_In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat._ CHRIST KNOWS AND SUPPLIES OUR NEED A little lad, during the American war, was his widowed mother’s comfort and joy. One day, as the poor woman was trying to scrape the flour from the sides and bottom of the barrel to help o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seeking of Him a sign from heaven, tempting Him._ SEEKING SIGN I. The unreasonableness of this request. 1. In other matters they were not scrupulous of evidence-tradition. 2. They had the signs of the times-consisting in a combination of events giving fulfilment to their own Scriptures, 3. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees._ THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES Our Lord’s warning against false doctrine. I. A suggestive figure of speech. “Leaven.” (1) A suggestive figure of the power of influence, good or bad. (A) Aggressive. (B) Subtle in its aggressiveness. (C) Unless resisted, al... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they reasoned among themselves._ NINE SHARP AND POINTED QUESTIONS, TURNING THE MINDS OF THE DISCIPLES BACK UPON THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE Their reasonings very plainly and painfully proved how very little real benefit they had yet derived from intercourse with Christ. What a display of ignorance, f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto Him._ BLINDNESS COMMON IN THE EAST Blindness was and is more common in Egypt and Syria than in any other part of the world. The glare of light, the dust which is produced by a dry season, extending from May to November, in which rain rar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whom do men say that I am?_ THIS CONVERSATION MAY BE TAKEN IN THREE POINTS OF VIEW I. Jesus Christ the subject of universal inquiry. He appeals to all men. 1. By the variety of His works. 2. By the vitality of His teaching. 3. As the “Son of Man.” II. Jesus Christ demanding special testimony.... [ Continue Reading ]
_That the Son of Man must suffer many things._ THE REBUKE OF LOVE Let us not overlook this loving rebuke; for (1) it cures Peter’s presumption; (2) sets him to learn a new lesson on the heavenliness of sacrifice; (3) prevents the greatness of his faith being spoiled by the earthliness of his ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_That the Son of Man must suffer many things._ THE REBUKE OF LOVE Let us not overlook this loving rebuke; for (1) it cures Peter’s presumption; (2) sets him to learn a new lesson on the heavenliness of sacrifice; (3) prevents the greatness of his faith being spoiled by the earthliness of his ho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself._ FOLLOWING CHRIST Here Christ very distinctly sets before all men the conditions of discipleship in His school, and of citizenship in His kingdom. It is not a kingdom of earthly splendour. If any would come after Him, they must expect hardships,... [ Continue Reading ]
_For whosoever will save his life shall lose it._ BEARING THE CROSS A three-fold inducement is here held out. I. Each man has two lives-A lower and earthly, and a higher and heavenly. If any man thinks only of the former, and makes everything bend to that, with all its temporal enjoyments and sel... [ Continue Reading ]
_For what shall it profit a man?_ THE WORTH AND EXCELLENCY OF THE SOUL The soul of man is of inestimable value. 1. In respect of its capacity of understanding. 2. In respect of its capacity of moral perfection. 3. In respect of its capacity of pleasure and delight. 4. The high price which God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?_ THE FOLLY OF SETTING THE HEART ON THINGS BELOW, AND NOT ON THINGS ABOVE No ransom can purchase life. You may remember, as I do, the dying hours of a monarch who emphatically lived to pamper the flesh, to serve lusts and pleasures, but not for God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words._ ASHAMED OF JESUS I. Inquire into the nature of the crime of being ashamed of Christ, and of His words. The duty opposed to the crime is expressed by confessing Christ before men; therefore to be ashamed of Christ and of His word, is to d... [ Continue Reading ]