THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 14

John Beheaded, Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, Jesus Walks on The Water

The Bible is separated into books, chapters and verses, so it is easy to consider what came in the previous book or chapter is disconnected with what came in a previous book or chapter. It is like thinking that chapter has ended and now here is something new in another chapter or book. But, the Bible is the breathed out Word of God. It is the longest, continuous love letter spoken by God to His created. It has been written down by men under the direction of the Holy Spirit of God for us to read in this day. Furthermore, the Gospels were written by first hand witnesses, often corroborating one another’s accounts.

So, as we continue with Matthew chapter 14, keep in mind that what you are reading is connected to the narration of the entire Bible. In other words, it is your next step in the journey from Genesis through the Revelation. It is a progressive teaching and training for the disciple of Jesus, both then and now. Reading and absorbing these words and teachings, you, like a living stone, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. (see 1 Peter 2:5).

John the Baptist Beheaded

Matthew 14:1, At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, verse 2, and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Verse 3. For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Verse 4. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Verse 5. Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

Verse 6. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, verse 7, so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatevershe asked. Verse 8. And after being prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” Verse 9. And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and his dinner guests. Verse 10. He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison. Verse 11. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Verse 12. John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

(Commentary Break): Excluding the crucifixion of Jesus, this account of the beheading of John the Baptist is one of the most macabre events recorded in the New Testament. If there was any doubt the Herod was a beast of a man, this erases that doubt. His family was equally degenerate and evil.

John was beheaded to satisfy the grisly and debased desires of a perverse, immoral and debauched woman.

This is representative of the challenges you may face, whether greater or less, as you fulfill your calling and mission with Jesus. Jesus warned, in Matthew 5, verse 12 and 13, that “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This also tells us that despite the horror and depravity of this event, it was foreordained. It was part of God’s plan, and John did not shrink back from destruction, but he had the faith that preserves the soul (see Hebrews 10:39). He was called and faithfully completed his mission.

This may be hard for some to accept, but becoming a Christian and following Jesus, may require more than you have been told to this point. So I am telling you now, the cost of being a disciple requires all you have and all you are. And be aware that God takes no pleasure in those who shrink back! Therefore, do not throw away your confidence when trials come, for it has a great reward. You may need the endurance that comes from confidence, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised. (see Hebrew 10:35).

Finally, and on bit of a lesser note, there is ongoing speculation about why Herod said, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Bible commentators and teachers widely speculate that Herod was imagining these things or that he mistakenly identified John with Jesus. This is all nonsense. Jesus said, in Matthew 11:11-15, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Bible is quite clear that John the Baptist is called “Elijah” because he came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), not because he was Elijah in a literal sense. John the Baptist is the New Testament forerunner who points the way to the arrival of the Lord, just as Elijah filled that role in the Old Testament. John did for Jesus what Elijah was to have done for the coming of the Lord. The point of this is the fulfillment of prophecy. It has come to pass, just as the Bible said. You can depend on and have confidence in the Word of God to accomplish all that it says. Now, go! Complete your mission and calling! (End Commentary Break).

Five Thousand Men Fed

Verse 13. Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard about this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. Verse 14. When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

Verse 15. Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is secluded and the hour is already past to eat; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Verse 16. But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go; you give them something to eat!” Verse 17. They said to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.” Verse 18. And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Verse 19. And ordering the crowds to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up toward heaven. He blessed the food and breaking the loaves, He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Verse 20. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces: twelve full baskets. Verse 21. There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

(Commentary Break): Try to see with me that with the death of John the Baptist still fresh on Jesus’ mind, Jesus enters a boat and withdraws to a secluded place. The Bible doesn’t say why Jesus seeks solitude, but it does say that the crowds chased Him down and met at the shoreline even before He could get out of His boat or find rest. And Jesus saw the crowd and felt compassion. Please note, if you are a devoted follower of Christ on His mission, especially if you claim the title of pastor, this is the response of the Shepherd. He did not moan and lament, ‘how do I get away from these people and find rest’. He felt compassion. As it should be with anyone so called. This is our example.

I will not speak to this miraculous feeding of the 5,000. It is self-explanatory. But I will call notice to the symbolism of the ‘broken bread loaves’ as Jesus’ body, and the significance ‘leftover broken pieces’ and the 12 full baskets. The ‘broken pieces’ are significant that He is broken for us.

The meaning of the number 12 is completeness. The number 12 in Hebrew signifies perfect government, God’s government, divine order. Perhaps this is why we see:

God chose 12 tribes of Israel.

He ordained 24, (12 x 2), priestly divisions.

The 12 gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem point to His reign.

The 12 disciples chosen by Christ reveal the rule and authority of Jesus.

The context of 12 symbolizes the completeness of the nation of Israel. This stands for the completeness of His governing authority.

So, what do we do with this knowledge? What do we learn from the fact that numbers hold meaning in God’s Word and that the number 12 signifies God’s control and reign? Perhaps the most significant thing we can take away from this knowledge is nothing in Scripture is random or incomplete. God is a God of details, all pointing to His wisdom and power.

The meaning of 12 symbolizes His government and authority and should encourage us as the world seems spinning out of control. Though we’re living in the middle of the now and not yet, the New Jerusalem not on this earth with its twelve foundations and twelve gates, we know God is not finished. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Walks on the Water

Verse 22. Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. Verse 23. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. Verse 24. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. Verse 25. And in the fourth watch of the night, (about 3 a.m.), He came to them, walking on the sea. Verse 26. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. Verse 27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Verse 28. Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Verse 29. And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. Verse 30. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Verse 31. Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Verse 32. When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. Verse 33. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”

(Commentary Break): Verses 22 through 33 are rich with teachings and matters of curiosity, courage and faith. I suggest you read these verses over, several times and meditate on them, visualize them, to get a clear picture in your mind.

Now, review them again, and first, place yourself as getting into the boat with the other disciples. Close your natural eyes and see it with spiritual eyes. Think it. Feel it.

Now, place yourself in the boat, a long distance from land. It is 3 a.m. It is deathly dark, and a storm comes up and your boat is driven by a fierce wind and large waves are crashing over the bow and battering your boat. You are soaked from the rain and waves and hanging on for your life. Close your natural eyes and see. Think it. Feel it.

Suddenly, you and the other disciples see the figure of a man walking on the water, in the face of the wind and among the waves, and you are terrified. You cry out if fear, “It is a ghost!” Close your natural eyes and see.  Think it. Feel it.

Then Jesus speaks to your and the others, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Now put yourself in the place of Peter, as if you are Peter. Being true to your character, as Peter, you dare to ask Jesus if you can join Him in the tempest and on the wave. Jesus says, “Come”, and you step out of the boat. Close your natural eyes and see. Think it. Feel it.

Seeing the wind, you become frightened, and you began to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reaches out with His hand and takes hold your hand, and says, “You of little faith, whydid you doubt?” Close your natural eyes and see. Think it. Feel it.

When Jesus and you get back into the boat, you are sitting the in the boat, exhilarated, exhausted and wet. The wind stops. Close your natural eyes and see. Think it. Feel it.

As you sit in the boat, what do you say?  Say it. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 34. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. Verse 35. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding region and brought to Him all who were sick; verse 36, and they pleaded with Him that they might just touch the border of His cloak; and all who touched it were cured.

The men of that place recognized Him. If you do, indeed, recognize Him, what will you do?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 15, Inner Purity, Faith of a Gentile, Jesus Heals, Jesus Feeds 4,000.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 13, Jesus Teaches Parables

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 13

Jesus Teaches Parables

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

Here, in this chapter, are the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, hidden since the foundations of the world. There are many prophets, righteous people and even angels who long to see these things.

These things are written solely for the Christian and disciple of Jesus. Please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pay close attention, for this is the way.

Jesus Teaches in Parables

Matthew 13:1, On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Verse 2. And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.

Verse 3. And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; verse 4, and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Verse 5. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. Verse 6. But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Verse 7. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. Verse 8. But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. Verse 9. The one who has ears, let him hear.”

An Explanation for Parables

Verse 10. And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Verse 11. And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, (that is, those who do not believe in the Christ, who do not follow Jesus, those outside the family of the One True Living God), it has not been granted. Verse 12. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Verse 13. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Verse 14. And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘FOR THEM, THEY SHALL KEEP ON LISTENING, BUT SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND;  AND THEY SHALL KEEP ON LOOKING, BUT SHALL NOT PERCEIVE; Verse 15. FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

Verse 16. But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Verse 17. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Sower Explained

Verse 18. “Listen then to the parable of the sower. Verse 19. When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.

Verse 20. The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; verse 21, yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the message word, immediately he falls away from the faith.

Verse 22. And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the age of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it proves to be unfruitful. Verse 23. But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

Weeds among Wheat

Verse 24. Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. Verse 25. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds that resemble wheat among the wheat, and left. Verse 26. And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. Verse 27. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ Verse 28. And he said to them, ‘An enemy, a hostile person has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ Verse 29. But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Verse 30. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

(Commentary Break: This is the parable: The sower sows the word of God, which the good news regarding the way of salvation. These in the first group are the ones along the road where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 

In a similar way these [in the second group are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy, but accept it only superficially, and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and stumble and fall away.

 And the others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries and cares of the world the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures, and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour of wealth or fame, and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 

And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much as was sown.”

 The question remains, ‘who is saved’? All three groups hear the word but only the third group, those in the good soil, accept the word of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation, and bear fruit.

 Good fruit is that which is produced by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a starting place: the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The more we allow the Holy Spirit free rein in our lives, the more this fruit is evident (Galatians 5:16, and verse 25). Jesus told His followers, “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16). Righteous fruit has eternal benefit.

 There is a counterfeit to bearing good fruit is pretense. We can, either deliberately or ignorantly, become experts at routines that resemble good fruit; the lingo, and “acting Christian,” while experiencing no real power and bearing no eternal fruit. Our hearts remain self-centered, angry, and joyless even while we go through the motions of serving God. This can be either through deliberate deceit or an inadvertent misunderstanding of what it means and what it takes to become a true follower of Christ Jesus. The latter is tragic and fatal and can easily slip into the sin of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day in judging ourselves by how we think we appear to others and neglecting that secret place of the heart where all good fruit germinates. When we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things that the rest of the world does, we are not abiding in Christ, even though our lives may be filled with church-related activity. And, often, we don’t realize that we are living fruitless lives (1 John 2:15–17). These are the tares, the weeds growing alongside the wheat in the church. Check yourself and call on God as you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling! (End Commentary Break).

The Mustard Seed

Verse 31. He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; verse 32, and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”

(Commentary Break): Remember that we are hearing a simile, comparing a spiritual truth to a natural (earthly) example. ‘A person’, as spoken of in these verses, is you. If you take a mustard seed and sow it you’re your field, which is your heart and your life, then this smallest of all seeds, which is humble and insignificant in its appearance and origins, grows and matures until ‘is fully grown’; This seed, which is sown in your heart, mind, soul and life, is like the Kingdom of Heaven, and becomes a tree, but not just any tree. This tree becomes mightier than the cedar in Lebanon, as described in Ezekiel 31:

“A tree ‘whose tops is among the clouds, The waters made it grow, the deep made it high, with its rivers it continually extended all around its planting place, and sent out its channels to all the trees of the field. ‘Therefore its height was loftier than all the trees of the field and its boughs became many and its branches long because of many waters as it spread them out. And, all the birds of the sky nested in its twigs. And under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth, and all great nations lived under its shade. ‘So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended to many waters.”

This is what becomes of your life. But you must believe it, accept it by faith and act upon it. (End Commentary Break).

 

The Leaven

Verse 33. He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast or fermented dough, which a woman took and hid it in three measures of flour (which is about forty-eight pounds of flour) until it was all leavened.”

(Commentary Break): What is the kingdom of heaven like? It is like yeast, when hidden within ‘flour’ (which represents your heart, mind and soul, and your life), its cells begin to multiply and to expand.

Interestingly, the fermentation process produces different flavors, which contribute to the unique and delicious taste of bread and other fermented products. Yeast is a natural ingredient that has played an important role in the human diet for thousands of years. Yeast, as an active living microorganism, can provide probiotic benefits. proteins which contain all nine essential amino acids needed by humans; it also provides dietary fibers and several vitamins like thiamine, (B1), riboflavin, (B2), niacin, (B3), Pyridoxine, (B6), and folic acid (B9).  Additionally, nutritional yeast is low in sodium (the constituent of salt) and free from cholesterol and lipids.

All of this is more than an apt description for what the Kingdom of Heaven represents in your life. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 34. All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable. Verse 35. This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:

“I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL PROCLAIM THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”

The Weeds Explained

Verse 36. Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds resembling wheat of the field.”

Verse 37. And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,

Verse 38. and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one;

verse 39, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil,

and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.

Verse 40. So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.

Verse 41. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks and everything that is offensive, and those who commit lawlessness, verse 42, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 43. Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear.

Hidden Treasure

Verse 44. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

A Costly Pearl

Verse 45. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, verse 46, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.

(Commentary Break): What kind of treasure could cause you to sell everything that you have in order to buy a parcel of land in order to obtain what is buried there or to purchase one pearl? And what is the source of joy, found here? Is it earthly riches of great material wealth? Or is it something greater – much greater?

Keep in mind that this is a simile, comparing two things. In this case, the Kingdom of Heaven compared to a treasure hidden in a field. One is from the spiritual realm, the unseen world; and the other is from the natural world, the seen world.

It is also important to recognize that the kingdom of heaven, the spiritual realm, where all things originate; the natural world is where they manifest. The spiritual realm is the beginning of all things, and the natural world is the end of all things, where ‘dust returns to dust’.

This parable is telling us that there is a treasure of unimaginable value, which is hidden from the natural mind and therefore, out of view of the natural eye.

Understanding that the natural mind cannot understand or fathom what is hidden, then you must know that this man, ‘who found the treasure and hid it again’ had gained the ability to see and understand what he had found. How is this possible? 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, tells us that

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one”.

This man had gained a spiritual mind. John 14:16-17 tells us the secret. Jesus has said that, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you a Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”  By this you are born again, and the Spirit of God dwells within you, giving you the eyes to see and ears to hear about the kingdom of God! (End Commentary Break).

A Dragnet

Verse 47. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; verse 48, and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. Verse 49. So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, verse 50, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Verse 51. “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” Verse 52. And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”

(Commentary Break): Jesus concludes this teaching making a covenant with His disciples. It is as if they have heard the teachings and are now being asked, ‘do you solemnly swear’? Where upon they affirm, “Yes’. With that, Jesus proclaims the prophetic words in verse 52, which stated another way, says, “Therefore, as a result of your profession of understanding, I affirm that you, now a teacher of these mysteries and truths, having been discipled in the principles of the kingdom of heaven, are now a an owner and caretaker of these things for My household, and you will bring forth from this, your treasure, the new and glorious things I have revealed to you and the precious things and teachings from ancients days of My Father.”

These words were spoken then to those disciples and have continued to resonate throughout time, to this day, in your hearing and in your sight.

Jesus is now asking you, ”Do you now understand these things? If you say ‘yes’, then you are now a householder you are now an owner of these oracles of God. You are the scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, and you will now bring out of your treasure, both new and old. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Revisits Nazareth

Verse 53. When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. Verse 54. And He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, with the result that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man acquire this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Verse 55. Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Verse 56. And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man acquire all these things?” Verse 57. And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not dishonored except in his hometown and in his own household.” Verse 58. And He did not do many miracles or works of power there because of their unbelief. (End of Chapter 13).

Verses 53 through 58 give us a clear example and a picture of how you should be viewed from this time forward:

• You will, henceforth, go to your hometown a teach with the result that they will be astonished. And,

 

• People will ask “Where did this man or woman acquire this wisdom and these powers?

 

• People will ask, “Is this not the ordinary person I know? Where did he or she acquire these things?”

 

• And many will take offense at you. And you will not do many miracles or works of power because of their unbelief!

My prayer is that you and I can truly see, hear and believe the prophetic truth of the words we have just read, so we can go and do as Jesus has said.

This is our calling and our mission. This is the way!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 14, John Beheaded, Jesus feeds the Five Thousand, Jesus Walks on The Water

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, Verses 30 – 50, The Unpardonable Sin, Words, Signs, Relationships.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, Verses 1 – 29

The Sabbath & The Lord of the Sabbath, The Pharisees Rebuked

Jesus continues His mission and journey, teaching His disciples by example as they encounter various circumstances in life. These circumstances, though they may seem random, they are not. They are foreknown by Jesus, and His responses are both calculated teaching moments to prepare His disciples to carry His work forward. They are also examples of Jesus fulfillment of the Jewish Law, the Torah (see Matthew 5:17-18). The Old Covenant has passed and the New Covenant has come, and the religious establishment is enraged.

This is also an opportunity for us, the contemporary Christian, to discard personal religious biases, views, habits and rituals that do not conform to Jesus’ person, character and teachings, and to follow Him, only.

(Just as an observation: I believe it is doubtful that Jesus would be a welcomed guest in most of the postmodern church – the Church which He built. Please, think about that as you read. If Jesus said these same things and did these same miracles, what would the reaction be within the church, today?)

Sabbath Questions

Matthew 12:1-29, At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. Verse 2. Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” Verse 3. But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, verse 4, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Verse 5. Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? Verse 6. But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. Verse 7. But if you had known what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned those who are the innocent.

Lord of the Sabbath

Verse 8. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

(Commentary Break: First, let’s put this in contemporary terms. Suppose you, as a local religious or civic leader, see a man and his friends trespassing in a grain field which they do not own, stripping off the heads of grain and eating them, on a Sunday morning. What is your initial reaction?

 In this case, a group of Pharisees, went to Jesus and complained, not about trespassing or eating another man’s grain, but that the religious law forbade any work on a Sabbath day, in this case, picking or harvesting grain.

 Jesus’ response is to point out the hypocrisy of the practitioners of the Law and to remind them that the Law actually says that God DESIRES COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE. In other words, people come before the restrictive nature of a religious and ritual Law; people come before programs and that the Law of God is meant for our good and not for our condemnation. These verses define the failure of the Pharisees, the scribes and the Sanhedrin, and the failure of many postmodern churches.

Jesus then ‘doubles down’ as they say, and proclaims Himself as Lord of the Sabbath! I.e., He is greater than the and above the laws of the Mosaic Covenant, and as Creator, He is the original Lord of the Sabbath, and as Lord of the Sabbath, He had the right, power and authority to dispense it any way He chose. Is there little doubt why He enraged the religious Jews? Imagine he would walk, unannounced, into your church and said the same thing? (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. Verse 10. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”, so that they might bring charges against Him. Verse 11. But He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? Verse 12. How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Verse 13. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. Verse 14. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

Verse 15. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, verse 16, and warned them not to tell who He was. Verse 17. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

Verse 18, “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL DELIGHTS; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.

Verse 19. “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.

Verse 20. “A BENT REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A DIMLY BURNING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.

Verse 21. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”

(Commentary Break: The Pharisees are now attempting to ‘set Jesus up’ for an arrest. Instead, Jesus turns the table on the Pharisees with a simple question with a conclusive statement, and proceeds to heal a man. The Pharisees then conspire to destroy Jesus, and being aware of their plot, Jesus withdraws from that area but does not withdraw from His mission. Many follow Him and He heals them all!

Would you say Jesus is deliberately behaving like a radical, or is He obeying His Father and staying true to His Mission? The next verse clearly says, “This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled”: HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.”

We are to follow Jesus and His example, so, it is important to ask how you would react to the current religious establishment if you were truly serving God but perceived to be transgressing a local church rule. (End Commentary Break).

The Pharisees Rebuked

Verse 22. Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and could see. Verse 23. And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” Verse 24. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

Verse 25. And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. Verse 26. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? Verse 27. And if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. Verse 28. But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Verse 29. Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

(Commentary Break): Verses 22 through 29 should be enshrined over the door of every church sanctuary and emblazoned of every hymnal and church program handout as a reminder and a warning against becoming apostate or joining the apostasy, and blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and as a reminder of the resultant disaster for those who are part of that rebellion.

To repeat, “And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”. Can you hear this question?

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons. Do you hear the blasphemy?

Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? And if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.

But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

This is the warning to all of His church throughout all of the ages! (End Commentary Break).

 Jesus is ‘the Strongman’ referred to in these foregoing verses, Who is being tied up in the hearts and minds of these religious Jews. How can anyone be surprised at the flames of tribulation that have engulfed Israel since these deeply prophetic words were spoken by Jesus in or around A.D 30? Can anyone be surprised at the trouble besetting the United States and the world? They, and we, were warned. We must turn to Jesus for our salvation.

A Special Note: Jesus warned that the great apostasy within the church would occur. His words of warning are found in Chapter 24 of the book of Matthew, and the results of those who stay faithful are found in Chapter 6 of The Book of The Revelation. What we are seeing here in Matthew chapter 12 are the seeds of the breaking of the 5^th Tribulation Seal, which has been overlapping and is intensifying with the previously broken tribulation seals one through four. Jesus calls these seals and this phase of the tribulation period “the beginning of the Birth Pangs”. (see Matthew 24:9)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, Verses 30 – 50. The Unpardonable Sin, Words, Signs, Relationships

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, Verses 30 – 50

The Unpardonable Sin, Words, Signs, Relationships

Matthew 12:30, The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. Verse 31, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Verse 32. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

(Commentary Break): Please note that although Jesus’ intended audience is Greek-speaking Jewish Christians, these remarks draw a stark line between the ‘saved’ and the ‘unsaved’. Jesus makes a distinction here between those who believe in and have confessed Jesus as their Lord and are His disciples.

1. 1. 1. (i.e., the one who ‘gathers’, i.e., (from the Greek word), ‘sunagó’, that is the one who ‘joins with and come together’ with Jesus), and
      2. those who do not believe in Him but ‘scatters’, i.e., (from the Greek word), ‘skorpizó’, that is one who ‘dissipates and wastes’ this most valuable and precious gift from God.

Verse 31 begins with the connecting and defining word ‘therefore’, indicating that what comes next is based on what was said before: Therefore, every sin and Blasphemy (blasphemia), that which is abusive, scurrilous, and evil; that which exchanges what God says is good for that which is evil. Exchanging the truth of God for a lie, will be forgiven, even if it is spoken against the Son of Man, i.e., Jesus. But if blasphemy is spoken against the Holy Spirit, cannot be forgiven.

Please Note: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, at the time of the speaking of these words, had to do with accusing Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed instead of Spirit-filled. The Pharisees were in a unique moment in history: they had the Law and the Prophets, they had the Holy Spirit stirring their hearts, they had the Son of God Himself standing right in front of them, and they saw with their own eyes the miracles He did. Never before in the history of the world (and never since) had so much divine light been granted to men; if anyone should have recognized Jesus for who He was, it was the Pharisees. Yet they chose defiance. They purposely attributed the work of the Spirit to the devil, even though they knew the truth and had the proof. Jesus declared their willful blindness to be unpardonable. Their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was their final rejection of God’s grace. They had set their course, and God was going to let them sail into perdition unhindered.

This exact kind of blasphemy cannot be replicated today.

After Christ’s resurrection and ascension to the Father, the unpardonable sin, (blasphemy), is the state of continued unbelief. The Spirit currently convicts the unsaved world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). To resist that conviction and willfully remain unrepentant is to “blaspheme” the Spirit. There is no pardon, either in this age or in the age to come, for a person who rejects the Spirit’s promptings to trust in Jesus Christ and then dies in unbelief. The love of God is evident: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And the choice is clear: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). But, as long as you are alive, it is never too late to confess and repent of your sins and turn to Jesus for complete forgiveness and to receive His free gift of salvation (see GotQuestion.Org). (End Commentary Break).

Words Reveal Character

Verse 33. “Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; because the tree is known by its fruit. Verse 34. You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. Verse 35. The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. Verse 36. But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. Verse 37. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Commentary Break): Jesus begins with a metaphor of a tree and its fruit, then reveals the subject of His metaphor is the Pharisees – and Jesus leaves little to the imagination. He calls them vipers and evil; bad trees that produce bad fruit. Jesus reminds us that it is ‘the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart’ which is revealing wisdom, both then and now.

Besides rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus warns of the dangers of their errant words, which is true for everyone at any time.

As I discussed in a recent article, the state of your heart and mind is revealed by the words you speak and, in a real sense, it is those words which condemn you or justify you. (End Commentary Break).

The Desire for Signs

Verse 38. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” Verse 39. But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; Verse 40. for just as JONAH WAS IN THE STOMACH OF THE SEA MONSTER FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Verse 41. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Verse 42. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

(Commentary Break): Jesus is rebuking the unbelieving Pharisees, then, and the unbelieving world now. He is saying, in essence, ‘I don’t need to prove anything to you. There is enough evidence and proof already available, if you chose to see it. You claim to believe what happened with Jonah and you claim to understand about the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, yet you deny all that is written about Me. You offspring of vipers! You believe only those things you desire but you neglect the greater things!’

Likewise, it is not our responsibility to use extra-Biblical means to convince others about Christ. Everything necessary is recorded. We believe by faith and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We don’t have to and should not try to prove anything more. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 43.“Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Verse 44. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Verse 45. Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

(Commentary Break): These are ominous and prophetic words. It foretells and forecasts the condition of those who reject Christ, Jew and Gentile alike. NOTE: The final words of verse forty-five say ‘that is the way it will be also with this evil generation’ (meaning this race, family or generation, and the characteristic unbelieving behavior of this generation), which, when used with another time word (such as ‘and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first’)  perfectly indicates an infinity of time. I.e., So it will be forever!

The succeeding generation will be plagued with and identified and controlled by unclean spirits, getting progressively worse with time! We can see examples of this already in our world today with the rise and acceptance of child sacrifice (abortions), Satan worship, murders, rapes, acceptance of homosexuality, transgenderism, hate, violence, rampant thievery, the spread and acceptance of drug use, and more. It would appear that paganism and satanism is on the rise and Christianity is on the wane. But Jesus warns of their fate. (End Commentary Break).

Changed Relationships

Verse 46. While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Verse 47. Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.” Verse 48. But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” Verse 49. And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! Verse 50. For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”

(Commentary Break): There is no clearer example of what the family of God represents. If you think blood relatives should be close, then you should now know that the Blood of Christ relatives are also your family and should be help close as well.

It is obvious that there are cliques and groups in the church that ever-so-politely exclude others. Those who treats some a more important than others, leaving some out of their social gatherings, their activities and their lives, while including others. The Apostle Paul corrects the church on these matters: “But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.”

The Apostle Peter also encouraged the family of God, saying, “Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently loveoneanother from the heart.” (End Commentary Break).

This is how we know if we are His disciples, by our love and respect for one another!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 13, Jesus Teaches Parables

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, Verses 1 – 29, The Sabbath & The Lord of the Sabbath, The Pharisees Rebuked.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:20-30

Unrepenting Cities, Come to Me

The Unrepenting Cities

Matthew 11:20. Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His (works of power and) miracles were done, because they did not repent. Verse 21. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the (works of power and) miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in (symbols of mourning), sackcloth and ashes. Verse 22. Nevertheless, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. Verse 23. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! For if the (works of power and) miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Verse 24. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”

(Commentary Break: These words of Jesus are spoken, both to those in that day and are prophetically spoken to everyone of all the ages since that day.

Jesus is patient and loving beyond our comprehension. He is the embodiment of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control.

 But there is a time coming when the faithful will be rewarded and the faithless will be judged. And Jesus words should be taken with all the seriousness and gravity as one would expect from God’s judgments.

 Jesus is warning the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum of God’s coming judgment for their unbelief, their sins and their worship of false gods despite the fact that they had seen and experienced the acts of Jesus in their midst. This warning is extended to each and every person, city, state and nation who falls in the category of the unbelieving ways of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum. BE AWARE and BEWARE!

These coming judgments are pictured as seven seals opened, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. God’s judgment against the wicked will leave no doubt as to His wrath against sin. (Besides punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of Israel to repentance.) (End Commentary Break).

Come to Me

Verse 25. At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. Verse 26. Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight.

Verse 27. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.

Verse 28. “Come to Me, all who are (exhausted), weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Verse 29. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND A RESTING PLACE FOR YOUR SOULS. Verse 30. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

(Commentary Break): We see, in the earlier verses of this chapter eleven, that Jesus has given tribute to John for his faithful and obedient work, and He answers John’s questions about Him (Jesus) being the anticipated Messiah.

Jesus then gives John’s disciples evidence of His own divinity, and warns the gathering crowds (and all future potential followers) of the dangers of misunderstanding His intentions and the consequences of unbelief. He continues by warning of the coming “day of judgment”.

Please do not miss the significance of the context of these remarks. The tribulation period, the days of distress is beginning – and as we will see, the various seal judgments will begin to overlap and intensify. Then, with the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal, the final 7 years of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord will begin. (Also known as Daniel’s 70^th week or the Great Tribulation period.)

Jesus, now praying to His Father, is thanking Him for hiding the great oracles of God and the prophetic truth about His (Jesus’) identity; about His plan and purpose and the fate of the heavens and the earth.

The ‘wise and understanding’, those from whom these things are hidden, are the teachers and leaders of Israel (Jews) such as the Sanhedrin, the scribes and the Pharisees. These are the ones who have seated themselves ‘in the chair of Moses’. They tell you what to do according to scriptures but do not comply, themselves. These are the ones who tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people. (see Matthew 23).

Notice that the spirit of these who consider themselves as ‘the wise and understanding’ as still among us today. Still exalting themselves, still dressing in their robes, ‘broadening their phylacteries’ calling themselves Rabbi, teacher, Father and leader.  Jesus issues eight woes to those who believe and act like them. Be warned, all who hear these words!

Jesus then thanks His Father that He has revealed these things to ‘to little children’, meaning ‘like a simple person, even an immature Christian’. Someone who believes and follows Jesus with a simple, abiding faith and obedience. One who is not encumbered by traditions, customs, rituals and the teaching of men.

Jesus now makes the most astounding of all claims to His Divinity, Sovereignty and His Authority: All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Jesus continues by telling us that those who come to Him, will find that His authority and sovereignty will bring them rest for their souls: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

It is those who are humble in heart, those who submit themselves wholly to Jesus, His ways and His teachings, who find rest. (End Commentary Break).

And, as odd as it may seem, it is these same gentle sheep of the Great Shepherd who gird themselves with the full armor of God, having become strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, be able to resist the evil in that day, extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one. And with every prayer as an ambassador of Christ, making known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

Please don’t make the mistake of reading these words and believing they were spoken only to and for the Jews present at that time – or you miss the entire point of what Jesus is saying. These words were spoken to the Jews at that time AND for you and me in our time. Also, please remember specifically, the words of Jesus are never random. His Words are always creative, causative, prophetic, and instructional, and are spoken to and for all people of all the ages.

We must grasp the reality, the immediacy and urgency of this fulfillment of prophecies in, as explained by Jesus in these last days – which are evidenced by the coming of John and of Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 12, The Sabbath, Unpardonable Sin, Words & Character, Signs, Relationships.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19, John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute to John.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19

John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute to John

John’s Questions

Matthew 11:1, When Jesus had finished giving (and commanding) instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach (and proclaim) in their cities.

(Commentary Break: Verse one is simply stated and easily overlooked. Jesus has finished giving instructions and continues to fulfill His mission and leads by example, by continuing to teach and preach in their cities!

This is the model and the way for each and every disciple of Christ, but particularly pastors and teachers and anyone else who would brazenly assume the role of a leader. Get out from behind your religious trappings and follow Jesus! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 2. Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, verse 3, and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look (and wait) for someone else?” Verse 4. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: verse 5, those who are BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the POOR HAVE THE (GOOD NEWS of the) GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Verse 6. And blessed is anyone (that is whoever) who does not take offense (and stumble over) Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

Verse 7. As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Verse 8. But (well then), what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ (houses and) palaces!

Verse 9. But (well then), what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. Verse 10. This is the one about whom it has been written:

‘BEHOLD, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER (BEFORE YOUR FACE), AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’

(Commentary Break: Jesus emphatically states, whether they know it or not, they shall see one who is a prophet, and more than a just a prophet!

Likewise, if you encounter a true prophet of God, your curiosity will turn into fear. You will not encounter the ordinary, but the extraordinary things of God. Your sins will be exposed, you will be humbled, and you will know the fear of God. You will mourn, you will hunger and thirst, and you will find seek and find mercy.

Jesus warns this crowd and gives us perspective of the natural order versus the Devine, our standing as citizens of earth before Christ Jesus and on our position as Christians in His Kingdom. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(Commentary Break: Jesus, in His tribute to John the Baptist, is reminding us that the greatness of men is measured by the divine not a human standard. ‘The prophet, who was more than a prophet’, the herald or the forerunner of the kingdom, was greater in his work, his holiness, his intuition of the truth, than the far-off patriarchs, Abraham, Moses, David or Solomon, and much greater than the conquerors and the destroyers. The Greek gives the comparative, not the superlative.

The death and the resurrection of Christ were indeed great points of the gospel, but to which John could only prophesy of, and not preach of, and declare us things in his time accomplished. So, Jesus explains and warns that the weakest Christian is greater in privileges than the greatest of the Old Testament saints.

 We are not to seek to attain earthly glory or status – even when they are beneficial and worthy things, for the best of earthly accomplishments fade to nothingness when compared to the glory and privileges, even the lowest of Christians will attain in the Kingdom of God. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. Verse 13. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. Verse 14. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who (is going to come). Verse 15. The one who has ears to hear, (listen and) let him hear.

(Commentary Break: You might be better served to read a good commentary for the preceding verses (twelve through fifteen). However, it is certainly passive here. Luke’s phrase compels us to understand the reason of the violence is for entrance into the kingdom. The kingdom is not being ill-treated, but it is as if it were being taken by storm (Meyer). The violent, are men using strong force, men whose minds are made up and who do not care what force and power they employ to attain their object. Take it by force, i.e., ‘grasp it for themselves’ like rough and violent bandits seizing their prey. Our Lord is describing the energy with which some souls are pressing in, and using such energy, so their salvation is obtained. There is no thought of hostile purpose in these words. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 16. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, verse 17, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not (beat your breast and) mourn.’ Verse 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ Verse 19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a heavy (wine) drinker, a friend of tax collectors and (irreligious Jews) and sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

(Commentary Break: These words of Jesus are often misunderstood or passed over because of their mysterious sounding nature and complexity. These are metaphors and colloquialisms known by the Jew, and if you were a Jew in that day, you would understand the references used.

It would be easy to assume that these words spoken to the gathering crowd are draped in sarcasm, when actually Jesus is issuing a stern warning. He is rhetorically asking the crowd why would they travel so far in such a desolate place? Did they make this journey only to see the ordinary and mundane, such as a commonplace reed blowing in the wind? What would be the point of travelling into the wilderness when you could see that anywhere? Or perhaps did they expect to see a man wearing royal clothing wandering about the wilderness? Nonsense. They are fooling no one but themselves!

Before continuing, please remember that these are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional words of Jesus. These words apply to you and to me today in the same way they applied to the crowds following Jesus. Grasping what Jesus is saying, teaching, prophesying and instructing is our obstacle to overcome.

Even in our day, crowds of people travel near and far after hearing about a miracle-worker, a prophet or a gifted man of God. They go to great lengths to be amazed, entertained or to receive a prophet’s miracle. Too often, however, when we seek out a prophet of God, we only find that which is very ordinary. But what did you really expect?

But if you encounter a true prophet of God, it will not be a commonplace thing. There will be no inspiring oratory, no magnificent stage presence, no entertainment, no magic.

Jesus uses a metaphor to describe the behavior of both observant and non-observant Jews as miscreant children, saying they are immature, selfish and childish. They are “like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates”, pretending that what is occurring is only a child’s game for their entertainment. But the seriousness and the reality of it is that, “John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and (yet you ‘childish people’ say), ‘He’s possessed by a demon. ’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ (End Commentary Break).

We must not think or behave like immature children through the rituals of “going to church and calling out to our ‘playmates’ seeking to entertain and to be entertained in the name of our religion, complaining when we don’t get what we want or expect.” In other words, we must stop ‘playing church’, and sense the gravity of the task before us as Christians.

“Wisdom is justified by her deeds”, and of us, it will be found out by way of our own deeds! There is no exception.

(End Chapter 11, verses 1 through 19. Next, Chapter 11, verses 20 through 30).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 10, Instructions for Service, A Hard Road, Discipleship and The Rewards.

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:20-30, Unrepenting Cities, Come to Me

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 10

Instructions for Service, A Hard Road, Discipleship and The Rewards

Let’s review the purpose of this study and commentary. First, it is for us, as His disciples and followers, to learn to walk in the steps of Jesus. We, have been commissioned and sent into all the world, to make disciples. We are to tell people about Him. We are to teach them to obey His words, and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Book of Matthew presents us with the model and methods of Jesus, which are to be our models and methods in order to accomplish our mission.

Secondly, the purpose of this study is to concurrently seek and find the prophetic words of Jesus, in order to pursue and apply them to our lives. This task and exercise will lead us to call on and to walk in the Holy Spirit with His guidance and power.

(NOTE: Please. If it isn’t found in scriptures, it is not of God. Making conjecture ‘because it sound reasonable’ is error! If it isn’t here – don’t you dare!).

Finally, Jesus has told us we are to do the Works He has done and greater works than these, as He has gone to the Father.

If you are wondering about ‘these works’, you are not alone. The crowds that followed Jesus also asked, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?”  Jesus answered, “This is the Work of God: that you believe, [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” (See John 6:28 & 29).

It is by this method – walking by faith, in the prophetic – that we are prepared and empowered to allow God to do His Works and even greater works – though our mortal bodies and through our lives.

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

Matthew 10:1, Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

(Commentary Break: Here is the definition and use of the word ‘authority’ as used in Matthew 10 verse 1 from Strong’s Concordance: ‘eksousía’, meaning a conferred power; delegated empowerment (“authorization”), operating in a designated jurisdiction. The power to act; moral authority or influence in a quasi-personal sense, derived from later Judaism, of a spiritual power and hence of an earthly power.

It is being taught in many churches that the authority Jesus gave these twelve disciples has ended. It is being taught that this authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness was exclusive to them. The Bible never says nor infers that this authority was exclusive, restricted or withdrawn. Such an idea is a fabrication of men or women who have never seen or experienced such authority. IN FACT, the original twelve disciples are rarely shown exercising such authority, although there are examples to be referenced. (see Healings through the disciples).

Although there are few reports of legitimate miracles, casting out of demons or unclean spirits and healings, there are a number confirmed examples in our current day as well. But the main point to be made here is that unless the Bible clearly states an event has occurred, or has not occurred, whether or not a spiritual gift has been revoked or has not been revoked, then nothing has changed in the recorded scriptures. They are the Word and Breath of God and His is the same yesterday, today and forever.

If you simply cannot fathom the inerrancy or accuracy of the written Word of God, then it is your faith that is needs work, and not the Bible. (It would be best to pray about these matters and spend time studying and practicing The Word of God). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [footnote ‘a’] James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Verse 3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Verse 4. Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

(Commentary Break: This event is similar to Genesis, “in the beginning”. Jesus has set a prophetic mission in motion. Here, Jesus is calling and sending the first of many millions of disciples to follow. Then before His ascension, Jesus gave these final instructions, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” With the passing of these disciples, came the next wave with the same mission and calling; then the next, and the next, and the next, and now you!

Every called one who give his or her life to Jesus is a disciple of Jesus. Every disciple of Jesus is also commissioned and sent on this mission. No Christian is exempt, that is, no true follower of Jesus is exempt. This is the reason. This is the cause. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; verse 6, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Commentary Break: These 12 were sent to the house of Israel. Soon after, Paul was sent to the Gentiles. The Gentiles have been grafted into the Olive Tree and are now one with Christ. There is now, therefore, no household, no race and no gender which is to be left behind. Although only the few will respond, all are to be called, (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Verse 8. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Verse 9. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, verse 10, or a bag for your journey, or even two [footnote ‘j’] tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of their support.

(Commentary Break: This is still the Message, unlike so many of the preachers and evangelists of this age, today: “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

And, this is still the Method, unlike so many of the preachers and evangelists of this age, today: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give”.

And, these are still the Means, unlike so many of the preachers and evangelists of this age, “Do no acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandal, or a staff. For the worker is deserving of their support”. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 11. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. Verse 12. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. Verse 13. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Verse 14. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Verse 15. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.

(Commentary Break: If you are to follow Jesus and obey His leading, this is His model – and please don’t parse His words saying something like, ‘that was then and this is now. Things have changed’. Yes, things have changed, but He has not changed. His Word and His Ways have not changed. You need the support and encouragement of staying with the right people.

Secondly, these instructions should be clear. Do not spend your time trying to convince anyone that Jesus is the way. Whoever does not receive you or listen to your words, simply shake the dust off your feet as you leave. It is Jesus who is doing the work of salvation, not you. You are just His earthly vessel. Don’t worry and don’t take credit. Just keep moving. (End Commentary Break).

A Hard Road Ahead of Them

Verse 16. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. Verse 17. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; Verse 18. and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Verse 19. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. Verse 20. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.

Verse 21. “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Verse 22. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

Verse 23. “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

Verse 24. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. Verse 25. It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house [footnote ‘u’] Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

Verse 26. “So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Verse 27. What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. Verse 28. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Verse 29. Are two sparrows not sold for an [footnote ‘w’] assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Verse 30. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Vesrs 31. So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

(Commentary Break: Statics by Barna Group, a Christian oriented research firm, shows that pastors a quitting or are considering quitting ministry for the following reasons:

1. 1. 1. • The immense stress of the job,
         • I feel lonely and isolated,
         • Current political divisions,
         • I am unhappy with the effect this role has had on my family,
         • I am not optimistic about the future of my church,
         • My vision for the church conflicts with the church’s direction,
         • My church is steadily declining,
         • I am not satisfied with my job,
         • I don’t feel respected by the congregants,
         • I don’t feel equipped to cope with ministry demands,
         • I don’t have what I need to be successful in my job,
         • I don’t feel supported by my staff,

Notice the “I”. As hard as it may be to hear, it is not about you, pastor. It about Him. Do your best to get your focus back on Him and His ways. And, re-read the previous verses in this chapter 10 of Matthew for help.

Also, you should know that if Jesus was persecuted, will be persecuted as well. Jesus warned, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (see Matthew 5:11). If you think this verse was referring solely to those outside the church, you are mistaken.

Read Jeremiah 12, verses 5 and 6, “[The LORD rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying] “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure], then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan? For even your [tribal] brothers and the household of your father, even they have dealt treacherously (unfaithfully) with you; indeed they are [like a pack of hounds] howling after you. Do not believe them, although they may say kind words and promise you good things.” This is representative of the unfaithful in the church! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 32. “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Verse 33. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Verse 34. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Verse 35. For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; verse 36, and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

Verse 37. “The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Verse 38. And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Verse 39. The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.

(Commentary Break: It is unfair, almost deceitful, that churches and pastors don’t warn the new Christian what they are going to face after ‘praying that little sinner’s prayer’ in church. It is also unfortunate that Bible colleges and seminaries don’t adequately warn the young minds entering them, what they are actually going to engage upon graduation. It is a war.  A war that will divide families. A war that demands loyalty and obedience or will end with a dishonorable discharge with eternal consequences. It is a spiritual war and you are on the tip of God’s spear!

Here is the warning found in Hebrews 10, verses 32 through 38: “But remember the former days, when after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.” (End Commentary Break).

 The Reward for Service

Verse 40. “The one who [welcomes and] receives you [welcomes and] receives Me, and the one who [welcomes and] receives Me [welcomes and] receives Him who sent Me. Verse 41. The one who [welcomes and] receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who [welcomes and] receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. Verse 42. And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

(Commentary Break: These verses shows us the law of reciprocity in action.  Verse 42 could be restated to say, “And whoever gives one of these little ones [those with childlike faith, or anyone endeared to God through faith in Jesus] just a cup of cold water to drink [which is the smallest of gifts but great in a time of need] in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward [of kindness and generosity from God].” (End Commentary Break).

It would be a grave mistake to take this chapter lightly. These are the instructions for all disciples for all the ages. They are the narrow gate and the hard road which leads to great reward.

Luring people to the gates of heaven with false or overstated promises, entertainment, or man-pleasing or woman-pleasing programs or tactics is deceitful and have no place in His Church.

The Church is the Body of Christ, filled and led by the Holy Spirit, exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, and those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with it passions and desires. Please, dear friends, THINK ABOUT IT.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19, John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute.

Previous: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 9, The Paralyzed Healed, Matthew Called, Fasting, Healing

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 9

The Paralyzed Healed, Matthew Called, Fasting, Healing

There are those who will tell you that the Bible was written to certain people at certain times or for particular and specific reasons. That is incorrect. The Bible is written to every person, for all times and for all the right reasons. Put more succinctly, the Bible is God’s Word, His breathed out Word, a love letter of instruction for life, both now and for eternity, written specifically to you so you may know the Lord, follow Him and do His will.

Jesus meant every word he said and said every word He meant to say. We cannot add to it and we must not take away from it. It is personal and it is powerful. Handle it with care. It is explosive.

Jesus, in this chapter, continues to teach His disciples and minister to the masses.  Please, pray and ask God for insight, wisdom and understanding in the Chapter. Please read carefully and know that these are your instructions for life.  Watch for your calling through these Words.

A Paralyzed Man Healed

Matthew 9:1, Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to His own city. Verse 2. And they brought to Him a paralyzed man lying on a stretcher. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man who was paralyzed, “Take courage, [footnote ‘a’] son; your sins are forgiven.” Verse 3. And some of the scribes said [footnote ‘b’] to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” Verse 4. And Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Verse 5. For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Verse 6. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”, then He said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.” Verse 7. And he got up and [footnote ‘c’] went home. Verse 8. But when the crowds saw this, they were [footnote ‘d’] awestruck, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

(Commentary Break: These verses give us an example of what happens when frail people become arrogant and think they speak for God. We accuse and condemn. In this case the scribes misunderstood the meaning of the words ‘sin’ and ‘forgiven’, or perhaps the simply assigned their own meanings, thereby changing the Word of God by adding to it – like many theologians, Bible teachers and pastors do today.

We might equate Biblical ‘sin’ with Biblical ‘transgression’, which translates as ‘lawless disobedience’, and is similar but separate from sin. ‘Transgressions’ are willful, reckless, disobedient, and deliberate rebellion toward God and His Word.

 The word ‘sin’, however, comes from the Greek word ‘Hamartía’, which means ‘to miss the mark’. Hamartia is a noun derived from the words ‘not’ and ‘a part or a share of’; ‘no part of, a loss or forfeiture from not hitting the target, i.e., missing the mark. The idea can be equated to an old English term used in archery competition. When an archer would miss the target, the judge would shout, “sin!” which meant the archer had missed the target. This should cause us to ask, “what is the target” when spoken in Biblical terms?

 The ”target” is God’s Will for your life. Besides your obedience to Him, it is His Will that none perish, but all come to repentance. It is His Will that the obedient would not just have life but they would have an abundant life. It is His will that you would prosper just as your soul prospers. So, when you sin, the remedy is a contrite and humble confession of your sin, and He will forgive your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness.

 Finally, this public healing of a paralytic caused people to be “awestruck, so they would glorify God, who had given such authority to men”. Now the questions remain, are you and I awestruck and do we glorify God? And, why or why not?  We should answer and resolve these questions in our own lives. (End Commentary Break).

 Matthew Called

Verse 9. As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

Verse 10. Then it happened that as [footnote ‘e’] Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and [footnote ‘f’] sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples. Verse 11. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” Verse 12. But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. Verse 13. Now go and learn [footnote ‘g’] what this means: ‘I DESIRE [footnote ‘h’] COMPASSION, [footnote ‘i’] RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

(Commentary Break: At first glance, these verses would seem to be a simple narrative. But think about them. Jesus sees a man called Matthew, sitting in a tax collector’s office and says to him, “Follow Me!” And Matthew got up and followed Him. No questions, just obedience. Compare this to your response to the spoken and written Word of God to you and your response to Him.

Secondly, it is interesting to know that the words “Jesus sees a man” is correctly translated as “Jesus sees a man and he perceived everything about that man, and Jesus’ call to Matthew, “Follow Me!” is an imperative command with gravity and force. It is not an optional request.

Finally, see that the Gospel Message is for all who will have ears to hear. But, Jesus targets the sinners of this world. The ones who have missed the mark. (End Commentary Break).

The Question about Fasting

Verse 14. Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

Verse 15. And Jesus said to them, “The [footnote ‘j’] attendants of the groom cannot mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. Verse 16. But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for [footnote ‘k’] the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. Verse 17. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Miracles of Healing

Verse 18. While He was saying these things to them, behold, [footnote l’]’ a synagogue [footnote ‘m’] official came and [footnote ‘n’] bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will become alive again.” Verse 19. Jesus got up from the table and began to accompany him, along with His disciples.

Verse 20. And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him, and touched the [footnote ‘o’] border of His [footnote ‘p’] cloak; verse 21, for she was [footnote ‘q’] saying [footnote ‘r’] to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will [footnote ‘s’] get well.” Verse 22. But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has [footnote ‘t’] made you well.” And [footnote ‘u’] at once the woman was [footnote ‘v’] made well.

Verse 23. When Jesus came into the [footnote ‘w’] official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, verse 24, He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. Verse 25. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl [footnote ‘x’] got up. Verse 26. And this news spread throughout that land.

Verse 27. As Jesus went on from there, two men who were blind followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Verse 28. And after He entered the house, the men who were blind came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They *said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Verse 29. Then He touched their eyes, saying, “[footnote ‘y’] It shall be done for you according to your faith.” Verse 30. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows about this!” Verse 31. But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that land.

Verse 32. And as they were going out, behold, a demon-possessed man who was unable to speak [footnote ‘z’] was brought to Him. Verse 33. And after the demon was cast out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever [footnote ‘aa’] been seen in Israel.” Verse 34. But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Verse 35. Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.

Verse 36. Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were [footnote ‘ab’] distressed and downcast, like sheep [footnote ‘ac’] without a shepherd. Verse 37. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Verse 38. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

(Commentary Break: The foregoing verses speak for themselves.. But the recurring theme is that ‘their faith has made them well’, as we discussed in the last chapter.  

It is also interesting that although the Pharisees, the lawmakers, would slander and castigate Jesus, but that Jesus would continue to teach in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness. Let me repeat those last words: healing every disease. Healing every sickness. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus preached to everyone. But He has a heart for ‘the distressed, the downcast, those like sheep without a shepherd’.

It seems that many larger churches, now-a-days, while working hard to do the work of the Gospel, are leaving so many feeling like they are nothing more an audience – and sadly, the sheep have come to willingly accept that they are ‘the managed’, but without a shepherd. While the church has appointed shepherds and appoints others as ‘under shepherds’, such as deacons and elders, they still collect themselves together and lift one another up in ministry. It seems, far too often, that the sheep are just additional work and provide employment. This should not be so. We must come together in unity as the Church, each doing as he or she is called and appointed. No one is greater than any other. There is no professional and there is no laity. We are all one under Christ. We are all “ministers being built up into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. (see 1 Peter 2:5).

The words, teachings and instructions contained in the Bible are for our rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness, so that we, the man or woman of God, may be fully capable and equipped for every good work.  Anything less is a counterfeit.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  (coming soon) THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 10,  Instructions for Service, A Hard Road, Discipleship and The Rewards

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 8,  Jesus Heals Leprosy, The Centurion’s Faith, Jesus Heals Others, The Disciples Tested, Jesus Calms the Storm, Casting our Demons

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 8

Jesus Heals Leprosy, The Centurion’s Faith, Jesus Heals Others, The Disciples Tested, Jesus Calms the Storm, Casting out Demons.

Jesus’ method of teaching and discipling can be capsulated in this little acronym:  S.W., S.W., S.W. In other words, He would Say the Words; Show the Wonders; Send the Workers. This is, or should be, our method as well. All sermons and teachings in the Church should follow, teach and encourage this model.

Chapter 7 gives us Jesus preaching and teaching, or Saying the Words. This chapter gives us Jesus Showing the Wonders and His Works.

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy

Matthew 8:1, When [footnote ‘a’] Jesus came down from the mountain, [footnote ‘b’] large crowds followed Him. Verse 2. And a man with [footnote ‘c’] leprosy came to Him and [footnote ‘d’] bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Verse 3. [footnote ‘e’] Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Verse 4. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the [footnote ‘f’] offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

(Commentary Break:  Verse 1 is poetic in form and symbolic in nature. Chapter 5 verse 1 tells us that seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain sat down, and began teaching. Then, the disciples also ‘went up on the mountain’, which is drawing near to God to hear His voice. Then, after spending time with God, chapter 8, verse 1, says He came down from the mountain, to demonstrate ‘the will of God’ in practice and in ministry. THIS IS OUR MODEL.

This is not the only time Jesus heals someone and tells them to “tell no one”. (see Matthew 8:4, Matthew 16:20, Mark 1:41, Mark 8:30, Luke 8:56). There is speculation that telling about His miracles and healings would distract from His message, so Jesus says to tell no one. But considering, that after His resurrection (and before His ascension), Jesus instructs His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations, and teach them to follow all that I have commanded you, it seems that it was all about timing. Jesus had been glorified at His ascension and the time had come for all to know. WHAT THIS MEANS TO US, is that we, too, are to go and tell and do: Say the Words, Show the Wonders of His Works, and Send the Workers (make disciples), telling about Jesus, not about the works. (End Commentary Break).

The Centurion’s Faith

Verse 5. And when [footnote ‘g’] Jesus entered Capernaum, a [footnote ‘h’] centurion came to Him, begging Him, verse 6,and saying, “[footnote ‘i’] Lord, my [footnote ‘j’] servant is lying paralyzed at home, terribly tormented.” Verse 7. Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” Verse 8. But the centurion replied, “[footnote ‘k’] Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just [footnote ‘l’] say the word, and my [footnote ‘m’] servant will be healed. Verse 9. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Verse 10. Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith [footnote ‘n’] with anyone in Israel. Verse 11. And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and [footnote ‘o’] recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; Verse 12. but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verse 13. And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; [footnote ‘p’] it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the [footnote ‘q’] servant was healed at that very [footnote ‘r’] moment.

(Commentary Break: The details of this event are obvious. What may not be obvious to some who focus on the miracle, is that this is about faith. The bottom line is found in Jesus’ words to the centurion, when He says, “it shall be done for you as you have believed”.

Faith, you see, is the substance, the confidence, the reality, the assurance, the certainty, the conviction of things hoped for, of things confidently expected, of things actively waited for, and the evidence, the conviction, the certainty, the proof positive of things not yet seen.

Shockingly, Jesus next says, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus is revealing two profound issues with these words: (1). True faith is NOT believing in nor in the expectations in the working of miracles.  True faith is faith in Jesus, alone. That He is able. That He is worthy and that He is dependable. (2). That the consequences of the absence of this kind of faith – faith in Christ alone – is no faith at all and the results of this misdirected faith is outer darkness.

Jesus settles this matter, which is found in John 6:26-29, “Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

 These words are prophetic truth and are still true for us today. Put your eyes, your focus, on Jesus; not on the works. Desire Him, seek Him and His Kingdom only, and all these other things will be added to you. (End Commentary Break).

Peter’s Mother-in-law and Many Others Healed

Verse 14. When Jesus came into Peter’s [footnote ‘s’] home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. Verse 15. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and [footnote ‘t’] waited on Him. Verse 16. Now when evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. Verse 17. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR ILLNESSES AND [footnote ‘u’] CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

Discipleship Tested

Verse 18. Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. Verse 19. Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Verse 20. And Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Verse 21. And another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.” Verse 22. But Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

(Commentary Break: This seems like an odd thing to say to someone who wants to follow you, doesn’t it? What does Jesus mean?

Scribes were trained and enrolled in the Sanhedrin political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler); in the Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. So, Jesus tells this Scribe, this judge and sage, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Foxes retreat to the safety of their lair.  They live and remain in their holes, venturing out only to gather food and water, then they scurry back to the safety of the hole.  Their focus is on their safety and their hole in the ground. It is the same for the birds.  They have the nest they build to lay eggs and raise their young.  A safe place.  They, too, venture out for food, but their focus is on the safety of a nest.

Jesus, however, is on mission.  He knows that He is the permanent sacrifice for the reconciliation of all people to God.  He is doing the work of His Father.  Time is short.

He is telling this scribe and His disciples that He has neither the time nor the intention of settling into a “hole in the ground” or building “a nest” into which they can settle down and feel safe.

He has no time for building programs, no time for social programs, no time for endless debate over the ‘cummin and dill’ of the Torah or the endless list of man’s constructs designed to explain and contain the Holy Scriptures.  No time for holes in the ground or nests.

Jesus is saying that He is the foundation of His Church, and He is on the move, building His Church.   He is the foundation for Temple of the Holy Spirit in the hearts, minds and souls of people.

If you come to know Jesus, you will know His Church, and it is not to be found in a building, a hole in the ground or a nest.

His Church is Spiritually alive, organic and naturally fluid and on the move; It cannot be contained by a program or an institution. It is powerful, transformative, life changing, world altering and cannot be taught in a school on religion.

Scriptures warn that the latter day Church would become lethargic and static, depending largely on tradition and ritual or redefining itself to fit the current culture, losing effectiveness, becoming lukewarm, suffering apostasy – except for a steadfast remnant, which will endure to the end. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Calms the Storm

Verse 23. When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Verse 24. And behold, a [footnote ‘v’] violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. Verse 25. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” Verse 26. He said to them, “Why are you [footnote ‘w’] afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and [footnote ‘x’] it became perfectly calm. Verse 27. The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

(Commentary Break: This may be one of the most remembered and referenced events in the Bible. The significance is probably diminished by its popularity and symbolism.  The boat symbolizes our life and circumstances; the storm represents the storms in our lives and the terrifying waves of troubles that can crash over us. We cry out, “Save us, Lord! WE are perishing”.

And once again, Jesus reminds us of fear versus faith.

The word ‘fear’, as used, is the Greek word ‘deilós’, which means cowardly, timid, and fearful. This attitude is fear-driven, dreadful, describing a person who loses their “moral fortitude, which is needed to follow the Lord. It also connotates fearful of losses; an excessive fear or dread of “losing,” causing someone to be fainthearted and cowardly, hence, to fall short in following Christ as Lord. ‘Deilós’ is always used negatively in the New Testament and stands in contrast to the positive fear which is expressed by ‘phóbos’ “fear,” such as found in Philippians 2:12, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. Fear is a normal human reflex. It is how we respond to fear and what we do with fear that determines its meaning and outcome.

Faith, on the other hand, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Jesus is the substance. Jesus is the thing hoped for. Jesus is the evidence of the things not seen. He is saying that we must not be people of ‘little faith’. We need to be confident and amazed, and it will become perfectly calm.

Please know that this is not a platitude or a philosophy nor a good story. It is the truth. Embrace it. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Sends Demons into Pigs

Verse 28. And when He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. Verse 29. And they cried out, saying, “[footnote ‘y’] What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before [footnote ‘z’] the time?” Verse 30. Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them. Verse 31. And the demons begged Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” Verse 32. And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the pigs; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and [footnote ‘aa’] drowned in the waters. Verse 33. And the herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, [footnote ‘ab’] including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Verse 34. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.

(Commentary Break: It seems odd that Jesus would cast out demons and rid this region of a troublesome evil, only to have the whole city plead with Him to leave their region. But this is the way of the world, is it not?

It is dismaying that the vast majority of people, non-believers and some Christians alike, act as if they know about spiritual matters or the Bible, and yet, they speak and act in ways that either show their ignorance of the spiritual world and of Jesus and His Words, or it shows their lazy indifference. Please be aware that there is a price to pay or a reward to be earned. There is no middle ground here. Following Jesus, means to do and say as He does.

 The day of pastors and elders just attending church or organizational meetings, conventions and conferences, and spending all their public time standing in the pulpit 3 or 4 times a week, must come to an end. It is past time that they do as Jesus did and taught. Get off the pulpit, out of the building and personally go about to all the nearby cities, in homes and churches, preaching the Gospel, calling and making and leading disciples by personal example, depending on Jesus for healing all kinds of diseases and illnesses and sicknesses among the people. His return is near. (End Commentary Break).

It should be helpful for us to know the ways and methods of Jesus. Whether you are a new Christian, as seasoned Christian and particularly if you are a pastor, and that there is no such thing as a ‘Christian bystander or onlooker’.

We go to church and sit and listen. But, studies that studies show that we forget 95% of what we hear after 72 hours. Conversely, 

People tend to

Remember only 10% of what they read, and,

Remember just 30% of what they only see.

They will Remember 50% of what they see and hear.

And, Remember 70% of what they say and write down.

But they will Remember 90% of what they DO.

IT IS TIME TO DRAW A LINE?

A young man asked Jesus, “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” And, Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Again, Jesus instructed His own disciples, “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support”.

• It is time to discard the official sounding titles in the Church. And, as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your Father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (see Matthew 23:11-12).  You are to be known as servants of God, and to be called according to your calling, your spiritual gifting or by Biblically correct reference (brother, sister, pastor, elder, etc.).

It is past time to do away with the fancy garbs that elevate your appearance or suggest your importance. Only One is important, and it is not you or me.

It is time to limit pastoral incomes never to exceed the median incomes of the ‘flock’.

We should say to pastors, teachers and church elders and deacons, ‘no’ to excessive, expensive and fancy homes and cars, no matter the source of the income.

To our pastors, no more unnecessary radio and television appearances to draw crowds. No more book signing tours and no profiteering of the Gospel or your position in ministry. And get rid of the personal aircraft and jets!

No more turning the Father’s House a place of business! Absolutely no business conducted in the House of God. Reserve the House of God for His business only.

Establish unity in the Church, with no one designated as greater or lesser. (The last shall be first and the first, last).

No more ‘official titles’ such as ‘laymen’ and ‘laywomen’; You are all being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

If we are going to call ourselves The Church, then please, let’s act like it. Let’s do it right, and all the way! (And yes, it is hard; it is difficult; it is inconvenient. You have to take up your cross if you are to follow Him.  But, please believe me when I say what the Bible says: It is worth it!).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 9,  The Paralyzed Healed, Matthew Called, Fasting, Healing

PREVIOUS:  NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 7,  Judging, Prayer, The Gates, The Fruit of The Tree, Foundations.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 7

Judging Others, Prayer, The 2 Gates, The Fruit of The Tree, Foundations

It is a good thing to know about the Bible. It is a better thing to know the Bible. The best thing you can do, however, is to know the author of the Bible, and to know what to do with what you have come to know by His Words.

It is also important to remember to keep Jesus’ teaching in context. These following verses, over the centuries, have been misread, misunderstood and misapplied to the detriment of so many.  Context is everything.

The context of the Bible is the fall of humankind into sin and destruction, God’s plan of redemption of this fallen world and His sending His son to save us.  Context is everything. So when we seek God and pray, remember that His promises are not made for our worldly needs and possessions. Jesus has told us that He knows we also need these (other) things, but we are to seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness and those things will be provided to you (see Matthew 6:33). We are not to be concerned or worry about those things.

His call to us is to be saved, be sanctified and to be sent as His disciples into this world as His emissaries. His promises are in regards to His plan of salvation, our being conformed, transformed and being made into His image and His likeness. His promises are for our supply and need as disciples to carry the Message of the Gospel to the world.

We should recognize and follow Jesus’ method of teaching and discipling, which can be capsulated with this little acronym:  S.W., S.W., S.W. In other words, He would Say the words; Show the works; Send the workers. This is, or should be, our method as well. All sermons and teachings in the Church should follow, teach and encourage this model.

Judging Others

Matthew7:1, “Do not [footnote ‘a’] judge, so that you will not be judged. Verse 2. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [footnote ‘b’] by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Verse 3. Why do you look at the [footnote ‘c’] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Verse 4. Or how [footnote ‘d’] can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the [footnote ‘e’] speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? Verse 5. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the [footnote ‘f’] speck out of your brother’s eye!

(Commentary Break: The first thing to remember is that the intended audience of this message is the Christian and the Church. The word ‘judge’ here, means to make a judgement that either approves or condemns and puts an abrupt end to a matter, when referring to another person. Jesus is saying that you are not to declare someone innocent or guilty ‘by your opinion’.  This kind of judgement of another person remains exclusively God’s domain.

Secondly, this ‘judgement’ is different than discernment. You are to discern, (a type of judgement), which “cuts through” hazy ethical and moral matters to really “size things up” and to respond with a Godly attitude. This way you are not bringing judgement, but loving concern for an errant brother or sister in the Lord. This kind of judgement does not bring an end to matters, but is the beginning of coming along side of a brother or sister for correction, encouragement, teaching and training in righteousness, resulting in unity.

 Finally, note that the caveat is that the way you judge is how you will be judged. This is not optional and is not occasional. It is a spiritual law, so beware. If you are a condemning person, you will be condemned. If you are a Godly, loving, humble concerned brother or sister, you will receive Godly, loving and gentle concern.

 Just use care when addressing this matter. Do not be negligent, but do not be too fast to act, either. Always try to come along side of someone first. Get to know them and try to understand them before making any decision. Remembering our first goal is unity in Christ. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

(Commentary Break:  Holy refers to that which is sacred, physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated – most holy one or thing; A follower of Christ, The Word or deeds of God.

The “pearl” as mentioned here, comes from a proverb, meaning to thrust the most sacred and precious teachings of the gospel upon the most wicked and abandoned men, incompetent as they are, through their hostility to the gospel, to receive them, and thus to profane them.

A dog, universally despised in the East, comes from the Greek word ‘kyon’ literally, a scavenging canine; figuratively, a spiritual predator who feeds off others.  A loose dog was disdained in ancient times – viewed as a “mooch pooch” that ran about as a scavenger.

The swine was forbidden as food by the Levitical law, ( Leviticus 11:7 ; 14:8 ) the abhorrence which the Jews as a nation had of it may be inferred from (Isaiah 65:4 ). Swine were considered ceremonially unclean and naturally filthy animals.

They were also associated with demons (Mark 5:11-13), and another time swine and dogs are mentioned together (2 Peter 2:22), they are associated with “false prophets”, who, like Balaam, knew the way of God but had “forsaken the right way”, men who had “known the way of righteousness”, but chose to “turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them”, showing they were Hebrews who were never saved (1 John 2:19).

This might raise questions. Why would Jesus, on the one hand, tell His disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you” and, on the other hand, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs”?

Is this a contradiction or a controversy, or is there a distinction?  The answer to these questions must be found by considering ‘the dogs’ and ‘the swine’ as representing, not men and women as such, but the passions of this kind or that which make them brutish. So long as they identify themselves with those passions, we must deal cautiously and wisely with them, as one would with an aggressive dog or a swine.

The dogs and swine of these verses represent those people who are hardened and altogether incapable of receiving evangelic truth, and to whom that which is holy is utterly foreign and distasteful. The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation, whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit (i.e., a ‘dog’ or a ‘swine’), is the gift and ability of discerning of spirits which is bestowed by the Holy Spirit to Christian believer. (End Commentary Break).

Prayer and the Golden Rule

Verse 7. “[footnote ‘g’] Ask, and it will be given to you; [footnote ‘h’] seek, and you will find; [footnote ‘i’] knock, and it will be opened to you. Verse 8. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Verse 9. Or what person is there among you Verse [footnote ‘j’] who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, [footnote ‘k’] will give him a stone? Verse 10. Or [footnote ‘l’] if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? Verse 11. So if you, despite being [footnote ‘m’] evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

(Commentary Break: Verses 7 through 11 are both deeply prophetic and soundly practical. The word ‘ask’, as used here, can mean to ask, to beg, to call for, to desire and to require or to demand. It is a word packed with fervency and emotion. (For example, “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man or woman is able to accomplish much, and when put into action and made effective by God, it is dynamic and can have tremendous power”. (See James 5:16).

The phrase, “It will be given to you” is to be understood as literal.

The same goes for ‘seeking’ and ‘knocking’. Jesus at other times, teaches that importunity and persistency yields results.

 Finally, it remains important to remember that His promises are in regards to His plan of salvation, our being conformed, transformed and being made into His image and His likeness. His promises are for our supply and need as disciples to carry the Message of the Gospel to the world. When we ask, seek and knock, it is to that end, and no other.   (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. “In everything, therefore, [footnote ‘n’] treat people the same way you want [footnote ‘o’] them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Verse 13. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Verse 14. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

(Commentary Break: This is the kindest way possible to say what Jesus has said in so many ways, and that is there is only One Way to life and life eternal:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (see John 14:6).

 “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (see Matthew 19:21).

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. (see Matthew 19:29).

 And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Meisnotworthy ofMe. (see Matthew 10:38). (End Commentary Break).

A Tree and Its Fruit

Verse 15. “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Verse 16. You will [footnote ‘p’] know them by their fruits. [footnote ‘q’] Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Verse 17. So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. Verse 18. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Verse 19. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Verse 20. So then, you will [footnote ‘r’] know them by their fruits.

(Commentary Break: Forgive but do not follow. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 21. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Verse 22. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [footnote ‘s’] miracles?’ Verse 23. And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

(Commentary Break: So, what IS the Will of The Father? (This is not about semantics). It is recognizing and continually doing God’s Will in the course of your life that determines the outcome of His Will for your life. I frequently hear people say “I want to know the will of God” when making important or difficult decisions or trying to find their way out of difficult or trying situations. I also often hear people finish their prayers with “IF it be your will” as sort of a polite guess?

Or, as if to say, “I really don’t know Your Will, God, but, here’s what I think” as if we can bring God to our point of view. Sort of imposing our will upon God’s will?

I see some folks wearing a rubber bracelet or sporting a sticker which reads “WWJD?” (What would Jesus do?) I guess that is supposed to make us stop and think about what He would do before we make important decisions or misbehave?

My experience has been that most people, including MOST preachers, are not ready to give a definitive answer to this all important question for their lives: “What is God’s Will for my life” or in this situation?

The phrase “the will of God” and “God’s will” is used a total of twenty-five times in the Bible (that is, if you use the “Authorized version” of the Bible or the New American Standard in conjunction with Strong’s concordance. But, who can really tell with all the versions of the Bible floating around?)

The frequency of the use of a word or phrase in the Bible potentially tells us is the importance or uniqueness of that word or idea communicated by that word or phrase. But, regardless of the frequency of this phrase, I would say that the “Will of God” is a pretty important idea.

Here are four instances of the twenty-five occurrences of the phrase “God’s Will” from the Bible where the Bible clearly explains God’s Will:

• • • 1 Peter 2:15 “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
    • Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
    • 1^st Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;”
    • 1^st Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Do you want to the see the power of God’s Word and His Spirit work for good in your life? Does using these three verses sound too simple? Well, you can expand on these verses. But, just try these for a start. (End Commentary Break).

The Two Foundations

Verse 24. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and [footnote ‘t’] acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Verse 25. And the rain fell and the [footnote ‘u’] floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Verse 26. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not [footnote ‘v’] act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. Verse 27. And the rain fell and the [footnote ‘w’] floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

(Commentary Break: These verses are self-explanatory. Still, we may correctly assume this metaphor is for effect and not to be taken literally. But it is more literal than one can imagine. The ‘house’ is your life. The ‘rock’ is Jesus and the literal Word of God. The ‘rain, the floods and the rains’ are the troubles and evils in life. The ‘sand and the fall’ is the wisdom of humankind and ways of the world, that create the destruction of one’s life. It is literally true that your life will culminate one way or the other. It will fall or it will endure and stand. Choose now while there is time. The wide gate of comfort, ease, disregard for God, or the narrow gate of following Jesus’, His teaching and His ways. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 28. [footnote ‘x’] When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; Verse 29. for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

(End Chapter 7).

Now, the questions I think we should ask are, (1). “Am I amazed?”, and, (2). “where will I go now?” I confess, I am amazed. Are you?

Peter answered the 2^nd question, saying, “Lord, To whom shall we go? You have the Words of Life”.  How about you? What say you?

Jesus teaches that following Him means we must leave our former life behind, and as we accompany Him we are to stay close to Him, peering over His shoulder, watching and learning. This way we will hear and see what we are to do as His disciple, and we will then be forever identified with Him. We will share in His joy and His persecution. But we are not to fear, because He has promised to be with us all the days of our life.

In this chapter, Jesus has been ‘Saying the Words’, (teaching), and next, in chapter 8, He will ‘Show the Wonders’.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  (coming soon) THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 8,  Jesus Heals Leprosy, The Centurion’s Faith, Jesus Heals Others, The Disciples Tested, Jesus Calms the Storm, Casting our Demons.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 6 – Giving, Prayer, Fasting, Treasure, Wealth.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 6

       

Giving, Prayer, Fasting, Treasure, Wealth

It would be an oddity if Jesus were teaching on these matters in order to set a precedent or to establish a ritual practice – which is not the case. What He is teaching, however, is how to enter the Kingdom of God so as to operate in the power of the Spirit of God.

These are the mysteries of the workings of the Kingdom. It is as if you have to ‘be finely tuned to the right mental and spiritual frequency’, and Jesus is teaching ‘how’. This is way of saying you must have the right understanding, and the right mindset which invites and allows the indwelling Spirit of God. You and I must be emptied of our fleshly desires and passions, turned completely away from the world’s way of thinking, which is the process the previous chapter explains and teaches.

This is the way.

Charitable Giving to the Poor and Prayer

Matthew 6:1, “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

Verse 2. “So when you [footnote ‘a’] give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Verse 3. But when you [footnote ‘b’] give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, verse 4, so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

(Commentary Break: At first glance, this may be misconstrued as a lesson on humility or manners of etiquette. But this is a profound oracle of God. This is difficult to explain the process of the unseen in natural terms, but it is as if you are building pressure inside a great spiritual engine, and in order to maintain the pressure sufficiently to complete your task, you must be careful not to create a ‘leak’. The ‘leak’ in this case would be ‘to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them’, or ‘to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that you will be praised by people’ for your righteousness.

Although a good deed is performed, the spiritual power creating reward and reciprocity is diminished, (leaked out), and all that is left is the steam which vanishes. You will have lost your potential of a heavenly reward. You have become little more than a ‘sounding gong’, going about in the natural world, looking like an actor and a fool. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they [footnote ‘c’] will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Verse 6. But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Verse 7. “And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Verse 8. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

(Commentary Break: The same can be said about these verses. It is an apt description that you should ‘go into your inner room,  close your door, and pray in secret’. This is what seals the power of God from diminishing into a vapor. And the reward is not recognition for doing good or being righteous. The reward is having been a servant of the Living God. The reward is the proving of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, and though tested by fire, it may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 And then, nothing shall be impossible for you. (End Commentary Break).

The Lord’s Prayer

Verse 9. “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,

[footnote ‘d’] Hallowed be Your name.

Verse 10‘[footnote ‘e’] Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

[footnote ‘f’] On earth as it is in heaven.

Verse 11. ‘Give us this day [footnote ‘g’] our daily bread.

Verse 12. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Verse 13. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [footnote ‘h’] evil.[footnote ‘i’]’ Verse 14. For if you forgive other people for their [footnote ‘j’] offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Verse 15. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your [footnote ‘k’] offenses.

(Commentary Break: This might be a good time to notice that the old covenant, (‘you have heard it said’), having been fulfilled by the new covenant by Jesus (Christ’s Blood – ‘but I say to you’), is an internal action, rather than an external control. The Old Law put laws, regulations, rituals, behavioral requirements, and the like, in place, and you would have had to perform to a set of external standards, which, as we know, is not possible. Scripture tell us that all have sinned and none are righteous – no, not one. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved, through faith in Christ, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not a result of your self-efforts, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

 If we can realize the importance of these teachings and the absolute necessity to embrace them and not incorporate them into our ways of thinking, but to replace our old ways with these new ways. We will enter the Kingdom of God and do these works Jesus has done, and even greater works!

 It is then that “His will done on this earth, in your life and in my life. And we will receive our daily bread; we will be delivered from evil; we will be able to forgive our debtors, and we will find forgiveness for ourselves. We will live in His glorious freedom. (End Commentary Break).

Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth

Verse 16. “Now whenever you fast, do not make a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they [footnote ‘l’] distort their faces so that they will be noticed by people when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Verse 17. But as for you, when you fast, [footnote ‘m’] anoint your head and wash your face, verse 18, so that your fasting will not be noticed by people but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Verse 19.  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Verse 20. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; verse 21, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Commentary Break: A word of explanation and instruction for verses 16 through 18: These are not commandments; they are a choice of actions to spur us on to righteousness. Rather than focusing on the hunger or deprivation of fasting, focus on the outcome of this spiritual discipline. By denying the flesh you are taming its passions and control over you and your mind. Hold your head high and revel in the coming reward for your action of fasting, i.e., , rather than looking gloomy, ‘anoint your head and wash your face’.

Additionally, get the mindset that by your disciplines, your mindset and your actions, you are storing up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. And you will discover that where your treasure is, there your heart – your core beliefs, your core practices – will become supreme in your life. They will become your guiding light and compass!  There just is no way to overstate the importance of this. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 22. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is [footnote ‘n’] clear, your whole body will be full of light. Verse 23. But if your eye is [footnote ‘o’] bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

(Commentary Break: The eye is used as a metaphor for how you view matters around you. Interestingly, the word, ‘eye’, literally translates figuratively as “envy, from the jealous side-glance. The eye not only collects information but it reveals your inner self and your deepest secrets. If your eye, your view and attitude is healthy or sincere, and if your eye is clear, which literally means, “without folds”, referring to a single undivided focus, i.e. without a secret or “double agenda”, which prevents an over-complicated life, keeps you from becoming needlessly distracted – then your life will be full of light! Conversely, if your eye is bad, it leads only to sin troubles and death. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 24. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [footnote ‘p’] wealth.

The Cure for Anxiety

Verse 25. “For this reason I say to you, [footnote ‘q’] do not be worried about your [footnote ‘r’] life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Verse 26. Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? Vesre 27. And which of you by worrying can add a single [footnote ‘s’] day to his [footnote ‘t’] life’s span? Verse 28. And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, verse 29, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Verse 30. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Verse 31. Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ Verse 32. For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Verse 33. But [footnote ‘u’] seek first [footnote ‘v’] His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [footnote ‘w’] provided to you.

Verse 34. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [footnote ‘x’] worry about itself. [footnote ‘y’] Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Commentary Break: Verses 24 through 32 are to be taken together. They should be fairly easy to understand for their face value. Verse 33, however is the spiritual key.

To seek, as translated here, means ‘to get to the bottom of this matter’.

His kingdom translates as, ‘God’s sovereignty, His royal power, sovereignty, authority, and rule, both in the world, specifically in the hearts of men and women: hence, the kingdom, in the concrete sense.

His righteousness, “God’s judicial approval”), refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in His eyes.

The outcome is that all these things, what you will wear, what you will eat or drink, or even where you will live, will be provided for you.

Do not be worried about, or more correctly, do not be anxious about these things. Do not be distracted by them. Set you mind, your eyes, your focus on God and His Kingdom and you will not only find provision, but a peace that passes understanding!

Just Do it and you will see! (End Commentary Break).

Scriptures, by way of metaphors, talk about a treasure that is hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, for which a person would give up all they have in order to obtain that treasure. These treasures represent the gift of salvation and the words of Jesus which lead to life – and not just life, but an exceedingly abundant life, full of provision, purpose, hope, meaning and reward! A life without end.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 7,  Judging, Prayer, The Gates, The Fruit of The Tree, Foundations.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 2, The Law, Relationships, Reaching for Perfection.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 2

The Law, Relationships – Reaching for Perfection

Beginning with verse 17,  Jesus makes clear that He is not changing or abolishing the Law of the Torah, but that He is the fulfillment, the living demonstration of the Law, and that the time is coming when He will ascend to the Father’s Right Hand, and this New Covenant will no longer be written on tablets of stone, nor just on the pages of a scroll, but that His Spirit will rule within us, in our lives, from the inside-out.

(Commentary Break:  What you are about to read, is the way. It is the way Jesus taught. It is the way Jesus lived. If you or I are to follow Jesus, and call ourselves Christian, then this is the way, and the only way. It is how we are to think and to conduct our lives.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. (End Commentary Break).

Matthew 5:17, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. Verse 18. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not [footnote ‘g’] the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Verse 19. Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches [footnote ‘h’] others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever [footnote ‘i’] keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 20. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

(Commentary Break): Again, Verse 20 delivers an ominous warning. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).

Personal Relationships – Murder, Slander

Verse 21. “You have heard that [footnote ‘j’] the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ Verse 22. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[footnote ‘k’] You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [footnote ‘l’] the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [footnote ‘m’] fiery hell. Verse 23. Therefore, if you are presenting your [footnote ‘n’] offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, verse 24, leave your [footnote ‘o’] offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [footnote ‘p’] offering. Verse 25. [footnote ‘q’] come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Verse 26. Truly, I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [footnote ‘r’] quadrans.

(Commentary Break: These words, Jesus’ words, are words of life. They are the hidden pathway around the obstacles that will impede your service to Him and your entry to the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we realize these words of Jesus are not metaphors or hyperbole. As harsh as they may seem to the natural mind, they are true and accurate as spoken. They are the way to life and life eternal. (End Commentary Break).

Adultery

Verse 27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; Verse 28. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Verse 29. Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, [footnote ‘s’] than for your whole body to be thrown into [footnote ‘t’] hell. Verse 30. And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you [footnote ‘u’] to lose one of the parts of your body, [footnote ‘v’] than for your whole body to go into [footnote ‘w’] hell.

(Commentary Break: First, it is vitally important that we remember that these words were being spoken to the house of Israel in the context of the Torah or the Law, “You have heard that the ancients, (those of the Old Covenants), were told”, etc. And that Jesus is explaining the ‘fulfillment of that Law’ which is the New Covenant sacrifice of His death and resurrection.

Secondly, remember that Jesus has said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, which, again, means He will satisfy the requirements of the Law – pay the penalties of sin – through His death and resurrection.

Still, these can be seriously dangerous verses if understood as literal. You should and must ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding. I understand that if your house was burning to the ground and death were imminent, you might risk jumping from the third floor, risking injury to escape certain death. Or, if you were aboard a burning and sinking ship, you might risk jumping overboard into turbulent and icy waters to escape certain death. But, if your eye offends you, should you literaly pluck it out?

These verses are presented as metaphors within a simile. They warn of the penalty of sin, which is eternity in the lake of fire which is hell, and eternal separation from God. And, they are comparing the passions and desires of the flesh (fleshly sins) to spiritual remedies. The comparison of cutting of your hand or plucking out your eye if they offend you are similes, are like, or the same as removing the offense from your eyes and hands at any cost.

They are not, however, saying you are to maim yourself in order to remove the offense at any cost. He is saying that Jesus has paid that awful cost. Cut off the desires of the eye and of the hand and throw them away from you. Give yourself to Him. This is the extreme measure. Die to self, take up your cross and follow Him!

Pray on these things and decide, and if you need, call on the Elders of the church for prayer, anointing with oil and counsel. (End Commentary Break).

Divorce

Verse 31. “Now it was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; verse 32, but I say to you that everyone who [footnote ‘x’] divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [footnote ‘y’] divorced woman commits adultery.

(Commentary Break: For Christians, marriage is a covenantal contract with your spouse and with God. If you break that contract, you are violating your oath with your spouse and with God. No matter how dire you consider your situation, you will face serious repercussions throughout the rest of your life. If you need safety from harm, seek it. If you need relief, get it. If you need forgiveness, pursue it. But, your contract of marriage remains and your responsibilities are grave. This is the price of being a Christ follower. (End Commentary Break).

Making Vows, Promises, Contracts, Covenants

Verse 33. “Again, you have heard that [footnote ‘z’] the ancients were told, ‘[footnote ‘aa’] YOU SHALL NOT [footnote ‘ab’] MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR [footnote ‘ac’] VOWS TO THE LORD.’ Verse 34. But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, verse 35, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor [footnote ‘ad’] by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Verse 36. Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Verse 37. But make sure your statement is, ‘[footnote ‘ae’] Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these are [footnote ‘af’] of evil origin.

(Commentary Break: A quick background here is that Jews in Jesus’ time, would use vows ‘in the name of heaven’ or ‘by the throne of God’, (i.e., I swear by the throne of God, or I swear to God), in order to exaggerate their claim and to make their vow sound lofty and serious, when in fact, they were only looking for advantages.

For the contemporary Christian, it is simpler. Make your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’, mean ‘no’. Anything more, is evil. These are words of captivity and darkness or words of freedom and light. Choose wisely.  (End Commentary Break).

Revenge, Vengeance, Reciprocity

Verse 38. “You have heard that it was said, ‘EYE FOR EYE, and TOOTH FOR TOOTH.’ Verse 39. But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. Verse 40. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [footnote ‘ag’] tunic, let him have your [footnote ‘ah’] cloak also. Verse 41. Whoever [footnote ‘ai’] forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Verse 42. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

(Commentary Break: These may be some of the most difficult teachings to understand, accept and to employ. They are counter-intuitive. Put simply, unless you are completely submitted to God, knowing and trusting Him with a “faith that is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen”, (see Hebrews 11:1), then this is folly for you. If, however, you want to remove obstacles to your faith and the ability to walk in the Spirit of God, and gain your inheritance of the Kingdom, then you must know that God will repay. You must know that if you seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be provided to you. See (Matthew 6:33). (End Commentary Break).

Love, Hate, Reward

Verse 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ Verse 44. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, verse 45, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Verse 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? Verse 47. And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same?

(Commentary Break): These written words, when put evidenced in the life of a believer, become the most powerful and convincing witnessing and disciple-making testimonies. The cost is enormously high and sacrificial, but the rewards are Kingdom sized.

 Jesus never said following Him would be easy. In fact, He said it would be hard, requiring great sacrifice, but bearing the greatest of rewards. Nothing can compare.

Finally, what is occurring in this book of Matthew is beyond amazing and mysterious. There are few words to adequately describe what Jesus is doing, saying and teaching. Having already pierced the veil, He is now breaching all the natural laws.

Jesus, in verses 21 through 48, begins what was considered His radical re-teaching of Jewish law – the Torah. But, greater than that He is teaching His disciples how to walk in the power of supernatural faith; how to walk in the Spirit and to overcome the flesh.

This teaching, at a minimum, does three basic things: (1). Jesus reveals and points to the portal into the Kingdom of Heaven, and unlocks its mysteries. (2). He leads you to the foundational Truth of how to walk in His steps, to do the works He has done and even greater works. (3). He will inform you about the necessity of being transformed by presenting your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, and thereby, being transformed. This occurs by the renewing of your mind, thereby demonstrating and proving what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

These things will not come easily if you are to obtain your inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Your faith, which is more precious than gold, will tested by fire, and you will be greatly distressed by various trials. In this, you will rejoice greatly because the outcome of this testing will result in the revelation of Jesus Christ in your life. You will rejoice with joy inexpressible joy, full of glory, obtaining the salvation of your souls as the outcome of your faith.

Verses 21 through 48 also give a list of examples of the obstacles to entering the Kingdom of Heaven, which are murder, anger, offenses, adultery, divorce, making vows, revenge, retribution, love versus hate and the attitudes that accompany these sins. This goes deeper than the resulting behaviors of sin. These sins, originate in our minds and hearts, which are the real obstacles to our entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

We must allow God, through His use of all sorts of trials and tribulations, to create within us a clean heart and remake us into a new creation. It is the only way. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 48. Therefore, you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Commentary Break: As I have pointed out at various intervals, this is our Journey to Perfection, “For by One Offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus continues to prepare us for our mission and our calling and our preparation for the end of this age. Please, let’s pray and practice these teachings together.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  (coming soon). THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 6, Giving, Praying, Fasting, Peace

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 1, The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 1

The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes.

If this is not THE MOST IMPORTANT, it certainly is one of the most important and most revealing instructional and informative teachings of Jesus. This could be called ‘the disciple’s basic training in the words, works and wonders of Jesus’. Basic may be how the natural man or woman would see it, however it is anything but basic. Although, this so-called ‘basic training’ begins in chapter 5 of Matthew and culminates in chapter 10, Jesus really never stops teaching directly or by example.

Matthew chapter 5 though Matthew chapter 10 gives us the process of Sanctification and the picture of Salvation. Popularly named ‘The Sermon on the Mount”, this teaching of Jesus is concise and mysterious.  It is hard, if not impossible, to understand with the natural mind and difficult to grasp, even by the faculty of the mind of a Believer.  It must be experienced to be understood.

This is the supernatural work of SANCTIFICATION by God.  Most of us work hard to avoid this process because it can be difficult, painful and bewildering.  But, actually, it is the amazing, supernatural work of God transforming us into His Own image and likeness as His children of Light.  It is through this very intense and difficult process that we become the heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Please, as you read the following verses, take careful notice of the process.  Here, the Bible explain to us, ahead of time, what we must endure, (yes, endure) in order to “inherit the Kingdom of God”. The disciple of Jesus would do well to learn these chapters by heart, because you will be needing them.

The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes (NASB).

Matthew5:1, Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the [footnote ‘a’] mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Verse 2. And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Verse 3. [footnote ‘b’], “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Commentary Break: Being made “poor in spirit” is, more literally, to be crushed in your spirit; to be pinched by toil, hopelessness and extreme poverty; A beggar with no hope of rescue on the verge of death and perishing, helpless and powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth, influence and honor; destitute of Christian virtue; destitute of the wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford.

It should cause one to wonder, how could they possibly be considered “Blessed” if they are made “poor in spirit”.

It is, however, because people of this class are the ones most ready to give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure. 

It is when life deals you crushing blows, which seem to be your end with no way of escape, that this marvelous work of salvation, redemption and sanctification can begin; and not before. 

We hear it said “you must come to the end of yourself to enter the Kingdom of God” which is true enough, but none of us have the will power to bring ourselves to such a desperate state.  It is God, alone, who will allow or bring crushing circumstances to bear on our lives which will cause us to turn to God for help.  And only God can save us from such desperate circumstances, redeem us to a state of wholeness, health and safety which is His Sanctification (holiness) of our lives. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

(Commentary Break: Mourning is an understandable response upon finding yourself severely pinched by poverty, reduced to begging; destitute with no influence, no position; lowly, afflicted and helpless; powerless to change your circumstances for the better; lacking in anything and terrified.

What we are reading is not punishment, it is ‘correction with purpose’. It is the process of sanctification through trials and tribulations leading to righteousness. This is a spiritual process resulting in a physical manifestation in the life of a Christ follower.

 Think with me in practical terms. Have you ever endured an especially difficult time?  Perhaps, as a child, you were corrected for bad behavior?  Besides receiving a scolding, you may have been spanked or had privileges taken from you?  Or perhaps you endured a time of suffering and loss?  Mourning is a natural response.  What did you experience next?  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 5. “Blessed are the [footnote ‘c’] gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

(Commentary Break: Do you remember after enduring a time of suffering or loss and “mourning” your loss, having something akin to a ‘good cry’, you how your emotions or spirit was quieted for a time?  You may have now had time to reflect on what has happened, and you lapse into a time of quiet, gentle appearing reflection. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

(Commentary Break: Do you remember coming through a difficult time, having a good cry, either mentally or actually shedding tears and then the ‘calm the followed the storm’ in your soul?  Do you also remember that, for some reason, with the storm of your life behind you, you were actually hungry?

It is the same in our spirit.  It is usually at this point that we begin to make life-decisions.  We are either getting angry and defiant or we decide to do better and to “be better”. 

For those being redeemed by the mercies of God, the process is to ‘hunger and thirst for right thinking and right living’: which is the very definition of Righteousness.

It is through this process that we gain new insights and understanding.  How apt are scriptures to remind us in the next verse that blessed are the merciful. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

(Commentary Break): The word ‘mercy’ in this verse literally means kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one’s self merciful

We are indeed being “Sanctified”:  Being made holy and set apart for God’s use. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 8. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

(Commentary Break): Our attitudes are changing.  Showing mercy is a sign that our hearts are changing and become pure in the sight of God.  We are being transformed in what we see and in how we see.  We are beginning to see matters as God sees them. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 9. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

(Commentary Break): A peace will begin to settle over the heart and mind of the redeemed and sanctified Believer.  We, not only, begin to experience ‘a peace that passes understanding’ from our deepening relationship with God, but we begin to demonstrate and practice that peace of God which earns us the title “sons (and daughters) of God”.  We are being made into His image. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 10. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Commentary Break): The bible tells us that it is now that we possess the Kingdom of Heaven.  This statement is too rich and too profound for the “casual Christian” or “casual Believer” to understand.

The Kingdom is a royal power, a kingship of dominion and rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom. It is of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom. This comes from the Greek root word ‘baino’, meaning ‘to walk’, as in Joshua 1:3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.”

 We are becoming, at this point, and in a real sense, we have already  become, heirs of the Kingdom of God, the place of the foundation of all power. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Verse 12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Commentary Break: You are not blessed because people insult you and persecute you, but you are blessed because it is a sign that, although you are still in the world, you are no longer of this world; you are ”made alive together with Christ and raised up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.(see Ephesians 1:4) (End Commentary Break).

Disciples and the World

Verse 13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [footnote ‘d’] can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

(Commentary Break): Verse 13 delivers an ominous warning. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [footnote ‘e’] hill cannot be hidden; verse 15, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a [footnote ‘f’] basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

(Commentary Break): Verse 14 delivers a clear instruction. Take heed. (End Commentary Break).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 2 – The Law, Relationships, Reaching for Perfection.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 2 – Jesus Begins His Ministry, The First Disciples, Galilee.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 2

Jesus Begins His Ministry, The First Disciples, Galilee.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Verse 12. Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee. Verse 13. And leaving Nazareth, He went and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali. Verse 14This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

Verse 15.. “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,

BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE [in the district] OF THE GENTILES.

Verse 16. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN [spiritual] DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT,

AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF [spiritual and moral] DEATH,

UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.”

(Commentary Break: There is much to be said about verses 12 through 16, but I will focus our attention on verse 16, “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.”

This is a prophetic word from Isaiah. It is wise to know that prophecy is rarely a ‘one and done’ event. Prophecy, when it is manifested, has long lasting and reverberating effects. This is true here. The effects of Jesus appearing has had the effect of shining a great light upon those who were, who are and who, in the future, will be sitting in darkness. When Jesus appears, they will see a great light; and for those sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light has dawned.

If you will accept it, today, now, at this moment, A great light is shining on you. Receive this Light and take it into the world, proclaiming it as the Name and Gospel of Christ. It is spoken. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 17. From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “[footnote ‘a’] Repent [change your inner self – your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The First Disciples

Verse 18. As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He noticed two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Verse 19. And He said to them, “[footnote ‘b’] Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” Verse 20. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. Verse 21. And going on [further] from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father [footnote ‘c’] Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them [to follow Him as His disciples]. Verse 22. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

(Commentary Break: I will go into depth on these next verses so we can better understand the method and model of Jesus, and our calling.

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

As Jesus was walking (i.e., meaning, to trample, crush with the feet; to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon: to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel – Jesus is setting the example for His disciples, present and future.  The word used for WALKING is demonstrating His Authority.  We must take notice, for by this He is teaching us to be His disciples and we must walk in His Steps (Chapters 10, 11 and 28 of Matthew, Jesus sends His disciple);

 by the Sea of Galilee, He saw (tmeaning, o see with the mind, to perceive, know; Jesus was on mission.  He was watching for and SAW, both with His eyes, His Mind and He Knew.  So it is with us, as we are being filled with The Holy Spirit.  THIS IS IMPORTANT as we are sent and we are watching for those to whom we must preach the Gospel);

He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, (meaning, a rock or a stone),

and Andrew his brother, (meaning, manly),

 casting (meaning, to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls; to scatter, to throw, cast, to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result. This word is a good description of how most people view their lives, in general.  “To throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls;  to scatter, to throw, cast into;  to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result.”) Jesus is, however,  calling all of His disciples, past, present and future, to a life that has purpose, meaning and eternal value.)

a net (meaning, anything thrown around one to impede his motions, as chains, a garment, a net for fishing. This word describes the lives of the disciples before meeting Jesus as are most of our lives ‘bound up’ as in anything thrown around one to impede his motions, as chains, a garment, a net for fishing”. Freedom is where and why Jesus calls us to follow Him.

into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, (meaning, come hither, come here, come with a sense of urgency; as an imperative interjection, come!, come now! The word used for ‘follow’ has a sense of urgent command.  Come, now)!  It is IMPORTANT that we remember Jesus was speaking prophetically then and is speaking prophetically to us, today!

and I will make you fishers of men”.  (meaning, fashioned after and with the names of things made; to produce, construct, form, fashion, etc.; to be the authors of, the cause; to make ready, to prepare. We are the clay in the Potter’s Hands; once He touches our lives, we are made new, into His image for His purpose.  This is IMPORTANT to grasp.

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (meaning, Straightway, immediately, forthwith; to be well off, fare well, prosper). This word tells us, not only of the urgency to Jesus’ call, but how the state of our lives is made to be well of, to fare well and to prosper, by answering His call and following Him. (End Commentary Break).

Ministry in Galilee

Verse 23. And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news, (the gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [demonstrating and revealing that He was indeed the promised Messiah].

(Commentary Break: Verse 23 says, “Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people”.

 the Kingdom, (meaning, royal power, kingship, dominion, rule; not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah). This word is so descriptive that you must take each definition and consider the impact and importance. This is our calling and our role as Christians and as disciples of Jesus,

and healing, (meaning, to serve, do service; to heal, cure, restore to health; this comes from a root word meaning you are to be an attendant, a servant: of God, discharging the duties committed to him by God). The definitions of this word are complimentary:  To serve, to worship, to heal, to cure, to restore to health.  Jesus healed the whole person, body, mind/will/emotions and spirit.  His healing is complete.  We are called to this ministry, so we would do well to be disciples and learn.

 every disease, (meaning, disease, sickness, plague, misery, suffering, distress, madness, vice, moral filth and bane).

and every sickness, (meaning, disease, softness, infirmity, debility, bodily weakness; This word come from a root word, meaning soft, effeminate, soft to the touch, metaphorically, in a bad sense; effeminate; of a catamite; of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man; of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness; of a male prostitute). Again, Jesus heals the body, the mind, the soul and the spirit of all infirmities, including homosexuality. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 24. So the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Verse 25. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and the other side of the Jordan. (End text of Chapter 4).

Jesus drew large crowds. Churches in the postmodern world attempt to gather large crowds in a different fashion. They use public service events, entertainment, flashy and showy programs, picnics, Halloween or Fall Festival events with costumes, Easter egg hunts, grandiose buildings, fancy preaching styles, charismatic personalities and the such. And the outcomes are wildly different. One leads to eternal life, the other leads to confusion, disappointment and failure.

I want to say this in the kindest way possible without diminishing the intent:  Jesus was and is not playing games. He never played at ‘doing church’.  Jesus was on mission to save souls for the Kingdom of God. He is calling us to the same. He knew the outcome was to be either life of death. He is the only way to life, and He teaches the way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

In order to be redeemed and saved, you must agree to a covenantal contract with God. It is not to be taken lightly as you will see in the coming chapters. The commitment requires complete devotion and submission to Christ. The price is costly beyond our ability to pay. And the reward is gloriously unimaginable. A free gift from God with a value that cannot be estimated.

Chapter 5 will give us Jesus’ explanation of the steps of salvation, the process of sanctification, and a detailed teaching on the New Covenant in action. This is the only true Discipleship Training Program in existence. Let’s do this together!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 5, Part 1 – The Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes.  

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 1, The Temptation of Jesus.

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THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4, Part 1

The Temptation of Jesus

This book is described as being written as a narrative. We will change the use of this book from the narrative into the prophetic, creative, causative and instructional word of God; which, once absorbed into your mind, soul and spirit, will transform you in ways you cannot imagine; closer than ever, into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

WARNING: Enter at your own risk. If you will pray, read, and meditate the words of Jesus from the book of Matthew and absorb them into your mind, soul and spirit, you may begin to experience a transformation, which at times will be exhilarating and at other times may be some of the most bewildering and difficult days of your life.

This experience has been, inadequately called, by many theologians and Bible teachers, ‘the process of sanctification’. (The process of making or becoming holy, set apart, sanctification, holiness, consecration; the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness, and the similarity of His nature.) And, indeed it is. But when you make this personal, it becomes much more. I will be calling this process, “The Journey to Perfection”.

Hebrews 10:14-18

“For by One Offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Please let this be your guide into the mysterious wonders of becoming a disciple of Jesus, being inspired, taught, and at times, rebuked by God for your correction and for training in righteousness, so that you, the man or woman of God, may be entirely capable, and fully equipped for every good work!

Here is how it all began:

The Temptation of Jesus

Matthew 4:1, Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Verse 2. After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry.

(Commentary Break: Remember, if you desire to follow Jesus, you also, will encounter and have to endure these prophetic words found in Matthew Chapter 4. Endure to the end, and you will be ministered to by Angels, and you will see the Glory of the Lord in the land of the living. You will be one of His Disciples.

Be aware, that following Jesus is not just about attending church and saying you believe in Him. Following Him means you go where He goes, and you will do what He does.

WHEN was Jesus led up by the Spirit? Immediately after His baptism. Don’t be surprised or taken unaware that this testing begins so quickly. So will it be with you.

He was led up by the Spirit. WHO led Jesus?

The very Spirit of God. This is the Spirit of God, present at creation. The Spirit of God who comforts, guides, leads, empowers, convicts of sin, prays on your behalf with Words and Groanings, too deep for our understanding. Jesus is showing us, by His example, that this is the path we must walk to become His Disciple. This is one of the most powerful events in the life of a Believer and Follower of Jesus. It is not imaginary. This is deadly serious and gloriously real.

He was led into the wilderness, (the Judean desert ). WHERE was Jesus led?

The Judean wilderness was and is a dangerous, barren, dry, life-threatening environment. There were scarce resources of food and water, or no resources at all. The temperatures were extreme. Any wildlife that could survive in these areas were predatory. This is where the Spirit led Jesus, and likewise, where He will lead the willing Disciple. This is an apt description of what you may endure in your preparation to follow Jesus and become His Disciple. Be warned!

He was to be tempted by the devil. Tempted by WHOM? The Devil; and he is real. He is “the ruler of this world,” a spirit creature who became wicked and rebelled against God. (see John 14:30 and Ephesians 6 verses 11 and 12) The Bible reveals the Devil’s personality through these names and descriptions, and the methods and techniques he will use against you:

Satan, which means “Resister.”—Job 1:6.

Devil, which means “Slanderer.”—Revelation 12:9.

Serpent, which is used in the Bible to mean “Deceiver.”—2^nd  Corinthians 11:3.

Tempter.—Matthew 4:3.

Liar.—John 8:44.

Some view Satan, the Devil, as just a principle or quality of evil that exists inside our mind. The devil is not a principle or quality of evil. The Bible records a conversation between God and Satan and remember, God is perfect, so he could not have been talking to an evil part of himself. The devil is real, and you will be tested by this evil one, at some time. Be prepared.

Matthew 4:2 says, “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

And after He had fasted… WHEN?

After He had fasted. Not before, not during. It was after He had fasted, He became “hungry”. The importance of this one verse take will take prayer, study to gain a proper understanding.

Fasted. Abstaining from food and nourishment. We have to put this fasting into the context of these verses. Jesus was led into the wilderness where He had no food, no water, no companionship, no resources, no help. He was isolated and alone, except for the Spirit of God. His physical Self was at great risk.

This fast began with no food, but continued with the lack of any sustenance for His physical, mental, or emotional well-being. This fast intensified as it affected every aspect of Jesus, yet Jesus obeyed and followed the Spirit.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. HOW long? The significance of the “forty days and forty nights” cannot be ignored.

Before his temptation, Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” in the Judean desert. (see Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, and Luke 4:2).

Forty days was the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus. (see Acts 1:3).

Biblical verse Numbers 14:33-34 alludes to the same with ties to the prophecy in The Book of Daniel. “For forty years; one year for each of the forty days you explored the land; you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'”

In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity, Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity, Sundays are included.

Rain fell for “forty days and forty nights” during the Flood. (see Genesis 7:4).

The number forty symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. In fact, the word “tempted” in this verse “to be tempted by the devil” means to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself. So it will be for you and me.

Remember, this is Jesus going before us, enduring the Trial, and showing us the way which we must go, also. But, He assures us that we, too, can endure, because He has gone before us.

Likewise, as a true Believer and Follower of Jesus there comes a time when we will find ourselves seemingly without help, without hope, without resources, at risk, isolated, with circumstance intensifying. Now the Great Work of God is beginning in our life. Endure this to the end, following the example of Jesus carefully.)

Matthew 4:2 says, “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.”

He became WHAT? He became Hungry. No food or water for 40 days and 40 nights in a hot, dry, barren wasteland, He became hungry. This sounds logical. But, take a closer look at the word “hungry” as it appears in the language it was written:

The word “Hungry”, as translated from the Greek language is ‘Ptochos’, and means not only physical hunger, but it means “to become poor, needy, suffer want, earnestly crave, the pinching toil of poverty, to be crushed in spirit, to pine”.

This is of the same base word found in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Poor: Ptochos (from the Greek word in Strong’s concordance),

1). reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor, lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches. Helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; poor, needy, lacking in anything, respects their spirit. Destitute of the wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the schools afford. It is people of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure.

This is the state that allows us to turn to God, void of all our own resources, humbly crying out, “help me, Father, for I am needy”.

Remember, It is he or she who endures to the end, who will be His Disciple.

Hear the Words of Jesus in Matthew 19, verse 24 through 29:

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

The testing is about to begin and The Greatest Work of God in your life is at hand. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 3. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Verse 4. But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

(Commentary Break:  In this case, when Jesus says, ”Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”, He uses the word ‘Rhema’ which is the spoken Word of God. Jesus speaks the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Can this be true for us? Likewise, you also are to speak the known Word of God, (the ‘Rhema-word)’, that is the known, written Word of God to counter and to negate the tests and temptations of the devil.

Why is this necessary? Because Jesus has told us, ‘this is the way’.

Is it possible for you to do this?

Being a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, is not a casual relationship nor is it a convenient pursuit. It is hard. It takes work, discipline, dedication and commitment. But It is the only way to life and true peace. (see Romans 8:6).

So, if you prefer a life with purpose and meaning, a life full and abundant, then don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

If you prefer a life with peace in your heart in mind, at peace with people and with God, don’t “live by bread alone, but live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (End Commentary Break)

Verse 5. Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple. Verse 6. And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’; and, ‘THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

Verse 7. Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD.’”

Verse 8. Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; verse 9, and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

Verse 10. Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Verse 11. Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him].

(Commentary Break: Jesus was tested, (tempted), after He had weakened his flesh by fasting and had wandered a treacherous and dangerous landscape for 40 days. He was tested in His mind, in His body and in His soul. This is the testing we must endure as we follow Jesus.

Our testing however, will not suddenly end. Our testing is to be endured until we are safely with Him, one day, in glory. Our testing is our Journey to Perfection. Our lifelong process of being sanctified in preparation for our eternal home with Him and with one another. (End Commentary Break).

The Chapter ends with the testing and temptation of Jesus. The second half of Chapter 4, begins with Jesus entering Galilee, His earthly ministry, and the calling and teaching His disciples. We will see that Jesus leads and teaches by example. The model for future generations of Christians, which, sadly, is rarely followed any longer and the church suffers the conseqneces.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: (coming soon), THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 4 – Part 2, Jesus Begins His Ministry, The First Disciples, Galilee.

PREVIOUS:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 3 – The Preaching of John the Baptist, The Baptism of Jesus.

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