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I. WHAT THIS DILIGENT HEARKENING TO CHRIST DOTH CONTAIN. In it He diligently hearkens to Christ.

1. Who doth carefully and regardfully observe Christ in His gracious offers.

2. Who seriously considers all the gracious offers of Christ.

3. Who judges highly of the offers of Christ.

4. Who obeys the voice of Christ.

II. HOW IT MAY APPEAR THAT JESUS CHRIST IS EARNEST AND IMPORTUNATE WITH SINNERS, diligently to hearken unto Him.

1. By the gradations of His dealings with sinners.

(1)  He opens and proclaims the way of life and happiness to them (John 14:6).

(2)  He presents this salvation to them (Acts 13:26).

(3)  He encourages them to come from the certainty of allgood, from the graciousness of His own terms "Come, and buy without money, and from the acceptance of their persons (John 6:37).

(4)  He entreats them to hearken unto Him (2 Corinthians 5:20).

(5)  He commands them authoritatively to obey His voice (1 John 3:23).

(6)  He allures them with all sorts of promises.

(7)  He shows them the greatness and inevitableness of their danger, if they refuse to hearken (John 8:24; Hebrews 2:3).

(8)  He expressly threatens a peremptory damnation, if sinners will not hearken (Mark 16:16).

(9)  He furnishes ambassadors with all sorts of gifts, to enable them to deal, and treat, and woo, and work on sinners to hearken.

(10)  He is content to pass by all the days of ignorance.

(11)  He lets a light into their minds which shows them a personal and absolute need of Himself.

(12)  He disproves, confutes and shames all the carnal arguments of sinners.

(13)  He affects the hearts and wills of sinners by many strivings of His Spirit.

(14)  He rouses the drowsy, careless sinner by outward special afflictions.

(15)  He breaks up the consciences of sinners, so that the terms of God fall on them.

(16)  He cuts off all their confidence in this distressed condition, so that no course shall ease or quiet or help.

(17)  He takes the opportunity, and, in this broken condition, sends messengers of hope and mercy to the sinner (Acts 9:10, 11).

(18)  He answers all the fears and doubts of sinners, both in respect of Himself (1 John 2:1; Revelation 3:20); and in respect of themselves — assuring them that neither the multitude of former sins nor abundance of present wants shall hinder mercy and salvation, if they will hearken and come.

(19)  He advances instances how sinners have fared by hearkening and coming to Him, e.g. the jailor, Mary Magdalene, Saul of Tarsus (1 Timothy 1:16).

(20)  If none of these prevail with sinners to hearken, then doth Christ take His utter farewell of them with sighs and tears (Luke 19:41, 42).

2. By the qualities of His voice. It is —

(1)  a plain voice, easy to be understood.

(2)  A high voice (John 7:37).

(3)  Long and patient (Romans 10:21).

(4)  In season and out of season.

(5)  Quick. To the ear, thence to the mind, thence to the conscience.

(6)  Expostulating.

(7)  Very pressing.

III. WHAT JESUS CHRIST IS SO IMPORTUNATE WITH SINNERS TO HEARKEN UNTO HIM. There are reasons for this:

1. In respect of sinners.

(1)  Because of their dulness and slowness.

(2)  Because sinners are careless.

(3)  Because they are very unteachable.

(4)  Because they are backward to hearken, and accept His gracious offers.

(5)  Because they are very perverse and desperate (Zechariah 7:11, 12; Acts 7:51).

2. In respect of Christ Himself.

(1) Because He is Christ, full of compassion.

(2) Because He knows the condition of our souls:

(a)  their worth,

(b)  their lost condition,

(c)  the wrath which will certainly befall disobedient souls,

(d)  wherein real happiness lies,

(e)  the difficulty of gaining souls,

(f)  what power Satan hath with our souls.

(O. Sedgwick, B. D.)

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KJV: Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

WEB: Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which doesn't satisfy? listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.