James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 22:42 - 22:42

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James Nisbet Commentary - Matthew 22:42 - 22:42


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THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS

‘What think ye of Christ?’

Mat_22:42

This is the question of questions—‘What think ye of Christ?’ Seven things.

I. He is exceptional in the spiritual world.—In the Gospels we come to this entirely exceptional fact—a perfectly holy Man Who proclaims that He is so. The law of the spiritual order is that the holiest men are ever the most conscious of their own sinfulness. We ‘think’ Christ is unique and without parallel.

II. He has endowed us with benefits unparalleled.—Christ’s loving influence is yearly sending forth missionaries to the most abject tribes upon the earth, supplies a constant motive for tending the sick, and becomes a power in daily life. ‘I will give thee rest.’

III. He is the firstborn from the dead.—It is impossible to account for the existence of the Church without a belief in the Resurrection on the part of the primitive witnesses, and it is impossible to account for that belief without it being founded on reality. Faith did not create the Resurrection; the Resurrection created faith.

IV. He had an exceptional origin.—He is the Son of God.

V. He is Christ the Lord.—‘The Word was God.’

VI. He is the wisdom of God.—Beginning with that which was plainest and most obvious, we have now reached the highest conception of Christ—the Personal Word and Wisdom of God.

VII. He is Very Man.—‘My delights are with the sons of men.’ In this is our hope.

—
Archbishop Alexander.

(SECOND OUTLINE)

THOUGHTS ON CHRIST

Everyone calling himself a Christian is bound to have some distinct idea respecting the Being on Whom he declares that his salvation depends.

I. What think ye of the nature and person of Christ?—The union of the Manhood and the Godhead is the real and only answer to the question with which our Lord silenced the Pharisees: ‘If David called Him “Lord,” how is He, then, His Son?’

II. What think ye of the work of Christ?—He was (a) a perfect Pattern; (b) a Brother; (c) a Teacher; (d) a Substitute Man; (e) a Representative Man.

III. What think ye of His service?—Ought we not to serve Him, as He has served us? If you really love Christ, where is the service which shows it?

—
The Rev. James Vaughan.

(THIRD OUTLINE)

PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING

If we would think rightly of Christ, besides thinking of Him as the Son of God and the Son of Man, we must—

I. Learn of Him as Prophet.—He is a Teacher as well as a Saviour. Remember what the Voice from Heaven said (St. Mat_17:5). Listen to Him as He teaches on the mountain and by the sea and from the Cross and after He rose from the dead. Let His Words be authoritative and final to you.

II. Trust in Him as Priest.—Trust in His perfect work of atonement on earth and His perfect work of intercession in Heaven.

III. Obey Him as King.—‘Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.’ Serve Him. Obey Him. All other kingdoms come to an end. His is an everlasting kingdom.

—
The Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘The great Mosque at Damascus was once a Christian Church. But on that Mosque could still be read an old Greek inscription—“Thy Kingdom, O Christ, is a Kingdom of all ages, and Thy dominion from generation to generation.” In 1893 the Mosque was almost destroyed by fire, but the inscription remained intact.’

(FOURTH OUTLINE)

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION

The importance of this question will be seen from the following considerations:—

I. Christ’s life.—Christ’s life is the keystone of the arch upon which Christianity rests. In this respect our holy religion differs from all other religions in the world. Take Moses, Confucius, Bram, Buddha, and Mohammed out of their respective religious systems, and those systems will still stand. How different with Christianity! Take Christ out of Christianity, and how little is left! The life, the power, are gone! Round His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return in glory, are grouped all the great doctrines of the Christian faith; and apart from Christ that faith ceases altogether to be a religion.

II. Christ’s claims.—His claims are stupendous. All other teachers of mankind have claimed to reveal but a portion of the truth concerning God. He alone claims to give us a full and final revelation of the Divine Being. He is the very centre of His own teaching.

III. Christ’s work.—He solves the great problems of life. He brought life and immortality to light in the Gospel. Christ has robbed death of its sting and taken its terror from the grave. And He alone has told us of the love of God for sinful man, and how He yearns to save and bless him.

The question demands a solution. If left unanswered now, it will meet us again at the Throne of God. It is also a personal question—“What think ye of Christ?”

The Rev. Hugh Falloon.

Illustration

‘These things are present things; they are not history; they are not tales of days gone by; they are not something far away in the distance from us; they are here; they are present facts; they are close: a real, living Saviour is at this moment all this, and much more, than I can say. Accept His work; but, much more, love His person; love His person. Receive Him as your own personal friend. Do not let it be only what He has done for you, but what He is to you. Commune with Him—a Brother at your side. Lean upon an Arm that is yours every morning. Take Him into the closenesses of your heart. And He will be to you what He has been to thousands and tens of thousands before you—very “precious.” ’