All signs point to Jesus: A journey through the book of Matthew chapter 19-20

 

Chapter 19-20

Well Easter is upon us. You can tell by all the plastic eggs and chocolates bunnies on display that seen as you walk through the stores now.  As I am further along in my Christian walk, that stuff all seems so silly to me, as its further from the true meaning of Easter.  It seems even more silly than when I see Christmas decorations, but why? Christmas is not in the Bible, and neither are plastic eggs and chocolate bunnies.  Maybe its cause the very core of Christianity hangs on the truth of the resurrection. 

But I am getting a head of myself. That doesn’t come until the end of the book of Matthew (spoiler alert) and we still have 9 chapters to go.  

This week we’ll be covering chapters 19-20.  Yet,  Jesus does actually give us an Easter egg spoiler alert in 20:17-10 when he predicts his death AND resurrection. 

Chapter 19-20 QUESTIONS 

Is Jesus forbidding divorced Christians from remarrying?

What did Jesus mean when He said, “To such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (v. 14)?

Why does Jesus direct the young man to his own works for salvation?

Do you find yourself siding with the laborers hired first or the master of the house?

What is different between this prediction and Jesus’ earlier predictions (16:21; 17:22–23)?

What is Jesus’ cup that James and John claimed they could drink?

Why would the crowd rebuke the two and tell them to be silent? (20:29-34) 

JESUS CONTINUES TOWARD JERUSALEM IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION

Pharisees question Jesus about divorce.

Read 19:1–12.

Q 100:

A 100:

Is Jesus forbidding divorced Christians from remarrying?

No. Jesus is addressing the lax attitude people of His day had toward marriage and divorce. He emphasizes that God’s design for marriage is to be a lifelong, monogamous marriage between one man and one woman. That is the relationship in which marriage and sexuality conveys its greatest blessing. Divorce and subsequent remarriage is permissible in the case of sexual immorality, but clearly it would be best for all if sexual immorality never took place. But even in cases where the divorce was not appropriate, God

is prepared to bless Christians who repent of their role in their divorce and seek God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

The disciples try to prevent parents from bringing their little children to Jesus for blessings.

Read 19:13–15.

Q 101:

A 101:

What did Jesus mean when He said, “To such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (v. 14)?

Unless we have humble trust and dependence on God like a little child does, we will not enter heaven. We must despair of our own ability to please God through our good works, strength, and wisdom; repent of our sins; and trust only in Jesus Christ’s righteousness and His sacrifice for our sins.

A rich young man asks what he must do to inherit heaven.

Read 19:16–30.

Q 102:

A 102:

Why does Jesus direct the young man to his own works for salvation?

He doesn’t really direct him to focus on his works, but on God’s requirement. Jesus asks His question this way so the young man will measure Himself against the Commandments, realize he has failed miserably, and be brought to confess his sin and unworthiness and cling to Jesus’ good works and His innocent suffering and death.

Jesus teaches the parable of the laborers in the vineyard.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.

Read 20:1–16.

Q 103:

A 103:

Do you find yourself siding with the laborers hired first or the master of the house?

Many of us side with the laborers, thinking of how unfair it is for them to be paid the same as those who only worked one hour. But the master treated those employees fairly. He didn’t have to hire them in the first place, and he did pay what they had agreed upon. The money to pay the workers belonged to him as well. Jesus is teaching us that our work in the kingdom of God is a privilege and we need to stop comparing our work to that of other Christians and focus on God first. He chose us; we did not choose Him. He gave His Son to save us from our sins; we are the ones whose sins required that deadly sacrifice. So we should side with the master of the house and thank God for giving us the privilege of serving in His kingdom—even more so if we have enjoyed that privilege for our entire life.

Jesus predicts His death a third and final time.

Read 20:17–19.

Q 104:

A 104:

What is different between this prediction and Jesus’ earlier predictions (16:21; 17:22–23)?

The first prediction gave general information—He would suffer many things from the Jewish religious leaders, be killed, and be raised again on the third day. The second prediction added specific detail to those “many things”: He would be handed over or betrayed to men. This third time, He gets more specific about the betrayal— He hints at Judas’s betrayal by saying, “the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes” (v. 18). He adds that the Jewish high court will condemn Him to death and deliver or betray Him to the Gentiles—a veiled prediction of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who will order Jesus’ execution on the cross. And once again, He predicts that He will be raised on the third

day. Jesus also shows that He underwent His suffering and death voluntarily. Since He knew what was going to happen, He could have stopped it quite easily.

The mother of James and John makes a request of Jesus.

Read 20:20–28.

Q 105:

A 105:

What is Jesus’ cup that James and John claimed they could drink?

The disciples all expected Jesus would establish a glorious earthly kingdom, so they thought they would enjoy fame, power, and glory on earth. But Jesus’ cup was suffering, persecution, and death for the sins of the world. James and John would drink of Jesus’ cup when they suffered opposition, persecution, death (for James, see Acts 12:1–2), and exile (for John, see Revelation 1:9) for Christ’s

sake. The truly great Christian life on earth is one of humility and service, considering others better and more important than ourselves.

Two blind men beg Jesus to heal them.

Read 20:29–34.

Q 106:

A 106:

Why would the crowd rebuke the two and tell them to be silent?

In Jesus’ day (and sometimes our own), people feel that those

with handicapping conditions are not as important as healthy, “normal” people are. These crowds were caught up in great joy and excitement as they traveled with Jesus to Jerusalem, perhaps hoping this was the time when Jesus would take the throne of His father David. Jesus Himself could have been lost in His own thoughts of His coming suffering and death, but He did not miss their cries for mercy.

© 2019 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®.

In chapters 19-20, we see the miraculous mercy of Jesus. In the beginning of chapter 19, we  see a contrast between the little children and the rich man. The primary truth from this correlation is that Jesus receives the humble and Jesus rejects the proud. 

Speaking of the proud, we also see a glimpse of the pride of the disciples like when Peter asks in 19:27, what’s in it for me? Or the request of the mom of James and John asks Jesus in 20:21 for the best seat in heaven. I confess, I often fall into this attitude in my own life.  I”m going along trying to be obedient, but at the same time wondering if I’m doing enough.  I’m expecting my enough to be returned with reward by worldly standards.  Where’s the promotion? Where’s the recognition? Where is the break from the struggle.  But that’s just it, Jesus call to surrender demands radical surrender as he teaches through the rich man. Notice how in the old testament, God rewarded those of faith with material things like land and such.  There’s a part of me that longs for that when I read those stories.  However, you don’t ‘see that in the New Testament.  That is because Jesus is infinitely better and HIs reward is eternal.  We must remember he does see our good deeds (Matthew 5:16).  When Jesus says in 19:26, with God, everything is possible, I am comforted by this overarching truth that salvation is free gift of divine mercy, totally devoid of human merit.  I don’t have to work so hard, but to only rely on God, even if I am the least important now. 

And yes, I do side with the laborers in the parable of the vineyard workers.  It seem so unfair! But then I am reminded of what a just God we have. The farmer paid according to need rather than greed.  And only our Father knows what we need.   This is an illustration of his mercy. We receive the same mercy according to God’s judgement.  God surprises us with his mercy.  He gives us salvation not for what we’ve done, but in SPITE of what we’ve done. God has right to disperse mercy how he pleases. The Christian life is based on divine mercy, not human merit. 

God you are a merciful and loving father, 

Forgive me for those times, when I’ve expected more, asking what’s in it for me. 

Give me a servants heart as you have come to serve us. Thank you for being our substitute Jesus and showing us how to live and serve. Help me to be faithful in the small thing, not for return but to give you glory, knowing that is you working in me. 

Thank you Jesus!

Amen.