PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels — St. Luke — Volume 2
Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 · 212,601 words · 507 reading sections
LUKE, CHAP. XI. TBR. 21 — 26. 25
if possible, to keep in with both sides. We fear extremes. We dread being righteous overmuch. We are anxious not to go too far. — Such thoughts as these are full of peril to the soul. Once allowed to get the upper hand, they may do us inunense harm. Nothing is so offensive to Christ as lukewarmness in religion. To be u…
312 wordsSECTION 6226 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
habited, and carrying his plan into execution. — ^He describes him finding that heart empty of any good, and like a house "swept and garnished" for his reception. — He describes him as entering in once more, with seven spirits worse than himself, and once more making it his abode. And He winds up all by the solemn sayi…
309 wordsSECTION 63LUKE, CHAP. XI. VBR. 21 — ^26. 27
not what they once were, and so theyflatter themselves, they are what they ought to be. They are no longer sabbath- breaking, daring sinners, and so they dream that they are Christians. They see not that they have only changed one kind of devil for another. They are governed by a decent, Pharisaic devil, instead of an …
888 wordsSECTION 64LUKE, CHAP. XI. VER. 21 — ^26.* 29
that is not with us is against us." He does not avow himself our Mend, and so he Becomes practically one of our foes. 24. — [He wcdketh through dry places.'] The expression translated "walketh," is more frequently rendered, "passeth, or goeth through." Let it be noted, that it is the " spirit," and not the man, of who…
455 wordsSECTION 65BXPOSITORY TH0I]OHTS.
[L(ut state,.. worse than the first.l The Greek expressions so rendered mean literally "the last things," and the "first things." The tendency of a backslider, or a man who has at one time pro- fessed religion, but afterwards turned back to the world, to become worse than he ever was before, is a painful ffiu;t, but a…
410 wordsSECTION 66LUKE XI. 27—32.
27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company hfted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which tiiiou liast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. 29 And when the people were ga- there…
78 wordsSECTION 67LUKE, CHAP. XI. VBR. 27 32. 31
a aignj and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the For as Jonas was a si£ni unto the prophet. 30 For as Jonas was a sign Nineyites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with tiLe men of this generation, and condemn them: for …
380 wordsSECTION 6832 . EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
we need reminding that seeing is not always believing. Thousands saw Christ continually, while He Was on earthy and yet clung to their sins. Even His brethren at one time " did not believe in him." (John 8.) A mere fleshly knowledge of Christ saves no one. The words of St. Paul are very instructive : — " Though we have…
618 wordsSECTION 6934 EXPOSTTOBT THOUGHTS.
and small P Let us praise God for the privilege. Who are we that God should have made us to differ P Let us watch against unbeKef. The root of it often lies within us even after the tree is cut down. Let us guard our faith with a godly jealousy. It is the shield of the soul. It is the grace above all others which Satan…
329 wordsSECTION 70LUKE^ CHAP. XI. VER. 27 — 32. 36
Let the truth of the resurrectioii be often before our minds. Let the life to come be frequently before our thoughts. All is not oyer when the grave receives its tenant, and man goes to his long home. Other people may dwell in our houses, and spend our money. Our very names may soon be forgotten. But still all is not o…
406 wordsSECTION 7136 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
30. — [Jonas was a sign.] The likeness between Jonas and our Lord has been variousij explained. The three days and nights daring which Jonah was in the whale's belly, and his coming forth alive at the end of them, are undoubtedly the principsd point. They were a type of our Lord being in the grave, and rising again the…
520 wordsSECTION 72LUKE XI. 33—36.
33 No man, when lie hafh lighted a eandle, putteih »< in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a can- dlestick, that they which come in may see the light. 34 The light of the body is the eye : therefore when thine eve is single, thy whole body also is mil of light ; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also …
359 wordsSECTION 7338 EXPOSITORS THOUGHTS.
whose he is and whom he serves, and may be induced to follow his example, and join the Lord's side. He must regard the light which he enjoys as a loan, for the use of which he is accountable. He must strive to hold his candle in such a way, that many may see it, and as they see it, admire and believe. Let us take heed…
333 wordsSECTION 74LUKE, CHAP. XI. VEB. 33 — 36. 39
We learn, secondly, from these verses, the value of a single and undivided heart in religion. This is a lesson which our Lord illustrates firom the office of the eye in the human body. He reminds us that when the eye is "single," or thoroughly healthy, the action of the whole body is influenced by it. But when, on the …
300 wordsSECTION 7540 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Paul, and Luther, and Latimer. Tbey all had their weaknesses and infirmities. They erred no doubt in some things. But they all had this grand peculiarity. They were men of one thing. They had single hearts. They were unmistakeably " men of God." The blessings of a single heart in religion are ahnost incalculable. He w…
306 wordsSECTION 76LUKE, CHAP. XI. YBB. 33 — 36. 41
had the light, but would not use it, — ^and a warning to our Lord's disciples, who believed in the light, that they ought not to con- ceal the light, but display it to the world. A candle is intended to be placed on a cancQestick and give light. So also Gk)d's truth is intended to be imparted to others, and exhibited t…
580 wordsSECTION 77LUKE XI. 37—44.
37 And as he ^ake, a certain Pha- risee besought him to dine with him : and be went in, and sat down to meat. 38 And when the Pharisee saw t^, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. 39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and platter ; but your inward par…
649 wordsSECTION 7844 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
skins. And He asks the searching question^ '^ Did not He that made that which is without^ make that which is within also?" The same God who formed our poor dying bodies, is the G-od who gave ns a heart and soul. For ever let us bear in mind that the state of our hearte is the principal thing that demands our attention…
319 wordsSECTION 79LUKE, CHAP. XI. VER. 37 — 44. 46
temple ; — and yet they neglected the plainest duties to- wards God and their neighbours. They were scrupulous to an extreme about small matters in the ceremonial law ; — and yet they were utterly regardless of the simplest first principles of justice to man and love toward God. In the one direction they were rigidly c…
287 wordsSECTION 80E
46 EXPosrroRT thoughts. passed over " judgment and the love of God," is not yet extinct. Let us watch and pray that we may observe a scriptural proportion in our religion. Let us beware of putting the second things out of their place, and so by degrees losing sight of the first entirely. Whatever importance we attach…
289 wordsSECTION 81LUKE, CHAP. XT. VER. 37 44. 47
Let us leave the whole passage with a settled deter- mmatioii to watch and pray against hypocrisy in religion. Whatever we are as Christians, let us be real, thorough, genuine, and sincere. Let us abhor all canting, and aflfectation, and part-acting in the things of God, as that which is utterly loathsome in Christ's e…
1,412 wordsSECTION 82EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
corresponding in the state of their hearts. — In the case hefore us He exposes what men did not see in the Pharisees. In the case in St. Matthew He rather exposes what men did see. — In the one case it was a grave full of corruption, but a grave con- cealed from the eye. In the other it was a grave equally full of corr…
133 wordsSECTION 83LUKE XI. 45-54.
45 Then answered one of the Law- yers, and said unto him, Mastcgr, thus saying thou reproachest us also. 46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye Lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one ofyour fingers. 47 Woe unto you ! for ye build the sepulchres of t…
325 wordsSECTION 84LUKE, CHAP. XI. VER. 45 — 54. 51
have us know that the truest friend to our souls, is not the man who is always " speaking smooth things," and agreeing with everything we say, but the man who tells us the most truth. We learn, firstly, from our Lord's words, how great is the sin of prof easing to teach others what we do not practise ourselves. He say…
297 wordsSECTION 8552 EXPOSITORY TH0TJOHT8.
works,— between his teaching and his doing, — ^between his preaching and his practice. One thing at all events is very certain. No lessons produce such effects on men as those which the teacher illustrates by his own daily life. Happy is he who can say with Paul, "Those things which ye have heard and seen in me, do." (…
310 wordsSECTION 86LUKE, CHAP. XI. VBR. 45—54. ' 63
deave to them, and delight in tiiem, as the excellent of the earth P — ^Or does he avoid them, and dislike them, and regard them as fanatics, and enthusiasts, and extreme, and righteous over-much P — ^The answers to these ques- tions are a pretty safe test of a man's true character. When a man can see no beauty in livi…
591 wordsSECTION 87LUKE, CHAP. XI. VER. 46 — 54. 55
Let us pray that this awful sin may never be ours. Whatever we are ourselves in religion, let us dread dis- couraging others, if they have the least serious concern about their souls. Let us never check any of those around us in their religion, and specially in the matter of reading the Bible, hearing the Gospel, and p…
1,532 wordsSECTION 88Part 88
This is a warning of which the importance can never be overrated. It was delivered by our Lord more than once, during his earthly ministry. It was intended to be a standing caution to His whole church in every age, and in every part of the world. It was meant to remind us that the principles of the Pharisees are deeply…
128 wordsSECTION 89LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 1 — 7. 59
Let us ever nail this caution in our memories, and bind it on our hearts. The plague is about us on every side. The danger is at all times. What is the essence of Romanism, and semi-Romanism, and formalism, and sacrament-worship and church-adorning, and cere- monialism ? What is it all but the leaven of the Phari- sees…
306 wordsSECTION 9060 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The fear of man is one of the greatest obstacles which stand between the soul and heaven. — " What will men say of me P What will they think of me P What wiU they do to me P" — How often these Uttle questions have turned the balanoe against the soul, and kept men bound hand and foot by sin and the devil ! Thousands wou…
628 wordsSECTION 91F
62 BXFOSnX)&Y THOT70HT8. ordered by Him. A daily practical faith of this kindi is one grand secret of happiness^ and a mighty antidote against murmuring and discontent. We should try to feel in the day of trial and disappointment^ that all is right and all is well done. We should try to feel on the bed of sickness^ th…
395 wordsSECTION 92LUKE, CHAP. XII. VBB. 1 — ^7. 63
has led to many strange dealings with Scripture. " Harmonies/' however well meant, have done little good to the Church of Christ. [Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees.'] This is a warning which is given in another place, on a totally distinct occasion. It is a great sttoding caution to the Church against formalit…
1,214 wordsSECTION 9366 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
the height of folly. For us to deny Christ or be ashamed of His Gospel; may get us a little of man's good opinion for a few years, though it will bring us no real peace. Sut for Christ to deny us at the last day will be ruin in hell to all eternity ! Let us cast away our cowardly fears. Come what will, let us confess C…
311 wordsSECTION 94LDKB CHAP. XII. VBR. 8—12. 67
by ntter deadness, hardness, and insensibility of heart. The man whose sins will not be forgiven, is precisely the man who will never seek to have them forgiven. This is exactly the root of his awful disease. He might be pardoned, but he will not seek to be pardoned. He is GkMspel-hardened and ''twice dead.'' His consc…
619 wordsSECTION 95LUKE CHAP. XII. VER. 8 12. 69
NoTBS. Lttkb XQ. 8—12. 8. — [Before the angels of Ood,] The time referred to in these words as well as in those in the next verse, must douhtless he the day of judgment. The angels shall he specially employed in that day in gathering together God*s elect, and separating the wicked from among them. The time referred t…
903 wordsSECTION 96LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 13 — ^21.
71 LUKE Xn. 13-21. 13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he diyide the inheritance irith me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of coTctousness : for a man's life consisteth not in the abundanc…
401 wordsSECTION 9772 EXPOSITORS THOUGHTS.
Christ in the present day must never be surprised to see worldliness and inattention in the midst of his congrega- tion. The servant must not expect his sermons to be more valued than his Master's. Let us mark, in these verses, what a solemn warning our Lord pronounces against covetousness. ''He said unto them, take h…
301 wordsSECTION 98LUKE, CHAP. XTI. VER. 13 — 21. 73
If the things that we have are taken away, let ns be satisfied that there is a needs be. Happy is he who is persuaded that whatever is is best, and has ceased from vain wishing, and become "content with such things as he has." (Hebrews xiii. 5.) Let us mark, secondly, in these verses, what a wiiher- ing exposure our L…
313 wordsSECTION 9974 SXPOSITORT THOUGHTS.
men who are commended, and flattered, and held up to admiration ! Truly the Lord seeth not as man seeth ! The Lord declares that rich men who live only for {hk world are "fook." Let us pray for rich men. Their souls are in great danger. '' Heaven/' said a great man on his death-bed, '' is a place to which few kings an…
302 wordsSECTION 100LUKS, CHAP. XII. VBE. 13 ^21. 75
neyer breaks. His inheritance fadeih not away. Man cannot deprive him of it. Death cannot snatch it out of his hands. All things are his already, — ^life, death, things present, and things to come. (1 Cor. iii. 23.) And best o{ all, N?hat he has now is nothing to what he will have hereafter. Kiches like these are with…
882 wordsSECTION 101TT
\Tky soul ihaU be required.] The Greek words so translated would be literally rendered, " They shall require thy soul.'* It is an example of the indefinite use of " they/' as already observed on Terse 11. Let it be noted, that this expression is one of those whiob shew the separate existence of the soul when the Body …
503 wordsSECTION 10278 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
At first sight they may seem to some minds simple and common place. But the more they are pondered, the more weighty will they appear. An abiding recollection of them would save many Christians an immense amount of trouble. Christ bids us consider the ravens. " They neither sow nor reap. They have neither storehouse n…
285 wordsSECTION 103LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 22 — 31. 79
of heaven and earth. He can relieve those wants, when- ever He sees fit. He will relieve them, whenever it is good for our souls. Let the four arguments now adduced sink deep into our hearts, and hear fruit in our lives. Nothing is more common than a careful and troubled spirit, and nothing 80 mars a believer's useful…
315 wordsSECTION 10480 BXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
labour to increase the number of God's subjects, — when we strive to maintain Gbd's cause, and adyance CKkL's glory in the world. ' The kingdom of God is the only kingdom worth labouring for. All other kingdoms shall, sooner or later, decay and pass away. The statesmen who rear them are like men who build houses of ca…
615 wordsSECTION 10582 BXP06IT0BT THOUGHTS.
a belieyer's heart to be anxious about the things of this world, and supplied His followers with comforting arguments against care. [Take no thought.] The same remark which has been alreadj made on this expression may be repeated here. The meaning of the Greek word is, **Take no anxious thought, — be not anxiously car…
659 wordsSECTION 106LUKE XII. 32—40.
32 Fear not, Uttle flock ; for it is your Father's good pleasure to g^ve yoa the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye haye, and give alms ; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief ap- proaeheth, neither moth corruptetn. 34 For where vour treasore is, there will yonr h…
249 wordsSECTION 10784 BXF08IT0RY THOUGHTS.
&ej were to be filled with fears of eveiy description, — ^fears because of the fewness of their nmnber, — fears because of the multitcfde of their enemies, — ^fears because of the many difficulties in their way, — ^fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness. He answers these many fears with a single gold…
589 wordsSECTION 10886 BXFOSITORT THOUGHTS.
The man who does well for himself is the man who gives up everything for Christ's sake. He makes the best of bargains. He carries the cross for a few years in this world; and in the world to come has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions. He carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in gra…
318 wordsSECTION 109LIJKB, CHAP. XIT. VKR. 32 40. 87
liever afiraid. Readiness for the return of Christ to this world implies nothing which is impossible and unattainable. It requires no angelical perfection. It requires no man to forsake his family, and retire into solitude. It requires nothing more than the life of repentance, faith, and holiness. The man who is living…
332 wordsSECTION 11088 EXPOSITORY THOUOHTS.
lays special stress in this passage on the Fatherly relation of Gnod to all oelievers, as an antidote to over-carefolness and anxiety. 83. — [Sell that ye have^ Sc!] This expression, if not confined to the Apostles, hut apnhed generally to all helieyers, must evidently he interpreted with some scriptural limitation. T…
493 wordsSECTION 111LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 41 48.
89 Pearce says, " We may gather from this verse that it was the custom in those days, as it was not long since among us, for the hridegroom at a wedding supper to wait upon the company as a servant" 38. — [Second watch,,. third watch."] These expressions are figurar tive. The night was divided into foiur watches. The…
486 wordsSECTION 11290 BXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
He says, "is that servant, whom his lord, when he Cometh, shall find so doing.'' The warning has doubtless a primary reference to ministers of the Gospel. They are the stewards of God's mysteries, who are specially bound to be found " doing," when Christ comes again. But the words contain a fiirther lesson, which all …
285 wordsSECTION 113LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 41 — 48. 91
« " went about doing good." (Acts x. 38.) This is to be like the apostles, — they were men of deeds even more than of words. This is to glorify God, — " Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." (John xv. 8.) This is to be useful to the world, — "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you…
304 wordsSECTION 11492 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
heaven for the believer in Jesus. There is such a thing as " the wrath of the Lamb.'* (Rev. vi. 16.) Let US strive so to live, that whenever the heavenly Master comes, we may be found ready to receive Him. Let us watch our hearts with a godly jealousy, and beware of the least symptom of unreadiness for the Lord's appe…
283 wordsSECTION 115LUKE, CHAP. XII. VER. 41 — 48. 93
he is far more guilty than* the inhabitant of some dark parish, who never hears any teaching but a sort of semi- heathen morality. — ^It should come home to every child and servant in religious families. All such are far more blameworthy,, in God's sight, than those who live in houses where there is no honour paid to t…
318 wordsSECTION 11694 EXPOSITOBT THOUGHTS.
[Steward.] This word, it should he noted, is specially used hy St. Paul as descriptive of the ministerial office. (1 Cor. iv. 1.) It would seem to show that ministers are primarily pointed at in our Lord's teaching in this parahle. 4A.—lMake him ruler over all that he Tiath.] This expression should he compared with si…
400 wordsSECTION 117LUKE, CHAP. XII. VBR. 49 — 53. 95
LUKE Xn. 49-63. 49 I am come to send fire on the earth ; and what will I, if it be already kindled P 50 But I have a baptism to be bap- tized with ; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished ! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to giye peace on earth ? I tell you, Nay ; but rather division : 52 For from henceforth …
367 wordsSECTION 11896 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
patieiifty merely because He could not avoid them. They were not borne without a murmur merely because He could not escape them. He lived a humble life for thirty-three years because He loved to do so. He died a death of agony with a willing and a ready mind. Both in life and death He was carrying out the eternal coun-…
316 wordsSECTION 119LUKE, CHAP. XIT. VBU. 49^ — 53. 97
We learn, for another thing, from these verses, hoiJb useless it is to expect universal peace cmd harm<myfrom the preaching of the Oo&pel, The disciples, like most JeDrs of their day, were prohably expecting Messiah's king- dom immediately to appear. They thought the time was at hand when the wolf would lie down with t…
596 wordsSECTION 120LUKE, CHAP. XII. VEK. 49 53. 99
to their own place, then, and not till then, will be perfect peace. For that blessed time let us wait, and watch, and pray. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Our divisions are but for a little season. Our peace shall endure to eternity. Notes. Luxb. XII. 49—63. 49. — [/ am come to send fire.'] Commentators …
388 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1856). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.