Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see
The gospel privileges
I. THE THINGS HERE SPOKEN OF. The blessings of Christ’s revelation.
II. TO WHOM THEY WERE DEVISED. Not only to the great, but to the good. Not merely to the mighty kings of Nineveh, Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, but to the holy and righteous--to Moses, to David, to Elijah.
III. To WHOM THEY WERE REVEALED. To the poor, despised, illiterate; to fishermen on the Galilean sea; to the sisters at Bethany; and, following in their train, to us at the present, whatever our character or position.
IV. THE OVERWHELMING PRIVILEGE WE ENJOY. More favoured than kings; more honoured than prophets; higher in the scale than all who have gone before.
V. THE HEIGHT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. If the prophets scarcely were saved, how shall it be with the present generation, if they neglect the privileges they enjoy? (The Preacher’s Analyst.)
Difference between the patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian dispensations
It is a common, but very just observation, that we are seldom dulysensible of the value of our blessings till we are deprived of them. This remark is applicable to our case, under the Christian dispensation. How few persons bless God that they dwell in the “days of the Son of Man”! The way to know how much we are distinguished, is, carefully to compare our situation with that of our fellow-creatures.
I. Let us survey the state of the HEATHEN WORLD. Place yourself, for a moment, amongst them, and consider what would then be your situation with respect to knowledge and virtue.
1. As to knowledge--everything among the heathens was obscure and uncertain.
2. In the heathen world also vice dreadfully prevailed. And what authority was there to check its prevalence? What principles strong enough to enable men to resist it? Their worship was base and degrading, offered in general to idols representing beings who were described as the patrons of corruption.
II. But let us turn our eyes from the state of the heathens, to the fairer view of those who were in some measure enlightened by Divine knowledge. To speak first of the PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION--One great instance of its inferiority was its want of clear and sufficient authority. Probably the laws and observances enjoined by it were first communicated by God to Adam, and transmitted by him to his children. Now it is easy to see that such a religion would become more and more obscure, imperfect, and corrupt in every succeeding generation. Many things would be forgotten, many misunderstood, many improperly added. On the Mosaic DISPENSATION we now proceed to offer a few remarks. It may be considered as having been inferior to the Christian in the following particulars.
1. It was chiefly composed of types and shadows, of forms and ceremonies.
2. The Jewish dispensation abounded with severe and burdensome impositions.
3. The Mosaic dispensation is inferior to the Christian, inasmuch as the latter is founded upon better promises--better, as being of a more sublime and excellent nature, as being promises of spiritual and eternal things; such as grace, pardon, peace, and eternal life.
4. Another remarkable circumstance, in which the superiority of our dispensation consists, is, the larger and more abundant communication of the Holy Spirit.
5. Further: The Christian dispensation excels the Mosaic in the manner of its establishment.
6. The Christian dispensation is superior to the Jewish, in respect to the spirit of its institution. The spirit of the gospel is a spirit of liberty. (John Venn, M. A.)
National privileges
This is a noble text, and yet an awful one, for if it does not increase our godliness, it will certainly increase our condemnation. It tells us that we, even the meanest amongst us, are more favoured by God than the kings, and judges, and conquerors of the old world; that we have more light and knowledge of God than even the prophets David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, to whom God’s glory appeared in visible shape. It tells us that we see things which they longed to see and could not; that words are spoken to us for which their ears longed in vain; that they, though they died in hope, yet received not the promises, God having provided some better things for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
1. Now, what was this which they longed for, and had not, and yet we have? It is this--a Saviour and a Saviour’s kingdom. All wise and holy hearts for ages--as well heathen as Jews--had has this longing. They wanted a Saviour--one who should free them from sin and conquer evil. They longed for a heavenly kingdom also. They saw that men got worse and worse as time rolled on, and that all the laws in the world could never make them good. They longed for a kingdom of God, a golden age, a regeneration of the world, as they called it, and rightly.
2. And now this kingdom is come, and the King of it, the Saviour of men, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Long men prayed, and long men waited, and at last, in the fulness of God’s good time, just when the night seemed darkest, and, under the abominations of the Roman Empire, religion, honesty, and common decency seemed to have died out, the Sun of
Righteousness rose on the dead and rotten world, to bring life and immortality to light.
3. And that we might not doubt that we too belonged to this kingdom, God has placed in this land His ministers and teachers, Christ’s Sacraments, Christ’s Churches, Christ’s Bible; that from our cradle to our grave we might see that we belonged, as sworn servants and faithful children, to the great Father in heaven and Jesus Christ, the King of the earth.
4. Thus, all that all men have longed for we possess; we want no more, and we shall have no more. If, under the present state of things, we cannot be holy, we shall never be holy. Blessed indeed are the eyes which see what you see, and hear what you bear; prophets and kings have desired to see and hear them, and have not seen or heard 1 But if you, cradled among all these despised honours and means of grace, bring forth no fruit in your lives--shut out from yourselves the thought of your high calling in Christ Jesus, what shall be your end but ruin? He that despises Christ, Christ will despise him. And say not to yourselves as many do, “We are church-goers--we are all safe.” I say to you, God is able, from among the negro and the savage--aye, God is able of these stones to raise up children, while those of you, the children of the kingdom, who lived in the Church of your fathers, and never used or loved her or Christ her King, shall be cast into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Charles Kingsley.)
Vainly they tried the deeps to sound
Even of their own prophetic thought,
When of Christ crucified and crowned
His Spirit in them taught:
But He their aching gaze repressed
Which sought behind the veil to see,
For not without us fully blessed
Or perfect might they be.
The rays of the Almighty’s face
No sinner’s eye might then receive;
Only the meekest man found grace
To see His skirts and live.
But we as in a glass espy
The glory of His countenance,
Not in a whirlwind hurrying by
The two presumptuous glance.
But with mild radiance every hour
From our dear Saviour’s face benign
Bent on us with transforming power,
Till we, too, faintly shine.
Sprinkled with His atoning blood
Safely before our God we stand,
As on the rock the prophet stood,
Beneath His shadowing hand.
Blessed eyes which see the things we see!
And yet this tree of life hath proved
To many a soul a poison-tree,
Beheld, and not beloved.
(John Keble.)
Our privileges
The privileges here referred to. What are the things we see and hear? Many answers might be given. We might tell of the progress of science, commerce, civilization--progress that is stupendous, amazing; and there is nothing of all this but has its value. But these are not the things that make us “blessed.” What are they? An Infant, cradled in a manger, shepherds and wise men bowing near--a meek and lowly Man, standing in the midst of a crowd, teaching and healing, while mockery and hatred look on--a Sufferer stretched upon a cross, “His visage marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men”--an opening sepulchre, and a figure rising, ascending, received up into glory--these are the things we see. Meanwhile, we hear the song of angels, proclaiming the birth of Messiah, and foretelling His glory--we hear the sweeter voice of Messiah’s self, when “gracious words proceed out of His mouth.” Such are the things we see and hear: all of them, you perceive, referring to Christ--His Incarnation, Teaching, Life, Death, and Resurrection. And this isthe gospel! In this God reveals His purposes of mercy. Such is the gospel as we receive it--more complete than when our Lord spake the words of the text to His disciples. The position of ancient saints with regard to these privileges. “Many prophets and righteous men have desired,” etc. The fact here stated is two-fold: they had the desire--but it remained ungratified.
Take some passages by way of illustration. Christ says of Abraham: “He rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it”--that is, he exulted with the desire to see, and, by lively faith, clearly pictured it forth. Hero then is a specimen of the position of the patriarchs--Just as Moses climbed Mount Pisgah, and looked on Canaan, though he never crossed the Jordan: so Abraham climbed the mount of faith, and descried the distant scenes of our Lord’s life. How natural was the desire! The man who has taken an earnest part in some great undertaking naturally longs to see it accomplished. “They desired to see the things that we see, and to hear the things that we hear.” And yet--their desire remained ungratified. In this there is much that is instructive.
1. See the calm steady procession of the purposes of God! He has appointed a time for everything and nothing can derange His plan.
2. See the trial He gives His people’s faith! It is so still, is it not? How many of our heart’s desires He denies us now. The faith of the ancient saints was tried--and strengthened by trial; and thus they became “strong in faith, giving glory to God.”
3. Brethren, let us prize our privileges. Here they are, in rich abundance; yet how often are we dull and cold in the midst of them all!
4. Impenitent man--beware! You, too, are surrounded by privileges. Isaiah, David, Daniel never saw what you see.
5. Some are coming after us, who will know more than we do. When we pass away, others will arise; and in regard to position, we are to them as the prophets were to us.
6. But those who have gone before--have not they, too, outstripped us? Think--what do they see and hear? We cannot tell!
7. O happy time when the whole Church shall be complete in glory! (F. Tucker.)