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CHRIST A MEEK AND LOWLY TEACHER
EVERY office which Christ sustains in the economy of redemption, is replete with encouragement to sinful man. His sufficiency as our great High-Priest to make atonement for us, and his power as our King to subdue our enemies, are subjects of frequent meditation, and sources of unspeakable comfort, to the true Christian. His prophetic office, especially as exercised towards ourselves, is less considered by Christians in general, though it is equally necessary for us, and no less conducive to our eternal welfare. In a preceding verse our Lord has told us, that none can know the Father, except they to whom the Son should reveal him; and, in the words before us, he invites all to come and learn of him the mysterious truths, which, though already recorded in the written word, cannot be apprehended aright, unless he unfold them to us, and enable us to understand them.
In these words we may discern,
I. Our duty—
Christ having undertaken to teach us the way of safety, and the way of duty, we should learn of him,
1. With the teachableness of children—
[Children receive with the most implicit submission whatever their teachers tell them. Thus should we learn of Christ: we should not bring our own preconceived notions to the Scriptures, or presume to try the mysteries of revelation at the bar of our own corrupt reason; but we should believe whatever God has spoken, and receive it simply on the authority of the speaker. Nor should the opinions of the wisest philosopher be of any weight with us, if they be clearly contrary to the voice of inspiration [Note: Isa_8:20.].]
2. With the diligence of students—
[They who have a thirst for knowledge, are almost constantly employed in deep thought, and laborious investigation. Nor do they account any pains too great, if only they can gain that eminence and distinction, which superior attainments will ensure. Thus should we be occupied in pursuit of divine knowledge; reading the word, “searching into it as for hidden treasures,” meditating upon it day and night, and praying over it for divine illumination. While others are careful, and cumbered about many things, we should be sitting at the feet of Jesus [Note: Luk_10:39-42.], and embracing all opportunities of religious instruction, whether in public or in private.]
3. With the obedience of devoted followers—
[Earthly knowledge may be merely speculative: divine knowledge must be practical; it is of no use at all, any further than it purifies the heart and renews the life. Whatever we find to be the mind and will of God, that we must do without hesitation, and without reserve. As the reasonings of men are to be disregarded when opposed to the declarations of God, so are the maxims of men to be set at nought, when by adopting them we should violate a divine command. One single word, confirmed with Thus saith the Lord, should operate more powerfully to the regulating of our faith and practice, than the sentiments and customs of the whole world combined.]
The description which our Lord has given us of his own character, shews what abundant provision is made for,
II. Our encouragement—
Our Lord’s words are not to be understood as an exhortation to learn meekness and lowliness from his example, but as a reason why we should cheerfully submit ourselves to his teaching. In this view they are very encouraging: they imply, that,
1. He will condescend to our ignorance—
[Those who are proficients in deep knowledge, cannot bear the drudgery of teaching children the first rudiments of language. But Jesus, who is able to instruct the highest archangel, is yet willing to take, as it were, under his tuition the most ignorant of mankind. As in the days of his flesh, “he spake the word to men as they were able to bear it,” so now will he give us “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little [Note: Isa_28:10.].” When his own disciples forbad people to bring their children to him, under the idea that his time ought not to be occupied with persons so incapable of benefiting by his instructions, he rebuked them, and desired that all, of whatever age or description, might have the freest access to him [Note: Mar_10:13-14.]; being as willing to adapt himself to the capacity of a child as to the more enlarged understandings of the Scribes and Pharisees.]
2. He will bear with our dulness—
[Human teachers are but too apt to feel irritation from the stupidity of their disciples. But Jesus, who has infinitely more to bear with than we can have, is ever patient, and ready to renew yet again and again the lessons that he has given us a thousand times. Scarcely any person can be conceived more dull of understanding than his own disciples, who, after he had been teaching them for nearly four years, were yet ignorant of the necessity of his death, of the ends of his resurrection, and of the spiritual nature of his kingdom. He was constrained sometimes to complain of them in this very view; “Are ye also yet without understanding [Note: Mat_15:16.]?” Nevertheless he continued to teach them, till he had initiated them fully into all the mysteries of his kingdom. And thus will he do to the most ignorant of men; he will “open their understandings [Note: Luk_24:25.],” and “guide them into all truth [Note: Joh_16:13.].”]
3. He will encourage our feeblest efforts—
[It not unfrequently happens, that they who are slow of understanding, are altogether driven to despondency through the impatience of their teachers. But Jesus is all meekness and lowliness: and, however weak our efforts be, provided only they be sincere and humble, he will bless them with a measure of success, and with manifest tokens of his approbation. We may appeal to the experience of all, in confirmation of this truth: who ever sought instruction from him in a way of reading and prayer, without finding his mind gradually opening to an apprehension of the truth? Has not Jesus shewn, if we may so speak, a partiality for the poor and weak, revealing to them what he has hidden from the wise and prudent [Note: Mat_11:25.]; confounding thereby the wisdom of the wise [Note: 1Co_1:27.], and securing to himself the glory of his own work? Yes; in reference to the illumination of the mind, as well as to any thing else, we may say, “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, but will bring forth judgment unto victory [Note: Mat_12:20 and Zec_4:10.].”]
But, in addition to the encouragement which his condescension affords us, we have a further inducement to learn of him, from the consideration of,
III. Our reward—
An attention to the instructions of earthly monitors is productive of no little benefit. But if we diligently learn of Christ, our advantages will be greater than we can well conceive: we shall find benefit to our souls; we shall obtain “rest,”
1. From the uncertainty of conjecture—
[Mankind in general are in a state of doubt respecting the most important of all concerns: though they may assent to the principal truths of Christianity, they feel no assurance respecting them. But those who have learned of Christ, soon attain a full persuasion of the things they have been taught. The Scripture speaks of a threefold assurance; an assurance of understanding [Note: Col_2:2.], an assurance of faith [Note: Heb_10:22.], and an assurance of hope [Note: Heb_6:11.]: of all these, the men of this world have no idea: they are ready to speak of such things as marks of daring presumption. But the disciple of Christ has an inward witness of the truths he has learned [Note: Heb_11:13. 1Jn_5:10; 1Jn_3:19.]; and knows perfectly that they are not a cunningly-devised fable [Note: 2Pe_1:16.]. He can venture his soul upon them with as much confidence, as he can recline his weary body upon his bed. He knows in whom he has believed; and that the soul which is committed to Jesus, is safe for ever [Note: 2Ti_1:12.].]
2. From the accusations of conscience—
[In spite of men’s endeavours to silence the convictions of their conscience, they never can obtain peace but in God’s appointed way. But the person that has learned of Christ to rely simply on his blood and righteousness, enjoys a “peace that passeth all understanding.” He knows that “the blood of Jesus will cleanse him from all sin,” and that “there is no condemnation to the soul that believes in him” — — —]
3. From the turbulence of passion—
[Whatever difference there may be in the natural tempers of men, all have some predominant passion that leads them captive. But the disciple of Christ has a new and more powerful principle infused into his soul [Note: Gal_5:16-17.]; by means of which he is enabled to bring into subjection his corrupt appetites, and to mortify those evil dispositions which are such a fruitful source of misery to the unregenerate. This forms the great line of distinction between the Lord’s people and others; for, whereas others are led captive by some sin, believers “have not so learned Christ, if they have indeed heard him and been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus [Note: Eph_4:19-21.]:” on the contrary, “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [Note: Gal_5:24.].”]
4. From the fear of death—
[Men may brave death on a field of battle; but all, except the true Christian, shrink from it in its more silent and gradual approaches. But Christ purchased for his followers a deliverance from this bondage [Note: Heb_2:14-15.]. With respect to them, death has lost its sting: yea, it is counted amongst their richest treasures [Note: 1Co_3:22.]: and they are enabled to look forward to it with pleasure, as the period when all their conflicts will cease, and their joys be consummated for ever [Note: Php_1:23.] — — —
“Such is the heritage of the servants of the Lord;” and such is the rest that Christ will impart to all who learn of him.]
Address—
[Are there any amongst us that are prosecuting human learning with avidity? O remember, that the knowledge of Christ infinitely transcends all other knowledge [Note: Php_3:8.], and will bring with it a more certain, and far nobler, recompence. Be persuaded then to devote to it some portion of every day, and the whole of your sabbaths, that you may not only be wise, but “wise unto salvation [Note: 2Ti_3:15.].”
Are there any that are dejected on account of their own incapacity to learn? Consider the abilities of your Teacher; and say, whether he be not able to instruct you, as well as others? He can make “the blind to see out of obscurity, and out of darkness [Note: Isa_29:18.]:” yea, he will the more readily exert himself on your behalf, because the excellency of the power displayed in your proficiency will the more evidently appear to be of him [Note: 2Co_4:7.]. Take comfort then, and expect the certain accomplishment of that promise, “Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord [Note: Hos_6:3.].”]