Matthew – Page 15 – Be Still…

Matthew 13:1-23 – Good Soil

As I write this, I am feeling a lot like a farmer. We are trying to grow grass in our yard, and we’ve pretty much started from scratch by killing everything and starting over. However, there are many large roots unseen to the human eye that are not dead, and they are producing more and more weeds. The enemy of the farmer = weeds.

Jesus uses this parable as his first to explain the Kingdom of God. Chapter 13 is often thought of as the parable chapter. Up to now, Jesus has mentioned the Kingdom of God but it is something new that needs to be explained. There is no better way to explain a new idea than with a story. We know that in marketing as well. Facts tell but stories sell. Jesus wants us to understand the promise for our future.

Matthew 12:46-50 – Jesus’ Family

Read Matthew 12:46-50

The cycle of parenting begins at birth when your child is wholly dependent on you. At some point independence steps in. By the teenage years, the child starts to rebel and the natural separation begins. The teenager is not at all impressed by the parent and is sometimes embarrassed by the obvious hovering or parental attempts at being cool. Then the child leaves home and starts a life of their own. All of a sudden, Mom and Dad are a lot wiser now. Friendship can blossom between parent and child. The circle of life.

Well, here, it’s almost as if Jesus is disowning his own mother and siblings. He asks “Who is my mother?” Of course, he knows Mary and he cares for her deeply, but those words? If she were to hear them, would she be hurt that her son, the Son of God, has questioned her identity? Was he being disrespectful?

Matthew 12:38-45 – Don’t Refuse to Listen

Read Matthew 12:38-45

The Pharisees Question Jesus by *J.J. Tissot*

We have been teaching our clients lately about establishing authority. It’s important in business for potential customers to see you as an authority, that is, knowing what you’re talking about. Here, the Pharisees are doubting the authority of Jesus. How crazy is that?! Granted, we know who Jesus is because we have the Bible.

When people question your authority or know-how, they aren’t very likely to listen to you. Think how much the Pharisees missed out on because they were not able to see what was right before them. It is a bit puzzling how the leaders with the most knowledge couldn’t see Jesus for who he was. They knew what they were looking for and expecting. They had access to all the Scriptures. Prophecies of old were likely passed down from generation to generation. Yet, their radars must have been turned off. Did God do that on purpose?

Matthew 12:22-37 – Who Is This Man?

Read Matthew 12:22-37

Didn’t you just want to scream, “Yes! You are right!” when the people began to contemplate whether Jesus was the Messiah? He was certainly causing a stir. I’ve often thought it would be cool to see a “where are they now” segment and reunite all the folks Jesus had healed and/or released from the bondage of demonic possession. We are never given a true number of how many people he cleansed. Whatever the number, they had to be living changed lives.

Jesus was visible and people were amazed by him. Are we amazed, too? After all, he is God, we shouldn’t be surprised at his abilities. Yet, when he came in flesh and blood, it was hard to look past the fact he was a regular man. He was human after all, just like them. These people were on to something, it was the Pharisees who were blind.

Matthew 12:15-21 – Hope For the World

Read Matthew 12:15-21

Jesus knew that he was ruffling feathers. He was upsetting the status quo. In some cases, Jesus was making the Pharisees and religious leaders look ridiculous. Not on purpose, but because the truth reveals the darkness and hardened hearts. The people were oppressed by the government. There was fear. People were waiting for their promised Savior to come rescue them.

Then Jesus arrives on the scene. He had followers. He was healing people all over the place. He was proclaiming the Good News. It must have seemed too good to be true. But Jesus wasn’t the first to come along. Satan has used false prophets throughout history to throw people off, to lure them away from the truth. We can see evidence of that still today. We are still a people in need of a Savior.