Matthew 14-16
The passage begins with the rest of John the Baptist's story, his arrest and execution. Interesting that Herod didn't kill John at first because he feared the people. Apparently he feared the reaction of his party guests more.
The story of the feeding of the 5000 is set as beginning with Jesus' reaction to hearing of John's death. He preferred to be alone, presumably to grieve. A similar reaction is shown upon Lazarus' death. In any case, the people found him and asked for healings. Jesus obliged them. Five loaves and two fish feed 5000 men and their companions with 12 baskets left over -- one for each of the doubting disciples to collect and carry. One chapter later, seven loaves and "a few small fish" fed 4000 men and their companions with even baskets left over. It's amazing that the disciples in 15:33 hadn't the faith to think that Jesus couldn't do the same miracle again!
After the feeding of the 5000, Jesus forces the disciples to go on without Him so He could have some private prayer time. Then in the middle of the night, He walks out to them on the water. I wonder why He chose to catch up to them this way. Peter is the adventurous one -- the only one with enough faith to step out of the boat -- but even his faith is weak. At 14:32, they worshiped Him and called Him the Son of God. If I'm not mistaken, that's the first such admission from the twelve.
Jesus' message about honoring God over human tradition falls on deaf ears even today. I'm not simply talking about the Roman Catholic Church, but all who believe worship is done only "one way" to honor God. It's the "we've always done it that way" syndrome.
The list of evil in 15:19 distinguishes adultery from sexual immorality.
It's odd to see the Master treat the Canaanite woman in a seemingly nonchalant way. All in teaching a lesson, I guess.
It's the Pharisees who demand a sign and are called evil in chapter 16. The phrase "Jesus then left them and went away," even gives the impression of disgust from Him.
Peter's confession is what the Church Universal is built upon. That confession and what it means. Then that confession is backed up with our actions as a Church. His Church will built on a strong foundation -- something stronger than Simon Peter! Again in 16:20 He warns the twelve not to tell anyone of His Messiahship. Then He started to explain what that Messiahship really meant. It was too much for most any Jew of the time who understood God's Kingdom as political and physical. When Peter rebukes (not just suggests or asks) Jesus for saying these things, Jesus addresses Satan as being the one behind the rebuke. That "rock" Simon Peter was being used by the evil one not long after his great confession.
The "Son of Man coming in his kingdom" is obviously a reference to the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. since some standing there would not taste death before that time. The admonishment in 16:27 then appears to be a type of earthly justice, not heavenly.
The story of the feeding of the 5000 is set as beginning with Jesus' reaction to hearing of John's death. He preferred to be alone, presumably to grieve. A similar reaction is shown upon Lazarus' death. In any case, the people found him and asked for healings. Jesus obliged them. Five loaves and two fish feed 5000 men and their companions with 12 baskets left over -- one for each of the doubting disciples to collect and carry. One chapter later, seven loaves and "a few small fish" fed 4000 men and their companions with even baskets left over. It's amazing that the disciples in 15:33 hadn't the faith to think that Jesus couldn't do the same miracle again!
After the feeding of the 5000, Jesus forces the disciples to go on without Him so He could have some private prayer time. Then in the middle of the night, He walks out to them on the water. I wonder why He chose to catch up to them this way. Peter is the adventurous one -- the only one with enough faith to step out of the boat -- but even his faith is weak. At 14:32, they worshiped Him and called Him the Son of God. If I'm not mistaken, that's the first such admission from the twelve.
Jesus' message about honoring God over human tradition falls on deaf ears even today. I'm not simply talking about the Roman Catholic Church, but all who believe worship is done only "one way" to honor God. It's the "we've always done it that way" syndrome.
The list of evil in 15:19 distinguishes adultery from sexual immorality.
It's odd to see the Master treat the Canaanite woman in a seemingly nonchalant way. All in teaching a lesson, I guess.
It's the Pharisees who demand a sign and are called evil in chapter 16. The phrase "Jesus then left them and went away," even gives the impression of disgust from Him.
Peter's confession is what the Church Universal is built upon. That confession and what it means. Then that confession is backed up with our actions as a Church. His Church will built on a strong foundation -- something stronger than Simon Peter! Again in 16:20 He warns the twelve not to tell anyone of His Messiahship. Then He started to explain what that Messiahship really meant. It was too much for most any Jew of the time who understood God's Kingdom as political and physical. When Peter rebukes (not just suggests or asks) Jesus for saying these things, Jesus addresses Satan as being the one behind the rebuke. That "rock" Simon Peter was being used by the evil one not long after his great confession.
The "Son of Man coming in his kingdom" is obviously a reference to the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. since some standing there would not taste death before that time. The admonishment in 16:27 then appears to be a type of earthly justice, not heavenly.
posted by rev-ed @ 12:16 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home