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Matthew on Money
MATTHEW ON MONEY
The occupational training of Matthew is plainly perceptible in the gospel he has written. When he left the receipt of custom to become a follower of Christ and then an apostle and even a gospel historian he carried with him his financial bent and ability. He always speaks of money with the accuracy and discrimination of a man who is accustomed to its possession and use.
Ideal Givers
Matthew alone of the four gospel writers mentions the visit of the Wise Men. They came a great distance in search of him who was born King of the Jews. They knew him on sight, fell down and worshiped him, and opened their treasures and offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. They give while they are in his presence and while they are in the spirit of worship.
Their purpose was threefold, to see the King, to worship him and to offer gifts to him. The sight of the Christ, infant as he was, called forth the whole program. There was no other appeal. Their giving was a part of their confession of faith. This is the King whom they came to accept and honor. They are not mistaken nor in doubt. They behold and worship and give.
When men open their hearts they also open their treasures. "No man becomes honest" says Frederick W. Robertson, "till he gets face to face with God." Delusion vanishes then and there and opportunity appears. Then men prize their privilege. Come to Christ, worship him and go without giving? When men come into the presence of Christ as did the Wise Men they fail not nor falter but act in a way that meets expectations.
A Would-be Giver
In his fourth chapter Matthew tells how Satan proposed to give the world to Christ, a great offer and fitting in a sense but one our Lord could not accept on the terms stated or from this would-be giver. How could he receive a gift from Satan without being subordinated to him? How can a Christian do this same thing without change of character and loss of life?
Were Christ to receive the world as a gift from Satan he would still need to save it from sin if a redeemed world is what he wants. Satan cannot give what he does not possess. But whatever his right of ownership his offer was not intended to aid our Lord but to tempt him to betray His trust.
Matthew thinks Satan proposed to give only as a last resort and after other means had failed. Giving appears to be the hardest thing for him to do or he may regard it as the climax of his appeal. He was in the presence of Christ but he proposes to give his own gift in his own way to further his own ends. Satan remains Satan in the presence of Christ, unchanged and unchangeable.
Satan requests Christ to fall down and worship him while Christ replies, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God." Satan has no disposition to follow the example of the Wise Men or to adopt their order of procedure. He asks our Lord to accept his gift and then worship him in acknowledgement of his supremacy. He offers temporal things for spiritual service, earthly greatness for divine recognition.
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