The Jews, The Gentiles and the Church of God in the Gospel of Matthew by Robert Govett and published by Classics Our times are those of crisis, and of peril in doctrine, as well as in practice. There are many who are systematically setting aside the teaching of the Gospels, with the all-sufficient cry - ‘That's Jewish!’ In so doing they are ceasing to be disciples of Christ, for the teaching of the Lord Jesus as a whole is only to be found in the Gospels. In regard to the New Testament, they are falling into the very error of interpretation which was so justly rebuked, when applied to the prophets.
There is no need to define what is meant by ‘Israel.’ I may sometimes use the words ‘Jews’ and ‘Jewish’ as equivalent, though well aware of the difference between the two terms. But in this inexact sense our opponents use the word, when they say ‘That’s Jewish.’
By ‘the Church’ I mean the spiritual body of Christ, which began to be formed when the Holy Ghost descended at Pentecost, to testify of the risen and ascended Son of God. The Church is neither Jewish nor Gentile, but one body gathered out of both. It is true that this body is not shown in the Gospels in its fulness. But it is recognized in the “disciples” who listened to Jesus; and stands opposed to “the evil generation,” which consists of unbelieving Israelites and Gentiles.
