Luke 23:31

DISCOURSE: 1585
THE GREEN AND DRY TREE

Luke 23:31. If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

THE Jews, at this day, know not how to account for the judgments that are upon them. But we can tell them the true reason: it is for the murder of their Messiah. Whilst yet they were in the commission of that act, it was foretold by Jesus himself, that they, even their whole nation, should endure such tribulation as had not been experienced by any people from the beginning of the world; nor ever should again be, as long as the world shall stand [Note: Matthew 24:21.]. He was now, at this time, bearing his cross to the place of crucifixion. And, though the nation at large were gratified at the miseries inflicted on him, there were some whose hearts were tender and compassionate, and who greatly “bewailed and lamented him.” These, however, he exhorted to weep, not for him, but for themselves and for their children; since the days were coming, when they who accounted barrenness so great a calamity, should congratulate themselves upon it; and when, to be crushed to death under rocks and mountains, instead of being dreaded, should be coveted as a blessing [Note: ver. 28–30.].” His own sufferings were indeed great: but, says he, “If these things be done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

Under this proverbial expression he conveyed,

I. A prophetic intimation to that peculiar people.—

They were now committing a greater sin than had ever yet been committed on the face of the earth—
[All other sins were light in comparison of this. Nothing had he done among them, but good. Not one amongst them could lay any sin to his charge. His very judge proclaimed his innocence. Yet did they, even the whole nation, rise against him, to put him to death: and when, by reason of their subjection to the Romans, they were unable to gratify their malice to the extent they wished, they delivered him up to the Roman governor, and, by their importunities and threats, compelled him to put him to death. In executing this sentence, they loaded him with every species of indignity, and strove by all possible means to aggravate his sufferings to the uttermost. Hence it may be said of him, “Never was sorrow like unto his sorrow.”]
And for this they were doomed to suffer a heavier punishment than had ever been inflicted on any other nation under heaven—
[They were thus ripening themselves for vengeance, which was soon to come upon them to the uttermost. And it was to be inflicted by the instrumentality of that very people by whom they were now wreaking their vengeance upon him. They had proposed to put Jesus to death, “lest the Romans should come and take away their place and nation.” And God awarded to them, as their punishment, that very judgment which they had sought to avert. Into the hands of the Romans he delivered them; and not less than one million one hundred thousand of them were slain in the siege: the rest were carried captive, or sold for slaves: and from that day to this have their afflictions been continued, with a severity which has marked, in a peculiar manner, the wrath of Almighty God against them. To this hour are they “a reproach, and a hissing,” in every quarter of the globe. So that in them is the text fully verified. We have seen what was done in the green tree; and we now see what has been done, and is even yet doing, in the dry.]

But, in these words we may yet further see,

II.

A solemn warning to all mankind—

All are fitly compared to “a dry tree”—
[A tree which is dead draws no moisture from the ground; nor does it derive any benefit from the sun and rain. The heavenly influences which nourish and strengthen living trees, serve but to prepare the dead trees as fuel for the fire. What a striking picture does this give us of the Christian world! All who call themselves Christians are planted on the same ground. But the great mass of them are dead. Though, by profession, standing on Christ, and rooted in him, they receive from him no communications of grace or peace. The ordinances which enrich others, impart no blessing to these; but rather tend to render them more dead, and more meet for the fire that shall consume them. Years pass away, and no change, but for the worse, is wrought upon them: so that the very attempt to make them fruitful is altogether in vain.]
And what can be prepared for them?
[What but excision and the fire? They shall not always be left to cumber the ground thus. Look at every individual tree, and you shall see an axe already lying at the root, ready to inflict the fatal stroke, the moment that the expected order for it shall be issued. But, O who can conceive the fierceness of that fire which shall then consume it; or, rather, that shall ever prey upon it unconsumed; the fire itself being never quenched, nor the material that feeds it being ever wasted? In the green tree, the calamities were soon at an end: but to the dry tree, eternity itself shall be the duration of its torments. The things indeed which were done in Christ were inconceivably terrible, notwithstanding his perfect innocence: but, if they were so terrible in him, when sin was only imputed to him, what shall they be in those who are laden with iniquities, from their youth up even to their dying hour? Verily, no tongue can utter, no imagination can conceive, the miseries that await those who, in the midst of all the advantages of Gospel ministrations, continue dead in trespasses and sins.]

Sufficient has been spoken for the explaining of the text, both in its prophetic import and its more general application. We may now give somewhat fuller scope to our observations, whilst we call you to notice,
1.

The double aspect in which our Lord’s sufferings should be viewed—

[We ought to view them as an atonement to God, and as an exemplar to man. As an atonement to God, we delight to contemplate them; seeing that they are “a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world.” Behold him, brethren, bearing his cross to Calvary, and there exhibited, a naked bloody spectacle, to angels and to men: behold him, I say, and bear in mind that he is a victim dying under the load of your sins, and effecting reconciliation for you with your offended God — — —

At the same time we must not forget, that, as an exemplar, he shews to us what is the desert of sin, and what must infallibly overtake the impenitent and unbelieving sinner. Hear him, under the depths of dereliction, crying, “My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken me?” and see him dying under the wrath of God, who for our sakes “was pleased to bruise him:” and know that such hidings of God’s face, and such endurance of his wrath, must be the everlasting portion of all who die in their sins. Yes, these things, which in the green tree were done for a season, shall be done in the dry, to all eternity — — —
Never shall we have a just view of the Saviour’s sufferings, unless these widely-different considerations be combined.]

2. The double operation which they should have upon our minds—

[Hope and fear should both be called forth into united and harmonious exercise. Need I say, that hope should be generated in our souls? There is no other ground of hope for any child of man; nor any reason for despondency to the vilest sinner upon earth. What cannot those sufferings expiate? and for what can they not prevail to obtain pardon? Not even the sin against the Holy Ghost is excepted on account of its enormity, but because, in its very essence, it contains a contempt of this all-sufficient remedy. I hesitate not to say, that that very blood which was then shed on Calvary will cleanse from all sin, even from the sin of shedding it. Lift up your eyes to Him, then, upon the cross, my brethren; and you shall, though your views be very indistinct, experience, like the wounded Israelites at the extremity of the camp, a healing efficacy to your souls — — —

Yet I would have you fear: for if God spared not his own Son, when sin lay upon him only by imputation, be assured he will not spare those who hold fast their iniquities in impenitence and unbelief. If God was a consuming fire to the green tree, be assured that he will be so likewise to the dry. To all, then, I say, “Fear and tremble before the God of heaven; and lose not one hour in seeking reconciliation with him through the Son of his love” — — —]