《Simeon ’s Horae Homileticae – Matthew (Vol. 1)》(Charles Simeon)
Commentator
Charles Simeon (September 24, 1759 - November 13, 1836), was an English evangelical clergyman.
He was born at Reading, Berkshire and educated at Eton College and King's College, Cambridge. In 1782 he became fellow of King's College, and took orders, receiving the living of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, in the following year. He was at first so unpopular that services were frequently interrupted, and he was often insulted in the streets. Having overcome public prejudice, he subsequently gained a remarkable and lasting influence among the undergraduates of the university.
He became a leader among evangelical churchmen, was one of the founders of the Church Missionary Society in 1799, the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews (now known as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People or CMJ) in 1809, and acted as adviser to the British East India Company in the choice of chaplains for India.
In 1792 he read An Essay on the Composition of a Sermon by the French Reformed minister Jean Claude. Simeon found that their principles were identical and used the essay as the basis for his lectures on sermon composition. Claude's essay also inspired Simeon to make clear his own theological position, the result being Horae Homileticae, his chief work.
He published hundreds of sermons and outlines of sermons (called "sermon skeletons"), still in print, that to some were an invitation to clerical plagiarism. His chief work is a commentary on the whole Bible, entitled Horae homileticae (London). The Simeon Trust was established by him for the purpose of acquiring church patronage to perpetuate evangelical clergy in Church of England parishes. It continues to operate to this day.
Charles Simeon is often hailed as something of an ancestor of the evangelical movement in the Church of England.
According to the historian Thomas Macaulay, Simeon's "authority and influence...extended from Cambridge to the most remote corners of England, ...his real sway in the Church was far greater than that of any primate." He is remembered in the Episcopal Church of the United States with a Lesser Feast and in the Anglican Church of Canada with a Commemoration on 12 November. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 13 November. His memorial by the monumental mason Hopper in Holy Trinity Church (Cambridge), was described by architectural critic Nikolaus Pevsner as an "epitaph in Gothic forms."
00 Introduction
CONTENTS TO VOL. XI
Discourse / Text / SubjectMatthew
1278. / Matthew 1:21-23. / Import of the Names given to Christ
1279. / Matthew 2:1-2. / The Wise Men seeking Christ
1280. / Matthew 2:10. / The Joy of the Magi
1281. / Matthew 2:16; Matthew 2:18. / The Slaughter of the Infants
1282. / Matthew 3:7-10. / John’s Address to those who came to be baptized of him
1283. / Matthew 3:11. / The Baptism of the Spirit
1284. / Matthew 3:12. / The Issue of the final Judgement
1285. / Matthew 3:15. / Fulfilling all Righteousuness
1286. / Matthew 4:1. / Christ’s Temptation
1287. / Matthew 4:18-22. / The Call of four Apostles
1288. / Matthew 5:1-4. / The Blessedness of the Humble
1289. / Matthew 5:5. / Christian Meekness
1290. / Matthew 5:6. / Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness
1291. / Matthew 5:7. / The Reward of Mercifulness
1292. / Matthew 5:8. / Purity of Heart
1293. / Matthew 5:9. / The Peace-makers
1294. / Matthew 5:10-12. / Persecution for Righteousness Sake
1295. / Matthew 5:13. / Christians the Salt of the Earth
1296. / Matthew 5:14-16. / Christians the Light of the World
1297. / Matthew 5:17-18. / The Law and the Prophets confirmed
1298. / Matthew 5:19. / The Danger of little Sins
1299. / Matthew 5:20. / Evangelic and Pharisaic Righteousness compared
1300. / Matthew 5:21-22. / Christ’s Exposition of the Sixth Commandment
1301. / Matthew 5:23-24. / Necessity of Reconciliation with Men
1302. / Matthew 5:25-26. / Importance of Reconciliation with God
1303. / Matthew 5:27-28. / Our Lord’s Exposition of the Seventh Commandment
1304. / Matthew 5:29-30. / The Necessity of mortifying every Sin
1305. / Matthew 5:31-32. / Divorces forbidden
1306. / Matthew 5:33-37. / Swearing forbidden
1307. / Matthew 5:38-41. / Retaliation forbidden
1308. / Matthew 5:42. / Liberality enjoined
1309. / Matthew 5:43-48. / Love to Enemies enjoined
1310. / Matthew 5:47. / Christians do more than others
1311. / Matthew 6:1-4. / Directions respecting Alms-deeds
1312. / Matthew 6:5-8. / Directions respecting Prayer
1313. / Matthew 6:9. / Hallowing God’s Name
1314. / Matthew 6:10. / The Lord’s Prayer
1315. / Matthew 6:11. / The Lord’s Prayer
1316. / Matthew 6:12. / The Lord’s Prayer
1317. / Matthew 6:13. / The Lord’s Prayer
1318. / Matthew 6:13. / The Lord’s Prayer
1319. / Matthew 6:14-15. / A forgiving Spirit necessary to our Acceptance with God
1320. / Matthew 6:16-18. / Directions respecting Fasting
1321. / Matthew 6:19-21. / Laying up Treasures in Heaven
1322. / Matthew 6:22-23. / The Single Eye
1323. / Matthew 6:24. / The Services of God and Mammon inconsistent
1324. / Matthew 6:25-34. / Against Carefulness
1325. / Matthew 7:1-2. / Against uncharitable judging
1326. / Matthew 7:3; Matthew 7:6. / The Beam and the Mote
1327. / Matthew 7:6. / Caution to be used in reproving
1328. / Matthew 7:7-8. / The Importance and Efficacy of Prayer
1329. / Matthew 7:9-11. / God’s Readiness to give his Holy Spirit
1330. / Matthew 7:12. / The doing as we would be done unto.
1331. / Matthew 7:13-14. / The Strait and Narrow Ways
1332. / Matthew 7:15-20. / Men known by their Fruits
1333. / Matthew 7:21-23. / Nature and Importance of true Religion
1334. / Matthew 7:24-27. / The Wise Builder
1335. / Matthew 7:28-29. / The Effect of our Lord’s Preaching
1336. / Matthew 8:19-22. / How we are to follow Christ
1337. / Matthew 8:27. / Christ stilleth the Tempest
1338. / Matthew 9:13. / Mercy before Sacrifice
1339. / Matthew 9:28-30. / Two Blind Men healed
1340. / Matthew 9:36-38. / Our Duty to the benighted World
1341. / Matthew 10:5-7. / Limited Commission of the Apostles
1342. / Matthew 10:8. / Diffusion of the Gospel, a Duty
1343. / Matthew 10:16. / Wisdom and Innocence to be united
1344. / Matthew 10:22. / Enduring unto the End
1345. / Matthew 10:30. / Doctrine of a particular Providence
1346. / Matthew 10:32-39. / The Rule of Christ’s Procedure in the Last Day
1347. / Matthew 11:4-6. / Christ’s Answer to John’s Disciples
1348. / Matthew 11:11-12. / Christ’s Commendation of John
1349. / Matthew 11:28. / The Heavy-laden invited to Christ
1350. / Matthew 11:29. / Christ a meek and lowly Teacher
1351. / Matthew 12:6. / Christ greater than the Temple
1352. / Matthew 12:18-21. / Compassion of Christ towards the Weak
1353. / Matthew 12:22-23. / Blind and dumb Demoniac healed
1354. / Matthew 12:30. / Decided Adherence to Christ
1355. / Matthew 12:31. / The Sin against the Holy Ghost
1356. / Matthew 12:36-37. / Idle Words to be accounted for
1357. / Matthew 12:39-41. / Jonah a Type of Christ
1358. / Matthew 12:43-45. / The Relapsed Demoniac
1359. / Matthew 12:46-50. / Christ’s Regard to his obedient Followers
1360. / Matthew 13:13-15. / The Use and Intent of Parables
1361. / Matthew 13:18. / The Sower
1362. / Matthew 13:33. / Leaven hid in Meal
1363. / Matthew 13:36. / The Tares
1364. / Matthew 13:44. / The Hidden Treasure
1365. / Matthew 13:45-46. / The Pearl of great Price
1366. / Matthew 13:47-50. / The Net
1367. / Matthew 13:52. / The Householder
1368. / Matthew 14:26-27. / Christ walking on the Sea
1369. / Matthew 14:30-31. / Peter saved when sinking in the Sea
1370. / Matthew 15:7-9. / Formal Worshippers, Hypocrites
1371. / Matthew 15:28. / The Daughter of the Canaanitess dispossessed
1372. / Matthew 15:30-31. / Great Multitudes Healed
1373. / Matthew 16:6. / Against Formality and Indifference
1374. / Matthew 16:15-19. / Peter’s Confession rewarded
1375. / Matthew 16:21-23. / Peter’s mistaken Tenderness reproved
1376. / Matthew 16:24-25. / Importance of a Christian’s Duty
1377. / Matthew 16:26. / The Worth of the Soul
1378. / Matthew 17:10-13. / Elijah’s Advent in John Baptist
1379. / Matthew 17:27. / Christ paying the Tribute Money
1380. / Matthew 18:1-4. / A little Child
1381. / Matthew 18:14. / The Security of God’s Children
1382. / Matthew 18:19-20. / The Efficacy of social Prayer
1383. / Matthew 18:32-35. / The Unmerciful Servant
1384. / Matthew 20:6-7. / The Labourers
1385. / Matthew 21:16. / Children vindicated
1386. / Matthew 21:18-22. / The Fig-tree cursed
1387. / Matthew 21:28-31. / The Two Sons
1388. / Matthew 22:2-3. / The Marriage Feast
1389. / Matthew 22:5. / The Sin of making light of Christ
1390. / Matthew 22:11-13. / The Wedding Garment
1391. / Matthew 22:41-42. / An Inquiry into our Views of Christ
1392. / Matthew 22:42-46. / Christ the Son and Lord of David
1393. / Matthew 23:8. / Our Relation to Christ and to each other
1394. / Matthew 23:37. / Christ’s Compassion
1395. / Matthew 24:12-13. / Caution against Declension in Religion
1396. / Matthew 25:10. / The Ten Virgins
1397. / Matthew 25:22-23. / The Talents
1398. / Matthew 25:34; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46. / The Day of Judgment
1399. / Matthew 25:35-40. / The Importance of Charitable Exertions
1400. / Matthew 26:24. / Fearful Prospect of the Impenitent
1401. / Matthew 26:29. / The Lord’s Supper
1402. / Matthew 26:53-54. / Christ’s Apprehension
1403. / Matthew 26:56. / Christ forsaken by his Disciples
1404. / Matthew 26:63-66. / Our Lord’s Condemnation
1405. / Matthew 26:67-68. / The Indignities offered to Christ
1406. / Matthew 27:3-5. / Imponitence
1407. / Matthew 27:9-10. / The Disposal of the Money paid to the Traitor Judas
1408. / Matthew 27:24-25. / Pilate’s Protest
1409. / Matthew 27:26-31. / The Indignities offered to our Lord
1410. / Matthew 27:38-44. / The Mocking of Christ upon the Cross
1411. / Matthew 27:45. / The Supernatural Darkness
1412. / Matthew 27:51. / Signs attendant on our Lord’s Death
1413. / Matthew 27:62-66. / The Guarding of the Sepulchre
1414. / Matthew 28:6. / The Resurrection
1415. / Matthew 28:18-20. / The Apostles’ Commission
01 Chapter 1
Verses 21-23
DISCOURSE: 1278
THE IMPORT OF THE NAMES GIVEN TO CHRIST
Matthew 1:21-23. Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
THE dispensations of Providence are extremely dark and intricate: the things which appear most afflictive often prove to be the richest mercies that could have been vouchsafed to us. This was remarkably verified in the history before us. Joseph was espoused to a virgin of consummate piety; but, before their nuptials, she proved to be in a state which gave him reason to suspect her fidelity. Desiring to exercise all the lenity which the case would admit of, he determined to put her away privily. How distressing must such an event have been to this holy man! But God sent an angel to unfold to him the mystery, to declare the ends for which the child should be born, and to impose on the infant a name, that should mark his office in the world.
I. The appointment of the name—
God had often condescended to assign names to men—
[Sometimes he had made an alteration in their names [Note: Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah.]; and sometimes totally changed them [Note: Jacob to Israel.]. Sometimes he had assigned a name before the child was conceived [Note: John, Luke 1:13.]. In these things he always acted with unerring wisdom. When men have attempted to give significant appellations, they have only manifested how ignorant they were of futurity [Note: Eve named her first child “Cain,” which signifies getting: thinking perhaps that she had now gotten the promised Seed: having probably soon discovered her mistake, she called her second son “Abel,” which signifies vanity. But how misnamed were both! This proved a martyr for his God; and that, a murderer of his own brother.]. But God sees all things from the beginning to the end. And his designation of Christ’s name was a prognostic of his character.]
The appellation given to the Virgin’s son was peculiarly suitable—
[“Jesus” simply means a Saviour [Note: Acts 13:23.]; and was a common name among the Jews. It was sometimes assigned to those who were great deliverers [Note: Nehemiah 9:27.]. It had been given in a peculiar manner to the son of Nun [Note: Numbers 13:16. Which name is precisely the same with “Jesus” and is so translated, Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8.]. He was eminently a Saviour, as leading the Israelites into the promised land, which Moses was not permitted to do [Note: Deuteronomy 1:37-38.]. But Christ, whom he typified, is a far greater deliverer. He “does that for us which the law could not do [Note: Romans 8:3. Acts 13:39.].” He leads the true Israel of God into the heavenly Canaan.]
So remarkable an event may justly lead us to inquire into,
II. The reason of that appointment—
Waving all other reasons, we notice two before us:
1. To fulfil a prophecy—
[Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah should be called Emmanuel [Note: Isaiah 7:14.]. From the event it appears, that God did not intend this prophecy to have a literal accomplishment. We may expect however that the spirit of it should be accomplished. Now the name “Jesus” was in fact equivalent to Emmanuel. “Jesus” means “Divine Saviour;” and Emmanuel, God with us [Note: See Bishop Pearson on the Creed, p. 70, 71.]. And the Evangelist himself tells us, that the imposition of that name was in order to the fulfilment of this prophecy [Note: Matthew 1:22-23.].]