Introduction

Matthew, also called Levi in the Gospel of Luke.

• Tax collector.
• Wrote mostly to the Jewish audience.
• His purpose was to show that Jesus was (is) the promised Messiah.
• Matthew quoted the old testament 53 times, and referenced the old testament 76 times.
• Written AD 60-65.
• Matthew recorded the first family tree of Jesus.
• Considered a “bridge” between old testament and new testament.
• The virgin pregnancy meant Jesus was fully human yet fully divine.

See Vernon McGee’s Notes and Outlines to the book of Matthew

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Chapters: | 1 | 2 | 3| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |

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Chapter 1

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,Isaac the father of Jacob,Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,Perez the father of Hezron,Hezron the father of Ram,4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,Obed the father of Jesse,6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,Jehoram the father of Uzziah,9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz,Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,Manasseh the father of Amon,Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim,Akim the father of Elihud,15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
————————————–DISCUSSION CONCERNING VERSES IN MATTHEW 1—————————————–

Verses 1 through 17 was written to prove that Jesus was a direct descendant of Abraham, as per the Old Testament prophecies.

Matthew Henry: Mary was of the same tribe and family with Joseph, so that, both by his mother and by his supposed father, he was of the house of David.

A few prophecies concerning Verse 1 : Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Jer 33:15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Jer 33:16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
Jer 33:17 “For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Psa 132:11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

Verse 19…divorce her quietly. There are 3 stages of Jewish marriage in biblical times. Joseph and Mary were in the first stage, the “contract” stage. Joseph, being a righteous man, did not want to disgrace her, nor did he want his reputation to be hurt, so he was going to divorce her quietly.

Old Testament verses concerning Jewish divorce as in verse 19:

Deuteronomy 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

Verse 20…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream… In the bible, it is commonplace for God to talk to mankind in their dreams.

• Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
• Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
• Genesis 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.
• Job 33: 14 – 18 For God does speak–now one way, now another–though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.
• Daniel 1:17 God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for learning literature and science of the time. And God gave Daniel special ability in understanding the meaning of visions and dreams.

Verse 21 give him the name Jesus … Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.

Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV) 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Verses 22 and 23 All this took place to fulfill … The prophet Isaiah had prophesied the coming Messiah:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Verse 24 … he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him: It is important that we “know” what God has told us through his Word and His Spirit, and that we do what He has told us to do. This would mean that we “must” study the Word of God, we must read the bible all the time … “Study to show thyself approved”….

Verse 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until … It was important to Joseph that there be “no question” that Jesus was born of God, and not through Mary ever knowing a man. Notice that Joseph was not told to not sleep with Mary until after the birth of Jesus, but he felt that it was important. The scriptures had already stated that Joseph was a righteous man, so one can think that his conscience instructed him, his “spirit” instructed him as to the righteous thing to do.

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Chapter 2

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Mat 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Mat 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Mat 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
The Flight to Egypt

Mat 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Mat 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
The Return to Nazareth

Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Mat 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
Mat 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

————————– DISCUSSION CONCERNING VERSES IN MATTHEW 2 ————————–

Verse 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Bethlehem:

Micah 5:2 (KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Herod:

Matthew Henry: When this enquiry was made concerning Christ. It was in the days ofHerod the king. This Herod was an Edomite, made king of Judea byAugustus and Antonius, the then chief rulers of the Roman state, a man made up of falsehood and cruelty; yet he was complimented with the title of Herod the Great. Christ was born in the 35th year of his reign, and notice is taken of this, to show that the sceptre had now departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet; and therefore now was the time for Shiloh to come, and to him shall the gathering of the people be: witness these wise men, Gen. xlix. 10.

from the east:

• Psalms 72:9-12 (ESV) May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! 12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
• Isaiah 11:10 (ESV) In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Verse 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Born:

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Jeremiah 23:5 (KJV) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

His:

Numbers 24:17 (KJV) I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

thou Bethlehem:

Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Micah 5:2 (KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

a Governor:

Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will

rule:

Isaiah 40:11 (KJV) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Jeremiah 23:4-6 (KJV) And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Ezekiel 34:23-25 (KJV) And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Ezekiel 37:24-26 (KJV) And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

Verse 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

• Psalms 55:21 (KJV) The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
• Psalms 83:3-4 (KJV) They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
  4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

Verse 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

• Job 5:12-13 (ESV) He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
  13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
• Proverbs 21:30 (ESV) No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.
• 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (ESV) For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Verse 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

• Proverbs 8:17 (KJV) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
• 2 Peter 1:19 (KJV) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

they rejoiced:

• Psalms 67:4 (KJV) O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
• Psalms 105:3 (KJV) Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Verse 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew Henry: They presented themselves to him: they fell down, and worshipped him. We do not read that they gave such honour to Herod, …..but to this babe they gave this honour, not only as to a king (then they would have done the same to Herod), but as to a God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down before him; they adore him, and submit themselves to him. He is thy Lord, and worship thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men, and by this it will appear they know Christ, and understand themselves and their true interests, if they be humble, faithful worshippers of the Lord Jesus.

presented: or, offered

Isaiah 60:6 (KJV) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

frankincense:

Leviticus 2:1-2 (KJV) And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:

Verse 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

warned in a dream

• Genesis 20:6 (KJV) And God said unto him in a dream…..
• Genesis 31:24 (KJV) And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night,

Verse 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

destroy him

Matthew Henry: How early was the blessed Jesus involved in trouble! Usually, even those whose riper years are attended with toils and perils have a peaceable and quiet infancy; but it was not so with the blessed Jesus: his life and sufferings began together

Exodus 1:22 (ESV) Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

Verse 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Egypt

• Exodus 4:22 (ESV) Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son,
• Numbers 24:8 (ESV) God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.
• Hosea 11:1 (ESV) When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Matthew Henry: Flee; but why into Egypt? Egypt was infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and enmity to the people of God; it had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; in Egypt, as much as in Ramah, Rachel had been weeping for her children; yet that is appointed to be a place of refuge to the hold child Jesus. Note, God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes; for the earth is the Lord’s, he makes what use he pleases of it: sometimes the earth helps the woman Rev. xii. 16. God, who made Moab a shelter to his outcasts, makes Egypt a refuge for his Son…… If we and our infants be at any time in straits, let us remember the straits Christ in his infancy was brought into, and be reconciled to them.

Verse 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

• Proverbs 28:15 (KJV) As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Verse 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

• Jeremiah 31:15 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
• Ezekiel 2:10 (KJV) And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Matthew Henry: Herod was, throughout his reign, a bloody man; it was not long before, that he destroyed the whole Sanhedrim, or bench of judges; but blood to the blood-thirsty is like drink to those in a dropsy; Quo plus sunt potæ, plus sitiuntur aquæ–The more they drink, the more thirsty they become. Herod was now about seventy years old, so that an infant, at this time under two years old, was not likely ever to give him any disturbance. Nor was he a man over fond of his own children, or of their preferment, having formerly slain two of his own sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, and his son Antipater after this, but five days before he himself died; so that it was purely to gratify his own brutish lusts of pride and cruelty that he did this. All is fish that comes to his net.

Verse 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

• Isaiah 51:12 (KJV) I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
• Daniel 11:45 (KJV) And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
• Jeremiah 30:10 (KJV) Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

Verse 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

• Exodus 4:19 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.
• 1 Kings 11:40 (KJV) Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Verse 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Matthew Henry: Joseph might think that Jesus, being born in Bethlehem, must be brought up there; yet he is prudently afraid for the young Child, because he hears that Archelaus reigns in Herod’s stead, not over all the kingdom as his father did, but only over Judea, the other provinces being put into other hands. See what a succession of enemies there is to fight against Christ and his church! If one drop off, another presently appears, to keep up the old enmity. But for this reason Joseph must not take the young Child into Judea. Note, God will not thrust his children into the mouth of danger, but when it is for his own glory and their trial; for precious in the sight of the Lord are the life and the death of his saints; precious is their blood to him.

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Chapter 3

Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The Baptism of Jesus

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

————————————–DISCUSSION CONCERNING VERSES IN MATTHEW 3———————————————————–

Verse 1: Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,:

John was the herald, the announcer of the coming Messiah. He would prepare the way for Jesus to arrive.

John the Baptist:

• Son of Zechariah, a jewish priest who worked in the temple.
• The angel Gabriel appeared and told Zechariah that his aged wife Elizabeth would have a son, who he must call John. Zechariah laughed.
• The angel turned him mute until the delivery of John because of his unbelief.

In those days … refers to the time from when Jesus’ parents taking him to Egypt until the time Jesus starts his ministry…. long after the previous chapter 1 of Matthew.

preaching in the wilderness of Judaea …

Matthew Henry: The word of the Lord found John here in a wilderness. Note, No place is so remote as to shut us out from the visits of divine grace; nay, commonly the sweetest intercourse the saints have with Heaven, is when they are withdrawn furthest from the noise of this world. It was in this wilderness of Judah that David penned the 63d Psalm, which speaks so much of the sweet communion he then had with God, Hos. ii. 14. In a wilderness the law was given; and as the Old Testament, so the New Testament Israel was first found in the desert land, and there God led him about and instructed him.

Isa 41:18-19 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

Isa 32:15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Verse 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And saying, Repent ye … the first step in God forgiving your sins is repentance. As prophesied, John was preparing the way for Jesus.

kingdom of heaven … The same as “kingdom of God”. However, the Jews avoided using the name of God, less they accidentally blaspheme the name of God, so kingdom of heaven was used.

Matthew Henry: The prophets of the Old Testament called people to repent, for the obtaining and securing of temporal national mercies, and for the preventing and removing of temporal national judgments: but now, though the duty pressed is the same, the reason is new, and purely evangelical…….the gospel dispensation of the covenant of grace, the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers, by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ…. It is a kingdom of heaven, not of this world…

Verse 3 … Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Isaiah 40:3-6 (KJV) 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

Verse 4: And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Malachi 4:5 (KJV) 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Matthew Henry: John is here spoken of, 1. His dress was plain….to show that he was the Elias promised; for particular notice is taken of Elias, that he was a hairy man (which, some think, is meant of the hairy garments he wore), and that he was girt with a girdle of leather about his loins, 2 Kings i. 8. John Baptist appear no way inferior to him in mortification; this therefore is that Elias that was to come. (3.) To show that he was a man of resolution; his girdle was not fine, such as were then commonly worn, but it was strong, it was a leathern girdle; and blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he comes, finds with his loins girt.

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

and his meat was locusts

Lev 11:22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

Matthew Henry: Note, Those whose business it is to call others to mourn for sin, and to mortify it, ought themselves to live a serious life, a life of self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the world. John Baptist thus showed the deep sense he had of the badness of the time and place he lived in, which made the preaching of repentance needful ….. Those who would have the benefit of John’s ministry must go out to him in the wilderness, sharing in his reproach. Note, They who truly desire the sincere milk of the word, it if be not brought to them, will seek out for it:

Verse 6: And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Psalms 32:5 (KJV) 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Matthew Henry: By baptism he obliged them to live a holy life, according to the profession they took upon themselves. Note, Confession of sin must always be accompanied with holy resolutions, in the strength of divine grace, not to return to it again.

VERSE 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

• Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees revered the law and sought to protect it. Very legalistic tendencies.
• The Sadducees held closely to the first five books of the Old Testament as their guide. Most of them hailed from the priestly class and served in the temple.
• The visit of the religious elite to John’s venue got his attention. More than likely they felt threatened by John’s popularity. He recognized their hypocrisy and branded them a brood of vipers.
• John saw in them what they refused to see in themselves—sinners in need of salvation.
• John questioned why they had come
• He knew them to be unrepentant. John warned that they would not be able to avoid the wrath of God’s judgment.

Matthew Henry: Though his education was private, he was not bashful when he appeared in public, nor did he fear the face of man, for he was full of the Holy Ghost, and of power…..Note, A wicked generation is a generation of vipers, and they ought to be told so; it becomes the ministers of Christ to be bold in showing sinners their true character.

Verse 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Isaiah 1:16-17 (KJV) 16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Jeremiah 26:13 (KJV) 13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Matthew Henry: Here is a word of exhortation and direction (v. 8); “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. Therefore, because you are warned to flee from the wrath to come, let the terrors of the Lord persuade you to a holy life.” Or, “Therefore, because you profess repentance, and attend upon the doctrine and baptism of repentance, evidence that you are true penitents.” Repentance is seated in the heart. There it is as a root; but in vain do we pretend to have it there, if we do not bring forth the fruits of it in a universal reformation, forsaking all sin, and cleaving to that which is good; these are fruits, axious tes metanoias–worthy of repentance. Note, Those are not worthy the name of penitents, or their privileges, who say they are sorry for their sins, and yet persist in them. They that profess repentance, as all that are baptized do, must be and act as becomes penitents, and never do any thing unbecoming a penitent sinner. It becomes penitents to be humble and low in their own eyes, to be thankful for the least mercy, patient under the greatest affliction, to be watchful against all appearances of sin, and approaches towards it, to abound in every duty, and to be charitable in judging others.

Verse 9: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Holman Commentary: John explained further the reason for this word of judgment. The religious leaders committed the sin of presumption. They presumed that as descendants of Abraham their heritage as Gods chosen people guaranteed a right relationship with God. They considered themselves special in Gods eyes and above common sinners because of their Jewish ancestry. John challenged that presumption as false.
The religious leaders forgot that God sets the standard for who His people are

Verse 10: And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Ezekiel 15:2-7 (KJV) 2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? 4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Verse 11: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Holman Commentary: John purposed to stir people to repent. His baptism with water for repentance symbolized the heart change God makes in those who turn to Him.

• The phrase the One who is coming resonated with the Jews. They would have understood it as a reference to the coming Messiah. No doubt the skeptical religious leaders picked up on the terminology.
• John knew his role. He refused to be caught up in the excitement that accompanied the great wilderness revival. He contrasted Jesus’ greatness with his lowly status when he said: I am not worthy to remove His sandals.
• Such duty fell to slaves. John, although great in the eyes of many, considered himself no more than Jesus’ lowly slave.
• The distinctive power of Jesus lay not in water baptism like John’s but in baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Although Jesus submitted to water baptism and encouraged it for others, He offered an immersion in a new kind of life.
• To the Jews, the Spirit (meaning “wind” or “breath”) represented the indwelling of God’s living presence in their lives. This linkage of Jesus and the Holy Spirit equated Jesus with Messiah.
• John also related Jesus’ baptism to fire. Like wind, fire exerts the power to consume. This probably compared the purifying effect of fire with the cleansing power of Jesus’ work of salvation. Fire represented judgment in verse 10. In this verse, however, fire depicted the hope of changed lives offered by Jesus.

Verse 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
:

Holman Commentary: John used the agricultural illustration of a granary to explain Jesus’ role further. After crushing newly harvested grain, the farmer took a winnowing shovel or scoop and pitched the grain in the air. The lighter husks floated off in the wind. The good kernels fell to the floor. The farmer worked to clear His threshing floor. He diligently saved every piece of grain. A good farmer missed nothing useful. He got every bit of valuable wheat into the barn. The chaff or husks might be burned as fuel. They served no other useful purpose. The fire that never goes out indicates a blistering blaze that consumes everything in it.
These images of storing the good grain and total destruction of the waste depict two crucial roles of the Messiah. One, He came to save people from sin. He loses none who call on Him for salvation. Two, the Messiah will judge those who reject Him. Jesus became a great separator who makes no mistakes with the souls entrusted to Him. John never claimed that kind of authority. Instead, he pointed people to One with that kind of discernment and power.

Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Matthew Henry: John thinks it necessary that he should be baptized of Christ; I have need to be baptized of thee with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as of fire, for that was Christ’s baptism, v. 11. [1.] Though John was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb (Luke i. 15), yet he acknowledges he had need to be baptized with that baptism. Note, They who have much of the Spirit of God, yet, while here, in this imperfect state, see that they have need of more, and need to apply themselves to Christ for more.

Verse 15: And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Isaiah 42:21 (KJV) 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Matthew Henry: It was an instance of Christ’s great humility, that he would offer himself to be baptized of John; that he who knew no sin would submit to the baptism of repentance. Note, As soon as ever Christ began to preach, he preached humility, preached it by his example, preached it to all, especially the young ministers. Christ was designed for the highest honours, yet in his first step he thus abases himself. Note, Those who would rise high must begin low. Before honour is humility. It was a great piece of respect done to John, for Christ thus to come to him; and it was a return for the service he did him, in giving notice of his approach. Note, Those that honour God he will honour.

Verse 16: And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Matthew Henry: How solemnly Heaven was pleased to grace the baptism of Christ with a special display of glory (v. 16, 17); Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. Others that were baptized staid to confess their sins (v. 6); but Christ, having no sins to confess, went up immediately out of the water; so we read it….. He went up straightway, as one that entered upon his work with the utmost cheerfulness and resolution; he would lose no time. How was he straitened till it was accomplished!

Now, when he was coming up out of the water, and all the company had their eye upon him, 1. Lo! the heavens were opened unto him, so as to discover something above and beyond the starry firmament, at least, to him. This was, (1.) To encourage him to go on in his undertaking, with the prospect of the glory and joy that were set before him. Heaven is opened to receive him, when he has finished the work he is now entering upon. (2.) To encourage us to receive him, and submit to him. Note, In and through Jesus Christ, the heavens are opened to the children of men. Sin shut up heaven, put a stop to all friendly intercourse between God and man; but now Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Divine light and love are darted down upon the children of men, and we have boldness to enter into the holiest…. The heavens were opened when Christ was baptized, to teach us, that when we duly attend on God’s ordinances, we may expect communion with him, and communications from him.

Verse 17: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Psalms 2:7 (KJV) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Isaiah 42:1 (KJV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew Henry: The affection the Father had for him; He is my beloved Son;
his dear Son, the Son of his love (Col. i. 13); he has lain in his
bosom from all eternity (John i. 18), had been always his delight
(Prov. viii. 30), but particularly as Mediator, and in undertaking the
work of man’s salvation, he was his beloved Son. He is my Elect, in
whom my soul delights. See Isa. xlii. 1. Because he consented to the
covenant of redemption, and delighted to do that will of God, therefore
the Father loved him. John x. 17; iii. 35. Behold, then, behold, and
wonder, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that he
should deliver up him that was the Son of his love, to suffer and die
for those that were the generation of his wrath; nay, and that he
therefore loved him, because he laid down his life for the sheep! Now
know we that he loved us, seeing he has not withheld his Son, his only
Son, his Isaac whom he loved, but gave him to be a sacrifice for our
sin.

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Chapter 4

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Mat 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mat 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Mat 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
Mat 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds

Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Mat 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Mat 4:25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

————————————–DISCUSSION CONCERNING VERSES IN MATTHEW 4———————————————————–

HEBREW GREEK KEY STUDY BIBLE, SPIROS ZODHIATES, WORLD BIBLE PUBLISHERS.
Zodhiates immediately focuses on the word”tempted” and clarifies “temptation”.

James 1:13 says that “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God” for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor tempteth any man.”

But Genesis 22:1 says “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham.

Zodhiates focuses on studying the words in these scriptures (hermanuetics). Hebrew word “nissan” rendered “tempt” literally means “to try, prove, or put to the test.” Same as the Greek word “peirazo” (3985) sometimes means. But in Genesis 22:1 it actually says “God did prove Abraham.”

Thus, “God does not tempt anyone to sin, but He temps only in the sense of proving somebody to create confidence in the Lord and in himself and to give him experience.” “We must distinguish who the one who tempts is and then we shall understand whether the meaning is to endeavor to lead a person to fall, which is always the purpose of Satan as he tempts us, or whether it is God who never tricks us or deceives us or causes us to fall, but rather tests to prove our progress.”

BIBLE FOR SPIRIT FILLED LIVING, NELSON PUBLISHING
4:1 To be “tempted” from the divine standpoint means a positive test; from the Devil’s standpoint it implies enticement to sin; from Jesus’ standpoint it is a challenge from Satan to test God’s sovereignty and plan (verse 6).

NIV LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE:
TEMPTATION ONE = Verse 3, bread. Physical needs, hunger. Would God provide food? Jesus’ answer, Deuteronomy 8:3.And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

TEMPTATION TWO = Verse 6, dare God to rescue you, based on misapplied Scripture, Psalm 91:11,12. Emotional need focused on security. Would God protect? Potential weakness was pride, insecurity, need to test God. Jesus’ answer Deuteronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

TEMPTATION THREE = Verse 9, worship Satan. Psychological need: significance, power, achievement. Possible doubt was “Would God rule”? Potential weaknesses Satan sought to exploit was a desire for quick easy power, easy solutions, need to prove equality with God. Jesus’ answer was Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

CHARLES SPURGEON, SPURGEONS’S SERMON NOTES.

It may be needful for us to be tempted:
• For test. Sincerity, faith, love, patience, are thus put to proof.
• For growth. Temptation develops and increases our graces.
• For usefulness. We become able to comfort and warn others.
• For victory. How glorious to overcome the arch-enemy.
• For God’s glory. He vanquishes Satan by feeble men.

Solitude will not prevent temptation:
• It may even aid it. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
• Nor will fasting and prayer always keep off the tempter; for the had been fully used by our Lord.

THE TEMPTER ASSAILS WITH AN “IF”
• Not with point-blank denial. That would be too startling. Doubt serves the Satanic purpose better than heresy.
• He grafts his “if” on a holy thing. He makes the doubt look like holy anxiety concerning divine Sonship.
• He “ifs” a plain Scripture. “Thou art my Son” (Psalm 2:7)
• He “ifs” a former manifestation. At his baptism God said, “This is my beloved Son.” Satan contradicts our spiritual experience.
• He “ifs” a whole life. From the first Jesus had been about is Father’s business; yet after thirty years his Sonship is questioned.
• He “ifs” inner consciousness. Our Lord knew that he was the Father’s Son; but the evil one is daring.
• He “ifs” a perfect character. Well may he question us, whose faults are so many.

THE TEMPTER AIMS THE “IF” AT A VITAL PART
1. At our sonship.

• In the Lord’s case he attacks his human and divine sonship.
• In our case he would make us doubt our regeneration.

2. At our childlike spirit. He tempts us to cater for ourselves. “Command that these stones be turned to bread.”
3. At our Father’s honor. He tempts us to doubt our Father’s providence and to blame him for letting us hunger.
4. At our comfort and strength as members of the heavenly family.

• By robbing us of our sonship, he would leave us orphans, and consequently naked, poor, and miserable.
• Thus he would have us hindered in prayer. How could we say, “Our Father” if we doubted our sonship?
• Thus he would destroy patience. How can we say, “Father, they will be done,” if we are not his sons?
• Thus he would lay us open to the next shot, whatever that might be. Doubt of sonship leaves us naked to the enemy.

THE TEMPTER SUPPORTS THAT “IF” WITH CIRCUMSTANCES.
1. You are alone. Would a Father desert his Child?
2. You are n a desert. Is this the place for God’s Heir?
3. You are with the wild beasts. Wretched company for a Son of God!
4. You are hungry. How can a loving Father let his perfect Son hunger?

Put all these together, and the tempter’s question comes home with awful force to one who is hungry, and alone.

When we see others thus tried, do we them them brethren? Do we not question their sonship, as Job’s friends questioned him?

WHEN OVERCOME, THE TEMPTER’S “IF” IS HELPFUL
1. As coming from Satan, it is a certificate of our true descent.

• He only questions truth: therefore we are true sons.
• He only leads sons to doubt their sonship; therefor we are sons.

2. As overcome, it may be a quietus to the enemy for years.

• It takes the sting out of man’s questionings and suspicions; for if we have answered the devil himself we do not fear men.
• It puts a sweetness into all future enjoyment of OUR FATHER.

3. A past, it is usually the prelude to angels coming and ministering to us, as inner Lord’s case. Not calm is so deep as that which follows a great storm (Mark 4:39)

Verse 1: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

NIV LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE
• A person has not shown true obedience if he/she has never had an opportunity to disobey
• In Deuteronomy 8:2 God led Israel into the desert to humble and test them. God wanted to see if his people would really obey him
• Remember your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure
• Satan tried to force his hand and get Jesus to declare his kingship prematurely. If he had given in, his mission on earth – to die for our sins and give us the opportunity for eternal life – would have been lost.
• Temptation itself is not a sin, but giving in to temptation is a sin.
• Jesus wasn’t temptated inside the temple or at his baptism, but in the desert, where he was alone and tired and hungry, and most vulnerable. This is also the time when Satan will tempt us, when we are at our weakest and vulnerable.
• The devil focused on three critical areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. But Jesus did NOT give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus has been tempted in every way, just as we are, but without sin.

of the spirit:

• 1 Kings 18:12 (KJV) 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
• Ezekiel 3:12 (KJV) Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.
• Ezekiel 8:3 (KJV) And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
• Ezekiel 43:5 (KJV) So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.

Verse 2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

fasted:

• Exodus 34:28 (KJV) 28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
• Deuteronomy 9:18 (KJV) And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God,

NIV LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE:

• Jesus was able to resist all the devil’s temptations because he not only knew scripture, but because he obeyed it.


• Ephesians 6:7 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

the tempter:

• Luke 22:31-32 (KJV) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:5 (KJV) For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Verse 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Verse 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

the holy city: Jerusalem

• Isaiah 52:1 (KJV) Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
• Daniel 9:16 (KJV) O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

Verse 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

He shall:

Psalms 91:11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Verse 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Exoodus 17:1-7 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Exo 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? Exo 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? Exo 17:4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. Exo 17:5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exo 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Deuteronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Verse 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

and showeth:

Esther 5:11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Verse 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

It is our Lord, our God who gives all good things, not Satan:
• 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (KJV) The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
• Daniel 2:37-38 (KJV) Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
  38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
• Daniel 4:32 (KJV) And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
• Daniel 5:18-19 (KJV) O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

Verse 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Notice that for the third time, Jesus quotes scripture to respond to Satan’s attacks. A noteworthy solution to temptation.

Satan:
Satan derives from a Hebrew word that means “adversary.”

• Deuteronomy 6:13-14 (KJV) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
  14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
• Deuteronomy 10:20 (KJV) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
• Joshua 24:14 (KJV) Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
• 1 Samuel 7:3 (KJV) And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Verse 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Then the devil left him….not because he wanted to, but because Christ commanded him to!

angels came and ministered unto him

…
1Ki 19:4, 7 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1Ki 19:7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Jesus Begins His Ministry

Verse 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

Verse 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

Verse 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

saying:

Isaiah 9:1-2 (KJV) Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Verse 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Isa 9:1-2 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Verse 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

sat in darkness…Psalms 107:10-14 (KJV) 10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Isaiah 42:6-7 (KJV) 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Verse 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Holman commentary:
• The subject which Christ dwelt upon now in his preaching (and it was indeed the sum and substance of all his preaching), was the very same John has preached upon (ch. iii. 2)
• Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; for the gospel is the same for substance under various dispensations; the commands the same, and the reasons to enforce them the same; an angel from heaven dares not preach any other gospel (Gal. i. 8), and will preach this, for it is the everlasting gospel.
• Fear God, and, by repentance, give honour to him, Rev. xiv. 6, 7.
• Christ put a great respect upon John’s ministry, when he preached to the same purport that John had preached before him.
• By this he showed that John was his messenger and ambassador; for when he brought the errand himself, it was the same that he had sent by him. Thus did God confirm
  the word of his messenger, Isa. xliv. 26.

Verse 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Verse 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus began to assemble his team, to begin teaching them, leading by example.

Verse 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Psalms 119:60 (KJV) 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Verse 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Verse 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

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Chapter 5

Mat 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

Proverbs 8:6 (KJV)6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

The Beatitudes

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Psalms 78:1-2 (KJV) 78:1 Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

Proverbs 8:6 (KJV) Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Proverbs 31:8-9 (KJV) Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

the poor:

Psalms 34:18 (KJV) The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 (KJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Psalms 40:1-3 (KJV) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalms 126:5-6 (KJV) They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

meek:

• Isaiah 11:4 (KJV) But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
• Numbers 12:3 (KJV) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

they shall inherit the earth
• Psalms 37:9 (KJV)9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
• Isaiah 60:21 (KJV) Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

hunger and thirst
• Psalms 42:1-2 (KJV) 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

• Amos 8:11-13 (KJV) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
  12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
  13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Merciful
• 2 Samuel 22:26 (KJV) With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
• Proverbs 11:17 (KJV) The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

obtain mercy
• Hosea 2:23 (KJV) And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
• Hosea 1:6 (KJV) And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

pure heart
• Psalms 24:4 (KJV) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
• Proverbs 22:11 (KJV) He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Salt and Light

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Lust

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Divorce

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Oaths

Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Retaliation

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Love your Enemies

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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Chapter 6

Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

alms

Psalms 37:21 (KJV) The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Proverbs 19:17 (KJV) He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

hypocrites

Isaiah 9:17 (KJV) Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

seeth

Psalms 44:21 (KJV) 21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

reward

Jude 1:24 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

The Lord’s Prayer

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

prayest

Psalms 5:2 (KJV) Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Proverbs 15:8 (KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

hypocrites

Job 27:8-10 (KJV) For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

pray

Psalms 34:15 (KJV) The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

vain repititions

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 (KJV) Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Mat 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Do Not Be Anxious

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Mat 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Mat 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Mat 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

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Chapter 7

Judging Others

Mat 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Mat 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Ask, and It Will Be Given

Mat 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule

Mat 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mat 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
A Tree and Its Fruit

Mat 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
I Never Knew You

Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Build Your House on the Rock

Mat 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Authority of Jesus

Mat 7:28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
Mat 7:29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

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Chapter 16

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

Mat 16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
Mat 16:2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’
Mat 16:3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
Mat 16:4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Mat 16:5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.
Mat 16:6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Mat 16:7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
Mat 16:8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?
Mat 16:9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Mat 16:10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
Mat 16:11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Mat 16:12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Mat 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Son of Man = a prophetical statement. The book of Daniel. This Jewish audience would have known the significance of “Son of Man”.

Mat 16:14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

John the Baptist = Herod thought that John the Baptist had returned from the dead. Herod believed that this was the only way that Jesus could perform the miracles, was because he was resurrected from the dead.

Elijah and Jeremiah = big prophets in the Jewish Old Testament world

Mat 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

This is the “first” acknowledgment BY MAN that Jesus was the anointed one, the Son of the Living God!

Messiah (Hebrew) = Christ (Greek) = “the anointed”. The anointed people in this timeframe are either “prophet, priest or king”.

John 19:7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”

Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter Petra is a MASSIVE, IMMOVABLE STONE. Jesus was not stating that he was building his church upon Peter, but upon what PETER JUST SAID.

Petros = a stone, rock

Peter, below, speaking to the CHURCH:

1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 Peter 2:7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
1 Peter 2:8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Mat 16:20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Matthew 18:18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Keys: In Revelation, Jesus has the keys to death and hades too.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Mat 16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
Mat 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Mat 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Mat 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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Chapter 17

The Transfiguration

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

white = purity; holiness; the absence of darkness. Uncorrupted by any other tint.

Numbers 6:25 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Psalm 31:16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.

Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Moses and Elias = Moses, the deliverer of the Law, the Law which does NOT redeem us, who represents Redemption (passover was under Moses); Elias, represents God’s prophets!

Mat 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Peter’s mistake here….he obviously doesn’t understand the significance of who Jesus was (is). Peter makes Moses and Elias (Elijah) equal with Jesus.

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

bright cloud = the Spirit of God, the shekina glory

Mat 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

they fell on their face = a reoccuring theme in the bible, when people are in the presence of God, they fall on their faces in fear.

Mat 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

Jesus is the great comforter.

Mat 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

It was time to listen to Jesus, and not be distracted by the two other great men of God.

Mat 17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mat 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

And he will prepare the way before Me: In an ancient royal procession the messenger went before the King to announce his arrival, to indicate the route, and to remove any obstacles in the road. John the Baptist fulfilled this exact ministry for Jesus. The same idea is indicated in Isa 40:3-5.

Mat 17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Bible theologians think that Elias “will come again” as one of the Prophets, as described in the Book of Revelation.

Mat 17:12 >But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

ELIAS! REVIEW AND UNDERSTANDING: We are talking about “two” different things here. (1) Elias will come again, in the book of Revelation, he will reappear as one of the witnesses; and (2) Elias’ spirit did appear in John the Baptist.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

The phrase restore everything refers to Malachi’s statement that Elijah would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers (Mal. 4:6). A common reference to repentance, the turning of the children’s hearts was evidenced in the preparatory work of John the Baptist.

In his prophecy concerning John’s birth, the angel said John would go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). The wording of the angel’s statement quotes from Malachi’s prophecy and goes on to show how John’s work would fulfill Elijah’s purpose.

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

Mat 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Mat 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

The Temple Tax

Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
Mat 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
Mat 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Mat 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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Chapter 18

Who Is the Greatest?

Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin

Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Mat 18:8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mat 18:9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
If Your Brother Sins Against You

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Mat 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Mat 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Mat 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Mat 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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Chapter 19

Teaching About Divorce

Mat 19:1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
Mat 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mat 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
Mat 19:10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Let the Children Come to Me

Mat 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
The Rich Young Man

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Good Master: This man proved that he did not fully understand who he was talking to. He incorrectly assumed that Jesus was just a religious man, a teacher. He did not understand that He was (is) Jesus, Christ Almighty, Savior of the world.

what good thing shall I do: This was not a trick question like so many other had thrown at Jesus. This man was sincere. But he makes a critical error in his thinking. He thinks he can work or earn his salvation. We do not deserve ANY salvation, we can not EARN our salvation. We are saved only through the Grace of God because no one can be good.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Why callest thou me good? Jesus was leading this man, making him understand that only God is good. Several things happening here, Jesus teaching him that no one is good except God, and also, Jesus is also teaching about HIS divinity here. Jesus was (is) man in flesh.

See
James 2:10-11
Galatians 3:10-11
Hebrews 10:1

Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Jesus referred to the last part of the ten commandments, the law. These commandments had to do with person to person relationships.

Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mat 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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Chapter 20

Laborers in the Vineyard

Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

Mat 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
Mat 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
Mat 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
A Mother’s Request

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 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 Heals Two Blind Men

Mat 20:29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Mat 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Mat 20:31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Mat 20:32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Mat 20:33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
Mat 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

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Chapter 21

NOTE: This was Sunday, just 5 days before he was to be crucified. Jesus knew what laid ahead of him, but he didn’t falter. He continued on his road to crucification, death, burial, and resurrection. But make no mistake, Jesus was in charge here. His actions were controlled and deliberate.

The Triumphal Entry

Mat 21:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

The Mount of Olives = HISTORICAL significance:
• On the mount of Olives, Ezekiel saw the glory of God (Ezek. 11:23),
• Here David grieved over the betrayal of Absalom (2 Sam. 15:30).
• As Jesus approached Jerusalem from the mount, He wept over the city (Luke 19:41).
• Jesus often resorted to this hillside for prayer (Luke 21:37).
• Not long after this day, He would sit on the mount and answer the disciples’ questions about the events surrounding His second coming (Matt. 24:3).
• As He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane on this mountain, He would be betrayed and arrested (Matt. 26:36-46).
• From this mountain, Jesus would ascend into heaven (Acts 1:11-12), and there He will return in power and glory (Zech. 14:4).

Mat 21:2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

A lot of people in today’s society totally misunderstand this. They think “donkey”….a humble little animal, etc. But that is not right. During this time in History, Kings rode donkey’s, riding a donkey was another way Jesus was proclaiming to be a King

Here’s what Albert Barnes wrote: To ride on a horse was sometimes an emblem of war; on a mule and an ass, the emblem of peace. Kings and princes commonly rode on them in times of peace, and it is mentioned as a mark of rank and dignity to ride in that manner, Jdg 10:4; Jdg 12:14; 1Sa 25:20. So Solomon, when he was inaugurated as king, rode on a “mule,” 1Ki 1:33. Riding in this manner, then, denoted neither poverty nor degradation, but was the appropriate way in which a king should ride, and in which, therefore, the King of Zion should enter into his capital, the city of Jerusalem.

Mat 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

Lord: Not just a prophet like the people thought, or not just a spiritual man, or not just a healer, but Jesus HIMSELF identifies himself as Lord (capital L)

Mat 21:4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'”
Mat 21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

went and did as Jesus had directed them = life lesson for us today. We are to respond immediately, and always as Jesus has directed us.

Mat 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
Mat 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

crowd spread their cloaks on the road = At this period in time, a King’s subjects paid homage to him by providing a carpet for him to walk or ride on

Mat 21:9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Hosanna means “Save now.” It was more than a cry of acclamation. Essentially, it was a plea from an oppressed people to their Savior for deliverance. Later it came to be a standard shout of praise…PS 118:25, 26, from which the quote comes, is messianic; therefore the people were publically acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.

Blessed is he = Psa 72:17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

Mat 21:10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

stirred up = NKJV uses the word “moved”…. And the Greek translation for that is often used of an earthquake showing that the dramatic arrival of Jesus caused a great commotion.

Mat 21:11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Many people will accept Him as a prophet, teacher, or even miracle worker, but they resist acknowledging Jesus as Messiah. Jesus deserves acclaim, but true praise must embrace who He really is—the Lord.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Mat 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.
Mat 21:13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
Mat 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
Mat 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,
Mat 21:16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
Mat 21:17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Mat 21:18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry.

Jesus was full man, he was hungry, just as we become hungry.

Mat 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

In these two verses, it is believed that the fig tree has a symbol of Israel. Because the fig tree had not produced fruit, Jesus pronounced judgment on it. Israel, their religion had become lifeless, dead, yielding no fruit. So, like Jesus has taught many times before, those who produce will be giving more, those who do not produce, what they have will even be taken away. This is similar to the parable of the talents.

Also, we also see here his power, his divinity, and judgment is His! He is not only able to save, He is also able to destroy.

Mat 21:20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”
Mat 21:21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
Mat 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

In these 3 verses, Jesus was able to give them a lesson on both prayer and also of faith. Christ empowered them by faith to do the same.

Notice in verse 22 it says “whatever”. There are no restrictions here, just have faith in your prayer.

In summary, if you look at the five verses of the fig tree, you get 3 important life lesson. Jesus could say more in just a few comments than most people can say in a lifetime.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Mat 21:23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

Note, as soon as he entered the town, where did he go, and what was he doing? Jesus is our example once again, he went straight to the temple, and as a leader and teacher, he immediately began doing what God had called him to do, he started teaching the Word of God.

The religious leaders were starting to get ugly. Notice, they don’t question what he is doing, because it’s obvious what he is doing is right, it is miraculous, it was Godly. They dare not to question his teaching, or his works, or his miracles, or his compassion to his brothers and sisters. They question “where he got the authority”. They were implying “Hey, we didn’t tell you that you could do this, so who told you that you could!”

Notice, the leaders here were attempting to distract him, to take his eye off what he was doing. This will also happen to us, as we tell others about Christ. Satan will employ many methods to take our concentration off our Lord and Savior.

Jesus didn’t answer them directly to their question because if he had, they would have taken advantage of him.

Mat 21:24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus had them here….of course he knew how they would respond….but if they had responded, he would have had them cornered.

Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

That would have been applicable to Jesus too. If they would have said heaven, then that would have applied to the works of Jesus too, and the witnesses, the people who saw this conversation would have asked why didn’t the religious leaders believed in Jesus too, just like John.

Mat 21:26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

Once again, same thing. If the religious leaders would have said “from man”, then the crowd would disagree because of the wisdom Jesus had, because of the miracles Jesus performed.

The religious leaders were really defeated on this discussion, and they knew it!

Also note this one point, the religious leaders, what were they afraid of? Telling the truth openly, or the people? They were more afraid of the people.

Mat 21:27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Well, there you go. Since the religious leaders were unable to answer Jesus, he didn’t have to answer them. Do you think at this point they would have continued to argue this point, NO WAY. They were not stupid, they knew when they were being beaten by a much smarter man.

The Parable of the Two Sons

Mat 21:28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’
Mat 21:29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.
Mat 21:30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.
Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

This was horrible, he was putting the publicans and the harlots before the religious leaders.

The first son, he had a change of heart, he eventually did what the father wanted him to do. He would eventually enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Today, we see the same thing as the second son. People who say that they are Christians, they don’t even go to church. They profess to be Christian, but they aren’t. Their religion is just outward. A Christian is someone who has been transformed in his heart, in his soul.

The Parable of the Tenants

Mat 21:33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

What we learn here:
• “master”= God is our Lord, our Savior, and our Master. Also, he “owned” this land, just like God owns us. Some translations use the term landowner here instead of master.
• planted a vineyard = he got to work, he didn’t just take it, he prepared and developed it.
• put a fence around it = he protected it, he cherished what he had. Just like God had protected the nation of Israel.
• dug a winepress = this symbolized that God expects us to yield fruit, faithful results. Notice that he put the winepress right there, on location. God expects us to yield fruit right where we are.
• tenants = the tenant farmers represent the Jewish leaders tasked with caring for God’s people.
• The fact that the vineyard was leased symbolizes that the farmers do not have the same rights as the owner, but were only stewards caring for the vineyard on the owners behalf.

Mat 21:34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.

The landowner did not go away and forget his vineyard. He knew the season when the fruit would be ripe and ready for gathering. He sent servants to collect his fruit.
Notice the parable refers to the produce as his fruit. Even though the tenant farmers had tended the crop, the fruit belonged to the landowner. Similarly, God remained the master of Israel. He had the right to expect His people to yield the results of righteousness and faithfulness to Him.

Mat 21:35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

servants = notice, there was more than one. Notice the way they treated the servants. This represents the way that Israel had treated the prophets that God had sent to Israel.

Mat 21:36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.
Mat 21:37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

• Notice how patient the landowner had been.
• The fact that he sent more than the first group suggests the owner believed a larger company would command greater respect from the farmers.
• God is long-suffering by nature (Ex. 34:6). He did not stop loving His people even when they rejected Him.
• Like the landowner, the Lord sent additional servants to call Israel to repentance.
• The issue had not been that the farmers did not respect the servants of the landowner. Rather, they did not respect the master himself.
• The son in the parable represented Jesus.

son = Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Mat 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’
Mat 21:39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

• Notice that the son was alone.
• The son knew what had happened to the other servants before him
• He had come to reclaim what was his father’s
• Just like Jesus, he was rejected, and murdered.

Mat 21:40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
Mat 21:41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

A day of accountability will come. Jesus will return with all the power of God, ready to rule with power and might and love.

Mat 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

stone:
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

marvelous in our eyes:
Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Psa 118:23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Mat 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

you:
Isa 5:1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
Isa 5:2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
Isa 5:3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
Isa 5:4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
Isa 5:5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
Isa 5:6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
Isa 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!

kingdom:
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Luk 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Mat 21:44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

stone: (Scofield commentary) Christ the stone is revealed in a threefold way: (1) To Israel Christ, coming not as a splendid monarch, but in the form of a servant, is a stumbling stone and rock of offense (Isa 8:14-15; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Cor 1:23; 1 Pet 2:8) (2) to the church Christ is the foundation-stone and the head of the corner (1 For 3:11; Eph 2:20-22; 1 Pet 2:4-5); and (3) to the Gentile world powers He is to be the smiting-stone of destruction (Dan 2:34). Israel stumbled over Christ; the church is built upon Christ (Rev 16:14 and Rev 19:19).

Mat 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.
Mat 21:46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

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Chapter 22

The Parable of the Wedding Feast
(see also Luke 14:16-24)

NOTE: Remember, we are still now in the week before the crucifixion; only a few days remain before Jesus is put on the cross. Jesus had entered the city, big welcome, then he had immediately cleansed the temple.

Mat 22:1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

This parable immediately follows the parables in Chapter 21; there is no mention of any delay here, so it must be a continuation of the incident when Jesus had entered the city and gone immediately to the synagogue to teach. Jesus was being questioned, harassed by the religious leaders.

SPIRIT FILLED BIBLE: This chapter continues the controversy of the previous chapter. Jesus reveals the guilt of Israel in rejecting the invitation to enter the kingdom. As a result, the nation forfeited its privileges and would witness the destruction of Jerusalem.

Rev 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Mat 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

King = God, the King of Kings
Son = Jesus Christ the bridegroom, the Church is his bride.
wedding feast = you must understand the relevance of this event. In these days, a wedding was a huge event, very festive, very special. A wedding event was something that shouldn’t be missed out of respect for the wedding family.

Mat 22:3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

sent his servants = this represented the prophets that God has sent to Israel in the past, calling people to repent and worship Him. Notice that the King sent his servants, a face-to-face “personal” invitation and notice of the special event.

The guests are called, bidden to the wedding. All that are within hearing of the joyful sound of the gospel, to them is the word of this invitation sent. In this parable, of course Jesus is talking about the guests that were first invited, the Jews.

would not come = the Jews had not listened to the prophets, they did not harken to God.

Note, the King calls the first time. You would think that when the King calls, people would listen. When the King calls, wouldn’t it be a ‘command’ and not a request? It was a summons, and the people were expel to respond promptly and positively.

but they would not come = this shows a lack of respect for the King, a lack of concern for the King.

Mat 22:4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”‘

Again he sent other servants = The King calls a second time. This shows patience, just like the previous chapter 21, the parable of the Tenants. Also notice, the feast was ready, the food had been cooked. It was time, it was past time to come.

Mat 22:5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

paid no attention and went off = total disrespect for the King, making their lives more important than their King.

Isn’t this just like our world today? We are too busy to listen to God, we disrespect Him every day by going about with our own priorities, our own sinful behavior, rather than responding to God’s call to us.

Mat 22:6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

seized, treated, killed = also like Chapter 21, parable of the Tenants, where the tenants mistreated the workers, and then eventually killed the heir. Of course, this is in reference to the prophets, which the Jews had mistreated and killed.

shamefully = Strongs # 5195, “hubrizo” (hoo=brid-zoe). To insult; to treat arrogantly; sarcastically, and injuriously; to commit an outrage against. It is abuse that runs riot, acts wantonly, shamefully, and with affront. Jesus not only received this treatment from His enemies, but He warned His followers not to be surprised when they received the same treatment. See Luke 18:32 “insulted”.

Mat 22:7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

angry = Strongs # 3710 “orgizo” (or-gid-zoe). To provoke to anger. The word describes a passion that is furious and raging with a desire for revenge. It is so intense a passion that it will terminate by attempting to kill. Christians are to avoid that kind of intense wrath (Matt 5:22; Eph 4;26)

Eventually, even the King must react to the sinful behavior of the people. Our God is righteous, he cannot allow evil to rule. The Word tells us that he is longsuffering, but he cannot allow sinful behavior to go unpunished. And these sinners had murdered, an act which deserved a death sentence.

Mat 22:8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

worthy = Mat 10:11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.

Now the King asks a third time. However, since the original people invited, representing the Jews, the nation of Israel, failed to respond to God’s call, now God is calling everyone to Himself.

Mat 22:9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.

Go = The worldwide commission, see Matthew 28:16-20 and Revelation 22:17

Mat 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Mat 22:10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

both good and bad = Mat 13:47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.

both bad and good = this is proof that God calls “all” to Himself. Not just the righteous, not just a specific nation or a specific race, but ALL people to Himself.

Mat 22:11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

no wedding garment:
2Co 5:3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.

Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Col 3:10, 12 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Col 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Rev 16:15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Rev 19:8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Mat 22:12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

Friend = notice the King started of kind at first, wanting to hear from the unprepared guest.

without a wedding garment = Rom 13:1-3 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

speechless = make no mistake, on judgment day, we will all be speechless in front of Jesus, the Ruler and the Judge.

Mat 22:13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

weeping and gnashing of teeth = represents the excruciating anguish suffered by everyone who disdains God’s Son and refuses His offer f salvation. This was also used in Matthew 8:12 when Jesus had just healed the Centurians servant and Jesus was talking to his disciples about the Jewish leaders, which he called “the sons of the kingdom”. Also found in other parables to describe the judgment of the wicked (Matt 13:42-50).

God doesn’t allow just anyone to enter into His kingdom! There are certain requirements that He has asked of us. You can’t just want to enter the kingdom, you must comply with God’s requirements, you must respond with obedient faith.

outer darkness = symbolizes the “opposite of God” in whom there is light.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

many are invited = God invites everyone. Even the man who was cast out was invited. However the man wanted to come on his own terms instead of according to those terms on the invitation. God wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth

1 Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. He calls everyone to repent Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

God calls everyone, but not everyone will respond to His call.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

Note: Background on Herodians. A political party which favored the house of Herod. They wanted those of that house to deliver them from the Roman yoke. They weren’t really a religious party, but a political one. The Pharisees were using them during these verses. It is important to note, on this occasion, the Herodians joined forces with the Pharisees. These two groups hated each other and were normally enemies, but joined forces this time to try and trap Jesus.

Mat 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

plotted = it was prophesied that the religious leaders would plot against him. Psalms 2:2 (ESV) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

plotted = It was also prophesied that people will try to entangle a man by speaking a misplaced word – Isaiah 29:21 (ESV) who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.

Wicked people always plot against the just = Psalms 37:12 (ESV) The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

Mat 22:16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

They had heard about Jesus, they knew his reputation, which was also prophesied = Isaiah 11:4 (ESV) but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Mat 22:17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Caesar = the roman emperor. The name Caesar, after the time of Julius Caesar, became common to all the emperors, as Pharaoh was the common name of all the kings of Egypt. The “Caesar” who reigned at this time was Tiberius – a man distinguished for the grossest vices and most disgusting and debasing sensuality.

Tell us what you think = They were not really interested in the answer. It was a trick question. If he said “No, don’t pay tribute, then they could prove him to be a traitor.

KJV says “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar” = Tribute.—The word rendered “tribute” (κῆνσος) is properly the Roman word “census.” It denoted, as used by the Jews, the annual poll-tax which was levied on the people, for the treasury of the Roman emperor. The publicans collected it, and were obliged to transmit to the Roman treasury as much as accorded with the official census of the population. Hence the designation of the tax (Morison).

Only two answers seem possible to this question. If He says Yes, He will outrage the multitude. If He says No, He will have the Romans upon Him. Whichever side He took there were some present who would denounce Him at once.

Mat 22:18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?

Jesus knew that they were trying to set a trap to snare him. Matthew Henry: He evaded it; his convicting them of hypocrisy might have served for an answer: but our Lord Jesus gave a full answer to their question, and introduced it by an argument sufficient to support it, so as to lay down a rule for his church in this matter, and yet to avoid giving offence, and to break the snare.

He also taught them an important lesson. They did owe the Roman government taxes. They were traveling on Roman roads, living in a Roman government (in captivity)…using Roman money, etc. “Biblical Illustrator” = The advantages of civil government are cosily, and means must be provided by the individuals of the nation. We must not defraud the government, or a neighbour, who will have to make good our default.

With this answer he didn’t offend the Roman government, as a matter of fact, the government should have thanked him.

This is a life lesson for all Christians….obey the laws of the land, and to pay what is due.

Mat 22:19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.
Mat 22:20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
Mat 22:21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Romans 13:1 (KJV) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Mat 22:22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

Background on Sadducees. Sadducees – name meaning “righteous ones”; influential Jewish religious group in NT times; controlled the ripest hood and temple.

Mat 22:23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question,
Mat 22:24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’
Mat 22:25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother.
Mat 22:26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh.
Mat 22:27 After them all, the woman died.
Mat 22:28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
Mat 22:29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
Mat 22:31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:
Mat 22:32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”
Mat 22:33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Great Commandment

Background on Pharisees – Pharisee – Jewish Sect origin during the two centuries before Christ. Orthodox. Pharisee means “separated ones.” Name probably meant they had separated themselves from the corrupting influence of Hellenism.

Mat 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
Mat 22:35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
Mat 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
Mat 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Mat 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Whose Son Is the Christ?

Mat 22:41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,

This time Jesus asks them a question, he beat them to the punch.

Mat 22:42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”

Ps 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Mat 22:43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
Mat 22:44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘?
Mat 22:45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
Mat 22:46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

He couldn’t be his son by natural birth, he could only be his son by supernatural virgin birth.

Chapter 23

Note: this chapter concludes the clash between Jesus and the religious leaders.

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

Mat 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Mat 23:2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,
Mat 23:3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Mat 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
Mat 23:5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,

phylacteries = a small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law.

Mat 23:6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues
Mat 23:7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.
Mat 23:8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Mat 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Woe # 1

Mat 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Woe # 2

Mat 23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

Woe # 3

Mat 23:17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?
Mat 23:18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’
Mat 23:19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
Mat 23:20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
Mat 23:21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.
Mat 23:22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
Mat 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Woe # 4

This is the “only place” where Jesus actually talked about tithing (10 percent).

ALBERT BARNES COMMENTARY:
Ye pay tithe – A tenth part. The law required the Jews to devote a tenth part of all their property to the support of the Levites, Num 18:20-24.

Another tenth part they paid for the service of the sanctuary, commonly in cattle or grain, but where they lived far from the place of worship they changed it to money, Deu 14:22-24.

Besides these, there was to be every third year a tenth part given to the poor, to be eaten at their own dwellings Deu 14:28-29; so that nearly one-third of the property of the Jews was devoted to religious services by law. This was besides the voluntary offerings which they made. How much more mild and gentle are the laws of Christianity under which we live!

These you ought to have done: Jesus endorsed the tithing of 10%.

Rev. Mark Dooley = 3 reasons why we should tithe
1. Tithing illustrates devotion.

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2. Tithing indicates dedication.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

3. Tithing issues deliverance.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Mat 23:24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
Mat 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Woe # 5

Mat 23:26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
Mat 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Woe # 6

Mat 23:28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Mat 23:29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,

Woe # 7

Mat 23:30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
Mat 23:31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Mat 23:32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
Mat 23:34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,
Mat 23:35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem

Mat 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
Mat 23:38 See, your house is left to you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

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Chapter 24

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

This came true in AD 70 when Emperor Titus came in and destroyed the temple.

Signs of the End of the Age

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The Abomination of Desolation

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

no man = we often forget, than Jesus was not only God, but fully man. He had a human nature. Jesus humbled himself and acted within His humanity.

Phil 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

angels = created beings, very powerful but not omniscient.

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Noe = Noah, the builder of the arc.

Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

until the flood came = it took Noah 100 years to build the arc. For 100 years people lived a normal life, ignoring the preaching, the warning of Noah. People in our world do the same thing today. Christians tell others about Christ, but people just keep ignoring their warnings.

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

two be in the field; two women = the first two suggest men, the second two stated are women. People will not be judged by their gender.

People will be going about their normal daily routines, not expecting anything.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

therefore = ties this new part into the previous part. It has been said that when you see “therefore”, then you need to see what is is “there for”, meaning pay attention to what was said, and tie it in to what is now being said.

Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Peter also used a “thief” illustration to describe how we are to watch and be prepared: 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

John also used the thief illustration: Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

John also wrote of the words of Jesus: Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Son of man
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

then = used to tie this verse in to the previous verse, like “therefore” does in a lot of other verses in the bible.

meat in due season = Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

servants should do what is expected of them. The Lord will reward those who faithfully await his return. We are to be faithful by living a Godly life, helping out our brothers and sisters. We are to serve Him faithfully until he returns.

Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

evil = Strongs Number G2556. Kakos. (oak-os) = worthless, depraved, injuries; bad, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

say in his heart = the seat of the soul, one’s true nature.

Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

eat and drink with the drunken = he was self-indulgent and sought the company of others like him.

Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

shall cut him asunder = receives a death penalty like all who does not receive Christ. Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death.

appoint him his portion with the hypocrites = in the previous chapter, Jesus proclaimed a series of “woes” to the hypocrites.

weeping and gnashing of teeth = once again this describes a place without the presence of God, a place of utter darkness and misery.

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Chapter 25

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The Parable of the Talents

Mat 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Mat 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Final Judgment

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

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Chapter 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Mat 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Mat 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
Mat 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mat 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mat 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Mat 26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Mat 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Mat 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Judas to Betray Jesus

Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Mat 26:16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

Mat 26:17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

passover = the festival of unleavened bread.

Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty

Exo 12:15-17 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Exo 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

Lev 23:4-8 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.Lev 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover. Lev 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. Lev 23:7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Lev 23:8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Mat 26:18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Mat 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

That is our job as disciples of Christ, as followers of Christ, to do as He has commanded, without delay.

The Passover supper involved specific components. Unleavened bread was sopped, or dipped, as it was eaten.

Joh 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

The wine used for the meal probably was not fermented or alcoholic since no yeast was permitted in the Passover meal. The meat of a lamb was accompanied by bitter herbs, representing the bitterness of Israel’s years in Egypt.

Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

We recognize that the meat also pointed to the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

Mat 26:20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
Mat 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Mat 26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Mat 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Mat 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Mat 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mat 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Mat 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, <>All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Mat 26:32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Mat 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

This account is also recorded in Mar 14:32-42; Luk 22:39-46; Joh 18:1.

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Gethesamane = located at the Mount of Olives, the name means “olive-press”.

prayer = Jesus believed in prayer, so should we. This is an example for all of us, that we should be in prayer always.

Jesus’ prayer is also recorded in Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46

Sit ye here, while I go and pray = sometimes you need to pray, even leaving those who are closest to you.

Jesus’ prayer is also discussed in the book of Hebrews:
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

As He did at the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2), and when Jesus healed the rulers daughter in Luke 8:51, Jesus took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, with Him and left the others behind.

These three men would later become the pillars of the church. Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Jesus didn’t want to be interrupted. He needed alone time with the Father. Jesus was exceeding sorrowful. He knew the road before Him, AND, He knew that He would be separated from God when He took on the sins of the world.

Examples of Jesus’ emotional side, where he displayed his 100 percent humanity:
• wept at the tomb of Lazarus, Matthew 23:37 and John 11:35
• righteous anger at the temple, Matthew 21:12

Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

fell on his face = humility towards the Father.

This was the usual posture of prayer in times of great earnestness.
Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

2Ch 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

Neh 8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Father = indicating a deep, personal relationship.

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

and saith unto Peter = just a few hours ago, Peter had stated his ultimate devotion to Jesus, but now he couldn’t even stay awake.

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

watch and pray = Jesus didn’t ask them to pray for him, but to pray that they not enter into temptation.

that ye enter not into temptation = Jesus knew that the next 24 hours were going to be hard. He told them to pray so that they would have strength to face the upcoming challenges.

Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Jesus prayed again a second time. Notice that he wanted the Father’s will to be done, not his. This should be our daily prayer too.

Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Jesus now prays a third time, what does this teach us?

For examples on persistent prayer, see Matt. 15:22-28; Luke 11:9-13

Mat 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mat 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Jesus didn’t run, Jesus didn’t panic. His prayer had been answered, God’s will would be done. This is an example for all of us. Prayer gives us resolve and confidence in facing life’s challenges through prayer.

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Mat 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
Mat 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Mat 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

Mat 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Caiaphas = he was a Sadducee. The Sadducees ruled the Sanhedrin.

Sadducees – name meaning “righteous ones”; influential Jewish religious group in NT times; controlled the temple.

Sanhedrin – most powerful Jewish council/court in NT times; claimed it’s authority from the 70 elders appointed by Moses (Num 11:16)  

Num 11:16  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

ALSO, other biblical references to the 70 Elders are Numbers 16:25; Joshua 7:6; Joshua 8:10, Joshua 8:33; Joshua 9:11; Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1, Joshua 24:31 

Mat 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Mat 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus held his peace = Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Luke 22:67-71 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Mark 14:61-65 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

whether thy be the Christ = From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: – Christ.

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

power – From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): – ability, abundance, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

Thou hast said = Jesus was affirming that Yes, He is the Son of God.

Son of man= Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

With this “Son of man” statement, Jesus was correcting their error in what the Jews thought the Messiah’s role would be. The Jews thought that the Messiah would come and rescue them from the Romans. But the scriptures has prophesied of an “Eternal Rule”, not a warrior King who would rescue them from Roman rule.

Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Act 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

coming in the clouds of heaven = Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, 14 and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

high priest rent his clothes = for a high priest, this was strictly forbidden. A high priest was not allowed to rent his clothes:

Leviticus 10:6 (KJV) And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.

Leviticus 21:10 (KJV) And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

According to Leviticus 24:10-23, a person convicted of blasphemy was to be executed, and the form of execution was stoning.

Lev 24:10-23 Now an Israelite woman’s son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, 11  and the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12  And they put him in custody, till the will of the LORD should be clear to them. 13  Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Lev 24:14  “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15  And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Lev 24:16  Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. 17  “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. 18  Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. 19  If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. 21  Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. 22  You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God.” 23  So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Mat 26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
Mat 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Mic 5:1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Notice that even after they said he should be guilty of death, they continued to ridicule him. They hit him in the face, they plucked out his beard, and they spit on him.

Mat 26:68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Peter Denies Jesus

Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

Notice: just a few hours ago, a few moments ago, he had told Jesus that he would NEVER betray him. Now, just a short time later, he is denying Christ. This is a WARNING to all of us. How quick, how easy we are to deny Jesus.

This first time he fell into sin as a surprise, unexpected, not planned. This is ANOTHER warning to us. This sin was not like Judas’ sin, preplanned.

Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

Again, another chance to own Christ, he denies him. They man who said he would never deny Christ, has done it twice!

Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these whisch speak Galilaeans?

Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Note he wept bitterly. A sign of true sorry and regret. Not just a mere casual prayer of “Father forgive me, but a true weeping, true sorrow. This is also something for us to learn. We are to be truly sorry and regretful for our sins.