The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 156

m~rest al_lusion to t~at 'l'ery sign, as "t~o Son of man." But why, then, did he not gmt1fy their expecta.t1ons? The answer 1s: 2. They sought that sign too soon. (1) It is a 6ign of a second advent of Messiah. A second advent there must needs he for Messiah is described in prophecy in two distinct characters, which he could not fulfil at one and the same time. He is to come in the character of a Priest to make atone• ment for sin, in humiliation, suffering, and death. He is also to come'iu the character of a King, in glory and immortality. (2) In the first of these characters Jesus had then appeared. He must first suffer before he can enter into his glory, and therefore also, before he can be revealed in his glory (cf. Gen. iii. 15; Dout. xviii. 15-19 , Ps', ni. 8-10; xxii.; Iss. l. 6, 6; liii.; Dan. ix. 24; Luke xxiv. 26). (3) In the s:cond chamcter he promises in due time to appear (cf. eh. :x.xiv. 29-35; xxvi. 64-68; 'Rev. i. 7; ~v. 14). .And _in this_ character accordinglr he is expectetl by his disciples (cf. .Acts 1. 11; l Thess. 1. 10; 1v. 14-17; 2 Thess. 1. 7-10). . II. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES TO WHIOH JESUS APPEALED. 1. Tliose connected 'with llis personal advent. (1) .At the period of his birth there was a 11:eneral expectation. The weeks of Daniel were fest running out within which Messiah was to be cut-oil" (see Dan. ix. 23-27). He must be born a considerable time before the date of hie Passion. Gentiles then shared in the expectation of the Jews. (2) His birth was itself a miracle. He was born of a virgin, and m the house and lineage of David. This was according to the requirement of the first promise in Eden, that he should be the" Seed of the woman," and of that remarkable place in Isaiah where a virgin of the house of David was to bring forth a son, who was to be distinguished as Immanuel (see Gen. iii. 15 ; Isa. vii. 14; eh. i 23). (3) That birth was also attended by miracles, The annunciation to the Virgin by Gabriel corresponded to that made to Manoah's wife concerning the birth of Samson, who was a type of Christ (cf. Judg. xiii. 2-5; Luke i. 26-35). The wonderful birth was then celebrated by angels, who appeared to the shepherds ; and by a star seen by the Wise Men in the East (cf. Numb; xxiv. 17 ; eh. ii 2; Rev. x:xii. 16; Luke ii 9-14). 2. Those connected with his public ministry. (1) Foremost amongst these was the miracle at his baptism, when he was about to enter upon that public ministry (eh. iii 16, 17). (2) This was followed up by the testimony of the Baptist. That testimony could not be impeached. The Baptist was authenticated as a prophet of God by the miracles connected with his birth (see Luke L 5-22). In that character he was acknowledged by his nation. He announced him- self, as the angel had designated him to be, the harbinger of Messiah. In that capacity he pointed out Jesus to his disciples as the "Lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the world" (John i 29). (3) This wonderful character Jesus was able to sustain. He wrought the miracles which the prophets said Messiah was to work. He-did every- thing and suffered everything which the prophets said Messiah was to do. and suffer in his advent as a Priest. . (4) The very wickedness of the generation that" tempted him~ and proved him, and saw his works,n was a sign of the times (cf. Isa. vi. 9-12 ;, eh; :ri.ii.. 14, 15). .And to all but themselves is their obstinacy in rejecting Jesus, together with their long-continued sufferings, a proof that Jesus is the Christ; for these things he foretold (cf. eh. :xxi.ii 34---39; Luke :x.xi. 22-24); • llL T.HE SPECIAL SIGN WHICH JESUS GAVE. L Be gave them a sign from the earth. (1) They sought a sign from heaven. The sign they sought, as we have seen, was that of the Prophet DanieL That he gave them was the sign of the Prophet Jonah (cf. eh. xii. 39). (2) They sought the sign of the kingdom of glory. He gave them the sign of the priesthood and suffering. The burial presupposes the death, and the death the suffering, of Messiah. These things he afterwards plainly showed to his disciples (see ver. 21). 2. Thu Bi,gn best suited a wicked generation. (1) It fulfilled th~ sacrifices of the Law. Those sacrifices were ostensibly to make atonement for sin. But in whnt sense? Ceremonially and typically. Morally they could not remove sin. To suppose so would be to outrage common sense. "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins." Their inability to do this was acknowledged, for it was necessary to repeat the sacrifices. In the light of the great sin-sacrifice of Cal vary, all is plain. (2) It fulfilled the sacrifice of Isaac. In the daily prayers read in the syna- gogue we ha.ve this: "7"1:> Kllt, 0 most merciful and gracious King I we beseech thee to remember and to look back on the covenant made between the divided offerings, and let the recollection of the sacrificial biuding of the __ only son aPl:iear before thee, in OB. xvi. 1-28.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 159