UNITED, YET DIVIDED
14
David
It will be observed that the Gospel of Matthew falls into two sections. The first begins with a voice from heaven,
saying, `This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased'. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, `The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel' (Matt. 3 and 4, and Mark
1:15). This section ends with Peter's confession, `Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matt. 16:16).
During this section the Lord twice declared the exclusive character of His ministry to Israel. Israel, however,
`despised and rejected' Him. His mighty works were performed with the same object in view as had His wondrous
words, viz., repentance. `Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done,
BECAUSE THEY REPENTED NOT' (Matt. 11:20). They are unfavourably compared with Tyre and Sidon, and even
Sodom. Here stood One `greater than the Temple', `greater than Jonah' whose preaching caused the repentance of
Nineveh, and `greater than Solomon' the typical son of David, and Prince of Peace. And Israel rejected Him, their
Prophet, Priest and King. It is here, in this setting of Israelite apostacy, that Christ refers to the wider field - the
Gentiles. When the Lord knew that His miracles instead of bringing about repentance led the Pharisees to seek to
destroy Him, Isaiah the prophet is quoted:
`... I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles ... And in His Name shall the
Gentiles trust' (Matt. 12:18-21; cf. Isa. 42:1).
A passage parallel to this, which throws light upon the turn of events in Matthew 12, is Isaiah 49:4-8. Messiah
says:
`... I have laboured in vain, I have spent My strength for nought ... And now, saith the LORD that formed Me ...
to bring Jacob again to Him, Though Israel be not gathered ... It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My
Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob ... I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My
salvation unto the end of the earth ... in a day of salvation have I helped Thee'.
As in Matthew 11 and 12, the work of the Lord toward Israel seems in vain; but here, in His hour of rejection,
His wider ministry to the Gentiles begins to come into view.
Abraham
This brings us to the second section of Matthew. Again we have a voice from heaven, saying, `This is My
beloved Son' (17:5), and this section is concluded with the confession of a Gentile, the centurion said, `Truly this
was the Son of God' (27:54). During this section the Lord speaks often of His death and resurrection, and of His
Second Coming in glory as king (19:28 and chapters 24 and 25). In it, we have the record of the fig tree with
nothing but leaves that withers away (21:19); of the son who `afterward repented' representing `the publicans and
harlots' who go into the kingdom of God before the true sons of the kingdom (21:31). The rejection of the Messiah
and the destruction of Jerusalem is foretold (21:33-46). In the parable of the marriage feast `they which were bidden
were not worthy' (22:8), and the subsequent furnishing of the wedding feast was with guests who were not in the
first place invited (22:9,10). Here are pronounced the awful indictment of the Scribes and Pharisees (23:13-37), and
the words that for a time closed up the channel of mercy, `Behold, your house is left unto you desolate' (23:38). In
this section the death, resurrection, and Second Coming of Christ are prominent. No commission is given to the
twelve to preach as in chapter 10.
We will set out this arrangement of the book graphically in order that its bearing upon our next subject may be
better seen.
First Section
TIME - `From that time Jesus began to preach' (Matt. 4:17).
VOICE - `This is My beloved Son' (Matt. 3:17). The Son of David (Matt. 1:1).
The Lord rejected by Israel
CONFESSION BY A JEW - `Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Matt. 16:16).