1 Corinthians 2:8-9 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.… I. THE CAUSE OF IMMENSE EVIL. These princes of the world, through ignorance, "crucified the Lord of glory." 1. A greater crime than this was never perpetrated. It involved — (1) The grossest injustice. He was embodied virtue. His enemies and judges bore testimony to His innocence. (2) The basest ingratitude. He not only did no evil, but "went about doing good."(3) Most heartless cruelty. They put Him to a death the most ignominious and excruciating that infernal malignity could desire. (4) Most daring impiety. Whom did they thus treat? "The Lord of glory" (Psalm 24:8). It is impious to trifle with His laws and rebel against His throne, but how much more so to crucify the universal Lawgiver and King! 2. That this ignorance was the cause of this immense evil is evident. (1) Because it is itself an evil, and like will produce like. There are two things necessary to knowledge — mind and means. When either of these is absent, ignorance is a calamity, but when they are present it is a crime. These princes had both — they were not idiots, and riley had means by which they could know Christ; the Old Testament Scriptures, John the Baptist, Christ Himself. They need not have been ignorant. Their ignorance was a sin, and sin, like virtue, is propagated. (2) Had it not existed, such an evil could never have been perpetrated. II. THE OCCASION OF IMMENSE GOOD. This crucifixion introduced things that "eye had never seen," &c., viz., God's love to the world and His method of saving it; Divine pardon, spiritual purity, immortal hopes. Conclusion: From this subject learn — 1. That the sinner is always engaged in accomplishing that which he never intended. These "princes— (1) Ruined themselves. It brought upon them and their country in this world tremendous judgments — and what in the world to come? Sinner, what are you doing? You are ruining yourself, but you do not intend it; but you are nevertheless doing it in the commission of every sin. (2) Executed the plan of the great God. "Him being delivered," &c. God overrules for good. So now, we have not to determine whether we shall serve God or not; we have to determine how — by our will or against it. 2. Whatever good a man may accomplish contrary to his intention is destitute of all praiseworthiness. What oceans of blessings come to our world through the crucifixion! Yet who can ever praise the crucifiers? 3. That no man should act without an intelligent conception of what he is doing. How many act from prejudice, custom, blind impulse! How few have a right conception of what they are doing! (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. |
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