PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels — St. Matthew
Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 · 139,856 words · 405 reading sections
180 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
grace, not place, wliicli makes people believers. We may live in a prophet's family, like Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, and yet continue impenitent, unbelieving, and fond of the world. We may dwell in the midst of su- perstition and dark idolatry, like the little maid in Naa- man's house, and yet be faithful witnesses…
312 wordsSECTION 182MATTHEW, CHAP. XV. 181
the rich " fool/' and die at last without Christ and with- out hope. (Luke xii. 20.) We see J in the third place, that Christ' s people are often less gracious and compassionate than Christ Himself. The woman about whom we are reading, found small favor with our Lord's disciples. Perhaps they regarded an inhabitant o…
305 wordsSECTION 183182 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
this trutli^ than we have in this passage. The prayer of this afflicted mother at first seemed entirely unnoticed : Jesus " answered her not a word." Yet she prayed on. — The saying which by and bye fell from our Lord's lips sounded discouraging : " I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Yet she…
310 wordsSECTION 184MATTHEW, CHAP. XV.
183 Have we relations and friends, about whose salvation we are anxious ? Let us follow the example of this Ca- naanitish woman, and lay the state of their souls before Christ. Let us name their names before Him night and day, and never rest till we have an answer. We may have to wait many a long year. We may seem to …
108 wordsSECTION 185MATTHEW XV. 29—39.
29 And Jesus departed from tlience, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee ; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast thetn down at Jesus' feet ; and he healed them : 31 Insomuch that th…
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about their souls. We read, that " great multitudes came to Jesus, ha^dng with t liem those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others/' Many of them, no doubt, had journeyed many miles, and gone through great fatigues. Nothing is so difficult and troublesome, as to move sick people. But the hope of being hea…
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is not yet past. Every conversion is a miracle. Have we ever seen a real instance of conversion ? Let us know that we saw in it the hand of Christ. We should have seen nothing really greater, if we had seen our Lord making the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk, when He was on earth. Would we know what to do, if we d…
533 wordsSECTION 188MATTHEW XVI. 1—12.
1 The Pharisees also with the Sad- ducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will he fair weather : for the sky 'is red. 3 And in the morning, It will he foul weather to day : for the sky is red and lowring. O ye…
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can discern the face of the sky ; but why reason ye among yourselves, he- can ye not discern the signs of the cause ye have broughf'no bread ? times ? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither 4 A -wicked and adulterous genera- remember the five loaves of the five tion seeketh after a sign ; and there thousand, and how many…
419 wordsSECTION 190MATTHEW, CHAP. XVI. 189
It throws light on a subject, which has perplexed the minds of many sincere lovers of the Bible, and ought therefore to be specially observed. This repetition shows us that our Lord was in the habit of saying the same things over again. He did not content Himself with saying a thing once, and afterwards never repeatin…
314 wordsSECTION 191190 EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS.
pained with the false doctrines which He saw among the Jews, and the pernicious influence which they exercised. He seizes the opportunity to utter a cautioa. " Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Let us mark well what those words contain. To whom was this warning addressed ? To …
283 wordsSECTION 192MATTHEW, CHAP. XVI. 191
There is mucli in all this that calls loudly for the close attention of all professing Christians. The caution of our Lord in this passage has been shamefully neglected. It would have been well for the church of Christ, if the warnings of the Gospel had been as much studied as its promises. Let us then remember that t…
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the life of Christianity, if they succeeded in having the own way. Against both errors let us watch and praj and stand upon our guard. Let us not add to the Gor pel, to please the Koman Catholic Pharisee. Let \ not subtract from the Gospel, to please the Neologief Sadducee. Let our principle be " the truth, the who tru…
72 wordsSECTION 194MATTHEW XVI. 13-20.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cassarea Philippi, he asked his dis- ciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am ? 14 And they said. Some say tliat tJiou art John the Baptist : some, Elias ; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them. But whom Bay ye that I am ? 16 And Sim…
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There are words in this passage which have led to paiiiP ful differences and divisions among Christians. Me have striven and contended about their meaning, till the have lost sight of all charity, and yet failed to carry cor viction to one another's minds. Let it suffice us to glanc . briefly at the controverted words,…
104 wordsSECTION 196MATTHEW, CHAP. XVI. 193
whicli Christ's Church was to be built ? Such an interpre- tatiou, to say the least, appears exceedingly improbable. Co speak of an erring, fallible child of Adam as the bundation of the spiritual temple, is very unlike the Tdinary language of Scripture. Above all, no reason ;an be given ^Yhy our Lord should not have s…
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Peter was to have any primacy or superiority over the rest of the apostles ? There is not the slightest proof that such a meaning was attached to the words in the New Testament times, or that Peter had any rank or dignity above the rest of the twelve. The true meaning of the promise to Peter appears to '' be, that he …
298 wordsSECTION 198CHAP. XVI. 195^
whose sins were forgiven. — Beside this, they were to he specially inspired to lay down rules and regulations for the guidance of the Church on disputed questions. Some things they were to ^' bind" or forbid ; — others they were to ^^ loose" or allow. The decision of the council at Jerusalem, that the Gentiles need not…
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were with Christ and many against Him. He made it when the rulers of his own nation, the Scribes, and Priests, and Pharisees, were all opposed to his Master. He made it when our Lord was in the '^'form of a servant," without wealth, without royal dignity, without any visible marks of a King. To make such a confession a…
285 wordsSECTION 200MATTHEW, CHAP. XVI. 197
The Church which Jesus promises to build upon a rock, is the "blessed company of all faithful j)eople." It is not the visible church of any one nation, or country, or place. It is the whole body of believers of every age, and tongue, and people. It is a church composed of all who are washed in Christ's blood, clothed i…
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The meaning of this promise is, that the power of Satan shall never destroy the people of Christ. He that brought sin and death into the first creation^ by tempting Eve, shall never bring ruin on the new creation, by over- throwing believers. The mystical body of Christ shall never perish or decay. Though often persecu…
148 wordsSECTION 202MATTHEW XVI. 21—23.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and Chief Priests and Scribes, and be killed, and be I'aised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not …
192 wordsSECTION 203XVI. 199
It is almost impossible for us to conceive how strange and iucompreliensible these tidings must have seemed to His disciples. Like most of the Jews, they could form no idea of a suffering Messiah. They did not under- stand that the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah must be literally fulfilled. They did not see that the sac…
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their grace is weak and small. One brother may possess singular giftSj and be a bright and shining light in the Church of Christ. But let us not forget that he is a man, and as a man liable to commit great mistakes. — Another brother's knowledge may be scanty. He may fail to judge rightly on many points of doctrine. He…
436 wordsSECTION 205MATTHEW XVI. 24-28.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disci- f)les, If any man will come after me, et him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it : aud whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and los…
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Let us learn, in the first place, from these verses, that men must make iqj their minds to ttvichle and self-denial, if they folloiv Christ. Our Lord dispels the fond dreams of His disciples, by telling them that His followers must " take up the cross." The glorious kingdom they were expecting, was not about to be set…
310 wordsSECTION 207MATTHEW, CHAP. XVI. 203
There can only be one answer to this question. There is nothing on earth, or under the earth, that can make amends to us for the loss of our souls. There is nothing that money can buy, or man can give, to be named in comparison with our souls. The world, and all that it contains is temporal. It is all fading, perishing…
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second advent is the dispensation of the kingdom. We must submit to take part with our Lord in His humilia- tion, if we mean ever to share in his glory. And now let us not leave these verses without serious self-inquiry as to the matters which they contain. We have heard of the necessity of taking up the cross, and de…
120 wordsSECTION 209MATTHEW XVIL 1—13.
1 And after six days Jesus taketh 1 7 And Jesus came and touched them Peter, James, and John his brother, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart. 2 And was transfigured before them : and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the 8 And when they had …
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because the time for putting on His royal apparel was not yet come. It is impossible to draw any other con- clusion from St. Peter's language, when writing on the subject. He says, with distinct reference to the transfigu- ration, " We were eye-witnesses of his majesty." (2 Peter i. 16.) It is good for us to have the …
303 wordsSECTION 211MATTHEW, CHAP. XVIT. 207
Moses died and was buried. More than nine hundred years had passed away, since Elijah " went up by a whirlwind into heaven." Yet here they are seen alive by Peter, James, and John ! Let us lay firm hold on this part of the vision. It deserves close attention. We must all feel, if we ever think at all, that the state o…
872 wordsSECTION 212MATTHEW XVII. 14^-21.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son ; for he is lunatic, and sore vexed : for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy dis- ciples, and they could not cure him. 17 T…
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of Satan's spiritual dominion over young people, which, are quite as painful, in their way, as the case described in this passage. There are thousands of young men who seem to have wholly given themselves up to Satan's temptations, and to be led captive at his will. They cast off all fear of God, and all respect for Hi…
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with us, when we read our LorcVs miracles, never to despair of the conversion of any soul. In the second place, we see in these verses a striking exam'ple of the weakening effect of unbelief. The dis- ciples anxiously inquired of our Lord, v/hen they saw the devil yielding to his power, '^ Why could not we cast him ou…
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that, lie that is against us is not to be despised. He is the prince of this world. He is a strong man armed, keeping his house, who will not ^' go out," and part with his goods without a struggle. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. We have need to take the whole armor of God…
113 wordsSECTION 216MATTHEW XVII. 22—27.
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, TheSonof man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tri- bute money came to Peter, and said, Do…
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Let us observe^ in the next place, our Lord's almighty power over all creation. He makes a fish his paymaster. He makes a dumb creature bring the tribute-money to meet the collector's demand. Well says Jerome, " I know not which to admire most here, our Lord's foreknowledge, or His greatness." We see here a literal fu…
282 wordsSECTION 218MATTHEW, CHAP. XVII. 217
the payment of this tribute-money. He, who was Son of God, might fairly have been excused from paying for the maintenance of His Father's house. He, who was ^^ greater than the temple,'' might have shown good cause for declining to contribute to the support of the temple. But our Lord does not do so. He claims no exemp…
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hold our peace, " lest we should offend them/' " A Christian/' says Bullinger, " never ought to disturb the public peace for things of mere temporary importance." Let us remember this passage as members of a cliurch. We may not like every jot and tittle of the forms and ceremonies used in our communion. We may not thi…
308 wordsSECTION 220MATTHEW, CHAP. XVIII.
219 as little cbildreu, ye shall not euter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosocvertheretbreshall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And wlioso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which belie…
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we were not converted. It is true of all ranks, classes, and orders of mankind. All are born in sin and children of wrath, and all, without exception, need to be born again and made new creatures. A new heart must be given to us, and a new spirit put within us. Old things must pass away, and all things must become new.…
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" thou liast given grccat occasion to tlie enemies of tlie Lord to blaspheme/' (2 Sam. xii. 14.) The next thing that we are taught in these verses is, the reality of future punishment after death. Two strong expressions are used by our Lord on this point. He speaks of being "cast into everlasting fire." He speaks of b…
504 wordsSECTION 223MATTHEW XVJHI^I. 15—20.
15 Moreover if tliy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between tliee and hhii alone : if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, tlien take with thee one or two more, that in the moutli of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 A…
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two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I iu the midst of them. These words of tlie Lord Jesus contain an expression which has been often misapplied. The c…
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" take with us one or two" companions, and tell our brother of his fault in their presence and hearing. Who can tell but his conscience may be stricken, when he finds his misconduct made known, and he may be ashamed and repent ? If not, we shall at all events have the testimony of witnesses, that we did all we could to…
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divisions there will be, so long as the world stands. But how many of them would be extinguished at once, if the course recommended in these verses was tried. In the second place, let us observe ivhat a clear argu- ment loe have in these verses for the exercise of discipline in a Christian congregation. Our Lord comm…
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find it hard to bear the taunts and ridicule of an ill- natured worldj which cries like the enemy of old, " What do these feeble peoi)le ?'' (Nehem. iv. 2.) But we have no reason for despondency. We may boldly fall back on these words of Jesus. At all such meetings we have the company of Christ Himself. There is a sol…
205 wordsSECTION 228MATTHEW XVIII. 21—35.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? till seven times ? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not nnto thee, Until seven times : but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, ■which -would take account o…
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229 have patience witL me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence : and laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying…
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mucli, and to put up with muchj rather than quarrel. We are to look over muchj and submit to much, rather than have any strife. We are to lay aside everything like malicCj strife, revenge, and retaliation. Such feel- ings are only fit for heathens. They are utterly un- worthy of a disciple of Christ. What a happy worl…
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tures as this duty is, and few the neglect of which so clearly shuts a man out of the kingdom of God. Would we give proof that we are at peace with God, washed in Christ's blood, born of the Spirit, and made God's children by adoption and grace ? Let us remem- ber this passage. Like our Father in heaven, let us be for…
175 wordsSECTION 232MATTHEW XIX. 1—15.
1 And it came to pass, tJiat -when Jesus had finished these sayings^ he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan ; 2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his…
196 wordsSECTION 233MATTHEW, CHAP. XIX.
233 shall pnt away his wife, except it he for fornication, and shall marry an- other, committeth a-lnltery : and wlio- so marrietli her which is put away doth commit adultery. 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry\ 11 But he said xmto them. All men cannot …
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had gradually become an enormous abuse, and no doubt led to much immorality. (Malachi ii. 14 — 16.) The remark made by our Lord's disciples shows the deplor- ably low state of public feeling on the subject. They said, " If the case of the man be so, it is not good to marry." They meant of course, " if a man may not put…
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kings, by whom all things consist, " the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person/' What an instructive picture the whole transaction places before our eyes ! No wonder that the great majority of the Church of Christ have always seen in this passage, a strong, though indirect, argument in f…
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237 infancy, is often found after many days. Happy is that cliurch whose infant members are cared for as much as the oldest communicants ! The blessing of Him that was crucified will surely be on that church ! He put His hands on little children. He prayed for them.…
48 wordsSECTION 237MATTHEW XIX. 16—22.
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him. Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life ? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good ? there is none good but one, thai is God : but if thou •wilt enter into life, keep the com- mandments. 18 He said unto him. Which ? Jesus said. Thou sh…
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opens the conference with the frank question, " Good Master, what good thing: shall I do, that I may have eternal life ?" Surely we might have thought, ^^ this is a promising case : this is no prejudiced ruler or Pharisee : this is a hopeful inquirer." Yet by and bye this very young man " goes away sorrowful ;" — and w…
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fore us in the Gospel. It is good to feel. But it is far better to be converted. We see, for another thing, from this young man's case, that an unconverted person is often profoundly ignoixint on S2nritual subjects. Our Lord refers this inquirer to the eternal standard of right and wrong, the moral law. Seeing that he…
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heard truth at all. So true is it, that the " natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they . are foolishness to him." (1 Cor. ii. 14.) We see in the last place, from this young man's case, that one idol cherished in the heart may ruin a soul for ever. Our Lord, who knew what was in man, at last …
312 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.