Then Opened He Their Understanding
The Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures and impart an inward taste for the truth, enabling us to understand eternal things.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the unique role of Jesus in opening the understanding of His followers, contrasting Him with other teachers who can only convey knowledge without imparting true spiritual insight. He highlights that while many can present Scripture, only Christ can prepare the heart to receive its deeper truths, enabling even the unlearned to grasp the mysteries of the kingdom. Spurgeon reflects on the transformation from ignorance to understanding that occurs through the Holy Spirit, underscoring the necessity of Jesus' intervention for spiritual enlightenment. He encourages believers to seek Christ's guidance in prayer to enhance their understanding of divine truths. Ultimately, Spurgeon calls for a humble approach to learning at the feet of Jesus, recognizing Him as the sole source of true wisdom.
Text
He whom we viewed last evening as opening Scripture, we here perceive opening the understanding. In the first work He has many fellow-labourers, but in the second He stands alone; many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but He instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but He imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit.
The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things! They know the killing letter of revelation, but its killing spirit they cannot discern; they have a veil upon their hearts which the eyes of carnal reason cannot penetrate.
Such was our case a little time ago; we who now see were once utterly blind; truth was to us as beauty in the dark, a thing unnoticed and neglected. Had it not been for the love of Jesus we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance, for without His gracious opening of our understanding, we could no more have attained to spiritual knowledge than an infant can climb the Pyramids, or an ostrich fly up to the stars. Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, and by earnest prayer call in His blessed aid that our dull wits may grow brighter, and our feeble understandings may receive heavenly things.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Lord's Work of Opening the Understanding
- A. A work distinct from opening Scripture
- B. A work requiring divine power
- II. The Lord's Method of Teaching
- A. He instructs the heart, not just the ear
- B. He imparts an inward taste for the truth
- III. The Result of the Lord's Teaching
- A. The unlearned become ripe scholars
- B. The veil of ignorance is lifted
- IV. The Importance of the Lord's Aid
- A. We need the Master's help to understand
- B. Without Him, we remain in ignorance
Key Quotes
“How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Had it not been for the love of Jesus we should have remained to this moment in utter ignorance” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We need to seek the Lord's aid to understand spiritual truths, as He is the only one who can prepare our minds to receive them.
- The Lord's teaching is not just about knowing what to believe, but also about how to believe it, which requires an inward taste for the truth.
- We should sit at the feet of Jesus and seek His guidance to understand the mysteries of the kingdom.