Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 7 · Section 3 – Section 4
Means hereto.
1 Draw near to God with thy Spirit, as well as body, Iſa. 29.13. Remember that thy heart is open before him, Heb. 4.13.
2 Receive not any thing in Religion upon any temporal ends, either of credit, profit, relations of friends, command of Princes, &c. but meerly, becauſe the force of truth prevailes upon thy underſtanding. Some ſuch ends prevailing with Judas and Demas they became meer formaliſts.
3 Go not away from the duties of Religion, as prayer, &c. till your hearts be nouriſhed therein, ſo Jacob, Gen. 32.26. Hoſ. 12.3, 4.
4 Strengthen your ſelves in the power of Gods might, 2 Tim. 2.1.
5 Get a gracious frame of heart: as there is a natural force that puts forth it ſelf in Drugs, Plants, Precious ſtones, ſo there is a ſupernatural power that puts forth it ſelf in a principle of grace, to the reſiſtance of, and victory over corruption.
2 Shew forth the power of Religion, 1 In the duties of thy particular relation, as Maſter, Husband, Father, Paſtor. Its to the reproach of Religion to ſee profeſſing children diſobedient, profeſſing ſervants contemptuous of their Maſters, 1 Tim. 6, 1. Negligent ey-ſervants, like ſtage players, acting onelyonly to pleaſe men.
2 In being vvilling to do or ſuffer any thing for God, Act. 9.6.21.13.
3 In having our converſation ſutable to our profeſſion, Phil. 1.27. OnelyOnly let your converſation be as becometh the Goſpel.
4 In reſiſtance of ſinfull temptations, ſo Joſeph, Gen. 39.10. and thoſe Saints, Heb. 11.35.
5 In a patient bearing of croſſes, which in themſelves are very contrary to our ſtubborn wills, 1 Sam. 3.18. Levit. 10.3.
3 Obſ. He that in ſincerity doth the will of God, in the purpoſe of his heart, and actions of life, ſhall enter into heaven. I put in both theſe, becauſe many hypocrites may have an outward ſeeming reformation, as Joas, Herod, the Scribes, Luke 11.39. Therefore we muſt look to inward reformation in the purpoſes of the heart.
Uſe. As we look for bleſſedneſs, ſo let us endeavour to do Gods will, Jam. 1.25. He that is not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the work, which God requires, this man ſhall be bleſſed in his doing: a bare pretence to do Gods will is not enough, to ſay as he in the Goſpel, I go, Sir, into the Vineyard, but went not, Matth. 21.29, 30. Firſt do Gods will, then receive the promiſe, Heb. 10.36.
Means to do Gods will.
1 Labour to know it, Epheſ. 5.17. Be ye not unwiſe, but underſtanding what the will of the Lord is, Col. 1.9.
2 Beg inſtruction of God herein, Pſal. 143.10. Teach me to do thy will for thou art my God.
3 Deſire that your will may be brought over to Gods will, Matth. 26.39, 42. Father, not my will but thine be done, Acts 21.14. Phil. 2.13.
4 Get the Law of God within your heart, Pſal. 40.8. I delight to do thy will, O God, yea thy Law is in my heart. Hence it was as meat to Chriſt to do the will of the Father, John 4.34. My meat is to do the will of him that ſent me, Eph. 6.6. Heb. 10.7. 2 Cor. 8.3.
5 Have an eye to every part of Gods will, Pſal. 119.6. I ſhall not be aſhamed when I have reſpect to all thy Commandements. Acts 13.22. I have found David a man after mine own heart, which ſhall fulfill all my will. Epaphras prayed that the Coloſsians might be compleat in all the will of God, Col. 4.12.
6 Conſider the equity, perfectneſs and holineſs of Gods will, Rom. 12.2. Proving what is that perfect, holy, and good will of God.
7 Conſider how dear thou art to Chriſt if thou doſt his will, more then mother, ſiſter or brother, Mark 3.26.
8 Perſevere in doing Gods will; all that is paſt is nothing without perſeverance, Matth. 24.13.
V. 22, Many will ſay unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not propheſied in thy name? and in thy name have caſt out devils? and in thy name done many wonderfull things?
V. 23. And then will I profeſs to them, I never knew you: Depart from me ye that work iniquity.
Chriſt comes to amplifie the rejection of carnal Profeſſors in the day of judgement, from the vanity of their pretences and allegations they alledge for themſelves. Their pretences are three, 1 That they propheſied in the name of Chriſt. 2 Caſt out devils in Chriſts name. 3 Did wonderfull things in Chriſts name; as healings, tongues, and hereby witneſſed thy power.
They reaſon thus: It's unjuſt to caſt out of heaven thoſe that have propheſied in thy name, and caſt out devils in thy name: but we have done ſo; therefore, &c. See the horrible pride of formaliſts, who will dare to reply againſt the Judge, ſee Matth. 20.12. Theſe laſt have wrought but one hour and thou haſt made them equal with us.
There are ſome gifts formal hypocrites may have; Balaam propheſied, the Magicians of Egypt did miracies: miracles are no note of a Church, as Papiſts would make us believe, but were done by profeſſors of Chriſtianity for the conviction of unbelievers, ſee Mark 16.17. 1 Cor. 14.22. Tongues are a ſigne to them that believe not. Caiphas propheſied, John 11.49.
True miracles are the alone work of God given for the confirmation of Teachers come from God, and were in the primitive times ſeals unto them, John 3.2. We know thou art a Teacher come from God, for no man can do theſe miracles thou doſt, except God be with him. See Heb. 2.4. Yet all were not thus confirmed, John Baptiſt did no miracle, John 10.41.
Yet ſometimes not onelyonly wicked men have done miracles, Matth. 24.24. 2 Theſ. 2.9. but even wicked Teachers, Deut. 13.1, 2. And in the primitive times all Chriſtians could not do miracles, 1 Cor. 12.29. Are all workers of miracles? When miracles were done they were done by the will of God, not when the inſtrument that did the miracle would, Heb. 2.4. for then would not Paul have left Trophimus ſick at Miletum, 2 Tim. 4.20. but would have wrought a miracle to have raiſed him up. And ſometimes uncharitable men have wrought miracles, 1 Cor. 13.2. Though I have all faith, ſo that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you: Depart from me ye workers of iniquity] Here is the ſentence againſt theſe formal profeſſors, they are ſent to hell as well as other groſs ſinners. I never knew you, that is, I never approved you. So to know is taken, Pſal. 1.6. I never knew you, i. e. I reject you, 1 Cor. 8.3. 2 Tim. 2.19. I never knew you, I knew you as Prophets and Teachers, but never knew you as children and friends: though I know all things, and conſequently know you with a knowledge of ſpeculation, yet I never knew you with a knowledge of love and affection. You have profeſſed me to be your Lord, but you were never yet my ſervants, I muſt acknowledge you to be my creatures, but muſt profeſs you are none of the members of my body, Rom. 8.9. I know you with a general knowledge, as I know all things, Pſal. 139.2, 3. but I know you not with a ſpecial knowledge, as I know mine Elect and Sheep, John 10.14. your luſts are your lords and not I.
Depart from me ye that work iniquity] The words are taken out of Pſal. 6.8. they are the ſentence of Chriſts ſending formal hypocrites to hell, as Matth. 25.41. Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire. Oh terrible ſentence! thou formaliſt ſhalt not onelyonly be ſevered from thy eſtate, relations, and all earthly comforts, but alſo from the preſence of the Lord. See 2 Theſſ. 1.9. never to behold him any more. By workers of iniquity he means ſuch as live in ſin, Rom. 16.21. which in John's phraſe is called the commitment of ſin, John 8.34. Whoſoever committeth ſin is the ſervant of ſin, called walking in darkneſs, 1 John 1.6. See alſo 1 John 3.8, 9. He that committeth ſin is of the devil, whoſoever is born of God doth not commit ſin, v. 9. called alſo walking after the fleſh, and living after the fleſh, Rom. 8.1.12.13. Learn therefore either to depart from thine iniquity, or elſe be aſſured thou ſhalt depart from Chriſt, Ezek. 18.30. Repent and turn from your iniquity, ſo iniquity ſhall not be your ruine. Alſo v. 31. It's called alſo the reign of ſin, Rom. 6.12. and dominion of ſin, v. 14. the ſervice of ſin, v. 17.
Obſ. The number, not onelyonly of profane multitudes, but even of profeſſing people, that ſhall be damned, will be great.
2 Outward Privileges, as propheſying and doing miracles will not ſtand us in ſtead at the Day of Judgment to move the Judg to have mercy upon us. O then get ſomething elſe to ſtand thee in ſtead at that Day, even Chriſt his Righteouſneſs where with Paul then deſired to be covered, Phil. 3.9. 2 Cor. 5.3. 2 Peter 3.11.
3 There are many perſons whom Chriſt knows with a general knowledg, whom he never knew, nor will know, with a ſpecial knowledg of love and affection.
4 That man that lives in a purpoſe of ſin, is in Gods account onelyonly a worker of iniquity.
5 That man that lives in any ſin and dies therein, muſt look at the Day of Judgment for ever to be ſevered from the preſence of Chriſt.
V. 24. Therefore whoſoever heareth theſe ſayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wiſe man, which built his houſe upon the Rock.
Chriſt coming to conclude his Sermon tells his Auditory that there are two ſorts of profeſſing hearers, 1 Bare hearers. 2 Doers as well as hearers: to the bare formal hearing Chriſt threatens deſtruction, but to the doer he promiſes life and ſalvation.
This he ſets down, 1 Plainly, v. 24.
2. By way of ſimilitude, comparing theſe two hearers to two builders, one of which built upon the Sand, and the other built upon a Rock, the one, when aſſaulted by temptations, fell, the other in the midſt of greateſt ſtorms ſtood.
Therefore whoſoever heareth theſe ſayings of mine] By hearing he means the whole profeſſion of Chriſtianity, Rom. 2.13. in general, and hearing properly taken in particular. Denoting that there may be and are abundance of hearers that are no more but hearers, as the ſtony ground, thorny ground and high-way ſide hearers. Seeing themſelves in the glaſs of the Law of God, they go away, and forget their ſhape, as men do that take a glance of the glaſs and are gone, James 1.23. but good hearers are like ſome Women that look long in the glaſs, that they may form themſelves by it.
And doth them] As if he ſhould ſay, I have hitherto taught you how you may lead your lives holily, and have ſhewed you the way to the Kingdom of Heaven, therefore if ye do theſe things I have taught you, ye will be like unto a wiſe man that built his houſe upon the Rock or upon a ſure foundation, knowing that elſe all his coſt and labour will be in vain; now the foundation of a Chriſtian is faith and a godly practiſe, 1 Tim. 6.19. Laying up in ſtore a good foundation for time to come.
Obſ. Hearing and doing in godly hearers go together. Such perſons are bleſſed, John 13.17. Luke 11.28. James 1.25. By doing Chriſt means a purpoſe of doing.
Learn we to joyn doing with hearing. 1 Hereby we ſhall be able to ſtand againſt all ſtorms and tempeſts.
2 This will be the teſtimony of the honeſty and integrity of our hearts, Luke 8.15. The good ground with an honeſt and good heart having heard the Word kept it, and brought forth fruit with patience.
3 Such perſons are bleſſed, James 1.25. If you know theſe things, bleſſed are ye if you do them. No other knowledg ſave the knowledg of Chriſtian doctrine (though we had all knowledg of Hiſtories, Laws) will ſtand in ſtead, nor this neither without practiſe, not the bearing of Chriſt in the womb, nor giving him ſuck with the breaſt, is comparable to this. See Luke 11.27, 28. Yet in oppoſition to carnal men, who upon pretence of crying up practiſe cry down knowledg, Chriſt tells that firſt there muſt be a knowledg before a practiſe. And in this practiſe Chriſt intends the command of believing on his Son as the firſt and chiefeſt command, without which we can never appear to comfort in the ſight of the Judg.
4 By joyning doing with hearing God is honoured and glorified, Matth. 5.16. John 15.8. And by the contrary God is diſhonoured. See Rom. 2.17. to v. 25. The Jews reſting in the knowledg of Gods will, and approving things that were excellent, and in being guides of the blinde and not practiſing what they knew, they cauſed the Name of God to be blaſphemed, v. 24. 1 Tim. 6.1.
5 At the Day of Judgment we ſhall receive, not according to what we have known, but according to what we have done, 2 Cor. 5.10. Revel. 22.12. Matth. 25.34. Epheſ. 6.8. Matth. 16.27.
6 Our knowledg will onelyonly ſerve to juſtifie Gods damning us with the heavier condemnation, if we do not practiſe what we know, Luke 12.47. 1 Peter 4.17. What ſhall become of them that obey not the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt? Rom. 2.7, 8, 9. 2 Peter 2.20, 21.
7 Our comfort and crown will abound at the Day of Chriſt, according to our care and conſcience in the diſcharge of our duties, and our miſery if we do the contrary, Matth. 25.20, 21. Well done good and faithfull ſervant, enter into the joy of the Lord; but to the ſlothfull and unprofitable ſervant Chriſt ſaith, Binde him hand and foot and caſt him into utter darkneſs, v. 26, 27, 28, 30.
8 Practiſe joyned with hearing wins upon others, 1 Pet. 2.12. The Heathens beholding the good works of Chriſtians glorified God in the day of viſitation, 1 Pet. 3.1. The Heathen husbands were won to look after the truth by the converſation of their wives, whiles they beheld their chaſte converſation, coupled with a fear of ſinning againſt God. A holy converſation ſteals into the hearts of them that behold it inſenſibly, to build them up many times to ſalvation, as a ſcandalous carriage doth into the hearts of others to build them up to damnation.
9 An holy practiſe mightily blunts the rage of Perſecutors, 1 Pet. 3.13. Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? Tit. 2.7. In all things ſhewing thy ſelf a patern of good works; why, what then? When your lives and ſpeeches are well ordered, they that are of the contrary part will be aſhamed, having no evil thing to ſay of you.
10 All thy hearing, knowledge and parts, and common gifts will come to nothing, and thou wilt be deprived of them, unleſs thou joyn an holy practiſe to them, Matth. 25.29. Take the talent from him; From him that hath not (to wit a fruitfull practiſe) ſhall be taken away even that which he hath. It is with Religion as with other trades that bring no gain, unleſs diligently followed.
11 Thou haſt no intereſt in the mercy of God unleſs thou remember his Commandements to do them, Pſal. 103.19. Many remember Gods commands to ſpeak of them, but few remember them to do them. It was wittily ſpoken of one, If God had given us his commandements onelyonly to preſerve, he might have committed them to iron Coffers; if onelyonly to talk of them, better to Geeſe and Parrots; if onelyonly for contemplation, to Owles in Ivy-buſhes, or to Monks in Cloiſters. Gods ſcope was not to make trial of the wits of men, who could ſharplieſt conceive, nor of their memories, who could faithfullieſt retain, or of their eloquence, who could roundlieſt diſcourſe, but of their wills, who would moſt obediently do them; this being his chief honour to have his throne and command, not in the head and brains, but in the ſtrong hold of their hearts and lives. David did not onelyonly delight in Gods commands, but he lifted up his hands to them, Pſal. 119.47, 48. for to do them.
I will liken him unto a wiſe man which built his houſe upon the rock] That is upon a rocky ground, taking away all the looſe mold that covered the rock. A Chriſtian when he builds, digs deep; and caſts out the looſe earth, to denote that believers, knowing there is much falſhood and hollowneſs in their hearts, therefore when they have heard the Word, they ſuſpect their own hypocriſie and formall receiving of the Word, hence they dig up their hearts by ſoul-ſearching humiliation to finde out the prevailing iniquity of their hearts, which keeps them from an even and conſtant walking with God. How much greater weight of building any man intends to build, ſo much deeper he digs the foundation, and the fabrick when it is built riſes on high: but he that digs the foundation is preſt down below, therefore the fabrick is made low before the height, and the top is rais'd up after the humiliation, Aug. de verb. Dom. Ser. 11.
Carnall profeſſors, on the contrary, have all their building above ground, and therefore he thinks he hath done enough if he do onelyonly talk a little of good things, he ſpends no time in digging and ſearching, that is in grieving and lamenting for his corruptions, nor in reforming what's amiſs. Hence Luke adds theſe words which Matthew omits, viz. He digged deep and laid the foundation on a rock, Luke 6.47, 48.
By the building the houſe upon the rock, is meant the placing our faith upon Chriſt, as the prop of our ſalvation, for Chriſt is called a rock, 1 Cor. 10.4. As an houſe built upon the ſand is an hypocritical formal profeſſion or temporary faith, ſo the houſe built upon the rock is ſaving, juſtifying faith, which, as it pitcheth on Jeſus Chriſt, ſo it ſhews it ſelf by all gracious fruits, and univerſal obſervations of all Chriſts commands. It pitches on Chriſt as the foundation. See Epheſ. 2.20, 21. Acts 4.12. 1 Cor. 3.11. 1 Pet. 2.5.
V. 25. And the rain deſcended, and the floods came, and the windes blew and beat upon that houſe, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.
The words ſeem to be taken out of Prov. 10.25. As the whirlewinde paſſeth, ſo is the wicked no more; but the righteous is an everlaſting foundation.
By the rain, floods and windes, are meant inward and outward temptations, which true and ſound faith will be able to endure; upon this rock Chriſt builds his Church, and the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt it, Matth. 16.18. much leſs ſhall any of Satans temptations, of blaſphemy, ſelf-murther, &c. which Satan darts into the ſoul, nor any perſecutions, baniſhments or impriſonments, which the inſtruments of Satan ſtir up againſt true believers, prevail againſt them. This Advocate on whom the faith of believers pitcheth, prayed for us when he was on earth, Luk. 22.31. Satan hath deſired to have You, that he may ſift You, but I have prayed for thee, and conſequently for other believers, that your faith fail not, and now he intercedes for us in heaven.
No other foundation ſave Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3.11. can any man lay, without believing on whom we muſt look to die in our ſins, John 8.24. other foundations of wealth, honour, and earthly greatneſs, will not be able to make us bear up againſt the ſtream of temptations. Intereſt in God, through Jeſus Chriſt, is that which keeps up the ſoul in the midſt of greateſt ſtorms. See Pſal. 3.5, 6.27.1, 2, 3.46.1, 2. Dan. 3.17, 18. Acts 27.23, 24, 25. Prov. 18.11. Pſal. 112.7.125.1.
Chriſt doth not ſay that believers ſhall be without trials and temptations; nay theſe above all other muſt look for ſtorms and tempeſts, Acts 14.22. but they do not fall by them. See Heb. 11.35. Whoſoever will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. Trial and temptation ſhowes what men are. Every man is that in truth out of temptation, which he ſheweth himſelf to be in temptation. A wiſe builder is wiſe before ſtormes come, but how will that be known? by the ſtanding of his houſe in the time of a ſtorm. Profeſſors generally ſeem to ſtick alike to Chriſt, till a temptation come, but unſound men in time of temptation fall away, Luke 8.13. The carnal Profeſſor is like Orpah to her mother Naomi, the ſincere Profeſſor like Ruth. Unſound Profeſſors are uſually drawn aſide by earthly enjoyments on the one hand, as the young man, or by ſtorms of perſecution and ſuffering on the other hand: contrarily Moſes, Heb. 11.25, 26.
We may judge of our patience what it is, when we have a wrong offered us; of our temperance what it is, when we are at a great feaſt; of our love to God what it is, when ſome great thing is to be left for a good conſcience; of our ſincerity what it is, by what we do when no man ſees us; of our liberality what it is, when God preſents an object of mercy to us. It was ſweetly inſtanced by a reverend Preacher; Peter was a good houſe, Judas was an ill houſe. When a ſtorm came Peter loſt a ſlate or two, as the beſt houſe may, yet the foundation and the ſide walls ſtood firm, but Judas, when Chriſt rebuked him, he was full of wrath, and when the Prieſts offered him money he was full of covetouſneſs, ſo thinking to gain more by ſelling Chriſt then by ſerving him, he betrayed him to his adverſaries, and Joſeph being good under his fathers government, continued good under the government of Infidels, where he had all means of damnation but none of ſalvation. The ſame he was in his fathers houſe he was in Potiphars houſe, and in the priſon, and after in Pharaohs Court, which was the moſt dangerous temptation of all, being a young man, a ruler, and a rich man, in which three conſiderations there were many ſnares, as appears from that young rich Ruler, Luke 18.18. who left Chriſt rather then his enjoyments.
Obſ. It's a great point of wiſedome to joyn doing to our hearing. Chriſt likens ſuch to a wiſe man. A Sermon is but half heard when it is heard from the Preachers mouth. Be ye like Johns hearers, deſirous to know your own duty with intention to do it, Luke 3.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Deut. 4.6.
2 Sooner or later Profeſſors muſt be expoſed to the ſtorms and tempeſt of great and violent inward and outward temptations.
Uſe 1 In times of peace prepare for ſtorms; do as Mariners who in calm weather make all their tacklings firm.