---

I. THE REASONS FOR THIS GROANING are —

1. The pressures and miseries of the present life (ver. 4). We are burdened —

(1) With sin. To a waking conscience this is one of the greatest burdens that can be felt (Romans 7:24). It is not the bare trouble of the world which sets the saints a-groaning, but indwelling corruption, which may be cast out, but is not cast out. A gracious heart seeth this is the greatest evil, and therefore would fain get rid of it.

(2) With miseries (Romans 8:20, 21). It is a groaning world, and God's children bear a part in the concert (Genesis 47:7). There are many things to wean a Christian from the present life.

(a)  Manifold temptations from Satan (1 Peter 5:8, 9).

(b)  Persecutions from the world.

(3) Sharp afflictions from God Himself. God is jealous of our hearts. He is fain to embitter our worldly portion, that we may think of a remove to some better place and state. We would sleep here if we did not sometimes meet with thorns in our bed.

2. Our having had a taste of better things (Romans 8:23). The firstfruits show us what the harvest will be, and the taste what the feast will prove.

(1) We have but a glimpse of Christ as He showeth Himself through the lattice, but there we shall see Him with open face.

(2) Our holiness is not perfect, and therefore we long for more. The new nature is seed (1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 1:2). As a seed will work through the dry clods, that it may grow up into its perfect estate, so doth this seed of God work towards its final perfection.

(3) Our comforts are not perfect. The joys of the Spirit are unspeakable things; but at His right hand there is fulness, pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). These the soul longeth for.

3. The excellency of this estate. It is great ingratitude and folly that, when Christ hath procured a state of blessedness for us at a very dear rate, we should value it no more.

4. The three theological graces.

(1) Faith. They that believe that there is another sort of life infinitely more desirable than this will find their affections stirred towards it, for sound persuasion showeth itself in answerable affections (Hebrews 11:13; 2 Peter 3:12).

(2) Love. They that love Christ will long to be with Him (Philippians 1:23; cf. Colossians 3:1).

(3) Hope. What you hope for will be all your desire (Philippians 1:20). 5 The Holy Ghost stirreth up in us these groans partly by revealing the object in such a lively manner as it cannot otherwise be seen (Ephesians 1:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 2:22), partly by His secret influences, as He stirreth up holy ardours in prayer (Romans 8:25, 26).

6. All the ordinances of the gospel serve to awaken them. The Word is God's testament, wherein such rich legacies are bequeathed to us that every time we read it, or hear it, or meditate upon it, we may get a step higher, and advance nearer heaven (2 Peter 5:4; Psalm 119:96). So for prayer — it is but to raise those heavenly desires. We long in the Lord's Supper for new wine in our Father's kingdom, to put an heavenly relish upon our hearts.

7. These desires are necessary because of their effect. What maketh the Christian so industrious, so patient, so self-denying, so watchful? Only because he breatheth after heaven with so much earnestness.

8. The state of the present world doth set the saints longing for heaven. For this world is vexatious, the pleasures of it are mere dreams, and the miseries of it are real, many, and grievous.

II. OBJECTIONS MET.

1. But how can Christians groan for their heavenly state, since there is no passage to it but by death, and it is unnatural to desire our own death?

(1) They do not simply desire death for itself, which in itself is an evil, but as a means to enjoy these better things (Philippians 1:23).

(2) Death is sweetened to them. By Christ's death it is made their friend, a passage to an endless life (1 Corinthians 3:22; Romans 8:38).

2. But must all sincere Christians thus groan and long? Many groan at the least thought of death.

(1) Somewhat of this there must be in all that believe; they all groan in this tabernacle, and desire to be dissolved. How can you labour for that which you do not earnestly desire and groan after?

(2) Much of what is here expressed may belong to an heroical degree of grace not vouchsafed to all Christians. But yet still we must be growing up to this frame of heart. Here are marks to aim at.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

WEB: For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;