Matthew 26

Remember that Matthew really points out Jesus' Jewishness. It is almost Passover, a big festival remembering Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea. Jesus will be the Passover "lamb" for the New Covenant God has. The religious leaders want to kill Jesus. He is too much a threat to their system.

 

Jesus prepares for the Passover meal with his friends. It will be his last supper with them. Judas will work with the religious leaders to trap Jesus. Even Peter will deny Jesus. Jesus goes to pray but even his closest friends fall asleep and don't realize what Jesus is going through and will go through. Jesus is arrested and taken to a religious tribunal. He is questions and the group believes he blasphemed by say he was God. That deserves death by their religious standards. Peter saves his own life by disowning Jesus.

Matthew 25

 

More parables. The 10 Virgins one reinforces what Jesus just said about being prepared for his arrival. He is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride.

 

The Parable of the Talents says to us, "Use it for God's purposes or loose it." Also, not everyone gets equal gifts. The point is equal faithfulness and service with the gifts we have.

 

The Sheep and the Goats remind us that God does judge and he judges by how we treat others. Those "others" in our life are Jesus.

Matthew 24

Jesus' disciples want to know "What's next?" (the coming age.) They know Jesus is not fairing well but something big is about to happen. Jesus basically tells them, "Don't be fooled. Look for the real deal (i.e., what I said and did.) Rough times are coming (they always do when change is necessary.) Stand firm, you will be okay. The disciples may not have really known what to expect or if they liked it.

 

Note in verse 15, Matthew enters a parenthetical remark, "let the reader understand." He is speaking to his church specifically. He tells them that even the Temple (holy place) will have things going on that are not of God. Everyone will try to get the disciples to drop Jesus' Kingdom agenda. Don't pay attention to people who say they have a timetable or secret knowledge of what's next. Jesus tells them that no matter how hard it gets or how religious it looks, don't stop following him. Jesus will return. I am sure they were quite confused. "Elect" may mean that some have been chosen by God but it could mean those who chose God. God may also "elect" everyone to be saved out of his love for people.

 

The point of all this? Don't slack off. Be alert. Christ following is meant to be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Christ will break into your life at any time. Be faithful with the world around you that Jesus will soon put under our care.

Matthew 23

Jesus now turns back to the people to teach. Don't pay attention to people who say the right thing but do not do it. They are not to be trusted or followed. True believers become servants of others, period. Humility and not self-righteousness, is the sign of a person in Christ. Jesus really gets personal when he points out (woes) the hypocrisy of the current religious leaders. His words were stinging. Where do you set up similar obstacles? Where are we hypocritical about our faith?

Matthew 22

Notice how much teaching Jesus does in this last week. A parable about a wedding banquet follows. The original guests can't be bothered to come. So, everyone is invited. Yet, each guest must come prepared. The fruit of Kingdom of Heaven is for everyone but each person must prepare himself or herself through faith (trust.)

 

The religious leaders now send civil authorities when they test Jesus. They want to trap Jesus on a civil charge and let the civil authorities do away with Jesus. Jesus, in his usual manner, turns their loaded tax question back on them, leaving lots of room for interpretation.

 

The Sadducees (religious leaders who have status and wealth to obtain their position as opposed to the Pharisees who were learned in the Law and worked for their living) ask a resurrection question (they thought the idea of resurrection, new in that day, was foolishness) that they hope will make Jesus look ridiculous. Jesus, again fails to answer a loaded question and, instead, reminds the leaders that God cares about everyone, living or dead. Marriage is a non-question. Jesus gives no answer, maybe because the question of marriage after resurrection is not important.

 

Now the Pharisees come back quizzing Jesus on the greatest commandment. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy and Leviticus and summarizes all the laws as Love God and Love your neighbor. These laws drive everything in scripture. Sacrificial Love, not rules is what drives a person of faith.

 

The Pharisees get a question from Jesus, which shuts them up. Sort of a riddle. The Messiah comes from King David's lineage but David calls the Messiah, Lord. How can the Messiah be God and Human?  They don't know. Jesus probably wanted to open their minds to the fact that scripture says a number of things that the Pharisees have not explored deeply enough. They had thought of the Messiah strictly in earthly terms.

Matthew 21

Jesus now returns to Jerusalem, hailed as a hero. Little do people know that they will turn on him in a short time. Jesus heads to the temple and in a symbolic act, destroys the money-changers (they are religiously sanctioned rip-off artists who fill the pockets of the authorities) franchise. Jesus then goes about real God-work. He heals.

 

Jesus uses the fig tree (that had no fruit) as occasion to teach his friends about the new for consistent prayer. The disciples are surprised (scared?) that the prayer of Jesus is so powerful.

 

The religious leaders, obviously mad at Jesus' display the day before, ask by what authority Jesus does this. The leaders only see earthly authority (namely them) as one that matters. Jesus turns the questions back on them, which infuriates them because, if they answer, they condemn themselves. Stalemate.

 

Jesus tells of two sons. He points out that the one who ultimately does the father's will, even if reluctantly and late, offers the preferred response. Saying the right things and doing nothing is not helpful or acceptable. God works with the trusting and can seldom work with the self-righteous.

 

In another story, Jesus points out that we are guests in God's Creation (church as well) and we often come to think it is ours, even to the point of denying God and instituting our own rules. God will remedy this, even if it seems to take a long time to do it. God will work with those who want to work with him and not with people who have a religious pedigree and have come to have little use for a real, growing relationship with God. Blisteringly angry, the religious leaders look for a way to do away with Jesus. He threatens their little religious business.

Matthew 20

Jesus tells a parable. Parables are short stories with a big point. The point is always about how the Kingdom of Heaven works. To put it another way, parables are about how life looks when God is in charge of our lives.

 

The kicker in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard is that we expect more if we work more. God views life differently. God is so excited to get any of his children to turn back to him and enter into a loving relationship with him that he gives them as much as people who have been with him a long time. In other words, tenure is not rewarded with God. Trust is rewarded no matter how long or short. And when God gives, he gives everything. He does not hold back.  How often to we get upset over the attention paid to a new member of church or work or even the family? God says that there is more than enough love to go around. He also might be saying that he expects a bit more maturity out of a tenured servant of God. God is generous. Period.

 

Jesus' mission is winding down and he is heading for what he must expect will lead to his death. The mother of two of Jesus' best friends asks Jesus to award places of honor to her sons. Jesus reminds her that a place "honor" with him is a place of sacrifice and, possibly, death. He encourages them to just follow God. God will take care of them. The other 10 apostles get indignant. Jesus points out that nobody is getting it. Honor comes from service to others on behalf of God. Honor comes from empowering people and not from having power over people. Will the disciples (or we) ever get it? Control-freaks are never about God's business, even if it looks holy.

 

Maybe in a ironic healing just after the aforementioned conversation, Jesus heals two blind men who ask for help.

Matthew 19

Jesus is now back in more Jewish territory which means he will battle the religious authorities again. They test Jesus with a question about divorce. The religious leaders had been scrupulous in following Moses. The Law let men (not women) simply say, "I divorce you." And they were divorced. The women then had not means of support and were left destitute. Jesus reminds them that marriage is a God institution. God expect marriages to be permanent. Only unfaithfulness was grounds for divorce. Jesus points out that people must accept the seriousness of marriage as well as the power of a lifelong commitment. Even his disciples think he is tough. Jesus tells them that maybe it's better to stay single if it's too hard. He is not saying single is better, just that it may be better for some (maybe himself since his particular mission in life was so all consuming.)

 

Jesus reminds the disciples (do they EVER get it?) that he accepts children and children have an openness and trust that the disciples might try. How often do we dismiss children and try to act "grown up" and effectively close ourselves to God?

 

A rich man approaches Jesus. He is eager for more. He has really practiced his Judaism. Jesus tells him that, if he wants more, to sell his possessions and follow Jesus. The man just couldn't do that. Jesus uses this as a teaching point. Material possession can sure get in the way of spiritual life. We come to depend on them and not on God. Sooner or later the possession will disappear, leaving us without what really will carry us through the day – God. Jesus also goes on to say that God can even overcome this if a person, even with material possessions, will turn to God. God can do anything. Jesus is not saying possessions are bad. He is saying that they get in the way. Most choose possessions over obedience and loving God first. But God can work with those who trust God more than the possessions. Possessions insulate us from depending on God. Jesus calls us to offer EVERYTHING, including possessions in God's service. Nothing is so important that it is worth losing God over.

Matthew 18

Jesus uses a child to show the disciples that only a childlike (trustful) approach will allow them to see the great things God is doing right in front of their noses. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place but life as God intends, life that God will usher in through faithful, trusting people. Jesus uses hyperbole (over statement for emphasis) to say that we should let nothing get in the way of a trustful relationship with God.

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows that God cares about numbers. Every person is important to him.

 

Jesus then points out how to deal with tensions and struggles. Christians should work it out between themselves. Only after trying that, can we seek out others. How often do we take our case immediately to a third party and never face the person we are having trouble with? Again, Jesus repeats that we (the Church) has the power to bind up people and to free them. Which will we choose?

 

Peter shows off that he is "getting it." Typically, a Jew would forgive 3 times and the write off the person. Peter more than doubles his willingness to forgive and tells Jesus that he would forgive seven times. To Peter's surprise, Jesus basically tells him that you can never stop forgiving. He then tells a story about how everyone needs to be forgiving because we all have debts to each other. No one is clean. And God does not like it when we are unforgiving.

Matthew 17

Jesus takes his best friends on retreat. Pay attention to mountains in the Bible. They usually mean that God will show up. In a moment of mountaintop clarity, Jesus is seen for whom he really is – all of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) summed up in a person. Peter, probably nervous, wants to memorialize the event. He wants to keep the mountaintop "high." Fortunately, God cuts his foolishness off and tells the three disciples present that Jesus is his Son and that they should listen to him. They were (rightfully) terrified. Again, Jesus tells them not to tell others. It would only make things harder. People will understand when Jesus is fully revealed later.

 

A demon possessed boy give occasion for Jesus to point out how little faith the disciples have. They cannot bring healing (yet.) Jesus says that it takes very faith to do great things because God is the one who supplies the power. Nothing is impossible if we will open up to God, even a little.

Matthew 16

The religious leaders try a different track. "Show is a sign that you are from God!" Jesus does not give them one. He points out that they refuse to see what is happening: God's work (healing.) Jesus points out that Jonah refused to get excited even when a whole city changed its mind and turned to God.

 

Jesus warns his disciples not to let the yeast (hard-heartedness, hypocrisy) to affect them. Still sort of dense, they think he is talking about bread. Jesus points out the folly of their thoughts and tries to redirect them.

 

Jesus then asks his friends what people are saying about him. Then he asks them what they think. Peter gives a sound, theological (and correct) answer. Jesus says he will build his church (notice church is very important, not optional to the ongoing mission of Jesus) upon such faith as Peter's. He tells his friend that they (as the church) will have the power to release people form the bonds and illness of sin (or, like the religious leaders, the power to keep people bound up.) Jesus tells his friends not to talk about him being the Christ, maybe because it would take away from his mission because many thought the Christ would be a warrior king who would re-establish the Kingdom of Israel.

 

Jesus drives deeper with his teaching. He tells his disciples that the true Christ will suffer and die for others but will rise again. Now Peter rebukes Jesus. Evidently, he also likes the warrior king model over the suffering servant of God model Jesus professes. Jesus rebukes Peter as a stumbling block for faith seekers. What a turn-around! Peter must have been crushed.

 

Jesus makes it very clear. Following him involves denial of selfish interest. God's mission must be foremost. God will take care of the faithful missioner. Real death comes when we loose faith and give into the powers and manipulations of the world around us. Guard your spirit more than your body. The stakes are eternal.

Matthew 15

Jesus is back in trouble not keeping traditions. This time it's washing hands before eating. Jesus turns the tables and tells the religious leaders that the true commands of god are broken by them. They find loopholes. We all like loopholes, don't we? Jesus quote their own scripture to them to point out that God wants hearts and not lip service.

 

The disciples tell Jesus that he offended the leaders. Jesus tells them that what comes from the heart is much more important than what comes through the body. Hypocrites are more deadly in their actions than people who just cannot get their act together. Following rules can be done without ever engaging the heart.

 

Jesus goes to Gentile territory. A woman asks for help. Jesus says that his mission is to Israel (the Jews.) But her faith in him convinces Jesus to serve her (and Gentiles) as well.

 

We have a second large feeding similar to the earlier one. This time, Jesus is feeding Gentiles. The disciples again are worried about logistics. Jesus is not.

Matthew 14

Jesus tries to retreat when he hears of his cousin, John's, execution. Crowds follow him. Did you ever wonder why people don't "crowd" him in church? The people in the Bible are hungry and get healed. Do we not expect the same? Have we reduced Jesus to a nice guy to read about but not a Savior?

The large crowd is hungry. Jesus tells his disciples (who are probably stunned) to feed them. The disciples haven't completely bought into Jesus. They think like most people. "We don't have the resources." Jesus knows that that is the wrong questions. God HAS the resources. Ask Him. God leverages what we have.

Jesus does the "take, bless, break, give" action of the Eucharist (communion) in the feeding. God responds. 12 baskets (symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel) are left over. God produces more than enough! Satisfied people are a sign of God power and presence.

The "Jesus Walks on the Water" story can be seen as either a miracle (show off) story or a story with a point or maybe both. Don't write off the story as only a display of Jesus' power. First, Jesus needed to get away to pray. Without him, the disciples grow afraid while at sea. Peter actually trusts Jesus enough to come to him on the water. But, Peter then loses faith and has to be rescued. Every day, we either have faith and trust god or we doubt and trust only ourselves (or our money or family, etc.) Sooner or later, without God, we will sink. Even then, God will rescue if we change our mind and trust in Jesus.

The chapter ends with what we already know. Doubters flounder, "faith-ers" thrive

Matthew 13

Jesus starts to use parables as a teaching tool. Parables are short stories that usually have a single point and often the point hinges on a surprise turning point in the story. Throughout the ages, please gravitate towards stories. The "crowds" probably had many people for whom stories may have been the only way to reach them. Parables are usually about the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, they are about how God wants to work in this world, if we will assist Him.

 

The Parable of the Sower shows how good soil (an open heart) yields a harvest far beyond our wildest imaginations. All other soils yield nothing. The disciples wonder about why Jesus teaches this way (with parables.) Jesus seems to say something like "open-minded, spiritually hungry people get it. Hard-heart know-it-all people miss the healing and renewing power of God. That power was present in Jesus and validated by his healing of others.

 

That Jesus is next shown explaining the sower parable probably means that Matthew's people didn't get Jesus and his parables, so Matthew put in an explanation (probably one Jesus had to use in his time as well. The necessary explanation probably has more to do with being spiritually immature than hard-hearted.

 

 The next parable about weeds seems to say that there will always be people who resist God and the life God offers but let God sort it out. We are not to sort it out.

 

 The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast show that it does not take much for God to work in our lives but we do have to let him in. Following Jesus is the way to let God in.

 

 The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl tells us that God's way is worth searching for and giving up everything for. The Net story tells us that God will sort out people by their faith/deeds.

 

The chapter ends with people figuring that Jesus can't be much since they know him and he seems ordinary (not Godly.) How often do we look at external things and judge people and never bother to look who they are on the inside?

Matthew 12

Remember, Matthew wants to use as much Jewish references as he can in order to speak to his predominantly Jewish-Christian audience. Jesus now reinterprets Jewish law. The 10 Commandments (in this case, the 4^th on Sabbath,) are to assist people in living life to the fullest and are not meant to be used against them by religious authorities. Jesus quotes the Old Testament (Hosea 6:6) when he says 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' meaning "Pay attention to true human need. God's rules are not an excuse to overlook these needs."

 

Jesus also heals on the Sabbath. This breaking of the Sabbath laws will be one of the charges brought up against Jesus by religious authorities later in Matthew. Matthew identifies Jesus with the expected "suffering servant" spoken of in the words of the prophet (and Old Testament book) Isaiah. The religious authorities only see the prince of demons in Jesus. There eyes are not ones of faith but ones of self interest.

 

Human suffering being alleviated is the sign of God's Kingdom. Rules should assist this addressing of suffering and not add to it. It is not how pious you look or act that determines who is acting like a Christian; it is how much you will personally address the human suffering around you.

 

Jesus seems to say in verses 31 and on that God forgives sins but when someone hardens his or her heart and plays God, their sin won't be forgiven, maybe because it is unlikely a person who plays God will turn to God for help? Hmmm. Jesus is not clear. The "religious" people are digging their own grave. No one can keep the laws perfectly. God is in the forgiving business. One who thinks he or she is a "perfect" law-keeper has no real use for God and will never know the freedom of forgiveness.

The Old Testament prophet, Jonah, is mentioned because he was able to get an entire city (Nineveh) to repent.

 

Jesus yearns for repentance, even from these hard-hearted religious folks. Jesus ends the chapter by saying that his family are beyond blood relations. His family members are those bound together by doing the work of God.

Matthew 11

Jesus' cousin, John (in prison,) is not sure if Jesus is the real deal. He sends his friends to inquire of Jesus. Jesus simply says to tell John what they see and if what they see looks like what God does.

 

Jesus denounces the places that received the benefit of his ministry but did not use the healings as an occasion to turn back to God. Jesus notes that religious people, pumped up on head knowledge, miss the benefit of God's love. Simple, unburdened, thankful people see God in what's happening. Jesus invites all who are burdened to take on his request to turn to God in repentance. It pays off even if it is hard at first.

Matthew 10

Jesus has just (chapter 9) said that others need to help with God's spread of healing love. Now, he sends out his friends. The names of the 12 disciples vary a little in the New Testament. Jesus tells them to travel unburdened (a message to us who have so much stuff) and to stick with the Gospel message and healing activity. Notice that he does not set up a bunch of church activities, just improving the condition of others. Don't be a burden in your travels and realize that some will not want you there. Trust God and not your own wits. You will be tested.

Matthew 9

Notice that Jesus sees the faith of the paralytic's friends. Healing comes with the assurance that all sins are forgiven through Jesus. This makes religious people mad because forgiving is God's job (plus they like to control God's love and help through their religious channels.) The people get it and praise God when a person is healed. We usually praise men and women for this.

 

Matthew had a vocation as tax collector that made him hated by other Jews. Tax collectors had a franchise to collect for the Roman government. As long the Roman's got their money, the tax collector could change whatever he wanted and pocket the extra. Notice Matthew doesn't hesitate to follow Jesus. A lot of people are just looking for someone to care enough to offer more in life. We need to offer it. Who have you asked to church or told about your experiences with Jesus? Religious people are again offended by Jesus' intersection with people who they consider unworthy. Jesus sees these people as being in need of God love.

 

Next, Jesus' disciples wonder why he does not fast like religious people. Jesus says that there will be time for that but to be aware (cloth/wineskins) of trying to fiddle with outside, visible practices when your inside is in need or rotting due to inattention.

 

What follows are a number of healings (signs of faith – a complete trust in Jesus.) Faith can be of a friend or family member or of an individual.

 

The religious people try another way. They say Jesus works for the devil.

 

The chapter ends with a summary of what happens when people follow Jesus – new life. The last sentence also says that there is a whole lot more work to be done but not enough willing to do it. Are you willing?