2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal… Notice — I. TWO DIFFERENT CLASSES OF OBJECTS. 1. Things which are seen. 2. Things which are not seen. II. THE CONDUCT OF THE CHRISTIAN WITH REFERENCE TO THESE OBJECTS. 1. The text. It represents him in an attitude of attention. The word rendered "look" signifies to look at earnestly, intently, as an archer, for instance, looks at the mark which he wishes to strike, or as a man in a race looks at the goal which he is pressing forward to reach (Philippians 3:14). 2. But what does this involve? (1) Faith — a belief in the existence of unseen spiritual things. Many earthly things which we have never seen we all firmly believe to exist. And the Christian is just as well satisfied of the reality of spiritual things. These things have a probable existence in the estimation of most men. They are believed in very much as we believe that the planets are inhabited, or that such a town as Troy once stood somewhere on the earth. But this is not the Christian's faith. His is a faith which is to him "the evidence," or manifestation, "of things unseen." It serves him in the place of eyes whereby to discern them, enabling him to feel sure of their existence, as sure as you feel at this moment that London exists, or that a few miles from you the ocean is washing with its waters England's shores (2 Corinthians 5:1). (2) A high estimation of invisible things — . superlative esteem of them. The apostle, having divided in his mind all existing things into two classes, seems to have asked himself, "Which are the best? which shall I take as the objects of my pursuit?" and then to have decided on invisible things. You cannot bring the men of the world to this. They look only on the things nearest to them, and these, contemplated alone, appear all-important. III. THE REASON THE APOSTLE ASSIGNS FOR THIS CONDUCT OF THE CHRISTIAN. Here, as elsewhere, he almost surprises us by the low ground he takes. Ask us why unseen things are to be preferred to the things around us. "They are so much more excellent," we should say, "so much more able to satisfy the soul." But the apostle merely says that he prefers them because they are more durable. And here breathes forth the immortality of the soul. "What matters it to me what things are? — will they abide? I am to last for ever — will they?" IV. THE HAPPY EFFECT PRODUCED ON THE CHRISTIAN BY THE PECULIAR CONDUCT HERE ASCRIBED TO HIM. 1. It makes all present afflictions seem light to him (ver. 17). 2. It will sanctify our afflictions. What Paul means in the previous verse is that they ripen us for the glory before us. (C. Bradley, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. |
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