"To-day if ye will hear His Voice, harden not your Heart"

From: Christian's Library: Volume 3

Heb. 3:15

IT must have come like a thunder-clap among the select ranks of the Pharisees, when John the Baptist delivered his divine injunction and appeal, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” A caste that could pray in the temple, “God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men” (Luke 18:11¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (Luke 18:11)), and in their Council say of the poor and uninstructed of their own nation, “This people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed” (John 7:49⁴⁹But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. (John 7:49)), would with considerable reluctance welcome such a message. Yet the fact had to be faced. The new prophet was making a great stir, and all men mused in their hearts, whether John were the Christ or not (Luke 3:15¹⁵And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; (Luke 3:15)). The ruling sect at Jerusalem could no longer afford to ignore the matter. They sent messengers to inquire (John 1:19¹⁹And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (John 1:19)), and some even came themselves to his baptizings (Matt. 3:7⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)), bringing with them their inveterate opponents the Sadducees, to see this new thing, and judge for themselves what steps were to be taken to stop the work.

Well-nigh eight generations had come and gone since Malachi’s grave indictment of the nation. The notes of his trumpet-blast of coming judgment, of the refiner’s fire, and fuller’s soap, had died away, and few remained of those who cherished the hope of the dawn of that day, when the Sun of Righteousness should arise with healing in His wings (Mal. 3:2, 4:2). The darkness, always most intense immediately before dawn, was unprepared for the advent of this burning and shining lamp (John 5:35³⁵He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. (John 5:35)), who brought the assurance of that true Light of day about to break (John 1:8, 9⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:8‑9)). But the man of God, that greatest of prophets, was not deceived, and upon their arrival he delivers a stirring and vigorous rebuke, which must have sounded strangely to the ears of those long steeped in self-complacency. “Generation of vipers,” he exclaims in his discourse, “who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Upon those so perfect in phylacteries, so exact in doctrine, so observant of the law, coming wrath surely could have no claim! And yet the same message of repentance applied to them, and he bids them look to it, that “fruits meet for (i.e., consistent with) repentance” should be brought forth in life, and this in view of at least three very solemn considerations. Let us examine them and weigh them well, for they have a clear voice for ourselves to-day.

Firstly, the time was come that a place of privilege would not avail without reality. “Think not to say within yourselves,” says John, “we have Abraham to our father.” Being in the line of faith, according to the flesh, will not absolve each from individual faith in God’s Word and obedience to that Word; and the occupation of a place where blessing is to be found, does not in itself conduct into spiritual relationship with God, where conscience and heart are unaffected. Surely there never was a day when the servants of God needed more to insist upon this solemn truth. Judaism has passed away, and the advantage of being born in that system was “much every way,” chiefly by reason of the possession of God’s Word (Rom. 3:2²Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)). Christianity has, as a witness, replaced Judaism, and it will be surely conceded, that it is no small favor that one’s lot is cast beneath its beneficent shadow. Having God’s precious Word, the full revelation of Himself, and of His love in Christ; being in the place where the Holy Spirit dwells, and where He still is acting for the glory of Christ; to be alive in a day when God has so marvelously recovered His truth from the mediaeval darkness of popery―these and many another privilege are at the disposal of professors of Christianity in this country. Does it count for nothing before God if such be disregarded? and does the holy eye of God distinguish naught between such a case and a heathen who has never heard the truth, sunk perhaps in degradation and superstition? “For all these things,” as said the preacher of old to the young man, “God will bring thee into judgment.” Have you seen that to be a member of a Christian family, a regular attendant at your church or chapel, a communicant, a class-leader, a district visitor, will not in themselves bring you one step nearer God, if in your heart of hearts you have never bowed before Him in repentance, owning your condition as a sinner, and seeing that, despite all these surroundings of Christianity, and all the privileges you enjoy, the heart is far from God (Matt. 15:8⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8)).

The heart! Ah! yes, this leads us to our second point in virtue of which repentance is enforced. “Already the ax is lying at the root of the trees” (Matt. 3:10¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 3:10)). Such is the real meaning of the passage, and, by reading in this way John’s warning, we see how important a moment it was, what issues hung, as it were, in the balance. God’s dealings since the Fall, and under law, had been directed to pruning off the fruit of the tree. It is true that the root was not ignored, for the commandment, “Thou shalt not covet,” showed clearly the divine acquaintance with man’s restless will, and propensity to prefer independence to obedience. Still in the main it was actions that were judged and detected and forbidden in the system of law, which Israel grasped so greedily, and to which our fallen natures even now pertinaciously cling. It is the “root of the tree” which was menaced at that time. The behest of divine justice had, as it were, been uttered, “Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?” (Luke 13:7⁷Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (Luke 13:7)), but divine mercy, ever rejoicing against judgment, had rejoined, “Let it alone this year also.” Its plea had been heard, but the ax was there ready to do its work of holiness, in leveling the responsible man to the ground, as both guilty and lost.

If any poor Pharisee could only have seen and believed this, what a blessing it would have been to his soul! In their anxiety to keep the exterior of the cup or the platter clean, the interior had been ignored; as the whited sepulchers of the prophets, that their fathers had slain, they were outwardly spotless, but within death reigned (Matt. 23:25-33²⁵Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. ²⁶Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. ²⁷Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ²⁸Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. ²⁹Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, ³⁰And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. ³¹Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. ³²Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. ³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:25‑33)). In view of this the call goes forth to “repent” lest the sentence of excision be carried out. Alas! the cry fell upon ears that were “heavy,” and hearts that were “fat”; being dull of hearing, and of a hardened and impenitent heart, they filled up the measure of their iniquity in slaying the Just One (Matt. 13:15¹⁵For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:15); Acts 7:52⁵²Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: (Acts 7:52)). The tree has now been “cut down,” and man lies (as it were) prone in death, without a spark of spiritual life (Eph. 2:1¹And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1); Col. 2:13¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13)). Yet as still actually alive and responsible the call sounds out to-day, “Repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15¹⁵And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15); Acts 2:38, 3:19). Nay, “God commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30, 31³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: ³¹Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)), because judgment must descend upon a world that crucified Jesus. The proof given of this is that God has raised His Son from the dead, divine justice thus firmly reversing man’s unholy sentence. Have you bowed to this command, dear reader, in acknowledging by repentance the wickedness of such an act perpetrated by hands and hearts like your own, and by owning the justice of God’s action in placing Jesus in the highest place that heaven could afford, His own right hand. “Turn you at My reproof,” said the Lord (Prov. 1:23²³Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Proverbs 1:23)). Life is uncertain, and judgment is coming. Take care lest you be too late, who, despising reproof, have that certain fearful expectation of judgment (Heb. 10:27²⁷But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:27)), and in the end that withering word, “Depart from Me: I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23, 25:41).

Yes! judgment is coming. This is the third reason enjoined by the Baptist why man should bow in repentance. “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” And this burning up “the chaff with unquenchable fire” is attributed to Christ Himself, who is described in this glowing passage as the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Matt. 3:10-12¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ¹²Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:10‑12)). Judgment is coming, because Christ is coming. These words show the two parts of His service, as Saviour, Dispenser of blessing; and as Judge, the One to whom all judgment is committed.

At the moment John preached, Christ was about to be manifested as the King of the Jews, the Saviour of the world, to distribute blessing to mankind, blessing connected with the Holy Spirit, since He is the Power for the enjoyment of the gift of God. But John knew that to reject this baptism of the Holy Ghost would be for the nation of Israel to invite a terrible baptism of fire from the same hand. For us poor Gentiles, the rejection by the Jews of their blessing of this precious enjoyment of the power of the Holy Spirit, has led to our knowing the baptism of the Holy Ghost in a manner probably transcending anything to which the faith of John soared. “For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body,” and of this body of believers Christ is the Head in heaven (1 Cor. 12:13¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13); Eph. 1:22²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22)). And one may well repeat that, in virtue of such a blessing being offered in the world, man should repent, seeing what large thoughts of grace God has still in His heart in spite of our rejection of His Son. But to refuse this, the choicest offer that divine grace can ever devise, is to court a baptism of fire nearly too awful to contemplate.