THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH.
By John G. Matteson
If the following remarks are correct, they may be worthy of consideration. We submit them to the test of “the law and the testimony”:— In 2 Cor. 3, Paul does neither contrast nor compare the work of the Levitical priesthood with the ministration of the apostles. He does not speak of the ministration of the priests at all, but of “the ministration of death” and “the ministration of condemnation.” Verses 7, 9. The ministration of the priests in the sanctuary, as they offered sacrifices and made atonement in type for the sins of the people, was not performed to condemn the people, but to secure life and forgiveness of sins by pointing them to Christ, who could and did take away the sins of all who believed in that dispensation as verily as he blesses and saves believers in this dispensation. The priests and Levites were not appointed to bring condemnation upon the people, but to save them from their sins, and bring them to Christ. Gal. 3:24. The apostle speaks of pronouncing the sentence of death upon willful transgressors of God’s holy law “engraven in stones,” and executing this condemnation upon them. Moses was the first minister of this kind among the children of Israel. He was no priest. His service is the ministration spoken of, and it was glorious, for his countenance shone with the glory of God. We find an instance of this work of condemnation in Num. 15:32–36. They found a man who presumptuously broke the fourth commandment. The Lord told Moses what should be done to him. The sentence was pronounced and the order given. All the congregation “stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.” In the New Testament the ministers of Christ are not requested nor permitted thus to order and execute the condemnation of transgressors. The man of sin has ventured to do it, thereby greatly displeasing God. The Levitical priesthood has passed away, and the Jewish administration of justice has also passed away. If that was glorious, then the ministration of the Spirit by the servants of God in this dispensation is far more glorious. John G. MATTESON.