| Spending time in the Scriptures Matthew | by A. Kimber | |||||
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Welcome to the New Testament, as I approached the Old Testament, I had in mind many books and characters that often get overlooked in private and public studies. However I realise that many of these New Testament books are often considered and that you are far more likely to be familiar with the passages that we are considering from here on. So I’m going to take the opportunity to refresh my mind and hopefully yours about some of the truths that we can glean from these books. I am aware that I will leave vast swathes unconsidered but as one Young People's monthly ministry meeting has been considering Matthew for 7 years I don’t think that I can offer to begin to do these books justice in these studies. As we read through the book of Matthew it would appear that he was writing to a Jewish audience, we deduce this by many things but two important pointers are his regular quotes from the Old Testament and the way he starts by showing how that Jesus was born into the royal line of David. Unlike other gospels where we are told snippets about Jesus’ early life, Matthew then moves on to introduce us to an adult John the Baptist, unlike Luke, Matthew does not inform us of Johns connection to Jesus but tell us of his message and ministry. We are told how he practices baptism for the confession of sins, so he was rightly unwilling when Jesus approached and requested baptism, however Matthew records this great event and tells us how that God confessed with a voice from heaven ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’. Matthew then tells us about Christ being tempted by the devil; it’s an important reminder to us that even the devil can quote scripture. We need to take care that, like Christ we are aware of what the Bible really says so that we can be prepared to defend ourselves against of the devil's schemes. A Bible study group that I often join with has recently been discussing temptation and we have noticed that sometimes obstacles are very obvious like these, but often we are subject to more subtle temptations. Are we ready to counter them? Having not presented any of Jesus teaching in the opening chapters, Matthew now brings us a discourse lasting several chapters, this body of teachings covers such subjects at those who are and who will be blessed, often known as the beatitudes, it begins ‘blessed are the poor’ and goes through attributes that the Lord will bless. Another interesting teaching in this section is how that if our hearts lust after something, it is as bad as committing the act. If you’re anything like me it can be easy to look at God's commands and think… “I’ve never done that” but yet Jesus taught that even thinking these things is as bad as doing the act. Also how often do we try to mislead people but staying short of actually lying? In these chapters we are told that we should only need to say “yes” or “no” and people will be able to take us at our word. Perhaps the most difficult teaching is the one where He commands that we should give and do over and above any requirement that others may have of us, meaning that if someone takes what you have you should give them more. He even applies this to someone who has been sued in a court saying that they should give the person suing more than they have sought to obtain through the courts. Obviously in such a book it is impossible to do it justice in such a short article, but Jesus keeps returning to the subject of acting justly. For example He accuses His listeners of looking at others’ minor faults and overlooking their own huge inconsistencies and failures. He also addresses a situation where a man with a withered hand approaches Him on the Sabbath, Jesus was being watched to see if He would break the rules of the Sabbath and points out to the watchers that if they had one sheep which fell into a hole, that they would think nothing of rescuing it, and yet they are willing to condemn Him for making someone whole again. I know that there are huge chunks that are being missed, but I think that we need to take careful note from the teachings from chapters 20 to 23; through these chapters we see Christ repeatedly opposing the religious leaders of the day, showing their hypocrisy and love of form and practise over their love of God. Those of us in an assembly often hold to the fact that we don’t have a particular pattern and that we are led by the spirit, but how would we react if someone sat in ‘our’ chair or we had several hymns in a row in a morning meeting? I concede that these are a little bit petty but how often do we get used to the way that things have happened and the ‘proper’ way for things to be done, e.g. a visiting brother will give a short word after the breaking of bread? Let's be careful that we truly allow our love for the Lord to overrule anything that may inhibit our worship, no matter how small it may seem. As we near the end of the book I was drawn to Peter, who having followed the Lord to the Palace, sat in the outer court warming himself by the fire. Whilst he was there he was picked out as one of the twelve, being told that his speech betrayed him. Now I come from Devon and despite believing that I have very little Devonian accent, it can be picked out in some words that I use. I wonder if we can be identified as followers of Christ, not necessarily by our accent, but by the things we say and the way that we say them? It’s obvious that Peters speech set him apart, but in this hostile situation, where he didn’t want to be associated with Christ, we are told that immediately he began to curse and swear. Again I ask, do these sorts of emotions and words often pass our lips? or does our speech mark us out in the world in which we live. So we have the terrible, unjust death of the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified with the inscription ‘This is Jesus the king of the Jews’ written above Him. Still up to this point His commission and message seems to be presented to a Jewish audience, but, once Matthew has recorded the miraculous resurrection from the dead we are told of Jesus’ last commission to His disciples, here He completely re-focuses their efforts, telling them to go and to teach all nations! So we have been brought into all the good of the message of hope and salvation that Jesus brought. Let’s take on board the challenges He made to those who were hypocritical and also to those who despite their faith, were so unwilling to follow, serve and submit themselves to his teachings. Key verses: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Matthew 3:13-14 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 4:23 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Matthew 19:29 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5-6
All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. | ||||||
Christ in all the Scriptures
Dare to be a Daniel