MATT. xx. 28.
“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

THE mission of Christ into the world was distinct and
definite. The ministry of the gospel should be alike clear
and transparent.
I. Let us commence by expounding the text word by
word.
1. The Son of man not only a son, but the Son of man
qualified to become man’s substitute.
2. He came. He was not thrust upon the stage of
action; He came by His own consent.
3. He came not to be served, but to serve. He had not
a selfish thought in His soul.
4. And to give His life. We have no lives to give. Our
lives are due to Divine justice. Christ had a life of His
own—not due to God, and He gave it.
5. His death is our ransom. This may be fairly illus-
trated by the old Jewish ceremony of redemption money.
6. For many. The word for has a substitutionary mean-
ing. Many—not all, and not few. Who they are God
knows.
II. The main drift of the text is the doctrine of a
vicarious atonement. Man is not delivered from the bond-
age of his sin without a price.
The ransom price was paid to the great Judge of all
The result is that man is redeemed.
Charles H. Spurgeon