FEATURES OF THE ASSEMBLY (1)
[p. 201] FEATURES OF THE ASSEMBLY (1)
Matthew 10:40,41; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 3:13 - 15
JT There are certain features that belong to the assembly that we might consider: the first is righteousness, which is in mind for this meeting; then sowing, leading up to the assembly, the formation of the assembly; and then the functioning of the assembly.
It will be understood that the theme is the assembly, but in a somewhat limited sense — the assembly seen in Matthew, the only gospel in which it is found formally. It is thought that to get a true understanding of the assembly we would begin with Matthew. There will be other features, all in a limited way, as we remarked, such as chapter 13 in which we have the ministry of the kingdom of God, but the idea of sowing governs the chapter. And then it is hoped that we shall come to formation of the assemblies, to which these other scriptures are introductory. Formation begins properly in chapter 16, and then the idea of the function of the assembly is found in chapter 18.
JMcK You were remarking about the assembly being based on righteousness in this section. Would you open that up a little?
JT Righteousness is a great governing thought in the gospel of Matthew and we see it particularly expressed in chapter 3 in the verses read, in which the Lord, when He was baptised, came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptised of him. He was very definite. He did not come casually as many doubtless in different parts of that region came to the Jordan to be baptised of John. “Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him”. It was very definite. John is the baptiser; and his protest was met by the Lord saying, “Suffer it now; for thus it becometh us to [p. 202] fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffers him”. The Lord quieted his thoughts, using the expression “all righteousness”.
JMcK Is baptism one feature of this righteousness?
JT It is. Righteousness is just what is right and baptism is right. John was sent to baptise, and it was right that the Lord came to John to be baptised. It was coming in the way of righteousness. John had come in the way of righteousness, and the Lord had come in the way of righteousness and baptism belonged to that way.
SMcC Matthew being the administrative gospel, was it in your mind that it is essential that we should be basically established in the pursuit of what is right in view of having part in the administrative vessel?
JT Quite so. If we are not in the way of righteousness how can we talk of the assembly?
SMcC It is important especially in these days when we are inclined to be deflected from the pursuit of what is right.
JT Questions arise among us and we do not know what to do. We may inquire of others, whereas the Lord would tell us if we looked to Him. He would direct us, so that we might find the way ourselves.
JMcK Is that seen in Joseph? It is said of him he was a righteous man.
JT Exactly. He is a model man, I would say. He is called a son of David, which is remarkable.
RWS The Lord introduces the thought of comparative righteousness in chapter 5, but this is “all righteousness”, a greater thought.
JT That is what I was thinking. One has often thought how comprehensive it is. The Lord uses the plural; He says, “thus it becometh us [Him and John] to fulfil all righteousness”. And, of course, as the Lord’s circle became wider, the “us” would be much wider, and would embrace all who learned from Him.
EGMcA What is the significance of baptism in connection with righteousness?
JT It is said, “Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying. Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh. For this is he who has been spoken of through Esaias the prophet, saying. Voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. And John himself had his garment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his nourishment was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the country round the Jordan, and were baptised by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:1 - 6). I should think that opens up the matter: it had in view the “confessing their sins”.
JMcK With the Lord it would not be for confessing sins, nor merely an external matter; it was an inward matter, for He loved righteousness.
JT He had joy in the service, and in John performing it in righteousness. Then in verse 7 it says, “But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he [John] said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance. And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And already the axe is applied to the root of the trees; every tree therefore not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptise you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not fit to bear; he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire; whose [p. 204] winnowing fan is in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable” Matthew 3:7 - 12. So that Matthew is certainly opened up on the plainest terms, and the persons who are not right are exposed and rebuked, and of course we are in these circumstances now; and so in order to enlarge on this inquiry that is made, Luke tells us about John the baptist and says, “The word of God came upon John” Luke 3:2. That is very noticeable. “The word of God came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district round the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” Luke 3:2 - 4. And then it says, “And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying. And we, what should we do? And he said to them. Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay” Luke 3:14. These are all practical matters; they all attach to the baptism of John, which the Lord Jesus identified Himself with. So that as considering this matter that God has inaugurated, and we are in it now, the question arises. How are we doing in it? Presently we will have to say to the assembly, and how we are doing in it. How are we facing things? Are we facing them righteously?
EGMcA Is there any significance in the fact that all these things spoken of in Luke pertain to love amongst men rather than love to God?
JT That is very good. You mean we are tested by our neighbours, especially among our brethren.
RWS Does that lead up to ecclesiastical righteousness?
JT That is a fine phrase. That word ‘ecclesiastical’ of course, refers to the assembly; the word is [p. 205] taken from the assembly. You are undoubtedly referring to things that are happening in the assembly normally, and whether they are right.
RWS I thought that matter of body coats and military service is one feature, but Matthew is more concerned with righteousness in the assembly.
JT Well, he is.
CAM Do you think that righteousness in assembly matters would be perhaps suggested in the fact that the baptism of John came from heaven. There was the heavenly control in the matter.
JT A good suggestion. It came from heaven. The baptism of John — whence was it? of heaven or of men? That was how the Lord met matters. They did not answer that.
GMacPh Have you something to suggest about the confession of their sins in coming to John, as if the matter had to come up in a current way in relation to righteousness?
JT Confession of sins is a very real thing. Another matter that comes up in connection with all this is the matter of currency; what currency are we using in meeting our obligations?
GMacPh I was thinking of it in relation to your remark about ecclesiastical righteousness. Practical righteousness has to be worked out practically in our souls before we arrive at that.
EGMcA What do you mean by what kind of currency we use?
JT Because there is such a thing as depreciated currency, and if it is used it has to be used at its market value. Hence, if I make confession of sins, for instance, ecclesiastical sins, what is the value of the confession? We are dealing with the currency of heaven. It is heaven that values repentance. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents.
SMcC What you are saying about currency is important. We are having a good deal of trouble [p. 206] about mixed marriages: young men going out and getting married and then coming back and saying they are sorry for it.
JT They consider that settles the matter, and the young man or young woman that is not in fellowship at all is introduced into fellowship on values that are not according to the currency of heaven.
CAM The matter of currency came up later with these critics, and the Lord’s answer was that we are to render to God the things that were God’s.
ASB Does the Lord in Luke 19 speak of the bank in relation to money?
JT Quite so; that was real money; money of the merchants, current among the merchants. That is a scriptural term.
EGMcA Would the superficial confession of one doing wrong by marrying outside, and not carrying the conscience of the brethren, be a conversion without baptism?
JT Quite so.
EF Even if the assembly is satisfied with the confession of such a wrong, does it not lie with the assembly to deal with the matter?
JT We will come to that, God willing, where the assembly is seen in function; that matter of currency will come up too. We are just touching things now in order to make our points clear.
Ques Paul seems to be clear as to the matter of what is right. You were speaking of not writing letters to someone at a distance, but getting light from the Lord ourselves.
JT Why should we not? We have our Bible readings; we have our morning readings and our private readings, and we are to pay attention to reading. We ought to be able to get the right view of a thing even if we have not a brother at a distance to write to. As looking to the Lord we get something [p. 207] to guide us, so that we do not let things go by, as if they were right, when they are not right.
Ques “For with the heart is believed to righteousness; and with the mouth confession made to salvation”, Romans 10:10. It seems that if the heart is right inwardly, confession is made publicly.
JT Quite so. I thought we ought to just get a model. Scripture has its own way, and Matthew is certainly in front in that, as to the idea of a model. The Spirit of God refers to Joseph in Matthew as “her husband, being a righteous man” Matthew 1:19. It was a most delicate matter, but he is found to be righteous in the matter; a righteous man. So far he was doing right, and then the Spirit of God came in to help him, to confirm him in what he was going on with. In our local positions these things are mentioned, especially the Scriptures and the temple of God. “Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). We surely ought to have some way of getting light, no matter what it may be that comes up. We should have some hope of getting light if we turn to the Scriptures according to what is being said; and then the Spirit of God would lead us. It says in Matthew 1:19, “But Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man”. You see, he is a righteous man, and that man will get something anyway. He is already righteous. He is so far doing what is right in this most delicate and holy matter, he was unwilling to expose her, it says, but he purposed to have her put away secretly; he was so far right. “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream” Matthew 1:20. That is what I want to touch on: how we get help from Him as we are using what we have ourselves; and we have a great deal to go by, but if we come to a point where we cannot go further, then the Lord will come in; the Spirit of God will come in, and we will get adjusted ourselves, so that we are not found sinning.
[p. 208] That is the point just now, that we should not go on sinning. If we are confessing our sins we should have done with them.
CAM If the enemy does everything possible to disrupt the saints by spoiling the handiwork of God, we can bring heavenly light to bear on the difficulties, even the complex things. Heavenly light would preserve in our souls the great value of what belongs to the assembly, and its perfection in the mind of God.
JT So many questions have been raised in all parts of the earth, about this, and that and the other thing that ought to be settled, but in the local positions there is surely something that we should go by. If necessary, ask somebody that may know a little more, but do not forget to ask the Lord. The Lord will give you understanding in all things, and you will get something from heaven.
‘And heav’nly light makes all things bright,
Seen in that blissful gaze’ (12:3)
If there is a problem, heavenly light will shine and you will see things you have never seen.
CAM Do you not think that as problems came up at the end of the Lord’s life, we can expect these things to come up at the end of the assembly’s history here? There is a sort of parallel.
JT Well, there is. You find that in the end of Matthew, and so in all the gospels; there is the question time. They should be guides to us as to all these current matters that are coming up. If you get a ray of heavenly light it is surprising how many things will become clearer.
Ques It says of Joseph, “while he pondered on these things” (Matthew 1:20). This heavenly light comes to us as pondering over these things.
JT Joseph is a righteous man: “while he pondered on these things”(Matthew 1:20). He was not in a hurry. He evidently took counsel with himself. He did not [p. 209] write to anyone; he is like Nehemiah. “While he pondered on these things” (Matthew 1:20). This is a most precious and holy matter. It is only as priests that we should talk of it, and it relates intimately to this subject of the assembly in Matthew. “While he pondered on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David” (Matthew 1:20). The salutation here ennobles him. He is honoured as pondering the matter himself. Why should I not look into things myself? I am a son of God; each one of us is. There is a way to get something ourselves. Abraham’s servant said, “I being in the way, Jehovah has led me” (Genesis 24:27).
JMcK Are you stressing the importance of what is in the local assembly position?
JT The local assembly; yes, that is what I am thinking of. Do you not think that we have in Joseph here, a real assembly man, you might say, anticipatively. Of course, he would not call himself that, but looking back you can see he was that, and all is written for our instruction.
RWS The note to ‘unwilling’ in verse 19 says, ‘The expression is characteristic:’being a man not willing’, etc’. We are so willing to spread things abroad and exaggerate them. This kind of man is not willing to expose another.
JT We are so ready to talk about things, and spread them abroad, and holy things are made unholy by that method. Joseph did not do that. It was a holy exercise, and we are dealing with holy things that call for such concern; the assembly calls for that. We should be most careful how we talk about the brethren and what involves the assembly.
JMcK Should we be on the line of David as Joseph was? It Says he was the son of David; he was a righteous man. We are to be on that line.
JT See what a man he is now, because heaven attaches to him this great dignity, and he had zeal to [p. 210] look into the matter again. Why should I not get light; I am a son of David? He had perhaps never thought of himself in that way before, but now applying it to ourselves, we are sons of God.
ASB It would encourage our hearts that heaven has a detailed interest in us and we can readily approach there and find an answer.
JT We are going to heaven; we belong to heaven, and we are being trained for it, and it is well to look into the matter now even in an initial way. It is the time of training, the learning time. I think Joseph is a model here; the Lord Himself is a Model in chapter 11, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls” Matthew 11:29. He is a Model.
EGMcA In verse 22 it says, “Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord” Matthew 1:22. God makes room in His ways for the righteous man.
JT Just so. He is a reputable man in the line; he is in the forty-two generations. See the place he has! And now it is not only that an angel speaks of him, but we have the Scriptures also speaking of the matter. So it says, “Joseph, son of David, fear not to take to thee Mary, thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying, Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” Matthew 1:20 - 23. The Scriptures themselves are now engaged in this; it is a great theme in them. We are sons of God and we are entitled to speak of the things of God, to know and to understand them. We have the means of knowing them too.
[p. 211] We should endeavour to clothe these things in right thoughts, so that we do not tarnish them in speaking, but remember that we are dealing with the most holy things.
Ques David must have suffered a great deal in his spirit.
JT Heaven knew what he went through in his meditations and how comely he was in all that he would say.
ASB Is there something important in the fact that the angel is speaking directly to Joseph, and then the Spirit of God comes in with the confirmation from the Scriptures, in verse 22?
JT The confirmation, as you say, is already alluded to. This is Matthew’s way, that the Scriptures should be verified; not only that the Scripture would verify a truth, but that the Scripture itself should be verified. It is Matthew’s way that Scripture should be made to speak; let it have its own voice. So it says, “Now all this came to pass that that might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying. Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, ‘God with us’. But Joseph, having awoke up from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had enjoined him” Matthew 1:22 - 24. All is beautifully confirmed and there is not a word that can be said against him. The devil with all his machinations cannot bring a word against this wonderful matter, although he has attempted to do it many a time.
EGMcA That puts emphasis on the word ‘all’; ‘all righteousness’. The righteous man refers to the word of God and acts on it.
JT We might look at verse 13 again. “Then comes Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptised of him”. It was a public matter. John was a heaven-sent man to administer baptism, and [p. 212] Jesus confirmed the fact that it was in his hands, because He came all the way from Galilee to be baptised of him. He explains the fact to John that it was right that they should fulfil all righteousness. John would never forget that, I am sure.
ASB In chapter 2, verse 12, we read, “And being divinely instructed” Matthew 2:12. The note to that says, ‘It signifies an answer after consultation, as verse 22; hence an oracular or divine answer, not merely warning’.
JT It confirms what we have been saying; it enlarges on what Joseph was as a righteous man. The Spirit of God is answering him and using him; he is essentially a righteous man, and chapter 10 shows the value of a righteous man.
RWS Is the tendency to inquire of brothers at a distance a universal weakness?
JT I think many inquiries are made before the Lord is really inquired from; before we consult our Bibles and the local brethren, because they will help us. I believe it is a very important matter. We will be helped all around.
Ques James in chapter 5 of his epistle refers to Elias. “The fervent supplication of the righteous man has much power” James 5:16.
JT That shows what a righteous man can do; and we have him where you might expect him. That is, heaven has provided this righteous man where he is very much needed. He is in nearness to a most holy thing, and has to say to it. Each brother who has to do with assembly matters should be characteristically righteous. Joseph is the model for us.
GMacPh Does the Lord’s identifying Himself with John indicate the feature of righteousness that identifies itself with the position of the testimony, though in weakness?
JT The Spirit is, therefore, bringing forward and giving Joseph his place, and giving John his place.
[p. 213] These men are just where they are needed, and there is nothing more needed than righteous men just now in dealing with assembly matters, as our brother has said, ‘ecclesiastical righteousness’. So that any application used or made should be scriptural; that we should establish ourselves as in the right position. Heaven needs us there and we are doing right; as Paul says. You do what is right; even if you call me reprobate, you do what is right.
Rem John says in his epistle, “If ye know that he is righteous, know that every one who practises righteousness is begotten of him”, 1 John 2:29.
CAM In connection with what we have been speaking about, and our being enlightened by heaven, this thought of righteousness would make way for this remarkable evidence of the greatness of Christ. His sonship comes before us. I am alluding to the word, “And, lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove”, and then the voice, “This is my beloved Son” Matthew 3:16,17.
JT He is “Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1), but now we have passed Joseph and we have passed John to the One who is righteous, especially so; Jesus Christ the righteous.
SMcC It is remarkable that the reference to “Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1), is brought in in relation to breakdown and restoration on our side. “And if any one sin, we have a patron with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”, (1 John 2:1).
JT Very good. How beautiful is the Lord’s position here. “And Jesus, having been baptised, went up straightway from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him: and behold, a voice out of the heavens saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight” Matthew 3:16,17. Now we have “the righteous”. Joseph and John led up to this, and now the Lord is saying to us, “For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness”. Heaven is approving Him and we see the pleasure the Father has in the righteous Man here.
EGMcA Is this word, “This is my beloved Son ...” not ‘Thou art’, but “This is ...” Matthew 3:17 preparing for the great revelation to Peter in chapter 16?
JMcK It is a marvellous thing that the Lord is subjecting Himself to what is administered by one less than Himself.
JT It is beautiful that the Lord links us with Himself in this way. I believe Matthew has that in mind. “For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20. Then He speaks to us: you are doing the thing. Really that is what Matthew means. The Lord is saying, ‘I am with you’; ‘I am there’; ‘I am with you always’, but then you are doing the thing; and the Lord here is doing the thing Himself. He is the Model and heaven is pleased with Him in doing it.
Ques Is that seen in Acts 10:34,35 in Cornelius in the way he received the men? And then Peter says, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him”.
JT Is that not remarkable? The man is doing the thing himself. Cornelius had already built up and established a position in heaven for himself. It says of him, “Thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God” (Acts 10:31). He already has a memorial in heaven, and yet he has not yet received the Spirit. If a man is able to do what is right, he gets a place. The little he is doing is right. Cornelius had not the Holy Spirit yet, but he is doing what is right. “Thy alms have come in remembrance before God”(Acts 10:31). He is the beginning of the great gentile company that God has in mind. Peter is able to lead him into the [p. 215] assembly.
GMacPh Would Daniel and his prayers be another example for us? He was a man that was greatly beloved in heaven.
JT “O Daniel, man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11). Cornelius is most remarkable, because it is a question of the gentiles coming in and Peter about to administer to them the position of righteousness in the assembly. Cornelius is going to have a place and the Spirit of God comes in and baptises him, falls upon them, Cornelius and his company, before Peter had finished his address, showing heaven’s way of admitting us. We already show that we belong to heaven; Cornelius has already shown this; his memorial is up there. Heaven is acting, taking the matter up. As seeing what would be right in our localities, proceed on these lines. If I am righteous heaven will recognise it, and I will get light.
CAM Peter opens his address with, “He that fears him and works righteousness” (Acts 10:35).
JT Quite so; he “is acceptable to him”(Acts 10:35).
SMcC What you have said as to Cornelius ought to be very encouraging to us as to the practical affairs of life. Before we reach the ecclesiastical matters of righteousness, we are apt to be careless in the smaller affairs and practical things in life.
JT Especially in a matter that is so important among the brethren; namely, the collection for the saints. Cornelius would be ready, whatever was needed, to contribute his part. He was already established in that way and heaven is taking him on now.
SMcC You mean righteousness enters into this matter of giving?
JT He is like the widow who cast in all her living; his alms and his prayers.
GMacPh Do you mean the special collection?
JT Yes. The Lord has come in, and given us light, because we were submissive to the truth; and [p. 216] the Scriptures have been attended to. Cornelius knew how to give and pray as well.
EGMcA In this passage on Cornelius, there was a similar situation to that in Matthew, the heavens opening, only, of course, in a lesser degree. It says, “While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word” (Acts 10:44). This kind of material must go into the assembly.
JT That is the way the matter stands. The chapter is full of holy thoughts; the inauguration of the assembly among the gentiles.
Ques In the matter of the collection, should it not be kept on a high level? Love motivates us and we have to look at it in that way. What we have is to work out in the matter of righteousness in giving; if we were already adjusted would it not flow out spontaneously?
JT Well, we might look at the scripture that deals with this matter in 2 Corinthians 8:1,2, “But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia; that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their free-hearted liberality”, and so on (verses 1 - 15). And then again we have in the scripture in the passage in chapter 9:7, “each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work: according as it is written. He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever” 2 Corinthians 9:7 - 9. That is the conclusion of this subject. It is a question of righteousness.
Rem It makes it very clear.
JT [p. 217] It does; and I believe the Lord has blessed the matter and ourselves in doing it because we bowed to the truth about it, and the brethren are united about it. We might read the verse in Matthew 10, which is confirmatory of what we have already said. “He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward” That shows what dignity the righteous man has in the heavenly economy.
Ques Would you say what is in your mind about righteousness? The word ‘righteous’ is used in many different ways. It is a word that is used like glory; it is easily used.
JT The best definition I know is that righteousness is what is right. Of course, that can be greatly enlarged in the Scripture. John’s epistle works it out in the most subjective way; I use that word designedly; not objective truth, but what is wrought out in the soul as born of God.
EGMcA What is this reward?
JT The result is to be taken into our minds and hearts, that you have the status of a righteous man in the divine economy. Abraham would be an example.
AEW Would Paul be also in the end of 2 Timothy? He speaks of the crown of righteousness. He would have the sense that he was a righteous man. It is before the righteous Judge.
JT There are two crowns; one is righteousness and the other is life.
EGMcA Righteousness is really a primary thought in the things of God.
JT It is a basic thought.
Ques Does it enter into our letters of commendation?
JT Quite so. The letters we sometimes hear read telling of the wonderful things a certain brother [p. 218] or sister does — you wonder how they can be written. If we confine ourselves to righteousness it is enough.
Ques Is this a matter of our relations with one another, this matter of receiving a righteous man?
JT It would work out in our relations with one another. “He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward”. We have to figure out what that would be — the man who had the status of a prophet in the heavenly economy — what his reward would be; and then the other one: “he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward”. He has the status of a righteous man and he has a name. You give him the name; the name is in the divine economy. It is a question of what God recognises in the word ‘name’. It usually means ‘renown’. A righteous man has renown in the heavenly economy.
Ques It says of Abraham, “And he believed Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness”. (Genesis 15:6).
JT Even Lot is called a righteous man, showing heaven is liberal in its designation; it is fair, but liberal. Lot is called a righteous man. He was grieved by the ungodliness of Sodom, and yet he was stepped in it in a certain sense. He should not have been there at all, but heaven calls him a righteous man.
JAP Do you think the brethren in Corinth were benefited by Timothy’s coming from Paul? A righteous man coming from a righteous man.
JT Had Paul gone then the test would have been severe, we are not to make the glare of the sun too severe on the saints, but to modify it a bit. The idea is modified in Timothy. It is there, but it is more suited to the position in Corinth. If you turned on the whole of the light on the state of things at Corinth it would be too great. Paul wrote a long [p. 219] letter to work the thing out. Even if you consider me reprobate, he says, you do what is right. That is very practical.
CAM The verse preceding those read speaks about our lives, losing our lives. If we are ready for this, the way is open for receiving the wonderful ministry and what is of Christ into our souls. We cannot be vacuums, but if we are ready to deny ourselves and empty ourselves of all these things that appeal to us naturally we would value more the things the Lord sends us.
JT You are referring to what precedes here, “He who loves father or mother above me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter above me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 10:37 - 39. These are words in a language that we all are to understand. A man that goes in for this natural life and what attaches to it, will lose that; and, “he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it” Matthew 10:39. All that is taken in order in leading up to this matter of the prophet and his status and the righteous man and his status.
JMcK Why does it say in chapter 13 that the righteous shall shine forth as the sun? The sun is a great light and has great illumination. Is that what is to characterise the kingdom?
JT It is the last scripture we read. “Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears, let him hear”. So that the thought of the righteous is carried through. The idea of sowing comes into that chapter, but it carries through the idea of the righteous and what they will be in the future. “Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”. That is the sun of the heavens. It is alluded to in Daniel.
[p. 220] Rem The sun shining in the heavens would suggest what is heavenly, in keeping with Matthew’s gospel.
JT Just so; the kingdom of His Father. Matthew makes much of the kingdom of the heavens.
Ques What is the thought of receiving the free gift of righteousness in Romans 5?
JT It is what is proposed in the gospel. The Lord has made that effective to us. It is proposed in the gospel. This matter of the shining is so glorious, but it is only a figure here: the sun in the heavens, in our heavens, but James says, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning” James 1:17. The allusion is to our sun in the heavens, but the application is to our Father Himself in the heavens. He is the Father of lights, and He is our Father. We are to shine as lights. The allusion is to the heavenly bodies. We are to shine as lights in the world. The Father is the Father of all those lights. He is the Father of lights. We are told, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
ASB “And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and they that turn the many to righteousness as the stars, for ever and eve?”, (Daniel 12:3). There is a great divine system established.
JT It is what is alluded to in the second day of the present creation; what was added to what had been there before. It is a good thought. The word ‘expanse’ is a good thought. God called the expanse heavens. It is the spreading out of the thing.
EGMcA Would you say the previous verses in chapter 13 indicate the conditions in which we practise righteousness, against what is adverse; but when that is all cleared up then the righteous shall shine as the sun. There will be a public display of what God has worked out.
JT The Lord explains. “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the world’s foundation. Then, having dismissed the crowds, he went into the house; and his disciples came to him, saying, Expound to us the parable of the darnel of the field” Matthew 13:35,36. This is the very thing we have to deal with everywhere in Christendom, this thing the devil has brought in in the way of imitation. Verse 41 says, “The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all offences, and those that practise lawlessness; and they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears, let him hear” Matthew 13:41 - 43. These angels allude to the binding of the tares into bundles (verse 30). I believe that the present way of binding up evil conditions into bundles is by trade-unionism. They are bound into bundles for the fire. Those who suffer now as set against all this shall shine as the sun. It is very encouraging for us.
JMcK This is an added thought, bringing in the idea of glory. The parable ends up with saying, “The wheat bring together into my granary” Matthew 13:30, but this is an added thought in the exposition of it.
JT “As then the darnel is gathered and is burned in the fire, thus it shall be in the completion of the age. The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all offences, and those that practise lawlessness; and they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth” Matthew 13:40 - 42. It is eternal punishment that is in mind, and the Lord is going to deal with all these unions, the angels binding these things together for the fire. How should I be in these things? Let us rather die than be in them, because this is the end of them. We are to shine as the sun [p. 222] in the kingdom of our Father, as over against these bundles that are burned.
EGMcA “He that has ears, let him hear”. That is another way of saying it is worth while to practise righteousness.
JT Yes, and to know what parabolic teaching is, and whether I have the right ears. We might argue for evenings about trade-unionism and never reach a conclusion unless we are subject to the Scriptures. “He that has ears, let him hear”. One that has an ear like that is not going to be antagonistic. He submits to the truth as to it. He is not going to argue.