Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

³⁹  “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'”  Matthew 23:37-39.

Calvin in his Commentary on these verses states in part: 

“Christ therefore utters a pathetic exclamation at a sight so monstrous, as that the holy city of God should have arrived at such a pitch of madness, that it had long endeavored to extinguish the saving doctrine of God by shedding the blood of the prophets. This is also implied in the repetition of the name, because impiety so monstrous and incredible deserves no ordinary detestation.”  …

For the participle, (ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας), (killing the prophets,) is put for an epithet; as if Christ had said, “Thou who oughtest to have been a faithful guardian of the word of God, a teacher of heavenly wisdom, the light of the world, the fountain of sound doctrine, the seat of divine worship, a pattern of faith and obedience, art a murderer of the prophets, so that thou hast acquired a certain habit of sucking their blood.” Hence it is evident, that they who had so basely profaned the sanctuary of God deserved every kind of reproaches. …

How often would I have gathered together thy children. This is expressive of indignation rather than of compassion. …

As a hen collecteth her brood under her wings. We now perceive the reason why Christ, speaking in the person of God, compares himself to a hen. It is to inflict deeper disgrace on this wicked nation, which had treated with disdain invitations so gentle, and proceeding from more than maternal kindness. …

Again, when the sophists seize on this passage, to prove free will, and to set aside the secret predestination of God, the answer is easy. “God wills to gather all men,” say they; “and therefore all are at liberty to come, and their will does not depend on the election of God.” I reply: The will of God, which is here mentioned, must be judged from the result. For since by his word he calls all men indiscriminately to salvation, and since the end of preaching is, that all should betake themselves to his guardianship and protection, it may justly be said that he wills to gather all to himself. It is not, therefore, the secret purpose of God, but his will, which is manifested by the nature of the word, that is here described; for, undoubtedly, whomsoever he efficaciously wills to gather, he inwardly draws by his Spirit, and does not merely invite by the outward voice of man.  …

God wills to gather all, that all who do not come may be inexcusable.  …”

Quickly, in regards to last comment by Calvin, it is God’s will that everyone be held accountable.  ^“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:19-20. 

The passionate exclamation by Christ is not a lament in the sense that God’s will was unfulfilled.  As stated by Calvin, the passionate exclamation of Christ was an expression of indignation rather than compassion.  It was an exclamation of how pathetic and monstrous was the actions of Jerusalem. 

We also must remember the context of these verses which are the subject of today’s devotion.  The context is a series of “Woes to the scribes and Pharisees” which clearly show Christ’s indignation and proclamation of just punishment.  “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”  Matthew 23:33.     

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 gives us a good and clear insight into the will of God.  It is not the will of God that the scribes and Pharisees be able to achieve salvation through their own wisdom.  It is the will of God that salvation be given through the grace of God and the power of God so that no man may boast before God.     

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 For it is written,
         “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
         AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

³¹  “So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

 ³²  “Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.

 ³³  “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

 ³⁴  “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes;  some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city,

 ³⁵  so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

 ³⁶  “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”  Matthew 23:29-36.

Here, Jesus directly confronts and condemns the actions of the scribes and Pharisees, and Jesus proclaims their just punishment.  In Matthew Chapter 21, Jesus used the parable of the Landowner  and the Vinegrowers to describe their actions and the punishment:  ” “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.  “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them.  “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’  “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’  “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.  “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”  They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”  Matthew 21:35-41.

But again, Jesus here shows His righteous and just anger at the actions of the scribes and Pharisees, and Jesus proclaims their just punishment.  We need to be careful that we form our image of Jesus based on Scripture rather than based on our own preferences for how we want to think of Jesus. 

Many may prefer to think of Jesus as just a mild and kind teacher.  They may over-emphasize Jesus’ interest in and actions of lovingkindness, and they may neglect Jesus’ interest in and actions of justice. 

We need to pay attention and meditate on Scripture such as Isaiah 42:1:  “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;  My chosen one in whom My soul delights I have put My Spirit upon Him;  He will bring forth justice to the nations.”  (Emphasis added.)

Psalm 2 gives us an understanding of the just and sovereign reign of our Lord:

   “¹  Why are the nations in an uproar
         And the peoples devising a vain thing?
    ²  The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
    ³  “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!”
    ⁴  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them.
    ⁵  Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying,
    ⁶  “But as for Me, I have installed My King
         Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
    ⁷  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    ⁸  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    ⁹  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
    ¹⁰  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth.
    ¹¹  Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling.
    ¹²  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
         For His wrath may soon be kindled
         How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

²⁷  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

 ²⁸  “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”  Matthew 23:25-28. 

Let us continue to compare the Pharisees with Jesus. 

The Pharisees “clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence”.  The Pharisees “are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness”.

Whereas, our Lord cleans us from the inside out.  “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”  John 15:3  “… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27. 

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11

In sharp black and white contrast to the “robbery”, “self-indulgence”, “dead men’s bones”, and “all uncleanness” inside the Pharisees, the Christian is cleansed and filled with the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit which “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”  Galatians 5:22-23.

We have recently seen that Jesus has given attention to these “weightier provisions of the law”.  Jesus gave us the greatest commandments which are a summary of how we should act toward God and man. 

” “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  “This is the great and foremost commandment.  “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:36-40.

In the Old Testament, we also read from the prophet Micah.  “He has told you, O man, what is good;  And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”  Micah 6:8

Although Jesus makes it clear that we should not neglect the less weightier provisions of the law, Jesus recognized the dangers of an over-emphasis of those less weightier provisions of the law.  Like the Pharisees, we can become self-righteous and full of pride at our obedience to these minor provisions of the law.  We can also manipulate the minor provisions of the law to excuse our non-compliance with the more weightier provisions of the law.  We can simply care more about ourselves and how we appear to others than we care about others.

But when we focus on what is most important (love God above all and love our neighbors as ourself), when we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God, we can better see how the minor commandments and less weightier provisions of the law help us to do what is most important.  We then appreciate all of the law more.  We don’t see just numerous requirements and duties.  We see the integrity and the beauty of the law.        

^“7  The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
         The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 
 ⁸  The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
         The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 
 ⁹  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
         The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. 
¹⁰  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
         Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 
¹¹  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
         In keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11.

 ¹⁵  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”  Matthew 23:13-15. 

Let us continue to compare the Pharisees with Jesus. 

The Pharisees “shut off the kingdom of heaven from people”.   Whereas, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”  2 Timothy 4:18

The Pharisees “devour widows’ houses”.  Whereas, “… you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:9

The Pharisees make a proselyte “twice as much a son of hell” as themselves.  Whereas, we “…  are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:26.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,”  Romans 8:14-16. 

^“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30.

Today’s devotion is Matthew 23:1-12.  

^“1  Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,

 2  saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;

 3  therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

 4  “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

 5  “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.

 6  “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,

 7  and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.

 8  “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

 9  “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

 10  “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

 11  “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

 12  “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”  Matthew 23:1-12. 

Notice the contrast between the Pharisees and Christ.  The Pharisees were proud;  Jesus was humble.  The Pharisees enjoyed seeing their followers struggle, so they could look superior in comparison.  Jesus took on our sins on Himself and gave us His righteousness in exchange.  “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21    

The Pharisees “tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger”  Matthew 23:4.  Whereas, Christ tied up the heavy loads of the law and laid them on His own shoulders and gave us His Spirit as a yoke: “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.  Romans 8:4. 

Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  For My yoke is easy, and My load is light”. Matthew 11:28-29.

⁴³  He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
    ⁴⁴  ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
         “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
         UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET”‘?

 ⁴⁵  “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”

 ⁴⁶  No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.

Calvin in his Commentary states in part:

“… Now as the hour of his death was already approaching, the Lord himself intended to attest his divinity, that all the godly might boldly rely on him;  for if he had been only man, we would have had no right either to glory in him, or to expect salvation from him.  …

Yet it must be observed, that the scribes are not reproved for teaching that Christ would be the Son of David, but for imagining that he was a mere man, who would come from heaven, to assume the nature and person of a man.  … 

We must now see how he proves that Christ will hold a higher rank than to be merely descended from the seed of David. It is because David, who was king and head of the people, calls him Lord; from which it follows, that there is something in him greater than man. …

In short, by this title Christ is pronounced to be supreme and sole King, who holds the preeminence among all believers; and no exception ought to be allowed to ranking all in one class, when he is appointed to be the Redeemer of the Church.  …

The Lord said to my Lord.  Here the Holy Spirit puts into the mouth of all the godly a song of triumph, that they may boldly defy Satan and all the ungodly, and mock at their rage, when they endeavor to drive Christ from his throne. …

Whenever this kingdom is violently attacked, let us call to remembrance this revelation from heaven; for undoubtedly this promise was put into the hand of Christ, that every believer may apply it to his own use. …

And God declares that Christ will sit till his enemies be subdued, in order to inform us that his kingdom will remain invincible against every attack; not that, when his enemies have been subdued, he will be deprived of the power which had been granted to him, but that, while the whole multitude of his enemies shall be laid low, his power will remain for ever unimpaired.  In the meantime, it points out that condition of his kingdom which we perceive in the present day, that we may not be uneasy when we see it attacked on all sides.”

³⁶  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

³⁷  And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

³⁸  “This is the great and foremost commandment.

³⁹  “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

⁴⁰  “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:34-40.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states in part concerning the Law:

Question 92.  What is the law of God?

Answer. God spake all these words, Exodus 20, Deut. 5, saying: I am the Lord thy God, which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5. Honor thy father and they mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord they God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

Question 93.  How are these commandments divided?

Answer. Into two tables; the first of which teaches us how we must behave towards God; the second, what duties we owe to our neighbor. 

Question 114.  But can those who are converted to God perfectly keep these commandments?

Answer. No: but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this obedience; yet so, that with a sincere resolution they begin to live, not only according to some, but all of the commandments of God.

Question 115.  Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

Answer. First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ; likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:3-9.