_LAW AND LIFE_ ‘When He was come down from the mountain great multitudes followed Him.’ Matthew 8:1 The mount from which our Lord descended to work this miracle of healing was the Mount of the Beatitudes. I. THE TWO MOUNTS.—As the scene of that sermon rises before us, in all its sweet attractiv... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SIGNIFICANT UNIT_ ‘And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.’ Matthew 8:2 I. ALONE WITH THE SAVIOUR.—Out of the great multitude there came a leper. Here we have a broad plural—the great multitude, and the significant unit—a lep... [ Continue Reading ]
_SIN AND ITS CLEANSING_ ‘And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.’ Matthew 8:3 These words, spoken to a leper, were the very last words that any one, save He Who spake them, would have dreamed of saying. Most men, if they had spoken at all, would have bidden hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ONLY TRUE FAITH_ ‘The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy.… When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said … I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’ Matthew 8:8 In Christ Jesus life is one, and there ought to be no division between things secular and things spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
_HOME CITIZENS DEFEATED_ ‘And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
_FAITH AND ITS POWER_ ‘As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.’ Matthew 8:13 In some respects this centurion is one of the most interesting figures in the Gospel-history. I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HIS FAITH.—It was:— (_a_) _ Of gradual growth_. He must somehow have been led to see that... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DIVINE CONSOLER_ When the even was come … healed all that were sick.’ Matthew 8:16 It is easy to imagine the scene. Our Lord had healed St. Peter’s mother-in-law of a great fever that very day, and now at eventide they carry the sick ones of Capernaum to His feet. He lays now on one, now on... [ Continue Reading ]
_A THREEFOLD FOLLOWING_ ‘But Jesus said unto him, follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.’ Matthew 8:22 Whither must we follow Christ? I. ALONG THE ROAD HE TROD.—That was the road of self-denial, self-abnegation, of poverty, of homelessness, of the base man’s hatred and the proud man’s sco... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST IN THE SHIP_ ‘And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea … even the winds and the sea ohey Him.’ Matthew 8:23 I. THE PERIL OF THE DISCIPLES.—The sea of Galilee, like all inland seas, was subject to violent hurrican... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST’S POWER OVER NATURE_ ‘The ship was covered with the waves.’ Matthew 8:24 The quieting or peace-making power of Christ overcoming all disorder, is what we feel most in this account of the stilling of the storm. I. ABSOLUTE HELPLESSNESS.—Most men, at some time in their lives, have known w... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SECRET OF CALM_ ‘And there was a great calm.’ Matthew 8:26 It is important to know the real secret of a quiet spirit under jarring influences. I. AN ACT OF SUPERNATURAL POWER.—The first thing is this: it must be by an act of supernatural power. It is not in man to hush himself to rest. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_A TERRIBLE PRAYER_ ‘And when they saw Him, they besought Him that He would depart out of their coasts.’ Matthew 8:34 This is the most terrible prayer that ever man uttered to God. There was Christ the Saviour, Christ the Healer, coming to them: coming to them, too, in all the power of His great... [ Continue Reading ]