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MATTHEW: AN OVERVIEW (Part VI)

(Chapters 14 - 18)

Jim Laws

Secondly, Matthew goes on to record to show how the people followed Jesus in such large numbers. Jesus feeds the five thousand with the five loaves and two fish (13-21). As Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, he sent his disciples to start back across the sea. The ship is tossed by the waves; Jesus comes to them walking on the water. The disciples were troubled by the sight (26). Jesus tells them, however, not to be afraid (27). Peter then asks and receives permission to walk on the water toward Jesus (28, 29). But, as he does, like his other hasty adventures, Peter soon found himself thinking about the rough sea and the high wind. He became fearful and began to sink (30). Jesus catches Peter and explains to him what the real problem was. When faced with danger Peter's faith had turned to doubt. Fear is an indication of a weak faith; it is an enemy of faith. The wind ceases (32) and the disciples gather a new stronger faith, as they worship Jesus and realize that he truly is the Son of God (32). The chapter ends with another occasion, which proves the deity of Christ concerning the people of Gennesaret. They come out to meet Jesus touching his garment and each one is healed miraculously (35, 36).

Chapter fifteen opens with the opposition Jesus faced from the Scribes and Pharisees (1-9). Not being able to attack the miracles of Jesus nor find fault with his teaching, they attack him for not keeping their traditions. It is important to understand that such traditions being considered were not divine in their origin, but were man made rules and regulations. The Pharisees held them in the same regard and they held to them with the same authority as one would the written word of God. Jesus attacked the traditions, the man made law, showing that in observing such, they transgressed the commandment of God (3). In reality they were hypocrites (7). Jesus quotes from Isaiah (Isa. 29:13) and teaches that one's worship to God is worthless, when one teaches and follows rules made up by mere men.

Jesus then goes on to teach his disciples that it is not what goes into his mouth that makes a man unclean, but what comes from his heart. It is not eating without washing your hands that makes one unfit for worship (10-20).

The disciples of Jesus learn of the great faith of a Canaanite woman, who came asking for help in behalf of her demon possessed daughter (21-28). He heals all those who are brought to him, who were crippled or blind or lame or unable to talk (29-31) and, once again, Jesus miraculously feeds the multitude with seven small loaves and a few little fish (32-39). This time there were four thousand men, who ate, not counting the women and children (38).

In chapter 16 we learn of four crucial matters pertaining to the life of Christ. First, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tried to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. Their asking for this miraculous sign is but another indication of their obstinacy and stubbornness. Jesus' answer is a very interesting one. He tells them that they look for certain indications of what the weather will be in their efforts to predict the coming conditions. They can tell what the weather will be like by looking at the conditions, but they can not see what is happening right before them. The miracles Jesus had performed were proof positive of who he was, but they refused to look and listen. Secondly, Jesus saw the need to instruct his disciples regarding the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (5-12). He refers to the teaching as "leaven." It is certainly an appropriate reference. Leaven is used in making bread. It works quietly and certainly. When the disciples show once again a lack of understanding, Jesus makes the point that they are weak in faith (8). They are weak in faith, because they were more concerned with the physical than they were the spiritual. Thirdly, by verse 13 there is the discussion of who is Jesus. As Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them, "what do people say about the Son of Man?" They told him the various opinions that were being expressed about him. Some said he was John the Baptist, some said he was Elijah, others said he was Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus turned to the disciples and asked: "But who say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (16). Jesus pronounced a blessing upon Simon, saying that he had not learned this truth from men, but from God. Then Jesus made the promise: "Upon this rock I will build my church." Some say that Jesus meant by this that he would build the church upon Peter, for the Greek word petros means a rock. However, Jesus did not use the word petros, but the world petra, a word different both in spelling and in gender. The rock foundation to which Jesus referred was the truth confessed by Peter - that Jesus is the Christ. In the Book of Acts this truth was proclaimed as the foundation fact upon which the church was built. Jesus made another great promise: "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This is a promise of apostolic authority. The laws, which the apostles would later announce to men on earth, would be those, which the Father in heaven had bound. Some have insisted on the primacy of Peter, since Jesus was speaking to him. However, in Matt 18:18, Jesus made the same promise to all the apostles. Peter did not have any apostolic authority that gave him pre-eminence over the other apostles (Matt. 16:13-20).

Fourthly, the sixteenth chapter ends with two important matters; a discussion of Jesus revealing matters of his death and subsequent resurrection from the dead, as well as Jesus and his discussion of the call and the cost of discipleship. Though Jesus has mentioned it before, for the first time Jesus reveals that he will die in a cruel fashion. Jesus had carefully taught them that he was the Messiah and by Peter's confession they are convinced. Now he prepares their minds for the event that is still ahead. Peter could not bear to think of Jesus dying in such a fashion (22). Jesus tells Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan" (vs. 23). In referring to Peter as such he is not equating Peter with the Devil, but is using the term "Satan" in its common form to mean adversary or one who opposes him. Peter was, in reality, by his rebuke of Jesus opposing him and his divine plan. Peter's views about the matter were standing in the way of God and his plan for man. Consequently, Jesus told him, "thou art an offence unto me," that is, your advice and wishes regarding the matter are in my way.

From this Jesus goes on to teach Peter and the disciples the nature of true discipleship. For one to be the disciple of the Lord he must (1) have a sincere desire to follow the Lord ("If any man will come after me"); (2) denounce selfish interest and pursuits ("Let him deny himself"); (3) embrace the conditions God has given by removing himself from the center of attention and meet whatever difficulty one may face in living the Christian life ("and take up his cross"); and (4) imitate Jesus in life and godliness ("and follow me"). Even if one were to gain the whole world and possess it as his own, if he loses his soul in the process, he will have made a very bad bargain. For if the soul is lost eternally, then there will be no redemption for one in hell. How foolish man is when he spends all his time in acquiring more and more wealth. It never satisfies. By doing so we face disappointment here and eternal condemnation in the hereafter. Jesus concludes the matter by stating that the kingdom will be established with great power within that generation (see Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27; 24:44; Acts 1:8; 2:1-6).

By chapter seventeen the reader sees something of the true glory of the Christ, the Son of God. It was Peter, James and John who were privileged to witness this transformation. Jesus is transfigured before them. The word "transfiguration" (metamorphoo, to change) refers to the outward manifestation of the inward nature of Christ. His inward nature was manifest for Peter James and John to see. What did they see? His face shining like the sun and his clothes as white as the light. The child of God looks forward to one day seeing this glorified state of the Lord and to participate in it as well (1 John 3:2). By verse 5 one reads of the voice of God saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." It is in this command that we have the whole purpose and significance of the scene. There was a time when men were to listen to Moses; later they would listen to Elijah and the other great prophets. Now is the time to listen to Christ. The very voice of God gives Jesus the pre-eminence over both Moses and Elijah. Jesus is to be heard (See 2 Peter 1:16-18). As Jesus and the disciples come down from the mountain of transfiguration we learn that the disciples were unable to heal the boy of verses 14-16 and that Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach his disciples once again of their need for greater faith (v.17, 20). Jesus again announces his coming death and resurrection (v. 22-24); then Matthew records the miracle of the tribute money from the mouth of a fish (v. 24-27).

As the reader comes to Matthew chapter 18, he learns of the ambitious question that the disciples ask of Jesus. They ask the question, which one will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (v. 1, We understand this better by reading Luke 22:24). Rather than tell them which one individually would be the greatest in the kingdom, he proceeds to tell them what kind of character would be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus calls a little child, set the child in the middle of them, and says that they must be converted, that is, turn from their ambitious desires and become like this little child. The little child was a good example to set before them, because a small child is free from any selfish ambition. This is the kind of character that will be needed to be great in the kingdom of heaven. The offense that Jesus mentions in verse 6 is the sinful, ambitious desires that they had in verse 1. Jesus goes on to teach them just how serious it is to cause one to sin. It would be better if a millstone where tied around the neck of one and he be cast into the sea. Jesus is teaching them just how fearful the final result of their ambition would bring them. A millstone was used for grinding corn. Jesus is speaking figuratively, of course. The reality of the matter will be far worse than the mental pictured employed (v.6-9).

Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep (v. 10-14). It was not the will of the shepherd that even one sheep perish. Consequently, we learn that it is not the will of God that even one disciple of the Lord be lost. Jesus then goes on to instruct the disciples just how one is to go about dealing with someone who sins against us (15-20). This important lesson is followed up with the Lord's lesson on forgiveness (21-35).

This is how the eighteenth chapter ends, as it brings to a close this fourth section of the book of Matthew (chs. 14-18). Section four is a valuable source of information about Jesus, as it reveals not only his divine power miraculously (consider the matter of the tribute money), as well as his divine wisdom (consider the matter of Jesus dealing with the sinful ambition of his disciples). These lessons are unsurpassed in their clarity, wisdom, and timelessness. Such lessons as these, as well as others, are placed in the divine record as proof of Jesus and his claims of being the Messiah, as well as guidance for disciples of all ages.

 MATTHEW continued

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