_And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die_ THE CENTURION AND HIS SERVANT A Roman soldier, a stern, unbending man, accustomed to be obeyed absolutely; accustomed to oppress a downtrodden, conquered race, no one daring to raise a murmur; a heathen, too, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass the day after that He went into a city called Nain_ THE FUNERAL OF A YOUTH The miracle requires a few REMARKS and a few REFLECTIONS. I. The first thing we behold is a FUNERAL PROCESSION. But let us draw near, and contemplate this funeral solemnity. It was the funeral of a _yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Art Thou He that should come, or look we for another?_ JOHN’S DOUBTING MESSAGE TO JESUS 1. Much discussion has taken place concerning John’s doubt, whether it was real or affected; and if real, what was its cause? We believe there was doubt in the mind of the Baptist--serious doubt--arising out o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me_ TAKING OFFENCE AT CHRIST 1. Some are offended and stumble at Christ, on the pretence that there is not sufficient evidence of His Divine mission. 2. Some are offended in Christ because of circumstances connected with the Person and histo... [ Continue Reading ]
_What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?_ THREE QUESTIONS Why did our Lord select these figures rather than others? I. Our Lord’s three questions RECALL THE WRY SCENE, THE PECULIAR FORM, AND THE ANIMATING SPIRIT OF THE BAPTIST’S MINISTRY. 1. The first would recall, to the listening crow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold I send My messenger before My face_ JOHN FIRST, THEN JESUS I. WHAT DID JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACH? 1. He delivered the whole law against sin, arousing the consciences of people. 2. He made a demand for immediate repentance (Matthew 3:11). 3. He heralded Jesus as the Messiah predicted of ol... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist_ MUCH MORE THAN A PROPHET, BUT LESS THAN A CHRISTIAN WORKER John’s greatness not that of function or office only, but of character. But his greatness bows before the excelling and incompar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejected the counsel of God against themselves_ THE REJECTION OF THE COUNSEL OF GOD BY THE PHARISEES There they stood on the banks of Jordan, self-complacency written on their countenances, the calm peace of death upon their hearts; whispering to one another as they heard the fervid words of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation_ THE BAPTIST AND CHRIST In the metaphor of the reed shaking in the wind, we traced that close observation of nature which enabled Christ to interpret so much of human life to man. In the similitude He uses here we trace His close observation... [ Continue Reading ]
_But wisdom is Justified of all her children_ WISDOM’S JUSTIFICATION We trace the truth and the applicability of this saying-- I. IN THE DIFFERENT FIELDS OF PURELY HUMAN INTEREST AND STUDY. Each subject that engages the attention of man has a wisdom, that is to say, governing principles, methods,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And, behold, a woman in the city which was a sinner_ Jesus anointed by a weeping penitent in the house of Simon the Pharisee Much love shown where much sin has been forgiven I. IT IS TO THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT OUR ATTENTION IS, IN THE FIRST PLACE, TO BE DIRECTED. Her name is not given, but only her c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee_ ON ADMINISTERING REPROOF 1. To say somewhat to our brother when we see him run into an error. In such a case we may not be silent. “Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him” (Leviticus 19:17). Observe-- 2. Courteous usage... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a certain creditor which had two debtors_ GOD IS OUR CREDITOR God is this Creditor; He trusts us with His goods; what we have we have from Him to use. 1. How many daily spend of God’s stock and store. Neither man nor beast (for the use of man), but daily receive from His hand, and seek... [ Continue Reading ]
_He frankly forgave them both_ FREE FORGIVENESS There is one thing that is needful in all true religion--there is no religion without it--and that is love towards God. It is quite true that some Christians love God more than others. Cannot you fancy what those two men went through? They would not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon, seest thou this woman?_ PENITENCE WORTH SEEING Not only with the bodily eye, for with that he saw and mistook, but with consideration and observation. The deportment of a true penitent is worth our seeing; their carriage and conversation is worthy observation. (_N. Rogers._) THOU GAVEST M... [ Continue Reading ]
_My head with off thou didst not anoint_ THE USE OF HOSPITALITY For such is our frailty that if we were not strengthened and refreshed with baits in the way our minds would grow dull and sluggish, and our bodies be tired out. The heathen of old could say that the life of a man without some deligh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her sins, which are many, are forgiven_ HER SINS Incontinency of life is enough to give the denomination, and is a sin that is accompanied with many other sins besides itself. A brood of sins are hatched out of this one egg. Instance we but in David’s case (we need go no further). The devil havi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy sins are forgiven_ ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS _It _is not enough that our sins are pardoned in heaven, but we are to endeavour and seek after the particular assurance of the pardon of them to our own consciences for our further comfort. Unknown things are not desired. How, then, can they be re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Began to say within themselves_ CARE TO BE EXERCISED IN OUR JUDGMENT OF OTHERS This should teach us to take heed how we pass sentence upon the inward intentions and purposes of men. This power is God’s, and belongs to Him; what have we to do to usurp it? It is a well too deep for us to draw in. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy faith hath saved thee_ SAVING FAITH It is not every faith that saves the soul. There may be faith in a falsehood which leads only to delusion, and ends in destruction. There is a faith that saves; it puts us into immediate and vital and permanent union with the Son of God. What was the nature... [ Continue Reading ]