Matthew 13:51 Jesus said to them, Have you understood all these things? They say to him, Yes, Lord.… I fear there are hundreds of religionists in this country who never think of understanding that which they attend to under the name of religion. It can never be a sanctifying word to any except so far as they receive it into their understanding. To realize by experience a doctrine is the only way of knowing it. Those men never forget a truth who have had it burned into them as with a hot iron. I. Let us consider this searching question, "Have ye understood all these things?" as spoken to those who can humbly, but yet confidently, say, "YES, I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THESE THINGS." We can say, "One thing I know; whereas I was blind, now I see." If we have understood these things, what then? 1. Let us be thankful to God, for this understanding of Divine truth is not due to any natural intelligence we possess. 2. If you have been led to understand these things, ought not this to encourage you to seek to understand more? 3. You should not be backward to tell them to others. We are to be pupil teachers; pupils always, but teachers too. II. BUT SOME WHO THINK THEY UNDERSTAND ALL THESE THINGS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM. IS your life in accordance with what you know? It is a solemn thing to have an understanding of Divine truth, but not to be affected by it to repent of sin. Many professors with big heads and small hearts. III. ARE THERE NOT SOME WHO WOULD HARDLY KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION? They understand, and yet they do not: theoretically but not spiritually. You know Jesus Christ; but have you accepted Him? (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.WEB: Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They answered him, "Yes, Lord." |
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