Matthew 11

O be thankful that we are born in such a climate where the light of the Gospel has shined! To have the knowledge of the true God, is more than if we had mines of gold, rocks of diamonds, islands of spices, especially if God has savingly revealed himself to us, if he has given us…

That God should call you when you were in the hot pursuit of sin, admire God's love, exalt his praise. Again, that God should call you, and pass by others, what mercy is this? (Matthew 11:26) Even so Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. That God should pass by the wise a…

The lamb's innocency will not preserve it from the wolf. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, yet they say he has a devil (Matthew 11:18). Slandering Job calls the scourge of the tongue (Job 5:21).

(Isaiah 59:15) Truth fails; truth on earth does, but not truth in heaven: God can as well cease to be God, as cease to be true. Has God said he will be good to the soul that seeks him (Lamentations 3:25), he will give rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28)? Here is a safe anchor hold…

God needed not to adopt us, he did not want a Son: God did not want a Son, but we did a Father; God showed power in being our Maker, but mercy in being our Father: when we were enemies, and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God, that he should conquer our stubbornness, a…

(Mark 10:19) [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Do not steal. This is not the violence which takes the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 11:12). (2.) The house-thief, who purloins and filches out of his master's cash, or steals his wares and drugs.

Christ was the most innocent upon earth, yet was reported to be a friend of sinners. John Baptist, a man of a holy austere life, yet they said of him, He had a devil (Matthew 11:18). The Scripture calls slandering, smiting with the tongue.

Never was there such a pattern of amazing kindness. Christ bids us learn of him (Matthew 11:29); he does not bid us learn of him to work miracles, but he would have us learn of him to forgive our enemies. If we do not imitate Christ's life, we cannot be saved by his death.

That God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace, is an act of pure love. That he should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another, must be resolved into free grace (Matthew 11:26): Even so Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. This will increase…

So that phrase (Ephesians 6:12) 'we wrestle with spiritual wickednesses in heavenly things' is rather to be understood of 'heavenly things' than of 'heavenly places' — the word signifying rather supracelestial, in the highest heavens, where (if rendered of places) the devils nev…

These words must not be understood absolutely and simply, but with limitation. For many places of Scripture are spoken simply, which must be understood with respect: as when it is said, Matthew 11.18, John came neither eating nor drinking, that is not, eating nothing at all, but…

Despise not the saints for their worldly poverty, but honor them for their virtue; we esteem of a ruby or diamond, though it be in the dust. John Baptist was girt with a leather girdle, yet he was more than a prophet (Matthew 11:9). He was honored to usher in the King of Glory i…

Secondly God in making promise of salvation respects not men's worthiness. For he chose us to life everlasting when we were not: he redeemed us from death being enemies: and entitles us to the promise of salvation, if we acknowledge ourselves to be sinners (Matthew 9); if we lab…

Means 5. Shame yourselves by setting before you those eminent patterns who have been most excellent for meekness. Above all, compare your spirits with the spirit of Christ: 'Learn of me,' says he, 'for I am meek and lowly' — Matthew 11:29. Christ was meek and lowly, but I am pro…

For the first, the causes why so few believe the Gospel, we cleared to you already, that generally the powerful preaching of the Gospel has been with little fruit, so that Isaiah has this sad complaint, Lord, who has believed our report? And our Lord Jesus has it also on the mat…

I will take one of a city, and two of a family, and bring you to Zion, says the Lord; it's two or three in the corner of a parish, or in the end of a town, to speak so, who are converted, and the rest are suffered to lie in black nature. If the reason thereof be inquired after,…

And how was he esteemed, or rather disesteemed and undervalued at his death; so that it is said (Acts 3:14), they denied the holy and just one, and desired that a murderer should be granted to them; they rejected the Prince of Life, and chose Barabbas; and judging him not worthy…

So that that question needs not now to be proposed — are you he that should come, or do we look for another? Go, says Christ (Matthew 11:4-6), and tell John, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and th…

The elect were God's people when Christ did undertake and engage for them, and in this respect election is a fountain-grace, and Christ's death is not the cause of election though it be the cause of all the benefits that follow upon it. 3. It is free in respect of God's absolute…

But to them that desire further clearness or confirmation in this concerning business, we shall speak a little, yet you must know, that it's such a thing as is impossible to be made plain to a proud-humored or unhumbled sinner, it's the poor humbled soul that will take it up, an…

2. Why else are all the promises and encouragements that are given to sinners to believe? As that of Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden," etc. And that of 2 Corinthians 5:20, where both are put together: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though Go…

That is, that you might be declared to be so. And, Matthew 11:19: Wisdom is justified of her children. 2. We will find this meaning of the word to be clear, if we consider justification, as distinguished from sanctification, for in that Popish sense, they are both made one and t…

It's either a most inconceivable condition, beyond what others who have not heard the gospel, will come under, if the offer be slighted, or eternal salvation, if it be embraced. Woe to you Chorazin, woe to you Bethsaida (says the Lord, Matthew 11:21-22.) For if the mighty works…

And this (Isaiah 5:6) is called a taking hold of God's covenant; it is an actual committing of ourselves to him, that we may win to peace, or a leaning on him; as suppose one were to rest upon a staff, it does not only imply the effect, his having of ease, but also, and firstly,…

That though the Lord stretched out His hands all day long, yet it was to a rebellious and gainsaying people. Look forward, and see what our Lord says of John the Baptist, and of Himself (Matthew 11): "To what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the mark…

The great ground that makes God expostulate with the hearers of the Gospel, and that makes them come under the complaint, (John 5:40) "You will not come to me that you may have life," and (Matthew 23:37) "How often would I have gathered you, and you would not;" and for substance…

A 3rd symptom of not making use of Christ's Intercession is when folk have too much anxiety, which is a fault that a believer may easily fall in, when he has no ground from himself to propose to God for a hearing, and when he cannot answer his own challenges, and is therefore di…

O! says He, that you had known in this your day the things that belong to your peace, but now they are hid from your eyes; this comes as the last and saddest word, holding out the desperateness of their condition, when the powerful preaching of the Gospel has no gracious force,…

2. It is Antinomian doctrine to make opposition between the Gospel promise, and the debt of the promise: the debt of works (Romans 4 and Romans 11) is law-debt due to the worker, as a hireling is worthy of his wages, because he has done the work perfectly, according to a covenan…

No man whatever mettle he be of, the finest of men can come, or has power to come to me, and to believe on the only begotten Son of God, except the Father who sent me draw him. We know Christ was much to extol his Father, his Father was ever in his esteem an eminent one, as (Mat…

Cast in two worlds, that is nothing; add to the weight millions of heavens of heavens, the balance cannot go down, the scales are unequal; Christ is a huge over-weight. To all these drawing powers in Christ, in the general, because Christ is the Master and King of the land, wher…

Answ. The argument is strong for us; the Apostle speaks of the Gospel-truth; but he will not have the Gospel preached to Samaritans (Matthew 10), to Bithinians, and thousands others. 2. He will not open the hearts of thousands that hear the Gospel, because he will (Matthew 11:28…

Now there (as interpreters agree and as the context shows) those words are spoken by Christ himself, for verse 5 he speaks of God's boring his ear to do his will (the same expression that is used of Christ, Psalm 40:6) and further says, 'I gave my back to the smiters and my chee…

And therefore continue in him now he is in Heaven: For though he laid down all infirmities of our nature, when he rose again; yet no graces that were in him while he was below: they are in him now as much as ever, and being his nature, (for nature we know is constant,) therefore…

That Christ does not use all his servants alike familiarly in every thing. Partly because he had his liberty, for in matters of free favor it is not [reconstructed: a matter of respect of persons] to pass by some and admit others, no not in the most necessary spiritual dispensat…

The law is represented by Moses, and the prophets by Elias. Both did frequently foretell and prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ, and all the Scripture which was then written, was usually called by this term, Law and Prophets, (Acts 24:14) believing all things that ar…

This is usually made the ground and reason of the Gospel invitation, to invite sinners to submit themselves to seek after God in this way. As (Matthew 11:27-28): "All things are delivered to me of my Father, and no man knows the Son but the Father, neither knows any man the Fath…

There are also several other necessary ingredients in all prayer, which I might urge with reference to this duty of secret prayer, as 1. A right understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). I will pray with understanding: For blind devotion is not pleasing to God: 2. A sensible feeling…

Though he says, What I would, that do I not, But what I hate, that do I — (yet says he) I consent to the Law that it is good: that is, I take part with God, and join with God's will against my corrupt and carnal affections, that would draw my neck from under this heavenly yoke:…

But let us think with ourselves, after the example of Paul, that we must glory in the cross which we bear, not for our own sins, but for Christ's sake. If we consider only in ourselves the sufferings which we endure, they are not only grievous but intolerable: but when we may sa…

This is then the principal use of the law: namely, when a man can so use it, that it may humble him and make him to thirst after Christ. And indeed Christ requires thirsty souls, whom he most lovingly and graciously allures and calls to him when he says: Come to me all you that…

Therefore even by these words, "You are known of God," he takes away all righteousness from the law, and denies that we attain the knowledge of God through the worthiness of our own works. For no man knows the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him (Matthew 1…

Again, in that all ministers in their places (according to the measure of gifts received) are pillars, they are admonished hereby to be constant in the truth, against all enemies whatever. It is the praise of John the Baptist, that he was not as a reed shaken of the wind (Matthe…

We must learn to see, feel, acknowledge, and bewail this bondage in ourselves. Deliverance belongs only to such captives as know themselves to be captives (Luke 4:18), and labor under this bondage (Matthew 11:28). Thus did Paul when he says, I am sold under sin: and, O miserable…

Motives to enforce this duty are these. First, the exhortation and example of Christ, to be followers of him (1 Corinthians 11:1), who was lowly and meek (Matthew 11:29); for he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer; so opened he not his mo…

The Prophet here protests then, that Christ will not be the defender and protector of all in general, but of those who acknowledge themselves poor, and destitute of all good things. And this Jesus Christ himself showed to the Disciples of John the Baptist, when he told them that…

But as I think the Prophet meant another thing: he rather shows what rest it is which God affords us for the relieving of our infirmity: and certainly we are convinced of over great ingratitude, if necessity, which of itself is a sharp spur, cannot for all that quicken us forwar…

I give strength to him that is weary. And Christ speaks thus, Matthew 11:28. Come to me all you that are weary and laden. Thus he means then that God has instructed and taught them, that he might be fitted to comfort the afflicted with apt and fit words: so as the broken hearts…

But let us beware that we reject not the benefit which he offers us when he is about to smite off our irons. Generally we may note that the benefits here mentioned are distributed to us by the Gospel, but none are capable of it, except those who feeling their poverty do ardently…

15. For he shall be great He confirms what he said about joy, for John had been selected for a great and extraordinary purpose. These words are not so much intended to extol his eminent virtues as to proclaim his great and glorious office; as Christ, when he declares that among…