O Jerusalem I wilt thou not he made clean?
The necessity of holiness
I. The question.
1. It is of great importance to be cleansed from the filth of sin, and is what should be sought after with the utmost seriousness (Ezekiel 36:25).
2. Cleansing the heart from sin is the work of God. He that cleanses from guilt, must also cleanse us from corruption; and Christ is made unto us sanctification, as well as righteousness and redemption (Titus 3:4-6).
3. God has much at heart the sanctification of His people (Isaiah 48:18).
4. Our own unwillingness is the great hindrance to our sanctification. When the will is gained, the man is gained; and those who will be made clean are in part made so already.
5. Yet the obstinacy of the will shall not prevent the purposes of grace: God’s design shall be accomplished, notwithstanding all.
II. The various answers which will be made.
1. Some are willing to be delivered from the punishment of sin, but not from its power. Those who would have the former without the latter, are likely to have neither.
2. Others would be cleansed outwardly, but not inwardly. No prayers, lastings, pilgrimages, penances, nor any other external performances, can supply the want of internal holiness. The sepulchre, however painted and adorned, is but a sepulchre still.
3. Some would be made partly clean, but not wholly so.
4. Some would be made clean, but they do not like God’s way of doing it, or the means He uses for this purpose.
5. There are some who would be made clean, but it must be hereafter. Like Saint Austin, who prayed to be delivered from his easily besetting sin, but added, “Not yet, Lord!”
6. More awful still: some speak out and say, they will not be cleansed at all. They prefer sin and hell to holiness and heaven.
7. Put this question to the real Christian, or the truly awakened sinner, whose conscience has been filled with remorse for his past transgressions, and who has found a compliance with the call of every lust to be the severest bondage Wilt thou be made clean? “Yea, Lord,” says he, with all my heart! “When shall it once be?” This very instant, if I might have my wish. It is what I pray for, wait for, and strive after; nor can I have a moment’s rest till I obtain it. (B. Beddome, M. A.)
God is desirous of saving men
I. The woes which impenitent sinners have reason to expect. The punishment that awaits sinners is most tremendous. The loss of heaven is one part of it: and who shall declare how great a loss this is?
II. How unwilling God is to inflict them. He complains of men’s obstinacy in rejecting the overtures of His mercy. Long has He waited to no purpose: yet still “He waiteth to be gracious unto us.” “He stands at the door of our hearts, and knocks.” Address--
1. Those who imagine that they have no need of cleansing. Let none entertain such proud conceits. The best amongst us, no less than the worst, need to be washed in the blood of Christ and be renewed by His Spirit; and without this cleansing, must inevitably perish.
2. Those who are unwilling to be cleansed.
3. Those who desire the cleansing of their souls. It is the blood of Christ alone that can cleanse from the guilt of sin; and the Spirit of Christ alone that can cleanse from the power and pollution of sin. To apply these effectually, we must embrace the promises, and rest upon them, trusting in God to accomplish them to our souls. (Theological Sketchbook.)
Soul cleansing
1. The great need of the soul.
2. The great helplessness of the soul.
3. The great grace of God.
4. The great drawback on our part.
5. The great work of the ministry.
(1) To bring home the feeling of guilt.
(2) To ask the question of the text.
(3) To direct to the cleansing fount.
(4) To urge the importance of immediate application. (W. Whale.)
God’s desire to bless the sinner
I. Man’s uncleanness--
1. In heart;
2. In life;
3. In religion.
II. God’s desire that he should be clean.
III. His expostulation with s.
IV. Our refusal.
V. God’s condemnation. (H. Bonar, D. D.)
A hopeful question
It would seem as if the prophet were speaking the language of despair; but a little rearrangement of the translation will show that the prophet is really not giving up all hope: Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? Shall there not at the very end be a vital change in thee? When the day is drawing to a close shalt thou not feel the power of the Holy One, and respond to it? Shalt thou not be born as a child at eventide? So the spirit of the Bible is a spirit of hopefulness. It will not lose any man so long as it can keep hold of him. It is a mother-like book, it is a most shepherdly book, it will not let men die if they can be kept alive. Here is the Gospel appeal: “Wilt thou not be made clean?” Here is no urging upon Jerusalem to clean herself, to work out her own regeneration, to throw off her own skin, and to cleanse her own characteristic spots and taints and stains. These words convey an offer, point to a process, preach a Gospel. Hear the answer from the leper: “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” There is a river the streams whereof receive all our diseases, and still the river flows like crystal from the throne of God. We know what the great kind sea is. It receives all the nations, gives all the empires a tonic, and yet rolls round the world an untainted blessing. The question addressed to each heart is, “Wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?” Shall it not be at once? Shall it not be at the very end? Shall not the angels have yet to report even concerning the worst, last of men, the festers of moral creation, “Behold, he prayeth!” The intelligence would vibrate throughout heaven, and give a new joy to eternity. (J. Parker, D. D.).