Matthew – Page 13 – Be Still…

Matthew 18:1-14 – Child-like Ways

I heard something the other day. It takes us a year or two to learn to talk and another sixty years to learn how to shut up! That might be a little harsh. We have also heard that children should be seen and not heard. Rubbish in my opinion. We would miss out on so many delightful things that only children without filters can come up with. If only I had written down some of the adorable things my children have said.

Jesus was also a fan of children. One of my favorite images of Jesus is when he is sitting with a crowd of children all around him. They are hanging on to every word he says. We need to be more like that. Even Jesus thinks so.

Matthew 17:22-28 – Taxes

Read Matthew 17:22-28

Bank Note Money Us-dollar Dollar Currency Seem

Can you imagine what it would be like to have your friend tell you he was going to be killed? It would be hard to wrap your head around. People don’t often talk like that. We spend our lives trying to prolong life, look younger, get fit and trim, eat healthy, etc. Talking about dying is almost a forbidden topic.

This is the second time Jesus brings it up. He’s preparing them for what is to come. His disciples are grieving already. They must feel like they are just getting to know Jesus. It’s not fair he’ll be taken away so soon. They will certainly not be blindsided when the time does come.

Matthew 17:14-21 – Not Enough Faith

Read Matthew 17:14-21

Have you ever attended a Bible conference or an especially moving worship concert? You are then familiar with the “high” you feel from having spent some serious time in God’s holy presence. You may feel like you have a superpower. You may see everything in a beautiful light. You are certainly in a place of calm, expectant hope, with the joy of the Lord overflowing.

Then you step back into reality. There are bills to pay. There are meetings to attend. It may be time to go back to work and face that stress. The dose of reality waiting for you after your “mountaintop experience” can be especially cruel and abrupt. So, too, for Jesus and his disciples today as they came down from the mountain. A situation had arisen that needed Jesus’ attention.

Matthew 17:1-13 – What a Light!

Read Matthew 17:1-13

Puzzling isn’t it? For me at least. Why Peter, James, and John? How did they recognize Elijah and Moses? Why didn’t Jesus want them to say anything until after he rose from the dead? Was John the reincarnation of Elijah? Elijah had never died so how could he be born again?

This event is recorded in two other Gospels and in the epistle of 2 Peter. (Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36, and 2 Peter 1:16–18). What is your take away from the account? It was surely an honor to be called by Jesus to accompany him up the mountain. Could it be his last words from yesterday’s reading have now come true?

Matthew 16:21-28 – Become a True Follower

Read Matthew 16:21-28

In our last reading, Jesus was applauding Peter’s bold statement and gave him the keys to the kingdom. Today, Peter is being called “Satan” by an angry Jesus. Maybe “angry” is too harsh, but Jesus wasn’t pleased with Peter. Why? Peter was in denial. Peter didn’t want to hear Jesus talking about such things as torture and death. Peter couldn’t imagine a life without Jesus in it. Those thoughts were human thoughts.

I’m sure Jesus, being 100% human, was also struggling with the reality of his destiny on earth. I don’t know who in their right mind would be looking forward to being brutalized and killed, especially when they were totally innocent. Yet, Jesus knew what was coming. It was time to prepare his friends for the events to come. For Peter to be in denial was not helping Jesus at all.