Chrysostom: “Every day, you say, one hears the same things [in sermons]. Tell me, then, do you not hear the same things in the theaters? Do you not see the same things in the race-course? Are not all things the same? Is it not always the same sun that rises? Is it not the same food that we use?” (Commentary on II Thessalonians 2:5).
John Calvin: “For these are the two causes why we see many abandoning the pure doctrine of salvation. Firstly, because they are moved by their pride to seek out new things, but it is God’s will that His hearers be humble. Do we wish therefore to profit in his school? The let us have this humility and not presume to know too much, but only to be taught by Him as seems good to Him. Secondly, there are others who are so unstable that they are not content to have heard what is contained in the Gospel but become restless. It seems that their ears are too used to hearing the same things which would profit them in godliness, when we preach of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His grace. It seems that they know this too well already and are too used to it. As therefore many minds are shaken with this curiosity, God leaves them to feed themselves on wind; for indeed they are not worthy to be nourished with good pasture. Thus, if we wish God to uphold us in the purity of His Word let us first of all be humble and submissive, let us be sober and not desire in vain curiosity to know more than is lawful and expedient for us” (Sermon on I Timothy 1:3-4).
Thomas Manton on James 1:22: “The doers of the word are the best hearers … Matthew 7:24, ‘He that heareth my words, and doeth them. I will liken him to a wise builder.’ That is wisdom, to come to the word so as we may go away the better. Divers hearers propound other ends. Some come to the word that they may judge it; the pulpit, which is God’s tribunal, is their bar; they come hither to sit judges of men’s gifts and parts: James 4:11, ‘Thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.’ Others come to hear pleasing things, to delight themselves in the elegancy of speech, rarity of conceits, what is finely couched and ordered, not what is proper to their case. This is not an act of religion so much as curiosity, for they come to a sermon with the same mind they would to a comedy or tragedy; the utmost that can be gained from them is commendation and praise … the end of preaching is not to exalt men, but God. You will say, An excellent sermon! But what do you gain by it? The hearer’s life is the preacher’s best commendation II Corinthians 3:1, 2. They that praise the man but do not practise the matter, are like those that taste wines that they may commend them, not buy them. Others come that they may better their parts, and increase their knowledge. Every one desireth to know more than another, to set up themselves; they do so much excel others as they excel them in knowledge: and therefore we are all for notions and head-light, little for that wisdom that ‘entereth upon the heart,’ Proverbs 2:10, and serveth to better the life …”
Jeremiah Burroughs: “… when men of understanding and parts come to hear, this temptation is ready to come upon them, that unless they hear some new thing that they did not understand before, why should they come? I am able to understand as much in such a point as can be said, and when I have come and heard many times, I have only heard that which I knew before. Upon that they think there is no use in coming to hear. Now this is a great mistake. When you come to hear the Word, you do not always come to hear what you did not know. It may be sometimes God may dart something that you did not think of before or so fully understand. But suppose it is not so. You are to come to it as an ordinance of God for the conveyance of spiritual good to your souls” (Gospel Worship, p. 201).
J. C. Ryle: “The devil, no doubt, is everywhere. That malicious spirit is unwearied in his efforts to do us harm. He is ever watching for our halting, and seeking occasion to destroy our souls. But nowhere perhaps is the devil so active as in a congregation of Gospel-hearers. Nowhere does he labour so hard to stop the progress of that which is good, and to prevent men and women being saved. From him come wandering thoughts and roving imaginations—listless minds and dull memories—sleepy eyes and fidgety nerves—weary ears and distracted attention. In all these things Satan has a great hand. People wonder where these things come from, and marvel how it is that they find sermons so dull, and remember them so badly! They forget the parable of the sower. They forget the devil.”
