when others interpose it has been for the purpose of obtaining blessing for the sufferer. Here, the man with the

withered hand is brought forward, not for any love for him or sympathy with his affliction, but that he may provide a

bait to catch the Lord of life and glory.

The Rabbis had taught that there was `no Sabbatism in the Temple'. The Lord could have appealed to this, but

He preferred to take a simpler and wider view, and asked, in fact, whether a man was not of more value than a

sheep. That which God had given as a `delight', they in their withered barrenness made the symbol of all that was

exclusive, narrow and formal. The way in which their leaders had fenced the observation of the Sabbath with the

most minute and ridiculous restrictions blinded them to the spiritual significance of the day. We shall find that

much of the opposition of the Pharisees was related to the Lord's attitude to their conception of the Sabbath.

The Pharisees now take counsel against the Lord as to how they might destroy Him. What perversity is this!

His every act had left behind Him mercy, peace, health, thankfulness, life from the dead, sight for the blind, yea, the

forgiveness of sins - yet they hated Him, these scrupulous Sabbath-keepers.

Then follows the quotation which at last speaks of the Gentiles (Isa. 42:1-6). With this quotation, Isaiah 49:3-7

should be read. There the close connection between Israel's rejection of the Lord, and the blessing of the Gentiles is

seen. One of His titles there is `Him whom the nation abhorreth'! We have already looked at the closing miracle.

The last words indicate the possibility that Israel may receive the Lord as the Son of David. Here the Pharisees

interpose their blasphemous statement, and Israel sinks into unrepentance and blindness .

The miracles keep pace with the theme. Each Gospel writer chooses or rejects in accordance with the special

object of his narrative, and this is by far the most important aspect in which to view the miracles. They can be safely

considered in a detached and undispensational manner afterwards, but that is not our present purpose.

Matthew 13 to 21

We have traced the ever deepening character of the evidences given to the Messiah by the miracles which are

recorded. Things physical and temporal, things spiritual and eternal, come within their scope. We notice the

cumulative character of the effect produced:

`His fame went throughout all Syria ... and there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and

from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan' (Matt. 4:24,25).

The emphasis here is mainly on the geographical extent of the evidence. It included practically all the land then

occupied by the people of Israel.

The disciples themselves are the next to exhibit their impressions, marvelling and saying, `What manner of man

is this that even the winds and the sea obey Him!' When the multitude witnessed the miracle of the healing of the

sick of the palsy, `They marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men'. As a result of His

raising the ruler's daughter from the dead, `The fame thereof went abroad into all that land'. As a result of the

disobedience of the blind men who were healed to the Lord's injunction, the fame of the Lord was spread abroad in

all that country. When the dumb man possessed with a demon was cured, the multitudes marvelled, saying, `It was

never seen so in Israel'.

Then follows the commission of the twelve (chapter 10), who received from the Lord power over unclean spirits,

and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. Their power was very full: `Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise

the dead, cast out demons'. Their testimony was widespread. John in prison heard of the works of Christ, and was

confirmed in the belief that these were indeed His evidences (11:1-6).

After the healing of the blind and dumb demoniac, `the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of

David?' This in the eyes of the Pharisees was a perilous question, so that they reiterated their blasphemy that the

Christ of God was in league with Satan.