311. MAT 22:5. THE GOSPEL DESPISED

Mat_22:5. The Gospel Despised

"But they made light of it."’97Mat_22:5.

In this parable we have very strikingly placed before us, the goodness and condescension of God, and the wickedness ana ungratefulness of man. A rich and splendid feast is provided’97the banqueting-room is covered with the abundance of provision, and then a most affectionate and gracious messenger is sent to say, "Come, for all things are now ready." But mark the result: "They all begin to make excuse." They made light of it, and therefore would not come. Let us consider,

I. What it is to make light of it.

II. Who are chargeable with it.

III. The Evil and Effects of making right of it.

I. What it is to make light of Christ’s invitation.

1. It is to treat it with indifference To act as though it were a common affair’97a matter of inferior moment, &c.; or not a personal matter.

2. It is to be unimpressed with it.

Whatever esteem we profess, it makes it manifest, that the heart is not deeply engaged. That it does not command our best and warmest feelings and faculties, &c.

3. It is to remain unsaved by it.

The gospel is to instruct, to illumine, to soften, to convince, &c. But all these in order that the soul may be saved. Christ is the author of salvation. The Word, the word of salvation. The invitation, is the invitation to be saved. Let us ascertain,

II. Who are chargeable with it.

There are some who, by their conduct, go beyond this, and who are more deeply wicked. Among these we may notice, three descriptions of character:

(1) The Skeptical. Those who affect to disbelieve the truths of revelation. Who reject the light of the gospel.

(2) The Scoffer. Who has not professed to weigh the matter. Who never refers to the evidences. But who sits in the seat of the scorner; who treats religion with ridicule, and with contempt. The fool who mocks at sin, &c.

(3) The Profane. Whose heart and life are at utter variance with all that is godly, &c. Who bears the rebel brow, and steeled heart; who cares not for religion at all; the servant of the wicked one. Now, we say, that these, by the excess of their wickedness, even go beyond those who make light of it. Among those who make light of it, are those,

1. Who are absorbed with temporal, yet lawful things.

See Luk_14:18. Now, it was quite lawful to buy ground, &c. But how criminal to allow these to have the place of God and religion! Yet, see how common it is. That worldling, under the pretence of diligence and industry, just acts this over again. The command is, "Labor not," &c. "Seek first," &c. "One thing is needful," &c. Then, behold those persons who sacrifice all to personal enjoyments. 4 man is bound to love, and care for his wife and children; but if he give these at his spare time, and the hours of the sabbath what is it, but the excuse, "I have married a wife," &c. Oh, these lawful concerns, how many thousands they destroy.

"They cannot come." "No man can serve two masters," &c. Now, let me,

2. Refer to those who are satisfied with the form of religion.

There may be attendance at the house of the Lord; yet they do not come to the feast. No part or lot, &c. They have knowledge, yet are not wise; they have name, but still are dead; they have the form, but not the power of godliness. I refer,

3. To undecided inquirers after religion.

Now, these are really anxious; near the way. Like the son in the gospel, they say, "We go, sir," yet do not obey. They desire, they resolve; yet something else keeps the ascendency. They continue after all to make light of it. Let me then,

III. Show the Evil and Effects of making light of it.

1. It is irreverent.

The invitation is from God. Angels bow, and worship, and obey. It is the servant making light of the master. The subject making light of the king. And the child making light of the parent. Yea, the creature making light of the Creator.

2. It is ungrateful.

The invitation is to a feast’97a feast so precious in its cost, and so precious in itself.

3. It is disobedience, and the rejection of mercy.

The sinner’s own advantage is concerned. God cannot be affected by the conduct of man. His glory and happiness are unchangeable. Disobedience of the most madlike description. It is to make light,

(1) Of the Word of God; of that which is better than thousands of gold and silver,

(2) Of the blessed gospel, which, if but proclaimed once in the regions of wo, would create a jubilee among the spirits of the lost.

(3) It is to make light of the soul; that invaluable jewel; that everlastingly precious gem.

(4) Of God himself. It is the thrusting away of his compassion; goodness trampled under foot; his compassion treated with scorn; his entreaties rejected with contempt.

(5) Of Christ, and all he did, and suffered. His incarnation; his teachings; his sorrows; his agony; his mock trial; his death; his intercession at God’s right hand. It is refusing him his only reward, &c.

(6) Of heaven; and who can describe it; who give a representation of that world of glory, of light, dignity, pleasures, immortality.

(7) Of hell. The presence of the damned; regions of wo; blackness of darkness; the gathering tempest; the desolating storm, which will beat upon the heads of the lost forever.

(8) Eternity. We are indissolubly connected with eternity. We cannot sever ourselves from it. Think of eternity. Duration without limits. Not shortened by millions of years. And that eternity must be of light or darkness, of wo or joy, blessedness or despair, of life or never-expiring death.

Application

1. Salvation is all of the grace and mercy of God. God has loved and redeemed us, and it is offered upon terms of grace. All its blessings are prepared and exhibited.

2. Man’s ruin is entirely of himself. Nothing can effect it but making light of the gospel.

3. Let me then entreat every one of you to come to the feast. You do not despise the body and health. Why, then, the soul and its felicity?

Autor: JABEZ BURNS