Matthew 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came to him: I. Some hearers have bad memories like leaking vessels; all the precious wine of holy doctrine poured in, runs out presently. Ministers cannot find a truth so fast as others can lose it. (1) How many truths have they been robbed of which might have been so many death-bed cordials! (2) If the Word preached slides so fast out of the memory, ministers had need go oftener up the preaching mount, that at least some truth may abide. II. The ears of many hearers are stopped with cares of the world, that the Word preached will not enter. (1) If a man be in a mill, though you speak never so loud to him, he doth not hear you for the noise of the mill. (2) We preach to men about matters of salvation, but the mill of worldly business makes such a noise that they cannot hear. (3) Therefore ministers need often ascend the mount, and lift up their voices like a trumpet, that the deaf ear may hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches. III. Others have a stone in their hearts. Ministers must, if possible, pierce the heart of stone. When the earth is sun-scorched, it is so hard and crusted together that a shower of rain will not soften it; there must be shower after shower before it will be moist or fertile. So the hardened heart oft needs precept upon precept. Our doctrine must distil as dew, etc. (Deuteronomy 32:2). They that are teachers shall shine — not as lamps or tapers, but as stars; not as planets, but fixed stars in the firmament of glory for ever. (Thomas Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: |
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