_And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick,
and ready to die_
THE CENTURION AND HIS SERVANT
A Roman soldier, a stern, unbending man, accustomed to be obeyed
absolutely; accustomed to oppress a downtrodden, conquered race, no
one daring to raise a murmur; a heathen, too, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass the day after that He went into a city called
Nain_
THE FUNERAL OF A YOUTH
The miracle requires a few REMARKS and a few REFLECTIONS.
I. The first thing we behold is a FUNERAL PROCESSION. But let us draw
near, and contemplate this funeral solemnity. It was the funeral of a
_yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Art Thou He that should come, or look we for another?_
JOHN’S DOUBTING MESSAGE TO JESUS
1. Much discussion has taken place concerning John’s doubt, whether
it was real or affected; and if real, what was its cause? We believe
there was doubt in the mind of the Baptist--serious doubt--arising out
o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me_
TAKING OFFENCE AT CHRIST
1.
Some are offended and stumble at Christ, on the pretence that there is
not sufficient evidence of His Divine mission.
2. Some are offended in Christ because of circumstances connected with
the Person and histo... [ Continue Reading ]
_What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?_
THREE QUESTIONS
Why did our Lord select these figures rather than others?
I. Our Lord’s three questions RECALL THE WRY SCENE, THE PECULIAR
FORM, AND THE ANIMATING SPIRIT OF THE BAPTIST’S MINISTRY.
1. The first would recall, to the listening crow... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold I send My messenger before My face_
JOHN FIRST, THEN JESUS
I. WHAT DID JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACH?
1. He delivered the whole law against sin, arousing the consciences of
people.
2. He made a demand for immediate repentance (Matthew 3:11).
3. He heralded Jesus as the Messiah predicted of ol... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a
greater prophet than John the Baptist_
MUCH MORE THAN A PROPHET, BUT LESS THAN A CHRISTIAN WORKER
John’s greatness not that of function or office only, but of
character.
But his greatness bows before the excelling and incompar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejected the counsel of God against themselves_
THE REJECTION OF THE COUNSEL OF GOD BY THE PHARISEES
There they stood on the banks of Jordan, self-complacency written on
their countenances, the calm peace of death upon their hearts;
whispering to one another as they heard the fervid words of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation_
THE BAPTIST AND CHRIST
In the metaphor of the reed shaking in the wind, we traced that close
observation of nature which enabled Christ to interpret so much of
human life to man.
In the similitude He uses here we trace His close observation... [ Continue Reading ]
_But wisdom is Justified of all her children_
WISDOM’S JUSTIFICATION
We trace the truth and the applicability of this saying--
I. IN THE DIFFERENT FIELDS OF PURELY HUMAN INTEREST AND STUDY. Each
subject that engages the attention of man has a wisdom, that is to
say, governing principles, methods,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And, behold, a woman in the city which was a sinner_
Jesus anointed by a weeping penitent in the house of Simon the
Pharisee
Much love shown where much sin has been forgiven
I. IT IS TO THIS INDIVIDUAL THAT OUR ATTENTION IS, IN THE FIRST PLACE,
TO BE DIRECTED. Her name is not given, but only her c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee_
ON ADMINISTERING REPROOF
1.
To say somewhat to our brother when we see him run into an error. In
such a case we may not be silent. “Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy
neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him” (Leviticus 19:17). Observe--
2. Courteous usage... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a certain creditor which had two debtors_
GOD IS OUR CREDITOR
God is this Creditor; He trusts us with His goods; what we have we
have from Him to use.
1. How many daily spend of God’s stock and store. Neither man nor
beast (for the use of man), but daily receive from His hand, and seek... [ Continue Reading ]
_He frankly forgave them both_
FREE FORGIVENESS
There is one thing that is needful in all true religion--there is no
religion without it--and that is love towards God.
It is quite true that some Christians love God more than others.
Cannot you fancy what those two men went through? They would not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon, seest thou this woman?_
PENITENCE WORTH SEEING
Not only with the bodily eye, for with that he saw and mistook, but
with consideration and observation. The deportment of a true penitent
is worth our seeing; their carriage and conversation is worthy
observation. (_N. Rogers._)
THOU GAVEST M... [ Continue Reading ]
_My head with off thou didst not anoint_
THE USE OF HOSPITALITY
For such is our frailty that if we were not strengthened and refreshed
with baits in the way our minds would grow dull and sluggish, and our
bodies be tired out.
The heathen of old could say that the life of a man without some
deligh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her sins, which are many, are forgiven_
HER SINS
Incontinency of life is enough to give the denomination, and is a sin
that is accompanied with many other sins besides itself.
A brood of sins are hatched out of this one egg. Instance we but in
David’s case (we need go no further). The devil havi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy sins are forgiven_
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
_It _is not enough that our sins are pardoned in heaven, but we are to
endeavour and seek after the particular assurance of the pardon of
them to our own consciences for our further comfort.
Unknown things are not desired. How, then, can they be re... [ Continue Reading ]
_Began to say within themselves_
CARE TO BE EXERCISED IN OUR JUDGMENT OF OTHERS
This should teach us to take heed how we pass sentence upon the inward
intentions and purposes of men.
This power is God’s, and belongs to Him; what have we to do to usurp
it? It is a well too deep for us to draw in. A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy faith hath saved thee_
SAVING FAITH
It is not every faith that saves the soul.
There may be faith in a falsehood which leads only to delusion, and
ends in destruction. There is a faith that saves; it puts us into
immediate and vital and permanent union with the Son of God. What was
the nature... [ Continue Reading ]