Ⅱ
Based upon the controlling vision of the divine economy with the divine dispensing of the Divine Trinity, we can see the Divine Trinity in the divine move and in our experience in the book of Matthew:
A
In Matthew 1 the Holy Spirit (vv. 18, 20), Christ (the Son—v. 18), and God (the Father—v. 23) are present for the producing of the man Jesus (v. 21), who, as Jehovah the Savior and God with us, is the very embodiment of the Triune God:
１
Matthew 1:20 and 21 reveal the divine conception of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus (the Son); then verse 23 tells us that this One was called by men Emmanuel, which means “God [God the Father] with us.”
２
God the Father’s being with us was the issue of the divine conception of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus, the Son—cf. Luke 1:35.
B
In Matthew 3 the Son was standing in the water of baptism under the open heavens, the Spirit like a dove descended upon the Son, and the Father spoke out of the heavens to the Son—vv. 16-17:
１
The Lord Jesus was born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35), having the Spirit of God within Him essentially for His birth; then, for His ministry, the Spirit of God descended upon Him economically to anoint Him as the new King and introduce Him to His people—Isa. 61:1; 42:1; Psa. 45:7.
２
The Lord’s being baptized to fulfill God’s righteousness and to be put into death and resurrection brought Him three things: the open heavens, the descending Spirit of God, and the speaking of the Father; it is the same with us today for the accomplishing of God’s economy—Matt. 3:16-17.
３
By the descending of the Spirit of God like a dove upon Him, the Lord Jesus ministered in gentleness and singleness, focusing solely on the will of God; the Spirit’s descending was the anointing of Christ, whereas the Father’s speaking was a testimony to Him as the beloved Son.
Morning Nourishment
Luke 1:35…The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore also the holy thing which is born will be called the Son of God.Matt. 1:20-21 …That which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.
Luke 1:35 is a verse concerning the divine conception of the Lord Jesus. In this divine conception the Divine Trinity is revealed. Luke 1:35 shows the Holy Spirit’s coming upon Mary; the Most High [God the Father] overshadowing Mary; and the birth of the holy thing [the Son of God]. Thus, the entire Divine Trinity was involved in the conception of the Man-Savior.
Matthew 1:20-23 also refers to the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. Verses 20 and 21 show us the divine conception of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus [the Son]. Then verse 23 tells us that this One was called by men Emmanuel, which means “God [God the Father] with us.” These verses again reveal the working of the Divine Trinity in the Savior’s incarnation. God the Father’s being with us was the issue of the divine conception of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus, the Son. (CWWL, 1988, vol. 1, “Living in and with the Divine Trinity,” p. 302)
Today’s Reading
Matthew 3:16 and 17 reveal the Divine Trinity in His divine move. These verses show Jesus standing in the baptizing water, the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Jesus [the Son], and the Father speaking out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have found My delight.” The Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Christ can be considered as God’s anointing Him to be His Messiah to carry out His eternal purpose…. God anointed Him with the consummation of the Triune God as the anointing oil. In ancient times the kings and the priests needed to be anointed to take their offices. The anointing is the confirmation of the appointing. The appointed Christ was in the water under an open heaven and was anointed by the Triune God with the economical Spirit. By that time Jesus had already been born of the essential Spirit. Before the Spirit of God descended and came upon Him, the Lord Jesus was born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35), proving that He already had the Spirit of God within Him. That was for His birth. Now for His ministry the Spirit of God descended upon Him. This was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1; 42:1; and Psalm 45:7 to anoint the new King and introduce Him to His people. He was conceived with the essential Spirit for His birth in order for Him to be a God-man to exist on the earth. Thirty years later He was baptized by John. While He was standing in the waters of baptism, God came to anoint Him with the Holy Spirit as the economical Spirit to carry out God’s economy. (CWWL, 1988, vol. 1, “Living in and with the Divine Trinity,” pp. 329-330)The Lord’s being baptized to fulfill God’s righteousness and to be put into death and resurrection brought Him three things: the open heavens, the descending Spirit of God, and the speaking of the Father. It is the same with us today. (Matt. 3:16, footnote 2) By the descending of the Spirit of God like a dove upon Him, the Lord Jesus ministered in gentleness and singleness, focusing solely on the will of God. (Matt. 3:16, footnote 4)
The Spirit’s descending was the anointing of Christ, whereas the Father’s speaking was a testimony to Him as the beloved Son. This is a picture of the Divine Trinity: the Son rose up from the water, the Spirit descended upon the Son, and the Father spoke concerning the Son. This proves that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit exist simultaneously. This is for the accomplishing of God’s economy. (Matt. 3:17, footnote 1)
Further Reading: Life-study of Matthew, msg. 10; CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 3, “The God-man Living,” chs. 4-5