37 chapters
12 hour read
Selected Chapters
37 chapters
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
I. NEW EDITION, COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME, LAWS FROM HEAVEN FOR LIFE ON EARTH: Illustrations of the Book of Proverbs. Crown 8vo , cloth. Price 7s. 6d . II. ROOTS AND FRUITS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Crown 8vo . Price 7s. 6d . III. THE RACE FOR RICHES, AND SOME OF THE PITS INTO WHICH THE RUNNERS FALL. Foolscap 8vo . Price 1s. 6d . T. NELSON AND SONS. LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK By the REV. WILLIAM ARNOT. LONDON: T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW; EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK. 1874. ...
38 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
We have been accustomed to regard with affectionate veneration the life-work of the Reformers, and the theology of the Reformation. Of a later date, and in our own vernacular, we have inherited from the Puritans an indigenous theology, great in quantity and precious in kind,—a legacy that has enriched our age more, perhaps, than the age is altogether willing to acknowledge. At various periods from the time of the Puritans to the present, our stock of sacred literature has received additions of i
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE GROUP IN MATT. XIII.
THE GROUP IN MATT. XIII.
“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables.”— Matt. xiii. 1–3 . In Matthew’s narrative, the first specimen of that peculiar pictorial method which characterized the teaching of our Lord, is not an isolated parable occurring in the midst of a miscellaneous discourse, but a group of seven pre
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
I. THE SOWER.
I. THE SOWER.
“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no de
46 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
II. THE TARES.
II. THE TARES.
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE MUSTARD-SEED, AND THE LEAVEN.
THE MUSTARD-SEED, AND THE LEAVEN.
In the first two parables the kingdom of heaven is represented in conflict with its enemies; in the next two it stands alone, putting forth its inherent life and power. There we learn the strength of its adversaries, and here we learn its own. There we saw the efforts made to check the progress of the kingdom; and here we see the progress which, in spite of these efforts, the kingdom makes. There the combat is exhibited, and here the victory. Devils and men, conscious conspirators or unconscious
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
III. THE MUSTARD-SEED.
III. THE MUSTARD-SEED.
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”— Matt. xiii. 31, 32 . We are familiar with the mustard-plant both in a wild and in a cultivated state in our own country. Although not the smallest, it is by no mean
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IV. THE LEAVEN.
IV. THE LEAVEN.
“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”— Matt. xiii. 33 . In the mustard-seed we saw the kingdom growing great by its inherent vitality; in the leaven we see it growing great by a contagious influence. There, the increase was attained by development from within; here, by acquisitions from without. It is not that there are two distinct ways in which the Gospel may gain com
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
V. THE HIDDEN TREASURE.
V. THE HIDDEN TREASURE.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”— Matt. xiii. 44 . These two parables, the hidden treasure and the costly pearl, are even more closely allied to each other than the two which precede them. Generically they teach the same truth; but they teach it with distinct specific differences. It will be most convenient to notice in connection with th
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VI. THE PEARL.
VI. THE PEARL.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”— Matt. xiii. 45, 46 . So closely allied are these two parables, that if we had regarded repetition as a formidable blemish in our lessons, we would not have proposed to expound them separately and successively. The two lines are coincident throughout their whole length, except at one point; but there the diversity is br
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VII. THE DRAW-NET.
VII. THE DRAW-NET.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”— Matt. xiii. 47–50 . Great variety obtains in the size and structure of
34 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIII. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.
VIII. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.
“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was move
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IX. THE VINEYARD LABOURERS.
IX. THE VINEYARD LABOURERS.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did li
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
GROUP—THE TWO SONS, THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN, AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING’S SON. Matt. xxi. 28; xxii. 14
GROUP—THE TWO SONS, THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN, AND THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING’S SON. Matt. xxi. 28; xxii. 14
The natural history of a parable is like the (probable) natural history of a pearl. Something alien and irritating has alighted upon life, and forthwith a covering of pure and precious matter is thrown over it. After this manner, indeed, as we have already noted, a greater than the parable came. In this way redemption began, and grew. Sin entered Eden and fastened upon that image of God which had appeared on earth in the person of primeval man; forthwith holy promises from heaven began to cluste
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
X. THE TWO SONS.
X. THE TWO SONS.
“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John cam
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XI. THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.
XI. THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN.
“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unt
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XII. THE ROYAL MARRIAGE FEAST.
XII. THE ROYAL MARRIAGE FEAST.
“And Jesus answered, and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, out
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE TEN VIRGINS AND THE ENTRUSTED TALENTS. Matt. xxv. 1–30
THE TEN VIRGINS AND THE ENTRUSTED TALENTS. Matt. xxv. 1–30
Both historically and logically the two parables, of the ten virgins and of the talents, are connected and constitute a group: in place they are contiguous, and in nature they are reciprocally complements of each other, making together a complete whole. De Valenti has by a happy generalization placed their relations in an interesting and instructive light. He points out that there are two kinds of almost-Christians, the bustling labourers, and the mystic-dreamers. One class tries to live on work
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIII. THE TEN VIRGINS.
XIII. THE TEN VIRGINS.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed thei
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIV. THE ENTRUSTED TALENTS.
XIV. THE ENTRUSTED TALENTS.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and dig
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XV. THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY.
XV. THE SEED GROWING SECRETLY.
“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”— Mark iv. 26–29 . This is the only parable that is peculiar to Mark. The subjects contained
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVI. THE TWO DEBTORS.
XVI. THE TWO DEBTORS.
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bi
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVII. THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
XVII. THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had comp
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XVIII. THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT.
XVIII. THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT.
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise an
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XIX. THE RICH FOOL.
XIX. THE RICH FOOL.
“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this nigh
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XX. THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
XX. THE BARREN FIG-TREE.
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but,
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXI. THE EXCUSES.
XXI. THE EXCUSES.
“Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and t
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, AND THE PRODIGAL SON. Luke xv.
THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, AND THE PRODIGAL SON. Luke xv.
The three parables of this chapter, like the seven in Matt. xiii. , constitute a connected series. As soon as we begin to look into their contents and relations, it becomes obvious that they have been arranged according to a logical scheme, and that the group so framed is not fragmentary but complete. We cannot indeed fully comprehend the reciprocal relations of all until we shall have examined in detail the actual contents of each; and yet, on the other hand, a preliminary survey of the scheme
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXII. THE LOST SHEEP.
XXII. THE LOST SHEEP.
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIII. THE LOST COIN.
XXIII. THE LOST COIN.
“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”— Luke xv. 8–10 . The three parables of this group, as has been already intimated, do
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIV. THE PRODIGAL SON.
XXIV. THE PRODIGAL SON.
“And he said, A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he
33 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXV. THE PRUDENT STEWARD.
XXV. THE PRUDENT STEWARD.
“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the ste
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXVI. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
XXVI. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torme
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXVII. UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS.
XXVII. UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS.
“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou sha
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXVIII. THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW.
XXVIII. THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW.
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint: saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterwards he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, H
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXIX. THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.
XXIX. THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XXX. THE SERVANTS AND THE POUNDS.
XXX. THE SERVANTS AND THE POUNDS.
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter