Congregational Bible Experience Day #8
Matthew 21-23
Introduction: Never underestimate the indignant power of self-righteous religiosity and pride in our hearts to oppose the offer of Gospel grace and to repel the appeal to repent from a loving Saviour. In many ways, as these chapters show, it's easier to reach the acknowledged sinner with the good news of God's mercy than the hard-hearted religious types who live the 'good life' to demonstrate they don't need saved. But Judgement will, ultimately, come to all. And it's only those who submit to King Jesus' grace now who are assured of His mercy then. Beware of the eternal dangers of a Christless religiosity.
As we come towards the end of Matthew's Gospel the pace slows up and the chapters become longer. As you prayerfully begin to read the passage ask God to perhaps draw to your attention just to a couple of verses or a paragraph that will speak clearly and helpfully into your own life circumstances just now…
The last eight chapters of Matthew covers the final seven days of Jesus' life and ministry climaxing in His death and resurrection. The tension between Jesus and the religious establishment is rising, particularly as the Jerusalem crowd becomes excited at His appearance and especially when he enters the city in a kingly manner that echoes their expectations of the promised Messiah (21:1-5).
The two accounts of Jesus at the Temple (v12-17 and v23-27) sandwich the unusual account of Jesus judging the barren fig tree (v18-22). It's a strange episode. What does it mean? Simply, the fruitless tree is a picture of the spiritual fruitlessness that the Temple religion had become and of its leaders' failure to recognise and submit to the true King. The chapter concludes with a warning from Jesus: "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you (that is, the fruitless, religious leadership) and given to a people who will produce its fruit." We cannot claim to belong to King Jesus if the fruit of His Kingdom is not present in our lives.
Jesus tells a number of pointed parables (21:28-46; 22:1-14) each designed to reinforce His message that the religious leaders' have failed the people because of their hard-heartedness and now will incur God's anger. In fact, all through chapter 23 Jesus denounces them for (1) not leading Israel in repentance with the arrival of God's Kingdom (as John the Baptist encouraged) and (2) for their seeking to entrap and do away with Jesus. Needless to say, they are not at all pleased with His assessment of their spiritual leadership (21:45-46). In contrast, Jesus says, it is the recognisably "sinful" people who, in their repentance before the King, are welcomed warmly into the Kingdom as the new 'people of God'. However, the warning for all remains: anyone who rejects God's invitation and offer of the Kingdom of heaven by rejecting it altogether (22: 4-7) or by not responding appropriately (22:11-13) can expect God's due judgement.
In 22:15-46, the Pharisees and other sectarian groups now join together to further question Jesus in a hostile manner regarding His authority and identity. In His responses to their questions and accusations, Jesus leads His opponents to the only possible conclusion as to who He is: Jesus is the Son of David, before whom even the great King David bows and worships as 'Lord' (22:41-44). Not only is Jesus the Messiah, He is God. How will the religious authorities respond now that the last straw has been laid upon the camel's back…?
Matthew 21-23
Introduction: Never underestimate the indignant power of self-righteous religiosity and pride in our hearts to oppose the offer of Gospel grace and to repel the appeal to repent from a loving Saviour. In many ways, as these chapters show, it's easier to reach the acknowledged sinner with the good news of God's mercy than the hard-hearted religious types who live the 'good life' to demonstrate they don't need saved. But Judgement will, ultimately, come to all. And it's only those who submit to King Jesus' grace now who are assured of His mercy then. Beware of the eternal dangers of a Christless religiosity.
As we come towards the end of Matthew's Gospel the pace slows up and the chapters become longer. As you prayerfully begin to read the passage ask God to perhaps draw to your attention just to a couple of verses or a paragraph that will speak clearly and helpfully into your own life circumstances just now…
The last eight chapters of Matthew covers the final seven days of Jesus' life and ministry climaxing in His death and resurrection. The tension between Jesus and the religious establishment is rising, particularly as the Jerusalem crowd becomes excited at His appearance and especially when he enters the city in a kingly manner that echoes their expectations of the promised Messiah (21:1-5).
The two accounts of Jesus at the Temple (v12-17 and v23-27) sandwich the unusual account of Jesus judging the barren fig tree (v18-22). It's a strange episode. What does it mean? Simply, the fruitless tree is a picture of the spiritual fruitlessness that the Temple religion had become and of its leaders' failure to recognise and submit to the true King. The chapter concludes with a warning from Jesus: "The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you (that is, the fruitless, religious leadership) and given to a people who will produce its fruit." We cannot claim to belong to King Jesus if the fruit of His Kingdom is not present in our lives.Jesus tells a number of pointed parables (21:28-46; 22:1-14) each designed to reinforce His message that the religious leaders' have failed the people because of their hard-heartedness and now will incur God's anger. In fact, all through chapter 23 Jesus denounces them for (1) not leading Israel in repentance with the arrival of God's Kingdom (as John the Baptist encouraged) and (2) for their seeking to entrap and do away with Jesus. Needless to say, they are not at all pleased with His assessment of their spiritual leadership (21:45-46). In contrast, Jesus says, it is the recognisably "sinful" people who, in their repentance before the King, are welcomed warmly into the Kingdom as the new 'people of God'. However, the warning for all remains: anyone who rejects God's invitation and offer of the Kingdom of heaven by rejecting it altogether (22: 4-7) or by not responding appropriately (22:11-13) can expect God's due judgement.
In 22:15-46, the Pharisees and other sectarian groups now join together to further question Jesus in a hostile manner regarding His authority and identity. In His responses to their questions and accusations, Jesus leads His opponents to the only possible conclusion as to who He is: Jesus is the Son of David, before whom even the great King David bows and worships as 'Lord' (22:41-44). Not only is Jesus the Messiah, He is God. How will the religious authorities respond now that the last straw has been laid upon the camel's back…?
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