Romans 3:9-20 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;… I. I have to mention some particulars in which the throat of man is "an open sepulchre" in regard to THAT WHICH IT RECEIVES: I mean, in regard to the air we breathe, and the food and beverage we eat and drink. 1. This is true universally of every unregenerate man. Every breath of air that is breathed by a man who is not born of God, and every morsel of food that he eats, is but like the carrying a putrid corpse into a vault. He is supporting his body for the dishonour of God. It is not in the service of his heavenly Father, but in the service of his Father's enemies, that he uses all his strength and health, and all his bodily powers; he is guilty of abusing God's gracious gifts; he is steadily going forward into increased corruption. 2. But if in this way it holds good of all who are not restored to God, even the most abstemious, that "their throat is no better than an opened sepulchre," how much more does it give us a striking view of the wretched state of the intemperate: the gluttonous and the drunkard? Well does the wisdom of God compare the throats of all such wretched sinners to an opened sepulchre, corrupt in themselves, infectious to others, and offensive to God. Can such a man expect to dwell with God in holiness and glory? Would you yourselves consent to have an "opened sepulchre," with all its abominations, in your house? Would you tolerate anything so offensive? Much less can you suppose that God will suffer a drunkard to be anywhere but in the depths of hell. II. I now proceed to enumerate a few particulars in which the throat of every unregenerate man is also like "an open sepulchre" in that which PROCEEDS OUT OF IT. 1. But let me first say a word generally to those who are Christians in name only. As in regard to what goes in, so in regard to what comes forth from your throat, it is still but an "open sepulchre." 2. In descending to particulars, I must be content to mention only one of the multitude of sins that make the "throat of sinners an open sepulchre"; and that is, the sin of blasphemy, and swearing, and profaneness. And if an opened sepulchre is odious because it sends forth the smell of death, well may we say that the mouth of the profane is like it, for it breathes the breath of spiritual and eternal death. (John Tucker, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; |
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