Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. I. THAT IGNORANCE IS THE USUAL CAUSE OF ENMITY TO CHRIST. "These things" (saith the Lord) "will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor Me" (John 16:3). 1. What was their ignorance, who crucified Christ? Ignorance is two-fold, simple or respective. Simple ignorance is not supposable in these persons, for in many things they were a knowing people. But it was a respective particular ignorance, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel" (Romans 11:25). They knew many other truths, but did not know Jesus Christ. In that their eyes were held.Though they had the Scriptures among them, they misunderstood them, and did not rightly measure Christ by that right rule. (1) They supposed Christ to arise out of Galilee, whereas He was of Bethlehem, though much conversant in the parts of Galilee. And(2) they thought, because they could find no prophet had arisen out of Galilee, therefore none should. Another mistake that blinded them about Christ, was from their conceit that Christ should not die, but live for ever (John 12:34). Thus were they blinded about the person of Christ, by misinterpretations of Scripture-prophecies. 2. Another thing occasioning their mistake of Christ, was the outward meanness and despicableness of His condition. 3. Add to this, their implicit faith in the learned rabbles and doctors, who utterly misled them in this matter, and greatly prejudiced them against Christ. Let us see, in the next place, how this disposed them to such enmity against Christ. And this it doth three ways. (1) Ignorance disposes men to enmity and opposition to Christ, by removing those hindrances that would otherwise keep them from it. As checks and rebukes of conscience, by which they are restrained from evil; but conscience binding and reproving in the authority and virtue of the law of God; where that law is not known, there can be no reproofs, and therefore we truly say, that ignorance is virtually every sin. (2) Ignorance enslaves and subjects the soul to the lusts of Satan, he is "the ruler of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12). There is no work so base and vile, but an ignorant man will undertake it. (3) Nay, which is more, if a man be ignorant of Christ, His truths, or people, he will not only oppose, and persecute, but he will also do it conscientiously, i.e., he will look upon it as his duty so to do (John 16:3). 1. How falsely is the gospel charged as the cause of discord and trouble in the world. It is not light, but darkness, that makes men fierce and cruel. As light increases, so doth peace (Isaiah 11:6, 9). 2. How dreadful is it to oppose Christ and His truths knowingly, and with open eyes? Christ pleads their ignorance as an argument to procure their pardon. 3. What an awful majesty sits upon the brow of holiness, that few dare to oppose it that see it! 4. The enemies of Christ are objects of pity. Alas, they are blind, and know not what they do. 5. How needful is it before we engage ourselves against any person or way, to be well satisfied and resolved that it is a wicked person or practice that we oppose. II. THAT THERE IS FORGIVENESS WITH GOD FOR SUCH AS OPPOSE CHRIST OUT OF IGNORANCE. I have two things here to do: 1. To open the nature of the forgiveness, and show you what it is. 2. To evince the possibility of it, for such as mistakingly oppose Christ.For — 1. Forgiveness is God's gracious discharge of a believing penitent sinner from the guilt of all his sin, for Christ's sake. 2. Now, to evince the possibility of forgiveness for such as ignorantly oppose Christ, let these things be weighed. (1) Why should any poor soul, that is now humbled for its enmity to Christ in the days of ignorance, question the possibility of forgiveness, when this effect doth not exceed the power of the cause; nay, when there is more efficacy in the blood of Christ, the meritorious cause, than is in this effect of it? (2) And as this sin exceeds not the power of the meritorious cause of forgiveness, so neither is it anywhere excluded from pardon by any word of God. III. THAT TO FORGIVE ENEMIES, AND BEG FORGIVENESS FOR THEM, IS THE TRUE CHARACTER AND PROPERTY OF THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT. 1. Let us inquire what this Christian forgiveness is. And that the nature of it may the better appear, I shall show you both what it is not and what it is. (1) It consists not in a stoical insensibility of wrongs and injuries. (2) Christian forgiveness is not a politic concealment of our wrath and revenge because it will be a reproach to discover it, or because we want opportunity to vent it. This is carnal policy, not Christian meekness. (3) Nor is it that moral virtue for which we are beholden to an easier and better nature and the help of moral rules and documents. (4) Christian forgiveness is not an injurious giving up of our rights and properties to the lusts of every one that hath a mind to invade them. But, then, positively, it is a Christian lenity or gentleness of mind, not retaining, but freely passing by the injuries done to us, in obedience to the command of God. This is forgiveness in a Christian sense. 2. And this is excellent, and singularly becoming the profession of Christ, is evident, inasmuch as this speaks your religion excellent that can mould your hearts into that heavenly frame to which they are so averse, yea, contrarily disposed by nature.Inference 1. Hence we clearly infer that Christian religion, exalted in its power, is the greatest friend to the peace and tranquillity of states and kingdoms. 2. How dangerous a thing is it to abuse and wrong meek and forgiving Christians? 3. Let us imitate our pattern Christ, and labour for meek forgiving spirits. I shall only propose two inducements to it — the honour of Christ, and your own peace: two dear things indeed to a Christian. (J. Flavel.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. |
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