James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 4:17 - 4:17

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James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 4:17 - 4:17


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CHRISTS FIRST SERMON

‘Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent.’

Mat_4:17

It is interesting to note that our blessed Lord ‘began to preach’ immediately the voice of the Baptist was silent (Mat_4:12).

I. Christ the Preacher.—He was not a teacher only, He was a herald, a proclaimer of a Divine message. As a model Christian preacher, we notice that—

(a) Our Lord had a Divine message, and the full conviction of its truth. He had something to say for God, and He knew that He had. This is essential for all true preachers.

(b) Our Lord had a Divine ordination. Such we regard the solemn scene as being which succeeded His baptism by John. And still the true preacher waits for the inward Divine call and disappointment.

(c) Preaching became His entire life-work. Unhindered by earthly claims, He devoted Himself wholly to it.

(d) His own character gave force to His message. ‘Never man spake like this Man.’ The man in the words made the words powerful.

II. The subject of Christ’s preaching.—The same as the Baptist’s, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ But observe—

(a) The oneness of the message God sends to men, whoever may be His instrument. This is really the message—‘God is become your Redeemer; return then, in penitence and trust—return unto Him.’ Estimate the differences in the tones of the message as it came from the lips of John and of Jesus. John was a ‘voice crying aloud in the wilderness’; Jesus ‘would not break a bruised reed.’ So to us the sound and the form may vary, but we know the truth is one in Christ Jesus.

(b) The different standpoints the speakers may make. The Baptist laid stress on Repent, and enforced by references to the ‘kingdom.’ Christ laid stress on the kingdom of privilege, and thereby sought to win men to repentance and faith as the means of entrance into it.

What then is the Gospel message on the lips of preachers still? It is this, ‘Repent!’ ‘God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.’

Illustrations

(1) ‘Picture to yourselves a teacher who is not merely under the official obligation to say something, but who is morally convinced that he has something to say. Imagine one who believes alike in the truth of his message and in the reality of his mission to deliver it.’

(2) ‘The fact that Christ was a preacher has dignified preaching-work for ever. The modern notion is that education and literature are supplanting the pulpit, but the power of the living voice, proclaiming Divine messages and personal convictions, will never fail while the world lasts. It is still true that “by the foolishness of preaching God saves them that believe”; and there is no higher, no more gracious power for the persuasion and the blessing of mankind, than that put forth by the preachers of truth and righteousness.’