The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 33

• Ver. 23,-The Name, the burden of prophecy. Introduction, Though in the order of the historic narrative this name or prophecy, "Immanuel," comes second on this page, yet had it already found its place on the page of ages ago. It is the Name by which the prophet hnd long ago declared forcibly the dignity of the Christ-the real Being, the Christ. ,vhereas the other Name of our vers. 21, 24 was that given n,iw in the "fulness of time," which dared boldly to challenge the proof in the immediate future of both itself and of the other predicted Name-their main truth, their minute accuracy. The reminiscence of prophecy, and the quotation of prophetic language now before us, are the appropriate, the natural sequel of the historic announcement of the incarnation and superhuman origin of Christ; and they are the appropriate anticipation of the illustrious career of the Saviour-Christ. Notice-- I. 'l.'IIE CONNECTION PRECLUDES THE EXPLANATION OF A HERE METAPHORIC OR A MERE SPIRITUAL MEANING AS THAT wmOH SHOULD JUSTLY ATTACH TO TIDS DESCRIPTIOX OF CHRIST. The Name is given clearly in closest connection with the statement that one who was still a virgin should conceive and bring forth a son. Truly enough, there are a hundred things in which God shall be said to be "with man." But it is no one of those hundred ways now. It is one that takes precedence of them all. I!. THAT THE FACT ONCE GRANTED OF TIIE MIRACULOUS CONCEPTIO?'I OF CHRIST OFFERS FOB OUR THOUGHT THE DEEP h'ECESSITY OF SUCII KIND OF UNION, sucn RKlLITY OF UNION OF II GOD WITH MAN" FOR TilE A0COMPLISIIMENT OF TIIE REDEMPTION OF MAN, There must be a certain kind of presence of God with man. 'l'he nature of that presence is all-important. All that is most distinctive in what we may call the reve- lation and the genius of the New Testament really hinges hereupon. Though probably all figures ought to be ruled incompetent to this great, this astounding fact, yet per- haps we shall not stray if we put it thus-that the Incarnation was a literal and a veritable graft of the Divine upon the human nature. Its object was at least twofold. 1. 'l.'o bring a literal Presence into this world, and partly of this world, which otherwise would certainly in no course of things be here; One which should be a certain incom- parable Sight, a certain incomparable Sound, a certain paramount Example among men. From that Presence would come, and come in streams, forces of new impression, of light, of conviction, of surprise, otherwise unattainable; no comet of heavenly bodies in the sky a millionth part so fruitful of impression and so intrinsically attracting, as this unsurpassed comet of real Divine nature within earth's humble range. 2. To bring that Presence into this world to execute one supreme, incomparable task. The motto, nay, the very key-note of the new song of thio whole world is heard in the word "atonement." And though this be not the place to go beyond the statement of the fact, that fact is that "God with man" alone found "the proper Mun" (Luther's hymn) able, willing, to meet the crisis, to suffer the suffering, to master the problem, and to atone.-B. Vers. 1-11.-Genealogy of our Lord. Homiletice.l uses- I. Matthew's purpose is to show that Je:;us, after the flesh, was TnE HEIR OF DAVID AND OF ABRAHAM, tho true Inheritor of the promises and of the liabilities of lsrneL At his birth instructed Israelites might exclaim, "Unto us a Son is born! "-0110 who entered into a family of broken fortune, but was able to redeem its fortunes; who came not to build up a competence for himself, but to accept the obligations of the family, and work out for it a full emancipation. It was e.lso requisite that Jesus should be reco"nizcd as the Heir of David, as the promised ideal King of Israel. II~ 'J'm: TnnEE Tlll'.ES FOURTIH:N GENEnATIONS, though artificial, did yet appeal to the Jewish mi:ld as a symbol of the /alness of times. Of sig,ns that the time wa:1 20 TIIE GOSPEL ACCOR DJ NG 'l'O ST. MATTHEW. [ou, 1. 1-26,