The Gospel According To Matthew

by JAMES BLAIR, Vancouver | Category: The Gospel According To Matthew | Jun 1943

In a recent discussion of the kingdom of heaven, one speaker voiced what seemed to be the general view, namely, that the kingdom of heaven is in abeyance from the time of the rejection of Christ, and will only operate again when God renews His dealings with the Jews after this dispensation. Is there any possibility of reconciling such a view with this scripture before us,-" I will build My Church ... I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" ? When did He intend to build His Church? When did He intend to give Peter the keys ? Let us take heed to what He says-" The keys of the kingdom of heaven."

"In those days cometh John, the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand " (Matthew 3.1, 2).

"From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand " (Matthew 4.17).

We submit for the reader's serious consideration that what was at hand at the beginning of the Lord's ministry, was still only at hand at the close of His ministry, and was far from being broken off at His rejection. A splendid city hall was built here a few years ago, and ~n a certain date a gold key was handed to the Mayor of the City, who, after the ceremonial usual on such an occasion, took the key, opened the door, and pronounced the city hall as being open; it was what the world terms "a grand opening."

Our God does things on a grand scale too, and we suggest that Acts 2. gives us the record of the opening day in connection with the kingdom of heaven. Notice carefully what the record says, "And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from (out of) heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as' the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2.1-4). " But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake unto them, saying, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words " (verse 14). Why Peter? Did he not deny the Lord? Why not John who followed Him right to the cross? (See John 19. 26). The answer is that we have here the fulfilment of the Lord's word to Peter in Matthew 16. We have here the beginning of the building of "My Church" coincident with, shall w(' say, the grand opening by Peter of the kingdom of heaven?

We suggest then that Peter used the keys on this day, and again used them later on. The Scriptures make plain that as far as the Gentiles were concerned there was no door opened for them until we come to Acts 10. And again on this occasion the Spirit used Peter. Notice his words at the conference in Jerusalem, "Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15.7-9).

JAMES BLAIR, Vancouver | Jun 1943
The Gospel According To Matthew