Patriarchs and Prophets.
MATTHEW 13:53–58
“‘A Prophet
is not
without Honor except
in his
hometown and in his
own household.’ And he did
not do many
mighty works
there,
because of their unbelief”
(vv. 57–58).
Jesus said to them,
"Only in his hometown,
among his relatives and in his
own house
is a
Prophet without Honor."
He could not do
any
Miracles There,
except
Lay his Hands
on a few
Sick people and Heal them.
And he was amazed
at their
Lack of Faith
Yesterday we saw that those
who have been
Led by the Spirit
in the
Way of Christ
can see Treasures
New and old
in the
Old Testament.
However,
while all
believers are granted
Insight
into the Scriptures
(1 John 2:27),
The
Teaching Ministry
of the
Church
is still necessary
for the
Spiritual
Health of God’s people
Jesus speaks of “scribes” being trained
for the
kingdom in Matthew 13:51–52,
and in His day
the scribes were those specially trained to
interpret the Law and the Prophets.
Our Lord
is probably alluding to the need for
Trained Teachers
in the
New Covenant
Community
in this passage
and may be emphasizing the
role of the
Apostles
as the
Churches Foundation
(John 16:12–15; Eph. 2:19–20)
The one place
we might
expect Jesus to receive
a warm welcome
is in
Nazareth, the town in
which
He was raised
(Matt. 2:19–23)
The people of Nazareth
(Jesus’ “hometown,” 13:54)
are amazed at the
wisdom and power
of the
carpenter’s son
This is due to their
familiarity with Jesus
and
His upbringing.
They know His family
well,
and apparently no one in
His clan is all that remarkable.
Lacking a formal education,
Jesus
should not be able to teach
with the
authority that He conveys
Yet Mary’s son
is unafraid
to
instruct with boldness
(vv. 55–56)
We would therefore
expect the people in Nazareth
to
experience awe when in the
presence of Jesus,
whose teaching demonstrates
that
He is the
Holy One of God.
But as verse 57 makes clear,
their questions
arise from contempt and offense.
Basically they are saying,
“Who does this
carpenter think He is?
He is
no scribe and comes
from a family of no special import.
How can He possibly ACT
as if
He has the right
to do what He is doing?”
Like the Pharisees
before them (12:22–32),
the citizens
of
Nazareth acknowledge
the good work
that
Jesus is doing
and yet fail to
discern the
source of His authority.
For them, familiarity has bred contempt,
and they will do
whatever they can to deny the obvious.
Once more, as John Calvin comments,
we find sinners
unwilling to believe
in
what God has sent
“It is not mere ignorance
that
hinders men, but that,
of
their own accord,
they search
after grounds of offense,
to prevent them
from
following the
path to which God invites.”
Coram DeoWestern
society is blessed to be steeped
in the
teaching of Scripture
and the
person
and
work of Christ
However, we must take care
that this blessing
of familiarity does not motivate
contempt
in us
for the things of God
Even if we do not
consciously
disregard the Lord,
failing to marvel
at the
Father’s grace --
because we hear of it every week --
is a subtle and
powerful form of contempt.
Take time to meditate
on the
greatness of our
God and His love for us
Soon after
God led the people of Israel
out of Egypt,
He met with them at Mount Sinai,
giving them the
Ten Commandments in written form,
including the
first two commandments about not
worshiping other gods
and not making idols (see Exod. 20:2-6).
In response,
the people promised to do everything they had
been commanded and to live as His people
(see Exod. 24:1-13).
Idolatry
But then
Moses was gone up the mountain
for almost
six weeks and the people began
to wonder
what had become of him. Under pressure
from the mob,
Aaron made a
golden calf and led the people
in making
sacrifices before it, after which
“they sat down to
eat and drink and
got up to indulge in revelry”
Exod. 32:6, NIV).
Both the Lord and Moses were outraged at how
quickly the people had turned away from
God to idol
worship—and it seemed that it was only Moses’
intercession that
saved Israel from its deserved punishment
(see Exod. 32:30-34).
Idolatry, however,
was a
temptation God’s people fell
into way too often.
The history of the
kings of Israel and Judah
is punctuated by
periods of idolatry,
which include the outrageous acts
some of the
kings led their people to commit in the
worship of these gods.
Such unfaithfulness was a
recurring focus of the
prophets God sent
in order to call the people
back to Him.
Often, too, amid the calls for
revival and reformation,
were calls for better treatment of the poor,
the needy, and the helpless among them.
Read Psalm 115:1-8.
What crucial point is the author making there?
Its is a human tendency that we become like
the thing or
person we worship and focus on.
So, it was only natural that
concern for others and
for justice would diminish when God’s
people turned from
worshiping a God of justice
to worshiping the false gods
of the surrounding nations,
who were often styled as beings of
war or fertility.
When they chose other gods,
the people changed their
attitude in a lot of things, including
how they treated
In all the dealings of God with His people there is,
mingled with His love and mercy, the
most striking
evidence of His strict and impartial justice.
This is exemplified in the history of the Hebrew people. God had bestowed great blessings upon Israel. His loving-kindness toward them is touchingly portrayed:
"As an eagle
stirreth up her nest, fluttereth
over her young,
spreadeth abroad her wings,
taketh them, beareth them
on her wings:
so the Lord alone did lead him."
And yet what swift and severe retribution
was visited
upon them for their transgressions!
The infinite love of God has been
manifested in the gift of
His only-begotten Son to redeem a lost race.
Christ came to the earth to reveal to men
the character of
His Father,
and His life was filled with deeds of
divine tenderness and compassion.
And yet Christ Himself
declares,
"Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one title
shall in no
wise pass from the law."
Matthew 5:18.
The same voice
that with patient, loving
entreaty invites the sinner
to come to Him
and find
pardon and peace, will in the
judgment bid
the rejecters of His mercy,
"Depart from Me, ye cursed."
Matthew 25:41.
In all the Bible,
God is represented not only as a
tender father
but as a righteous judge.
Though He delights in
showing mercy,
and "forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,"
yet He "will by no means clear the guilty."
Exodus 34:7.
The great Ruler of nations
had declared that Moses
was not to lead
the congregation of Israel into the
goodly land,
and the earnest pleading of God's servant
could not
secure a reversing of His sentence.
He knew that he must die.
Yet he had
not for a moment faltered
in
his care for Israel.
He had faithfully
sought to prepare the congregation
to enter upon
the
promised inheritance.
At the divine command
Moses and Joshua repaired
to the [p. 470]
tabernacle,
while the
pillar of cloud came and stood over
the door.
Here the people were solemnly
committed to the charge
of Joshua.
The work of Moses as leader of Israel
was ended.
Still he forgot himself in his interest
for his people.
In the presence of the assembled multitude
Moses, in the name of God,
addressed to his successor these words of holy cheer:
"Be strong and of a good courage:
for thou shalt bring
the children of Israel
into the land which I sware unto them:
and I will be with thee."
He then turned to the elders and officers
of the people, giving
them a
solemn charge to obey faithfully the
instructions he
had communicated to them
from God.
As the people gazed upon the aged man, so soon to be taken from them, they recalled, with a new and deeper appreciation, his parental tenderness, his wise counsels, and his untiring labors. How often, when their sins had invited the just judgments of God, the prayers of Moses had prevailed with Him to spare them! Their grief was heightened by remorse.
They bitterly remembered that their own perversity had provoked
Moses to the sin for which he must die.
The removal of their beloved leader would be a far stronger rebuke to Israel than any which they could have received had his life and mission been continued. God would lead them to feel that they were not to make the life of their future leader as trying as they had made that of Moses.
God speaks to His people in blessings bestowed; and when these are not appreciated, He speaks to them in blessings removed, that they may be led to see their sins, and return to Him with all the heart.
That very day there came to Moses the command, "Get thee up . . . unto Mount Nebo, . . . and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people."
Moses had often left the camp, in obedience to the divine summons, to commune with God; but he was now to depart on a new and mysterious errand. He must go forth to resign his life into the hands of his Creator. Moses knew that he was to die alone; no earthly friend would be permitted to minister to him in his last hours.
There was a mystery and awfulness about the scene before him, from which his heart shrank. The severest trial was his separation from the people of his care and love—the people with whom his interest and his life had so long [p. 471] been united. But he had learned to trust in God, and with unquestioning faith he committed himself and his people to His love and mercy.
For the last time Moses stood in the assembly of his people.
Again the Spirit of God rested upon him, and in the most sublime and touching language he pronounced a blessing upon each of the tribes, closing with a benediction upon them all:
"There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun,
Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help,
And in His excellency on the skies.
The eternal God is thy dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms:
And He thrust out the enemy from before thee,
And said, Destroy.
And Israel dwelleth in safety,
The fountain of Jacob alone,
In a land of corn and wine;
Yea, His heavens drop down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel:
Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah,
The shield of thy help."
Deuteronomy 33:26-29, R.V.Moses turned from the congregation, and in silence and alone made his way up the mountainside. He went to "the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah."
Upon that lonely height he stood, and gazed with undimmed eye upon the scene spread out before him. Far away to the west lay the blue waters of the Great Sea; in the north, Mount Hermon stood out against the sky; to the east was the tableland of Moab, and beyond lay Bashan,
the scene of Israel's triumph;
and away to the south stretched
the desert of their long wanderings.
In solitude Moses reviewed
his life of
vicissitudes and hardships since he
turned from
courtly honors and from a prospective
kingdom in Egypt,
to cast in his lot
with
God's chosen people.
He called to mind
those long years in the desert
with the flocks of Jethro,
the appearance
of the
Angel in the burning bush,
and his
own call to deliver Israel.
Again he beheld
the mighty miracles of God's power
displayed in behalf of the
chosen people,
and His long-suffering mercy
during the years
of their wandering and rebellion.
Notwithstanding all that God [p. 472] had wrought for them,
notwithstanding his own
prayers and labors, only two of all the
adults in the vast army that
left Egypt had been found so faithful
that they could
enter the Promised Land.
As Moses reviewed the
result of his labors,
his life of trial and sacrifice
seemed to
have been almost in vain.
Yet he did not
regret the burdens he had borne.
He knew that his mission
and work were of
God's own appointing.
When first called to become the leader of Israel from bondage, he shrank from the responsibility; but since he had taken up the work he had not cast aside the burden. Even when the Lord had proposed to release him, and destroy rebellious Israel, Moses could not consent. Though his trials had been great, he had enjoyed special tokens of God's favor; he had obtained a rich experience during the sojourn in the wilderness, in witnessing the manifestations of God's power and glory, and in the communion of His love; he felt that he had made a wise decision in choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
As he looked back upon his experience as a leader of God's people, one wrong act marred the record. If that transgression could be blotted out, he felt that he would not shrink from death. He was assured that repentance, and faith in the promised Sacrifice, were all that God required, and again Moses confessed his sin and implored pardon in the name of Jesus.
And now a panoramic view of the Land of Promise was presented to him. Every part of the country was spread out before him, not faint and uncertain in the dim distance, but standing out clear, distinct, and beautiful to his delighted vision. In this scene it was presented, not as it then appeared, but as it would become, with God's blessing upon it, in the possession of Israel. He seemed to be looking upon a second Eden. There were mountains clothed with cedars of Lebanon, hills gray with olives and fragrant with the odor of the vine, wide green plains bright with flowers and rich in fruitfulness, here the palm trees of the tropics, there waving fields of wheat and barley, sunny valleys musical with the ripple of brooks and the song of birds, goodly cities and fair gardens, lakes rich in "the abundance of the seas," grazing flocks upon the hillsides, and even amid the rocks the wild bee's hoarded treasures. It was indeed such a land as Moses, inspired by the Spirit of God, had described to Israel: "Blessed [p. 475] of the Lord . . . for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, . . . and for the chief things of the ancient mountains, . . . and for the precious things of the earth and fullness thereof."
Moses saw the chosen people established in Canaan, each of the tribes in its own possession. He had a view of their history after the settlement of the Promised Land; the long, sad story of their apostasy and its punishment was spread out before him. He saw them, because of their sins, dispersed among the heathen, the glory departed from Israel, her beautiful city in ruins, and her people captives in strange lands. He saw them restored to the land of their fathers, and at last brought under the dominion of Rome.
He was permitted to look down the stream of time and behold the first advent of our Saviour. He saw Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem. He heard the voices of the angelic host break forth in the glad song of praise to God and peace on earth. He beheld in the heavens the star guiding the Wise Men of the East to Jesus, and a great light flooded his mind as he called those prophetic words, "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17. He beheld Christ's humble life in Nazareth, His ministry of love and sympathy and healing, His rejection by a proud, unbelieving nation. Amazed he listened to their boastful exaltation of the law of God, while they despised and rejected Him by whom the law was given. He saw Jesus upon Olivet as with weeping He bade farewell to the city of His love. As Moses beheld the final rejection of that people so highly blessed of Heaven—that people for whom he had toiled and prayed and sacrificed, for whom he had been willing that his own name should be blotted from the book of life; as he listened to those fearful words, "Behold your house is left unto you desolate" (Matthew 23:38), his heart was wrung with anguish, and bitter tears fell from his eyes, in sympathy with the sorrow of the Son of God.
He followed the Saviour to Gethsemane, and beheld the agony in the garden, the betrayal, the mockery and scourging— the crucifixion. Moses saw that as he had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of God must be lifted up, that whosoever would believe on Him "should not perish, but have eternal [p. 476] life." John 3:15. Grief, indignation, and horror filled the heart of Moses as he viewed the hypocrisy and satanic hatred manifested by the Jewish nation against their Redeemer, the mighty Angel who had gone before their fathers. He heard Christ's agonizing cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34. He saw Him lying in Joseph's new tomb. The darkness of hopeless despair seemed to enshroud the world. But he looked again, and beheld Him coming forth a conqueror, and ascending to heaven escorted by adoring angels and leading a multitude of captives. He saw the shining gates open to receive Him, and the host of heaven with songs of triumph welcoming their Commander. And it was there revealed to him that he himself would be one who should attend the Saviour, and open to Him the everlasting gates. As he looked upon the scene, his countenance shone with a holy radiance. How small appeared the trials and sacrifices of his life when compared with those of the Son of God! how light in contrast with the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"! 2 Corinthians 4:17. He rejoiced that he had been permitted, even in a small measure, to be a partaker in the sufferings of Christ.
Moses beheld the disciples of Jesus as they went forth to carry His gospel to the world. He saw that though the people of Israel "according to the flesh" had failed of the high destiny to which God had called them, in their unbelief had failed to become the light of the world, though they had despised God's mercy and forfeited their blessings as His chosen people—yet God had not cast off the seed of Abraham; the glorious purposes which He had undertaken to accomplish through Israel were to be fulfilled. All who through Christ should become the children of faith were to be counted as Abraham's seed; they were inheritors of the covenant promises; like Abraham, they were called to guard and to make known to the world the law of God and the gospel of His Son. Moses saw the light of the gospel shining out through the disciples of Jesus to them "which sat in darkness" (Matthew 4:16), and thousands from the lands of the Gentiles flocking to the brightness of its rising. And beholding, he rejoiced in the increase and prosperity of Israel.
And now another scene passed before him. He had been shown the work of Satan in leading the Jews to reject Christ, while they professed to honor His Father's law. He now saw the [p. 477] Christian world under a similar deception in professing to accept Christ while they rejected God's law. He had heard from the priests and elders the frenzied cry, "Away with Him!" "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" and now he heard from professedly Christian teachers the cry, "Away with the law!" He saw the Sabbath trodden under foot, and a spurious institution established in its place. Again Moses was filled with astonishment and horror. How could those who believed in Christ reject the law spoken by His own voice upon the sacred mount? How could any that feared God set aside the law which is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth? With joy Moses saw the law of God still honored and exalted by a faithful few. He saw the last great struggle of earthly powers to destroy those who keep God's law. He looked forward to the time when God shall arise to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and those who have feared His name shall be covered and hid in the day of His anger. He heard God's covenant of peace with those who have kept His law, as He utters His voice from His holy habitation and the heavens and the earth do shake. He saw the second coming of Christ in glory, the righteous dead raised to immortal life, and the living saints translated without seeing death, and together ascending with songs of gladness to the City of God.
Still another scene opens to his view—the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him. There is no sin, and death cannot enter. There the nations of the saved find their eternal home. With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scene—the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have ever pictured. Their earthly wanderings forever past, the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land.
Again the vision faded, and his eyes rested upon the land of Canaan as it spread out in the distance. Then, like a tired warrior, he lay down to rest. "So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher." Many who had been unwilling to heed the counsels of Moses while he was with them would have been in danger of committing idolatry [p. 478] over his dead body had they known the place of his burial. For this reason it was concealed from men. But angels of God buried the body of His faithful servant and watched over the lonely grave.
"There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders which Jehovah sent him to do . . . and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel."
Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin, in failing to give God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh, he would have entered the Promised Land, and would have been translated to heaven without seeing death. But he was not long to remain in the tomb. Christ Himself, with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call forth the sleeping saint. Satan had exulted at his success in causing Moses to sin against God, and thus come under the dominion of death. The great adversary declared that the divine sentence—"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:19)—gave him possession of the dead. The power of the grave had never been broken, and all who were in the tomb he claimed as his captives, never to be released from his dark prison house.
For the first time Christ was about to give life to the dead. As the Prince of life and the shining ones approached the grave, Satan was alarmed for his supremacy. With his evil angels he stood to dispute an invasion of the territory that he claimed as his own. He boasted that the servant of God had become his prisoner. He declared that even Moses was not able to keep the law of God; that he had taken to himself the glory due to Jehovah—the very sin which had caused Satan's banishment from heaven—and by transgression had come under the dominion of Satan. The archtraitor reiterated the original charges that he had made against the divine government, and repeated his complaints of God's injustice toward him.
Christ did not stoop to enter into controversy with Satan. He might have brought against him the cruel work which his deceptions had wrought in heaven, causing the ruin of a vast number of its inhabitants. He might have pointed to the falsehoods told [p. 479] in Eden, that had led to Adam's sin and brought death upon the human race. He might have reminded Satan that it was his own work in tempting Israel to murmuring and rebellion, which had wearied the long-suffering patience of their leader, and in an unguarded moment had surprised him into the sin for which he had fallen under the power of death. But Christ referred all to His Father, saying, "The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 9. The Saviour entered into no dispute with His adversary, but He then and there began His work of breaking the power of the fallen foe, and bringing the dead to life. Here was an evidence that Satan could not controvert, of the supremacy of the Son of God. The resurrection was forever made certain. Satan was despoiled of his prey; the righteous dead would live again.
In consequence of sin Moses had come under the power of Satan. In his own merits he was death's lawful captive; but he was raised to immortal life, holding his title in the name of the Redeemer. Moses came forth from the tomb glorified, and ascended with his Deliverer to the City of God.
Never, till exemplified in the sacrifice of Christ, were the justice and the love of God more strikingly displayed than in His dealings with Moses. God shut Moses out of Canaan, to teach a lesson which should never be forgotten—that He requires exact obedience, and that men are to beware of taking to themselves the glory which is due to their Maker. He could not grant the prayer of Moses that he might share the inheritance of Israel, but He did not forget or forsake His servant. The God of heaven understood the suffering that Moses had endured; He had noted every act of faithful service through those long years of conflict and trial. On the top of Pisgah, God called Moses to an inheritance infinitely more glorious than the earthly Canaan.
Patriarchs and Prophets.
Upon the mount of
transfiguration
Moses was present with Elijah,
who had been translated. They were sent as bearers of
light and glory from the Father to His Son.
And thus the prayer of Moses, uttered so many centuries before, was at last fulfilled. He stood upon the "goodly mountain," within the heritage of his people, bearing witness to Him in whom all the promises to Israel centered. Such is the last scene revealed to mortal vision in the history of that man so highly honored of Heaven. [p. 480]
Moses was a type of Christ. He himself had declared to Israel, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken." Deuteronomy 18:15. God saw fit to discipline Moses in the school of affliction and poverty before he could be prepared to lead the hosts of Israel to the earthly Canaan. The Israel of God, journeying to the heavenly Canaan, have a Captain who needed no human teaching to prepare Him for His mission as a divine leader; yet He was made perfect through sufferings; and "in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." Hebrews 2:10, 18. Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection; yet He died to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land.
"And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Hebrews 3:5, 6.
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