_And He spake many things unto them in parables._ CHRIST A MORAL, PAINTER Jesus did not confine Himself to the mere announcement or proof of a doctrine. But by means of words, He often presented to His hearers a moral picture-flashed upon the mind’s eye a whole scene of truth with such vividness a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up._ WAY SEED DEVOURED BY BIRDS The birds devour the truth we neglect to cover. Let us study these birds:- 1. The first belongs to the heron species, having long legs, a long bill, broad strong wings, and an eye keen as an eagl... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth._ STONY PLACES I. The nature of the ground. 1. Stony ground wants breaking up. These persons enter into a profession of religion before their hearts are thoroughly broken in the sense of sin. 2. Stony ground is cold; what colder than a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell among thorns._ 1. Thorns and thistles occupying the field suck in the sap which should go to nourish the good seed. The capability of the ground is limited. 2. Thorns and thistles favoured as indigenous plants by the suitability of soil and climate outgrow the grain. The thorns are... [ Continue Reading ]
_But other fell on good ground and brought forth fruit._ The fruit _thirty-fold _seems to represent the case of those who fear; _sixty-fold _the ease of those who hope; the _hundredfold _those who love. (_Hermann._) As in the bad ground, the diversity was threefold-the wayside, the stony, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven._ THE PREPARATION NECESSARY FOR UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERIES OF THE GOSPEL I. To explain what it is that we ought to have in order to attain an understanding of the mysteries of the gospel. 1. We ought to have an honest d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not._ INSENSIBILITY TO THE TRUTH Christ here touches upon a common fact of our human nature-spiritual insensibility-that state in which spiritual things pass before a man; and instead of being beautiful and blessed realities, they are meaningless... [ Continue Reading ]
_But blessed are your eyes, for they see._ I. The two classes of persons here mentioned. Prophets-inspired men. Righteous men-saints. Every prophet was not a righteous man. To be a righteous man is more desirable than to be a prophet. Grace is a higher endowment than inspiration or genius. II. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth._ STONY PLACES I. The nature of the ground. 1. Stony ground wants breaking up. These persons enter into a profession of religion before their hearts are thoroughly broken in the sense of sin. 2. Stony ground is cold; what colder than a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some fell among thorns._ 1. Thorns and thistles occupying the field suck in the sap which should go to nourish the good seed. The capability of the ground is limited. 2. Thorns and thistles favoured as indigenous plants by the suitability of soil and climate outgrow the grain. The thorns are... [ Continue Reading ]
_But other fell on good ground and brought forth fruit._ The fruit _thirty-fold _seems to represent the case of those who fear; _sixty-fold _the ease of those who hope; the _hundredfold _those who love. (_Hermann._) As in the bad ground, the diversity was threefold-the wayside, the stony, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, _ THE MUSTARD SEED I. The kingdom of heaven in the world is like a mustard seed sown in the ground, both in the smallness of its beginning and the greatness of its increase. The first promise given at the gate of Eden contained the gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven._ THE PARABLE OF THE LEAVEN I. The power which is to raise man must come from without. “Took leaven.” It is assumed that man needs raising, and this is possible only through the introduction from without of an energy distinctly Divine. Humanity has no se... [ Continue Reading ]
_But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares._ THE TARES AND THE WHEAT This parable relates chiefly to the condition of the Church. I. The mixed condition of His Church in our world. II. The cause of this mixed condition of the Church. The existence of His people Christ traces to Himself... [ Continue Reading ]
_The field is the world._ THE MORAL DIGNITY OF THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE I. The grandeur of the object. Survey the field geographically. Estimate the miseries of the world. Consider these human beings as immortal, and candidates for an eternity of happiness or misery. II. The missionary undertaki... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun _ THE GLORY OF THE RIGHTEOUS I. Its present concealment. The whole structure of the parable implies that the beauty of the righteous man is hidden in the present; tares and wheat scarcely distinguished. The glory has begun in men here, though veiled... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field._ TREASURE 1. The Holy Scriptures contain an inestimable treasure-wisdom, grace, comfort, joy. 2. Many not aware of this. They are like some landowners, who can watch with delight the growth of grass, corn, and flowers in their fi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seeking goodly pearls._ PARABLE OF THE PEARL I. The soul seeking good. II. The soul seeking good will always want a better. III. The soul, seeking good, wants a better until it finds Christ the best. (_Anon._) THE PRICELESS PEARL Salvation is the pearl. I. This pearl cost a vast amount to pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea._ THE DRAWNET 1. We of this generation, a miscellaneous multitude of old and young, good and evil, move about at liberty in the wide expanse of life, as fishes move about in the deep broad sea; but certain mysterious, invisible l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have ye understood all these things?_ A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING I fear there are hundreds of religionists in this country who never think of understanding that which they attend to under the name of religion. It can never be a sanctifying word to any except so far as they receive it into their unders... [ Continue Reading ]
_Out of his treasure things new and old._ THINGS NEW AND OLD I. The preacher should bring forth out of his treasure “things new.” His teaching should be living, and therefore have the characteristics of life, newness, and freshness. II. The preacher should not forget to bring forth out of his tre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not this the carpenter’s son?_ THE DIVINE REJECTED IN THE COMMON Thus the spiritual gem was dishonoured because of its earthly setting, and Christ was rejected on account of that which should have secured His acceptance. A small amount of thought would have sufficed to say, “Out of the soil of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of their unbelief._ UNBELIEF An empty vessel capable of holding water, if tightly corked, none can enter it, though water is poured upon it in great abundance; nay, it may be thrown into the sea, and still remain empty. So it is with our hearts; unbelief closes them, so that the water of... [ Continue Reading ]