PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels — St. Matthew
Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 · 139,856 words · 405 reading sections
48 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
body to see liow liberal and cbaritable we arc, and desired tbe praise of our fellow men. We are to sbun everything like display. We are to give quietly, and make as little noise as jjossible about our charities. We are to aim at the spirit of the proverbial saying, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth…
438 wordsSECTION 62MATTHEW VI. 9-15.
9 After this manner therefore pray ve : Our Father which art in heaven, tlallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bveiid. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deUver us from evi…
190 wordsSECTION 6350 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
for the worlclj if this prayer was as well known in the spirit, as it is in the letter ! Perhaps no part of Scripture is so full, and so simple at the same time, as this. It is the first prayer which we learn to offer up, when we are little children. Here is its simplicity. — It contains the germ of everything which t…
304 wordsSECTION 64CHAP. VI. 51
self, through the death of His Son. (Col. i. 20-22.) We profess tliat which the Old Testament saints only saw dimly, if at all, — we profess to be His children by faith in Christ, and to have '' the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Kom. viii. 15.) This, we must never forget, is the sonship that we mus…
311 wordsSECTION 6562 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
world. It is tlie time when the Jews sliall be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, (Rom. xi. 25,) and a time that is above all things to be desired. It therefore fills a foremost place in the Lord's prayer. We ask that which is expressed in the words of the Burial service, " that it may please the…
610 wordsSECTION 6654 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
the evil that is within our own hearts, and not least from that evil one, the devil. We confess that, so long as we are in the body, we are constantly seeing, hearing, and feeling the presence of evil. It is about us, and within us, and around us on every side. And we entreat Him,, who alone can preserve us, to be cont…
295 wordsSECTION 67MATTHEW VI. 16—24.
16 ^loreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad counte- nance : for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast, ^'erily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine liead, and wash thy face ; 18 That thou appear. not unto men to fast, but u…
422 wordsSECTION 6856 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
others, who do not agree with him. — One thing only must never be forgotten. Those who fast should do it quietly, secretly, and without ostentation. Let them not " appear to men" to fast. Let them not fast to man, but to God. Worldliness is one of the greatest dangers that beset man's soul. It is no wonder that we find…
603 wordsSECTION 69EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
not commit this mistake. Let us be decided, thorougli- going, uncompromising followers of Christ. Let our motto be that of Paul, " One thing I do." (Phil. iii. 13.) Then we shall be happy Christians. We shall feel the sun shining on our faces. Heart, head, and conscience will all be fall of light. Decision is the secre…
75 wordsSECTION 70MATTHEW VI. 25-34.
25 Therefore I saj^ unto you, take DO thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall driuk ; iior yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the liie more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air : for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet your hea…
638 wordsSECTION 7160 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
slightest labor or exertion on their part. " They toil not, neither do they spin." God, by His almighty power, clothes them with beauty every season. The same God is the Father of all believers. Why should they doubt that He is able to provide them with raiment, as well as the lilies " of the field ?" He who takes thou…
294 wordsSECTION 72MATTHEW, CHAP. VII.
61 Sufficient to the clay is the evil thereof." We are not to cany cares before they come. We are to attend to to-day's business, and leave to-morrow's anxieties till to-morrow dawns. We may die before to-morrow. We know not wdiat may happen on the morrow. This only we may be assured of, that if to-morrow brings a cro…
217 wordsSECTION 73MATTHEW VII. 1—11.
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged : and with Avhat measure ye mete, it shall be mear^ured to vou again. 3 xVnd why'behordest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but con- siderest not the beam that is in thine own eye ? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy bro-…
168 wordsSECTION 74EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
8 For every one that asketh receiv- eth ; and he that secketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone ? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent ? 11 If ye then, beinj? evil, know how to give good gifts unto y…
334 wordsSECTION 75MATTHEW, CHAP. VII. 63
always been common from their day down to the present time. We must all watch against it. We should " believe all things/' and " hope all things " about others, and be very slow to find fault. This is Christian charity. (1 Cor. xiii. 7.) The second lesson contained in this passage, is the im- portance of exercising di…
317 wordsSECTION 7664 _ EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
hearts. Do wc ourselves never check our friends from giving us good advice, by our moroseness and irritability of temper .? Have wc never obliged others to hold their l^eace and say nothing, by our pride and impatient con- tempt of counsel ? Have we never turned against our kind advisers, and silenced them by our viole…
288 wordsSECTION 77MATTHEW, CHAP. VII. 65
shall not iind." But what is the good of knowing it, if we do not use it ? Knowledge, not miproved and well employed, Avill only increase our condemnation at the last day. Do we know anything of this asking, seeking, and knocking ? Why should we not ? There is nothing so simple and plain as praying, if a man really ha…
210 wordsSECTION 78MATTHEW VII. 12—20.
12 Therefore aU things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate : for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadefh to destruction, and many there be whieh go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and nar…
116 wordsSECTION 79EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree ■briugeth forth evil fruit. 18' A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree tliat bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast iuto the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits y…
335 wordsSECTION 80MATTHEW, CHAP. VII. 67
In the second place, our Lord gives us a general caution against the ivay of the many in religion. It is not enouo'li to tliink as others think, and do as others do. It must not satisfy us to follow the fashion, and swim w^ith the stream of those among whom we live. He tells us that the way that leads to everlasting li…
312 wordsSECTION 8168 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
we are reckoned singular, and peculiar, and bigotted, and narrow-minded. This is ^' the narrow way." Surely it is better to enter into life eternal with a few, than to go to " destruction'' with a great company. In the last place, the Lord Jesus gives us a general warning against false teacliers in the church. We are …
305 wordsSECTION 82MATTHEW, CHAP. VII.
69 Bible wliicli makes so many a prey to tlie first Mse teacher whom they hear. They would fain have us be- lieve that " they are not learned, and do not pretend to have decided opinions." The plain truth is that they are lazy and idle about reading the Bible, and do not like the trouble of thinking for themselves. No…
151 wordsSECTION 83MATTHEW VII. 21—29.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy name done many wonderful works ? …
248 wordsSECTION 8470 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
false prophets to false professors, frora unsoand teachers to unsound hearers. Here is a word for all. May we have grace to apply it to our own hearts ! The first lesson here is the uselessness of a mere outivard -profession of Christianity. Not every one that saith "Lord, Lord/' shall enter the kingdom of heaven. N…
305 wordsSECTION 85MATTHEW, CHAP. VIT 71
The second lesson here is a striking picture of two classes of Christian hearers. Those who hear and do nothing — and those who hear and do as well as hear — are both placed before us, and their histories traced to their respective ends. The man who hears Christian teaching, and practices what he hears, is like " a wi…
298 wordsSECTION 8672 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
kind. In these lie rests. He never really breaks off from sin^ and casts aside the spirit of the world. He never really lays hold on Christ. He never really takes up the cross. He is a hearer of truth, but nothing more. And what is the end of tliis man's religion ? It breaks down entirely under the first flood of trib…
345 wordsSECTION 87VIII.
73 lieth at liome sick of tlic palsy, griev- ously tormented. 7 And Jesus saitli unto him, I will come and heal him. , 8 Tbc ccnturiou answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under nay roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, liavmg s…
435 wordsSECTION 8874 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
physicians as incurable. (2 Kings v. 7.) Yet Jesus says, " be thou clean, and immediately the leprosy was cleansed." — To heal a person of the palsy without even seeing him, by only speaking a word, is to do that which our minds cannot even conceive. Yet Jesus commands, and at once it is done. — To give a woman, prostr…
621 wordsSECTION 8976 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
remembered. To believe Christ's i^ovver and willingness to help, and to make a practical use of our belief, is a rare and precious gift. Let us be ever thankful if we have it. To be willing to come to Jesus as helpless, lost sinners, and commit our souls into His hands is a mighty privilege. Let us ever bless God if th…
255 wordsSECTION 90MATTHEW VIII. 16—26.
16 "When the even was come, they brouglit unto him many that were possessed with devils : and he cast out the spirits with Ms word, and healed all that were sick : 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. 18 Now when Jesus saw…
463 wordsSECTION 9178 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
sayings. They ought to be well weighed by all 2:)rofess- ing Christians. They teach us j^lainly, that people who show a desire to come forward and profess themselves true disciples of Christ, should be warned plainly to " count the cost/' before they begin. — Are they prepared to endure hardship ? Are they ready to car…
674 wordsSECTION 92MATTHEW VIII. 28—84.
28 And when he was come to the other side mto the country of the Gergesenes, there met liim two pos- sessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce,"so that no man might pass by that way, 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither t…
649 wordsSECTION 9382 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
is to cry to the Lord Jesus, and to seek His help. He can break the chains that Satan casts round us, and set us free. He can cast out every devil that j)lagues our hearts, as surely as in the days of old. It would be miserable indeed to know that there is a devil ever near us, if we did not also know that Christ was "…
315 wordsSECTION 94MATTHEW IX. 1—13.
1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they broui^ht to him a man sick of the palsy, lying: on a bed : and Jesus seeiufj their faith said nnto the sick of the palsy ; Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the Scribes said within…
1,024 wordsSECTION 95EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
wicked, and unworthy. We are to remember that sin- ners are those He came into the world to save, and that if we feel ourselves such, it is well. Happy is he who really comprehends that one principal qualification for coming to Christ is a deep sense of sin ! Finally, if by the grace of God we really understand, the g…
172 wordsSECTION 96MATTHEW IX. 14—26.
14 Tlicu came to Mm the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not 'i 15 And Jeans said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them ? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall t…
255 wordsSECTION 97CHAP. IX. 87-
23 And when Jesus came into the 25 But when the people were put ruler's house, and saw the minstrels forth, he went in, and took her by and the people making a noise, the hand, and the maid arose. 24 lie said nnto them, Give place: ! 26 And the tame hereof went abroad for the maid is not. lead, butsleepeth. ' into all…
329 wordsSECTION 9888 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
would be a want of fitness in their fasting, so long as He, their Bridegroom, was with them. But He does not stop there. He goes on to show, by two parables, that young beginners in the school of Christianity must be dealt with gently. They must be taught as they are able to bear. They must not be expected to receive e…
312 wordsSECTION 99MATTHEW, CHAP. IX. 89
But she had confidencCj that if she could only " touch His garment/' she would bo made well. And so it was. There lay hid in that act of her's a seed of precious faith, which obtained our Lord's commendation. She was made whole at once, and returned home in peace. To use the words of a good old writer, " She came tremb…
302 wordsSECTION 100EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
back to its earthly tabernacle. The pulse once more beats. The eyes once more see. The breath once more comes and goes. The ruler's daughter is once more alive, and restored to her father and mother. This was omnipotence indeed ! None could have done this but He who first created man, and has all power in heaven and ea…
155 wordsSECTION 101MATTHEW IX. 27—37.
27 And when Jesns departed thence, two bhnd men followed him, crying, and saying, TJiou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him : and Jesus saith unto them. Believe ye that I am able to do this ? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, sa…
554 wordsSECTION 10292 ' EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
He was an eye-witness of all the ills that flesh is heir to. He saw ailments of every kind, sort, and description. He was brought in contact with every form of bodily suffering. None were too loatlisome for Him to attend to. None were too frightful ibr Him to cure. He was a healer of every " sickness and every disease.…
310 wordsSECTION 103IX. 93
to deep pity. That loving heart could not see such things, and not feel. Now what are our feelings when we see such a sight ? This is the question that should arise in our minds. There are many such' to be seen on every side. There are millions of idolaters and heathen on earth — millions of deluded Mahometans — milli…
312 wordsSECTION 104EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
agents. Universities can give learning. Congregations may elect. Bishops may ordain. But the Holy Ghost alone can make ministers of the Gospel^ and raise up lay workmen in the spiritual harvest, who need not be ashamed. Never, never may we forget that if we would do good to the world, our first duty is to pray !…
56 wordsSECTION 105MATTHEW X. 1—15.
1 And when lie had called unto j Aim his twelve disciples, he gave them j power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heul all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these : The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother ; James, the son of Z…
689 wordsSECTION 10696 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
wlio are suffering, — to diminish sorrow, — and to increase joy. His life is meant to be one of " giving/' rather than receiving. /^ This is a high standard, and a very peculiar one. Let it be well weighed, and carefully examined. It is plain, for one thing, that the life of a faithful minister of Christ cannot be one…
299 wordsSECTION 107MATTHEW, CHAP. X. 97
going to Clinrcli without going to Christ, and by and bye tliey will find themselves in hell ! We shall all be judged according to our light. We shall have to give account of our use of religious privileges. To hear of the ^' gi-eat salvation/' and yet neglect it, is one of the worst sins man can commit. (John xvi. 9.)…
301 wordsSECTION 108MATTHEW X. 16—23.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harm- less as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; IS^Ahd ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony…
716 wordsSECTION 109100 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
other. — Truly we may say, ^^wlio is sufficient for these things ?" We have need to cry to the only wise God for wisdom. \ The extreme into which most men are liable to fall in the present day, is that of silence, cowardice, and letting others alone. Our so-called prudence is apt to degene- rate into a compromising li…
536 wordsSECTION 110MATTHEW X. 24—33.
soul ; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not faU on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of not be revealed ; and hid, that sha…
188 wordsSECTION 111102 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Satan will fight vigorously to maintain his kingdom. Human nature is desperately wicked. To do harm is easy. To do good is hard. The Lord Jesus knew this well, when He sent forth His disciples to preach the Gospel for the first time. He knew what was before them, if they did not. He took care to supply them with a lis…
303 wordsSECTION 112MATTHEW, CHAP. X. 103
motives are mistaken, and their cliaracters fiercely assailed. They must remember continually that all will be set right at the last day. The secrets of all hearts shall then be revealed. " He shall bring forth thy right- eousness as the lightj and thy judgment as the noon- day." (Psal. xxxvii. 6.) The purity of their …
312 wordsSECTION 113104 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Those who try to do good must keep before their minds the providential care of God over them. Nothing can happen in this world without His permission. There is no such thing in reality as chance, accident, or luck. "The very hairs of their heads are all numbered/' The path of duty may sometimes lead them into great dan…
314 wordsSECTION 114MATTHEW, CHAP. X.
105 be of that number. Every believer may do sometbing if he tries. There is always something for every one to do. May we each have an eye to see it, and a will to do it.…
37 wordsSECTION 115MATTHEW X. 34^^2.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth : I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth f…
382 wordsSECTION 116106 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
heart. So long as one man believes, and another remains unbelieving — so long as one is resolved to keep his sins, and another desirous to give them up, the result of the preaching of the Gospel must needs be division. For this the Gospel is not to blame, but the heart of man. There is a deep truth in all this, which …
627 wordsSECTION 117EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
Let US ask ourselves, as we close the cliapter, in what light we regard Christ's work and Christ's cause in the world ? Are we helpers of it, or hinderers ? Do we in anywise aid the Lord's " j)rophets/' and '^ righteous men ?" Do we assist His " little ones ?" Do we impede His laborers, or do we cheer them on ? — These…
129 wordsSECTION 118MATTHEW XL 1—15.
1 And it came to pass, when Jesiis had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto nim, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another ? 4…
633 wordsSECTION 119110 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
received such commendation as Jesus here bestows on His imprisoned friend. " Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.'' In time past John had boldly confessed Jesus before men, as the Lamb of God. Now Jesus openly declares John to be more than a prophet. There were some,…
584 wordsSECTION 120MATTHEW XL 16—24.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation ? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying. We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced ; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented, 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a de…
705 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1857). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.