Acts 20:35

Acts 20:35

I. In the one word "blessed" the whole force of this sentence lies, What does "more blessed" mean? Is there any reference in it to enjoyment. Because if there is, all enjoyment being a reception of pleasure, the blessing will thus seem to mean, that he who gives shall receive more pleasure than he who merely receives, and so we shall have set before us the unworthy motive giving for receiving's sake. Does our Lord mean this? Undoubtedly He does mean this; undoubtedly He does set before us as a motive, to give, for receiving's sake. There can be no blessing, in order to receive in this world. But when a man ardently desires to receive more of the joys of the future state he necessarily desires also to grow in grace and in the knowledge and obedience of Christ, to become free from sin in every form, and from every unworthy and degrading motive and act. An ardent longing for the joys of the next world is not greediness, is not selfishness, but leads a man in fact to the mortification of these very vices by their being incompatible with the object of his earnest endeavours. And this kind of happiness is evidently that contemplated by our Saviour in the text.

II. Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? (1) First, because the act itself is more salutary. The act and habit of giving reminds us ever why we were sent into the world; disperses our regard from self on others; keeps up a tender spirit, a wakeful conscience, an onward look of hope for more opportunity of good, an earnest endeavour to better society, to promoted happiness, to become a blessing to the world in the largest sense. (2) To give is more blessed than to receive, because it is more Christian more the calling of the follower and imitator of Christ. (3) To give is more blessed, as being more in accordance with the teaching of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Love. (4) Again, it is more blessed as being more like the Father Himself, who giveth us all things freely to enjoy; who gave us His own Son, and through Him His unspeakable gift of the Holy Spirit. It is likeness to Him, partaking of the Divine nature by being lifted into the likeness of all His glorious attributes, that is the utmost perfection of created being.

H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons, vol. ii., p. 1.

References: Acts 20:35 . C. Girdlestone, Twenty Parochial Sermons, p. 103; L. Campbell, Some Aspects of the Christian Ideal, p. 40; J. Keble, Sermons on Various Occasions, p. 298. Acts 20:36-38 . Church of England Pulpit, vol. xx., p. 25.Acts 20:38 . J. Ker, Three Hundred Outlines on the New Testament, p. 118. Acts 21:3 . Homiletic Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 204.Acts 21:6 . J. Edmunds, Fifteen Sermons, p. 46. Acts 21:12-14 . Preacher's Monthly, vol. viii., p. 54.Acts 21:13 . Homiletic Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 265; G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines, p. 355.