Matthew 22-23

Matthew 22

Matthew 22:1-14 The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Many are invited but few are chosen. One might infer that the Son that this parable speaks of is Jesus Himself, the bride is the church, the King is God the Father, as Revelation 19:6-9 seems to indicate, who are the guests? That is not the important point of this parable. The point is that firstly, some openly ignore or resist His messengers, and they are summarily destroyed by fire. Secondly, when the King’s servants invite anyone who will come for a good meal without regard to qualifications, a man is there showing blatant disrespect for the king and the occasion. Why did the bouncers at the door let him in? I have no idea. But he was thrown into the outer darkness, not allowed to join the festivities. The point is clear: the gospel invitation is open to everyone, but God’s kingdom will not include those who disrespect Him or His standards. He will clean them up, but not if they refuse the fine linen (Revelation 19:8).

Matthew 22:15-22 Paying taxes to Caesar. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Even though the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking about paying taxes to heathen gentiles, Jesus did not denigrate them, but simply answered it as an honest question. The kingdom of Heaven does not need human taxes, and does not interfere with lawful human authority.

Matthew 22:23-33 Marriage at the Resurrection. The Sadducees want to use Deuteronomy 25:5-6 as a proof-text against resurrection. Jesus responds two-fold. They do not know the Scriptures - Exodus 3:6 - in which God tells Moses He is the God of some long-dead people (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) so they are still alive somewhere. They do not know the power of God - to make humans like angels in heaven at the resurrection. The transcendent joy of being in God’s presence trumps merely human appetites for sex, marriage, etc. Most of us probably have a hard time grasping this as well.

Matthew 22:34-40 The Greatest Commandment. Since Jesus silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisee have another go at Him. Although this is posed at a test, asking what the greatest law is a reasonable question that Jesus answers straightforwardly. He quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He does not say (but perhaps implies) that loving God is easy for those who do, because by doing so they have a taste of the joys of eternity with God. Loving God as the highest law left the Pharisees to judge themselves by it.

Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus asks, Whose Son is the Messiah? He is not trying to trap the Pharisees or even embarrass them, but to make them think. He quotes Psalm 110:1, pointing to the apparent theological problem of David calling one of his descendants “Lord,” which is counter to all human cultures. (Note that Psalm 110:4 David says the He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.) David clearly understood the divinity of the Messiah. Jesus was trying to get them to recognize the amazing power and mystery of the incarnation.

 

Matthew 23

Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus warns the disciples and the crowds to not imitate the scribes & Pharisees. Jesus uses a word that is unique to this verse (23:10) in telling them that He and only He, the Messiah, is to be their mentor, their guide down the road of faith. (Strong’s g2519) This is in contrast to the word used for the scribes which is sometimes translated teacher (Strong’s g1122), used subsequently.

Matthew 23:13-36 Jesus pronounces seven woes on the scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrisy is knowing what God’s word says and not doing it.  (Strong’s g5273 - an actor) A actor’s real life is disconnected from his presentation on stage. The woe is that pride prevented the scribes and Pharisees from having a real relationship with God. Jesus states seven dimensions in which genuine holiness confronts actor’s costumes.

Matthew 23:13-14 They have no kingdom relationship with God, and prevent others from having one.

Matthew 23:15 They evangelize and missionalize to make more people just as bad actors as themselves.

Matthew 23:16-22 They pervert the eighth commandment to badger people into giving to the temple fund, into thinking that ornate gold is more holy than the reality of God’s presence.

Matthew 23:23~24 They prioritize legalistic rituals over substantive lifestyle decisions.

Matthew 23:25-26 They look good but are a mess inside.

Matthew 23:27-28 They look alive but are dead inside.

Matthew 23:29-36 They have accepted their ancestors’ inheritance of murdering God’s spokesmen, being snakes  descended from snakes. The judgment of evil of all generations will come on the scribes and Pharisees who conspire to have Jesus put to death. (21:45)

Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus mourns over Jerusalem’s reaping of what it has sown. Gathering his chicks together almost implies a rapture-like event. He ends by quoting Psalm 118:26, repeating 21:9, except that the triumphal entry had already happened.  Hw was now confronting disbelief.  This seems to imply that the second coming will not occur until Jerusalem is  converted to faith in Jesus. Is that happening in our day?

Matthew 20-21

 

Matthew 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. We have an idea of proportionate rewards, but this does not apply in God’s kingdom. It is either in or not in - that is what matters most. And once there, He decides rewards based on His inscrutable (to us) ways. 20:6-7 might make one wonder if these late-to-be-hired workers didn’t have any credentials, or show much initiative, or if they had gentle personalities and didn’t elbow their way to the front of the hiring line? But they showed up, waited, and were hired. 20:16 repeats 19:30, tying the two narratives together, switching perceived vs. real positions in life this life and the next - the highest and the lowest.

Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus predicts His own death a third time, repeating 17:22. Referring back to 20:16 in that He would die the worst kind of death, condemned by both religious and secular authorities, yet He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  (Revelation 17:14)

Matthew 20:20-28 Jesus  discusses who will rule with Him in His kingdom. The disciples wanted authority and position. Jesus told them what real authority costs and looks like: drinking His cup, and  healing the helpless and lowest. Those in positions of earthly authority lord it over their subjects (ain’t that the truth!), but authority in Jesus’ kingdom looks like Him. Not only do the positions of the first and last get switched (19:30, 20:16), but the one who is first in His kingdom then serves others.

Matthew 20:29-34 Two blind men are healed. What is the significance of them calling Jesus Lord, son of David? 2 Samuel 7:16 reports on the word of the Lord given through Nathan the prophet about the descendant of David; these men recognized Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment. There is nothing in David’s life about the blind receiving sight, but these men must have heard of Jesus’ miraculous healings and linked that to this scriptural promise from a thousand years earlier. They were right to do so. When we link current events to scriptural prophecies or promises, are we doing it right?

Matthew 21 Jesus triumphal entry and in the temple

Matthew 21:1-11 The triumphant entry to Jerusalem. 21:5 quotes Zechariah 9:9. Zechariah 9:9-17 goes on to say that this king will bring peace and save His people, and that He is Lord as well. In 21:9 the crowd sings or shouts Psalm 118:25-26. In 21:42 Jesus quoted previous verses, Psalm 118:22-23  (the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone). 

Comparing verses 21:9 & 21:11, we see that the crowd saw Jesus as both king and prophet. Recognizing Jesus for who He is and proclaiming it is the essence of His kingdom; this was in Jerusalem but not in Herod’s temple.

Matthew 21:12-17 Jesus enters the temple. This shows risky love by Jesus because He knew the consequences of provoking the priests and Pharisees. (See 21:45-46) As He overturned tables and benches, He quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. The children were still shouting hosanna in the temple (presumably with Jesus no longer on a donkey). When He was asked indignantly by the priests if He heard what they were saying, He quoted Psalm 8:2 and left the temple. Psalm 8:1 opens with the majesty of His Name in all the earth. So obvious that little children can see it.

Matthew 21:18-22 Jesus curses the fig tree. This was outside the temple, but the tree withered immediately. The Jewish faith was God’s fig tree and He found no fruit in what was supposedly His temple. In 70 AD, this symbolic curse was fulfilled.

Matthew 21:23-27 Jesus returns to the temple and discusses the sources of authority for faith with the priests. He trounces their with a simple counter-question that reveals the emptiness of their religion. Theirs was a religion of rules and rituals. Genuine repentance, life-change, and relationship to God, John the Baptist’s ministry, was not part of it. So there was no hope they would recognize Jesus’ ministry.

Matthew 21:28-32 Parable of the two sons. This hits close to home. If a believer is a son, God is pleased with the one who, in the end, does what God asks. But if he is a son who talks a good talk but in the end dies not do what God asks, the first will enter God’s kingdom first. Note the reference back to John the Baptist, who the priests were unwilling to acknowledge that he preached and baptized with authority. 

Matthew 21:33-44 Parable of the tenants. In 21:42 Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23, perhaps to show how consistently the Old Testament tells of Him, since the crowds had been singing Psalm 118:25-26 when He entered town. But then He talks about the ministry of this stone. In 21:44 He reveals that the price of being saved is being broken, but the price of being judged is to be punished. 

Matthew 21:45-46 The chief priests and Pharisees conspire to kill Jesus. Jesus had provoked them beyond their tolerance with His ministry there, telling people the truth about God and performing miracles. They could not see beyond protecting their way of life to recognize God incarnate, the very God whose word they studied and they thought they were serving.

Matthew 18-19

 

Matthew 18:1-7 Jesus tells His disciples they must enter the kingdom of heaven like little children. One might think this is a statement that He receives them because they receive Him (in simplicity), but in view of the disciples’ question, this is different. He is talking about not causing others to stumble, either by teaching or by lifestyle. It is not possible for little children to teach bad theology (maybe crazy but not evil), or for them to abuse alcohol or drugs or engage in sexual immorality. Adults have to, and should, choose to abstain from these for the basic reason that they can corrupt children’s or new believers’ faith.

Matthew 18:8-9 Self denial; parallel to 5:29-30. Self mutilation is better than eternal fire. Poking out eyes and lopping off hands is the reductio ad absurdum of external-only discipline.

Matthew 18:10-14 Parable of the wandering sheep. The Father values every one of His sheep. This does not imply that one should wander off to increase the Father’s joy when he returns. But He does not want the lost ones to perish, in eternal separation from Him. That is why the angels of the little ones constantly see the Father’s face, to intercede for them. That’s why Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and died on the cross.

Matthew 18:15-20 Dealing with sin. A matter being attested to by two or three witnesses cites Deuteronomy 19:15. The church practice of excommunication goes back to this passage, with a well defined path of several confrontations with warnings of increasing emphasis. It does not necessarily assume demonic control, starting with the possibility that the sin is due to yielding to temptation or deception. But if there is demonic possession, believers have authority to bind or loose. 18:18 refers to both binding demons and empowering angelic protection. 18:19 indicates prayers have authority outside church when two or three met together. 18:20 sums up the reason for this is Jesus’ presence with groups of two or three united in prayer. It is not a magic formula, but calling on Jesus to exercise His authority,  (17:14-21)

Matthew 18:21-35 Parable of the unmerciful servant. In response to Peter’s question, Jesus makes a contrast to Genesis 4:24, where Cain vowed vengeance, vs. Jesus’ depth of forgiveness. (18:22) God is the King who wants to settle accounts with His servants and is willing to forgive incredible moral debts. But there is a condition. This amplifies 6:12, by contrasting the size of our own moral debt to God to others’ to us. The resolution of this is that out of love for the sinner (another person), we should hate the sin for its effect on him and his life and soul, but discharge him from moral debt to us.

Matthew 19

Matthew 19:1-12 Jesus teaches on divorce, expanding on 5:31-32, in response to the Pharisees’ question about what are grounds for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus starts with the Edenic basis for marriage - God joins man and wife together, quoting Genesis 1:27 & 2:24. Since marriage is of God, man has no standing to break the relationship. The Pharisees turn to Mosaic law, citing Deuteronomy 24:1-4 - aren’t these legal justification in God’s eyes? Jesus’ response is to point out the link between hearts being far from God and sin. The man is forcing his wife to commit adultery unless she already has done so voluntarily.

The disciples were then concerned about the risk of marriage; Jesus’ response seems enigmatic, talking about eunuchs. Some men are biologically that way, and others choose that life for the sake of the kingdom of God. But only those who either are born or consciously choose monastic lifestyle can accept it. We know Peter was married (8:14), but not much about the other disciples. And we know from our day and age that many who are not married live sinful lifestyles. 

Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus says to let little children come to Him, which parallels 18:1-5.

Matthew 19:16-30 The rich and the kingdom of God.  This section parallels Matthew chapters 5-6. In defining the entrance criteria for heaven, Jesus starts by quoting Exodus 20:12-16  and Leviticus 19:18. (See 5:21, 27, 33, 41) His  call to a vow of poverty because earthly riches don’t matter in heaven parallels 6:19-33; earthly riches distract us at the very least, and control us if we let them.   Jesus will perfect us if we let Him, but it will be painful in our earthly lives.  19:28 implicitly cites Proverbs 13:7-8, but only if we achieve humility which comes through service, self-denial, and submission to others & God. The bottom line is 19:30: many who are first will be last; and the last, first. Not every one, but many. Jesus judges the heart before He puts anyone on a throne.

Matthew 16-17

 

Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign. Jesus’ first comment is that they should be looking at the signs of the times, and are wicked because instead they wanted a miracle. In our day and age, how many of us seek the miracle rather than reading the signs of the times and seeking the one who carries the good news. Jesus repeated His teaching to the Pharisees (the same ones?) from Matthew 12:39-41. Jonah’s preaching didn’t sound like good news (Jonah 3:4), but the good news was that they repented and God relented (Jonah 3:10).

Matthew 16:6-12 After they cross the lake, Jesus uses a discussion by the disciples about bread as a metaphor for bad teaching. Yeast was previously used as a metaphor for the kingdom of God (13:33). The key property of yeast is that it is initially almost insignificant in size, but when it is energized in bread it causes the bread to expand by a volume far greater than the yeast initially. This is true whether the yeast is the kingdom of God or the bad teaching of the Pharisees. He reminded them of how a few loaves of bread & fish had fed thousands of people on two occasions. Bad doctrine can destroy a church, a denomination, or a nation.

Matthew 16:13- 20 Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus makes the famous statement  “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.” Whether Jesus meant that He would build His church on Peter himself, or on the confession of Him as the Messiah and Son of God, has been debated for centuries. Less often discussed is the specific authority Jesus conferred on His church. It would prevail against the gates of hell, and has the authority to loose and bind heavenly (i.e. spiritual) power. We see this displayed in the book of Acts when the disciples cast out demons in Jesus’ name and impart the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers cannot do this because it comes from authority, not a formula. (Acts 19:13-16)

Matthew 16:21-23 Jesus warns the disciples about His upcoming death, Peter confronts Him, and is corrected. When God is revealed in power, Satan is not far behind to challenge human response. Spiritual warfare can attack even the most devoted followers of Jesus. As a rule of thumb, we should never challenge what God tells us. We may seek to understand it better, but we can’t tell God that He is wrong. The most aggressive we can be is to plea to God to change His mind about judgment and ask for mercy.  (Exodus 32:7-14)

Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus explains the cost of following Hm. Divine authority and earthly success both carry the huge risk of deception, to make that the end goal of life. True reward in eternity will come from God and be in a different dimension than earthly riches and success. The authority that Jesus conveys in 16:19 is for the purpose of building His kingdom, not ours. Even if we tithe faithfully and God blesses us with abundance in this life, it is for His kingdom purposes. As clearly stated in 16:21&24, both Jesus and His disciples must carry crosses as part of their (our) calling.

Matthew 17

Matthew 17:1-13 Jesus’ transfiguration on the Mount

Matthew 17:2 God veiled in flesh is a mystery beyond our comprehension, but the point is that we believe it. Transfigured is the Greek word metamorphosis, but this is really the spiritual reality of who Jesus is unveiled in our world, the clothing torn off to reveal the true Person.

Matthew 17:5 The Father repeated what He had said at Jesus’ baptism (3:17). Do we really listen to Jesus? This could point to His teachings recorded in Scripture, or to His voice in our spirit speaking to us ‘this is the path, walk in it’. (Jeremiah 6:16) 

Matthew 17:6 Will we be joyous or terrified when our spiritual reality is unveiled? 

Matthew 17:10 This teaching of the law was probably based on Malachi 3:1-2 which did not explicitly name Elijah as the prophet. Apparently Elijah’s return was widely believed because of his transportation to heaven while still alive (2 Kings 2:11), and, as seen above (17:3), he did return, just not as expected by the teachers.

Matthew 17:11-13 Identifying John the Baptist with Elijah was not Jesus’ primary point, but did show fulfillment of prophecy (Malachi 3:1 says a prophet). Jesus’ focus was on how the world treats God’s messengers; He would soon follow John in being executed by the state. (14:1-12)

Matthew 17:14-21 Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy. The disciples could not expel it despite the commission given to them earlier. (10:1) Jesus was disappointed in their lack of faith, which needed only to be the size of a mustard seed (13:31), typically 1-2 mm in length. Why are demons even able to afflict people? Probably a range of contributing factors (an open door, deliberate sin, lack of a spiritual covering, etc.) all traceable to Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s fall. The authority of Jesus trumps all other considerations: a believer in Him empowered by the Holy Spirit has the authority Jesus gave in Matthew 10:1, along with the instructions in 10:5-8.

Matthew 17:22-23 Jesus predicts His death and resurrection again, repeating Matthew 16:21. This time Peter did not try to correct Him.

Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus has Peter pay the temple tax.

Matthew 17:24 The temple tax is likely based on Exodus 30:13, a half shekel to be laid before the altar of incense, as part of the census (pun intended). This offerings that Moses was told to collect were for the Israelites to continue on to the promised land. Perhaps a one-time offering. It is unclear how often the temple tax was collected in Jesus’ day.

Matthew 17:25-26 Peter was wrong, but Jesus paid it anyway. The king pays for his sons’ upkeep, doesn’t expect them to pay him back in kind (he expects far more), so sons are legally exempt.

Matthew 17 :27  One drachma = 1 day’s wage for a skilled worker, 4.3 grams of silver, worth about $6 in 2025. By contrast, the average daily wage for a skilled worker in the U.S. in 2025 is in the range $160-185, roughly 30 times the value of a 4.3 gram silver coin.  The daily wage of $6 seems in line with third-world or fourth-world countries today, consistent with pre-industrial, pre-agricultural revolution economies. This tax would be a huge burden to the average worker.

Matthew 14-15

Matthew 14:1-12 Murder of John the Baptist by Herod

Matthew 14:2 implies that John the Baptist, besides preaching and baptizing people, also performed miracles which are not mentioned elsewhere.

Matthew 14:4 John the Baptist implicitly cited Leviticus 19:16 & 26:31 which forbids  having sexual relations with one’s brother’s wife.

Matthew 14:6-11 imply that Herodias liked her position so well that she wanted John silenced by murder. Speaking truth to power carries risk. Beheading has been practiced elsewhere (notably with the guillotine in the French Revolution) but having the victim’s head brought on a platter seems gruesome. But maybe in the day of Herod, they were used to this? 

Matthew 14:13-14 Did Jesus withdraw to a private place to deal not only with John’s death, but a foreshadowing of His own? The need of ministering to others was more important, or perhaps more opportune, so He postponed His private time with the Father.

Matthew 14:15-21 Feeding of the five thousand men, plus women and children. Jesus repeats the manna given to Israel with fish added rather than quail. (Exodus 16:4-21; Numbers 11:31-35) But this time there was no anger from YHWH. In the account in Numbers, interspersed with the provision of manna and quail, the Lord has Moses assemble seventy elders  and puts some of the power of the Holy Spirit on them, a one-time event, and they prophesied. Moses says “If only all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29) Perhaps Jesus saw the provision of fish without anger foreshadowing the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Matthew 14:22-23 Jesus finally got away by Himself which He had been interrupted from earlier (14:13-14).

Matthew 14:24-33 Jesus walks on water. The storm was there so the disciples could grow  through trials. They did. Jesus showed them their need to completely rely on Him. Nothing else could save them (especially Peter). The means by which Jesus and Peter walked on the water is a mystery, a manifestation of the spiritual reality outside of our space time continuum, details are unimportant. Was calming the storm afterwards a lesser miracle? God who created the universe being manifested as a human in their presence, was a far greater miracle. 

Matthew 14:34-36 Jesus visits Gennesaret. The edge of His garment evoked faith for healing, just as it did in Matthew 9:20-22. Did the people seek Jesus solely for miracles, without any repentance, just as in Matthew 4:23-25? What follows in Matthew 15 is not another sermon, but a confrontation with the Pharisees.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15:1-9 Some Pharisees confront Jesus.  Most likely, the traditions of the elders were loosely based on passages such as Exodus 30:21 and Leviticus 15:21. Most likely the Pharisees and their elders had expanded the envelope of circumstances requiring hand-washing beyond priests at the altar in the holy of holies, or anyone touching the bed of a woman in her period, to provide a margin of safety or to please God by being holier than He commanded. Jesus invoked clear commands of the law in Exodus 20:12 & 21:17 to honor ones’ parents to point out the Pharisees hypocrisy in manipulating what sounds holy - to devote something to God - to avoid these commands. He quotes Isaiah 29:13 verbatim as speaking directly about the Pharisees, whose worship is in vain because their hearts are far from Him even though they talk a good talk. 

Matthew 15:10-20 Jesus explains to His disciples about true defilement vs. unnecessary rituals. Leviticus 11 describes several things that are unclean to eat. But His point is that words reveal the heart, and that is what comes out of the mouth, not what goes in. The metaphor comparing the Pharisees and their followers to the blind leading the blind is classic. What pit will they fall into? Probably hell. Leviticus 18 defines actions that defile, several of which Jesus repeated in 15:19, but His point is that the heart was defiled before the actions occurred.

Matthew 15:21-28 Jesus talks to a Canaanite woman with great faith. Contrasting 15:21&15:24, it seems unclear why Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus must have known her heart and this was His way of drawing her out, perhaps in playful banter, in contrast to dealing with the Pharisees. Calling her a dog seems like an insult, but He must have known her faith, since she had traveled from Canaan to Phoenicia to see Him. In any event, she humbly accepted the label and still made a case for, and received, her daughter’s healing.

Matthew 15:29-31 Jesus heals many Galileans. As with 14:34-36 we aren’t told if people sought Jesus solely for miracles, without any repentance, or some did repent?

Matthew 15:32-39 Jesus feeds four thousand men, plus women & children, closely paralleling 14:15-21. 

 

 

Matthew 12-13

Matthew 12:1-8: The Pharisees cite the 4th commandment in Exodus 20:8-12, as to the disciples picking heads of grain and eating them on the Sabbath being unlawful. Jesus responds with two Old Testament examples that put this commandment in perspective. 

Matthew 12:3-4: Jesus cites 1 Samuel 21:6 in which David and his companions violated Leviticus 24:9 by eating bread that was set aside for the priests. 

Matthew 12:5: Jesus cites Numbers 28:9-10 which also violates the 4th commandment by commanding a burnt offering to be performed on the Sabbath.

Matthew 12:7: Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 to reveal God’s heart for protecting the innocent. In Hosea, God judges Israel for gross sin and not having mercy.  Legalism is here trumped by doing good.

Matthew 12:9-14 Jesus performs another miracle and explains that the purpose of the Sabbath rest is refreshment and getting in touch with God. A person is much more valuable than rules designed to help people, and doing good, helping a person heal, more important than legalistic rule-following.

Matthew 12:15-21 quotes Isaiah 42:1-4, where God promised to send His messenger among false gods who were sowing confusion in Israel.

Matthew 12:22-37 The Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the lord of dung, or lord of the flies (presumably near dung), judging Jesus by invoking the Chaldean dung god. They were deceived by Satan. Jesus’ response was threefold:

• If He was doing this by the spirit of God, this was a demonstration of the presence of God’s kingdom.
• Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven in eternity. (I would like to dive deeper into this but I don’t dare because some spiritual realities are so transcendent we cannot fathom them. Like, why would the devil, knowing the ultimate consequence of rebellion would be eternal damnation, choose to do so anyway?)
• What comes out of a person reveals what is inside him.

On judgment day they will have to give account for the emptiness of their words in 12:24.

Matthew 12:38-45 The Pharisees ask for a sign. Jesus gives a threefold response.

Matthew 12:39-41 Jesus cites Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the whale (pointing forward to His death and resurrection), and the Ninevites subsequent repentance. (Jonah 1:17 & 3:5-9). 

Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south will condemn the Pharisees because she traveled from outside civilization to hear Solomon’s wisdom, and Jesus’ is greater than his. (1 Kings 10:1-9)

Matthew 12:43-45 The observation that a cleansed soul that does not have the Holy Spirit occupying it will be eight times worse off, because the expelled demon will find seven others to move in along with it when it re-occupies the vacant space.

Matthew 12:46-50: In appearing to devalue His mother and siblings, Jesus is simply saying that spiritual truth trumps earthly understanding. 12:50 says that family relationship with Him doesn’t come though natural birth lines; it is simply recognizing the Father’s will and doing it.

Matthew 13

Jesus Teaches in Parables, and explains secrets of the kingdom of God

Matthew 13:1-9 Parable of the sower and the seed, explained in 13:18-23.

Matthew 13:10-17 Jesus explains why He teaches in parables. He quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, which are words spoken by the Lord in Isaiah’s vision of the glory of the throne of God in heaven. Jesus explains that the secrets of heaven are too precious for unbelievers, dangerous for seekers. Seeing God’s glory would destroy mortals (not born again). See Exodus 33:20.

Matthew 13:12 Good ideas of man will fail before the revelation of God; revelation trumps wisdom.

Matthew 13:18-23 Jesus explains the parable of the sower and the seed. Very well-known passage. I often wonder why people react differently to the gospel. Jesus gives a lucid explanation.

Matthew 13:24-30 Parable of the weeds, explained in 13:36-43.

Matthew 13:31-32 Parable of the mustard seed. Most likely an explanation of how genuine faith can grow, under God’s tutelage, from a very small start.

Matthew 13:33 Parable of yeast. This one is a bit of a puzzle.  Most likely, Jesus is saying that the the kingdom of God grows unseen in the lives of people, their family and friends, and in society, until the time when the whole earth has been given the the gospel, and then will become known. (Matthew 24:14) The meaning of three loaves is a mystery, at least to me.

Matthew 13:34-35 Repetition of why Jesus taught in parables. Quotes Psalm 78:2, which is was written by Asaph recounting what God did when Israel left Egypt.  Asaph explicitly says there are parables in Psalm 78, in the story of the Exodus.

Matthew 13:36-43 Jesus explains the parable of the weeds. Very clearly.

Matthew 13:44-50 A quiz for the disciples; three parables that Jesus doesn’t explain. Since the answers aren’t given, this is a quiz for us as well.

Matthew 13:44 Parable of the treasure in the field. The kingdom of heaven is worth trading in everything else in life. (Matthew 19:21) True treasure is in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21  )

Matthew 13:45-46 Parable of the pearl of great price. Jesus is the pearl of great price. Pearls are also the gates of the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, to which entry requires that we be in Jesus.  (Revelation 21:21)

Matthew 13:47-50 Parable of the net.  Jesus provides the explanation of this parable  immediately.  The interesting thing is that this runs counter to the usual interpretation of the rapture, in which believers will rise in the air to meet Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) In Jesus’ words here, at the end of the age the angels gather the wicked from the earth to throw them into the fiery furnace.

Matthew 13:51 Jesus asks the disciples if they passed the quiz.

Matthew 13:52 Parable of storeroom treasures. Teachers of the law who become disciples learn kingdom truths and are not destroyed by them, nor twist or distort them. They have both the law and the gospel (both old and new treasures). Their hearts are His. 

Matthew 13:53-58 Jesus returns to his hometown. This completes the thought that the natural cannot receive the spiritual without being born again. (John 3:3ff) Sometimes we have to leave the comfort of where we grew up to build God’s kingdom, as He shows us their spiritual  shortcomings.

Matthew 10 - 11

Jesus commissions the disciples to go build the kingdom of God, and see life from His perspective.

Matthew 10:1 This seems to be a direct response to Matthew 9:38 where Jesus told His disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest field. Apparently they did and He does!

Matthew 10:2-4: The disciples are named in pairs, suggesting that going out 2x2 so that their witness to the truth would satisfy Deuteronomy 17:6 & 19:15. This pattern is repeated in Rev. 11:3-12, with the two witnesses just before the seventh trumpet, who also announced the imminence of God’s kingdom.

Matthew 10:5-8: The disciples empowered to minister. Jesus gave them the authority to do the same miraculous signs of the advent of God’s kingdom that He had done.

Matthew 10:9-15: God’s provision for food, lodging, and hospitality is spiritual. It seems odd that if a worthy person is found their home might be undeserving, but the disciples were instructed with a spiritual response if that happens. Perhaps this applies to a worthy person in a difficult living situation. Home is a family or a group of people who live together, not just a building, but not necessarily of one accord. The same approach is applied to towns. God uses His means of provision as one of the instruments of kingdom-building.

Matthew 10:16-36: Trials and tribulations are to be expected and will be delivered from.

Matthew 10:16: Jesus instructs us to combine insight with holiness (snakes & doves co-existing as before the fall of Satan). Use the brain God gave you together with the clean heart that comes from Jesus’ presence in you. In the trials to come, be worthy.

Matthew 10:20: This promise was notably fulfilled with Ruach HaKodesh speaking through Peter, recorded in Acts 2:4&14.

Matthew 10:29 refers back to Matthew 6:26 re Jesus’ teaching on worry. Yes, God feeds the birds, His children will be cared for.

Matthew 6:32-33: Trials and tribulations aren’t just reserved for the great tribulation, but a part of daily life helping to prepare us for the final judgment. Preaching the gospel is the key to passing the test of that event.

Matthew 10:34-36 Jesus quotes Micah 7:6, using Micah’s  bewailing of Israel’s sin, to here state that this condition of family turmoil is His (Jesus’) judgment on those who reject Him. 

Matthew 10:37-39: Loving Him is the ultimate priority in life. When we are willing to love Him more than family members or life itself, we have passed the test. He will flow His love through us to others, an eternal and spirit-empowered love that brings eternal life, which transcends physical earthly life.

Matthew 10:40-42: Kingdom rewards are promised to those (perhaps even unbelievers) who welcome and care for His prophets, His righteous ones, and little children who believe in Him. It is sad that we have to have orphanages, but He blesses those who create and support them.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1-19 Jesus discusses John the Baptist.

Matthew 11:1-6: Jesus was in Galilee, John was in prison, which perhaps gave him the context for doubting what had been revealed to him earlier (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus did not rebuke this doubt, but offered the additional evidence in 11:5 of His miraculous works and His teaching. Verse 6 is ambiguous - is Jesus suggesting that John had lost a blessing because he doubted? Or simply pronouncing a blessing on those who believe in Him? In 11:12 He explicitly cites the arrest and prophesies the subsequent murder of John. (Matthew 14:3-12)

Matthew 11:10: Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1. Implicitly He cites Malachi 3:2 which says the messenger you desire will come. Jesus was there!

Matthew 11:4, 15, & 25-30 all speak to the reality of the revelation of God in Jesus: evidence and relationship.

Matthew 11:14-15: Jesus cites Malachi 4:5 regarding John coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. Both called for repentance by Israelites, (1 Kings 18:36-37) although John did not have any compelling miracles that we know of other than the baptism of Jesus.

Matthew 11:18-19: Jesus points out that judging a person by lifestyle does not get to the reality of the heart; deeds provide proof of wisdom.

Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus warns unrepentant towns of the fruit they will reap by not repenting in the face of the evidence He gave. He contrasts this with the gentile cities ofTyre and Sidon, who were judged under prophesies in Joel 3:4-8 and Amos 1:9-10, but would have repented if they had seen Jesus’ miracles. Then He similarly discusses the judgment of Sodom, in Genesis 19:24-28. How often do people ask God for help, receive a miraculous answer, and then continue to live lives that ignore Him? As Jesus says here, woe to you!

Matthew 11:25-30 Jesus talks about direct revelation from God, and the problem that many reject communing with Him because they believe this would result in onerous rules like the Pharisees gave. He ends with the blessing of finding rest for our souls, in contrast to the woes just warned of.

Matthew 11:25-26 echoes Daniel 2:19-23 to celebrate (not just state) that God’s revelation transcends human knowledge. This is still true today, but we don’t celebrate it very often.

Matthew 11:27 is a theme Jesus follows up in John 17 at the Last Supper. Jesus knows the Father and we know the Father also, through Him.

Matthew 11:28-30: Do oxen rest while lightly yoked? Does Jesus revealing the Father result in a light yoke? How does knowing His holiness and His love directly and experientially give us rest?