Matthew 16-20

Today, the ministry of Jesus moves more directly toward the cross. The conflicts with religious leadership become more frequent and Jesus begins to talk about his upcoming death. This passage begins with a shorter version of his "Sign of Jonah" conversation with the Pharisees and Saducees back in chapter 12. We didn't talk about that earlier, but it is very interesting - one of those examples of the New Testament re-interpreting the Old Testament. Was Jesus literally in the grave three days and three nights? In Hebrew counting, we certainly could count three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning), but he was actually in the grave closer to 36 hours. His legs were broken to avoid him being on the cross on the Sabbath which would have begun at 6:00 PM on Friday. He was resurrected by dawn on Sunday. WJesus will later use the temple in a similar way in John 2:18-22. It is interesting that in order for Jesus to prove himself to them, he had to do a miracle on demand. Herod would ask the same thing when he interrogates Jesus. Where there was need, he gladly worked signs of his kingdom. But he did not do it for show. Remember that was the second temptation of the devil in the wilderness.

Matthew 16:13-28 is the profound turning point of this gospel. Simon proclaims Jesus as "the Christ the Son of the Living God." He is then named Peter ("the rock"). For all of Peter's bravado in his life, a petros was actually a little stone. But his statement of faith would be that which the church would be founded and sustained. You could tell that for Jesus this was a profoundly exciting moment and, at the same time, the beginning of the end. Jesus tells the disciples of his coming death and Peter counters it. The founding stone then is called Satan and a stumbling block. Peter would always be both.

Matthew 17 begins with the Transfiguration. The formula of God's endorsement is given here just as in his baptism. In this vision, Jesus is presented as the one to whom the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) point. We can certainly relate to why Peter would want to build a shrine there. Jesus again states that John the Baptist was among them as the Elijah who must come before.

The miracles in chapters 17 are interesting for different reasons. The healing of the epileptic is one Jesus could do but the disciples could not. Jesus is peeved that the disciples will not act on their faith. This is the difficulty. We are not Jesus, so our results will always be less, but Jesus is inviting us to participate with him in saving the world. We have been authorized and empowered to do it, but we are afraid due to our own lack of confidence in the presence of God within us. The second miracle appears to be giving in to the first temptation of the devil, doing a miracle for his own good. But Matthew did not report the miracle of the coin in the fish's mouth to justify it. He reported it to demonstrate Christ's authority and yet submission to the Roman government.

Jesus was known as one "who spoke with authority." He spoke what was true and what related to people, using the best of teaching techniques with a strong sense of who he has and what his mission was. Matthew 18 shows Jesus as the consummate teacher. He arbitrates a competitive argument between the disciples (an argument that will be taken up further by James and John's mom in chapter 20) by bringing in a child (the least valued in Roman society, yet the greatest in the kingdom). A second teaching on children follows in chapter 19. The child are both "object lessons" and objects of his affection and esteem. Jesus follows the object lesson technique with the use of hyperbole.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep is by itself here, whereas Luke joins it with the Parable of the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son. What is the main point of the parable of the Lost Sheep? How shall we apply it in Lubbock in 2009 at St. Luke's?
Thre rest of chapter 18 is about conflict and how it gets resolved, including a short strategy followed by a riveting parable about forgiveness? What do you think about Jesus calling for forgiveness seventy times seven?

Chapter 19 includes Jesus' strongest statements on marriage and divorce. Women were the property of men both in Roman and Jewish society and "quickie divorces" were common. Some of our wedding liturgy comes right from this passage. How do you deal with 19:9? Is adultery the only legitemate grounds for divorce? What about abuse and neglect? Notice the elevation of the marriage relationship and the great voice given to women in it.

The story of thre rich young man is both powerful and disturbing. Most of us would have encouraged Jesus to cut him some slack and allow him to develop. But Jesus knew the young man's heart and what it would take for him to become a true follower of Jesus. "The eye of a needle" was actually a gate where animals entered the city of Jerusalem. In order for large animals to get through that gate, they would have to go down on their bellies. The idea here is not that the rich will find following Jesus impossible, but that they will find it difficult. By biblical standards, everyone in our class is rich. Our possessions and attachments are many. We are not able to respond to Christ in a moment. I love the disciples reaction at the end of chapter 19, "but what about us?"

The parable of the vineyard in chapter 20 is most provocative. Capitalist Americans may have the most trouble with it. The Jewish leaders were those who had been there forever, serving faithfully. Someone new comes along and people are reluctant to give them full voice and benefit. The sermon I preach from this passage is "Is God Fair?" I end up saying, "No, God is not. He is more than fair...he is gracious." When we realize that grace is what has given us new birth and a place in His kingdom. Then we will want others to have that grace, too. He finishes the parable with the great reversal phrase, "but the last shall be first and the first shall be last."

The request of the mother of James and John is comical and entirely understandable. We want the best for our kids, don't we? But Jesus uses the conflict her request causes as an opportunity to talk about "servant leadership." The goal of the Christian faith is "downward mobility," over against the "upward mobility" of those in partnership with Rome.

Our reading finishes with a miracle for two blind me. Notice like the disciples with the children, the crowd tries to push away the blind men. Jesus keeps broadening the circle of who is accepted, valued, blessed and healed. Have a great Sabbath. Remember it was made for you.