A Review of Matthew
You may have heard someone say that the story of Noah in the ark and the flood of Jonah and the great fish, were not true, but told as fables.
Some persons say that, but if they would read the book of Matthew, they would know those stories are true, because the Lord Jesus spoke plainly of them, as also of other events, and early men on earth.
He spoke of the death of Abel, the second boy in the world, and the first person to die (Matt. 23:35).
The flood was a very real event: Jesus spoke of “the day Noah (spelled Noe) entered into the ark”, and He said of the people drowned, “the flood came and took them all away” (Matt. 24:38,39.
Jesus said that Jonah (Jonas) was within the great fish “three days and three nights”, and that people of the city of Nineveh repented when he preached God’s words (Matt. 12:40,41).
Jesus said that God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of early time after the flood (Matt. 8:11; 22:32).
Jesus spoke often of Moses and the laws he wrote (Matt. 8:4; 19:8). He told of King David, and what he wrote (Matt. 12:3; 22:43,45).
Jesus spoke of King Solomon’s wisdom and riches, and of the queen who went to see his splendor (Matt. 6:29.; 12:42).
Jesus reminded the people of the words of the prophet Isaiah (Esaias), and of Daniel, and of others (Matt. 13:14; 24:15). So we can firmly believe that all those men, and events are true.
The Lord Jesus was grieved by pele who knew the writings of the prophets, but did not trust in God. He warned in His parables of people who were not true believers in God, and yet seemed to be real, as in the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Jesus did not speak much of His greatness, yet He told the people that He was “greater than Solomon”, their most honored king; “greater than Jonah”, a great prophet; “greater that the Temple”, which was their most honored place; and that He was Lord (Ruler) of the Sabbath Day. (They held the law of the Sabbath Day their most binding law).
Jesus Himself told His disciples that He would be cruelly-treated and put to death, and by what death; crucifixion (Matt. 16:21; 26:2).
Jesus also told of His resurrection, and told His disciples the exact day of His being taken, and that the third day He would rise. All this showed them afterward of His power to know all things. And the facts of His death and resurrection were well known to the Gentile rulers; to the leaders of Jerusalem; to the soldiers; the captain, and very many people.
In our next paper, we will begin the account of Christ’s life by Mark, the Lord willing.
ML 12/26/1943