Manna Itself Bred Worms

“…manna itself bred worms.”
- Matthew Henry (1662-1714), commenting on Matthew 6:19-24

I love Matthew Henry more and more as time goes by. The sermon for morning worship this upcoming Lord’s Day is done. One more proofreading, and it’s about to be e-mailed it out so the notes can be printed. Then I decide to read Matthew Henry on the text. Four words, and he makes me want to rewrite a good portion of my notes. I won’t, but he tempts me greatly.

Henry is referring to Exodus 16:20. Even the provision God provided for the children of Israel in the desert was temporary, as all things in this world are. When they hoarded it (against His command), even the angels’ food (Psalm 78:25) rotted on earth. This is another reason to value the eternal, the heavenly, and the spiritual above those things – even as we enjoy earthly provision, give thanks for it, and prayerfully keep it in right perspective.

It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns:

“All my life I had a longing
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.

Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.

Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.”

- “Satisfied,” words by Clara Treat Williams (1858-1937)

The Treasure of His Name

“A good name is to be chosen above great riches, and loving favor is above silver and above gold” (Proverbs 22:1, Geneva Bible).

• “But while he thought these things, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, the son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her, is of the holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins.’ And all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which is spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying, ‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which is by interpretation, “God with us.”’ But he knew her not, till she had brought forth her first born son, and he called His name JESUS” (Matthew 1:20-25).
• “But beware of 1men, for they will deliver you up to the Councils, and will scourge you in their Synagogues. And ye shall be brought to the governors and kings for my sake, in witness to them, and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour, what ye shall say. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son, and the children shall rise against their parents, and shall cause them to die. And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name: but he that endureth to the end, he shall be saved...the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple to be as his master is, and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household? Fear them not therefore...” (Matthew 10:17-26).
• “Then the Pharisees went out, and consulted against Him, how they might destroy Him. But when Jesus knew it, He departed thence, and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all, and charged them in threatening wise, that they should not make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet, saying, ‘Behold my Servant Whom I have chosen, My Beloved in Whom my soul delighteth: I will put my Spirit on Him, and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He bring forth judgment unto victory. And in His Name shall the Gentiles trust’” (Matthew 12:14-21).
• “The same time the disciples came unto Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whosoever shall receive one such little child [the disciple humbled like a child] in My Name, receiveth me’” (Matthew 18:1-5).
• “Moreover, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be confirmed. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the Church: and if he refuse to hear the Church also, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a Publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Again, verily I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree in earth upon anything, whatsoever they shall desire, it shall be given them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:15-20).
• “Then answered Peter, and said to him, ‘Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee: what therefore shall we have?’ And Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily I say to you, that when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His Majesty, ye which followed me in the regeneration, shall sit also upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And whosoever shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first, shall be last, and the last shall be first’” (Matthew 19:27-30).
• “And Jesus answered, and said unto them, ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my Name, saying, “I am Christ,” and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and realm against realm, and there shall be famine, and pestilence, and earthquakes in divers places. All these are but the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake’” (Matthew 24:4-9)
• “And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me, in heaven, and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, until the end of the world, Amen’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

His Name, the greatest of treasures, is not owned without trial, but is great to eternal life – unlike the temporary treasures of this world.