_And again He entered into Capernaum._ THE GENERAL MINISTRY OF CHRIST Christ’s apparent delays are only the maturings of time-the ripenings of opportunity. He will come, not when impatient men think best, but when His wisdom determines: neither too soon nor too late. I. Where Christ is desired Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four._ THE CHARITIES OF THE POOR “Borne of four.” The charities of the rich are published far and wide, and all men talk of them. Let us turn from them to think for a little of the charities of the poor. But how do we know... [ Continue Reading ]
_They uncovered the roof where He was._ DARING FAITH These roofs are substantially built, as they need to be, since the whole family habitually walked and slept upon them. They broke up and uncovered a part of the roof. But one would have thought that even then they were as far off from Jesus as e... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus saw their faith._ FAITH FOR OTHERS The perfect concurrence of the paralytic cannot be doubted, and probably he had already poured out his soul in confession; still, we have no right to ignore what the Holy Spirit has here recorded, viz., that it was the sight of his bearers’ faith which... [ Continue Reading ]
_But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts._ REASONS IN RESERVE All true religion is located in the heart. Where the human heart goes the human life will go. The New Testament is a revelation addressed to the heart. Our Lord Jesus Christ was “set for the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins._ THE EASE OF DIVINE POWER I think it is impossible not to be struck with this narrative. He not only shows His power here, but He shows an unrivalled and infinite ease in the exercise of it. For He lets His enemies them... [ Continue Reading ]
_We never saw it on this fashion._ THE NEW FASHION I. Do not disbelieve the gospel because it surprises you. 1. Nothing stands in the way of real knowledge so much as prejudice. 2. Many things which we know to be true would not have been believed by our fathers if they had been revealed to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He went forth again by the seaside._ A WALK BY THE SEA I. It was not a walk of absent reverie. II. It was not a walk of sentimental admiration. III. It was a walk hallowed by sacred teaching. We should endeavour to make our walks subservient to the moral good of men, and in this incidental... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as He passed by, He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the receipt of custom._ THE CALL OF MATTHEW The story is placed immediately after a miracle, as if to hint that Matthew’s conversion was a miracle. There are points of similarity between the miracle and the conversion. Matthew was... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners._ THE CURSE OF BIGOTRY The sins society winks at are worse than those it censures. The most alarming sin is the self-delusion that we have no sin. The pride of the Pharisees had made them so callous that a sharp lancet was... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that are whole have no need of the physician._ FOR WHOM IS THE GOSPEL MEANT? I. Even a superficial glance at our Lord’s mission suffices to show that His work was for the sinful. His descent into the world implied that men needed deliverance. The bearing of the gospel covenant is towards gui... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast._ FASTING USEFUL OR BANEFUL, ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES Men of opposing faiths are often united by a common scare. They are more zealous for religious custom than for the interests of truth. Jesus here puts fasting on its true basis. I.... [ Continue Reading ]
_No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment._ NEW CLOTH ON AN OLD GARMENT God’s forces not to be fettered by man. You cannot thrust life into human moulds. I. Every force has a definite mode of action. Spring does not produce the same results as autumn, nor can young converts yield... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass, that He went through the cornfields on the Sabbath day._ A KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW WITHOUT THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE LAW He who has only the knowledge without the spirit of the law, very often opposes when he thinks he is defending it. Pharisaical pride makes men set themselves up... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did?_ HOW TO READ THE BIBLE I. In order to the true reading of the Scriptures there must be an understanding of them. The mind must be well awake to it. We must meditate upon it. We must pray about it. We must use all means and helps. II. In r... [ Continue Reading ]
_And He said unto them, the Sabbath was made for man._ THE SABBATH AND ITS LORD “The Sabbath was made for man”-not for the Jews only-not a mere ceremonial observance for the time; but of universal obligation; made for man when man was made. I. “The Sabbath was made for man” as a working man. It is... [ Continue Reading ]