THE NEW LAW OF THE KINGDOM (Matthew 19)

THE NEW LAW OF THE KINGDOM (Matthew 19)

H. A. IRONSIDE

Genesis 2:24. “He … made them at the beginning … male and female.” This is the divine ideal: one man for one woman in the sacred relationship of marriage. The entire human race sprang from the first pair thus created by God, typifying, as the marriage ceremony so aptly puts it, the mystical union that exists between Christ and His Church (Eph. 5:31, 32). 

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Thus, at the very dawn of human (and family) history, we have the inviolability of the marriage contract revealed, as according to the will of God. He who breaks this union disobeys the Word of the Lord.

MATTHEW 19 - But now that Israel’s destined King and Redeemer had come, He declared that “whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication (or unchastity), and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” In these words Jesus affirmed the sacredness of the marriage relationship. It is intended by God to be a union for life. The subject believer will never break it. If one violates the tie by unchaste behavior—that is, by illicit relations with a third party—the innocent one is free to divorce the unfaithful one and to marry someone else.

  MATTHEW 19:11-12 - The Lord acknowledged that all men cannot receive this saying, but it is for them to whom it is given—that is, to those who are ready to be submissive to the will of God, recognizing the sacredness of the marriage relationship, or for others who, as Paul said in a later day, had such self-control that they could keep themselves pure though unmarried. Such were as eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. But Jesus would put no one under bondage as to this. It was for him who was able to receive it. 

  The loosening of the marriage tie and the lowering of the home ideals are perhaps the two greatest evils of our times. Divorces are increasing at an alarming rate as people come more and more to disregard the teaching of Scripture as to the sacred character of marriage, and to give free rein to inordinate affections and selfish desires. The children are the worst sufferers in the breaking up of the home. We are sowing the wind as a nation, and we are destined to reap the whirlwind unless we turn to God in repentance and seek to walk in humble obedience to His Word 

  God’s salvation is absolutely free. It is offered to men on the principle of pure, unmerited grace. But discipleship is on quite another basis. It literally costs all that one has—the loss of all things (Phil. 3:7, 8; Luke 14:33). No one can be a true follower of Christ who does not take up his cross—that which speaks of death to the flesh—and follow the Lord Jesus in His path of rejection by the world and devotion to the Father’s will. 

  The Right Use of Wealth. It is not sinful to be rich. It is sinful to make riches the ground of over-confidence, and to enjoy the comforts that wealth can give while forgetting the sufferings of the poor and needy. When God commits wealth to any man it is as a stewardship entrusted to him to be administered for the glory of Him who gave it. It is the love of money, not money itself, that is evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Money may become the means of untold blessing if used in subjection to Christ (1 Tim. 6:17–19). 

  MATTHEW 19:28-30 - In reply Jesus assured them that when the kingdom was fully displayed, in the days of earth’s regeneration, or new birth, they who had been identified with Him in His rejection would be honored and recognized in a very signal manner: It was to be given to them to sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. In saying this He did not overlook the predicted apostasy of Judas, but it had been arranged in the counsels of God that Matthias was to take his place. Paul’s apostleship later on was of an altogether different order. He was not numbered with the twelve, but was the chosen instrument to make known the mystery of the Body of Christ in which no distinction is made between Jew and Gentile, as he tells us in Ephesians 3. 

  But not only were the twelve sure of reward but also Jesus declared that, “Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or … lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” No one ever lost out by excessive devotion to Christ. Whatever has to be renounced for His name’s sake will be repaid abundantly, both in this life and in the next. Many there will be who profess such renunciation of worldly profit for His sake who will, like Demas, fail of reward because of unfaithfulness. Others who might not seem to have endured much for Him but were true at heart in the time of His rejection will be recognized in that day. Thus, the first should be last and the last first. 

   When Christ fills the soul’s vision, it is easy to forsake all else for His sake. But until He is known, first as Saviour, then as Lord, things of earth still seem to be of far greater worth and importance than the things of eternity. Not until one has learned the lesson of his own sinfulness and good-for-nothingness, will he turn to the Lord Jesus alone for deliverance and be prepared to own His authority in every sphere of this earthly life. Love for Christ makes self-surrender easy. Love of self makes it impossible.