because the testimony had been ac- cepted by a few humble ones. He calls them babes. The babe lives by draw- ing its sustenance from another. Worldly wisdom is not an organ of per- ception of spiritual things, but rather a barrier. The key to this invocation is thanks for the childlikeness of some. No intellectual training or develop- ment can fit one for a revelation from God. The heart, not the head, is the avenue for God's approach. A child has no wisdom; it is simple in its igno- rance; it is teachable. The child looks up and calls God Father, and from His inexhaustible source, of supply finds all sufficiency for its needs. The disciples of Christ were unlearned and ignorant men (Acts 4:13). Contact with the Christ made them wise. The highest truths are learned by the humblest stu- dents. The history of the church shows that the early converts are always from among the lowly classes. Pride of intellect, of wealth, of good- ness, of position are the things which keep men and women out of heaven. A man who feels that he is on his way to hell is the best possible subject for the Gospel of grace, and the man who feels his own sufficiency, the hardest to reach. The Lord thanks His Father that some little ones have been brought to see the truth. The Kingdom was not to become the prize to intellect. Man must take his place in God's sight as utterly help- less as a babe, before God can bestow the blessing upon his soul. The atti- tude of the Son in this prayer is the essential attitude of soul for the recep- tion of Bivine wisdom and blessing. "Even so Father," without a surren- dered will, there can be no measure of grace given by God. The Lord is look- ing for men small enough to be used. Where will He be likely to find them? (3) INFINITE POWER. "All things ! are delivered unto Me." This is a profound statement and is to be accepted in the most comprehen- sive sense. All things,, both celestial and terrestrial (Phil. 2:10). All things are in His hands (Jno. 3:35). All power committed to Him (Matt. 28:18). All judgment (Jno. 5:22). All enemies under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1: 22; Heb. 2:8). Angels, authorities and powers are subject to Him (1 Pet. 3:22). Coupled with the- assertion of His power the. Lord Jesus sets forever His seal to a great truth. The Father can only be known through the Son (Luke 10:22J\ He has manifested Him (Jno. 1:18) and
that lesson had reference to the wisdom of those who accepted the testimony of the truth. He now turns to the stub- born Jews and voices words of warn- ing. (1) INVECTIVE. ''Woe unto thee." The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were favored places. The latter was known as the Lord's own city. He spent much time and did many mighty works in the midst of these places. They had His personal presence (Matt 4:13; Mark 8:22), His teaching (Jno. 6:59; Matt. 9:35, 11:1), they saw His works (Mark 2:3; Luke 7:2), yet these cities were impenitent. They had closed their eyes to the tes- timony, they had shut their hearts against the teaching; they were with- out excuse. Every bit of teaching, every new work of grace added to their responsibility. The larger the truth given, the greater the debt. There is a tremendous law of retribution opera- tive in God's economy to which ojir best judgment must give assent/ The cities of the plain had been destroyed by fire 2000 years before this because there were not ten righteous persons to be found. Tyre and Sidom had grown rich, lawless and ilodatrous, and had been denounced by the prophets for their luxury (Amos 1:9-10; Ezek. 28: 2-6, 15, 16), yet they heeded not and were brought to the dust by the in- vasion of Babylon. These cities of Gali- lee, so specially favored and to whom Jesus appealed, were for their indiffer- ence utterly destroyed and their loca- tion cannot be positively placed. The people of Tyre, Sidom, Sodom and Ca- pernaum are yet to stand before this same Jesus to be judged, and they have «already been damned for four thousand years and are yet to receive their final doom. There will be a classification of character at the judgment. The lustful will be classed with Sodomites, the proud with Tyre and Sidon, the rebel- lious and obstinately wicked with Ca- pernaum; punishment will be in propor- tion to guilt. In that day where will the favored nations like our own stand? Sin cannot be covered, guilt cannot be condoned; the retribution will be awful. How solemn is the responsibility of the teacher who faces a class with this lesson and realizes that indifferenec to truth is a more heinous sin than sodomy. (2) INVOCATION. " I thank thee O Father." The Lord lifts His heart in thanks- giving to His Father as the Sovereign
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