Matthew 1-13

Ed. Note: The OT is a lot greater in volume than the NT, but the reading regimen I'm under provides concurrent OT and NT selections. So, once in a while, we'll look to the future about 1500 years or so and see what JC is up to.

Matthew 1: Generations of Jesus, 14th generational Son of David, 14th generational Son of Abraham. Mary is pregnant. Joseph doesn’t want her all shamed, so they hit the road. An angel appears to Joseph, informing him not to worry about the pregnant wife thing, that it was only the Son of God, and that he will be named Jesus. Joseph woke up from that dream, and felt much better.

Matthew 2: Jesus born in Bethlehem under Herod. Wisemen came, fulfilling prophecy. (Mic 5.2) Herod heard of this whole King of the Jews thing, and became worried. He sent the wise men to Bethlehem to find out what was happening on the ground there. The magi are warned by God not to return to Herod, again in a dream, and they split. Another angel in Joseph’s dream instructs departure for Egypt, and to stay there until Herod is dead. Herod, being slighted by the wise men, slaughters all the males of Bethlehem 2 years or younger, the amount of time it took Herod to figure out the wise men were wiser than he thought, and weren’t coming back with news anytime soon, fulfilling prophecy (Jer. 31.15) When Herod dies, an angel again instructs Joseph via dream it was okay to go back, but Joseph was skittish, and settled in Nazareth for a spell.

Matthew 3: John the Baptist issues word that the Lord has come, and that prophecy is fulfilled. (Isa. 40.3) He mocks the Pharisees and Sadduees who come to his baptismal, and finally, Jesus arrives to be baptized. John is a little confused, thinking that Jesus should be the one offering the baptisms, but he is coerced into baptizing Jesus anyway, without his attorney present.

Matthew 4: The devil taunts Jesus during a forty day fast. Satan challenges Jesus with prophecy (Ps. 91.11,12), but Jesus turns the tables insisting that God cannot be tried. Angels minister to his corner after the devil is cast aside. He thinks it’s a good time to retire to Galilee, in Capernaum, fulfilling prophecy (Is. 9.1.2) Jesus starts a little preaching here. Makes Simon and Andrew fishers of men. Convinces James and John He has a better boat than their father. By this time, word had even reached Syria of what was going on in Galilee.

Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount. Many blessings. Claims to be enhancing prophecy, no destroying it. Jimmy Carter is called out for heart-based adultery. The intent seems to be the big purpose of this partly brimstonish display.. Only one oath matters, that to love and follow the Lord. Love the enemy, says Jesus.

Matthew 6: Alms—best kept anonymous. Prayer—best kept between self and the Father. Lord’s prayer. When you fast, do so happily. The true treasure is not of this earth, but in what comes next. A discussion of the uselessness of anxiety.
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Matthew 7: Judging others a bad idea because of casting stones, the Golden Rule as an example of productive living. Stay on the narrow path, it’s more fulfilling. Better to build the home upon rock than sand.

Matthew 8: Jesus cures a leper, then commends a centurion, while warning of much gnashing of teeth in the end days. Peter’s wife’s mother cured. Jesus calms a tempest.

Matthew 9: Jesus cures a paralytic, then meets and calls Matthew. The Pharisees wonder why Jesus breaks bread with the publicans and sinners, and inquire about the importance of fasting. Jesus cures the Ruler’s Daughter, and then the two demonic dumb men

Matthew 10: The twelve are called, and sent out to gather the lost sheep of Israel.

Simon, called Peter
James, son of Zebedee
John, James’ brother
Philip
Bartholomew
Thomas
Matthew the publican
James, son of Alphaeus
Thaddius
Simon the Cananaean
Judas Iscariot, the betrayer

Jesus issues advise to the twelve about acceptance, patience, and peace. He issues them caution in dealing with their adversaries, and try to stay a step ahead of the persecution. Don’t fear men, fear their maker. The value of the twelve relative to sparrows is stressed, and Jesus is really playing up the “love me more than all else” angle here, talking costs and rewards of service unto Him. This appears to be the first organization directed at spreading the word.

Matthew 11: The twelve are sent out across Israel. John the Baptist hears updates of Jesus’ progress, and Jesus struts all over Palestine extolling JTB. Jesus reproaches cities that don’t repent. Claims yet again that He is the light, that his yoke is easy, and that his burden is light. Good fire and brimstone stuff here.

Matthew 12: The Pharisees complain about the disciples taking someone’s grain, it appears, and Jesus responds citing examples of David eating priests’ food (1 S. 21.6) and the guiltless Sabbath profaning priests (Num. 28.9, 10) Jesus further defends working on the Sabbath by healing a man’s hand. The Pharisees took counsel against Jesus for His destruction. With renewed confidence of the handhealing, Jesus heals many more. Stakes further claim to fulfilled prophecy (Is. 42.1) The Pharisees concede Jesus has healing power, but thinks it is granted by Beelzebub the prince of demons. A house divided among itself… Jesus replies saying it’s okay to talk smack on Son of Man, but don’t go talking trash against the Holy Spirit. A tree is known by its fruit, with Jesus or against Him. The Pharisees want a sign that Jesus is actually working for good rather than evil, and Jesus states that only an evil man would make such a request. This chapter is a fairly decent study of logic in argument. The parallel is drawn by Jesus between himself and Jonah. Three days in a sea-monster equals three days in a tomb. About long enough. Jesus lectures further on the eternal torments of earthly wickedness, and recommends salvation in His word. His mother and brother come to see him, and Jesus responds by saying that any person who follows Him are his mothers and his brothers.

Matthew 13: Seeds yield according to proper sowing techniques. The disciples ask Jesus why he speaks in parables, and he answers that he can’t teach people that don’t understand, and don’t want to see. He speaks of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. (Is. 6.9,10) Harvest only the good wheat, but don’t destroy the entire field because of the tares. Mustard seeds yield big results. Spreading out the leaven. Defense of Jesus’ parable policy, citing prophecy. (Ps 78.2) These parables are end-time lessons, with much gnashing of teeth. Harvest the good, destroy the bad. Cast a wide net, discard the bad. Lessons of the end time. Then He goes home to Nazareth to a poor reception. Might have had something to do with ignoring the family above. (Mt. 12)