CHRIST'S WITNESS TO JOHN. -- Matthew 11:2-15. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ He was. burning and. shining light._ -- John 5:35. TIME. --A. D. 27. In the second year of Christ's ministry. PLACE. --Jesus in Galilee; John in the prison fortress of Machærus near the Dead Sea. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Luke 7:19-28; Matth... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME? Here is no doubt. reference to Malachi 3:1, where it is said: "Jehovah whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple." The _slowness_ of our Lord to develop the glory of his kingdom seemed to John not to agree with the _suddenness_ ascribed to the Messiah.--_ Whedon._... [ Continue Reading ]
II. CHRIST'S MESSAGE. 4. JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID. Luke states that at that same hour he cured many of their infirmities. After permitting the messengers to see his work, he pointed to it as his answer. GO AND SHEW JOHN AGAIN THOSE THINGS WHICH YE DO HEAR AND SEE. The words plainly show that it i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT. As the article is wanting in each of these clauses, the sense would be better perceived by the English reader thus, though scarcely tuneful enough: "Blind persons are seeing, lame people are walking, leprous persons are getting cleansed, deaf people are hearing, dead... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS HE WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME. Shall not find an occasion for stumbling in me. This is suggested by John's seeming to have stumbled, not fallen, because Christ had not publicly declared his mission. The Lord does not upbraid, but gives in this way. tender rebuke, implying that... [ Continue Reading ]
III. GREATER THAN. PROPHET. 7. WHAT WENT YE OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO SEE? An allusion to John's ministry in the wilderness, which had been attended by most of Christ's disciples. A REED SHAKEN WITH THE WIND. The reed of Egypt and Palestine is. very tall cane, growing twelve feet high, with. mag... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN CLOTHED IN SOFT RAIMENT. Were you attracted into the wilderness of Judea to see an effeminate courtier, who could not bear the severities of. desert or of. prison, as John now perhaps appears? Certainly not. The very _direction_ you took shows the reverse. You would not have gone to the wildern... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT WENT YE OUT FOR TO SEE? The third question brings before them the real object of their pilgrimage in his holy office, and amplifies that office itself. So that the great forerunner is made to rise gradually and sublimely into his personality, and thus his preaching of repentance is revived in... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HE, OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN. Of whom Malachi prophesied.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THEM THAT ARE BORN OF WOMEN. Among mankind in general. Christ was "born of. woman" (Galatians 4:4), but this differs from the phrase here used, as "Son of man" does from men.--_ Schaff._ The world thinks that kings, generals, and statesmen are the greatest of men. But God measures differently... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERETH VIOLENCE. The idea is that from the time when John began preaching, men of violence were trying to force their way into the kingdom. It is compared to. walled city that men try to storm and enter. The multitudes that rushed... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHETS AND THE LAW PROPHESIED UNTIL JOHN. For the full meaning we must turn to Luke 16:16, where the same words occur with the addition, "since that time the kingdom of heaven is preached." Then first began the announcement that John was the way-preparer, the forerunner of the king, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS ELIAS, WHO WAS TO COME. Malachi predicted that Elijah would come to prepare the way for the Lord. Christ explains that this was fulfilled in John, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, one in dress, habits, preaching and sternness of purpose,. second Elijah. He was not the literal, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR. A formula used by Christ to give especial emphasis. The truths announced were of great moment to those who could hear and understand. He had declared John's mission and exalted place, and in doing this, had really declared that he was himself the one spoken... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGMENT AND MERCY. -- Matthew 11:20-30. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and. will give you rest._ -- Matthew 11:28. TIME. --Same as the date of the last lesson. PLACE. --Somewhere in Galilee. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Matthew 11:16-19; Luke 10:6-13. LESSON ANALYSIS.... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO THEE, CHORAZIN. Chorazin has long been extinct and its site is not certainly known. It is named only here and in Luke 10:13. Jerome, who lived within about 400 years of when these words were uttered, says that it was only about two miles distant from Capernaum. Situated about two miles fro... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR TYRE AND SIDON AT THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. These solemn words teach: 1. That there will be. day of judgment for all, cities, nations and men. 2. That men will be judged according to their opportunities; that those who have had and neglected fine opportunities will be held... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU, CAPERNAUM. Capernaum was at that time. city of 30,000 inhabitants. Its site also is disputed. Some locate it on the lake shore, and others about three miles north of the ruins of Tell-Hum. It enjoyed signal advantages as being the Galilean home of Christ, who taught in its streets, houses... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE TOLERABLE FOR SODOM IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. Sodom had fallen two thousand years before Christ and had been extinct ever since, yet the Lord speaks of. _future_ day of judgment for both Sodom and Capernaum. Therefore, 1. There is. judgment after death. 2. Temporal punishment for wickedness does... [ Continue Reading ]
II. THE FATHER'S REVELATION. 25. AT THAT TIME. Immediately after this judgment upon the impenitent cities was denounced. O FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Christ addresses God as his Father, not as his Lord. The obedience he yields is that of. Son, not of. subject. Four more times, in deep emo... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO, FATHER, FOR SO IT SEEMED GOOD, ETC. "Even so" is better rendered "Yea." Yea,. thank thee, that it seemeth good "to hide these things from the wise and prudent and reveal them unto babes.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED UNTO ME OF MY FATHER. The Lord speaks, in part, in anticipation. It was the divine purpose, in sending the Son, to deliver "all things," the gospel, salvation, judgment, the rule of heaven and earth, to him. When he had "finished" his work on the cross and risen from... [ Continue Reading ]
III. REST FOR THE HEAVY LADEN :-- 28. COME UNTO ME. This is one of the sweetest passages in the New Testament. It shows the willingness of the Lord. The kings of earth and the great are usually difficult of access, while Jesus is not only willing but invites us to come to him. Note how gracious is... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN OF ME. He has first asked us to come, and made. gracious promise. He next shows us how to come. Many would like to come who are blind as to the way. Hence he states again what is needful in order to find rest. We are to come by taking _his_ yoke upon us. Taking on th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY. The yoke that sin imposes is heavy, and bearing it brings no rest. So too the yoke of false or corrupted religion is burdensome; but Christ's yoke is easy. It is not hard to bear it because it is borne in love. His burden, even if it be the cross, is light, because he helps us... [ Continue Reading ]