We have during the past years devoted some considerable space to the parables and

the miracles of the Gospel according to Matthew, and a consciousness of the great claim

which the epistles of Paul have upon our time, thought and testimony, turned our

attention from a fuller consideration of the teaching of the Gospel as a whole. The

statements of the critic of dispensational truth, which have been touched upon in these

pages, together with some evident misconception held by those who "for the time ought"

to be clearer, lead us to realize that it will not be going over a well-worn subject if we

embark upon an exposition of the Gospel according to Matthew in these pages.

The book opens with a statement which indicates with no uncertainty the theme of the

The word "generation", Greek genesis, means genealogy or pedigree, and indicates

the first 17 verses of the Gospel. Now it is a common saying among many that the gospel

of Matthew is the gospel of the kingdom. This is true, but not true in the sense that some

intend the words. We refer to that view of things that suggests that Matt. 1: 1 reads,

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David" and stops there. This is

but stating half the truth. He was the Son of David, His genealogy establishes His right

to the throne, He therefore was truly King, and this gospel sets forth this aspect so

prominently that it merits the designation, The Gospel of the King and Kingdom. The

other half of the truth that is needed to make perfect balance and to avoid disproportion is

contained in the words `the Son of Abraham". This is a title that is wider than Israel and

the Kingdom, and therefore we must be careful not to teach error either by unconscious

suppression or by undue emphasis.

Christ's ministry as presented by Matthew is twofold. First He is set forth as the Son

of David, and then as the Son of Abraham. Solomon the son of David is the great type of

the kingly element, Isaac the son of Abraham the great type of the Abrahamic feature.

Now this twofold title of Christ not only divides the first verse, but dominates the literary

structure of the whole Gospel; and unless we see this we shall be liable to read into that

which pertains to Christ as Son of Abraham those things which belong to Him only as

Son of David. This twofold character can be clearly seen from the following:--