MATTHEW by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 30, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 35.

MATTHEW.

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

WE have now reached a very interesting point in our investigation of the books of Holy Writ. The period to which kings and prophets and wise men had looked forward has now come, and the light of the new dispensation shines with a luster far exceeding that of the old. It is new light, tho not a new kind of light, for all the light of revelation must necessarily be the same kind of light. The light of the moon is the same kind of light as that of the sun, for the moon shines with light borrowed from the sun. So the light of the former dispensation was a light reflected from the great luminary of this dispensation. "The people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up."

"The path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." In proceeding from the Old Testament to the New, we follow on to know the Lord and discern that His going forth is prepared as the morning. The four gospels doubtless constitute the most familiar and the most helpful portion of the sacred Scriptures, and Matthew, the first in the series, occupies the first position not only in the order in which it is found in the Scripture canon, but in the positions it occupies in the hearts of those for whose benefit these holy books were written. The story of the "Star of Bethlehem" is the central point of attraction. How many thousands there are who remember so vividly the words taught them by a mother's lips:

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."

These delightful words vibrate upon our hearts and in our ears with a melody unequaled by the harmonies of earth. It pleased God to have the earthly history of our divine Redeemer written by four different men, two of whom belonged to the inner circle of companionship of our Lord, Matthew and John, who were numbered among the chosen twelve, and two of whom, Mark and Luke, were ardent believers, tho not numbered among the twelve apostles. Thus we have two witnesses from within, and two from without, that distinguished band, all bearing united testimony to the same great facts concerning our Lord.

To enter into detail concerning the contents of the different chapters of the book of Matthew, would require too much space to be attempted here. A brief examination would require more space for each chapter than can be devoted to the entire book in this series of articles.

It is very interesting to note the reason given for the various events in the history of our Lord. Let us notice a few of the passages where this appears. In Matt. 1:22, concerning the miraculous birth of Jesus we read: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." The reason is "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet." Jesus was born in Bethlehem because it was so written by the prophet. Matt. 2:5, 6. The infant Saviour went down into Egypt that the words of the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son" might be fulfilled. Verses 14, 15. The mothers, weeping for the murdered innocents, were simply fulfilling the words of the prophet. Even the dwelling-place of the Saviour was chosen in reference to the prediction of the prophet: "He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Thus it is evident that the Lord wants us to understand that the New Testament is not contrary to the Old, but that in the very minutest particular, He will see that the words of the prophets will be carried out.

Another item that shows this will be found in Matt. 7:12, in the Sermon on the Mount. Several years ago the writer listened to a discourse from words found in that verse, "Therefore all things whatsoever we would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them." Said the speaker: "This is the teaching of the Gospel [and surely it is gospel]." Then he went on to contrast the Gospel with the law, saying: "This is very different from the instruction given under the law." But what saith the Scriptures? Let us read the entire verse: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." So this principle, the Golden Rule, is not only gospel, it is the law and the prophets. God has not one rule of morality for one age of the world and another rule for another age. The teachings of the Gospel harmonize with those of the law and the prophets.

The divine life, all the way from the manger to Calvary, is laid out before us so plainly in this book that none of us can be without excuse in the final day. According to the closing verse of this gospel, all things that Jesus taught His disciples are to observe till the close of time. He taught us to obey His Father's commandments, and hence we are to observe them all. By His grace this can be done.