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Daily Devotions
for May 2006
THEME - The
Gospel of Matthew, cont.
by Charles Haddon
Spurgeon
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Please
click on the current date # above or scroll down to read the devotional
for the day!
May God richly bless you this day!
LBC devotionals are
written by the following men:
- DW - Senior Pastor, Dan Wilkenson
- RJS - Retired Pastor, Dr. Bob Shifflett
May God richly bless you this day!
Monday, May1st
MATTHEW
9:14-17
THE JOY OF THE KINGDOM
14. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why
do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
The disciples of John, like their leader, were
ascetics; and therefore, like the Pharisees, abounded
in fasts. They were scandalized because the disciples of Jesus were seen at
feasts, and were not known to fast. They did not murmur in secret like the
scribes, but had the matter out face to face. They came to him. Like honest friends,
who felt hurt, they came to headquarters, and asked the Lord himself. This
open expression prevented after-dissension, and it was therefore wise. When
good men differ, it is well to refer the matter to the Lord himself. To agree
to differ may be all very well, but to have the difference removed by
explanation is better far.
15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the
bride-chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them but the days will
come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Here our Lord answered the second part of their
enquiry; the first part they
must answer on their own account. They knew, or ought to have known, why they
and the Pharisees fasted. Why his disciples did not fast he proceeds to
explain. He is “the Bridegroom” who came to woo and win his bride;
those who followed him were the guests, the Bridegroom’s best men and
attendants; it was for them to rejoice while the Bridegroom headed their
company; for sorrow is not suitable for wedding-feasts. Our Lord is that
Bridegroom of whom Solomon sang in the Song of Songs and we who enjoy his
fellowship are one with him in his joy. Why should we fast while he is near?
Can we allow little things to kill our great joy? Can we, in consistency with
reason, and in harmony with respect for our Lord mourn as long as the
Bridegroom is with us? But Jesus was to go.
He says himself, “The Bridegroom shall be taken from them.”
Here first he speaks about his death. Did his disciples note the warning
word? When their Beloved was gone, they would have fasting enough. How true
was this! Sorrows crowded in upon them when he was gone. It is the same with
us. Our Lord is our joy: his presence makes our banquet; his absence is our
fast, black and bitter.
Tuesday, May 2nd
MATTHEW 9:14-17
THE JOY OF THE KINGDOM
All Ritualistic fasting is
the husk: the reality of fasting
is known only to the child of the bride-chamber
when his Lord is no more with him. This is fasting indeed, as some of us know
full well. There is no wedding without a Bridegroom, no delight without
Jesus. In his presence is fullness of joy; in his absence is depth of misery.
Let but the heart rest in his love and it desires nothing more. Take away a
sense of his love from the soul, and it is dark, empty, and nigh unto death.
16. No
man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is yet
in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Jesus came not to repair Israel’s worn vesture, but to bring new robes. Even if a mere
mending had been aimed at, it could not have been affected through his
disciples copying old ways. New
cloth which has been unshrunk is not fit to be used as a patch to mend an
old, garment, fully
shrunk by many washings. His disciples must act consistently, and not join
untimely fasting to their enjoyment of his company. They were not the kind of
persons to repair the old religion of Judaism, which had become worn out.
They were new men, unhindered by the spirit of tradition; and to try to
enclose them within the vesture of legal Ritualistic religion would not tend
to unity, but the reverse. Genuine believers had better not attempt
fellowship with ceremonialists; they will soon find themselves out of place.
Jesus did not come to patch up our old outward religiosity, but to make a new
robe of righteousness for us. All attempts to add the gospel to legalism will
only make the rent worse. It may be added that rash attempts to unite the
various churches by comprehending all their errors within the pale of
supposed truth, will only increase the present lamentable divisions, and
postpone real unity to a distant day. [We are living in a day when the
church is in a transition from the Philadelphian Church age into the Laodicean or last age of
the church. We are seeing churches that in Reformation times left the
sacerdotal form of worship and are now returning in order to prepare for the
one big church and the age of apostasy. These churches are compromising their
former positions and returning to Romanism. RJS]
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Wednesday, May 3rd
MATTHEW 9:14-17
THE JOY OF THE KINGDOM
17. Neither
do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine
runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles,
and both are preserved.
His teaching and spirit could not be
associated with the Pharisaic order of things. Judaism in its
degenerate condition was an old skin bottle which had seen its day, and our
Lord would not put the new wine of the kingdom of
heaven into it. John’s disciples were trying to emulate the Pharisees, and
make common cause with them to save the old church. Jesus would have nothing
to do with this project. He would have a new church for his new doctrine and
for his new spirit. There was to be no amalgamation. Christianity was not to
be an outgrowth of Rabbinism. There was to be a severance between Jesus, and
the scribes and their school of thought; for he who had come was resolved to
make all things new. There is rare teaching here, and guidance for the
present crisis. Compromises are often proposed, and we have good people, like
John’s disciples, who would have us conform to what they think good in things
established, we had better act consistently.
The old cloth will always be tearing, and
tearing all the worse because of our new pieces; therefore let us leave the
old garment to those who prefer antiquity to truth. The mixing of wedding
feasts and funeral fasts, the patching of old cloth with pieces unfurled and
unhindered, and the putting of new wine into old bottles, are all pictures of
those mixtures and compromises, which cannot, in the nature of things, serve
any good and lasting purpose. If we follow the rejoicing Bridegroom, let us
not try to keep up with the fasting Pharisees, or the sacramentarian
legalists of the day. Let the Scientific Doubters also go; for faith is not
of their mind: she knows, and can never be Agnostic. Let us have done with
the doubts which make us fast, and let us hold high festival while the
Bridegroom is still with us by his Spirit. We would follow naught beside
Jesus, Jesus crucified. [Be sure to save all these devotions of Matthew
because they are the last Commentary written be Charles Spurgeon. Mr.
Spurgeon was in poor health and had moved to Southern France to a health center that had hot mineral water pools and was
seeking to recover his health. However he died there and this book was
finished by several of his contemporary ministers. RJS]
Thursday, May 4th
MATTHEW 9:18-26
THE KING’S DOMINION OVER DISEASE
AND DEATH
18, 19. While
he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and
worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy
hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so
did his disciples.
Our Lord had better work to do than to be talking about
meats and drinks, feasting and fasting he is soon clear of that debate. The
battle of life and death was raging, and he was needed in the fray. Sorrow
comes even to the families of the excellent of the earth. A ruler of the synagogue and a believer in Jesus has such
sickness befallen his daughter that she is at death’s door, and is probably
by this time actually dead. But the father has a great faith. Even if she be
dead, Jesus can restore her with a touch. Oh, that he would but come! He
worships the Lord, and pleads with him: “Come and lay thy hand upon
her, and, she shall live.” Have we such faith
as this? After centuries of manifestation, is Jesus as well trusted as in the
days of his flesh? Have we not those among us who have not yet learned the
happy blend that we see in the ruler’s conduct? He came to Jesus, he
worshipped him, he prayed to him, he trusted in him. Our King, in Whom is
vested the power of life and death yields at once to the petition of faith,
and sets out for the ruler’s house. The Lord follows believers, for
believers follow their Lord: such is the order of verse 19. Jesus does as we
pray, and we follow as he leads. The Preacher steps down from his pulpit, and
becomes a visiting Surgeon, making his rounds. From discussing Church
questions our great Rabbi very readily turns aside to go and see a sick, nay,
a dead girl. He is more at home in doing good than anything else.
20, 21. And,
behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came
behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself I
may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
This is an incident on the road, a wonder by the way.
While the Lord is moving towards the chamber of the ruler’s dying daughter he
works a miracle without a word. He was intent on his design to raise a girl;
but without designing it he cures an older woman. The spilling and over
flowing of Christ’s power is precious.
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Friday, May 5th
MATTHEW 9:18-26
THE KING’S DOMINION OVER DISEASE
AND DEATH
Note the word “behold.” Here
we have a notable circumstance. This afflicted woman had suffered from a
weakening hemorrhage for “twelve
years”, and had found no cure; but now she beheld the great Miracle Worker,
and with a timid courage she pushed into the crowd, and touched the hem of
his garment. Great fear kept her from facing him: great faith led her to believe that a touch of his robe behind
him would cure
her. She was ignorant enough to think that healing went from him
unconsciously; but yet her faith lived despite her ignorance, and triumphed
despite her bashfulness. It was her own idea to make a dash for it, and steal
a cure: “She said within herself.” It
was her wisdom that at once she carried out her resolve. Poor soul! it was
her only chance, and she would not lose it. It happened that our Lord’s dress
was drawn backward by the throng, and she was able with her finger to reach
its hem. She believed that this would be enough, and so it proved. Oh, that
we were as eager to be saved as she was to be healed! Oh, that we had such
confidence in Jesus as to be sure that if we come into contact with him, even
by the least promise, and the smallest faith, he can and will save us!
My soul, when thou art in urgent need, be brave to come nigh unto thy Lord;
for if a touch of his garment will heal, what virtue must lie in his own
self!
22. But Jesus
turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort;
thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
We have not all the story here. It will be well to read
it in Mark 5. And in Luke 8. Jesus knew all that was going on behind him. If
his back is towards us now, it need not always be; for he “turned him about.” Even when fear
would hide from Jesus, he spies out the trembler. His eye found her speedily,
for he knew where to look. “He saw
her.” His voice cheered
her with joyful tones of acceptance. He did not chide the blundering of her
ignorance, but he commended the bravery of her faith, and consoled her
trembling heart. A piece of fringe and a finger sufficed to form a contact
between a believing sufferer and an Almighty Savior. Along that line faith
sent its message, and love returned the answer. She “was made whole” and she knew it; but she feared when she was found out lest she should lose the blessing and earn a curse.
Saturday, May 6th
MATTHEW 9:18-26
THE KING’S DOMINION OVER DISEASE
AND DEATH
This fear soon vanished: Jesus called her “daughter.” He fathered her
because he had created faith in her. He gave her “good comfort”
because she had good faith. It was his garment which she touched, but it was
her faith which had touched it; therefore our Lord said, “Thy faith hath
made thee whole”; and thus he put the crown upon the head of her faith,
because her faith had already set the crown on his head. The moment we touch
Jesus we are made whole; yea, “from that hour.” May we touch him now,
and may this hour be as memorable to us as that hour was to her!
23, 24. And
when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people
making a noise, he said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but
sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
The funeral wailing had already begun: “the minstrels” had commenced their hideous discords.
Mistrustful friends are eager to bury us before the due time; and we are
ourselves too apt to fall into the same error about others. Unbelief calls in
the undertakers and the hired mourners to bury those who will yet live for
years. We give over to hopelessness those whom Jesus will save; or we begin “making a noise”
where a gracious, silent
work would be far better. Jesus will have the death-music quieted; for it is
premature, and even false in its significance. He says to the minstrels, “Give place.” Many things have to give place when
Jesus comes on the scene; and he takes care that they shall give place; for
he puts them out of the room. To him the maid is asleep rather than dead; for
he is about to call her back to life. He sees the future as well as the
present; and to him in that light “the
maid is not dead, but sleepeth.” The Lord Jesus wants not pipers, flute
players, and wailers; his own still voice is more fit for work in the death
chamber with a young girl. Jesus is going to do wonders, and the hired
performances of those who mimic woe are not in tune therewith. When Jesus
tells the hired performers that there will be no need to proceed with the
funeral, for the girl will live, they answer with scoffs, for they are sure
that she is dead. It is a shameful thing to laugh at Christ. Yet “he endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself” and was not angry.
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Sunday, May 7th
MATTHEW 9:18-26
THE KING’S DOMINION OVER DISEASE
AND DEATH
We need not be dismayed when we are ridiculed; for “they
laughed HIM to scorn.” Nor may we stop our working because of
derision; for Jesus went on with his resurrection work despite the mockers.
20. But when
the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid
arose.
It was not meet that a vulgar crowd should behold the majestic
mystery of resurrection; they must be “put forth.” Moreover, the
hideous noise of the funeral wailers was not a fit accompaniment of the
Savior’s word of power. The people were turned out, and then the Lord “went
in” to work his miracle. He loves to work in quiet. There are directions
in modern church life in which noise and popular excitement will have to come
to an end before our Lord can do anything in
the church. When we read, “He took her by
the hand” it reminds us of his touching Peter’s
wife’s mother. He shows a sacred familiarity with those whom he saves. He is
not said in this gospel to have spoken, and thus the contrast between empty
noise and his mighty silence, is brought out clearly. Life was gone from the
maiden; but the result was the same as in the case of Peter’s relative who
was still alive: she arose. How much had taken place before a dead girl could rise!
This is the first case of resurrection by our Lord: it was that of one who
had but just died, and it is typical of the giving of spiritual life to
persons who have not yet come to the stage of corruption which necessitates
carrying them out, like the widow’s son; or of actual decay, which has led to
burial, as in the case of Lazarus. In each case the miracle was the same; but
the surroundings greatly differed, so that the instruction varied. Lord, take our dear young children by the hand, and raise
them up to everlasting life while they are children!
26. And the
fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The news of the raising of the dead was sure to spread, especially as
it was the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue. Where new life is
bestowed, there will be no fear of its being unobserved. Jesus will have fame if we have life, and we should take care that it
is so.
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Monday, May 8th
MATTHEW
9:27-31
THE KING’S TOUCH HEALING THE BLIND
27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him,
crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
No sooner does Jesus move than fresh candidates for his
bounty appear:
the blind seek sight from him. Two sightless men had
become companions in affliction; they may have been father and son. They were
in downright earnest, for they “followed
him, crying, and saying, Have mercy on us” Persevering,
vehement yet intelligent was their appeal. They were of one mind in reference
to Jesus, and therefore they went one way, and use one prayer, to one and the
same person. Our Lord is here called by his royal name: “Thou Son
of David.” Even the blind could see that he was
a king’s son. As Son of David, he is entreated to show mercy, and act
according to his royal nature. It is mercy which gives us our faculties, and mercy alone can restore
them. This prayer suits us when we perceive our own darkness of mind. When we
cannot see our way into truth, let us appeal to the Lord for gracious
instruction; ever remembering that we have no claim except that which
originates in his mercy.
28. And when
he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto
them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
They were most eager for the good. They gave him no leisure: they
pressed into the house where he had no privacy and rest: they came to him, to
Jesus. The Lord would have them express their faith, and so he makes inquiry
of them as to what they believe about Himself. Jesus makes no inquiry about
their eyes, but only about their faith: this is ever the vital point. They
could not see, but they could believe; and they did so. They had a specific
faith as to the matter about which they prayed; for our Lord put it plainly,
“Believe ye that I am able to do THIS?” They had also a clear view of
the character of him and now they called him “Lord.”
29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith
be it unto you.
Again he arouses their faith; and this time he throws the
whole responsibility upon their confidence in him. “according
to your faith be it unto you.” He
touched them with
his hand; but they must also touch him with their faith.
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Tuesday,
May 9th
MATTHEW
9:27-31
THE KING’S TOUCH HEALING THE BLIND
The word of power in the last sentence is one upon which
he acts so continually, that we may call it, as to many blessings, a rule of
the kingdom. We have the measuring of our own mercies; our faith obtains less
or more according to its own capacity to receive. Had these men been mere
pretenders to faith they would have remained blind. If we will not in very
truth trust our Lord, we shall die in our sins.
30. And their
eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man
know it.
They both saw: the double miracle was wrought at the same
moment. Comrades in the dark, they are now companions in the light. Singular
that for two souls there should thus be one destiny! It was a singular double
fact, and deserved to be made widely known; but our Lord had wise reasons for
requiring silence. He “straitly
charged them.” He left them no option: he demanded
complete silence. He that opened their eyes closed their mouths. Jesus did
not desire fame; he wanted less crowding; he wished to avoid excitement; and
therefore he was express and peremptory in his order: “See that no man know it.”
31. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame
in all that country.
They most industriously published what they were bidden
to conceal, till “all that country” rang with the news. In this they erred
greatly, and probably caused the Savior so much inconvenience by the pressure
of the crowd, that he had to vacate the town. We may not hope that we are
doing right if we disobey our Lord. However natural disobedience may appear
to be, it is disobedience, and must not be excused. Even if the results
turned out to be advantageous, it would not make it right to break the command
of our Lord. Silence is more than golden when our King commands it. He does
not seek applause, nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets that he may
be known to be doing a great work. His followers do well to copy his example.
We do not wonder that our Lord’s name became famous when there were such
persons to advertise it. How earnestly and eloquently would the two formerly
blind men tell the story of how he opened their eyes! We are not forbidden, but
Let us not fail in this necessary and useful duty. “to spread
abroad his fame.”
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Wednesday, May 10th
MATTHEW 9:32-35
THE KING AND THOSE
POSSESSED WITH DEVILS
32. As they went out, behold, they brought to him a
dumb man possessed with a devil (demon).
As a pair of patients leave the surgery, another poor
creature comes in. Note the “behold.” The case is striking. He comes
not freely, or of his own accord: “they brought” him: thus should we
bring men to Jesus. He does not cry for help, for he is “a dumb man.”
Let us open our months for the dumb. He is not himself, but he is “possessed
with a demon.” Poor creature! will anything be done for him?
33. And when the devil (demon) was cast out, the
dumb spake: and the multitudes marveled, saying, It was never so seen in
Israel.
Our Lord does not deal with the symptoms, but with the
source of the disorder, even with the evil spirit. “The demon was cast out”; and it is
mentioned as if that were a matter of course when Jesus came on the scene.
The demon had silenced the man, and so, when the evil one was gone, “the dumb spoke.” How we should
like to know what he said! Whatever he said it matters not; the wonder was
that he could say anything. The people confessed that this was a wonder quite
unprecedented; and in this they only said the truth: “It was never so seen in Israel.” Jesus is great at surprises: he has novelties of gracious power.
The people were quick to express their admiration; yet we see very little
trace of their believing in our Lord’s mission. It is a small thing to
marvel, but a great thing to believe. O Lord,
give the people around us to see such revivals and conversions, as they have
never known before!
34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils
(demons) through the prince of the devils (demons).
Of course, they had some bitter sentence ready. Nothing
was too bad for them to say of Jesus. They were hard pressed when they took
to this statement, which our Lord in another place so easily answered. They
hinted that such power over demons must have come to him through an unholy
compact with “the prince of the demons.” Surely this was going very
near to the unpardonable sin.
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Thursday, May 11th
MATTHEW
9:32-35
THE KING AND THOSE
POSSESSED WITH DEVILS
35. And Jesus
went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every
disease among the people.
This was his answer to the blasphemous slanders of the Pharisees. A glorious
reply it was. Let us answer slander by greater zeal in doing good. Small
places were not despised by our Lord; He went about the villages as well as
the cities. Village piety is of the utmost importance, and has a close
relation to city life. Jesus turned old institutions to good account: the “synagogues”
became his Seminaries. Three-fold was his ministry: expounding the old,
proclaiming the new, healing the diseased. Observe the repetition of the word
“every” as showing the breadth of his healing power. All this stood in
relation to his royalty; for it was “the gospel of the kingdom” which
he proclaimed. Our Lord was “the Great Itinerant”: Jesus went about
preaching, and healing. His was a Medical
Mission as well as an evangelistic tour. Happy people who have Jesus among
them! Oh, that we might now see more of his working among our own people!
MATTHEW 9:36-38
THE KING PITYING THE MULTITUDES
36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion
on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no
shepherd.
A great crowd is a demand upon compassion, for it
suggests so much sin and need. In this case, the great want was instruction: “they fainted” for the want of comfort; they “were scattered abroad” for lack
of guidance. They were eager to learn, but they had no fit teachers. “Sheep having no shepherd” are in
an ill plight. Unfed, unfolded, unguarded, what will become of them? Our Lord
was stirred with a feeling which agitated his inermost soul. “He was moved with compassion.” What
he saw affected not his eye only, but his heart. He was overcome by sympathy.
He is even now affected towards our people in the same manner.
Friday, May 12th
MATTHEW 9:36-38
THE KING PITYING THE MULTITUDES
37, 38. Then saith he unto his disciples, The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
His heavy heart sought solace among “his disciples” and he spoke to them. He mourned the scantiness of workers.
Pretenders were many, but real “laborers” in the harvest were few. The sheaves were spoiling. The crowds
were ready to be taught, even as ripe wheat is ready for the sickle; but there
were few to instruct them, and where could more teaching men be found? God
only can thrust out, or “send forth laborers” Man-made ministers are useless. Still are the fields encumbered
with gentlemen who cannot use the sickle. Still the real in-gatherers are few
and far between. Where are the instructive soul winning ministries today ?
Where are those who travail in birth for their hearers’ salvation? Let us
plead with the Lord of the harvest to care for his own harvest, and send out
his own men. May many a true heart be moved by the question, “Whom shall I
send?” And who will go for us? “to answer,” Here am I! Send me.”
CHAPTER 10
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE KING COMMISSIONING
HIS OFFICERS
1. AND when he had called unto him twelve
disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out, and
to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
See the way of making apostles. They were first
disciples, and afterwards teachers of others: they
were specially his, and then they were given to be a blessing to men. They
were “called unto him”; and thus
their higher call came to them. In the presence of their Lord they received
their equipment: “and gave them power.” Is that so with us in our own
special office? Let us come to him, that we may be clothed with his authority
and girded with his strength. Their power was miraculous; but it was an
imitation of their Lord’s, and the words applied to it are very much the same
as we have seen in use about his miracles of healing. The twelve were made to
represent their Lord. We, too, may be enabled to do what Jesus did among men.
Oh, for such an endowment!
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Saturday, May13th
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE
KING COMMISSIONING HIS OFFICERS
2. Now the
names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called
Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John. his
brother.
The Holy Spirit does not object to truthful statistics: there were
twelve apostles. This was a complete number, neither
too many nor too few; and a number which linked the spiritual Israel with the
nation which had typified it. The Holy Spirit has no love to the anonymous,
or to the use of initials, as some have in these days. He gives the names,
and why not Order is observed in this muster-roll. “The first”, for he generally put
himself first, and was by his energy and ability most fittingly the leader, “Simon
who is called Peter”, “a stone”; and a right
solid stone he came to be. With him is Andrew, his manly brother. It
is well when brothers in the flesh are brothers in spirit. Then come James
and John, the two sons of thunder; one of them so early to be a martyr, the other so inexpressibly dear to the Lord Jesus.
3. Philip,
and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican: James the son of Alphaeus,
and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.
It seems probable that Bartholomew is Nathanael, whom Philip led to Jesus: they are well put
together. Bartholomew is never mentioned without an and: he was a kind
of man to work with other people. It is also likely that Lebbaeus is Jude, or
“Judas, not Iscariot”: there may have been some link between him and James. A
man may have an alias, and yet not be an alien. Observe how Matthew keeps us
in mind that he had been a publican. With holy gratitude he thus records his former estate, that the grace which called
him might be the more conspicuous. Thomas was as truly called by the Lord as any of them, though he
was one whose mind entertained distressing questions.
4. Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Thus they go two and two, till the traitor brings up the rear. Simon
the Zealot is cooled down by the calculating prudence of Judas Iscariot,
Judas was probably the best financier of the company, and he comes at the end
with the bag. This quality rendered him useful, but it was perverted to his
ruin, for he sold his Master for silver. What a description to follow a name
“who also betrayed him”!
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Sunday, May 14th
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE
KING COMMISSIONING HIS OFFICERS
God grant it may never be said after the name of any one
of us! The apostolic number fitly represents the twelve tribes of Israel; and
for practical purposes the twelve form a workable band of leaders, a
sufficient jury, and a competent company of witnesses.
5, 6. These
twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of
the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not but go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This was “a mission to the Jews” only, meant for the general arousing
of the chosen nation. It is an example of a special mission, and it gives
authority for missions to special characters; but it must not be made into an
example by which the Lord is supposed to prescribe a cast-iron rule for all
missions. The people at that time were favorably disposed to our Lord, and
thus his apostles might expect treatment of a more generous kind than can be
looked for in these times. Certain of these regulations were altered on a subsequent mission, when the people were
less favorably disposed. This was a mission from
Israel to Israel. It was not for the Gentiles, but it was to be strictly
confined to “the House of Israel.” Even the people most like the Jews
were not to be visited: “Into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” It
was a search for “lost sheep of the house of Israel”, in the
pastures near the fold. We may occasionally have class-services-for
workingmen, etc.; but the standing orders are not so, but rather, “Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
7. And as ye go, preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.
Their first work was proclaiming the coming kingdom, and preparing
the way for the coming King. Those Israelites who were willing might become
subjects of this heavenly kingdom, and therefore were they informed of its
near approach.
8. Heal the
sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give.
Having ministered to souls, they were to bless the bodies of men; and
thus they would confirm their message by their miracles. These deeds of mercy
are on the ascending scale: note the steps. All; was to be done without fee
or reward: their powers had not been purchased, their miracles were not to be
sold.
Monday, May15th
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE KING COMMISSIONING HIS OFFICERS
9, 10. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass
in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes,
nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
They would not need to pay for food or lodging: the
people would entertain them freely, and therefore they required no form of
money; not even a copper. They needed not to carry a wallet; for meals would
be generously offered them by those whom they instructed and healed. They
were not to load themselves with extra clothing; for if the weather should require
it, the people would supply it: even if their shoes wore out, their hearers
would see them shod. When a ministry is really acceptable, the preacher will
not be left to suffer want as to the absolute necessaries of life. They
needed not even wait to find a staff; for if one was required, and they set
off without it, one would be given. Among a willing people, such a mission is
not only possible, but it is in the highest degree suitable. It is but right
and just that people should support those who minister to them in spiritual
things. The preacher is to preach freely; but those who are benefited are
also freely to find meat for him. Such a mission as this is not a mission to
the heathen in any sense. Its methods are good for itself, but they would not
be possible among hostile tribes: in the case of work among opponents, our
Lord’s command under other circumstances is to be followed. See Luke 22:36:
“He that hath a purse, let him take it,” etc. Different modes of procedure
are to be adopted at different times. Oh, that some of our very spiritual
brethren had a little common sense! We offer the prayer with very faint
heart.
11. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall
enter, enquire who in it is
worthy; and there abide till ye go
thence.
Seek out people fit to be associated with you in holy
service. Whatever their circumstances may be. For the best work look out the
best men. Do not compromise your Master by lodging with persons of evil
repute. Keep to those good people with whom your mission begins. It may be
that richer people will turn up; but never forget the worthy men and women who first entertained you. Wise rules, these. This
is not the method to be followed among the heathen, where none can be called
“worthy.” There we seek the sinful, and feel ourselves sent to the
most degraded.
Tuesday, May16th
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE KING COMMISSIONING HIS OFFICERS
12. And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Say, “Peace be to this
house.” Be very courteous openly, and very benevolent inwardly. You come as a
benediction, come with a benediction. We ought never to enter a house without
wishing it good, nor to leave it without having endeavored to make it better.
13. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come
upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Think well of all till they prove by their conduct that
your good opinion is an error. Bless the house, and if it be worthy, the Lord
will make your blessing effectual, and peace shall dwell there; but if the
house be not worthy, the blessing shall, by your Lord’s ordinance, “return to
you”, and that will enable you to bear the rebuff without being discouraged.
We cannot judge of worthiness; but the Lord will do so. We are to hope well
of all. We shall get good even if we fail to do our best. If the failure be
through no fault of ours, it will be no failure to us.
14. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear
your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of
your feet.
Disclaim all fellowship with those who will not have
fellowship with your Lord. Be not angry; do not denounce with bitterness;
just “shake off the dust of your feet,” and go
elsewhere. Don’t depart to rail at the people in private; but let them know
that you quit them because they refuse your message. Do this openly, and in
the most solemn and instructive manner, hoping that your departing act may be
remembered. It is to be feared that we treat rejecters of Christ in a sadly
biding manner, and do not hold up their rejection of our King to the
detestation it deserves. We ought to let impenitent sinners know that we
consider them out of our fellowship. If they will not hear, we must make them
see that we disown them, and count them to be unclean, because they refuse
Christ Jesus. How little of this is done by the smooth-tongued preachers of
today! Men may refuse their gospel, and still be the bosom friends of those
who preach to them. Yea, they try even from the pulpit to cheer them in their
impenitence by the dream of a “larger hope.”
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Wednesday, May 17th
MATTHEW 10:1-15
THE
KING COMMISSIONING HIS OFFICERS
15. Verily I
say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that
city.
The accursed cities of the plain may look for a fearful
doom; but their portion will not be so unbearable as that of those to whom the
gospel comes in freest fashion; and yet they will not receive its messengers,
nor even hear their words. Our Lord seals his terrible prophecy with a Verily
and with that solemn introduction, “I
say unto you.” Here our ever blessed King sends forth
his royal ambassadors under orders to summon the Jewish nation to own their
sovereign Lord; and he supports them in their errand by a tremendous threat
of doom to those who will not receive them, or listen to their words.
MATTHEW 10:16-25
THE KING’S MESSENGERS MAY EXPECT
TO BE MALTREATED
16. Behold, I
send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves.
Our Lord calls for special attention, and then sets
before his sent ones, both then and now, what would be the future of their
crusade. When Jesus sends forth sheep, they may go fearlessly
into the very “midst of wolves.” He
sends them, not to fight with wolves, nor to drive them out of their haunts,
but to transform them. The disciples were sent to fierce men to convince
them, and therefore they must be wise; to convert them, and therefore they
must be gentle. They are to be prudent, discreet, “wise as
serpents”; but they are to be loving, peaceful,
“harmless as doves.” The Christian
missionary will need to be wary, to avoid receiving harm; but he must be of a
guileless mind, that he do no harm. We are called to be martyrs, not maniacs;
we are to be simple-hearted, but we are not to be simpletons. After all, the
mission of sheep to wolves is a hopeful one, since we see in the natural
world that the sheep, though so feeble, by far outnumber the wolves who are
so fierce. The day will come when persecutors will be as scarce as wolves,
and saints as numerous as sheep. Lord, in my work for thee, teach me that I
may display the wonderful blend of serpent and dove.
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Thursday, May 18th
MATTHEW 10:16-25
THE KING’S MESSENGERS MAY
EXPECT
TO BE MALTREATED
17, 18. But
beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will
scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and
kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
“Beware of men.”
Do not rely upon them, or
regard them as fellow-helpers in setting up the kingdom of heaven, nor
attempt to soften down your testimony to suit their taste. Do not court their
approbation, or place any great value upon their favor. They will not shelter
you, but “deliver you up”; they will not arrange for, your
entertainment, but for your accusation before
councils; they
will not load you with decorations, but lash you with scourges in their
places of public assembly. Thus would Israelites treat Israelites. The
cruelty described by the words, “scourge you in their synagogues” must surely have been a refinement of malice; yet with
some men persecution is a part of religion. The malice of the Jews would call
in the interference of Gentile magistrates and monarchs. These also
would become persecutors, and before their tribunals saints would have to
plead for their lives; but as this would be for Christ’s sake, they would
thus be enabled to bear witness for their Lord, and against his foes. In this
way only would heathen governors and kings be likely to hear their testimony;
and therefore they were to welcome the summons to
appear before earthly rulers. Our attitude must be one of caution towards
men. We must not commit ourselves to them, nor rely on their patronage; but
we must at the same time make use of every opportunity to testify for our
Lord before them. Our Protector and Lord is in heaven.
19. But
when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it
shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
When you are before the judge, or about to be there, do
not worry about yourself “what you
shall speak.” Be not anxious as to your manner or
matter when on your defense. If you are the Lord’s true servant, you are the
spokesman of the Holy Spirit; he will work in, you a peaceful frame of mind
and fit words “shall be given you.” He
will speak in you and through you. The Father himself will put into your
mouth, at the moment, the fittest reply to your adversaries.
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Friday, May 19th
MATTHEW 10:16-25
THE KING’S MESSENGERS MAY EXPECT
TO BE MALTREATED
20. For it is
not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
All along, men of God are simply instruments for God. Our
Lord Jesus claimed to speak, not of himself, but from the Father; and to this
he conforms his faithful witnesses. They speak and yet they speak not: God is
silent and yet he speaks by them.
21. And the
brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and
the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to
death.
Unnatural hatreds have sprung out of religious bitterness. The old
serpent not only endeavors to poison the relationship of the creature to the
Creator, but even that of child to parent, and parent to child. Brothers can
become un-brotherly, and all other relations unnatural, when under the
dominion of religious bigotry. In times of persecution we may not expect love
to ourselves from those who love not God. It might have seemed impossible that
blood relations should be willing to assist in compassing the death of each
other; but history has abundantly shown that our Lord’s words were none too
strong. He knew the hearts of men, and forewarned his disciples of the
pitiless tempest which would beat upon in consequence of human enmity to the
truth.
22. And ye
shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end
shall be saved.
These are heavy words, but true. If we are faithful we
shall of necessity make enemies. Jesus as good as says—The classes and the
masses will turn against you because of the name, the doctrine, and the rule
of your Master. Sometimes the monarch, and sometimes the mob will rage
against you; but either from one or other, or both, shall the opposition arise.
“Ye shall be hated of all men for my
name’s sake” was the
storm-signal by which successive persecutions were announced. That signal may
again be displayed in the order of divine providence. Happy are they who can
bear persecution, and hold on and hold out even “to the end” of the trial—the close of life, or the
termination of the dispensation. Such “shall
be saved” indeed; but those who can be overcome by opposition are
lost.
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Saturday, May 20th
MATTHEW 10:16-25
THE KING’S MESSENGERS MAY
EXPECT
TO BE MALTREATED
23. But
when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say
unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of
man be come.
They were to keep to their work, and preach in all the cities of
Israel; but they might flee from danger in one city, and move to another.
They were not to stop in a town, and contend with the magistrates, and create
confusion and disorder, but quickly to move off when they were cruelly
opposed. It is to the last degree foolish to attempt to force religion upon
men: it advances by gentleness, and not by violence. If a town is up in arms
against the preacher, let him go where he will be less opposed. There would
always remain cities that needed the light. They would not be forced to cease
their labors, because certain towns closed their gates against them. Much
waste-land needed reclaiming, let them hasten to fresh fields, and raise
harvests there. While they were to change their place they were to keep to
their plan. Their mission to Israel was to be quick; work altogether,
for the Lord would soon visit the land in judgment; and they would hardly
have time to traverse the whole country before Israel’s day of mercy as a
nation, dwelling in her own land, would come to a close. The persecution
which they felt in one city should quicken their pace in going to another,
and so promote the rapid visitation of the whole country. They were not to
delay over a hopeless town, for they had no time to spare. In some such
diligent manner ought we to evangelize the world, believing that we have not
an hour in which to loiter; for the Son of man may come suddenly. If his Advent were very speedily to
happen, it would come before all tribes and peoples had heard his gospel; and
this must not be. Many should run to and fro and spread the knowledge of his
cross. If we do not do this willingly, it may be we shall be driven to it.
Persecution has often been a spur to the church. Let us be diligent in our
holy calling, and preach the gospel while we can do so in peace, for perilous
times may be upon us, or the Lord himself may appear before we think.
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Sunday, May 21st
MATTHEW 10:16-25
THE KING’S MESSENGERS MAY EXPECT
TO BE MALTREATED
24, 25. The
disciple is not above His master, nor the servant above his lord. It is
enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his
lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more
shall they call them of his household?
The scholar is not more excellent than the teacher, nor
the servant than his master. Who would wish to see such a violation of all
order and rule? Therefore, even if we had not had so much respect paid to us
as to our Lord, we ought to have been well content. If we receive the same
treatment as our Master, we have enough honor, and more than we have a right
to expect. What then? If the Master of the family is likened to Beelzebub, the fly-god of the Philistines, and named after the
prince of demons, by what names will they call us? Doubtless malice will
quicken wit, and sarcasm will invent words that pierce as daggers, and cut
like knives. Thank God, they may call us what they like, but they
cannot make us evil. They can, and will, cast out our names as evil, for they
call good evil, and evil good. God was slandered in Paradise, and Christ on
Calvary; how can we hope to escape? Instead of wishing to avoid bearing the
cross, let us be content to endure dishonor for our King’s sake. Let it be
our ambition to be as our Master in all things. Since we are “of his
household” let us rejoice to share with “the Master of the house.”
It is so great an honor to be of the royal household, that no price is too
high to pay in consequence. Close conformity to the image of their Lord is
the glory of saints. To “be as his master” is to every true servant the climax of his ambition. O Lord Jesus, our
Savior King, we see how He was treated, and we joyfully enter into the
fellowship of thy sufferings! Grant us grace never to shrink in our loyalty
to thee, cost whatever it may.
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Monday, May 22nd
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
26. Fear them
not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and
hid, that shall not be known.
The King gives reasons for courage, saying, “Fear them not therefore.” Have no fear of slander; your Lord and Master bore the
full blast of that pitiless storm. Have no fear of misrepresentation, for the
great God will right our characters before long. You and your back stabbers
will alike be shown up in the colors of truth. Though you should be “covered”
with criticism, your integrity shall be “revealed” though your true
value is “hid” it shall yet be “known.” Secret villainy and secret virtue will alike be set in the full blaze of day.
Anticipate the future, and be not overwhelmed by the present.
27. What I
tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear,
that preach ye upon the housetops.
God is the great revealer, and, you should imitate him by
publishing the truth to men. Go on, true believers, with your proper work, as
mouths for God. Tell out what your Master tells you. Receive a message from
himself in your quiet meditation, and then make it known everywhere. Hear it
like a whisper in your ear, and then
sound it forth as the eastern town-crier, who gets to the highest point in
the village, and makes all the people hear from “the housetops.” Keep
the study and the closet out of sight, and there in secret meet with Jesus;
and then set the pulpit of testimony in as conspicuous a place as you can
find. If plunged “in darkness” of sickness, trouble, or distress,
listen to him whose voice is heard in the thick darkness, and then “speak
ye in light,” the profitable lessons ye have learned. Lord, let not one of us speak till we speak to him first,
and then let him not be silent. May all thy disciples present to thee their
opened ears, and then use in thy cause their fire-touched tongues!
28. And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We may not say less or more because of the opposition of
the foe. A mighty argument against fear is the comparative weakness of the
enemy. Men can only wound the body, but
are not able to kill the soul.
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Tuesday, May 23rd
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
But if we disobey God, the Supreme Lord of life and death
has power even to destroy both parts of our being by casting them both into
the death and darkness of Gehenna, or hell. Let us fear
the Greater, and we shall not fear the less. There is no cure for the fear of
man like the fear of God.
29-31. Are
not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Here is a sermon against fear, and sparrows are the text. Those birds
are of little worth, and you are of far greater consideration than many of
them. God observes the death of a sparrow, and he much more notes the lives
and deaths of his people. Even the least part of his children’s bodily frame
has been registered. The very hairs of their head are counted and catalogued; and, to the most minute
circumstance, all their lives are under the arrangement of the Lord of love.
Chance is not in our creed: the decree of the Eternal Watcher rules our
destiny, and love is seen in every line of that decree. Since we shall not
suffer harm at the hand of men by their arbitrary conduct, apart from the
will and permission of our Father, let us be ready to bear with holy courage whatever the
wrath of man may bring upon us. God will not waste the life of one of his
soldiers; no, nor a hair of his head. If we die in God’s battle we live in
the grandest sense, for by loss of life we gain eternal life.
32, 33. Whosoever
therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my
Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I
also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Because divine providence rules over all, the destiny of believers is
secure beyond fear of harm, and they must not shrink from the boldest avowal
of their faith because of anxiety to preserve their lives. Our business is to
confess Christ before men. In him the truth we acknowledge begins, centers, and
ends. Our Confession of Faith is a confession of Christ: he is our theology,
or Word of God. What a reward to be confessed by him hereafter in the
glory-world! It will be a high offense against the great God, whom Jesus
twice calls my Father that is in heaven.
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Wednesday,
May 24th
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
It is clear that in this passage to “deny” Jesus
means—not to confess him. What a grave warning is this for the cowardly
believer! Can a nonconfessing faith save? To live and die without confessing
Christ before men is to run an awful risk. Actually to recant and give up
Christ must be a dreadful crime, and the penalty is fearful to contemplate.
Disowned by Jesus before his Father who is in heaven! What hell can be worse?
Lord, let me never blush to own thee in all companies! Work in me a bold
spirit by thy Holy Spirit. Let me confess thy truth whatever the spirit of
the age may be, uphold thy church when she is most despised, obey thy
precepts when they cost most dear, and glory in thy name when it is most
reproached.
34-36. Think
not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a
sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Peace will be the ultimate issue of our Lord’s coming;
but, at the first, the
Lord Jesus sends a sword among men.
He wars against war, and contends against contention. In the act of producing
the peace of heaven he arouses the rage of
hell. Truth provokes opposition, purity excites enmity, and righteousness
arouses all the forces of wrong. During the process
of fermentation, in which the right works for mastery, natural relationships
go for nothing as preservatives of peace. The coming of Christ into a house
is often the cause of variance between the converted and the unconverted. The
more loving the Christian is, the more he may be opposed: love creates a
tender zeal for the salvation of friends, and that very zeal frequently calls
forth resentment. We are to expect this, and not to be put about by it when
it occurs. Animosities on account of religion often excite the fiercest of
enmities, and nearness of kin inflames rather than quenches the hostility. We
are to press on in confessing the Lord Jesus, come what may of it. Even if
our house becomes a den of lions to us, we must stand up for our Lord. The
peace-at-any-price people have no portion in this kingdom. Lord, teach us how
to behave in these trying circumstances.
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Thursday, May 25th
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
37. He that
loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Christ must be first. He herein claims the highest place in every
human breast. Could he have done so had he not been divine? No mere prophet
would talk in this fashion. Yet we are not sensible of the slightest egotism
in his speech, neither does it occur to us that he goes beyond his line. We
are conscious that the Son of God has a right to speak thus, and only he. We
must earnestly beware of making idols of our dearest ones, by loving them
more than Jesus. We must never set them near the throne of our King. We are
not worthy to dwell with Christ above, nor
even to be associated with him here, if any earthly object is judged by us to
be worthy to rival the Lord Jesus. Father
and mother, son and daughter — we would do anything to please them; but, as opposed to Jesus, they stand nowhere,
and cannot for an instant be allowed to come in the way of our supreme
loyalty to our Lord.
38. And he
that taketh, not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Here our Lord for the second time in this gospel brings in his death.
At first he spoke of being taken from them; but now of the cross. There is a
cross for each one that he may regard as his cross. It may be that the cross
will not take us up, but we must take it up, by being willing to endure
anything or everything for Christ’s sake. We are not to drag the cross after
us, but to take it up. “Dragged crosses are heavy; carried crosses grow
light.” Bearing the cross, we are to follow after Jesus:
to bear a cross without following Christ is a poor affair. A Christian who
shuns the cross is no Christian; but a cross bearer who does not follow Jesus
equally misses the mark. Is it not singular that nothing in so essential to
make a man worthy of Christ as cross bearing in his track? Yet it is
assuredly so. Lord, you have laid a cross upon me, do not permit me to shirk
it, or shrink from it.
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Friday, May 26th
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
39. He that
findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall
find it.
If to escape from death he gives up Christ, and so finds
a continuance of this poor mortal life by that very act he
loses true life. He gains the temporal at the expense of the eternal. On the
other hand, he who loses life for Christ’s sake does in the highest sense
find life, life
eternal, life infinitely blessed. He makes the wisest choice who lays down
his life for Jesus, and finds life in Jesus.
40. He that
receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent
me.
What blessed union and hallowed communion exist between the King, and
his servants! The words before us are especially true of the apostles to whom
they were first addressed. Apostolic teaching is Christ’s teaching. To
receive the twelve is to receive their Lord
Jesus, and to receive the Lord Jesus is to receive God himself. In these days
certain teachers despise the epistles which were written by apostles, and
they are themselves worthy to be despised for so doing. This is one of the
sure tests of soundness in the faith. “He that is of God heareth us”, says
John. This bears hard on modern critics who in a hypocritical manner pretend
to receive Christ, and then reject his inspired apostles. Lord, teach me to
receive thy people into my heart, that thus I may receive thee; and as to the
doctrine which I hold, be pleased to establish me in
the apostolic faith.
41. He that
receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a
prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous
man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
Men may receive a
prophet as a patriot, or a poet: that is not the point in hand. The prophet
must be received in his highest character, “in the name of a prophet”
and for the sake of his Lord; and then the Lord himself is received, and he
will reward the receiver in the same way in which his prophet is rewarded. If
we cannot do all the good deeds of a righteous man, we can yet partake in his
happiness by having fellowship with him, and by
uniting with him in vindicating the faith and comforting his heart. To
receive into our homes and our hearts God’s persecuted servants is to share
their reward.
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Saturday, May 27th
MATTHEW 10:26-42
THE KING CHEERING HIS CHAMPIONS
To maintain the cause and character of good men is to be
numbered with them in God’s account. This is all of grace; since the deed is
so little and the recompense so large.
42. And
whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise
lose his reward.
He looked away from the apostles to some of the least and youngest of
those who followed him, end he declared that the very least kindness shown to
them should have its recompense. There may be a sea of warm love in “a cup
of cold water.” Much loyalty to the King may be expressed by little
kindnesses to his servants, and perhaps more by kindness to the little ones
among them than by friendship with the greater sort. To love a poor and
despised child of God for Christ’s sake shows greater love to Christ than if
we love the honorable, and amiable, and rich members of his church. Acts of
love are divinely estimated rather by motive than by measure. A cup of cold water may mean as much from one as a banquet to
another. Cold water has a special value in a hot climate; but this text makes
it precious anywhere. Giving refreshment may be made a choice means of
fellowship with holy men, if we give it because they are disciples; and
specially so when persecuting governments make it peitory to assist the
saints in any way. Though every kindly deed is its own reward, yet the Lord
promises a further recompense. What we give for Christ’s sake is insured
against loss by the promise of the text, by the “Verily, I say unto you”
that confirms it and by the use of the negative “in no wise” which
shuts out all possibility of its being otherwise.
[If you have a problem in your home and you call a repair
man to fix it, it is wise to show that repair person every courtesy you can
and in so doing you are being a witness to him that you are a believer. You
never know when that act of kindness will open a door for you to share your
faith and give you an opportunity to win that person to Christ. Never force
you testimony on a person who is working for you, just be prayed up so that
if the conversation turns and there is an opportunity, take advantage and
share you faith in a kind and gracious manner. You never know what problems
or what spiritual hunger that person may have. RJS]
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Sunday, May 28th
MATTHEW
11:1-19
THE KING SUPPORTS HIS MESSENGERS BY
HIS OWN APPEARING
1. AND it
came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples,
he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
He arranged their missionary tour, and then followed in
their wake. It was our Lord’s plan to send them two and two through the
cities of Israel, and then to follow them up in person, and sustain their
testimony by his own instruction; for he came “to teach and to preach.” We are
to do our best for men, and then to hope that our Lord will deign to certify
and confirm our teaching by his own coming to men’s hearts. The term, “their cities”, sounds rather singular. Had our Lord given those cities
to the twelve? It would seem so. In a spiritual sense we go first and take
possession of the souls entrusted to us, and then the King himself comes |
