Matthew 20

There is a twofold call: 1. An extrinsic or outward call; 2. An intrinsic or inward effectual call. 1. An extrinsic or outward call, which is God's offer of grace to sinners, inviting them to come in and accept of Christ and salvation (Matthew 20:16). Many are called, but few ch…

Many a man's heart will tell him, he is fit for the Lord's Table. As when Christ asked the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 20:22), Are you able to drink the cup I shall drink of? Can you drink such a bloody cup of suffering?

(1.) It is a sovereign will, he has a supreme right and dominion over his creatures, to dispose of them as he pleases. A man may do with his own as he likes (Matthew 20:15): Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? A man may cut his own timber as he will.

The sons of Zebedee would have been glorified in Christ's kingdom more than the rest of the apostles. But Christ says in Matthew 20:22-23: 'Are you able to drink of the cup of which I shall drink?' — meaning that cup delivered to him at his crucifying ('Let this cup pass'), the…

For, God's mercy calls a man in his old age, and touches the heart when it pleases him. Christ in the Parable calls some at the 11th hour, Matthew 20:6: and so God calls men to grace in their old age. We must therefore spare these sharp and unsavoury censures, which some unadvis…

Answer: There are many causes of this. The first, because oftentimes we know not to ask as we ought (Matthew 20:22). The second, because we ask amiss (James 4:3).

And therefore if the being his God, moved him to prepare that city against his death (as has been said) then surely his being his reward, does also then take place. I shall not omit it, because it falls in the next chapter, (Hebrews 12:23), that in that stupendous assembly of he…

And if his strokes were procured by our sins, then the desert of them was laid on him, and his sufferings behooved to be the curse that we elect sinners should have suffered; so when he is called their guarantor, it tells that he undertook their debt, and his laying down of his…

When he was buffeted he gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to him that plucked off the hair, and hid not his face from shame and spitting; Because he knew what was aimed at in all this, and accordingly says (Matthew 20:20) The Son of Man came not to be served, but to s…

The making out of one of these doctrines will make them all out: that Christ's Righteousness is able to justify many, that many shall be justified by it; and that it is His Satisfaction, and Delight that many be justified, and get this good of it. It's said, Matthew 20:28, that…

2. You are the sinner in Law; to this Christ answered, A body you have given me. The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give himself a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). The whole Gospel says, Christ who knew no sin, was made sin for us.

Far less are all Adam's sons healed with Christ's stripes, and returned to the shepherd, and Bishop of souls: nor was the chastisement of all the heathens, peace upon Christ. And Isaiah expounds who are these all whose iniquities were laid upon Christ, verse 8: for the transgres…

As my Father has sent me, even so send I you. And what confirms this is, that Christ elsewhere recommends to Officers in his Church, that are in that respect chief among his Followers, the Example which he set in his abasing himself to be as a Servant that ministers to Guests at…

All things are delivered to me of my Father, and no man knows the Son but the Father, and he to whoever the Father will reveal him. The plea of the Lord of the vineyard will ever hold firm and valid (Matthew 20:15). Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own.

Two solemn ones: a ransom; and, a mediatorial sacrifice. 1. A ransom; [illegible] (Matthew 20:28), [illegible] (1 Timothy 2:6), 'Who gave himself a ransom for all.' A ransom is a price given to a judge, or one that has power of life and death, for to save the life of one capital…

And also that we may be true to him, and go on with him and be fortified against all the difficulties we meet with in the way to Heaven (Hebrews 11:35): Others were tortured not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection, that none of these things move u…

We may not therefore dispute the case with God (Romans 9:20). He may do with his own what he will (Matthew 20:15). The second is, that the ways and judgments of God are a gulf, into which the more we search, the more we plunge ourselves: because they are unsearchable (Romans 11:…

Matthew 20:17-19 17. And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said to them, 18. Lo, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn him to death.

Matthew 20:20-23 20. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping, “S’enclinant a luy;” — “bowing down to him.” and asking something from him.

Matthew 20:24-27 24. And when the ten heard it, “Les dix autres ayans ouy cela;” — “the other ten having heard that.” they were displeased with the two brethren.

Matthew 20:29-34 29. And while they were departing from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

And if Christ, as man, did not know the last day, that does not any more derogate from his Divine nature than to have been mortal. I have no doubt that he refers to the office appointed to him by the Father as in a former instance, when he said that it did not belong to him to p…

Acts 13. 48. And these Elect, are but some of those that are called, Mat. 20. 16. Sect. 39 Yet further to clear this it may be observed, that this first Act of Willing may be considered two wayes. (1.) As it wrought in the Will subjectively, and so it is formally only in that Fa…

It alters not the case as to you at all, whether others have it or have it not. You do not deserve damnation the less, than if mercy had never been bestowed on any at all (Matthew 20:15): Is your eye evil, because mine is good? Second, if this objection is good, then the exercis…

For every man has enough of God, and his mere goodness, however slender his gift may be, so simple a heart has he. But the hypocrites, seeking their own advantage, look askance and play the sluggards: who, when they see they are not the chiefest nor best in the gifts, they murmu…

That he dyed to make Attonement for sin, or reconciliation for iniquity, Daniel 9:24. He gave his life a ransom for the sins of many, Matthew 20:28. 1 Timothy 2:6.

The redemption then that is with God, relates unto a price; goodness or mercy with respect unto a price, becomes redemption, that is actively, the cause or means of it. What that price is, see Matthew 20:20. 1 Peter 1:18.

This general expression then, being compared with other Scriptures, will import these ingredients in her suffering, which occasioned her blackness. 1. That her suffering was heavy and painful; for it was a great drudgery, to be put to keep the vineyards; to be made keeper, was t…

The first is, that there is no passage of this Song cited in the New Testament: but citation of scriptures in the New Testament does not give authority to them. They are cited as having authority, and not to get it; and therefore there are many scriptures in the Old Testament, w…

And no wise Christian will lose a present season for his soul, upon the hopes of much more time yet to come; but will rather say, now is my time, and I know not what will be hereafter; hereafter I may wish to see one of the days of the Son of man, and not see it (Luke 17:22). It…

Those fruits which are preserved on the tree, or in the hoard, are comparatively but an handful to those that are broken in the pound. Alas! 'tis scarce one of a thousand, and such a small remnant of Elected souls has God reserved for glory. I look upon the World as a great Tree…

Be charitable to the poor, for we know the grace of our Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9). Wash one another's feet, that is, stoop to the meanest offices of love, for Christ did so (John 13:14; Matthew 20:27-28). Doing all with lowliness of mind, for it is the same mind that was in…

We read of Polycarpus, that as he lay in his bed, he saw in a vision the bed set on fire under his head, forewarning him of his Martyrdom; we in our ease should seriously think of our sufferings, now while Sun-shine days of peace continue, we should consider of the days of darkn…

As to the proof hereof, I have spoken of it elsewhere at large; I now propose it only in general, to show the amiableness of Christ on this account; here lies, hence arises, the grace, peace, life, and security of the church, of all believers: as by some few considerations may b…

In the first regard its proper effect is redemption, in the second reconciliation or atonement, in the third satisfaction; which are the great ingredients of that purchased grace whereby in the first place we have communion with Christ. 1. It is a price: we are bought with a pri…

He tasted death for all, Hebrews 2:9. He gave his life a ransom for many, Matthew 20:28. The iniquity of us all was made to meet on him, Isaiah 53:6.

So he gave his Life a Ransom for many. Matthew 20:28. He redeemed us from the Curse of the law, by being made a Curse for us, Galatians 3:13.

Whereas the Salvation itself, and the Manner whereby it was accomplished, was but briefly mentioned in some few Texts, and the rest was left to be explained by his Apostles. Second, The Doctrine of Christ's Atonement for Sin is, indeed, intimated in several Places of his own Min…

Here is the comfort of a believer, that he goes immediately to the fountain, and owner of all things; the absolute Lord of all the world, is his Father; the sovereign and free disposing of all things, is in his hand. If we expect any thing from subordinate instruments, God's lea…

1. Because God stands upon his sovereignty; you must stand to God's allowance, though he gives to others more, and to you less; for God is supreme, and will not be controlled in the disposal of what is his own. The good man of the house pleaded, (Matthew 20:13-15) Friend, I do y…

We depend upon him every moment for his providential assistance; therefore he has the highest right and title: no creature can be sui juris, at his own dispose. And he has a right by conquest, and by purchase; he has bought us, and given his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28…

2. The Godly are Jewels for their Scarcity. Pearls are not common; so the Godly are scarce and Rare: there are but few of these to be found: there are many false Professors (as there are Bastard Diamonds) but few Israelites indeed; Matthew 20:16. Few are Chosen.

That is so as to entice the heart to crave more and more till it comes to excess. So envy, (Matthew 20:15) is your eye evil, because mine is good? The more they see and wistfully behold the flourishing of others, the more is their evil disposition nourished.

It is expedient sometimes that God should make his people sad and displease them for their advantage (John 16:6-7): "Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart: nevertheless I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away." We are too much…

When Christ said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs," she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table" (Matthew 15:26-27). So the blind men (Matthew 20:31) — the more they were rebuked, cried the more…

Now this dying for us, and our sins, notes: 1 That he died, and gave himself as a ransom for us (Matthew 20:28), I came to give my life a ransom for many, said our sweet and blessed Savior (1 Timothy 2:6), He gave himself a ransom for all: Christ's dying was the paying of a pric…

Though God calls all those that shall be saved, yet all shall not be saved whom God calls; every man under the Gospel is called of God in one sense or other, but yet every man under the Gospel shall not therefore be saved. For many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 20:16).…

He cures infallibly, none ever came to him for healing that went without it, he never practiced upon any that miscarried under his hand. He cures suddenly, no sooner is his garment touched, but his patient is healed, the leper (Matthew 8:3) is no sooner touched but immediately c…

But that's impossible, [illegible] what is the clay to the Potter? So the Prophet expresses the difference; the interrogation shows [illegible] impossibility of the opposition: they may [illegible] with his will but they cannot cross it, [illegible] the [illegible] "Who has resi…

Matthew 20:5-7. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and says to them, why stand you all the day idle?