The Gospel of Matthew: Recent Episodes
International Baptist Church Düsseldorf
Take a journey through the first synoptic gospel - The Gospel of Matthew. How does the sermon on the mount apply to your everyday life? Why was Jesus so hard on the Pharisees? All these and more are explored in this series with Pastor Jeff Hinman.
What is a simple statement that anyone could remember which reminds us daily as to our mission as a church? This is important because if we can’t memorize the mission of the church and have it right at the tip of our tongues, right at the forefront of our hearts and minds then we will become confused. When we are confused then we send out to the world a confusing message. So what, simply put, is the mission of the church?
Matthew 28:16-2016 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew is the only gospel which weaves into his resurrection account the conspiracy around Jesus’ resurrection. The other gospel accounts do not give any more mention of Pilate, the Romans in general or the chief priests after the resurrection. They apparently see that anything outside of the resurrection event as irrelevant.
But Matthew is different. He had heard these rumors that the disciples, which included him, had stolen Jesus’ body while the guards slept and wanted to set the record straight. So today instead of approaching the scripture the way would if this were an Easter sermon, I want to examine this unique aspect of Matthew’s account because I think there is a valuable lesson in this.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
In Matthew’s Gospel, at chapter 26 he stops writing directly about Jesus and begins focusing more on the people around Jesus. Jesus is still the center of the story but beginning with the woman who anointed his feet with perfume, to Pontius Pilate and his wife, Matthew focuses on the people around Jesus. Today we are going to be looking at the people around Jesus at the Cross. They are all different but need the same Savior.
Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
What do we make of Pontius Pilate? As the Roman governor of Judea, he was not a soft touch. He put down uprisings with deadly violence before Jesus and after Jesus. He is a firmly pagan, devoted to the worship of the Roman Emperor. However, I believe we see in the gospel accounts a man affected by Jesus, maybe in spite of himself.
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
Judas is one of the most enigmatic characters in the Bible. People still debate what his motives were when he betrayed Jesus. We won’t be able to answer that question, but what he did, and how he responded to it, is clearly laid out in the Bible. Judas gave into hopelessness. How can we go through our darkest days as Christians without following Judas’ example into oblivion?
Matthew 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
What do we do when we fail Christ? What do we do when we break a promise made to the Lord? What do we do when we get involved in sin which is so deep it sets up a chasm of guilt and shame between us and the closeness we used to enjoy with Christ?
Now if you have never had a serious failing, then good for you. Really. I hope it stays that way. But if you do have serious failing, like Peter, like many good people I have known over the thirty-five or so years as a Christian, like me, then here’s what you need to know.
Matthew 26:75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
What do you do when a dream comes true, and then it becomes inconvenient?
This is the dilemma the religious leaders faced when the dream of the coming of messiah was realized in Jesus Christ, but then, as a Messiah, Jesus turned out to be inconvenient. He was inconvenient in that he was not one of them, he inconveniently challenged the way the leadership was acting, he was inconvenient in that he did not interpret or live the law of Moses in the way they thought was correct, he was inconvenient in that he was drawing the people away from the authority of the religious leaders, and he was inconvenient because he could possibly gain the attention of Rome, which would be inconvenient for the Jewish leaders in charge. So, it was decide by the powers that be that Jesus had to be done away with.
Is Jesus an inconvenient Christ? How do we deal with this?
One of the questions people have had ever since Jesus came into human history is “who is this man?” The understanding of who Jesus is pretty much defines a person as a Christian or not. From my experience, even Christians are often unclear as to who Jesus is. Many will say he is God, but when one presses into this the understanding becomes fuzzy. How is Jesus God? What do we mean by that? He clearly states that he is not the Father, and yet says “I and the Father are one.” He says “When you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father” and then will say there are some thing only the Father knows and that he, as the Son, does not. Sometimes he will speak with the authority of God, and at other times he will plead in prayer just as any other person would when under duress. So who is this Jesus? How is he “Fully God and Fully Man” and why does it matter?
In the passage we are reading today, Jesus uses the event of the Passover to lead his disciples into a new understanding of being “passed over” by death and receiving life. In doing so Jesus presents something familiar but, typical of Jesus, he also presents a radically changed understanding to the old way of thinking which both challenges the disciples and causes disruption to their way of thinking.
We all face times of crisis in our lives. Sometimes they come at us fast and unexpected, but other times we see the moment coming and have time to think about it. Jesus’ last week was one of approaching crisis. Jesus tried to prepare his disciples, but they were not the only ones facing the crisis ahead. What were they thinking? Why did they do and say the things they did and said? What place does Christ have in your times of crisis?
Today we are finishing the parables which the Gospel of Matthew directly links to the event of Christ’s second coming. In the first parable of the ten virgins we are warned to be ready for his return and to not let a long period of time cause us to become complacent. In the second parable of the talents we are told to invest that which God has given us into his kingdom work while we wait for the return of the King which Jesus again points out will be a long wait. In the final parable about the separation of the sheep and the goats tells how this investment of our resources should look.
This week many of our church family are at the church retreat. The topic is “Peacemaking”. Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers”. There is a difference between being a peacemaker and peacekeeper. Today we will be revisiting this often spoken about, but difficult to live, topic of being peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
After telling his disciples about the signs leading to his second coming, Jesus follows up with a series of parables telling his followers how they should live in the time between the end of his earthly ministry and his return which he describes in chapter 24. After talking about being ready with the parable of the ten virgins, he then talks about how to use our resources while we await the return of the King.
Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
In Matthew chapter 24 Jesus told his disciples about some signs which indicate his second coming. In chapter 25 he teaches through a series of parables how we are to live while we wait for the return of the King of Kings. In the parable about the ten virgins, he teaches about being ready, at any time, for that blessed event.
Matthew 25:13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Today is Palm Sunday when the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is celebrated. Since we covered that event in as we have been going through the Gospel of Matthew fairly recently, I thought we would continue with the Gospel of Matthew because where we happen to be at in Matthew’s gospel is when Jesus starts talking about the second coming in chapter 24. So, we will take the time to look at what Jesus has to say about his second, “triumphant entry”.
Can we educate our society into a place where people do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly? Many in the world seem to think so, but does history reflect this as true? Jesus would say “no”. As we continue through the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenges the Pharisees who thought they would have made better choices than their ancestors. In doing this he also challenges us. Is it enough to educate the mind but ignore the heart? What happens if this takes place?
Matthew 23:30-31 And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
Money has a way of becoming the most important thing in our life. We want to deny it, but the fact is money and wealth has obsessed humanity ever since we started assigning value to things. I don’t know about you, but I have to be very deliberate to keep money in its place in my heart and mind. I have to deliberately think about the role of money when I start wondering about my future, or when I look at how others live. I have to remind myself that God has always taken care of me and have faith that he always will.
Matthew 23:23 You have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Today we are beginning the “Seven Woes” where Jesus chastises the Pharisees with vigor and zeal.
Sometimes, for me, the anger of God in the Old Testament is a bit of a mystery. In Christ we understand more clearly the righteousness within God’s wrath. It call us to a sobering time of self-refection – if we dare.
Matthew 23:13-15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 1415 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Jesus doesn’t often get obviously angry, but when he does…look out!
Today we are starting the “seven woes” where Jesus lays onto the Pharisees. It is an indictment to those who are the religious leaders for Israel and Jesus pulls no punches. However, it is also a warning for those who are more concerned with being religious than they are in having a relationship with the living God.
Matthew 23: 11-12 The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
I’ve mentioned before that the Gospel of Matthew has the most unique references to the title “Son of David” of all the gospels. As we have been going through Matthew, we have seen that the title is used by a non-Jewish woman when she begs for her daughter’s well-being, by a couple of blind guys, on two separate occasions, who also use the title to catch Jesus’ attention. It was on the lips of praise as Jesus entered Jerusalem, and it is the point of one of the few a question Jesus asks the Pharisees.
Matthew 23:42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"
These verses are some of the most often quoted by Christians throughout history. They are popular because they sum up in two verses the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is essentially saying, if humanity lived in the manner of unselfish love, then the Law and all the teaching found in the Prophets trying to keep humanity on track, would be fulfilled. Unfortunately, sin gets in the way.
Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Today we are looking at the question asked by the Sadducees. One of the main differences the Sadducees had with the Pharisees is they only held the first five books of the Old Testament, called the Pentateuch, as sacred scripture. If a concept was not in the Pentateuch, then they did not believe it as a “truth” of Judaism. This put them at odds with almost every other Jewish sect, including the Pharisees. One of the main sources of contention was the idea of the resurrection of the dead.
Today we are continuing in the Gospel of Matthew. We are going to be looking at a section of scripture today which runs the risk of “triggering” people because it deals with taxes and the role of government in our lives. So, at the outset I want to say that if you don’t like what I have to say today, that’s fine. If you have problem with what Jesus says, then that’s something you need to work out if you are a Christian. However, today’s passage might also help explain to some of you my approach to these things which you may find confusing at times.
Matthew 22:19-21 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
In the passage we are reading today, Jesus tells a parable about a wedding. It is an illustration that Jesus uses more than once in the gospels and in slightly different ways, which would not be unusual for a traveling teacher/preacher. In this version, we see a history of Israel and the invitation of the Gentiles into a place of blessing. What does it take to attend the banquet of the King?
Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Today’s passage is all about our expectations. Specifically, the expectations God has for those who serve his name. One of the sad truths found throughout the Bible and in some churches today is that the institutions of religion are often barren when it comes to producing fruit God desires. 2 Timothy 3:5 describes this as 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. So, when we keep in mind the curse Jesus places on the fig tree which did not meet his expectations of producing fruit, the verses in between make more sense. They are all about expectations God has for people of faith.
Matthew 21:43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
When I read the Gospels, I find that Jesus has to restrain himself most of the time. For example, often when he healed a person, he would tell them not to tell anyone. When Mary wanted him to do something about the lack of wine at a wedding he responded by saying that it was not yet his time. When the Pharisees ask questions, he often would give pointed but at the same time, somewhat vague answers. But as the last week before his crucifixion approaches it feels to me that Jesus takes one day to be the Messiah he enjoys being.
The use of blindness as a metaphor or descriptive term is common. We talk about “The blind leading the blind” as an example of being led by someone who is as unequipped to lead others as the ones he or she is leading. We talk about having “blind faith”, sometimes as a good thing, but more often as a cautionary statement. When it comes to God, we will sometimes hear that we need “blind faith” meaning you just go by faith without a lot of supporting elements to the decision. Today we are going to look at an example of healthy, blind, faith which led to the light.