SHOWERS

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-12-part-2/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 12:22 – Then a demon oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.

We are plainly told that the cause of this man's physical ailments was a demon.  The demon prevented the man from seeing or speaking.  He could not see Christ nor cry out/pray to him.  Thus, he needed someone to physically bring him to Jesus.

Most scholars see a spiritual parallel in what happened to this man in the physical realm.  Satan blinds the spiritual eyes of sinful people so they cannot see their need for a savior.  He makes them deaf to the gospel message.  He fills their mouths with all manner of awful speech, while rendering them unable to pray or cry out to God. 

That means that the Christian, with the help of the Holy Spirit, must lead sinners to Christ.  Think back to your own salvation experience.  Who did God use to bring you to himself?  Are you ready to help someone else?

Matthew 12:23 – And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

By the phrase 'Son of David', they mean the Messiah.  Two things bring them to this conclusion.  One, Jesus was clearly a descendant of David.  Two, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would open blind eyes and heal deaf ears:

Isaiah 35:5 – then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

It is interesting to note that the crowds of ordinary Jews, who had no prejudice against Jesus, clearly saw the truth of who he was.  The Scribes and Pharisees, who already decided to reject him, denied even the most obvious signs that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 12:24 – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."

The Scribes and Pharisees had already determined to reject Jesus as the Messiah.  Indeed, they are confronting him at this moment in order to try and sway the masses into believing the same thing. 

But it's going to be a tough sell.  The religious leaders cannot deny the actual miracle; the people are witnesses that the man can now see and speak.  They also cannot deny that there has been an unquestionable demonstration of power, clearly beyond the means of any mortal man.  This means that the Pharisees' version of events must acknowledge that the healing occurred, and that it was done by supernatural means, but not by the Messiah.

There is really only one scenario that would fit all three of those criteria – Jesus casting out devils by the power of Beelzebul (Beelzebub), the worst and vilest of the devils.  Beelzebub is the Lord of the flies, also known as the god of filth.

By putting forth this theory, the religious leaders were attempting to throw reproach or contempt on Jesus, as if this miracle was performed by some kind of evil magical enchantment (see Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Matthew 12:25-26 – Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then will his kingdom stand?"

Jesus refutes their accusations by following their claims to a logical conclusion.

A kingdom (or a city or even a family), can only prosper by living in a state of unity.  If half of the kingdom is undoing what the other half does, it will accomplish nothing; it will fall apart.  This is plain common sense!

Look at it this way:  If a husband or wife is earning $75K a year, but the spouse is spending $75K in the same amount of time, what have they accomplished?  Nothing, because each is undoing the work of the other.

If the president of a club is recruiting new members while the vice president is kicking people out at the same time, what will happen to the club?  It will fall apart or cease to exist because the two leaders are working against each other.

In the same manner, if Satan is possessing people, but then gives Jesus authority to cure them, what has he accomplished?  Nothing; his kingdom will fail.

Clearly, Jesus is not casting out demons by the power and authority of Satan.  That leaves only one source for his power – Jehovah! And if Jesus has this supernatural power and authority from God then he is indeed the Messiah.  

Matthew 12:27 – "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore, they will be your judges."

Apparently, there were some disciples of the Scribes and Pharisees that were also casting out demons.  So, if a man who casts out devils is in league with Satan, then by default the disciples of the religious leaders must also be in a league with the devil.  Ha!  We find that the religious leaders have ensnared themselves in their own trap!

Thus Jesus proves that the assertions of the Pharisees and Scribes are nothing more than lies, propagated by hatred and jealousy.

Matthew 12:28 – "But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Jesus uses the present accusation to draw attention to a much larger issue – the kingdom of God has come.  Since Jesus was casting out demons by the supernatural power of God, he was the Messiah.  It was the will of God that the Messiah would come to bring salvation and reestablish his kingdom on earth among men.

This is an awful tragedy, wouldn't you agree?  Hmmm… before we move on, perhaps we should look at this in light of our own spiritual lives.  I know that we have not rejected salvation, but is it possible that there other spiritual gifts that God has prepared for us, which we have not yet accepted?  The bible is very clear that God has other spiritual gifts (in addition to salvation) for each one of us.

1 Peter 4:10 - As every man has received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Has God given you the gift of encouragement, or teaching, or prophesy but you do not want to use that gift?  Have you considered that not using it is the same as rejecting it?

What are we afraid of?  Why do we hesitate to accept all that God has for us?  Remember, the body of Christ is a single unit.  So, if one person refuses to accept and operate in the gift God has given them, then the whole body will suffer.

 If you are not sure what your gift is, then pray about it.  Paul encourages all believers to seek the gift of prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1), so that is a good place to begin.  God promises that if you seek, you will find!

Matthew 12:29 –"Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  Then indeed he may plunder his house."

In this short parable, the strong man is Satan.  He has dominion over the earth (his house) because man gave it to him in the Garden of Eden.  The Messiah is the only one strong enough to bind Satan and restore men into the kingdom of heaven.  The concept of 'plundering' Satan's house speaks of the final and complete victory of Jesus over the devil.

Matthew 12:30 – Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Notice what Jesus is establishing here – there is no neutral ground.  There are only two camps; God Almighty or the devil.  You have to choose which side you are on.

The Pharisees were not helping to gather in God's harvest of souls, therefore, they were scattering or opposing God.

I know that we have all chosen to be in God's kingdom.  But…what kind of kingdom workers are we?  If you fail to use your spiritual gift, are you helping or hindering God's great harvest?

Matthew 12:31-32–Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

These two verses have caused a lot of consternation among Christians.  Let's look at them together and see what we might discover.

Jesus speaks of 'this age' and 'the age to come'.  Remember that when these words were spoken, the old covenant (also known as the Law), was still in place.  This is what is being referred to when Jesus says 'this age'.

If 'this age' was the old covenant, the 'age to come' refers to the new covenant of grace, which began when Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. 

Before we talk about sin that cannot be forgiven (blasphemy), let's establish that all other insults directed at Jesus could be forgiven.  And insult him they did!  As you recall, the religious leaders scorned his humble birth and his citizenship in Nazareth.  They falsely accused him of being a glutton, reviled him for eating with publicans and sinners, criticized him for not fasting and publicly denounced him for allegedly breaking the Sabbath.  The list goes on and on.  Again, the religious leaders can be forgiven for denouncing/rejecting Jesus, assuming they repent.

Now, what is the sin that cannot be forgiven?  The sin which the Pharisees were committing was that of denouncing/rejecting the Holy Spirit.  They were maliciously and stubbornly giving Satan credit for the miracles clearly performed by divine power.  In essence, they were alleging that the highest displays of God's mercy and power were the work of the devil.  This is a direct insult to the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit by which Jesus performed his miracles.

Why is this transgression unforgivable, when all the rest can be atoned for?  It's not because there is a defect or a lack in the work of Christ; it is because the Holy Spirit is the only one who can convict men of sin, and lead them to the blood of Jesus for forgiveness.  Thus, if they scorn the Holy Spirit, they are rejecting the only possible means of forgiveness of sin.  

The law is a powerful word from God.  The life of Jesus was a more powerful work; He was the Word incarnate.  The Holy Spirit is the most powerful work of all; it was by his power that Jesus was raised from the dead and it is He who convicts men of sin.  There is no greater or more powerful display of God yet to come to earth! No other path to salvation will be given!  Therefore, if men denounce the Holy Spirit, they have no door to salvation; they cannot be forgiven.

To blaspheme the Holy Spirit one must reject the conviction he brings to bear on one's heart.  By rejecting that call to repentance, we reject our only means of salvation and thus we cannot be forgiven.

So, if you are a Christian you do not need to be worried that you have committed the unpardonable sin of rejecting salvation.  Don't let Satan put a spirit of fear into you; whatever you have done, ask Jesus to forgive you and he will!

Matthew 12:33 – Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.

Jesus and the religious leaders are once again in conflict.  Jesus says his works are of God, the Pharisees say his works are of the devil.  How can the common people know who to believe?

Likewise, if his root (heart) is evil, he will speak evil things and do wicked works (produce bad fruit).

So take a good look at both Jesus and the Pharisees. 

Jesus' entire ministry has been to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, to heal all those who came to him, to cast out demons and to feed the crowds both physical and spiritual food.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, have exhibited pride, bitterness and envy over Jesus ministry.  Their words and actions have been consistently corrupt, even to the point of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

It should be easy for the common people to decide who to follow. 

This same truth is still applicable today.  We too can look at a person's actions and words to gain understanding of what is in their heart.

Matthew 12:34-35 –You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Again, we are told that wicked words and sinful actions spring from a heart of evil. 

Holy words and good deeds spring from a heart that is righteous.

Notice that Jesus is not speaking out of anger or hate; he is merely declaring the true character of the religious leaders. Even in this present day we can discern the character of a person by examining their words and deeds. 

Matthew 12:36-37 – I tell you, on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

What is an idle or careless word?  This refers to speech that is vain or useless; words that accomplish no good.  It also includes words that are false, malicious, injurious or otherwise wicked. This was the character of the Pharisees speech when they accused Jesus of casting our devils by the power of Beelzebub.

Before we point fingers and shame the Pharisees, we need to understand that we too are guilty of sinning with our speech.  Consider this:

Jesus is telling us that God takes notice of every word we say, even when we pay no attention.

How often do we speak without thinking?  Social media has created a platform where people can tell the whole world anything that they think or feel, the moment they think or feel it, without any buffer.  As a result, we find mass quantities of idle, frivolous, careless speech at work in the lives of people every day. 

Again, take note:  If your speech is not profitable, that is, if it does not edify, instruct or lift up, then it is idle.  And while we can and should keep a watch on our lips, we also need to check our hearts.  We need to get a handle on our personal holiness.  If our heart is clean, our speech will be too.

Psalms 139:4 – Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Not only does God take notice of every word we speak, he is displeased with talk that is vain, idle or trifling.  This includes words that are coarse, vulgar, scornful and rebellious.

Ephesians 5:4 – Let there be no filthiness, or foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Not to beat the dead horse here, but Jesus just told the Pharisees this:  'For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks'.  Think back over today and yesterday.  Can you assess the words that came out of your mouth?  What conclusions can you draw about your heart based on the words you spoke?

Are our words really that important?  The bible says they are:

Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it will eat its fruits.   

It doesn't take much thought to realize that our words should be closely supervised!  My guess is that we can ALL be better stewards of our lips.

So let me offer you some encouragement: Jesus says that no house divided against itself will fall.  The opposite must also be true – if a house is united, it will stand.  Is your house a Christian one?  Are you and your spouse both believers?  If so, I would strongly encourage you to study the word and pray together.  It will bring you closer together and strengthen your marriage bond.  

I also encourage you to take time and decide in advance how to handle your finances or how to address issues with your kids.  Tough times will still come, but you will have so much more strength and peace in the midst of the storm if you are united in your decisions.

Let me offer you some relief:  In this lesson, we noted that the religious leaders rejected the gift of salvation that God had prepared for them before the world began.  How tragic!  Yet, at the same time, God has prepared spiritual gifts for each one of us.  If we fail to use them, it is the same as rejecting them!

You don't need to be afraid to use your spiritual gifts.  I guarantee that you will make mistakes as you learn to walk in the gifts the Holy Spirit has placed within you.  But let me relieve some of your fears – it's okay to make mistakes!  Speak to a spiritual mentor and be open to advice on how to correctly begin to walk in the gifts of the Spirit.  That way, you don't need to be afraid to walk in them, and others don't need to be afraid of what you might do!

Let me offer you some strength:  Our words and speech play a very significant role not only our lives, but the lives of those around us.  They can be a witness for Christ, or they can work for the devil.  Without doubt, it takes commitment to correctly steward the things that come out of our mouths.  But don't be discouraged; start small.  Begin by reading and meditating on the scriptures that deal with your tongue.  Make one small change at a time, and don't give up.  God will grant you the strength to win the battle of the tongue!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/consider-this/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Hello!  If you are a regular follower of this bible study, you were no doubt expecting a lesson on the second half of Matthew chapter 12.  However, in light of the upheaval we are currently experiencing, I wanted to take this opportunity to give us all something to think about.  We will get back to Matthew next week.

Unless you are living off the grid right now, you have no doubt heard about the Coronavirus, aka, Covid 19.  This strain of the flu is quickly spreading around the world; it has the potential to cause death in the elderly, the young, and people with other serious health concerns.

Since there is currently no cure, the best recourse is to avoid getting the virus in the first place!  The best way to do that is to avoid contact with other people. 

Sporting events, entertainment venues, restaurants and even churches have temporarily closed their doors.  Nursing homes are on lock down.  Traveling has been curtailed or banned altogether in some places.  All these cancellations have resulted in a disruption of the economy.

All of this is happening before our very eyes – literally.  We live in an age where information, pictures and opinions are thrust in front of our faces within seconds of an incident occurring.  The pandemic and its ripple effects are being broadcast minute by minute.  The sheer volume of information is overwhelming and much of what is being reported is bad news.

But before you become dismayed, remember this:  most of this information is coming from the world, and thus has the world's perspective on it.  As a Christian, you have a different perspective.  Everything that happens in this world and everything that happens to you must be filtered through God's promises. 

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Dismay is defined as 'to disable with alarm or apprehensions; to terrify'. The world is indeed terrified and alarmed.  It should worry about the virus, because mankind has no cure.  Not so for the Christian.  While we can and should be prudent in our actions, we rest in the promise of God that he can either keep us safe from the pandemic, or heal us:

Psalm 91:1, 5-6 - He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Exodus 15:26 - …for I am the Lord your healer.

The world says there will not be enough supplies for a quarantine period, so you should rush out to the grocery store to get food and toilet paper.  Have you been to the grocery store recently?  The shelves are quite bare!  Again, while the Christian should be prudent in what they do, they should not worry, for God provides what we cannot provide for ourselves:

Matthew 6:31-32 - Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

The world fears what will happen in the unknown future.  They worry about the economy crashing and the loss of jobs and how they are going to make ends meet.  But as Christians, we have the assurance that God has a plan for us:

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

What does all this mean?  Does it imply that you will not get sick or not run out of bread and toilet paper or that you will not suffer any financial loss? 

NO!

It means that whatever happens to you, God will walk through it with you.  It means that your circumstances were approved and allowed by your heavenly Father! 

Isaiah 41:13 - For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you.

God's number one priority is not for you to be comfortable during your temporary stay here on planet earth.  His priority is to ensure your eternal good; to make you into his image and likeness; to prepare you to rule and reign with Him for eternity!

Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Here is a truth you need to understand:  

God may completely protect you from anything associated with this virus, or He may allow it to touch you in some way. 

• He may use this virus to create circumstances that will mold you into his image, or draw you closer to him.  
• He may use this virus to create opportunities for you to minister his love to others (the bible says that the world will know us by our love for one another). 
• Perhaps God will use the circumstances of this pandemic to grant you a chance to lift up his name, so that others will come to salvation in Jesus Christ. 
• It is even possible that God will use this illness as the vehicle that transfers you from earth to your heavenly reward.  

No matter what happens, you should take comfort in knowing that God is in control of all your circumstances.  Consider the words of King David:

Psalms 139:16 – Your [God's] eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  

In other words, God knew the exact number of your days on earth, before you even existed in your mother's womb.  Therefore, He knew you would be alive during the Covid 19 pandemic. Clearly, he has had lots of time to prepare! So know this:  whatever you experience during this pandemic, God is going to use it for your eternal good!

At this point, I hope we have established that we do not need to be afraid, because God is in control.  We can control fear and operate in faith by focusing our minds on God.

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.

As you well know, you can focus your mind on God by praise, worship, reading the word, prayer and the encouragement of others.  You know what to do – so just do it!

Now… let's get to the part I want us to consider.  Jesus says that we, the church, are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world.  

We are priests of the Most High God, called to display the love of God to a lost world.  Therefore, it is time for us to change our perspective.  It's time for us to move from a place of fear to a place of faith.  It is time for us to take our focus off of ourselves, and place it on kingdom business. Instead of reacting to what we see and hear through the media, it's time to become proactive in searching for ways to display the light of Christ to the world around us. 

So, here is the real question facing the church: 

I will share a few ideas with you, but obviously, this is not an exhaustive list.  God may whisper new ideas into your ear.  If so, please share them with the rest of us!

One:  Share your supplies.  The world is hoarding certain commodities.  Let's be different.  Is there someone on your street or in your family that needs a loaf of bread?  Share the bread and gain an opportunity to witness for Christ.  Remember, Jesus not only preached the gospel, he fed and healed people.  

Two:  Offer a service.  Can you cut hair?  All the salons have been closed; if you can give a haircut to someone, you can gain an opportunity to share the gospel.  What service can you offer?

Three:  Be positive.  When those around you are speaking in fear, speak of the peace you have in Jesus.  No amount of money can buy peace.  You can introduce people to Jesus who will give it to them for free!

Four:  Exhibit grace in the midst of adversity.  As we already pointed out, God may allow this pandemic to touch our lives, but we can meet that challenge in a way that lifts Jesus up and honors his name.  When we do so, it draws people to him. 

Five:  Stop the griping and complaining.  Rejoice in the Lord always!  Real joy does not come from circumstances but from Christ living in you.  Start acting like it!

So let me give you some encouragement:  Regardless of what happens to you during this pandemic, you are firmly in the hand of God.  Instead of trying to avoid adversity, turn to the word and prayer to find out what God may be accomplishing in your spiritual life.  Let him show you how to react in a way that will bring him glory.  

Let me give you some relief:  How often have we wished for a chance to get out of the 'rat race' so we could slow our lives down?  How often have we lamented that we don't have more time to become closer to the Lord?  Well, here is your chance!   Right now, normal activities are temporarily suspended.  Why not use that time to get closer to the Lord? 

Let me give you some strength: This pandemic did not catch God off guard.  He not only knew it would happen, he knew you would be involved in it.  Let's use it for good!  Let's use it to strengthen our relationship with Him.  Let's use it to reach others for the gospel!

If this post has been a strength to you, please share it with someone else!  Post it to your Facebook page for others to see and be encouraged. Write in and share your experiences with us as we navigate this crisis for Christ!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-17-part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 17:1 – And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

The portion of scripture in Matthew 17:1-9 is commonly referred to as 'the transfiguration' or 'the mount of transfiguration'.  The events in this passage have been repeated in Mark 9:2-10 and Luke 9:28-36.  Each gospel writer gives us a few unique details, so we will include all three passages in today's lesson.  Since this event is recorded in three separate gospels, we can be sure it has special importance.

Actually, it was six days after Jesus accepted the title of Messiah and then revealed to his disciples that he was going to suffer and die, then be resurrected and glorified:

Matthew 16:21 – From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

So, roughly a week after the conversation about his future suffering/death and resurrection/glorification, Jesus goes up the side of a mountain.  Luke tells us that his intention was to spend time in prayer: 

Luke 9:28 – Now about eight days after these sayings he [Jesus] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

As he was in prayer, his glory was revealed to the three disciples:

Matthew 17:2-3 – And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.  And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

The word "transfigure" means to change appearance or form. It does not denote a change in the substance of a thing, but simply a change of the thing's appearance.  We see that Jesus' body, as well as his clothing, were changed in appearance. 

This means that Jesus did not leave his body and appear to the disciples as a spirit.  He remained in the body of flesh that he was given when he was born into the world as a servant.  Because he was both God and man, he had a veil over his Godly form.  During the transfiguration, he removed the veil and the disciples saw his glory. 

Let's switch gears and talk about Jesus' visitors for a moment.  Do you have a favorite bible character?  How about King David or Joseph or Ruth & Naomi, or Noah?  Of all the saints up in heaven, why do you suppose it was Moses and Elijah who came to be with Jesus on the mountain top?

It is because Moses and Elijah represent both the law and the prophets.  This is significant.  The Jews do not want to receive the new covenant that Jesus is bringing with him.  They want to hold onto the old covenant.  But Jesus has come to fulfill the law and the Old Testament prophesies; once they are fulfilled they will pass away.  They simply won't be needed any more.  So when both of these living saints give glory and honor to Jesus, they are acknowledging that Jesus is the mediator of the better covenant.

So in a way, God was being gracious to the Jews.  The endorsement of the new covenant by Moses and Elijah should have given them comfort.  

First of all, Luke tells us that the conversation between Jesus, Moses and Elijah focused on the topic of his imminent suffering/death and resurrection/glorification. 

Luke 9:30-31 – And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure (exodus), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

So, what Jesus (and all of heaven) already knew now becomes evident to his disciples.  That is, Jesus was not going to be crucified by the will or power of man. He was not going to be arrested and put to death because of a decision by Rome or the Jewish religious leaders, or anyone else.

He was going to willingly lay down his life for mankind, according to the master plan that was put in place before the world was created!  Jesus makes it very clear that HE is the one who allows his death to take place, and that he also will be raised to life again:  

John 10:17-18 – For this reason the Father loves me [Jesus] because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This charge I have received from my Father.

Thus, the event of the transfiguration proves that Jesus was the Son of God, who had come into the world to be an atoning sacrifice for sin.  This event reinforces or proves the statement that Peter made a week prior – that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Seeing this before the crucifixion proved to them that Jesus was in complete and total charge of the events of his life and death.

Why were only three disciples chosen to witness the transfiguration?  Because according to Jewish law, 2 or 3 was the minimum number of witnesses needed to verify that something was true:

Deuteronomy 19:15 - …at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses shall the matter be established. 

Why do you suppose Jesus chose those 3 disciples in particular? While we don't know for sure, we can make some inferences:

• They seem to be the 'inner circle' of the 12. 
• They were the only three present when Jesus healed Jarius' daughter. 
• These three were present with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, where they witnessed his suffering. 
• As we saw in Matthew chapter 16, Peter will be a great instrument in carrying out the work of the gospel. 
• John, as the only disciple not to be martyred, will be on earth longer than any other disciple.  His eyewitness account will be around for the longest period of time.  

Matthew 17:4 – And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

If you had been one of the eyewitnesses of this event, how would you have reacted?

In his gospel, Mark tells us that the disciples were frightened and amazed, and didn't really know what to do (Mark 9:5-6).  In our culture, we could say that this event was 'mind-blowing'.

In keeping with his character, Peter speaks first and his suggestion is rash and inadvisable.  He wants to build tents or dwelling places for the heavenly visitors, so he can remain in their company. 

On the one hand, who could blame him for wanting to remain in their company? We can imagine the wonder and joy of having this peek into the heavenly realm.

But on the other hand, a fading tent would never be suitable for saints who had already been admitted to the glory of heaven! Besides, Jesus' mission is not to bring a teeny-tiny bit of heaven and keep it on earth.  He intends to subject himself to the suffering and shame necessary to atone for the sin of mankind; he intends to take all the souls of earth up to heaven, where we can all enjoy his presence for eternity!

Perhaps, in the back of his mind, Peter still believed that Jesus was going to set up his kingdom on earth at that time.  Or, perhaps he just spoke the first thing that popped into his head without thinking.  I know I have been guilty of doing that! 

Matthew 17:5 – He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

The word 'overshadowed' means 'to be diffused or spread".  This means that the bright cloud (literally the cloud of light) enveloped them like a fog, rather than like a high covering that would provide shade.

This cloud has long been a symbol of God's divine presence.  In Exodus (14:19-20) God personally leads the Israelites in a cloud.  God appears on Mount Sinai in a cloud with fire (Exodus 24:15-17).  And a cloud, called the Shechinah glory, dwelt in the Most Holy place in the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11, Ezekiel 1:4).   Therefore, the appearance of this cloud indicated the presence of God.

God speaks from the cloud, addressing Jesus as his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased.  Does that sound familiar?  This is the second time that God has audibly spoken that phrase about Jesus.  The first time was at the time of Jesus' baptism, just before the trial of his temptation in the wilderness.

God then instructs the men to listen to his Son.  Thus, God himself exalts Jesus over both the law and the prophets.  They were servants, but Jesus is the Son.  This encounter strengthens the faith of the disciples; soon they would be called upon to go forth and preach the gospel which would be rejected by most of the Jews.  Yet, their faith would stand the test.  They knew the truth and nothing could dissuade them from testifying of Jesus.

Like the disciples, our duty is to Christ and no other.  Non-Christians will use the logic of this world to tell us why we should not serve Jesus our king, but if we are close to him and we hear his voice, we will not be led astray. 

Matthew 17:6-8 – When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise and have no fear."  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

The majesty and glory of God is so powerful that no man in his sinful state can bear even a touch of it, without fear and trembling.  Certainly, no man can see God and live.  (Remember, the disciples only heard his voice).   Neither can any mortal man can stand before God.  For example, Saul (who later became the apostle Paul), fell to the ground when a light from heaven fell upon him.  Even the Old Testament priests fell on their faces when God appeared in the cloud in the Most Holy place:

1 Kings 8:10-11:  And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

Here is something interesting to consider:  The time that we Christians spend on earth is a very special time, which will never occur again.  Yes, it has trials and difficulties, but it also has special opportunities.  For example, this is a time when we have the privilege of worshipping God willingly, by faith.  The truth is, if we were to actually see a glimpse of God, it would so impact us that worship would cease to be voluntary.  It would automatically come out of our mouths.  We wouldn't be able to do anything else, even if we wanted to.

I believe that our praise and worship is something special to God, because it is a true gift given from our hearts, by faith.  And we are only going to have this opportunity of worshipping God in this manner for a very, very short time.  So why not take full advantage of it?  Why not spend some extra time this week in his presence, giving Him glory and honor and praise for who he is and what he has done?

The disciples were certainly impacted by the experience they had in God's presence.  In fact, they were flat on their faces, trembling with fear.  Jesus comforts their fears by touching them and telling them not to fear.

Jesus is the only one who can do this, because he is the mediator between God and man.  In fact, His role as our redeemer allows us to come boldly into God's presence, without fear.  And, hallelujah, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever so we continue to have full access to the presence of God!  

Matthew 17:9 – And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Why do you think Jesus told them to keep this to themselves until after his resurrection?

This experience was designed to confirm the truth that he was the Messiah.  If they published it while he was still with them, it would have provoked the Jews and endangered his life.

Once he was crucified, they would need this evidence that he was the Christ.  That was the proper time to make use of this heavenly experience.  There were three witnesses to this event which is the number required by law; so this was clear proof that he was the Messiah.  Peter especially uses this in his spreading of the gospel:

2 Peter 1:16-18 – For we did not follow cleverly designed myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

This should be an encouragement to all of us; whatever God has called us to do, he will equip us with whatever we need to get that job done.  He never sets us up for failure, he always sets us up to be victorious in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 17:10 – And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?"

As they come down the mountain, the disciples are trying to reconcile the things they have been taught by the religious leaders with what Jesus is telling them. 

There is no question in their minds that Jesus is the Messiah.  However, according to Jewish understanding of Old Testament prophesy, Elijah was to personally reappear to the Jewish nation before the Messiah came (See Malachi 4:5).  Since they couldn't figure this out, they asked Jesus.

Matthew 17:11 – He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things."

Jesus does not refute the belief that Elijah would come; he actually confirms it.

The problem with the religious leaders is that they were looking for a physical fulfillment of Malachi's prophesy – they were literally looking for Elijah the Tishbite to appear out of nowhere. But the Old Testament promise simply referred to a person who displayed the same SPIRIT that Elijah had.

In other words, the forerunner of the Messiah would be a man who would preach a doctrine of repentance, calling the nation to renounce their sinful ways, and turn back to faith and obedience to God.

He would be a man of restoration.  To restore means to put in proper order, to heal or to correct.  The prophet would correct beliefs in regards to the coming Messiah and the kingdom of heaven.

All this was clearly fulfilled in the life and ministry of John the Baptist.  In fact, the angel Gabriel said this about John the Baptist before his birth:

Luke 1:16-17 – And he [John] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

There can be no doubt – John the Baptist was the "Elijah" who was to come.  

Matthew 17:12-13 – "But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Jews did not acknowledge or recognize John as the forerunner of the Messiah.  They ridiculed him, persecuted him and at last put him to death (Herod Antipas gave the order to behead John, but Jesus charges the Jews with his murder).

Jesus tells the disciples that he too, will also suffer and be rejected by the Jewish nation.  But again, this was not by the will of any man.  It was by the will of Jesus and Father God.

So let me offer you some encouragement:  The disciples were witnesses of what they had seen on the mountain, and their testimony was a tool that they used in the spreading of the gospel message.  You and I can also bear witness to the strength, deliverance, protection, provision and peace that Jesus has given us.  In our current times of uncertainty and fear, our testimony of what God has done for us can be a tool that we use to share the gospel message to our friends and neighbors.  I encourage you to let your light shine for Christ - be ready to share what he has done for you.

Let me offer you some relief and some strength:  Moses and Elijah appeared to the disciples alive and well, even though they had walked the earth hundreds of years before this time.  All of their earthly trials and tribulations, all of their aches and pains, all of their fears and questions were gone!

One day, this will be true for you and I as well.  One day, we will be in heaven with Moses, Elijah and all of the other heroes of the faith.  One day, our earthly struggles will also be over.  So whatever you are going through right now, know that it will not last forever!  Relief may come in this life, but if not – then know that this life does not last for eternity.  So strengthen your 'weak hands' and 'feeble knees' (Isaiah 35:3).  Strive for a strong finish to your earthly race!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-10-part-2/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 10:26 – "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known."

Jesus is still giving instructions to his disciples, as he sends them out in pairs to preach the Kingdom of Heaven to the Jews. 

What is the thing that is hidden and that is going to be known or revealed?  Some scholars believe it refers to the persecution of the apostles.  The idea is that the apostles are not to fear those who persecute them, because God sees and knows all things.  He will be the judge of every man's work, even things done in secret.  God is comforting his servants with the knowledge that he already knows what they will suffer and the evil done to them for his sake will be judged.  God has already expressed the same thought back in the Old Covenant:

Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For God shall bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Another point of view is that the hidden thing refers to the gospel.  At this point, it is hidden or not widely known because Jesus is the only one revealing it.  However, the apostles will soon be out preaching the message as well.  Eventually, after the day of Pentecost, the message will explode into the world.

Both points of view could be correct, however, the covering and revealing of the gospel message might be the most appropriate interpretation, considering the next few verses.

Matthew 10:27 – "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops."

I don't know about you, but I can't think of a single reason why I would want to get up on the roof of my house.  It is hot, the shingles are very scratchy, and the pitch of the roof is steep.  If I fell off, the result would be injury or possibly death. 

However, in Judea the roofs were (and still are) useful living space.  They were flat with a railing around them.  People used them for a variety of reasons:

In Joshua 2:6 we find Rahab using her flat roof to help the two spies of Israel.  She hid them on the roof, covering them with some flax that she had been drying there.

2 Samuel 11:2 tells us that king David was walking on the roof of his palace when he saw Bathsheba taking a bath (She too was probably on a roof). 

Sadly, some Jews had altars of Baal or other foreign gods on their roofs, and they would offer sacrifices on them (Jeremiah 32:29). 

Roof tops were also used for public announcements, prayer, meditation and whatever else the homeowner needed. This is what Jesus is referring to when he tells the disciples to publicly proclaim the gospel message from the roof tops. 

The point is that the gospel is not to remain a secret, but it is to be broadcast far and wide.  This mandate was not just for the apostles.  It was passed onto us when Jesus returned to heaven.

Mark 16:15 - And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

We too are to broadcast the message of the gospel far and wide.  While radio, television and computers have made this far easier, we still have a personal responsibility to share the gospel with those we know.

Matthew 10:28 – "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Well, there is certainly a lot going on in this verse. 

Point #1: Jesus confirms for us that there is a difference between the body and the soul.  The body is for this physical world.  If it dies, your soul (and spirit) do not die with it.  Rather, the soul and spirit are released from the dead physical body and they continue on in eternal existence.

Point #2:  Man (in this case those opposed to the gospel message), have a very limited authority over other men (in this case believers).  It is possible for them to persecute and even kill believers.  But their authority is limited to abuse of the physical body.  They have no power or authority over any man's soul and spirit.  Only God has the power and authority to grant eternal life or eternal torment.

Based on these facts, who should we fear?  Who should we respect and obey?  Man, who is evil and limited in what he can do to your physical body, or God, who is good and provides eternal life for your soul and spirit?  Remember, the bible also tells us that God will give us a new body for eternity – one that does not age, get sick, experience pain or have any defects.  I am looking forward to eventually getting mine!

In this verse, Jesus is giving comfort and strength to his followers.  He is warning them that they may be called upon to sacrifice their lives for him, but in the midst of that, they should keep their focus on eternity, not this world. Ultimately, we can serve only one master.  Will it be the temporary powers of this world or will it be the God of the universe?

Matthew 10:29-31 – "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

If you think about it, the apostles have just been given some harsh news.  They are to go out and spread the gospel.  While there will be many who will welcome the message, there will also be conflict.  This conflict will result in persecution, even to death.  But they are not to back down, for God is the judge not only of the body but of the soul and spirit; he can send men to eternal torment.

At this point, could the apostles be wondering what they had gotten themselves into?  Could they be feeling uneasy, caught between a rock and a hard place?  Are they wondering what kind of master God really is?

Let's suppose you have a friend who has a Rolls Royce Sweptail.  At the time of this writing, that particular automobile is the most expensive car in the world with a price tag of $13,000,000.00.  You meet your friend in his garage to see the car.

When you arrive, you are surprised to find an old Ford Pinto in the garage bay next to the Rolls.  You are even more surprised to find your friend wearing greasy coveralls, giving the Pinto a tune up.  He has already replaced some cracked hoses and changed the oil.  A new set of windshield wipers are also ready to be installed.

Consider this:  If your friend had love and value for the nearly worthless Pinto, how much more is he going to love and value the Rolls?

In the time of Christ, the cost of a sparrow was the equivalent of ¼ of one cent.  Four for  a penny.  Four hundred for a dollar!  That's almost more insulting than being free.  So, the sparrow is like the Pinto.  Although it is not the most valuable thing his creation, God still loves and takes care of it.  He provides it with food, water and a mate.  He endows it with survival instincts, like how to build a nest and a fear of predators.  He also knows when one of them meets death, whether from disease or predators or cold weather or old age.   Not only does he know, but he is actively present.  That's right – reread the words of Jesus again - 'Not one of them falls to the ground APART from your Father'.  God is there when each sparrow dies.

You, dear reader, are like the Rolls!  God paid the very highest price for you – the blood of his own Son.  You are created in his image.  You are his son/daughter, and a co-heir with Jesus Christ.  You are a priest in God's kingdom.  You will rule and reign with him in the next life.  The list of your 'amenities' goes on and on.  If God is so committed to taking care of the sparrow that he is actively present when one of them dies, how much more is he going to take care of you?  How much more will he be actively present to comfort and strengthen you as you transition from this life to eternity with Him?

Hmmm… all of a sudden, death doesn't seem so scary anymore.  When we realize how much God loves us and that he (and he alone) is in control of our transition from this life to the next, our fear of man and what he can do to us greatly diminishes.  Now we are free to keep our eyes focused on our loving Father and the race he has set before each one of us.

Matthew 10:32-33 – "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in haven, but whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven"

Many years ago, when I was in middle school, I remember being in a line with my classmates in a hallway.  Somehow, the conversation turned to religion and I was ridiculed for being a Christian.  I would like to say that I stood up and refuted all their insults with scripture, but I didn't.  I distinctly remember being embarrassed and not saying a word, hoping that the teacher would come quickly and lead us to the next class so my humiliation would end. 

I've never forgotten that, and for a long time, I felt guilty about it.  In my mind, I had denied Christ and I was worried about it.  Perhaps you may have had some similar experiences and feelings.  There is good news for both of us – we are not the only ones to do this!  As you recall, the apostle Peter also denied Jesus.

Luke 22:60-61 – But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about."  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times."

Thankfully, we see the end of Peter's story and we know that Jesus forgave him, and restored him to a place of ministry.   I believe Jesus has also forgiven you and me. 

But there is still a question to be addressed here:  What does it mean to deny Christ in such a manner that he would deny us before God the Father?

In the original text, the word for 'acknowledge' can also be translated 'confess' or 'profess'.  We confess/profess Jesus in many ways.  The most profound of these is our conduct.  Do we live our everyday lives in such a manner that others can see we belong to Jesus?  Are we honest, loving, patient and kind?  Do we exercise control over what we watch, what we read and what we wear? Are the places we go and the things we do pointing to Jesus or away from him?  Are we living examples of Biblical principles? 

If you can answer 'yes' to that question, then you are professing/confessing Christ with your conduct.  If no one can tell you are a Christian from your lifestyle, then you are denying him. 

Certainly, we confess/profess Christ with our mouths.  While this obviously includes proclaiming him as Lord and Savior, it involves more than just that.  For instance, is our everyday conversation sprinkled with cursing and bitterness?  Do we use our tongues to complain, to find fault, to accuse, to belittle, to stir up drama or otherwise bring death to the people we speak with?  If so, then you are denying Christ with your mouth. 

You can use your mouth to give praise and worship to God.  You can keep your speech pure and positive.  If you are doing these types of things, you are confession/professing Christ with your mouth.

Finally, we confess/profess Christ by submitting to his authority over us in all things.  If he calls us to be single or married, rich or poor, etc, we need to embrace what he has called us to be and to do.  In so doing, we profess/confess his lordship over our lives.  And if we confess him before men in this life, Jesus will confess us before his Father in heaven!

Matthew 10:34-36 – Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  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.  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

What does it mean to bring a 'sword'?  A sword is an instrument of death; to send a sword is to produce hostility and war.  This seems like a strange statement, especially since the scriptures clearly described Jesus as the Prince of Peace:

Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What is the correct understanding of these verses? 

Hostility and discord were not the reasons Jesus came to earth, they were the effects of his coming.   If part of a family opposed the gospel, they would set themselves against the part of the family who accepted the gospel.  The result would be hostility/war between the family members.  Clearly, the wickedness of men, not the good news of the gospel, is the cause of this hostility and contention.  Wherever the gospel is preached, Satan will incite wicked men to oppose it.  This was prophesied long ago by Micah:

Micah 7:5-6 – Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms, for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

If only all men would accept the gospel message, then there would be peace and not contention!

Matthew 10:37 – "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

God is the one who created families in the first place, when he created Eve as a partner for Adam.  He is not telling us to abandon our natural affection for our family.

What he is saying is that our first and foremost devotion must always be to God.  If it comes down to following/choosing our parents or following/choosing Christ, then we must break off the bonds of family and cling to Jesus.

If we love our families more than Christ, we are not worthy to be his disciple. 

Matthew 10:38-39 – "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

In Roman times, people who were sentenced to be crucified were forced to carry their own cross to the place of crucifixion.  (The Romans were masters of cruelty, were they not?)   

Jesus uses this figurative expression to tell his followers that we must endure whatever is burdensome or trying or considered disgraceful in following Christ.  Basically we are to simply do our Christian duty and to adhere to the race that God has set before us, even if it entails shame, disgrace or pain. 

If we do so, we can be assured that we will find life, not lose it.  The word 'life' is used in two senses in verse 39.  So let's clarify:  The believer who is anxious to save their temporal life (comfort, acceptance and security on earth), shall do so only by forfeiting eternal life (life in heaven).  The person who is willing to risk or lose his comfort, acceptance and life here on earth for Jesus sake, shall find everlasting life in the next world. 

Matthew 10:40-42 – "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.  The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person, will receive a righteous person's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."

These three verses are closely connected, so we will examine them together. 

Remember that at the beginning of this chapter, Jesus had instructed the apostles to go out and preach the gospel.  They were not to take any extra money or supplies, rather they were to find a house that was worthy and stay there until they left the city. 

In these last three verses, Jesus is giving them a kind of credit card.  Whatever food, kindness, provision or hospitality the apostles were given, Jesus would consider that it was done to him.   Therefore, those who provided for the apostles would be rewarded by God.

Eventually, when our study takes us to chapter 25 of Matthew's gospel, we will see Jesus declaring the same principle once again.  Saints who visit prisoners or clothe the naked or visit the sick are actually doing it to Jesus, and they will be rewarded for it.  

While we are not told exactly what the reward is, I have to believe that it will be generous and wonderful, because that is the nature of God.  So, let us do all we can to aid and assist those who spread the true gospel of Christ!

Let me give you some encouragement:  I can see where preaching the gospel might have seemed like an overwhelming task to the disciples, at least in the beginning.  But remember, nothing is impossible with God.  God never sets us up to fail; we are always victorious in Christ.  So, what has God called you to do?  Does it seem overwhelming or difficult?  I encourage you to step out in faith and get started.  The more you work at it, the easier the task will become.  When you do your part, God will make a way where you cannot!  

Let me give you some relief:  Has the enemy tried to make you feel guilty about things in your past?  Maybe you denied Christ at some point or broke one of the "big" commandments.  Regardless of what you did, there is forgiveness for you.  How is this for relief - the Psalmist tells us that God has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  In fact, he has cast our sin as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalms 103)!  Praise his name!  Let go of any guilt you are carrying around and put the past where it belongs – in the past!  Make room for the Holy Spirit to come into your life and assist you in carrying out your life's mission!  

Let me give you some strength: God loves you.  He loves you more than you can know or understand, but we can get a glimpse of his love as we meditate on things he tells us.  Remember, YOU are God's most precious possession.  There can be no other explanation considering that he sent his Son to die for you!  God has adopted you into his family; he calls you son or daughter.  He has made you a co-heir with Jesus.  He has made you a priest in his kingdom.  He has prepared a place in heaven, just for you.  He has your name engraved on the palm of his hand.  He has rewards waiting for you in the next life.  He is going to wipe away all your tears and heartaches.  He promises never to leave you or forsake you.  Hallelujah! Remembering how much God cares for you should give you strength to serve him in all circumstances.

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-10-part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 10:1 – And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every affliction.

It seems kind of fitting that Jesus would use 12 apostles to plant the New Testament church, since he had used the 12 tribes of Israel to keep the Old Testament covenant.

Mark tells us that Jesus sent them out in pairs.  This gave each of them a companion to share the labor, the joy and the opposition they would soon encounter.  Besides, if they split up, the gospel message could be shared in many, many more places.  The apostles were sent into the world by Jesus, just as Jesus had been sent into the world by his Father.

The most important thing in this verse is that Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits and sickness/disease. Jesus confirmed his teaching through the working of miracles; his disciples would do the same.

Matthew 10:2-4 – The names of the twelve apostles are these: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

The really great thing about this list is what is NOT on it.

• There are not super wealthy people, who could influence others to accept the gospel just because rich people have influence. 
• There were no naturally gifted orators who could convince people to accept the gospel just because they were persuasive arguers/speakers. 
• There were no overly handsome or good looking people who could influence others to follow them because of their beauty. 
• There were no super intelligent scholars, who could convince people to accept the gospel because it was the smart thing to do. 

Jesus chose plain, ordinary men of good character and honesty who would testify to the truth of the gospel that they learned from Jesus.  They would also testify of his death and resurrection.  Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they were willing to lay down their lives to bear witness to the truth.

Luke tells us that Jesus chose them early in his ministry (before the Sermon on the Mount) so that they would be witnesses to everything that he taught and everything he did from the beginning of his ministry until his resurrection from the dead.

You and I have also been called to bear witness to the truth of the gospel and to share what Jesus has done for us.  Aren't you glad that you don't have to be rich or famous or really well educated to understand and accept the grace of God?  I know I am! 

Matthew 10:5-6 – These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Gentiles (or Greeks as they are sometimes called in the New Testament) are simply non-Jewish people.  They did not know the true God and in their ignorance they worshipped many false gods.

The Samaritans were a group of people living in the region between Jerusalem and Galilee.  They were a mixed race of people who embraced a false religion which was an amalgam of Judaism and idolatry.  They worshipped Jehovah along with other false gods.

Clearly, the disciples were not to share the Kingdom of Heaven with the Samaritans or the Gentiles.  Why not?

God has a divine order in dealing with mankind:  to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.

The Jews were the chosen people of God.  It was through them that the Messiah had come.  It was through them that all the nations of the earth would be blessed; Jesus was a fulfillment of the covenant made long, long ago with Abraham and his descendants. So it makes sense that they should be the first to hear and see the Messiah.  They should have the first opportunity to accept the New Covenant, because they already had a relationship with God.

Secondly, the disciples were what we might call 'green horns'.  They needed to learn how to effectively share the gospel.  The easiest way to do that was among the people who were already intimately acquainted with the promises of the old covenant.  It would take a lot more wisdom, knowledge and Holy Spirit power to share the gospel with those who knew nothing of God's former dealings with mankind.  The disciples weren't ready for that yet. 

Thankfully, Jesus would soon charge his apostles to spread the gospel to 'Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world', which eventually included you and I!

Matthew 10:7 – "And proclaim as you go, saying, 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

The disciples were all to preach the same message – The kingdom of Heaven was arriving imminently.  In other words, they were to tell as many Jews as possible that God was ready to fulfill his promises to them!   Now, after generations of waiting, God is ready to implement the kingdom of the long awaited Messiah.  Because of that, it was time for men to repent of their sins and prepare themselves to be citizens of this new kingdom.  When the Messiah was manifested, they must be ready to believe him, accept his doctrine and submit to his authority.

There are still people today that have not heard the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven.  They need a chance to repent of their sins and become citizens of the Kingdom of God.  What are you doing to spread the word?   

Matthew 10:8 – "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  You received without paying; give without pay."

The power and authority Jesus gave to the disciples was for a very specific purpose - the confirmation of the message regarding the Messiah and his kingdom.

God was sending the Messiah to bless us, to rescue us from the tyranny of Satan, to save us from death, to heal our diseases and relieve us from our misery. Only God could receive the glory for the miracles that were performed, because they were done by his might and power.

So, God was the author of all these blessings.  The apostles were merely channels for transmitting the bountiful blessings of God from heaven to earth. Therefore, they had no right to be selective as to who could receive these benefits; they could not pick and choose who to minister to or charge anything in return for the miracles.

Isaiah 55:1-2 – Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Let me ask you this:  what is the purpose for all the bountiful blessings God has given you and I in our generation?   Are our spiritual gifts, material blessings and resources only to contribute to our personal happiness, or does God expect us to use them for his glory and the spread of his gospel to the lost?  Are you a channel that God can use to further his kingdom?   

Matthew 10:9-10 – "Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food."

The implication is that the disciples could take with them whatever money they had on hand, but they were not to delay their journey by attempting to provide more.  Nor were they to pack a whole bunch of baggage to take with them.  Why do you suppose Jesus gave them this command?

One reason was that extensive planning and packing would cause delays and stress.  But the main reason was probably to develop their ability to trust in God for whatever they needed.  Their focus was to be on God and the mission set before them.  God would be the one to provide food, clothing and necessities.

In my opinion, this is much harder than it sounds, especially at first.  Put yourself in their shoes.  What if you and I went on a missionary journey, trusting God to provide.  What if we wanted steak but God provided bologna?  Would we complain or be thankful?  What if we were expecting a king size pillow top memory foam bed, but we wound up with a sleeping bag on someone's cold stone floor?  Not only did the disciples need to trust God to provide, they had to learn to accept the provisions that God miraculously provided.  

1 Timothy 6:6-8   But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing let us be with these things content.

It seems to me that comfort is something our culture really values.  If God calls us to a little bit of discomfort for the sake of the gospel, can we accept that with thankfulness?  Are we content with the level of worldly goods God has given to us?  Are we good stewards of these blessings, or do we selfishly keep them all to ourselves?

Matthew 10:11-13 – "And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.  As you enter the house, greet it.  And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you."

While they were not to take extra money or provisions, they were to make wise choices about where to stay.  They were to seek out godly and upright men, who had a reverence and thirst for God, and who would be willing to receive and provide for two ministers of God.

Once they had found such a household, they were to stay in that place and not move again, even if a better opportunity appeared.  Their time was not to be spent in seeking better accommodations or comfort, but to preach, minister healing and deliverance, and pray.  After all, their main goal was not personal enjoyment; it was to spread the gospel.

In these verses, the word "house" refers to family.  The apostles were to show proper respect and civility to their host family, while the family would provide gracious hospitality to them. 

Matthew 10:14-15 – "And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.  Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah that for that town."

If the town where they went to minister rejected the gospel, the apostles were not only to leave that town, but place a witness against it by removing the dust of that town from their feet.

In this instance, the implication is that those Jews who rejected the gospel message were no longer holy, but were impure and profane, on a level with heathens and idolaters. Therefore, even the dust of their town must be removed from God's true followers.  Interestingly, some of the apostles wound up doing this very thing!  See Acts 13:51 and Acts 18:6.   

This contempt for the gospel would not go unpunished by God.  One day these unbelievers will be judged more harshly than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were destroyed by fire and brimstone. 

What does this passage say to us about the profanity of the world that touches us every day?  Do we despise and reject the things of the world that pollute our holiness, or do we tolerate those things, or even enjoy them?  Are we influencing the world for Christ, or is the world influencing us to accept sin?

Matthew 10:16 – "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

So, the apostles have been commissioned by Jesus to travel around, spreading the good news that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand, with miracles to confirm their doctrine.  Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?  Who wouldn't be glad to be a part of that? 

Thus, Jesus makes it very plain to the apostles that they will face persecution, discouragement, opposition, legal action and other dangers.  The enemies of the gospel have a malicious nature, ready to devour and destroy the ministers of Christ, just as a wolf naturally wants to hunt down, kill and devour a sheep. 

How are they to react to these attacks?  They are to be wise as serpents – meaning they need to act prudently, not irritating the enemy unnecessarily. On the other hand, they are to be innocent as doves - meaning that they should not be over cautious, allowing the enemy to dictate when and how they minister.  Honestly, this is still a good rule to follow today.

Matthew 10:17 – "Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues..."

Here Jesus is speaking of the future.  None of the 12 encountered these circumstances on this first missionary journey, but they all did after Jesus had been crucified and resurrected.

Flogging was the same as whipping.  Tradition says that the guilty party was laid upon the ground before the judge.  The blows were then inflicted upon his back.  The limit was 40 (Deuteronomy 25:2-3), but the judge could determine any number less than that.  It was not until after the beating that they were tied to a post.

To make the beating more severe, the Jews would attach thongs or lashes to the rod (usually 3).  That means one strike delivered 3 lashes at once.  They would then strike the person 13 times, giving 39 lashes.  The apostle Paul was beaten in this manner 5 times. 

The most grievous scourging of all was when the Romans would fasten pieces of iron or lead to the thongs.  These were capable of ripping and tearing flesh.  Keep in mind, the Romans were not limited by the Old Testament law.  They could whip someone with as many lashes as they chose.  It was the Romans who whipped Jesus before his death. Jesus did not ask his disciples to suffer in a way that he did not also experience.

Matthew 10:18 - …and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles."

'Governors and kings' refer to Gentile leaders appointed by the Romans.  These included proconsuls, porcurators and even emperors.  On the first missionary journey, the apostles were to speak only to the Jews.  Thus, we see that this too, is a future event which takes place only after the resurrection of Jesus.  By this statement, Jesus plainly shows that he intends for the Gentiles to have opportunity to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  

The purpose of appearing in these high courts is to bear witness of the Messiah to the highest leadership in the land.  Once the Gentiles are informed of the gospel, they are responsible for this knowledge. To reject it means to reject eternal life.  

Matthew 10:19-20 – "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

Again, it was one thing to be arrested and beaten by the Jews, because their power was limited by the Old Testament and by the Romans.  But when you are standing before the highest Roman/Gentile powers, there was no limit as to what they could do to you. 

Also, the apostles were uneducated laborers and fisherman.  How could they explain/present the gospel in terms that these Gentiles could not refute or ignore?  I can see why the apostles might be a bit anxious, can't you?

But Jesus never wants us to operate in a spirit of fear. 

2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Therefore, he comforts his ministers with the assurance that when these events take place, God will be with them every step of the way.  The Spirit himself will give them the words to speak; words that will cut through every argument that tries to exalt itself above the truth of the gospel. The Gentiles may be able to out-reason the apostles, but they could never out-reason the Holy Spirit!   The truth of the gospel would be made plain to them, and they would have to decide what to do with it – accept it and change their ways, or reject it and thus reject God at the same time.  

Matthew 10:21-22 – "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

The natural bonds of family are some of the strongest bonds we know.  Most people count on family to come to the rescue during distressing times, to provide safety and comfort, and to offer assistance and guidance when needed. 

But Jesus tells us that the enemy will stop at nothing in the fight for men's souls.  Satan will incite his wicked followers to hate even their closest family members; anyone who accepts the gospel must be stopped before they turn others from Satan to Christ.

If we examine the witness of Christians from foreign countries, particularly those involving Islam, we find clear evidence that this is happening today. 

To some degree it is true in the United States as well.  I have known some people who are estranged from their families just because they changed from another religion to Christianity. 

In the midst of all this betrayal, Jesus offers hope.  Victory is assured to the Christian.  This includes those who endure until Jesus returns as well as those who endure until their trial is concluded or their life is over.  Regardless of which circumstance applies, the Christian who endures will receive eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.   

Matthew 10:23 – "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

In some ways, this verse is easy to understand and in other ways, it is very puzzling.  Let's begin with the easy part.

The overall sense of this verse is that the apostles should practice prudence – if their lives were in danger, they could certainly shake the dust off their feet and move on to a new city. 

What they did NOT have was permission to deny Christ. They must always be true to the Savior who, out of love, would die for them long before they were asked to give their lives for his glory.  There are still some places in the world today where Christians must choose between their faith in Christ and their life on earth.  I believe that if God calls us to make this choice, he grants us the grace to stay true to him.   

Another thing the apostles did NOT have was permission to retire.  No matter how many cities and towns they were kicked out of, they were to move onto the next one and continue to spread the gospel.  Do you plan to retire some day?  While you can certainly retire from your life's profession, you can never retire from Christianity.  Wherever you go after retirement, be sure to look for new opportunities to spread the gospel!

Now for the difficult part of this verse:  The stipulation that the apostles would not visit all the towns of Israel "before the Son of Man comes." 

It seems rather clear that the phrase does not refer to the first missionary journey that the apostles are about to embark on.  That mission is covered in full in verse 5-15.  The culmination of that journey was a pronouncement of final judgment on those who reject the gospel message.

It also seems rather clear that beginning in verse 16 Jesus is looking forward in time to future events/missions.  So at some future time (future to the apostles at the time of Jesus), there would be difficult persecutions; the question is what constitutes the end of these events?  What is meant by the phrase "Before the Son of Man comes?"  

Some scholars believe it refers to the judgment of Israel and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.  Some believe the phrase has dual meanings and that it not only refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, but also refers to an event still further in the future – the second coming of Christ.  

Rather than spending a lot of time arguing one way or another, I think our time would best be spent concentrating on the 'here and now'.  Let's be about our master's business today and let tomorrow take care of itself.  

Matthew 10:24-25 – "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household."

Beelzebul or Beelzebub was the name given to one of the false gods of the Philistines.  It meant 'the god of flies', so called because this idol was supposed to protect the Philistines from the numerous swarms of flies common in their land.  Among the Jews the name signified 'the god of filth' and was esteemed as the lowest and most offensive of all the idol gods.  By giving this name to Jesus, they were pouring out upon him the greatest possible abuse and contempt. 

According to this scripture, what evil men have said and done to Jesus, they will certainly not hesitate to say and do to his disciples.  This includes all manner of suffering and shame up to and including physical death.

However, in Luke 12:4 Jesus tells us not to be afraid of those who can kill the body, but after that have no more that they can do!  God has guaranteed our place in heaven; no man can change that!  

This is the end of today's post.  Normally, I try to give you some words of encouragement, relief and strength for your daily walk in Christ.  But this week, I would like to do something a little different. 

According to OpenDoorsUSA.org, 11 Christians are killed every day for their decision to follow Christ.  Instead of focusing on ourselves this week, can we commit to pray for Christians around the world who are facing some of the same persecutions that were endured by the apostles? 

Let's pray that God will give them an abundant provision of courage and faith as they bear witness to the gospel of Jesus.

Let's pray that governments who are hostile to the cause of Christ will be toppled and that Christianity will be embraced in these lands.

Let's pray that those who have been ostracized by their families will find love and support from other believers. 

Above all, let's pray that the name of Jesus will be lifted up in all lands, so that all men have an opportunity to know him and Lord and Savior!  

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-26-part-5/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 26:57 – Then those who had seized Jesus let him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

We have discussed the fact that the high priesthood still held on to some of their former judicial authority.  They could force any Jew to be brought before them for trial but they no longer had the authority to carry out capital punishment.  They were forced to pass judgment, and request that the ruling authorities administer the sentence.

We have also discussed the fact that at this time the office of the high priest was no longer passed from father to son.  It was now a position that was appointed by the Roman rulers.  Once a man held the office, he retained the title until he died.

Matthew tells us that Jesus was taken before Caiaphas, the current high priest.  However, John's gospel reveals that before seeing Caiaphas, Jesus was taken before Annas, the former high priest (John 18:13).  So Jesus stood before both of the living high priests of his day.

Why did the gospel writers bother to include this bit of information in their narratives?

Leviticus 17:5 - To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of meeting, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.

 According to the Old Testament Law, all sacrifices had to be presented to the priest before being killed.  This is exactly what was done to Jesus just before he was sacrificed for our sin.  He was presented to both men who had claim to the title of high priest.  Can there be any doubt that this was divinely mandated?  Can there be any doubt that Jesus is perfectly fulfilling his role as the Lamb of God?

Psalm 22:16 - For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Jesus' appearance before the council is a fulfillment of Psalms 22:16.  As we already noted in our study, 'dogs' was a term frequently used by the Jews to refer to Gentiles.  As Jesus was arrested by the Romans, he was surrounded by Gentiles. 

Further, the assembly of the Jewish leadership can certainly be described as an assembly of the wicked.   They had already met at this very same location for the purpose of plotting the death of Jesus (Matthew 26:3).  Now they eagerly meet again in the dead of night in order to carry out their evil plans.  Truth and justice are nowhere to be found; these leaders had already determined to kill and destroy the one who threatened their positions in Jewish society and religion.

Matthew 26:58 – And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.

In this verse we see Peter's desire to be near Jesus and to be a witness of what would happen to him.  He still had a degree of love and concern for Jesus but it was a mere spark, not a blazing light in the darkness.   

The scripture tells us that Peter followed Jesus at a distance.  Why?  What caused that?  Actually, it was a combination of factors.

First, he allowed himself to have a high degree of self confidence and even pride. He was in the 'inner circle' of the apostles.  He was frequently the leader of the group.  Peter probably thought that when Jesus came into his kingdom, he would receive a place of honor, perhaps even the highest office in the kingdom. 

This self confidence and pride led him to trust in his flesh.  For example, Peter made an extremely bold commitment to be faithful to Jesus.  But since he was trusting in his flesh, he was unable to keep the promises that he made. 

To make matters worse, Peter was guilty of spiritual indolence or laziness.  Jesus told him to 'watch and pray', or to stay in constant communication and fellowship with God.  But Peter spent his time sleeping.  Thus, he was unprepared when the time of testing came.

Because he was spiritually unprepared, Peter's resolve/commitment to stay faithful to Jesus began to crumble with the threat of persecution. This resulted in fear.  Peter feared shame, contempt, persecution and bodily harm. 

Because of his fear, Peter no longer wanted to publicly identify with Christ.  That is why we find Peter 'following at a distance'.  It is also why we find him sitting in the courtyard with the servants and soldiers, instead of going into the court and standing with his Master during the trial.  In fact, fear will shortly cause Peter to deny even knowing Jesus.

He did not yet understand that spiritual warfare can only be fought in the spiritual realm, not in the fleshly realm.  He did not yet have access to baptism in the Holy Spirit which is the true source of spiritual power. 

So, the decision to 'follow at a distance' is actually a combination of choices that Peter made.     

What about you?  Are you following Jesus at a distance? 

Do you have a high degree of religious self confidence or pride?  When someone asks you if you are 'religious', how do you respond?  Do you offer church attendance and good works as evidence of salvation?  Do you feel that Christianity mainly entails following a list of rules and regulations about what you can and cannot do?

If so, you will tend to trust in your fleshly ability to keep those rules when the day of trouble comes.  But your fleshly resolve and commitment will crumble when faced with persecution.  Because you are spiritually unprepared, your resolve will be replaced by fear.

Then, like Peter, you will find yourself no longer wanting to publicly identify with Christ.  You will follow at a distance, hanging out with worldly people, instead of facing trials with Jesus.  You may even find yourself denying his name!  

It is spiritually dangerous to follow Jesus at a distance.  True safety lies in being as close to Christ as possible.  Don't be a lazy Christian!  Maintain an intimate relationship with him every day through prayer, praise and studying the word.  Put on the sword of the Spirit.  Practice using your shield of faith.  Never go into battle alone – always trust in the Holy Spirit to go with you and direct the battle.  He will give you the victory and the courage to stand in every situation.  

Then your love and commitment to Jesus will cease to be just a spark and turn into a torch that blazes in a world of spiritual darkness, pointing others to Christ.   

Matthew 26:59-60 – Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.  At last two came forward…

The court calls forth witnesses as if they were honestly seeking the truth, but it is merely a charade.  They have already condemned Jesus and they will do anything within their power to convict him.  If the testimony/evidence has to be fabricated, then so be it. 

The main charges they wished to pin on Jesus were false doctrine and blasphemy. 

They wanted to prove his doctrine as false because it was directly opposed to their own.  If people believed the teachings of Jesus, they would soon abandon the authority of the Scribes and Pharisees.  Thus, these wicked men would lose the power and earthly glory which they had tirelessly labored to obtain. 

They also wanted to prove evidence of blasphemy, because this charge carried the death penalty with it.  (Also, if blasphemy could be proved, they would automatically use that as grounds to discard his doctrine).  If they could make a case for blasphemy, then they could petition the Romans to kill Christ.  And in their tiny minds, if Christ were to be crucified then eventually everyone would forget about him, and life would return to 'normal'.   

Many liars were willing to come forth in an effort to give false evidence.  The bible does not say whether the Jewish rulers offered them money or privileges to do so, but I suspect that this was the case.  If there was no benefit for them, why would they lie? 

At any rate, their stories did not hold up.  They could not piece together any kind of a case that was believable or consistent.  The stories of the witnesses did not fit together or agree.  This was a problem because the Law required two witnesses to establish a case (Deuteronomy 19:15). 

Of course, we know that there was no proof of guilt because Jesus was innocent!   

Matthew 26:61 - …and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'"

Finally, two false witnesses come forward using the tactic that Satan has used since the original temptation of mankind – the half truth.  How often does the enemy twist and pervert the words of God for his own foul purposes!  Woe to us if we don't know the difference! 

Back in the Garden of Eden, the serpent twisted the words of God to entice Eve into sin, and he was successful.  He now uses the same tactic here.  Mark records it this way:

Mark 14:56-58 – For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.  And some stood up and bore false witness against him saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"

The witnesses twisted or misrepresented the words that Jesus had spoken.  When phrased this way, you can see how the Jews could charge Jesus with using Satanic powers to create a physical temple in just three days – a project that had taken man 46 years to restore/rebuild.  But this is what Jesus actually said that day:

John 2:19-21 – Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."  The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"  But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

Of course, Jesus was speaking about his body.  After his resurrection, God would no longer live in a temple made with hands, but in the heart of mankind.

2 Corinthians 6:16 - …For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

When was the last time you took a minute to really consider this verse?  God Almighty, the creator of the universe and ruler of all things, wants to live with you, in your very heart!  He wants to be your constant companion and guide.  He desires your fellowship.  Hallelujah!

Matthew 26:62-63 – And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make?  What is it that these men testify against you?"  But Jesus remained silent.  And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

It seems as if the high priest was expecting Jesus to offer some long, elaborate, drawn out defense.  But Jesus disappoints that expectation with his silence.  Indeed, this was the most effective and appropriate reply that he could have offered. The accusations against him were false and frivolous.  His works and his teachings, which were all done publicly, were a sufficient defense.  No verbal reply could have been so effective.

Besides that, nothing Jesus said would have changed the intentions of the religious leaders.  They had already made up their minds to condemn him; a war of words would serve no purpose.    

His silence, however, did have a purpose.  It was a fulfillment of prophesy:

Isaiah 53:7 – He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not is mouth.

Caiaphas is puzzled and angry at the silence of Jesus.  In his fury, he adjures or puts Jesus under an oath, to give a response to his question: 

Are you or are you not the Messiah, the Son of God?

The answer to this question will put an end to the trial and give Caiaphas grounds for decisive action.  Caiaphas had no doubt heard Jesus refer to God as his Father.  So based on his answer to this question, Caiaphas will either declare him an imposter or a blasphemer. 

Even though he was wicked and did not understand what he was doing, Caiaphas clearly and concisely asks the most important question ever placed before mankind throughout history.

Is Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Son of God, or not? 

This is a question that each and every human being must ask themselves.  The answer to this question will give us grounds for decisive action. 

If Jesus IS NOT the Messiah and Son of God, then he can (and should) be ignored, ridiculed, hated and despised.  His word should be cast aside and banned for it provides a false hope to those in desperate need.   

However, if Jesus IS the Messiah/Christ, then he is able to save.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  He is our high priest, forever.  He is the mediator of the New Covenant.  He has a right to call us to himself and expect us to loyally follow and honor him. 

If Jesus IS the Son of God, then he is divine and possesses divine power, wisdom and authority.  Therefore, he can be completely and utterly trusted in all circumstances.  He cannot fail.  He is always faithful.  He is always victorious.  He is worthy to be loved with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. 

How will you answer this very important question?  Is Jesus Christ the Messiah and Son of God?  How does your answer influence the way you live your life?

Matthew 26:64 – Jesus said to him, "You have said so.  But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus did not bother to respond to the ridiculous accusations brought against him earlier.  However, when asked point blank to acknowledge that he is the Messiah, the Son of God, he speaks boldly and clearly – Yes, I am! 

Not only does he acknowledge that he is the Messiah, he draws a contrast between his first and second comings.  When Jesus uttered these words, he was standing before the high priest, in bonds.  He was soaked with sweat and tears from the events in the garden of Gethsemane.  His feet were dusty and dirty from walking.  He carried the weight of our sin with him.  Humbly he appeared in court as a criminal, already judged to be guilty.  The religious leaders scorned and despised him based on his appearance and on their own misguided rage.  They refused to acknowledge him as the Author of Salvation.

But hereafter, they would have the all the proof of his divinity that they needed.  Almost immediately they would know that he had risen from the dead.  They would hear and know that he had ascended into heaven in the clouds.  He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit and birth his church.  They would witness the spread of the gospel to all nations.  But that was not all!

They will also see him return to earth in the clouds, adorned with his royal power.  They will witness his magnificent splendor.  They will behold him sitting at the right hand of Almighty God (Power). 

They will discover that Jesus is more than just the Son of God, he is also the Son of Man – the righteous judge will execute judgment on the wicked (Daniel 7:13-14) and establish his everlasting kingdom.            

The religious leaders missed their chance to accept Jesus as Messiah and Lord, but if you are reading this right now, it is not too late for you!  Make things right between you and Jesus immediately.  Make sure that when Jesus returns clothed in his divine majesty and authority, you are one of his loyal subjects.  Do not wait!

Matthew 26:65 – Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy.  What further witnesses do we need?  You have now heard his blasphemy."

The statement of Jesus was exactly what Caiaphas was looking for.   He now has reason to act.  According to the high priest, Jesus had incriminated himself by claiming under oath to be the true Messiah, the Son of God. 

Of course, it would not be a problem for the REAL Messiah to make such a claim, but the religious leaders would never, ever admit that Jesus was the Christ.    

So, based on Jesus' claim, Caiaphas declares Jesus to be guilty of the sin of blasphemy, and he tears his clothing as a sign against it. 

Because the alleged statement of blasphemy was made in front of the whole gathering, no further witnesses were needed to pronounce sentence, as long as everyone agreed on the charge.   

Sadly, we see how justice and fairness were perverted by the highest court in the Jewish culture.  As high priest, Caiaphas should have consulted the Old Testament scriptures to see what they had to say about the Messiah.  Then, he should have compared the words and actions of Jesus to the law/prophesies.  Once this was done, each member of the council should have had a chance to express an opinion, beginning with the most junior member and ending with Caiaphas, who would render the final decision.

Instead, in the midst of bitter hatred and jealousy, Caiaphas takes on the role of accuser, judge and now jury.  He denounces Jesus a blasphemer in front of all the other members of the council, then pretends to ask their opinion, as if he had not yet made up his mind.  

In reality, he knew full well that his power and authority would sway the other members to side with him.  So he pronounces his judgment first, presuming that the outer council members will agree with him – and they did.

It was customary among the Jews to tear their clothing as a sign of violent grief (Genesis 37:34).  It was also a sign used to express horror at anything deemed blasphemous or impious (2 Kings 18:37).

As high priest, Caiaphas had two different sets of clothing.  He had very unique and beautiful ceremonial clothing that was to be worn in the temple as he fulfilled his role as the high priest.  These clothes could never be intentionally torn (Leviticus 21:10).

He also had ordinary garments which were worn when he was not serving in the temple; this would have been the garment torn during this mock trial. 

Matthew 26:66 – "What is your judgment?  They answered, "He deserves death."

The other members concur with the judgment – Jesus is guilty; according to the Law he deserves to die. 

Certainly, not all of the official ruling body agreed with this decision.  Joseph of Arimathea certainly would not have, neither would Nicodemus.  However, it is unclear whether these men were present at this meeting, for it was held illegally.  Specifically, it was held at the house of the high priest (instead of the temple), during the night (it was illegal to meet at night), without the full council being present (we assume).

The charge of blasphemy and the sentence of death made Jesus an automatic outlaw among the people.  The council may have hoped that the people would engage in a mob mentality and stone Jesus (as they did to Stephen).  If not, they would take him before the Roman governor and request death.

Matthew 26:67-68 – Then they spit in his face and struck him.  And some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"

Because they did not have the power to put Jesus to death, and because they could not be sure that the Romans would agree to be their executioner, they would abuse Jesus as much as possible while they had him in their power. 

Between the time that this meeting ended and the one at daybreak began, Jesus was subject to cruel torture by the Jews, the Roman guards and the servants of the court.   

Condemned prisoners are normally taken under special protection of the law and treated with compassion; their impending death is sufficient punishment.  But in this case, the Jews not only acted as though Jesus deserved death, they also denied him the compassion shown to the worst criminals in society.

They made a demonic sport of torturing Jesus, just as the Philistines had done to Sampson.

Isaiah 50:6 - I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked out the beard: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.  

Spitting in someone's face is an expression of the greatest contempt and insult possible.  The face of our dear Savior was abused in the most filthy way by the cruelest and most vile of men. 

As if that were not despicable enough, according to the gospel of Mark (14:65), they blindfolded Jesus, and then began to slap and punch him in the mouth.  As they did so, they mocked him by asking him to divinely reveal who had hit him!  This depraved and degenerate mob freely abused Jesus; no one came to his aid.

Thus, our Lord and Savior was placed into the hands of his own wicked creatures, falsely accused by the witnesses, unjustly condemned by his judges and barbarously insulted by all!  Yet, he patiently submitted to this treatment without saying a single word.   

Matthew 26:69-70 – Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.  And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."  But he denied it before them all saying, "I do not know what you mean."

Remember Peter?  Remember how confidently he declared that he would never forsake Jesus, no matter what happened?  Here is the record of how that turned out. 

Here was a chance for Peter to prove that he could do as he claimed.  Here was a chance to stand up for his Master.  Here was a chance for him to point out the injustice of what was being done to Jesus.  But as we would expect, his flesh fails him.  He does not have the courage to stand up for the truth.

Notice that Peter is sitting in the courtyard, outside the hall.  He is not facing the high priest or the Sanhedrin.  He is not facing a band of armed soldiers.  He is not facing death or even arrest.  In fact, he is terrified into denying Jesus by the voice of an insignificant servant girl, who carries no power or authority. 

This shows us how little confidence we should have in our flesh.  If our confidence and strength are not in God, if we do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit to provide strength and boldness to us, we too will fall in the slightest trial of our faith.

Matthew 26:71-72 – And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."  And again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man." 

Scholars point to this passage of scripture (Matthew 26:69-75) as an indirect proof that the Bible is true.  If the gospel were the invention of man, we would not see one of Jesus' disciples portrayed in such a weak and vile manner. 

This passage also shows that Peter reaped exactly what he had sown.

• He sowed self confidence – He depended on himself rather than God.

• He sowed indolence (he was apathetic/lazy) – Jesus told him to watch and pray, but he slept.

• He planted seeds of compromise – He followed Jesus 'far off' rather than closely.

• He planted himself in wicked company – Instead of being with Jesus, he was with the unbelieving crowd outside the court.

Based on what he planted, how can he be surprised when he reaps a fall from grace? 

What are you planting in your spiritual life right now?  Self confidence, apathy, compromise?  Or are you planting prayer, the word and hearing the call of the Spirit of God?

Today is the day to prepare for the storms of tomorrow.  Sow into the kingdom.  Invest in your relationship to God.  Then, when the day of trouble comes, you will be able to stand.

Matthew 26:73-74 – After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you."   Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man."  And immediately the rooster crowed.    

Although Peter has denied it, those around him are convinced that he is one of the followers of Jesus.  He has been spotted by eye witnesses.  Peter has a Galilean accent, and it was well known that some of the apostles were Galilean. 

But even in the face of this evidence, Peter does not want to confess it.  He further slides into sin by cursing himself and possibly even Jesus.

Here is a lesson for us:  A bold and open confession of Christ edifies all the godly, and puts unbelievers to shame.  On the other hand, if we deny Christ before the weak, they are shaken by our example and fall away.  Isn't it true that we bear at least part if not most of the responsibility for the damage done to the faith of others by our actions?

Secondly, the church and the world are sometimes shocked by the sudden fall or misconduct of a renowned Christian.  As we noted, their fall will certainly cause other Christians to fall.  Their fall will cause the wicked to rejoice. 

If we could go back and find the root cause of their fall, it would surely be a private departure from God.  Men drift away from God and fall in private long before they fall in public. 

Matthew 26:75 – And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."  And he went out and wept bitterly.

I willingly admit that I love happy endings.  I hate reading a good book, only to find that the main character dies or winds up unsatisfied at the end of the story.

This narrative seems to have a very sad ending for Peter, but in reality, the opposite is true.  It is a happy ending because God does not abandon Peter to his sin.  Instead, God calls him back to himself.

God can and will use anything to get our attention.  In this case, the crowing of the rooster meant nothing to anyone else who heard it, but to Peter it was a call to repentance. The crowing of that rooster brought to mind something that Peter had forgotten or ignored – the words of Jesus.  Even though Peter had been overpowered by temptation and fallen into sin, God did not forsake him.  In fact, he wanted him back. 

Peter saw only his failure at that moment, but God saw the miracle that Peter would become – a strong, vibrant, Spirit filled apostle of Christ, who would help to establish the church.

Let me offer you some relief and encouragement:

God saw Peter's failure at that moment in the courtyard of the high priest.  But he also saw what Peter would become in the future, after he had repented and allowed the Holy Spirit to empower him for service.  God saw that Peter would write books of the bible, help establish the church and its doctrine, and that he would be the first Jew to take the gospel to the Gentiles!

Maybe your recent walk with Christ has not been all that great.  Maybe you have not yet fulfilled the task that God as set before you.  The good news is that today is not the end!  You too can be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.  So talk to Jesus TODAY.  See what God will do through you tomorrow!

Let me offer you some strength:

Sometimes, evil looks overwhelming.  It looks like good never triumphs.  But that is just an illusion.  You may not see everything that God is doing behind the scenes of your life (and the world), but I assure you he is working!  He is making all things work together for your good.  So be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10)!  Arm yourself for spiritual battle and watch as the Lord fights darkness through you!   

 

 

 

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-9-part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 9:1 – And getting into the boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

At the close of chapter 8, after Jesus set the demon possessed men free, the people of the town asked him to depart from their city.  What a sad commentary!  In other towns the people flocked to see demonstrations of the power of God.  In this one, they wanted nothing to do with it.  They wanted to remain bound in their sin.  They were satisfied with the status quo.   

It is the same with us today.  God does not force himself into the life of anyone.  If a person wants Jesus to leave him alone, Jesus will do so.  But be assured that He desires to be a part of your life.

Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I [Jesus] stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus is knocking on your door right now…will you open to Him or send him away?

Matthew 9:2 –And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed.  And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

This passage seems a bit confusing, doesn't it?  There can be no doubt that the man and his friends were looking for physical healing.  So at first glance, Jesus' response to the paralytic seems to be something different than what the man was requesting.  But what He is really doing is using this situation as a teaching moment for mankind.

In this instance, Jesus begins the man's healing by revealing its root cause – sin.  The sorrows and sufferings of human life are the consequence of sin.  People who don't know God often blame him for the suffering they see in the world. But God is not the author of the terrible suffering and injustices we see in this generation. Man brought these situations on himself when he rejected God and allowed Satan to have spiritual authority over the world.

When Jesus came to earth, he came to destroy Satan's hold on mankind by providing atonement for sin.  Because of his death and resurrection, we are reunited to God and the works of the devil, such as sickness and disease, can be destroyed.

1 John 3:8 - … For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus used this man's healing to reveal a spiritual principle to us:  Because sin is the root cause of all evil, our first step towards relief is to restore our relationship to God by asking Him to forgive our sins.   We must be in right relationship to God before we can seek relief from the bondages of Satan.  Once we are a child of God, we have the right to ask our Father to intervene in our lives and destroy/remove the effects of sin which include sickness and disease.  This is a lesson the world does not understand.

The paralytic and his friends demonstrate a second spiritual principle for us:  Faith and works go hand in hand.  Both are required to see a miracle.

The men had faith to believe that Jesus could heal, but faith is only part of the key to unlocking a miracle.  You also need action.

James 2:17 – So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

What action did they take?  They packed up their friend, left home, and went to find Jesus.  They could have given up when the saw how big the crowd was, but they didn't.  Instead, they took their friend to the roof and lowered him down in front of Jesus (see Mark 2:3-12 and Luke 5:18-26).  Their faith and actions worked together to ignite the miracle.

Look at other miracles from the Bible and you will clearly see this principle:

Assuming that faith was present, what action did the people take when Lazarus was raised from the dead?  They rolled the stone away from his tomb, even though logic told them his body was already rotting.

Assuming faith was present, what actions did people take when Jesus turned the water into wine?  They had to fill the jars with water and take a cup to the master of ceremonies, even though it was still just water at that point.

Assuming faith was present, how did Naamen get healed of his leprosy?  He had to physically go and dip himself 7 times in the Jordan.

Take a moment to recall some of your own spiritual experiences.  Start with your own salvation.  Remember when you felt the powerful draw and conviction of the Holy Spirit?  Isn't it true that you took some action to receive Jesus?  It might have been raising your hand in a church service, or standing to your feet to show your commitment, or praying with an evangelist who was giving an altar call on TV.

Whatever the situation, it was your faith mixed with action that produced the miracle of your salvation.  What other examples can you give?

Matthew 9:3 - And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."

One of the definitions of blasphemy is the application of divine attributes and prerogatives to anyone other than God.  (This was the basis for most of the charges of blasphemy that the Jews brought against Jesus).

For example, the Jews correctly believed that only God could grant people eternal life.  So in John 10:28-33, when Jesus tells the Jews that he will give his sheep eternal life, he was revealing himself as the Son of God.  Since the Jews believed he was just a man, they accused him of blasphemy.

The Jews also correctly believed that only God can forgive sins.  So in our current study, when Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic man, he was in essence saying he was God.  Since the Jews completely rejected the idea that he was God in any way, shape or form, they once again accused him of blasphemy.

Incidentally, according to Old Testament law, the punishment for blasphemy was death (see Leviticus 24:16).  This is the law the Jews referred to when Jesus was before Pilate:

John 19:7 - The Jews answered him [Pilate], 'We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God'.

Essentially, it was the charge of blasphemy that the Jews stood upon to have Jesus crucified.

Matthew 9:4 - But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

In order to know a man's thoughts, you would need the ability to search his heart.  These are things that only God has the power to do.  So simply by asking this question, Jesus once again reveals to the Jewish leaders that he is indeed the Son of God.  This second revelation of his person seems to have completely gone over their heads.

The Jews had already made up their minds about who the Messiah should be and how he should act.  Since Jesus did not fit their preconceived ideas, they rejected him despite all the evidence he presented to them, which proved that he was God.

What about you and me?  Do we have preconceived ideas about how God should act or move in our midst?  If the Holy Spirit moves in a way that is new to us, will we embrace His divinity and yield to him?  Or will we be modern day Pharisees and reject him despite the evidence that He loves us and wants to do a good work in our lives?

Matthew 9:5 – "For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say 'Rise and walk'"? 

Jesus' authority in the physical realm demonstrates or bears witness to his authority in the spiritual realm.  Since he is God, it is equally simple to forgive sin and to heal.

Matthew 9:6-7 – "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" – he then said to the paralytic – "Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home.

As we look at this encounter between Jesus, the paralytic and the religious leaders, it is easy to perceive that there is more going on than just a physical healing.

Why did Jesus heal the paralytic in this manner?  Because he wanted to do more than just heal this man's physical ailment.  He wanted to teach us all that the greatest and most amazing miracle is the forgiveness of sins.  It trumps every other miracle.  As amazing as healing is, it only lasts until we die, but forgiveness of sin has eternal ramifications.  It's a miracle that God has prepared for each and every one of us!

Also, keep in mind that restoration of our relationship with God is the first step in breaking all other bondages and attacks of the enemy.

Matthew 9:8 – When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Take another look at the miracle of your salvation.  Then take a few moments this week to give God glory for it!

Matthew 9:9 – As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

I don't know about you, but the Internal Revenue Service is not one of my favorite government branches.  However, it is possible to dislike the IRS as a nameless, faceless government entity without attacking anyone who works there on a personal level.

This was not the case back in the time of Matthew.  Back then, the Romans would levy taxes against all people, including the Jews.  But you didn't just send them a check in the mail or give them your debit card.  There were real people who collected the taxes.

So tax collectors had a reputation of being greedy cheaters.  People didn't like them.  To make matters worse, the Romans would often employ Jews to be tax collectors.  It was bad enough paying taxes to the overlords you despised, but to have one of your fellow countrymen cheat you as well was adding insult to injury.  The Jewish tax collectors irritated the other Jews just by existing!

So here we find Matthew, the writer of this gospel, being employed as a tax collector.  Now to be fair, he may very well have been an honest one; we don't know.  However, just by being a tax collector, he would have been despised and outcast by his fellow Jews.

The scripture says he was sitting at his tax booth.  This indicates that he was probably located on the road between Damascus and the seaport of Phoenicia.  So in addition to personal taxes, he probably collected custom taxes from imports and exports.

Now let's take a look at the really important part of this verse.  Jesus passes by his tax booth and calls Matthew to follow after him.  So Matthew got up and went.

Did you see the important part?

Matthew did not hesitate; he simply went where he was led.  He did not ask Jesus for all the details about where they were going and what was going to happen.  He didn't tell Jesus that he wanted to think about it first.  He did not stop and call his friends together to discuss it with them.  He didn't worry about what others might think.  He simply got up and followed Jesus.

Sometimes when God calls us to do something, we hesitate.  We want to know how it will work, who will help and where the money will come from.  We want make long term plans and discuss them with other people.  When all the while, Jesus just wants us to step out in faith and follow where he leads.

Oftentimes when we hesitate we suddenly find hundreds of reasons why things won't work out.  We invent many excuses for not doing what Jesus asked us to do.  Soon fear sets in.  Next, we begin to look at how unqualified we are to do the work.  At this point, we talk ourselves out of doing whatever it was.  We question whether we heard God's voice at all! 

Know this:  Hesitation is the crack that allows Satan to come in and derail our ministry before it even starts!  Don't give him the chance – when Jesus calls you, remember Matthew and step out immediately!

Matthew 9:10 – And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 

How much time elapses between verses 10 and 11?  While the biblical account appears as though the feast was on the same day that Matthew was called, this is probably not the case.  Then (as now) it took a lot of time and preparation to organize a large successful feast.  It may have been as long as 2-3 months between Matthew's call and his banquet in honor of Jesus. 

One possible (likely) scenario is that after Matthew's conversion, he handed his business off to others.  It may have been the occasion of his 'retirement' which prompted this feast.  The party afforded him an opportunity to honor his new master Jesus, while at the same time introducing many other tax collectors and sinners to the savior.  Thus we see a desire to highly esteem Jesus and bring salvation to his friends.

Interestingly, the word 'sinners' is a generic term used to describe people of ill repute or low moral character; it probably included heathens/Gentiles as well as Jews.  To invite Jewish sinners to this feast was shocking enough for the Pharisees, but to have Gentiles present as well – it was unimaginable!

Matthew 9:11 – And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

To eat and drink with someone implies intimacy with them.  The Pharisees are accusing Jesus of seeking out the company of the wicked.  The inference is that since Jesus is a companion or friend of the wicked, he too was a wicked man and therefore not who he claimed to be.  They believed that Jesus should separate himself from the wicked, not have fellowship with them.

Their accusations were also a sneak attack on the new disciples.  By questioning the motives and actions of their master, the Pharisees were attempting to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of the disciples.  Since the Pharisees could not contradict or defeat Jesus, they may have been seeking to destroy his ministry by turning his disciples against him.

Matthew 9:12 – But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Jesus firmly and immediately put a stop to the Pharisees attempt to discredit him and drive a wedge between him and his disciples.

In the physical realm, a doctor is among sick people not because he himself is sick, but because he is ministering to the sick.  In the spiritual realm, Jesus is among the spiritually sick not because he himself is spiritually sick, but because he is ministering to the spiritually sick.

In fact, this was the supreme reason Jesus came to earth!  He came to rescue us from hell.  He came to take slaves and make them sons and daughters of the kingdom.  He came to take our scarlet sins and make them white as snow.  He came to give us beauty for ashes and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  He came to bear our shame and reproach, clothing us in his righteousness.  He came to transform us into a new creation; old things having passed away and all things have become new!

Yes, the publicans and sinners at that party were spiritually disgusting, but no more so than you and I and the Pharisees!  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God; thanks be to God that Jesus came to die for the sins of us all!  Unfortunately, the Pharisees were so consumed by pride and hypocrisy they did not recognize that they themselves were also sick!

Matthew 9:13 - Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'  For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, a scripture the religious leaders should have been very familiar with.  In this passage God reminds his people that he is more pleased with acts of kindness and benevolence than he is with the outward compliance of religious duty.   Throughout scripture we see that God is always more interested in what is in your heart (including your motivations), than your actions.

True, the Pharisees were outwardly holy/compliant.  They tithed and they fasted and they never missed a religious sacrifice or feast.  But for all that, they were still far from the kingdom of heaven because their hearts were not right before God.  They were full of hypocrisy and pride.  This was evident in their actions; they had no interest in helping other sinners become more righteous, in fact they did all they could to condemn those who were already lost. 

Sadly, by thinking themselves already righteous, they did not recognize that they too were in need of Jesus.  So while the sinners they scorned received eternal life, they lost it!  How do we react to the lost?  Do we have compassion for those who need the savior or do we distance ourselves from those who are spiritually sick because we don't want to be associated with them?

Matthew 9:14 – Then the disciples of John came to him saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?"

At this time, John the Baptist was in prison.  That left his disciples in a state of transition.  Would John be released from prison or should they follow Jesus, whom John himself named as the Messiah?  It is most likely that at this vulnerable time the Pharisees approached the disciples of John in an effort to turn them against Jesus.  They are probably the ones who first approached John's disciples asking why Jesus and his followers did not fast. 

Again, they were up to their old tricks – trying to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus into the hearts and minds of those who were truly seeking God.  They were probably attempting to have the disciples of John join their 'side' in their conflict with Jesus.

You know, there are no questions too hard to bring to God. If someone tells you that God is unjust or cruel for some reason, or you think he failed you for some reason, why not ask him about it?  If we approach him humbly and respectfully, earnestly seeking the truth, God will answer us just as Jesus took the time to answer John's disciples.

Matthew 9:15 – And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Jesus gave an answer that was tailored specifically to John's followers.  It builds on John's words in chapter 3 verse 29:

John 3:28-29 – You yourselves bear me witness, that I [John] said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

Jesus is the bridegroom, while the church is his bride.  Since weddings are seasons of rejoicing, those who are with the bridegroom do not fast or mourn; that would be totally inappropriate actions for a wedding.  However, when the bridegroom is absent, then the wedding guests will mourn.

So, since Jesus was with his disciples, it was a period of rejoicing not mourning.  Once Jesus returned to heaven, there would be plenty of occasions for fasting.  Stated another way, the disciples of Jesus were not yet under a dispensation that called for fasting.  

Matthew 9:16 – "No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment and a worse tear is made."

This illustration demonstrates the difference between the Old covenant (the old garment) and the New covenant (the unshrunk cloth).  The Jews were happy with the old garment/covenant because it was familiar and comfortable. In fact, it was all they had known since their nation was formed.  Also, the Jews as a whole were under the false impression that religious life should always manifest itself in precisely the same way in every generation.  As a result, they were reluctant (to say the least) to accept the new and amazing blessings God had in store for them. 

But Jesus makes it plain that the two covenants could not be successfully combined.  Therefore, Jews and Gentiles alike needed to accept the new covenant and embrace the new move of God in their generation.

Matthew 9:17 – "Neither is new wine put into old wineskins.  If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed.  But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Back in the day, wine containers were made of sheep or goat skins.  When new, they could stretch and expand with the fermentation process of the new wine.  But over time, they would lose this flexibility and become stiffened with age.  If you tried to contain new wine with old wineskins, the disaster would be total – the skins would burst and the wine would be lost.  

In the same way, the old wineskin of Judaism had become hardened and inflexible over time.  It was made even more narrow and stiff by the efforts of the Pharisees and rabbis.  There is no way that Judaism could contain or hold the fresh power of Christianity.  It was not pliable enough to hold unlimited quantities of grace and forgiveness.  It was not flexible enough to contain the power of the Holy Spirit being poured out into every man and woman who wanted it.  Total access to the presence of God by sinful man was enough to shatter it.  Only a new wineskin could hold all that God is doing in the church age!

So let me offer you a little encouragement:  God never contradicts his word. That is a fact.  However, that does not mean that he can never move or manifest himself in a new way.  The religious leaders back in Jesus day often missed the move of God because it was not the same as it had been in the past.  Like the healing of the paralytic, they rejected it because it was not what they expected.

Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I [God] will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?

What about us?  Can we allow the Holy Spirit to move in a new way in our lives and church services?  I encourage you to yield to the move of the Spirit, even if it is new to you.  Release yourself to Him and experience the new things he desires to do for you and through you!

Let me offer you a little relief:  God has not changed; He is still in the miracle business.  The healing of the paralytic did not drain all his power!  Take a moment right now and remember the miracle of your salvation.  Then consider this:  If God was willing to give up his only Son for you, why would he withhold any other good thing from you?  If he has already given you his best and most precious thing, why would he refuse you something of less value?

Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Psalms 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.  No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

That thought should really strengthen your faith!  Now take that faith and add some action to it.  Expect God to move in your situation in miraculous ways!

Let me offer you some strength:  Jesus is our bridegroom and he has promised to return to earth and take us to himself.  Sometimes, in the course of life's difficulties and disappointments, we forget this promise.  Sometimes we grow weary in the battle, but right now take a few minutes and strengthen yourself through praise and worship.  You are on the winning side!  One day, God will fulfill all the promises he made; one day he will take us to be with him where there is no more sin, struggle, pain or tears!  Hallelujah!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-8-part-2/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 8:18 – Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.

Why would Jesus walk away from the crowd?  There may have been multiple reasons:

Though Jesus was the true Son of God, he was also limited by his humanness.  He could not minister 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  He had to have some time to eat and rest for the sake of his physical body.

Going to the other side of the lake was one way to curb the enthusiasm of the people.  You see, the crowds loved the ministry of Jesus. They loved the physical things he could provide (food, healing) and they recognized his authority.  They were so enthralled, they sometimes wanted to make him king, which Jesus could not allow.

Finally, there were opportunities on the other side of the lake to heal and share the gospel message as well.  Jesus could not just stay in one place for three years.

Matthew 8:19-20 – And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

The request of the scribe to follow Jesus seems like a holy and righteous one.  Why do you suppose Jesus did not encourage him to come?

Scholars feel that Jesus saw his request as a sudden impulse, rather than a well thought out, calculated decision.  The scribe may have been carried away by the excitement of the moment, and if that was the case, he did not yet have the depth/root in Christ to continue.  He would have fallen away from the faith during times of persecution or danger or hardship.  To allow the scribe to go on the road with Jesus would have been tantamount to setting him up for failure.

God never sets us up to fail.  He has a perfect plan for every life.  The scribe needed to mature spiritually; he was not yet ready for the next level. As he matured, he would have the opportunity to reach the people of his home town with the gospel message. Perhaps that was God's plan for his life all along!

Only God knows the future for certain.  Sometimes we don't understand why things happen the way they do, but we can be sure that God is always at work in our best interest.

Matthew 8:21-22 – Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

The prior example showed a disciple (the scribe) who was attempting to rush into ministry without being called.  In this case, the disciple has delayed stepping into ministry long after the call has been given.

Why has he delayed?  Either his father is already dead and he wishes to remain at home to pay his last respects, or (more likely) his father is very old but still alive and the disciple wishes to remain with him until death.

As in the case of the scribe, this appears to be a righteous and noble thing to do, but Jesus steers him in a different direction.  In fact, Jesus was admonishing this particular disciple to follow him immediately.  Why the urgency?

Consider this:  If he delayed any longer, he may have become entangled with other responsibilities or situations at home that he could never have foreseen.  These added cares may have prevented him from ever stepping out into ministry.  If this was his time to step out in faith, then to delay meant to risk certain failure.

Again, I want to point out that God has a perfect plan for each individual and He does not set us up to fail.  He sets us up to be victorious, but we need to listen to his voice and obey what we hear.

The admonition to step into immediate service in the kingdom is followed by another strong statement; namely, to let the [spiritually] dead bury the [physically] dead.  In other words, the disciple who has a call on his life needs to step out immediately and begin to labor.  Those who pay no attention to spiritual things can take care of the routine duties of life.

Matthew 8:23-24 – And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.

The sea in question is the sea of Tiberias also called the Sea of Galilee. It is an inland lake at the foot of mountains.  Because of its location, it is subject to sudden, strong squalls.

Meanwhile, a sudden squall kicked up and threatened to sink the ship.  This combination of events provided an opportunity to test the faith of the disciples.

Matthew 8:25-26 – And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing."  And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"  Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

How did they do in the trial?  Well, Jesus isn't exactly patting them on the back saying, 'well done', is he?  In fact, Jesus chastises them a little, wondering at their lack of faith.

What could they have done differently?  For starters, it was certainly okay for them to recognize that there was a problem. When difficulties arise, they should never be ignored.  But once they first saw the problem, they should have reached down, grabbed their faith, and then prayed, believing that God was listening and watching over them.

Instead, they recognized the problem, and then kept looking at it until fear took over and faith was totally banished from their lives.  Then, in desperation, they woke Jesus up to help them.

Here is a truth that you might find helpful:  The more you look at your problems, the bigger they become and the smaller God and his power seems to be.  However, if you train yourself to concentrate on God as soon as the problem surfaces, it will cause your faith to rise up and your problems to shrink to an appropriate size.

Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment…

When you exercise your faith in prayer, you touch the throne of God and he comes to fight your battles for you!  In this way, no weapon of the enemy can succeed against you, unless you allow it!

Mathew 8:27 – And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

This was obviously not the first miracle the disciples had seen.  We know they had witnessed Jesus healing many people.  But this miracle was different. No man could ever command the elements of nature, yet Jesus had just done it!  It was a demonstration of Jesus' dominion over all of creation. This miracle created wonder, amazement and reverence for Christ.  It more fully revealed the divinity of Jesus to his disciples.

Matthew 8:28 – And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.

After safely arriving at the other side of the lake, two demon possessed men meet Jesus and his followers.  They are described as 'coming out of the tombs'.  In our day, that evokes images of zombies rising up out of the ground, but that isn't what Matthew meant.

The New Testament Jews buried their dead in caves or man-made excavations in the sides of hills.  These were located far from cities.  This means that the demoniacs were taking shelter in one of these caves. Jewish law decreed that to touch a dead body made one ceremonially unclean.  No Jewish person would ever have gone into a burial chamber unless it was absolutely necessary.  To actually dwell in one would be a sign of insanity.

They are also described as being exceedingly fierce; they were often bound with chains and fetters which they broke off.  This suggests that they were uncontrolled, had exceptional power and their thoughts and actions were evil.  No wonder everyone avoided them!

Matthew 8:29 – And behold they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God?  Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

The fact that these men immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah, plus the strong fear that they displayed, are regarded as convincing evidence that they were indeed under an evil supernatural influence, as opposed to just being afflicted with some ordinary disease/illness.

The phrase 'what have you to do with us' should be interpreted as 'what right, rule or authority do you claim over us'.  This likely refers to the scriptures which state that at the end of the world God will judge the fallen angels (demons) and send them into everlasting torment.  This is again evidence of a spiritual interaction, rather than just a physical one.

Matthew 8:30-31 – Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.  And the demons begged him saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs."

Here we find evidence of the limited power of Satan.  A whole legion of demons did not have the power or authority to stand again Jesus, indeed, they did not even try.  Neither did they have the power or authority to destroy a herd of simple creatures (the swine).  While Satan's hatred is infinite, his power and authority are not!

Matthew 8:32 – and he said to them, "Go."  So they came out and went into the pigs and behold the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.

God does not perform evil at any time.  Yet, God will sometimes, as in this case, permit Satan to perform the evil he desires to do.  God will then use the evil actions of Satan for his own purposes.  Thus, God's authority over them is again displayed.

God allowed him to do so, then used the destruction of the swine as a test.  God's miraculous power to restore and heal had been clearly demonstrated.  Which would the townspeople value more – the swine or the healing of the demon possessed men?  Which did their hearts follow after – money or the power of God? 

Some may be tempted to complain that God allowed the townspeople to suffer loss.  However, the spiritual lessons learned here have been ministering to mankind for hundreds and hundreds of years!  This was a much better value to mankind than the few physical meals the pigs could have provided to the Romans of that day.  Spiritual life is eternal; physical life will pass away!

Matthew 8:33 – The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon possessed men.  And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Curiosity about these events led the people out to see Jesus.  But sadly, they did not want to be a part of the kingdom of Heaven.  They could have listened to Jesus teach.  They could have brought out their sick and afflicted for Jesus to heal.  They could have repented, entered into the kingdom of Heaven and in turn sent out messengers of the good news/gospel message, but they did not.

What held them back?  Perhaps it was the love of money and possessions.  Perhaps they loved the comfort of the status quo, and did not want anything to change their routine.

Do you have fear about the power of God moving on your life?  Do you fear the moving of the Holy Spirit?  Are you afraid to let God minister to you in a supernatural way that you have never before seen or experienced?

If this is an area where you experience trepidation, let me offer you this scripture:

Luke 11:11-13 – What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

The working and manifestation of the Holy Spirit are a gift and a blessing to our lives.  The Holy Spirit is not out to embarrass you or make fun of you.  He is there to bring the transforming power of God into your life.

We know that Jesus healed people by the power of the Holy Spirit.  So, consider the demoniacs.  Was the Holy Spirit there to mock them or embarrass them?  Of course not!  Did the Holy Spirit bring the transforming power of God into their lives?  Yes!  Were they better off before or after their encounter with the supernatural touch of God?  I think most of us would agree they were better off after the touch of the Holy Spirit.

Will you open up your heart and life to a new move of the Holy Spirit?  God guarantees that it will be a good thing!

So let me offer you a dose of encouragement and relief:  Maybe God is NOT calling you into a foreign mission field.  Maybe he is NOT calling you to quit your job and go into full time ministry.  That is okay! It doesn't mean that you don't have value in the kingdom of Heaven. It doesn't mean that there is not a plan for you.  It doesn't mean that other people are better or more devout believers than you are; it just means that God has something perfect for you right where you are!  God needs people to serve him in the workplace and in the community as much as on foreign soil.  So don't be upset or feel inferior if God does not call you to a public work.  Minister where God has placed you!

Let me offer you some strength:  Are you the person that others look to for guidance and help?  Are you the one who must stay strong in the midst of crisis because your friends and family are depending on you to hold it all together?  That is an enormous and important load to carry.

Thankfully, you don't have to bear that burden with just your own strength.  The working of the Holy Spirit and his supernatural move upon our lives is a gift and a blessing.  Let go of your fears.  Be open to a move of the Holy Spirit that you may never have experienced. He will strengthen and equip you to be victorious in life.   The Holy Spirit will fill you with strength and wisdom so that you can help others!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-8-part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 8:1-2 – When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.  And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."

In the New Testament scriptures, leprosy is a somewhat generic term that can refer to any skin disease. However, in the Old Testament, it meant something more specific.

In ancient times, leprosy was a deadly, incurable skin disease which was characterized by smooth, shining, depressed white patches of skin.  The hair within the skin also turned white.  The disease causes the flesh to be anesthetized to pain, and thus a person could injure themselves severely and not even notice it.  The disease also caused wasting of muscle tissue, loss of hair and destruction of the bones and joints especially of the hands and feet.

• The person had to move out of the camp.  This meant they were separated from their fellow man. 
• The person was considered unclean and was no longer allowed in the temple area.  This meant the person was cut off from God. 
• The person had to call out "unclean, unclean" anytime they were walking around and approached another person.  Since there is no cure, the leper was essentially dead while he still lived, and the crying out was a kind of mourning.
• [You can read the specifics of leprosy in Leviticus 13].

Of all the miracles that Jesus performed on earth, why do you suppose Matthew recorded this one?  Is it beneficial for us today?  Don't we have modern medicine to cure leprosy now?

It is easy to see why Matthew included this miracle when we consider that leprosy is symbolic of sin.

Sin is an incurable disease that we cannot heal.  It anesthetizes our conscience and deforms our lives.  It shuts us out of fellowship with our fellow man and it cuts us off from the presence of God.  When we are under the curse of sin, we are dead even while we live!

The leper in this narrative acknowledges that Jesus has the power to heal him, if he will.  What is Jesus response?

Matthew 8:3 – And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean."  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

When you read the New Testament you can't help but notice that Jesus heals in many different ways.  Sometimes he spits and makes mud, sometimes he touches or speaks or has you stretch out your hand.

If I were going to heal this leper, I would probably have yelled "be healed" from about 100 yards away!  But Jesus doesn't do that, does he?  He chooses to do something very interesting – he touches the man with the incurable, contagious disease. 

If we carefully read the request of the leper, we can see that he believes Jesus has the power to heal him, what he doubts is whether or not Jesus will do so.  By asking this request, the leper is risking rejection by God.  But we see that without hesitation, Jesus declares his love and concern for this individual by not only saying 'I will', but also by touching him.

The same is true for us.  We know that Jesus died and rose again; he is certainly capable of forgiving our sins.  Yet many people doubt that Jesus will forgive them.  If that is you, pay special attention to this passage of scripture.  There is no sin too horrible or black or disgusting for Jesus.  He wants to stretch out his hand of love and forgive you right now!  Just take a lesson from the leper – approach him humbly and simply ask.  He will not turn you away!

Matthew 8:4 – And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."  

Jesus came not to overturn the law, but to fulfill it.  Thus, it was proper that the leper should go to the priest to be declared clean, according to the law.  This set in motion a couple of different things.

First, it gave the former leper a chance to witness about the healing he had received.  His testimony was confirmed by an impartial third party - the priest- therefore it was a fact that could not be disputed by those who tried to discredit Jesus.  It also afforded the cleansed man an opportunity to bring an offering of thanksgiving to God.

Second, it allowed the former leper to legally return to his people and the temple.  No longer was he cut off from God and man.  No longer was he dead while still living.

Third, it provided an opportunity for the cleansed leper to be obedient to the commands of Jesus.  God places a high value on obedience; he considers it much more valuable than sacrifice.

The spiritual implications for us are obvious.  When Jesus forgives our sin, we should be willing to bear witness to that fact.  We should be forever singing his praise and worshipping him for what he has done.  Because our sin has been forgiven by the blood of Christ, we are no longer cut off from man or God.  In fact, we can enter into God's throne room any time we wish!  No longer are we dead in our trespasses and sin.  Even though we have trials and tribulations in this life, we are safe in the hands of Jesus.

Matthew 8:5-7 – When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."

Matthew immediately records another healing by Jesus, though this one is far different from the leper.  In this instance, the request is being made by a centurion, a military man with authority over 100 soldiers.  This man was a Gentile, stationed in Capernum for the express purpose of keeping the Jews in line with Roman policy.

Given this, we might have expected him to ignore the plight of his servant altogether, to seek help from ordinary physicians or even turn to witchcraft.  Instead, we are surprised to learn that he seeks relief from the true God of Israel.  He may not have fully understood that Jesus was the incarnate Son of God, but he did understand and believe that the power of God flowed through Jesus.

His belief prompts him to seek Jesus for the healing of his servant, who is suffering badly.  Even the heathen come to Jesus to unburden their souls!  And as in the case of the leper, Jesus has compassion on the sinner and readily agrees to come and touch him.

Matthew 8:8-9 – But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go' and he goes, and to another, 'Come' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this' and he does it.

Not only did the centurion believe that the power of God flowed through Jesus, he understood that authority in the spiritual realm is parallel to authority in the natural realm.  In the Roman army, the centurion had men over him in authority.  At the same time, we know he had 100 men under his authority.  Likewise, Jesus was submitting to his Father's authority while sickness, disease and every other form of evil had no choice but to submit to the Son of God.

Matthew 8:10 – When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

What is the definition of faith?  Faith is belief in the truth of what is declared by another resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity.  It is confidence or trust in a person (or thing) resting solely on that person's authority, rather than proof.

In other words, it means believing what Jesus said simply because he was the one who said it!

Instead, they were constantly asking Jesus for a sign to verify or prove that he was the Son of God.

What about you?  Is your faith more like the Pharisees or the centurion?  Do you believe the promises you find in the Bible and live your life accordingly?  If not, why?

Matthew 8:11-12 – I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness.  In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here Jesus represents salvation/entrance to the kingdom of Heaven as a feast or banquet.  The 'sons' are the Jewish people, who felt that their status as descendants of Abraham was enough to get them into the kingdom.  Those who come from the 'east and west' are clearly Gentiles.

Jesus reveals two important truths here:

One, entrance to the kingdom of Heaven is not based on physical family lineage.  Contrary to popular belief, Jews were not guaranteed entrance to heaven just because they were descendants of Abraham; something else would be required.

Two, Jesus begins to reveal that God's ultimate plan is to include the Gentiles in the plan of salvation.  Those who were not physical descendants of Abraham could still be admitted into the kingdom of heaven.

To us, this seems normal.  We grew up with the understanding that God accepts anyone into his kingdom as long as they turn to the blood of Jesus for forgiveness of sin.  But this was a radical concept for the Jews back in the days of Jesus.  The separation between the Jews and Gentiles was so great, only the Spirit of God was wise enough and strong enough to unite the two groups together into a single church/body of Christ.

Matthew 8:13 – And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed."  And the servant was healed at that very moment.

The servant received his healing; the centurion received an answer to his prayer and a confirmation of his faith.

Matthew 8:14-15 – And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.  He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

Peter invited Jesus to his house.  Jesus willingly came.  When Jesus entered this situation, the first thing he did was to bring peace and healing to all that were in the house.  Peter's mother-in-law was immediately healed of her fever.  She responded to that healing by ministering to Jesus and his disciples.

Do you have situations in your life that need the touch of Jesus?  Why not invite him in right now?  He will bring peace and healing when he comes.  You can then glorify his name through praise and worship.  You can also testify to his goodness by assisting others who may be enduring the same fiery trial.

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Sickness and difficulties can happen to anyone, even to people of faith who are diligently serving God.  We can't stop the trials from coming, but we can always turn to Jesus in our times of need.  He is a very present help in the time of trouble.

Matthew 8:16-17 – That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."

Why do you suppose they waited until evening to seek out Jesus?  The answer lies in the way the Jews counted their days.  We hold that a day begins and ends at midnight.  For the Jews, the day begins and ends at sunset.  Since no work could be performed on the Sabbath day, the Jews waited until sunset or the end of the Sabbath, to bring the sick to Jesus.

Those who took the time to come to him were not disappointed.  He healed every sick person who came. Now is a good time to mention that these healings were not limited to just physical ailments.  Jesus also healed (and continues to heal) emotional scars as well as mental ailments including, but not limited to: fear, anxiety and depression. All of our healing, as well as the forgiveness of our sin, was foretold in Isaiah 53.

We should note that Jesus most often combined teaching with ministry (healing).  People were more than willing to listen to the teaching, knowing they would also have their physical needs met.  In this way, Jesus ministered to them both spiritually and physically.

This is a good model for us as well.  If we want to share the gospel with people in our community, we should look at combining that message with hot meals, clothes, groceries or after school programs.  When we meet a person's physical needs, they are more receptive to the gospel message.

SO LET ME OFFER YOU SOME ENCOURAGEMENT:  When Peter invited Jesus to his house, it was not for the purpose of healing his mother-in-law.  Her sickness was not life threatening.  In fact, we might say it was just a normal part of life.

But as soon as Jesus was given access to the household, he brought peace and healing to all that it contained, even this woman's minor ailment.  You may have some things in your life that you don't feel are worthy to trouble Jesus about, but remember – he is interested in everything that has to do with you.  He can and will bring peace and healing to even your littlest troubles.  I encourage you to invite him to abide with you and see what happens!

LET ME OFFER YOU SOME RELIEF:   You may have some ugly 'leprous' things in your life and you may feel that you need to clean some of those things up before seeking Jesus.  But let me offer you some relief – Jesus is willing to accept you right now, leprous spots and all.  There are some things that you will never be able to heal in your life.  You need Jesus to do that, so call upon him today, just as you are.  He is waiting for you to call upon him, and he is not afraid to touch lepers!

LET ME OFFER YOU SOME STRENGTH:  Who did Jesus heal?  All who came to him, of course!  You may be timid about coming to Jesus for forgiveness and healing.  You may be afraid that he will reject you.  You may be uncertain if he will hear and answer you.  You may be concerned about his ability to do the impossible, but let me give you the strength and confidence you need to move ahead – Jesus healed ALL who came to him.  He did not turn anyone away!  And his power never decreases.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever, so be strong in the Lord.  Let your faith grow and expand.  Show him that you believe by asking him for what you want and praising him for what he has done!

/Blog/Blog-With-Us/SHOWERS/matthew-chapter-19-part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Matthew 19:1-2 – Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.   And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

At this time his fame was reaching a peak.  Great numbers of people followed him, but not all of them had the same motivation.  Some came to hear the word and receive instruction.  Some came to be healed or delivered.  Some came to see if he would set up a kingdom.  Undoubtedly, some came out of curiosity.  Some, perhaps, came to witness the miraculous.  And some came to ensnare or entrap Jesus!

Matthew 19:3 – And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?"

The Pharisees (and other religious leaders) were part of the group that followed Jesus in order to discredit him.  Many of their attempts have been noted in the book of Matthew.  As we would expect, each and every time they confront Jesus, they are rebuffed; they cannot fight divine wisdom. 

Despite earlier failures, they are going to make yet another attempt.  This time, they waited until Jesus was with a large crowd (possibly the largest ever).  Thinking that this was the perfect opportunity to cause maximum trouble, they brought up one of the most decisive issues of their day – divorce.

Divorce continues to be a somewhat controversial issue in the church today.  If you are a divorced person reading this post, please rest assured - you are not going to find any condemnation here! 

We took a quick look at this topic back in chapter 5.  Let's review the controversy that surrounded this issue:

The dispute involves an Old Testament law from Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 24:1 - When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it comes to pass that she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and put it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

The Jews had two interpretations of this law.  One group (the school of Hillel) believed that the true meaning of the law was found in the word 'uncleanness' and it referred only to adultery.  Therefore, adultery was the only true basis for divorce.

The second group (the school of Sammai) believed that the true meaning of the law was found in the phrase 'she finds no favor in his eyes' and interpreted that to mean that if a woman displeased her husband in any way, no matter how trivial, he could give her a certificate of divorce and send her away.  We have historical evidence of just how ridiculous this became – a man could divorce his wife if he did not like her cooking!

Not surprisingly, the second view became very prevalent among the Jews. And once again we find the Jews making the same serious mistake - adhering to the letter of the law, and believing themselves righteous for it, while at the same time completely ignoring their duty to God.

Here in Matthew chapter 19, the scripture clearly tells us that the Jews were not really looking for wisdom.  They were not really searching for truth.  They were trying to 'test' or discredit Jesus.

If Jesus sided with the second group (the school of Sammai) the Pharisees would condemn him for contradicting his own teachings (Matthew 5:32).  If he sided with the first group (the school of Hillel), they were ready to charge him with contradicting Moses.  Either way, they thought they had him!

Matthew 19:4 – He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,

Notice that both parties were supportive of divorce.  It was the grounds or cause for divorce which caused the arguments between them.

Jesus, in his divine wisdom, does not fall into the trap of using one of the two opinions presented to him as a starting point; both opinions reflect ignorance and corruption of the law of God.

Because God is unchanging, we know that what was done at the very beginning is the pattern we are to follow in every subsequent generation.  Thus, we conclude:  

• Marriage is an institution appointed by God.  It is the foundation of society.  
• Marriage is between a man and a woman. 
• The marriage relationship is a permanent union.  In God's eyes, death is the only way to break the bond.
• The marriage union is more intimate and more binding than other human bonds, including paternal or filial relationships. 

Matthew 19:5 - …and said 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?" 

Our translation says "therefore", but the King James version says "for this cause" which is a better reflection of the true meaning.  In other words, male and female were created for this very purpose – that they might glorify God in a matrimonial connection.  They become 'one flesh', forming an indissoluble partnership of life and fortune. 

When God created Eve, he could have made her from the dust of the ground, just as he did with Adam.  But he didn't.  As you recall, he put Adam to sleep, then took one of his ribs and created Eve (Genesis 2:21).  So, quite literally, the two were one flesh!

William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the Bible makes an interesting comment on the first marriage:  "…there was no sooner one person, but God divided him into two; and no sooner were there two, but he united them into one."

Matthew 19:6 – "So they are no longer two but on flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

If God has joined the man and woman together as one, no human law/regulation has the right to separate them.  So, Jesus condemns the Jewish practice of dissolving the marriage bond.  In regards to the Jews of Jesus' day, this rebuke would also have fallen on the elders who sanctioned the divorce. 

Matthew 19:7-8 – They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?"  He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart.  Moses allowed you to divorce you wives, but from the beginning it was not so."

The Pharisees are looking for justification of their impure and unholy conduct.  To that end, they offer a rebuttal – Moses commanded/permitted divorces (Deuteronomy 24:1).  And if that was the case, divorce could not be unlawful.

It is interesting that they use the word 'command'.  Moses did not command it; he made provision for it, or allowed it.  This allowance was based on the fact that Jews were cruel to their unwanted wives and it was better for such a woman to return to her father's house than to suffer abuse in her current situation. 

Moses also established that the divorce decree could not be a verbal declaration.  It had to be written out by a scribe.  It must become public knowledge.  As such, it could not happen in the heat of the moment.  It required the husband to stop and view the situation more objectively.  It gave him time to 'cool down'.  The assumption was that this would give an opportunity for the relationship to be reconciled and the divorce dropped. 

Jesus makes it very clear that this allowance was made for man's wickedness, not because the act of divorce was lawful in God's eyes.  He once again reiterates that from the beginning, God had sanctioned the union of marriage - between one man and one woman, until death takes one of them away.  This was the law that was to be observed perpetually, throughout all subsequent generations.

Matthew 19:9 – "And I say to you:  whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."

The gospel of Mark indicates that the public discussion of this issue ended in verse 8.  The rest of this discussion (beginning here) took place more privately, between Jesus and the disciples (Mark 10:10).

Here, emphasis should be placed on the word "I".  Jesus was God in the flesh; God was saying that the indulgence given by Moses was to cease.  Limitless, groundless divorces (like those granted for bad cooking) were no longer acceptable.  Marriage should be brought back to its original intention and there was only one legitimate cause for divorce – adultery.

So where does all of this leave those of us in the 21^st century?   Here is what we can know for sure:

ONE:  The law of marriage has been instituted by God, and He is unchanging:    

Malachi 3:6 – For I am the Lord, I change not…

TWO:  Because God does not change, his mandate for marriage remains the same as it was when he united Adam and Eve - one man and one woman until death parts them, except for the cause of adultery.  (Even in cases of adultery, the bond does not have to be immediately severed; the insulted party may choose to stay in the relationship and try to mend it.)

THREE:  Between the instituting of the marriage law in paradise and the current day, sin has entered the world:

Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned -

No surprises there, right? 

FOUR:  Our sinful society is not fully committed to God's law of marriage.   

Likewise, you don't really need to seriously consider marriage before entering into it, because if you don't like it for any reason, you can simply divorce.  No questions asked.  This reflects the kind of halfhearted commitment that seems to underlie everything we do. 

For example:

• If you have a dispute with the people in your church, there is no need to bother working it out.  You can just change churches. 
• If you don't like your new boss, there is no need to stay and respect their authority.  You can just change jobs.  
• If you want the 4-H club to go in one direction, but the assistant leader wants to go in another, there is no need to find a common goal.  You can separate and each go your own way. 
• If you have a roommate that doesn't dust and vacuum often enough for your standards, there is no need to modify your expectations.  You can just find a new roommate.

Our culture accepts these halfhearted commitments in nearly all areas, including marriage.  There is no deep, underling commitment to resolve disputes, respect each other, submit to authority, find common goals or make allowances for each other. 

FIVE:  What is acceptable to man, is not acceptable to God.  To the best of their ability, Christians should embrace God's law of marriage.

Committing to marriage until death is a serious, life altering decision.  It affects every aspect of our lives including our health, our finances, and our freedom to make future choices.  In part, it determines our level of education, where we will live and where we will work.  It will have a profound impact on our ministry in the kingdom of heaven.  And, as if that were not serious enough, marriage is the partnership through which the joys and burdens of children should come. 

In light of this, you might think that marriage is something that should be avoided (the disciples will soon make this assumption).  However, there is more to marriage than just doom and gloom!  When both people are firmly committed to Christ and to each other, they put themselves in a position to discover the unique and endless joys/blessings that God has included in the marriage relationship.   

This does not mean the relationship will be perfect.  Two sinful people cannot produce a marriage that lives up to God's perfect standard.  Because the individuals are sinful, the marriage will also be subject to the effects of sin.  But the rewards of the relationship are worth the time and effort to make it work. 

SIX:  Sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

Sin is like a wedge that seeks to divide and destroy marriages.  This sin can take almost any form including abuse, unfaithfulness, emotional damage, addiction, erosion of trust, lack of love, lying, selfishness, disagreements over money or any one of a thousand other things. 

However, a Christian may find themselves in a situation where staying in the marriage is more damaging than leaving it.  In this case, the marriage bond needs to be cut, so both parties can move forward towards healing.

SEVEN:  As in the breaking of any of God's laws, there will be forgiveness but also consequences.     

It's no secret that all of us have broken God's laws.  Thankfully, if we are repentant, God freely forgives us. 

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 Divorce is a sin (the breaking of God's law) that can be forgiven, just like any other sin. 

However, we should keep in mind that while God readily forgives us of sin, we still must deal with the consequences of our actions and decisions.  For example, if we steal money from our employer and get caught, God will forgive us.  However, we will still probably be fired from the job.  That incident will remain on our record and it will continue to affect us as we look for other employment.  These are some of the consequences of our actions.   

In the same way, God can and will forgive us for breaking a marriage vow.  But that forgiveness does not negate the consequences associated with our sin.  There could be financial burdens, emotional distress, and/or legal constraints.  If the marriage has children, the consequences of divorce become even greater.

However, it is comforting to know that we can absolutely count on God to walk through all of life's difficulties with us, even the ones we bring upon ourselves by breaking his laws!

Matthew 19:10 – The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."

Isn't this interesting – in Genesis 2:18, God declares that it is not good for man to be alone (unmarried).  But here in Matthew 19:10, the disciples declare that not only is it good to be unmarried, but it is preferable if you don't have the right to divorce a wife who does not please you! 

This is a good example of how our fallen nature rebels against restraint of any kind, even when placed upon us by our Lord.  It is also an example of rash and foolish thinking.  Had they stopped to consider all the benefits and blessings of marriage, perhaps they would not have been so quick to cast it off.

Maybe there is a lesson here for us.  Philippians 4:8 instructs us to dwell on things that are pure, lovely and excellent.  So rather than dwelling on the annoying traits of our spouse (which causes division), perhaps we should reflect on their strengths and good qualities (which causes increased love and intimacy).

Matthew 19:11 – But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given."

The disciples jumped to the conclusion that a life of celibacy was best for everyone.  However, Jesus contradicts this conclusion.  He says that this state of abstinence requires a supernatural gift from God. 

Matthew 19:12 – "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.  Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."

Some men have the gift of abstinence from birth, some were forced into abstinence by other men and some have chosen that path in order to devote themselves entirely to service in the kingdom of God. 

In the last instance, Jesus may have been referring to the Essenes, a sect of the Jews that abstained from marriage in order to devote themselves exclusively to religion.  Obviously, they had no children of their own.  They perpetuated their sect by adopting the poor children of others.

However, do not choose that path without great care.  Jesus cautions that this lifestyle should be limited to those few who feel they had the gift to embrace it.   

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Do you own a car?  Do you perform routine maintenance on your vehicle like changing the oil and giving the engine a tune-up?  If so, your vehicle will run smoother and last much, much longer. 

The same is true for your marriage.  Do you maintain it?  Are you doing things that will build up the relationship you have with your spouse?  This bible study is by no means a practical guide to strengthen your marriage, but there are plenty of resources available for just that purpose.  I strongly encourage you to find these sources and invest time in your marriage.

Let me offer you some relief:

Is it possible that you have gone through the pain of a divorce?  Has your family or your church made you feel like a second class citizen because of it?  Let me offer you some relief – there is no sin that God cannot forgive!  Man may look down on you for failing, but God does not.  He is standing by ready to take that burden of guilt/shame and nail it to the cross.  So let him have it!  Cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you!  Let him give you a garment of praise for your spirit of heaviness! 

Let me offer you some strength:

Maybe you find yourself in the midst of a difficult marriage right now.  Perhaps, for whatever reason, your relationship has deteriorated and the future of your marriage is uncertain.  Maybe you feel like giving up.  Before you do, let me give you some strength from the word of God:

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.  

If your marriage is worth fighting for, then I encourage you to do so!  It may be difficult or exhausting to get your relationship back on track, but God is right there with you.  You don't have to tackle this in your own strength – he is right there to give you his inexhaustible strength.  He will hold you up as you endeavor to walk in the ways of righteousness.