Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Such was the text of the angels on the night of our Saviour's birth; and to that text our Saviour's life furnished the sermon. I. The first words of it are, "GLORY TO GOD!" and a most weighty lesson may we draw for ourselves from finding the angels put that first. A world is redeemed. Millions on millions of human beings are rescued from everlasting death. Is not this the thing uppermost in the angels' thoughts? No, it is only the second thing. The first is, Glory to God! Why so? Because God is the giver of this salvation; nay, is Himself the Saviour, in the person of the only-begotten Son. Moreover, because in heavenly minds God always holds the first place, and they look at everything with a view to Him. Now, I would have you look to God in exactly the same manner. Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, you should do all to God's glory. Then will you be like the angels who began their text with, Glory to God! II. The next branch of the text is "PEACE ON EARTH." Our Saviour Himself is the Prince of Peace — 1. Because His great purposes were to bring down peace to man. 2. Because He made it one of His prime objects to plant and foster peace within man. Peace was His legacy to His apostles. 3. But what kind of peace? Truly every kind which man can enjoy. (1) Peace of conscience; (2) peace of heart; (3) peace of a mind at ease about worldly matters; (4) peace and union between brethren, that we may all make up one body under Jesus Christ our Head.Now, let each of us ask himself with all seriousness, Do I feel anything of this godly peace? III. There is a third part of the angels' text, namely, "GOOD-WILL TO MEN:" and a very important part it is. For it sets forth the ground of our salvation. It was no excellency or merit of ours that drew our Saviour down from heaven. It was the wretchedness of our fallen state. Herein, as St. Paul tells us, "God commendeth His love toward us," &c. (Romans 5:8). But though this love of God for His sinful creatures is worthy of all gratitude and praise, the good-will declared in the angels' text means something more than mere love. The word which we translate "Good-will," is a word very full of meaning, and signifies that mixture of goodness, and kindness, and wisdom, which tends to good and wise plans. The good-will then in the angels' text is no other than the great and merciful purpose of our redemption. Have we any proper sense and feeling of this good-will? I have spoken to you on the angels' text, and in so doing have spoken of man's salvation. The end of the whole is God's glory; the means is peace on earth; the sole motive is goodness and loving-kindness to us miserable sinners. IV. There are still three words in this text which I have not noticed. The angels did not simply say, "Glory to God;" but, "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST," that is, in heaven. Here is a wonderful, a glorious, a soul-sustaining scene opened to us. The angels in the very presence of God are moved by our sufferings and our redemption. Shall they glorify God for His goodness to us, and shall we forget to glorify Him for His goodness to ourselves? (A. W. Hare.) Parallel Verses KJV: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.WEB: "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." |
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