Old Treasures Made New

Mark 7:1-13 Is the low and degraded condition of Jewish religion, when our Lord was upon earth. Is the uselessness of mere lip-service in the worship of God. Is the tendency of man's inventions in religion to supplant God's word. "External observances alone feed no consciences and sanctify no hearts!" "It must not content us to take our bodies to church, if we leave our hearts at home." "Heart-pra...

Mark 6:47-56 Let us notice how our Lord sees the troubles of His believing people, and in due time will help them. Let us notice the fears of the disciples, when they first saw our Lord walking upon the sea. Let us notice what a bright example we have of our duty to one another. "The event first recorded in these verses, is a beautiful emblem of the position of all believers, between the first and...

Mark 6:35-46 Let us observe what an example this miracle affords of our Lord Jesus Christ's almighty POWER. Let us observe our Lord Jesus Christ's conduct, when the miracle of feeding the multitude had been performed. "We live in the midst of an evil world, and see few with us, and many against us. We carry within us a weak heart, too ready at any moment to turn aside from the right way. We have n...

Mark 6:30-34 Let us mark the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers. Let us mark the words of our Lord to the apostles, when they returned from their first public ministry. Let us mark the feelings of our Lord Jesus Christ towards the people who came together to Him. "Prayer is the main secret of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move hea...

Mark 6:14-29 We see the amazing power of truth over the conscience. We see how far people may go in religion, and yet miss salvation by yielding to one master-sin. We see how boldly a faithful minister of God ought to rebuke sin. We see how bitterly people hate a reprover, when they are determined to keep their sins. We see how much sin may sometimes follow from feasting and reveling. We see how l...

Mark 6:7-13 Let us observe how our Lord Jesus Christ sent forth His apostles "two by two." Let us observe what solemn words our Lord uses about those who will not receive nor hear His ministers. Let us observe what was the doctrine which our Lord's apostles preached. "Two men together will do more work than two men individually. They will help one another in judgment, and commit fewer mistakes. Th...

Mark 6:1-6 We see how apt men are to undervalue things with which they are familiar. We see how humble was the rank of life which our Lord condescended to occupy before He began His public ministry. We see how exceedingly sinful is the sin of unbelief. "It is a dreadful truth, that in religion, more than in anything else, familiarity breeds contempt." "He who made heaven, and earth, and sea, and a...

Mark 5:35-43 Let us learn that rank places no man beyond the reach of sorrow. Let us learn how almighty is the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us see in this miracle a blessed pledge of what our Lord will do in the day of His second appearing. "Let us beware of sorrowing like those who have no hope, over friends who fall asleep in Christ. The youngest and loveliest believer can never die befor...

Mark 5:21-34 Let us mark what misery sin has brought into the world. Let us mark how different are the feelings with which people draw near to Christ. Let us mark how immediate and instantaneous was the cure which this woman received. Let us mark how much it becomes Christians to confess before men the benefit they receive from Christ. Let us mark how precious a grace is faith. "The Savior of the...

Mark 5:18-20 We learn that the Lord Jesus knows better than His people what is the right position for them to be in. We learn that a believer's own home has the first claims on his attention. "With the best intentions, they are apt to fall into mistakes about their plans in life, their choices, their moves, their professions. They forget that what we like best, is not always best for our souls, an...

Mark 5:1-17 We see that the possession of a man's body by the devil, was a real and true thing in the time of our Lord's earthly ministry. We see what an awfully cruel, powerful, and malicious being Satan is. We see how complete is our Lord's power and authority over the devil. "Unbelief about the existence and personality of Satan, has often proved the first step to unbelief about God." "Well wou...

Mark 4:35-41 Let us learn that Christ's service does not exempt His servants from storms. Let us learn that our Lord Jesus Christ was really and truly man. Let us learn that our Lord Jesus Christ, as God, has almighty power. We learn from this passage that our Lord Jesus Christ is exceedingly patient and piteous in dealing with His own people. "But He has never promised that we shall have no affli...

Mark 4:30-34 We learn that, like the grain of mustard seed, Christ's visible church was to be small and weak in its beginnings. We learn that, like the mustard seed, the visible church, once planted, was to grow and greatly increase. "Let us leave the parable with a resolution never to despise any movement or instrumentality in the church of Christ, because at first it was weak and small." Questio...

Mark 4:26-29 We are taught that, as in the growth of grain, so in the work of grace, there must be a sower. We are taught that, as in the growth of grain, so in the work of grace, there is much that is beyond man's comprehension and control. We are taught that, as in the growth of grain, so in the work of grace, life manifests itself gradually. We are taught that, as in the growth of grain, so in...

Mark 4:21-25 We learn that we ought not only to receive knowledge, but to impart it to others. We learn the importance of hearing, and of considering well what we hear. We learn the importance of a diligent use of religious privileges. "It is high time that the old tradition, that the clergy alone ought to teach and spread religious knowledge, should be exploded and cast aside forever. To do good...

Mark 4:1-20 We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the path. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel whose hearts are like the stony ground in a field. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the thorny ground in a field. We are taught that there are some hearers of the Gospel, whose hearts are like the...

Mark 3:31-35 We learn from these verses one mighty lesson: who they are that are reckoned the relations of Jesus Christ. "Who can conceive the depth of our Lord's love towards Mary the mother that bore Him, and on whose bosom He had been nursed? Who can imagine the breadth of His love towards His brethren according to the flesh, with whom the tender years of his childhood had been spent? Doubtless...

Mark 3:22-30 We ought to notice how great is the evil of dissension and divisions. We ought to notice what a glorious declaration our Lord makes in these verses about the forgiveness of sins. We ought to notice that it is possible for a man's soul to be lost forever in hell. "Nothing justifies separation from a church but the separation of that church from the Gospel. Let us be ready to concede mu...

Mark 3:13-21 Let us notice how many of the twelve who are here named, had been called to be disciples before they were ordained apostles. Let us notice the nature of the office to which the apostles were ordained. Let us notice how our Lord Jesus Christ's zeal was misunderstood. "None do such injury to the cause of Christianity, as unconverted, worldly ministers. They are a support to the infidel,...

Mark 3:1-12 Let us observe how our Lord Jesus Christ was watched by His enemies. Let us observe the great principle that our Lord lays down about Sabbath observance. Let us observe the feelings which the conduct of our Lord's enemies called forth in His heart. "Wherever we go, and whatever we do, let us remember that, like our Master, we are "watched." The thought should make us exercise a holy je...

Mark 2:23-28 We see what extravagant importance is attached to trifles by those who are mere formalists in religion. We see the value of a knowledge of holy Scripture. We see the true principle by which all questions about the observance of the SABBATH ought to be decided. "It ought to be a settled principle in our minds, that a man's soul is in a bad state, when he begins to regard man-made rites...

Mark 2:13-22 We learn from these verses the power of Christ to call men out from the world, and make them His disciples. We learn that one of Christ's principal offices is that of a Physician. We learn that in religion it is worse than useless to attempt to mix things which essentially differ. "We ought never to despair entirely of any one's salvation, when we read this passage of Scripture. He wh...

Mark 2:1-12 We see what great spiritual privileges some people enjoy, and yet make no use of them. We see how great a blessing AFFLICTION may prove to a man's soul. We see the priestly power of forgiving sins, which is possessed by our Lord Jesus Christ. "We need reminding that the same Gospel which is the savor aroma of life to some, is the savor aroma of death to others, and that the same fire w...

Mark 1:40-45 Let us try to realize the dreadful nature of the disease which Jesus cured. Let us learn the wondrous and almighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us learn that there is a time to be silent about the work of Christ, as well as a time to speak. "Blessed indeed is he who has learned that he is a spiritual leper, and a bad, wicked, sinful creature! To know our disease is one step tow...

Mark 1:35-39 We see an example of our Lord Jesus Christ's habits about private prayer. We see a remarkable saying of our Lord as to the purpose for which He came into the world. We ought to observe what infinite honor the Lord Jesus puts on the office of the preacher. "A praying Master, like Jesus, can have no prayerless servants. The Spirit of adoption will always make a man call upon God. To be...