|
July 06
Devotions
Daily Devotions for July 2006
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
THEME - The
Gospel of Matthew, cont.
by Charles Haddon
Spurgeon
Please
click on the current date # above or scroll down to read the devotional
for the 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!
Saturday, July 1st
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF HIS KINGDOM
They were doomed to have the light and to remain
willfully in the dark. To his own disciples our Lord would explain the
parable, but not to the outside unbelieving throng. If any one among the
multitude became sincerely anxious to know the Lord’s meaning, he would
become his disciple, and then he would be taught; “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Those
who rejected the Messiah while listening to parables hear and do not hear,
see and do not perceive. To hear the outward word is a common privilege: “To know the mysteries” is a gift of sovereign grace. Our Lord
speaks with much boldness: “It is given unto you but to them it is not given.” Solemn
words. Salvation, and the knowledge by which it comes, are given as the Lord
wills.
12. For
whoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but
whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Those who had some understanding of spiritual truth would
come to yet clearer light; but those who lived willfully in the dark, would
become more and more bewildered, and would gain nothing but the discovery
that they did not know what they thought they knew. An ignorant man going
into a museum, or hearing a learned lecture, only feels himself a greater
fool. He learns nothing, because he is not able to comprehend the elementary
terms of the science. It is just so with carnal men. Spiritual truth rather
blinds them than enlightens them.
13. Therefore
speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they
hear not, nether do they understand.
This was his reason for speaking to them in parables; they could not understand spiritual
things, and therefore he gave them no naked doctrine, for then they would not
have listened at all. They did not really see what they saw, nor hear what
they heard. They had become so morally and spiritually diseased. The only
thing they would notice was the attractive dress of a truth: for the truth
itself they had no liking and no perception. To this day, marvels of
creation, works of grace, deeds of providence, and ordinances of religion,
are all as voiceless music, or painted suns, to carnal men: they hear not
their teaching, they feel not their power.
Sunday, July 2nd
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF HIS
KINGDOM
14. And in
them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive.
That wonderful sixth chapter of Isaiah is constantly
being quoted in the New Testament. How clearly it sets forth the doom of
guilty Israel! Those who refuse to see are punished by becoming unable to
see. The penalty of sin is to be left in sin. The Jews of our Lord’s Day
would trifle with what they heard, and so they were left to hear without
understanding. Even the Messenger of the Covenant would speak in vain to
them.
15. For this
people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them.
They had deadened their own faculties. Perversity in sin
had made them heartless, deaf, and blind to all spiritual things. Thus, they
blocked up the way of salvation against themselves, and used their utmost
diligence to prevent their own conversion. It was just that the truth should
reach them in a manner that would condemn rather than convert. If it had come
in any other, form but the parabolic, they would not even have deigned to
listen to it. In that form truth would have been more clearly seen than in
any other if they had been willing to see it; but as they were unwilling, the
emblem became a dark lantern shutting the light from them. If men will
willfully close their eyes, the very light shall blind them. Thus, when the
Lord passes any by, it is due to their sin; but when he chooses any, it is
not because they are better, but that he
may make them better. This passage teaches that the possession of faculties
is a small thing unless we fitly use them. Men should “see with
their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts.” If they turn to Christ he will heal them, even of gross
hearts, and dull ears, and closed eyes. But, alas! there is a generation
which will not be converted; for they are proud of their blindness and
grossness.
Monday, July 3rd
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
16, 17. But
blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily
I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see
those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things
which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Happy men to be chosen to such a privilege! Grace has
opened your eyes and ears. Blessed are
your eyes, for they see. What wonders, treasures, and revelations do they
see! Eyes are blessed which gaze upon the mysteries of divine love. Blessed
are your ears, for they hear; hear something sweeter than the song of angels,
even the voice of everlasting love from the heart of Jesus. You have learned
the great secret; the counsel of the Lord has been revealed to you, and you
are blessed. You
under the gospel are made to know what the greatest and best of men under the
law could not discover. The shortest day of summer is longer than the longest
day in winter; and you, ye humble ones, under the gospel dispensation see
more of truth in Jesus than the best of saints could see before he came.
There is no doubt about this, for Jesus sets the seal of — “Verily
I say unto you” upon the statement favored
above all others are those whose regenerated faculties both see and hear the
truth of God. Are we among this blessed number? If so, let us praise the Lord
for so great a blessing. Truly to hear the gospel and to see its blessings is a high favor. The love and gratitude
which we show in return should be great indeed!
18. Hear ye
therefore the parable of the sower.
Because you see behind the curtain, and have grace given to discern
the inner meaning through the outer metaphor, come and hear the explanation
of the parable of the sower.
19. When any
one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh
the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is
he which received seed by the wayside.
The gospel is “the
word of the kingdom” it has royal authority in it; it proclaims and reveals
King Jesus, and it leads men to obedience toward his way. To hear but not to
understand, is to leave the good seed on the outside of your nature, and not
to take it into yourself.
Tuesday, July 4th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
Nothing can come of such hearing to
anyone. Satan is always on the watch to hinder the Word. “Then comes the
wicked one” even at the moment when the seed fell. He is always afraid to
leave the truth even in hard and dry contact with a mind, and so he catches
it away at once, and it is forgotten, or
even disbelieved. It is gone, at any rate; and we have not in our hearer’s mind
a corn field, but a highway, hard, and much frequented. The man was not
opposed when he “received seed,” but he received the truth as he was,
without the soil of his nature being changed; and the seed remained as it
was, till the foul birds of hell took it off the place, and there was an end
of it. So far as the truth was sown in his heart, it
was in his natural heart, and therefore it took no living hold. How many such
hearers we have! To these we preach in vain; for what they learn they
unlearn, and what they receive they reject almost as soon as it comes to
them. Lord, suffer none of us to be impervious to thy word; but whenever the
smallest seed of truth falls on us, may we open our soul to it!
20, 21. But
he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the
word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of
the word, by and by He is offended.
Here the seed was the same and the sower the same, but
the result some-what different. In this case there was earth enough to cover
the seed, and heat enough to make it grow quickly. The convert was attentive,
and easily persuaded; he seemed glad to accept the gospel at once, he was
even eager and enthusiastic, joyful and demonstrative. He hears the word, and anon with joy receives it. Surely this looked
very promising! But the soil was essentially evil, hard, barren, superficial.
The man had no living entrance into the mystery of the gospel, no root in
himself, and so he flourished for a season, and only for a season. It is
tersely put, “He endures for a while.” That “while” may be longer or shorter according to circumstances.
When matters grow hot with Christians, either through affliction from the
Lord, or persecution from the world, the temporary believer is so sapless, so
rootless, so deficient in moisture of grace that he dries up and his
profession withers.
Back
to Top
Wednesday, July 5th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
The sower’s hopes are disappointed, and his labor is
lost. Till stony hearts are changed it must always be so. We meet with many
that are soon hot and as soon cold. They receive the gospel “anon,” and leave it “by-and-by.” Everything is on the surface, and therefore is hasty and unreal.
May we all have broken hearts and prepared minds, that when truth comes to us
it may take root in us and abide.
22. He also
that received seed among the thorn is he that heareth the word; and the care
of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.
This class of hearers we know by personal acquaintance in this busy
age. They hear the word, they are affected by the gospel, they take it as
seed into their minds, and it grows well for a season; but the heart cannot
belong to two absorbing objects at the same time, and therefore these men
cannot long yield themselves up to the world and Christ too. Care to get
money, covetousness, trickery, and sins which come from hasting to be rich,
or else pride, luxury, oppression, and other sins which come of having
obtained wealth, prevent the man from being useful in religious matters, or
even sincere to himself: “and becomes unfruitful.” He keeps his
profession; he occupies his place; but his religion does not grow; in fact,
it shows sad signs of being choked and checked by worldliness. The leaf of
outward religiousness is there, but there is no dew on it; the ear of
promised fruit is there, but there are no kernels in it. The weeds have
outgrown the wheat, and smothered it. We cannot grow thorn and corn at the
same time: the attempt is fatal to a harvest for Jesus. See how wealth is
here associated with care, deceitfulness, and unfruitfulness. It is a thing
to be handled with care. Why are men so eager to make their thorn-brake more
dense with briars? Would not a good husbandman root out the thorns and
brambles? Should we not, as much as possible, keep free from the care to get,
to preserve, to increase, and to hoard worldly riches? Our heavenly Father
will see that we have enough; why do we fret about earthly things? We cannot
give our minds to these things and to the kingdom also.
Back
to Top
Thursday, July 6th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
23. But he
that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Here is the story of the Word’s success. This fourth
piece of land will repay all charges. Of course, no one parable teaches all
truth, and therefore we have no mention here of the plowing which always
precedes a fruitful harvest. No heart of man is good by nature: the good Lord
had made this plot into “good
ground.” In this case,
both thought and heart are engaged about the heavenly message, and the man “hears the word and understands it.” By
being understood lovingly, the truth gets into the man, and then it roots, it
grows, it fruits, it rewards the sower. We must aim at the inward
apprehension and comprehension of the Word of God; for only in this way can
we be made fruitful by it. Be it ours to aim to be among those who bear fruit
an hundred-fold! Ah,
we would give our Lord ten thousand fold if
we could. For every sermon we hear we should endeavor to do a hundred
gracious, charitable, or self-denying acts. Our divine Sower, with such
heavenly seed, deserves to be rewarded with a glorious harvest.
24. Another
parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto
a man which sowed good seed in his field.
Still to give us often the key-note of this gospel, our
Lord speaks of “the kingdom of
heaven” and to continue his method of making truth so clear that
only the willfully blind should fail to see it, he brings forth another plain
and pregnant similitude. We know right well that “man that sowed good seed in his field.” Right
well he sowed it; he sowed it in his own chosen ground, “his field” and good was the seed he sowed. He is gone within his heavenly
house, and has left his field to the care of his servants. Alas, that care is
by no means what it should be!
25. But while
men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
The servants are all too apt to sleep. There is a season
when nature requires them to do so, and there are other times when sinful
sloth persuades them to the same indulgence.
Back
to Top
Friday, July 7th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
Good, easy men, they cannot believe that anyone would do
harm to their master’s field; besides, watching and driving away trespassers
is unpleasant work. “Heresy-hunting” is the nickname for watchfulness.
“Rigid Puritanism” is the contemptuous title for careful discipline.
“Bigotry” is the title by which faithfulness is described. “While men slept” could any cultured person resist the
spirit of the times, and keep awake? “His
enemy came”: we know who the enemy is. His time for
work is in the night. He sleeps not when watchmen are steeped in slumber; but
then is Satan especially active. Quietly, cunningly, without observation,
that malicious one sowed the darnel, the bastard wheat, a plant like wheat
that no one could tell the difference till they began to ripen. He brought in
those who loved “modern thought”, and worldly amusements, who were by their
talk Christian, and by their boasts profoundly spiritual; and having introduced
them cunningly, he departed. He might have been suspected had he lingered
upon the scene of his craft; and so he “went his way” to do the like elsewhere. His dear
children all declared that he did not exist, but was a mere myth; and as he
had gone away, many concluded that they were right. Satan is not omnipresent,
but this he cunningly turns into an advantage, for he can often do more by
his absence than by his presence. A known devil is only half a devil.
26. But when
the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares
also.
Good seed grows, and, alas! Evil seed is equally full of
the power to increase. Satan’s principles have a terrible vitality and rigor
in them. Both seeds were for a while hidden but when one “sprung up” the other “appeared
also.” The darnel is up as soon as the wheat, and it looks so
like it that it appears to be the selfsame thing. The field is ruined; its
yield is poisoned by the mixture of a pernicious plant. What had the enemy
gained for himself? Nothing: it was enough for him that he had injured the
man he hated.
Back to Top
Saturday, July 8th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
27. So the
servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow
good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?
Now they wake up: it had been better to have kept awake.
They see the evil growth, though they did not see the evil sowing.
Overwhelmed with the sight of the spoiled field, they hastened to tell their
lord, wondering much how such a state of things could have come about. What a
question to ask of their master: “Whence
hath it tares?” They were sure that he sowed “good
seed” and nothing else; and they evidently
thought that he would know who sowed the bastard wheat. We, too, wonder how
so much evil can have entered into a region wherein Christ has set his
ministers, and we cry out in astonishment, “From whence then hath
it tares?” The question is best left with the
Master; but the asking it is a confession that we have been asleep.
28. He said
unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou
then that we go and gather them up?
The householder had not slept. He knew who had done the cruel wrong. He
who is the enemy of God and man, and he only, had perpetrated this piece of
malice. It may have seemed to be a learned doctor, or a clever poet, or a
treacherous orator, who scattered doubt among the people, and introduced
skeptics into the church; but the worker behind the scenes, the real author
of the mischief, is always the devil himself. The servants were eager to undo the
mischief at once in the first way that suggested itself. Out with the false
wheat, and let the true wheat grow! A thing more easy to propose than to do;
but one which would naturally occur to all true servants who were sorry for
their neglect, and eager to set matters right. Had there been weeds in the
corn, the hoe could have removed them; but this darnel grew along with the
wheat, and was like the wheat, and thus was the true picture of those in the
church and in the world, who are nominal Christians, and fair moralists, but
who know nothing of the life of God. We cannot get rid of these, and yet how
often we wish we could!
Back to Top
Sunday, July 9th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
29. But he
said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with
them.
The darnel was so plentiful, had become so intermixed
with the wheat, and was so much like it that it would not be possible to cut
up the one without pulling up the other also. In fact, there was false wheat
that grows along the true with the true wheat, and to part these would be
perilous to the crop. Hasty disciplinarians have often cast out the best and
retained the worst. Where evil is clear and open, we may not hesitate to deal
with it; but where it is questionable, we had better hold our hand till we
have fuller guidance.
30. Let both
grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn
them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Suffer the two seeds to remain together for a season,
that they may be the more effectively separated later on. It is true the evil
will hinder and hamper the good; but even this will be better than that you
should cast out the good by mistake. A separation time will come, and that
will be “in the time of harvest” when both will be fully developed. That will be a fit
season, when the division can be made and no harm done thereby. The
reapers then employed will do the work correctly, efficiently, universally, and finally. This will be a perfect separation, and we
are bidden to wait for it. Our Lord’s “I will say to the reapers” may very well keep us from making any hasty speeches to
the elders of the churches, or to the magistrates of the land, so as to
excite them to hurried and ungenerous discipline. Magistrates and churches
may remove the openly wicked from their society; the outwardly good who are
inwardly worthless they must leave; for the judging of hearts is beyond their
sphere. Our Lord declares that the doom of the false wheat, the bastard
professors, is terrible. Bind them in bundles;
put like with like, sinner with like sinner.
To burn them. No words can be more suggestive of terrible “Gather
the wheat into my barn.” All gathered, all
recognized as the Lord’s own, all housed in his storehouse.
Back to Top
Monday,
July10th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
31, 32. Another
parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a
grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed
is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among
herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in
the branches thereof.
Mustard seed is the least of all seeds in proportion to that which comes of it; but it has a
peculiar life in it, and therefore it produces so great a growth. The man in
the parable we know: his field is the church, or the heart; he takes
the seed that perhaps, others neglect because they think it so small; he sows
the living seed in his own field and watches over it. It grows and grows,
till at length it becomes the greatest among herbs, and is like to a tree. The results of the divine life in the soul are by no
means little; but great graces, great projects and great deeds are produced
by it. The work of grace in the church and in the individual, is so apparent,
that persons who know as little about heavenly things as sparrows, come and
find shelter beneath the holy and beneficent institutions which are its
outgrowth. We could not have guessed that our Lord and his twelve apostles
would produce the myriad churches of Christendom. We cannot even now tell
whereto a humble effort to do good may grow. We know not to what our own
inner life will come. It has an expanding power within it, and it will burst
every bond, and grow to a thing that will cast a shadow, yield fruit, and
lend shelter. If the Lord has planted the incorruptible seed within, its
destiny is a great one. Good Master hasten this blessed development.
33. Another
parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which
a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Many expositors argue that this relates to the power of
evil in the church, or in the heart. On this interpretation we see why “a woman took” the
leaven, and why she was so secret about it, that it is said she hid it. According to the rule
that is observed in the use of this symbol, leaven must be taken as the type
of evil; and if the rule must be applied in this case, the teaching is
obvious and valuable.
Back to Top
Tuesday,
July 11th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
The leaven soon began its corrupting influence in the
church, and it continues, in one form or other, working still. No words can
be more suggestive of terrible destruction after this what a quiet, peaceful
tone we hear in the words, “Gather
the wheat into my barn.” All gathered, all
recognized as the Lord’s own, all housed in his storehouse. The leaven soon
began its corrupting influence in the church, and it continues, in one form
or other, working still. But the connection does not lead us so to interpret.
The parable begins with the same words as the other, “The kingdom
of heaven is like” and there is not a word to
warn us that the theme is changed, and that our Lord is not now speaking of
the kingdom itself, but of evil in the kingdom. Moreover, our Lord does not
say, “shall be like,” but “is like” referring,
therefore, to something then in operation; and we really fail to see that the
woman had then hidden the leaven, much less hidden it “in three
measures of meal” that is to say, in a large
church. Is not leaven here used simply as another picture of an influence
which appears feeble, but turns out to be active, conquering, and at length
all-pervading? Let our friends take their choice of the two interpretations,
and learn a good lesson from either or both. From evil leaven, the Lord
preserve us; by holy influences may we all be wrought upon!
34, 35. All
these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a
parable spake he not unto them: that; it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things
which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
That prophet was David,. The Psalm (78.) begins, “Give
ear, O my people, to my law.” By whom could this be spoken but by God?
and yet in the third verse this same person speaks of “our fathers”; and
therefore he must be a man. Here, then, in this seventy-eighth psalm, is the
sacred person who is both God and man, and to our Lord Jesus Christ the
language is most fitly applied by the evangelist. Our Lord speaks hidden
things, and sets forth secret things in an open
parable, which is understood by those who have had the eyes of their
understanding opened, while those who are self-blinded perceive not his
meaning.
Back to Top
Wednesday,
July 12th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
36. Then
Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples
came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Possibly, they had made out the mustard seed and the
leaven, but the tares remained a puzzle to
them. We are not sorry for this, since, through their ignorance, we obtain
our Lord’s own interpretation. We should certainly have missed our way
without it.
37. He
answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.
Christ came to this world on purpose
to sow the kingdom of heaven in it. All the grace, and truth, and spiritual
life among us is of his sowing.
38. The field
is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares
are the children of the wicked one.
The field is the world, including the church; but the field is not the church
exclusively: for “the good seed,” or “the children of the kingdom,” is much the same as
the church. The evil seed are persons who mingle with the people of God.
Church fellowship is not particularly aimed at, though it is encompassed by
these terms. Bigots have tried to extirpate heretics, and national churches
have even forbidden unsound thinkers to remain in England; but all attempts
at securing any region from having infidels or heretics residing in it have
soured into persecution. Nowhere on earth can we maintain a settlement of
saints alone. To contend earnestly against error by spiritual means is right
and needful, but to use carnal weapons, and other remedies of force, is
absolute folly and wickedness. This world is now a field of mingled growths,
and so it must be till the end come.
39. The enemy
that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world and the
reapers are the angels.
The devil is
the sower of evil men. There were none such till he came into Paradise; but now
they are everywhere, not only in the field of the world, but in the garden of
the church. Now is the time of growing: the harvest hastens on, and the
reapers are already chosen by the great Householder. We may rejoice that angels,
and not men, are the reapers. At what hour the consummation of the age shall
come we do not know, but it is nigh.
Back to Top
Thursday,
July13th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
40-42. As
therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in
the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they
shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do
iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
What a description! The out-gathering of “all things that offend” and of all persons who
cause others to stumble, and who work evil, will be a consummation devoutly
to be wished. Not only the outwardly wicked, but the false pretenders, the
mock wheat, shall be removed. This will be the purging not of the church, but
of the kingdom, which at that time will include the whole field of the
world. We could not affect this clearance, but the Lord’s own angels can, and will. This
shall be “in the end of this world” the finish and climax of this dispensation. The fate of
these ungodly ones will be fire, the most terrible of punishments; but this will not
annihilate them; for they shall exhibit the surest tokens of a living woe “wailing
and, gnashing of teeth.” Sooner or later, this
is what must come of evil men. Though in this world they flourish in the same
field with believers, and can hardly be discerned from them, they shall be
removed from such honorable association, and be cast, with the rubbish of
the universe, into that great “furnace of fire” whose smoke goes up for ever and ever. This the Son
of man will do
with authority; the angels are simply the executioners of the wrath of the
Lamb.
43. Then
shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Relieved of the cloud created by compulsory association
with mere pretenders, the righteous
shall shine forth. The kingdom always was their Father’s and now shall they be seen to be his heirs in consequence
and the inheritors of his glory and joy. Till then they must be, to a great
extent, concealed by those who intrude their unworthy presence, and keep them
in a measure of darkness through the world-mixture. The intruders being
removed by the angel executioners, “the righteous” will gain a distinct manifestation of character that
will cause their excellence to be as clearly seen as the sun at noon-day.
Back to Top
Friday, July
14th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
44. Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a
man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he
hath, and buyeth that field.
Still the theme is “the
kingdom of heaven.” The man lighted upon hid treasure; perhaps while he was
plowing or digging. He was not looking for it, yet he found it. Is it not written, “I
am found of them that sought me not”? To obtain a right to the
treasure-trove, the finder must buy the field; and to do this he parts with “all
that he hath.” So do men act when they discover
the riches of the gospel, so did Jesus himself, at the utmost cost, buy the
world to gain his church, which was the treasure that he desired. The special
application of the parable we leave to the reader. Practically he will do
well to become the chief actor in a similar incident. Gladly may he part with
all that he has to make sure of the kingdom of heaven is his.
45, 46. Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had, and bought it.
Observe that in this instance the precious thing was not
met with by accident, but discovered after an intelligent search. The first
parable is descriptive of the ordinary man, to whom the gospel comes when he
is following his calling and by no means earnest after spiritual things. He
turns up a crock of gold while plowing, and having enough sense to prefer
gold to clods, he buys the field and the treasure. In the present parable the
actor is not a ploughman, but a merchant,
dealing in precious things. This man is a superior person, aware of the value
of jewels, and seeking them as the business of his life. He is a thoughtful,
earnest individual, anxious after the best things; and therefore he reads, he
hears, he considers and searches, even as a jeweler would do who is seeking
goodly pearls. He discovers the gospel, and rightly
judges “the kingdom of heaven” to be
the pearl of pearls, and therefore sacrifices all things else that he may
have it in his own possession. In both cases all was sold to win the prize; and
so in any case, however our conversion takes place, we must give up all for
Christ; not of compulsion, but willingly. It must be a pleasure to us to make
sacrifices; to make us rich with eternal life.
Back to Top
Saturday, July 15th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF HIS KINGDOM
47, 48. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a
net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it
was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into
vessels, but cast the bad away.
Here, among men, the “kingdom of heaven” is as a
seine or draw-net. It encompasses a great area of water, and entangles within
it all kinds of creatures that move in the sea. The net-casting is a success,
for the net gathers, and is full. Yet the success may not be as great as it
seems; for the contents of the net are varied; it gathered of every kind. So
long as it is in the water, it contains bad and good, of necessity. It cannot
be otherwise; and it would be idle to set about sorting the things that it
encompasses while yet in the sea. On the shore will be the place for
separation: the worthless, useless, and corrupt will be castaways, even
though they were once in the net; but the truly precious will be taken from
the net and presented to their Lord. We must now stand and fish, casting the
net, and waiting for a haul; not till the end shall we sit down and sort out our takings. Many are trying to do the last thing
first.
49, 50. So shall it be at the end of the world: the
angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall
cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of
teeth.
The separation between “the
wicked” and “the just,” who are in the
kingdom, will be at the close of the dispensation. It will be accomplished by
the messengers of God, the appointed angels; it will be done infallibly,
readily, fully, and finally. The doom of the wicked is described in terms
that are terrible to the last degree. Those who would have us think lightly
of the punishment of the ungodly have no countenance in the teachings of the
Lord Jesus. Neither does the idea that fire causes annihilation find any
support from the metaphor here employed; for in the furnace of fire “there
shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Back to Top
Sunday, July 16th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF HIS KINGDOM
51. Jesus said unto them, Have ye understood all
these things? They say unto him, Yea, lord.
This is a very important question. To understand truth is
essential, to understand it all is
desirable. The mere letter or parable, without a sense of the meaning, will
neither make alive nor sanctify. As food must be eaten, digested, and
assimilated, so must truth be taken up and taken in by the mind. Could we
say, “Yea, Lord,” if he were to inquire of us? Do we even
understand the seven parables which he has here given us? Did those who said
“Yea, Lord,” comprehend the Master’s teaching as they
might have done? Probably their view of their own understanding was not so
lowly as it might have been.
52. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe
which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an
householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Our first desire should be that we ourselves may be “instructed
unto the kingdom of heaven”: a remarkable phrase. This done, we are
each one appointed to be like a householder, and are made responsible for
using our knowledge as food for all in our house. What we understand we must
teach. What we have received into our treasure we must bring forth. If the Lord has instructed us unto his kingdom, it is for the
sake of others. Toward these we must act as one who keeps house, and brings
out provisions for the family. Some things have been laid up to ripen, and
these the steward fetches out in due season; others are the better for being
fresh from the garden; and these he serves up at once. He keeps back nothing;
but he does not confine his provision to one single thing. He is not weary of
the old; he is not afraid of the new. Old truth is made new by a living
experience: new views of truth, if indeed it be the truth, are only the old
in a fresh light. We must in our instruction of others cultivate variety, but
we must not aim at it by poisoning the children with deadly drugs for the
sake of giving them novel dishes. Only things worth putting into a treasury
are worth bringing forth to the household. That scribe had need be well instructed who has to keep on handing out a
variety of precious truth throughout a long life.
Back to Top
Monday, July 17th
MATTHEW 13:1-53
OUR
KING SETS FORTH SEVEN PARABLES
OF
HIS KINGDOM
Lord; make us sufficient for these things. Instruct as, that we may
instruct our household. May we make no reserve for self, but bring out for
thy people all that which you have put in our charge. Oh, to be accepted of
thee in the day of thy return, because found faithful to our trust!
53. And it
came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed
thence.
He stayed not to overdo what had been so well done. When
he had “finished” he left of.
When he had completed his ministry in a place “he departed thence.”
MATTHEW 13:54-58
THE KING IN HIS OWN
COUNTRY
54. And when
he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch
that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and
these mighty works?
With what emotion did our Lord return to his native
place! How ready he was to associate with former friends, for “he taught
them in their synagogue.” How eagerly they came together to hear their young countryman,
who had made so great a stir! How amazed they were at the masterly way in
which he touched great subjects, and wrought great deeds! Astonishment led to
inquiry. They began to ask how it could be. The question, “Whence
hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” might have been brought forward reverently, and have led to
their obtaining a most instructive reply; but some flavored their question
with impertinent unbelief, and this cost them dear. Lord, grant that my
questions may never savor of incredulity. Give me to be astonished at what
you do, and yet not to be astonished that You should be able to do such
mighty works.
Back to Top
Tuesday,
July 18th
MATTHEW
13:54-58
THE KING IN HIS OWN COUNTRY
55, 56. Is
not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? And his
brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they
not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
His pedigree seemed to them to be of them lowliest. He
had sprung from among themselves: his reputed father was a village artisan;
his mother was plain Mary, and his
relations commonplace parties enough. This ought to have gratified and
encouraged them; but it did not. They grew sarcastic, and harped upon the
family names of James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas. They hinted that he
could not have learned much wisdom in a carpenter’s
shop; and as he had not been among the
rabbis to obtain a superior education, he could not really know much. How
could he have attained to such eminence? He was a mere nobody. Why, they knew
him when his parents lost him when they went up to the feast at Jerusalem!
They could not listen to the talk of the carpenter’s son.
57. And they
were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without
honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
They stumbled at that which should have been a
stepping-stone for them. Poor souls! How like so many in these days, who must
have glitter and pretense, or they think nothing of the profoundest wisdom!
If they can understand a sermon, they conceive that it cannot be a good one;
if a man acts simply and naturally, he cannot in their eyes be worthy of much
notice. Still is it commonly the case that, where a man is known, his
neighbors find it hard to think that he can be really great. Distance lends
enchantment: a cloud increases the apparent size. This is folly.
58. And he
did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Unbelief bound
his hands. Why should he spend his sacred energy among a people who would not
be profited thereby? Where he would have chosen to do most, he was forced to
do least, because he saw that all he did would be wasted on them. The Lord
save us from such a state of mind! Give us, O Lord, faith to the full; that
for us, and in us, and by us, You may be able to do many mighty works of grace!
Back to Top
Wednesday, July 19th
CHAPTER
14
MATTHEW
14:1-12
THE
KING’S HERALD SLAIN
1. AT that
time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and said unto his
servants. This is John the Baptist; he is risen form the dead; and therefore
mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
When the whole country was moved, “at that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the
fame of Jesus.” Then, but not till then, the
fame of Jesus reached this wretched prince, who was too absorbed in self and
lust to hear much about spiritual matters. The peasant heard of Jesus before
the prince. The Word of God may enter the palace, but it forces its way
slowly. Herod spoke to his servants about this famous person, for he
was so alarmed that he could not conceal his fears. A guilty conscience is
haunted by a misdeed. “John” was written on the tyrant’s memory; and now that he is
startled by a rumor of wonders being done, he cries out, “This is
John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead.”
Herod was a. Sadducee by profession, but his terror made his skeptical creed
crumble to dust. For John at least he believes that there is a resurrection.
Great superstition often underlies a surface of avowed unbelief. Herod
Antipas had a quarter of his father’s kingdom and less than a quarter of his
ability; but in selfish cruelty he was a true cub of the old wolf. He had
enough conscience to scare him, though not enough to change him. Note how he
believed in the power of a risen man: “Therefore mighty works do
shew forth themselves in him.” If from mere
hearsay Herod attributed such power to our Lord on earth, shall we not
believe in the Almighty power of our risen Lord upon his throne in glory?
3, 4. For
Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for
Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not
lawful for thee to have her.
Of course it was not
lawful for him to take to himself his brother Philip’s wife while Philip was yet living, and while his own wife was living also.
While he was the guest of Philip at home. Herod became ensnared by Herodias;
and the guilty pair, who in addition to their being already wedded, were by
birth too near of kin for lawful marriage, came back to Galilee as if they
were man and wife.
Back to Top
Thursday,
July 20th
CHAPTER
14
MATTHEW
14:1-12
THE
KING’S HERALD SLAIN
It was bravely spoken of the Baptist when he bluntly
said, “It is not lawful for thee to
have her” but those words cost John his head.
Herod Antipas could bear to do the deed, but he could not bear to be told
that he had committed an unlawful act. John did not mince matters, or leave
the question alone. What was a king to him if that king dared to trample on
the law of God? He spoke out pointedly, and Herod knew that he did so. Herod
laid hold on John, because John’s word had laid
hold on Herod. The power of evil love comes out in the words, “for
Herodias sake.” This fierce woman would brook
no rebuke of her licentiousness. She was a very Jezebel in her pride and
cruelty; and Herod was as a puppet in her hands.
5. And when
he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted
him as a prophet.
Neither he nor his paramour could bear such plain
dealing, and so he would have silenced forever the rebuking tongue if he had
not been restrained by a salutary dread of the populace. Herod was already a
murderer in intent; but fear stayed his cruel hand. The people held John in
high esteem as a servant of God, and the tyrant dared not incur the wrath of the multitude. What slaves
to fear bad princes may become. It is well they should be so; for thus a
temporary check is put upon their tyranny. Alas! it is not often a restraint
for long, for they soon break loose again; and for a favorite’s sake risk the
anger of the nation.
6. But when
Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and
pleased Herod.
There is no harm in keeping birthdays, but where is great
harm in lewd dances, or in any other sports which suggest evil. Salome was a
true “daughter of Herodias.” She forgot her rank, and danced before the court after the
lascivious fashion of the age, so as to gratify a probably drunken monarch.
She “pleased Herod,” her mother’s
paramour and we readily guess the kind of dancing which would please him. In
these days mothers too often encourage their daughters in dress which is
scarcely decent, and introduce them to dances which are not commendable for
purity.
Back to Top
Friday, July 21st
CHAPTER
14
MATTHEW
14:1-12
THE
KING’S HERALD SLAIN
No good can come of this; it may please the Herods, but it displeases
God. In this case dancing led to a cruel crime; an it is to be feared that in
many instances gross immoralities have taken their rise
in dances which suggested uncleanness.
7. Whereupon
he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
A foolish promise
and a wicked oath. Men
of Herod’s order are always free with oaths. Men should know what they are at
when they promise, and never set their signature to a blank which another may
fill up; for they may thus sign away their all. Besides, a mere piece of
immodest posturing could never deserve so large a recompense. Herod was
surely as much a fool as knave. Had wine and lust taken away his heart?
8. And she,
being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head
in a charger.
The whole thing was planned between this shameless mother and
daughter, who both knew Herod’s weak points and how to handle him. The mother
sent her daughter dancing, and then put the request into her mouth: she was
of her mother’s nature, and readily carried out that wicked woman’s
instructions. No doubt Herodias was more incensed than Herod at what the
Baptist had dared to say; for it is usually the case that the female offender
is most angered by a rebuke of such sin. Sad that from noble Maccabean blood
such a female monster should have sprung! She must have John Baptist’s head upon a dish The mention of the details shows the
cold-blooded character of the demand. As if it were a dainty dish for her
tooth, the prophet’s head must be served up in a charger.
9. And the
king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them, which sat with
him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
Pretty sorrow! A crocodile is said to shed tears over
those it snaps in two. “The King” was afraid of the consequences. Poor king! He may have
felt a dying struggle of conscience, for Herod had some sort of reverence for
John; yet his grief could not have been very deep, for he had already willed
to kill him.
Back to Top
Saturday,
July 22nd
CHAPTER
14
MATTHEW
14:1-12
THE
KING’S HERALD SLAIN
No good can come of this; it may please the Herods, but it displeases
God. In this case dancing led to a cruel crime; an it is to be feared that in
many instances gross immoralities have taken their rise
in dances which suggested uncleanness.
7. Whereupon
he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
A foolish promise
and a wicked oath. Men
of Herod’s order are always free with oaths. Men should know what they are at
when they promise, and never set their signature to a blank which another may
fill up; for they may thus sign away their all. Besides, a mere piece of
immodest posturing could never deserve so large a recompense. Herod was
surely as much a fool as knave. Had wine and lust taken away his heart?
8. And she,
being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head
in a charger.
The whole thing was planned between this shameless mother and
daughter, who both knew Herod’s weak points and how to handle him. The mother
sent her daughter dancing, and then put the request into her mouth: she was
of her mother’s nature, and readily carried out that wicked woman’s
instructions. No doubt Herodias was more incensed than Herod at what the
Baptist had dared to say; for it is usually the case that the female offender
is most angered by a rebuke of such sin. Sad that from noble Maccabean blood
such a female monster should have sprung! She must have John Baptist’s head upon a dish The mention of the details shows the
cold-blooded character of the demand. As if it were a dainty dish for her
tooth, the prophet’s head must be served up in a charger.
9. And the
king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them, which sat with
him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
Pretty sorrow! A crocodile is said to shed tears over
those it snaps in two. “The King” was afraid of the consequences. Poor king! He may have
felt a dying struggle of conscience, for Herod had some sort of reverence for
John; yet his grief could not have been very deep, for he had already willed
to kill him.
Back to Top
Sunday, July 23rd
CHAPTER
14
MATTHEW
14:1-12
THE
KING’S HERALD SLAIN
12. And
his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told
Jesus
The good man’s followers did not desert their murdered
leader: “his disciples came.” The mangled corpse was surrendered to
them; they reverently took up
the body, and buried it. They were his disciples still, and his death was not the
death of their faith. They did the only act of kindness then in their power
to him whom they had followed. They regarded the headless trunk as being the
last relic of John, and so they gathered about it, and gave it honorable
burial. But it is not said by the Evangelist that they buried John, but “they
took up his body, and buried it” not him. The
real John no man could bury, and Herod soon found that, being dead, he yet
spoke. What remained for John’s disciples but to go to their leader’s Friend
and Master, and tell him all the circumstances, and wait further orders? John
had taught them well, since they went at once to Jesus when their teacher was
dead. When we are in a great trouble, we shall be wise to do our best, and at
the same time tell the Lord Jesus all about it, that he may direct us further
as to what we are to do. What a relief to tell Jesus! It was a painful story
for him to hear; but he would be sure to impart consolation to these
mourners; and in our case also he will give comfort.
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT
BANQUET
13. When
Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and
when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the
cities.
Our Lord could not allow so sad an event as the death of
his Forerunner to pass without special devotion; perhaps also he judged it
wise to be out of the dominions of Herod just at this time. When such a tiger
once tastes blood he is apt to thirst for more. Moreover, rest was needed
both by himself and by the little band which attended him; and our Lord was
no hard taskmaster, overdriving his servants.
Back to Top
Monday, July 24th
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT
BANQUET
As soon therefore as Jesus
heard of John’s death, he went with his followers to a lonesome spot beyond
Herod’s jurisdiction; “a desert place apart.” He went there by ship,
to put the sea between him and the crowd. It was
difficult for him to get into retirement, but he used common-sense ways of
obtaining it. He knew the absolute need of privacy, and he strove after it.
The discreet use of solitude has yet to be learned by many workers. The
multitude would not permit him to be at rest: they were curious, anxious, and
necessitous; and so they were soon on foot after him. While he sailed by sea, they hurried along the
shore. It is a happy sign when there is an eagerness to hear the Word of God.
The Lord send us more of it in these days of religious indifference.
14. And Jesus
went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward
them, and he healed their sick.
When he left the boat and went forth, our Lord found a congregation waiting for him. In the
most emphatic sense he saw the people, and at the sight he was burdened. He
was not angry at the great multitude, nor did he show disappointment at being
balked in his pursuit of quiet; but he was moved with compassion. The
original word is very expressive: his whole being
was stirred to its lowest depth, and therefore he proceeded at once to work
miracles of mercy among them. They came unasked, he received them tenderly,
he blessed them graciously, and at length fed them bountifully. He was as a
stag that fled from the huntsmen; but they had overtaken him, and he yielded
himself to them. To those who needed him most he attended first: “He
healed their sick”! Lord, heal thou me, for I
am sick in soul, if not in body!
15. And when
it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place,
and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the
villages, and buy themselves victuals.
The disciples had the compassion of men who see the need; but to
their human thought there seemed but one poor way out of it, namely, in
effect to shirk the difficulty by sending the multitudes away. The short way
out of a perplexity is generally a very poor affair. To this day many Christians
get no further than leaving the masses to themselves, or to some unknown
influences which may turn up.
Back to Top
Tuesday, July 25th
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT BANQUET
One thing was wise in the disciples; they did bring the
matter to Jesus: “When it was evening, his disciples came to him.” They represented the place as barren, the time as late, the
people as many, their needs as great: they were well posted up in all discouraging
matters. The proposed course of action was the one weak point in the
representation. Our schemes are for the most part wretched affairs. It is
almost a wonder that we dare to state them. Do we forget that our Lord Jesus
hears our sorry proposals? Note the disciples’ word: “The time
is now past.” We usually think the times are
unpropitious for large attempts. As for the position, it is hopeless: “This is a
desert place.” What can
be done here? As for the disciples’ proposal, it was of a kind which is common
enough: “Don’t let the people die under our noses; pull down the rookery in
the next street; clear out the bad houses from our district.” “Send the multitude away.” Or better
still, show the people the dignity of self-help! Talk to them about thrift and
emigration. Urge them to go into the villages, and buy themselves
food. This is a favorite nostrum at this day with
those who want to save their own loaves and fishes. Our Lord has nobler
thoughts than theirs: he will display his royal bounty among the hunger,
crowd.
16. But Jesus
said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. Glorious word! “They need
not depart.” We are able, when he is with us, to meet
any cases of want which may arise; we never need send the multitude away to
be dealt with by the State, by the parish, or by hirelings. If we will but
set to work, we shall find that the Lord makes us competent for every
emergency. “Give ye them to eat”: you talk of their buying for themselves, but they are penniless,
and cannot buy. Everything must be free, or they will starve; you are the men
to feed them freely; get at it. Begin at once.
17. And they
say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
See how they overhaul their provisions; and they report, “We have
here but five loaves.” With what a
gloomy “but” they show how lean is the larder!
Those two sardines make the stock seem positively ridiculous. It is a good
thing for us to know how very poor we are, and how far from being able to
meet the wants of the people around us.
Back to Top
Wenesday, July 26th
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT
BANQUET
It is for our good to be made to confess this in so many
words to our Lord. Truly, he who writes this comment has often felt as if he
had neither loaf nor fish; and yet for some thirty plus years and more he has
been a full-handed waiter at the King’s great banquets.
18. He said,
Bring them hither to me.
He will have us yield up what we have: we are to make no
reserve. We must hand all over to Jesus: “Bring
them hither to me.” He will accept what we
bring: this is implied in the command to bring it. He will make a little go a
long way: that which gets to Jesus will reach the needy by the surest route.
The shortest way to procure provender for perishing souls is to go to Jesus
about them.
19. And he
commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass and took the five loaves,
and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave
the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
He had prepared both carpet and seats for his guests, by
making grass to grow in his open-air banquet-hall. At the bidding of their
great Host, all the crowds sat down. “He commanded,”
and they obeyed: a proof of the singular power of the personality of our Lord
to produce obedience even in simple matters. One would have thought that they
might have answered “What is the use of sitting down? How shall a table be
furnished in this wilderness?” But our Lord’s presence awed unbelief into
silence and obedience. The King of men is immediately obeyed when he commands
in the fullness of his majesty. “Where the word of a king is, there is
power.” Now that all is in order, the divine Lord takes the slender provision
into his blessed hands. By a simple sign he teaches the people whence to
expect gracious supplies: “Looking up to hearer.” Not without a blessing does the meal begin: “He
blessed.” God’s blessing must be sough even
when Jesus is there: He will not act without the Father. Our Lord Jesus did all
in the provision of the feast: he blessed, he brake, he gave to his
disciples. All is with him. The disciples come in
to take their subordinate position, after he has displayed his divine
creator-ship.
Back to Top
Thursday, July 27th
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT
BANQUET
They are the waiters: they serve and distribute; they can
do no more; they are glad to do that. In haste, but yet in
order, they divide the food among the throng, much wondering and adoring as
they so do. It was bread and a relish with it; good fare and agreeable;
sufficient, but not luxurious. Some would give the poor only the barest
necessaries; bread only; our Lord adds fish. What a feast was this! Christ
for Master of the feast: apostles for butlers; thousands for numbers; and
miracles for supplies! What a far more glorious feast is that which the
gospel spreads for hungry souls! What a privilege to be fed by the Son of
God!
20. And they
did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained
twelve baskets full.
No one was neglected, no one refused, no one was too
faint, no one left off till he was satisfied, no one needed anything else, no
one found that the food did not suit him; for indeed they were all hungry, “and they did all eat.” No one refused, or was over looked, all “were
filled.” Ours is a filling Benefactor, and he
provides abundant food. After the feast, twelve great baskets were
needed to hold the fragments. It was impossible to exhaust the store. The
baskets were full as
well as the people. There was more provision after the feeding than before
it. By feeding others our stock increases. That which was left had been
blessed as well as that which was eaten, and therefore it was fine food for
the disciples. They gave plain bread and fish, and they receive more in
quantity, and a blessing to improve the quality. Those who wait upon others
at Christ’s bidding shall have a fair portion for themselves. Those who fill
others’ mouths shall have their own baskets filled. Everybody is satisfied
when Jesus makes the feast.
21. And they
that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
“Women and children” are usually more numerous at a sermon
than men; but as the people had come on foot, perhaps the stronger sex
preponderated on this occasion, as they generally do at feeding-times. From
many a great banquet women and children are shut out; but in Christ Jesus
there is no exclusion because of sex or youth. Five thousand men is no small
dinner-party.
Back to Top
Friday, July
28th
MATTHEW
14:13-22
OUR KING GIVES A GREAT
BANQUET
Think of five thousand fed with five loaves! A loaf among a thousand!
Never let us fear that our consecrated stores will not hold out, or that we
have not talent or ability enough if the Lord is pleased to use us. Our King
will yet feed all the nations on that gospel which is today so little thought
of. Amen! So let it be.
22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into
a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he se |
