Week 2: Thursday: Matthew 12. 1-21

12.1    They must have seemed like young teenage rebels.  And yet Jesus has an answer, by the gift of wisdom from the Spirit: not just a proof-text, but a complete godly principle.

12.5    Yes, and Vicars work on Sundays, too.

12.8    Health&Safety is a modern example of rules which were intended to benefit people, but which make demands of their own, and need to be held back a bit.

12.14  Perhaps they hated him most because he defeated their arguments; strategically, it may be better to lose the battle and win the war.  And yet Jesus knew that these men would never become his followers – they had too much power and status at stake.  He is aware (15).

12.16  Again the secret (see 9.30, 8.4).  But this time Matthew gives a prophetic reason from Isaiah (esp. v19).

Goodness me, Tom!  You want us to read 17 Chapters today?  Have mercy!  But Tom takes a step back and points out the bigger picture (other scholars drill into the detail – Tom shows us the wide sweep and significance).  Matthew, the most Jewish of the gospels, nevertheless sees that Jesus is not what most Jews were expecting.  Isaiah had it right, in his Servant Songs.  Tom’s phrase near the end today, “But God does things the other way up,” might summarise most of Jesus’ teaching.  Good news for the poor and the weak and the meek.

Week 2: Wednesday: Matthew 11

11.10  John is seeking evidence of Kingdom come; meanwhile, he is himself evidence of the Kingdom’s arrival.

11.14  Also 17.10-13; but compare John 1.21.

11.23  Capernaum doesn’t seem so bad from Matt 8, compared to Sodom (Gen 19 and 13.13).  But, as in the Good Samaritan, Jesus makes his point by exalting the humble and abasing the proud.

11.25  Students of Theology, beware!

I love Tom’s translation of v2, “John heard about these messianic goings-on.”  And he points us to the messianic longings of Isaiah 35; and shows us the political implications of John, Jesus and Herod, the “reed shaken in the wind.”  Isn’t it good to be guided by an expert, and to have your eyes opened to the deeper meaning?

Week 2: Tuesday: Matthew 10. 16-42

10.16  Imagine a shepherd sending out his sheep among wolves!  Shrewd: also perhaps crafty (Gen 3.1), certainly not naïve.  Innocent means not harming others: it doesn’t mean ignorant.

10.18  “On my account”: see Matt 5.11, Acts 5.41

10.22  So we may not be popular, then?

10.25  See 9.34

10.27  Pray for boldness.  See also vv32-33.

10.35  Jesus doesn’t mention wife or husband, but to marry a non-Christian sets up this antagonism.  What a blessing to be united in Christ, as well as in marriage!

10.42  This is one reason why Jesus commanded “Love one another,” because by caring for his followers we care for Him.

I keep imagining naively that people will welcome the Good News and the grace of Christ; and it keeps surprising me when people reject my Lord.  I put it down to their ignorance or my poor presentation; but in fact it’s a spiritual reality of human nature.  And then Tom Wright leaves you with a little mystery, a tease for the coming weeks – what might he mean?

Week 2: Monday: Matthew 10. 1-15

10.1    Calling them to him sounds like the practice of Rabbis before teaching them.  Was there a liturgy for giving authority?

10.6    Interesting that he forbids them to go to Gentiles or Samaritans.  Jews would not normally consider that, but perhaps Jesus’ openness had already rubbed-off on them (5.44, 7.1, 8.5)?  Yet this is too early to reject the Jews.

10.12  This sounds like good practice when visiting.  But then perhaps we have to do v14 too!

Tom Wright neatly points out that even Jesus’ message was unwelcome to some, especially “to those who have decided that the only solution is violence.”  Pray for the world’s violent hotspots!  And if people criticise us, remember that they did exactly the same to our Master and to his followers.

Week 2: Sunday: Psalm 121

These Sunday Psalms are very refreshing!  I’ve always loved 121, largely because of the song “I lift my eyes to the quiet hills.”  And I’ve just had a funeral family ask for it in their service order, “because it was his favourite” – I approve of that!

In fear and trembling though, I’m going to presume to disagree with Tom.  I think his help does come from the hills, because it’s a song of ascents.  It’s meant to be sung while travelling up towards Jerusalem, the place where God has made his earthly dwelling.  “We’re going up into the hills to worship God, and that’s where we’ll find help.”

However, Tom’s last comments about suffering are so appropriate in the current news climate, with Japanese deaths and nuclear meltdown, Libyan civil warfare, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Pakistan, Israel; and Tom even mentions roadside bombs, which reminds us that Afghanistan continues.  Help, Lord!

Week 1: Saturday: Matthew 17. 1-9

Jump, to the Transfiguration!  Well, it seems quite an isolated event, and provides some variety...

17.1    Is the timing (“after six days”) significant?  The “Inner Circle” of Peter, James and John.  Jesus loved the mountains – would he have been a skier, climber, astronomer?  He seems to have gone there mainly to be closer to his Father.

17.5    The same wording as at Jesus’ Baptism (3.17); except for the additional command to just be quiet and listen!

17.9    Is this for the same reason as the secret (eg 16.20), that blabbing would have inflamed the authorities and shortened his ministry?  Or is there another reason to keep eternal insights until after the Resurrection?

Tom Wright imagines what it must have been like, to be there on the mountain and to see it all happening.

Week 1: Friday: Matthew 9

9.6       Real authority is a quiet command, not jumping and screaming.

9.8       The miracle authenticates the message.  But is such authority divine alone (so this proves He is the Christ), or is it given also to his human followers?

9.9       Jesus chose those who were ready to respond, whatever their position in society.  The first thing Matthew did was throw a party for his friends and associates, to introduce them to Jesus.  New Christians could well do the same.

9.11    They were always watching!

9.13    The Church must never forget this.  In the very next verse, Jesus is under pressure with religious questions from the righteous.

9.15    So early in his ministry, and he is talking about his departure already!

9.17    Once the old becomes inflexible, start new housegroups, new congregations, new churches.

9.29    He says this to those who have faith, to encourage faith (cf 22)

9.30    Again, the secret (cf 8.4).

9.34    The self-righteous try to accuse the righteous of evil.

9.38    The commanded response is not to panic, rush around and recruit, but to pray for workers.

Tom Wright: “God is making everything new, and he’s inviting us to the party.”  Not a bad summary of our gospel message!