Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 5.djvu/115

Rh that he would thrust forth labourers, so some; intimating unwillingness in them to go forth, because of their own weakness and the people's badness, and opposition from men that endeavour to thrust them out of the harvest; but we should pray that all contradiction from within, and from without, may be conquered and got over. Christ puts his friends upon praying this, just before he sends apostles forth to labour in the harvest. Note, It is a good sign God is about to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs up those that have an interest at the throne of grace, to pray for it, Ps. 10. 17. Further observe, that Christ said this to his disciples, who were to be employed as labourers. They must pray, First, That God ''would send them forth. Here am I, send me'', Isa. 6. 8. Note, Commissions, given in answer to prayer, are most likely to be successful; Paul is a chosen vessel, for behold he prays, Acts 9. 11, 15, Secondly, That he would send others forth. Note, Not the people only, but those who are themselves ministers, should pray for the increase of ministers. Though self-interest makes those that seek their own things desirous to be placed alone, (the fewer ministers the more preferments,) yet those that seek the things of Christ, desire more workmen, that more work may be done, though they be eclipsed by it.

CHAP. X.

This chapter is an ordination sermon, which our Lord Jesus preached, when he advanced his twelve disciples to the degree and dignity of apostles. In the close of the foregoing chapter, he had stirred up them and others to pray that God would send forth labourers, and here we have an immediate answer to that prayer; while they are yet speaking he hears and performs. What we pray for, according to Christ's direction, shall be given. Now here we have, I. The general commission that was given them, v. 1. II. The names of the persons to whom this commission was given, v. 2..4. III. The instructions that were given them, which are very full and particular; 1. Concerning the services they were to do; their preaching; their working miracles; to whom they must apply themselves; how they must behave themselves; and in what method they must proceed, v. 5..15. 2. Concerning the sufferings they were to undergo. They are told what they should suffer, and from whom; counsels are given them what course to take when persecuted, and encouragements to bear up cheer fully under their sufferings, v. 16..42. These things, though primarily intended for direction to the apostles, are of use to all Christ's ministers, with whom, by his word, Christ is, and will be always to the end of the world.

ND when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother: James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3. Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus; and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; 4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Here we are told,

I. Who they were that Christ ordained to be his apostles or ambassadors; they were his disciples, v. 1. He had called them some time before to be disciples, his immediate followers and constant attendants, and he then told them that they should be made fishers of men, which promise he now performed. Note, Christ commonly confers honours and graces by degrees; the light of both, like that of the morning, shines more and more. All this while Christ had kept these twelve, 1. In a state of probation. Though he knows what is in man, though he knew from the first what was in them, (John 6. 70.) yet he took this method to give an example to his church. Note, The ministry being a great trust, it is fit that men should be tried for a time, before they are intrusted with it. Let them first be proved, 1 Tim. 3. 10. Therefore hands must not be laid suddenly on any man, but let him first be observed as a candidate and probationer, a proposant, (that is the term the French churches use,) because some men's sins go before, others follow, 1 Tim. 5. 22. 2. In a state of preparation. All this while he had been fitting them for this great work. Note, Those whom Christ intends for, and calls to, any work, he first prepares and qualifies, in some measure, for it. He prepared them, (1.) By taking them to be with him. Note, The best preparative for the work of the ministry, is an acquaintance and communion with Jesus Christ. They that would serve Christ, must first be with him, (John 12. 26.) Paul had Christ revealed, not only to him, but in him, before he went to preach him among the Gentiles, Gal. 1. 16. By the lively acts of faith, and the frequent exercise of prayer and meditation, that fellowship with Christ must be maintained and kept up, which is a requisite qualification for the work of the ministry. (2.) By teaching them; they were with him as scholars or pupils, and he taught them privately, besides the benefit they derived from his public preaching: he opened the scriptures to them, and opened their understandings to understand the scriptures: to them it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and to them they were made plain. Note, They that design to be teachers must first be learners; they must receive, that they may give; they must be able to teach others, 2 Tim. 2. 2. Gospel-truths must be first committed to them, before they be commissioned to be gospel-ministers. To give men authority to teach others, that have not an ability, is but a mockery to God and the church; it is sending a message by the hand of a fool, Prov. 26. 6. Christ taught his disciples before he sent them forth, (ch. 5. 2.) and afterwards, when he enlarged their commission, he gave them more ample instructions, Acts 1. 3.

II. What the commission was that he gave them.

1. He called them to him, v. 1. He had called them to come after him before, now he calls them to come to him, admits them to a greater familiarity, and will not have them to keep at such a distance as they had hitherto observed. They that humble themselves shall thus be exalted. The priests under the law were said to draw near and approach unto God, nearer than the people; the same may be said of gospel-ministers; they are called to draw near to Christ, which, as it is an honour, so should strike an awe upon them, remembering that Christ will be sanctified in those that come nigh unto him. It is observable, that when the disciples were to be instructed, they came unto him of their own accord, ch. 5. 1. But now they were to be ordained, he called them. Note, It well becomes the disciples of Christ to be more forward to learn than to teach. In the sense of our own ignorance, we must seek opportunities to be taught; and in the same sense we must wait for a call, a clear call, ere we take upon us to teach others; for no man ought to take this honour to himself.

2. He gave them power,, authority in his name, to command men to obedience, and for the confirmation of that authority, to command devils too into a subjection. Note, All rightful authority is derived from Jesus Christ. All power is given to him without limitation, and the subordinate powers that be, are ordained of him. Some of his honour