Evening journal., 1905-10-30
THE GOSPEL
Of THE KINGDOM
Sixteenth Study in Exposi-
ton of Book Of Matthew
by Pastor Pettingill
Till LORl'SCH rec TO SIMON PETER

Ink lORj' SCH RGt TO SIMON PETER
Continuing his series of studies in the
Gospel Of Matthew, Pastor William L.
Pettingill OF North Baptist Church
Yesterday morning gave an exposition
lot the sixteenth chapter of that book.
He said:
For many reasons the sixteenth
lchapter of our Gospel is especially i'm
portant. In this chapter for the first
time IN the New Testament and Of
course for the first time in all the
scriptures, the Church of God is mem
ltioned by name, though as something
lyet future. Here is found that cele-
lbrated conversation between the Lord
Jesus and the apostle Peter. which has
constituted for centuries the battle
lground Of cOntroversalists among the
lchurches and to this day marks a sharp
line of cleavage between the Romanist
and the Protestant Here also do we
see the Lord Jesus beginning TO fore
tell His death and resurrection. We
do well to tread softly as we enter upon
the consideration of such a passage of
Scripture. The adorable Son of God is
lgirding Himself for the battle. His
people hate Him, but He loves them
with perfect love. They will not have
Him, but He cannot give them up. He
will de for them. the Just for the un-
just. that He might bring them to God.
He must sanctify them by His own
blood, suffering without the gate. May
lGod Himself help us to enter somewhat
with Him into His awful passionl Let
us be much in prayer that we may
know the fellowship of His sunerings,
being conformed unto His death. Let
us go forth unto Him without the
camp. bearing His reproach.
Thanks be to Cod His death is not
in vain. His people, who rejected Him
i'm the Day of His humiliation. shall be
willing in the Day of His power. Then
shall they see Him Whom they pierced
and hail Him as their long looked for
Messiah. Behold, Jehovah hath pro-
lciaimed unto the end OF the earth. Say
lye To the daughter of Zion, Behold. thy
salvation cometh; behold, His reward is
with Him, and His recompense is be-
fore Him. And they shall be called.
The holy people. The redeemed of Je-
hovah: and thou G. e., Jerusalem) shalt
be called, Sought out. A city not forsa-
KEN lisa. 81: H. 12.)
Then shall Israel ask. Who is this
that cometh from Edom. with dyed gar
ments from Bozrah? this that is glori-
Gus in His apparel. marching in the
greatness Of His strength
And He shall answer I that speak
in Righteousness. mighty to save.
And then shall come the question.
Wherefore art Thou red in Thine ap-
parel. and Thy garments like him that
treadeth i'm the winevat?'
And He shall reply j have trodden
the winepress alone; and of the peo-
pies there was no man with Me: yea
Will tread them in Mine anger and
trample them in My wrath and their
, lifeblood shall be sprinkled upon Ny
{ garments, and ! will stain all My raj
e ment. For the Day of Vengeance is In
o My heart. and MY Year Of Redemption
T. is come. And l looked, and there was
q none to help; and / wondered that there
y was none to uphold therefore Mine owr
e arm brought salvation unto Me: anc
My wrath, il upheld me. And l will
: tread down the peoples in Mine anger
I and make them drunk in My wrath
and l will pour out their lifeblood OF
! the earth lisa. SO: 1-6)
1.-The Son OF God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain:
D His blood-red banner streams afar,
I Who follows in His train?
"Our chapter opens with a hypocriti-
\ cal request from the Phar.sees anC
! Sadducees. who came. trying Him. and
. asking Him to show them a sign from
heaven. These were the formal reli-
gionists of the day. The Pharisees
with their SNUG self satisfaction. were
3 outwardly very devout and extraordin.
narily punctilious in the fulhllment oi
D every jot and little Of religious cere.
mony. AT heart they were far from
God and filed with selhshness anC
corruption. The Sadducees were tn,
materialists. denying the resurrection
and everything spiritual. They were
. moralists. priding themselves upoI
I their righteousness and integrity. al
this was mere outward show for in.
wardly they too were full OF sin anC
. uncleanness. These were the tw,
. classes which made up in large part Is.
, rael's religious leaders. Blind leaders
/, OF the blind they were. despite theii
fair professions. just the offspring o.
i. vipers. the brood OF Satan. WhiteC
sepulchers. indeed, outwardly beautiful
but inwardly full of dead mems bones
and of all uncleanness.
The Lord Jesus disposed Of their re-
, lquest with a word 'Ye know how Il
discern the face Of the heaven. sal,
He: but ye cannot discern the signs o
the times. An evil and adulterous gen
/, Grafton seeketh after a sign: and therl
: shall be no sign given to it, but thl
sign of Jonah. Compare Ch. 10: 80
g 40) And He left them and departed
(vs. 3. A.
, He then warns His disciples agains
the leaven OF the Pharisees and sad
iducees, meaning their teaching. (vs
\ l5-12) This was considered in connec
\ ton with our study Of the parable o
= the leaven in chapter 13.
. Upon reaching the region Of Cae
lserea Philippi, the Lord Jesus aske,
= His disciples. saying Who do men say
4 that the Son of Man is? And the,
: lsaid, Some say. John the Baptist: some
Elijah; and others. jeremiah. or on,
y of the Prophets He made no com
!, lment on this, for He was leading M
: 10 the most important question tha
n can be asked OF men-'But who say "
: that l am? Tvs. 1850
"Nothfpp IL co ipp,rfanf ac flfo