_THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM_ ‘The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.’ Matthew 22:2 This is a parable concerning the laws and customs of the Kingdom of Hea... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD’S READINESS_ ‘All things are ready.’ Matthew 22:4 It is so pleasant to turn from the narrownesses, and the littlenesses, and the sluggishnesses of man, and get out into the largeness, and the freeness, of God’s anticipating, waiting love,—‘all things are ready.’ The readiness of God rests up... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE INVITATION IGNORED_ ‘Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it.’ Matthew 22:4 I. INVITATION NOT COMPULSION.—It is God Who invites us. There are some who say, Why does not God compel us to come? The reason is not far to seek. Were we obliged to accept the invitation, where would be t... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE WEDDING GARMENT_ ‘Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?’ Matthew 22:12 What does this wedding garment mean? Every student of the Word of God knows that it is another term for the Lord Jesus Christ. St. Paul says, ‘Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,’ that is the weddin... [ Continue Reading ]
_CLAD IN THE GARMENT_ ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’ Matthew 22:14 These words have no reference to ‘election.’ The guest neglected to put on the wedding garment, and so while ‘called,’ he was not chosen. I. THE MARRIAGE GARMENT.—By universal consent, ‘the marriage garment’ represen... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD’S CLAIM_ ‘Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’ Matthew 22:21 These words were an answer to the Herodians and Phariseees, and their question had not been an honest one. They asked it ‘tempting Him.’ I. AN ADROIT ANSWER.—Our Lord’... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHARACTER OF LOVE_ ‘Thou shalt love.’ Matthew 22:37 I stop short at these few words, because I want to speak about the general principle of love, and not about any special application of it to God or to man. I. LOVE MUST BE PRACTICAL—Love, though it is an emotion, is set before us in the B... [ Continue Reading ]
_GOD AND MY NEIGHBOUR_ ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Matthew 22:37 Modern love is inadequate to modern needs. Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS_ ‘What think ye of Christ?’ Matthew 22:42 This is the question of questions—‘What think ye of Christ?’ Seven things. I. HE IS EXCEPTIONAL IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.—In the Gospels we come to this entirely exceptional fact—a perfectly holy Man Who proclaims that He is so.... [ Continue Reading ]