_And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples._ THE PREPARATORY MISSION OF THE APOSTLES I. Their mission. II. Their charge. 1. He prescribes their route. 2. He prescribes their doctrine. 3. He prescribes their work. 4. He prescribes the spirit they should display. III. Their return.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now the names of the twelve apostles._ THOUGHTS ON A LIST OF NAMES A good deal may be made out of a list of names, but it depends on whose names they are. There is a book which has nothing in it but names-that book would interest the universe-“the Lamb’s book of life.” We may look on the men- I.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Matthew the publican._ MATTHEW THE PUBLICAN I. The power, and grace of the divine call. Power is measured by the amount or degree of resistance which it is able to overcome. There were three chief obstacles in the way of this man’s conversion. 1. His business exposed hint constantly to temptatio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him._ A CHAPTER IN HUMAN BIOGRAPHY I. Early opportunity. Called to be an apostle. Sharing, too, in the prayers of Christ (Luke 6:12). His gifts marked him out for certain work. That work fell to his lot. Possibilities of such a calling. II. Growth of evil (John... [ Continue Reading ]
_These twelve Jesus sent forth._ UNRECORDED WORKERS AND HEROES Half of “these twelve” are never heard of again as doing any work for Christ. That fact may suggest some considerations worth pondering. I. This peculiar and unexpected silence suggests the true worker in the church’s progress. Let us... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as ye go, preach._ PREACHING AND GOING I. Who are to preach? II. What are they to preach? “The kingdom of heaven.” etc. Then we must speak of the King. Tell them He is King of grief, grace, and glory. III. When are they to preach? “As ye go.” 1. We are always on the go in this busy world.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heal the sick._ HEAL THE SICK I. A confirmation of our sincerity. II. An illustration of the completeness Of Christianity. 1. Its concern with the whole nature of man. 2. Its care for the individual. III. A revelation Of the Spirit of the Lord. IV. An undoubted mode of serving the Christ Him... [ Continue Reading ]
_Provide neither gold._ THE ENTHUSIASM OF POVERTY It is impossible not to admire the noble enthusiasm of poverty which showed itself in the literal adoption of such rules by the followers of Francis of Assisi, and, to some extent, by those of Wiclif; but the history of the Mendicant Orders, and ot... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither two coats._ NO NEED FOR TWO COATS Eastern people are accustomed to sleep in the garments they have on during the (lay: and in this climate such plain people experience no inconvenience Item so doing. (_W. M. Thomson D. D._)... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there abide._ Why? (1) That they might not appear changeable: (2) That they might not hurt the feelings of their first host; (3) That they might not incur the charge of being gluttonous hankerers after the boards of the rich. (_Lapide._) FREE HOSPITALITY IN THE EAST When travelling in the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And if the house be worthy._ THE HAPPY FAMILY Illustrate the transcendent importance of religion by presenting some of the leading characteristics of the family which is governed by its influence. I. The general aim of its arrangements. II. Its department of education. III. Its every-day pursu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shake off the dust of your feet._ -The sin of the Sodomites was single, but that of those rejecting the apostles would be manifold, including (1) infidelity; (2) disobedience; (3) ingratitude; (4) inhospitality; (5) rebellion and contumacy against God, contrary to the law of nature, and in de... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I send you forth._ Christ foretells coming evils and persecutions to His apostles (1) that they may learn His foreknowledge; (2) that they may not suppose such things happen through lack of power in their Master; (3) that they may not be suddenly overcome; (4) that they may not be trou... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it is not ye that speak._ THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY A MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT The text applied- I. To the apostles. 1. The primary reference is to the apostles. 2. The fact of the Spirit of the Father speaking in the apostles is evident from the effects produced by their word. II. To ourselve... [ Continue Reading ]
_The disciple is not above his Master._ THE MASTER AND HIS DISCIPLE Jeremy Taylor, in exhorting to patience the afflicted of his day, many of whom were sufferers for conscience’ sake from loyalty to Church and king, reminded them that they had seen their sovereign (the unfortunate Charles the First... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he that endureth to the end shall be saved._ ENDURING TO THE END We must not enter the work of the ministry without counting the cost. I. Perseverance is the badge of the saint. 1. It is the Scriptural mark. 2. Analogy shows us that it is perseverance which must mark the Christian. The win... [ Continue Reading ]
_But when they persecute you in this city._ -They may go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the way of duty. (_Matthew Henry._) AN EXCEPTION TO FLIGHT Polycarp (the friend and pupil of St. John) was eighty-six years old at the date of his martyrdom, and this took place, it se... [ Continue Reading ]
_What I tell you in darkness._ GOD’S MESSAGE AND ITS PROCLAMATION I. Here is A preparatory privilege for all Christians. “What I tell you in darkness,” “and what ye hear in the ear.” 1. It is the great privilege of Christians to realize that Christ is still living with and conversing with them; t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear not them which kill the body._ -It is prudent to give up the _body _in order to cave the _soul; _it is like casting the _cargo _of the vessel into the sea to preserve the _crew _from destruction. (_Quesnel._) BODY AND SOUL I. That human nature is made up of body and soul. II. That the body... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one of them shall not fall to the ground._ I. The doctrine of providence. It is involved in difficulties. The text justifies the assertion that it is comprehensive and even universal, especially engaged on behalf of man, more particularly directed to the safety, prosperity, and increase of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the very hairs of your head._ HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED 1. This is spoken in relation to the body. “Fear not them which kill the body.” 2. Our Lord is giving His disciples arguments against fear. (1) He is their avenger. (2) Be sure that you are never afraid to pray about the sma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are of more value._ THE VALUE OF MAN’S NATURE Causes- I. From the capacities of that nature. II. From the fact that he is the object of the special regard and care of Divine providence. III. From its everlasting destiny. IV. From the fact that it has been redeemed with the blood of the inc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall confess Me before men._ I. The nature of that confession which Christianity requires. An open avowal of the Person and Messiahship of Jesus. A conscious adherence to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. A declaration of the benefits received. Zealously promoting the cause of Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
_Think not that I am come to send peace._ I. Why it might naturally be supposed that Christ did come for the express purpose of sending peace on earth. Consider the way in which His kingdom was ushered into the world-”Glory to God,” &c. The tenor of much of His teaching, and the final result of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_To set a man at variance against his Father._ THE YEAR SEPARATION. I. That union of families in religion is desirable. Because all its members have the same interests at stake; they are all under substantially the same obligations; it promotes the happiness of a family, gives consolation in times... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that loveth father or mother more than Me._ THE SAVIOUR’S CLAIMS ON OUR SUPREME AFFECTIONS There are three sources from which love, considered as a sentiment, originates in the heart:- 1. The love of sympathy. 2. The love of gratitude. 3. The love of moral esteem. In all these respects Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that taketh not; his cross._ CROSS-BEARING I. What is is peculiar cross? “He that taketh not _his _cross.” 1. It may be the giving up of certain pleasures. 2. The endurance of reproach or poverty. 3. The suffering of losses and persecutions for Christ’s sake. 4. The consecrating all to Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that findeth his life._ THE LOVE OF LIFE I. The nature and end of this love of life. This attachment not engendered since the fall-a degraded exhibition of some early beauty. Adam loved life; but the life he loved was a fragment of immortality. He loved it as an unbroken walk with the Eternal;... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that receiveth a prophet._ THE RECEPTION OF PROPHET I. What, is the bible meaning of the term, is a prophet? 1. There is first what may properly be called the “seer,” men with burning eye to take in visions of the unseen. 2. Then the word prophet merges into our word preacher. 3. But there... [ Continue Reading ]
_A cup of cold water._ THE CUP OF COLD WATER The doings of this life are had in remembrance: that no humble action in its relation to high principles is lost; but is retained in a future judgment. I. The duty of acting from christian motives. 1. Our Saviour points out this by three examples. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]