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
EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Alford's idea that in the words ''compel them to come in," there is possibly " an allusion to infant-baptism," appears to me exceedlDgly improbable. 24^.— *[None.., bidden... shall tasUy do.'] This expression primarily applies to the Jews. RejectiDg Christ's Gospel they were cut off for a season, until it shall please…
108 wordsSECTION 182LUKE XIV. 25—35.
25 And there went ^eat multitudes with him : and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sigters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, he can- n…
334 wordsSECTION 183LUKE, CHAP. XIV. VBR. 26 — 35. 167
of Seripture in such a manner as to make it contradict another. Our Lord did not mean us to understand that it is the duty of Christians to hate their relatives. This would have been to contradict the fifth commandment. He only meant that those who follow Him must love Him with a deeper love even than their nearest and…
295 wordsSECTION 184168 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
fill. It 18 a heavy cross to disagree with those we love, and specially about spiritual things. But if this cross be laid upon us, we must remember that firmness and decision are true kindness. It can never be true love to relatives to do wrong, in order to please them. And, best of all, firmness accompanied by gentlen…
299 wordsSECTION 185LUKE, CHAP. XIV. VER. 25 — 35. 169
wish to discourage men from becoming His disciples ? Did He mean to make the gate of life appear more narrow than it is ? It is not difficult to find an answer to these questions. Our Lord spoke as He did to prevent men following Him lightly and inconsiderately, from mere animal feeling or temporary excitement, who in …
296 wordsSECTION 186170 EXF06IT0RT THOUGHTS.
The necessity of '^ cotmting tiie cost " is enforced by a picture of the consequences of neglecting to do so. The man who has once made a profession of religion, but has afterwards gone back from it, is like salt which has ''lost its savour." Such salt is comparatively useless. '' It is neither fit for the land, nor fi…
741 wordsSECTION 187172 BXPOSITOBY THOI36HTS.
31. — [What king, dc] Some regard this "king" as an emblem of a believer, and the king coming " with twenty thousand," as Satan. I am quite unable to see this. Both here and in the preceding three verses, I believe our Lord is only borrowing an illustration from familiar subjects, and that we are not meant to look furt…
495 wordsSECTION 188LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 1 — 10.
173 fts the heart which once professed to love the Gospel, hut after- wards hecame cold and indififerent to it. I can certainly testify, after sixteen years ministry, that hy far the most hopeless and painful deathheds I have attended have been those of backsliders. I have seen some such persons go out of the world w…
120 wordsSECTION 189LUKE XV. 1—10.
1 Then drew near unto him all the Publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and Sciibes muimured, saying, This man receiv- eth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety a…
321 wordsSECTION 190174 BXP081T0BY THOUGHTS.
These words were evidently spoken with surprise and scorn, and not with pleasure and admiration. These ignorant guides of the Jews could not understand a preacher of religion having anything to do with wicked people ! Yet their words worked for good. The very saying which was meant for a reproach was adopted by the Lor…
295 wordsSECTION 191LUKE> CHAP. XV. VEK. 1 — 10. 175
love towards sinners. We read that in reply to the taunting remark of His enemies He spoke three parables, — ^the parables of the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and the prodigal son. The two first of these parables are now before us. All three are meant to illustrate one and the same truth. They all throw strong…
629 wordsSECTION 192LUKE CHAP. XV. VER. 1 — 10. 177
verses we are now looking at, and be afraid no more. There is nothing on God's part to justify his fears. An open door is set before him. A free pardon awaits him. " If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to for- give our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'' (1 John i. 8.) Let the man who is asha…
345 wordsSECTION 193178 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
place, — Luke xix. 7. It means literallj " murmured greatly/' or " were constantly murmuring" throughout the journey. [This man receiveth sinners.] — These words should he carefully noted. They are the key note to the whole chapter. A constant recollection of them throws light on the interpretation of all the three pa…
508 wordsSECTION 194LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 1 — 10. 179
were simply inteDded to illustrate one great leading truth, the deep self-sacrificiDg love of Christ towards sinners, and the pleasiu-e with which He saves them. The beautiful fitness of the images chosen in the parable, is very striking. Our Lord speaks of Himself in the 10th chapter of St. John, as the good Shepherd…
652 wordsSECTION 195LUKE XV. 11—24.
11 And he said, A certain man had two eons : 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the por- tion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them hia living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far coun- try, and there wasted his …
338 wordsSECTION 196LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 11 — 24. 181
The parable before us is commonly known as the parable of " the prodigal son." It may be truly called a mighty spiritual picture. Unlike some of our Lord's parables, it does not convey to us one great lesson only, but many. Every part of it is peculiarly rich in instruction. We see, firstly, in this parable, man follo…
298 wordsSECTION 197182 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
the toays of sin are hard, hy bitter experience. Our Lord shows us the younger son spending all his property and reduced to want, — obliged to take service and "feed 8wine,"-80 hungry that he is ready to eat swine's food, and cared for by none. These words describe a common case. Sin is a hard master, and the servants…
305 wordsSECTION 198LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 11 — ^24. 183
words. Thousands have reasoned in this way, and are saying such things to themselves every day. And we must be thankful when we see such thoughts arise. Thinking is not change of heart, but it may be the be- g^inning of it. Conviction is not conversion, but it is one step, at any rate, in a right direction. The ruin of…
297 wordsSECTION 199184 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
which is not of this character. Action is the very life of ''repentance unto salvation." Feelings^ and tears, and re- morse, and wishes, and resolutions, are all useless, until they are accompanied by action and a change of life. In fact they are worse than useless. Insensibly they sear the conscience and harden the he…
319 wordsSECTION 200LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 11 — ^24. 186
graven deeply in our memories, and sink into our minds. Let us never forget that He is One '^ that receiveth sin- ners." With Him and His mercy sinners ought to begin, when they first begin to desire salvation. On Him and His mercy saints must live, when they have been taught to repent and believe. " The life which I l…
86 wordsSECTION 201NOTBS. LUKB XV. 11—24.
1 1 . — [A certain man had two sons.l Of all the parables in the New TestameDt this is perhaps the most full and instructive. Of the three in this chapter it is far the most striking. The first parable concerns one sheep out of a hundred. The second concerns one piece of money out of ten. The one before us concerns one…
355 wordsSECTION 202186 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
I content myself with remarking that I do not believe they represent the mind of Christ. The parable contains a story which strikingly illustrates Christ's love toward sinners. That story is told in the most striking manner, and is conveyed in imagery of the most graphic kind. But I am quite unable to see that every pa…
450 wordsSECTION 203LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 11 24. 187
18 — [Against heaven and thee, rfc] This is a confession of sin against God and man. It is one of the places in Scripture where " heaven," the place where God dwells, is used for God Himself. See Daniel iv. 26 ; and Matt. xxi. 25. 20. — [He arose and went.] The remark is sometimes made that the prodigal son's holdness…
478 wordsSECTION 204188 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
say a single word to bis son about bis profligacy and wickedness. There is neither rebuke nor reproof for the past, nor galling admonitions for the present, nor irritating advice for the future. The one idea that is represented as filling bis mind, is joy that his son has come home. This is a striking fact. [The best …
458 wordsSECTION 205LUKE, CHAP. XV. VER. 25 — 32.
189 The words of our Lord are often so deep that they will admit of a double meaning. So it may be here. The parable may be interpreted both of nations and of individuals. All I maintain is, that the individual personal interpretation of it is decidedly the primary one which it ought to receive.…
55 wordsSECTION 206LUKE XV. 25—32.
26 Now his elder son was in the field : and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the serv- ants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thv broUier is come ; and thy fSather hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and s…
330 wordsSECTION 207190 BX706ITORT THOUGHTS.
treated so well as his merits deserved. He shows him utterly unable to share in the joy which prevaLled when his younger brother came home, and giving way to ill- natured and envious thoughts. It is a painful picture, but a very instructive one. For one thing, this elder brother is an exact picture of the Jews of our …
292 wordsSECTION 208LUKE, OBAF. XV. VBBL 26 32. 151
sidfirii^. Their voice is ilie voice of tke '' elder bro- ther." Let us beware of this spirit infecting our own hearts. It arises partly from ignorance. Men begin by not seeing their own sinfcdness and xmwor&iness, and thai they &ncy that they are much better than others, and that nobody is worthy to be put by their s…
293 wordsSECTION 209192 BXPOSITOBT ' THOUGHTS.
fold. They would have been thankful to see them plucked as brands from the burning, and not cast away for ever. Of all these feelings, unhappily, they knew nothing. Wrapped in their own self-righteousness they murmured and found fault, when in reality they ought to haye thanked God and rejoiced. The lesson is one whic…
1,465 wordsSECTION 210LUKE XVI. 1—12.
1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, wnich had a steward ; and the same was ac- cused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto hsn, How is it that I hear this of thee ? give an account of thy steward- ship ; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 8 Then …
322 wordsSECTION 211196 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The passage we have now read is a difficult one. There are knots in it which perhaps will never be untied, until the Lord comes again. We might reasonably expect that a book written by inspiration, as the Bible is, would con- tain things hard to be understood. The fault lies not in the book, but in our own feeble imder…
898 wordsSECTION 212LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VBR. 1 — 12. 199
the sight of God." The man who is not dealing honestly with the gold and silver of this world, can never be one who has true riches in heaven. "If ye have not been faithfal in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own ? " The doctrine laid down by our Lord in this place, deserves most seri…
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the steward all true penitents, — and that the steward's lowering the hills represents the fb*8t actions of repentance and charity. Vitringa thinks that the rich man means God, and the steward the Pharisees, — that the accusation against the steward means, the charges of the prophets and of Christ, — and that the lowe…
446 wordsSECTION 214LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VBK. 1-^12. 201
publicans ought to do, — ^to be faithful in money matters, and to make themselves Mends by a right use of their wealth. These, or some of them, appear to me the connecting links between the parable before us, and the preceding chapter. It looks to me like a caution to our Lord's " disciples." They were not to suppose …
495 wordsSECTION 215202 ' BXF06IT0RT THOUGHTS.
[They may receive me,] Let it be noted that the expreaeion "they" is here used generally and indefinitely. We are not told to whom it is applied. Precisely the same expression will be found in the ninth verse. 6. -{An hundred.;, fifty!] The dishonesty of the steward, we should observei consisted in this : — He struck …
975 wordsSECTION 216204 KXFOSRORT THOUGHTS.
[Thetf nuMff receive you.] I cannot bdiere that diis expreaakin refeiB either to the Trinity, the angels, or the persons whom we have helped with our money. I regard it as indefinite, and signifying only ** ye may be received." The same sort of expres- sion is found in Matt L 23. y. 15 ; Luke xiL 20 ; Acts viL 6 ; 1 Th…
500 wordsSECTION 217LUKE XVI. 13—18.
13 No servant can serye two mas- ters : for either he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things : and they derided him. Id And he said unto them, Ye are tiiey whic…
375 wordsSECTION 218206 EXFOSITORT THOUGHTS.
not be done. They are striving to " serve God and mam- mon." He that desires to be a happy Christian, will do well to ponder our Lord's sayings in this verse. There is per- haps no point on which the experience of all God's saints is more uniform than this, that decision is the secret of comfort in Christ's service. I…
316 wordsSECTION 219LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VEK. 13 — 18. 207
The truth of this solemn saying appears on every side of us. We have only to look round the world and mark the things on which most men set their affections, in order to see it proved in a hundred ways. Riches, and honours, and rank, and pleasure, are the chief objects for which the greater part of mankind are living. …
309 wordsSECTION 220208 EXF08ITD1IT THOUGHTS.
we are prepared for the jadgment day. To lore what God lores, to liate what God hates, and to improve what God approTes, is the highest style of Christiaiiity. The moment we find onrselres hononiing anything which in the sight of God is lighily esteemed, we may be sure there is something wrong in onr sonls. These Ters…
291 wordsSECTION 221LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VER, 13 18. 209
aside by the gospel. Some on the other hand think that the law is still binding on na, and that we are to be saved by obedience to it, — ^bat that its requirements are lowered by the gospel, and can be met by our imperfect obedience. Both these views are erroneous and unscriptural. Against both let us be on our guard. …
373 wordsSECTION 222210 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS
them solemnly of the uselessness of all such professions, whil?^ the heart is unrenewed and cleaving to the world. And the state of their hearts, He reminds them, is known to God. They might deceive the eye of man, but they could not deceive God. [Highly-esteemed.^ The Greek word so translated means liter- ally, "high…
470 wordsSECTION 223LTJKE, CHAP. XVI. VBB. 19 — 31.
211 haye paved tbe way to a clearer reyelation, but they have not been cast aside." 18. — [^]Vho8oever puttetk away his wife, <Bc.] Tbe connection of this verse with the preceding is again somewhat abrupt. The chain of thought seems as follows : — " So far from comiug to destroy the law, 0 ye Pharisees, I would have …
233 wordsSECTION 224LUKE XYI. 19— 3L
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple, and fine linen, and fared, sumptuously every dav: ^ And there wa^ a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table : moreover the dogs came and licked …
317 wordsSECTION 225212 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The parable we have now read, in one respect stands alone in the Bible. It is the only passage of Scripture which describes the feelings of the unconverted after death. For this reason, as well as for many others, the parable deserves especial attention. We learn, firstly, from this parable, that a man's worldly condi…
311 wordsSECTION 226LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VER. 19 — 31. 213
The trials of the " beggar/' and the sumptuous faring of the '^rich man," alike ceased at last. There came a time when both of them died. "All go to one place." (Eccles. iii. 20.) Death is a great fact that all acknowledge, but very few seem to realize. Most men eat, and drink, and talk, and plan, as if they were goin…
603 wordsSECTION 227LUKE, CHAP. XVI. VER. 19 — 31. 215
entirely. When he is dead he finds out too late the folly of which they had all been guilty, and desires that, if possible, they might be called to repentance. The change that will come over the minds of uncon- verted men after death is one of the most fearful points in their future condition. They will see, and know,…
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the benefit of the Pharisees, to whom He was speaking when He delivered it. I believe the connecting link is to be found in the 9th verse, where Jesus said, " Make to yourselves Mends of the mammon of unrighteousness," and in the 14th verse, where it is said, " The Pharisees, who were covetous, heard all these things, …
493 wordsSECTION 229218 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
22. — [Into Abraham! 8 bosom.'] This expression is most probably a proverbial one. It signifies tbe place of rest and safety to whicb all believing Jews were earned after deatb. Abraham was the father of the faithful, and the head of the whole Jewish family, and to be with him after death implied happiness. The express…
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we know whether one from the dead was a devil or a credible messenger? and whether he said true or false ? Should he dwell with us as long as ministers, men would again despise and per- secute him. Should he come but once, it would not equal the daily solicitations of God's ministers. " "Would not the rich man's guilt…
343 wordsSECTION 231LUKB, CJHAP. XVII. VBE. 1 — 4. 221
understand the doctrines and principles of believers. But the world is very keen-sighted about their practice. The sin against which our Lord warns us was the sin of David. When he had broken the seventh command- menty and taken the wife of Uriah to be his wife, the prophet Nathan said to him, ''Thou hast ^ven great o…
314 wordsSECTION 232222 SXF06IT0RT THOUGHTS.
weight, and the sin which most easily besets us, and so to live that men can find no fault in us, except concerning the law of our God. Let us watch jealously over our tempers and tongues, and the discharge of our social duties. Anything is better than doing harm to souk. The cross of Christ will always give offence. L…
427 wordsSECTION 233224 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
thoughts to nestle undisturbed in our hearts! These things ought not so to be. The more carefully we attend to such practical lessons as this passage contains, the more shall we recommend our religion to others, and the more inward peace shall we find in our own souls. Notes. Luke XVII. 1—4. 1. — [TJien said he unto …
771 wordsSECTION 234LUKE XVII. 6—10.
5 And the Apostles said unto the Ix>rd, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might flay onto this sycamine tree, Be thou plneked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea ; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a ser- <raiit plowing or feeding cattl…
469 wordsSECTION 235LUKE, CHAP. XVII. VBR. 5 — 10. 227
should be the daily prayer and endeayour of all who love life. When the apostleis said, " increase our faith," they did well. Have we any faith at all P This, after all, is the first question which the subject should raise in our hearts. Saving faith is not mere repetition of the creed, and saying, " I believe in God …
304 wordsSECTION 236228 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
allow its presence in themselves. Seldom will a man be found, however wicked, who does not secretly flattei: himself that there is somebody else worse than he is. Seldom will a saint be found who is not at seasons tempted to be satisfied and pleased with himself. There is such a thing as a pride which wears the cloak o…
309 wordsSECTION 237LUKE, CHAP. XVII. VER. 5 — 10. 229
Once let the light of grace shine into a man's heart, and the reign of self-righteousness is over. The roots of pride may remain, and often put forth bitter shoots. But the power of pride is broken when the Spirit comes into the heart, and shows the man himself, and God. The true Christian will never trust in his own g…
402 wordsSECTION 238230 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
7. — [Feeding oatUe^\ , The Greek word so rendered does not necessarily mean feeding cattle. It might as well have been sheep. The Greek word for " shepherd" is the substantive from which it is taken. [By and by.] The Greek word so rendered is translated in seventy-five other places in the New Testament, " immediately…
611 wordsSECTION 239LUKE XVII. 11—19.
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samazia and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off : 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw themy…
277 wordsSECTION 240232 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." They felt acutely the deplorable state of their bodies. They found words to express their feelings. They cried earnestly for relief when a chance of relief appeared in sight. The conduct of the ten lepers is very instructive. It throws light on a most important subject in pr…
308 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.