Wednesday 13 June 2012

An Apology

Ok so I've fallen behind with the blog. Just to encourage you though I am still going with the readings, but I just haven't had the time to blog. Perhaps I was a little over ambitious.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Day 24: Matthew 18

Jesus' followers are to humble themselves like children, forgive each other and treat sin seriously

Jesus followers jockey for position. Jesus sets a child before them, one who has no position or rights, and tells them to be like them. He also tells them to accept people like them. They are to treat each other rightly as well!

The rest of the chapter is taken up by what this will look like They are to fight sin and temptation (no doubt with an eye to Judas and his impending betrayal). They are not to despise each other (after all God has specially rescued them. They are to speak to each other privately and then with someone else before publicly rebuking someone (what they do here will have consequences in eternity so aim to win, not destroy your brother). They are to forgive each other because they have been forgiven as shown emphatically by the parable He tells.

Day 23: Matthew 17

Jesus is God's true Son, greater than Moses or Elijah- listen to Him and trust Him.

Jesus takes some of His disciples up a mountain and they get a glimpse of His glory. This is not the Kingdom of Heaven coming, this is not the end, although Peter seems to think this is permanent. In fact they still haven't grasped that the cross must come before the Kingdom. They haven't grasped that 'Elijah' has come because they didn't expect him to suffer and die either. They don't understand the pattern of the Kingdom. Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain. Two great prophets of Old, but it is of Jesus that God says 'This is my beloved Son'. The application is to listen to Him, which we see the disciples starting to do.

When he comes down the mountain His disciples have been unable to heal someone. The reason given is their lack of faith (in Jesus). Faith here again is highlighted as the crucial ingredient for the disciples, but also what they lack.

The chapter ends with a veiled challenge to Jesus. Does he pay His taxes. Jesus does, in obedience to the earthly authorities, but uses this to teach Peter again that He is the Son of God (and therefore actually exempt from the temple tax).

Apologies for the delay in this and for these next few ones.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Day 22: Matthew 16

Jesus is the Christ who will suffer, but the disciples, who will suffer, don't get it

What a chapter! After Jesus has been making the blind see, the deaf hear, the mute speak, feeding well over 9,000 people with a packed lunch, the Pharisees demand a sign! They don't get another one, those who don't have even what they have will be taken, only Jesus death and resurrection. The disciples still don't understand parables, even though He can't be complaining they don't have enough bread! But they do understand who Jesus is (kind of), but this is revealed to them by God. Their recognition of Him will be the foundation of the church that will storm the gates of Hades, rescuing sinners from the clutches of death- what they do here on Earth will have eternal consequences.

But they don't understand that Jesus must suffer. Jesus even calls Peter Satan as he tempts Jesus with a cross-less Christianity- satanic thinking being the thoughts of men. Jesus goes on to explain its necessity and also the fact they too will carry a cross and suffer and die. The way of discipleship is the way of the cross.

Day 21: Rest or Review

Definitely rest! Really challenging section though.

Day 20: Matthew 15

Jesus, Lord, Son of David, goes to the unclean

In chapter 15 Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for hypocrisy (see sermon on mount) for being concerned with outward cleanliness, but not inner. In fact their rules are a way get around keeping the law rather than keeping the spirit of the law. In fact it's what comes out a man that makes him unclean because His heart produces all kinds of sins. The disciples don't get it, parable language seems to put them on the outside at this point, but again Jesus explains.

The Canaanite woman gets who Jesus is (see 1:1) and understands His parable language. She appears to be inside the Kingdom, which Jesus confirms in saying she has faith, but she is a Gentile woman (big surprise). This surprise is followed up by a repeat of the feeding miracle, but with 4,000, seemingly Gentile as they "praise the God of Israel" not just God.

Day 19: Matthew 14

John goes the way of Jesus before Him and Jesus reveals himself as God Himself

John goes the way of suffering as he is beheaded by the authorities- hinting at what is to come. Jesus hears of this leaves to a solitary place/wilderness, but the crowd follows Him. Jesus feeds the crowd in the wilderness with miraculous bread (what God did in Exodus). With 12 basketfuls left perhaps an allusion back to the 12 tribes, perhaps just a lot of bread! Jesus then walks on water telling them not to fear "it is I" or literally "I AM" God's name given to Moses in Exodus. The recognition seems immediate as they worship Him as the Son of God (though again what have they really understood). The correct response is faith, but Jesus has just told them they don't have faith illustrated by the Peter incident. The chapter finishes with Jesus and the crowd again, but again only bringing their ill. 

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Day 18: Matthew 13:24-58

Jesus's supposedly small Kingdom will be massive, is worth everything and will cause the final division of humanity.

Jesus continues with parables some of which are explained. The parable of the weeds explains the division that will come when Jesus returns and why the judgement is delayed. The parable of the net at the end bookmarks this little section, making a similar point. The mustard seed parable explains that although the Kingdom looks small now it will be massive. The leaven makes a similar point, but makes the point that it will grow as it works its way through the world.

Jesus then explains the flip side of parables, that for those who are in the Kingdom, they add to understanding (those who have more will be given). We see this in practice as Jesus explains the parable of the weeds finishing on a high note that the righteous will shine like stars. In this light he continues with the parable of the field leading to great joy in the giving up of everything for it. And the pearl of greatest price- worth everything you have, makes a similar point.

A scribe in the Kingdom. One with understanding of God/Jesus's word (as the disciples claim) brings out a wealth of things from scripture (Old and New Testament in our context). Still though the reaction is rejection by His own people so He does not give them much to believe (to those that have not even what they have will be taken away).

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Day 17: Matthew 13:1-23

Listen to Jesus if you want to live 

Jesus teaches the crowd by the sea. He does what His parable is talking about. He scatters seed. The parable is really about the response to the Gospel. The seed is the same in each case, but the ground is different. There seem to be four responses, but in the end there are only two. Rejection of Jesus or growth.

The not understanding of the parable is part of the judgement on the hearers, as is seen in the Isaiah quote who was sent to preach so that the hearers wouldn't understand. The application Jesus gives us for the disciples and us is to listen to Him because if you have you get more. This is seen in practice as the disciples get an explanation of the parable. They have a little, they get more.

Jesus again shows us His superiority to what has gone before highlighting the longing of OT believers to hear what Jesus would have to say.

Monday 16 April 2012

Day 16: Matthew 12:22-50

Jesus: the strong man, the greater king, the greater prophet.

Jesus continues to be opposed by the pharisees and is now accused of being in league with the devil, a far cry from the Son of David the people seem to think he might be. Jesus answer is twofold. One a kingdom cannot be divided against itself and stand, but instead He is the strong man plundering the Devil. He then goes on to explain to them that their position, disbelieving the Spirit's testimony as to who Jesus is, will not be forgiven. This is obvious in a way as if we disbelieve what the Spirit tells us about Jesus how can we be forgiven? That Jesus is not demonic is evident by His fruits just like everyone.

The pharisees then demand a sign, but Jesus will not give them one now, a sign of his judgement on them. Instead He tells them they will see the sign of Jonah; Jesus' death and resurrection. He claims to be greater than Jonah, a greater prophet, yet the supposed children of Abraham do not repent whereas Gentile Ninevah did. He claims to be greater than Solomon (son of David), a greater, wiser king, but whereas the Gentiles came to him, the pharisees are not coming to Him.

The chapter ends with Jesus pronouncing judgement on His generation including His family, but welcoming those who do God's will.

Sunday 15 April 2012

Day 15: Matthew 12:1-21

Jesus: The greater David/Temple, Lord of the Sabbath, yet opposed Suffering Servant

Jesus here is challenged about His disciples crushing corn on the Sabbath. Instead of jumping to their misapplication of the law he challenges them as to His identity. David was ok to feed himself and his followers while not obeying the law. So too the priests are allowed to work on the Sabbath. So what about Jesus? He claims here, more than to be greater than David, but even greater than the temple! The very place where God met with His people! Big claims! Jesus put himself on more than a par with David and even with the whole old system. He is Lord of Sabbath, he defines it!

Only then do we see an incident where Jesus realigns their thinking about the Sabbath and exposes the hypocrisy of their rule keeping. We see now the beginnings of the opposition against Him which will culminate in His death. Matthew tells us though that many follow Him at this point and that He is fulfilling the prophesy from the servant section of Isaiah, the one who will eventually die for the sins of His people.

Saturday 14 April 2012

Day 14: Rest or Review

It's been interesting looking into this section this week. Mark is by far my most familiar Gospel and it's been fascinating seeing the different emphasis that Matthew has to Mark, emphasises responses in this section rather than Jesus' identity as Mark does. The challenge now is to apply what I've learnt.

Friday 13 April 2012

Day 13: Matthew 11

Jesus brings something radically new and more significant than the Old Testament

John's disciples come to Jesus and relay John's question. Jesus replies by telling them that the prophesies of Isaiah have come true, especially Isaiah 35 (and Isaiah 8 too) where the deaf hear and the blind see, and the exile will be over and the people will return to the land on God's highway (that Jesus/Matthew helpfully reminds us has been prepared by John). In other words this is it. Jesus is the one. More than that John, amazing as he is, is nothing compared to what Jesus is bringing. The least of his people is greater than John. The old order has gone with it's physical earthly kingdom, now the true Kingdom is here with the true King.

This truth is rejected though. John, the old, is rejected and Jesus, the new, too. The people end up with neither and are in a worse state than the judged cities of the Old Testament. The truth about God, however, is revealed to children (as it is in Isaiah 8). They must accept it from Jesus. It is He who chooses who he will reveal it too. His call is wonderful, but no-one will take it up unless first chosen by Jesus to understand it.

Thursday 12 April 2012

Day 12: Matthew 10

Jesus' followers follow Jesus' pattern of suffering and rejection

Jesus now sends out the 12 with allusions back to the 12 tribes of Israel (Judas's title reminds us again of what's coming at the end). He gives them authority and teaches them. It would be strange if the content of what he teaches were for this short mission trip alone, instead Jesus gives them a glimpse of what is to come for their lives as disciples especially from verse 16, persecution, being hated even by family all the while testifying about Jesus. There must be change of time frame as they are even to tell the Gentiles about Jesus now.

They will follow Jesus' pattern of suffering which is clearly explained in 24-25. They are to fear God and not men, because God hold their eternal destiny in his hands, but there's the encouragement that he knows and cares for them. Those who deny Jesus in public, He will deny in public on the last day, here we see that what makes the difference to our eternal destinies is what we do with Jesus. This will not be easy though and will bring division and heartache as the battle lines are drawn down the middle of families, but Jesus must have our first allegiance or none at all. This call to love Jesus more than life may leads us to lay down our lives (either physically or in daily service), but we will gain eternal life. The chapter finishes on an encouraging note that some will accept, and they will join the ranks and gain the reward.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Day 11: Matthew 9

Jesus, son of David, wants faith and gives mercy to sinners

There are several incidents in this chapter, but most of them involve faith. The response here seems more the focus than Jesus' identity. Faith/belief (same word in Greek) is the correct response as we see in the friends of paralytic, the ruler, the woman with bleeding problems and the blind men who cry out for mercy, who all ask and receive. The wrong response is seen in the followers of John who fail to recognise Jesus as the Bridegroom (who will be taken away)  and respond appropriately (why are they still following John anyway?) and also in the Pharisees who declare him to be a demon.

We see here more clues to Jesus' mission as He calls Matthew, the author of the Gospel, but then a tax collector (who extorted money from their fellow-jews for the Romans). He has come for sinners (what we saw hinted at in the genealogy) not hypocrites who have an outward show of religion such as sacrifices (as we saw in the sermon on the mount). Jesus himself shows mercy in this section as the son of David (again reminding us of 1:1). We also see a condemnation of the leaders as the people are left shepherdless, but Jesus shows them mercy in teaching and healing them, the shepherd king like David.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Day 10: Matthew 8

Jesus is the suffering rejected servant who is also the glorious Son of Man/God

Into less familiar territory for me. Jesus now demonstrates his ability to make the unclean clean. The sacrifice he tells the man to offer would never have been made as leprosy at the time was incurable- what a surprise the priest would have had! Next we see more hints that Jesus mission is broader than just the Jews. He heals the centurion's servant with a word and we also see the desired response of faith, but not from the Jews, but from a gentile.

Jesus heals many others and we are told this is in fulfilment of Isa 53. The passage about the suffering servant who dies for his people's sin- here applied to Jesus. In the next section we continue to see the suffering nature of Jesus as he has to move from place to place. He calls others to do the same. His name for himself however is not 'the servant', but the Son of Man- an ambigious title (eg Ezekiel's called it), but a messianic title from Daniel 7, the one who is given all rule, power and authority. This fits nicely with the calming of the storm and the casting out of evil spirits where the disciples mouth our question well- 'who is this?' The demons know, he's the son of God (see chapters 1-5) but in the end he is rejected again, even from non-jewish territories.

Monday 9 April 2012

Day 9: Matthew 7

Jesus' followers are not be hypocrites, but show true faith by living it out

This section has similar themes to the chapter before, though this time the solution is secrecy in doing good, but genuineness in holiness. Jesus' followers are to focus on their own godliness first to avoid hypocrisy, devoting ourselves to that rather than giving our lives to trivial things which don't satisfy.

Again they are to express their faith by asking God for what they need because God is the gracious giver, even better than we sinful givers. But we should be gracious too in how we treat others. This following of Christ is not easy or popular, it is a narrow path that relatively few follow. Appearances can be decieving here. Some might look like they're following, but their bad fruit shows them for what they are. These are the people who will be turned away by Jesus because, although they claim to be good, they work evil.

Matthew is showing us this to teach us, but also to highlight how different Jesus is. He shows the reaction of the crowd and the contrast with the rulers of the day- the very ones he's been telling His disciples not to be like.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Day 8: Matthew 6

Jesus' followers are not to be hypocrites or like the world around them

Jesus now turns his attention to hypocrisy- acting. People who parade their good deeds for the praise of  other people- almost certainly the Pharisees. So Jesus followers are to give in secret, pray in secret (and simply and for the Kingdom of which Jesus has spoken) and fast in secret to avoid hypocrisy.

Jesus then adjusts their thinking towards money and possessions. They are not to think like the world around them.He teaches them to lay up treasure in heaven so that their hearts will be there. To serve God and not money. Get your eye on the wrong thing and you're doomed to darkness. Jesus followers are to have faith and not be anxious- God provides for His creation- how much more His people! This links nicely back to the basic petitions in the Lord's prayer- expressing faith by asking God to give us what we need.

Saturday 7 April 2012

Day 7: Rest or Review

I've enjoyed getting to grips with Matthew so far. It's been great to see Matthew portraying Jesus as the true Israel entering the land and ending the exile with a new Exodus event. It's been great too to see Jesus explaining so clearly what attitude we are to have as his followers, showing us the law of Christ and what that really means.

Friday 6 April 2012

Day 6: Matthew 5:17-48

Jesus explains the Law and how to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees

Jesus teaches his disciples how the law is meant to be applied. He doesn't call them to be more legalistic than the Pharisees, but for them to apply the law rightly in thought and attitude as well as action. This will mean not only not murdering, but not being unduly angry with each other, note that this comes before offering gifts at the alter and the outward religion of the Pharisees. Not committing adultery is seen in its true light as a command to be sexually pure, not lusting yes, but also not causing others to lust e.g. not flirting which is a better way at looking at the 'lustful intent' phrase. Our radical attitude towards this sin is shown vividly in Jesus' call to gauge out our eyes and cut off our hands if they cause us to sin

The permission to divorce is shown for what it is: a last resort, not an endorsement (it may be stronger than it appears as divorce in Matthew's Gospel is used as the breaking off of an engagement in chapter 1, it could be that that is being referred to rather than actual divorce). Truthful is to be so habitual that oaths are not needed and our right to justice laid down for other people and our enemies are to be loved, as God loves his enemies. This again prefigures what Jesus will do by His death on the cross and He calls his followers to follow in His footsteps. 

Thursday 5 April 2012

Day 5: Matthew 5:1-16

Jesus calls his followers to be radically different from the world

Jesus goes up a mountain to teach, again reminiscent of Exodus story and he teaches mainly about the law (as we'll see tomorrow) But before he does that Jesus realigns his disciples thinking. He explains to them what real blessing is. Real blessing is the polar opposite to what the world thinks. Poverty (in spirit), hungering and thirsting (after righteousness), persecution (for his sake), meekness, peacemaking, purity, mourning and mercifulness. The world tells us these are weakness, Jesus tells us these are blessedness. This is partly because of what is promised to each one. Comfort in mourning, satifisfaction, inheriting the land/earth, being called 'sons of God' (a clue as to what Jesus will achieve for his followers), seeing God, the Kingdom of God itself (called the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew) all of these are far beyond what the world could offer.

Jesus explains to his followers that this will mean them being radically different, noticeable like salt in food, standing out like a sore thumb or a city on hill as Jesus puts it. They now too will be a light to the world as Jesus is, pointing people to God. It is no good to be a light under a bowl or salt that is no longer salty both of which go unnoticed and don't fulfil the purpose for which they were made! They must be seen to be radically different by the works they do. What are the good works they are to do that Jesus alludes to? We'll find out as his sermon continues.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Day 4: Matthew 4

Jesus is the obedient Israel and true Light to the Nations

Here we see Jesus tempted in the wilderness for 40... days. He's tempted to by lack of bread, to put God to the test and to commit idolatry, the very things Israel was tempted by during its 40 years in the wilderness. Indeed the issue in question is whether He is the true Son of God (the true Israel in context). Jesus succeeds where Israel failed and does so with quotes from Deuteronomy (harking back to the Exodus yet again).

After hearing of John's arrest (another clue as to what will happen to Jesus), He returns north to be a light to the Gentiles as Israel was supposed to be (Isa 49:6, Isa 42, Isa 60) and calls His people to repent and follow Him. His followers right from the start come from both Jewish and gentile country. The Kingdom is announced here, but it will be explained as Matthew continues.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Day 3: Matthew 3

Jesus is God's Beloved Son, heralded by 'Elijah'

John now appears on the scene. He dresses like Elijah and brings a message of judgement and salvation. Elijah was to come before the dreadful day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is approaching. He is the voice calling in the wilderness, but the road from the Old Testament passage is the road back from Exile which God will make for them, another clue that this is what Matthew has in mind.

Jesus' identity is made even clearer as he is baptised to 'fulfil all righteousness', fulfilment being a big theme in Matthew. God declares him to be His Beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descends on Him, the Trinity in action. Also though it reinforces Matthew's opening statement as Israel (Abraham's descendants) are called God's son (see yesterday) and so is David's son (2 Samuel 7).

Monday 2 April 2012

Day 2: Matthew 2

Jesus is the true David & the true Israel who will be rejected

As the wise men come from the East we see the gentiles coming in, but not to Israel or Solomon, but to Jesus. He is the True David king as we see from quote from Micah, the last shepherd king from Bethlehem being King David himself. We also see here in the other quotes Israel being referred to as the Son of God (if you read the Jeremiah passage you see it there too) but here it is applied to Jesus, the True Israel (as we shall see in coming days).

It's also significant to note that the quotes all come from passages that refer to the end of the exile, but word it in an exodus-like way. This fits with the Exodus parallels in this section such as the murder of the babies and the return from Egypt. It could be that Matthew is showing is that the true end to the exile is here as Jesus enters 'Israel' (which no longer exists at this point). What will happen next?

The Nazarene reference is probably referring to his despisedness and rejection as John hints to us that Nazareth does not have a good reputation, we've already seen this as Jesus is forced to flee from the land and cannot return to the place of his birth.

Sunday 1 April 2012

Day 1: Matthew 1

Jesus is the Son of Abraham and the Son of David

Matthew's genealogy shows us Jesus is physically the descendent of Abraham and David and as such able to inherit the promises made to their children in Genesis 12 and 2 Samuel 7. A few surprising additions there such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth & Bathsheba (called Uriah's wife). All women, all gentiles (in Bathsheba's case she's named by her gentile husband) and all with question marks over their sexual morality. A clue perhaps to Jesus' shock ministry to women, gentiles and 'sinners.' We also see a few surprising things missing such as the Exodus and the return from Exile, in Matthew's timetable it seems as though these are still to come.

After the genealogy we see Him called 'Jesus' because of the mission he will carry out, 'Christ' the expected king of the Old Testament and 'Immanuel' God with Us, the place where we meet God.