Compassion on the Ignorant

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Hebrews 5:1-3

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God…

Men who are ignorant should not be met with scorn, nor fault-finding, nor neglect, for they need compassion. We should lay ourselves out t,, bear with such for their good. A disciple who has been taught all that he knows by a gracious Saviour should have compassion on "the ignorant." A wanderer who has been restored should have compassion on "them that are out of the way." A priest should have compassion on the people with whom he is one flesh and blood, and assuredly our Lord, who is our great High Priest, has abundant compassion upon the ignorant.

I. WHAT IS THIS IGNORANCE? It is moral and spiritual, and deals with eternal things.

1. It is fearfully common among all ranks.

2. It leaves them strangers to themselves.

(1)  They know not their own ignorance.

(2)  They are unaware of the heart's depravity.

(3)  They ale unconscious of the heinousness of their actual sin.

(4)  They dream not of their present and eternal danger.

(5)  They have not discovered their inability for all that is good.

3. It leaves them unacquainted with the way of salvation.

(1)  They choose other ways.

(2)  They have a mixed and injurious notion of the one way.

(3)  They often question and cavil at this one and only way.

4. It leaves them without the knowledge of Jesus. They know not His person, offices, work, character, ability, readiness to save.

5. It leaves them strangers to the Holy Spirit.

(1)  They perceive not His inward strivings.

(2)  They are ignorant of regeneration.

(3)  They cannot comprehend the truth which He teaches.

(4)  They cannot receive His sanctification.

6. It is most ruinous in its consequences.

(1)  It keeps men out of Christ.

(2)  It does not excuse them when it is wilful, as it usually is.

II. WHAT IS THERE IN THIS IGNORANCE WHICH IS LIABLE TO PROVOKE US, AND THEREFORE DEMANDS COMPASSION?

1. Its folly. Wisdom is worried with the absurdities of ignorance.

2. Its pride. Anger is excited by the vanity of self-conceit.

3. Its prejudice. It will not hear nor learn; and this is vexatious.

4. Its obstinacy. It refuses reason; and this is very exasperating.

5. Its opposition. It contends against plain truth; and this is trying.

6. Its density. It cannot be enlightened; it is profoundly foolish.

7. Its unbelief. Witnesses to Divine truth are denied credence.

8. Its wilfulness. It chooses not to know. It is hard teaching such.

9. Its relapses. It returns to folly, forgets and refuses wisdom, and this is a sore affliction to true love.

III. How OUR LORD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS THE IGNORANT IS SHOWN.

1. By offering to teach them.

2. By actually receiving them as disciples.

3. By instructing them little by little, most condescendingly.

4. By teaching them the same things over again, patiently.

5. By never despising them notwithstanding their dulness.

6. By never casting them off through weariness of their stupidity.

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