THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. A question of rank: AT THE SAME TIME CAME THE DISCIPLES UNTO JESUS, SAYING, WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? In the same hour in which the striking miracle with the Temple-tax had taken place. Only a small interval of time had elapsed since their... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS CALLED A LITTLE CHILD UNTO HIM, AND SET HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM,... [ Continue Reading ]
The demonstration:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YE BE CONVERTED AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YE SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER, THEREFORE, SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF AS THIS LITTLE CHILD, THE SAME IS GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHOSO SHALL RECEIVE ONE SUCH LITTLE CHILD IN MY NAME, RECEIVETH ME. Christ determined to make His answer very plain, His demonstration very palpable. Calling to Him a little child, perhaps one of the household. He took him in His arms and embraced him, Mark 9:36, reassured him by these signs of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHOSO SHALL OFFEND ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHICH BELIEVE IN ME, IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM THAT A MILLSTONE WERE HANGED ABOUT HIS NECK, AND THAT HE WERE DROWNED IN THE DEPTH OF THE SEA.... [ Continue Reading ]
A warning:... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO THE WORLD BECAUSE OF OFFENSES! FOR IT MUST NEEDS BE THAT OFFENSES COME; BUT WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE OFFENSE COMETH! Christ is now fairly launched upon a subject which is very near and dear to Him, because of His love for all the lowly and humble. He has in mind not only the little child... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, IF THY HAND OR THY FOOT OFFEND THEE, CUT THEM OFF AND CAST THEM FROM THEE; IT IS BETTER FOR THEE TO ENTER INTO LIFE HALT OR MAIMED, RATHER THAN, HAVING TWO HANDS OR TWO FEET, TO BE CAST INTO EVERLASTING FIRE.... [ Continue Reading ]
A further warning:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THINE EYE OFFEND THEE, PLUCK IT OUT AND CAST IT FROM THEE; IT IS BETTER FOR THEE TO ENTER INTO LIFE WITH ONE EYE, RATHER THAN, HAVING TWO EYES, TO BE CAST INTO HELL-FIRE. The subject upon which He here touches affects Jesus so deeply that He repeats His warning of the Sermon on the Mount, Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED THAT YE DESPISE NOT ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES; FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IN HEAVEN THEIR ANGELS DO ALWAYS BEHOLD THE FACE OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
Warning against arrogance:... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST. The meek and lowly, including the children, are again His theme. See to it, He says, make it your business to watch, that you do not look down upon so much as one of these lowly, whose faith in Me is so simple, but sincere. The humbler the disc... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ERRING BROTHER.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF HE WILL NOT HEAR THEE, THEN TAKE WITH THEE ONE OR TWO MORE, THAT IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE SHALL NEGLECT TO HEAR THEM, TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH. BUT IF HE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE UNTO THEE AS AN HEATHEN MAN AND A PUBLICAN. Note the connection: God does not want a single one to perish, to be lost, especially not the weak and erring, whose weakness might make them a... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHATSOEVER YE SHALL LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
The power of the congregation:... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT IF TWO OF YOU SHALL AGREE ON EARTH AS TOUCHING ANYTHING THAT THEY SHALL ASK, IT SHALL BE DONE FOR THEM OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM. Christ here fulfills the promise which He made to Peter and through him to all the apostles, chapter 16:18. In a solemn declaration He gives to them the keys of heaven. The entire congregation, of which He has... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME PETER TO HIM AND SAID, LORD, HOW OFT SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME, AND I FORGIVE HIM? TILL SEVEN TIMES?... [ Continue Reading ]
True forgiveness:... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I SAY NOT UNTO THEE, UNTIL SEVEN TIMES; BUT, UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN. The entire discourse had really concerned the question of dealing with an erring brother. The need of saving the brother, if there were any possibility of doing so without denying the truth and bringing dis... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED UNTO A CERTAIN KING WHICH WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF HIS SERVANTS. "Therefore," because unlimited forgiving in disposition and action is expected of disciples of Christ. This is an essential feature of the Church of Christ that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD BEGUN TO RECKON, ONE WAS BROUGHT UNTO HIM WHICH OWED HIM TEN THOUSAND TALENTS.... [ Continue Reading ]
The staggering debt:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FORASMUCH AS HE HAD NOT TO PAY, HIS LORD COMMANDED HIM TO BE SOLD, AND HIS WIFE, AND CHILDREN, AND ALL THAT HE HAD, AND PAYMENT TO BE MADE.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SERVANT, THEREFORE, FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM, SAYING, LORD, HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME, AND I WILL PAY THEE ALL.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE LORD OF THAT SERVANT WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION, AND LOOSED HIM, AND FORGAVE HIM THE DEBT. With solemn emphasis the Lord says; Hardly had he begun to look over the accounts, the servants appearing before him one after the other with their certificates of debt, when a debtor of a thousand tal... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE SAME SERVANT WENT OUT AND FOUND ONE OF HIS FELLOW-SERVANTS WHICH OWED HIM AN HUNDRED PENCE; AND HE LAID HANDS ON HIM, AND TOOK HIM BY THE THROAT, SAYING, PAY ME THAT THOU OWEST.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Revolting lack of mercy:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS FELLOW-SERVANT FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET AND BESOUGHT HIM, SAYING, HAVE PATIENCE WITH ME, AND I WILL PAY THEE ALL.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WOULD NOT, BUT WENT AND CAST HIM INTO PRISON, TILL HE SHOULD PAY THE DEBT. Note the emphasis: Hardly had he left the presence of the king when this happened; it was the identical servant that had received such an immeasurable present of mercy. "He found," not accidentally, but after delibera... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN HIS FELLOW-SERVANTS SAW WHAT WAS DONE, THEY WERE VERY SORRY, AND CAME AND TOLD UNTO THEIR LORD ALL THAT WAS DONE.... [ Continue Reading ]
The result:... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HIS LORD, AFTER THAT HE HAD CALLED HIM, SAID UNTO HIM, O THOU WICKED SERVANT, I FORGAVE THEE ALL THAT DEBT BECAUSE THOU DESIREDST ME.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULDEST NOT THOU ALSO HAVE HAD COMPASSION ON THY FELLOW-SERVANT, EVEN AS I HAD PITY ON THEE?... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS LORD WAS WROTH, AND DELIVERED HIM TO THE TORMENTORS, UNTIL HE SHOULD PAY ALL THAT WAS DUE UNTO HIM. The treatment which had been accorded to their fellow-servant filled those that had witnessed the inhuman proceeding with deep sorrow and grief. Coming to their lord, they made a report of all... [ Continue Reading ]
The application: SO LIKEWISE SHALL MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO ALSO UNTO YOU, IF YE FROM YOUR HEARTS FORGIVE NOT EVERY ONE HIS BROTHER THEIR TRESPASSES. Christ here opens up the meaning of the entire parable. He pictures the average person in his treatment of his fellow-man. "Such is man, so harsh and har... [ Continue Reading ]