Old Treasures Made New

Luke 12:22-31 We have a collection of striking arguments against over-anxiety about the things of this world. We have a high standard of living commended to all Christians. We have a marvelous promise held out to those who seek the kingdom of God. "But the man who can say of God, "He is my Father," and of Christ, "He is my Savior,” ought surely to be above such anxieties and cares. A clear faith s...

Luke 12:13-21 Let us mark what a solemn warning our Lord pronounces against covetousness. Let us mark what a withering exposure our Lord makes of the folly of worldly-mindedness. Let us mark how important it is to be rich towards God. "Let us pray for a thorough confidence in God's superintending providence over all our worldly affairs, and God's perfect wisdom in all His arrangements concerning u...

Luke 12:8-12 We are taught that we must confess Christ upon earth, if we expect Him to own us as His saved people at the last day. We are taught that there is such a thing as an unpardonable sin. We are taught that Christians need not be over anxious as to what they shall say, when suddenly required to speak for Christ's cause. "For us to deny Christ or be ashamed of His Gospel, may get us a littl...

Luke 12:1-7 The first thing is Christ's warning against hypocrisy. The second thing is Christ's warning against the fear of man. The last thing is Christ's encouragement to persecuted believers. "If we would not become Pharisees, let us cultivate a 'heart religion'. Let us realize daily that the God with whom we have to do, looks far below the outward surface of our profession, and that He measure...

Luke 11:45-54 We learn how great is the sin of professing to teach others what we do not practice ourselves. We learn how much more easy it is to admire dead saints than living ones. We learn how surely a reckoning day for persecution will come upon the persecutors. We learn how great is the wickedness of keeping back others from religious knowledge. "One thing at all events is very certain. No le...

Luke 11:37-44 Let us notice our Lord Jesus Christ's readiness, when needful, to go into the company of the unconverted. Let us notice the foolishness which accompanies hypocrisy in religion. Let us notice the gross inconsistency which is often exhibited by hypocrites in religion. Let us notice the falseness and hollowness which characterize the 'religious hypocrite' "If we feel that we dare not im...

Luke 11:33-36 We learn the importance of making a good use of religious light and privileges. We learn the value of a single and undivided heart in religion. "A man's religion may well be suspected, when he is content to go to heaven alone." "It is a heart which abhors all compromises, all luke-warmness, all halting between two opinions in religion. It sees one mighty object--the love of Christ dy...

Luke 11:27-32 We should observe how great are the privileges of those who hear and keep God's word. We should observe the desperate unbelief of the Jews in our Lord's time. We should observe how our Lord Jesus Christ testifies to the truth of a resurrection, and a life to come. "No man can be nearer and dearer to Jesus than the man who simply believes." "Let it never surprise us to see unbelief ab...

Luke 11:21-26 Let us observe what a fearful picture our Lord draws of Satan's power. Let us observe how strongly our Lord teaches the impossibility of neutrality. Let us observe how dangerous it is to be content with any change in religion short of thorough conversion to God. "A prisoner must be a very hardened man who jests about the executioner and the gallows. The heart must be in a very bad st...

Luke 11:14-20 Let us notice the variety of ways in which Satan exhibits his desire to injure man. Let us notice the amazing power of prejudice over the hearts of unconverted men. Let us notice the great evil of religious divisions. "The prayerless man is dead while he lives." "Let us strive to be of a fair, and honest, and candid spirit in our judgment of men and things in religion. Let us be read...

Luke 11:5-13 We learn the importance of perseverance in prayer. We learn how wide and encouraging are the promises which the Lord Jesus holds out to prayer. "The application of the parable is clear and plain. If importunity succeeds so well, between man and man, how much more may we expect it to obtain mercies when used in prayer to God." "A man's state before God may always be measured by his pra...

Luke 11:1-4 The first division of the Lord's Prayer respects the God whom we worship. The second division of the Lord's Prayer respects our own daily needs. The third division of the Lord's Prayer respects our daily dangers. "Blessed indeed are those Christians who have learned that God's name is far more honorable than that of any earthly ruler; God's kingdom the only kingdom that shall stand for...

Luke 10:38-42 Let us observe how different the characters and temperaments of true Christians may be. Let us observe what a snare to our souls the cares of the world may be, if allowed to take up too much attention. Let us observe the solemn rebuke our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His servant Martha Let us observe what high commendation our Lord Jesus Christ pronounced on Mary's choice. "We must not...

Luke 10:29-37 We are taught how rare and uncommon is true brotherly love. We are taught who they are to whom we should show kindness, and whom we are to love as neighbors. We are taught after what manner, and to what extent we are to show kindness and love to others. "That cheap charity which costs nothing more than a trifling subscription or contribution, is common enough. But that self-sacrifici...

Luke 10:25-28 We should notice the solemn question which was addressed to our Lord Jesus Christ. We should notice the high honor which our Lord Jesus Christ places on the Bible. We should notice the clear knowledge of duty to God and man, which the Jews in our Lord's time possessed. "Let us not be ashamed of putting the lawyer's question to our own souls. Let us rather ponder it, think about it, a...

Luke 10:21-24 We should observe the one instance on record of our Lord Jesus Christ rejoicing. We should observe the sovereignty of God in saving sinners. We should observe the character of those from whom truth is hidden, and of those to whom truth is revealed. We should observe the majesty and dignity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us observe the peculiar privileges of those who hear the Gospel o...

Luke 10:17-20 We learn how ready Christians are to be puffed up with success. We learn that gifts, and power of working miracles, are very inferior to grace. "Let it, however, never be forgotten, that the time of success is a time of danger to the Christian's soul. The very hearts that are depressed when all things seem against them are often unduly exalted in the day of prosperity. Few men are li...

Luke 10:8-16 The simplicity of the tidings which our Lord commanded some of His first messengers to proclaim. The great sinfulness of those who reject the offers of Christ's Gospel. The honor which the Lord Jesus is pleased to put upon His faithful ministers. "Simple plain statements, boldly and solemnly made, and made in such a manner that they are evidently felt and believed by him who makes the...

Luke 10:1-7 The first point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is the importance of prayer and intercession. The second point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples, is the perilous nature of the work in which they were about to be engaged. The third point in our Lord's charge to the seventy disciples is, the thorough devotion to their work which He enjoined upon them. The fourth...

Luke 9:57-62 The first of these sayings was addressed to one who offered to be a disciple unconditionally, and of his own accord. The second of our Lord's sayings is addressed to one whom Jesus invited to follow Him. The third of our Lord's sayings in this passage was addressed to one who volunteered to follow Him, but marred the grace of His offer by interposing a request. "Salvation He is ready...

Luke 9:51-56 Let us notice the steady determination with which our Lord Jesus Christ regarded His own crucifixion and death. Let us notice the unusual conduct of two of the apostles, James and John. Let us notice what a solemn rebuke our Lord gives to persecution carried on under color of religion. "The man that comes to Christ by faith should never doubt Christ's willingness to receive Him. The m...

Luke 9:46-50 The Lord Jesus gives us a warning against pride and self-conceit. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us a warning against a bigoted and illiberal spirit. "[Pride] is a pestilence that walks in darkness, and a sickness that destroys at noon-day. No sin is so deeply rooted in our nature. It cleaves to us like our skin. Its roots never entirely die...It can wear the garb of humility itself. It...

Luke 9:37-45 We have an example of what a parent should do when he is troubled about his children. We have an example of Christ's readiness to show mercy to young people. We have an example of the spiritual ignorance which may be found even in the hearts of good men. "The child of many prayers shall seldom be cast away. God's time of conversion may not be ours. He may think fit to prove our faith...

Luke 9:28-36 This passage shows us something of the glory which Christ will have at His second coming. This passage shows us the safety of all true believers who have been removed from this world. This passage shows us that the Old Testament saints in glory take a deep interest in Christ's atoning death. The passage shows us the immense distance between Christ and all other teachers whom God has g...

Luke 9:23-27 We learn the absolute necessity of daily self-denial. We learn the unspeakable value of the soul. We learn the guilt and danger of being ashamed of Christ and His words. "A crucified Savior will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people. No self-denial--no real grace! No cross--no crown!" "The plain account of many professing Christians is this, t...