_Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here._ MEN ADMIRING DOOMED THINGS “What manner of stones, and what buildings are here!” An outburst of admiration this. The stones were indeed beautiful. That sacred building was constructed of prodigious blocks of white marble, some of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tell us, when shall these things be?_ DATE FIXING That’s it! Fix the date of the coming failure, or the coming triumph. All of us are ready to join in that request. How we long to have the veil of the future lifted; and how well it is that the Lord does not gratify our longing in this. There is n... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when ye shall hear of wars._ TROUBLOUS TIMES I. We are here forewarned to expect trouble, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars”; and it follows, “such things must needs be”; look for no other. Is not our life a warfare? 1. This points immediately at those wars which brought on the fina... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the beginnings of sorrows._ THE BEGINNINGS OF SORROWS I. The value of these facts in relation to the life and character of the Lord. He is the prophet of the church. He was a revealer of secrets. His word was verified to the letter. The church lives in evil times on the word of her unse... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the gospel must first be published among all nations._ EXTENT OF APOSTOLIC MISSIONARY LABOURS Doubtless this prediction will only receive its complete accomplishment in the secondary application of the prophesy, but we hardly realize how near it was to fulfilment before the destruction of Jeru... [ Continue Reading ]
_But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up._ THE DISCIPLES LED, DELIVERED, AND TAUGHT Our Lord is here foretelling the persecutions which the disciples would be called upon to suffer for the gospel’s sake, and is arming them against the errors, the deceits, and the cruelties of those times.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the brother shall betray the brother to death._ CHRISTIANITY CAUSING DIVISION As Christianity gives birth to and cherishes the most perfect love, so it calls forth the most bitter hatred. It calls forth a love which is above nature, because it makes men love their enemies. Contrariwise it call... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved._ OF LETTING GO AND GIVING UP The tower of a lofty Christian character and life is not going to push itself up in a night like Jonah’s gourd. You cannot wake up some fine morning, in glad surprise, to find it finished to the turret sto... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let him that readeth understand._ NEED OF AN ATTENTIVE MIND Let him strive to understand (this means) by reading with utmost attention, diligence, and devotion, weeping as John did, till the sealed book was opened; digging deep in the mine of the Scriptures for the mind of God, and holding it fas... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not go down into the house._ OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEIZED Opportunity is like a string of stepping stones across a ford. The traveller, coming up to them, may find the river so swollen with the rains that the stones are all but covered. If he delay, though his home be on the opposite bank, and full i... [ Continue Reading ]
_That your flight be not in the winter._ THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVERSION IN OLD AGE There is a winter in human life, as there is a winter in the seasons of the year. Infancy is our spring; and the bud of existence which is then nourished and cherished, opens its flowers during the summer of youth. In... [ Continue Reading ]
_For in those days shall be affliction._ AFFLICTIONS GOD’S HIRED LABOURERS Afflictions are God’s hired labourers, to break the clods and plough the land. (_Anon._) TROUBLE A LEVER Trouble is often the lever in God’s hand to raise us up to heaven. (_Anon._) SORROW AN INSTRUCTOR Has it never occ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shortened those days._ GOD SHORTENED THE SIEGE Many circumstances combined to secure the primary fulfilment of these words. The incomplete state of the fortifications, the paucity of food, the factious fights within the city, etc., shortened the siege; and Titus himself exclaimed, “God has fought... [ Continue Reading ]
_For false Christs._ FALSE CHRISTS David George, _e.g., _who ultimately settled at Basle, where he died in 1556. He claimed, according to the account of Dr. Henry More, to be the true Christ, the dear Son of God, born not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. He was to restore the house of Israel, and r... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Son of Man coming in the clouds._ CHRIST’S SECOND ADVENT It has been as much a hope as a fear in all religions of men that there would be a verdict which would on the one hand bring forth men’s righteousness as the light, and on the other change their pride in sin to shame. For a new start th... [ Continue Reading ]
_That summer is near._ A SIGN OF THE ETERNAL SUMMER APPROACHING When Dr. Rees preached last in North Wales a friend said to him-one of those who are always reminding people that they are getting old-“You are whitening fast, Dr. Rees.” The old gentleman did not say anything then; but when he got to... [ Continue Reading ]
_But My words shall not pass away._ THE PERPETUITY OF CHRIST’S WORDS Contrast the apparent transitoriness of “words” with the solid earth and the “eternal heavens.” Yet when these shall have faded away the words of Christ will still endure. I. In a literal sense the text reminds us that the words... [ Continue Reading ]
_But of that day and that hour knoweth no man._ THE DAY AND THE HOUR I. The practical importance of conceding the day and hour when the Son of Man shall come from the knowledge of the Church and of all mankind. 1. Were the day and the hour of the Saviour’s advent specifically and unmistakably sta... [ Continue Reading ]
_And to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch._ CHRISTIAN WATCHFULNESS I. A certain event referred to. That He should go away was necessary. 1. It was impossible that His state of humiliation should be continued. 2. The work He had to do in heaven required His presence there. 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watch ye, therefore._ WATCHFULNESS, A PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST I. What we are to understand by the coming of the master of the house. By “the master of the house” here is meant Christ, as it is also in Luke 13:25. The world in general, and the visible Church in particular, and especial... [ Continue Reading ]
_And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch._ WATCHFULNESS I. In what does this watchfulness consist? Consider it in reference to the coming of Christ, and our solemn appearance before Him. In this respect it implies- 1. Thoughtfulness. Sinners are so intent upon buying and selling that they... [ Continue Reading ]