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Deuteronomy Chapter
Eighteen
Deuteronomy 18
Chapter Contents
A provision respecting Levites. (1-8) The abominations of
the Canaanites to be avoided. (9-14) Christ the great Prophet. (15-22)
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8
(Read Deuteronomy 18:1-8)
Care is taken that the priests entangle not themselves
with the affairs of this life
nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this
world; they have better things to mind. Care is likewise taken that they want
not the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for
them. He that has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies
ought to give
help for the comfortable support of those that minister in such assemblies.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:9-14
(Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine
institutions
should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom
God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore
after many like
cautions
they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of
Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days
all charms for diseases
all
amulets or spells to prevent evil
fortune-telling
&c. are here forbidden.
These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out of the
Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this
kind in such a land
and day of light
as we live in. They are mere impostors
who blind and cheat their followers.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:15-22
(Read Deuteronomy 18:15-22)
It is here promised concerning Christ
that there should
come a Prophet
great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known
himself and his will to the children of men
more fully and clearly than he had
ever done before. He is the Light of the world
John 8:12. He is the World by whom God speaks to
us
John 1:1; Hebrews 1:2. In his birth he should be
one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem
and from thence his doctrine should go forth to all the world. Thus God
having
raised up his Son Christ Jesus
sent him to bless us. He should be like unto
Moses
only above him. This prophet is come
even JESUS; and is "He that
should come
" and we are to look for no other. The view of God which he
gives
will not terrify or overwhelm
but encourages us. He speaks with
fatherly affection and Divine authority united. Whoever refuses to listen to
Jesus Christ
shall find it is at his peril; the same that is the Prophet is to
be his Judge
John 12:48. Woe then to those who refuse to
hearken to His voice
to accept His salvation
or yield obedience to His sway!
But happy they who trust in Him
and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths
of safety and peace
until He brings them to the land of perfect light
purity
and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us
to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear
that we may know
what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain
sense of the written word
or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin
we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy》
Deuteronomy 18
Verse 1
[1] The priests the Levites
and all the tribe of Levi
shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of
the LORD made by fire
and his inheritance.
His inheritance — The Lord's portion or
inheritance
which God had reserved to himself
as tithes and first fruits
and
other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire.
Verse 3
[3] And this shall be the priest's due from the people
from
them that offer a sacrifice
whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give
unto the priest the shoulder
and the two cheeks
and the maw.
The maw — The Hebrew word here rendered maw or stomach
may have
another signification
and some render it the breast
others take it for the
part
which lies under the breast.
Verse 6
[6] And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all
Israel
where he sojourned
and come with all the desire of his mind unto the
place which the LORD shall choose;
With all the desire of his mind — With full purpose to
fix his abode
and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God.
It seems
the several priests were to come from their cities to the temple by
turns
before David's time; and it is certain they did so after it. But if any
of them were not contented with this attendance upon God in his tabernacle
or
temple
and desired more entirely and constantly to devote himself to God's
service there
he was permitted so to do
because this was an eminent act of
piety joined with self - denial
to part with those great conveniences which he
enjoyed in the city of his possession.
Verse 8
[8] They shall have like portions to eat
beside that which
cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
Like portions — With their brethren who were in
actual ministration: as they share with them in the work
so shall they in the
encouragements.
Beside that which cometh — The reason of this
law was
because he that waited on the altar
ought to live by the altar: and
because it was fit he should keep his money
wherewith he might redeem what he
sold
if afterwards he saw occasion for it. Mr. Henry adds a remarkable note
here: especially considering he wrote threescore years ago. "A hearty
pious zeal to serve God and his church
tho' it may a little encroach upon a
settled order
and there may be somewhat in it that looks irregular
yet ought
to be gratified
and not discouraged. He that loves dearly to be employed in
the service of the sanctuary: in God's name let him minster. He shall be as
welcome to God as the Levites
whose course it was to minister
and should be
so to them."
Verse 10
[10] There shall not be found among you any one that maketh
his son or his daughter to pass through the fire
or that useth divination
or
an observer of times
or an enchanter
or a witch
Useth divination — Foretelleth things
secret or to come
by unlawful arts and practices.
An observer of times — Superstitiously
pronouncing some days lucky
and others unlucky. Or
an observer of the clouds
or heavens
one that divineth by the motions of the clouds
by the stars
or by
the flying or chattering of birds
all which Heathens used to observe.
An inchanter — Or
a conjecturer
that discovers
hidden things by a superstitious use of words or ceremonies
by observation of
water or smoke or any contingencies.
A witch — One that is in covenant with the devil.
Verse 11
[11] Or a charmer
or a consulter with familiar spirits
or a
wizard
or a necromancer.
A charmer — One that charmeth serpents or
other cattle. Or
a fortune-teller
that foretelleth the events of men's lives
by the conjunctions of the stars.
Spirits — Whom they call upon by certain words or rites.
A wizard — Heb. a knowing man
who by any forbidden way's
undertakes the revelation of secret things.
A necromancer — One that calleth up and enquireth
of the dead.
Verse 13
[13] Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
Perfect — Sincerely and wholly his
seeking him and cleaving to
him and to his word alone
and therefore abhorring all commerce and
conversations with devils.
Verse 14
[14] For these nations
which thou shalt possess
hearkened
unto observers of times
and unto diviners: but as for thee
the LORD thy God
hath not suffered thee so to do.
Hath not suffered thee so to do — Hath not suffered
thee to follow these superstitious and diabolical practices
as he hath
suffered other nations to do
but hath instructed thee better by his word and
spirit
and will more fully instruct thee by a great prophet.
Verse 15
[15] The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from
the midst of thee
of thy brethren
like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Will raise up — Will produce and send into the
world in due time.
A prophet like unto me — Christ was truly
and
in all commendable parts like him
in being both a prophet and a king and a
priest and mediator
in the excellency of his ministry and work
in the glory
of his miracles
in his familiar and intimate converse with God.
Verse 19
[19] And it shall come to pass
that whosoever will not
hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name
I will require it of
him.
I will require it — I will punish him severely
for it. The sad effect of this threatning the Jews have felt for above sixteen
hundred years together.
Verse 22
[22] When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD
if the
thing follow not
nor come to pass
that is the thing which the LORD hath not
spoken
but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid
of him.
If the thing — Which he gives as a sign of the
truth of his prophecy. The falsehood of his prediction shews him to be a false
prophet.
Presumptuously — Impudently ascribing his own vain
and lying fancies to the God of truth.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Deuteronomy》
18 Chapter 18
Verse 15
A Prophet . . . like unto me.
Christ the greatest of the prophets
I. The office of a
prophet in ancient Israel. He was the voice of God to the nation.
1. Prophets are found from the earliest times in Israel (Genesis 20:7; Psalms 105:15). In the times of the
Judges (Judges 4:4; Judges 4:6; Judges 4:14; Judges 6:7). Samuel the founder of a
settled order of prophets (Acts 3:24). Continued now in Christian
ministry.
2. Note that God appoints prophets (or speakers)
not the priests
as
His representatives and specially commissioned messengers.
3. The awful responsibility of the speaker for God to say only what
God has commanded.
4. The word of the prophet was to be tested by its fulfilment (verse
22).
II. The promise of
the text permanently fulfilled in Christ. Applied by Christ and His apostles (Acts 3:22; Acts 5:37; John 5:46).
1. Christ and Moses alike in some points.
2. Christ and Moses contrasted in other respects.
III. Imperative duty
to hearken to Christ (Matthew 17:5). (Cunningham Geikie
D.
D.)
The similarity between Moses and Christ
As Moses
in the early part of his
career
refused the Egyptian
monarchy
because it could be gained by him only by disloyalty to God
so Jesus
turned away from the kingdoms of the World and the glory of them
because they
were offered on condition that He would fall down and worship Satan. As Moses
became the emancipator of his people from their house of bondage
so Jesus
lived and died that He might save His people from their sins; as Moses
penetrating to the soul of the symbolism of idolatry
introduced a new
dispensation wherein symbolism was allied to spirituality of worship
so Jesus
seizing the spirituality of the Mosaic system
freed it from its national
restrictions
and ushered in the day when neither at Jerusalem nor at Gerizim
would men seek to localise the service of Jehovah
but the true worshipper
would worship the Father anywhere
believing that the character of the worship
is of infinitely higher importance than the place where it is offered; as Moses
was preeminently a lawgiver
so Jesus speaks with authority
and has
in His
Sermon on the Mount
laid down a code which not only expounds
but expands and
glorifies
or
in one word
fulfils the precepts of the Decalogue; as Moses
stood the mediator of a covenant between God and Israel
representing God to
the people
and representing the people to God
interceding for them when they
sinned
while at the same time he admitted and condemned their guilt
so Jesus
is the Mediator of the New Covenant
standing between God and man
and
bridging
by His atonement and intercession
the gulf between the two. We
cannot wonder
therefore
that
in the vision of the Apocalypse
they who have
gotten the victory over the beast and his image are represented as singing “the
song of Moses the servant of God
and the song of the Lamb.” (W. M. Taylor
D. D.)
The prophet like unto Moses
I. The necessity
for a Mediator.
1. There was a necessity for a mediator in the case of the
Israelites
first
because of the unutterable glory of God
and their own
inability to endure that glory
either with their eye
their ear
or their
mind.
2. This sufficient reason is supported by another most weighty fact
namely
that God cannot commune with men because of their sin.
II. The person of
the appointed Mediator. Dwell upon this fact
that our Lord Jesus was raised up
from the midst of us
from among our brethren. In Him is fulfilled that
glorious prophecy
“I have exalted One chosen out of the people.” He was not
one who boasted His descent
or gloried in the so-called blue blood
or placed
Himself among the Porphyrogeniti
who must not see the light except in
marble halls. He was born in a common house of entertainment where all might
come to Him
and He died with His arms extended as a pledge that He continued
to receive all who came to Him. The main point
however
upon which I want to
dwell is
that Jesus is like to Moses. There had been no better mediator found
than Moses up to Moses’ day; the Lord God
therefore
determined to work upon
that model with the great prophet of His race
and He has done so in sending
forth the Lord Jesus.
1. I can only mention in what respects
as a Mediator
Jesus is like
to Moses
and surely one is found in the fact that Moses beyond all that went
before him was peculiarly the depositary of the mind of God.
2. Moses
to take another point
is the first of the prophets with
whom God kept up continuous revelation. To other men He spake in dreams and
visions
but to Moses by plain and perpetual testimony.
3. Moses is described as a prophet mighty in word and deed
and it is
singular that there never was another prophet mighty in word and deed till
Jesus came.
4. Moses
again
was the founder of a great system of religious law
and this was not the case with any other but the Lord Jesus.
5. Moses was faithful before God as a servant over all His house
and
so was Jesus as a Son over His own house. He is the faithful and true Witness
the Prince of the kings of the earth.
6. Moses
too
was zealous for God and for His honour. Remember how
the zeal of God’s house did cat him up. When he saw grievous sin among the
people
he said
“Who is on the Lord’s side?” and there came to him the tribe
of Levi
and he said
“Go in and out
and slay ye everyone his men that were
joined to Baal-peor.” Herein he was the stern type of Jesus
who took the
scourge of small cords
and drove out the buyers and sellers
and said
“Take
these things hence: it is written
My Father’s house shall be a house of
prayer
but ye have made it a den of thieves”; for the zeal of God’s house had
eaten Him up.
7. Moses
by Divine grace
was very meek
and perhaps this is the
chief parallel between him and Jesus. I have said
“by Divine grace
” for I
suppose by nature he was strongly passionate. There are many indications that
Moses was not meek
but very far from it
until the Spirit of Cod rested upon
him. He slew the Egyptian hastily
and in after years he went out from the
presence of Pharaoh “in great anger.” Once and again you find him very wroth:
he took the tables of stone and dashed them in pieces in his indignation
for
“Moses’ anger waxed hot”; and that unhappy action which
occasioned his being
shut out of Canaan was caused by his “being provoked in sprat so that he spake
unadvisedly with his lips.” Divine grace had so cooled and calmed him that in
general he was the gentlest of men. But what shall I say of my Master? Let Him
speak for Himself! “Come unto Me
all ye
” etc.
8. Our Lord was like to Moses in meekness
and then to sum up
all--Moses was the mediator for God with the people
and so is our blessed
Lord. Moses came in God’s name to set Israel free from Pharaoh’s bondage
and
he did it: Jesus came to set us free from a worse bondage still
and He has
achieved our freedom.
III. The authority
of our great Mediator; and let this be the practical lesson--Hear ye Him. If
sin had not maddened men they would listen to every word of God through such a
Mediator as Jesus is. Alas! it is not so; and the saddest thing of all is that
some hear of Him as if His story were a mere tale or an old Jewish ballad of
eighteen hundred years ago. Yet
remember
God speaks by Jesus still
and every
word of His that is left on record is as solemnly alive today as when it first
leaped from His blessed lips. Note how my text puts it. It saith here
“Whosoever shall not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name
I
will require it of him.” Today God graciously requires it of some of you
and
asks why you have not listened to Christ’s voice. You have not accepted His salvation.
Why is this? You know all about Jesus
and you say it is true
but you have
never believed in Him: why is this? God requires it of you. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Of Christ’s prophetical office
This passage foretells the Saviour; it is spoken of Christ. There
are several names given to Christ as a Prophet: He is called “the Counsellor”
in Christ alone the angel of the Covenant is completed; “the Messenger of the
covenant
” “a Lamp
” “the Morning Star.” Jesus Christ is the great Prophet of
His Church.
I. How doth Christ
teach?
1. Externally
by His Word (Psalms 119:105).
2. Christ teaches these sacred mysteries inwardly by the Spirit (John 16:13).
II. What are the
lessons Christ teaches?
1. He teaches us to see into our own hearts. The heart of man is a
great deep
which is not easily fathomed. But Christ
when He teacheth
removes
the veil of ignorance
and lights a man into his own heart; and now he sees
swarms of vain thoughts
he blusheth to see how sin mingles with his duties
his stars are mixed with clouds
he prays
as Austin
that God would deliver
him from himself.
2. He shows us the vanity of the creature. A natural man sets up his
happiness here
worships the golden image
but he that Christ hath anointed
with His eye-salve hath a spirit of discerning
he looks upon the creature in
its night dress
sees it to be empty and unsatisfying
not commensurate to a
heaven-born soul.
3. The excellency of the things unseen. Christ gives the soul a sight
of glory
a prospect of eternity.
III. How does
Christ’s teaching differ from other teaching?
1. Christ teaches the heart. All that the dispensers of the Word can
do is but to work knowledge
Christ works grace; they can but give you the
light of the truth
Christ gives you the love of the truth; they can only teach
you what to believe
Christ teacheth how to believe.
2. Christ gives us a taste of the Word. The light of knowledge is one
thing
the savour another. Christ makes us taste a savouriness in the Word.
3. Christ
when He teaches
makes us obey.
4. Christ teaches easily. He can with the least touch of His Spirit
convert; He can say
“Let there be light”; with a word He conveys grace.
5. Christ
when He teacheth
makes men willing to learn.
6. Christ
when He teacheth
doth not only illuminate
but animate.
He doth so teach
as He doth quicken.
Use--
1. See here an argument of Christ’s Divinity: had He not been God He
could never have known the mind of God
or revealed to us those secrets of
heaven
those deep mysteries
which no man or angel could find out. Who but God
can anoint the eyes of the blind
and give thee not only light but sight?
2. See what a cornucopia
or plenty of wisdom is in Christ
who is the great Doctor of His Church
and gives saving knowledge to all the
elect. The body of the sun must needs be full of clarity and brightness
which
enlightens the whole world: Christ is the great luminary
“in whom are hid all
treasures of knowledge.”
3. See the misery of man in the state of nature.
4. See the happy condition of the children of God
they have Christ
to be their Prophet: “all thy children shall be taught of the Lord”: “God is
made to us wisdom.” Labour to have Christ for your Prophet; He teacheth
savingly
He is an interpreter of a thousand
He can untie those knots which
puzzle very angels. Till Christ teach
we never learn any lesson; till Christ
is made to us wisdom
we shall never be wise to salvation.
IV. What shall we
do to have Christ for our teacher?
1. See your need of Christ’s teaching. You cannot see your way
without this Morning Star.
2. Go to Christ to teach you. And that we may be encouraged to go to
our great Prophet--
Our great Prophet
I. First
consider
the prophetic office of Christ in His Church
for which He was preeminently
qualified; and the first feature of His qualifications for that office which we
shall mention is His Divine prescience. He sees the end from the beginning.
Moreover
orthodox teaching pertains to the prophet’s office
and here also our
blessed Lord hath the preeminence
for He taught as one having authority
and
not as the scribes. The sum of His teaching when on earth
as well as by His
Spirit to this day
is life in Himself alone.
II. Now proceed to
the union and affinity described; “like unto Moses
and of their brethren.”
This sets forth Moses eminently a type of Christ
and we will name a few
particulars in which the type and antitype are alike
though the latter
infinitely surpasses the former. Moses was a man of fame
he was proclaimed
“king in Jeshurun
when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were
gathered together.” Jesus was proclaimed King of Zion by God the Father
saying
“I have set My King upon My holy hill of Zion
” and there He must reign
until He has put all enemies under His feet; but here the antitype infinitely
exceeds the type
for Moses could only reign over the people
but Jesus reigns
both over and in their hearts. Moses was famed as a warrior
and Amalek and
Moab felt his prowess--Sihon and Og fell before him; hut Jesus
as the Captain
of our salvation
has “spoiled principalities and powers
and made a show of
them openly
triumphing over them
” yea
He has vanquished death
hell
and the
grave
and is still going forth upon His white horse (Gospel truth) from
conquering to conquer. Moses was famed for meekness (Numbers 12:3). Jesus
our Prophet
was
like unto Moses
meek and lowly
and His meekness never failed
even when He
endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. The faithfulness of Moses
is also recorded by the apostle to his honour
“Moses
verily
was faithful in
all His house as a servant.” He was faithful to God for his people
and he was
faithful to the people for God. So our glorious Prophet was like him
and far
surpassed him
as a Son over His own house: His very name is “Faithful and
True
” as the Holy Ghost tells us in the Apocalypse; and by His servant Isaiah
He says
“Faithfulness is the girdle of His reins.”
III. Notice his
being raised up supernaturally--“The Lord thy God” raised Him up. In fact
everything pertaining to Christianity must of necessity be supernatural; and all
that religion which originates with fallen nature
and which fallen nature can
comprehend
must be spurious. The question which our Lord put to the Jews
respecting the ministry of John fixes the standard of real religion--“Is it
from heaven or of me?” “Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above
”
and
consequently
is supernatural--every act of faith
as well as the gift of
it
is supernatural; yea
the very life of godliness in the soul is
supernatural life.
IV. This brings us
to show that our great Prophet is entitled to obedience
yea
that it is
demanded
“Unto Him ye shall hearken.” Without this we cannot be reckoned among
His sheep
for He says
“My sheep hear My voice”; when He speaks in His Word
by His ministers
or in the secret whispers of His love; they hearken to Him in
these communications
whether they be for instruction
reproof
or comfort. As
a Prophet He hath graciously said
“I will instruct thee
and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go.” It is
therefore
our privilege
and must be our
wisdom
to sit at His feet and hearken to His words. By hearkening to Him I
understand the embracing of His embassy
as the sent of God the Father on the
great errand of salvation; and this will include the receiving of every
doctrine He preached--every privilege He bestows--and every precept He enjoins;
all which requires great grace from Him. Again
in embracing His embassy
and
so hearkening to this Prophet
there will be a settled reliance upon His person
and work as the great subject of Old Testament prophecy; so that whoever reads
the prophecies without an eye to Jesus
will find them but a dead letter
without spirit or life. (J. Irons.)
The need of a Mediator between God and man felt and acknowledged
I. On this great
occasion God was dealing with the children of Israel as the moral governor of
men
the Lawgiver and Judge of His accountable creatures.
II. This grand
publication of God’s holy law and sovereign will to the assembled Israelites
was accompanied with suitable attendant circumstances of awe and majesty.
III. The Israelites
by these symbols of awful power and holiness
were filled with solemn dread and
made application to Moses
that immediate communications from God might no more
be given; but that he would be their Mediator
receive the commands of God
and
declare them to the people.
IV. Observe God’s
approval of the application of the people and His compliance with it. (Essex
Remembrancer.)
The resemblance between Moses and Christ
I. Consider Moses
as a leader and lawgiver. You are to observe that both Moses and Christ proved
their commission by miracles--a thing that cannot be affirmed of any among the
prophets of Israel. They both came to an enslaved race; they both set loose the
prisoners; and
when proof of their authority was demanded
they both wrought
wonders beyond human power--wonders which equally showed their dominion over
the elements
and over life and death. Though one used his might in destroying
and the other only in works of benevolence
yet there was much the same
opposition raised against the one and the other--the magicians contending with
Moses
and evil spirits contending with Christ. And the deliverances effected
by the two were singularly alike
bearing evidently the one towards the other
the relation of type and antitype. Moses broke the yoke from the necks of the
captive people; Christ the yoke from the necks of the whole human race. But
when Moses made a passage for Israel out of Egypt
all danger was not escaped
nor all difficulties surmounted. The former tyrants pursued the free tribes
and sought to recover the ascendency they had lost; and though Christ hath
redeemed us from the power of Satan
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all
believers
who knows not that evil spirits
eager to regain their former
dominion
pursue those that follow the Captain of Salvation
and strive
with
ceaseless energy
to prevent their final escape? When Moses led Israel out of
Egypt
he did indeed tell them of a rich and goodly land
which God appointed
as their inheritance
but he did not at once put them in possession of it; on
the contrary
he conducted them into a dreary wilderness
where they were
exposed to continual trials
and harassed with various afflictions. Is it not
thus
also
with regard to our redemption? By Christ we hear of a mighty
Canaan
reserved for the followers of the Redeemer
but there is not an
immediate entrance; a wide desert has to be traced
set with snares and peopled
with enemies
and it is only through much tribulation that we can take
possession of the heritage. It is not only as a leader
but equally as a
lawgiver
that Moses bears a striking resemblance to Christ.
II. But we do not
think that it was in his capacity as a leader and a lawgiver that Moses most
eminently typified Christ. We go on to observe that Moses acted as a mediator
between God and the Israelites; and if as mediator
then was he indeed like the
Lord our Redeemer. The name of mediator is expressly given by St. Paul to
Moses; for you will remember that
in writing to the Galatians
be says
“The
law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” The reference here is
unquestionably to Moses; and
therefore
his claim to being reckoned a mediator
rests upon evidence which admits of no dispute.
III. Observe
more
minutely
the particulars of Moses’ life. With regard to the very infancy of
the two whom we wish to set before you as type and antitype
you will remember
that Moses was wonderfully preserved when in childhood--preserved from
Pharaoh’s order; and thus was Christ preserved when Herod slew all the children
in Bethlehem. Moses fled from his country to escape the wrath of the king
and
then there came to him a message
“Go
return into Egypt for all the men are
dead which sought thy life.” Christ fled in like manner
and then there came a
message
in almost the same words
to Joseph
“Return
for they are dead which
sought the young child’s life.” Moses
as we before said
contended with the
magicians
and forced them to acknowledge his power--Christ contended with evil
spirits
and obtained from them a similar confession. Immediately before the
emancipation of Israel
Moses instituted the Passover--immediately before
redeeming mankind
Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper. When Moses had to
appoint elders
he appointed seventy--when Christ chose His disciples
He also
chose seventy. Into the land that was to be conquered Moses sent twelve men as
spies--when the world was to be subdued
Christ sent twelve men as apostles.
How did Moses overcome Amalek? By extending both his arms
and keeping them
stretched out. How did Christ subdue all men? Only by suffering His hands to be
nailed to the Cross. As a prophet
Moses had to deal with a barbarous
generation
who were not to be won over to the obeying of God; and who
consequently
with the exception of two
all perished in the wilderness
in
forty years. And was not Christ sent to an obdurate people? Moses had to endure
ill-treatment from his own family--his brother Aaron and his sister Miriam
rebelled against him; and we are told of Christ
“Neither did His brethren
believe on Him.” Moses fed the people miraculously in the wilderness; Christ
fed thousands miraculously in the desert. And
in making a covenant of blood
between God and the people
did he not again represent the Redeemer
who
by
His own blood
hath “brought nigh those who were sometime afar off”? It was not
until Moses was dead that the people could enter the promised land; it was only
by the death of Christ that the kingdom of heaven was opened to believers. It
was
in one sense
for the iniquities of the people that Moses died. “The Lord
was angry with me for your sakes
and sware that I should not go over Jordan
and that I should not go in unto that good land
which the Lord thy God giveth
thee for an inheritance; but I must die.” We need not tell you that it was for
the sins of the world that Christ poured out His soul unto death
in the
fulness of His strength
when His eye was not dim nor His natural force abated.
Did Moses go up in the sight of the people to the top of Mount Nebo
on purpose
to die? and when Christ was yet in the flower of His age
unworn by any
sickness
did He go up in the presence of the nation
to the summit of Calvary
on purpose to endure death? Before he went up to die
Moses comforted the
disconsolate tribes with an assurance that God would raise them up another
prophet; before He went up to die
Christ said to His desponding disciples
“I
will not leave you comfortless; I will pray the Father
and He shall give you
another Comforter.” And
to add but another point of correspondence
Moses was
buried
but no one knew where his body lay; Christ was buried
and yet were not
His remains in vain sought for by the Jews? (H. Melvill
B. D.)
The prophetic office of Christ
1. The prophetic office of Christ is one of a peculiarly gracious
and encouraging nature to sinners.
2. The prophetic office of Christ is one of infinite dignity
inasmuch as He transacted in it with God for our salvation
and was able to
sustain that manifestation of the Divine glory and holiness which no mere man
can behold and live.
3. The text presents us with an interesting view of the security and
blessedness of all who enjoy an interest in the benefits of Christ’s mediation.
They shall not hear God’s voice nor see His face as the holy
and righteous
but deeply offended arbiter of the destinies of the moral universe
taking
vengeance upon His enemies--they shall not have to encounter a conflict with
His outraged holiness
and violated justice
and insulted power; but as He
shall look upon them through the medium of a Saviour’s imputed righteousness
and merits
so shall they
on the other hand
sea Him in the attractive and
winning light of a Saviour’s compassion
benignity
and love. (J. Forbes
D.
D.)
Moses the type of Christ
I. If we survey
the general history of the Israelites
we shall find that it is a picture of
man’s history as the Gospel displays it to us
and that in it moses takes the
place of Christ.
II. Christ reveals
to us the will of God
as Moses did to the Israelites. He is our Prophet as
well as our Redeemer. Favoured as he was
Moses saw not the true presence of
God. Flesh and blood cannot see it. But Christ really saw
and ever saw
the
face of God
for He was no creature of God
but the only-begotten Son
who is
in the bosom of the Father. Christ has brought from His Father for all of us
the full and perfect way of life.
III. Moses was the
great intercessor when the Israelites sinned. In this he shadows out the true
Mediator between God and man
who is ever at the right hand of God making
intercession for us. Moses was excluded from the Promised Land
dying in sight
not in enjoyment
of Canaan
while the people went in under Joshua. This was a
figure of/the that was to come. Our Saviour Christ died that we might live; He
consented to lose the light of God’s countenance that we might gain it. Moses
suffered for his own sin; Christ was the spotless Lamb of God. His death is
meritorious; it has really gained our pardon. (J. H. Newman
D. D.)
Moral and typical character of Moses
I. Consider Moses
in his moral excellencies.
1. His vigorous faith in the declarations of God.
2. His cheerful obedience to the commands of God.
3. He was distinguished for a spirit of fervent devotion.
4. He was distinguished for enlarged and unwearied benevolence.
5. He was celebrated for astonishing meekness.
6. His religion was characterised by its constancy and perseverance.
II. Consider Moses
as an illustrious type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The wonderful preservation of both in infancy.
2. The intellectual qualifications of both.
3. The voluntary poverty and reproach of both.
4. The offices which both sustained.
5. The signs and miracles which both wrought.
6. Both fasted forty days and forty nights.
There are many other traits of likeness between Moses and Jesus
but the above must suffice. In many things there was a great disparity between
them.
Application:
1. We may admire Moses; but Jesus demands our supreme love.
2. We may read the law of Moses
but believe and trust in the Gospel
of Christ
3. It is well to contemplate the moral excellencies and official
engagements of Moses; but it is better to meditate upon the scene on the holy
mount of transfiguration
where Moses and Elias both did homage to Jesus
and
conversed of His decease
which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem
and where
the voice from the excellent glory was heard
“This is My beloved Son
in whom
I am well pleased
hear ye Him.” (J. Burns
D. D.)
Moses a type of Christ
I. The peculiar
circumstances connected with their birth.
II. Their voluntary
abasement and humiliation.
III. Both were
especially appointed to be the deliverers of the afflicted and the oppressed.
IV. Both of them
delivered the laws and mind of God to the people.
V. Both of them
were appointed leaders of the people.
VI. Both of them
acted as mediators between God and the people.
VII. Both of their
engagements were connected with the ministrations of angels.
VIII. Both were
distinguished for high moral endowments.
IX. Both were
eminent prophets of the Most High God.
X. Both obtained
unspeakably valuable blessings for the people.
XI. Both lived and
laboured for the well-being of others.
XII. Both were
treated with ingratitude by those whose welfare they lived to promote.
Application:
1. Moses was the head of that dispensation which was legal and
ceremonial
and Which passed away. Jesus is the head of that economy which is
spiritual
gracious
and abiding.
2. Let us rejoice that we are not come to Sinai
but Zion; not under
the law
but under grace; not the followers of Moses
but the disciples of
Christ.
3. If disobedience to Moses and his law was visited with God’s
displeasure
how shall those escape who neglect Christ’s salvation
and obey
not His Gospel? (J. Burns
D. D.)
The resemblance of Jesus to Moses
I. These words
principally contain a prophecy of the Messiah. First
the word “prophet” is
expressed in the singular number
and intimates plainly the raising up of a
certain illustrious prophet at a fixed time
rather than a constant succession
of prophets. Moses expressly adds
“like unto me
” that is
in the principal
part of his character--one who should not only be a prophet
but also a
legislator. But
from the time of Moses to the days of our Saviour
there was
no prophet who had the same authority as Moses had
for the succeeding prophets
were only interpreters of the Mosaic law
they only exhorted the people to obey
the law of Moses; reproved the transgressors of it; and
by foretelling
punishments to be inflicted upon them by God
awakened them to return to the
obedience of this law. Jesus appeared in the world at that period when the
Jewish nation had the highest expectation of the coming of their Messiah. There
is no doubt but the ancient Jews acknowledged this text to be particularly
applicable to the Messiah (Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37).
II. The description
here given exactly corresponds to Jesus of Nazareth; and He resembled Moses in
more respects than any other prophet ever did.
III. The Jewish
nation have been
and still are
severely punished for their disobedience to
this prophet.
IV. Concluding
inferences.
1. We may see that Christianity is indeed near as old as the
creation. The two dispensations resemble a building supported by two pillars
joined and cemented together
Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone whom God
has placed in Zion; so that if you remove either of the two
the whole must
fall to the ground.
2. We may see that the infidelity of the Jewish nation is
unreasonable and inexcusable.
3. We may see the folly and inevitable ruin of such as reject Jesus
Christ
whose mission God has attested by so many proofs.
4. We may see the just foundation all true Christians have for
zealously promoting the interests of the Gospel. (James Robertson
M. A.)
Moses a type of Christ
I. Christ is a
prophet like unto Moses; and He is so in two respects: first
as to His
teaching; and secondly
as to His predictions. The office of the prophet was
two fold; he not only revealed
by the inspiration of God
the things which
should be hereafter; but he also
by the same inspiration
declared unto the
people the mind and will of God
as well as their duty towards Him: he was a
preacher as well as a prophet. It was so in the case of Moses. He made known to
the people of Israel the glorious character of the Most High--His holiness
His
majesty
His mercy
His justice. But not only did Moses deliver to Israel
heavenly doctrine
and gave them precepts for their guidance; but he foretold
their future fortunes
yea
he foretold that they would disobey those very
precepts. “I know”
he says
“that after
my death ye will utterly corrupt
yourselves
and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil
will befall you in the latter days
because ye will do evil in the sight of the
Lord
to provoke Him to anger with the work of your hands.” But let us turn
from Moses to Christ
“a Prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the
people”; that greater Prophet
whom Moses himself foretold
and of whom he was
but a type. We find in our blessed Lord the same union of the two
qualifications of the prophet. He is our great Teacher; and He also foretold things
to come. Christ is our great Teacher; and “who teacheth like Him?” The teaching
of Christ is so full
so important
and so adapted to promote our real welfare
that it demands our most intense and diligent study. Let us just glance at some
of the truths which His teaching conveys to us. Moses revealed to the children
of Israel only just so much of the character of God as God saw fit to make
known to him; but our Divine Teacher comes from the very bosom of the Father;
He is the Revealer of the Father to the sons of men; yea
He is Himself
“Immanuel
God with us.” Moses gave to Israel precepts whereby they might live;
but the blessings attached to them were but temporal: the great truths
connected with the life to come were but obscurely revealed to them. But our
great Teacher has “brought life and immortality to light.” He teaches us the
necessity of a change of heart
if we would dwell forever in the realms of
holiness and peace: “Except a man be born again
he cannot see the kingdom of
God.” He has told us of the absolute necessity that our sins should be
forgiven
if we would obtain everlasting life
and the way by which we are to
obtain that forgiveness. And He does what Moses could never do: He sends His
Holy Spirit to write His law upon our hearts. Moses gave to Israel the law of
the Ten Commandments
as well as the ceremonial law; but our Teacher has made
known to us the Gospel. The moral law was indeed glorious
its holiness was its
glory: but it could not save: it could but convince of our sins
and condemn us
for our disobedience. But Jesus has come to us with better tidings: He tells us
how we may escape the condemnation of the law. “He hath redeemed us from its
curse
being made a curse for us.” Christ our Prophet also foretells things to
come. He foretold
as Moses did
the destruction of the city of the Jews
and
of their magnificent temple; and
in the prospect of the inconceivable misery
which they were about to suffer
His heart was filled with anguish.
II. Other points of
resemblance between Moses and Christ are presented to us in the text. We are
told
“the Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet like unto me.” Moses
was commissioned by God as a prophet to Israel; and he came to them with all
the authority of such high commission. His words were as though they had been
spoken by God Himself; and it was at their peril that the Israelites refused to
hear him. So also is Christ sent unto us by God. The same almighty Being who
created the heavens and the earth
who formed the spirit of man within him
our
Creator
Benefactor
and Preserver
has sent unto us Jesus
to be our great
Teacher. What greater inducement can we have to hearken to His voice?
III. Moses was a
prophet raised up in Israel from among themselves. God sent not an angel to be
their instructor
but a man of like passions with themselves; one who could
sympathise and bear with them
and one whom they might approach without fear.
So also was Christ raised up to us from among our brethren; forasmuch as the
children were partakers of flesh and blood
He also Himself likewise took part
of the same.
IV. Again
Moses
prophesied that the Lord would raise up this mighty Prophet unto Israel; and it
is true that Jesus came to preach salvation first to the Jew. He said
“I am
not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But there is a
spiritual Israel
the seed of Abraham by faith
even the company of all true
believers; and unto them Christ was raised up to be a Prophet
the great
Prophet of His Church. (M. T. Spencer
M. A.)
The acceptance of Christ as a Prophet
What strikes one perhaps most of all in looking at the old castles
in England is the meagre openings that they have for light. How did the people
inside of them contrive to live and read and write? With these apertures and
passages out to the glorious day no bigger than the barrel of a gun
how did
they manage their existence? What incomparable comforts men have today in the
great windows that open back and front
and often on the sides
out into God’s
ample and beautiful world! These old castles
with the stray beams struggling
in upon broken down halls and dungeons
with the glorious floods of light
forbidden to enter
are a picture of the men who shut out the Lord. The
rejection of Christ is the refusal to let in the light
is the shrinking back
into the dark castle
into the rude home of barbarism and privation. The
acceptance of Christ is the acceptance of modem life in its highest meaning
giving a welcome to its ideas
its spirit of reform
its determination to
conquer the world. It is a coming out of the dark prison of self-containment
into an utter openness toward the infinite God. (George A. Gordon.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》