ResponsiveReiding

From Matthew 3:7-10 / Family Ties – When John tells the Pharisees and Sadducees who had come out to see his baptism to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” – what is he after? As we’ve seen already, those who were being baptized were confessing their sins at the same time. But what of the Pharisees? These were the most meticulous Jews of all when it came to regulating every aspect of their lives according to the Mosaic law. What “fruit” would John be referring to here specifically? vs. 9 answers it: Not outward acts, but an inward alteration which places no confidence in being heirs of Abraham, i.e. their external “spiritual” heritage. To renounce trust in being Jews and possessors and practitioners of the Law. That, was a big deal. That was tantamount to treason, apostacy and heresy all in one. Turn your back on everything you have trusted in in terms of having a right relationship with God. This was no light matter indeed. So the question remains for us: Is this what we have done? Have we forsaken trust in our church affiliation? Our doctrinal precision? Our righteous works? The fact that we had parents or grandparents who served and walked with God – hoping that somehow attachment to them implied spiritual status before God for us? Or do we still depend upon one or more of those in some way to define our relationship to Him and to comfort our hearts and minds in terms of that relationship? John puts the last nail in that coffin here. The only righteousness which puts is in right standing with God, is the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. The One who calls each to put their trust solely in His atoning work and intercession. The One – and the only who one whom Scripture can say: John 1:9-13 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

From Matthew 3:1-6 / Repent! – This chapter introduces us to John the Baptizer and his ministry. He is Jesus’ older cousin by 6 months and begins his preaching mission well before Jesus makes His appearance. His message? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With the result that many people came out to hear him, and to be baptized, confessing their sins. Not only will Jesus pick up this same theme of the Kingdom for His own preaching, but it is utilized throughout the preaching in the NT. This reality that the Kingdom is at hand – the King is about to come and take His throne and vanquish His enemies is part and parcel of the Gospel. Note first that what is so prominent here, seems to be so often missing in modern Gospel preaching: That coming to Christ necessarily includes confessing and repenting from sin. Gospel preaching which does not address our sinfulness negates the need for the Cross. And Gospel preaching which does not address repentance, negates the reality that coming to Christ means submitting to Him as our King. We cannot both follow Him and follow our sins. They are mutually exclusive. Note secondly that in our day, the Gospel is presented in such a way that one assumes the perpetuation of this present age rather than its demise. We have lost this element of the coming Kingdom, and that our hope is to be fixed on Christ’s arrival, ushering in the Kingdom in full. We, 21st Century North American Christians need to grasp that Jesus did not come and die to make “the American way of life” a Kingdom goal. This age has been weighed in the balance, been found wanting and is awaiting final destruction. God’s goal is NOT the perpetuation of it, but the giving way of it to His Kingdom. Jesus is not wrapped in a robe of red, white and blue. The Cross is not a flag pole. The Kingdom is not a capitalistic, representative republic. The message hasn’t changed. “Repent! for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

From Matthew 2:19-23 / Asking the Author – When Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden, one thing they failed to do when confronted and confused by Satan’s “did God actually say?” – was to go back to The Father and seek clarification. They thought they had a clear grasp of the command. But when push came to shove, their uncertainty led to untold ruin. What might have been prevented had they simply run back to the Father instead of relying only upon themselves? And is that same situation not repeated over and over when representatives of cults and challenges from skeptics shake the foundations of some believers? Rather than going back to the Word, to reliable resources, to do the hard study, and especially to pray and seek the Lord to know His Word better, they rely solely upon self, and are so easily derailed. So Joseph here, when spoken to by God in a dream, obeys. But when confronted with unexpected information, apparently stops. He waits. And he is given more light in his waiting. He does not assume that in having some truth, he has all of it. He does not proceed foolishly. That is not faith. Using sound reason because something seems amiss, he waits. And in due time, he is given further instruction – even fulfilling prophecy. It is not a lack of faith or disobedience, upon getting further information, to seek God again regarding that which He has already spoken. We may apply to Him over and over as the need arises and situations change. Even as the Disciples often asked Jesus to explain what He meant by some of the parables. They didn’t just run off assuming they knew it all. By some mystery, the sovereign, timeless and changeless One moves through life with us. And when we continually look to Him, not running off half-cocked, He meets us in the midst of our reality. Faith does not operate contrary to or absent of – reason. It acts reasonably upon the light God gives.

From Matthew 2:16-18 / Fulfilling Prophecy – This account of Herod’s retribution against the Wise Men is rife with Old Testament connections. There are layers to unpack. In the first case, we see that the slaughter of the infants (probably 20 or less) is bewailed by the bereft mothers as would be expected. But the allusion to Jeremiah 31 is difficult. For while vs. 18 cites the weeping and lamentation of “Rachel” (culturally seen as the “Mother” of Israel) it is set in a passage (Jer. 31) where although the sons of Israel were carried away into exile and were “no more” – the promise of restoration and the introduction of New Covenant are its great subject matter. Yes, under Israel’s spiritual exile in Jesus’ day (demonstrated by Roman occupation and brutal rulers like Herod) – nevertheless, the Messiah has come. He too will be exiled for a short time. Like the executed infants He too will be “no more” in a way. But He will return. He will come and lead His people into God’s New Covenant. He will put away sin. He will punish the wicked. He will die His substitutionary death on the Cross. And He will rise again, ascend to the right hand of The Father, and will reign until all His enemies are put under His feet. The deaths of the children will be avenged and righted. The everlasting Kingdom of Righteousness will come. Even the very last enemy – death – will be utterly defeated at His hand. In the moment of dreadful darkness that descends over Bethlehem and its environs – still shines the Light of glory in even the infant face of Jesus Christ. God’s great mercy and grace will win the day in due time, no matter how it looks at the moment. That was true then, and it is true now. Though Jeremiah wrote 600 years before this fulfillment, it didn’t fail to come to pass irrespective of all the intervening events which made it look impossible. And so His promises remain still true to Believers today. We can trust Him to fulfill all the Father has put in His hand. One day, should He tarry, we will all be raised to be with Him and to behold His glory forever.

From Matthew 2:13-15 / God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility – One of the errors which Believers can fall into, is the over-application of certain Biblical truths. We can distort the Word of God both by ignoring grand truths – like God’s absolute sovereignty, and by pressing such a truth to the neglect of other truths. And here at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel we see this on full display. We know from the abundant testimony of Scripture that God is sovereign over all. We know that His promises are immutable. We know since the first seedling announcement of the Gospel in Genesis 3:15, that the Messiah would come, and fulfill all His saving work without fail. None of that was ever in question. And yet might Joseph not have reasoned (as some foolishly do) “if this is God’s plan, nothing can thwart it, so what if Herod seeks to kill the child? He cannot because God’s plan cannot fail!” He’d be right, and tragically wrong. We are reminded, God works through means. So it is Joseph is divinely warned and in obedience, flees to Egypt. He still had a responsibility to act rightly and protectively as Jesus’ guardian. The Father had committed that care to him. And irrespective of God’s incontrovertible plans and purposes, Joseph needed to act appropriately. So it is that God promises to bring all His saints ultimately to the image of Christ. And yet we are called upon to fight sin and put the deeds of the flesh to death. He will complete His work in us, but we are to be careful not to neglect the assembling of our selves together with the saints. We have been reconciled to Father by faith in Christ, and yet we can grieve the Spirit and sin in disobedience – which breaches of intimacy need to be addressed in confession, prayer and repentance. We live in grace, but can presume upon it by turning grace into license. Trust Him in all of His promises Beloved, and live in real-time relationship with Him. So as Spurgeon once said: “Work as though it all depends upon you, but pray knowing it all depends upon Him. He is faithful to the end.

From Matthew 2:7-12 / Focus – Already in Matthew’s narrative, there have been a number of angelic visitations, supernatural phenomena and dreams. Mary is miraculously pregnant. Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream and given specific instruction. The Magi from the east follow an unusual star. And now, the Magi warned in a dream not to return to Herod. And it would be easy for us to get more wrapped up in the supernatural aspects, than what they pointed to – Jesus, born King of the Jews, and honored as such. Contrary to much we witness in Charismatic circles today, none of these in the Biblical narrative sought the supernatural. Mary never asked to be the mother of Jesus. Joseph didn’t ask to name Him. The wise men did seek a star, it appeared. And they didn’t seek a dream in making their exit. Additionally, the warnings in the dreams to Joseph and the Wise Men were unambiguous. They contained clear, factual direction – not cryptic inferences. As will be true of every one of these remarkable revelations. And how unlike so many today who go into wild and detailed depictions. There is no concentration on the individual’s experience. The entire focus is upon the data. Clear, simple instruction. And above all – what concerns Jesus. It all surround His person, His work, His glory. Nothing is made of the others and their experiences. God can and does do miraculous things. But not as parlor tricks. As means of revealing and accomplishing His plans and purposes as they find their absolute focus in Christ Jesus. Don’t lose focus – keep your eyes fixed on Him, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Many will experience the supernatural and still die in their sins (Matt. 7:21-23). Eternal life belongs to those who trust and serve Christ – whether or not they ever experience anything other than the New Birth.

From Matthew 2:1-6 / Seeking The King – Matthew writes His Gospel mainly for a Jewish audience. He is bound and determined to prove to his readers who Jesus is in the light of the Old Testament. He has been conquered by the love of the King. Once a “tax-collector” himself, Matthew wants us to know what a forgiving, gracious, merciful Savior Jesus is to the worst of humanity. No one is too wicked for Jesus Christ to save. Sin may have abounded, but in Christ Jesus, grace has abounded infinitely more. No less than 12 times he will tell us that Jesus directly fulfilled Scripture prophecies. Jesus’ lineage establishes Him as a rightful heir to David’s throne. His fulfillment of Scripture establishes Him as the promised Messiah. His resurrection, is to His enthronement. This Gospel, is all about His kingdom. Matthew exposes us to Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom more than any the Gospel writer. And of course, the final charge Jesus has against Him will be “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” And this is who the “wise men” came seeking. This is all who are wise seek. And they did not come seeking Him as if He were the means to something else. They didn’t come seeking healing, miracles, prosperity, position, power or to fulfill some earthly goal. As foreigners, they could have but one interest in Him – that He is God’s appointed King. To wonder at Him. They came seeking to acknowledge, worship and serve – God’s King. Oh might this be the heart in all of us. Might we seek Him for His Lordship over us. For only when we are His slaves, can we know true freedom. As the saying goes “wise men still seek Him.” Indeed.

From Matthew 1:18-25 / The Birth of The King – Very little beyond what we have in this short portion is said about Joseph. But what we do know sheds light on how the Savior was raised. Who are these the Father chose to shepherd His own Son in His early years? As for Mary, we know mainly she was a willing servant of the Lord for His purposes, no matter the cost. Joseph, as we see here was a “just” upright man. Gentle and kind in his unwillingness to see his pregnant betrothed shamed, even before his angelic encounter. He is brave in taking Mary as his wife, knowing full well the stigma which will be attached to her untimely pregnancy. He is self-controlled, waiting Jesus’ birth before “knowing” his wife. Obedient to his divine commission. And for both of them, just kids. All of this is good. But nothing extraordinary. But more importantly it tells us so much about the eternal Son. So committed was He to the Father’s will and purposes, so trusting in His Father’s providence, that He is willing to be born to a couple of teenage parents, under the shadow of a suspicious birth, in a Judean backwater, under Roman occupation at a time when the spiritual state of God’s people was anything but spiritually alive. But He comes. He comes not into a world of technology, conveniences, affluence, natural advantages and hopeful prospects. He comes, helpless. Entrusted to the care of young, inexperienced, everyday, 1st century folk. And in the Father, submits Himself to them. And I can’t seem to trust Him with tomorrow’s newspaper. Father, forgive me. Make me more like The Son.

From Matthew 1:1-17 / The Glory of Genealogy – At first blush, we are tempted to skip over portions like these opening verses to Matthew’s Gospel. They don’t seem to contain anything truly important. But we’d be wrong. In the first case, Matthew is establishing Jesus’ authentic Jewishness. In the 2nd place, Jesus’ lineage makes Him fit to sit on the throne of David, to be King of The Jews should they recognized Him as such. So Matthew’s aim in this entire 1st chapter is to answer the question – Who is Jesus? vs. 1 / a. The King of Israel. God’s perfect ruler. b. The Fullness of the promise given to Abraham in person. vss. 2-16 / In every way a partaker of our humanity. And yet without sin. vs. 17 / a. The Promise of the Father. b. God’s Presence with us in our exile. c. The Accomplish-er of our Salvation – our Messiah. vs. 18 A participant in our shame, without sin or shame of His own. vs. 19 / Undesired. vs. 20 / Unaccepted apart from divine revelation. vs. 21 / Savior. In the third place, we see Jesus as descended from Kings, Scoundrels, Nobodies, Men, Women, Jews, Gentiles, Faithful, Faithless, A Prostitute, Nomads, Warriors, Prophets, Farmers, Those who lived in ease, Those who lived in poverty, Those who accomplished much, Those who left nothing behind but their names, The shunned and the accepted, The steadfast and the mercurial, The creative and the dull, Intellectuals and uneducated commoners, Christ Jesus came in the likeness and lineage of fallen, broken, sin-cursed humankind. There are none who cannot be touched by Him, nor reconciled to the Father through Him. The miracle of the incarnation. What a Savior!

From Mark 16:9-20 / The heart of unbelief – Most scholarship today agrees that verses 9-20 are not part of Mark’s original account. It seems that Mark ends his gospel as abruptly in vs. 8, as he began it in Ch. 1. His clipped style pervades the book. Even though the 2 oldest manuscripts we have do not contain 9-20, many others do. In any event, virtually all contained in these verses, can be found elsewhere in the Gospels, and thus reiterate facts already accepted as genuine. Who made this addition remains a mystery. But what is clear, is that he makes no heroes out of the Disciples. This is no way to make them look like power-brokers looking to hold sway over the masses. In vs. 10, they did not believe Mary Magdalene. In 13, they did not believe the 2 on the road to Emmaus. Thus in 14, Jesus appears and rebukes them soundly for their hardness of heart and failure to believe. Luke gives us even more examples of their unbelief. And yet, it is these very ones Jesus ends up commissioning to take His Gospel into the whole world to make disciples. And so it is that everyone who professes Christ once walked in unbelief and in the hardness of their hearts. And we who are believers now, are called to make His gospel of saving grace known. And by means of the example here, we ought neither to be surprised nor discouraged when those we tell the Good News to don’t believe either. Our call is to go and proclaim. And it is His job, by the Spirit, to open the hearts and minds of those who hear. We pray, we communicate the Gospel, we point men to Christ, and we trust the Spirit to overcome unbelieving hearts. We do not seek, nor do we have magic-bullet arguments to convert them. But we have a sovereign God, whom we know by personal experience has overcome our hardness. And I don’t know about you, but I know this – if He could overcome my wicked heart – no one is beyond His reach. No one. And if you not yet His – even you.