Revelation 22:9 Then said he to me, See you do it not: for I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets… There are two propositions-laid together in these words: the one negative — you must "worship" nothing that is not "God"; and the second positive — whatever is "God," "worship." Therefore at once, if Christ is God, He is to be "worshipped." And it needs only to be quite sure of His Godhead, to be certain also that not only we may, but that we ought to pray to Him "Worship God." Suffice it, then, just to remind you of one or two passages, which are the simplest upon that subject. In prophecy — "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God." In praise — "Unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." In teaching — "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh." In argument "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" — the whole force and sequency of the thought lying in Christ being God. In Christ's own testimony — "I and My Father are one" — "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." But let us see more distinctly what actual Scriptural example and sanction there is for paying this adoration, and addressing our petitions to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certain that when He was upon earth many did come and make supplication to Him with every external demonstration of worship — kneeling, bowing, falling to the ground. And Christ never, in a single instance, put away the worship, or reproved the worshipper, or denied the prayer. It is matter of fact, too, that Christ told us that "all men were to honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." And a part, a great part of the Father's honour, is the prayer and the praise which His creatures offer Him. And we have the same truth, stated often in the New Testament, upon a wider range. For it is a name several times given to Christians — those who call upon the name of Christ. And not to multiply more, it is beyond all question, that in that world, which is the copy of us all — not the angels only, but the saints, do all, with one accord, direct their loftiest strains and their devoutest worship to Jesus Christ. We do not wonder, then, that resting itself upon this authority of Scripture, it has been the habit of the Church always to pray to Christ. In the whole, both of the Eastern and Western Churches, the custom has been universal, and never questioned, to pray to Christ. Alas! for that man or that Church which would ever forbid us, in song or in supplication, to worship Him, "the only wise God our Saviour," who, blending so comfortably the wonders of His majesty with the tenderness of His brotherhood and the humiliations of His sufferings, has said freely to the whole world, "Come unto Me, all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. |
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