perceive that my drift is as usual this morning. I want all my time, and strength, and power to spread the fame of Jesus in every place throughout the country. Well, then, WE WILL N... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He arose out of the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house_ SIMON’S WIFE’S MOTHER Suffering is to be found everywhere, in the public synagogue and in the private house. Even Peter’s house was not exempt. The chosen ones are tried as by fire, and the rod proves their election. (_J. Parker,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick_ NOW WHEN THE SUN WAS SETTING When the sun set another sun arose. The eventide of nature brought the morning of restoration. Nature perishes: Grace is eternal. Come to Christ when you can--early in the day, or in the shades of evening--He... [ Continue Reading ]
_That He would not depart from them_ HOW TO PROLONG THE GRACIOUS VISITS OF CHRIST I. WHAT MEANS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED TO PROLONG THE GRACIOUS VISITS OF CHRIST? I answer, generally, we must endeavour to render His continuance with us agreeable to Himself; and to avoid or banish from among us everything... [ Continue Reading ]
_I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities--_ A PRECEDENT FOR PREACHERS Christ thus admired and desired to stay in Capernaum, would not so do, as having an eye to His ease or conveniency there, but must be at the pains to preach elsewhere. Teaching us that we must not measure our services... [ Continue Reading ]