Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners… I. THE DIFFERENT COURSES OF LIFE WHEREIN JOHN AND JESUS APPEARED. 1. That God sendeth forth His servants with divers dispositions. 2. That men are qualified according to the dispensation wherein God useth them. John, a preacher of repentance, was austere; Christ, as a giver of pardon, mild. 3. That men are apt to complain. 1. Except against what is done by God, and whatsoever methods are used to reduce them to a sense of pardon. The censures of the two things disliked in Christ were not just. 1. His diet. All our food should be sanctified. 2. His company. II. THE REASONS WHY HE CHOSE THIS SORT OF LIFE. 1. Because He would not place religion in outward austerities and observances. 2. Christ would live a strict, but sociable and charitable life; and did not observe the laws of proud pharisaical separation, but spent His time in doing good. 3. Christ came to set us an example, and would take up that course of life most imitable by all sorts of persons. 4. It was fit His form of life should suit with the nature of the kingdom. 5. Because Christ would not gratify human wisdom, as He would not gratify sense, by choosing a pompous life, so He would net gratify wisdom by choosing an austere life. 6. To show us the true nature of mortification, which consists not in abstinence and retreat from temptations, but in a spirit fortified against them. III. THE OBSERVANCES WHICH WE MAY BUILD THEREON. 1. We may observe the humanity, goodness, and kindness of that religion which we profess, both with respect to ourselves and others. 2. That external holiness which consisteth in an outside strictness without love usually puffeth up men. 3. That a free life, guided by a holy wisdom, is the most sanctified life. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. |
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