Luke. Nor do we see him popular and wise at the age of
twelve. Instead, we have his mother almost repudiated and left in
disgrace by Joseph and only saved by divine intervention. Jerusalem is
in trouble, the male children are killed and mothers are weeping for
them. The child Jesus is saved only by the flight into Egypt, his
whole life after the return from Egypt is covered in oblivion and he
is a despised Nazarite. The cross is one of desolation with no
penitent thief nor sympathy from any one, with his enemies reviling,
smiting their breasts and passing by. Nor is there much optimism or
expectation of success. The disciples are to be rejected and
persecuted even as their Lord; many are to be called and but few are
chosen; only a few are to find the narrow way; many are to claim
entrance into the Kingdom because they have prophesied in His name and
be denied. Even Matthew himself is a despised and rejected publican.

4. It Is a Kingly Gospel. The genealogy shows the royal descent of
Jesus. The Magi came seeking him that was "born king of the Jews," and
John the Baptist preaches that the "Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Here we have the parables of the kingdom, beginning with "the Kingdom
of heaven," etc. In Luke a certain man made a great supper and had two
sons, while in Matthew it was a certain king. In the other evangelists
we always have the term gospel while, with one exception, Matthew
always puts it "the gospel of the Kingdom". The "keys of the kingdom"
are given to Peter. All the nations shall gather before him as he sits
on the throne and "the king say" unto them, and the "king shall
answer," etc. (Matt. 25:34, 40).

5. It Is an Official and an Organic Gospel. This is suggested in that
Matthew represents Satan as head of a kingdom; also, in that those
connected with Jesus' birth are official persons and most of the acts
are official in their nature. Pilate, the judge, washed his hands of
the blood of Jesus, the Roman guard pronounces him the Christ, and the
guards say he could not be kept in the tomb, Jesus denounces the
officials and calls his own disciples by official names. It is Peter,
not Simon, and Matthew, the apostolic name, and not Levi as in Luke.
Jesus indicates his official capacity in his rejection of the Jews,
telling them that the kingdom is taken away from them (21:43). He
makes ready for the establishing of his own kingdom and tells them who
is to wield the keys of the kingdom which is not to