Nevertheless, since the astounding fact is revealed that He, “Who is over all, God blessed for ever” (Rom. 9:55Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:5)), was pleased to dwell among men in the “likeness of sinful flesh,” there can be but one proper attitude for the soul of man in presence of such a marvel. That attitude is to bow in adoration before such an incomparable display of grace, and to receive in humble faith whatever God has deigned to place on record in regard to it.
Now a cursory survey of our Lord's life on earth as found in the Gospels yields abundant testimony to the truth that, though He appeared among men in lowly guise, the knowledge He displayed was ever superior to what was others' and was, in itself, a sufficient proof that He must be a Divine Person. It is proposed, therefore, to cite some of the most striking of such passages, in order to show thereby that it is quite a gratuitous piece of assumption to say that our Lord was ignorant of the true authorship of the Pentateuch.
The first portion to which we naturally turn is Luke 2:4, 64And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) (Luke 2:4)
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6). There we read that, at the age of twelve years, “They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.” Afterward His public ministry was such as to cause His hearers to exclaim “Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works?” (Matt. 13:5454And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (Matthew 13:54)); and again, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:1515And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15)). This shows that His knowledge was not apparently derived from the usual sources, that is, from rabbis or from writings, but was personal and intuitive. Further, His insight into men's hearts and motives (as it was said, “He heard men thinking”) is so often evidenced that even the writer of “Lux Mundi” is constrained to allow this much in a footnote, page 265. Compare Matt. 9:4; 12:25; 16:8; 22:184And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Matthew 12:25)
8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? (Matthew 16:8)
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (Matthew 22:18); Mark 12:1515Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. (Mark 12:15); Luke 9:47; 20:2347And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, (Luke 9:47)
23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? (Luke 20:23).
When the Lord told Nathanael that He had seen him under the fig-tree, the guileless Israelite, accepting this proof of His Divinity, at once replied, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God” (John 1:48, 4948Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:48‑49)). The testimony of the Samaritan woman concerning Him was “Come, see a man, who told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?” (John 4:2929Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29).) Now if the Lord was thus acquainted with the past history of both Nathanael and the woman at the well, surely it is not too much to believe that He knew the history of the Pentateuch, including the name of the man used of God to pen its pages. Even a Samaritan knew that Messiah when He comes “will tell (declare to) us all things.” Think of a Christian, of a professed Christian minister, lowering Christ beneath the standard of a Samaritan woman!
Moreover, in certain cases it is to be noted that His knowledge is especially shown to be most extraordinary. When, for example, His garment fringe was touched, He immediately knew “in Himself” that virtue was gone out of Him (Mark 5:3030And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30)). Similarly Mark 2:88And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? (Mark 2:8) and John 6:6161When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (John 6:61) prove that His knowledge was of no human order but divine. It is also stated that He “knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him” (John 6:6464But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (John 6:64)), and indeed “all things that should come upon Him” (John 18:44Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? (John 18:4)). He could and did indicate beforehand the piece of money in the fish's mouth, the whereabouts of the ass's colt, and the man bearing the pitcher of water. He also displayed His knowledge of the future by predicting to His disciples, His betrayal, His denial, His crucifixion and His resurrection.
These scriptural facts are sufficient to show how utterly untrue is the statement that Christ in His Incarnation “beggared Himself of divine prerogatives." On the contrary, it is clear that it was as man He manifested omniscience, knowing equally the past, the present and the future, and thus demonstrating, beyond question, that He was both God and Man. When therefore the Son of God says that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, we dare not doubt His word. Shall not the Judge of all the earth speak rightly as well as do right? He that searcheth reins and hearts (Rev. 2:2323And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23))?
However, as might have been expected, the critics have not advanced these theories without endeavoring to fortify their position with Bible texts. It will be remembered that the Jews quoted scripture against our Lord, and so did a greater enemy for a worse purpose. Therefore it is no matter of surprise to find that it is sought to support the dogma of our Lord's ignorance in certain matters by the word of God. And it should be equally no matter of surprise to find upon examination that the passages cited refuse to yield the support claimed from them.
We are told that when our Lord “asked for information, it was because He wanted it” (Matt. 15:3434And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. (Matthew 15:34), John 11:3434And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)), implying thereby that He was ignorant of what He asked about. The first reference is to the feeding of the four thousand when the Master said to His disciples, “How many loaves have ye” (Matt. 15:3434And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. (Matthew 15:34))? On turning to John 6:5, 65When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. (John 6:5‑6), the unworthy inference is entirely and expressly exploded. There the Lord on a similar occasion said to Philip, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this He said to prove Him; for He Himself knew what He would do.” In the other reference (John 11:3434And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)) we have the question concerning the grave of Lazarus “Where have ye laid him”? And we are asked to conclude from it that, though the Lord became aware of the death of Lazarus without human intervention and came to awake him out of sleep (John 11:1111These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (John 11:11)), He was yet unaware of the whereabouts of the sepulcher! We prefer to believe that as the weeping displayed His human sympathy, so the question indicated that human interest in the departed so precious to sorrowing hearts at such moments. It is, therefore, denied that there is any ground in scripture for the assertion that when He “asked for information, it was because He wanted it,” that is, because of His own ignorance. It needs no study of Socrates to know that a question may be put for the sake of the questioned. Luke 24:18, 1918And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: (Luke 24:18‑19) furnishes a sufficient illustration. When Cleopas said to the Unknown One, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” The Unknown One, Who was none other than the Lord Jesus, said, “What things?” not assuredly because He was ignorant of His own recent sufferings, but with a view exclusively to the instruction of the two disciples.
Again we are told that the verse “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man” Luke 2:5252And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52), implies that “He could not have had perfect wisdom in His childhood.” It might be retorted that this is no proof whatever that He did not possess perfect wisdom in His manhood. But the intention is to show that our Lord's knowledge was limited. Such a thought, however, is entirely foreign to the verse. The reference is plainly to that which was made apparent to an observer. An eye-witness would have marked an advance both in stature and display of wisdom. Surely it is not necessary to explain to a Professor that wisdom can only be seen or known in its exercise. So that this passage leaves altogether untouched the question as to the extent of the Lord's knowledge. It simply informs us that as to outward appearance He was found “in fashion as a man,” and is significantly silent as to the secrets of that incomprehensible Mind.
Further: incontestable evidence is supposed to be found in Mark 13:3232But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32); concerning which, it is said, “He declared His ignorance in regard to the date of a future event." The passage is as follows: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” But even this, their citadel, yields to a careful and prayerful consideration. It is significant that the phrase, “neither the Son,” is to be found alone in Mark who writes of the Lord as the Servant-prophet. It is therefore, as such, that He declares His ignorance of what the Father had put in His own power (Acts 1:77And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Acts 1:7)). This should not be strange to a reader of the N.T. Luke 13:25-2725When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:25‑27) is an example of official ignorance. The master of the house says to those who have eaten and drunk in His presence “I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” The word also to five virgins will be “Verily I say unto you, I know you not” Matt. 25:1212But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (Matthew 25:12). Thus the real point of Mark 13:3232But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (Mark 13:32), is the exclusive knowledge of God in regard to the day and hour. Even the Son, in taking the place of subjection and service, had received no direction to reveal that time. For, as He says, “the Father which sent Me gave Me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak” (John 12:4949For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. (John 12:49)). See also John 15:1515Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15). The true inference therefore from the passage in Mark is not the limitation of the Lord's intrinsic and divine knowledge, but of His teaching in the servant position He took for the glory of God. The propriety of the phrase, too, is striking. Seeing that the day refers to the time when the once lowly Son of Man will be manifested in glory, what more in accordance with His place of dependence than that He should be in an expectant posture till it pleases the Father to make His enemies His footstool?
In conclusion: it has been shown that the Lord's testimony to the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch is definite and unequivocal: and, also that the theories advanced to invalidate that testimony are purely hypothetical, having not a tittle of support from the Word of God, but tending, as all deep error does, to undermine, not scripture only, but the Incarnate Word and Only-begotten of the Father.
W. J. H.
(Concluded.)