Torn!

In Matthew chapters 26 and 27 we find three occasions, on that solemn day of the crucifixion, when something was torn.

In 26:65 we read that “the high priest rent his clothes”. It was an act of hypocrisy, to suggest that he was offended with the Lord's declaration. With knowing it, however, Caiaphas was also indicating, symbolically, that his office of high priest was ended. We have no need of a human sacerdotal system — we have the Son of God Himself (Heb. 7:26-28).

What is God's testimony of me?

If we examine the occurrences of the Greek word martureo (“testify”; Strong’s nº 3140), we will notice that the Holy Spirit presents to us a very interesting picture of God testimony of His servants. The word is used 79 times in the Bible describing men testifying of other men, God testifying of His Son, etc. But only three times is it used in relation to God testifying of a human being. And these three occurrences present to us God’s servants in relation to the past, the present and the future.

Man of war and man of rest

David and his son Solomon and described in very different manners. Someone said of David: “A mighty valiant man, and a man of war” (I Sm 16:18), while the Lord Himself said of Solomon: “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about” (I Ch 22:9). In these two men we have an illustration of our Lord Jesus Christ in two different periods: at the end of the Tribulation (David) and in the Millennium (Solomon).

David, the man of war who freed Israel from all her enemies, reminds us of the Lord Jesus as the one who on the cross, “having spoilt principalities and powers … made a show of them openly, triumphing over them” (Col 2:15), and the one who, at the end of the Tribulation, will be manifested as one who “in righteousness doth judge and make war … And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations” (Rev 19:11-16).

Solomon, the man of rest who received a kingdom without enemies, where peace and justice reigned, reminds us of the Lord Jesus and the kingdom of peace and rest that He will establish on Earth during the Millennium, when “the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places” (Isa 32:17-18).

Having received deliverance from our enemies by the greatest Man of war, we await a kingdom of peace and rest under the authority of the greatest Man of rest. To Him be all glory!

© W. J. Watterson