"Abundant in Goodness and Truth"
Summary
Christ’s earthly ministry displayed the divine goodness, mercy, and truth in action. This chapter traces the two great covenant foundations — Abrahamic and Davidic — through the prophecies of Christ’s birth and character, then into his ministry of healing, feeding the multitudes, and teaching through parables. Every act of mercy was a demonstration of the divine name being fulfilled in flesh.
Two great covenantal foundations underlie Christ's ministry. God told David: "You are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant." (2 Samuel 7:28)[1] Paul confirmed: "The promises were made to Abraham and to his Seed... who is Christ." (Galatians 3:16)[2] Everything Jesus did was the visible fulfilment of promises made centuries before his birth.
Isaiah had named the child to be born: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)[3] Jeremiah completed the portrait: "In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is his name by which he will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jeremiah 23:6)[4]
Moses had predicted him: "Yahweh your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst." (Deuteronomy 18:15)[5] Peter declared this fulfilled: "Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren.'" (Acts 3:22)[6] In healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and opening blind eyes, Jesus was not merely doing good works — he was fulfilling the prophetic name.
The feeding of the five thousand and four thousand were acts of divine goodness with millennial significance, echoing Psalm 132: "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread." (Psalm 132:15)[7] The bread of Jesus's hands pointed forward to the bread of life he declared himself to be: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (John 6:51)[8]
Matthew saw the healings as direct fulfilments of Isaiah 53: "He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:17)[9] Every instance of goodness in the ministry of Christ was a further revelation of the divine name — the name that had promised mercy, truth, and righteousness, and was now delivering them in person.