I.We should hear the Lord Jesus with resolution. “I will go.” Nothing shall prevent me; no employments, no pleasures; no solicitations, no difficulties. The Son of God calls me, and I must go. Thus we ought all to feel.
II. We must hear Him with submission. Not the pride of the world only, but our own pride, is to be resisted. We have no right to say how much or what part of His message we will receive, or when or where we will follow Him.
III. We must hear Him with attention, with serious and concentrated heed.
IV. We must hear Him not so much from the principle of fear, as of deep and earnest affection. He came to speak to us because He loved us.
V. We must hear Him with singleness of mind, placing no other instruction on a footing with His, far less yielding them the precedence. (F. W. P. Greenwood, D. D.)
The ministry of Jesus
I.Christ is God’s Messenger to man. He came forth and proceeded from the Father. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. He had
(1) a Divine commission;
(2) a Divine message;
(3) Divine credentials, divinely authenticated. He spake with authority. He revealed mysteries.
II. Man’s duty to God’s Messenger. Hear Him-
1. Because His ministry is the supercessor of the ministries of Moses and Elias.
2. Because this ministry contains matters of universal importance.
3. Because the rejection of this ministry leaves no moral instructor available. Christ is the truth of God, through whom the Father’s latest will is made known to man. Hear Christ’s words, catch Christ’s spirit, obey Christ’s law, and you shall inherit Christ’s promises. (J. F. Porter.)
Hear Him
I.Christ’s authority is divine.
II. Christ’s authority is undivided.
III. Men are to be heard only so far as they repeat Christ’s words. (J. Parker, D. D.)
