1 Corinthians 2:8-9 - Homiletics

Spiritual ignorance the cause of immense evil and the occasion, of immense good.

"Which none of the princes of this world," etc. The words lead us to look on spiritual ignorance— i.e. , ignorance of God and our obligations to him—in two very opposite aspects.

I. AS THE CAUSE OF IMMENSE EVIL . These "princes of the world," through ignorance, "crucified the Lord of glory." A greater crime was never perpetrated. It involved:

1. Because it is in itself an evil, and like will produce like. There is an ignorance that is a calamity. When mind and means are absent, ignorance is a calamity; but when they are present, it is always a crime. These "princes" had both. Their ignorance was a sin, and sin, like virtue, is propagated. That this spiritual ignorance was the cause of evil is clear from the fact that:

2. Had it not existed, such an evil could never have been perpetrated. The words lead us to look at spiritual ignorance

II. AS THE OCCASION OF IMMENSE GOOD . Paul tells us that this Crucifixion introduced things that "eye had never seen nor ear heard." Divine pardon, spiritual purity, immortal hopes, are all things that come through the Crucifixion. From the subject learn:

1. That the sinner is always engaged in accomplishing that which he never intended. These "princes" did two things they never intended.

2. That whatever good a man may accomplish contrary to his intention, is destitute of all praiseworthiness. What oceans of blessings come to the world through the Crucifixion! Yet who can ever praise the crucifiers?

3. That no man should act without an intelligent conception of what he is doing. How many act from prejudice and blind impulse! how few trove a right conception of what they are doing!