There is no duty in Christianity, the practice of which our Saviour pressed upon us more frequently than this duty of prayer. To encourage his disciples, (and us in them,) to fervency, importunity, and perseverance in this duty, he propounds here the parable of an unjust judge, who was overcome by a... [ Continue Reading ]
The design and scope of our Saviour in this parable is, to reprove and condemn the Pharisees, and in them all other self-justiciaries, who having an high opinion of, and trusting in, their own righteousness, despised others as vile persons, whose religion is not accompanied with ostentation, and who... [ Continue Reading ]
We have here. considerable person,. ruler, coming to Christ, with an important question in his mouth, WHAT MUST. DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? Where note, 1. He believes the certainty of. future state. 2. He professes. desire of an eternal happiness in that state. 3. He declares his readiness and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here reproves this person for calling him good, when he did not own him to be God; saying, THERE IS NONE GOOD, that is essentially and originally good, absolutely and immutably good, BUT GOD ONLY; nor any derivatively good, but he that receives his goodness from God also.... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, that the duties directed to by our Saviour, are the duties of the second table, nothing being. better evidence of our unfeigned love to God, than. sincere performance of our duty to our neighbor; love to man is. fruit and testimony of our love to God. Learn thence, that such as are defec... [ Continue Reading ]
This assertion might be very true, according to the Pharisee's sense and interpretation of the law, which condemned only the gross outward act, not the inward lusts and motions of the heart. An external obedience to the letter of the law this man might have possibly performed; this made him think we... [ Continue Reading ]
Here observe, 1. Our Lord's admonition, YET LACKEST THOU ONE THING, which was true self-denial, in renouncing the sin of covetousness, and the inordinate love of worldly wealth. We ought, in the midst of our abundance, to maintain. readiness of disposition to part with all for God's sake, that is de... [ Continue Reading ]
Here note, the effect which our Saviour's admonition had upon this person, HE WAS VERY SORROWFUL. Learn thence, that carnal men are exceeding sorrowful when they cannot win heaven in their own way. That such as are wedded to the world, will renounce Christ rather than the world, when the world and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our holy Lord takes occasion from the rich man's departure from him, to discourse concerning the danger of riches, and the difficulties that attend rich men in their way to heaven. From whence we may collect and gather, 1. That rich men do certainly meet with more difficulties in their way to heav... [ Continue Reading ]
It was well done and wisely done of Peter, to leave all and follow Christ; it was the best bargain he ever made in all his life. But observe, how he magnifies that little he had left for Christ, and ushers it in with. note of admiration: LO! WE HAVE LEFT ALL AND FOLLOWED THEE. Learn hence, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, the lenity and kindness of our Lord's gracious answer: he tells his disciples, that they who had left all and followed him, should be no losers by him; that is, in this world they shall receive manifold; says AN HUNDRED-FOLD; Mark 10:30 but how so? "Not in kind, but in equivalency:" no... [ Continue Reading ]
We find our blessed Saviour very frequently acquainting his disciples with his approaching sufferings, to prevent the offence that they might take at them, when the providence of God brought them on: this design was to arm them with expectation of his sufferings; and to quicken them to preparation f... [ Continue Reading ]
This chapter concludes with the recital of. famous miracle wrought by our Saviour upon. blind man, whom St. Mark calls Bartimeus. Where we have observable, 1. The blind man's faith in acknowledging Christ to be the Messiah; for so much the title of SON OF DAVID did import. Observe, 2. His fervency... [ Continue Reading ]