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. XXII. VER. 1 — 13. 391
the choicest weapons of Satan for corrupting and spoiling professors of religion* Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira are names which naturally occur to our minds. But of all proofs, there is none so melancholy as the one before us. For money a chosen apostle sold the best and most loving of Masters ! For money Judas Iscariot…
670 wordsSECTION 362LUKE, CHAP. XXU. VKR. 1 — 13. 393
extinguishes tbe light of reason, and destroys every feeling of shame." 4. — [The Cdptains!] These were not Roman officers. They were commanders of the Jewish guard of the Temple. 5. — [To give him money.'] Quesnel remarks, *' It is avarice and the desire of earthly riches, which generally lays open the hearts of ecc…
893 wordsSECTION 363LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 14 — 23.
395 LUKE XXn. 14—23. 14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Pass- over with you before I suffer . 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be ful- filled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he …
711 wordsSECTION 364LUKE, CHAP. 3LX1I. VER. 14 — 23. 397
We should cling firmly to the great principle laid down at its institution, that it is eminently a commemorative ordi- nance, and that reception of it without faith and a thankful remembrance of Christ's death can do us no good. The words of the Church-Catechism are wise and true : " It was ordained for the continual r…
616 wordsSECTION 365LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 14 — ^23. 399
Let us notice, lastly, who were the communicanis at the first appointment of the Lord's Supper, They were not all holy. They were not aU believers. St. Luke in- forms us that the traitor, Judas Iscariot, was one of them. The words of our Lord admit of no other fair interpretation. "Behold," He says, "the hand of him th…
302 wordsSECTION 366400 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
to eat of that bread and drink of that cup, which the Lord has commanded to be received. Notes. Lukb XXII. 14—23. 1 1. — [Tfie twelve apostJ^s with him.] It is clear from this expres- sion that at this time Judas Iscariot was one of the company. IT). — [With desire I have desired, dc] This is a Hebrew form of speech…
462 wordsSECTION 367LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 14 — 23. 401
[Oiven for you.] It may be asked by whom and to what was our Lord's body given ? It was given by His own free will and choice, as well as by God the Fathers love, to suffering, to death, and to the grave, on behalf of a world of sinners, to procure eternal life for as many as would believe on Him. 19. — [Do this.] The…
916 wordsSECTION 368LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 24 — 30. 403
liarly unseemly. And yet at this very season, the last quiet time they could spend with their Master before His death, this litUe flock begins a contention who should be the greatest! Such is the heart of man, ever weak, ever deceitful, ever ready, even at its best times, to turn aside to what is evil. The sin before …
306 wordsSECTION 369404 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
ness was the exercise of lordship and authority. " But ye," He says, "shall not be so. He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger ; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." And then He enforces this principle by the mighty fact of His own example. " I am among you as he that serveth." Usefulness in …
323 wordsSECTION 370LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 24 — 30. 405
ter to the wants of a sin-burdened world, and do good to bodies and souls. Blessed be God ! the greatness which Christ commended is within the reach of all. All have not learning, or gifts, or money. But all can minister to the happiness of those around them, by passive or by active graces. All can be useful, and iaU c…
590 wordsSECTION 371LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 24 — 30. 407
thought that the wages which Christ will give to His believing people will be far out of proportion to any- thing they have done for Him. Their tears will be found in His bottle. Their least desires to do good will be found recorded. Their weakest efforts to glorify Him will be found written in His book of remembrance.…
858 wordsSECTION 372LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VEK. 31 — 38.
409 or governing," and has no reference to passing a judicial sentence. I cannot pretend to speak decidedly on a question so mys- terious as this. I am however inc]ined to think, that the last view of the four is the most probable one. The following quotations given by Ford, throw light on this view, and are worth re…
352 wordsSECTION 373LUKE XXII. 31—38.
31 And theLordsaid, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may aifb you as wheat : 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy fSedth fail not : and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am read^ to go with thee, both into priflon, and to death. 34 And …
117 wordsSECTION 374BXFOSITOKY THOUGHTS.
now, ho that hath a pone, let him take it^ and likewise Au scrip : and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accom- plished in me. And he waa reckoned among the transgressors : for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they s…
349 wordsSECTION 375LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 31 — 38. 411
hardness and blindness of unconverted men, that they can jest and speak lightly of Satan. If we profess to have any real religion, let us be on our guard against the devil's devices. The enemy who overthrew David and Peter, and assaulted Christ Himself, is not an enemy to be despised. He is very subtle. He has studied…
303 wordsSECTION 376412 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
If we are true Christians, we shall find it essential to our comfort in religion, to have dear views of Christ's priestly office and intercession. Christ lives, and therefore our faith shall not fail. Let us beware of regarding Jesus only as one who died for us. Let us never forget that He is alive for evermore. St. Pa…
313 wordsSECTION 377LUKE, CHAP. XXH. VER. 31 — 38. 413
them of Christ's grace and compassion, if they have fallen. Above all, we should deal with them humbly and meekly, remembering what we ourselves have gone through. Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if Christians were more ready to good works of this kind ! There are only too many believers who in conference a…
315 wordsSECTION 378414 BXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
We shall do well to lay to heart our Lord's words in this place, and to act habitually on the principle which they contain. Let us labour, and toil, and give, and speak, and act, and write for Christ, as if all depended on our exertions. And yet let us never forget that success depends entirely on God's blessing ! To e…
375 wordsSECTION 379LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 31 — 38. 416
as com is shaken to and fro when it is dressed and winnowed, to separate the grain from the chaff. It aptly descrihes the effect of temptation on a believer. Whatever Satan's intention may be, the result of temptation is to bring out the chaff, or infirmity of a believer, and generally in the long run to purify his sou…
492 wordsSECTION 380416 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
and precept of oar Lord extends to all the Bishops of Borne, as St. Peter's successors, and that in speaking to St. Peter, our Lord spoke to them. Will they complete the parallel, and say that the Bishops of Borne specially need prayer, hecause they deny Christ? Let them not take a part and leave the rest/' [When thou…
446 wordsSECTION 381LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 31 38. 417
" strengthen " in this place, is twice used by Peter in his two epistles, and the word " stedfastness/' which is also used, is directly derived from it. (I Pet. v. 10 ; 2 Pet. i. 12 ; 2 Pet. iii. 17.) I would add to this the interesting; fact that it is Peter who describes the devil under the vivid figure of a " roari…
486 wordsSECTION 382418 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
The J were not to despise their rights as subjects and citizens, hut to use them in their own defence, as St. Paul did before Lysias, and Festus, and at Philippi. The general purport of the verse appears to be a caution against the indolent and fanatical notion that diligence in the use of means is "carnal/* and an un…
457 wordsSECTION 383LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 31 38. 419
Before the Jews entered Canaan, they were miraculously fed with manna daily, and miraculously guided by the pillar of cloud and fire. From the time they entered Canaan, they were thrown upon their own exertions. It was much the same with the apostles. They were not to expect constant miracles to be worked on their beha…
868 wordsSECTION 384LUKE, CHAP. XXII. TBR. 39 — 46. 421
which Hezekiah used when Sennacherib's threatening letter arrived. And prayer is the receipt which the Son of God Himself was not ashamed to use in the days of His flesh. In the hour of His mysterious agony He " prayed." Let us take care that we use our Master's remedy, if we want comfort m affliction. Whatever other …
294 wordsSECTION 385422 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
desires openly to his heavenly Father, and spread his wishes unreservedly before Him. But like Jesus, he should do it all with an entire submission of will to the will of God. He should never forget that there may be wise and good reasons for his affliction. He shoxdd care- fully qualify every petition for the removal …
317 wordsSECTION 386LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 39 — 46. 423
— ^to be " made a curse for us," — and to allow our iniqui- ties to be laid on Himself. (2 Cor. v. 21. Gal. iii. 13. Isai. liii. 6.) It was the enormous weight of these iniquities which made Him suffer agony. It was the sense of a world's guilt pressing Him down which made even the eternal Son of God sweat great drops …
307 wordsSECTION 387424 BXPOSITORT THOUGHTS.
temptation, the flesh oyercame the spirit. While Christ was sweating great drops of blood. His apostles slept ! Passages like these are very instructive. We ought to thank God that they have been written for our learning. They are meant to teach us humility. When aposties can behave in this way, the Christian who thin…
438 wordsSECTION 388LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VEB. 39 — 46. 425
" enter into " the temptation. This is what our Lord sets before His disciples. 42. — [This cup.] Doddridge says, of this expression, "It was customary among the ancients to assign to each guest at a feast a particular cup, as well as a dish, and by the kind and quantity of the liquor contained in it, the respect of t…
513 wordsSECTION 389426 BXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
sufferings by bloody sweat, sti'ong crying and tears. As man He thirsted on the cross, and said, ** My God, why hast thou for- saken me ? " The infinite merit of His passion unquestionably arose from the inseparable union of His godhead and His man- hood. But the nature which is most prominently brought before us in Hi…
487 wordsSECTION 390LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 39 46. 427
shrinking from death and sufferings, of which He foreknew evei7 particular, to which all flesh and hlood, even sinless, must needs ne liable. But it is clear, that we want some further explanation still. It will doubtless strike every well-informed person, that hun- dreds of martyi's have been known to suffer the most…
504 wordsSECTION 391428 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
trembllDg, under the apprehension of the wrath of His Father, that we must have done. And as an imputed sin drew with it the obligation to punishment, so it did by necessary consequences, raise all those storms and compassions in the soul of Christ, as it would have done in the person of a sinner, sin only excepted." …
473 wordsSECTION 392LTJKB, CHAP. XXII. VEB. 47—53.
429 LUKE xxn. 47-163. 47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to Idsshim. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they sai…
371 wordsSECTION 393430 SXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
false apostle Judas Iscariot has never wanted suoo^sors and imitators. There have always been men ready to betray Christ with a kiss, and willing to deliver the Oospel to its enemies under a show of respect. Conduct like this, we need not doubt, is utterly abo- minable in the sight of God. To injure the cause of relig…
306 wordsSECTION 394LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 47 — 53. 431
meat, from emulation, from party-spirit, or from love of praise. Suffering for Christ will seldom be endured from any but one motive. That motive is the grace of God. We shall do well to remember these things in forming our estimate of the comparative grace of professing Christians. We err greatly if we suppose that t…
309 wordsSECTION 395432 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
allows them to begin, and cannot stir one moment after God commands them to stop. The very worst of Satan's instruments are working in chains. He could not touch Job's property or person until God allowed him. He could not prevent Job's prosperity returning, when God's designs on Job were accomplished. Our Lord's enemi…
291 wordsSECTION 396LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VER. 47 — 53. 433
and it may be a long hour too. But we may rest assured that the darkness shall not last one moment longer than God sees fit for us. In His good time it shall ranish away. "At evening time there shall be light." Finally, let us take comfort in these words of our Lord, in looking forward to the future history of the Chu…
398 wordsSECTION 397434 BXPO6IT0RT THOUGHTS.
For my own part I am unable to see that these allegorical views are sound, and according to the mind of the Spirit. 51. — [Suffer ye thin far.] The meaning of these words is a point on which commentators are not agreed. The following are the three principal interpretations. 1. Some think that the words were addressed…
869 wordsSECTION 398436 EXP08IT0RT THOUGHTS.
The story of Peter's fall teaches us, firstly, how small and gradual are the 9tep% hy which men may go down into great tins. The yarious steps in Peter's fall are clearly marked out by the Gospel-writers. They ought always to he observed in reading this part of the apostle's history. The first step was proud self-conf…
294 wordsSECTION 399LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VBR. 54 — 62. 437
ing seeds in his heart, which will one day spring up and bear bitter fruit. It is a homely saying, that " if men take care of the pence the pounds will take care of themselves." We may borrow a good spiritual lesson from the saying. The Christian who keeps his heart diligently in little things shall be kept from great …
298 wordsSECTION 400■P
438 KxrosiTORY thoughts. strengthy or look down upon others. Whatever else we pray for, let us daily pray that we may " walk humUy with God." (Micahvi. 8.) The story of Peter's fall teaches us, thirdly, the infinite mercy of our Lord Je»m Christ This is a lesson which is brought out most forcibly by a fact which is …
322 wordsSECTION 401LUKE, CHAP. XXH. VER. 64 — 62. 439
The story of Peter's fall teaches us, lastly, how bitter sin is to believersy when they have fallen into it and discovered their fall. This is a lesson which stands out plainly on the face of the verses before us. We are told that when Peter remembered the warning he had received, and saw how far he had fallen, " he w…
730 wordsSECTION 402LUKE, CHAP. XXII. VES. 63 — ^71.
441 It is most probable that our Lord was either in the same hall with Peter, or in a room opening out of it. There is no improbability in supposing that He was within sight and hearing of the apostle. Above all it must be remembered that the vehemence of Peter s third denial, when he even cursed and swore, would most…
182 wordsSECTION 403LUKE XXII. 63-71.
63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and vked him, saying, Prophecy, wno is it tiiat smote thee ? 65 And many other things blasphe- mously spake they agfunst him. 66 Ana as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the Chi…
252 wordsSECTION 404442 SXFOSITORT THOUGHTS.
unconverted men will sometimes go, and the fierce delight with which they will sometimes trample on the most holy and the most pore, almost justify the strong saying of an old divine, that ^* man left to himself is half-beast and half-devil." He hates God and all who bear any- thing of God's image about them. '' The ca…
302 wordsSECTION 405LUKE, CHAF. XXII. VBR. 63 — ^71. 443
to which we have to submit compared to the insults which were heaped on our Master P Yet "when He was reviled He reviled not again. When He suffered He threatened not/' He left us an example that we should walk in His steps. Let us go and do likewise. (1 Peter ii. 21—23.) We shoidd notice, secondly, in these verses, t…
1,031 wordsSECTION 406446 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Two argumeots may be mentioned in support of tbe above explanation. — One is tbe great improbability tbat our Lord's enemies, having taken Him prisoner, would wait until it was morning before tbey examined Him. On the contrary it is Slain, from Matthew and Mark, that Jesus was taken before aiaphas as soon as He was ap…
697 wordsSECTION 407LUKE XXIII. 1—12.
1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto FUate. 2 And they began to accuse him, itaying, We found this fellow pervert- ing the nation, and forbidding to give tru>ate to Cfoear, saying, that he himself is Christ a King. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art tiiou the King of the Jews } And he answered h…
269 wordsSECTION 408448 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Let us observe, for one thing, in tliis passage, what fahe accusations were laid to our Lord Jesus Christ s charge. We are told that the Jews accused TTitti of "perverting the nation, — forbidding to give tribute to CflBsar, — and stirring up the people." In all this indict- ment, we know, there was not a word of truth…
306 wordsSECTION 409LUKE, CHAP. XXIII. VBR. 1 — 12. 449
was holy, harmless, and imdefiled, was foully slandered, who can expect to escape P " If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call ihem of his household P " (Matt. x. 25.) Nothing is too bad to be reported against a saint. Perfect innocence is no fence against enormous lying, calumny, …
292 wordsSECTION 410450 EXPOSITORT THOUGHTS.
had risen up, who was even more faithful and bold than John the Baptist, and who confirmed his teaching by works which even the power of kings could not perform. These rumours made Herod restless and uncomfortable. No wonder that his curiosity was stirred, and he " desired to see Christ." It may be feared that there a…
288 wordsSECTION 411LUKE, CHAP. XXIII. VEB. 1 — 12. 461
are often fhoroughly miserable within. Silks and satins and official robes, often cover hearts which are utter strangers to peace. That man knows not what he is ^hing, who wishes to be a rich man—Let us pray for rich men, as well as pity them. They carry weight in the race for eternal life. If they are saved, it can on…
301 wordsSECTION 412452 BXF061T0RT THOUGHTS.
idolaters, — worldly pleasure-lovers and bigotted ascetics, — the friends of so called liberal views and the most de- termined opponents of all changes, — all ranked together against evangelical religion. One common hatred binds them together. They hate the cross of Christ. To nse the words of the apostles in the Acts:…
347 wordsSECTION 413LUKE, CHAP. XXIII. VBK. 1 — 12. 453
offender at the bar of the Roman governor, they charge Him with forbidding to give tribute to Osesar the Roman emperor. The falseness of the charge is as striking as its dishonesty. 3. — [Thou myest it.\ This is the remarkable saying which St. Paul refers to, when he tells Timothy that our Lord " before Pontius Pilate…
471 wordsSECTION 414454 EXPUSITORT THOUGHTS.
one ruler to another must have entailed on our Lord, should be remembered in estimating the whole amount of His sufferings. 11. — {With his men of warJ] The Greek word so rendered, means literaUy, " his armed force," or " guards." Of course we cannot suppose that Herod had a large army with him. The soldiers around hi…
446 wordsSECTION 415LUKE, CHAP. XXIIT. VBR. 13 — ^25.
465 LUKE XXni. 13—25. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the Chief Priests and the nuers and the people, 14 Said unto uiem, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that per- ▼erteth the people : and, behol(( I, haying examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye …
735 wordsSECTION 416LUKE, CHAP. XXIII. VBR. 13 — ^25. 457
are told that " they were instant with loud voices, re- quiring that he might be crucified." This fact in the history of our Lord's passion deserves particular notice. It shows the strict accuracy of the words of the apostles in after times, when speaking of Christ's death. They speak of it as the act of the Jewish na…
299 wordsSECTION 417468 EXP061T0RT THOUGHTS.
nation which pierced and slew Him, shall yet look to Him by faith and be restored to favour. (Zech. xii. 10.) We should observe, lastly, in this passage, the remark- able circufmtancea connected with the release of Barabhas. We are told that Pilate '' released him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, who…
306 wordsSECTION 418LUKE, CHAP. XXIII. VBR. 13 — ^25. 459
God, that we the guilty might be reckoned innocent, and be set free from condemnation. If we are true Christians, let us daily lean our souls on the comfortable thought that Christ has really been our Substitute, and has been punished in our stead. Let us freely confess, that, like Barabbas, we deserve death, judgment…
382 wordsSECTION 419460 SXF08IT0RT THOUGHTS.
18. — [Barahhcu.] I am quite unable to receive the opinion held by some, that the scape-goat in the Jewish law was a type of Barahbas. I believe that the sca|)e-goat was a type of Christ rising a^ain, and not of Christ crucified. Barahbas was a type of the sinner deserving judgment, and yet set free. 20. — [WiUing to …
456 wordsSECTION 420LUKE XXTTI. 26-38.
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them, said. Daughters…
453 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.