Notes on Matthew Ch.1-11
Ch.1.
Matthew immediately sets about proving to his audience, of predominately Jewish origin, the authenticity of Jesus Christ to sit on David’s throne, as Messiah.
5. Jesus Christ was perfect; but he did not come into a perfect world…nor did he come into a perfect family line:
He came to redeem that which was unredeemable…to bring good out of what was intended for evil:
I am a first generation Christian, coming from an ancestral line that I don’t even want to talk about anymore. But whenever I look at Jesus’s “family tree” I realize I am in very good company:
We have…
Rahab: a Canaanite harlot
Ruth: a Moabite outcast (from a nation birthed out of incest - and the sworn enemies of Israel)
King Solomon (born from an adulterous relationship)
Joseph: the unrecognized heir of a dissolved royal family, of a disgraced, dispersed, defeated nation, now under foreign rule…
And the list goes on…
Yeshua came down to the place where we are, to become one of us (Philippians 2:5-8)
He came right down to the bottom of the pit where I was, embraced me even in the midst of my pain and shame:
He took my burden…He said “follow Me!”
He led and I followed…not to a place of “self gratification”, but of Self Sacrifice - of humility - of surrender…to a Cross. (Colossians 2:11-15)
There I surrendered: my old self with its accursed family line was crucified with my Lord (1Peter 1:18-19)…
It was buried with Him through baptism (Romans 6:1-14)
…and just as He rose again, I too, am now born again, to a new incorruptible life, of a perfect family line: Jesus Christ (see Hebrews ch.7); to a life hidden in Christ Jesus, that will not perish but go on eternally. (John 3:3-16)
Ephesians 2:1-10
Galatians 2:19-21
21. Mary obeyed the Lord: As a result, the Messiah…the Savior of the world…was born.
See Luke 1:26-38;
Joseph obeyed the Lord - twice; As a result, Mary survived…and the Messiah…the Savior of the world was born.
See Matthew 1:18-25; 2:13-15
We cannot ever take for granted the faith and obedience of those who went before us…
23. When we put both these together : Isaiah 7:14 and vs21 , we come to this amazing realization: The Lord (Immanuel) will come down to be among us, to save us (Yeshua/Jesus) from our sins.
Ch.2
2. It is the year 4BC: It’s been over 500 years since the Jews began to return from exile to Judah. During that time they have rebuilt cities and walls - and been conquered again - first by Greece and then Rome. A remnant of Jews still remain in Persia - and continue through their study of the scriptures and adherence to rituals of worship, to be a signpost for the God of the Bible to the pagans around them. Amongst these pagans are the magi of Matthew ch. 2: These are most likely descendants from those magi who studied with the prophet Daniel; They had knowledge and enlightenment to a degree, of the Lord YHWH; We can surmise this because of:
1. Their actions: traveling some 800-900 miles over challenging terrain, to the territory of Judea, because of Bible prophecy;
2. Their words: “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?”
They knew from the writings handed down from Daniel and the prophets - that a King - a Messiah for all nations - was coming:
“…for we have seen his star in the east…”
But what was this star?
At first, scientists were searching star charts from 4BC (the year of Jesus’s birth) for an astronomical event, such as a comet or a supernova. They found nothing.
But what if this star wasn’t an astronomical event at all, but rather, an astrological one?
The information I’m about to relay, I first learned back in 2001 - and nearly 24 years later, it still resonates in my spirit.
{As to the idea of an astrological sign, we should not at all be shocked by this: The study of the stars was a very reputable science of that area, throughout Old Testament times. And these magi - or learned men - were amongst those who practiced such sciences.
Why would the Lord use such a thing? Because he wanted to send a signal, not just to the Jew…but also the gentile, in a language that he knew they would understand: Salvation has come…first to the Jew…and then to the whole world.}
And so, these magi (astrologers), now with knowledge of the scriptures, were watching the skies…waiting for the King of the Jews. They were watching very closely for two factors to align themselves together:
1. Aries the ram - which signified the tribe of Judah and David’s kingly line;
2. Jupiter - the largest of the orbiting planets- known as “the king of planets.”
In other words: “a king (Jupiter) is going to come from the line of Judah (Aries)
And sure enough, when scientists searched the astrological star charts of 4BC, they found, in the spring of that same year, possibly around the time of Passover, that Jupiter (the king) was in Aries (Judah)!
This would have been a sign that a major royal event was about to occur!
But it didn’t just stop there. At this same time, there was even more regal portent:
Saturn came into Aries…
so did the sun…
and then the moon…
And finally there was a stunning climax:
The moon eclipsed - and at dawn revealed Jupiter - as a morning star!
To magi from the east, who thanks to Daniel and the faithful remnant of Jews in Persia, both knew and had access to the Scriptures, this unprecedented astrological event heralded the birth of - not just a king - but a “super king” - if you will, the Messiah!
No more than two years later, they arrive at Herod’s palace, enquiring: “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him.”
Yes, they were practicing astrology - but without a doubt, the hand of the Lord was on them. And they - on behalf of all gentiles everywhere - will seek him out and bow down to worship him; offering their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (which in themselves tell the story of the Gospel). For Salvation is of the Jews…but he - the King of the Jews - has come to save us gentiles also.
So, just as Jesus opened his disciples’ minds in Luke 24 to understand that everything in the Old Testament was leading back to Him, he also, through the inspired writings of Daniel and the other prophets, opened up the minds of these magi - to understand exactly the same thing!
And although the idea of astrology is a big red flag to us New Testament Christians today (and rightly so) - back under the Old Testament, in pagan lands, we see the Lord giving a powerful signal…sending up a huge flare…to a group of God-fearing gentiles - using the language that they in their culture knew and understood best: That Salvation has come - for everyone!
Even today, Jesus will come to the place where we are (no matter how dark) to seek us out: He will speak to you in a language you understand and meet you where you’re at - but he will not leave you there…
The story of the magi is about God sending a message to the gentile nations: See Acts ch.10 - That He is also coming to get us…to save us! (John 10:16) Because he loves us too…
For more on the magi and the significance of their gifts see: http://sarahshalom777.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-epiphany.html
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10
This is where it will all end for us gentiles; where we will say our final farewells to this world: But where did it begin?
Maybe here: with a caravan of wise men from the east.
“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”Matthew 2:2
2. worship
Original Word: προσκυνέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: proskuneó
Pronunciation: pros-koo-NEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (pros-koo-neh'-o)
KJV: worship
NASB: worship, worshiped, bowed down before, bow down, bow down before, bowed down, bowing before
Word Origin: [from G4314 (πρός - against) and a probable derivative of G2965 (κύων - dogs) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand)]
6. See Luke Ch.2:1-7 - The divine providence and perfect timing of the Lord!
11. The Magi (or wise men) were a school of priests or “learned men” who were likely from the area of Persia - because of their diligent studying of the stars, which was a highly respected science in that area.
How they knew of Messiah we are not sure, but if they were from Persia it would be reasonable to suggest that they learned from the remnant of Jews still living in Persia at that time, (there were still a great number who had not chosen to return after the exile).
They may have even been descended from those “magi” who studied under Daniel. (Some scholars believe, they themselves may have been Jewish; remaining in Persia after many others had returned from exile.)
We could speculate as to what “his star in the East” could have been (Matthew 2:2): whether an astronomical, astrological or supernatural event. Whatever the truth is, these learned ones had enough scriptural knowledge, and a deep enough hunger for the LORD, to cause them to travel hundreds of miles in pursuit of not a star, but The One to whom it pointed: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)
This makes the idea that they were from Persia, living among Jewish people and in some way influenced by the teachings handed down from Daniel, more plausible:
“The King of the Jews”…
They did not come to look…
They did not come to ascertain…
They came to WORSHIP!
~~~~~~~
~We do not know how many there were: Scripture says they brought three gifts; But in traveling such a great distance, it seems likely that their caravan consisted of a great deal more then the traditional “three wise men”.
~ We do not know Jesus’s age at their arrival: Eight days after his birth (recorded in Luke ch.2), he is circumcised at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21). Later still, in accordance with the Law (Lev.12:1-4) the family again go to the Temple, for Mary’s purification and Jesus’s dedication (See Luke 2:22:38) It is after this that Matthew picks up the story. Jesus has graduated the manger and the lower room/cave with the animals at this point, and is now living in a house (Matthew 2:11). From Herod’s evil edict (Matthew 2:16-18), we can surmise that Jesus was around the age of 2 when the wise men finally see him.
~~~~~~~
If they were Jewish - what a testament to their faithfulness to the Lord, even while in exile;
But, if they where Persian or Babylonian - they would have been the first gentiles to worship Yeshua the Messiah!
Epiphany is special because we remember the first Revelation/unveiling of Messiah to the Gentiles…
And even in captivity…in a pagan land, we see how The Lord continued to use the Jewish nation as “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth.”
When the Magi visited Jesus, according to Matthew ch. 2, they brought him very specific gifts:
*Gold: symbolic of Royalty and nobility (1Kings 10)
- Because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)
*Frankincense: - offered up to God in Temple worship (again pointing to the Deity of Jesus)
- offered up by the High Priest in the Holy Place (Exodus30) as a “sweet aroma” of sacred prayer; Jesus as our great High Priest will not only intercede on our behalf (Hebrews 4:14-16), but - and here comes the twist - will offer Himself on our behalf (Ephesians 5:1-2) The High Priest who offers the sacrifice, will Himself become the Sacrifice.
*Myrrh: (Isaiah 53:5) Symbolic of sorrow, mourning and death: Mrryh was one of the main ingredients used to anoint bodies for burial (Matthew 26:12)…Here again is the twist - and here we find the hidden message of The Gospel:
The Heavenly Deity…(frankincense - the sweet smelling aroma of the Lord’s forgiveness and redemption that came up from the High Priest of Heaven)
Who is The King - over all…(Gold)
Who is the Sacrifice - for all…(Myrrh)
The teachers of the Law, and Israel as a whole could not understand:
that their King and their Priest would be killed as their Sacrifice…
but it seems that a group of gentiles - Magi from the East - could.
Remember the sacrifice of your Son, Lord God…that continues to arise as incense from the alter before your throne. It is from this incense that we pray…
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.
Isaiah 60:1-3, 6
For more about the magi and the star see:
http://sarahshalom777.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-sign-of-lord.html
13-15. In the fullness of time a seed was planted from the royal line of David, through the Holy Spirit, into the womb of Mary. (Genesis 3:15) Its purpose - to destroy the works of satan. (1John 3:8)
Right on time, Joseph, in obedience to Heavenly orders as well as earthly ones, traveled with Mary to Bethlehem in Judea. (Luke 2:1-7)
In the fullness of time, Jesus/Yeshua (meaning “The Lord is Salvation”) was born in Bethlehem, the City of David (Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 33:14-15)
In the nick of time, Joseph, in obedience to God, took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt to escape the sword of Herod (Hosea 11:1).
In the fullness of time Joseph brought his family back from Egypt to settle in Nazareth (Isaiah 53:2)
Right on time, the Holy Spirit sent His prophet John to call for a baptism of repentance, to prepare the hearts of the people for the soon coming Messiah (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3).
In the fullness of time, Jesus Himself came down to be baptized by John, thereby uniting Himself (God) to mankind in our fallen state (Isaiah 7:14b).
At the perfect time Jesus, after overcoming satan in the desert, preached throughout the region of Galilee and Judea, (Isaiah 9:1) performing the signs and wonders first spoken of through Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 61:1)
At exactly the right time, as the Passover lambs were being lead through the gate, into the City, Jesus the Messiah Himself, came up to Jerusalem through the East gate, lowly and riding on a donkey (Daniel 9;25, Zechariah 9:9)
In the fullness of time, as the lambs were being prepared for Passover, Jesus invited His own disciples to 'take, eat and drink' of His own everlasting Life, in the symbolic form of unleavened bread and wine (John 6:35,48-58).
In the fullness of time, during the morning sacrifice, Jesus the Passover Lamb was 'bound with cords to the horns of the alter', as an everlasting sacrifice for all mankind. (Genesis 22:8, Psalm 118:27, Matthew 27:2)
At exactly the right time, at the point of the mid-day sacrifice, this same Jesus was nailed to a cross and offered up to God: A spotless lamb without blemish, yet ready to take on Himself the sin of the whole world (John 1:29).
In the fullness of time, during the evening sacrifice (Exodus 12:6-7), Jesus, from the cross saw that all was now accomplished, cried out the same and relinquished his spirit (John 10:17-18, Daniel 9;26), bringing down forever, the barrier between God and His Creation (Matthew 27:50-53).
In the fullness of time, having disarmed the powers of Death and Hell through living a sinless life, Jesus was resurrected from the dead, because Death could not hold him (Acts2:24) and for 40 days, appeared to His disciples (Colossians 2:16, Psalm 16:10)
In the fullness of time Jesus, leading captives in His train, ascended into Heaven and, once for all time, with His own blood, anointed the Holy of Holies, covering our sin FOREVER. He then sat down, victorious, at the right hand of His Father (Heb 9:12, Gen 2:2. Ps 110:1)
In the fullness of time, as promised, God the Father poured out His Holy Spirit on His waiting disciples, to shepherd and empower them by His Mighty Hand: taking of what is in Heaven and making it known to them (Joel 2:28-29).
Right on time, you and I were rescued by this same Holy Spirit, from the path of Hell and destruction we were on, and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God, so we are no longer dead but ALIVE! (Colossians 1:13)
In the fullness of time Jesus Christ will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to fully unite us to Himself, that we may be like Him and be where He is (John 14:3, 1John3:2, Revelation 19:16).
In the fullness of time, God will purify the earth by fire, pouring out one final judgement upon satan, his demonic forces and all who have not placed themselves under the covering of God's own Son, for whoever is not for Him is against Him (2Peter3:7; Revelation 16, Matthew 12:30).
In the fullness of time the Lord will make all things new and wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4-5)
So the fullness of time will surely come for all of us; of this one thing we can be certain. But the question remains: Are we ready?
Written 01/22/2021
18. This depicts Rachel weeping, not this time for her child, Benjamin, but for her murdered descendants.
See note on Genesis 35:16-21
22. Isaiah 9 1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloomfor those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Ch.3
7-10. Ch.21:
12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
11. John 3:
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
12.
See Matthew Ch.13:
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
15. 2Corinthians 5:
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
17. John 3:16; Psalm 2:7-12
Ch.4
1-2. Genesis 3:6
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit...”
So, here we see a rematch: the second Adam standing, where the first Adam fell.
Test vs. temptation (James 1:13-14)
Tests draws us closer to God
Temptation pulls us away from Him.
According to Deuteronomy 8, this test has come from God; but it is during the time of testing, that Satan comes in with temptation. Hebrews 2:18
“Led “
Greek: to be “brought up” - as a champion is brought up into an arena. And Jesus wastes no time in demonstrating that his opponent in this arena, has no hold on him.
All of these following lessons, Israel should have leaned during their “40 days” in the desert: Their failure resulted in forty days becoming forty years: Jesus Christ will not fail!
3.Where “it is written” there is no “if” - there is no doubt nor shadow of turning.
Jesus is not here to prove he is the Son of God;
He is here to give his life as the Son of God (John 3:16)
The only weapon Christ uses against Satan is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17
4. It is written: The only infallible thing in this world is the inspired Word of God. Jesus Christ, as fully God, yet fully man, understands this.
See 1John 2:16
The more we focus on the Lord and things of Heaven, the harder it will become, for Satan to tempt us with things of this world.(Colossians 3:1-4)
The lesson of the desert:
God allowed hunger with Israel to teach them dependence (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)
“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
Jesus - as the Promise of Israel - will do what Israel could not: He will walk through the desert, depending entirely upon his father!
6-8. Satan knows the Word - and how to twist the Word: This is a Promise of God - it is not a dare.
This is about faith and trust - not reckless presumption...and there is a massive difference!
We do not deliberately get ourselves into a mess to test God! This is not the walk of faith and righteousness the Lord desires for us.
8-10. Now Satan reveals his true colors; this is what he has wanted all along.
But, Jesus already has the Kingdom and the glory: not of the temporary, corruption of this world - but the eternal glory of the next! (John 18:36)
Jesus has not come to be loved, honored and worshipped by this world: He has come to be rejected, hated and ultimately to die for this world John 3:16
How can Jesus as God, possibly bow down to, or worship anything else.
At this point - of satan revealing his true colors, Jesus also reveals His! He rebukes him and the dialogue is over!
10. Original Word: λατρεύω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: latreuó
Pronunciation: lah-treh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (lat-ryoo'-o)
KJV: serve, do the service, worship(-per)
NASB: serve, offer, served, service, serving, worship, worshiper
Word Origin: [from latris "a hired menial"]
…to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
11. The Devil will leave him until another time: the appointed time; where once more angels will attend to him, as he endures once again, the agony of temptation, on the eve of his crucifixion. Luke 22:40-46
See also:
See Romans 5:19, Hebrews 4:15
He is the tried and tested stone: Isaiah 28:16
12-16. Jesus too, will be arrested - and sentenced to death: But, everything in God’s timing: His birth, his upbringing, his ministry, his death, his resurrection and his ascension.
There is much work to do before Jesus’s time comes. (John 9:4-5)
This is why Matthew goes on to quote from Isaiah 9:1-2:
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.”
17. Jesus will continue directly from where John - his herald - left off.
...And, if they have heeded John, they will be ready to heed and receive, the One John was heralding.
Repent
Original Word: μετανοέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: metanoeó
Pronunciation: meh-tah-no-EH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (met-an-o-eh'-o)
Word Origin: [from G3326 (μετά - after) and G3539 (νοιέω - understand)]
1. to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction)
So: “reconsider what you are doing; turn back to God - for he is near.”
20-22. Compare this immediate response with Luke 9:57-62
Ch.5
2-12. Immediately he separates his disciples from the crowds who are following him; to teach them what it truly means to become a disciple;
Furthermore, in Luke 4:17-19, Jesus stands in the synagogue in Nazareth, to read the passage from Isaiah 61, concerning himself. He will now elaborate upon this to his disciples:
vs.3 See Isaiah 61:1 - “...because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;”
Vs.4 Isaiah 61:2-3 to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.”
Vs.5 Psalm 37:10-11
“But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.”
So, just from these few verses alone, Jesus sends a clear message: It is those who understand their dire need for God, and humble themselves accordingly, who will saved.
“When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:21-24
And still he continues:
Vs.6 See Psalm 63:1
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
Here, David is acknowledging, that in spite of the luxuries of being king, apart from God, these things mean nothing! The world and all it offers, when weighed in the balance, is nothing more than a dry and thirsty land - Such should be the realization...and the heart...of Jesus’s true disciples. (See also Matthew 6:33, 1John 2:15)
Vs.7 Hosea 6:6
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
It is the heart that desires the Ways of God (vs.6), that will receive what it has desired: God’s Way.
And what is this Way? Mercy.
Vs.8. Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”
It is the heart that is surrendered to God, as belonging to God, that will be fully changed.
Vs.9 -See Isaiah 52:7
Prophesied by Isaiah, 700 years before it would reach its fruition, this is the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom:
“How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who publishes salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
And clarified by Paul in Romans 10:15
“Peace with God, through the sacrifice of Christ” is what we, the disciples of Jesus, now proclaim to all people, everywhere. See also: Luke 2:14, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 6:15
Vs.10-11 ...And with this message, will inevitably come persecution: see John 15:18-25
Satan is the ruler of this world (John 16:11) - so, when we repent and return to God, we become Satan’s arch enemies! And how does he attack us? Predominately, through the world he controls! But, later on in this chapter Jesus commands us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This is why scriptures such as Ephesians 6:10-13 are so vital in our narrow walk with Christ:-
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Vs.12)
But:
Vs.12: See Matthew 6:3-4, 5-6, 16-18, 19-21
So, we are not to boast of anything in this world, to be loved and admired by them;
We are to boldly boast and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and things of Heaven; assuring our rejection and hatred by this world - but our acceptance and reward in the next one.
13-16. Jesus is almost warning his Jewish audience: the light of the world and salt of the earth, being the only nation with the Law, the knowledge and the presence of the Lord: But through the Sacrifice of Jesus, things are about to change...everything is about to reach its fulfillment in Messiah and the Jewish people must be ready. If they want to remain salt and light to the world, they must be able to recognize and willingly to receive the True Light of the world, whom all of their law and prophets point to.
17-18. See John 19:30
Read Ephesians 2:15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations....
LORD Yeshua, You not only ended it; You fulfilled it entirely...obeying it to the letter:
You loved the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut 6:5); You loved your neighbor as yourself (Romans 5:8; John10:11; 13:1; 15:12-13);
You circumcised your heart, not only your body (Deut 10:16); You caused the blind to see (Isaiah 42:16; John 9:35-41)…
You fed the poor (Matt15:13-21), took care of the widow and orphan (Luke 7:11-17) and set the captive free (Luke 8:26-39);
You honored the Law (John8:1-11)..the prophets (Luke4;16-21) and every ordained festival- knowing full well that every one of them pointed to You (Luke22:7-20).
You satisfied the commandments to the letter - every jot and tittle (Matt5:17-18)....And were that not enough, you then took the judgement - the punishment, for every one of us that could not...
so that in You we can now live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
You became one of us (Matt3:14-15)...to save us (Matt1:21).
We are no longer captive to this world that is perishing...We are free!
“…who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 146:5-9)
Thank you Jesus 💞
21-22. Such is the nature of sin: we have all inherited it (Romans 3:23) and we cannot be saved through obeying the letter of the Law: because true obedience comes from the heart (Deuteronomy 20:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11-12) And because our hearts are deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), we MUST have the Lord’s intervention. We must be born again (John 3:3-5), with a new heart and a new spirit Psalm 51:10; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26). This is what the sacrifice of Christ will accomplish on the cross: His perfect sacrifice and blood will blot out our sins forever. At the same time, our old sinful selves must be crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). This is what the Psalmist means when he says:
“as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
29-30. Clearly this is an allegory, not literal - but it shows us how dire and seriousness sexual sin is - and how deeply it is ingrained in to the hearts of people. So what is the answer?
See Exodus 29:19-20
Through the blood of Jesus, our bodies...our whole lives...must be set apart - circumcised - for him (Romans 2:25-29):
And we know, from Leviticus 6:27-28, that when something is set apart for the Lord, its destiny is either destruction or sanctification:
It is not only the right eye that must be gouged out...and the right arm cut off:
Our old, sinful lives must be handed over entirely to be crucified with Christ; so that, just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we too, can be born again to a new life - that is being continually sanctified and transformed through him.
Read Genesis 15:9-18
As we read this, we will quickly realize why the Lord himself had to cut this covenant - with no involvement from Abram to uphold his side (the one act of faith in ch.15:6 was all the Lord required) It is the same scenario with all of us.
Who can ever make a covenant with the Lord?
Who could ever keep it?
Who is capable?
(Matthew 5:33-37; Romans 3:3-4)
The Lord made this covenant with Abram - without any interference from him, because He knows that Abram - and all of us - are incapable of keeping our side of it.
38-42. These commandments, demanding retribution, were acting as a restrainer on Israel during their sojourn in the desert, and then upon entering the Promised Land: They -were instituted to create order and prevent anarchy; and, working in tandem with the sacrificial system, kept Israel in check, until finally the One perfect sacrifice of Messiah will be made - who will fulfill the whole law, and make whole, everyone who, like Abraham, will simply believe.
Within these verses, we catch a glimpse of a person whose heart has been made new by the Lord. This is why Jesus has come.
48. How? John 3:3-5; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 4:4; 2Corinthians 5:14-20; Galatians 2:19-21; Colossians 3:1-4
Through the power of the cross!
Ch.6
1-4. What Jesus says here, is revolutionary: Because the teachers of the Law and Pharisees were doing these exact things, and setting this example for all to follow!
3-4. 1Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 16:1-9
6. The Lord sees; the Lord hears.
14-15. John 20: 22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
Only through the new birth, and infilling if the Spirit.
16-18. Because fasting should be, not done for us, but for the Lord.
19-21. This whole chapter: Do not work for things of earth; do not seek a reward on earth; do not store up the treasure of earth; do not cling to your life on earth. Matthew 16:24-27
22-23. Because they thought they could see: Jesus is telling them: This whole time you have been blind: The light you think you have, is no light: John 9 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
31-33. Compare with Deuteronomy 8: 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.
Ch.7
1-5. There is none righteous - not one (Romans 3:10-12)
We gave all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:22-24)
To attempt to cover our own sins and appease our own consciences, by pointing out the sins of others, is a sin in itself, and something which we have been guilty of doing since the original sin. (See Genesis 3:12)
Through the Cross we will all be able to receive the forgiveness of God and come before him unashamed.
See 1John 1:5-9; Ephesians 3:12
7-11. This is the heart and the will of God: Jesus Christ, the Son of God has come to destroy the works of the devil and the barrier of sin that he erected by deceiving Adam and Eve. He is beginning now to break down this barrier by
1. encouraging them to ask and seek God for themselves (without going through or running it by the teachers of the Law and Pharisees.)
2. Referring to God as - not only his father - but their father! This is revolutionary!
12-14. Again, a revolutionary teaching, appearing to contradict the Old Testament’s Law of an eye for an eye.
But Jesus Christ is about to fulfill the whole Law; granting us forgiveness and remission of sins at the same time.
Vengeance truly does belong to him, and the only thing left for we who have been forgiven is to treat others with the same mercy as has been given to us. This is entirely counter to the culture, which is why Jesus goes on to say: 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
This is in line with the message and baptism of John, whose role was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus the Messiah, and what he was about to do:
Luke 3:10-14
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Why is this gate narrow?
See John 14:6
John the Baptist also bears witness to this when he says. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7-9
21-23. Continuing along this theme, there will be those who will acknowledge him by name, and how possibly once knew him, who will perform signs and wonders supposedly in his name: But walking with Christ, isn’t about signs and wonders; it is about obedience to the Lord, through his Son. See also Matthew 25:1-13
24-27. See 1Corinthians 10:4
Rock is foundational: It is not swayed; it does not move or shift like sand:
To build on rock takes time; indeed, in our walking with Jesus, it will take a lifetime, for us to become perfected (see 1John 3:2; Matthew 16:18)
Ch.8
8-9. To the one who is himself under authority, the authority of Christ is easier to recognize and receive.
10. True faith does not need to see: True faith simply believes:
Romans 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
And: Hebrews 11:1
11-12. See Romans 2:27-29 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
16. This was the Word of authority, from the Lord, who is the Word (John 1:1-3)
This same authority, he will bestow to his Apostles before his ascension: See Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
26-27. “Even the wind and see obey him” - because the tempest of wind and sea is a foreshadowing of something on the other side of that lake, that is also about to OBEY him! (Vs28-29)
It seems plausible that this storm is demonic; this “legion” attempting to defend a territory that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, is about to storm! As we are about to see: It is not only the wind and the waves that obey him!
28. Wow! Is not the life-threatening storm that the disciples have just come through, evidence of this?
29. This legion knows that its time is limited; that there is a Day of judgment for them, set by the Lord.
33. This was a sign to the herdsmen - and ultimately, to the entire pagan community: a rude awakening to the God of Israel, and although the initial reaction is naturally of fear, there is evidence to show that eventually this fear will give way to faith. Why? Because in the same account in Mark 5:18-20 & Luke 8:35-39 a much greater sign will be sent to the people of the Decapolis: a sign not of judgment (the destruction of pigs), but of Salvation! Is this not the exact reason that Jesus Christ came?
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” See Luke 4:16-19
Ch.9.
2-6. Who can forgive sins but God? The answer is no one: We have all sinned and fallen short. Which is evidence in itself, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God , is God.
How does he prove it? How does he enforce his authority as deity to forgive sins?
“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. (vs.6-7)
Everything Jesus Christ has just done, has enraged the teachers of the Law. Why? Because such works are utterly out of their reach! Such things can only be said and done by God - and somewhere deep down, they must realize this!
4. They have become so wrapped up in their own power over the people, as the self appointed “representatives” of God, that they have failed to recognize the goodness of God..,the true heart and nature of God - they have failed to recognize God Himself.
The incident of Mark 3:1-6 is another example of this:
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Also: Matthew 12:9-12; Mark 2:23-28;
8. This is a healthy reaction; exactly the reaction that this people, being introduced to the God of their fathers for the first time, should have...
So even more, should have been this reaction among the teachers of the Law, who claim to walk with God...to represent him, but whom when the person of God suddenly comes among them, are now tragically being exposed in their hearts, as serving, not God, but themselves.
9. Matthew 5:3-6
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Here, seems to be the state of Matthew at this moment.
10-13. We can assume, by Jesus’s words in Matthew 21:28-31 that he is not ingratiating them here: He is teaching them - and they are slowly awakening and being convicted of sin: If this were not the case, the Lord would not have done this! He would not have stepped over the threshold into a world and society that no respectable Jew would enter - were the end of it not to be repentance and Salvation: Jesus does this again and again: He has stepped into the life of Matthew, so tax collectors and sinners can reach out and touch him; He stepped into the life of a demoniac, so that the entire pagan regions of the Decapolis would be introduced to him; he walked into the diabolical, pagan Bethesda Pool and rescued a lame man from a literal pit of Hell. He brought the leperous, the blind and the lame from outside of the city, and put them back in among the people; the untouchables of society were able to reach out and touch God, because God, in the person of Jesus Christ, first reached out and touched them!
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
See Luke 19:1-10
13. John 9:35-41
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
See also 1John 1:5-9; Psalm 52; Psalm 31
14-15. Once again, the Pharisees are missing the mark; in doing their “acts of God” to be seen by men, the have missed the whole point of, and reason behind fasting: Jesus will re-enlighten them
15-17. Now Jesus begins to speak to them on a completely different level: Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom (referring to himself) is with them? vs. 15
...Implying that he - the bridegroom - will not always be with them. Why? Where is he going?
John 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
And Peter will follow with this question. “Why can I not follow you now?” vs37
Because - continuing with our study of Matthew 9: No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”
So the bride groom’s being taken away, is directly connected to us (the wedding guests) being transformed from old garments, to new, that our fit for new and un-shrunken cloth; from old wine skins, to new, that are fit and able to hold new wine:
So this is now beginning to paint a picture Jesus’s sacrificial death on the Cross: See Romans 6:1-11 When he died, he took our old lives - our old wine skins - with him; But he arose again, and when he did he brought us with him; as new creations, with new wine skins, and new garments of salvation, spotless white.
20-22. We know from Numbers 15:37-41, that the fringes on the garments were to remind the people of the perfect Law of God - and humble them with the realization that they were under it; And this woman recognizing the fringe of Jesus’s garment, broke the law of isolation, broke through the throng of people and lunged at it…
(Read Leviticus 15:25-33)
Here we see a paradox: It wasn’t that she broke the Law in pressing through the crowd - this woman already knew she had broken the Law! (see Psalm 51:5) She knew she was already unclean…born into sin;
but she also knew, as did Rahab in Joshua ch.2, that in Christ there was redemption…That:
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
(But)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8–9
“Against you - and You alone have I sinned…”King David ~ Psalm 51:4
Therefore, to honor the Law is to acknowledge that we have broken it.
This is why she lunged at those fringes. In touching the fringes of the Lord, she was not only honoring the Law but throwing herself on the mercy of the One who wrote the Law - and who would fulfill it to the letter; who would, through her confession of her fallen state, cleanse her from the curse of it (Galatians 3:13)…and not only externally ~ but INTERNALLY.
I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am Yahweh your God.”
It is the Lord who sets us free:
In lunging at the Lord’s tassels, she saw past the external (her weak and broken body ~ see Matthew 15:11); She knew where the real healing was needed: her heart.
In short, she was not afraid to gaze into God’s perfect (fulfilled) Law and recognize her need for mercy. Compare also with Rahab in Joshua ch.2 and to the bronze serpent on a pole in Numbers 21:4-9
25-26. Here is the first report of Jesus raising anyone from the dead
27-30. vs.They recognize him from the scripture;
They have understanding of their need of him - to be healed, not only physically but spiritually (Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 42:6-7;
vs.28 Because they recognize him, they have faith that he is able to do as the scripture says.
30-31. Jesus is trying to keep a low profile, so that he can go without hindrance, to the places and people shown by his father; and so that he will not be arrested and taken before his time -
But he knew exactly how this would pan out, and was prepared for it!
34. We know that it is by the Holy Spirit of the Lord that Jesus drives out demons; therefore, they are committing the grievous of sins: Blaspheming the Holy Spirit; the consequences of which, will be devastating! (Read Matthew 12:22-32)
35. This is a partial fulfillment of scriptures like Psalm 107:20; until he truly will heal us: not physically but spiritually!
Here is now the state of Israel - and indeed, all of us; but now he has come down to help them, his many will recognize him?
37-38. What is this a prayer for really? To become a laborer, one must first become a disciple, which means they must first be SAVED! So this is a prayer that salvation would come to the people of the world...leading to more laborers...leading to more salvations...etc...etc...
Ch.10
2. Apostolos: Greek, meaning “messenger
From the root apostelien, meaning “to send forth”
4. Why, knowing what he knew, would Jesus permit a man like Judas Iscariot into his most intimate circle? (Psalm 41:9)
Because, to be the last Adam...to overcome sin, whist in the midst of it; to be numbered amongst the transgressors, but commit no transgression (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 22:26-37- and to forgive the one who will betray him to death, entrusting all judgment to the Lord (1Peter 2:22-24): This Jesus, will become the perfect sacrifice...the Lamb without spot or blemish, who will offer himself up on our behalf, as a pleasing aroma to God. As fully man, Jesus could not overcome sin to its utmost, had he not been exposed, tempted and bruised by sin to its utmost.
See also
1Corinthians 15:45-49; Romans 5:12-21
8-10. Here is the lesson of Deuteronomy 8: the lesson of trust in the Lord.
11-13. Because every where in every area, the Lord has a remnant - people who are hungry for him - who are waiting for him: see Joshua 2:1-21; 1Kings 17:8-24; 2Kings 4:8-37; Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:25-38; Luke 7:1-10; John 4:13-30; John 9:35-38; Acts 10; 18:1-4; 16:1-4;11-15; etc, etc...
14. See Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
15. See Matthew 11:20-24
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
16-22. See John 17
vs.9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Vs.14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
2Timothy 3:10-13
16-25. He appears to not only be talking to them, but also to all who will believe and follow through their testimony. What he says here is very similar to his discourse in Matthew 24 on the signs of the end; and John 15:18-25
This is verified in John 17:20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
23. We see from Acts 8, that this persecution, is how the Lord keeps his Church moving; continually stirring the water, so that, like ripples, the Church will continue to spread out with the message of the Gospel.
26-27
See: John 1:4-9
1John 1:5-7
26-33. This entire passage can be summed up in this one statement: Fear the Lord - not men!
Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 29:25
27-28. Some things were not meant to be told and could not be understood until after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, when death has lost its sting, and the Way to Life has been flung open by his sacrifice. Now is the time for the Truth to be proclaimed; because now is the time for Salvation.
Psalm 118:14-27
28-31. See Luke 12:4-7; Psalm 49:12;
Psalm 139:1-4
When we connect the number of hairs on our head to the number of sins in our hearts: -
Here is the awesomeness of God’s mercy!...The power of the Cross!
Psalm 40:13-15 - Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
The Lord will truly answer this prayer:
See Colossians 2:13-14
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him
29-33. Revelation 6: 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slainbecause of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true,until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.
...is the fulfillment of this. We must not be afraid of death; we must not hold on to our lives in this world. Matthew 16:24-25
34-36. Isn’t this contradictory to the words spoken by the angels in Luke 2:14 - and even the very Name of Jesus: the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?
No: This is altogether a different kind of peace; the kind that only comes through a relationship with the Lord, through the forgiveness of sins...made available through the sacrifice of the Son (John 14:27)
And the Lord makes it clear: To be a follower of Jesus, puts one at enmity with the followers of this world and its ruler: Satan. (John 16:8-11)
We cannot be friends with this world (under judgement) and God at the same time (James 4:4); we must choose one if the other; and when we choose Jesus, there is no guarantee that the members of our family will follow: Often when we choose his Way, we will do so alone. (Luke 9:59-62)
But, it is our uncompromising stance for Christ, that will in the end, speak louder to those around us, than our lukewarm compromise: If we want our families saved, we need to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, and, in effect, let them go.
This is why Paul, under the unction of the Spirit, said to the jailer: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:30-31
It is the Lord who does the saving; but our testimony of him, through uncompromisingly believing upon him, might just be the vehicle through which he works!
Ch.11
2-6.John, in prison, is likely feeling discouraged, maybe for the first time doubtful; hearing the stories of Jesus, only from a distance: Jesus sends a reassuring message back to John, that he is performing the very things that it was prophesied Messiah would do.
7-11. Until the time of Messiah, prophets were the spokespersons of God - his representatives on earth among the people - often performing miraculous acts for his glory. Israel were used to following and listening to prophets. What made John the Baptist so intriguing - some people hating him, and some loving him - was that until his arrival, there had been no significant voice of God - no public prophet - for 400 years!
Now all of a sudden, God speaks; and for many different reasons and with many different reactions, the people listen.
Malachi, the last prophet to speak, will prophesy about the one who will break that silence, as Jesus now confirms:
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
Malachi 3:1
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
Because, there is truly no greater task or honor than to point people towards the Messiah - “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”. John 1:29-30
John role as prophet was to
1. Prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord Luke 3:1-20
2. Bear witness to whom he is at his appearance John 1:29-37
3. Direct the people to follow him. John 3:27-36
Yes, truly there has been none greater than him. And yet, because through the sacrifice of the cross, we will stand in the Lord’s righteousness, not our own, even the weakest lowliest believer under the New Covenant is “greater” then the greatest and mightiest under the Old: Because it is not about us - about anything we do: It is ALL about what Jesus Christ is here about to do , through his one pure sacrifice on the cross, whereby we are also made pure - and holy - and righteous: the righteousness that comes by faith. Romans 3:21-26
This is possibly why Jesus goes on to say: vs 12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
What Jesus is about to do will change all that...make man’s efforts, as mighty as they may be...of no consequence. It is not by might, nor power, but only by the Spirit of the Lord, that the Kingdom of Heaven comes (see Zechariah 4:6-7); and it does not come with any grandeur or fanfare: there will be no mighty smiting down of the Romans -
No, the Kingdom of Heaven will not come by violence or through force, but through deep and personal conviction, in the hearts of individual people; who are willing to accept by Faith, the grace and forgiveness that God freely offers them, that comes by only one way: through a sacrifice, on a cross. John 3:3-8; 13-21
13-15. They have the Scripture (reluctant as the teachers of the Law seem to be, to rightly divide them) None the less, they have them: so in that sense the Lord has not actually been “silent”. Through the written scriptures, through the mouths of his prophets, he never stopped speaking to them. He has not forgotten them, but has been faithful to his word, sending, first “Elijah” to prepare the way (whom Jesus has just testified as being John the Baptist).
To prepare the way for what..? For whom..?
For the Lord himself!
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
16-19. Following on from vs.15
In other words, the people, on the whole are not willing to accept it. Because the Lord is not doing it their way...the way the expected it to be.
They complain because the Lord is not beating to their drum: and unfortunately, if they murmur and complain about John the Baptist, they will complain much more about the One he is pointing towards, if the persecute the messenger, they will persecute even more, the One who is the Message!
“Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
All of these things will prove in the end, that John was right and that Jesus Christ was exactly whom he claimed to be.
21-24. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
For context look at John 9:24-41
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
The people of Israel have an advantage that Sodom and Gomorrah and Tyre and Sidon do not have: Access to the Oracles of God and the Promise of Messiah: They claim to walk in the Light...to know God; yet they have not recognized him now he has come.
This immediately leads in to vs.25
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
Truly it is about recognizing that we are nothing when compared to God; and our default reaction should be to fall on our faces and cry out for mercy. This is about humility - because 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
See 1Corinthians 1:18-31
27-30. Following directly on from the previous part of the chapter:
Jesus moves on, to the mystery of election: see Exodus 33:19 and Romans 9:6-18
This means that our favor with God has absolutely nothing to do with us: which is extremely sobering and humbling.
But rather, Jesus says to the Pharisees: John 10:24-30 and John 6:35-44
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
But the Lord has not taken the choice entirely out of our hands, for he goes on to say:
vs.28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
So, if we would come to Christ, we must come in this condition: Humble, surrendered, recognizing the futility of our lives in this world (no matter how strong, gifted, wise or wealthy we think we are) and recognizing our dire need for him.
See also Matthew 5:3-10; 19:16-26.
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