Matthew 5:13-30 - The seriousness of sin

5:13-16

While in one sense we are insignificant, we are actually very important, we are the “salt of the earth”, we both add flavour and are a preservative, we have a vital effect on the earth. However, we must retain our saltiness, we must not become immoral or corrupt, otherwise we will be treated as worthless.

We are also “the light of the world”, we think of Jesus as the light, and so He is, but he also works through His people. We might be counted as insignificant by the world, but God wants to put us on display, we are meant to be visible. God’s people are meant to be a demonstration of the life of God, and so glorify the Lord. Israel was meant to do this, but failed to do so.

5:17-20

This is such an important statement, “do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets, but to fulfil them.” People are way off beam when they think that Jesus somehow does away with the moral demands of the Law. Such people are utterly clueless. Instead our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, they focused on outward appearance, jesus is concerned with the heart.

5:21-30

Jesus now backs this up, we must not simply refrain from physically murdering someone, or actually committing adultery. There must be no anger or lust in our hearts. Jesus has come to change who we actually are. The reason for this is that thoughts harboured in our hearts can lead to evil actions,  and God is concerned with who we actually are..v29 and 30 then make it abundantly clear that we must take sin seriously and deal with it. Sin is a deadly serious business.

Matthew 5:1-12 Beatitudes

5:1

We now come to what is possibly the most famous part of Matthew’s gospel, the sermon on the Mount. Some present it as being in some way against the Law, this is absolute nonsense. If Jesus corrects anything it is the teaching of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Actually most of the  teachings, such as loving our enemies, can be found in the Old Testament.

It is a mistake to treat this as a list of ethical rules, rather it is a description of what the “new creation” is like, what God is transforming us to, what attitudes and heart we should have.

5:2-12

The sermon starts with the be attitudes, and these are quite different from what we might expect, “blessed” could be translated “happy” or “fortunate", “Blessed are the poor in spirit”, The Christian recognises their poor spiritual state, that we do not match up to God’s standards.  One might think that we are in a mess, but the kingdom of heaven was created for the poor in spirit, for those who recognise their need of God.

Mourning is not a happy state to be in, but a painful one.But we are assured that we will be comforted.

The world tells us that it is the forceful and strong that get what they want, that “rule the roost”, but Jesus tells us that it is those who trust in the Lord who will inherit the earth, see Ps 37:11.

Hungering for righteousness may seem to be a futile state, but Jesus tells us that we will be filled, justice and righteousness are coming.

Being merciful can be seen to be weak, but we all need mercy, and it is the merciful who will receive mercy.

The worldly wise are cunning and no above telling the odd useful lie, but it is the pure in heart who will see God.

The strong and violent can be seen to be the ones who will prosper, but it is the peacemakers who will be called “children of God”.

Being insulted, persecuted and falsely accused is not pleasant, but those who honour Christe despite all this, will receive a great reward in heaven.

Matthew 4:12-25 - the Ministry of Jesus

4:12-17

Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, and he then withdrew to Galilee, he went and lived in Capernaum, this was by the lake in the area of zebulun and Naphtali. Matthew draws attention to Isaiah 9:1,2. Jesus began to preach and His message was the same as the one John had preached “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near”.The rule of heaven is near, this is what Jesus brings.

4:18-22

Jesus then calls his first disciples, starting with Peter (Simon) and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen. Jesus said “Come follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people. They responded immediately. Note that Jesus does not tell then where He is going, but focuses on the effect that following Him will have.

Jesus then calls James and John , they too immediately followed Jesus.

4;23-25

We then read of Jesus’ ministry. He went throughout Galilee, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, taught in the synagogues, and healed many people. His healing powers attracted many people, the sick and the demon possessed

Matthew 4:1-11 - the testing of Jesus

4:1-3

Having been baptised for us, Jesus now resists temptation on our behalf. Adam and Eve had failed, as had Israel when they should first of all have entered the Promised Land. The word sometimes translated as “temptation” is actually more accurately translated as testing.. Remember that Abraham was also tested. Jesus’ testing happened after his baptism, and he was “led by the Spirit, so it was not a mistake. It is commonly noted that Jesus responded to each test with the word of God (the quotes all come from deuteronomy), and the tests all question Jesus’ relationship with God. Adam and Eve and the Israelites failed the test, Jesus passed the test. After a “high” it is quite normal for us to be “tested”. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and has fasted for forty days and nights. We then get what must be a gross understatement “He was hungry”. In the first test Jesus was urged to turn stones into bread “if He was indeed the Son of God”. 

4:4

Jesus responds by quoting Deut 8:3, man shall not live in bread alone. It is not that our practical physical needs are not important at all, but that they are not as essential as we sometimes think, the word of God is essential.

4:5-7

Next the devil took Him to the highest point of the temple and this time the devil quoted scripture from Psalm 91:11,12. Jesus, however, had a better understanding of Scripture than the devil, and quoted Deut 6:16. He did not need to put God to the test, He was absolutely confident in God’s care for Him, and had no need to prove it. God would intervene if necessary.

4:8-11

The last temptation comes and Satan reveals his hand, he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour, and offered to give them to Jesus if Jesus would bow down to him. Whether Satan could actually have done this is doubtful. Note also that God was ultimately going to give Jesus all power and authority in heaven and on earth. So Jesus had no need to go the devil’s way. Moreover the temptation was “you are going to get this anyway, why not go an easier way?”. Jesus again quotes from Deuteronomy, this time 6:13, we must worship God alone and serve only Him. Good basic principles can guard us from much trouble.

Matthew 3:13-16 - Jesus baptised

3:13-16

Various sinners came to be baptised,but now Jesus comes to be baptised. Initially John tries to deter Him, for he knows who Jesus is, and that he, John, is unrighteous, whereas Jesus is fully righteous. It is interesting that in his answer, Jesus says it is to “fulfil all righteousness”, John then agrees to the baptism. Jesus lived and died on our behalf, he lived the life we could not live, and died the death we deserved. As soon as “he went up out of the water” heaven opened and God the father spoke, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased”, this is affirmation that Jesus is indeed His Son and is doing God’s will.

Matthew 3:1-12 - John the Baptist

3:1-12

All four gospels tell of John the Baptist preparing the way. Indeed in Matthew the summary of John’s message is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”. These words are identical to those used to summarise Jesus’ teaching (Matt 4:17). John is part of the ministry of Christ. John may well have had connections to the Essene community, and interest in him persisted for many years, see Acts 19. John saw himself as preparing the way for Jesus, and fulfilling Isaiah 40:3. Repentance prepares the way for receiving Jesus. His dress and lifestyle were somewhat like Elijah. When people repented they were baptised by John. There are two unique features here. One is that John did the baptising, rather than the person baptising themself, and the other is that Israelites, rather than proselytes, were required to be baptised, everyone needed to repent and be baptised.

John did not aim for popularity, calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers”.Their refusal to recognise their own sinfulness was a perpetual problem. Ethnicity was not a guarantee of being part of God’s kingdom. A fundamental change was coming (4:10) John brought some change, repentance, Jesus would bring an even greater change , baptism with the Spirit. (4:11).

Matthew 2:17-23 - The return to Israel

2:17,18

Matthew then quotes from Jer 31:15,  Ramah was located about fifteen miles north of Jerusalem. Rachel is used to represent Israel. The killing of the infants resulted in much weeping..

2:19,20

Joseph had been warned in  a dream to flee, now he is told to bring the child back to Israel. In this whole story dreams have played an important role. So we see how God responds to danger, there is a time to flee, and a time to return.

2:21-23

Joseph is presented as an obedient man, he always responded positively to the angelic messages. He receives a further warning, this time to go to Galilee and lived in Nazareth, this too is seemed as fulfilling God’s plan.