The Gospel of the Kingdom. A Popular Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew by Charles H. Spurgeon

Author:Charles H. Spurgeon
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Bible
ISBN: 9781313535120
Publisher: HardPress Publishing
Published: 2013-01-27T22:00:00+00:00

Let us never envy late converts their joy or their usefulness ; but applaud the sovereignty which blesses them

330 The King on his wav To the Cross, [chap. xx.

so largely. We share the mercy with them ; let us give them an equal portion of our joy.

16. So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Here our Lord repeats his famous saying, which we noted in chapter xix. verse 30, and lets us know that precedence in the kingdom of heaven is according to the order of grace. The King will rule in his oWn courts ; and who shall question his will ? As he is King, it is his right to rule. Loyal subjects are ever ready to support their sovereign. Our King reigns by right divine, and cannot do wrong. It was said of David, " Whatsoever the king did pleased all the people." Let this be true of David's Son and his people. Jesus tells us that, while many men are called to service, few reach the standard of choice men. Some of the last shall be first, for abounding grace is seen in their brief hour of work ; but some of the first shall be last, for they are not always diligent throughout their longer day, and so fall back in the race, or their legal notions put them far behind those who were called later in life, but who are better instructed in the principles of divine grace.

CHAPTER XX. 17—28.

[The King on his way to the Cross.]

17—19. And fesus going up to fertisalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them. Behold, we go up to ferusalem ; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him : and the third day he shall rise again.

Marching up, towards the guilty capital, with resolute and vigorous step, Jesus outwalked the trembling disciples, who foresaw that some dire tragedy would transpire. They went with him, and that was something ; and showed that, if timid, they were sincere. His words were true and significant: ''Behold, we go up to Jerusalem." He thought it wise to tell them yet again of the dark future which was now drawing very near ; so he took the twelve disciples apart in the way. That is the best communion when Jesus himself takes us apart. He knows the fittest seasons for fullest revelations. Possibly, in this, his human soul was seeking fellowship; but how little of it he found among his feeble followers ! Lord, when thou dost take me apart, prepare me for full communion, lest I miss a golden opportunity !

The heart of Jesus was full of his sacrifice. Mark how he dwells on the details from the beginning to the end of his sufferings, death, and resurrection.

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