_Then He called His twelve disciples together_ THE APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY 1. Its extent. 2. Its grounds. 3. Its propose. 4. Its limits. (_Van Oosterzee._) CHARGE OF OUR SAVIOUR TO THE TWELVE I. TO WHOM THEY WERE TO GO. 1. Not to the heathen. It was more favourable to the progress of Christiani... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take nothing for your Journey_ TRAVELLING WITHOUT ANY BURDEN It is easy travelling if you have no burden. They were on His business, sent by Him, and He assumed their care, and forbade them to trust themselves, or any other but Him. What a load of care goes off with this, what a burden of respons... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whatsoever house ye enter into_ FIRESIDE PREACHING They went from town to town, receiving hospitality, or rather taking it for themselves, according to custom. The guest in the East has many privileges; he is superior to the master of the house, who has the greatest confidence in him. This fi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shake off the very dust_ NO CONNIVANCE WITH THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL The Jews were accustomed, on their return from heathen countries to the Holy Land, to shake off the dust from their feet at the frontier. This act signified a breaking away from all joint participation in the life of the idol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Herod the tetrarch heard_ HEROD IN PERPLEXITY “Perplexed. ” This is a singular word. When we have a pictorial dictionary we shall see a very graphic illustration of the meaning of this term. This word διηπόρει imports that the man who was in this condition was perplexed, really stuck in the mud.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aside privately_ THE PROFIT OF RESTFUL RETIREMENT I had a friend once (he is now in heaven) who was one of those men that give their whole heart to business, and believe in nothing else on week days, while even on Sundays their worship is, never to be still if they are religious men, but to be do... [ Continue Reading ]
_He received them_ CHRIST WELCOMING SEEKERS In the Revised Version we read, “He welcomed them,” in place of, “He received them. ” An instructive improvement, of which we may make evangelical use. I. First, may the Holy Spirit help us while we dwell upon THE FACT that Jesus welcomed those who sou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Five loaves and two fishes_ FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND I. All the people of God are stewards of the household of faith, and to God must they render an account. II. We are to adopt all lawful means by which to escape impending danger. When our Lord was exposed to danger from Herod, though possesse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom say the people that I am?_ ONE OF CHRIST’S CONFERENCES WITH HIS DISCIPLES I. OUR LORD’S PRAYER. Brethren, “He ever liveth to make intercession for us,” and if “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” what are we to think of that Intercessor whom the Father heareth alw... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Son of Man must suffer many things_ CHRIST FORESEEING THE CROSS I. We have here set forth in the first place our LORD’S ANTICIPATION OF THE CROSS. Mark the tone of the language, the minuteness of the detail, the absolute certainty of the prevision. That is not the language of a man who simply... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself_ SELF-DENIAL What is self-denial? A very interesting and very important inquiry to us who are already the subjects of Divine grace. Perhaps we have not got too much of it in modern Christianity. I cannot help thinking that our Christianity in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For whosoever will save his life shall lose it_ THE GAIN OF LOSS I. WHAT IT IS TO LOSE THE LIFE, The term “lose,” as here employed, is to be understood in the sense of parting with, giving up, surrendering; and when the act is done it is to be treated as something entirely gone, completely lost. Y... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is a man advantaged_ A WRECK Did you ever see a wreck? I remember being one winter’s night in a little town on the coast of Wales. We were sitting by the fire, cheerful, and we heard, while there, a sudden noise: we looked out into the night; there was a deep fog over the sea; we could scarc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me_ SHAME OF CHRIST, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES I. A COURSE OF CONDUCT SPECIFIED. “Ashamed “ of Christ-- 1. In a sceptical rejection of Him as the true Messiah. Jews. Infidels. 2. In an unbelieving disregard to His demands and authority. 3. In a compromising spirit of... [ Continue Reading ]
_He took Peter, and John, and James_ THE TRANSFIGURATION I. THE SCENE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION. II. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION. 1. Its intent touching Jesus. To strengthen and brace His spirit for the solemn and awful work before Him. 2. Its interest touching Moses and Elias. For them it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease_ THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM I. IN THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM, THERE IS THE DEATH OF THE SINLESS CHRIST. II. THIS DECEASE AT JERUSALEM WAS A DEATH PURELY AND PERFECTLY VOLUNTARY. III. IN THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM WE HAVE A DEATH WHICH A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease_ THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM I. IN THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM, THERE IS THE DEATH OF THE SINLESS CHRIST. II. THIS DECEASE AT JERUSALEM WAS A DEATH PURELY AND PERFECTLY VOLUNTARY. III. IN THE DECEASE AT JERUSALEM WE HAVE A DEATH WHICH A... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is good for us to be here_ RAISE UP YOUR EYES HEAVENWARD I. If you frequently remember heaven, it will be A GREAT CONSOLATION IN YOUR MANY TRIBULATIONS HERE. 1. Affliction shall be no more. (1) No separation. (2) No grief. (3) No pains. 2. In heaven we shall find an everlasting reward for... [ Continue Reading ]
_They feared as they entered into the cloud_ ENTERING THE CLOUD I. THE GLOOM OF THE CLOUD OFTEN SUCCEEDS THE GLADNESS OF THE LIGHT. Delight even in our divines, experiences is not to be all. These disciples had a hard work to do yet. God has reasons for the darkness as well as for the light. II.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Master, I beseech Thee, look upon my son_ THE DEVIL’S LAST THROW I. OUR HOPES ARE ALL AWAKENED. Here is a poor youth, but bad as he is, terribly possessed as he is, he is coming to Christ. Prayer has been offered for him by his father, and Jesus is near. All looks well! For a hungry man to be com... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Son of Man shall be delivered_ REPEATED PREDICTIONS As the time of our Saviour’s death was approaching, He thought proper to repeat the prophecy of it again and again. For this various reasons may be assigned. 1. It was necessary to show that the death of Christ was an appointed as well as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which of them should be greatest_ THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN I. Who ARE NOT the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 1. The lofty in birth and the rich in possession have no claim, on such grounds, for this distinction. 2. Nor the loftiest in intellect. 3. Nor yet the man who-- (1) w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forbid him not_ CASTING OUT DEVILS This, one of the shortest of the recorded conversations of Jesus, contains but a single remark made in response to a single statement of the disciples. I. JESUS WAS HERE DEALING WITH THAT HARDEST CONDITION IN WHICH WRONG AND RIGHT ARE MIXED TOGETHER. There was... [ Continue Reading ]
_He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem--_ CHRIST HASTENING TO THE CROSS I. THE PERFECT CLEARNESS WITH WHICH ALL THROUGH CHRIST’S LIFE HE SAW THE INEVITABLE END. II. OUR LORD’S PERFECT WILLINGNESS FOR THE SACRIFICE WHICH HE SAW BEFORE HIM. III. THERE WAS IN CHRIST A NATURAL HUMAN SHRINKI... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, I will follow Thee_ FARING WHOLLY WITH CHRIST We have here, in connection, the story of three inquirers who came in turn to Christ. I. THE PROVIDENTIAL CONDITIONS OF THE NEW LIFE ARE ABSOLUTELY EXCLUSIVE (Luke 9:57). The bold proffers of this scribe were met by the pathetic announcement of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the dead bury their dead_ CHRIST’S INVITATION PUT OFF We have now before us one of those who excuse themselves from immediate compliance with the Saviour’s demands--“Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. ” Perhaps you have beensometimes disposed to pity this man, and to think it rat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Looking back--_ DANGER OF RELIGIOUS INDECISION 1_._ This man wished to follow Christ, but there was something of more urgent necessity that must first be attended to. What folly, to put off attention to concerns of soul. Life is uncertain. Every delay is a step towards final impenitence. 2. The... [ Continue Reading ]