Jesus Mocked and Crucified

 

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,

because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Welcome to this weekly study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 27. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

Matthew 27 describes Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and burial in a tomb provided by Joseph Arimathea. Feeling great remorse, Judas returns the silver to the Temple authorities and commits suicide. Pilate releases Barabbas to the angry crowd instead of Jesus. Jesus is whipped (scourged) and mocked by soldiers in the Praetorium. Jesus is led to Golgotha, the place of execution. Simon of Cyrene is enlisted to carry Jesus' cross. After 3 hours of darkness, accompanied by earthquakes, the opening of tombs, and the raising of saints, Jesus dies. The chief priest and elders insist that the tomb be sealed and guarded because they fear that Jesus' disciples will take away the body and claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

Questions

1. What did the religious authorities do with the silver that Judas returned to them?

2. What did Pontius Pilate recognize about the religious authorities?

3. Who was Barabbas?

4. What evidence in the chapter indicates that Pilate recognized that Jesus was innocent?

5. In what way is the mocking of Jesus by the soldiers ironic?

6. Who was Simon of Cyrene?

7. Who mocked and reviled Jesus while he was on the cross?

8. What signs of Jesus' last hours on the cross indicate the cosmic implications of his death?

9. Who took responsibility for the burial of Jesus' body?

10. What did the religious authorities in Jerusalem fear would happen to Jesus' body?

Answers

1. They purchased a field in Jerusalem's Hinnom Valley to be used to bury foreigners and as a burial site for the poor. The field was called Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood" in Aramaic. Matthew 27 states that Judas hanged himself but Acts 1:18-19 reports that he fell and burst open in that field which was bought with his blood money.

2. Pilate recognized that the religious authorities had delivered Jesus to be executed out of envy (v. 18). Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. It can lead to murder. Cain murdered his brother out of envy. The religious authorities in Jerusalem sought to murder Jesus out of envy.

3. Barabbas was a Jewish prisoner described as a murderer, robber, and a violent rebel against Roman authority. Pilate gave in to the crowd's demand that Barabbas be released from prison instead of Jesus. Bar-abbas means "son of the father" in Aramaic.

4. Pilate asked the crowd what evil Jesus had done (v. 23) because Jesus stood before him blameless. Pilate also washed his hands before the crowd and declared, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to that yourselves." This signified that he did want to bear the blood guilt for sentencing an innocent person. The Jews in the crowd who wanted Jesus to be executed were willing to bear the blood guilt. The agitators in the crowd shouted, "His blood be on us and on our children." Nevertheless, every human in every generation bears guilt for Christ's blood because of our sin. The paradox is that His blood frees us from the curse of sin and death, from guilt, and from anxiety.

5. The Roman soldiers attempted to humiliate Jesus by mocking him as king. By dressing him in a scarlet robe, placing a crown of thorns on his head, and hailing him as "King of the Jews" the soldiers acted out a coronation, and unintentionally proclaimed him king. Their cruel farse reveals that they knew of the reports that Jesus was a king.

6. Simon of Cyrene was the man compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry the cross when Jesus became too weak to carry it. Cyrene is the name of modern-day Libya in North Africa. Simon was probably a Jewish pilgrim who came to Jerusalem for the Passover. Mark 15:21 states that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus, who are believed to have become followers of Jesus.

7. While he was suffering on the cross, Jesus was mocked by people who passed by and by the chief priests, scribes and elders. Matthew states that he was also reviled by the robbers who were crucified with him (v. 44).

8. The cosmic implications of Jesus’ death are indicated by three hours of darkness because Jesus, the Light of the world, is the one who called light into being at the beginning. There was a violent earthquake because the whole creation trembled. The Temple veil split from top to bottom because the Lord Jesus Christ is the new Temple and our access to God the Father. Many who believed and trusted God's promises concerning the coming of the Son of God rose from their graves because Jesus trampled down death by his death. These events, witnessed by the centurion and others, signify the new divine order.

9. A high-ranking Jew named Joseph asked Pilate's permission to bury Jesus' body in his own rock cut tomb. He is designated Joseph Ar-Mathea which means that he was of the Horite Hebrew ancestry and the clan of Matthew. It is likely that the author of Matthew' Gospel was one of his relatives. 

The Ar is a shortened Horus name, as is evident in the case of the Nabataean King Harithath IV who bears the Horus name. King Harithath is called King Aretas in 2 Corinthians 11:32. The Har/Ar affix designates a royal person or a venerable figure. Many historical rulers have such names, including Artaxerxes, Archelaos, Arshem, Artix, Areli, Araxes, Arviragus, a Jebusite named Araunah, and Arishen, a Horite Hebrew who ruled a territory in the central Zagros between 2400-2301 BC. Ariaramnes was the great uncle of Cyrus the Great. In the ancient world, Horus was regarded as the patron of kings and priests. Joseph Ar-Mathea, was a high-ranking ruler-priest and a member of the Sanhedrin. He had sufficient political clout to petition Pilate for the release of Jesus’ body so he could be buried in the sepulcher that Joseph had excavated for himself.

10. The Jewish authorities knew that Jesus had foretold his third day resurrection, and they feared that Jesus' followers would take away his body and claim that he had risen from the dead. That is why they wanted the tomb sealed and guarded.

Join us next week as we begin to wrap up our study of Matthew's Gospel. A blessed Resurrection Sunday (Easter or Pasca) to all our readers!

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. 

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!
Matthew Chapter 24: Learning to Read the Signs
Matthew Chapter 25: Working While We Wait for Christ's Return
Matthew Chapter 26:  Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

Jesus Betrayed and Arrested

 

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

Welcome to this weekly study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 26. When you have finished, answer the 8 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

Matthew 26 details the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, including the plot against him, his anointing at Bethany, the Last Supper, his agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal by Judas for 30 pieces of silver, and his arrest. Peter declares his unswerving loyalty to Jesus, but Jesus tells him that on that same day Peter would deny him three times. After Jesus was arrested, he was brought for trial before a council under the authority of Caiaphas, the high priest.  

Questions

1. What is the significance of Jesus' visit to the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany?

2. What is known about the woman who anointed Jesus' head?

3. What arrangements were made for Jesus and his disciples to eat the Passover together?

4. Jesus knew the identity of his betrayer. What did he say about that man?

5. When Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him, what was their reaction?

6.What actions and words of Jesus are essential to the proper observation of Holy Communion (also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist)?

7. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. What do his prayers reveal about his relationship to God?

8. In what way do the kiss and the sword convey the tension of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane?

9.  In what ways did the trial before Caiaphas violate Jewish law?

10. What was happening to Jesus while Peter was outside in the courtyard?

Answers

1. Jesus stayed in the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. Bethany is where Lazarus lived with his sisters Mary and Martha. It is likely that Simon was one of their friends who also believed in Jesus Messiah. Some scholars believe that Simon was the leper who Jesus cured in Matthew 8:1-5. While in the home of a man who was once declared unclean, a woman poured expensive ointment over Jesus' head and Jesus explained that this was in preparation for his burial.

2. The woman who anointed Jesus' head while he was at the house of Simon the Leper is not named in Matthew or in the similar account in Mark 14:3-9. John 12:1-8 reports that Mary, the sister of Martha, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. That anointing happened 6 days before the Passover. However, the woman in Matthew's account, which happened 2 days before the Passover, does not appear to be Mary. Whoever the woman was, Jesus declared that what she did was a "beautiful thing" and that it would be told in memory of her. That woman remains unnamed to emphasize her act of profound devotion rather than her identity.

3. Jesus sent some of his disciples into Jerusalem to the household of an unnamed family, requesting that they be offer a place to eat the Passover. Matthew's Gospel refers to the head of this household simply as "a certain man" (v. 18) to protect the individual. Some scholars suggest the household is not identified to keep the location secret from the religious authorities.

4. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him. He said it was better for him not to have been born. The Gospel accounts vary as to the order of events. John 13:30 indicates that Judas left immediately after receiving the "sop" to which Jesus refers in Matthew 26:23. Sop refers to the bread dipped into the wine. When Judas left the Passover meal is not clear in the accounts of Matthew and Mark.

5. When the disciples heard that one of them would betray Jesus, they were sorrowful and began to question among themselves. One after the other asked Jesus, "Is it I, Lord?"

6. Jesus began by taking bread and a cup of wine and setting them apart for a holy purpose. This bread and wine were no longer ordinary bread and wine. Then Jesus gave thanks to God (the Greek word is eucharistia) and then he blessed (the Greek word is hagiazo, meaning to consecrate or make holy) the bread and wine. Jesus then broke the bread as a symbol of how his body would be broken. He offered it to his followers, saying, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you". Then he offered the cup, saying, "Drink from it, all of you... This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins". Finally, Jesus commanded his followers to "Do this in remembrance of me".

7. Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane reveal his intimacy with his Father ("Abba") and his desire to please the Father in all things. His plea to take the cup away displays his humanity. His submission to the divine plan reveals the depth of his love for sinful humanity. 

8. The kiss highlights the betrayal of Jesus by one of his disciples. What is meant as a sign of affection became a signal for Jesus' capture. The sword represents the violence surrounding Jesus' arrest. The kiss and the sword highlight the betrayal of the Son of God and Jesus' refusal to endorse violence. Jesus’ response to both acts emphasizes the tension: he calls Judas a "friend" and immediately orders his disciple to put away the sword. He then heals the wounded servant.

9. The trial of Jesus before Caiaphas was illegal according to the Jewish legal system. Violations included holding the proceedings secretly at night, failing to have a proper indictment, lacking credible witnesses, and convening on a religious holiday. Passover begins at sunset on the evening before the first full day of the holiday, so the religious leaders were convening to condemn Jesus on the Passover. Originally, the priests and elders said that they would not act against Jesus during the Passover (v. 5) because they were afraid of the reaction of the people who regarded Jesus as a great prophet. 

Caiaphas was a Sadducee. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. However, Caiaphas' ossuary had the merkaba image, a 6-prong solar symbol that represented the hope for life after death or the rising with the sun. Below is a photo of the bone box (ossuary) of the high priest Joseph Caiaphas.

Jews practiced secondary burial. After the flesh was gone, they collected the bones and placed them in ossuaries.

In 1990 Joseph Caiaphas' limestone ossuary was discovered in a Jerusalem tomb. The ossuary was inscribed with the Aramaic name Yosef bar Qayyafa, the name given by Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews (18:63). Note that Joseph Caiaphas had a son named Yeshua or Jesus. He also had a granddaughter named Miriam or Mary. Those names ran in the family of the high priest.

10. While Peter was outside in the courtyard denying that he was one of Jesus' disciples, the religious leaders spat in Jesus' face, struck him and slapped him.

Join us next week as we begin to wrap up our study of Matthew's Gospel. A blessed Resurrection Sunday (Easter or Pasca) to all our readers!

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. 

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!
Matthew Chapter 24: Learning to Read the Signs
Matthew Chapter 25: Working While We Wait for Christ's Return

Working While We Wait for Christ's Return

 

Sheep and Goats

Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

Welcome to this weekly study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 25. When you have finished, answer the 8 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.


Introduction

Matthew 25 is a continuation of the Olivet Discourse that begins in Matthew 24. This chapter contains three parables that illustrate the necessity of being ready for the Lord's return. They are the parable of the Ten Virgins, the parable of the Talents, and the parable of the Sheep and the Goats. While waiting for Jesus' return, his followers are to be faithful stewards of what he has given us, active in ministry, especially to "the least of these", and aware that some among us are not of Christ's sheep fold.

Questions

1. What does the Parable of the Ten Virgins/Maidens illustrate about the Kingdom of God?

2. Why is Jesus described as a bridegroom?

3. What does the Parable of the Talents teach about the Kingdom of God?

4. What principle of stewardship is emphasized in this Parable of the Talents? 

5. Who will be with Jesus when he returns?

6. After the sheep and goats are separated, Christ commends those at his right hand. For what actions are they commended?

7. What fate awaits those at Christ's left hand at the time of the Judgement?

8. The description of Christ's return speaks of his enthronement. Who will be gathered before the throne?

Answers

1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins illustrates that the Kingdom of God requires steadfast resolve and spiritual readiness because the timing of Jesus’ return is unknown. It highlights that Christians must be proactive, not slothful or spiritually lazy. We cannot lend to others what they have cared so little to acquire. The parable reminds us that our preparation ends when the bridegroom arrives for the wedding feast, a time of celebration.

2. In the Bible, marriage is often used to describe the relationship of God to his people. When Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom, he is speaking of the unique covenant relationship that He has with the Church. That same covenant relationship was offered to the people of Israel, many of whom expressed faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and the Son of God.

3. The Parable of the Talents speaks of how God provides resources to his servants. It illustrates the profound nature of our responsibility to be good stewards of those resources. The slothful servant lived in fear of his Master. His relationship to the Master was not one of love and devotion. Therefore, that servant is to be cast into the outer darkness (v. 30).

4. The Parable of the Talents emphasizes that those who use their spiritual gifts and resources faithfully will receive an abundance, while those who do not will lose what they have. This was expressed in Matthew 13:12 where Jesus stated that "whoever has will be given more". An analogy can be made in reference to the human body. A muscle that is not used will atrophy. 

5. Jesus stated that he would come with all the angels. The appearance of "all the angels" at Christ's second coming testifies to his absolute victory. Matthew 16:27 says that "the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." 2 Thessalonians 1:7 describes how Christ will appear from heaven with "mighty angels" in flaming fire. In Revelation, Christ returns with angels and the armies of heaven to judge the world and to reign. 

   

Throughout Jesus' life, his identity as the incarnate Son of God was proven by the appearance of angels. The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the conception of Jesus by divine overshadowing (Luke 1:35). A host of angels appeared to the shepherds of Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus. Angels ministered to Jesus after his time of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. In Matthew 26:53 Jesus speaks of how the Father could send more than twelve legions of angels to deliver him. 

6. Jesus commends those at his right hand (the sheep) for their acts of compassion toward the "least of these", for feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. These actions are in the service of Christ Himself. They testify to the faithfulness of those servants.

7. At the final Judgement those at Christ's left hand (the goats) are separated from God and destined for the "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". They are described as "cursed" because their lives produced no fruits of righteousness.

8. All the nations will appear before the throne of judgement because Christ's rule is universal. His authority is over every authority and over every individual. All will be held personally accountable for what they have done with the life God gave them.

Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel. A blessed Palm Sunday to all our readers!

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!

Matthew Chapter 24: Learning to Read the Signs

Learning to Read the Signs

 

Icon of the Final Judgement "written" by Fr Luke Dingman.

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 24. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.


Introduction

Matthew 24 is a controversial passage because it lends itself to two errors: the Futurist and the Preterist errors. According to the former, the events described by Jesus in this chapter will happen in the future. According to the Preterist view, the events described in this chapter have already happened. 

Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple after his disciples point out the grandeur of its buildings. When asked by his disciples about the end times, Jesus says that the signs of the close of the age include famines, earthquakes, wars, persecution, and false prophets. He urges them to be faithful in the time of persecution. He tells them to be watchful for his return because no one knows the hour of his coming. This is part of the "Mount of Olives Discourse" which continues in Matthew 25. (Also see Mark 13 and Luke 21.)

Questions

1. In this Olivet Discourse, what was the first warning given by Jesus to his disciples?

2. Jesus described the time of trouble as the "beginning of birth pangs". What does this metaphor indicate about the events that were to come?

3. Some of the signs of the end were experienced by the people of Jesus' time. What statement of Jesus in the chapter makes this obvious? 

4. What signs did Jesus describe as coming before the Son of man appears in heaven with power and great glory?

5. What makes this chapter so controversial?

6. What did Jesus say about the day and hour of his second coming?

7. Jesus warned that many false prophets will arise and lead people astray. (v 11).  How might his be accomplished in this age of technology?

8. Jesus cursed a fig tree that did not have fruit (Matt. 21). The fruitless tree symbolizes the hypocrisy and spiritual barrenness of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. What does the fig tree represent in this chapter?

9. To what biblical event did Jesus refer when he warned of the Day of Judgement?

10. This chapter ends with a parable that contrasts two servants. In what ways are the servants different?

Answers

1. In this discourse, Jesus' first warning to his disciples was to beware that no one leads them astray.

2. Some Bibles use the phrase the "beginning of sorrows" instead of the "beginning of birth pangs". This indicates that trials and tribulations will increase in frequency and intensity, like labor pains, leading up to Christ's second coming.

3. In Matthew 24:34 Jesus states that "this generation shall not pass away till all these things take place." A "generation" in the Bible is 40 years. In less than 40 years from the time of Jesus' death and resurrection the Temple was destroyed by the Romans and Jerusalem was under siege. Jesus warns those living in Judea to immediately flee to the mountains. He tells his listeners to pray that they will not have to flee in winter. 

4. Before the Son of man appears in heaven with power and great glory, the sun will be darkened. As a result, the moon will not reflect the sun's light (refulgence) and will appear dark. Stars will fall from heaven. In earth's history, the sun has been darkened before. This can happen when a massive meteorite slams into the earth spreading an immense dust cloud or when a huge volcano spews vast amounts of ash and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Another possible cause is what is called "nuclear winter".

5. Matthew 24 is one of the most controversial passages of the New Testament because it lends itself to two errors. According to the Futurist view, the events described by Jesus in this chapter will happen in the future. Dispensationalists stress this view in their end times scenarios, including a seven-year tribulation, the global rise of the Antichrist, the so-called Rapture, and the second coming of Jesus. According to the opposite error, the Preterist view, the events described in this chapter have already happened. A more accurate understanding of this chapter recognizes that the disciples asked Jesus two distinct questions: first, in relationship to their calling attention to the Temple, when will the Temple be destroyed? Many who were alive in Jesus' time lived to see that happen in 70 A.D.. And the second question: what will be the sign of the end of the age? That is a future event.

6. Jesus said that no one knows the day and hour of his second coming, not even the angels or himself, but only his heavenly Father.

7. The misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can include false images and false information presented in a very compelling way. Social media platforms with an agenda can circulate fake news. Media outlets can narrate events according to the bias of those who support them financially. There are many ways that we can be deceived. People who are not grounded in the truth of the Gospel will be led astray.

8. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus used the fig tree to speak of the natural progression of events. People recognize that summer is approaching when the branch becomes tender and puts out leaves. Jesus used the fig tree to urge his followers to be observant of the signs of his return and the coming Day of Judgement. His disciples would remember the incident of the fig tree that withered after Jesus cursed it. (Imprecatory declarations are sometimes called "curses".) When Jesus cursed that fig tree, he was declaring judgement upon the faithless religious leaders. He could do this because he had divine authority.

9. Jesus referred to the time of Noah who heeded the warning when most of the people around him did not. Noah was busy preparing while others went about their lives as if nothing was going to change.

10. The servant set over the Master's household is described as faithful. He sees that the members of the household are fed at the proper times. The other servant is described as wicked and a drunkard. Though he serves in the Master's house, he will be cast out and will share the same fate as the hypocrites.

Join us as we approach the final chapters of Matthew's Gospel. We come to the betrayal of Jesus, his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and third day resurrection as we approach Holy Week and Easter.

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected
Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew Chapter 23: Woe to False Religious Leaders!

Woe to False Religious Leaders!

 

Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of divine love and grace. One way he showed that was to call out the falsehoods of his day. This meant condemning religious leaders who burdened the people with rules that even they did not follow.

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 23. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

In Matthew chapter 23 Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, spiritual pride, corruption, and legalism. He pronounces seven "woes" or imprecatory declarations against them and describes them as "whitewashed tombs" and a "brood of vipers". (The King James Version adds another woe, bringing the total number of woes to eight.) Jesus warns against seeking titles and emphasizes service with humility. The chapter concludes with Jesus' lament over Jerusalem for killing the prophets.

Questions

1. Did Jesus recognize that the scribes and the Pharisees had authority?

2. Why did Jesus tell his followers to call no man "father" and not to be called "masters"?

3. What is meant by "imprecatory declarations"?

4. What behavior does Jesus describe in the first woe?

5. Many Bibles omit verse 14 which appears in the King James Version (Authorized Version). For what behavior does Jesus condemn the scribes and Pharisees in verse 14 of the KJV?

6. What did Jesus say about the Pharisees' vigorous effort to convert Gentiles to their form of Judaism?

7. What actions did Jesus call attention to that indicate the hypocrisy of some of the religious leaders?

8. What analogy did Jesus use to describe the spiritual condition of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees?

9. In what way did the hypocritical religious leaders witness against themselves?

10. What final words of condemnation are found in this chapter? (vv. 34-39)

Answers

1. Yes. When Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees sit on "Moses' seat" (v. 2), he acknowledged that they held official authority to interpret and teach the Mosaic Law. But he commanded his followers not to emulate their actions because they did not practice what they preached. 

2. Jesus told his followers not to call any man on earth "father" to emphasize that spiritual authority belongs to God the Father. All true authority comes from Him. Nor were his followers to be called "master" as the religious leaders demanded, because they were obsessed with titles of honor. Jesus' followers are to be humble, remembering that whoever exalts himself shall be humbled (v. 12).

3. Jesus used imprecatory language which exposes falsehood and invokes divine judgment. He words focused on divine justice rather than personal vengeance. Examples include pronouncing "woes" upon hypocritical religious leaders in Matthew 23 and in Luke 6:26 - "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." The Psalms contain many imprecatory prayers. Psalm 5:10 is an example: "Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins..."

4.The woes in Matthew 23 are strong judgments against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, spiritual blindness, and corruption. The first woe condemns the leaders for blocking the way to the heavenly kingdom by not entering themselves and by keeping others from entering.

5. In the King James Version, Jesus declares, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." Jesus condemned the religious leaders who took advantage of legal or financial situations to rob widows of their homes or property through excessive fees or coerced donations.

6. First-century Pharisees were eager to make converts. They actively made proselytes by encouraging Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs, laws, and worship. This effort included voluntary circumcision of Gentile men and baptism, though during the Hasmonean era (141–37 BC) some forced conversions of Gentiles in Judea took place. Jesus said that the converts were more zealous than the Pharisees in pursuing a false piety. He described the converts as "twice as much a child of hell as yourselves".

7.  Jesus said that the religious leaders were more concerned about ritual purity than about righteous living. He noted that they tithe but neglect justice, mercy and faith. They swear oaths without understanding the true nature of holy things. Gold is not holy, but the Temple is holy. The offerings on the altar are not holy, but the altar is holy.

8. Jesus described their spiritual condition as being like white-washed tombs full of dead people but attempting to appear righteous to the world.

9. Jesus said that the faithless religious leaders witness against themselves by claiming that they would not have killed the prophets as their fathers did in the past. Jesus reminds them that they are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.

10. The chapter ends with Jesus declaring that all the righteous blood shed on earth may come upon the false religious leaders. He yearned for them to come to him, but they rejected him and the result is that their house is forsaken and desolate. This is prophetic because in less than 40 years Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans.

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers
Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected

Matthew Chapter 22: The Parable of the Wedding Feast

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

 

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. To prepare, read Matthew chapter 22. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

In Matthew 22 Jesus describes the Kingdom of God as a wedding banquet that a king prepares for his son. The parable of the Wedding Feast emphasizes that many are called to God’s kingdom, but few are chosen. The initial guests fail to accept the king's invitation and are replaced by those who respond to the invitation. Those without the wedding garment are cast into the outer darkness. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians sought to trap Jesus on taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment, but Jesus understood their intention and foiled their attempts through his divine wisdom. 

Questions

1. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast, who are the first guests to be invited?

2. In the parable, the king's servants are abused and killed. How does the king respond?

3. After the first people rejected the invitation, what did the king order his servants to do?

4. What does the wedding garment represent?

5. What did the Pharisees hope to accomplish when they questioned him about paying taxes to Rome?

6. Jesus told the people to "render unto Caesar" what belongs to Ceasar, and to God the things that are God's. How did the people react to Jesus' statement? (v. 22)

7. The Sadducees rejected belief in the resurrection of the dead. Attempting to trap Jesus, they challenged him with a question about the resurrection. What Jewish marriage custom does their question involve?

8. A lawyer asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment. How did Jesus answer?

9. David was inspired to call the coming Messiah "Lord". What does this imply about the Messiah?

10. Jesus asked the Pharisees a question they couldn't answer. What did he ask?

Answers

1. The original invited guests represent Israel's religious leaders. Some Jews did believe and become Jesus' disciples, including the religious leaders Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and James the Just. Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent council member who was waiting for the kingdom of God. James the Just was one of Jesus' half-brothers. He became the first bishop of the Jerusalem church.

2. When the king's messengers were killed, the king sent his troops to destroy the murderers. The messengers were the Apostles, and their suffering and death foretold the persecution of early Christians.

3. The king ordered his servants to extend the invitation to everyone, regardless of their status or spiritual condition. God offers salvation to all through the work of his son Jesus Christ.

4. The wedding garment represents faith, purity, and holiness. Only those with such garments are ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. In Romans 13:14, the Apostle Paul urges the Christians in Rome to "put on Christ", that is, to daily clothe oneself in the righteousness of Jesus. Revelation chapter 7 describes a great multitude of people dressed in white robes. These robes were washed in the blood of the Lamb. The white-robed saints represent every tribe, nation and language.

5. The Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus. If Jesus approved paying the taxes to Rome, he would offend those who opposed Roman control of their land. If he disapproved of paying the taxes, the Roman authorities could arrest him for sedition. By stating that the coin bears Caesar's image and belongs to him, Jesus avoided the trap and highlighted the need to fulfill both civic and divine duties. Earlier, Jesus paid the Temple tax for himself and for Peter (Matt. 17:24-27).

6. When the people heard how Jesus answered, they marveled. Jesus' challengers were astonished by his wisdom. They stopped and went away.

7. When a Jewish man died without a son to continue his line and inheritance, the widow was married to one of the deceased man's brothers. This "levirate marriage" was intended to produce a son who would be heir to the deceased husband. The Sadducees took this to an absurd extreme by speaking of 7 brothers and asking whose wife she would be in the resurrection. For more on this, see BIBLICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: Early Resurrection Texts.

8. The lawyer wanted Jesus to designate the First Commandment as the greatest, but Jesus made it clear that the First and the Second cannot be separated.

9. By calling the Messiah "Lord" David acknowledged that the Christ existed before him. This shows that Jesus is more than just a human descendant of David. The Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) affirms that Jesus Christ is not a created being, but has eternally existed as God from God, "begotten, not made," and is one in being with the Father. This counters the Arian heresy which argues that Christ was a created being.

10. Jesus asked them what they thought of the Christ, the Messiah. Whose son is he? They responded the "son of David" to which Jesus asked them how David could refer to the Lord as his son. This is a reference to Psalm 110:1- "The LORD says to my lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'". This messianic prophecy concerns the Messiah's supreme authority over all enemies. It was a key belief of the early Hebrew (4000-2000 BC) and predates the writing of the Psalms. Consider how Horus, the archetype of Christ, describes himself in passage 148 of the Coffin texts: "I am Horus, the great Falcon upon the ramparts of the house of him of the hidden name. My flight has reached the horizon. I have passed by the gods of Nut. I have gone further than the gods of old. Even the most ancient bird could not equal my very first flight. I have removed my place beyond the powers of Set, the foe of my father Osiris. No other god could do what I have done. I have brought the ways of eternity to the twilight of the morning. I am unique in my flight. My wrath will be turned against the enemy of my father Osiris and I will put him beneath my feet in my name of Red Cloak." (Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt by R.T. Rundle Clark, p. 216) For more on this, see The Substance of Abraham's Faith.

If you are just now joining this study, you will find links to the previous lessons below. Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers

Matthew Chapter 21: The Corner Stone Rejected

The Corner Stone Rejected

 

Welcome to this study of Matthew's Gospel, a collaboration between Mary Barmore and Alice C. Linsley. For this study, we use Mary's study notes and Alice's notes of historical and anthropological relevance.

To prepare, read Matthew chapter 21 which describes the beginning of Jesus' journey to the Cross. When you have finished, answer the 10 questions. Scroll to the bottom to check your answers.

Introduction

Matthew 21 tells of Jesus’ humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zec. 9:9). Zechariah 9:9 is a Messianic prophecy calling Jerusalem to rejoice for their coming king, described as righteous, victorious, and humble, comes riding on a donkey. Jesus was greeted by crowds shouting "Hosanna" and waving branches. The people spread their garments before him. Jesus then drove the money changers out of the Temple which God intended to be a "house of prayer". He cursed a fruitless fig tree, and through parables, he challenged the religious authorities who sought to arrest him but did not do so because they feared the crowds who believed Jesus to be a great prophet. After these events, Jesus withdrew to Bethany.

Questions

1. What were 2 of Jesus' disciples sent into the village to do?

2. What does the people's reaction to Jesus' entry indicate about their opinion of him?

3. What was the implication of calling Jesus the "son of David"? (v. 9)

4. Why did Jesus drive out the moneychangers and overturn the seats of those who sold pigeons?

5. What was Jesus' response to the indignant chief priests and scribes?

6. What is the significance of the fig tree? What does its withered condition represent?

7. What was Jesus' response when the chief priests and elders asked him by what authority he was acting?

8. What does Jesus contrast in the Parable of Two Sons?

9. In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Jesus identifies the people who have rejected him as the corner stone. Who are they?

10.The chief priests and the Pharisees understood that Jesus was speaking about them in these parables. How did they react?

Answers

1. Jesus sent 2 of his disciples into the village to find a donkey and bring it to him. If anyone asked them, they were to explain that the Lord had need of it.

2. The people greeted Jesus as someone deserving great honor. They greeted him with palm branches as a king to be enthroned. Ceremonial installation of rulers with palms was an ancient tradition. Fresh palms are still used among many peoples of Africa at the enthronement of a ruler and a high-ranking priest. 2 Kings 9:13 records how Jehu was anointed king over Israel. Immediately the people spread their cloaks under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”

3. "Son of David" is a Messianic title, identifying Jesus as the heir to King David's throne and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. In the New Testament, it signifies that Jesus is the promised Savior from David's lineage, the divine Son of God sent to establish an eternal kingdom. However, at the time of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the general opinion was that Jesus of Nazareth was a prophet (v. 11). He was not yet regarded as the Son of God.

4. Jesus had been to the Temple in Jerusalem many times in his life. He was 40 days old when Mary and Joseph presented him in the Temple to fulfill the law of Moses regarding purification and the redemption of the firstborn. When he was 12 years old, he astonished the elders in the Temple by his remarkable knowledge of God and the Hebrew Scriptures. The Synoptic Gospels mention various occasions when Jesus visited the Temple. In the 33rd year of his life, just before the Passover, Jesus did not like what he saw there. The Temple had become a place of commercialism rather than a house of prayer. By driving out the merchants and the moneychangers, he sought to restore the sanctity of the Temple and challenged the religious authorities who benefitted from the Jewish system of offerings and money exchange.

5. The chief priests and scribes were indignant about how the people honored Jesus and when they confronted Jesus about this, he responded, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise" (v.16). This is taken from Psalm 8:2. Jesus used this to silence his enemies. The verse emphasizes God’s power to use the humble to overcome the arrogant and highlights childlike faith.

6. In Matthew chapter 22 the fig tree withers immediately. However, in Mark's Gospel the tree was found withered the day after. In Mark's account, Jesus approached the tree because He was hungry. He was disappointed to find nothing but leaves, "for it was not the season for figs" (Mk 11:13). After cursing the tree in Mark's narrative, Jesus then entered Jerusalem and began driving out the moneychangers and sellers of pigeons. The next day, when Jesus departs the city, his disciples are shocked to discover that the fig tree has withered to its roots; a process of decay that would normally take years (Mk 11:15-25). This incident foretells what is to happen to faithless Israel, represented by the corruption of the Temple. In Jeremiah's Temple sermon, we read, When I would gather them, says the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them. (Jer. 8:13). The incident is a fulfillment of that prophetic word.

7. This question was an attempt to trick Jesus. Instead of answering the question, Jesus asked them by what authority John the Baptist acted. That created a problem for the chief priests and elders because if they answered that John acted on the authority of God, they would have to admit the same for Jesus because that is what John testified concerning Jesus. On the other hand, if they said that Jesus acted on the authority of men, they would be at odds with the people who believed Jesus to be a great prophet sent by God.

8. In the Parable of the Two Sons a father asks his sons to work; the first refuses but later obeys, while the second agrees but fails to act. The parable contrasts the genuine repentance of people who know they are sinners and the hypocrisy of the self-righteous religious leaders. The religious leaders who claim to serve God do not. However, many who were sinners (tax collectors and harlots) repented and followed Jesus.

9. In the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Jesus identifies himself as the cornerstone rejected by the Jewish religious leaders (the "builders"). He warns that those who reject him will be destroyed, declaring that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to those who produce fruit.

10. The religious leaders in Jerusalem understood that the parables of the Two Sons and the Wicked Tenants were about them, and they wanted to arrest Jesus, but they feared the multitudes because they regarded Jesus as a great prophet.

If you are just now joining this study, welcome! If you wish to catch up, you will find links to the previous lessons below. Join us next week as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel.

Why the Name Jesus?
Matthew Chapter 1: A Closer Look
Matthew Chapter 2: The Magi Worship the Christ and Defy Herod
Matthew Chapter 3: Jesus and John Fulfill Righteousness
Matthew Chapter 4: Jesus Exposes the Devil's Tactics
Matthew Chapter 5: Jesus Teaches with Superior Authority
Matthew Chapter 6: True Kingdom Seekers
Matthew Chapter 7: Entering by the Narrow Gate
Matthew Chapter 8: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Matthew Chapter 9: Christ the Compassionate Lord
Matthew Chapter 10: The Apostles' High Calling
Matthew Chapter 11: The Messiah Brings Relief
Matthew Chapter 12: Greater Glory Resides in Jesus
Matthew Chapter 13: Perceive His Kingdom Coming
Matthew Chapter 14: Christ Rules Over Nature
Matthew Chapter 15: The Power of Persistent Faith
Matthew Chapter 16: Preparing for the End
Matthew Chapter 17: Behold the Glory of the Son of God!
Matthew Chapter 18: Living as a Child of God
Matthew Chapter 19: The Demands and Rewards of Righteousness

Matthew Chapter 20: The Parable of the Laborers

Related reading: STEM Education: The Judean Palm