Luke 2:42

Luke 2:42

Society in Religion.

I. Companionship in religion is evidently the will of God, and is expressly commanded us by Him. Thus, in the Old Testament, we find the appointment of certain solemn feasts, at which the Israelites were to meet and rejoice before God in Jerusalem at the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. That rejoicing was to be universal, was to be shared by all. Every class, every age, father and child, master and servant, stranger and homeborn, were to join in celebrating the Lord's goodness, and take part together in setting forth His praise. Nor was it only on occasions of gladness that there was to be this combining of all classes of the people together; but on other occasions as well. In mourning, as in rejoicing, they were to unite. The Jewish religion was eminently a social religion. It had a place for all classes and all ages of the people; and all, of every age, sex, and rank were expected to fill that place.

II. Nor is it otherwise when we pass to the New Dispensation. There, too, as of old, religion takes a social shape. There, too, men are seen uniting in worship. Such was our religion at its first beginning. The multitude were together; they worshipped together; they were much in one another's company, and because they were together they were strong. The weak brother was kept from falling, the waverer was made firm by the countenance and encouragement of companions more established in the faith. And so it is still. To be united in religion; to walk to the House of God as friends; to have one another's aid and countenance in resisting temptation, and in striving after good; to feel that other hearts besides our own love the Lord Jesus Christ this is at once our truest happiness and best comfort. They who are so bonded together will ever experience the greatest blessing, and they will at the same time be conferring a blessing on their fellows. They will be like lights in the world. All who see them, who come within reach of their influence, will be obliged to confess that God is in them of a truth. And from confessing this they will often be led to imitate them, and so the little leaven of godliness will spread as was promised; and Christ will come to be honoured, more and more, in the hearts and lives of His people.

R. D. B. Rawnsley, Sermons preached in Country Churches,p. 33.

References: Luke 2:42. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 31.Luke 2:42. B. Warfield, Expositor,3rd series, vol. ii., pp. 301, 321.Luke 2:42. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iii., p. 406. Luke 2:43. J. M. Neale, Sermons in a Religious House,vol. ii., p. 523.Luke 2:44. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxix., No. 1724.