Day 289: Matthew 19-21

(The previous post covered Jesus' transition into the third phase of His Ministry: the rejection of the Messiah.)

Matthew 19
¹ And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea beyond the Jordan;
² and great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
³ And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

(Jesus was going to Jerusalem from Galilee. Verse 1 stated that when Jesus reached the borders of Judaea the Pharisees appeared to be waiting for Him. The Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus by asking a question that did not have a correct answer. The Law did not deal with putting away; it dealt with divorce.

**Putting Away and Divorce are two different Doctrine.**)

⁴ And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
⁵ and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?
⁶ So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(Jesus answered the question relative to two believing spouses ("what God had joined together"), they should not put each other away ("put asunder"). They could divorce, but putting away was used to remove an unbelieving spouse from the greater community. God joining the two together meant the spouses were both believers. God does not join every Marriage. God does not join marriages involving unbelievers. If He did, then He would be adjusting to us...which is idolatry. So, Jesus' answer about putting away focused on a specific case: believers should not be put away. Believers should not be removed from the greater community if they are still believers.

This was not Jesus saying that people could/should not get divorced.)

⁷ They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?
⁸ He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.
⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.

(The Pharisees turned the question to divorce. Jesus said divorce was given as a solution to the hardness of our hearts. Some people try to make this quote from Jesus to mean that divorce is wrong. Why? Because it is a solution to the hardness of our hearts? Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was also a solution to the hardness of our hearts. Would these same people say Jesus' death on the cross was a sin?

**Putting Away and Divorce are two different Doctrine.**

Jesus then gave more details about believers putting away believing spouses. Jesus said that believers putting away a spouse for any reason other than fornication (unbelief through covenanting with other gods either directly or through sex with unbelievers) would result in adultery because God still considered both spouses to be believers and therefore still married to each other.

Remember, the context of the original question was relative to the Law. This was the only answer Jesus could have given and specifically supported His answer with the Law. Notice, Jesus did not answer the original question in the following application: Does a believing spouse have to put away an unbelieving spouse according to the Law. There was not an answer to that question according to the Law.)

¹⁰ The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.

(The Disciples stated that it must be better to not marry because putting away was common during that time.)

¹¹ But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.
¹² For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

(Jesus corrected them by saying that these sayings were not for all men. Not every man is gifted to marry so Jesus could not say that this applied to all men or not. If Jesus did, He would be denying and abusing the principle of uniqueness.)

¹³ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.
¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
¹⁶ And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
¹⁷ And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.

(A man came to Jesus and called Him "Teacher" (also translated as "Good Master"). Jesus asked why the man called Him that since good only comes from God. This was a way of asking the man if he considered Jesus to be the Son of God. Then Jesus told the man to do the commandments to have eternal life.)

¹⁸ He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
¹⁹ Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

(The man asked what commandments and Jesus gave him a list.)

²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet?
²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

(The man told Jesus that he had kept these commandments from his youth and asked what he lacked, what he would need to do to be perfect (maximum profitability). Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and he will have treasure in heaven, and then to follow Him (Jesus).

Notice, there were two requirements:
-The first was to sell all he had and give to the poor. To that, Jesus replied the man would have treasure (Reward) in heaven.
-Then, Jesus said to follow Him, for Salvation.

Jesus covered Salvation and Reward. There is nothing more than this. Many "experts" quote this passage and leave out "...and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:." They mistaken in that Jesus did not ask for anything without giving something more in return.)

²² But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.

(The man would not do this. Clearly his money/possessions were his god.)

²³ And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
²⁵ And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?
²⁶ And Jesus looking upon them said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

(Jesus again explained that it was hard for a rich man to enter heaven. Most rich people live comfortable lives and have to learn by experience, which can take longer if they use their money to solve problems. But, with God all things are possible.

This statement is often abused. Remember, God is always completely Right and always completely Just…He cannot be wrong or unjust. The context of the statement "with God all things are possible" was concerning rich men entering the Kingdom of God. Essentially, Jesus was saying, "yes, it is hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God but it is definitely still possible.")

²⁷ Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have?

(Peter wanted to know what was in it for the Disciples.)

²⁸ And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(When Jesus sits in the throne of His Glory, the Disciples will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.)

²⁹ And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.

(Forsaking things and people (even parents and children) for Christ results in eternal life and Reward.)

³⁰ But many shall be last that are first; and first that are last.




Matthew 20

(Verses 1-16: the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard.)

¹ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
² And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
³ And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
⁴ and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
⁷ They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.
⁸ And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
⁹ And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.

(Every worker received the same wage, regardless of when they started working.)

¹⁰ And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.
¹¹ And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,
¹² saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
¹³ But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?
¹⁴ Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.
¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
¹⁶ So the last shall be first, and the first last.

(This parable was a Salvation parable. Everyone who lives by grace through faith before their physical death will receive eternal life regardless of when they received it. It only matters that it is before death. The thief on the cross will be in heaven just as much as Samuel. The penny each of the laborers received represented Salvation, not Reward.)

¹⁷ And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,
¹⁸ Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,
¹⁹ and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.

(On their way to Jerusalem, Jesus set aside the twelve Disciples and for the third time reminded them of what would happen to Him in Jerusalem. This time He added: the chief priests and scribes would deliver Jesus to the Gentiles who would mock, scourge, and crucify Him.)

²⁰ Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping him, and asking a certain thing of him.

(The mother of Zebedee's children was the mother of James and John. She went to Jesus with a desire.)

²¹ And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.

(She wanted her sons (James and John) to sit on Jesus' sides in His Kingdom. This sounded a lot like the mother of two teenage boys.)

²² But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
²³ He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.

(Believers will be persecuted and will suffer but where believers sit is not Jesus' to give.)

²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.

(The ten other Disciples were angry with the two brothers. Notice, if the Disciples were in their thirties, they would have made fun of the two men who needed their mom to speak for them. Instead, the other ten Disciples also acted like jealous teenage boys.)

²⁵ But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
²⁶ Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;
²⁷ and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:
²⁸ even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(Jesus explained leadership. Those who God considers the greatest, or chief, are those who serve the most. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Jesus is the greatest and the chief because He served more than all. Leadership is facilitating the purpose and progress of others.)

²⁹ And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
³⁰ And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.

(Two blind men knew Jesus was coming so they cried for His mercy by confessing Him as Messiah.)

³¹ And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.
³² And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?

(Jesus asked them what their will was. Jesus could not heal these men unless it was their will to be healed. This was true for every healing. The person being healed must have expressed their will, in some fashion, that they were willing to be healed.)

³³ They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
³⁴ And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.

(They stated their will was to see. Jesus healed them and they followed Him.)




Matthew 21
¹ And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
² saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
³ And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

(When they were near Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of His Disciples to a village to find a donkey and a colt to bring to Jesus. If anyone asked of them they should say that "The Lord hath need of them; and straightaway he will send them.")

⁴ Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
⁵ Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

(Matthew referenced Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9.)

⁶ And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them,
⁷ and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon.

(The two Disciples went as Jesus told them to and came back with the donkey and the colt.)

⁸ And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.
⁹ And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

(Hosanna meant "save now, we pray." See Psalm 118:25. These people were confessing Jesus as Messiah.)

¹⁰ And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?
¹¹ And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
¹² And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;
¹³ and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.

(Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7. Prayer is a spiritual exchange with God. The money-changers were focused on physical exchange with people, which Jesus described as "a den of robbers." Jesus stated God's house ought to be for spiritual exchange with God, not physical exchange with people.)

¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,

(The chief priests were angry when they saw the wonderful things that Jesus did and that the children were confessing Jesus as the Messiah.)

¹⁶ and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?

(The chief priests asked Jesus if He heard what the people were crying out, that He was the Messiah. He said yes and quoted Psalm 8:2.)

¹⁷ And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.
¹⁸ Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.
¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.

(Jesus and the Disciples lodged outside the city of Jerusalem. This was during the days before the Passover. Jesus with His Words withered a fig tree that appeared to have fruit but did not, which represented hypocrisy.)

²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?
²¹ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.
²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

(Jesus stated that we could receive all things that we ask for in prayer (saying the right words) with faith.)

²³ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
²⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

(The chief priests and elders asked Jesus where He received His authority (Semikah). Remember, the two Semikah's that Jesus received His authority from during His baptism (Matthew 3:15-17) were John the Baptist and God the Father. In response, Jesus asked them where they believed John the Baptist's authority came from. If they did not recognize John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize one of Jesus' Semikahs. If they did not recognize the source of John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize Jesus' other Semikah: God the Father.)

²⁶ But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.
²⁷ And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

(The chief priests and elders weighed both possible responses and decided not to answer, so neither did Jesus. This was Just.)

(Verses 28-32: the Parable of the Two Sons.)

²⁸ But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.
²⁹ And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.
³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

(The parable contrasted what we say with what we do. Remember, the conclusion of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 7:24-27) stated we need to do the Word of God. Those who do the Will of God will enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus blatantly gave this parable to the chief priests and elders. They must have known He was talking about them.)

(Verses 33-40: the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.)

³³ Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.
³⁴ And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.
³⁵ And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
³⁶ Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.
³⁷ But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
³⁸ But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.
³⁹ And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.
⁴⁰ When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

(The householder's servants represented the prophets that were persecuted in the past. The householder's son represented Christ. This parable would have been a massive indirect confrontation to the religious leaders who heard it.)

⁴¹ They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

(The chief priests and elders pronounced their own judgment. Imagine after the death of Christ, one of the religious leaders remembering this story that Jesus told.)

⁴² Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes?

(Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22.)

⁴³ Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

(The Kingdom of God will be given to Gentiles.)

⁴⁴ And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.
⁴⁵ And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
⁴⁶ And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

(It didn't take long for the chief priests and Pharisees to realize Jesus was speaking of them. This made them seek ways to put their hands on Christ although they were afraid of the multitude. The Pharisees were now working with the chief priests to destroy Jesus. The Pharisees continued to get worse. In fact, Jesus' interaction with the Pharisees was very similar to Moses' interaction with Pharaoh: Exodus 7. During each interaction, the Pharisees/Pharaoh chose to harden their heart and become worse.)

(This post covered the Pharisees continual confronting of Jesus and becoming worse in response to Jesus' answers.)

Day 290