Below the Ox and the Donkey
The sermon emphasizes that ignorance is the root of all sin, leading to enslavement to Satan and a lack of understanding of eternal peace.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound consequences of ignorance in his sermon 'Below the Ox and the Donkey,' using Isaiah 1:3 to illustrate that while animals recognize their owners, God's people often fail to understand their relationship with Him. He argues that ignorance is the root of all sin, leading to spiritual enslavement and a lack of awareness of one's need for salvation. Brooks warns that this ignorance not only breeds sin but also prevents individuals from recognizing the beauty of holiness, ultimately locking them in a state of spiritual blindness. He calls for a deeper understanding of sin and holiness to foster true repentance and spiritual awakening.
Text
"The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's
feeding-trough, but Israel does not know; My people
do not understand." Isaiah 1:3
Ignorance is the source of all sin, the very well-spring
from which all wickedness does issue. Ignorance . . .
enslaves a soul to Satan;
lets in sin by troops;
locks them up in the heart;
shuts out the means of recovery;
and so plasters up a man's eyes, that he cannot see
the things which belong to his own eternal peace.
The Scripture sets ignorant people below the ox and
the donkey. Did men either see the deformity of sin,
or the beauty and excellency of holiness--they would
never delight in the one--nor cry down the other!
Ignorance is a breeding sin, a mother sin; all sins are
seminally in ignorance. Ignorance is the mother of all
the mistakes, and of all the misrule in the world.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Source of Sin
- A. Ignorance is the root of all sin
- B. Ignorance enslaves a soul to Satan
- C. Ignorance lets in sin by troops
- II. The Consequences of Ignorance
- A. Locks up sin in the heart
- B. Shuts out the means of recovery
- C. Plasters up a man's eyes to eternal peace
Key Quotes
“Ignorance is the source of all sin, the very well-spring from which all wickedness does issue.” — Thomas Brooks
“Ignorance is a breeding sin, a mother sin; all sins are seminally in ignorance.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Recognizing the root of sin in ignorance is crucial for spiritual growth and understanding.
- Delighting in sin is often a result of a lack of understanding of its deformity or the beauty of holiness.
- Ignorance can lead to a breeding of sin, making it essential to seek knowledge and understanding of God's Word.