CHAPTER 1

While it is true that `all spiritual blessings in heavenly places' are

`far above all', it is essential that we should remind ourselves

continually of the basis upon which all these blessings rest, namely, the

finished work of the Son of God, accomplished in the fulness of time

upon the earth.  The epistles of the New Testament abound in

references to this finished work, but it is essential that those inspired

records which we call the Gospels, should be read, studied and

understood if that work is to become a reality to us. Three things must

be kept in mind when we think of the Gospels and their purpose.

(1) The historic facts which they record are basic. The birth, death,

resurrection and ascension of the Lord are fundamental to doctrinal

and practical truth.

`If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is

also vain' (1 Cor. 15:14).

(2) While the Gospels are, in a sense, complete in themselves, the

Lord told His disciples that there was still further truth to be revealed

to them when the Spirit of Truth should come.

`I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them

now' (John 16:12).

(3) There is a Divine purpose in the fact that the earthly life of our

Lord is recorded from four different aspects. The only One Who could

have inspired a single complete account of that life and ministry has

not done so, but has been pleased to inspire four different writers to

write individual and selective accounts from four different points of

MATTHEW. - The point of view of this writer is that of the

Kingdom, and his readers are Jews and Jewish believers. He

begins with Abraham.