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The whole instruction of this story for our use now turns upon the word "chose;" for it reveals the fact that the sovereignty of God as well as His wisdom was in the procedure. So our several lessons need only to be stated in their order.

I. The earliest matter of notice is this: Our Lord's policy was ONE OF CONTINUOUS RECONSTRUCTION FOR OUR ENTIRE FALLEN HUMANITY, and not merely an expedient for His own convenience.

1. For a purpose, He might have chosen death, instead of which He chose life. He could have taken the best of the race up into the air higher than Ararat, and held them safely, as it were, outside of the world, while He washed the wicked earth beneath them, and then put them back. He did that once; but, with a rainbow for a sign, He said He would never do it again. He evidently planned now to redeem sinners, not to destroy them.

2. For a method, He might have chosen a permanent incarnation; instead of which He chose a book. He was now finding men just to make and perpetuate the New Testament. Ours is a "book religion," as cavillers call it. Christianity is the Bible, and the Bible is Christianity. In this form of procedure our Lord indicated that the chief of all approaches to the human conscience is through the reason, and this He intended to use for His end.

3. For the instruments, He might have chosen angels, instead of which He chose men. We see that He selected ordinary, poor, humble individuals from the lowliest callings. Hence, we admit they are subject to the same laws of estimate and criticism as other men. Not even inspiration changed their peculiar characteristics or their natural temperaments.

4. For a plan, He might have chosen unofficial representatives; instead of which He chose ordained officers, and organized a Church. Here, then, is the inalienable warrant for a fixed ministry in the Christian Church through all time.

II. The second matter of notice for us now is, that our Lord's selection of His helpers implied GREAT VARIETIES OF SERVICE IN EVANGELIZING THE WORLD, REQUIRING DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS.

1. Observe the significant number of these men. It was large, to begin with, and exceedingly wide in its representative range.

2. Observe, likewise, the special histories of these men.

3. Observe that one of these men was a treacherous hypocrite, known from the beginning of his career.

III. The next matter of notice in this choice is that Jesus Christ fixed the wise order in arrangement THAT DISCIPLESHIP SHOULD IN ALL CASES COME BEFORE APOSTLESHIP.

1. These twelve men needed knowledge of the Divine purposes. That must be the reason why for so many months they mere kept patiently wandering alongside of our Lord, as He advanced in His public work.

2. They needed acquaintance also with human nature. They were to deal with men, women, and children.

3. These men needed the practical exercise of their teaching gifts under their Master's eye. So we learn that Jesus arranged that they "should be with Him," before He "might send them forth to preach" (Mark 3:14).

4. They needed experience in actual dealing with masses of unorganized people.

IV. Once more, it is a matter of notice in this choice of helpers, that Jesus showed HOW PREVIOUS GIFTS AND EDUCATION IN OTHER WORK CAN ALL BE UTILIZED UNDER THE GOSPEL PLAN.

1. Recall the former occupations of these men.

2. Bear in mind with what painstaking Christ impressed on them the one principle that all success in evangelical work demands immediate and entire consecration (Luke 5:11, 28).

3. Then see that instantly, and ever afterwards, their training told.

V. Finally, it is a matter of notice that in His choice of such helpers OUR LORD GIVE THE BEST OF ALL COUNSEL AND EXAMPLE FOR EVERY MAN WHO SEEKS TO BE USEFUL IN THE CHURCH OF GOD.

1. Let Christian people remember that the Divine purpose, the plan of procedure, the end to be secured, the selection of instruments — all these, so finely illustrated that memorable morning beside the Sea of Galilee, remain exactly the same, unchanged through the ages. The conditions of effective working are quite unaltered. Hence this primitive wisdom is priceless.

2. Let the churches have confidence in their own machinery, and be content with New Testament methods of evangelization. There is no necessity for fresh excitements, and there is no advantage in looking for them.

3. Let those who desire to take up Christian endeavour for a life work bear in mind that training time is by no means for any one lost time.

4. Let the whole world know that what is wanted first and last and always is a thorough consecration of what one has to the Lord Jesus Christ.

(C. S. Robinson, D. D.)

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KJV: And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

WEB: He went up into the mountain, and called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.