Matthew Introduction
Matthew’s Gospel has the most chapters of the four gospels (though Luke has more words and verses). Primarily, this is because Matthew includes large sections of Jesus’ public teaching, including the three chapters devoted to the Sermon on the Mount. The early church believed that the author was Levi, also known as Matthew, who was previously a tax collector and became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples.
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life is focused on presenting the good news to the Jewish people. There are at least nine instances where the author points out how Jesus is fulfilling God’s plan as described in Old Testament scripture, and Jesus himself speaks numerous times about the importance of fulfilling the Law and the scriptures. The Gospel itself makes more than sixty direct or indirect references to scriptures. Matthew intends to help his own people, the Jews, to understand how Jesus is the Anointed One, prophesied to come, and who came to fulfill all things.
Matthew also take care to show how Jesus removes burdens from the people in his understanding and demonstration of God’s love. Jesus protects the poor, the hurting, women, and diseased. He came for them, and Matthew wants to make sure that the Jews understand.
It appears that Matthew had the advantage of using Mark’s Gospel, since ninety percent of Mark is repeated in Matthew, though not always in the same order. Many early Christian writers believed that Matthew was written first, and that Mark extracted from Matthew to provide a smaller, more concise version. However, Mark’s text seems more primitive, and it would be surprising for him to have excluded so much good material Matthew presents. Also, Mark provides more detail than Matthew in a number of the stories, so it seems more likely that Matthew has made Mark more concise in the miracle stories rather than the other way around. Matthew is so much longer than Mark because he includes much more material about Jesus’ teaching.
One interesting feature of Matthew’s telling of the story is that several times Matthew reports two people where the other Gospel writers report only one – two demoniacs, two blind men, the donkey and its colt (instead of just the colt). There are actually two stories of two blind men, and two multiplications of loaves and fishes, two stories of healings resulting from touching Jesus’ clothes! Perhaps Matthew knew of multiple instances and brought them together in a single story to gain the corroboration of two witnesses. Or equally possible, Matthew was reporting as an eye witness, but only one of the blind men (or demoniacs) spoke, so the other gospel writers seized only on the one who spoke and reported about him.
Matthew Guide to the Transcommentary
This is a little bit more than a translation and a bit less than a full commentary. It serves a similar function to the Amplified Bible, though that work’s purpose was to provide a complete sense of the meaning of the words used by the writers of scripture. This work has a somewhat different purpose:
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To convey as close as possible the actual meaning of the sentences as they would have been understood at the time they were originally spoken or written. To accomplish this for twenty-first century Americans, dynamic equivalent words and sayings have been used at a sentence level. An attempt has been made to preserve intended wordplay and irony from the original author.
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We have attempted to clarify ideas, references, and thought sequences that would have been clear to first century audiences but are not clear to modern audiences because of differences in culture, customs, language, or degree of familiarity with Old Testament scriptures and Messianic prophecies. The phrasing of the translation itself aims at that clarity, but we have also added words, phrases, and sentences to the narrative for improved understanding. All such additions are in brackets []. This allows the reader to have the explanatory additions when reading but also insulate these additions from the translated scripture – indeed, with a little effort they can be skipped entirely when reading aloud.
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Color codes for different types of additional material are intended to further aid understanding:
- As in many editions, the words of Jesus are shown in red.
- Words of Father God or the Holy Spirit are shown in blue.
- Green is used for words added to descriptive narrative because they are implied or as commentary to explain the context.
- References to scriptures are shown in gold.
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As in many translations and editions, we have added headings in bold to help understand when a new theme is introduced by the author.
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The author frequently refers to "Christ" or to "Jesus Christ". We have employed the words “the Anointed One” rather than "Christ", since that is the meaning of “Christ”. We wanted to avoid the sense of "Christ" as Jesus’ surname, yet still recognize it as a well-known title.
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We have also added study questions at the end of each chapter to help you think more thoroughly about the meaning and application of the author’s writing.
An example of the use of bold headings, color, and brackets can be seen in the following paragraph taken from Matthew 21:
The triumphal entry into Jerusalem
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they arrived at [the village of] Bethphage on the Mount of Olives [the hill which overlooks Jerusalem]. Jesus sent out two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village across from us [probably Bethany] and you will immediately find a female donkey tied up and its young colt as well. Untie the donkey and bring the two animals to me. 3 If anyone questions you, say to them, ‘The Lord needs them’. Then they will send the animals [with you] right away.” 4 All this was done to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king is coming to you, humble and sitting on a donkey, and a colt, the child of a donkey.’” [The introduction of the quote comes from Isaiah 62:11, but the primary quote is from Zechariah 9:9.] 6 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, 7 and brought the donkey and its colt, and put on the donkey and colt their [extra] clothes and set him [riding] on them.
We will have succeeded in this translation if you the reader find that you can read this Gospel with greater comprehension and enjoyment than ever before. Please let us know if you find the various supplementary materials helpful. or too distracting, or if you have any other suggestions about how to improve this approach to translation.
Richard Tittle, pneuma9@gmail.com
Matthew Chapter 1
Jesus’ ancestors from Abraham
1The list of the generations of Jesus the Anointed One, [who was] descended from Abraham [the father of the Jews], and descended from David. [Matthew's list apparently is designed to show: 1) Jesus is a descendant of Abraham and therefore is Jewish all the way down to his father Joseph, and 2) He fulfills the prophecies that the Anointed One would be of the line of David.] 2 Abraham fathered Isaac [Genesis 21:2-3]. Isaac fathered Jacob [Genesis 25:24-26]. Jacob fathered Judah [Genesis 29:35]. 3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah through Tamar. [The full story is in Genesis 38. Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. Tamar tricked Judah into sexual relations with her when neither of Judah's sons Er or Onan gave her children, and Judah didn't take care of her by finding her a husband. God vindicated her by giving her twins. The story of the birth is Genesis 38:27-30.] Perez fathered Hezron [Genesis 46:12 and 1 Chronicles 2:5].
[The remainder of the generations leading to King David are also listed in 1 Chronicles 2:9-15 and Ruth 4:13-17.] Hezron fathered Ram. 4 Ram fathered Amminadab. Amminadab fathered Nashon. Nashon fathered Salmon. 5 Salmon fathered Boaz through Rahab. [The story of Rahab is in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6:25. Rahab was a prostitute who saved the Jewish spies who led Israel into the promised land. Rahab’s husband Salmon may have been one of the two spies.] Boaz fathered Obed through Ruth. [The story of how the Moabite woman Ruth became an Israelite is told in Ruth 1-4.] Obed fathered Jesse. 6 Jesse fathered David.
King David fathered Solomon [2 Samuel 12:24] through her [Bathsheba] who was married to Uriah. [2 Samuel 11 tells the story of David's adultery with Bathsheba, his conspiracy to have her husband Uriah killed in battle, and then his taking Bathsheba as his wife.] 7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam. [1 Chronicles 3:10-16 lists the same line of kings as Matthew down to the time of the exile.] Rehoboam fathered Abijah [2 Chronicles 11:20]. [The following descendants are all in the line of the kings of Judah.] Abijah fathered Asa. 8 Asa fathered Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat fathered Jehoram. Jehoram fathered Uzziah. 9 Uzziah fathered Jotham. Jotham fathered Ahaz. Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh. Manasseh fathered Amon. Amon fathered Josiah. 11 Josiah fathered Jeconiah [Jehoichin] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. [Several kings are purposely left out of the line of descendants mentioned, likely because of their evil lives - namely Ahaziah son of Jehoram, Joash son of Ahaziah, and Amaziah son of Joash. Also, Josiah's sons Jehoichim and Zedekiah served as kings, but are brothers of Jeconiah, and not part of the royal line leading to Jesus.]
12 After the exile in Babylon, Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel [1 Chronicles 3:17-19]. Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel. [The scripture appears to show that Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel's brother Pediah. Since no sons are listed of Shealtiel in the scriptures, he may have died childless and his brother produced the seed that preserved his family line. Zerubbabel figured prominently in history, as part of the first return from the exile. Along with the priest Jeshua, he rebuilt the Temple and served as governor of Jerusalem under the Persians. Both Haggai and Zechariah spoke prophecies concerning him. Ezra and Nehemiah both mention him.]
[The remainder of the ancestors are not recorded elsewhere in scripture, so are based on sources no longer available.] 13 Zerubbabel fathered Abihud. Abihud fathered Eliakim. Eliakim fathered Azor. 14 Azor fathered Zadok. Zadok fathered Akim. Akim fathered Elihud. 15 Elihud fathered Eleazar. Eleazar fathered Matthan. Matthan fathered Jacob. 16 And Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus the Anointed One. [Only 13 generations are mentioned, unless Jeconiah is counted a second time. It is also highly likely that the list skips some generations, since the period between Jehoiachin and Jesus is just over 600 years, which would lead to an average span between generations of 47 years, which is unlikely for the era.]
17 All of the generations from Abraham to David are 14. The generations from David to the Exile are 14. And the generations from the Exile to the Anointed One are 14. [Matthew is providing a symbolic, numerological way of showing the Jewish genealogical history leading to Jesus, even though he is certainly aware it is not exact. As already pointed out, there are omissions in both the second and third sets.]
Family and birth of Jesus
18 The birth of Jesus, the Anointed One, happened like this. When Mary (who would become Jesus' mother) was already engaged to Joseph but before they were married, Mary was discovered to be already pregnant, [though this was] through the Holy Spirit[, not because she had sexual relations with Joseph or any other man]. 19 Her [betrothed] husband, Joseph, was committed to doing what was right but did not want to publicly shame her, so he decided to release her from the marriage promise privately. [In that time, a betrothed couple was considered husband and wife, and therefore the sin of sex with another man would require divorce. It seemed obvious that Mary had sinned but Joseph was not vindictive, though he had the right to see her tried and stoned for the sin.]
20 While he was thinking [about what he needed to do], the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which was conceived in her is by [the power of] the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” [Psalms 130:8 says that God will save the people from their sins. The Hebrew name Jesus means “God saves”.]
22 These things took place to accomplish what the Lord had spoken through the prophet [Isaiah 7:14], saying, 23 “See, a virgin will be pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call him, ‘Immanuel’”, which translated [from the Hebrew to the Greek] means “God among us”. [It was not unusual to give a person two names - in this case, for the angel to say the child's name would be Jesus (“God saves”), and for the scripture to say his name was Immanuel (“God among us”). The angel made it clear that the child about to be born was the prophesied child. God would have to be “among us” to “save us”.]
24 When Joseph got up from his sleep, he then accomplished what the angel of the Lord had told him - he received Mary as his wife, 25 though he did not [consummate the marriage and] have sexual relations with her until after the baby was born. He gave the baby the name Jesus.
Discussion questions
1. If this Gospel is addressed primarily to Jews, do you see why the author would be careful to show the genealogy tracing back to David and Abraham?
2. Why do you suppose the genealogy included women who were involved in sexual sin? Why do you suppose God allowed Mary’s pregnancy to also cast doubt on her chastity?
3. What is the significance to you of the names “Jesus” and “Immanuel”?
Matthew Chapter 2
Wise men’s search for Jesus
1 At the time Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, Herod reigned in Jerusalem [a short distance away]. Wise men [who studied the stars and their positions and meanings] came from the east 2 and said, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him.” [When they were in their home country to the east (possibly Babylon or Nabatea), they regularly studied the heavens and had seen a configuration of stars that signified that a great king had been born. They understood the one who had born was not only a king but also God and worthy of their worship.]
3 When Herod heard this, he was upset, and all of Jerusalem with him. [Herod could not tolerate having a rival, and if Herod was upset then he was going to make sure that the entire city was upset as well.] 4 When he had gathered together all the chief priests and interpreters of the Law, he demanded to know where the Anointed One was supposed to be born [according to scripture and the sayings of the rabbis]. 5 And they told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for it is written by the prophet [Micah 5:2], 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not least among the princedoms [cities] of Judah, for out of you shall come a prince [governor] who shall rule my people, Israel.’
[Now that Herod knew generally where to look, he needed to know how old this child was and exactly where he was living in Bethlehem, because it was his intention to kill this rival.] 7 So Herod privately sought the wise men, to find out exactly when the star appeared [and presumably the date of the child’s birth]. 8 He sent them off to Bethlehem, saying, “Look for the child until you find him, and then send word so that I can come and worship him too.” 9 After they heard what the king told them, they departed.
And, amazingly, the star which they had seen first in the east, went before them, until it stood [in one place] over the location where the child was. [It is hard to imagine an astronomical phenomenon in the sky which explains this, whether planetary conjunction, supernova, or comet, since none of these hovers over a single spot on the earth. Therefore, its explanation is more likely miraculous than a simple astronomical phenomenon.] 10 When they saw the star [marking the location], they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 When they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they bowed down and worshipped him. And they opened their treasure boxes and presented him gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. [Gold is fitting for the wealth of a king, frankincense for the worship of a God, and myrrh for the anointing of a body in the sacrifice of death.] 12 And being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed a different route to return to their home country.
13 After the wise men departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up and take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt and stay there until I give you the word, for Herod is searching for the young child to destroy him." 14 When Joseph woke up, he [did exactly as told and] took the young child and his mother in the night and traveled with them to Egypt. 15 And they stayed there until the death of Herod. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet, which says, “Out of Egypt I have called my son”. [Hosea 11:1 describes Israel as God’s son whom he protected for a time in Egypt prior to the Exodus. Matthew is saying that Jesus’ life identifies with the nation and fulfills Hosea’s words in a deeper way.]
Herod’s murder of the children
16 When Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men, he was furious, and he sent forth [soldiers] and ordered them to kill all the children two years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding region, based on the time [of the infant king’s birth] that he had carefully obtained from the wise men. 17 This fulfilled what was spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah, 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah of weeping and mourning, for Rachel is mourning her children – she refuses to be comforted, for they are no more.” [Rachel, as Jacob’s favorite wife whom he loved, was considered the mother figure for all Israel. She wept as she died, giving birth to a child she would never know. Jeremiah 31:15 describes sorrow over the exile of the Jews as Rachel weeping. Since Rachel’s tomb is near Bethlehem, Matthew sees Jeremiah’s words fulfilled in a deeper way by this terrible act related to the life of Jesus.]
Return of Jesus’ family
19 When Herod died, again an angel appeared to Joseph in Egypt through a dream, 20 and said, “Rise up and take the young child and his mother and return to the land of Israel, for those that sought [to take] the young child’s life are dead. 21 And Joseph [followed the instruction of the Lord and] took the young child and his mother and entered the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that [Herod] Archelaus ruled in Judah in place of his father Herod [the Great], Joseph hesitated to go there. Instead, with another warning through a dream, he chose instead to go to the region of Galilee [even though it was ruled by another of Herod’s sons, Antipas]. 23 He arrived and settled down in the city of Nazareth, which fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophets, “He [the Anointed One] shall be called a Nazarene.”
[Isaiah 11:1 was known as a prophecy concerning the Anointed One, and it says, “There will come a rod (nezer) out of the root of Jesse, and a branch (nezer) out of his roots will give fruit.” Jesse was the father of King David. The word “branch” has the same consonants (n, z, r) as the word “Nazarene”. Matthew is saying that Jesus fulfilled a prophecy of Isaiah that the Anointed One would be a descendant of David, because of the similarity of the words “branch” and “Nazarene”. While this may seem a far-fetched reference Matthew is reaching for, perhaps the Lord is simply revealing to Matthew the deeper degree to which Jesus was the fulfillment of all the writings of scripture.]
Discussion questions
1. How do you understand God allowing the birth of his son into the world to cause the death of other innocent children?
2. Why do you think Matthew used so many scripture references to prove Jesus was the one that had been promised to come?
3. Why did God need to appear in dreams to Joseph and the Wise Men, rather than in person like he did to Mary? Have you ever had a dream where you felt God communicated to you?
Matthew Chapter 3
Ministry of John the Baptist
1 In the days [before Jesus’ ministry began], John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judah, and said, “Change your ways, for the kingdom of heaven has arrived! [The Anointed One who represents God is about to show up, and you need to be ready for him.]” For this [John’s ministry] is what was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, when he said [Isaiah 40:3], “[This is] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight pathways for him.’”
4 John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a belt of leather. His food consisted of locusts and wild honey. 5 And all [the people from] Jerusalem, Judea, and around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized in the Jordan by him, as they confessed their sins.
7 But when John saw the Sadducees and Pharisees [rival religious parties] coming to the place where he baptized [to evaluate how much they might need to worry about him as a rival religious leader], he said to them, “Generation of vipers, who informed you to run away from the coming wrath [of God]. [Jesus would specifically describe later how judgment would come to this generation for their rejection of God.] 8 Therefore, show forth the fruit worthy of repentance [as evidence that you are ready to live submitted to God]. 9 Don’t think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father [and therefore we are God’s chosen people who will be saved from destruction automatically because we are Jews].’ I say to you, God can raise up children of Abraham from these stones. 10 And already the axe is being laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. [Every individual life will be judged.]
Baptism of Jesus
11 “I baptize with water for repentance, but after me comes one who is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not even worthy to carry, and he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly process the harvest on the floor. He will gather his wheat in the granary but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
[When grain is harvested, it is piled in the barn. The farmer throws the harvest in the air and uses a large hand-operated fan to create a wind. The wheat falls into his grain container, and the chaff is blown beyond the container. The farmer then stores the wheat and burns the chaff. John is quite blunt and confrontive. Those who love and serve God are the wheat, and those who are out for themselves and ignore God are the chaff. The wheat is preserved for everlasting life and the chaff is burned in the fires of hell.]
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John [at first] would not allow him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me?” [In John 1:32-33, John the Baptist says he didn’t know that Jesus was the Anointed One until the Spirit came down on Jesus. However, Matthew’s account shows that John the Baptist, when he saw Jesus, must have strongly suspected Jesus was the one.]
15 And Jesus answered him, “Let it be this way now, for it is good to fulfill all righteousness.” [Jesus was setting an example for all men and humbling himself before God and man. There would be a time to come when Jesus would be recognized as the sinless one and the king of all creation.] Then John let him [be baptized]. 16 And as soon as Jesus was baptized, when he came up out of the water, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. 17 And there was a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved son, who pleases me very much.” [This was a common formula for an earthly father – to bless his son at the time of recognizing him as heir and declare the son is approved to represent the father.]
Discussion questions
1. Why do you think God thought it was important to have John the Baptist prepare the way before Jesus came?
2. What was the value of Jesus being baptized if he was God’s son and had committed no sin?
3. How would it have affected Jesus to hear the voice from heaven praising him? How would it affect you to hear that from your father?
Matthew Chapter 4
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested by the devil. [When people are first hired or promoted, they are tested before being fully released in their strength.] 2 And when he had fasted [stopped eating] for forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry. 3 When the tempter [Satan] came, he said to Jesus, “If you [really] are God’s son, command these stones to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered, saying, “Man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
[The temptation was to prove who he was. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 to counteract the temptation placed in his mind. Jesus was laying the foundation of his ministry and taking a stand. In John, he said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” (John 5:19, John 8:28). He wasn’t saying he couldn’t produce bread, only that he wouldn’t do it on his own initiative, unless he first saw the Father doing it or heard the Father saying to do it.]
5 Then the devil took him into the Holy City [Jerusalem] and stood him on a high corner of the Temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are God’s son, throw yourself off. It is written, ‘He shall give his angels charge over you, and in their hands, they shall lift you up, in case you strike your foot against a stone’ [Psalms 91:11-12].” 7 And Jesus replied again, “It is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God’ [Deuteronomy 6:16]”.
[The temptation was to use his privilege as God’s son, rather than trust God’s promises. Satan wanted him to react rather than act in obedience to the leading of God. This time, the devil tried to make the temptation more attractive by using scripture to justify it, but Jesus knew the scripture was taken out of context, and had no trouble choosing an appropriate scripture-based reply to counteract the temptation.]
8 Again, the devil took him to the highest of mountains, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, 9 and said to him, “I will give you all of this if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan. For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone’ [Deuteronomy 6:13]”. 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and ministered to him.
[A forty day fast is difficult enough, but these temptations left him in need of strengthening. Jesus himself likely described this whole experience to the disciples later. It may seem that Jesus handled the temptations rather easily, but we don’t understand how weak he was after forty days with no food. Luke 4:13 tells us that when the devil left it was until he could find a better opportunity. Perhaps he never expected that Jesus would swallow his rather obvious invitations. If these temptations were to work like they do with most of us, he was attempting to plant thoughts in Jesus’ head about taking shortcuts. Once the tempter can get us to think independently of God, especially when we are at our weakest, then he has already won the battle, as he did with Adam and Eve. But Jesus loved and trusted his Father too much to ever deviate from his path. If he had fallen to any of these temptations to act as God rather than man, he would have forfeited the ability to die sinless in our place.]
Jesus in Galilee
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put into prison, he departed [from Judea] for the [province of] Galilee. [Apparently, he heard from the Father that he was now to make his ministry base in the north, where he and most of his disciples were from. This would also avoid run-ins with the chief Jewish leaders for a while.] 13 And he moved [his home] from Nazareth [where he grew up] to Capernaum which is along the sea [called the Sea of Galilee though it is actually a lake], in the region of [the Jewish tribes of] Zebulun and Naphtali.
14 This fulfilled what was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, 15 “In the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles [non-Jews], 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, a light has arisen [Isaiah 9:1-2].” [Matthew sees very clearly that when Jesus moved to Galilee, he in fact was that light foretold by Isaiah’s prophecy. The greatest outpouring of light through Jesus was in the region primarily populated by non-Jews, who did not know God, and was therefore a region of darkness.] 17 From this time [when Jesus moved to Capernaum], he began to preach, saying, “Change your way of thinking, for the kingdom of heaven is right here right now. [Expect God to work in your life, for he cares about your needs.]”
18 Walking along the sea, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon who is known as Peter, and Andrew his brother. They were casting their nets, since they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me [as my disciples] and I will make you fishers of men”. 20 Without hesitation, they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there, he came upon two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and Jesus also called them [to follow him]. 22 James and John left their boat and their father and followed him. [According to John 1:35-41, Jesus already met these four through John the Baptist around the time Jesus was baptized by John. Luke 5:1-11 tells this story of the calling of the first four disciples in more detail, including the story of the miraculous catch of fish.]
23 Jesus traveled all around the [region of] Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, declaring the good news of the kingdom [that God is near at hand and he wants to bless his children], and healing every infirmity and every sickness among the people. 24 And the reports about him went throughout all Syria [the larger region, including the areas farther north than Galilee, Samaria, and Judea]. And they brought to him all who were sick with various kinds of sicknesses and torments, including those who were demonized or mentally ill, and those who were paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Great crowds of people followed him from Galilee, Decapolis [the Roman district on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee], Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan River [modern day Syria and Jordan].
Discussion questions
1. Why do you think Jesus fasted to meet the tests? Didn’t that make him weaker?
2. Has God ever moved you to an unfamiliar location to make your home? How was it different, and what response did that draw from you?
3. Why did Jesus need disciples? Didn’t that make his job harder? Why do you think they were so eager to follow him?
Matthew Chapter 5
Good news of God’s kingdom
1 Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up a hill, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. [Jesus had not yet selected the twelve, so this teaching was probably for all his followers. The “Mount of the Beatitudes” near Capernaum, is the traditional site of this teaching.] 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, “[Whatever you are going through, if you will let God have his way in your life, even the worst things will be turned around. You may think that your life is full of bad news, but in the kingdom of heaven, God makes all things work for your benefit. The more you cooperate with him, the higher the payoff.] 3 It’s good news[, not bad,] if you are poor in spirit[, depressed or lacking energy or enthusiasm], for you have the kingdom of heaven. [You may believe that those who are empty or lacking in their spirits have no hope. But Psalms 34:19 and Isaiah 61:1 both say much the same thing - it’s good that you aren’t self-sufficient because you will be more open to God and he will make you rich in spirit.]
4 “It’s good news[, not bad,] if you are grieving [because of what you have lost], for you shall be comforted. [You may feel that nothing can replace what you have lost. But Isaiah 40:1 and Isaiah 61:2-3 talk about why those that grieve will be comforted. God cares about you and will bring you healing, restoration, companionship, and a rich life.]
5 “It’s good news[, not bad,] for you who are gentle[, who aren’t aggressive and don’t think highly of themselves], for you shall inherit the earth [Psalms 37:11]. [Aggressive, angry people may look like they are winning but God will look out for those who don’t push for their own way, and will grant you prosperity, if not in this life than in the life to come.]
6 “It’s good news[, not bad,] for you if you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness [and justice], for you will be satisfied. [The world is not at all satisfying, for the unrighteous and unjust often seem to be rewarded, but Isaiah 55:1-2 tells us that only God can satisfy that hunger and thirst. Thus, your hunger is for God to set the world in right order, including your own hearts. In the kingdom of heaven, as you hunger for God, and forgive others, God fills your hearts and satisfies your souls.]
7 “It's good news[, not bad,] for those who are merciful, for they shall receive mercy. [You may feel that the merciful are often taken advantage of, but 2 Samuel 22:26 explains that God rewards our good-heartedness. God’s plan of love expects that you will forgive others, and your own forgiveness is withheld until you do so (Matthew 6:14-15). In kingdom life, you honor others whether they deserve it or not, and you leave it to God to honor you.]
8 “It's good news[, not bad,] for those with clean hearts, for they shall see God. [You may think that clean hearts will always be disappointed by the darkness and dirtiness of the world. However, when your eyes are focused, you will be filled with light (Matthew 6:22-23), which in turn is what allows you to see God in all things. When you think in a pure way, the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8).]
9 “It’s good news[, not bad,] for those who make peace, for they shall be called children of God. [You may feel that it is the very nature of the world and even of men to be in division and at war with one another. But God sent me to bring reconciliation between God and men, and among all men (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).]
10 “It’s good news[, not bad,] for those who are persecuted for the sake of doing what is right, for they shall see the kingdom of heaven. [You may feel you’ve done something wrong if people are angry at you and try to stop you. I am telling you that when you follow God, people feel threatened and afraid and they will seek to stop you. They have done it to me and they will do it to you (John 15:18-21). But all of heaven will help you and sustain you when the world is against you.] 11 It’s good news[, not bad,] when they insult you, badger you, and accuse you falsely because of me. 12 Rejoice and be very glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. This is the same way they persecuted the prophets before you [so you are in good company]."
Salt and light
13 “You [who are beginning to believe the good news of the kingdom] are the salt in the earth. [Whatever is going on around you, your faith and action is what makes the world taste good to others, knowing that God loves them and cares for them.] If salt loses its effectiveness, then what can ever make it salty again? It’s good for nothing, except to be thrown out, and trampled under men’s feet! [If you don’t walk in faith, then you have lost your effectiveness.]
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Men [likewise] don’t light a lamp and then put it under a basket. Instead they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 So [in the same way] let your light shine in front of everyone so that they can see your good works and glorify your heavenly father. [Your faith in action is what gives people confidence that God is at work in the world.]
How to fulfill God’s Law
17 “Don’t think that I have come to invalidate the Law and the Prophets [or any of the scriptures]. I have not come to invalidate them but to fulfill them. [Jesus intends to reveal more completely the truth and purpose for many of the commandments of God and demonstrate how to accomplish them the way God intended. He also was prepared to fulfill prophecies, especially those that were understood by the teachers and interpreters of the Law as describing the spiritual leader called the Anointed One, who was to come and deliver Israel.] 18 For I am telling you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until all of it is fulfilled. [The scriptures point to a holiness that God expects of every person and collectively of nations. Every time a person or nation ignores God’s ways there is a negative consequence, but obedience to God’s ways leads to God’s protection and blessing. Deuteronomy 28 describes very well the consequences of both obedience and disobedience.]
19 “Whoever violates one of the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. [God dislikes both rebellion and laziness. Though we may gain eternal life, our heavenly rewards will be measured by how much we love God and his ways.] 20 But whoever will do [what the commandments say] and teach others to do the same, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I am telling you, unless your righteousness [obedience to God’s commandments] is greater than that of the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you won’t even enter [or experience] the kingdom of heaven."
[The religious leaders were known for inventing interpretations of God’s commands that they could turn to their own advantage and satisfy their own desires. Jesus is saying that observance of God’s ways needs to be at the heart level. If not, we won’t even be living a kingdom life. You must obey God to see the benefits of his ways. In fact, living a kingdom life means living out of a place of love rather than a place of self-protection and fear.]
Anger equals murder
21 “You have heard what was said since ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’ [Exodus 20:13], and ‘Whoever murders will receive just punishment’ [Deuteronomy 17:8-11]. 22 But I am telling you, whoever is enraged at his brother is worthy of judgment, and whoever says to his brother, “You’re worthless”, should be required to go before the council, and whoever says, “You wicked fool”, is in danger of burning in the trash dump. [If you think going before the council and being burned in the trash dump are appropriate forms of punishment for murder, I am telling you they are appropriate as well for murdering with your words and emotions.]
23 “[As you think about how your anger kills others, think as well about reasons others may be angry with you.] When you are in the process of making a sacrificial offering before God, if you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift at the altar, go and make peace with your brother first, then return and offer your gift to the Lord. [How can you make a true sacrifice before God if you are not at peace with your brother.]
25 “[And if the problem is so serious that one of you has brought it before the court, make every effort to] agree with your accuser quickly while you are on the way to the court, before you are brought before the judge, and the judge condemns you to the jailer, and the jailer puts you in prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you won’t get out until you have paid the entire debt. [You were angry at your brother, but what if he is angry at you? And don’t wait, hoping to be justified by evidence in your favor. Perhaps the judge will rule against you and you are the one who will be thrown into jail. And if you don’t forgive and get reconciled, it’s like being thrown into emotional prison anyway, and you will never get out until you let go of your hurt and forgive.]
Lust equals adultery
27 “[It all comes down to selfishness. Lack of forgiveness comes out of putting ourselves first. Just as important is how men and women treat each other.] You have heard that it was said [in the Law and by your ancestors], ‘Do not commit adultery’ [Exodus 20:14]. 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman with sexual desire has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 “If your right eye causes you to sin, then pluck it out, because it’s better for you to lose one of your body’s parts than your whole body be thrown into the place of burning judgment. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, then cut it off and throw it away, because it’s better for you to lose one of your parts than your whole body be thrown into the place of burning judgment. [Rather than allow yourself to sin, even in your mind, take radical action to restrict what you allow yourself to do with your eyes, hands, feet, and any other part of you.]
Divorce equals adultery
31 “[Out of that same selfishness and lack of self-control, men seek divorce.] It has been said, “Whoever would divorce his wife, then [simply] give her a divorce decree [to make it legal] [Deuteronomy 24:1-4]. 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, unless she was sexually unfaithful, he will be causing her to commit adultery [because usually she will need to marry again since men control all the resources]. And whoever marries the one who was divorced is also committing adultery. [Marriage is a covenant relationship and is not to be discarded unless it has already been broken by adultery.] [Jesus is simply explaining that the Law is not broken only by actions but by intent, and that we are to take seriously every commitment. He is not wanting us to keep the Law simply by the letter, but by the heart. Also, he is not saying that divorce is unforgivable only that it is sinful.]
Honoring your word
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said since ancient times, ‘Do not break an oath, but instead carry out what you have sworn to the Lord’ [Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:1-2, Deuteronomy 23:21-23]. 34 But I say to you, don’t swear at all! Neither by heaven, since it is God’s throne [where God rules from], 35 nor by earth, for it is God’s footstool. Not by Jerusalem, since it is the city of the great king [God]. 36 Nor should you swear by your head, for you don’t have the power to make one hair either white or black [only God can do that].
“[Anything you decide to do, simply make up your mind to do it, and then ask God to help you accomplish it.] 37 Let what you say be simply yes or no [to indicate you intend to do something]. Anything more than that comes from the Evil One. [The religious traditions fought over which oaths were binding. Jesus is saying it’s not the oath that should be binding, but your intention to honor your own word. Otherwise, you are neither reliable nor honest.]
Power of love over revenge
38 “[When it comes to revenge,] you have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ [The law of retaliation is first described in Exodus 21:23-25 and is designed to give fair compensation but not allow escalation.] 39 But I say to you, don’t pay back evil. [Instead, don’t resist what is done to you or is taken from you, but show love and kindness in return.] If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other as well. [You may feel hurt or insulted but make it clear that you will not retaliate even if they hit you again.]
40 “If someone feels you owe them something and takes your sweater or coat, give them your cloak as well. [Even if their taking of your coat seems unfair, give them an additional item of greater value.] 41 And if someone would force you to go a mile for them [to carry or deliver something], be willing to go even farther [or do more than they intended]. 42 If someone asks you for something, give. Or if someone wants to borrow something of yours, don’t turn them away empty-handed. [In every situation where someone would hurt or insult you, take from you unfairly, or otherwise do you injury, turn the tables by not responding with anger or hurt. Instead, love them by giving them even more than they ask. What Jesus is telling us here is not additional laws that we must observe. These are strategies for turning evil to good.]
“[Anything you decide to do, simply make up your mind to do it, and then ask God to help you accomplish it.] 37 Let what you say be simply yes or no [to indicate whether you intend to do something]. Anything more than that comes from the Evil One. [The religious traditions fought over which oaths were binding. Jesus is saying it’s not the oath that should be binding, but your intention to honor your own word. Otherwise, you are neither reliable nor honest.]
43 “You have heard that it has been said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. [The scripture is from Leviticus 19:18. It was common among the Jewish interpreters of the Law to speculate whom scripture is saying is our “neighbor” and therefore by contrast whom we have the right to hate. Jesus is saying that, at some level, everyone is our neighbor.] 44 But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’, 45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes the sun shine on both those who are evil and those who are good, and he sends the rain to both the righteous and unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, why should you be rewarded for it. Even the tax collectors do that! 47 And what if you greet your friends only? That’s just like everyone else. Don’t the non-Jews do that? [I’ve been describing to you how to] 48 be perfect just like your Father in heaven is perfect. [Live a life trusting God and loving others, not simply a superficial life that follows rules.]
Discussion questions
1. How can it possibly be good news, as Jesus says, if you are depressed, or grieving, or in need? What is the element that turns it from bad news to good?
2. In verses 13-16, Jesus talks about sharing the “good news”. In your own life, are you more likely to share good news or bad news. Are you “salt” and “light”?
3. Do you agree with Jesus that thinking bad things towards others is the equivalent of doing bad things? Is that really true?
Matthew Chapter 6
God’s reward versus self-reward
1 “Watch yourself as you perform your good works. Don’t make a display of them before men, or you will lose the reward you would receive from your father in heaven. [God rewards only what we do out of love. If we do things for gain, then we have already received the reward. Love doesn’t draw attention to itself. But in heaven, God will reward every good act we have done on the earth out of love.] 2 Likewise, when you give to those in need, don’t sound a trumpet [and draw attention to yourself], as the pretenders do both in the synagogues and in the streets, so they can be acknowledged by men. The truth is, they have their reward. [As Jesus says later (Matthew 10:39), if we try to save our own life, we lose it, but if we lose or let go of our life for the sake of God’s kingdom, then we gain eternal life. Likewise, if we try to gain our own reward, we lose God’s reward, but if we work for the kingdom simply serving God, we will gain God’s reward.] 3 So when you give to those in need, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [don’t keep a record], 4 so that your giving remains secret. Your Father sees [all things including] what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, don’t do like the hypocrites do, for they love to stand in the synagogues and the street corners and pray so they can be seen by men. The truth is, they have already received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into a hidden room and pray to your Father who also is hidden, and your Father, who sees all that is hidden, will reward you. [God will reward you through answering your prayers, but he will also give you credit that will lead to eternal reward for your good works that are given out of love for others and obedience to God.] 7 And when you pray, don’t babble on and on like the non-Jews, for they think God will listen to them better because of how long they pray. 8 There’s no need for that because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
The Lord’s Prayer
9 “Instead, [acknowledging the way God wants to work with us hand-in-hand,] pray in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, you are holy [and we want to be holy too]! 10 Let your rule come, and your plan be executed [right here], so life on earth becomes just like heaven [no darkness or sin or sickness]. 11 Please give us exactly what we need for this day. 12 And forgive our debt to you for anything we have done against you, just as we forgive the debt of others for what they have done against us. 13 Help us by leading us away from temptation and rescue us from the evil one [who feeds us lies we are tempted to believe].’ 14 For if you do forgive men their offenses against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you your offenses. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your offenses.
16 “Likewise, when you fast, don’t be like those hypocrites, who put on a sad face, not keeping up their personal appearance just so everyone will know they are fasting. The truth is, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head, [taking care of your hair,] and wash your face, 18 so that no one can tell you are fasting. And your Father, who is hidden, and sees what is done in hidden places, will reward you. [The earthly reward for fasting will be victory over one’s own flesh and increased spiritual authority. There will also be a heavenly eternal reward for good works due to love and obedience.]
19 “[Men like to get their rewards sooner rather than later and through their own efforts. But I tell you,] don’t accumulate riches for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust may eat them up, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But instead, accumulate your riches in heaven, where neither moth nor rust can eat them up, and thieves cannot break in to steal. [Good works, done out of love for both God and your fellow men, are recorded in heaven, and at the time of eternal judgment, God will give a just reward to be enjoyed in heaven.] 21 For where your treasures are, your heart will be also. [If your treasures are earthly, like important positions, the praise of men, or a large bank account, then that will be where you will focus. But if you care more about what God thinks and about the needs of your brothers, then that’s where your attention will be.]
Focusing on God rather than ourselves
22 “[The way you look and think about things can be either positive or negative.] The eye is the lamp of the body. If the way you see things is healthy and positive in expectation, then you will bring light into your being. 23 If, however, your outlook is unhealthy and negative, then your whole self will be full of darkness. If your eye [the lamp for your inner being] is dark, then how deep is that darkness! [Your attitude and expectation colors all you perceive. If you are focused on your own self, then all your perceptions will be based on negative expectations and on how to protect yourself and your possessions. If you are focused on God and serving others, then your perceptions will be based on positive expectations of God’s love and support.]
24 “A slave cannot serve two masters. He will love the one [he finds kinder and to whom he feels loyal] and hate the second one [whose demands make it harder to serve the one he loves]. He will despise the second one and be devoted to the first one. You cannot serve both God and possessions. [If you love God, your thoughts will be focused on how to serve him, and you won’t care about your possessions. If you love your possessions, you will have a very hard time serving God.]
25 “Therefore, I say to you, don’t focus on your life, what you will eat or drink, or on your body, what you will wear. For isn’t your life more than food, and isn’t your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air. They neither plant nor harvest nor store grain, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of greater value than them?
27 “Which of you by worrying can add inches to your height [or time to your life]? 28 And why do you worry about your clothing? Think about the wild flowers in the field. They don’t need to work or make their clothing. 29 And I am telling you, even Solomon in all his glory did not compare to one of these flowers. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven [for fuel], will he not much more clothe you, [even though you are still] men of little faith?
31 “Therefore, don’t worry at all, saying, ‘What do we have to eat, or what can we drink, or how shall we be clothed?’ 32 The non-Jewish peoples seek exactly for the same things [and they haven’t been taught about God]. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. 33 But give priority to the kingdom of God [how God is working around you] and his righteousness [what he wants you to do] and all these other things [that you need] will be yours as well [because as you do God’s work he will do your work]. 34 Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow today, for tomorrow will have its own worries, and each day has enough trouble of its own [and God will solve each problem if you put it in his hands].
Discussion questions
1. What rewards do you think Jesus is talking about that we will receive in heaven? Do you think that it is truly worth letting go of today’s rewards to gain heavenly rewards?
2. Based on what Jesus says, do you think it’s wrong to want to be successful in this life? How does Jesus think we should go about it?
3. What is God drawing your attention to that’s “his kingdom”? What are the “right actions” he is putting in front of you?
Matthew Chapter 7
How we look at others
1 “Don’t be critical, or you will be criticized. 2 For the measure you give out, that’s the same measure you will receive. [God has implemented a law of sowing and reaping within the fabric of reality, and it works automatically. If you are positive towards others and towards the world, you will receive positive back. If you are negative, you will receive negative. That’s why it’s so important to see things positively in the first place (Matthew 6:22-23)].
3 “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but not notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you even say, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when in fact there is a log in your eye. [When you have a big fault yourself, you won’t even see accurately enough to help someone else deal with their small fault.] 5 You hypocrite! First get rid of your log and then you really can help someone get rid of their speck. [First, deal with your own faults before you try to help someone else deal with theirs.]
6 “Don’t give what is holy to the dogs, or cast your pearls before pigs, or the pigs may trample those pearls under their feet and turn around and tear you up. [Be careful whom you try to help with a problem, because not everyone appreciates wisdom or good advice even if it comes straight from God. They may either ignore what you say or even turn in anger on you.]
Believing God is good
7 “[Don’t hesitate to ask God for what you need or desire.] Ask [for something] and you will receive. Look for it and you will find it. [When you have found it,] knock [on the door] and it will be opened. 8 For the one who asks receives, and he who looks finds, and to him who knocks it’s opened. [Even though God knows what we need, he rewards our pursuit of what we need in faith. That pursuit begins with asking for what we need. Once we ask, God will guide us as we search. And once we find what we need there may still be obstacles. God tells us to knock expecting that the door will be opened and we will have what we pursued.]
9 “[Many who have experienced disappointments in their past do not ask because they believe wrongly that God may hold back or postpone our answers either because of our sin or to build up our endurance. It is true that our sin especially unforgiveness can hold back answers and God helps us to grow as we wait, but it's God's very nature to give us what we ask for - it's his primary way of building up our faith.] For which of you, if your son asked you for some bread, would give him a stone? 10 Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? 11 If you who are evil [compared to God] know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
12 “[Just as God will do whatever you ask him for, be also willing to be the instrument by which God will accomplish what others need.] Whatever you want men to do for you, do likewise for them, for this is [the same as what is said in] the Law [the Old Testament books that precede Isaiah in our current Bible] and the Prophets. [An example from the Law is Leviticus 19:18, and an example from the Prophets is Zechariah 8:16.]
Discerning trees by their fruit
13 “Enter through the narrow gate! For there is a wide gate and a broad path which take you to your destruction, and many go that way, 14 because the [narrow] gate is hard to find and the pathway is difficult that leads to life, and few find it.
15 “[Speaking of the path of destruction.] watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but are vicious wolves. [They appear to be gentle and humble, but they are out for themselves and will take advantage of you once they have your confidence.] 16 You can recognize them [the false prophets] by their fruits. Do you find grapes on thorn trees? Do you find figs on thistle bushes? 17 Likewise, every good tree produces good fruit, but every corrupted tree produces diseased fruit. [Even if someone looks good, check their references to see what effect they have on others.] 18 A good tree can’t produce diseased fruit, nor can a corrupted tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 So it’s by their fruits [not by their outward appearance] that you will recognize them.
21 “[I’ve already said don’t judge based on appearance. Also, don’t judge based on whether someone says the right things.] Just because someone says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, doesn’t mean they will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day [the Judgment Day], ‘Haven’t we prophesied in your name, and cast out devils in your name, and done many powerful works in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I’ve never known you. Leave me, you workers of unrighteousness! [Don’t seek to impress me by doing good works. Let your heart be totally changed by listening to me and obeying what I say.]
24 “It’s whoever hears all of what I am saying and puts it into practice [who is my follower!] This person is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. 25 When the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, it didn’t fall because its foundation was a rock. 26 And everyone who hears all of what I am saying and doesn’t put it into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 When the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon the house, it fell and was completely destroyed.”
28 And when Jesus had finished saying all this, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. 29 For he taught them as one who knew what he was talking about and not like the teachers of the Law.
Discussion questions
1. Is Jesus saying we should never discern or give feedback to others?
2. How much do you live with disappointment? Do you think God is stingy? How much are you willing to trust that you will get what you are looking for as you ask, seek, and knock?
3. Have you ever been taken in by someone’s good speech? How do you make good decisions about whom to trust? What are good fruit that you can rely on?
Matthew Chapter 8
Jesus’ power over sickness
1 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 A leper came and bowed before him to worship him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, [I believe] you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed!” [Jesus was never afraid of being made sick or unclean even though the Law said that touching an unclean person made you unclean. He knew that “life” inside him would always be more powerful than “death” in the world.] Immediately his leprosy was cleansed away.
4 Jesus said to him, “Make sure that you tell no one [what just happened], except go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses instructed [Leviticus 14:1-9] as a testimony [that you have been healed].” [By sending the man to the priest, Jesus was not only restoring the healed man to society, he was also submitting his own claim to be the Anointed One, since the Jews believed that only the Anointed One could heal a leper.]
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion [leader of one hundred soldiers] came to him, asking him, 6 “Lord, my servant is laid up at home, paralyzed, in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but only speak the word [give the order] and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority. [As a soldier I obey authority], having soldiers under me. [So I exercise authority,] and I say to this man, ‘Go’, and he goes, and to another, ‘Come’, and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this’, and he does it. [Jesus, I can tell it is through your authority, not your proximity, that healing happens. I am confident that you don’t have to go somewhere to heal, all you have to do is command it to happen, even at a distance, and your order will be carried out.]”
10 When Jesus heard what the man said, he was amazed, and said, “I have not heard faith this great in all of Israel! 12 I tell you that many from the east and west [who are not Jews] will come and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [after the Day of Judgment]. 12 But the sons of the kingdom [even though they have the advantage and heritage of being born into the Jewish people where God first demonstrated his kingdom] will be put forth into the darkness outside, where they will weep and grind their teeth [because they will be excluded from the kingdom due to their lack of faith].”
13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go ahead on your way. Exactly as you have believed, it will be accomplished for you.” [When Jesus said this, it was like a judicial decree, carrying the authority to make it happen.] And the man’s servant was healed that very same hour.
14 When Jesus went into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law stricken by sickness and a fever. 15 And Jesus took her hand and the fever left her. She got up [feeling completely well] and served them. 16 After this, they brought to him many who were demonized, and he cast out the spirits with his word and healed all that were sick, 17 fulfilling what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took away all our weaknesses and removed all our sicknesses.” [As Isaiah 53:4 prophesies concerning the Anointed One, Jesus had authority and power to destroy sickness and remove it from people’s bodies. However, Isaiah 53:5 takes this one step farther, saying that the pain and sacrifice of Jesus’ punishment and death brought healing. In other words, Jesus took our sin, sickness, generational iniquity as our substitute, and gave us his righteousness, health, and purity.]
18 When Jesus looked around and saw the crowds, he gave the order that he and his disciples cross over to the other side [of the lake]. [The crowds indicated that he had been successful in touching the people near Capernaum with the teaching and demonstration of the kingdom. But he was ready to go on the next assignment he had already heard from the Father.]
Jesus tests followers
19 [Jesus’ teaching was so powerful that it awakened a desire among some of the hearers to sign up as disciples and follow Jesus. For instance,] an interpreter of the Law came and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said back to him, “Foxes have burrows and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head [and make his home. Are you sure that you are ready to follow the sacrifices of this kind of life?]” 21 And another one of his followers said to him, “Lord, let me go [home] and bury my father first. [I will come follow you after my father has died and I have taken care of his affairs.]” 22 But Jesus said, “Follow me, and let the dead bury the dead. [There are others who can look after your father’s needs. If you come with me, seeking after the kingdom, God will take care of all other obligations you have (Matthew 6:33).]” [These two men were examples of those who wanted to follow Jesus but had not yet fully counted the cost.]
Calming the wind and waves
23 At this point, Jesus got into the boat, and his disciples followed him. 24 A great disturbance rose on the sea to the point where the waves threatened to engulf the boat. But Jesus was asleep, 25 and they came and awakened him, saying, “Lord, save us. We will be destroyed!” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and commanded the wind and sea to stop, and there was a great calm. 27 But the men were astounded, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and waves obey him?”
Two demoniacs
28 And he [and his disciples] came to the other side, into the region of the Gergesenes, where he was met by two demonized men who came out of the area where the tombs are. [Mark describes it as the region of the Gerasenes and Luke describes this as the region of the Gadarenes, and different manuscripts for each of the authors have variations of these names. The modern city of Kursi on the shore of the Sea of Galilee is where Christians have commemorated this event. Mark and Luke describe only one demonized man but give us more detail. What seems the most likely explanation of the discrepancies between accounts is that there were two such men but one of them was the leader and did almost all the talking. In the other two accounts the writers did not consider the second man worth mentioning.]
These men were so filled with violence that no one else would venture into this area. 29 And right away they cried out, “Why have you come to us, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come to torture us before the appointed time [the Day of Judgment]?” [It was known to both the religious world of the Jews and to the demonic world as well that there is an appointed Day of Judgment, after which Satan and all demons and all men who are not lovers of God will receive the final judgment of being thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).]
30 In the distance, there was a large herd of pigs feeding. 31 So the demons pleaded with him, “If you are going to cast us out [of the two men], then send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go!”, and when they had gone out [of the men], they went into the herd of pigs, and the entire herd stampeded down the hill and over a cliff into the sea, where they died in the waters.
Discussion questions
1. Why would the centurion not want Jesus to come to his home? Why was Jesus so excited about the man’s faith?
2. There are several examples in this chapter where Jesus healed without obviously praying. What does this tell you about what are the necessary ingredients for healing to happen?
3. Why would Jesus leave the crowds at the height of his popularity? Couldn’t he have accomplished more by staying?
Matthew Chapter 9
Authority to forgive
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossing back over the lake, and he arrived at his own city [Capernaum, where he now lived]. 2 They brought him a paralyzed man [for him to heal], lying on a mat. Jesus took note of their faith and said to the paralyzed man, “Raise your expectations, son, for your sins have been forgiven.” [Jesus was stepping out on a limb and declaring forgiveness to heal a man, which he knew would be controversial, but since there were people present who had faith in him, he felt this would counteract any shock in the room.] 3 And particular ones among the teachers of the Law said to themselves, “This man is overstepping his bounds. [Only God can forgive sins!]”
4 And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Why come to such a negative conclusion? [The Father is merciful and therefore I have announced this man is forgiven, which I know because I listen to the Father. Also, since you believe that sin causes sickness, why don’t you wait and see if the man’s sins being forgiven results in his being healed?] 5 For which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or ‘Rise and walk’? [For when I say, “Rise and walk”, you’ll know right away whether there is power behind it or not, whereas you may think it’s harder to tell if forgiveness has been effective.]
6 “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to pronounce forgiveness of sins ….” [Jesus’ using the phrase “Son of Man” was purposely ambiguous – it was the title he gave to himself to remind himself and others he was serving as an anointed man rather than as God. He also was indicating that any believer would be given the authority to forgive sins. In fact, this was the first gift he gave to the disciples after his Resurrection (John 20:23).] He now said to the paralyzed man, “Rise, take your mat and go to your home.” 7 And the man got up and went home [carrying his mat]. [This proved that Jesus’ forgiveness was effective, since the man was now healed.] 8 And when the crowd saw this, they were awestruck and gave praise to God that he had given such authority to men. [None of them had ever seen a man declare forgiveness of sins or heal someone.]
Reaching sinners
9 As Jesus walked on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth, and Jesus said to him, “Follow me [and become my disciple].” And Matthew followed him. 10 Soon after, Jesus came to eat at Matthew’s house, and there were many tax collectors and [known] sinners who came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. [When Matthew responded to Jesus’ invitation, it opened the door to Matthew’s social group.]
11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why is your teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, he said, “It’s not those who are strong who need a physician, but rather those who are sick. 13 Go and find out what it means, ‘I prefer mercy over sacrifice’ [Hosea 6:6]. For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” [Religious leaders interpreted the Law as commanding men to avoid sin by not associating with sinners. Jesus rightly interpreted the Law as commanding men to reach out in mercy and love to help others out of sin.]
14 Then, the disciples of John came to Jesus and asked him, “We often fast [refrain from eating food to get closer to God] and so do the Pharisees, but why don’t your disciples fast?” 15 And Jesus said, “How can the friends of the bridegroom be sad while the bridegroom is with them? [I am the bridegroom and the whole world is invited to the wedding, but my disciples are the ones who have chosen to come.] But the day will come when the bridegroom is taken away, and then they shall fast. [Jesus is not implying that after he was crucified, the disciples would then follow the same religious practices as the Pharisees. He’s only saying that between Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples would be so sad that they would not be hungry. Fasting overcomes the flesh to get you closer to God, but no one could be closer to God than walking daily with Jesus.]
16 “[Let me further explain.] No one patches an old article of clothing with a new [unshrunk] piece of cloth, for [with repeated washings] the new cloth will pull away from the old and make the tear worse than before. 17 Neither do men put new wine in old wineskins, or else the new wine [still fermenting] will break the wineskin and the wine will run out, ruining the container. Instead they put new wine in new wineskins [which are pliable enough to stretch as the wine continues to ferment], and both the wine and wineskin are preserved. [My teaching and way of life are completely new, like the new cloth or new wine. Don’t expect the old disciplines and interpretations of Law to work for this new radical lifestyle. In fact, I and my disciples are sacrificing every single day, not on fast days only, and yet we are joyful as we sacrifice, because we are seeing God’s kingdom advance.]”
Power over sickness, demons, and death
18 While he was speaking, a certain leader came and bowed before him, saying, “[I expect that] by now my daughter is dead, but come and lay your hands on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and followed him, and so did Jesus’ disciples.
20 [Meanwhile,] there was a woman with a hemorrhage of blood for the past twelve years, who came behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment. 21 For she had said to herself, if I can only touch his garment, I will be healed. 22 But Jesus looked around and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be confident, for your faith has made you whole.” And the woman was healed from the very moment [she touched Jesus’ garment].
23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house, he saw the flute players and all the people making a lot of noise [for they were already mourning the girl’s death]. 24 He told them, “Stop, for she is not dead, but only asleep.” [Jesus knew that her soul was still close to her body and he could restore her.] But they laughed at him [because they were sure the girl had died]. 25 But when the mourners were sent away, he went in, took the girl by the hand, and the young girl rose [alive and healed]. 26And Jesus’ fame spread all through the land.
Healing blindness, deafness and muteness
27 When Jesus left there, two blind men followed him, crying out to him and saying, “Have mercy on us [and heal us], Son of David!” 28 When he went into the house [where he was staying], the blind men came to him. He said to them, “Do you believe I am able to do this [and heal you]?” They said back to him, “Yes, Lord!” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” 30 And their eyes were opened [and they could see], and he strongly commanded them, “Make sure no one knows about it”. 31 But when they left, they continued to spread his fame through the land. [Obviously, they were not able to stay quiet. It would be very hard to keep from talking about it if you were blind and then you could see!]
32 As he was leaving, they brought to him a [deaf and] mute man who was demonized. 33 And when Jesus had cast out the demon, the deaf [and mute] man spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “No one has ever seen such a thing in Israel.” 34 The Pharisees said, “It’s through the prince of demons he is able to cast out demons.” [There are shamans, medicine men, and witches throughout the world who appear to heal diseases and cast out demons but in fact are themselves worshipping demons. People “healed” by these practitioners end up more in bondage than ever. This was never the case with Jesus, and the Pharisees should have known better. They saw Jesus as a rival whom they desired to discredit and put out of business.]
35 But Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease. 36 When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, for they were confused and had lost their way, like sheep without a shepherd. [The people did not understand God’s design for their lives. They needed first to believe that God was powerful and that he loved them, and then turn their lives over to God. Jesus was amazing, and both taught and demonstrated God’s love and power, which are the qualifications he wanted all his followers to have.]
37 Then he said to his disciples, “Truly the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 So pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send forth workers into the harvest field.” [At this point, the disciples had been only helpers to Jesus, but he was about to make them skilled workers with the harvest. Even so, it seems there are never enough workers for how many people need to be helped into the kingdom. As workers bring forth the harvest, people become enthusiastic followers of God, and therefore become workers for the harvest themselves.]
Discussion questions
1. What was the relationship between Jesus declaring the man forgiven and healing the man? Was Jesus acting as God or a man when he forgave the man?
2. In what ways did Jesus bring a new wineskin, a new way of living? In what ways was it different from that of religious leaders of his time, or even from the church of today?
3. How was faith involved in each of the healings Jesus did, as recorded in this chapter?
Matthew Chapter 10
Appointing the twelve
1 Jesus called together his twelve disciples and he gave them authority to cast out unclean spirits [demons who were attached to specific people and harassed them] and to heal every bodily problem and every kind of sickness. [Jesus gained this authority at the time of his baptism, when the Holy Spirit came upon him and filled him, and his Father spoke the words of blessing over him. He then demonstrated that authority over demons, sickness, and even nature. Here he showed that he fully possessed that authority by deputizing his disciples to walk in the same authority. He expected the disciples to do what they had watched him do and that the Father would provide the power to complete whatever the disciples set out to do. Later Jesus would deputize seventy others and at the end of his earthly ministry he would deputize all current and future followers of his.]
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles [disciples who were commissioned to be sent out and announce and enforce the rule of God’s kingdom]. First, Simon who is called Peter [which means “rock”] and Andrew his brother, James son of Zebedee and John his brother, 3 Philip and Bartholomew [also called Nathaniel], Thomas [also called Didymus meaning “the twin”] and Matthew [also called Levi] the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus [also called James the Less or younger] and Thaddeus [also called Lebbaeus or Judas Thaddeus], 4 Simon the Canaanite [also called Simon the Zealot], and Judas Iscariot the one who [later] betrayed Jesus. 5 These are the twelve Jesus sent out.
He commanded them, “Don’t go in the direction of non-Jewish territories or enter the city of the Samaritans. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim to them that the kingdom of heaven is right here. [As you make that proclamation, out of the authority I have given you, God himself will bring the spiritual atmosphere of the kingdom.] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You paid nothing for what you received. Now give it away for free as well.”
9 “Don’t keep any gold, or silver, or copper [money] in your pouch, 10 or pack to carry an extra shirt, or shoes, or a rod [as a weapon]. The worker is worth his rations. [Whatever you need will be provided by those you serve because of the tremendous value you are bringing them.]
11 “Whatever town you enter, find out who is a worthy person there, and go and stay with them until you leave that town. [Ask people you meet, or let God guide you to a worthy person’s home.] 12 When you enter a household, bless [all who are in] the household. 13 And if the household is worthy, let the peace [of your blessing settle] upon it. [Part of blessing the household is healing and helping those who are in that house and perhaps the neighbors as well. Those who are open to God and living a moral life will receive the blessing. When you bless people, this will help them open more to God.]
”But if the household isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or hear your words, when you leave that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that city [because they rejected God and his kingdom].
Handling persecution
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. [There will be those who oppose you or try to take advantage of you.] So be as wise as serpents [in avoiding trouble] and as harmless as doves [by never being rude or argumentative].
17 “Be on your guard with men, for they will turn you over to councils [for judgment] and beat you with whips in synagogues [because your message will seem threatening to the leaders of the people]. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of [your devotion to] me, to testify before them, both Jews and non-Jews. 19 But when you are turned over to them, don’t even think about how or what you will say to them, for it will be given to you [from heaven] at the very time you will speak. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you.
21 “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father [will deliver up] his own child, and children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all men for the sake of my name [because of your devotion and trust in me]. But if you will bear all this until the end, you will be saved. [When you have gone through every difficulty, you will find I was helping you through them all, and even if you should lose your life, you will be safe with me through all eternity.]
23 “But when they persecute you in one town, get out and go to another. For, I am telling you the truth, you will not have reached all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. [Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-18 appear to be describing the same speech of Jesus. Since both Mark and Luke then describe the prediction of the fall of Jerusalem which would take place in 70 AD, it is likely that the words “the Son of Man comes” in the current passage in Matthew is describing Jesus coming with judgment for Jerusalem. This also fits the timing since the disciples would likely not visit all the towns of Israel by 70 AD.]
24 “A disciple is not [regarded] above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. If they called the master of the household ‘Baalzebul’, then how much more [might they say evil things about] the members of the household [those who follow Jesus]? [Baalzebul means “God of the high places”, which is one of the names the Jewish people used informally for Satan, or a high-ranking demonic principality.] It’s [good] enough for the disciple to be [regarded] just like his teacher, or the servant just like his master. [Consider it an honor if they treat you as poorly as they treat me.] If they call the master of the house ‘Baalzebul’, how much more will they call the members of the household [the same or similar things].
26 “So don’t be afraid of them [who hate you and persecute you]. For anything veiled will have the veil removed, and anything hidden will become known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness [privately], speak in the light [publicly], and the things that you alone have heard from me, shout them from the rooftops [so the whole world knows]. [Your job is to explain to the world all the things I have told you and shown you about the kingdom, that have all been hidden until now. It is up to you to reveal them, even if it results in your experiencing great opposition.]
28 “Don’t fear those who can kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, fear him who can destroy both the body and soul in Gehenna [, the place of burning destined for those who turn away from God]. [Since you know that your soul will live forever, do the work of spreading the kingdom even if they will kill you, because you know that the body and soul will be destroyed in hell of all those who don’t hear the truth and turn to God. Be willing to give up your own life to save theirs.]
Cost and value of serving Jesus
29 “[However, don’t think God is not caring for you during this difficult task he has given you.] Two sparrows are sold for only a penny, but not one will fall to the ground without your Father [knowing]. 30 [God knows you so well that] the very hairs of your head are numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid [that your heavenly Father is not looking after you] for you are of greater value [in God’s eyes] than many sparrows. [The Father sees everything you are going through, cares about your suffering, and is especially appreciative when you are doing it in service of Him.]
32 “Whoever will acknowledge me before men [as the one they are living for], I will also acknowledge that one before my heavenly Father [as the one I have died for]. 33 But whoever will deny me before men, I will also deny that one before my heavenly Father. [Our life on the earth is a test. Will we remain faithful or not? When we stay close to our Lord, this allows him to intercede as our attorney before God our judge.]
34 “Don’t think that I’ve come to bring about peace on the earth. I came not to bring about peace, but [rather] a sword [of division]. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. [The kingdom can’t spread without division. One person in a family or group comes to God first, and others resist. But like a fire, the kingdom spreads, and others come to believe.]
37 “[When you follow me and others resist, will you continue with me or will you cave into pressure from the one who is resisting?] The person who loves his father or mother more than me is not deserving of me, and likewise the person who loves his son or daughter more than me, is not deserving of me. 38 And the person who will not take up his own cross and follow me is not deserving of me. [Follow me even to death.] 39 He that [seeks to] save his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it. [If you try to manage your own life, you are no longer following me. But if you are willing to follow me wherever I take you, then I will support you in all you do, and you will have eternal life as well.]
40 “The one who accepts you accepts me, and the one who accepts me accepts the one who sent me. 41 Whoever accepts a prophet as a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. [People thought of a prophet as a holy man who heard from God and spoke words that came true and performed miraculous works. Those who greeted Jesus with faith in him as a prophet got their prayers answered and their needs met. When you receive a word of truth from a prophet, it must be received as from God, and as you cooperate with that word, then you will see it come to pass.]
Whoever accepts a righteous man as a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. [A righteous man is one who knows God and obeys him. If you accept that man and follow what he says, your life will go well. The disciples were being sent out as righteous men who eventually would be seen by the people as prophets – doers of miracles. But the important principle is that, whoever trusted them, at least as righteous men, would be greatly benefitted by their visit.] 42 And whoever gives a drink to even the least of these [ones who I am sending out] as a follower [of mine] shall never lose your reward. [While there will be many who persecute Jesus’s followers, anyone who serves them, even in the smallest way, will be rewarded both on earth and in heaven.]”
Discussion questions
1. Why did Jesus send out the disciples in such a “dependent” mode – no extra clothes or money? What was the importance of finding a “worthy” person or family to visit?
2. Jesus made some dire predictions about what persecutions would happen as they demonstrated the Good News. Why is it important to spread the news of the kingdom even if people highly resist it?
3. What attitude causes someone to receive the most from God when those who are sent out minister?
Matthew Chapter 11
Evidence Jesus is the Anointed One
1 When Jesus had finished sending out his twelve disciples, he left from there to preach and teach in the cities. 2 When John [the Baptist] had heard in prison about the things the Anointed One was doing, he sent two of his disciples 3 to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come[, the Anointed One who was prophesied], or are we still waiting for someone else?”
[John had believed Jesus was the one. At the time John baptized Jesus, the Spirit had come upon Jesus and remained, just as John had been told would be true of the Anointed One (John 1:32-33). And Jesus was doing abundant miracles. But Jesus was not yet baptizing people with the Holy Spirit and with fire, as John had been told would also be true of the Anointed One. John was confused and questioning. He did not understand that Jesus had to first die in our place and remove the penalty of sin before the Spirit could come on all who followed the Anointed One.]
4 And Jesus said to them, “Go and report to John the things you are hearing and seeing. 5 Blind men see, lame men walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf men hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are receiving the good news. 6 And happy is the man who doesn’t stop believing in me. [I am fulfilling what Isaiah spoke concerning the Anointed One (Isaiah 35:5-6, Isaiah 61:1). Even if there are other things you were expecting the Anointed One to be doing, don’t be offended. God has his own timetable.]”
Greatness of John the Baptist
7 And as John’s disciples departed, Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, “[When you went out to see John the Baptist,] what did you go out into the wilderness to see? A tall blade of grass shaking in the wind? [Was it just to see what everyone else was excited about?] 8 Really, why did you go there? Was it to see a man dressed in fine clothes? [Many others would have gone to see an impressively powerful and rich man, but that wasn’t John.] I don’t think so! Men in fine clothes live in kings’ houses. 9 What did you go out to see? A prophet! Yes, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is the one of whom it was written [Malachi 3:1], ‘Behold, I send my messenger before I send you [the Anointed One], and he [the messenger] will prepare the way for you.’
11 “I tell you the truth, of all those born of a woman [born physically], no one is greater than John the Baptist. Even so, the least who is in the kingdom of heaven [born spiritually] is greater than John. [John prepared the way for the kingdom, but those who are entering it by trusting in me and our Father, and who are doing the same works as me, like my disciples, are advancing the kingdom beyond what John could see and do.]
12 “From the days of John the Baptist [coming on the scene] until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. [Both John and I have told you what to do to enter the kingdom. It requires giving everything you’ve got. And some are pursuing it wholeheartedly and grabbing hold of it.] 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John[, but now is the time when the truth about the kingdom is being fulfilled]. 14 But if you will accept it, he [John the Baptist] is the Elijah who was [prophesied by Malachi 4:5-6] to come [before the Anointed One and before the Judgment Day]. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! [You may not fully understand, but if you are open to the truth, you will see that God planned what is now occurring – the coming of both John and I was foretold by scripture.]
16 “[But this generation was resistant to John’s message and it’s resistant to mine as well.] To what can I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplace calling to their friends, saying, 17 ‘We played a happy song for you and you didn’t dance. We played a sad song for you and you didn’t cry.’ 18 For John [the Baptist] came, neither eating or drinking [that is, he frequently fasted], and they say, ‘He has a demon [in him]’. 19 The Son of Man [Jesus] came, eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ [John the Baptist, inspired by God, preached a message of repentance, which many of the current generation thought was too serious. Jesus, also inspired by God, preached a happy message of love and trust in God and reaching out to sinners without judging them, and people thought he didn’t separate himself from sin.] But Wisdom is vindicated by all her children. [Both John and Jesus received wisdom from heaven and both brought people closer to God. But those who criticized rather than following them missed out on finding God.]
Judgment for unresponsiveness to miracles
20 [But people and even cities will be judged for how they respond to the opportunities God gives them.] Then Jesus spoke words of judgment against the cities where he had done his most powerful miracles because they had not repented[, recognizing their sinful attitudes and changing their ways of thought and action], 2 1“How terrible for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! 22 For if the miracles that were done for you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [non-Jewish cities in modern day Lebanon who were known for their idol worship and evil], they would long ago have shown their repentance in sackcloth and ashes [as ones who mourned their bad attitude and sinfulness]. It will be easier for them on the Judgment Day than for you.
[Surprisingly the Gospels don’t otherwise mention Chorazin, but it was close to Capernaum and Jesus would have easily traveled there and performed miracles and healings. Bethsaida was the location Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26) and fed the five thousand (Luke 9:12-17).] 23 And you, Capernaum, who have been raised into heaven [by the many miracles and healings done in your city] shall be brought down to hell. 24 For if the miracles had been done in Sodom that were done in you, Sodom would remain to this day. [It was destroyed by the judgment of God for its wickedness and unwillingness to repent (Genesis 19:24-29).]
Power of working with Jesus and the Father
25 Then 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 the young children [those who lack experience and education]. 26 Yes, it was your good pleasure to do exactly that[, just as I also desired]. 27 Everything [I ask for] is delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son, and the one to whom the Son reveals him.
[The Father understands what pleases his son Jesus – seeing his followers doing the same work as him and with the same success – and the Father gives Jesus his desire. But only Jesus knows this is the same thing the Father desires. Jesus is letting his followers in on the secret, and they are beginning to understand the close fellowship Jesus and his Father have and how they please each other through the work of the kingdom.]
28 “[Disciples, in the same way my Father and I work together, come and work together with me.] Come to me, everyone who is working too hard and feels burdened, and I will refresh you. 29 Join yourself in service with me [like two oxen yoked together] and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and the burden of the load you will carry is light. [When you try to do things on your own, you wear yourself out, but when you team up with me, everything works much better, the work is easier, and I will take away your weariness and discouragement.]”
Discussion questions
1. Are you born again of the Spirit? Do you believe Jesus when he says you are greater than all the prophets of the Old Testament and even John the Baptist?
2. Have you seen any miracles? If so, have you changed your thinking and become a follower of Jesus? Do you expect miracles in your life?
3. According to Jesus, is it any handicap to be inexperienced or young in spiritual matters?
Matthew Chapter 12
Jesus and the Sabbath
1 Around this time, Jesus was walking through a grain field on the Sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry and began plucking the heads of grain and eating. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what’s not allowed on the Sabbath!” [They were working by harvesting the grain.] 3 But Jesus replied to them, “Haven’t you read [1 Samuel 21:1-6] what David did when he and those with him were hungry? 4 How he entered the house of God and ate the shewbread, which was not permitted [Leviticus 24:5-9] for him or those with him to eat but was only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law, how on Sabbath days the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath [by performing their duties, “working”, as described in the same Leviticus passage] and yet are held blameless?
6 “But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here. [Jesus is referring to himself and the disciples bringing the kingdom.] 7 If you had understood what this means – ‘I prefer mercy to sacrifice’ [Hosea 6:6] – you would not have judged those who truly are not guilty. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
[Despite what the Pharisees claimed, it was a common argument among the rabbis that eating to sustain life had a higher priority than not working on the Sabbath day. Besides, Jesus and the disciples were on the way to the synagogue to celebrate the Sabbath. Though they may have violated the man-defined rules of the Pharisees, they were trusting in the supply of God, which is the point of the Sabbath. When Jesus says the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, he is saying two things. One is that he is in fact the Anointed One, who has the authority to restore God's original plan. Second, we are all "sons of man" and therefore we have the authority to make use of the Sabbath for God’s purpose rather than be ruled by it.]
9 He went from there into the local synagogue [where the Pharisees attended who had criticized his disciples for eating on the Sabbath]. 10 There was a man present who had a paralyzed hand. And they [the Pharisees] asked Jesus, “Is [the work of] healing allowed on the Sabbath?”, for they wanted to accuse him. 11 And he said to them, “Which one of you having sheep, if one of them fell into a pit on a Sabbath day, would not grab hold of it and lift it out [thus “working”]? 12 And how much more valuable is a man than a sheep?” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And it was restored completely well, just like his other hand. [Jesus healed the man without either him or the man “working” on the Sabbath, even though Jesus firmly established the legitimacy of such work.]
Humble savior
14 But the Pharisees left and gathered together to plot how they might destroy him. 15 But Jesus, aware of this, departed from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed all [who needed healing]. 16 And he ordered them not to tell others about him. [Many likely were coming to the belief that he must be the Anointed One, but he wished for each person to reach their own conclusions about him.]
17 This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet [Isaiah 42:1-4], 18 “See my chosen servant, my loved one who pleases me greatly. I will put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. 19 But he won’t fight, he won’t yell, and he won’t make a commotion in the streets. 20 He won’t break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick. [He won’t hurt or dominate people] but he will lead justice to victory. 21 And in his name, the nations will trust.” [Matthew sees Jesus as fulfilling Isaiah’s description of the Anointed One as a different kind of leader who is humble and does not dominate but brings about justice.]
Confusing evil and good
22 Then they brought to him a man with a demon [that made him] blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that the man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed and said, “Isn’t this the Son of David [another name for the Anointed One]?” 24 But the Pharisees who heard this said, “It’s true he casts out demons, but [he does it] by [the power] of Baalzebul, the ruler of the demons!” 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts and said, “Every kingdom that’s divided against itself is destroyed, and every city divided against itself falls down. 26 [Likewise,] if [a servant of] Satan casts out [another servant of] Satan, then Satan is divided against himself, and how will his kingdom stand?
27 “And if I am using [the power of] Baalzebul to cast out demons, by what power are your sons [people you approve] casting them out? [There were Jews who sought to use the power of God to remove demons from people’s lives.] Therefore, they [the Jewish exorcists] will be your judges [since you are implying that anyone casting out demons must be using evil power to do so]. 28 But if I am casting out demons using the Spirit of God [as I am claiming], then God’s rule [not Satan’s rule] has come upon you [through me].
29 “[In fact, I am at war with Satan for he has put many in bondage.] Yet how can [I or] someone [else] enter a strong man’s [Satan’s] house and steal his goods, except by first making the strong man harmless. And then we will take back all that in his house. [When I am healing people and setting them free, if a sickness or infirmity is caused by a demon, I use the power of the Holy Spirit to bind that demon and break its power over the person and make it leave. When the evil leaves, the healing comes.]
30 “[If you don’t believe that I am doing God’s work then you are not on my side.] Whoever is not on my side is helping the opposing side. And whoever is not [helping me by] drawing people [to God] is driving people away [from God]. [When you call the work of freeing men from demons evil you are driving people away rather than drawing them to God.]
31 “For this reason, let me tell you, all sin and speaking evil can be forgiven against men, except speaking evil against the Holy Spirit. 32 And if someone speaks against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, it won’t be forgiven, either in this world or in the one to come. [If you have trouble trusting me as a person, that’s one thing, but if you reject as bad a work inspired by the Holy Spirit that obviously helps a person then you are rejecting God, to your own judgment.]
33 “Isn’t it the case that a tree is good if it’s fruit is good, or that a tree is bad if it’s fruit is bad, for a tree is known by its fruit? 34 You generation of snakes, how can you, who are evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. [You are only out to help yourself, and you don’t even know how to speak good about someone else! You can’t help speaking evil because your thoughts are evil.] 35 A good person out of his good treasure brings forth good things, and a bad person out of the storehouse of his heart speaks bad things. 36 I tell you that every harmful word men speak they will need to account for on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be declared innocent [Romans 10:9-10] and by your words you will be declared guilty.”
38 Then some of the interpreters of the Law and the Pharisees spoke up, “We would like to see a sign from you. [Since you keep talking authoritatively and contradict us, what can you show us that proves you are the Anointed One, whom we can trust has the right to say these things.]” 39 But Jesus answered them, “An evil and unfaithful generation requires a sign [to believe]. [You have already been given sign after sign that I am the Anointed One and yet because you have already ceased following God, you refuse to believe in me.] No sign will be given to you except that of Jonah the prophet. 40 For Jonah was in the sea creature’s belly three days and three nights [Jonah 1:17]. Likewise, the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. [This is a figure of speech – neither Jonah nor Jesus was “buried” for an entire 72 hours but rather parts of three days, long enough to be counted dead following the customs of the times. Jesus’ resurrection would be the greatest of all signs but still would not be believed by many.]
41 “The men of Nineveh will rise up [to testify] in condemnation of this generation [when it is brought before the Judge] because they repented at the preaching of Jonah [Jonah 3:4-10], and look, a greater one than Jonah is here. 42 [Likewise,] the Queen of the South [Sheba] shall rise [to testify against] this generation and will condemn it, for she came a long distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon [1 Kings 10:1-9], and a greater one than Solomon is here.
[On the Day of Judgment, those who are judged will be put on trial for how they lived, and punishment given based on their degree of resistance to following God as well as their evil actions (Revelation 20:11-15, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). That’s why the cities where Jesus spoke and healed and the Jewish leaders who had every opportunity to embrace the Anointed One were destined for a judgment which included a fiery punishment for rejecting God. Those who have believed in Jesus will totally escape this judgment (John 5:24) but will still have their behaviors judged to determine reward (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).]
43 “[Since we were talking about what is involved in deliverance, let me tell you why this is especially relevant to this entire generation.] When an unclean spirit [demon] has gone out of a man, it travels through dry places seeking [an adequate place to] rest and finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house that I left’, and when he arrives, it finds the house empty, cleaned up, and decorated. 45 Then it goes back out and associates himself with seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter in and make their home there. And the man ends up worse than he was in the beginning. That’s the way it will be with this wicked generation.”
[Jesus came to deliver this generation from the bondage of the evil one. Their persistent refusal to believe in him is like a demonized man being set free but not becoming filled with belief in God. As the leaders and many of the people of this generation continued to resist belief, their bondage to sin and future judgment become worse.]
Jesus evaluates family on obedience to God
46 While he was still talking to the people, his mother and brothers were standing outside, wanting to talk with him. And someone told him, “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to talk to you.” 48 But Jesus answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 49 And he stretched out his hand toward his followers and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever will follow the will of my heavenly Father is who [I consider] is my brother, or sister, or mother.” [Jesus says that the ones deserving his investment of time and energy, are those who want to find out more about God.]
Discussion questions
1. Is Jesus speaking against rules as having any value? What does he say should guide our behavior and our judgment of others’ behavior?
2. Do you think that it is ever questionable whether the works someone claims as being done for God really are? How could you follow Jesus’ criteria to judge quality based on the fruits?
3. Jesus talks a lot about Judgment Day. Why do you suppose it’s so important to him?
Matthew Chapter 13
Story of the sower
1 That same day, after Jesus left the house, he went down and sat at the seashore [Lake Galilee] to speak to the people. 2 But the crowds that came to him were so large that he sat in a boat while the crowd stood on the shore. 3 He spoke to them many things using story illustrations. He said, “A man went out to sow seed. 4 As he sowed, some seeds fell near the path and birds came and ate them. 5 Some fell on rocky earth where they didn’t have much soil and they quickly sprouted because of the lack of soil. 6 And when the sun came up they were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up. 7 And some fell among thorn bushes, which choked them. 8 But some fell into good soil and were fruitful, some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, and some thirty-fold. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him listen [and understand].”
10 The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the people using story illustrations?” 11 And he answered them, “Because it’s a gift to you to understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it hasn’t been given to them. [You are seekers and have already found a measure of belief, so you respond to the investment of explaining the truths. Most of the Jewish people can’t hear because they have resisted the truth for so long. I tell them stories to increase their hunger for the truth.] 12 For to him who has, more will be added, and he will have an abundance. [Because you are a good investment, you will be trusted with more.] And to him who lacks, even what he has will be taken away. [The Pharisees take what little they know and use it for their own advantage rather than for seeking God, so they will lose what little understanding of the truth they already have.]
Why Jesus used stories
13 “That’s why I speak to them using stories with illustrations, because when they are looking, they don’t see, and when they are listening they don’t hear or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah [Isaiah 6:9-10] which says, ‘When you listen, you will hear and not understand. When you are looking, you will see but not perceive. 15 For this people’s heart has become insensitive, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have become closed. If they would see with their eyes and hear with their ears or understand with their hearts and change their ways, then I would heal them.’
16 “But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many of the prophets and righteous ones have desired to see what you are seeing, and they haven’t seen it, and to hear what you have heard. 18 Therefore, hear [and understand] the story of the man who sowed. 19 When someone hears the word concerning the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one [from the story] who received the seed which was scattered on the path.
20 “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and receives it with joy. 21 When tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, though he endures for a while, because he has no root, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who receives the seed on thorny ground, is the person who hears the word and the worries of this world and the love of riches choke the word and cause it to become unproductive. 23 But the one who receives the seed in good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it and bears fruit, some bringing forth a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold and some thirty-fold.” [Part of bearing fruit is sharing the word. When believers share the truth with others, those come to faith and learn to share also. This is how the fruit gets multiplied.]
More kingdom illustrations
24 He gave them another story illustration, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed [to grow wheat] in his field. 25 While everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and planted darnel [a grain that looks like wheat during early stages of growing but is poisonous to eat] among the wheat. 26 When the blades came up and brought forth grain, the darnel grew right alongside the wheat. 27 The servants of the owner came up to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in your field? Where did the darnel come from?’ 28 The owner replied, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said, ‘Do you want us to go out and pull up the darnel?’ 29 The owner said, ‘No, for when you pull up the darnel you might uproot the wheat at the same time. 30 Let them both grow together until the harvest. I will tell the reapers, “First gather the darnel and bind it in bundles to burn. Then gather the wheat into my barn.”’” [Jesus explains the story to the disciples a little later.]
31 Jesus gave the people another story illustration, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and planted in his field. 32 This seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the largest of all garden plants. It actually becomes a tree, where the birds of the air come and make their homes in its branches.” [One act of faith may seem very small, like the mustard seed. But whomever is affected will increase in faith and the faith will spread to many others, like the mustard plant. Eventually it will become a community of faith like a tree and others will come to shelter in it.]
33 And he spoke to them another story illustration, “The kingdom of heaven is like a woman who took some yeast and mixed it into about fifty pounds of flour until the whole loaf was leavened and had risen.” [Faith is like yeast. It doesn’t take much to begin to spread faith all around a very sizable community just like a small amount of yeast can be kneaded in to a rather large amount, even fifty pounds, of flour, to make the entire batch rise.]
34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in story illustrations, and he didn’t speak anything to them which wasn’t in a story illustration. 35 This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet [Asaph in Psalms 78:2. Asaph was a singer in the Temple worship during the time after David, and he wrote twelve of the Psalms]. The psalm says, “I will open my mouth [and speak] in parables. I will pronounce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew continues to be impressed with the many ways the scriptures spoke of the one who would come and accomplish many things, and how Jesus fulfilled all those predicted accomplishments.]
36 Then Jesus sent away the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the story illustration about the darnel in the field.” 37 Jesus answered, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man [myself]. 38 The field is the world. The good seed is the children of the kingdom, but the darnel is the children of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil [the word means adversary or slanderer]. The harvest is the end of this age. And the reapers are the angels. 40 Just as the darnel is gathered for the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth the angels and they will gather together all those who cause others to stumble and who do evil, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire where men will weep and grind their teeth [because of the pain and the knowledge of what they missed out on due to their own selfishness]. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear let them hear!
[Jesus described the cast of characters in the story but left his hearers to figure out some of the details. Jesus is the owner or the master of the world. As his followers come to faith and become his disciples, he plants them as good seed into the world to bear fruit. To counter him, the devil places his followers – liars, cheaters, murderers – into the world but makes them look nearly indistinguishable from his followers until you see the fruit they produce, which is poisonous. God doesn’t remove the adversary’s followers too soon because their roots may be entangled with his followers. He waits patiently for the time of the harvest, the judgment at the end of the age. Then the angels gather the followers of the devil for their destiny of burning, and the followers of Jesus for their destiny of glory with him.]
44 [Jesus continued describing the kingdom of heaven.] “The kingdom of heaven is like something of great value that was hidden in a field, which a man had found but then covered up again. He was so joyful [about his discovery], that he sold everything he had and bought that field. [This story focuses on how valuable and joyful it is to belong to God. When we find out that God really loves us and will do anything for us, that becomes more valuable to us than everything else in our life, even to the point where we will get rid of every other interest to pursue what God has for us to do.]
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for valuable pearls, 46 who found one of surpassing value, and went and sold everything else he had and bought it. [This story is like the previous. When you’ve been looking your whole life to find something of great value and now it’s within grasp, you will sell everything else you possess to make sure you get the thing of great value. That’s what people find when they realize how much God loves them.]
47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, where fish of every kind were caught in it. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. [The net is the spreading of the good news of the kingdom. Many are touched and drawn in but not all will turn out to be true believers. Some in every crowd will either resist or fake their way. At the Judgment Day, those who are followers of Jesus will be preserved for eternal life and the fakers and resisters will be destined for destruction.]
49 “So will it be at the completion of this age [the Day of Judgment]. The angels will come and divide the evil from the righteous. 50 Those who are evil will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth [because those who chose wrong will experience the results of their bad choice].
51 “[Now that you have heard many story illustrations of the kingdom, let me ask you,] ‘Have you understood all these things [that I have described in illustrations]?’” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” 52 He said to them, “[Then I expect you disciples to become excellent teachers of the Law.] Every teacher of the Law who has been [properly] instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like a man who owns a house and brings forth out of his wealth new and old.” [A homeowner best entertains his guests by giving them both things that are familiar and things they have never seen before. To illustrate the kingdom, Jesus used examples that were familiar to everyone (‘old’) but added twists and interpretations that were ‘new’. Furthermore, some of the concepts that truly conveyed how God’s kingdom works, like ‘sowing and reaping’, were old – but others, like that the enemy has sown bad seed among the good, were less familiar.]
Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth
53 When Jesus had finished [presenting] these parables, he left there 54 and came to his own hometown [Nazareth]. He taught them in their synagogue, and they were astonished [at his teaching], saying, “Where did this man gain such wisdom and these works of power? 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary, and his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 And aren’t his sisters here among us? Where has this man acquired these things [he has taught and demonstrated to us]?” 57 And so they talked themselves out of believing in him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is respected everywhere except in his own home.” 58 He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
[When there is an atmosphere of belief, people’s faith not only increases what’s possible, but also draws crowds of people with all kinds of needs. Skepticism and unbelief restrict what can be accomplished and who is likely to come.]
Discussion questions
1. How do you feel when you read or hear Jesus’ story illustrations? Do you feel you fully understand them even when they are explained? Do you sometimes feel there could be more than one valuable meaning?
2. Why do you think Jesus speaks so much about the kingdom of heaven? How would you summarize what you’ve learned about God’s rule and reign through Jesus’ illustrations in this chapter?
3. Is Jesus expecting us to become teachers through telling stories? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a story illustration that would help explain why you are a follower of Jesus to your family or friends.
Matthew Chapter 14
Execution of John the Baptist
1 At that time, Herod [Antipas], the tetrarch, heard the news about Jesus’ [miracles]. [Herod the Great had ruled when Jesus was born, and Herod Antipas was the youngest of his six sons by four wives. When Herod the Great died, his rule over greater Judea was divided by the Romans between his sons. A tetrarch ruled one of four parts of a land. In this case Herod Antipas was given the provinces of Galilee and Perea (parts of lower Syria and Jordan today) to rule. His older brother Archelaus ruled Judea, Samaria (west bank of Jordan River between Judea and Galilee), and Idumea (west bank of lower Dead Sea), which constituted one-half the kingdom. And his half-brother Philip ruled Gaulanitis (current day Golan Heights and Syria). Two other half-brothers (Alexander and Aristobulus) had been assassinated by their own father. And another half-brother Herod II was disqualified from ruling because his mother had been involved in an unsuccessful plot to kill his father.]
2 Herod Antipas said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist, who is risen from the dead, [we are hearing about,] and therefore he is capable of these works of power.” [It is interesting that the people of the time so easily embraced that someone might rise from the dead since this was to be a key mark of Jesus as the Anointed One.]
3 For Herod Antipas had captured John the Baptist, bound him, and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, [who previously had been] Herod Antipas’ [half] brother Philip’s wife. [According to the historian Josephus, Herodias had been the wife of Herod II rather than Philip and had divorced him to marry Herod Antipas. It is possible Herod II was also known as Philip, or that Matthew heard this from an erroneous source.] 4 And John the Baptist had said to Herod Antipas, “It’s not lawful for you to have her. [Leviticus 18:16 says you cannot marry your brother’s wife unless he has died, and you are willing to produce children for his family line (Deuteronomy 25:5).]” 5 And though Herod Antipas wanted to put John the Baptist to death, he feared [an uprising of] the people, because they considered John the Baptist to be a prophet.
6 But when Herod Antipas’ birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias [Salome] danced before them [those who came to celebrate], and pleased Herod, 7 and he made an oath, promising to give her whatever she would ask. 8 Receiving instructions from her mother, she said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.” 9 The king regretted [his promise], but because of his oath in front of those who had sat with him in his celebration, he commanded what she had asked for be done. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and John’s head was brought to the girl on a platter, which she brought to her mother.
12 John’s disciples took John’s body and buried it and went to tell Jesus [what had happened to John]. 13 When Jesus heard, he left by boat to go to an out-of-the-way location [probably to grieve and pray]. And when the people heard [that Jesus was leaving], they followed him on foot out from their towns.
Feeding of five thousand
14 [Once Jesus arrived at his destination], he came forth and saw a large crowd. He was moved with compassion toward them, so he healed their sick. 15 But when it was late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s now getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the towns and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “Why do they need to leave? You give them something to eat.” 17 But they said to him, “All we have here is five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them to me.”
19 He told the crowds to sit down on the grass, took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up, he blessed the food. He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, and they in turn gave it to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied. The fragments were gathered up and filled twelve small baskets. 21 Those who had eaten numbered around five thousand men, as well as women and children.
Walking on water
22 Immediately after, Jesus ordered the disciples to get into the boat and go in advance of him across the lake, while he sent away the crowds. [Jesus had not had a chance to mourn John the Baptist and needed time alone with his Father. Likely the disciples would not have wanted to leave Jesus alone and did not see how he would be able to follow them back home.] 23 And when Jesus had sent away the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there by himself, 24 but the boat, now some distance away from the land, was tossed by waves since the wind was against them. [There are locations in the hills above the lake where a person can see far across the lake.]
25 In the fourth watch of the night [between 3 and 6 am], Jesus came to them, walking on the water. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were disturbed, saying, “It’s a ghost!”, and they cried out in fear. 27 But right away Jesus said to them, “Have courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 And Peter said to Jesus, “If it is you, then command me to come to you on the water.” 29 And Jesus said, “Come!” And when Peter got out of the boat, he walked on the water to get to Jesus. 30 But when he saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said, “[Peter, you were doing it!] You of little faith, why did you [let go of the faith you had and] doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. [This was the second time Jesus had quieted a storm.] 33 And those that were in the boat bowed down before him, saying, “It’s true you are the son of God!”
[The story illustrated what’s possible because of faith. Jesus was demonstrating complete command over all the natural world, first multiplying the bread and fish, now walking on top of the water. In this, the disciples understood that Jesus had access to power that only God has, attributing his ability to having come from God. But Peter understood and demonstrated what Jesus was teaching them, that these things are possible to any who believe, as he walked on the water himself. Jesus tells us in John 14:12-13 that we are to do the same works or even greater than him.]
Many touch the hem of Jesus’ garment
34 And when they had crossed over, they came to the area of Gennesaret [a town farther west on the shore of Lake Galilee but not far from Capernaum]. 35 When the people of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding countryside, and those places sent all who needed healing. 36 And all they wanted was to touch the edge of his clothes, and all who touched him were healed. [The story of the woman who had been healed of the issue of blood by touching the hem of his garment must have spread.]
Discussion questions
1. John the Baptist had a major role, based on how much of the narrative is devoted to him. Why do you think he was so important both to Jesus and the Gospel writers?
2. Do you think Jesus knew in advance he could multiply food and walk on water? Why do you think he performed these miracles?
3. What was special about Peter that seeing Jesus walk on water, he thought he could do it too? Do you think he ever tried it again? What would cause you to attempt the miraculous?
Matthew Chapter 15
Traditions of men versus commandments of God
1 Then Pharisees and teachers of the Law came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do your disciples violate the tradition of the elders, for [we’ve heard and now see that] your disciples don’t wash their hands when they eat?”
[Local Galilean Pharisees and teachers of the Law had observed Jesus and likely reported to those in Jerusalem that Jesus had become popular enough that there was talk that he might be the Anointed One. Also, Jesus had submitted his own claim that he was the Anointed One by having the leper he healed go to the priests (Matthew 8:4), so they were required now to examine Jesus. They had also observed a variety of what they considered violations of proper practices among Jesus or his disciples that might discredit Jesus. This delegation had come to examine and disqualify Jesus if possible. Washing for purification was specified in the Law for all kinds of situations. However, traditions had built up over time that specified an elaborate ritual for cleansing before meals. Apparently, Jesus and his disciples did not consider these traditions important. In fact, Jesus perceived that these traditions were invented to cover up unclean hearts and to control and manipulate the common man.]
3 But Jesus answered them, “Why do you violate the [actual] commandment of God through your traditions? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ [Exodus 20:12], and ‘He that speaks evil of his father or mother, let him be put to death’ [Leviticus 20:9]. 5 But then you say[, hiding behind one of your traditions], ‘If anyone tells his father or mother that what he would have given them has been set aside as a gift to God, 6 he therefore does not need to provide it to honor his parent’. Thus, you have nullified the commandment of God through your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied accurately about you when he said [Isaiah 29:13], 8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 9 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines what are only the commandments of men.’”
10 Then Jesus called out to the crowd and said to them, “[If you are reasoning that ceremonial washing makes you and the food clean,] listen and understand! 11 It’s not what goes into someone’s mouth that makes him unclean, but it’s what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean!” 12 Then his disciples came to him and told him, “Did you realize that the Pharisees heard what you said and were offended!” 13 Jesus responded, “[Remember the story I told you about the wheat and the darnel (Matthew 13:24-30)?] Every plant not planted by my Father will [eventually] be pulled up! [Those who teach such things are like the darnel and will be judged by my Father and are destined for burning.] 14 Forget about them. They are blind [since they choose not to see what is right in front of them]. Let the blind [leaders] lead the blind [followers]. But [unfortunately] if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into a ditch.”
15 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Explain to us this story!” 16 Jesus responded, “Are you still lacking insight? 17 Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes through the belly and is ejected into the drain. 18 But whatever goes out of the mouth came from the heart. This is what makes a man unclean! 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, and slander. 20 These are the things which make a man unclean, but eating with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean!”
Faith among non-Jews
21 Then Jesus left that place and traveled to the area of Tyre and Sidon [modern Lebanon]. [It appears that he was going to a non-Jewish area where he expected he and the disciples could rest because he was relatively unknown. Yet some people from that region had heard of him (Mark 3:7-8) or had been healed by him (Luke 6:17-18). Perhaps someone he had helped had a house there and had offered it to him to use. There is no explanation given of how this woman found out about him.] 22 There, a woman from the region of Canaan [Phoenicia] came to him and cried out, “Have mercy, Lord, son of David, my daughter is terribly demonized!”
23 But Jesus didn’t say a word in response. [He held to his purpose, and perhaps at the same time tested her faith.] And his disciples came seeking him, saying, “Send her away since she is giving us no peace!” 24 But he answered her, saying, “I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [My Father has given me no instructions to bring the message of the kingdom of heaven here. In fact, this was to be a time for us of needed rest.]” 25 Then she came and fell on her face before him, pleading, “Lord, help me!”
26 But he answered and said, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs. [As I said, I am responsible for spiritually feeding the Jewish people, especially my disciples.]” 27 And she replied, “Of course, Lord, but even dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall under the master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Oh, woman, how great is your faith. [You would not take ‘no’ for an answer, believing God would help you through me.] It will be for you just as you have desired.” And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. [Perhaps the ministry to this woman and her daughter was the primary purpose of this trip since no other ministry is recorded.]
Healing all
29 And Jesus left that place and came near to Lake Galilee, and he went up to a hill and sat down there. 30 Great crowds came to him there, bringing with them those who were lame, blind, maimed, mute, and many others. [People brought those who needed healing and] placed them at Jesus’ feet, and he healed them. 31 Many were healed, and the crowd marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed cured, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I feel sorry for the crowds, for they have remained with me for three days and have had nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they may faint on the way.”
Feeding the four thousand
33 So his disciples said to him, “Where in this out-of-the-way place can we find so much food that we could feed so large a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves [of bread] do you have?”, and they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 So he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowd. 37 All of them ate and were full. They collected seven large baskets full of the broken pieces. 38 Those who had eaten numbered four thousand men, plus women and children. 39 He sent the crowd away and boarded a ship and came to the area of Magadan [possibly an alternative name for Magdala, a city on the west side of Lake Galilee].
Discussion questions
1. Why does Jesus make a big deal about not following the traditional ceremonial washing? Couldn’t he have simply put up with their requirements?
2. Does Jesus seem a little bit hard on the Phoenician woman? Why does he give her what she wants? Won’t that encourage more people to come and bother them?
3. In the stories of both the feeding of the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand, Jesus collects a large amount of leftovers. What do you think is the message of the surplus bread?
Matthew Chapter 16
Unfaithful generation
1 [As Jesus' miracles kept coming and people increasingly believed he was the Anointed One, the Jewish leaders stepped up their attempts to find error and danger to discredit Jesus.] So the Pharisees and Sadducees [in Magadan] came to test him. They asked him for a sign from heaven to prove to them [who he was]. 2 And he answered and said to them, “When it’s evening, you say, ‘Fair weather [is coming], for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, [you say,] ‘Bad weather, for the sky is red and threatening.’ If you can interpret the sky, why can’t you read the signs of the time? [Miracles are happening all around you and yet you are unable and unwilling to decide that I am the Anointed One and that this is the time of the prophesied visitation from God. You have already had many signs given to you.] 4 A wicked and unfaithful generation seeks for a sign [while refusing to acknowledge the signs already given], but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah.”
[This is the second time Jesus was asked for a sign, and both times he cited Jonah (Matthew 12:38-41). It was very significant that the "sign of Jonah" was the sign that would be given the generation that had been given every sign but refused to respond to them. 1) Jerusalem, like Nineveh, had many opportunities to repent, but had not. 2) If they did not repent, judgment was coming, 3) Both Jonah and Jesus offered salvation through their preaching, 4) Both would be hidden for portions of three days, 5) Both would startle their target audience with their sudden appearance. 6) For Jonah, the city repented. For Jesus, mostly the city did not repent, but Jesus made it possible for anyone anywhere at any time to receive salvation.].
He left them [the Pharisees and Sadducees] and departed [with the disciples by boat from Magadan]. 5 And when they came to the other side of the lake [near Bethsaida according to Mark 8:22], the disciples [realized] they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 It was at that point that Jesus said to them, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they reasoned among themselves, “[He mentioned leaven] because we didn’t bring any bread.”
8 When Jesus realized what they were saying, he said, “Why are you talking about not bringing any bread, you of little faith? 9 Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many small baskets you collected [of the leftovers]? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large baskets you collected? [God’s provision is always available.] 11 How do you not understand that I wasn’t talking about bread when I spoke to you that you should beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he wasn’t warning them about the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. [Jesus wanted his disciples to understand who he was, not be purposefully dense like the religious leaders, who refused to see him for who he was.]
Recognition of Jesus as the Anointed One
13 [Jesus took the disciples due north from the lake, deep into Roman controlled territory, probably to avoid those who recognized him.] When Jesus [and the disciples] arrived around Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who are men saying that I am - [even though you know I call myself] the Son of Man?” 14 And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered, “You are the Anointed One, the son of the living God!” 17 And Jesus answered, saying to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of John, for flesh and blood hasn’t revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven!
18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter [the rock], and on this bedrock [of belief in who I am], I will build my community [unified assembly of followers], and not even the gates of hades [the power of death] will have victory over it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
“[Peter, your understanding of who I am provides the foundation for the living temple of believers that will grow around you. You will be the first leader of this community. This community is to be so powerful that all darkness including death cannot resist it. I will give you keys for how to operate under my rule. As you follow these, you will see God back up all that you do. For example, if you forbid disease, God will remove disease. If you decide to give authority to a man, God will cause him to have authority. The key to all that you do is knowing that I, Jesus, the Son of Man, am God’s son and heir and representative on the earth, and that I have given you, the church, the right to represent both me and the Father.]”
20 Then he commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Anointed One. [He wanted each person to come to that conclusion in their own heart.] 21 And from that time Jesus began to explain to his disciples how he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and the teachers of the Law, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day.
[Jesus did not reveal this part of his destiny until the disciples firmly grasped that he was indeed the Anointed One. Even though Isaiah 53:1-12, which describes the “suffering servant”, was regarded as a prophecy concerning the Anointed One, he was much more regarded as a conquering hero who would save Israel from all enemies. No one, including the disciples, understood the concept that the Anointed One would suffer and die for the sins of humanity, prior to resurrection from the dead and ascension to a heavenly throne.]
Ready to die to follow Jesus
22 Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to scold him, saying, “God forbid that anything like this happen to you!” 23 But Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get out of my way, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path. For you aren’t thinking about things like God does but rather like men. [Peter, it takes great discipline on my part to follow the path God has given me. And you are representing the plan of Satan to tempt me and trip me up so that I won’t fulfill the purpose God has for me.]”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “[It’s not only me that will give my life for the sake of the Good News.] If anyone wants to take the path I am taking, he has to totally abandon his own self-interest, and carry his cross [be ready to die], and [only] then [you can] follow me. 25 For anyone who wants to protect his own life [by keeping himself safe and following his own interests] will lose it [for the life I have for you is glorious and full of reward in heaven but a trial on the earth]. Whoever gives up his life for my sake [by doing whatever I ask of him no matter what it costs] will find it [- a life that is completely fulfilling during your time on the earth and then forever with me in eternity].
26 “For what will be the advantage to a man if he wins the whole world but loses his own soul? Really, what is worth giving in exchange for your [eternal] soul? 27 For the Son of Man [Jesus] will come in the glory of the Father with his angels and will reward every man based on his deeds. To tell you the truth, some of you standing here, before you experience death will see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” [Jesus was possibly referring to several things: a) in a few days three of his disciples would see him in his glory, b) when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, Jesus came to rule in his church and kingdom life began to happen in full earnest, and c) Jesus as a king brought judgment when Israel was judged in 70 AD.]
Discussion questions
1. Why was Peter’s confession of faith about who Jesus is so fundamental to the power and authority that would be given to the unified community of believers?
2. Why do you think it was so hard for Peter to accept that Jesus would die a humiliating death?
3. Jesus says we must totally give up self-determination in our life and be willing even to die for him. Are you willing to do this in your life?
Matthew Chapter 17
Jesus reveals his heavenly appearance
1 After six days, Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, and brought them to a high mountain where they were by themselves. 2 Jesus’ appearance changed before them, and his face shined like the sun, and his clothes were as white as light. 3 [The prophets] Moses and Elijah appeared, talking to Jesus. [Jesus revealed his normal heavenly appearance to his disciples. Somehow the disciples immediately recognized Moses and Elijah. Luke 9:30-31 tells us that they were talking about how Jesus was going to depart from the world.] 4 Then Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you want, let us make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and there was a voice which spoke out of the cloud, “This is my beloved son. I am so pleased with him. Listen to him!” [From this time on, the disciples became even more aware of the authority of Jesus and the truth of what he said.] 6 And when they heard the voice, the [three] disciples fell on their faces and were very afraid. 7 Then Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Stand up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one else but Jesus.
9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one what you saw until after the Son of Man rises from the dead.” [Until he rose from the dead few would have believed it if the disciples told what they had seen. After he rose and appeared to many, the experience of the three disciples would make more sense.] 10 [Still thinking about what the vision meant,] the disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah must come first [before the Anointed One]?” 11 Jesus answered, “It is true that Elijah is to come and restore all things [Isaiah 40:3-5]. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him, and they did to him whatever they felt like. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the [three] disciples understood Jesus was talking about John the Baptist [when he said Elijah had already come].
Deliverance of boy from an evil spirit
14 When Jesus and the three disciples had come down from the mountain, they returned to the crowd [and the other nine disciples]. A man came up to Jesus and fell on his knees before him, 15 saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is moonstruck [crazy] and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
17 Then Jesus answered, “Oh, unbelieving and resistant generation! How long will I be with you? [You don’t have very long to figure out what I am telling and demonstrating to you.] How long will I put up with you? [I can’t allow such resistance to remain long on the earth before you are judged for your resistance to God.] Bring the boy here to me.” 18 And Jesus sharply commanded him [the demon], and the demon left him, and the child was healed from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked him, “Why weren’t we able to cast out the demon?” 20 And Jesus answered, “Because of your unbelief. For I tell you the truth, if you have faith [as small] as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Leave here and move over there’, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you!
[Did Jesus mean that we could move an actual mountain by faith? There is no record of him doing so himself. However, he did raise the dead, change water to wine, multiply loaves, calm storms, and walk on water, and each of these seemed impossible. At the very least, he expects us through faith to see apparently insurmountable obstacles removed and our goals attained. Some manuscripts add verse 21, ‘This kind come out only by prayer and fasting’, the same as in Mark 9:29.]
22 While the disciples were gathered together there in Galilee[, since Jesus and three of them had just been apart from the rest], Jesus said [to them a second time], “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised again”. And they were very sad.
Paying the Temple tax
24 Then they went to Capernaum. After they arrived, those who collected the two-drachma Temple tax said to Peter, “Doesn’t the teacher pay the two-drachma Temple tax? [According to Exodus 30:11-16, every resident of Israel was required by God to pay the two-drachma (or half-shekel) tax for the upkeep of the Tent of Meeting and later the Temple.]
25 Peter replied, “Yes”, and when he came into the house [where they stayed in Capernaum], Jesus stopped him[, knowing what had taken place before Peter had a chance to tell Jesus about the interaction he just had with the tribute collectors]. Jesus said to him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take their tax or tribute, their own children, or others’?”
26 And when Peter replied, “From the others”, Jesus said, “So the sons are exempt. 27 But, we don’t want to offend these people [who believe they are performing a legitimate responsibility]. Go down to the sea and cast a hook. Take the first fish that comes up and when you open the mouth you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them [the tribute collectors] for you and me.”
[Now that the disciples understand that Jesus is the son of God, Jesus is making the point to the disciples that since they are serving God and he is the son of God, they should be exempt. However, that would not have been understood by the tribute collectors and it is not yet the time for Jesus to challenge the leaders to the point they would crucify him. Listening to the Father, he tells Peter exactly where to find the payment. His Father essentially paid the tribute for him. Apparently, the other disciples were considered servants and were not taxed.]
Discussion questions
1. Do you think it would have been confusing that Peter, James, and John saw Elijah and Moses on the mountain with Jesus, but then Jesus said that Elijah had already come before the Anointed One? How did John the Baptist represent the role of Elijah?
2. What does Jesus say is the reason the disciples could not cure the boy who had seizures? Why does Jesus say it only takes a small amount of faith?
3. Sometimes any of us has unexpected expenses, including ones that seem unfair or unwarranted. In Jesus and Peter’s case, Jesus was not only not surprised, but totally unworried, for the Father showed him the miraculous solution. When have you experienced God’s miraculous provision? In what current situation do you need to trust God for his provision?
Matthew Chapter 18
Importance of humbling ourselves
1 Around this time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “[Jesus, you told us that, we who are following you, are greater than even John the Baptist.] Which of us is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Jesus called a young child over to him and set him in the middle of them, 3 and said to them, “Here’s the truth. Unless you change how you are thinking [and stop being concerned about your own importance] and become just like little children, you won’t even enter the kingdom of heaven. [How can you serve God when you are focused on yourselves?] 4 Whoever sees himself at the level of this young child, that’s the one who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [Jesus saw himself as a young child before his Father, trusting and accepting, not striving or self-conscious. When we lose any striving for status is when we can do the greatest things on behalf of our Father.]
5 “And whoever accepts one young child in my name is accepting me. [Children are not to be ignored – they are very important to God. To love and serve a child is to accept Jesus. On the other hand, if you turn a child away, Jesus says you are rejecting Him. At some level, every person is considered by God to be a young child.] 6 But anyone who causes a child to sin or turn away from God, it would be better for that person if a large stone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the depths of the sea [than the punishment that person will receive from God for harming one of his children].
7 “How terrible for the world that there must be such scarring experiences. Though they will always exist, how terrible it will be for the one who brings the harm! [What punishment will be his due at the Judgment unless his heart be converted, and his sins forgiven.]
8 “Therefore, if it’s your hand or foot that causes you to stumble [and if you have difficulty refraining from sinful actions because of where you go or what you do that harms yourself or others], then cut them [your hand or foot] off and throw them away, for it is better to enter [eternal] life maimed or crippled than keep both hands and feet and be thrown into everlasting fire [of hell]. [If any important part of your life – friends, job, location, habits – has become the avenue for repeated sin or temptation – then remove those friends, that job, location, or habit – even though you think you are losing something precious, so that you can stop being a sinner and can be counted among the righteous.]
9 “And if it’s your eye that causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away, for it is better to enter [eternal] life [with your vision restricted] rather than keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of everlasting burning. [If what you look at leads you to sin, it’s not a matter of trying to resist the temptation - remove yourself from the opportunity to even be exposed to that which tempts you.]
10 “Make sure not to look down on one of these little ones. [It’s so easy to discount the value of children, or those who are not as far along in their spiritual journey. But God values every soul very highly, and so should you.] For I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. [No matter how young or humble a person is, they have angels assigned to help them, and these angels have access to the Father. Therefore, it would not be wise to treat any of God’s children with disdain, since the angels will act to protect the children.]
Importance of every person
12 “What do you think? [Let me illustrate how God cares about each of his children.] If a man had a hundred sheep, and one of them got lost, wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go find the one that’s lost? 13 And if he finds the lost one, won’t he rejoice more over the one than over the ninety-nine who were never lost. 14 In the same way, it is the desire of the Father that not one of his little ones would be lost.
15 “However, if your brother sins against you, then [go after him just like the shepherd goes after the lost sheep]. Go tell him his fault just between you and him. If he listens to you, you have won your brother [back]. 16 If he doesn’t listen, then return taking one or two more, so that every word can be established by two or three witnesses. 17 If he won’t listen to them, then tell the assembly of believers. But if he won’t listen to the assembly of believers, then treat him as a non-Jew or a tax collector [an outsider who is not a believer].
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you together forbid, will be forbidden by heaven, and whatever you allow will be allowed in heaven. 19 Again, I am saying, if two of you agree about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am right there among them. [God has granted his followers great authority. What I told you earlier (Matthew 16:19), Peter, I am now expanding on what I said – when you agree together, that agreement carries great authority. If you exclude someone from the community because of sin, both your exclusion and your prayers for that person will bear fruit. Your purpose when you exclude someone from community is that you are hoping to still rescue them from being lost.]”
Importance of forgiving every offense
21 Then Peter came, saying to him, “How often am I required to forgive my brother when he sins against me? As much as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times. But I tell you, up to seventy times seven [every time he sins]. 23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a ruler who kept track of what his servants owed him. 24 And beginning his accounting process, one of the servants was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents [millions of dollars]. 25 But since he couldn’t pay, his lord required for him to be sold along with his wife and children and all that he had so that the payment could be made. 26 But the servant bowed down and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion and released him, forgiving all his debt.
28 “But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii [a few dollars] and grabbed him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay what you owe me.’ 29 The second servant begged him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 But the first servant would not [have mercy], and had him thrown into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 So when the other servants saw what had been done, they were upset and came and told their lord what had taken place.
32 “Then the lord called his servant to him and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your debt because you asked me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had compassion for your fellow servant just like I did for you?’ 34 The lord was so angry, he had this man delivered to the prison guards to torture him until he paid [through pain] all that was owed to his lord.” 35 [Continuing, Jesus said to them,] “My heavenly Father will do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother everything [he has done against you], from your heart.”
[Jesus is making clear that in God’s plan, through Jesus’ death in our place, even though this had not yet occurred, he was going to clear us of an enormous debt to him that we could never pay for ourselves. Any debt that anyone ever owes to us through sin is very small in comparison, and therefore we should always be prepared to forgive that debt. If we do not, then God has set up spiritual laws in both the earth and heaven so that our forgiven debt is reinstated until we in turn forgive. We are in fact tormented and imprisoned within our soul when we do not forgive.]
Discussion questions
1. How are you with children? Or with people you think are less intelligent or talented than you? How important do you need to be? Can you accept yourself as God’s servant and the helper of others in all circumstances?
2. If those treated with abuse become abusers then how can they be destined for punishment? How does God treat our capacity to resist sin?
3. What are some ways that you could avoid sin or harmful actions related to your eyes, or hands, or feet?
4. Does God expect us to forgive everything, no matter how terrible, that was done to us? What happens to us if we don’t let go of our judgment of those who sin against us?
Matthew Chapter 19
Marriage, divorce, and singleness
1 After Jesus had finished this teaching, he left Galilee [for what would be the last time] and came into the region beyond Judea and the Jordan River. [This area was called Perea and it was under Roman rule but occupied and administered by the Jews. This would be the modern country of Jordan.] 2 Great crowds followed him and he healed them there. 3 Among them were Pharisees who came to test him [by putting a difficult and controversial problem before him where his answer might give them ammunition against him].
They said, “Is it permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” [There were at least two major schools of thought about this subject during this time. One was that a man could divorce his wife only for sexual infidelity. The other was that a man could divorce his wife for any reason, since Moses in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 seems to allow divorce. Moses allowed this as a protection for the wife from ill treatment by the husband and so that she could not be accused of unfaithfulness if she remarried since she had a certificate of divorce. Whichever way Jesus answered he was going to make some people angry by his answer.]
4 Jesus answered them, “Have you not read [Genesis 1:27] that he [God] created them and made them male and female 5 and said [Genesis 2:24], ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and join himself to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ 6 Thus, they aren’t any longer two, but now one. What God has joined together, man must not separate.”
7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command the use of a certificate of divorce for a man to divorce his wife?” 8 Jesus replied, “Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it wasn’t that way from the beginning [of God’s plan and creation]. 9 And I tell you, anyone who divorces his wife and then marries another, has committed adultery. The only exception is when the wife has been sexually immoral [having sex with another man].”
[This exception Jesus is describing may refer to a time of betrothal, when a couple is considered husband and wife, but the wedding has not yet occurred and the marriage has not been consummated, or else the word for “infidelity” would likely have been used rather than “sexual immorality”. The penalty under the Law for infidelity was death. Jesus might have been an expert on betrothal Law since his mother and father had to consider it when she was pregnant with Jesus before Joseph knew the pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit.]
10 Jesus’ disciples said to him, “If this is the rule of life between a husband and wife, isn’t it better not to marry?” [The disciples were likely thinking that there are many things which can make a husband and wife become incompatible, so removing divorce as an option seemed very strict to them. But God intends marriage to be a place where his grace resolves all incompatibilities, since it is he that makes them one.]
11 But Jesus said to them, “Not everyone can accept what you are suggesting [about living single rather than married], but only those to whom it [the calling to live a life of self-controlled singleness] is given. 12 For there are [different kinds of] eunuchs. There are those who are incapable of sexual activity since their birth. There are those who have made that way by other men [castrating them, generally to make them slaves]. And there are those who have made themselves eunuchs [by refraining from sex] for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept this way of life should do so[, as I have, because they will be able to give themselves more fully to the kingdom].”
13 Then a group of young children were brought to Jesus, so that he could place his hands on them and pray [to bless them], but his disciples wouldn’t allow it[, intending to protect him and give him a chance to rest]. 14 But Jesus said, “Allow the young children to come, and don’t hold them back, for these are the ones to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs [those who trust and receive without question].” 15 And he laid his hands on them. Afterwards, he left that place.
Obstacle of riches
16 At that point, a man came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good work can I do that I may possess eternal life?” [The young man was focused on owning things and doing things to get credit for being good.] 17 And Jesus responded, “Why do you call me good? There is no one ‘good’ except God. [If he had realized Jesus was God he could have submitted himself to Jesus. The young man needed to get the focus off himself and onto God.] But if you want to enter life, keep the commandments [just as Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:15-16].” 18 And the man said, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder’, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, ‘You shall not steal’, ‘You shall not lie’, 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” [The last of the commandments Jesus mentions is the only one not among the ten commandments, though it summarizes half of them. It is from Leviticus 19:18, and Jesus mentioned it frequently as the second great commandment.]
20 The young men said back to him, “I have kept them all! [What then am I lacking?]” 21 Jesus responded to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor. You shall have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard what he said, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I will tell you the truth. It is rare that a rich man can get into the kingdom of heaven [for how can he surrender himself to God’s rule?]. 24 Again, let me put it this way, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. [It’s impossible if a man holds on to all of his rights, abilities, and possessions.]” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly amazed, and said, “Who then can be saved? [Everyone holds on to some possessions. And no one can fit through the eye of a needle!]” 26 But Jesus stared at them and said, “It’s impossible for men, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered, “Look, we have given up everything and followed you. What will we gain for it?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, that you who have followed me, in the renewal to come, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [You have an amazing destiny because you were willing to sacrifice everything to follow me!]
29 “And everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for the sake of my name [representing me], will receive a hundred times as many [places to call home and people to call family as they carry the good news] and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who [now] are first will be last, and the last first. [Many whom people consider important now, in God’s kingdom their status will be reversed, and likewise people who were regarded as no one will be highly honored.]”
Discussion questions
1. Why do you believe Jesus had such a strong view of marriage?
2. Do you think Jesus was requiring everyone to sell all they had and give to the poor? Why this man in particular?
3. How would Peter and the disciples gain houses and family by living a kingdom kind of life?
Matthew Chapter 20
Wages of salvation
1 [Jesus continued], “[Let me illustrate that last point with this story.] The kingdom of heaven is like the master of an estate who went out [to the marketplace] early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with his workers for a denarius a day [a standard day’s wages], the master sent the workers into his vineyard [to work]. 3 The master came out again the third hour [mid-morning], and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4 He told them, ‘[I’ve already got some workers in my vineyard.] Go ahead and join them, and I will pay you fairly.' [Most workers would think he meant they would be paid proportionate to the hours they worked.] 5 So they went.
“And again, the master went out the sixth [midday] and ninth hours [midafternoon] and did likewise [hired more workers for what he told them would be fair pay]. 6 And about the eleventh hour [near the end of the work day], he went out and found others unemployed, and said to them, ‘Why are you staying idle the whole day?’ 7 They responded, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “Go also [like the others I have hired and work] in the vineyard.”
8 “And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers up and pay them their wages beginning with those who came last until you get to those who came first.’ 9 And when those who were hired at the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius [a full day’s wage]. 10 But when it was time for those who came first [and had worked all day], they supposed they should receive more [than those who had been paid earlier and worked fewer hours] yet they likewise received a denarius.
11 “When they received it, they grumbled against the master of the estate, 12 saying, ‘Those you hired last worked only an hour, but you have made them equal to us who had to bear the burden of the entire day and the heat. [That’s not fair.]’ 13 But the master answered one of them, ‘My friend, I have not mistreated you. Didn’t you agree with me to work for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go. It’s my desire to give the last workers the same amount of wages. 15 Aren’t I allowed to do what I want with my own [money]? You should not be envious because I am generous.” [Jesus concluded the story by saying,] 16“So the last will be first [to be paid] and the first last. Many are called [to work for me in my vineyard], but few are chosen [because so few respond to the invitation].”
[This story reveals several kingdom concepts, including, 1) Any time not working for God’s kingdom is idle time. 2) When we decide to follow him is when we are “employed” by him. 3) God does not hold it against us that we did not make it into the kingdom until near the end of our lives. 4) All who follow him and work for him get the same wages of eternal life. 5) Often those who come later to the Lord are so grateful and full of grace that they outwork those who came to their salvation much earlier. 6) Those who have worked longest and are paid last should celebrate the mercy and generosity of the Lord and be glad for those who are last being first rather than jealous. 7) Jesus makes it clear elsewhere that the wages of salvation are eternal life, and that’s the wage that every believer receives no matter when in their life they first believe. However, in our heavenly life we will receive rewards proportionate to our behavior during this life for or against the Lord. 8) The non-Jews and the sinners were getting into the kingdom before the Jews who had first choice. 9) Everyone is given the opportunity to follow and serve the Lord but few respond and are therefore chosen.]
[Jesus was traveling from the area of the Jordan River towards Jerusalem. The road travels through Jericho and the wilderness around it and then steadily climbs up to Jerusalem, about 1700 feet higher.] 17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, on the way he took the twelve disciples aside [from the crowd that were taking the road], and said to them, 18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priest and the interpreters of the Law, and they will condemn him to death. 19 And they will turn him over to the non-Jews to mock, whip, and kill him by hanging him on a cross, and on the third day he will rise again.”
Greatness through service
[Since Jesus is talking about the end of his ministry, the disciples are imagining that somehow this will lead to his coming to the time of his kingdom.] 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, prostrating herself before him, and desiring something from him. [In Mark 10:35-37, the sons ask this question of Jesus directly without the involvement of their mother. Perhaps both Mark and Matthew seek to save her from embarrassment, Mark by excluding her from the story and Matthew by leaving out her name. Her name may be Salome, based on Matthew and Mark’s accounts of the women who were at the cross. It is also not clear why she is not named or referred to as the wife of Zebedee. Perhaps Zebedee has died by this time.]
21 And he said to her, “What do you desire?” She said to him, “Grant that one of my two sons may sit on your right hand and one on the left as you come to rule in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking.” [Turning to the sons, he asked,] “Are you able to drink from the same cup [of suffering] that I shall drink from?” They said to him, “We are able to!” 23 He replied to them, “You will in fact drink from that cup. [You will suffer like me when it’s your turn.] But to sit on my right and my left is not mine to give, but it will be provided by my Father to those for whom he has prepared it.”
24 And when the ten [other disciples] heard it, they were upset at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them all to him and said, “You know that the rulers among the non-Jews oppress their people, and those with power make it felt by others, 26 but that’s not how it will be among you. Whoever wants to be great among you, let him be the servant of you all. 27 And whoever wants to rank first, let him be your slave, 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life in exchange for many.”
Persistence to get what you need from God
29 And as Jesus and his disciples proceeded from Jericho [towards Jerusalem], a great crowd followed them. 30 And there were two blind men sitting by the side of the road, who when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” 31 But the crowd told them to shut up and hold their peace, but they cried out even more, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” 32 And Jesus stopped and called to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, open our eyes!” 34 So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and they received their sight and followed him. [Until they were healed, they could not follow him.]
Discussion questions
1. What is the wage in real life that each person gets for deciding to follow Jesus? Does it make any difference when in their life they make their decision?
2. Should we ever be motivated by ambition for ourselves? Jesus tells us to become great at loving and serving others. Is it OK to be ambitious in our love?
3. When it comes to getting our prayers answered, is there ever a time when we should stop being polite and start being desperate, not caring what anyone else thinks? Can you give some examples from scripture or your own life?
Matthew Chapter 21
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they arrived at [the village of] Bethphage on the Mount of Olives [the hill which overlooks Jerusalem]. Jesus sent out two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village across from us [probably Bethany] and you will immediately find a female donkey tied up and its young colt as well. Untie the donkey and bring the two animals to me. 3 If anyone questions you, say to them, ‘The Lord needs them’. Then they will send the animals [with you] right away.”
4 All this was done to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king is coming to you, humble and sitting on a donkey, and a colt, the child of a donkey.’” [The introduction of the quote comes from Isaiah 62:11, but the primary quote is from Zechariah 9:9.] 6 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, 7 and brought the donkey and its colt, and put on the donkey and colt their [extra] clothes and set him [riding] on them.
[Jesus was fulfilling a prophecy of the Anointed One coming to his people. It is possible Jesus had arranged to have the animals ready for him in advance. Just as likely, the owner of the animals was expectant for the Anointed One to come and was willing to supply the donkey and colt - the Father simply made Jesus aware of this fact. Mark 11:1-2 and Luke 19:29-30 mention only the colt and not its mother. Mark and Luke saw Zechariah as describing only a single animal and Matthew saw two. An unridden colt would be made steady by having its mother next to it. Jesus likely rode only the colt and so Mark and Luke saw the colt’s mother as irrelevant to the story. Each author saw the same prophetic significance but translated the prophecy differently.]
8 And a very great crowd spread their garments on the road [in front of him]. Others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds in front and behind him cried out, “Highest praise to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Highest praise!” [‘Hosanna’ meant ‘He saves’ but had come to mean ‘highest praise’. ‘Blessed is he…’ is from Psalms 118:26.] 10 And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, saying, “Who is this? [What great man has come?]” 11 And the crowd responded, “This is the prophet, Jesus of Nazareth!”
Jesus cleanses the Temple
12 [As soon as Jesus came into Jerusalem,] he went into the Temple and threw out all those who sold and bought in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’ [Isaiah 56:7], but you have made it into a den of thieves [Jeremiah 7:11].” [Coming in as a recognized prophet, Jesus used his authority both to set things right in the Temple, but also to threaten the religious leaders enough so that they would condemn him to death, which was necessary to complete God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.]
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. [This is the only place where it is recorded Jesus healed people in the Temple, right in front of the religious leaders. They could not claim that they never saw him perform miracles, and yet they still refused to believe.] 15 When the chief priests and the teachers of the Law saw the wonderful things he did and [heard] the children crying out in the Temple, “High praise to the Son of David”, they [the Jewish leaders] were very angry. 16 They said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying? [That title is reserved for the Anointed One when he comes!]” And Jesus replied, “Yes, have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of babies and infants, you have perfectly made praise’ [Psalms 8:2].” 17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there [probably at Lazarus, Martha and Mary’s house].
Jesus curses the fig tree
18 The next morning, as he returned to the city [of Jerusalem], he was hungry. 19 He saw a fig tree along the road, and he came up to it but found nothing [he could eat] on it, but leaves only. [Fig trees have multiple seasons of productivity during the year. Generally, whenever there are leaves, there are also edible buds. Then later, the figs themselves come. Jesus had reason to expect something edible when he saw green leaves. The fig tree was also a symbol representing Israel. God had a right to expect this nation upon whom he had lavished such love to bear fruit. But it was not bearing fruit, and its leadership did not accept Jesus. As a result, God would judge Israel in the same way Jesus cursed the fig tree, and that judgment would be fulfilled in AD 70 when Rome overran the nation.]
And Jesus said to the fig tree, “May you never bear fruit again!” And the fig tree dried up quickly. [In the parallel story in Mark 11:12-14,19-20, the withering takes place over the course of a day, still miraculous.] 20 And when the disciples saw it, they were astonished, saying, “How quickly the fig tree has dried up!” 21 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth. If you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you be able to do this to a fig tree, but if you say to this mountain, ‘Be carried away and thrown into the sea!’, it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Hypocrisy and coming judgment of religious leaders
23 And after Jesus arrived at the Temple, while he taught, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and said, “What gives you the right to do these things [teaching in the Temple, healing the sick, and throwing out the sellers]. And who gave you the authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you a question, which if you will answer, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where did it originate, from heaven or from men?” They discussed this with each other, saying, “If we say, ‘from heaven’, he [Jesus] will say to us, ‘Why then didn’t you believe him.’ 26 But if we say, ‘from men’, we are afraid of the people, because all of them held that John was a prophet [and they might revolt against our authority].” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We can’t tell.” And he said, “Neither will I tell you then by what authority I do these things.”
[What Jesus had asked them forced the religious leaders to reveal they weren’t sincerely looking for the answer. They saw Jesus as a rival for authority over the people. Jesus on the other hand made it very clear without saying it that if these leaders cared about spiritual authority, they would have already reformed when they recognized the authority of John the Baptist. And if they truly recognized John’s authority, they would be ready to accept Jesus’ authority as the Anointed One.]
28 [Jesus continued,] “But [let me tell you this story that relates to our current encounter and] tell me what you think. There was a man who had two sons. And he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work today in my vineyard.’ 29 The son answered, ‘I don’t want to’, but afterward he changed his mind, and went. 30 The man came to his second son and told him the same as the first. The second answered him, ‘Yes, sir’, but didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did the will of their father?”
The religious leaders answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “This is the truth. The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John [the Baptist] came to you in the pathway of righteousness, yet you didn’t believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw that, you didn’t change your mind and put your trust in him. [Just like the second son in the story, you talk like obedient sons, but have no intention of following God’s will.]
33 “Listen to another story. There was a man who owned some land. He planted a vineyard and put a hedge all around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and then let it out to tenants [who would work the vineyard for a share of the profits]. Then the landowner left for a distant country. 34 And when the time of the grape gathering drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his share of the harvest. 35 And his tenants took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and threw stones at another.
36 “The landowner then sent even more servants and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 But last of all the landowner sent them his son, saying, ‘They will at least treat him with respect.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and then we’ll have his inheritance. 39 So they caught hold of him, forced him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to the tenants?”
[The story is a good description of the religious leaders. God gave the religious leaders the responsibility for leading the vineyard called Israel. But God expected his own people to become fruitful. So, he sent his servants the prophets, who came to evaluate the fruitfulness of the vineyard. When the prophets called the leaders and the people to account, the leaders rejected or killed them. Now God was sending his son, but he too was being rejected, with the leaders hoping to consolidate their leadership position. Jesus is making it clear that the leaders do not expect God to bring judgment.]
41 [The religious leaders were really caught up in the story, not yet realizing it applied to them, and] they said, “What terribly wicked men! The landowner will destroy them and rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his fruit at the right season.”
42 And Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone that the builders rejected is the same stone which is now the capstone [the final stone that finishes the structure]. The Lord has accomplished this, and it is wonderful in our eyes’ [Psalms 118:22-23]. 43 Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people [my followers] who will produce the fruits of it. 44 And whoever stumbles on the stone will be shattered, but on whomever the stone falls, it will grind him to powder.”
[“Stumbling on the stone” refers to Isaiah 8:14 and the lesson is, if you reject the stone that God has provided (Jesus), you can’t get past that stone, and you will fall and be broken. The stone falling on you refers to Daniel 2:44 and describes a stone that wipes out empires. If you reject Jesus initially, you will stumble over him and perhaps still choose to follow him. But if the leaders of a nation reject him, that nation is destined to be completely crushed, which is indeed what happened to Israel in 70 AD.]
45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ stories, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They were looking for an opportunity to take him into custody, but they were afraid of the people, who saw him as a prophet.
Discussion questions
1. Jesus fulfilled prophecy both by his triumphal entry into the city and by his cleansing of the Temple. What do you believe is the importance of his fulfilling all these prophecies?
2. Does it make sense that Jesus in fact was performing a prophetic action when he cursed the fig tree that related to the Jewish nation’s lack of fruitfulness?
3. What do you think was Jesus’ purpose in telling the stories he did to the religious leaders?
Matthew Chapter 22
Story of wedding feast
1 And Jesus again spoke to them a story, 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who arranged a marriage for his son. 3 He sent forth his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding, but they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Look, I have prepared the meal. My oxen and my fat calves are killed. Everything is ready! Come to the wedding.”’ 5 But they ignored the invitation and went their ways – one to his farm, another to his store. 6 And others took his servants [who had been sent with the invitation] and abused them and even killed them. 7 The king was furious and sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 “Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited are not worthy. 9 Go to the crossroads and highways, and as many as you find, invite them to the wedding.’ 10 So the servants went out to the highways and gathered together all those they had found, both good and bad, and so the wedding was filled with guests.
11 “And the king came in to visit the guests, and he saw there a man who was not wearing a wedding costume. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in without having a wedding costume?’ And the man didn’t speak. 12 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 14 For many are called but few are among the chosen.’”
[God had been inviting his people to be married to him for centuries – Isaiah 54:5, Isaiah 62:4-5, Hosea 2:7, Joel 1:8, Ezekiel 16:8-14, Jeremiah 31:32. However, it was only since John the Baptist and Jesus came on the scene that it was clear that it was God’s son who was to marry his people – John 3:29. But most of the Jews did not take the invitation seriously, either involved in their own affairs and not interested in God, or wanting to corner the religious market and reject the bridegroom and his messengers. God would destroy those who were called but not interested – the destruction of Jerusalem and Judea in AD 70 was the fulfillment of that.
Meanwhile, God called all who would come. Those who had needs came and were healed, and many became God’s followers. God would also call the non-Jews, though the Jews had been invited first. And the wedding feast would be filled with those who had been both good and bad but now had said yes to following God. However, God has provided a wedding garment of love of God’s son that each must wear to the wedding. If any be found in the wedding who do not have that love, they too will be rejected and cast out. God wanted everyone to be part of the wedding – all are called – but so many turn him down or are not willing to give their heart to God’s son – which is what identifies them as chosen.]
Tests of Jesus
15 Then the Pharisees plotted together how they might trap Jesus through what he said [publicly]. 16 So the Pharisees sent their followers along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and that you teach the way of God according to the truth, and that you are not swayed by others’ opinions or position of influence. 17 Tell us therefore what you think. Is it permitted [under our Law] to pay taxes to Caesar?” [The Pharisees were against compromise with Rome. The Herodians were allies of Rome. But both saw Jesus as a problem because the people might follow him instead of them. So, they conspired to ask him a question that they disagreed about, expecting his answer to get him in trouble with one or the other or both parties.]
18 But Jesus perceived their evil intent. He said to them, “Why are you testing me, you actors? [You won’t catch me unless I want to be caught.] 19 Show me the money you use to pay tribute.” And they brought him a denarius coin. 20 And he said to them, “Whose picture and name is inscribed?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what’s Caesar’s, and give to God what’s God’s. [Caesar is the legal authority so pay him in obedience to the Law. But God also has laws, and you must follow them completely. Don’t try to satisfy your greed and selfishness by finding ways to avoid either.]” 22 When they heard [what he said], they were amazed [at his wisdom and ability to avoid their trap], and they left him and went their way.
23 That same day Sadducees came to him. They [were another religious party, who] say there is no resurrection [from the dead after we die]. 24 They asked him, “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies childless, the man’s brother must marry his wife and raise up children for his brother [Deuteronomy 25:5-6]. 25 Now in this case there were seven brothers and the first one married, but died childless, and thus left his wife to his brother [to marry and raise children for him]. 26 The same thing happened with the second brother and the third, and to all of them including the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman also died. 28 In the Resurrection, whose wife will she be among the seven brothers, since she was married to each of them? [Don’t you agree therefore that the idea of the Resurrection must be ridiculous? That’s why we believe that there is no life after death.]”
29 Jesus answered, “You have wandered from the truth, because you don’t know the scriptures or how God accomplishes his plan. 30 For after all are resurrected from the dead, they no longer marry or are given in marriage, but they live like the angels [dedicated for service and worship to God]. 31 And concerning whether there is a resurrection from the dead, haven’t you read what God spoke when he said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ [Exodus 3:6]. He’s not God of the dead, but of the living. [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive and with God.]”
[The Sadducees believed only the first five books of the scriptures were authoritative, and their rivals the Pharisees, who believed that there would be a resurrection from the dead, could point to no convincing verse in the scriptures to prove their belief in the resurrection. Jesus’ word was stunning because it was hidden in plain sight. He was not saying that the resurrection had already happened, only that souls after their death were alive in God’s sight and therefore ready to receive their resurrection body. In less than a week, Jesus would himself prove that resurrection was real when he himself rose from the dead and appeared to many in his own resurrection body.]
33 And when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had shut up the Sadducees, they came together [to see if they could hamper Jesus in any way]. 35 Then one of them, who was an expert in the Law, tested Jesus by asking him, 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind’ [Deuteronomy 6:5]. 38 This is the great and foremost of the commandments. 39 The second is just as important, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ [Leviticus 19:18]. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “When you think about the Anointed One, whose son is he?” They said to him, “David’s.” 43 He said, “Then how is it that David, in the Spirit, called him ‘Lord’, when he said, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies into your footstool”’ [Psalms 110:1]? 45 If David called him, ‘Lord’, then how is he [the Anointed One] David’s son? [Isn’t he in fact greater than David?]” 46 No one could answer him a word, nor did anyone from that day dare to ask him anything [to test him].
Discussion questions
1. It is clear enough that the story about the wedding feast applies well to the cast of characters living in Jesus’ day. How well do you think it could apply to the church of today? Is it once again true that the sinners are hungry and are coming to the feast but the supposedly saved ones have lost their hunger and their first love?
2. Jesus clearly taught there is in fact a resurrection from the dead. Do you believe this? What do you think life will be like between your death and a bodily resurrection?
3. Why was it so hard for people to believe that God had sent his son to earth, and that he was far above all others in power and authority?
Matthew Chapter 23
Jesus' condemnation of religious leaders
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to his disciples, saying, 2 “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So, [honor the authority of their position and] follow what they tell you [for God does appoint authorities for the interpretation and carrying out of his word], but don’t do what they do, for they preach but do not practice [what they preach]. 4 They create heavy burdens and tie them to men’s shoulders [by proposing complex and difficult rules to follow], but don’t lift a finger to help. 5 They do their good deeds to be seen by others. They make large phylacteries [scripture boxes that they wear on their foreheads and arms in obedience to Deuteronomy 6:8], and they lengthen the tassels on their prayer shawls [to make sure you know how holy and devoted they are]. 6 They love the places of honor at the feasts and the front rows in the synagogues. 7 And they love to be recognized and greeted in the marketplace and to be called rabbi [teacher] by men.
8 “But no one should call themselves teacher, for you all have one teacher [God himself], and you are all brothers [sharing the same rank]. 9 And no one should call themselves father on the earth, for there is one who is your heavenly Father. 10 You should not even call yourselves guides, for you have one guide, the Anointed One. 11 The ones who have the highest rank among you [in God’s eyes] will be those who serve everyone. 12 Whoever tries to raise himself high in others’ eyes will be humbled [by God], but whoever makes himself as nothing will be raised up [by God].
13 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you shut the door to the kingdom of heaven for men. You neither enter in yourselves nor allow others to enter. [They neither followed Jesus who was making God’s ways fully available nor did they allow others to follow him.]
14 How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses [by scheming to get their money]. And you pretend to make long prayers. Therefore, [because you claim to be righteous but then do not act righteous,] your judgment will be greater. [Some manuscripts do not have verse 14.]
15 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to make one convert, and when he begins to follow you, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. [You teach him how to exploit others and gain things for himself rather than how to teach and lead others to follow God.]
16 “How terrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say whoever makes a vow ‘by the Temple’, it means nothing, but whoever makes a vow ‘by the gold of the Temple’, has a true obligation. You are foolish and blind! 17 Which is greater, the gold, or the Temple which makes the gold holy?
18 “And you say whoever makes a vow ‘by the altar’, it means nothing, but whoever makes a vow ‘by the gift that’s on the altar’ now has an obligation. 19 Blind! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 Can’t you see that if you make a vow by the altar, you are making the vow by the altar and everything that is on it? 21 And can’t you see that when you make a vow by the Temple, you are making the vow by the Temple and by him [God] who dwells in it? 22 And if you make a vow ‘by heaven’, you are vowing as well by the throne of God and by God himself who sits on it. [You make up technical terms to control how people are to speak and to carry out their lives according to God’s Law, but you do it so that you can control the people!]
23 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You tithe [give to the Temple treasury a tenth] of your mint and dill and cumin [your kitchen spices], but ignore the weightier matters of the Law – justice and mercy and faithfulness to God. These you should have observed [as essential parts of your daily life] while not neglecting the lesser matters. 24 You blind guides – straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel! [You come up with rules for things of little importance, just to maintain your control, but totally ignore the things that truly make a difference.]
25 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! For you clean the outside of your cup and plate but what is inside them is [drink and food you have obtained by] control and greed. 25 You blind Pharisees! First seek inner purity and the outside will be clean as well.
27 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like painted tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and uncleanness. 28 You appear on the outside to be righteous, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and you put wreaths on the monuments of the righteous. 30 And you say that if you had been alive in the days of our forefathers, you would never have taken part in the shedding of the blood of the prophets. 31 But you witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! [Finish what they started! God has a measure of sin that when it is exceeded he will act to bring forth judgment.]
Judgment on a generation
33 “Snakes! Generation of vipers! How can you escape judgment to hell? 34 Because, notice, I will send you prophets and men of wisdom and writers of the truth, and you will kill and nail them to a cross, even whip some of them in the synagogues, and chase after them from city to city. 35 As a result, all the righteous blood will come upon you that has been shed, from the blood of Abel the Righteous to the blood of Zacharias son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the Holy Place and the altar of sacrifice. 36 I am telling you the truth, [the punishment for] all these things will come upon this generation.
[Jesus is describing those whom he will yet send as carriers of the truth to the Jewish people following his departure from the earth. The generation of religious leaders and majority of the Jewish people who were alive and saw Jesus will have been given the greatest opportunities to hear and see the truth and yet rejected every opportunity to repent both for their own and their ancestors’ sins. Therefore, their generation will reap the judgment due to many generations who rejected God.]
[Abel was the first victim of murder mentioned in the Old Testament scriptures in Genesis 4:8, and he was frequently referred to as “Abel the Righteous” in Jewish commentaries. The identity of Zacharias is not as clear but is most likely the Zechariah described in 2 Chronicles 24:21 as being stoned to death in the court of the house of the Lord, and 2 Chronicles was generally the last book of the Jewish collection of scriptures. However, it appears this Zechariah whose father was Jehoiada was confused by Matthew with Zechariah the prophet who was the son of Berechiah and the author of the Old Testament book of Zechariah.]
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to you! How often I would have gathered your children together even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing! [I often preached to you and hoped you would turn to me!] 38 This is your notice! Your house [city] shall be left to you abandoned [Jeremiah 22:5]. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’ [Psalms 118:26].” [This is another sign to be fulfilled before Jesus returns, that the leaders of Jerusalem will welcome him as representing the Lord.]
Discussion questions
1. This is the one place in all the Gospels that Jesus appears to be furious. What is the root of why Jesus is so angry at the Jewish religious leaders?
2. Have you ever seen those in spiritual authority use it to control and maintain their position and take advantage of their flock? What damage did it cause? How did it make you feel?
3. Why does Jesus feel such affection for Jerusalem and such sorrow for what he knows will be its near future?
Matthew Chapter 24
Foretelling destruction of Jerusalem
1 Jesus departed from the Temple, but his disciples came over to him and were pointing out to him the buildings of the Temple [complex]. 2 But Jesus said to them, “You see all of this? I tell you the truth. There won’t be one stone left on top of another that won’t be thrown down!” [The disciples were excited about where they were and being an important part of history. But Jesus, even though he loved the Temple and Jerusalem, prophesied its destruction in the not distant future.]
3 As Jesus later sat on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us when these things [including the destruction of the Temple,] will happen. And what will be the sign of your coming [as a king taking possession of your kingdom] and the end of the age [when all of mankind will come under your rule and reign]?” [The disciples believed there would be a direct connection between the judgment of Jerusalem and Jesus’ return as king.]
[Those who have studied both the scriptures and history have a wide variety of opinions about the fulfillment of all that Jesus says here and in other prophetic scriptures concerning the time of his return and the end of the age. It appears that many of these signs predicted by Jesus happened in the period of 66-70 AD, when there was tremendous suffering in Israel and Jerusalem, and Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. But Matthew’s account of Jesus’ words indicates that his return, including the gathering of all believers, was to immediately follow those signs. Many say that the judgment prophesied was fulfilled by Jesus returning with judgment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. However, in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ return, all the earth will be involved in the judgment, not only Israel. For that reason, others believe that there is a time still to come with a great tribulation and the return of the Lord. One way to see these passages is that many of them apply both to the judgment of 70 AD and to the return of the Lord still to come. It is not unprecedented for a prophecy to be fulfilled in part near term and then in a fuller manner later.]
Signs preceding the great suffering
4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out so you aren’t led astray! 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Anointed One’, and they will lead many astray. [In the First Century AD, the historian Josephus reports there were many who did come claiming to be the Anointed One and many followed them. And there have been additional impersonators over the course of two millennia.]
6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but don’t let these things bother you, for they must happen, but they are not the sign of the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these occurrences will be the beginning of birth pangs. [These things did occur in the first century AD and continue to occur to the present time.]
9 “Then they will turn you [and the others who follow me] over to be tortured and killed. And you will be hated by all peoples because you are true to my name. 10 And many will be offended and will betray and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will rise and deceive many. [Josephus, a historian who was an eye witness to this period, reported that there were many false Anointed Ones and prophets in the days just before Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem.] 12 And because such wickedness will be everywhere, the love of many [for me and one another] will grow cold. 13 But whoever perseveres to the end [of these difficulties] will be preserved.
[Jesus has already said that many would be killed for their faith, so he is not saying that no harm would come to them. He is saying that it is a time of great testing, and they must remain faithful no matter what happens. After all, they have already been preserved for eternal life.]
14 “And this good news about the kingdom [and about God’s love and reign] will be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to every people group and only then will come the end. [While the disciples of Jesus covered a large portion of the earth, the good news of the kingdom has been spread considerably wider in the following twenty centuries.]
15 “When you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the Holy Place (may you, the reader, understand [and act accordingly]), 16 then you who live in Judea, run into the hills. [Jesus is quoting Daniel 9:27, a prophecy initially fulfilled in 168 BC when the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes set up an idolatrous altar in the Temple, which was removed by the Jewish Maccabees in their successful revolt. But Jesus is likely foreseeing a event when the Romans would enter the Temple precinct prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, telling his followers this is the time to flee - that the destruction this time will be widespread and thorough.]
17 “And whoever is on your housetops [when you hear about this] don’t go inside your house to get anything. 18 And whoever is in the fields, don’t return to get your clothes. 19 How difficult it will be for those who are pregnant or breast feeding when those days come! 20 Pray that your escape not be during the winter or on a Sabbath Day.
21 “For at that time there will be great suffering such as has not been since the beginning of this world nor will be in the future. 22 And unless the length of time of that distress be shortened, no one would survive, but for the sake of those who have been chosen [the believers], the time will be shortened. [The judgment of God against the nation of Israel demanded a time of punishment, but the presence of believers in the land reduced the length of that punishment.]
23 “During that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, we have found the Anointed One here’ or ‘Over there’, do not believe it. 24 For false Anointed Ones and false prophets will rise, and they will show great miracles and amazing things. So much so, that possibly they might deceive even those who have been chosen [believers].
25 “See, I have told you in advance. 26 So, if they tell you, ‘Look, there he is, out in the wilderness’, don’t go! [If they say, “He is in] the inner rooms [a hidden place]’, don’t believe it! 27 For as lightning comes from the east and appears as far as the west, that’s how the coming of the Son of Man will be. [It will be visible to everyone everywhere.] 28 ‘Wherever the dead body is, the vultures will be gathered.’ [Jesus, in quoting this proverb of his time, seems to be saying that his coming will be as obvious as locating a dead body by the vultures that circle it. Some see the dead body as representing Jerusalem and the vultures being the army of Rome.]
Prophecy of Jesus’ return
29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. [Josephus reports about many signs in the skies in 66 AD and the time following, including a star that appeared like a sword or cross, and a comet, and many other things. There were also solar and lunar eclipses in 70 AD. It appears that some of the signs Jesus described were fulfilled in that day. However, the greatest suffering of that period was after these signs had occurred, not before.]
“Then all the tribes on earth will grieve. [The reference is to Zechariah 12:10-14. They will grieve because the sign of the Son of Man will remind them of him and what they did to him and that they did not choose to follow him. While this could have been fulfilled to a degree in 70 AD with the tribes of Israel, “all tribes on earth” seems more applicable to a time yet to come.] And they will gaze on the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. 31 And he will send his angels with the sound of a great blast of the trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones [those who follow him] from the four winds [every direction], from one end of the sky to the other. [Many believers were likely killed and gathered to the Lord during that time. However, though many of the signs may have been fulfilled in 70 AD, there is a much greater harvest and judgment still to come.]
32 “Take the fig tree as a story illustration. When its branches are yet tender, and it puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 33 In the same way, when all these things occur, you know that the time is near [for these things to be fulfilled. In fact, they are] at the very gates.
34 “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things be fulfilled. [This may have two meanings. 1) The generation alive when Jesus spoke these words will see the fulfillment of his prophecies. Or 2) a future generation will see during their lifetime a fulfillment of many of these prophecies including the return of the Lord in glory.] 35 Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never not pass away [because they are eternal truth].
Watchfulness for Jesus’ return
36 “But the actual day [of my return] no one knows, not the angels nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 As in the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, the people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah [and his family] entered the Ark. 39 And they did not realize what was about to happen until the flood came and swept them all away.
[Jesus is addressing the community of believers who will go through the time of great suffering in 66-70 AD. However, some will die of persecution before that time, some will die during the Roman siege and sacking of Jerusalem, but many will carry the church forward into the future. No matter what period Jesus’ followers live, there is a time each will be gathered to him, and no one knows when that time will be, so these words of Jesus are still quite applicable to them.]
“That’s how it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 There will be two men in the field. One of the them will be taken and one will be left. 41 There will be two women grinding at the mill. One of them will be taken and one will be left.
[It seems unlikely Jesus is talking about the Romans killing one and leaving the other during the overthrow of Jerusalem, since they were reported to be merciless and thorough in their punishment of the Jews. Rather, Jesus is referring to the gathering of the believers by the angels at his return. However, if all believers were gathered in 70 AD to the Lord, who was left to carry the church forward? This may be why Jesus made it clear that even he did not know when his return to gather the believers would occur. Jesus came in judgment in 70 AD for the Jewish nation, and many believers were gathered to him, but there is a time yet to come when Jesus will return, and the angels will gather all the living believers.]
42 “Keep watch therefore, for you do not know when your Lord is coming. 43 But know this – if the owner of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief would come, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at a time you do not expect.
45 “[Believers are to wait for the Lord, as the servants of a household are on guard for a thief to come at night.] Who is the faithful and wise servant whom the master sets in charge of his household? He is the one[, for example,] who gives everyone their food at the proper time. 46 The servant will be blessed if the master returns and finds his servant doing what he should. 47 In truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.
48 “If instead he were an evil servant, he might say to himself, “My master is going to be late.” 49 Then he may begin to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with those who were intoxicated. 50 Then the master of that servant will come on a day he isn’t looking for him and at a time he isn’t expecting, 51 and punish him severely, considering him among the other pretenders [and sending him outside], where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
[Jesus is speaking especially to his disciples and all believers, because he is counting them as servants in his household. Since no one knows when Jesus will return, then we are to serve him wholeheartedly always. If we slack off because we are not sure he will ever return, then we are proving we don’t belong to the Lord, and when he returns we will be on the outside looking in with great sadness.]
Discussion questions
1. How do you think the disciples felt as Jesus described what would happen to the Temple, Jerusalem, and Israel?
2. Jesus seems to be very concerned to give every warning to believers to know when it was time to get out of Jerusalem. Do you think that it would have been clear enough to save you if you were a first century follower of Jesus?
3. Jesus warned about false Anointed Ones. Who was he warning – his close disciples, first century believers, or later believers?
4. Are there some of Jesus’ prophecies that don’t seem like they could have been fulfilled around the time of 70 AD? Are there things that seem like they could only be fulfilled at the time of Jesus’ return to rule on the earth and a final Judgment Day?
Matthew Chapter 25
Wise and foolish virgins
“[Here is another story about waiting for my return.] 1 The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins who took their lanterns and went to meet the bridegroom, 2 five of them foolish and five wise. 3 The five foolish virgins took their lamps but no oil. 4 But the five wise virgins took oil in their containers with their lamps. 5 While they were waiting for the bridegroom, they all grew drowsy and slept [but they left their lamps burning].
6 “At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Let’s go to meet him.’ 7 All the maidens got up and made their lamps ready. [This involved trimming the wick, adding oil, and decorating the lamp.] 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, ‘Then there won’t be enough for us, but you can go to the shops and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while the foolish ones went to buy oil, the bridegroom came. [The bridegroom came to lead the procession back to his house where the wedding and feast would be held.] And those that were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut.
11 “Later, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘To tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ [Finishing the story, Jesus said,] 13 ‘Therefore keep watch, for you don’t know either the day or the time [I am returning].’
[The virgins are those who want to celebrate and attend the wedding of God with his people. A number of scriptures talk about this relationship – Isaiah 62:5, Hosea 2:19-20, for example. Jesus is making clear that, at his return, he is coming as the bridegroom. The lamps are required to recognize him when he comes. Faith is the oil required. Those who have plenty of oil are the ones who believe in the bridegroom, even if he is later in coming than they expect. Falling asleep may correspond to dying before the Lord returns. It’s too late to develop faith when our life is over. Those who have faith at the end of their life are ready for the wedding at the time of the Lord’s return. It’s too late, even if we believe God exists, to develop faith if we haven’t nurtured that faith while we are waiting for him. Those who do not have faith will not be accepted by him and enjoy eternal life with him. This story may also indicate that Jesus knew his return would be after all of them would die. The point of keeping watch, therefore, is to remain in faith.]
Investment of talents
“[Here’s another story to illustrate the kingdom of heaven.] 14 It’s like a man who was [soon] traveling to a far country, who called his servants to him and turned over to them what he owned [for them to manage until he returned]. 15 To one servant he gave five talents [a talent is a large sum of money equal to around five thousand denarii or perhaps one hundred thousand dollars], to another servant two talents, and another servant one talent, each according to his ability. Then he left on his journey.
16 “The man who had received the five talents, worked with what he had, and gained another five talents. 17 In the same way, the one who received two, gained another two. 18 But the one who had received one, dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long period, the lord of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 “The one came who had received the five talents, brought the additional five talents he had earned and said, ‘Lord, you trusted me with five talents. Look, I earned five more talents.’ 21 And the lord said to him, ‘Well done! As my servant, you have been good and trustworthy handling a small amount. I will put you in charge of many things. Come into my banquet and celebrate with me!’
22 “Also the one who received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you trusted me with two talents, and I have earned two more.’ 23 And the lord said to him, ‘Well done! As my servant, you have been good and trustworthy handling a small amount. I will put you in charge of many things. Come into my banquet and celebrate with me!’
24 “Then came the one who received the one talent and said, ‘Lord, I knew that you are a demanding man, claiming credit when you didn’t do the work, and taking the profit you didn’t collect. 25 I was afraid and went and hid my talent in the ground. Here is what belongs to you.’
26 “And the lord answered his servant, ‘Wicked and lazy servant! Since you knew I claim credit I didn’t invest and take the profit I didn’t collect, 27 shouldn’t you have taken my money to the bankers, and then when I came, I would at least receive what I started with plus some interest? 28 Therefore, take the one talent and give it to the one who has now the ten talents. For to those who [already] have [much], more will be given. 29 And to him who doesn’t have [much], even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”
[God gives every person an initial endowment of family, heritage, wealth, and gifting. He expects each person to wisely invest and use what we have been given. When our life is over, if we have trusted God and made good use of what he gave us, then after our life is done, we will be fully accepted by God, and share in his banquet and his inheritance, and also help him rule in his millennial kingdom. If we do not make use of the life and gifts he gave us, then that indicates we did not ever trust God, and we will not be part of his kingdom or inheritance.]
Caring for “the least of these”
[Jesus continued talking about the time of his return. This is not so much a story as a declaration.] 31 “When the Son of Man comes in all his glory and all his angels with him, he will sit on his throne of glory, 32 and gathered before him will be all peoples, and he will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep and goats. 33 And he will set the sheep at his right hand but the goats at his left. 34 The King will say to those at his right hand [the sheep], ‘Come, you are blessed by my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.
35 “‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
37 “Then the righteous [the sheep] will answer him, ‘Lord when did we see you hungry and we fed you? Or thirsty and we gave you drink? 38 Or when did we see you a stranger and we took you in? Or naked and clothed you? 39 Or when did we see you sick or in prison and we visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer, ‘I will tell you the truth. Whenever you did it to the least of my brothers, you did it to me!’
41 “Then the King will say to those on his left hand [the goats], ‘Leave me, you who are doomed for the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in. I was naked, and you didn’t clothe me. I was sick or in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “And they shall answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and not serve you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘I will tell you the truth. Whenever you didn’t do these things for one of the least of these [my brothers], you didn’t do it for me.’ 46 And these shall depart to eternal torment but the righteous to eternal life.”
[Just as in the story about the talents, Jesus makes it clear that our lives on the earth are continually measured. In the previous story, he made clear that God cares about our effort. In his description of the sheep and goats, he makes it clear that God cares about our compassion.
Since at the beginning of this story it is people groups rather than simply individuals gathered before him and that he separates into sheep and goats, it seems that he holds us responsible corporately, as communities and even nations, for how we take care of one another. Therefore, an entire community can be judged for how it responds to those who are poor, hungry, sick, and in prison. It also shows the extent to which Jesus identifies with every individual on the earth.
It may appear that Jesus is saying that our eternal destination is based on our behavior, contradicting the principle that it is only our trust in Jesus as Lord of our life that determines our salvation. A better way to understand is that, if Jesus is Lord of our life, then we will care about his people. If we don’t, then we didn’t really make him Lord of our life.]
Discussion questions
1. Do you find yourself annoyed with the wise virgins who would not share their oil? If oil is faith, then can one person give another their faith? What can you do to gain in faith so that even at the end of your life you are full of it?
2. In the parable of the talents, what do you think the talents represent? How well do you feel you have done in using what you have been given for God’s kingdom? Do you see God more as one who is looking to reward you or to take from you?
3. How do you regard the people around you who are needy? Do you feel that people deserve what they get? Or does your heart go out to them? Can you say you love God if you don’t love the people he made?
Matthew Chapter 26
Plotting capture of Jesus
1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he now said to his disciples, 2 “You realize that in two days it will be the Passover feast. [This is when] the Son of Man will be turned over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests gathered together with the elders of the people into the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. 4 And they determined together how they might seize Jesus by some deceptive scheme and kill him. 5 But they agreed, “Not on the feast day or there will be an uprising among the people!"
Costly ointment
6 Jesus was now in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper. 7 A woman came to him carrying an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he reclined at his meal. 8 But when his disciples saw what she did, they were angry, saying, “Why such a waste! 9 For this might have been sold for much money which could be given to the poor!”
[Each of the gospel writers tells a story of Jesus being anointed by a woman – in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:35-50, John 12:1-8. Only Matthew and Mark’s stories are almost exactly the same. All of the stories have elements in common as well as differences. Matthew, Mark, and John all take place in Bethany, and in all there is anger at the waste of the valuable ointment. Luke’s story is implied to be in Galilee and focuses on the “woman of sin”. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus’ head is anointed. In Luke and John, Jesus’ feet are anointed. John is clear that it is Mary the sister of Lazarus who does the anointing. It seems most likely that Luke is recounting one story concerning the love and forgiveness of a formerly sinful woman, and the others Gospel writers are telling a second story about anointing Jesus for his soon coming burial. Perhaps Simon the Leper hosted the party in Bethany for Lazarus and Jesus. However, Simon was the name of the host in Luke's story as well. Perhaps Mary anointed both Jesus’ head and feet, and each writer recorded a different memory of the occasion.]
10 But Jesus said to them, “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has done a good work for me. 11 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured out this ointment on my body for my burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the good news is proclaimed around the world, the story will be told about what this woman has done, to honor her.”
Betrayal arrangement
14 Then one of the twelve named Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests. [Possibly Judas was the one most offended by the use of the costly ointment. If it had been sold for the poor, he might have gotten some of the profits.] 15 He said to them, “What will you give me if I turn him [Jesus] over to you?” And they made an agreement to give him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time, he looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
Lord’s Supper
17 At the beginning of [the Feast of] Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” [The Passover, usually considered the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, would begin that night, and this was the preparation day.] 18 And Jesus said, “Go into the city, to a particular man [whom Jesus identified but he is unnamed, perhaps to protect him], and say to him, ‘The teacher says, “My time is here. I [Jesus] will observe the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’” 19 The disciples did what Jesus had assigned them and prepared the Passover meal.
20 When evening came, Jesus sat down with the twelve. 21 As he ate, he said, “I tell you the truth. One of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad, and every one of them began to say to him, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 And he answered them, “One who dips his hand in the dish [to get gravy on the bread] is the one who will betray me. 24 The Son of Man leaves [this world] as it has been written of him [Psalms 41:9], but how terrible for the man who betrays him! It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” 25 Then Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “Master, is it I?” Jesus said back to him, “So you have said.” [In John 13:26, it is clear to John and Peter that Jesus was identifying Judas as the betrayer, but it was not necessarily clear at the time to the other disciples, including Matthew. John also tells us that at this point Judas left to carry out his betrayal.]
26 As they were eating [the Passover meal], Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take, eat. This is my body.” 27 And he took the cup [of wine] and gave thanks and gave it to them[, passing it around], saying, “All of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the pardon of sins. 29 But I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn [to complete the Passover], they went outside to the Mount of Olives.
[There are many symbols in this: 1) Jesus is giving a new meaning to the Passover, that through the sacrifice of his life, all who believe in him are now passed over from spiritual death. 2) The bread represents his body. Every believer is to be nourished by the life of Jesus and is a part of his body. 3) The wine represents his blood which contains his life. When he dies, it will pardon the sins of many – all those who follow him. 4) He is instituting this as a meal to be repeated in order to remind and strengthen believers in who Jesus is, who we are in him, and what he has done for us. 5) He will not share the wine again as part of this commemoration meal with his disciples and us until the great banquet after his return, where all who have been saved by his blood will be present.]
Prophecy of disciples’ falling away
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will abandon me this night. For it is written [Zechariah 13:7], ‘I will strike the shepherd and the flock of sheep will scatter’. 32 But after I have risen again, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” [Why did Jesus tell them he would precede them to Galilee, when after his Resurrection, he appeared to them first in Jerusalem? Perhaps Jesus was indicating that Galilee is where the believers who had scattered would be gathered back together. In fact, he would later appear there to over five hundred at one time.] 33 Peter answered, “Everyone else may abandon you, but I will never abandon you!” 34 But Jesus said to him, “I am telling you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will deny [you even know] me three times.” 35 But Peter replied to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” The other disciples said similar words.
Jesus’ suffering in the garden
36 Then Jesus arrived at a place called Gethsemane. [This is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives with ancient olive trees. The name means olive press. Olive presses squeezed olives with great pressure to squeeze out the oil, and Jesus was about to have his very life squeezed out of him.] Jesus said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], and he became very sad and despondent. 38 Then he said to them, “I am full of sorrow. I feel the life drained out of me to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.”
39 And he went a little farther and lay on his face, praying, “My Father, if you can, let this cup [of suffering] be taken away from me! Even so, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came back to the disciples [probably only the three], and said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch, pray that you not enter testing. The spirit is truly willing, but the spirit is weak. [I can see that you want to support me but you are not able.]”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass from me unless I drink it, then may your will be done. [I must complete your plan and go through the suffering.]” [Jesus has known for a long time that he would suffer many things and die. But he could not have known the suffering he would experience by taking on himself the sin and darkness of all mankind. But this was his Father’s plan and the only way to deliver man from sin. How hard it must have been for the Father to put his Son through this!]
43 And he came back again and found his disciples asleep for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them again and prayed a third time the same words. 45 Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Go ahead and sleep and get a little rest, for the time has arrived where the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” [Shortly after, he said to them,] 46 “Get up. It’s time to go. Look, the one who betrays me is here.”
Jesus taken into custody
47 And while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve [disciples], came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 The one who had betrayed him [Judas] had given them a signal by saying to them, “The one I kiss is the one you want to take into custody.” 49 So immediately Judas came to Jesus, saying, “Greetings, Rabbi”, and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, what’s the reason you’ve come? [Get on with it.]” Then the crowd came and grabbed Jesus and held him securely.
51 And then one of those who were with Jesus reached out, drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Jesus said to him, “Put your sword away, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I can’t ask my Father and he will not immediately send more than twelve legions of angels? [What force could stand up to even one angel, much less 72,000 of them?] [Yet, if my Father rescued me like that,] 54 how then would the scriptures be fulfilled [Psalms 130:7-8, Isaiah 53:1-12]? Therefore, it must be this way [that I will die to deliver you from your sins].”
55 Right after this, Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out [in such force] as though I were a thief, where you might need swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the Temple teaching and no one put a hand on me! 56 But all this has been done to fulfill the writings of the Prophets.” [Isaiah 53:12 tells us that he would be counted with the sinners. Many other aspects of Jesus’ accusation, trial, and death were also foretold by the prophets.] Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas and the Jewish council
57 Those who had hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest [who was the ring leader of those who had decided to kill Jesus]. [It was at the high priest’s house where] all the teachers of the Law and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Jesus at a distance into the courtyard of the high priest, and then entered and sat with the servants to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the council were searching for those who would give false testimony against Jesus so that they would have reason to put him to death. Though many false witnesses came forward, 60 the Jewish leaders didn’t find the testimony they were looking for. At last two came forward and said, 61 “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s Temple, and in three days I can build it again.’”
62 The high priest rose and said to Jesus, “Don’t you have any response to what they have testified against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I command you under oath by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Anointed One, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “What you have said is true. But I will tell you, after this point in time, you will gaze upon the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven.” [Jesus is telling them that the next time they see him it will be very clear who he is, and he will be coming to deliver judgment. He is basically giving them one last warning.]
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken great evil concerning God. What further need do we have of witnesses? You yourselves have heard the evil he spoke! 66 "What’s your verdict?” They answered, “He is deserving of death. [According to Leviticus 24:16, speaking evil concerning God was punishable by death. The method would be stoning by the community. However, under Roman law, the Jews could not administer punishment of capital crimes, so he would need to be brought before the Roman governor.] 67 Then they spat in his face, and others punched and slapped him. 68 And they said, “Prophesy to us now, Anointed One. Who just hit you?”
Peter’s denial
69 At this point, Peter was still sitting in the courtyard, and a female servant came up to him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean!” 70 But Peter denied this in front of them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about!” 71 Peter moved toward the gate, where another servant recognized him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again, Peter denied it, with an oath, “I don’t even know the man!” 73 And after a while, those who stood near came up to Peter and said, “It’s true! You must be one of them. Your [Galilean] accent gives you away!” 74 And Peter began to curse and swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately, the rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And Peter left the courtyard and wept bitterly.
Discussion questions
1. The story of Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion is full of ironies – situations where people bring about in some way the opposite of what they intend. For instance, the Jewish leaders intended for Jesus’ execution to happen “not on the Feast day” but it happened on the Feast day. What other ironies do you see? What can you conclude from all this?
2. In the Garden of Gethsemane, what is causing the pain that Jesus cannot endure? Do you see here another irony that this happens at the place called “the olive press”, where olives are subjected to tremendous crushing to extract their oil?
3. In what ways do you identify with Peter in his insistence that he will be faithful and his subsequent denial?
Matthew Chapter 27
Judas' sorrow and suicide
1 When the morning came, the chief priests and the elders of the people met together to determine their strategy for ensuring Jesus would [be convicted to] die. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and turned him over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done, and took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders, 4 and said, “I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood. [Jesus did not deserve this.]” They responded, “What’s that to us? That’s your problem!” [This gives some believability to the popular idea that Judas, besides being motivated by greed, may have expected his actions might spark Jesus into overturning the rule of the religious leaders and the Romans. Perhaps he never expected Jesus to be meekly led away towards crucifixion.]
5 Judas threw down the thirty pieces of silver in the Temple, then left, went out and hung himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver, saying, “We shouldn’t put this back in the Temple treasury, because it is blood money [money paid for someone’s death].” 7 They decided together to use the money to buy the potter’s field [that was nearby] and use it as a place to bury strangers. [The money would be used for charitable purposes.] 8 The field is therefore called the “field of blood” to this day.
9 In this way, the words of Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled, which say, “And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price that the people of Israel agreed to pay for his life, 10 and used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” [This is a composite reference to Jeremiah 32:6-15 and Zechariah 11:12-13.]
Jesus’ trial before Pilate
11 And now Jesus stood before the governor [Pilate], and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “As you say.” [The words are actually, “You say”, but that was a common way the Jews had of agreeing with what was asked.] 12 But when the chief priests and elders made accusations against him, he didn’t answer them. [Luke 23:2 tells us that they accused Jesus of leading Israel to not pay tribute to Caesar. But Jesus was not trying to get out of the charges or the resulting judgment.] 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear the many things they testify against you?” 14 But Jesus gave no answer at all, which greatly surprised the governor.
Crowd takes responsibility for crucifixion
15 It was a custom that the governor, at the [time of the Passover] feast, would release a prisoner to the people, someone of their own choosing. 16 They had a prisoner then who was well known, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 Because there was a crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Anointed One?”
18 For Pilate recognized that they had turned Jesus over [to be tried] because they were jealous of him. 19 Besides, while Pilate was on the judgment seat, his wife had sent a message to him, saying, “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, because I had terrible dreams about him last night.” 20 But the chief priests and elders had persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be killed. 21 When the governor asked them which of the two he should release, the people said, “Barabbas.”
22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Anointed One?” They said, “Let him be crucified.” 23 The governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they replied louder, “Let him be crucified!” 24 When the governor saw there was no advantage to pressing the issue, but rather there was the potential for a riot, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this man. It is your responsibility.” 25 Then all the people responded, “Let his blood be on us and on our children. [We take responsibility.]” [Jesus had prophesied (in Matthew 23:31-36) that the Jewish people would complete the sin of their fathers in killing the prophets and thus bear the responsibility.] 26 Then the governor released Barabbas to the people. He had Jesus whipped and then turned him over to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the judgment hall, and the whole troop gathered around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 Then they made a crown for him by weaving thorns together, and placed it on his head, and put a reed in his hand. They bowed on their knees before him, and they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and hit him repeatedly on his head.
The crucifixion
31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe, put Jesus’ own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they came out [of the judgment hall], they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 They arrived at the place called Golgotha, which means in Greek “the place of the skull” [perhaps because of its shape]. 34 There they gave him a drink of vinegar mixed with gall [a bitter substance that presumably dulled the pain]. [This fulfilled Psalms 69:21.] But when he tasted it, he would not drink it. [He chose to not dull the pain since he was bearing the pain for all mankind.]
35 And when they had hung him on the cross, they divided his clothes among them by casting lots. [This fulfilled a reference to dividing his clothes in Psalms 22:18.] 36 Then they sat down there and watched him.
37 Fastened over his head, the accusation had been written, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews”. 38 Two thieves were also crucified next to him, one on his right, and one on his left. 39 And those that walked by insulted him, shaking their heads 40 and saying [things like], “You who [said you would] destroy the Temple and in three days build it again, save yourself!” “If you are the son of God, then come down from the cross!”
41 Likewise, the chief priests mocked him, along with the teachers of the Law and the elders, 42 saying, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross and we will believe in him. 43 He trusted in God. If God wants him, let God rescue him. But this man said, ‘I am the Son of God’[, thus insulting God]”. 44 Even the thieves who were crucified with him threw at him the same insults. [According to Luke 23:39-43, one of the two thieves repented and came to faith in Jesus.]
Death of Jesus and miracles surrounding it
45 From the sixth hour [midday] to the ninth hour [midafternoon] there was darkness over the whole land. 46 And around the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli. Eli. Lama sabachthani!”, which means [translated from Aramaic to Greek], “My God! My God! Why have you abandoned me?”. [These are the words of Psalms 22:1. The entire experience of Jesus’ crucifixion is summed up by this Psalm. From the night before, until this point, Jesus is taking the place of all men, receiving their punishment for sin, bearing the pain and weakness of their lives, including men’s experience of separation from God. So here he cries out the depth of the despair of that identification, the completeness of the cup his Father required him to drink.]
47 Some of the bystanders, hearing what he had said, commented, “He is calling [the prophet] Elijah.” 48 Someone else ran and got a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But someone said, “Wait, let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 But Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. [He died.]
51 [At that moment,] the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. [This could not have been seen from the place of crucifixion, so it must have been reported later by priests who were eye witnesses. The curtain was made of fabric woven four inches thick and was sixty feet long from top to bottom, and it separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:31-35). Only God or his angels could have torn it from top to bottom. Because Jesus, by dying for all of man’s sins, had removed the separation between God and mankind, men would now have free access before God (Hebrews 10:19-20).]
The earth shook, and rocks split. 52 Tombs opened, and many bodies of holy ones [followers of God] who had fallen asleep [had previously died] were raised [to life]. 53 They came out of their tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city [Jerusalem] and appeared to many. [This report may sound difficult to believe but, apparently, there were many witnesses.] 54 When the centurion [who supervised the crucifixion] and those who were with him [the other soldiers] saw the earthquake and the things that happened, they were very fearful, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God”[, because they saw the earthquake as God’s reaction to what was done].
55 And there were many women watching from far off. These were ones who had followed him from Galilee and served him. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. [Mary, the mother of James and Joseph, may also be the wife of Clopas mentioned in John 19:25. Salome may have been the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John, since Matthew mentions the mother of the sons of Zebedee but not Salome. And at some point, according to John’s Gospel, Jesus' mother Mary and some of the others moved close to the cross.]
Burial of Jesus
57 When it was evening [of Friday the day of the crucifixion but the Sabbath had already begun], a rich man came, named Joseph from Arimathea, who was also a follower of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. 60 He laid the body in his own unused tomb, which he had previously had cut out of the rock, and he rolled a large stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary [the mother of James and Joseph] were sitting over across from the tomb [so they saw where it was].
62 The next day after the preparation [now the Sabbath and, this year, also the chief day of the Passover], the chief priests and Pharisees came together before Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember that the impostor [Jesus] said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again’. 64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure, or else his disciples may come by night and steal away his body, and say to the people, ‘He is risen from the dead.’ This last deception [that he has risen from the dead] would be worse than the first [that he is the Anointed One].”
65 Pilate responded to them, “You have your own guard [contingent of Jewish soldiers]. Go ahead [, with my authorization,] and make the tomb as secure as you can.” 66 They went and made the tomb secure, sealing it [placing a mark in clay that would make it obvious if the rock were moved], and setting a watch.
Discussion questions
1. Do you think Pilate could have avoided crucifying Jesus?
2. What were the things Jesus had to endure? Why do you think Jesus had to go through so much rejection and pain?
3. Why was the centurion so convinced Jesus must have been the son of God?
Matthew Chapter 28
Jesus’ resurrection
1 When the Sabbath was over, just before dawn on the first day of the week [Sunday], Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb [where they had seen Jesus laid by Joseph of Arimathea after his death]. [According to Luke 24:10, there were other women who came with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, including Salome and Joanna.]
2 And there had been a great earthquake [now the second earthquake associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus], for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was bright as lightning and what he was wearing was white as snow. 4 The guards at the tomb were so frightened, they trembled and fainted like dead men. [There was a report by the guards that the disciples must have heard. It seems likely the guards must have departed by the time the women arrived.]
[According to John 20:2, when Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus was not still in the tomb, she ran off to tell Peter and John, leaving the other Mary and Salome and Joanna at the tomb.] 5 But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! For I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, as he said [he would]. Come see the place where he lay. 7 Quickly go and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and that he will go before you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you!”
8 The women quickly left the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring word to the disciples. [On the way,] 9 Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They fell before him and held him by the feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going to Galilee, and they will see me there.”
[Both the angels and Jesus instructed the women to tell the disciples (brothers) to meet him in Galilee, but then he appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24 and John 20). We don’t know why for sure. Perhaps he appeared in Jerusalem because the disciples were so fearful and unbelieving they needed to be encouraged before they could do anything else. Also, Jesus probably had more followers in Galilee than in Jerusalem, so he was preparing the twelve to get the word out and prepare to go back to Galilee.]
Cover-up by Jewish leaders
11 While the women were on their way to tell the disciples, some of the Jewish guards from the tomb came into the city [Jerusalem] and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when the chief priests had gathered and discussed it with the elders, they gave a large amount of money to the soldiers [from the guard] 13 and told them, “[Here’s your story.] Tell people that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole his body while we slept. 14 And if this comes to the governor [Pilate’s] ears, we will convince him about what happened and keep you out of trouble.” 15 The soldiers took the money and did what they were directed. The story spread by the soldiers is what is commonly told among the Jews to this day [about why the tomb was empty].
[Meanwhile, Jesus appeared to the disciples many times: 1) To Mary Magdalene when she returned to the tomb a second time (John 20:11-18), 2) To Peter (Luke 24:34), 3) To the two followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33), 4) To ten of the disciples behind locked doors near Jerusalem (John 20:19-23), 5) To the eleven including Thomas at the same location (John 20:24-29), 6) To seven of the disciples at the Sea of Galilee (John 21), 7) To five hundred at one time at a mountain in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6).]
Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to a mountain that Jesus had appointed to meet them. 17 When they saw Jesus, they worshipped him. But some doubted. [This may have been the occasion as well where over five hundred witnessed the resurrected Lord (1 Corinthians 15:6). It is not clear who it was that doubted - some who saw him on the mountain, or others who heard about his appearance but had trouble believing this was truly Jesus.]
18 Jesus came to the disciples and said, “I have been given all authority [by my Father] over heaven and earth. [Because of what Jesus had accomplished through living his sinless life as a human being, then dying and paying the sin judgment for all men, Jesus was given legal authority over all the earth and the people in it. By God’s judgment, Satan had to give up the authority, though Satan is still permitted to try to persecute people, if they will fall for his tricks. Jesus already possessed authority over all angels and demons.]
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all peoples. [Because Jesus has all the authority, believers can confidently go everywhere to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus, and no other authority can stop them. Jesus had already given every believer authority to do all that he did and to act on his behalf (John 14:12-13).] Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. [Once people believe, this is how people are to be including into the body of believers as they are washed clean of their past. The Son and Holy Spirit are rightly included in the Godhead alongside of the Father. All three are needed in the life of a believer.] 20 Teach them to follow everything I have commanded you. [This is why it was so important for the stories and words of Jesus to be written down, and then studied and applied.] See, I am with you always [wherever you go], until the end of this age. [We have work to do together until it is time for my return].”
Discussion questions
1. Does it surprise you that the men were so afraid and the women so brave until they saw the angels? Would you be afraid if you saw angels at a tomb? If you saw Jesus die, and then you saw him alive, would you have any fear or doubt?
2. Why does Jesus having all authority allow us to go everywhere and make disciples?
3. What are the things that you would teach those you are making disciples?