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Without this principle of love men have not the temper of Christ. His kingdom is meaningless to them. Pure philanthropy owes its noblest spirit to Christ. From what other source could it have sprung?

1. Is it a legacy to us from the ancient world? The temper of humanity could not have been wholly lacking in ancient times.

2. It is impossible that Judaism, so happily conspicuous in ancient times for the tender springs of mercy which God's hand cleft for it out of the rock of Sinaitic Law, should have slowly leavened Gentile society with the spirit of compassion.

3. If we turn to the voluminous instructions of the great ethical systems, we are no nearer an answer to our question. We are compelled to trace to Christ the development of that spirit of humanity, of which compassion is one of the vital elements. The foundations of the Christian doctrine of compassion.

I. Much stress must be laid on the impression produced by Christ's earthly life.

II. A second fruitful element was Christ's revelation of the nature of sin. It was not based on a misconception of the character of those on whom it was poured.

III. This power was given to us by Christ, for He has cleansed and sanctified human nature.

VI. Christ's revelation of the dignity of man.

V. Christ's revelation of immortality. Let nothing tempt us to forget the spiritual and supernatural ground on which all adequate sympathy with our fellow men must stand. The most effectual benevolence rests on the mystery of Christian faith.

(T. R. Evans.)

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KJV: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

WEB: Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;