‘And He sent them to preach … and to heal … and they departed … preaching the Gospel, and healing every where.’
Luk_9:2-6
The passage throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age.
I. Authority over evil and disease.—The commission to the Apostles contained special reference to the devil and bodily sickness. Jesus gave them ‘authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.’
Here are two of the principal parts of the Christian minister’s business. We must not expect him to cast out evil spirits, but we may fairly expect him to ‘resist the devil and all his works,’ and to keep up a constant warfare against the prince of this world. We must not expect him to work miraculous cures, but we may expect him to take a special interest in all sick people, to visit them, sympathise with them, and help them if needful, as far as he can. The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock is no true pastor.
II. The importance of preaching.—One of the principal works which the Apostles were commissioned to take up was preaching. Our Lord ‘sent them to preach the Kingdom of God,’ and ‘they went through the towns preaching the Gospel.’ Preaching is, in fact, God’s chosen instrument for doing good to souls. By it sinners are converted, inquirers led on, and saints built up. A preaching ministry is absolutely essential to the health and prosperity of a visible Church. The pulpit is the place where the chief victories of the Gospel have always been won, and no Church has ever done much for the advancement of true religion in which the pulpit has been neglected.
III. Simplicity of life.—Our Lord charges His Apostles, when He sends them forth, to study simplicity of habits, and contentment with such things as they have. He bids them ‘take nothing for their journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread nor money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into there abide, and thence depart.’ The leading idea which the words convey is, a warning against worldliness and luxurious habits. Well would it be for the world and the Church if the warning had been more carefully heeded! From no quarter has Christianity received such damage as it has from the hands of its own teachers. On no point have its teachers erred so much, and so often, as in the matter of personal worldliness and luxury of life. They have often destroyed, by their daily lives, the whole work of their lips. They have given occasion to the enemies of religion to say that they love ease and money and good things far more than souls.
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Bishop J. C. Ryle.
Illustrations
(1) ‘The words of Quesnel on Luk_9:3 are worth reading. “Men will never he able to establish the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people, so long as they do not appear fully persuaded themselves of those truths which they preach And how can they appear so, if they plainly contradict them in their practice and behaviour? In order to persuade others to be unconcerned for superfluities, a man must not himself appear too much concerned, even about necessaries.” ’
(2) ‘Our witness will be only powerful as it springs from and is accompanied by genuine sympathy. Sympathy is electric. It cannot be seen, but all can feel it. Sympathy is the golden key which unlocks the door of the heart. It is the Christ-spirit which embraces to itself every sufferer. In a word, sympathy is substitution. “Jesus was moved with compassion,” and so moved as to give His life for the sheep. After the example of our Master, let us then feel for and suffer with the sufferings of all kinds, of all classes, and of all ages; with the sickness of the body, the trouble of the mind, the sorrow of the heart, and even the sin of the soul. Let us seek to know our sheep, the conditions under which they live, the perils to which they are exposed, the trials through which they pass, that so amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal life we may be able to extend to them the comfort and strength and inspiration of Christian sympathy. Notwithstanding the griefs which oppress our hearts, the trials which distract our minds, the difficulties which beset our work, let us as pastors of the flock pray to have at all times
