Luke 2:34-35 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel… There are four reasons why they speak against Him; that is, as the true Christ of God. I. Ignorance, men not knowing their need of Him; many of the relations he bears therefore appear to the natural man to be superfluous; he does not know his need, and therefore speaks against it in ignorance. II. The native enmity of the mind. "The carnal mind is enmity against God;" men will naturally speak against that that they have an antipathy to. III. Because they are too much taken up with the world, and they do not like to be interrupted. Now we must pursue the world, must enjoy the world; to become one of these religious mopes would be to spoil all our pleasures. Thus they have an idea that there is something very gloomy about religion, and so they speak against it, especially the truth. IV. The natural man has a vague idea that the threatenings of God are mere words; that" whoever the Lord may send to hell," says the natural man, "I can't believe He will send me there." (J. Wells.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; |
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