MATTHEW! ("CHRIST THE KING".) " FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT TO THE NEW TESTAMENT."

 AS WE DESCRIBES POSE THE CHALLENGE THAT JESUS PERSON AND MINISTRY.
HE WAS TO GREAT FOR HIS DISCIPLES. AND IN VIEW OF WHAT HE PLAINLY SAID, IS IT ANY WONDER THAT ALL WHO WERE RICH AND PROSPEROUS FELT A HORROR OF STRANGE THINGS, A SWIMMING OF THEIR WORLD AT HIS TEACHING? PERHAPS THE PRIESTS AND RULERS AND RICH MEN UNDERSTOOD BETTER THAN HIS FOLLOWERS.
HE WAS DRAGGING OUT ALL THE LITTLE RESERVATIONS THEY HAD MADE FROM SOCIAL SERVICE INTO THE LIGHT OF A UNIVERSAL  RELIGIONS LIFE. HE WAS LIKE A TERRIBLE MORAL HUNTSMEN, DRAGGING MANKIND OUT OF THE SNUG BURROWS IN WHICH THEY HAD LIVED HITHERTO. IN THE WHITE BLAZE OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WAS TO BE NO PROPERTY, NO PRIVILEGE, NO PRIDE AND NO PRECEDENCE, NO MOTIVE AND REWARD BUT LOVE. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT MEN WERE DAZZLED AND BLINDED, AND CRIED OUT AGAINST HIM. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT TO THIS DAY THIS GALILEAN IS TOO MUCH FOR OUR SMALL HEARTS. THE EVENTS OF JESUS LIFE WERE PATTERNED AFTER THOSE OF THE "OLD ISRAEL". SOON AFTER HIS BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM, DAVID'S BIRTHPLACE, HE WAS TAKEN INTO EGYPT. THE NEW TRUE SON OF GOD (HOSEA 11:1) WAS THEN CALLED OUT OUT EGYP HE WAS ANOINTED INTO OFFICE AS THE MESSIANIC KING AT HIS BAPTISM. HE OVERCAME SATAN'S TESTINGS IN THE WILDERNESS. HE GATHERED HIS NEW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF AT THE MOUNTAIN, AND THERE GAVE THEM HIS WILL FOR LIFE. HIS LIFE AS THE SON OF DAVID, THE LONG-AWAITED KING, TOOK THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND HE TAUGHT THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY WERE TO LIVE SIMILARLY. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HE OPENED THE WAY THROUGH THE "FINAL JORDAN" (DEATH). HE PROMISES IN HIS  NEW COMMUNITY THAT HE WILL REMAIN IN THEIR MIDST UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THIS PRESENT AGE, FOR HE IS IMMANUEL, "GOD IS WITH US."` ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE  CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS THE "NEW MOSES. AS JESUS MINISTRY" PROGRESSED IT  BECAME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT "OLD ISRAEL" TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOW EVER, JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL"  TURNED ON HIM AND REJECTED ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR. HOWEVER,  JESUS GATHERED SOME OUT OF "OLD ISRAEL". TO HIMSELF, AND MOLDED THEM INTO HIS NEW PEOPLE, "THE NEW AND TRUE ISRAEL." ENTWINED IN THIS THREAD IS THE CONVICTION THAT JESUS IS A  NEW MOSES AND TRUE ISRAEL, RESCUES IT FROM BONDAGE TO SATAN, SIN DEATH, INSTRUCTS IT, BESTOWS ON IT THE NEW PENTATEUCH, AND LEADS IT INTO TRUE INHERITANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. CLAIM TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD DOES NOT REST ON NATIONAL TIES OR RITUALS RIGHTLY PERFORMED, BUT ON FAITH IN, AND ALLEGIANCE TO, THE TRUE SON OF GOD, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD AND THE KING OF CREATION.