In the former part of this chapter we find our blessed Saviour defending his disciples from the clamorous accusations of the Pharisees for breaking the sabbath day, because they plucked the ears of corn, and rubbed them in their hands, in order to the satisfying of their hunger. Where note, 1. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The miraculous cure which our Saviour wrought upon the man which had the withered hand. And 2. The effect which this miracle had upon the wicked Pharisees. In the former note, the place where our Saviour wrought this miracle, IN THE SYNAGOGUE: the time when, ON THE SABBATH DAY; the... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The duty which our holy Lord performed: the duty of prayer. We have much more business with God in prayer than Christ had; he had no sins to confess, no want of grace to make known, yet did our Lord spend much time, even. whole night, in this duty. Lord, what delight did thou take... [ Continue Reading ]
As the Jewish church arose from twelve patriarchs, so the Christian church became planted by twelve apostles. The person sending them forth was Christ; none may undertake the work and calling of the ministry, but those whom Christ appoints and calls, not immediately by himself, but mediately by the... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The great zeal and forwardness of the people in attending upon our Saviour's ministry; he had newly begun to preach in this place, and the people flocked after him from all parts, from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Tyre and Sidon, to hear his doctrine and see his miracles. When our Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
As our Saviour's condition in this world was very poor, so was his disciples' condition also; therefore to relieve them against their poverty and low estate in the world, he thus bespeaks them, BLESSED BE YE POOR; you that believe in me, and follow me, are in. happier condition than those that are r... [ Continue Reading ]
Hunger and thirst are not blessings in themselves, nor are they yet curses in themselves. Sanctified hunger is. far greater blessing than surfeiting fullness: BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS. Matthew 5:6 Learn thence, 1. That such as spiritually hunger and thirst after C... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, the sufferers described, the disciples; and their sufferings foretold; ye shall be hated, separated and reproached. Hatred of Christ's disciples is the bitter root from which persecution grows. Where there is hatred in the heart, no wonder that reviling is in the lips. And as the disc... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That though St. Luke omits divers of the beatitudes mentioned by St. Matthew, chap. 5, yet he recites the woes which St. Matthew omitted. If we will understand our Saviour's doctrine fully, we must consult all the evangelists thoroughly. Observe, 2. These woes are not to be underst... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour's design in these words, is not to condemn any of his disciples or ministers, who have, by doing their duty, gained. fair reputation amongst the men of the world, but to let us understand how rarely and seldom it is attained; for usually the best of men are the worst spoken of. Neither t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The noble spirit of Christianity, and the large extent of Christian charity; the Jewish kindess was limited and confined to those of their own religion, kindred, and nation, their charity began and ended at home; but our Saviour obliges his followers to the exercise of. more extensi... [ Continue Reading ]
These and the like precepts of our Saviour are not to be taken strictly, but restrainedly: we are thereby obliged to charity according to others' necessities, and our own abilities, but not bound to give to every one that has the confidence to ask for what we have. Indeed every man that really wants... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour lays down. most excellent rule of life, for all his disciples and followers to walk by, namely, always to do as we would be done by. The golden rule of justice and equity in all our dealings with men is this, TO DO AS WE WOULD BE DONE UNTO. It is. full rule,. clear rule,. most just... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of our blessed Saviour in all and every one of these precepts is to recommend unto us all sorts and kinds of mercy and charity; namely, charity in giving, charity in forgiving, charity in lending; it is sometimes our duty (if we have ability) to lend to such poor persons as we cannot expe... [ Continue Reading ]
This prohibition, JUDGE NOT, is not to be understood of ourselves, but our neighbors. Self-judging is. great and necessary duty; rash judging of others is an heinous and grievous sin, which exposes to the righteous judgment of God. It is private judging and private condemning of persons which God fo... [ Continue Reading ]
I think there is not one text of scripture that declares the bounty of God more fully in rewarding acts of charity and mercy than this before us.. how liberal. paymaster is God! How sure and bountiful are the returns Christ makes to us for the relief given to him in his members! He promises us here... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour doubtless applied these words to the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders, doctors, and teachers, who being ignorant of the spiritual sense of the law, (interpreting it only to the restraining of the outward man,) were very unfit to instruct and lead others; for where one blind man... [ Continue Reading ]
The application of these words, no doubt, our Saviour intended to his own disciples, partly to comfort them under sufferings, and partly to encourage them to obedience. Did they suffer hard things from an unkind world? The remembrance of what their master suffered before them may support them. Did t... [ Continue Reading ]
By the mote in our brother's eye, is meant some small and little sins discerned, or some sin suspected. By the beam in our own eye, some greater sin undiscerned. Now, says our Saviour, there is no greater sin of hypocrisy than to be curious in spying out the smaller faults of others, and at the same... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here and elsewhere frequently compares persons to trees; the heart of man is as the root, the actions as the fruit; as the root is the principle from which the fruit springs, so the heart of man is. principle from which all human actions flow: an holy heart will be accompanied with an ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here concludes his sermon with an elegant similtude: he compares the faithful doer of the word to. wise builder, which grounded his house upon. rock. Others he resembles to. foolish builder, that built his house upon the sand. The HOUSE is the hope of heaven and eternal life; the ROCK... [ Continue Reading ]