Matthew 22:5

But they made light of it.

Making light of Christ

I. What it is that the sinners make light of.

1. Of the messenger who brings them the news that the marriage supper is prepared.

2. These people despise the feast.

3. They make light of the King’s Son.

4. They make light also of the King.

5. Thou art making light of the great solemnities of eternity.

II. How is it that men make light of it?

1. When men go to hear and yet do not attend.

2. When they attend to something else with it.

3. Who makes a profession of religion, but does not live up to it.

III. Why they make light of it.

1. Because ignorant.

2. Because of pride.

3. Because they did not believe the messenger.

4. Because they were so worldly.

5. Because altogether thoughtless.

6. Out of sheer presumption.

7. Because of the commonness of the gospel. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Indifference to the gospel invitation

I. The causes.

1. Ignorance.

2. Insensibility.

3. Indisposition.

4. Worldly-mindedness.

5. All these excuses were derived from things that were lawful in themselves.

II. Substantiate the proofs. Must not bring such a charge without the clearest evidence; that you make light of the gospel proved-

1. From your thoughts.

2. From your words.

3. From your actions.

4. From your anxieties.

III. Expose this evil.

1. Consider the conduct of other beings. The devil, angels, saints do not make light of it.

2. Consider the truth of the subject.

3. The importance of the subject.

4. The guilt you contract.

IV. Rejoice in the cure of this indefference. (W. Jay.)

Trifling with the gospel

I. With whom do they trifle?

II. With what do men trifle?

1. With the soul.

2. With Jesus Christ.

3. With eternity.

IV. Under what circumstances do men thus dare to trifle?

1. While you thus trifle all beside you are in earnest.

2. While you thus trifle opportunities are passing away. (T. Raffles, D. D.)

Levity: Subjects often made light of

I. Life, with the faculties and powers we possess.

II. Time, with the opportunities which it offers.

III. Duty, with self-denial which it involves.

IV. Sin, with the misery which it entails.

V. Salvation, with the joys which it brings.

VI. Death, with the uncertainty which attends it. VII. Judgment, with the solemnity that surrounds it. (Seeds and Saplings.)

Making light of salvation

I. Men are apt to remember and affectionately think of things they highly esteem; but as for those which they disregard, they can easily forget them, and live daily without a single thought of them.

II. The things that men value will be the theme of frequent conversation.

III. Things only talked about, and not reduced to practice, are made light of.

IV. We take pains and labour to secure the things we value.

V. Things that men highly esteem deeply and tenderly affect them.

VI. Our estimate of things may he discovered by the diligence and earnestness of our endeavours after them.

VII. That which we highly value we think it impossible to buy too dearly.

VIII. Those things we highly value we shall help our friends to obtain.

1. Those who make light of the Saviour, make light of Him who did not make light of them.

2. They make light of matters of the greatest excellency and importance.

3. Consider whose salvation it is you make light of-your own.

4. This sin is aggravated by professing to believe that gospel you make light of.

5. Consider what things those are which you prefer to the neglect of these.

6. Making light of Christ and salvation is a certain evidence of no interest in them.

7. The time is hastening when none will make light of these things. (President Davies.)

Levity

1. They made light of their advantages.

2. They made light of their opportunities.

3. They made light of human life.

4. They made light of duty.

5. They made light of sin.

6. They made light of the gospel. (Dean Vaughan.)