The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 105

9penly th1m do onr kindred or those directly related to us. What is rl\r-fetched is fn,qucntly more esteemed than what is home-hred, Nevertheless, the duty is to witness for God to the circle \\ hich encloses our tenderest associations. Yes, even to repeat. Rnd repeat our mes~age, and thus deliver our own soul. II. IT SPEAKS TO us OF A ooou HAllIT, "As his custom was he went Into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read." Here was ~ne, remember, who knew more than the elders. Might he not have sl\id, " Why go to the place of meet- ing? Can I not worship God, my Falher, on mountain-side, or in my dwelling? The synagogue can give me nothing, no increase to my knowledge or to my devotion; nay, my meditation can be more free and sweet when my soul is alone with Heaven." But this he did not say. It was his rule to be where the two or three met in the name of God. The sabbath day was God's ordine.nce; therefore he kept it holy. Social worship bas its authority, not only in the sanction which is implied in God's promises to those who assemble together for his praise, but in the instincts of our common nature. 'l'bcrefore be kept rank with those who surrounded him, and when the call to the local sanctuary was sounded, he was always responsive, Surely in this he has left an example on which may well be based the rule, "Forsake not the assembling of your- selves together." Keep two things in view: (1) the honouring of God; (2) our part as members one of another. And when the8e things are vivid, there will arise the sense, not merely of benefit w be received by ourselves, but of duty, both to him who made and redeemed us, and to those amongst whom we live and move. No light excuse will then be allc>wed to interfere with the custom. Each worshipper will feel, "I have my ministry, my place in the congregation; this place vacant, this ministry not rendered, there is a want for which I am responsible." It is the absence of a. feeling of responsibility in regard to the services of the sanctuary, it is the presence of a mere self-plea.sing spirit, which explains much of the laxity of attendance which prevails, Let Christians ponder the way of the Lord, whose custom was to enter the village sanctuary, and contribute to the instruction of the village folk on the sabbath day. Ill. lT SETS DEFORE us A REMARKABLE SERMON. 'l'he first of the two lessons for the day has been read; the lesson which remains is from the prophets-it is froCQ Isaiah. Jesus stands up to read it. It is the passage which forms the sixty-first chapter of the book. The opening words of this chapter are his text. He rolls up the parchment, returns it to the attendant, and. as was the manner of the teacher, he sits down. Every eye is fastened on him B.'! slowly and emphatically he declares," This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears." And there follows the sermon, the substance of which Luke records. Concerning the sermon, note: 1. Its thought and style, The words are" gracious," literally, "words of grace." Divine grace is the theme, and the language befits the theme. It is not in the fashion of ordinary teachers; it shines, and it burns. It is beautiful, winning; "grace is poured into the lips." Such words become the pulpit; no other words become it. 2. Its effect. At first the wonder, the admiration, of the people is excited. If they had only yielded to the teaching, how mighty would have been the work of the day I But, alas I the small, petty feelings of the vil'age prevent the work. The charm of the discourse is soon _effac~d by the murmurs, "Is not this Joseph's Son? Capernaum may shout m _ his praise, but he is one of ourselves. We know his parentage and early surroundrngs, No, no; Joseiih's Son is not the Anointed of Jehovah." And soon the cou':1tenan~e changes from wonder into scorn, and from scorn into rage, as the Teacher, read mg their thoughts, cbar~es home thdr guilt., and reminds them that the blessing passes from those who account themselves unworthy of it. Are these Nazarenes sinners above all otl,ers because this is their treatment of the Holy One? Have not we prejudices and prepusseBsions sometimes quite as irrational as were theirs? Has n~t the oscilla- tion of Jceling which we trace in them its counterpart in our own exper1cnce? Have not words sometimes seemed gracious to us until some little pride was touched, some demand made on faith against which reason or inclination rebelled, and, in our secret soul, Jesus was cast out'! May we not bear his love protesting," How often would I have gathered you, . , . and ye would not"? Vere. 31-43.-..d sal,bath day's work. "The despised and rejected" of Nazareth comes down to Capernaum, henceforth the ce11tre of his labour of love. The evangelist UH, 1v, 1-44.] TTTE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO RT. LUKE. 97