truth, irreverent words, hasty words, unholy words, careless and trifling words. What a record to face a man. Words in which the Lord has been denied, blasphemed. How happy will he be who shall have recorded for him the words, ' ' I believe in the Son of God as my personal sacrifice and Saviour, my Lord and my K i n g " (Eph. 5:4-11; 2 Pet. 2:18; Jas. 3:2-12; Bom. 14:12. THE SIGN OF JONAS." We would see a sign." The demand of the Pharisees for a sign was not an honest one. They had seen many signs. One miracle had just been wrought sufficient to satisfy the demands of any honest man. The Attesting Words and Works. Had they wanted proof they had the Old ± estament with its prophecies con- cerning Him and His life fulfilling those prophecies. They had heard the testimony of John concerning Him. Those healed of many diseases had tes- tified of Him. His words and works were in unison. What sign were the Pharisees after; the sign of Daniel? (Dan. 7:13). A sign from heaven (Matt. 16:1); a visible kingdom? They would have to wait. The Attestation. Now they had the King in their midst. He spake as never man spake. He healed the sick, opened eyes, raised the dead. What more was necessary? They were evil and sought a sign to confirm their unbelief. He gives them a sign from earth. Jonas was three days and night's in the belly of the whale—in the pit. He did not see cor- ruption; his body was preserved. The miracle was a sign that he was God's divinely commanded prophet and au- thenticated messenger (Luke 11:30). Such a sign awaited them. He was to be three days and nights in the heart of the earth, but alas, they also refused that sign—when it was given (Matt. 28:11-15). The Ninehvites believed without any miracle. The Jews be- lieved not, although they had many miracles. Therefore Nineveh would rise up in judgment against them. They shut their eyes to signs and asked for a sign. He was greater than Solomon, yet they would not receive His testi- mony. If the people of this age reject the testimony of the Christ and refuse to acknowledge him, their judgment will be awful (Heb. 11:7; Heb. 10:29).
standing as to what constitutes this awful sin of blasphemy. The Jews had made a terrible charge against the Son of God. They attributed His work to the power of the devil and the Lord tells them that this sin hath no for- giveness. All sins of men are for- given (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 3:23-34; 1 Jno. 1:7), but there is in another category an age abiding sin in which a man commits spiritual suicide (Mark 3:29; Heb. 16:26-29; 1 Jno. 5:16-17). The Pharisees in their hearts knew that Jesus was the Son of God. When they uttered the f a t al words, " H e hath Beelzebub," thus manifesting the fruit of a depraved nature (Matt. 17:16-20). John the Baptist characterized them as the offspring of vipers, bringing forth the fruit of the corrupt heart (Luke 6:45). The rejection of Jesus Christ as the vehicle through which the Holy Spirit manifested the life of God is the Unpardonable sin (1 Jno, 5:16; 2 Tim. 3:8; Jude 12:12; Heb. 10:26-31). There is no intention here to discriminate between Christ and the Holy Spirit, for they are one. The distinction is be- tween the humanity of our Lord, Son of Han. To speak against the Son of Man is to resist the testimony accom- panied by signs, to resist the Holy Spirit is to deny the sign which authen- ticates His Sonship (Ex. 8:19; Luke 11: 20- Jno. 10:47-48. This was dispensa- tionally true of Israel, who were na- tionally given over to destruction upon their final rejection of' the testimony of the Spirit to the risen Christ (Acts 7: 54-59). Wilful unbelief, the persistent sin of resisting the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin. All other sins are freely forgiven when confessed. The blasphemy of the Pharisees evidenced the venom of the serpent. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORDS. "For by thy -words." It is unfair to the context to omit these words from the lesson. There is no more solemn statement in Scripture than this. " T h a t every idle word that men shall, speak they shall give account thereof in the day of J u d gme n t ." The Accusing Words. Talk is character in expression. Words aré the index to hidden life. Idle words are words without deeds. Words are seeds that are sown by the side of all waters. God has a record- ing pláte onto which is inscribed oúr words, good or bad; all have power; all must be judged. Words against the
•à
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker