Wednesday in the Word

what the Bible means and how we know

Matthew

46 Matthew 8:28-34 Demons & Pigs

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46 Matthew 8:28-34 Demons & Pigs - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

When Jesus heals the demoniacs, we learn Jesus has God-given authority over the powers of darkness and evil.  In the last podcast, we saw that Jesus has God-given authority over the power of nature.  Together they build the case that Jesus is the Messiah.

Review

When Jesus heals miraculously, several things happen at once:

  1. An individual exercises faith in Jesus by seeking him for healing before the miracle.
  2. The miracle testifies that God has given Jesus His authority.
  3. The miracle confronts watchers and listeners with the need to respond in faith.
  4. The miracle is a specific act of mercy and compassion for an individual.
  5. The miracle symbolically reminds us why Jesus, the Messiah, came.

In the previous story, the disciples faced threatening external circumstances. The issue today concerns terrifying internal conditions as Jesus heals two men possessed by demons.

Passage

28And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.  29And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”  30Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.  31And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”  32And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.  33The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  34And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. – Matthew 8:28-34

  • This event appears to take place the next morning after the Jesus calms the storm (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39).
  • Mark 5 & Luke 8 say there was one demon-possessed man. Matthew says there were two men. When authors pick and choose which details to include, they are not lying or making things up. They choose what to include to make their point.
  • Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how many men were involved, so much as it matters what kind of book we think the Bible is.
  • If Matthew is right (and I think he is), Mark and Luke were not wrong. They are just not as precise. Matthew was an eye-witness. Mark and Luke wrote their accounts after interviewing eye-witnesses.
  • Demons exists despite our modern denials. God has limited their power and influence since Pentecost.
  • The demons face Jesus with the certain knowledge that they stand condemned.
  • The demons make visible on the outside the destructive power of sin that all of us have inside.
  • “Legion” presents a picture of an enemy too numerous to count. This new enemy also falls under the authority of Jesus.
  • Healing the men made clear that they were free from their inward evil.  Drowning the pigs made it clear this place was no longer inhabited by demons.
  • When he calmed the storm, we saw that Jesus has God-given authority over the power of nature.  This story tells us Jesus has God-given authority over the powers of darkness and evil.  Together they build the case that Jesus is the deliverer sent from God.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 47 Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus heals the paralytic

Previous: 45 Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

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Podcast season 20, episode 5

45 Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm

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45 Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

When he calms the storm, we learn Jesus brings the power of God to rescue His people from the vast destructive forces of nature. The miracles of Jesus have a message: Jesus brings the mercy of God for healing and deliverance.

Review

When Jesus heals miraculously, several things happen at once:

  1. An individual exercises faith in Jesus by seeking him for healing before the miracle.
  2. The miracle testifies that God has given Jesus His authority.
  3. The miracle confronts watchers and listeners with the need to respond in faith.
  4. The miracle is a specific act of mercy and compassion for an individual.
  5. The miracle symbolically reminds us why Jesus, the Messiah, came.

We now see his authority over nature.

Passage

23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.  24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.  25And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”  26And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  27And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”  – Matthew 8:23-27

This event follows a long day of public teaching. Jesus is exhausted, which highlights his humanity. Jesus leave a predominately Jewish region and cross the Sea of Galilee to a predominately gentile region (Mark 4:25-41).

The Sea of Galilee is infamous for sudden storms that seem to come out of nowhere. This storm is a serious situation, but not a hurricane (Jesus can sleep through it). Additionally, several of the disciples are experienced fisherman who would be used to these storms.

Why did the disciples panic? Perhaps they fear Jesus no longer loves them as he seems unresponsive to their plight. Or they fear Jesus is not the Messiah he claims to be, as he is about to perish with them.

Jesus uses this phrase “o you of little faith” in situations where his disciples have lost sight of who God is and who he (Jesus) is (Matthew 6:30 / Luke 12:28; Matthew 14:31; Matthew 16:8; Matthew 17:20). Contrast the faith of the centurion with the disciples in the boat.

When Jesus calms the storm, he physically, visually reminds them that the authority of God is with him. Only God can control the forces of nature and He has given that authority to Jesus. Compare with Psalm 107:23-32.

When Ray Stedman preached on this text, he used one sentence to summarize what is being taught here: “The boat won’t sink, and the storm won’t last forever.” The gospel won’t let you down and the end of the storm is joy and glory.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 46 Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus casts out demons

Previous: 44 Matthew 8:18-22 Foxes & Funerals

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

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Podcast season 20, episode 4

44 Matthew 8:18-22 Foxes and Funerals

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44 Matthew 8:18-22 Foxes and Funerals - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

Matthew introduces us to two potential disciples. One says: “I will follow Jesus if it pays off now.”  The other says: “Now is paying off, I’ll follow Jesus later.” The opportunity to decide to follow Jesus is now. One day it will be too late.

Review

When Jesus heals miraculously, several things happen at once:

  1. An individual exercises faith in Jesus by seeking him for healing before the miracle.
  2. The miracle testifies that God has given Jesus His authority.
  3. The miracle confronts watchers and listeners with the need to respond in faith.
  4. The miracle is a specific act of mercy and compassion for an individual.
  5. The miracle symbolically reminds us why Jesus, the Messiah, came.

Matthew has been speaking about the authority of Jesus and then we get this short section on discipleship, which still relates the question of Jesus’ authority.. 

Passage

18Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.  19And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”  20And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  – Matthew 8:18-20

Scribes made a profession of studying the Old Testament Law. All scribes were Pharisees, but not all Pharisees were scribes.

This scribe sees Jesus getting ready to leave and asks to follow him as his disciple.

Foxes and birds find a home in this world and fulfill their purpose in it. By contrast, the Messiah will find his fulfillment in the age to come.

As a student of the Old Testament, this scribe is intrigued that Jesus might be the Messiah. The scribe probably hopes to be by Jesus’ side when he sits on David’s throne.

The scribe is correct that one day Jesus as the Messiah will rule from David’s throne. But first the world is going to reject and execute Jesus.

Jesus is cryptically saying something like: “You may think you are joining a movement where I will take my rightful place as king and you’ll be with me. But I have no place in this world. If you’re looking for someone to teach you how to find power and fulfillment in this world, I’m not your rabbi. This world will hate you if you truly follow me.”

21Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  22And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”  – Matthew 8:21-22

Scholars have proposed several theories for what this potential disciple is asking:

A) His father just died and he’ll join Jesus next week after the funeral. Scholars who opt for this understanding take Jesus’ response as hyperbole to make a point about the priority of discipleship.

B) After the bones had decayed for a year in a tomb, they were collected and put in an ossuary. The disciple could be asking to wait until after this “second burial.” Scholars who opt for this see Jesus’ saying discipleship needs to take priority over all cultural practices.

C) His father has not yet died. “Let me bury my father” is an idiom for when I’m retired and have completed all my responsibilities. This means the disciple is basically saying I’m too busy now to follow you.

With option C, Jesus responds something like: If you don’t follow me, you are choosing to stay among those who are spiritually dead. Let those who have chosen the world over me care for themselves.

The common ground between these options is the need to choose to follow Jesus rather than this world. One is saying I will follow Jesus if it pays off now.  The other is saying now is paying off so I’ll deal with Jesus later.

The opportunity to decide to follow Jesus is now and one day it will be too late.

Luke

61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:61-62

Luke adds a third story in his account.

The phrase translated “say goodbye” is translated “take leave of” everywhere else (Mark 6:46; Acts 18:18; Acts 18:21; 2Cor 2:13). It carries the idea of getting permission to leave. The person leaving politely requests permission to leave (“by your leave”) and the ones remaining politely grant permission (“go in peace”).

This potential disciple is asking to return home and get his parent’s permission to follow Jesus, because he assumes his father’s authority trumps the authority of Jesus.

Plowing required concentrated and dedicated attention. If you looked back, the furrow became crooked.

Jesus is saying, like the plowman you can’t look back at the road not taken. There is no authority higher than Jesus.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 45 Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm

Previous: 43 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals many, fulfilling Isaiah

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

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Podcast season 20, episode 3

43 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals, fulfilling Isaiah

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43 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals, fulfilling Isaiah - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

Through these miraculous healing, Jesus physically demonstrates that he came to rescue us from our ultimate suffering which is rooted in our sin and our guilt. 

Review

Matthew 8-9 give a series of miracles Jesus performed that all point to his authority from God. The miracles call on us to respond. We see faith before the miracle in the person seeking Jesus. We are called to respond in faith after the miraclen because the evidence is mounting that Jesus is the Messiah

Passage

14And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.  15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.  – Matthew 8:14-15

  • Jesus was leaving the synagogue when they approached him about Peter’s mother-in-law.  She had a high fever which he rebuked.  Then she got up and was well enough to serve him (Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39).
  • We aren’t told much about this woman or her faith.
  • The fact that she extended hospitality to Jesus shows how fully she recovered.
  • Hospitality in that culture was very important. She would have wanted to serve guests in her home both as a duty and an honor.
  • The personal connection to Peter reminds us that these miracles are individual acts of compassion, not just supernatural events.

16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.  17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”  – Matthew 8:16-17

  • The word fulfill (πληρωθη; Strongs G4137) can mean 1) something predicted has come to pass; or 2) “X is the fullest picture of Y,” the fullness, epitome or completeness of an Old Testament theme.
  • Quite often Matthew means this second usage. Fuller discussion in chapter 1.
  • Matthew quotes Isaiah 53:4 which is a prediction of Jesus, the Messiah.
  • In both biblical Hebrew (Isaiah) and biblical Greek (Matthew), the words in these passages can refer to physical problems (e.g. illness, disease) or spiritual/emotional problems (e.g. griefs, sorrows). The translators translate them as physical illness in Matthew, but as spiritual illness in Isaiah.
  • The context in Matthew tells us Jesus is healing many who were oppressed by demons, casting out the spirits and healing all who were sick, suggesting this is broader than physical disease.

1Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 
2For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 
3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 
5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  – Isaiah 53:1-6

  • Isaiah was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom (Judah) His ministry spans 50-60 years from approximately 740 – 680 BC during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (kings of Judah).
  • The last section of Isaiah (40-66) is set against the Babylonian captivity and is addressed to a group of people who lived about 120 to 140 years after Isaiah ministered.
  • In this section Isaiah predicts a Servant who will suffer for his people. That Servant is the Messiah who is Jesus.
  • Isaiah 53 tells us that the Servant is an unimpressive man who is acquainted with sorrows and griefs.  But in fact it is our sorrow and our grief that he has taken upon himself.  He is going to offer his life as a guilt offering so that we can be forgiven, healed, and find well-being and peace.
  • Matthew witness both the cross and the resurrection. He heard Jesus explain their significance (e.g. Matthew 26:27-28). Matthew knows what Jesus came to do and that Isaiah predicted it. Matthew could have quoted this passage as direct predictive prophecy when he describes the crucifixion.
  • Instead he chooses to quote Isaiah in this context, using the term “fulfilled” in the thematic, analogous reality sense.
  • By quoting Isaiah Matthew highlights the symbolic message these miracles carry.
  • God chose supernatural acts of deliverance to testify to the authority of His Messiah, because deliverance is what Jesus came to do. As the Messiah, his life’s mission is to deliver his people from their ultimate grief, sorrow and sufferings by dying in their place. These miracles symbolically reflect that deliverance.
  • Isaiah 53 predicted the Messiah would die as a guilt-offering for his people and so that they could be mercifully rescued from their sorrows and suffering.  Through these miraculous healing, Jesus gives a physical demonstration that he came to rescue us from our ultimate sufferings which are rooted in our sin and our guilt. 

Summary

When Jesus heals several things happen at once:

  1. An individual exercises faith in Jesus by seeking him for healing before the miracle.
  2. The miracle testifies that God has given Jesus His authority.
  3. The miracle confronts watchers and listeners with the need to respond in faith.
  4. The miracle is a specific act of mercy and compassion for an individual.
  5. The miracle symbolically reminds us why Jesus, the Messiah, came.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 44 Matthew 8:18-22 Foxes & Funerals

Previous: 42 Matthew 7:28-8:13 Authority of Jesus

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

Study: Matthew Resources

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42 Matthew 7:28-8:13 Authority of Jesus

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42 Matthew 7:28-8:13 Authority of Jesus - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

In the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew quoted Jesus as claiming to have authority from God. Now Matthew turns our attention to how Jesus acts with God’s authority, by performing miracles only God can perform. These miracles confront us with a choice to believe Jesus is who he says he is.

Review

Matthew’s Gospel Simple Outline

  • Chapters 1-4 – Prologue
  • Chapters 5:1-16:12 – Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, including 3 discourses.
  • Chapters 16:13-17 – Turning Point; Jesus prepares to go to Jerusalem
  • Chapters 18-28 – Journey to Jerusalem, culminating in the passion week, including 2 discourses.

In chapter 4, Matthew describes how Jesus began his ministry in Galilee.  Jesus preached to large crowds, healing many people and teaching: “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” 

In chapters 5-7, Matthew gives us an example sermon Jesus’ early ministry.  Now Matthew turns our attention to a series of miracles.

Authority

  • The authority of Jesus is a key theme in the next section of the gospel.
  • If several police officers knock on my door with a search warrant, I have no choice but to accept their authority.
  • When Jesus returns, he will exercise that kind of authority. He will descend from heaven with the glory of God and all of us will have no choice but to submit.
  • At his first coming, Jesus exercised a different kind of authority. He gave people a choice whether to accept and reject him.
  • Like his teaching, the miracles confront us with the question: Is Jesus exercising God-given authority or not?
  • Before the miracle, we see someone who has confronted that question, decided to trust Jesus and come to him seeking help.
  • After the miracle, we see others confronted with the question of whether or not to believe Jesus is acting for God.

28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,  29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes – Matthew 7:28-29

  • Many argue that Jesus teaches with authority because he quotes no other rabbis or sources.
  • Jesus based his teaching on a clear and profound understanding of the Old Testament and good interpretative methodology.
  • But Jesus claimed a more profound kind of authority for himself.
  • Jesus compared himself to the prophets who had a message from God (Matthew 5:10-12).
  • Jesus describes himself as on a mission from God to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17).
  • “For I tell you” carries the weight of one sent from God, similar to “Thus says the Lord. (Matthew 5:20).
  • Jesus claims God has given him the authority to decide our fate on judgment day (Matthew 7:21-23).
  • Jesus claims rejecting his words will have devastating consequences (Matthew 7:24-27).
  • No scribe or Pharisee made these kind of claims.
  • Jesus makes a clear claim to having the authority of God.
  • In these miracles we see him do things only God can do.

Passage

1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.  2And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  3And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  4And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”  – Matthew 8:1-8:4

  • It’s unclear exactly what disease this man had. What is called leprosy in the Bible is probably a collection of various kinds of infectious skin diseases.
  • The leper has wrestled with the question of the authority of Jesus and come to Jesus in faith. He acknowledges Jesus has the power to heal him, but is not required to do so.
  • Jesus touches the leper even though the leper is physically and ritually unclean.
  • When you share your water glass with someone sick, he does not become well; you become sick. That’s how the world works. Yet the leper is healed.
  • In some cases, Jesus requests those he’s healed not to tell anyone in order to prevent gathering a mob. Here he requests the Leper to fulfill the law (Leviticus 14:1-11).

5When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6“Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”  7And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.”  8But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.  9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”  10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.  11I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,  12while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  13And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.  – Matthew 8:5-8:13

  • During this part of his ministry, Capernaum functioned as a kind of home-base for Jesus (Mark 2:1; Luke 4:16).
  • Like the leper we see the prior faith of the Centurion.
  • The centurion knows that a Jew would never enter the home of gentile. He acknowledges he is unworthy of Jesus’ attention, but recognizes the authority God has given Jesus
  • Jesus marvels as such faith in a Gentile. He paints a metaphorical picture of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob feasting on the day when the kingdom of God is fully established. Many “sons of the kingdom” (Jews, those to whom the kingdom promises were given) will be turned away while many from east and west (Gentiles) will feast at the table.
  • The difference between those two groups is responding to Jesus in faith, like the centurion and the leper.
  • The faith they approach Jesus with is confidence that Jesus is the Messiah and is acting with the authority of God.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 43 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals many, fulfilling Isaiah

Previous: 41 Matthew 7:12-29 The Golden Rule and the 2 Roads

Series: Gospel of Matthew 8-13 Behold the King, Part 2

Study: Matthew Resources

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Matthew’s Gospel 8-12: Behold the King! Part 2

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Matthew's Gospel 8-12: Behold the King!

After the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew focuses our attention on the miracles of Jesus. Having shown us that Jesus speaks with the authority of God, Matthew now shows us that Jesus acts with the authority of God by performing miracles only God can perform. The miracles confront us with the question: will we believe Jesus is who he says he is?

Resources: Background, Outlines, Maps, Key Words

PREVIOUS: Matthew’s Gospel 1-7 Behold, the King! Part 1

Jump to: ** Chap 8; ** Chap 9; ** Chap 10; ** Chap 11; ** Chap 12; ** Next **

Chapter 8

42 Matthew 7:28-8:13 Authority of Jesus

Matthew has just quoted Jesus as claiming to have authority from God. Now he turns our attention to how Jesus acts with God’s authority, by performing miracles only God can perform. These miracles confront us with a choice to believe Jesus is who he says he is. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on June 8, 2022; Season 20, episode 1.

43 Matthew 8:14-17 Jesus heals, fulfilling Isaiah

Through these miraculous healing, Jesus physically demonstrates that he came to rescue us from our ultimate suffering which is rooted in our sin and our guilt.  Teacher: Krisan Marotta on June 15, 2022; Season 20, episode 2

44 Matthew 8:18-22 Foxes & Funerals

Matthew introduces us to two potential disciples. One says: “I will follow Jesus if it pays off now.” The other says: “Now is paying off, I’ll follow Jesus later.” The opportunity to decide to follow Jesus is now. One day it will be too late. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on June 22, 2022; Season 20, episode 3

45 Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus calms the storm

When he calms the storm, we learn Jesus brings the power of God to rescue His people from the vast destructive forces of nature. The miracles of Jesus have a message: Jesus brings the mercy of God for healing and deliverance. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on June 29, 2022; Season 20, episode 4

46 Matthew 8:28-34 Demons & Pigs

When Jesus heals the demoniacs, we learn Jesus has God-given authority over the powers of darkness and evil.  In the last podcast, we saw that Jesus has God-given authority over the power of nature.  Together they build the case that Jesus is the Messiah. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on July 13, 2022; Season 20, episode 5

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Chapter 9

47 Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus heals the paralytic

Jesus demonstrates that he has authority from God to forgive sins by calling upon the power of God to heal the paralytic. In addition to the faith of the paralytic, the miracles support our faith by demonstrating that God has given Jesus authority. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on July 20, 2022; Season 20, episode 6

48 Matthew 9:9-13 Eating with sinners

Jesus sat and ate among the tax collectors with the message, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and that is a message we do well to share. The most loving thing we can do is to help people deal with their real problem. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on July 27, 2022; Season 20, episode 7

49 Matthew 9:14-17 Fasting, cloth & wine skins

In these stories, Jesus challenges the religious culture and practices of the Pharisees, not the Old Testament. His understanding is so fundamentally incompatible with the Pharisees that if he tried to reform their their views, he would only destroy them. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on August 3, 2022; Season 20, episode 8

50 Matthew 9:18-26 The bleeding woman

Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”  In a metaphorical way, he asks it still. You can try to touch his robe and then run away. But if you do, you’re missing the greatest gift of all: salvation. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on August 10, 2022; Season 20, episode 9

51 Matthew 9:18-26 Jairus’s daughter

Death should no longer command fear and power over us, because we follow a savior with authority over death, as we see in the raising of Jairus’s daughter. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on August 17, 2022; Season 20, episode 10

52 Matthew 9:27-34 Blind & mute

In these last two miracles, Matthew foreshadows the growing conflict with the Pharisees. While the crowds are excited and amazed, the Pharisees reject Jesus as working with the devil. Ultimately the unbelief of the Jewish leadership is going to be a crucial part of the story. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on August 24, 2022; Season 20, episode 11

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Chapter 10

53 Matthew 9:35-10:8 Sending the Twelve

Matthew presents this initial sending of the Twelve as a first step toward their ultimate global mission. Even though they are to stay in Jewish territory on this journey, ultimately, Jesus is going to send them to the world. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on September 14, 2022. Season 20, episode 12

54 Matthew 10:8-23 Provisions & Persecution

On this journey, Jesus deliberately makes his apostles dependent on the hospitality of the children of Israel by instructing them not to take provisions. The apostles might expect they are launching a victory tour, but they will learn first-hand how the children of Israel will reject the Messiah. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on September 21, 2022. Season 20, episode 13

55 Matthew 10:23 Coming of the Son of Man

Matthew 10:23 is one of the most difficult verses in the New Testament. It raises many eschatological problems. This podcast provides an overview of the options and issues. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on September 28, 2022. Season 20, episode 14

56 Matthew 10:24-33 Fear only God

All of us face the question: What am I going to believe so much that it changes the way I think, respond and make choices?  We make those decisions based on what or who we fear most. Jesus says, the wisest choice is to fear God.  Teacher: Krisan Marotta on October 5, 2022. Season 20, episode 15

57 Matthew 10:34-39 Not peace, a sword

Ultimately Jesus’ role is to bring peace and restoration to the earth, but not yet.  First, he came to bring a sword because his message requires a choice and that choice divides even families. To follow Jesus, you must be willing to live with that rejection and hostility, even if it means losing your closest family members or your very life. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on October 12, 2022. Season 20, episode 16

58 Matthew 10:40-42 Receiving a prophet

Jesus ends this discourse by telling the Twelve their role is like the prophets.  They are standing in the place of Jesus.  How people respond to the apostles reveals how they respond to Jesus. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on October 19, 2022. Season 20, episode 17

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Chapter 11

59 Matthew 11:1-6 Are you the one?

Matthew shifts his focus to the how people respond to Jesus. Most reject him.  Even John the Baptist becomes confused, because Jesus is not acting like the Messiah he expected. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on October 26, 2022. Season 20, episode 18

60 Matthew 11:7-15 John the Baptist’s role

Jesus was so different from the Messiah people expected, even John the Baptist had moments where he wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. If he’s really a prophet, how could John become confused?  In this passage, Jesus answers that question. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on November 2, 2022. Season 20, episode 19

61 Matthew 11:16-24 Woe to unrepentant cities

What Malachi predicted is finally happening.  This generation finally stands in the presence of the herald and the Messiah.  How does this generation receive that message?  Jesus explains with an analogy: Jesus and John are like children sitting in the marketplace playing the flute and calling to their friends to dance, but their friends refuse. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on November 9, 2022. Season 20, episode 20

62 Matthew 11:25-30 Take my yoke

For people who are self-satisfied and indifferent to God, miracles change nothing. They believe they already have wisdom and they reject Jesus. But those who are know they are needy and weary understand the miracles and embrace the wisdom of Jesus teaching. To them Jesus promises rest. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on November 16, 2022. Season 20, episode 21

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Chapter 12

63 Matthew 12:1-14 Two Sabbath stories

The Sabbath played a big role in the worsening relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees. Matthew gives us only these two stories. By the end of the second story, we learn that Pharisees are planning to kill Jesus partly because of his views on the Sabbath. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on November 30, 2022. Season 20, episode 22

64 Matthew 12:15-21 Behold my Servant

For the second time, Matthew quotes an Old Testament prophecy as predictive prophecy.  Isaiah says ‘Behold my servant’ and explains something about how the Servant will act. Matthew shows us this is out Jesus acted. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on December 7, 2022. Season 20, episode 23

65 Matthew 12:22-50 A Tree and its fruit

Each one of us must decide what to do with Jesus.  Sitting on the fence is not an option. The stumbling block is not lack of evidence.  The stumbling block is the stubbornness of our hearts.  In the end, we do not believe, because we do not want to believe. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on December 14, 2022. Season 20, episode 24

Related podcast: Matthew 12:43-45 Return of the Unclean Spirit

Bonus: Matthew 1:21 Why Jesus came, a Christmas message

The angel tells Joseph to take Mary as his wife because Mary is about to have a son through the power of the Holy Spirit. Then the angel also tells Joseph something about this son. Who does the angel say this child is? Season 20, bonus episode 25.

I offer my bible studies, podcasts and resources free of charge under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License.  I do not seek or accept advertising, affiliations or donations. But it does encourage me to hear from you about how you used these studies and/or what you learned.

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Podcast season 20, episodes 1-24

41 Matthew 7:12-29 The Golden Rule & 2 Roads

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41 Matthew 7:12-29 The Golden Rule - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

Matthew 7:12-29 summarizes two great themes we’ve seen in this sermon: 1) You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 2) There is a road that seems right to us, but it leads to destruction.

Review

Matthew 1-4 contain introductory material to Matthew’s gospel.

  • In Matthew 1, Matthew gave us the genealogy of Jesus, explaining that Jesus is a son of Abraham and a son of David. 
  • In Matthew 1-2, Matthew told us the story of Jesus’ birth and upbringing from Joseph’s perspective. 
  • In Matthew 3, Matthew told us the of the ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus.
  • In Matthew 4, Matthew told us about the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. 
  • Matthew gives us a narrative introduction (Mt 4:12-22) and a summary statement (Mt 4:23-25) before the sermon on the mount. 

Matthew 5-7 contain the Sermon on the Mount which is about one topic:  Who will be accepted by God and receive a place in His kingdom?

The Golden Rule

Theme 1: Love your neighbor as yourself.

12“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

  • The “so” or “therefore” refers back to the entire sermon. This section is the conclusion.
  • This very famous verse is known as the “Golden Rule.”
  • To love your neighbor is to act for his/her benefit regardless of your feelings or their response.
  • In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus defines the two greatest commandments as love God with all of you and love your neighbor as yourself. The Golden Rule is another way of stating the second great commandment (love your neighbor).
  • The fundamental truth (love your neighbor) is behind much of the Old Testament Law. The law forbids murder, theft, vengeance, taking advantage of the poor and so forth. All those things are wrong because they represent a refusal to love our neighbors as ourselves.
  • This “principle of the mirror” – when I am looking at my neighbor I am seeing a sinner like myself – is one of the themes we have seen throughout this sermon.
  • The point of the Golden Rule is not to create good relationships and an ordered society. The idea is NOT: be nice to others so they will be nice to you. Rather if anything it is: be nice despite how the other person acts.
  • The Golden Rule is not meant to stand by itself. We need wisdom to figure out how to act in our neighbor’s benefit in any given situation.
  • The Golden Rule is more like a compass pointing us in the general direction; it does not teach us specifics.

The 2 Roads

Theme 2: There are two roads. One road seems right to us but it leads to destruction. The other road leads to Life.

In this section we see 4 variations on this theme of two roads:

  1. the broad road and the narrow road;
  2. false prophets with the bad fruit and true prophets with good fruit;
  3. Some who call Jesus Lord who will NOT enter the kingdom and some who call Jesus Lord who will enter the kingdom;
  4. Some will build on the sand and their houses will be destroyed and some build on the rock and their houses will stand.

We need to understand these metaphors in the context of the entire Sermon on the Mount. In these verses, Jesus doesn’t say how to choose the narrow gate. He doesn’t tell us what bad fruit looks like. He doesn’t say what the will of God is that the person who calls Jesus Lord should be doing. He doesn’t tell us how we find the rock to build on or how to avoid the sand.

He doesn’t answer those questions here in these verses, because he’s answered those questions in the rest of the sermon.

13″Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14

  • Jesus tells us there are two roads. One road leads to life and one road leads to destruction, and those who choose the road to life are in the minority.
  • People don’t choose the road to life because they don’t want to. It doesn’t look attractive; it looks hard (wide vs narrow).
  • By nature, we’re foolish blind people. Taking the road to life requires waking up, opening our eyes, and admitting we were wrong.
  • Making that choice can cost us our family and friends and even our very life.

15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” – Matthew 7:15-20

  • Wolves are the classic enemy of the sheep.
  • In this analogy, we are to picture ourselves as the sheep, the prey.
  • Jesus warns his followers that people will come who claim to know the road to life and preach a message from God. Yet in fact they are not from God at all.
  • Compare to Matthew 23:13-15.
  • You recognize false prophets and true prophets by their fruit — that is how they live their lives.
  • The true prophets will be poor in spirit, humble, merciful, peacemakers, seeking life in the kingdom of God as he’s just described in this sermon.
  • The false prophets will be worldly, focused on the pleasures of this world, self-righteous, judgmental and unloving, as described in this sermon.

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” – Matthew 7:21-23

  • Up to this point in the sermon Jesus has been contrasting the pharisees, the hypocrites and the gentiles with the people of Israel.
  • Now he focuses on the subset of people who call him Lord. Even among those who claim to follow Jesus, some will be on the wrong path.
  • Living a religious life is no guarantee that you’ll be in the kingdom.
  • The one who does the will of God is the one who has embraced the truths Jesus has explained in this sermon (e.g. humbly repenting before God, being merciful, hungering for holiness, seeking first the kingdom of heaven, counting on the promises of God, seeking to follow what God says is true, seeking to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, etc.)
  • The lawless ones are those who like the Pharisees claim to follow the law of God, but in fact they use the law to pursue their own self-righteous and worldly gain.

24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”  28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,  29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.  – Matthew 7:24-29

The poet Edna St Vincent Millay wrote a little 2-line poem that captures this image:

Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!

  • It doesn’t matter how big and grand the palace is. If it’s built on the sand, it’s not going to last. That’s how we are to picture our lives in this world. Are you building on the rock or the sand?
  • How do you build on the rock? Jesus tells us: you hear and you act. You act on the kinds of things Jesus has been teaching in this sermon. You hear and embrace the truths he has proclaimed and you seek to live in light of those truths.
  • If you act on what Jesus taught in this sermon, you are building on the rock and your house will stand. If you do not act on what Jesus taught in this sermon, you are building on the sand and your house will fall. That’s how important this sermon is.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 42 Matthew 7:28-8:13 The Authority of Jesus

Previous: 40 Matthew 7:7-11 Seek and you will find

Series: Matthew’s Gospel 1-7: Behold, the King!

Resources: Matthew Resources

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40 Matthew 7:7-11 Seek and you will find

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40 Matthew 7:7-11 Seek and you will find - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

Ask God for the life He has promised and you will receive it. Seek the good things that He has promised and you will find them. Knock on the door to the kingdom of heaven and it will open to you. These words are powerful because of the difficult battle they represent. Believing and acting on these promises is the central struggle of the Christian life.

Review

The entire Sermon on the Mount has been about one topic:  Who will be accepted by God and receive a place in His kingdom?

  1. Matthew 5:1-16: Jesus tells us those with saving faith are blessed who will receive a place in the kingdom (the Beatitudes).
  2. Matthew 5:17-48: Jesus says your righteousness must be different than the kind the Pharisees have to enter the kingdom of heaven (the Antitheses).
  3. Matthew 6:1-7:11: Using several examples, Jesus warns his listeners to avoid the self-deception of the Pharisees.
  4. Matthew 7:12-29: Jesus concludes there are 2 paths. One path leads to life and the other to destruction. You must be the type of person described in this Sermon to be on the right path.

In 7:6, Jesus began transitioning conclusion by urging us to embrace the truths he has just taught. Don’t be the kind of fool who throws away what is precious. That raises the question: Will it work? Can I really trust God and the words of Jesus of Nazareth that God will in fact forgive me and give me a place in His kingdom? Jesus addresses that kind of doubt in Matthew 7:7-11.

4 Foundational Truths

Four foundational truths put Matthew 7:7-11 in perspective.

  1. God is our Creator; we are His creatures. God does not owe us anything. God does not give good gifts to those who ask Him because He is required to do so. God answers our cries because, like a loving compassionate Father, He wants to.
  2. We are sinners who have earned nothing but condemnation from God. God gives good gifts in spite of the fact that we have earned rejection, because He has chosen to be merciful.
  3. God’s definition of “good gifts” is not the same as ours. God gives us what we truly need.
  4. The kind of request Jesus has in view is a necessary expression of saving faith. Asking, seeking, knocking are things that believers do as they turn to the God that they trust.

Passage

7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  9Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11

  • God will not turn away those who come to Him with saving faith (as just described in the Sermon on the Mount).
  • Like our earthly fathers, God gives us life, and He cares for us as good fathers care for their children.
  • The child in the analogy asks for the fundamental needs of life (bread and fish), things which he can count on his father to provide.
  • As God’s children, we also request the fundamentals that will sustain our souls, things which we can count on our heavenly Father to give us.
  • Just as an earthly father wants his children to eat, God wants His children to have saving faith and hope.
  • We can have confidence that we are asking for something our heavenly Father wants to give us.
  • Unlike earthly fathers, our heavenly Father will not fail us. He is completely trustworthy.
  • Ask God for the life He has promised and you will receive it.
  • Seek the good things that He has promised and you will find them.
  • Knock on the door to the kingdom of heaven and it will open to you.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 41 Matthew 7:12-27 The Golden Rule & the 2 Roads

Previous: 39 Matthew 7:6 Throwing pearls to pigs

Series: Gospel of Matthew: Behold, the King!

Resources: Matthew Resources

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39 Matthew 7:6 Throwing pearls to pigs

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39 Matthew 7:6 Throwing pearls to pigs - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

In Matthew 7:6, many people understand Jesus to be saying something like: you don’t need to share the gospel with hostile, unworthy people. However, I agree with the minority who understand Jesus to be saying: don’t be the kind of fool who throws away what is beautiful and precious.

Review

The Sermon on the Mount has been about one topic:  Who will be accepted by God and receive a place in His kingdom?

  1. Matthew 5:1-16: Jesus tells us those with saving faith are blessed who will receive a place in the kingdom (the Beatitudes).
  2. Matthew 5:17-48: Jesus says your righteousness must be different than the kind the Pharisees have to enter the kingdom of heaven (the Antitheses).
  3. Matthew 6:1-7:11: Using several examples, Jesus warns his listeners to avoid the self-deception of the Pharisees.
  4. Matthew 7:12-29: Jesus concludes there are 2 paths. One path leads to life and the other to destruction. You must be the type of person described in this Sermon to be on the right path.

Passage

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.  – Matthew 7:6

Common Understanding

  • The holy things and the pearls represent the things of God (either the gospel itself or general truth from God).
  • The dogs and the pigs represent people who are hostile to God.
  • Jesus is saying something like: Do not preach the things of God to hostile, unworthy people.
  • Even though in the previous context Jesus told us not to judge, sometimes the audience to our witnessing responds with too much hostility, hatred and violence. Jesus does not expect us to continue preaching to such hostile audiences.
  • For example: various commentaries here.

Problems with the common understanding

  • The common view treats Matthew 7:6 as an allegory.
  • An allegory is a symbolic statement that needs to be decoded. In allegories, the story doesn’t necessarily make sense because the elements in the story are picked for their symbolic value.
  • The symbols must be widely known for an allegory to work, but we have no evidence dogs, meat, pigs and pearls had any symbolic value in that day.
  • It seems unlikely that Jesus would switch to an allegory in this context. It’s more likely this is a metaphor or a short parable.
  • With parables we look to the overall point of the story. Parables are analogies between normal everyday life and some other reality. Parables make sense as a story.
  • This verse makes sense as a story and could easily be recast as a parable. For example: Once there was a man who threw his best steak to the dogs. Then he tossed his pearls to the swine. The pigs trampled the pearls into the mud and attacked the man looking for food.
  • The common understanding does not fit into the context of the sermon, and who isn’t hostile to the gospel? How do we know when hostility becomes too much?
  • I expect that Matthew put this verse here, because it relates to the theme and the context in some way.

Minority (Better) Understanding

  • Throughout his gospel, Matthew expects his readers to be familiar with the Old Testament.
  • Jesus was speaking to a largely Jewish audience that he expected to be familiar with the Old Testament.
  • We have a tiny bit of background in the Old Testament that sheds light on Matthew 7:6.

You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. – Exodus 22:31

  • Many of the Old Testament laws explain how to keep religiously holy. The children of Israel are to eat, wash, dress and act in certain ways that symbolically represent their relationship to God. These practices are outward ritualistic expressions of their inner commitment to holiness.
  • In an agricultural economy, “road kill” can seem like a gift, as it does not require hunting, growing or tending.
  • For His own purposes, God wants their eating habits to be a picture of their commitment to holiness.
  • God knows they need food, but in this case, He wants them to abstain from taking this easy meat off the ground.
  • Exodus 22:31 says, Don’t take this kind of meat for yourself, instead throw it to the dogs. To throw the meat to the dogs is a way of saying get rid of it.
  • A holy person can eat meat that they raise or hunt. But “road kill” is not for the person striving to be holy. Trust that God will provide for you and throw this kind of meat to the wild dogs.
  • What kind of foolish person throws holy meat to the dogs? Clean and holy meat is a gift of God intended to sustain your life. If you throw it to the dogs, it shows you don’t understand and value it as you should.
  • Pearls make you wealthy. What kind of foolish person would throw pearls to the pigs? To do that is to say these pearls aren’t valuable enough to keep, maybe these unclean pigs can play them.
  • If I’m right here, the emphasis of this verse is not: who are the dogs or who are the pigs? The emphasis is on the thrower: don’t be a fool who treats something holy as if it were worthless.
  • I would argue that Jesus is NOT saying figure out who the hostile unworthy people are and don’t bother sharing the gospel with them. Instead, he is saying, don’t be the kind of fool who throws away what is beautiful and precious.

7:6 in Context

  • Jesus is nearing the end of the Sermon on the Mount.
  • Jesus, the Messiah himself, has just given us the priceless information of how find eternal life in his kingdom.
  • Now the question is: will we accept it or not? What will we cling to and what will we throw away?
  • Cling to that which is holy and precious, hold fast to the things of God.
  • Do not be like the Pharisees who have essentially wasted the gifts they have been given.
  • Do not throw your pearls to the pigs. Instead cling to those things that are valuable and beautiful, the things of God. They are your treasure, don’t waste them or throw them away.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 40 Matthew 7:7-11 Seek and you will find

Previous: 38 Matthew 7:1-5 Log in your eye

Series: Gospel of Matthew: Behold, the King!

Resources: Matthew Resources

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38 Matthew 7:1-5 The Log in your eye

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38 Matthew 7:1-5 The Log in your eye - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

The log in your own eye versus the speck in your neighbor’s eye is a powerful image of willfully living a lie. Jesus warns that if you condemn other people for their sins, you are ignoring a fundamental truth about yourself in a way that is almost impossible to imagine.

Review

The entire Sermon on the Mount has been about one topic:  Who will be accepted by God and receive a place in His kingdom?

  1. Matthew 5:1-16: Jesus tells us those with saving faith are blessed who will receive a place in the kingdom (the Beatitudes).
  2. Matthew 5:17-48: Jesus says your righteousness must be different than the kind the Pharisees have to enter the kingdom of heaven (the Antitheses).
  3. Matthew 6:1-7:11: Using several examples, Jesus warns his listeners to avoid the self-deception of the Pharisees.
  4. Matthew 7:12-29: Jesus concludes there are 2 paths. One path leads to life and the other to destruction. You must be the type of person described in this Sermon to be on the right path.

In this third section Jesus challenges those who are worldly.  Worldliness is not being too materialistic.  Worldliness is being too concerned with the things of this world. The hypocrites look for the rewards of this world, rather than what God has promised in heaven.

3 Foundational Truths

Three foundational truths that are taught throughout the Bible are the key to understanding this section:

  1. One day our Creator God will judge us. Our eternal destiny is in entirely His hands.
  2. We are evil people who will stand condemned on judgment day unless God is merciful.
  3. Mercy comes only to those who have saving faith.

You may recognize these as another way of stating the 3 of the 4 convictions of saving faith.

  • People who have saving faith are not free from sin.  It’s NOT that we steadfastly and courageously overcome our sin and therefore God acknowledges our intrinsic worth and grants us life. 
  • It’s NOT that people marked by saving faith are 51% good.  We don’t tip the scales so that the good we have done outweighs the bad we have done. 
  • It’s NOT that we are sincerely religious enough to impress God with our piety and dedication, and so he grants us a pass on judgment day.

Rather we are open to and embrace the truths of God.  In particular, we embrace the 4 core convictions of saving faith:

  • We recognize and agree with God that we are sinful.
  • We long to be freed from sin and to be made holy.
  • We recognize that we can do nothing to make ourselves holy and God owes us nothing.
  • We firmly trust that God will make us holy and grant us life in His kingdom only because of His mercy and the work of Jesus Christ.

Analogy

Jesus clearly connects God’s response to us to the way we respond to others. To explain this connection, I want to give you an analogy which I learned from one of my mentor’s. 

  • Look up at the night sky.  Our universal experience suggests that everything revolves around us.
  • By analogy, this is how we view God and each other. From my perspective, I’m at the center of this whole thing, and God and other people move around me.  Just like, from our vantage point the sun revolves around the earth.
  • This is a fundamental part of what it means to be a sinner.  Why do I sin against God and other people? Because I think I’m the center of the universe and I am most interested in benefiting myself.
  • But then Copernicus discovered that the sun is really at the center of our solar system, and we are on one planet of many circling that sun.
  • The two great commandments – love God and love your neighbor as yourself – are like a Copernican revolution.
  • By analogy, God is like the sun at the center of everything.  We human beings are like the planets that orbit the sun.
  • When I shift the center of the universe back to God, two truths emerge:
  • First, I acknowledge that God is at the center of the universe, that changes my perception and relationship to God.
  • Second, I acknowledge that I am just like everyone else.  I am no more and no less important that my fellow sinners, despite my inward pull to the contrary.
  • The second great commandment (Love your neighbor as yourself) calls me to recognize that my neighbor’s needs are just as important as mine. That’s a fundamental worldview shift.
  • Being a person of faith means accepting this essential truth that my neighbor and I are of equal importance, and trying to live in the light of this truth, even though I fall short.
  • If I reject that principle as true, then I’m not just a selfish sinner.  I am an unbeliever.  I am rejecting the truth from God.
  • With this perspective shift, it begins to make sense why Jesus tells us that the two greatest commandments are “love God” and “love your neighbor as yourself.”

This fundamental truth lies behind the issue we encounter in Matthew 7:1-5.  The connection between how I treat people and how I am going to be treated is based on whether or not I accept the truth that my neighbor and I are equivalent, that we both sinners before a holy God.  I only accept that conviction if I have saving faith.

Passage

1Judge not, that you be not judged.  2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  – Matthew 7:1-5

  • This Greek word judge (Strong’s 2919) sometimes means only that an assessment had been made (e.g. “decided” in Acts 20:16).
  • Sometimes this word carries the further idea that a sentence or conclusion is reached (e.g Acts 16:15).
  • Sometimes this word emphasis the negative conclusion and means condemn (e.g. Luke 19:22).
  • In Matthew 7:1, I think it carries the idea of condemn: Do not condemn others lest God condemn you.
  • Jesus cannot be prohibiting any kind of assessment or judgment that something is right or wrong. That would contradict his other teaching (e.g. Matthew 18:15-17).
  • In Matthew 7:2, the emphasis shifts to the standard of measure. Whatever standard you use to measure and condemn your neighbor will also be applied to you (implied: you will also fail).
  • Jesus does NOT say: why do you look at the log in your brother’s eye when you’ve got a log in your own eye? 
  • Jesus does NOT say: why are you concerned with his speck when you’ve got a speck too? 
  • Like the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus emphasizes the size difference:  Why are you concerned about his speck when you’ve got a log?
  • When you get something in your eye, it’s impossible to ignore. You have to stop everything you are doing to deal with it. Think about having something that big in your eye. How could you possible ignore it?
  • If I have a log in my own eye, why am I concerned with my neighbor’s speck at all? How could I possibly be more concerned about the speck in my neighbor’s eye when I have this big painful log in my own eye?
  • When I condemn someone else, I am fundamentally ignoring the magnitude of my own problem. 
  • This is a powerful image of living a lie. If you condemn other people for their sins, you are ignoring a fundamental truth about yourself: you are just as sinful. Yet, we excuse our sinfulness all the time.

4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  – Matthew 7:1-5

  • If I was truly concerned about your welfare, then I would be more concerned with the selfish way I am treating you because I have this log problem, than the speck in your eye that is bothering me.
  • Jesus does NOT say: don’t ever attempt to remove a speck from someone else’s eye.  Jesus says: deal with the log in your eye first.
  • I would argue dealing with the log in your eye does NOT mean “get your act together and make yourself perfect first.”
  • Rather dealing with the log means coming to grips with this fundamental truth that we are of equal importance before God and we are both sinners.
  • Rather than approaching my fellow sinner with the speck from a position of pride, impatience, or superiority, I approach my fellow sinner armed with the fundamental truth that I am just as sinful.
  • When you clearly see the truth of the situation you are both in, then you are in a position to be helpful.

Paul makes this same point in Galatians 6:1-5.

1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  2Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  3For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  5For each will have to bear his own load.  – Galatians 6:1-5

  • Paul has been talking about how their emphasis on law-keeping has a tendency to lead to what he calls biting and devouring one another.  Paul urges them to live in a way that reflects their understanding that they are being saved by grace through faith.
  • Approach this person who’s been caught in a trespass with the understanding that we both have the same burden. We’re both sinners.
  • If you think you’re better than your neighbor, you’re going into this situation on the wrong foot. 
  • Before you go into that situation to correct your neighbor, take a long hard look at yourself. 
  • When it comes to other people’s sins, I should seek to bear their burdens by being merciful and humbly correcting them with the goal of helping and encouraging them, not condemning them.
  • But when it comes to my own sins, I need to be brutally honest and accept responsibility, recognize my own need for mercy.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

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Series: Gospel of Matthew: Behold, the King!

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