Commentary on Matthew: The Gospel of the Kingdom

1 Commentary on matthew : The Gospel of the Kingdom By Charles Haddon Spurgeon With Introductory Note by Mrs. C. H. Spurgeon Introductory Note Few and simple should be the words which introduce this eagerly expected book to the many friends who will welcome it. The beloved author has gone to his eternal reward, he is the blessed of the Lord forever, but he has left with us this last precious legacy, which draws our hearts heavenward after him. It stands alone in its sacred and sorrowful significance. It is the tired worker s final labor of love for his Lord. It is the last sweet song from lips that were ever sounding forth the praises of his king.

2 It is the dying shout of victory from the standard-bearer, who bore his Captain s colors unflinchingly through the thickest of the fight. Reverently, we lay it at the dear Master s feet with love, and tears, and prayers. It needs no comment. It is beyond all criticism. But His acceptance and approval will be its reward and glory. During two previous winters in the south of France, a great part of dear Mr. Spurgeon s leisure had been devoted to the production of this Commentary and it bears much internal evidence of the brightness of the sunny shore where it was written. On the last visit to Mentone, after his terrible illness, his mental strength was apparently quite restored and this delightful service was eagerly resumed.

3 So eagerly, that we often feared his health would suffer from his devotion to his happy task. But it was difficult to persuade him to relax his efforts. With his Master, he could say, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work, and till within a few days of the termination of his lovely and gracious life, he was incessantly occupied in expounding this portion of God s Word. Much of the later portion of the work, therefore, was written on the very border-land of heaven, amid the nearing glories of the unseen world and almost within sight of the golden gates. Such words acquire a solemnity and pathos with which nothing else could invest them.

4 We listen almost as to a voice from the excellent glory. Yet, in reading over the proof-sheets of my beloved s last work, I have been as much struck by the profound simplicity as by the tender power of the dear expositor s comments. Surely the secret of his great strength lay in this, that he was willing to say what God put in his heart and did not seek to use enticing words of man s wisdom. Although the Master s call to His faithful servant came before he could complete the revision of his manuscripts, the concluding pages have been compiled, with loving care, entirely from his own spoken and written words, by the dear friend who was most closely associated with him in all his work for God.

5 S. S. Westwood, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, January, 1893. Table of Contents Chapter 1:1-17 The Pedigree of the King Chapter 1:18-25 The Birth of the King Chapter 2 The King Appearing and the King Assailed Chapter 3:1-12 The Herald of the King Chapter 3:13-17 The King Designated and Anointed Chapter 4:1-11 The King Begins His Reign by A Combat With The Prince of Darkness Chapter 4:12-25 The King Setting Up Chapter 5:1-12 The King Promulgates the Laws of His Kingdom Chapter 5:17-20 Our King Honors His Father s Law Chapter 5:21-37 The King Corrects Traditional Law Chapter 6:1-18 The King Contrasts the Laws of His Kingdom With The Conduct of Outward Religionists in the Matters of Alms and Prayer Chapter 6:19-34 The King Gives Commands as to the Cares of This Life Chapter 7:1-12 The King Continues to Regulate the Behavior of His Subjects Chapter 7:13-23 The King Teaches His Servants to Discern and to Distinguish Chapter 7:24-29 The King Sums Up His Discourse Chapter 8:1-18 The King, Having Spoken in Wisdom, Works with Power Chapter 8:19-22 Our King Discerning His True Followers Chapter 8:23-27 Our King Ruling the Sea Chapter 8:28-34 The King Driving Legions Before Him.

6 Chapter 9:1-8 The King Continues to Display His Royal Power Chapter 9:9-13 The Grace of the Kingdom Chapter 9:14-17 The Joy of the Kingdom Chapter 9:18-26 The King s Dominion Over Disease and Death Chapter 9:27-31 The King s Touch Healing the Blind Chapter 9:32-35 The King and Those Possessed with Devils Chapter 9:36-38 The King Pitying the Multitudes Chapter 10:1-15 The King Commissioning His officers Chapter 10:16-25 The King s Messengers May Expect to Be Maltreated Chapter 10:26-42 The King Cheering His Champions Chapter 11:1-19 The King Supports His Messengers by His Own Appearing the King Vindicates and Cheers His Herald Chapter 11:20-30 The King s Warnings, Rejoicings, and Invitations Chapter 12:1-13 Our King as Lord of the Sabbath Chapter 12:14-21 Our King in the Majesty of His Peacefulness Chapter 12:22-37 Our King and the Powers of Darkness Chapter 12:38-42 Our King Challenged to Give a Sign Chapter 12:43-45 Our King Unveiling the Tactics of the Arch-Enemy Chapter 12:46-50 Our King and His Earthly Relatives Chapter 13:1-53 Our King Sets Forth Seven Parables of His Kingdom Chapter 13:54-58 The King in His Own Country Chapter 14.

7 1-12 The King s Herald Slain Chapter 14:13-22 Our King Gives a Great Banquet Chapter 14:23-26 The King Ruling Winds and Waves Chapter 15:1-20 Our King Combating Formalists Chapter 15:21-28 Our King and the Woman of Canaan Chapter 15:29-39 The King Gives Another Banquet Chapter 16:1-4 The King and His Chosen Sign. Chapter 16:5-12 The King Misunderstood by His Own Chapter 16:13-28 The King Alone with His Friends Chapter 17:1-13 Our King Transfigured in Glory Chapter 17:14-21 The King Returning to the Field of Conflict Chapter 17:22-23 Again the King Speaks of His Death Chapter 17:24-27 Our King and the Tribute Money Chapter 18:1-5 The King Arranges Rank in His Kingdom Chapter 18:6-14 Our King s Warning Against Offenses, Especially Those Which Injure the Little Ones Chapter 18:15-35 The King s Law Concerning Offenses Chapter 19:1-12 The King and the Marriage Laws Chapter 19:13-15 The Great King Among the Little Children Chapter 19.

8 16-30 The King Settles the Order of Precedence Chapter 20:1-16 A Parable of the Kingdom Chapter 20:17-28 The King On His Way to the Cross Chapter 20:29-34 The King Opening the Eyes of the Blind Chapter 21:1-11 The King Rides Triumphantly into His Capital Chapter 21:12-14 The King Cleanses the Temple Chapter 21:15-16 The King Acknowledges the Children s Acclamations Chapter 21:17-22 The King Gives a Token of the Judgment of Jerusalem and of The Power of Prayer Chapter 21:23-32 The King Confounds and Warns His Enemies Chapter 21:33-44 The King Makes His Enemies Judge Themselves Chapter 21:45-36 The King s Enemies Plot Against Him Chapter 22:1-14 Parable of the Marriage of the King s Son Chapter 22:15-22 The King s Enemies Try to Ensnare Him Chapter 22:23-33 The King and the Sadducees Chapter 22:34-40 The King Tested by a Lawyer Chapter 22:41-46 The King Asking Questions Chapter 23:1-12 The King s Warning Against False Teachers Chapter 23:13-33 The King Pronouncing Woes Chapter 23:34-39 The King s Farewell to His Capital Chapter 24:1-2 The King and His Father s House Chapter 24:3-31 The King Answers Difficult Questions Chapter 24:32-41 The King Spears of the Time of His Coming Chapter 24.

9 42-51 The King Commands His Servants to Watch Chapter 25:1-13 The King and His Marriage Procession Chapter 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents Chapter 25:31-46 The Royal and Universal Judge Chapter 26:1-5 The King Prophesying His Enemies Plotting Chapter 26:6-13 The King Anointed for His Burial Chapter 26:14-16 The Betrayer s Bargain Chapter 26:17-30 The Last Passover and the New Memorial Chapter 26:31-35 The King Again Prophesying Peter Protesting Chapter 26:36-46 The King Beneath the Olive Trees Chapter 26:47-56 The King s Betrayal Chapter 26:57-68 The King Before the Jewish High Priest Chapter 26:69-75 The King Denied by His Disciple Chapter 27:1-2 The King Taken to Pilate Chapter 27:3-10 The Traitor s Remorse and Suicide Chapter 27:11-26 Jesus Pilate Barabbas Chapter 27:27-31 The King Mocked by the Soldiers Chapter 27:32-38 The King Crucified Chapter 27:39-49 Mocking the Crucified King Chapter 27:50-54 It Is Finished Chapter 27:55-61 The King s Faithful Friends Chapter 27:62-66 Guarding the King s Sepulchre Chapter 28:1-7 The Empty Sepulchre Chapter 28:8-10 The Risen King Chapter 28:11-15 Falsehood and bribery The Gospel According To matthew Chapter 1 matthew 1:1-17 The Pedigree of the King 1.

10 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. This verse gives us a clue to the special drift of matthew s Gospel . He was moved of the Holy Spirit to write of our Lord Jesus Christ AS KING the son of David. He is to be spoken of as specially reigning over the true seed of Abraham, hence He is called, the son of Abraham. Lord Jesus, make us each one to call Thee, My God and King! As we read this wonderful Gospel OF THE Kingdom may we be full of loyal obedience and pay Thee humble homage! Thou art both a King and a King s Son. The portion before us looks like a string of names and we might fancy that it would yield us little spiritual food, but we may not think lightly of any line of the inspired volume.