Category: Devotions

These verses teach us, in the first place, the character which true Christians must support and maintain in the world.

The Lord Jesus tells us that true Christians are to be in the world like “salt.” “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Now salt has a peculiar taste of its own, utterly unlike anything else. When mingled with other substances it preserves them from corruption; it imparts a portion of its taste to everything it is mixed with. It is useful so long as it preserves its savour, but no longer. Are we true Christians? Then let us see here our office and our duties!

The three chapters which begin with these verses deserve the special attention of all readers of the Bible. They contain what is commonly called the “Sermon on the Mount.”

Every word of the Lord Jesus ought to be most precious to professing Christians. It is the voice of the Chief Shepherd; it is the charge of the great Bishop and Head of the Church; it is the Master speaking; it is the word of Him who “spake as never man spake,” and by whom we shall all be judged at the last day.

Would we know the character at which Christians ought to aim? Would we know the outward walk and inward habit of mind which become a follower of Christ? Then let us often study the Sermon on the Mount. Let us often ponder each sentence, and prove ourselves by it. Not least, let us often consider who they are that are called “blessed” at the beginning of the Sermon. Those whom the great High Priest blesses are blessed indeed!

We have in these verses the beginning of our Lord’s ministry among men. He enters on His labours among a dark and ignorant people; He chooses men to be His companions and disciples: He confirms His ministry by miracles, which rouse the attention of “all Syria,” and draw multitudes to hear Him.

Let us notice the way in which our Lord commenced His mighty work. “He began to preach.”

The first event in our Lord’s ministry which St. Matthew records after His baptism, is His temptation. This is a deep and mysterious subject: there is much in the history of it which we cannot explain; but there lie on the face of the history plain practical lessons, to which we shall do well to take heed.

Let us learn, in the first place, what a real and mighty enemy we have in the devil. He is not afraid to assault even the Lord Jesus Himself. Three times over he attacks God’s own Son: our Saviour was “tempted of the devil.’’

We have here the account of our Lord Jesus Christ’s baptism. This was His first step when He entered on His ministry. When the Jewish priests took up their office they were washed with water (Exod. 29:4): when our great High Priest begins the great work He came into the world to accomplish He is publicly baptized.

We should notice, firstly, in these verses, the honour placed upon the sacrament of baptism. An ordinance of which the Lord Jesus Himself partook is not to be lightly esteemed; an ordinance to which the great Head of the Church submitted ought to be ever honourable in the eyes of professing Christians.

These verses describe the ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ: it is a ministry that deserves close attention. Few preachers ever produced such effects as John the Baptist: “There went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.” None ever received such praise from the great Head of the Church: Jesus called him “a burning and a shining light” (John 5:35); the great Bishop of souls Himself declared, that “among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Let us then study the leading features of his ministry.

John the Baptist spoke plainly about sin. He taught the absolute necessity of “repentance,” before any one can be saved; he preached that repentance must be proved by its “fruits”; he warned men not to rest on outward privileges, or outward union with the Church.

et us observe in this passage, how true it is that the rulers of this world are seldom friendly to the cause of God. The Lord Jesus comes down from heaven to save sinners, and at once we are told that Herod the king “seeks to destroy Him.”

It is not known who these wise men were. Their names and dwelling-place are alike kept back from us. We are only told that they came “from the East.” Whether they were Chaldeans or Arabians, we cannot say. Whether they learned to expect Christ from the ten tribes who went into captivity, or from the prophecies of Daniel, we do not know. It matters little who they were. The point which concerns us most is the rich instruction which their history conveys.

These verses begin by telling us two great truths. They tell us how the Lord Jesus Christ took our nature upon Him, and became man. They tell us also that His birth was miraculous. His mother Mary was a virgin.

These verses begin the New Testament. Let us always read them with serious and solemn feelings. The book before us contains “not the word of men, but of God.’’ Every verse in it was written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. (1 Thess. 2:13)

Let us thank God daily for giving us the Scriptures.