Recap

So far in Mathew, we've read through the prologue, the first three blocks of Jesus' ministry, and started the fourth 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 focused on further revealing his identity and subverting expectations. Jesus fed 5,000 people, paralleling Moses feeding the Israelites. He walked on water, revealing his divinity. In Gentile territory, he healed the sick, cast out demons, and fed 4,000 Gentiles, showing his mission was for all people, not just Jews. He accused the Pharisees of prioritising tradition over God's law.

Then Peter recognised Jesus as the Messiah, but Jesus clarified he was also the Suffering Servant, come to suffer for people's sins. He met Moses and Elijah on a mountain, and God affirmed that Jesus is his son and should be listened to. When asked who will be the greatest in heaven, Jesus explained it is the humble. It involves removing all temptation from your life and making sure others are brought into the fold. If someone offends you, you don't lash back. Instead you challenge them with love, starting off private and slowly making things more public if need be. And you should always be willing to forgive, because God has forgiven you much. 

Matthew 19-20

Jesus now starts his final journey towards Jerusalem. On his way, some pharisees challenge him, asking his thoughts on divorce. Jesus responds by appealing to creation. There we see a man and woman were made to come together and become one flesh. If they have now become one flesh,a how can they suddenly become two again?

The pharisees interrupted him to point out that Moses allowed the people to divorce. Jesus pointed back that Moses only allowed divorce because of the people's hard hearts. If a husband and wife are going to refuse to care for each other, then why continue in the marriage?

But that wasn't how it was originally designed, and in Jesus' new kingdom, where it is the state of our hearts that matter most, it is better to address the hard heart and properly care for one another, than just ending it. Just as Jesus had said previously that someone who lusts after a woman commits adultery with her in their heart, anyone who divorces their wife and remarries has betrayed the vows they made to their first wife.

The disciples then note that if this is the case, it's better not to marry. Jesus tells them that for some, this is the case, but not everyone is able to make that commitment. A lot of people need the companionship and security a marriage brings.

Moving on a little, it's clear that the disciples still haven't fully grasped what Jesus has been saying about being willing to receive children. When some parents bring their children to Jesus, the disciples rebuke them. Jesus is far too important to have time for children.

But Jesus calls the children forward. Jesus has time for children exactly because they can't give him anything back. Spending time with children doesn't improve his social status. It's time spent selflessly and out of genuine care for these little ones. This is where the kingdom of heaven is.

A young man then comes up to Jesus, asking how to obtain eternal life. At first, Jesus tells him to follow the commandments. But when the young man said he already does, then Jesus tells him that if he wants to go the extra mile, sell all that he has and give to the poor. The young man walks away, sad at the prospect of giving away all his possessions. It is impossible for someone to cling to their wealth and try to please God at the same time.

The disciples point out that they have given up everything, so what will they get? They must be top tier followers, right? Jesus assures them that anyone who has given up things in Jesus' name will be rewarded in heaven, but he warned them against thinking about being first amongst believers.

He uses a parable to explain. The kingdom of heaven works like a master who hires some workers. The first group he hires first thing in the morning and agrees with them a denarius as pay. He then continues to hire people throughout the day, so that the last group he hires only works one hour.

When it came to pay, he gave the workers who had just joined a denarius. The first workers assumed that mean they would get paid more, but when the time came, the master gave them exactly what they'd agreed. A denarius. The kingdom of heaven isn't about who is first, or who has earnt the most reward. It is about making sure as many people as possible are saved.

As they get closer to Jerusalem, Jesus starts to get more explicit with his predictions of his death. He tells his disciples that they are going to Jerusalem, he will be arrested by the religious leaders who will then sentence him to death and pass him on to the Gentiles who will beat him and crucify him.

But after three days he will raise to life again. The mother of James and John, two of Jesus' disciples, comes to Jesus and asks if her two sons can sit on either side of Jesus in his kingdom. She's thinking of when Jesus reigns as king over all, but as we'll see, this means something different to Jesus.

Jesus asks James and John if they can drink the same cup as him. Jesus is drawing on the imagery of a cup that we see in the prophets. The cup was often used to describe the cup of God's wrath poured out on the people.

James and John, not realising what they're saying, say yes and insist they can drink the cup. Jesus tells them they will drink this cup, but the two who will be on his left and right have already been picked out.

Jesus again uses this as an opportunity to teach his disciples about the upside down world of the kingdom heaven, because they still seem to be struggling. While on earth people wrestle with each other to prove who is on top, in the kingdom of heaven, it is the opposite. The greatest is the one who is willing to serve, just as he, Jesus, has come to serve and give his life.

As we approach Jerusalem, we get a story of two blind men who are able to see who Jesus is. The 'son of David'. The future king they've been waiting for. So Jesus asks them what they want and healed their eyes. In Mark, we had one blind man named Bartimaeus.

This isn’t the first time Matthew has doubled the number of people in the story. In Mark 5:1-20 we got the story of Jesus healing a man possessed by a legion of demons in the region of the Gerasenes. But in Matthew 8:28-34, Matthew describes the same event but mentions two demoniacs instead of one. In Mark 8:22-26 Mark recounts Jesus healing a blind man at Bethsaida. But in Matthew 9:27-31, Matthew speaks of two blind men being healed in this passage.

We seem to have discovered a theme for Matthew, where he takes stories found in Mark and doubles the number of people involved. Why? One possible reason may be found back in Deuteronomy 19:15. According to the Law, a testimony was only valid if it could be confirmed by two people.

By specifically mentioning two people in these stories, Matthew is increasing their reliability. He’s highlighting the fact that there are two people you could go to confirm if this happened or not.

Psalm 96

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 96:1-6 - Praise God who is great than all other gods

Psalm 96:7-9 - Give God his glory and worship him

Psalm 96:10-13 - Announce God’s reign over all the earth

The psalmist starts with a call to all the earth to praise God. In these first three verses alone, we are told to sing three times, to bless, to tell, and to declare. He is a God of salvation and his glory should be told to all nations and peoples. God is Lord far above all other gods. In comparison to him, they are like worthless idols. It is God who made the heavens and the earth. All that is good and beautiful is found in him.

So the comes a call to honour God for his goodness. He is strong and glorious, so all people should come before him in worship with their offerings.

The psalmist then calls for God’s reign to be declared over all the earth. He is king and judge over all people. So let all the earth rejoice, from the heavens (sky), seas, forest, and all that is in them. The Lord is coming and he will judge and lead the earth in righteousness and faithfulness.

The focus of the psalm is God’s reign over all the earth and all peoples. All people are to find themselves in him and experience his great works.