For not the hearers of the law are Just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Hearers
What the apostle says about the Jews is equally applicable to many so-called Christians. Multitudes justify themselves by attendance on a gospel ministry; God only justifies those who practise what they hear. Our congregations are made up of--
I. Those who hear--
1. But do not understand. Often, doubtless, this is the preacher’s fault, who fails because he is not clear or lacks the power to awaken the dormant intelligence; but it often arises from a want of spiritual perception of, or interest in, the truth by those who hear.
2. Or only admire, the object being in some cases the mere beauty of the truth itself, in others the grace of its setting and the charm of its delivery.
3. Or criticise, the object being the statement in some instances, the method or manner in others.
II. Those who hear and do. Amongst such are those who are--
1. Anxious to understand. They want to know in order that they may do. Hence they bring all their intellectual and spiritual powers to bear upon the message declared. Such seldom go away unsatisfied or become “unfruitful” hearers.
2. Believe the truth. While not insensible to its intrinsic beauty or to the grace of the form in which it is presented, they regard it as a solemn message from God having a direct bearing on life and destiny. They desire, therefore, not only to understand it, but to assimilate it and make it a power for action.
3. Who reduce the truth to practice. This is the true criterion of hearing which is acceptable to God. Many understand clearly enough, many thoroughly believe as far as intellectual conviction goes--how few “do”! Let this be a matter of self-examination to thoughtful and orthodox hearers! (Rom_2:17-23).
III. Those who neither hear nor do. One might almost say, Who do not because they do not hear, but for the fact that hearing is not the only source of knowledge. Conclusion:
1. Hearing is a great privilege.
2. As privilege it involves responsibility.
3. For the manner in which we have heard we shall be called into judgment, and judged accordingly. (J. W. Burn.)
Hearing and doing
A consideration--
I. For those seeking salvation by the law. The whole law must be done, not simply heard. Who has, who can do it? Sin has so corrupted our moral nature that we are “without strength,” and therefore so cannot obtain salvation.
II. For those seeking salvation through an influential gospel. The principle of the text applies much more here. There is no salvation even by the gospel save by acting on its terms--“believe,” “receive,” “repent,” etc.
III. Suggesting the vanity of an evangelical profession without an evangelical life. The gospel has its laws as well as Judaism. (R. Glover.)
Hearing without doing
It is a strange folly in multitudes of us to propound no end in the hearing of the gospel. The merchant sails, not only that he may sail, but for traffic, and traffics that he may be rich. The husbandman ploughs, not only to keep himself busy, but in order to sow, and sows that he may reap with advantage. And shall we do the most excellent and fruitful work fruitlessly?--hear only to hear, and look no further? This is indeed a great vanity and a great misery, to lose that labour which, duly used, would be of all others most gainful; and yet all our meetings are full of this!(T. Leighton.)
