Matthew 20:1-19 - Thank goodness God is generous"

20:1-16

The gospel is based on the grace of God. Sometimes this means that people will appear to be unfairly blessed in some way. So Jesus tells a parable explaining how the kingdom works. All the workers got what they were promised, those who had worked all day and those who had started much later. The owner had the right to pay whatever he liked, in the same way God is free to bless however he wants. “Are you envious because I am generous?” Thank goodness God is generous!.

20:17-19

On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus tells His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. Note He will be handed over to the religious leaders and the Gentiles.

Matthew 19:16-30 - Wealth

19:16-20

Jesus continues to react differently than our preconceptions might imply. We now have a rich man who comes to Jesus. He seems to know that he still lacks something, so asks how he can get eternal life. It seems that he thinks he has to earn it, for he asks what good thing must he do. Jesus  points out that there is only one who is good. So if he wants to be like God he has to obey the commandments. The man looks for further clarification, so Jesus reminds him of the ten commandments. The man thinks he has kept all these, but realises there must be something missing.

19:21,22

Jesus knew the idol that the man had, wealth. In order to be perfect, or complete, he needed to sell his possessions and give to the poor. Then he would have treasure in heaven. The man was not willing to do this and went away sad.

19:23-26

The disciples were shocked, they associated wealth with God’s favour, Jesus tells them that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom. Wealth is deceptive and can capture our hearts. However, it is not impossible, God can save anyone.

19:27-30

Peter pipes up as usual, the disciple had left everything and wondered if it was worth it. Jesus assures them that it is definitely worth it.

Matthew 19:13-20 - Eternal life

19;13-15

Further teaching comes in the reaction to little children. The parents wanted Jesus to bless the children, but the disciple saw them as a nuisance. Jesus wanted to bless them. We need to realise that Jesus, and therefore God, often wants to bless more than we do. In fact the kingdom belongs to those who we might be inclined to reject.

19:16-20

Jesus continues to react differently than our preconceptions might imply. We now have a rich man who comes to Jesus. He seems to know that he still lacks something, so asks how he can get eternal life. It seems that he thinks he has to earn it, for he asks what good thing must he do. Jesus  points out that there is only one who is good. So if he wants to be like God he has to obey the commandments. The man looks for further clarification, so Jesus reminds him of the ten commandments. The man thinks he has kept all these, but realises there must be something missing,

Matthew 19:1-12 - Marriage and Divorce

19:1-3

Jesus then left for Judea. Large crowds continued to follow Him.The Pharisees continued to seek to trap Jesus. In the meantime Jesus had healed many people.The Pharisees asked if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason.The background to this was Deut 24:1-4, where Moses said a man had to give a divorced wife a certificate.

19:4-8

Jesus points them back to the beginning in Genesis.God intended marriage to be lifelong. Now look at how different the interpretation of this verse by Jesus is, compared to that of the Pharisees. Jesus tells us that God gave this because “our hearts are hard”. He also says Moses “permitted” divorce. The Pharisees saw it as a command. So the ideal if 19:4-6 stands and is the guiding principle, the one we are to seek to live by. But because we are sinners sometimes divorce will happen, sometimes may even be necessary. So the Law was given to ameliorate the consequences, to give the wife some protection. The Pharisees saw it as a way of life! They saw divorce as part of the normal course of events. The sinful heart will twist every good law to evil purpose. We see this with secular laws, especially in the area of finance. 

19:9

Jesus now tells us that “anyone who divorces his wife, except for adultery, and marries another woman commits adultery.” If we read this as a rule about divorce and remarriage we are missing the point. The liberal group on divorce, the “burn the toast” sect were doing this: If they fancied another woman, then they would give their current wife a certificate of divorce for some reason or other, then marry the other woman, claiming all the while to be following the Law of Moses and so they were a good Jew. Absolute nonsense, you are an adulterer, says Jesus. The human heart is deceitful above all things and will twist anything round to turn good into evil.

19:10-12

The disciples were, evidently, infected by the spirit of the age, seeming to think that the lifelong commitment of marriage was not such a good idea after all. How can two people possibly be happy together forever? We need to beware of being infected by the spirit of the age. “This teaching is not meant for everyone”. Jesus does not mean that marriage as a lifelong relationship is only applicable to some marriages. What He means is that not everyone will get married. He mentions some who were born eunuchs and some who were made eunuchs. Now this includes physical eunuchs, but I believe we can give it a wider application. There some for whom marriage may well be impossible for reasons from birth, disabilities of some sort or other (of course, not all disabilities make marriage impossible, far from it). For others the circumstances of life will just mean it never happens, sometimes for definite reasons, sometimes for no discernible reason, it just never happened. Then there will be those who renounce marriage for the sake of the kingdom.

I have written two longer discussions of the practical implications on Jesus’ teaching on divorce:

Mark 10:10-12 - Adultery and divorce - Part 1

Mark 10:10-12 - Adultery and Divorce - Part 2

Matthew 18:15-35 - Forgive others

18:15-20

Jesus is totally realistic and knows that sin will take place in the church, so here he gives instruction on how it is to be dealt with. The aim is not to condemn people but to restore them, but this depends on the sinner having a penitent attitude. So the sinner is to be given a chance to repent. First the person is to go to the sinner and point out their sin. This is to be done privately, the aim is  not to humiliate the brother. If he repents then he has been won over. If that fails, then go with one or two others, given  further chance. If that fails the matter is to be brought before the whole church. If the sinful brother still refuses to listen, only then is he to be treated as a pagan or tax collector.

We naturally feel wary of judging people, but Jesus assures them that if a proper procedure is followed with a proper heart attitude, then God is with them.

18:21-35

The section finishes with another parable, one reminding them that we are all forgiven sinners, and that should colour our attitude at all times. Forgiveness was considered something of a shocking thing, but that is only when we forget that we are all forgiven sinners. Note that the debt of hundred silver coins (or denarii) was not an insignificant amount, only in relation to the man’s own forgiven debt. We are forgiven sinners so we should be a forgiving people.

Matthew 18:1-14 - A new heart

18:1-5

The disciples still have much to learn, and the next lesson is about to happen. The disciples asked Jesus “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Why did they ask this at this point, was it because Jesus has seemed to denigrate the religious leaders, the ones who they might have assumed were the top notch in the kingdom.

Jesus tells them that they need a radically different approach. They needed to welcome people who were considered to be of no importance, and could offer no immediate benefit. So He uses the example of a little child. The disciples needed to change.

18:6-9

As well as welcoming the undervalued, they needed to be careful not to cause them to stumble. The Pharisees were very strict, and Jesus has seriously criticised them. However that did not mean that sin was not serious, and needed to be dealt with seriously. Sin is serious.

18:10-14

Sometimes the weak would wander, in such a case we are not just to write them off, but to make an effort  to restore them. So he gives the parable of the lost sheep. God wants to save the lost.

MATT 17:22-27 - Fishing for money

17:22,23

Jesus reminds them yet again that He is going to suffer, be killed and then rise again. Since He has shown them His glory He is emphasising the cross all the more. Note that although He has mentioned His death and resurrection, it is His death that seems to be what His disciples are focused on. The concept of resurrection meant nothing to them, but death did, so they were filled with grief.

17:24-27

The mundane realities of life continue to hit them. Now they are asked for the temple tax. Peter tells Jesus what happened. Jesus replies that it is ridiculous for the children of the king to be asked for taxes. Even so, Jesus pays the tax, using miraculous means, with the money being supplied by a fish. So they are aware of the true situation and status, but also not causing unnecessary offence. 

Matthew 17:14-21 - Moving mountains

17:14-20

The disciples are quickly brought back down to earth. When they get back down to the crowd a man approaches Jesus pleading with him to have mercy on his son. The boy was having seizures, but the disciples had been unable to heal him.Jesus is frustrated with them, it seems that He is frustrated with the crowd as much as the disciples, calling them an “unbelieving and perverse generation. The implication is that Jesus expects us to see more miracles than we do. Jesus rebuked the demon and the boy was healed at once.

The disciples ask Jesus why they could not drive it out. Jesus tells them it is because of their lack of faith. He then says if they have faith as small as a mustard seed they can move mountains. It is not that we need enormous amounts of faith, just a little.

Some manuscripts are similar to Mark 9:29, adding that prayer, or prayer and fasting is needed.

Matthew 17:9-13 - Elijah

17:9

Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until He had been raised from the dead. Jesus only gave this vision to them after He had told them about his death and resurrection. We can only understand the glory of Christ after we understand the cross.

17:10-13

The disciples asked Jesus why the religious teachers said Elijah must come first. This was based on Malachi 4:5. This also explains why they were concerned about John the Baptist.  Jesus says they are right, but Elijah has already come, i.e. John the Baptist, but they did not recognise him. John suffered, Jesus would also suffer.

Matthew 17:1-8 Transfirgured

17:1-3

In John’s gospel chapter 17 we get Jesus’ prayer for himself, his disciples and for us. Here we have another personal insight into Jesus. He has just told His disciples about his suffering that is to come, now he gives more insight, this time into His glory, The suffering and the glory go together. He takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, there Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone and his clothes became white as light. Next, Moses and Elijah appeared with him. So there are two key elements here, one is His glory, the other is that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament stuff.

17:4-8

True to form, Peter blurts something out, offering to put up three shelters. He wanted to preserve the moment. God the Father then tells them what the most important thing is, namely to listen to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfilment of Deut 18:15. The disciples fell down at the presence of God. Jesus tells them to not be afraid and to get up. They did and Jesus was the only one present.

Matthew 16:21-28 - Get behind me Satan!

16:21-28

Jesus then starts to tell His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer much. Peter is appalled at the idea and tries to dissuade Jesus from this path. Note that one minute having received revelation from God, the next minute Peter is speaking the words of Satan. We must never get full of ourselves. Jesus knew it was Satan trying to get him. Jesus  then tells the disciples that not only must He suffer, but they too must be prepared to suffer. Currently they do not appreciate the enormity of what is happening and about to happen.

Mtthew 16:13-20 - Who do you say I am?

16:13-20

This is one of the most well known passages in Matthew, containing the key question “who do you say I am?”, and is often used as the basis for evangelistic talks. Jesus starts by asking the disciples “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”. The people had various ideas, some saying he was John the Baptist, others saying Elijah, and some Jeremiah or one of the prophets. All these were wrong, possibly based on a misunderstanding of  John the Baptist’s teaching.. \even though they were wrong, they recognised that Jesus was special. Jesus then turns the question directly at the disciples. Peter immediately replies “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”. Jesus replies that Peter was right and was blessed, also that this wisdom did not depend upon human wisdom, but on revelation from God the Father. “On this rock”, the church is built upon the truth of who Jesus is. If we try to build on any other foundation we will be building on sand. This includes things like Jesus was a good man and teachers, or the “foundation” of loving people. The church built upon the truth of who Jesus is will not be defeated, not even by death. The church will also have authority, because it will be walking in the will of God. Jesus does not want them to publicise this knowledge yet.

Matthew 16:1-12 - Not bread

16:1-4

The Pharisees and Sadducees again come and demand a sign. Jesus answers by pointing out the perverse they were. They had seen quite enough to provide all the proof that was needed. They could read the weather, but could not understand what was before their eyes. They were a "wicked and adulterous” generation. The issue they should have been concerned about was the state of their hearts. The sign to come would be the resurrection of Jesus, but even that would do them no good.

16:5-12

The disciples were not much brighter. Jesus warned them to beware of having the same mindset as the Pharisees and Sadducees, but they thought he was talking about bread. Jesus reminds them of the two feeding miracles, Jesus was concerned about something much more important. Then the disciples finally understood.

Matthew 15:1-39 - Faith

15:1-20

The Pharisees and teachers of the Law continued to try and catch Jesus out, using his disciples as the “weak” point. However, they betrayed their fundamental failure, they focused on externals. So they raised the matter of hand washing.

Jesus immediately turned the tables on them, drawing attention to how they broke the law of God. They had found a “clever” way of getting round the command to look after our parents. Jesus quotes from Is 29:13, their supposed honouring of God was nothing but a sham.

Jesus then turns to the crowds and teaches them the truth. \it is what is inside our hearts that defiles us. The disciples realised how offensive this was to the religious leaders. Jesus responds that they were blind guides and would be rejected by God. They were not the people to fear or listen to. Our hearts are the problem.

15:21-28

The legalism of the Pharisees is contrasted with the faith of a Canaanite woman. She comes to Jesus because her daughter is ill and is demon possessed. The disciples saw her simply as a Canaanite woman, someone who was not part of Israel, if anything, an enemy of Israel, so they urged Jesus to send her away. Initially Jesus seems to go along with this request, telling the woman that his mission was to the Jews. However, the woman is not easily put off, Jesus commends her faith and heals her daughter.

15:29-39

We now get another feeding miracle, this time four thousand people. The crowds followed Him as always, and many were healed.. The disciples seem to have learnt nothing from the previous incident, and urges Jesus to send the people away. Once again all were fed with ample left over.

Matthew 15:1-20 - The heart of the matter

15:1-20

The Pharisees and teachers of the Law continued to try and catch Jesus out, using his disciples as the “weak” point. However, they betrayed their fundamental failure, they focused on externals. So they raised the matter of hand washing.

Jesus immediately turned the tables on them, drawing attention to how they broke the law of God. They had found a “clever” way of getting round the command to look after our parents. Jesus quotes from Is 29:13, their supposed honouring of God was nothing but a sham.

Jesus then turns to the crowds and teaches them the truth. \it is what is inside our hearts that defiles us. The disciples realised how offensive this was to the religious leaders. Jesus responds that they were blind guides and would be rejected by God. They were not the people to fear or listen to. Our hearts are the problem.

Matthew 14:22-36 - Out for a walk

14:22-36

Having done one miracle, we then see another. Jesus dismissed the crowds after they had been fed and told the disciples to head to the other side of the lake by boat, He himself went up a mountainside to pray.  A storm got up on the lake and Jesus walked out to them.The disciples thought it was a ghost, not expecting a man to walk on water,. Jesus assured them that it was him, and for a time Peter also walked on the water, but then realising what he was doing he began to sink. Jesus reached out and caught him.  May be we can take this as an indication that if we set out to do something for Jesus, and then things start to get difficult He will reach out to us.They were amazed at Jesus, saying “truly you are the Son of God.. They reached the other side, and were met by more crowds.

Matthew 14:1-21 - Feeding time

14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch had had John the Baptist beheaded. However, he felt guilty and knew that he had done wrong, so he thought that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, and now with miraculous powers. John had called our Herod’s sin. He had taken Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Herodias was as guilty as he was, and she saw and took the opportunity to have John killed. John’s disciples knew thatJohn had been preaching about Jesus, so they told Jesus what had happened.

14:13-21

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is contained in all the gospels. Jesus withdrew to a solitary place, after hearing the news of John, but the crowds followed Him. Jesus had compassion on them and healed the sick. Note that while the healings were a sign, they were also done out of compassion for people. The disciples saw a practical problem, how to feed the people, and saw the only solution was to send the crowds away. Jesus saw a different solution. So He got the disciples to organise the people. There was enough for everyone, and twelve baskets of left overs were collected.