Question 1. Please give a short outline of the 10th chapter of Matt. Are our Lord's words to His disciples applicable today, and where and to whom? When and where did the disciples fulfill the mission, the Lord in this chapter sends them to? Especially what is the meaning of verses 34, 35 and 36. W. H.
Answer. Matt. 10. The mission here is to Israel only, (see 6th verse.) It is bearing testimony to Christ's being here on earth, giving power to His messengers to work miracles, and working them Himself is proving who He was. The latter part of the chapter is testimony of His coming as Son of man in judgment. This mission went on while Israel were in their own land, but is now suspended. It will be renewed after the Church, which is now being gathered, is completed. Israel will be again in their cities and this mission will go on till the Son of Man will come. (Verse 23.)
“From verse 16 we have more general reflections on their mission, looked at as a whole in the midst of Israel on to the end. Evidently it goes beyond their then present mission, and supposes the coming of the Holy Ghost. The mission by which the Church is called, as such, is a distinct thing. This applies only to Israel, they were forbidden to go to the Gentiles. This necessarily closed with the destruction of Jerusalem, but it is to be renewed at the end, till the Son of Man be come." J. N. D.
The teaching of the chapter, therefore, while remembering its primary application, would present practical truths for our use at the present moment, also Verses 34, 35, 36, are samples of this, for in that time and this time, Christ is rejected. We are to suffer with and for Christ. Often our nearest by natural ties are opposed to the Lord, and if we please Him we cannot please them. Eph. 5:2222Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) to 6:9 and Col. 3:1818Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18) to 4:1, teach us how to be in subjection to the Lord in all our relationships in this life. Giving Him the first place and doing it all in obedience to Him. (See also Matt. 10:3737He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37). Luke 14:2626If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26))
Ques. 2
Ans. "New," is in a "new way." "In My Father's Kingdom," means the heavenly glory to which they were going, in contrast with a place in the kingdom on earth.
“He then points out that it is a Savior slain who is to be remembered. It is no longer a question of the living Messiah: all that was over. It was no longer the remembrance of Israel's deliverance from the slavery of Egypt. Christ, and Christ slain, began an entirely new order of things. Of Him they were now to think-of Him slain on earth. He then draws their attention to the blood of the new covenant, adding that which extends it to others besides the Jews, without naming them-"It is shed for many.”
Moreover, this blood is not, as at Sinai, only to confirm the covenant, for fidelity to which they were responsible; it was shed for the remission of sins. So that the Lord's supper presents the remembrance of Jesus slain, who, by dying, has broken with the past; has laid the foundation of the new covenant; obtained the remission of sins; and opened the door to the Gentiles. It is only in His death that the supper presents Him to us. His blood is apart from His body; He is dead. It is neither Christ living on the earth, nor Christ glorified in heaven. He is separate from His people, as to their joys on earth; but they are to expect Him as the companion of the happiness He has secured for them-for He condescends to be so-in better days: 'I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new (in a new way) with you in my Father's Kingdom.'" Synopsis Matthew pgs. 181, 182.
Ques. 3
In how many places in the New Testament is it mentioned that the disciples met together to break bread on the First day of the week? G. E.
Ans. Only once. Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7). Only once is the gathering together called the Lord's Table, 1 Cor. 10:2121Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:21). Once is the breaking of bread called the Lord's supper, 1 Cor. 11:2020When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20). Once is the First day of the week called the Lord's day, Rev. 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10). God speaks and the attentive heart at once receives and responds.
At the beginning of the Church's history, we find that the disciples broke bread daily in their houses, Acts 2:4646And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46), and they had all things common. When the Church was scattered by persecution, this became impossible, so each was to have his own purse, 1 Cor. 16:22Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2). And Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7), indicates that it was on the First day of the week, the Lord was remembered in His death, and that it was their weekly custom to come together on that day for that purpose.
The First day of the week is the Christian's day. The Sabbath is Jewish. On the First day of the week, Christ rose from the dead; Lev. 23:1111And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:11) is typical of it. On the same day Christ took His place in the midst of His gathered saints, John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19). On the First day of the week the Holy Spirit descended and formed the Church, 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13); Lev. 23:15,1615And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:15‑16) is typical of this. On the First day of the week the first gospel sermon was preached. Acts 2. On the First day of the week the disciples came together to break bread, Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7).
Ques. 4
What did the Lord mean by putting new wine into old bottles, or a piece of new cloth into an old garment? G. E.
From Matt. 9:1414Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? (Matthew 9:14) to 17. Mark 2:1818And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? (Mark 2:18) to 22. Luke 5:3636And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. (Luke 5:36) to 39. We can see that the Lord is bringing in something new. It is not the law and the ordinances, but the grace of the gospel and the energy of the Holy Spirit sent down. It is not righteousness by the law, the old worn out garment of phariseeism, but "the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe." Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22).
It is not patching up the old man by trying to improve the flesh, but it is the bringing in the new creation standing "In Christ," Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30). Christ Himself the new wine, which cannot be put into the old forms or ceremonies, old bottles (or skins). It is a living Christ for our hearts, ministered to us by the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 4:6, 76For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:6‑7).
Address all Questions to A. Fleck, 51 Forest Ave., Hamilton, Out., Canada.