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
LTJKE, CHAP. XVII. VER. 11 — 19. 233
Let US mark, secondly, in these verses, how help meets men in the path of obedience. We are told that when the lepers cried to our Lord, He only replied, " Go show your- selves to the priests." He did not touch them and command their disease to depart. He prescribed no medicine, no washing, no use of outward material m…
297 wordsSECTION 242234 £XF06I10RY THOUGHTS.
The lesson before us is humbling, heart-searching, and deeply instructive. The best of us are far too like the nine lepers. We are more ready to pray than to praise, and more disposed to ask God for what we have not, than to thank Him for what we have. Murmurings, and complainings^ and discontent abound on every side o…
296 wordsSECTION 243LUKE, CHAP. XVII. VKR. 11 — 19. 236
w31 be daily blessing and praising God. Thankfulness is a flower which will never bldom well excepting upon a loot of deep humility. Notes. Lukb. XVII. 11—19. 11. — [Passed, . .midst., , Samaria. . . Oalilee.] There is some difficulty about this expression. The usual road in travelling from the north of Palestine to …
436 wordsSECTION 244236 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The Roman Catholic inference from this verse, that our Lord intended there should he a Christian priesthood, and that sinners deriving spiritual relief were always meant to go to a ptiest, is utterly baseless. There is nothing whatever in the verse to warrant it. So long as the ceremonial law lasted, and the Levitical …
377 wordsSECTION 245LUKE XVII. 20-25.
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of Ood should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with, obeenratum : 21 Neither shall thevsay, Lo here * or, lo there ! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within vou. 22 And he saia unto the disciplea. The days will come, when y…
699 wordsSECTION 246LTJKB^ CHAP. XVII. VBK. 20 — ^25. 239
The second personal advent of Christ is the real fulfil- ment of these words. Of the precise day and hour of that advent we know nothing. But whenever it may take place, one thing at least is clear, — ^it will come on the Church and the world suddenly, instantaneously, and without previous notice. The whole tenor of Sc…
1,027 wordsSECTION 247242 XXF06ITOKT THOT7GH3».
tlie kingdom of GK)d is come." — ^Neither the first spiritual king* dom which began under the Gospel, nor the second glorious kingdom which shall begin at the second advent, were intended by God to be ushered in by such clear unmistakeable signs, that no one could fail to see them, aud do room be left for unbelief. Th…
485 wordsSECTION 248LUKE, CHAP. XVII. VBB. 26—37.
243 2A.'~{For as the Ugktning, SeA In this verse our Lord declares distinctly that His second advent, when it does taKe .place, will he so suaden, so clearly-marked, and so unmistakeahle, that true believers shall at once recognize it as the coming of their King. It will not be a slow, gradual event. It will come on m…
1,414 wordsSECTION 249LXTKE^.GHAP. XVII. VBR. 26—37. 247
good and evil, converted and unconverted, shall at length be divided into two distinct bodies. The visible Church shall no longer be a mixed body. The wheat and the tares shall no longer grow side by-side. The good fish and the bad shaU at length be sorted into two bodies. The angels shall come forth, and gather togeth…
1,493 wordsSECTION 250Part 250
[lVhere8oever„.body...^agle8...together.] This is a dark and mysterious saying, and has greatly perplexed all conmientators. That it refers to the weU-known power of the vulture-tribe, to discern carcases, whether by eye or by smell, is allowed by all. (Job xxxix. 80.) — That it is a proverbial saying, signifying the g…
268 wordsSECTION 251LUKE CHAP. XVITI. VBR. 1 — 8.
251 Matthew Henry, with characteristio kindliness, seems to think, that this interpretation and the former one may both be correct at the same time. 3. Somethink that "the eagles" mean false prophets. This is the Tiew of Aretius and Arias Montanus. 4. Some think that "the eagles** mean all mankind, and *' the body,'…
739 wordsSECTION 252LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBB. 1 8. 253
The subjeot of prayer ought always to be interesting to Christians. Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity. Here it is that religion begins. Here it flourishes. Here it decays. Prayer is one of the first evidences of conversion. (Acts ix. 11.) Neglect of prayer IB the sure road to a fall. (Matt. xxvi. 40, …
303 wordsSECTION 253254 KXF06IT0RT TU0X7OHTB.
inthout ceasing" — and " contmue in prayer/' (1 Thess. T. 17. Coloss. It. 2.) Let ns arm our minds with ikoB parablei and while we live, whatever we make time for, let us make time for prayer. These verses teach us^ secondly, that -God has an ded people upon earth, who are under His special care. The Lord Jesus declar…
288 wordsSECTION 254LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBR. 1 — 8. 255
' 'Bat what are the marks of election P By what tokens shall a man know whether he is one of God's elect P These marks are clearly laid down in Scripture. Elec- tion is inseparably connected with faith in Christy and joonformity to His image. (Rom. viii. 29^ 30.) It was when St. Paul saw the working "faith/' and patien…
686 wordsSECTION 255LTJK£,.CBAP. XVHI. TBE. 1 — 8. 257
My own impression is that the parable was meant simply to describe the duty of individual believer? during the whole period ^ of the present dispensation, and^to encourage them to persever- ing prayer, by holding out the hope that God will at length plead their cause, when things seem at the worst. [Which feared not G…
904 wordsSECTION 256LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VER. 9 — 14.
269 LUKE XVin. 9—14. 9 And he spake this parable unto oertidn which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the tem- nie to pray ; the* one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed Chits with himself, God, I thank thee tbftt I am not…
990 wordsSECTION 257262 BXP06ITORT THOUGHTS.
right place. The Publican confessed plainly that he was a sinner. This is the very A B G of saving Ghristianify. We never begin to be good till we can feel and say that we are bad. — For another thing, it was a prayer in w^ch mercy was the chief thing desired, and faith in Gbd^s covenant mercy, however weak, displayed.…
313 wordsSECTION 258LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBR. 9 — 14. 263
US, is among the first and foremost graces of the Christian character. It was a leading grace in Abraham, Jacob, Moees, David, Job, Isaiah, and Daniel. It ought to be a leading grace in all who profess to serve Christ. All the Lord's people have not gifts or money. All are not called to preach, or write, or fill a prom…
1,111 wordsSECTION 259266 KZF06ITOBT THOUGHTS.
they think so. — Some think that all children are regenerate by yirtue of their baptism. Others seem to think that children are incapable of receiving any grace, and Uiat they ought not to be enrolled in the Church till they alie grown up. — Some think that children are naturally inno» cent, and would do no wickedness …
295 wordsSECTION 260IMBLB, CHAP. XVIII. VBR. 16 — 17. 267
benefit from baptism. But the duty of baptizing them remains the same. — ^The minds of young children are not ;i^equal to receiving religious impressions. The readiness yrith which their minds receive the doctrines of the Gos- pel, and their consciences respond to them, is matter of £aqt well known to all who have anyt…
294 wordsSECTION 261268 EXPOSITORT THOUQHTB.
treasures, — their comparatiye humility, harmlessness, and freedom from deceit, — are points in which they furnish believers with an excellent example. Happy is he who can draw near to Christ and the Bible in the sjmt of a little child ! *' Out of such as little children," the Church of Qtod on earth ought to be const…
692 wordsSECTION 262BXP08IT0RT THOUGHTS.
the circumcision of children under the law, — ^to the haptiem of whole families in the Acts, — to the striking absence of any hint in the New Testament, that children were not to be formally admitted into the church by an outward ordinance under the Gospel, as they had beeu under the law, — and not least to the remarka…
451 wordsSECTION 263LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VER. 18 — ^27. 271
his duty towards the Gentiles, He sent him a vision' which was repeated " three times.*' (Acts x. 16.) We learn, firstly, from these verses, to what lengths men may go in self-ignorance. We are told of " a certain mler," who asked our Lord what he should ''do to inherit eternal life." Our Lord knew the ruler's heart, …
622 wordsSECTION 264LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBR. 18 — 27. 273
obstinately dung to, is enough to shut a soul out of heaven. The love of money, secretly nourished in the heart, is enough to bring a man, in other respects moral and irreproachable, down to the pit of hell. We learn, thirdly, from these verses, hoio great » the difficuUf/ of a rich man being saved. Our Lord declares …
304 wordsSECTION 265274 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
our desires were granted. Money, whicli thousands are constantly wamting and longing for, — ^money, whicli many make their god, — ^money keeps myriads of souls out of heaven ! " They that will be rich faU into temptation and a snare." Happy is he who has learned to pray, GKve me neither poverty ner riches," and is rea…
296 wordsSECTION 266LUKS^ CHAP. XVIII. VER. 18 — ^27. 275
following a sinM calling. It matters not what our in- come may be, whether we are burdened witii riches or pinched with poverty. Grace, and not place, is the hinge on which our salvation turns. Money will not keep us out of heaven if our hearts are right before God. Christ can make us more than conquerors. Christ can e…
399 wordsSECTION 267276 EXPOSITOKY THOUGHTS.
does not recite the commandments in the exact order in which they are given in Exodus. It is a singular fact that in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament the seventh command- ment is put hefore the sixth. 22. — [Yet lackest thou one thing.] The process hy which our Lord convinces the ruler of sin should not he …
475 wordsSECTION 268LTJKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBR. 28 — 34. 277
' td prevent the plundering Arab from riding into the inner court. Still they train their camels to make their way, though with difficulty, through these door ways. It was probably in allusion to this practice tibat this proverbial expression was formed." 27. — [Things.,. impossible J do.] This is a general proverbial…
74 wordsSECTION 269LUKE XVIII. 28—34.
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I aay unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or breth- ren, or wife, or children, for the Idngdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life…
624 wordsSECTION 270LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VER. 28 — 34. 279
it up to us even in this present world. What believers need is more daily practical faith in Christ's words. The weU of living water is always near us, as we travel through tibe wilderness of this world. Yet for want of faith we often fail to see it, and faint by the way. (Gen. xxi. 19.) Let us observe, secondly, in th…
946 wordsSECTION 271282 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
sake. A few boats and fishing nets were probably the wh<^e amount of their worldly goods. Yet it must never be forgotten that a poor man's *' all ' is as dear to him, in a certain senne, as the rich man's palace. He knows nothing higher or better excepting by report. In giving up everything for Christ's sake, he makes,…
486 wordsSECTION 272LT7KE, CHAP. XVIII. VBK. 35 43. 283
Jews by Pilate, with permission to judge Him according to their law, it is wonderful that He was not stoned. But all was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." 34. — [They understood none, rfc] The blindness of the disciples about our Lord's crucifixion and sufferings is, at first sight, very extraordinary. But…
782 wordsSECTION 273LUKE, CHAP. XVIII. VBE. 3S — 43. 285
is always found of those who really seek Him. The Sab- bath breaker, the Bible-neglecter, and the prayerless man are forsaking their own mercies and digging graves for their own souls. They are not sitting " by the way-side." We see, for another thing, in this passage, an example of our duty in the matter of prayer. We…
329 wordsSECTION 274286 BXF06IT0RT THOUGHTS.
We see, for anotber thing, in this passage, an m- cauraging instance of Christ 8 kindness and compassion. We are told that when the blind man continued crying for mercy, our Lord " stood and commanded him to be brought unto Him." He was going up to Jerusalem to die, and had weighty matters on His mind, but He found tim…
312 wordsSECTION 275LUKE,. CHAP. XVIII. VER. 36 43. 287
tie oonduct which becomes one who has received mercy from Christ. We are told that when the blind man was re- stored to sight, " he followed Jesus, glorifying God." He felt deeply grateful. He resolved to show his gratitude by becoming one of our Lord's followers and disciples. Pharisees might cavil at our Lord. Sadduc…
325 wordsSECTION 276288 EXPOSITORY THOUOHTB.
With regard to the Tariation in tiie reports of the number of blind men, there is little difficulty. There were doubtless two blind persons healed. Mark and Luke, howeyer, only report one case, which was probably tb«t of the man best known at Jericho. Mark tells us that his name was Bartinueus. — Pre- cisely the same y…
496 wordsSECTION 277LUKE, C2HAP. XYIII. VBR. 36 — 43. 289
Other, and that the hlind men were sitting on the road hetween the two towns. Our Lord might then be truly reported as " going out " of one town, and "coming nigh" to another. (5.) — Markland thinks that " as he came nigh,** means, *' as he came nigh to Jerusalem," and St. Luke onlj means that Jesus on His journey to …
440 wordsSECTION 278LUKE XIX. 1—10.
1 And JwuB entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, thtrt toot a man named Zacchffius, which was the chief among the Publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was ; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree …
720 wordsSECTION 279292 BXP061T0RY THOUGHTS.
In every work there must be a beginning, and in epiriteal work that beginning is often very small. Do we see a careless brother beginning to use means of graoe^ whiek in time past he neglected P Do we see him coming to Church and listening to the Gospel after a ]ong coiuse of Sabbath-breaking P When we see such things …
309 wordsSECTION 280LUKB, CHAP. XIX. VEB. 1 — 10. 293
fiimly and never let tihem go. Their prioe is above rubies. Qtsee, free grace, is the only thought which gives men nest in a dying hour. — ^Let us proclaim these doctrines oonfidently to every one to whom we speak about spiri* toal things. Let us bid them come to J,esus Christ, just as they are, and not wait in the vai…
1,616 wordsSECTION 281LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBR. 11 — 27. 297
(Szod. xxii. 1 ;) but even this was exacted only of him who had .. nade away with the property he had stolen. *If the theft be jEbttnd in his hand alive, he was only to restore double.' (Exod. zxiL 4.) But with respect to him who confessed his crime it is only said, " he shall recompense his trespass with the principal…
936 wordsSECTION 282LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBR. 11 — ^27. 299
making intercession for them. But He will not sit there always. He will come forth from the holy of holies to bless His people. He will come .again with power and glory to put down every enemy under His feet, and to set up His universal kingdom on earth. At present " we see not all things put under Him.'' The devil is …
615 wordsSECTION 283LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBR. 11 — ^27. 301
denmed of the Lord. It is a weighty saying of St. James, '' So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of Kberiy." (1 Cor. xi. 31. James ii. 12.) We see, for another thing, in this parable, th certain rmmrdofall irue Christiam. Our Lord tells us that those who are found to have been faithful serva…
306 wordsSECTION 284302 EXF06IT0KT THOUGHTS.
one servant who had done nothing with his lord's money, but had ** laid it up in a napkin/' — ^We are told of his use- less arguments in his own defence, and of his final min, for not using the knowledge which he confessedly possessed. There can be no mistake as to the persons he represents. — He represents the whole c…
311 wordsSECTION 285LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VKR. 11 — 27. 303
world for a great end, to seek and save that which was lost. Their minds were probably full of the idea that He was come to restore the kingdom to Israel, and save the Jews from the power of Borne. He proceeds to check their error. [Spake a parable.^ There is great resemblance between this parable and that of the tale…
906 wordsSECTION 286LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBK. 11 — ^27. 306
[Over ten citiea.] Let it be noted, that the servant who had turned one pound into ten, was set over ten cities, and the ser- vant who had turned one into five, was set over five cities. Each was rewarded according to his diligence. The doctrine of reward according to works seems to stand out here as well as in other p…
913 wordsSECTION 287LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBR. 28 — 40.
307 who make a good use of the Gospel, for their own good and for God's glory. Thirdly, there are unfaithful, formal Christians, who have Christianity, but make no real use of it. Of these it should be always noted, that the parable does not charge them with being open enemies of Christ, or open breakers of God's com…
89 wordsSECTION 288LUKE XIX. 28-40.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jeru- •alem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over agamst you ; in the which at your entering ye shedl find a …
369 wordsSECTION 289308 HXPQSITORY THOUGHTS,
naked and open, — like one whose eyes were in every place, — ^like one who knew things nnseen as well as things seen. An attentive reader will observe the same thing in other parts of the Gospel. We are told in one place that " He knew the thoughts " of His enemies. "We are told in another, that "He knew what was in m…
288 wordsSECTION 290LT7KE, CHAP. XIX. VEB. 28 40. 309
what are their daily trials^ and who are their oompamons. There is not a word in their mouths, or a thought in their hearts, hut Jesus knows it altogether. Let them take courage when they are slandered, misunderstood, and misrepresented hy the world. It matters nothing so long as they can say, "Thou, Lord, who knowest …
304 wordsSECTION 291310 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
cross. His work as the great Prophet, so far as His earthly ministry was concerned, was almost finished and completed. His work as the sacrifice for sin and sub- stitute for sinners, remained to be accomplished. Before giving Himself up as a sacrifice. He desired to draw the attention of the whole Jewish nation to Hims…
307 wordsSECTION 292LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VEB. 28 — 40. 311
reflection, that the joy of Christ's disciples at His entry into Jerusalem, when He came to be crucified, will prove as nothing compared to the joy of His people when He comes again to reign.— That first joy was soon broken off and exchanged for sorrow and bitter tears. The second joy shall be a joy for evermore. — ^Th…
367 wordsSECTION 293312 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
our Lord might have easily done, if He had bees minded to take to Himself a temporal dominion. 32. — [Found as he had said.] It is interesting to note here how many various minute oircumstanoes were mentioned by our Lord when He sent His disciples for the colt, and how accurate His description proved. 37. — [Multitud…
451 wordsSECTION 294LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBR. 41 — 48.
313 lem. Myriads of Jews from foreign parts came up to the holy city at the feast of the passover. There was prohahly not one among them who did not hear that a wonderful teacher had arriyed, who claimed to be the Messiah, and rode into the city in the manner predicted by Zechariah. His death on the cross a few days a…
79 wordsSECTION 295LUKE XIX. 41-48.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the cily, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou nadst known, eren thou, at least in thiis thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trenoh about thee, and compass …
330 wordsSECTION 296314 SXPOSFTORY THODOHTS.
but His own believing people. He cares for all. His heart is wide enough to take an interest in all mankind. His compassion extends to every man, woman, and child on earth. He has a love of general pity for the num who is going on still in wickedness, as well as a love of special affection for the sheep who hear His vo…
306 wordsSECTION 297LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VBK. 41 48. 315
They would not calmly examine evidences^ and im- partially consider great plain facts. Her people would ijot see "the signs of the times." Therefore judgment was soon to come upon Jerusalem to the uttermost. Her wilful ignorance left her without excuse. The principle laid down hy our Lord in this place is deeply impor…
581 wordsSECTION 298LUKE, CHAP. XIX. VEB. 41 — 48. 317
stifling convictions, and not quenching the workings of conscience. He that resists the voice of conscience may be throwing away his last chance of salvation. That warn- ing voice may be God's "day of visitation." The neglect of it may fill up the measure of a man's iniquity, and provoke God to let him alone for ever. …
299 wordsSECTION 299320 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
the world, must make up his mind to be treated like Kis Master. He must never be surprised to find, that the self-righteous and the worldly-minded dislike His ways. The lawfulness of his proceedings will be constantly called in question. He will be regarded as meddlesome, dis- orderly, and self-conceited, a pestilent f…
290 wordsSECTION 300LUKE, CHAP. XX. VER. 1 — 8. 321
not to recollect tliat they and all Jerusalem had gone out to John's baptism, and confessed that John was a pro- phet P Yet John had always told them plainly that Christ was the Messiah ! Surely, if they were honest they would not come now to demand His authority. If they really believed John to be a prophet sent from …
288 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.