8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

A man without humility cannot be saved: it comes to that. A proud man, who must have the first place, and who cannot be satisfied without overbearing his neighbours, is unfit for a kingdom, of which the prevailing sentiment will be the grateful humility of forgiven sinners.

This is why he also says so frequently that a rich man shall hardly enter the Kingdom of God. Rich men are usually proud men, because riches give power and importance. Because proud men cannot, rich men scarcely can, inherit the Kingdom of God.

Rich men may; Zaccheus was one, but he gave "half of his goods to feed the poor," and was of the child-like sort. Such, also, were those whom Paul exhorted by Timothy, to lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come (1 Tim. vi. 18). Such, also, those whom Jesus commanded to make to themselves friends out of the mammon of unrighteousness.

No man is more beautiful than a good, useful, faithful, humble, rich man. But there are not many of them. Poverty is usually more conducive to the training of the spiritual man. Poverty by itself is no recommendation...Poverty is good manure; it is neither the soil nor the plant.

Nazareth Revisited Ch 38

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Time went on; things took their course, and as Jesus had predicted, the love of many waxed cold. Business, family cares, persecution, and one thing and another, began to cool the ardour of many who started well; iniquity abounded, hate came into play, social chaos prevailed, to the discouragement and subverting of such as had no root in themselves, and were not training themselves in spiritual development. The number of the faithful became comparatively few; the signs of the times thickened; and the hand of God appeared, but only to such as discerned.

An ordinary quarrel sprang up between the Jews in Jerusalem and the Roman army that garrisoned the country. As the result of the quarrel, Cestius the governor of Syria, invested Jerusalem, the Jews resisted and by violent sorties broke up the investment and drove the Romans out of the country.

The whole nation then revolted and appeared to establish a successful defiance of Rome. Unbelief said

"There! this is very like what you were looking for, isn't it; where is the destruction of Jerusalem? Where is the promise of His coming?"

But the faithful reasoned the other way. They took warning from the fact of Jerusalem having been surrounded. They took this as the sign, and quietly retired; they as much as said this,

"the Jews are successful now, for which we were not looking, but the city has been surrounded, and we know what that means."

Sunday Morning 27 - TC May 1871

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

The gospel is not preached when the things of the kingdom are omitted. And this is one grand defect in modern preaching; either there is nothing said about the kingdom, or a kingdom is preached which is a mere matter of speculation, a kingdom of heaven in principle, in the hearts of men, or somewhere beyond the skies!

But, the gospel does not treat of such a kingdom as this, a mere fiction indoctrinated into men's minds by "the cunning craftiness of those who lie in wait to deceive." So inseparable is the idea of gospel from that of kingdom, that we find them not only substituted for each other, but associated together as terms of explanation.

Thus, "Jesus went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1; Mark 1:14); and in the prophecy of Mount Olivet it is written, "THIS gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the habitable (EN HOLE OIKOUMENE, the Roman empire) for a testimony to all the nations: and then shall come the end" (Matt. 24:14).

After He rose from the dead He commanded the apostles, saying go preach the gospel to every creature: he that believes and is immersed shall be saved: and he that believes not shall be condemned," and "lo, I am with you unto the end of the world." In view of these texts can anyone be so mystified as not to see that salvation is predicated on believing the gospel of the kingdom, and being baptized into Jesus Christ?

They were to preach "this gospel of the kingdom" in the name of Jesus; how did they execute the work? "They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming THE WORD with signs following" (Mark 16:20). They began at Jerusalem, passed throughout Judea, then went to Samaria, and, lastly, to the end of the land (ESCHATOU TES GES). They began on the day of Pentecost and preached only to the Jews for several years, at the end of which Peter and Paul began to proclaim the kingdom to Gentiles also.

The labours of the apostles were indefatigable. They filled the Roman empire with their doctrine, and made such an impression upon it that tumults were excited, and they were charged with treason against the state, because they proclaimed another king than Caesar (Acts 17:7, 31) who should rule the world in righteousness as the sovereign Lord of all the earth. "They spake the word of God with boldness."

"The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul," and great kindness was among them all. In about thirty years the gospel of the kingdom was proclaimed in all the world, to every creature under the heaven (Col.1:6, 23). They finished their work, and fell asleep, the Lord having abundantly fulfilled His promise of co-operating with them to the end of the world.

Thus the same gospel that was preached to Abraham was preached also to Jews and Gentiles by the apostles after the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of power. There was, however, this difference -- when it was preached to Abraham and to the generation which perished in the wilderness, it was altogether a matter of promise, but when preached by the apostles to the Roman nations some things connected with the promise were fulfilled, so that the gospel of the kingdom as they preached it was partly a matter of promise, partly a matter of history, and partly doctrinal.

It was thus presented to mankind in a threefold point of view, which may be stated in this form --

I. Promises to be fulfilled; or things concerning the kingdom of God.

II. Promises fulfilled already; or things concerning Jesus.

III. The doctrinal import of the fulfilled promises; or things concerning His Name.

Elpis Israel 2.1.

Occupy Till I come

Brother Greer writes (excerpt) '...We ought not to preach that Christ will come in a few years and at the same time engage in a business that we know we shall not reap the benefit of within that time.‭ ‬With my convictions,‭ ‬I would not sell a place on five or six years‭' ‬time‭; ‬no,‭ ‬not on three years‭' ‬time,‭ ‬for I believe that would be beyond my time of using it.‭ ‬How would it look for a brother to plant a vineyard or set out a pear orchard while teaching that he really believed that Christ would come and call him away in a year or two,‭ ‬and yet he says what we do we ought to do all to the glory of God‭? ‬If anyone can see how he can glorify God with such an inconsistent faith,‭ ‬he can see farther than I can.‭ ‬I am aware that some may laugh at me,‭ ‬but I hope I have a faith strong enough to enable me to shape my temporal affairs accordingly,‭ ‬and strong enough to stand laughing at also...'

Remarks.‭—‬The confident and hearty tone of brother Greer's letter is interesting and refreshing in the midst of the sceptical indifference characterising our generation.‭ ‬At the same time,‭ ‬it requires tempering with the counsels of wisdom.‭ ‬Two considerations must be allowed the force that belongs to them.‭ ‬First,‭ "‬Occupy till I come,‭" ‬is the order of the day which‭ "‬the Lord of those servants‭" ‬has published.‭ ‬This‭ "‬occupy‭" ‬varies with all the varying circumstances of human life.‭

If a brother is a fruit grower,‭ ‬it is his duty to be a wise fruit grower,‭ ‬and to be found in the act at the last moment.‭ ‬It would not be wise to suspend or circumscribe his arrangements on a time hypothesis,‭ ‬which has only the force of a probable opinion.‭ ‬If the Lord had expressly revealed it,‭ ‬the case would be different.‭ ‬If He had enjoined on us,‭ ‬as on Israel in Egypt,‭ ‬to have‭ "‬loins girded,‭ ‬shoes on feet,‭ ‬staff in hand,‭ ‬and to eat in haste,‭" ‬because‭ "‬this night‭" ‬or in‭ ‬1896‭–‬8,‭ ‬the Lord would do thus and so,‭ ‬then it would be criminal and insane to engage ourselves in any other enterprise whatever.‭ ‬But seeing we have received no instructions beyond the general direction to‭ "‬be ready‭" ‬in the wise discharge of all the duties that come to our hand‭; ‬and no time revelation,‭ ‬beyond the general indication of historic periods whose precise commencement is a little in haze,‭ ‬it is manifestly the part of wisdom for every brother to so arrange his affairs as that they would suffer no detriment in case of our construction of the time period proving incorrect.

No harm will arise from our affairs being in a prudent shape at the moment we are cited to appear before the Lord.‭ ‬There might be much harm if we arranged them on what might prove a wrong supposition of how long they would last.‭ ‬For example,‭ ‬a man having enough under his hand to last,‭ ‬say till‭ ‬1898,‭ ‬ceasing to attend to the business in which he is engaged,‭ ‬in the conviction that nothing would be wanted after that date,‭ ‬would find himself in a woeful position if it should prove that the Lord's coming is not due then.‭ ‬The great thing is to‭ "‬Take heed that the heart be not overcharged,‭" ‬that is,‭ ‬too much engrossed in the affairs in hand,‭ ‬whatever they are.

‭ ‬Do all your business as the Lord's servant till the last moment—not slothful in business,‭ ‬fervent in spirit,‭ ‬serving the Lord.‭ ‬It is an extreme probability that the Lord will come some time during the era‭ ‬1896‭–‬1900.‭ ‬The grounds of this probability have been exhibited:‭ ‬but it must be remembered that it is not an absolute demonstration.‭ ‬The statement that‭ "‬There shall be‭ ‬1,290‭ ‬days‭" ‬from the setting up of the Roman abomination,‭ ‬does not definitely say more than that that period must elapse before the standing up of Michael and the resurrection of the dead.‭ ‬It does not say that these events will certainly occur as soon as that period is at an end.‭ ‬If a man say,‭ "‬I will be‭ ‬50‭ ‬days from home from the time the steamer sails,‭" ‬it may be a reasonable conclusion that he will be home on the fifty-first day,‭ ‬but it does not follow.‭ ‬If he were‭ ‬60‭ ‬days away,‭ ‬he would not break his word.‭ ‬If it were said to him,‭ "‬You said you would be back in‭ ‬50‭ ‬days from the sailing of the steamer,‭" ‬he could reasonably rejoin:‭ "‬I did not say so:‭ ‬I said I would be‭ ‬50‭ ‬days away.‭ ‬I did not say I would not be more.‭"

This is one of the elements of uncertainty as to the ending of the‭ ‬1,290‭ ‬days.‭ ‬It looks as if it were more definite than this,‭ ‬and it may prove to be so‭—(‬especially with the analogy of Moses in Egypt in view‭)‬,‭ ‬but it is not certain that it is so.‭ ‬Another element of uncertainty is the time of the commencement of the period.‭ ‬The establishment of the Papacy was such a gradual process that it is difficult to put the finger upon any date and say with absolute certainity that that was the moment it was‭ "‬set up.‭" ‬The ground of confidence on this point is tolerably strong in the coincidence of two items,‭ ‬viz.,‭ ‬the disappearance of the temporal power in‭ ‬1867‭–‬70,‭ ‬and the imperial appointment of the Bishop of Rome as head of Christendom in‭ ‬a.d.‭ ‬606‭–‬8.‭ ‬The currency of‭ ‬1260‭ ‬years between two strongly marked epochs like these,‭ ‬seems to leave little room for doubt that in that accomplished period,‭ ‬we identify the revealed lease of Papal power.‭ ‬It comes very near absolute certainty.

‭ ‬Still,‭ ‬as it stands upon a human construction of history,‭ ‬and not upon the authority of an inspired interpretation,‭ ‬there cannot be the absolute confidence which a message from God would inspire.‭ ‬We make these remarks merely to show the unwisdom of acting upon a probable interpretation as if it were a divine declaration.‭ ‬The interpretation may turn out to be correct.‭ ‬Everything favours the idea that it will‭; ‬but there is just the possibility we have indicated that the divine programme may hold the coming of the Lord Jesus at an unrevealed point beyond the expiry of the‭ ‬1,290‭ ‬days,‭ ‬and it is the part of wisdom to take this into account.‭—‬Editor.

The Christadelphian, May 1894. p174-175

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

There is no harm in a saint keeping his money, if he have any, in a savings bank. He must keep it somewhere. He would not lay it on his door step; he would prefer a place of concealment and safety, and of the many places which he might find, he would naturally choose that which was safest, and in a world of wolves, we have to be wise as serpents while harmless as the dove.

As to having money to pay expenses at Christ's appearing, there need be no anxiety on that score. Christ will do his own work (and amongst the rest gather his saints) without burdening their already over-burdened backs and pockets.

The power that will gather the penniless dead will have no more difficulty with the penniless living. As to the use banks make of the money deposited, we are not responsible for that. They got it for safe keeping, and so long as they keep it safe, and ready on demand, they fulfil the part for which we look to them.

The Christadelphian, June 1874

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

But not seeking to dwell unduly on one point, I will just for a moment notice the objections Mr. Stern has brought forward in disposal of the New Testament. They are just of the character I expected. He quotes "Thou shalt not kill," and contrasts with this the prospective words which Christ employs concerning himself: "Bring them hither and slay them before me."

It is really too idle to deserve notice. Does Mr, Stern mean to say that the command not to kill, was to apply in all possible circumstances? If so, how does he understand the stoning of Achan for trespass, or the slaughter of the Canaanites, when Israel crossed the Jordan under Joshua? The command not to kill had to do with ordinary civil relations. It is not inconsistent with the judicial function which the very same law prescribes.

So though Christ was under the law of Moses in the days of his flesh, this is not inconsistent with the fact that he is to exercise judicial power in the day of his glory. I should like to know how he reconciles the objection with his own idea of the Messiah. Is it not written of him that he shall slay the wicked? (Isaiah 11:4).

Now, though Mr. Stern does not believe Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, he must believe that when the Messiah does come, he will "slay the wicked." How then about "thou shalt not kill?" If it is a contradiction against Jesus, it is a contradiction against Moses, against Joshua, and against the Messiah himself, even if Jesus were not he. It is a contradiction which does not exist.

The precept not to kill is one regulating private life, but does not interfere with the judicial right to take away life when the general interests call for it. Who calls into question the prerogative of the Queen, in the name of the public well-being, to take away the life of a murderer?

Bro Roberts - Was Jesus of Nazareth The Messiah?

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

Topographical coincidences run through the whole plan

The offering of Isaac on Moriah required that Jesus should be offered there also. The birth of David at Bethlehem required the same thing of Jesus.

David's flight up the face of the Mount of Olives from the presence of Israel's rebellion seems to find a counterpart in Christ's ascent from that Mount from a nation that said

"We will not have this man to reign over us;"

and David's return via that Mount, a counterpart in Christ's coming back to the Mount of Olives before his enthronement in Jerusalem.

Israel's scattering among the nations finds Christ so scattered in his body during all the times of the Gentiles. The holy portion of the land in the age of glory covers the place of Abraham's sojourn in the land as a stranger, and David's flight among the rocks of Engedi; and Christ's trial, mockery, condemnation and death.

The divine plan is full of such interesting and fitting coincidences, among which, we are bound to place the fact that not only the national but the personal Messiah, came out of Egypt in the beginning of his existence upon the earth.

Nazareth Revisited Ch 9