Matthew 1:23

Matthew 1:23

These words contain in themselves the whole history and course and means of man's redemption. In their highest sense they express that unfathomable mystery that God hath been with us, in our nature, that the Creator has taken His creature into Himself; but, by virtue of that gracious mystery, they declare God's presence in His Church, and with and within the souls of her members.

I. Such, then, is the twofold force of the title "Emmanuel, God with us," God in Himself, but with us, and such as we; not with us merely by mercy, or care, or providence, or protection, but with us as one of us; not restoring us by His word, as He created us, but by becoming as one of us; not by raising us by the hand when fallen, but by humbling Himself to us; Himself sinking to us, that He might rise with us, placing at God's right hand, united with Himself, and as part of Himself, the nature which He had redeemed.

II. And if He be such to us in deed and in the fulness of His purpose, if He have been thus God with us, and purposeth that we should be thus with God, how should He not be with us now in all things if we be His? What but sin can hide His face from us, in that it blinds our eyes that we see Him not? Why should He not be with us on our way, who is Himself the Way? To us, as to the disciples, He shows Himself in different forms, but He is the selfsame Saviour and Lord in all. He is our home and sure abiding-place; and all things in this earth may speak of Him, for we dwell in a redeemed world, which His sacred footsteps have trod and sanctified. Only, if we would truly see Him, we must seek to have the mirror of our hearts cleansed, that it may receive His glorious image. "The pure in heart," He hath promised, shall see Him. Love is the eye whereby the Spirit sees God. Disputing about holy things but blinds us. If we love, and as we love, we shall see and shall receive. While the world jangles our Lord comes secretly to us, if we, with pure hearts, draw nigh to Him.

E. B. Pusey, Sermons for the Church's Seasons, p. 54.

References: Matthew 1:23 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxi., No. 1270; H. Wonnacott, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xiv., p. 1074; G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines of Sermons, p. 9; Preacher's Monthly, vol. viii., p. 324; vol. x., p. 341; New Outlines of Sermons on the New Testament, p. 1; A. K. H. B., Graver Thoughts of a Country Parson, 3rd series, p. 169; H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year, p. 15; G. Huntington, Sermons for Holy Seasons, vol. i., p. 15.