Charles Spurgeon · New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 5, Sermon No. 227 · 1859

Compel Them to Come In: sermon notes

Compel them to come in.
Luke 14:23

Summary

Because Christ died to save sinners, we must urgently come to him ourselves and earnestly compel others to enter his gospel feast.

Sermon outline

Likely Title: Compel Them to Come In

Likely Text/Passage: Luke 14:23

Main Theme: The gospel invitation must be urgently proclaimed to every kind of sinner, calling them to come to Christ while trusting the Holy Spirit to open their hearts.

Introduction

The preacher urgently begins obeying the command to “compel them to come in,” addressing those still outside the gospel feast.
He presents the gospel: sinners are guilty, Christ died for them, and “whosoever believeth” and calls upon the Lord will be saved.

Main Points

The preacher must find those who are outside
The invitation is directed to the poor, maimed, halt, and blind.
It includes those spiritually helpless, conflicted, blind to their condition, and people of every rank and circumstance in the highways and hedges.

The preacher must compel sinners to come to Christ
He urges sinners with the gracious invitation of God, declaring Christ’s death and the promise of forgiveness.
He commands them to repent and believe, speaks with the authority of heaven, and exhorts them to flee to Christ.
He answers common objections: guilt, inability to believe, past rejection, inconvenience, and delay.
He warns of death, judgment, and the danger of rejecting the only Savior.

The preacher compels through earnest love, tears, and prayer
The minister must be deeply concerned for hearers’ souls, persevering despite rebuffs.
He describes words and tears as instruments by which gospel ministers seek to bring people in.
He prays that the Holy Spirit, who alone can open the heart, will make sinners willing captives of Christ.

Professing believers must examine their lives
Some church members may have a false profession that dishonors Christianity.
Their inconsistency brings grief to God’s people and concern to the pastor.

Application

Unconverted hearers are called to stop delaying, abandon self-righteousness, look to Christ, and trust him alone for salvation.
Hearers are urged to respond “today,” recognizing that death or the closing of the opportunity may come suddenly.
Professing Christians are called to live consistently with the doctrine they claim to believe.

Conclusion

The preacher places the results in the hands of the Holy Spirit, who can open hearts when human pleading cannot.
He trusts that some hearers will be compelled by sovereign grace to bow to Christ through the message.

Key quotes

Each quote below is copied from the printed sermon and checked word for word against it.

whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out

The worse a man is, the more reason he should go to the hospital or physician

this morning is the convenient time

words and tears are the arms with which gospel ministers compel men to come in

I cannot compel you, but thou O Spirit of God who hast the key of the heart, thou canst compel

there is nothing to be gained by delay, but by delay everything may be lost

You may despise your own salvation, but I do not despise it

He fell upon my neck and kissed me; he took off my rags and did clothe me with his righteousness

Scripture references

Luke 14:23
The sermon’s central command to urgently bring spiritually lost people into the gospel feast.
"the just for the unjust, to bring us to God"
Jesus’ substitutionary death is presented as the basis for bringing sinners to God.
"Whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved."
The preacher declares faith in Jesus as the simple way of salvation.
"whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
The preacher assures guilty sinners that calling on the Lord brings salvation.
"For this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief"
The preacher emphasizes that Christ came specifically to save sinners.
"whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out"
The preacher assures those who come to Christ that they will not be rejected.
"he is able also to save unto the uttermost them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us."
The preacher stresses Christ’s complete saving power and ongoing intercession.
"Whosoever will, let him come and take of the waters of life freely."
The spiritually poor are invited freely to receive life from Christ.
"Unto you is the word of salvation sent"
The preacher says the gospel is sent even to the materially poor.
"For the poor have the gospel preached unto them."
The preacher presents the poor as included among those who receive the gospel.
"The best performance of my hands, Dares not appear before thy throne."
The preacher describes the maimed sinner’s recognition that good works cannot earn acceptance before God.
"Oh, could I but believe, Then all would easy be, I would, but cannot, Lord relieve, My help must come from thee."
The preacher portrays the spiritually powerless person who cannot produce faith or repentance without divine help.
"Whoso calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"
The preacher again offers salvation to those who feel unable to believe or obey.
"Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely."
The preacher again invites helpless sinners to come freely to Christ.
"How long halt ye between two opinions? if God be God, serve him; if Baal be God, serve him."
The preacher urges those wavering between God and the world to decide for God.
"Consider thy ways"
The preacher calls the undecided hearer to examine his life and direction.
"set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live."
The preacher warns the wavering hearer of death and the need for immediate spiritual readiness.
"Because I will do this, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel!"
The preacher urges sinners to prepare to meet God in judgment.
"Go into the highways and hedges."
The preacher applies the command universally to people of every rank and condition.
"Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain."
The preacher trusts God to overcome the enormous obstacle of human depravity.
"As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but had rather that he should turn unto me and live:"
The preacher presents God’s compassionate desire that sinners turn and live.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as wool; though they be red like crimson they shall be whiter than snow."
The preacher invites deeply sinful people to receive cleansing and forgiveness from God.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
The preacher gives the central gospel command to trust Christ for salvation.
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature;"
The preacher grounds his authority to command belief in Christ’s commission to preach the gospel universally.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned."
The preacher warns of salvation for believers and judgment for those who refuse to believe.
"He that despised Moses's law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God."
The preacher warns that rejecting Christ deserves even more serious judgment than rejecting Moses’ law.
"command, exhort, rebuke with all long-suffering."
The preacher describes the minister’s responsibility to address sinners with authority, urgency, and patience.
"Wherefore dost thou spend thy money for that which is not bread, and thy labour for that which satisfieth not; hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
The preacher challenges sinners to abandon pursuits that cannot satisfy and receive what God offers.
"Other foundation can no man lay"
The preacher declares that Christ is the only sufficient foundation for salvation.
"there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved."
The preacher insists that no name except Christ’s can save.
"lay hold on eternal life"
The preacher urges sinners to seize the gift of eternal life.
"to labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that endureth unto everlasting life."
The preacher calls sinners to pursue lasting spiritual nourishment rather than temporary things.
"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
The preacher uses the image of everlasting judgment to awaken sinners to their danger.
"As though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
The preacher explains the minister’s earnest pleading as God’s appeal for reconciliation through Christ.
"I called and ye refused; I stretched out my hand and no man regarded; therefore will I mock at your calamity; I will laugh when your fear cometh."
The preacher warns that persistent rejection of God’s call will bring judgment.
"I am the chief of sinners"
The preacher responds to those who believe their guilt is too great by recalling the apostle’s description of himself as chief among sinners.
"To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation,"
The preacher urges sinners not to delay responding to God’s present call.
"to-day."
The preacher emphasizes that the Spirit’s invitation is for the present day, not an imagined future opportunity.
"Come now and let us reason together;"
The preacher repeats God’s immediate invitation and argues against postponing salvation.
"He is given unto idols, let him alone."
The preacher warns that God may eventually abandon those who continually reject his appeals.
"Behold I stand at the door and knock,"
The preacher describes Christ’s persistent appeal to enter the sinner’s heart.
"he who hath the key of David."
The preacher emphasizes that Christ possesses authority and power to open the human heart.
"it shall not return unto me void"
The preacher trusts God’s promise that the preached gospel will accomplish its intended purpose.
"he was begotten by him in his bonds."
The preacher describes the minister’s role in being used by God to bring people to spiritual birth.
"he travailed in birth for souls till Christ was formed in them."
The preacher portrays the minister’s intense spiritual labor for Christ to be formed in hearers.
"compel them to come in."
The sermon concludes by entrusting the inward work of compelling sinners to the Holy Spirit, who changes hearts through sovereign grace.

Small-group discussion questions

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

When have you experienced someone’s persistence or encouragement helping you take a step you were reluctant to take?
What kinds of excuses or distractions most commonly keep people from responding to something they know is important?

Diving In (20 minutes)

The preacher repeatedly urges people to “compel them to come in.” What did he mean by this command, and what different ways did he use to urge people toward Christ?
In the sermon’s discussion of the poor, maimed, halt, and blind, which description best illustrates the human condition apart from Christ, and why?
The preacher says that the message is to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” renounce our own works, and trust Christ. What could responding to that message look like in your life on a normal Tuesday morning?

Going Deeper (15 minutes)

The sermon combines urgent warnings about judgment with strong appeals to Christ’s mercy. What tensions might someone feel about using both warning and invitation when speaking with others about faith?
Where do you personally struggle most, with feeling too guilty, feeling unable to believe, delaying for a “convenient time,” or becoming indifferent, and what might it look like to bring that struggle honestly to Christ?

Prayer Prompt

Pray for hearts to respond to Christ’s invitation, for courage and compassion in sharing the gospel, and for those who are delaying or resisting faith.

Takeaways

Big idea

Because Christ died to save sinners, we must urgently come to him ourselves and earnestly compel others to enter his gospel feast.

Live it out

Examine where you are trusting your own works, and renounce them to rest in Christ alone.
Bring one hesitant or spiritually needy person a clear invitation to trust Jesus this week.
Pray earnestly by name for someone who is rejecting or neglecting Christ.
Speak honestly about the urgency of today, since no one is promised tomorrow.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, we confess that we are poor, maimed, halt, and blind apart from your mercy. Thank you for giving yourself for sinners and opening the gospel feast to all who come. Help us look to your cross, trust your righteousness, and receive your invitation today. Give us earnest hearts, loving words, tears, and prayers for those still in the highways and hedges. By your Spirit, compel us and others to come in, and make us willing captives of your grace.

Read the full sermon

Charles H. Spurgeon, “Compel Them to Come In,” New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 5, Sermon No. 227. The sermon is in the public domain; the text used here is the CC0 Markdown edition of Spurgeon's sermons.

Full text in the CC0 edition

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