C. H. Mackintosh Books: Notes on the Pentateuch and Where to Start
C. H. Mackintosh (1820–1896) was an Irish Brethren teacher who signed his work "C.H.M." His books fall into two groups. The first is his Notes on the Pentateuch, six devotional volumes on Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The second is his Miscellaneous Writings, short papers first printed in tracts and magazines and later gathered into volumes. TheWay Library has twelve of his books, all free to read. For his life story, see who was C. H. Mackintosh.
Where to start
If you're new to Mackintosh, start with Notes on the Book of Genesis. It's the shortest of the Notes, it reads easily straight through, and it shows his whole method: reading the Old Testament story slowly and finding Christ and the gospel of grace in it.
After that, choose by what you want:
- To study the books of Moses: go on through the Notes in Bible order, below.
- For assurance and peace with God: The All-Sufficiency of Christ.
- On the church and Christian service: The Assembly of God.
- On the Lord's return: The Lord's Coming.
- For Bible lives: Elijah the Tishbite and Life and Times of David.
Every quotation below is checked against the book it comes from. For many more, see our collection of C. H. Mackintosh quotes.
Notes on the Pentateuch
These six volumes are why most people know Mackintosh's name. They aren't technical commentaries. He doesn't argue about dates or authors. He goes chapter by chapter, draws out what each scene shows of Christ, and applies it to the believer. You can read them straight through or turn to the chapter you're studying.
Notes on the Book of Genesis
From creation to Joseph. The coats of skin and Abel's lamb point to a righteousness God provides; Enoch walks with God and is taken before the flood; Noah is carried through it in the ark. The long section on Abraham traces his call, his lapses and his restoration, and Mackintosh reads Jacob's life as a man disciplined until he learns who God really is. The book ends with Joseph as a picture of Christ, rejected by His brothers and exalted.
The more man sinks, the more God's grace rises.
Notes on the Book of Genesis, chapters XXIX–XXXI
Notes on the Book of Exodus
Exodus read as a book of redemption. Mackintosh follows Moses from the bush to Pharaoh's court, the Passover, the Red Sea and Sinai, and draws a sharp line between the grace that brought Israel out of Egypt and the law they took on at Sinai. The longest part walks through the tabernacle, its furniture and its priesthood as pictures of the person and work of Christ.
Christian reader, see carefully to it that you are not only saved by Christ, but also living on Him.
Notes on the Book of Exodus, chapter XVI
Notes on the Book of Leviticus
Many readers find this his richest volume. The five offerings each show a different side of Christ's life and death: the burnt-offering for the heart of God, the peace-offering for communion, the sin- and trespass-offerings for the sinner's need. Then come the priesthood, Nadab and Abihu's strange fire, the cleansing of the leper, the Day of Atonement and the feasts of the Lord. If you've ever stalled in Leviticus, this is the book to read beside it. Read Notes on Leviticus.
Notes on the Book of Numbers
The book of the wilderness, read as a picture of the Christian's path through this world. The camp set in order, the Nazarite vow, the cloud that led the march, the spies' unbelief at Kadesh, Korah's rebellion, Aaron's rod that budded, the brazen serpent and Balaam's unwilling blessings. A preface by Andrew Miller introduces it. Read Notes on Numbers.
Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Volumes I and II
Moses' farewell sermons on the plains of Moab. Volume I covers chapters 1 to 6, with the Ten Commandments and "Hear, O Israel," and a preface on the authority of Scripture. Volume II covers chapters 7 to 34: the lessons of the manna in chapter 8, the three great feasts, the cities of refuge, the blessings and curses, the song of Moses and his death. Mackintosh's steady theme is obedience that springs from love, not legality.
Wait on God, in singleness of eye and sincerity of heart, and He will make your path as plain as a sunbeam.
Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, Vol. I, Chapter II
Miscellaneous Writings
These volumes collect Mackintosh's shorter papers. Most are a few pages long, so they're good for a single sitting. TheWay Library has Volumes I through VI.
- The All-Sufficiency of Christ (Vol. I): papers on forgiveness of sins, regeneration, sanctification and final perseverance, written to settle troubled believers, plus the title paper on Christ as enough for every need. It closes with studies of King Jehoshaphat and of Josiah's reform under the rediscovered book of the law. This is the best place to start among the Writings.
- The Lord's Coming (Vol. II): "God for us" on Romans 8:31, notes on Abraham, "Thou and Thy House" on the Christian home, the unequal yoke, a long study of Gideon, and a series on Christ's return that ends by asking whether we only hold the doctrine or are really waiting for the Son.
- The Assembly of God (Vol. III): The Man of God from 2 Timothy, Decision for Christ, Prayer, Gilgal, the Lord's Supper, the church gathered to Christ, the priesthood of all believers, and three papers for the evangelist.
- The Great Commission (Vol. IV): Luke 24's charge to preach repentance and remission of sins, true conversion from 1 Thessalonians 1, Christian perfection, the tribe of Levi, the ministry of reconciliation and Peter's restoration.
- Elijah the Tishbite (Vol. V): some twenty-five papers on the assembly, prayer, grace and government, and The True Workman, his longest counsel to Christian workers. Then a full life of Elijah, from the brook Cherith to Carmel, Horeb and the chariot of fire.
- Life and Times of David (Vol. VI): ten short papers, among them Bethany and Legality and Levity, then nine chapters on David from his anointing through the cave of Adullam, Ziklag and Absalom's revolt to his last words.
Never interpret His love by your circumstances; but always interpret your circumstances by His love.
Life and Times of David (Miscellaneous Writings, Vol. VI), Bethany
A note on these editions
Most of these books read cleanly. The Great Commission has a damaged section order in this edition: parts of three separate series appear under bare "Part I" to "Part IX" headings, so read it paper by paper rather than straight through.
Why read Mackintosh today
Mackintosh makes the hardest parts of the Old Testament warm and personal. He keeps turning the reader away from self and toward Christ's finished work, which is why so many troubled believers have found peace in his pages. Begin with Notes on Genesis, then go on to Exodus and Leviticus. All twelve books are on the C. H. Mackintosh author page.