Isaiah 63:1-19

For Reading and Meditation:     Matthew 12:1-14

We continue reflecting on the thought that Jesus Christ is not like anyone else who has ever lived. Take the claim which He made in our text today: "One greater than the temple is here." Jesus in effect compared Himself with the temple's grandeur and significance as the center of Jewish life and said: "I am greater...

What subject so suited as this to engage the thoughts, fill the memory, and flow from the lips of the Lord's people? Let us mention the provision made for all His poor, for all their wants; the promises given to all His people, comprehending all their desires; the prayers answered in all times of trial, granting relief and defence.

Let us mention the loving-kindness of the Lord to those who are seeking Him, it will encourage them; to those who are complaining, it may silence them; to...

And canst thou not do this? Are there no mercies which thou hast experienced? What though thou art gloomy now, canst thou forget that blessed hour when Jesus met thee, and said, "Come unto me"? Canst thou not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped thy fetters, dashed thy chains to the earth, and said, "I came to break thy bonds and set thee free"? Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over...

By the words "to save" we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification. The words are multum in parro: indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only "mighty to save" those who repent, but he is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but he is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain...

The Bible is fairly full of tokens of God's marvelous care for His people. During Israel's forty-year trek through the wilderness, they ate food from heaven (Exodus 16:4), had an unfailing supply of water (1 Corinthians 10:4), and were equipped with shoes that never wore out (Deuteronomy 29:5).

It is the same in our wilderness journey. To prove this,...

We need not feel so bitterly towards affliction, since we are indebted to it for the knowledge of this most wonderful fact, that our divine Friend enters into our sorrow with all his heart, and perfectly identifies himself with us in our tribulation.

Sympathy is really a more valuable proof of love, sometimes, than the hindrance of the calamity would have been. Every king can scatter handfuls of gold and save many from want; but where is the king whose eye melts, whose heart overflows,...

I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins. § I have given help to one who is mighty. § I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. § Mighty to save. § Able to keep you from stumbling. § Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. § He is also able to save to the uttermost those who...

The love of the Spirit. § The Helper, the Holy Spirit. § In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.We know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. § Having believed, you were sealed with...

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. § Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them … And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. § Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” § A High Priest … [to] sympathize with our weaknesses....

Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. § Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. § Hallowed be Your name.Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. § Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His...