Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #8 Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

|| Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34, 39; John 13:36-38

MT26:31 Now at this time Jesus told his disciples, “All of you [apostles] will stumble[1] because of me this very night. For it has been written,[2] ‘I shall smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock[3] will be scattered.’ [Zechariah 13:7] MT26:32 But after being raised up[4] I shall go before you into Galilee.” MT26:33 But Peter responded: “If all the others are stumbled because of you, I shall never be stumbled!”[5] MT26:34 Jesus said to him: “I tell you this truth: This very night before the rooster crows three times you [Peter] will deny me.” MT26:35 Peter said to Jesus: “And… if it is necessary for me I will die together with you! Never will I deny you!” Also, all the disciples said the same thing.[6]

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[1] Stumble: The Greek is SCANDALISTHESESTHE. BER: scandalized. See notes on the word elsewhere.

[2] It has been written: The Nazarene quotes Zechariah 13:7.

[3] The sheep of the flock: See the “one flock” of John 10:16. See Luke 12:32 and the “little flock” of Jesus’ apostles. Jesus had said he came only for the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Compare notes on Matthew 10:6 and Matthew 15:24.

[4] Raised up: A synonym for “resurrected.” Compare Paul’s use in 1 Corinthians 15.

[5] I shall never be stumbled: We wonder at Jesus’ expression to this presumptuousness. Or, KJV: never be offended; LAM: never deny you.

[6] All the disciples said the same thing: Or, WEY: in like manner protested all the disciples.

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #6 Matthew 26:20-25 – The Last Passover

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

Matthew 15:21-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Giving Bread to Puppies

Matthew 15:21-28 – Giving Bread to Puppies

|| Mark 7:24-30

MT15:21 Leaving there Jesus withdrew into the area of[1] Tyre and Sidon. MT15:22 And, look! a Canaanite[2] woman from the region came out yelling, “Have mercy on me, Master, Son of David, for my daughter is horribly demonized!”[3] MT15:23 But Jesus did not answer her with a single word. The disciples of Jesus approached him, requesting, “Get rid of her,[4] because she keeps following us, yelling crazily.”[5] MT15:24 Now Jesus answered them, “I was sent only to[6] the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”[7] MT15:25 But, the woman approached and bowed to the earth on her knees,[8] saying, “Master, help me.” MT15:26 Jesus told her, “It is not right[9] to take the bread of the children[10] and throw it to little dogs.”[11] MT15:27 The woman responded, “Yes, Master, but the little dogs do eat from those crumbs spilling from their masters’ table.” MT15:28 Finally, Jesus said to her, “O, woman, your faith is great. Let what you want happen.” And her daughter was healed in that very hour.

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[1] Withdrew into the area of: A fifty-mile walk northeast to the coast of Syro-phoenicia.

[2] Canaanite: The Greek is CANAANAIA is also rendered: NWT: Phoenician. This is modern Palestine the cradle of language which began with Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English.

[3] Horribly demonized: Or, KJV: grievously vexed with a devil; WEY: cruelly harassed; LAM: seriously afflicted with insanity.

[4] Get rid of her: Or, KJV: send her away; KNX: rid us of her. The disciples have little patience for this vexed mother.

[5] Yelling crazily: The Greek is CRAZEI. Or, MOF: wailing

[6] I was sent only to: Jesus has a precise commission from his Father and cannot waver from it.

[7] Lost sheep of the house of Israel: Jesus was sent from heaven, not to seek the world of mankind, but those willing Jews in Israel. Jesus is later to say that after he ascends to heaven he would draw all kinds of people. These were the Non-Jews whom he calls “other sheep.” (John 10:16)

[8] Bowed to the earth on her knees: The Greek is PROSEKUNEI. Or, KJV: worshipped; RHM: began bowing down; WEY: threw herself at his feet; MOF: knelt before him. See notes elsewhere on worship or PROSKUNEO.

[9] It is not right: Having said this, Jesus is soon to do what he said it was not right (good, fine) to do.

[10] The children: The lost sheep of Israel.

[11] Little dogs: The Greek is KYNARIOS. Or, KJV: dogs; RHM: little dogs; BECK: puppies. Some might consider the remark racist or filled with ethnic prejudice. However, he softens his metaphor in “puppies” and we may suspect his manner and facial expression was kindly and sympathetic. He may also have said it more for his disciples’ benefit.

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Preceding

Matthew 10:5-10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus’ Orders: Territory, Theme, Trust

Matthew 15:1-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Tradition and the Heart

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Related

1. Jesus loves lost people
2. Lost Sheep
3. Jesus Pointing to “The Lost Sheep of the house of Israel” and “the Gentiles”
4. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 15:1-28 – 20180117
5. How Church Should Be (Matthew 15:10–28)
6. Not Us and Them, Only Us- a prayer based on Matthew 15.21-28
7. Why I’m Soul Sister to a Dog: The Canaanite Woman & Me
8. Pride and the Canaanite
9. Compassion: It is Never too Late
10. Charlottesville, A Sassy Woman, and the Dismantling of Racism [Mt 15:21-28]
11. Thank God, God has a sense of humor
12. A Few Crumbs to Nibble On
13. Human Cry to Christ
14. Are You Teachable?
15. Reminiscere (Lent 2) Sermon, 2018

Matthew 10:5-10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus’ Orders: Territory, Theme, Trust

Matthew 10:5-10 – Jesus’ Orders: Territory, Theme, Trust

MT10:5 Jesus sent these twelve[1] giving these orders,[2] saying, “You should not enter the Gentile road, nor enter a city of the Samaritans. MT10:6 But, only approach the lost sheep[3] of House of Israel. MT10:7 Go forth preaching, saying, ‘The Realm of Heaven has drawn near.’[4] MT10:8 Cure those sick, raise those dead,[5] cleanse lepers, exorcise demons. You received free, give free.[6] MT10:9 Do not procure gold[7] or silver or copper for your purses MT10:10 nor pouches[8] for your trip – nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor staff. For the worker is worthy of his food.[9]

[1] Sent these twelve: The formation of an official group of representatives (which is what “apostle” means).

[2] Orders: The Greek is PAR-ANGLEILAS and is rendered: KJV: commanded; MOF: instructions. These are not suggestions but precise directives. The Nazarene has his reasons for these evangelizing orders.

[3] Only approach the lost sheep: Their territory is limited to Israel. The prophet Daniel indicated a special period of grace for the Jews. This ran from 29 to 36 AD, seven years (Daniel 9:27). Jesus says of himself that he was sent “only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24) Jesus also later assures the apostles that they will never finish preaching to all Israel before Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13 are fulfilled (Matthew 10:23).

[4] The Realm of Heaven has drawn near: Or, “the kingdom of the heavens” – meaning either the seat of government as found in the Messiah or the realm of profession within the Nazarene’s congregation.

[5] Raise those dead: Though there is no evidence of this occurring during the life of Jesus, it does occur after the Messiah’s ascension. Luke 9:2 does not include these words.

[6] Give free: The evangelist who heals is not to receive payment for curing. Though Jesus goes on to state “the worker deserves his food” it is left at that – not an opulent life-style.

[7] Not procure gold: Jesus has a precise reason for this to be explained after his resurrection (Luke 22:25). It becomes a test of faith to rely solely on the Father.

[8] Pouches: Or, NJB: haversack; NEB: pack.

[9] Worker is worthy of his food: In Luke 10:7 this is “wages.” This is the only statement by Jesus directly quoted by Paul, which he does twice (1 Corinthian 9:14; 1 Timothy 5:8). The “worker” in the “fields of the Lord” is worthy or deserving of some help (Galatians 6:6). However, after the manner of Jesus and Paul this does not mean living a life-style above the sheep in general.

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Preceding

Matthew 10:1-4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Twelve Given Authority

Matthew 10:1-4 – Calling of the apostles – by Calvin

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Related

1. Where Are They Now?
2. Matthew 10丨John Calvin
3. Matthew 10丨C. H. Spurgeon
4. Matthew: January 31
5. Matthew 10, Jesus sends out the twelve, not peace, but a sword.
6. You Summon and Send Us, three prayers based on Matthew 10
7. The Virtue of Cosmopolitanism
8. Day 14 – Time to get in the game!
9. Matthew 10 – Mission