Matthew 10

Jesus ended Chapter 9 of Matthew asking the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  The start of Chapter 10 Jesus summons his 12 disciples to give authority to do what Jesus has done.  This mini commission is to the sheep of Israel and not to those in Samaria or other Gentiles.  He sends them out without gold or silver but with just what they have.  He warns them that doing kingdom work is dangerous and that they will likely be persecuted for what they do.

One of the reflections that I have about this commission is that when we today choose to do the work of the kingdom, we too will likely encounter persecution and resistance.  As we will hear, doing this work is challenging to the status quo of not just the world but in some cases even to the church itself.  Jesus reminds us that we need to remember that we should not be afraid of what others can say or do to ourselves but to be concerned about what can damage our souls. 

In our bible study we discussed what Jesus says about not staying with those who do not welcome you or listen to you.  The discussion centered around are there times when it is better to let go of something rather than spend the resources to try to make something happen when there is no willingness to make changes.  This can also apply to the refusal to look at the present situations and only dwell in the past.  At what point do we let it go.  We discussed times when it seemed that there was no possibility of change and vitality and yet God was able to bring about a new thing.  Likewise there are times that whatever one tries to do the resistance is so great that nothing happens.

Jesus reminded the disciples that he was not hear to bring peace but a radical new way of living that is according to what God has willed since creation.  The way of discipleship is to be welcoming to those who come in Jesus' name or anyone who is righteous, "and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward (10:42)."

Matthew 9

It is interesting that our bible study group is studying Matthew 8-12 this week.  This chapter in the study book talks about insiders and outsiders.  The contrast as to who are the righteous and worthy of our work and attention and who are not.  Jesus begins to push the boundaries of who is in and who is not.  The first included all those who suffer illnesses that make them unclean such as the leper and in this chapter the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years.  He also makes arrangements with Romans and again in this chapter a tax collector.  Today so much effort is made by many churches as to who is included in the fellowship and who is not, that we need to reflect on who Jesus has come to save.

The first part of the chapter begins with a man who is paralyzed.  He begins by saying that he should be encouraged for his sins are forgiven.  This creates a conflict with the teachers of the law as they think that only God can forgive sins.  Jesus replies to them which is easier to do say your sins or forgiven or tell the man to get up and walk.  His healing of the man demonstrates his authority to do both.

The calling of Matthew is also a controversial act.  Tax collectors were often collaborators with Rome and also thieves.  They made their money by collecting more money than was owed.  Most people held them in the highest contempt.  For Jesus to go to eat with such a notorious sinner was unheard.  “Eating meals together was a religious matter among the Pharisees and other observant Jews.  Righteous Jews enacted many regulations to prevent themselves form being ceremonially defiled at meals..  It was not done so much to exclude others as to show commitment to the law.  Most Jews lived by the food laws most of the time.  Jesus did too.  But he regularly, purposively, and offensively ate with those who are ritually unclean or whose commitment to the law was inferior.  Sharing a meal with another indicated both covenantal and social equality….Jesus sharing meals with sinful people enacted God’s grace—he extended God’s love and forgiveness, welcoming open participation in a new society. (New Living Translation Study Bible, 1595.)

Matthew 9:11-13 “But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with such scum.’  When Jesus hear this, he said, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices (Hos 6.6).  For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’ NLT.  Today who are the ones we should ask to our banquets and have a meal with?

The last reflection deals with the woman.  She for 12 years could not be with her family, children or around any friends for fear of making them unclean.  In the other gospels it talks about her having seen physicians.  I can almost imagine how they must have treated her.  Go away and stop bothering me.  Obviously you have sinned and this is your punishment.  Having been rejected so many times, her actions of trying to demean herself by crawling to just touch Jesus’ robe is understandable.   Afraid of yet another rejection, she was willing to do what she could not to be noticed and yet be healed.  Jesus’ attention to her that likely she never received from anywhere else speaks of the compassion Jesus has for all people.

The chapter ends with the statement the harvest is great but the workers are few.  Today the work remains great are we willing to be the worker?

Matthew 8

It has been awhile since I have written.  It seems that in anyone’s life there are interruptions that affect ones desires.  I have had a number of other commitments that came up and by the time I got home I was so tired that I did not follow through with my blog and insights regarding Matthew.  Many may have continued to read and I would encourage you to complete your readings.  I will start taking chapter by chapter and not try to rush through the gospel.

Matthew 8 starts with a series of healing stories.  Warren Carter talks about that back in Chapter 4 Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God is at hand.  What that would look like for us are these stories in chapter 8.  The kingdom of God would be a place where people would no longer be ill and ostracized from their family and community of faith.  For those who suffered from leprosy could not continue to be with their family as they were unclean, they could not live in the villages, and they could not worship in the synagogues or temple.  They could only stay alive by the grace of those around them.  It was also believed that if one would touch them they too would be unclean.  When Jesus reaches out and touches the leper, he breaks many of the laws about what is clean and unclean.  His willingness to heal the Roman officer’s servant also extends the kingdom of God to the gentiles.  Rome was the occupying country of Judea and were seen as the enemy.  Again note the fulfillment of the prophets in verse 17.

Another word about healing that is important to note in reading the stories of healing in the New Testament.  Healing was more than just curing someone of their illness.  It was more about restoration to the community.  Those who were healed could return to their families, to their homes, and could worship once again in the synagogues and the temple.  Think about what might be the leprosy of today?  For instance the concern of HIV infection and how many stated that they should be isolated from everyone out of the fear of contagion.  How many times our fears have led to the desire to ostracize someone.

The chapter also includes two other stories one of calming the sea and the exorcism of the demons.  The sea and the storms of the sea often were used to talk about chaos.  When Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, he is able to control the chaotic world.  This is similar to God’s spirit hovering over the deep in Genesis in the creation.

Warren Carter in talking about the pigs and the demons stated that this was an example of the counter-revolutionary aspect of the gospel  Pigs were unclean animals.  The demons knew who Jesus was and actually beyond the baptism affirmation of God is the first to state that Jesus is the Son of God.  In the other gospels, Jesus asked the name of the demon which was Legion.  The Roman legion that occupied Jerusalem had as their token animal a pig.  So here Jesus overcomes the power of Rome and their armies and utterly defeats them.

The people of the village are not thankful at all about what Jesus did in healing the men of their possession.  A good question would be why were they raising pigs which were unclean?  I believe that Jesus’ action is so powerful that witnessing to that power is frightening.  That is why the villagers wanted him to leave.