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of the title "Son of Abraham". The second phase of the Lord"s ministry could not be made a matter of public
proclamation until the great transaction of Calvary had removed the curse, and made it possible for the blessing of
Abraham to flow out to the Gentiles (Gal. 3:13,14). The Acts opens with a renewed witness concerning the
kingdom of Israel and David's throne, but also links with it the wider covenant made with Abraham. Luke, who
wrote the "Acts", had already written a "former treatise of all that Jesus began to do and teach" and in that treatise
he laid a foundation for Paul's Gospel of the reconciliation. He does not stay at Abraham when he gives the
genealogy of the Lord, but goes back to Adam.
The unfolding of the divine purpose is closely connected with the revelation of Christ Himself. It will be
found that the circle of truth widens and deepens as the time arrives for some richer title of Christ to come forth.
The inner circle, latest in time of revelation, and first to be fulfilled and exhausted is associated with David. To this
the first portion of Matthew is devoted (Chapters 1 to 16). The next circle, which goes back in history, and looks
forward beyond the confines of the rule of David, is connected with Abraham. The second portion of Matthew
(Chapters 17 to 28) and the Acts belong to this section of the purpose. Luke's gospel goes back beyond both
Abraham and David, and traces the genealogy of the Saviour back to Adam. This forms the basis of Paul's message
to the Gentiles; and indeed it is Paul alone of all the New Testament writers who makes known the wondrous and
far-reaching connection that is established in the purpose of God between Adam, mankind (including Jew and
Gentile) and Christ.
Let us now examine one or two passages that are found in both Matthew and Luke, and see what divergence
there is, if any, and what significance may be attached thereto.
(1) THE FORERUNNER.
(a) The Time and Period.
Matthew 3:1, "In those days".
Luke 3:1,2, "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of
Judaea, and Herod being tetrach of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrach of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis,
and Lysanias the tetrach of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests".
Matthew, the Hebrew writer for the Hebrews, is unconcerned about the bearing of Gentile rulers upon the date of
John's commission, whereas Luke the writer for the Gentiles, gives the utmost attention to the Gentile powers that
be.
(b) The Preaching of John.
Matthew 3:1,2, "Came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand".
Luke 3:2,3, "The word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all
the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins".
Here once more the divergence is according to plan. Matthew, the writer of the gospel of the King for the
Hebrew Christian, stresses "repentance in view of the kingdom of heaven"; Luke, companion of Paul, and writing
for the Gentile convert stresses "the remission of sins".
(c) The Quotation from Isaiah.
Matthew 3:3, "For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias saying, The voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight".