Recap

So far in Mathew, we've read through the prologue, the first four blocks of Jesus' ministry, and started the fifth block. Matthew opens with a genealogy and the story of Jesus' birth. Both rooted Jesus in Old Testament prophecy and allusions. He's a descendant of David, born through the Holy Spirit. A king and the son of God. He's given gifts from wise men that match what was given to Solomon's temple. He is God's presence on earth. He is brought out of Egypt as a new Israel.

The first block of Jesus' ministry involved preparation, demonstrations, and teaching. After being baptised and affirmed by God, Jesus resisted temptation in the desert for forty days. He chose his first disciples, declared the kingdom of God, healed the sick, cast out demons, and explained the kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount, similar to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Jesus began with the Beatitudes, emphasising inward heart attitudes over outward behaviour. He taught genuine faith, prioritising God's kingdom over power, money, or self-reliance. He advised self-reflection before judging others, treating others as one wishes to be treated, and judging by actions, while assessing ourselves by our relationship with God.

Then came the second block of Jesus' ministry, the kingdom of heaven, applied to people's lives. We read a total of ten miracles, mostly focused on people who were outcasts and those far from God. The kingdom of heaven brought them healing and freedom. The teaching of this second block then focused around how the disciples would bring the kingdom of heaven to others. The cost would be high. They would be persecuted and reviled. But if they trusted in God, he would give them the authority they need.

The third block of Jesus' ministry focused on responses to him. John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was the Messiah. The Pharisees challenged Jesus, even after witnessing his miracles. Jesus couldn't perform miracles in his hometown due to their unbelief. During this phase, Jesus taught in parables, which are intentionally cryptic. Parables compel those interested in God to seek answers, while deterring the disinterested, naturally filtering out those who wouldn't follow Jesus even if they understood.

The fourth block of Jesus' ministry revealed his identity and subverted expectations. He fed 5,000 people, walked on water to show his divinity, and healed and fed 4,000 Gentiles, demonstrating his mission for all people. Jesus accused the Pharisees of prioritising tradition over God's law. Peter recognised Jesus as the Messiah, but Jesus clarified he was also the Suffering Servant. On a mountain, Jesus met Moses and Elijah, and God affirmed Jesus as his son.

In his teachings, Jesus reinforced the upside-down nature of the kingdom of heaven, emphasising humility, removing temptation, and including others. Offenses should be addressed with love and forgiveness, and one cannot pursue both wealth and God. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes from serving others, not seeking power.

The fifth and final block of Jesus' ministry centred on his clash with the religious leaders' authority. He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, subverting royal norms but was still celebrated as a king. At the temple, he expelled moneylenders, asserting his authority and making space for God. The next day, Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree, symbolising Israel's failure.

The Pharisees challenged Jesus' authority, but he skilfully avoided their questions and countered with parables, accusing them of being all talk and no action. He declared they had rejected the kingdom of heaven and would be replaced. Despite attempts to trap him with questions about taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment, Jesus answered easily.

In his final teaching, Jesus issued seven 'woes' against the Pharisees, warning people to respect their position but not follow their hypocrisy. He mourned for Jerusalem and foretold the temple's destruction and his eventual return after much suffering. Jesus urged his disciples to be ready for that day, warning against complacency, as no one knows when he will return, and they must live according to his teachings.

Matthew 25-26

Jesus continues this theme of being ready for his return with two more parables. The first is of ten bridesmaids who went out to meet with the groom. The groom was delayed a little, and so the bridesmaids were left to wait. Five of these women made sure they were prepared, and that they had enough oil for their lamps so they could be ready as soon as the groom arrived. The other five did not.

Eventually, at midnight, the groom arrived, and the five women who had prepared were ready to shine their lamps and lead the groom to the marriage feast. The other five had to run off to find some oil and by the time they were ready, the marriage feast had already started and they were locked out.

Like these bridesmaids, we don't want to get lax waiting for Jesus and think we can get ready and sort out our lives at some other time. Because then Jesus might return when you least expect it, and he finds that you haven't been living for him. Jesus is drawing on this Old Testament imagery of God being a groom or husband (see Isaiah 54:5-6. Ezekiel 16:9, and Hosea 2:19).

The second parable is about a master gives various amounts of money to his servants to manage before going away for a while. For context, one talent was equal to 6,000 denarii. One denarius was a full day’s wages. That would place one talent at about 20 years’ salary.

Two of the servants managed their money and multiplied, but another servant hid it away so nothing would happen to it. When the master returns, he praises the profitable servants for producing more wealth with their money, but rebukes the servant who did nothing with his.

God has given each one of us gifts and responsibilities. We're called to be productive and profitable with these gifts and in the areas we’re responsible. If Jesus returns to find that we've done nothing with what he's given us, then we're in trouble.

Having warned his disciples about being ready for his return, Jesus then tells them what it will be like when he does return. Jesus will sit on his throne, and all people will be brought before him. He will then sort them into two groups; one on his right, the other on his left. The group on his right he will invite into his kingdom, for they lived life according to his teaching. Whenever they cared for someone in need, it was like they were caring for Jesus himself.

But to the group on his left, he sentences them to the same punishment designed for the spiritual beings that had rebelled against God, because they had not been living their lives for Jesus. Every time they ignored someone in need, it was like they were ignoring him.

Jesus is really clearly explaining the significance of all that he has taught them so far. His teachings aren't just nice thoughts on how to live a good life. They are how to live a life that pleases him and is in keeping with those who get to be part of his kingdom. To ignore Jesus' teaching is to choose the punishment of the rebellious spiritual beings.

And with that, the five blocks of Jesus’ ministry ends. Jesus reminds his disciples that he will soon be killed. This final section of the book deals with Jesus’ journey to that point. We see the high priest, Caiaphas, join in with plotting how to kill him.

This next section follows pretty closely to the series of events we read about in Mark 14. A little later, Jesus is with his disciples and a woman comes and pours expensive perfume over his head. The disciples see this as an extravagant waste, but Jesus recognised that this woman was preparing him for his burial.

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples goes to the religious leaders and agrees to hand Jesus over to them for thirty pieces of silver. As we mentioned with Mark, it may have been that he, like many, was hoping that Jesus would come to conquer the Romans. By having Jesus arrested, he may have been hoping to force Jesus' hand, turning things violent.

Jesus and his disciples gather to eat the Passover together. Remember, the Passover was the most important feast in the Jewish calendar. It was the time that they used to remember how God had brought them out of slavery and into freedom. While they are eating together, Jesus tells the group that one of them will betray him. All the disciples are terrified that somehow it will be them.

Jesus then takes the parts of the Passover, the bread and the wine, and gives them new meaning. They are part of this new covenant that Jesus is making with his disciples, one that involves the breaking of his body and the shedding of his blood to forgive sins. And not just the sins of his disciples, but the sins of many.

To add some contexts, there are four wine cups drunk during the Passover. They are drunk as someone reads out Exodus 6:6-7, which contains four promises that God makes his people. One cup after each promise. The cup that Jesus lifts is likely the one after the promise to redeem his people.

Jesus then takes his disciples out to the Mount of Olives and there they sing praise together. Jesus warns them that they are all about to run away. Peter denies it, but Jesus insists Peter will specifically deny him three times before the rooster crows the next day. Jesus steps away to pray, knowing that he is about to be killed and bringing all of his grief and pain to God.

The religious leaders then come to arrest Jesus, and Judas greets him with a kiss to signal to them who to arrest. The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus, to find a reason to kill him, but there was literally no dirt that could be found on him.

Eventually they ask him straight, if he is the Christ, the Son of God. If they can get him on this, they can claim that he is setting himself up as the king and as a direct threat to the emperor. Jesus tells them that they have said correctly, and that they will see "the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64).

This is another reference to Daniel 7:13-14. But they've finally got it. A good enough reason to have him killed. They begin to mock and beat him. Meanwhile, outside, Peter is asked three times if knows Jesus. Terrified that he may also be arrested, Peter denies it three times. The rooster crows, and Peter realises what he has done.

Psalm 99

This psalm is not attributed to anyone, and falls into the category of praise psalm. Is part of a small collection of psalm (Psalm 93-99) that focus on God as king.

Psalm 99:1-5 - The Lord is a righteous and mighty king

Psalm 99:6-9 - God has been faithful in Israel’s history

The psalmist opens with a declaration that the Lord reigns. Let humans and creation a like tremble before him. He is based in Jerusalem but is Lord over all peoples. He is worthy of praise. The Lord is a king who loves justice. He establishes equality and righteousness amongst his people and should be worshipped.

And then the psalmist points to Israel’s history and how God was with them then. Moses, Aaron, and Samuel all called on the Lord’s name and he answered them. Why these three? Because these three represented times before God’s people had kings. God ruled over them before when they had no kings, and God will rule them now when they have no kings. This psalm was likely set after the exile at a point when Judah had no kings.

During that time, before there were kings, God spoke to his people and held to all that he promised them. He would forgive them when they messed up and avenge them when others tried to destroy them. The implication is that he will do the same for them now, if they exalt and worship him alone.

In Psalm 94, we read the lament of a people post exile who were beaten and downtrodden. Psalm 95-99 are the answer. God is king and will restore all peoples to himself.