Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Matthew 28:20b

Published on May 22, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
 
and lo,
 
The word “lo” carries the idea of surely. Grammatically it is an injection used to call attention to something important. We need certainty of Christ’s presence in ministry.
 
I am with you always,
 
Jesus will be with those who proclaim the Great Commission every step of the way. He has been with the disciples for three years but His promise is that He will be with them every day in the future.
 
This promise is not a sedative to blasé Christians; but an incentive to fulfill the Great Commission.
 
even to the end of the age.” Amen.
 
Jesus concludes the Great Commission with a promise that He would continually be with those who carry the message until the end of time, that is, unto the consummation of time.
 
PRINCIPLE: The risen Messiah is central to the Great Commission.
 
APPLICATION: Jesus commits Himself to be with all those who share the Great Commission until He returns. This means that He will give power to those who preach the gospel Why should we be timid in sharing our faith if that is so?
 
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never (the Greek says, “I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave you;” five particles) leave you nor forsake you.”

Matthew 28:20a

Published on May 20, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
 
28:20 teaching them
 
“Teaching” is the third function under the command “make disciples.” The book of Matthew itself is an example of teaching others. This represents edification of those who are already believers.
 
 
to observe all things that I have commanded you;
 
The word “observe” means obey. The pronoun “I” is emphatic; Jesus emphasizes His personal authority that backs those who teach with authority.
 
Notice that the Lord said to teach people to “observe all things” that He commanded. He did not say “some things.” The Lord expects a thorough investigation of His Word.
 
PRINCIPLE: The church needs to take teaching of God’s Word seriously.
 
APPLICATION: The mission of the church is more than conversion but also edification. We cannot obey the Lord if we do not understand the principles that underlie the Christian life.
 
Teaching is the neglected dimension to the Great Commission today. Churches are afraid to proclaim propositions of Scripture. They deem that people in our day are too media oriented to listen to exposition of Scripture. That is only true if they do not have a passion for God’s Word.
 
Pastors today yield to the idea people do not want solid teaching. This is a serious mistake. The real issue is that people do not even know how the Bible can radically change their lives. This loss of hope that God’s Word can change lives will eviscerate dynamic Christianity. We have boiled everything down to the least common denominator so that Christians live on meager pittance of what they could. Jesus said, man shall live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. “Teaching” is essential to the Great Commission.
 
God does not expect leaders to make a choice between evangelism and teaching. Both are essential to “making disciples.”

Matthew 28:19b

Published on May 18, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
 
and make disciples of all the nations,
 
The command to reach “all the nations” is strikingly new here in that he does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile. This change is a shift from ministry to the nation Israel to all peoples Jew or Gentile alike.
 
It is important to understand that the command to “make disciples” governs the three functions (going, baptizing, and teaching). Each function elucidates what it means to “make disciples.” “Make disciples” covers the entire range of ministry from initial presentation of the gospel to the maturation of believers.
 
baptizing them
 
After people “go,” they have two ministry functions:
 
1) baptizing and
 
2) teaching.
 
“Baptizing” is the second function that follows the command “make disciples.” The idea is to “continually baptize them.” Baptism represents the initial step of obedience of faith.
 
in the name
 
This phrase is literally into the name. The idea of “into” implies two ideas 1) an object or purpose and 2) union with. Baptism symbolically shows our positional union with Christ. Water baptism does not place a believer into union with Christ but it is a symbol of the fact that the believer is already in union with Him.
 
The word “name” is singular implying that the Trinity as a unit is one. Baptism identifies with God’s name (all that He represents).
 
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
 
We are to baptize in the name of the trinity. For Jesus to be associated with the oneness of the trinity shows His deity.
 
PRINCIPLE: Our baptism proclaims our union with Christ.
 
APPLICATION: Baptism does not save a person’s soul but the Lord commanded it as essential proclamation of a person’s identity with Him. There is no rational for not being baptized for it is the important symbol of association with Christ. New believers should be baptized as soon as possible.
 
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
 
Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
 
Acts 9:18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
 
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
 
Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
 
Acts 19:3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 28:19a

Published on May 16, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
 
28:19 Go therefore
 
By the “therefore” here Jesus connects His authority to the Great Commission. Jesus’ authority will enable the disciples to execute the commission.
 
The word “go” is in the emphatic position of the three functions to 1) go, 2) baptize, and 3) teach. The idea is to be active, not inert. The thrust is to cross any boundary to spread the gospel, geographical or otherwise.
 
The Greek indicates “when you have gone” (aorist participle). Jesus assumes that believers will go to those without Christ.
 
PRINCIPLE: The Great Commission is not the Great Option. 
 
APPLICATION: Christians are not to wait for nonbelievers to come to them. We are to take the initiative to go to them. This is no option; the Great Commission is a great commandment.

Matthew 28:18f

Published on May 15, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
 
Jesus now introduces the Great Commission (28:18-20).
 
28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying,
 
There is a solemnity to Jesus coming to a formal place of meeting; He comes to a formal, pre-established conference. He takes the initiative to connect to them with a formal discourse. He does not rebuke the disciples for their disloyalty; His message is too important for that.
 
“All authority
 
The word “authority” refers to freedom to act as one prefers. In Jesus’ case, He has “all” authority in all creation. He can do as He pleases in all creation.
 
Jesus asserts His authority as comprehensive in His resurrection power. This authority is important as He sends out His disciples to evangelize the world. Jesus parlays this authority to those who go out on mission. This gives them poise for their mission and unlimited authority.
 
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
 
The words “has been” in the Greek indicate the Father as the person who gave Jesus this authority (passive voice). God gave Jesus complete sovereignty over the entire created order—“heaven and earth.” The authority of Jesus is the basis of this mission to the world.
 
This authority given by the Father to the Savior has to do with Jesus’ mediatorial kingdom, not the eternal kingdom. Jesus has authority over events, human hearts, and circumstances in creation. This includes sustaining, protecting, and enabling the church. He employs angels, circumstances, and people to reach His ends.
 
PRINCIPLE: Christians are to know about and respond to Jesus’ sovereign Lordship over all creation.
 
APPLICATION: Before Christians become active in the Great Commission they need to understand the Lord’s sovereign authority over creation. Even ordinary people like Jesus’ disciples can make a major difference in the world when they go out under their Lord’s authority.
 
There is no gospel without the resurrection of Christ. His resurrection is relevant to proclaiming the gospel today. Without His authority, our mission is doomed to failure. The resurrected Christ alive today is with those who proclaim the gospel in our day. Jesus does not leave us to our own formulations for this awesome task. The enthroned, risen Christ commits Himself to go with us.

Matthew 28:16f

Published on May 14, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
This passage prepares for the Great Commission (28:16-17). It is the climax of the entire book of Matthew.
28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee,
Matthew for the first time refers to the disciples as “the eleven.” Eleven is the number because Judas committed suicide (27:5). These disciples left Jerusalem to go to Galilee. Galilee is where Jesus’ ministry began. The timing may have been a couple weeks after the resurrection. The journey from Jerusalem to Galilee to the north would have taken about a week.
to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
The mountain underlines the importance of the event to take place. It was the place where Jesus first appointed them to ministry. They were at the location where the Lord told them to be. They will receive personally the Great Commission because of this.
28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him;
Like the women at the tomb the disciples worshipped Jesus. The word worship means to prostrate. Their entire focus was on the Lord. The core of worship is concentration on the person and work of the Savior. They worshipped because Jesus verified Himself to them.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
 
but some doubted.
The multitude had to assimilate a lot of information in a short time. It is natural that some would hesitate to believe what they saw. They were in a state of uncertainty. This statement makes the general text more credible.
The “some” here are not the eleven but other believers on the mountain. Jesus met first with the eleven then later with a larger group referred to here. This occasion on the mountain may have been the location where 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus at one time.
1 Corinthians 15:6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
PRINCIPLE: Worship is at the heart of mission.
APPLICATION: God’s central purpose for our lives is to glorify God. When we adequately worship, mission will flow from a heart of appreciation for who and what God is.
Few Christians think seriously about their mission in life. That is why it is important to have occasional special meetings to remind us of our mission. God calls each of us to be a means of that mission.
Many churches today occupy themselves with trivialities. A good check is to evaluate the lifestyle and evangelism of our churches. Where we spend money on the church reveals the true priorities of our church.

Matthew 28:11f

Published on May 13, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
In verses 11-15 religious leaders try to justify their condemnation of Jesus by a lie.
28:11 Now while they were going,
While the women were on their way to deliver their message to the disciples, Jesus’ enemies plotted to undermine the resurrection message.  
behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.
Soldiers reported to the leadership in Jerusalem the simple facts. They did not attempt to explain the situation but reported the bald facts. This would be an outrageous story if it were not true.
28:12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
The elders gather together for the last time in Matthew. Their whole case against Jesus was at stake. Their hard hearts were not subject to change. The outcome of this meeting was to bribe the soldiers to misrepresent what they saw. They gave a “large sum of money” because the lie the soldiers were to tell would incriminate them . Their duplicity was evident to all.
28:13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’
The elders gave the soldiers instructions about the lie they were to tell the public. It is ironic that the thing they feared (soldiers posted at the tomb so that the disciples will not steal the body) becomes the story they concoct to explain the empty tomb. Their first lie has to be backed by another lie.
Sleeping on duty is capital punishment under the Roman government. The story is suspect because how could the soldiers sleep while a large stone is rolled away from the mouth of the tomb?
28:14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”
The “this” here is the lie the soldiers were to tell the governor (Pilate). If a judicial investigation were to occur, Jewish leadership would offer no complaint against the soldiers.
The words “we” and “you” are emphatic showing collaboration between Jewish leaders and the soldiers.
28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The soldiers did as the Jewish authorities told them. Their fabricated report became widely disseminated among the populace until the writing of the book of Matthew.
PRINCIPLE: Truth needs no lie to support it; truth is self-verifying.
APPLICATION: There are those in every generation who attempt to explain away the resurrection of Christ. The swoon theory (Jesus lapsed into a coma) is a current attempt to rationalize the resurrection. Somehow Jesus unwrapped Himself from the gave clothes and got past the Roman soldiers. We are supposed to believe that after massive loss of blood and beatings with extreme weakness He travelled long distances (Jerusalem to Galilee). The Roman soldier was an expert in verifying the death of a person hanging on a cross. Over 500 people saw Jesus at one time not including His many other appearances. You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time.
The disciples would not be willing to die for a lie. The idea of them stealing the body is not believable. This theory around today has serious difficulties if we were to carry out this thought. If Jesus did die never to rise again, it would bring spiritual suicide. The disciples turned from cowards to courageous catalysts because of the resurrection.
No one found His dead body after the resurrection in that small country. If they would have found it, they would have displayed it in fiendish glee showing it as utterly false. Yet their depth of deceit has no limit. Their chicanery was so low that it required multiplied lies.
Resurrection is man’s hope for eternal life. It is the proof that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin.

Matthew 28:9f

Published on May 12, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

 

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
The risen Christ appears to the two women who met the angel at the tomb.
28:9 And as they went to tell His disciples,
The two Marys were on their way to tell the disciples about the resurrected Christ.
behold,
“Behold” indicates the climatic appearance of Jesus to the two women who carried the message of Jesus’ resurrection. Little did they know that they would encounter the resurrected Savior Himself before they were able to communicate their message.
Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
Jesus’ command to “rejoice” has to do with the idea that He rose from the dead. Their sorrow turned to joy (Jn 16:20). Jesus made good on His Word.
So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
The women immediately recognized the risen Lord and fell down to worship Him in adoration.
28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
The unusual and sudden experience of coming face-to-face with a resurrected person infuses fear in the women but Jesus allays that fear.
Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Jesus tells the women to continue on the mission that the angel gave them to tell the disciples of His resurrection. Jesus asks the women to set up a meeting with Him in person in Galilee. At that meeting they will receive a great commission charge from Jesus.
PRINCIPLE: The proper response of meeting the risen Christ is worship.
APPLICATION: When we come face-to-face with the reality of the risen Christ, it will radically change our orientation to Him.

Matthew 28:7f

Published on May 11, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

28:7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead,
Women were to bear the good news that Jesus rose from the death. This was a counter cultural dynamic. Usually women would not have been chosen to carry such an important message.
And indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.
Jesus said that he would go before His disciples in Galilee (26:32). These women were from Galilee.
Behold, I have told you.”
These women have authoritative word from the angel.
28:8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
The women left the tomb with a message of great joy. This stands in stark contrast to how they approached the tomb.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus’ resurrection is victory over death.
APPLICATION: Jesus’ story does not end with His death but begins resurrected life. He is victor over both sin and death. There would be no Christianity without the resurrection of Christ. There is a future for the believer because of this. Death is not the bleak, blind, terminus of existence; there is hope beyond the grave.
Jn 11: 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
Re 1: 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Matthew 28:1f

Published on May 10, 2009 in Matthew. 0 Comments
Read Introduction to Matthew

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The last chapter of Matthew sets forth the resurrection of Christ and the commission to the disciples.
28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The two women named Mary return to the tomb to embalm Jesus’ body. They thought Jesus was dead; they were in for a shock.
28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake;
A great earthquake occurred when the women arrived at the tomb. This is the second earthquake around the death and resurrection of Christ.
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
The arrival of the angel was the cause of the earthquake carrying the element of grandeur. The angel did not roll back the stone to let Jesus out because He was already raised and had left the tomb.
28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
The appearance of the angel was like lightning.
28:4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
The angel scared the guards to death so that they fainted.
28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women,
The angel first directs his statements to women.
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
There is a Greek word for “you” in this sentence; it is emphatic. The soldiers might fear but there is no reason for the women to fear.
28:6 He is not here;
The tomb is now open. The gospels do not describe the resurrection itself but only the report of it by the angel. Only the hard evidence of the empty tomb remains at this point.
for He is risen,
We can translate this phrase as “He has been raised.” It was the Father who raised Him from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is the reason for the angel’s statement “He is not here.” There is no other alternative.
as He said.
Jesus made it clear that he would rise from the dead. He predicted He would rise from the dead. The women should not have been surprised at Jesus’ resurrection because He said he would rise from the dead.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The angel invites the women to look at the empty tomb where Jesus laid.
PRINCIPLE: Jesus commits to promise His resurrection.
APPLICATION: Hope of resurrection and eternal life rests on God’s promises put on paper.
Ro 1: 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.