I AM ON MY 46TH READ THROUGH OF THE BIBLE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC AS USUAL, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. WE CONTINUE WITH THE SYNOPTIC HIGH POINTS OF MATTHEW’S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. MATTHEW IS AWESOME SINCE HE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR AND THEREFORE FILLED WITH DETAILED OBSERVATIONS OF JESUS FROM HIS TRADE.
AN INTERESTING PATTERN I NOTICED ON THIS READ THROUGH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS HOW CHRIST CONTINUALLY CHECKED OUT OF THE PRESSURES OF HIS MINISTRY TO COMMUNE WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER IN REMOTE NATURAL LOCATIONS. PRAYER IS HOW HE EMPOWERED HIMSELF TO DO GREAT THINGS TO CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER. YOU CAN DO THESE THINGS THROUGH HIM, AND ONLY THROUGH HIM.
WE PROCEED WITH THE WORLD OF THE MIRACULOUS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 14 SYNOPSIS:
AT THAT TIME HEROD THE TETRACH HEARD OF THE FAME OF JESUS AND SAID TO HIS SERVANTS, “THIS IS JOHN THE BAPTIST; HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD; AND THEREFORE MIGHTY WORKS DO SHOW FORTH THEMSELVES IN HIM.”
FOR HEROD HAD LAIN HOLD ON JOHN, AND BOUND HIM, AND PUT HIM IN PRISON FOR HERODIAS SAKE, HIS BROTHER PHILIP’S WIFE. FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID TO HIM, “IT IS NOT LAWFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE HER.”
BUT HEROD WAS AFRAID TO KILL HIM BECAUSE THE MULTITUDES REVERED HIM AS A PROPHET.
AT HEROD’S BIRTHDAY PARTY, THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS DANCED AND PLEASED HEROD. WHEREUPON HE PROMISED TO GIVE HER WHATEVER SHE WANTED.
AND SHE, BEING BEFORE INSTRUCTED BY HER MOTHER, SAID, “GIVE ME HERE JOHN THE BAPTIST’S HEAD IN A CHARGER.”
HEROD WAS SORRY, NEVERTHELESS FOR THE OATH’S SAKE, HE COMMANDED IT BE GIVEN TO HER.
SO JOHN WAS BEHEADED IN THE PRISON. HIS HEAD WAS BROUGHT IN A CHARGER, GIVEN TO THE DAUGHTER, WHO TOOK IT TO HER MOTHER.
JOHN’S DISCIPLES TOOK THE BODY, BURIED IT AND WENT TO TELL JESUS.
WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE LEFT IN A SHIP TO A DESERT PLACE TO BE ALONE.
(COMMENTARY: YOU SEE OFTEN JESUS WOULD SEPARATE HIMSELF TO REFLECT AND PRAY IN A DESERT OR WOODLAND PLACE. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PATTERN DEVELOPED IN HIS LIFE PRIOR TO HIS 3 YEAR MISSION TO THE CHANGING THE WORLD.)
WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD, THEY FOLLOWED HIM ON FOOT OUT OF THE CITIES.
JESUS WENT FORTH AND SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE AND WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TOWARD THEM AND HE HEALED THE SICK.
WHEN NIGHT CAME THE DISCIPLES SAID TO HIM, “THIS IS A DESERT PLACE, TIME IS NOW PAST; SEND THE MULTITUDE AWAY, THAT THEY MAY GO INTO THE VILLAGES AND BUY THEMSELVES (FOOD.)”
BUT JESUS SAID, THEY DON’T NEED TO GO; YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.”
AND THEY SAID TO HIM, “WE HAVE HERE ONLY 5 LOAVES OF BREAD AND TWO FISHES.”
HE SAID, “BRING THEM HERE TO ME.”
HE COMMANDED THE MULTITUDE TO SIT DOWN ON THE GRASS, AND TOOK THE 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISHES, AND LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, HE BLESSED AND BROKE THE BREAD, AND GAVE THE LOAVES TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND THE DISCIPLES GAVE IT TO THE MULTITUDE.
AND THEY ALL ATE AND WERE FILLED UP. AND THEY TOOK UP OF THE FRAGMENTS EQUALING 12 BASKETS FULL. THOSE WHO HAD EATEN WERE ABOUT 5,000 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
(COMMENTARY: EVERY TIME JESUS PERFORMED A MIRACLE SUCH AS THIS IT SERVED AS AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYONE WATCHING AND ESPECIALLY THE APOSTLES THAT WOULD CARRY HIS MISSION FORWARD—THAT EACH ONE OF US SHOULD BE SEEKING THE SAME KIND OF FAITH TO DO MIRACLES. BY THE POWER COMMISSIONED TO EVERY FOLLOWER OF JESUS EACH ONE OF US CAN DO THESE THINGS IN CRISIS OR EMERGENT NEED WAS THE POINT HE WAS MAKING.)
RIGHT AWAY JESUS CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES TO GET INTO A SHIP, TO GO BEFORE HIM TO THE OTHER SIDE, WHILE HE SENT THE MULTITUDES AWAY.
HE THEN WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY: AND WHEN EVENING CAME, HE WAS THERE ALONE.
(COMMENTARY: ONCE AGAIN CHRIST IS SEPARATING HIMSELF FROM THE CHATTER OF SOCIETY TO PRAY IN PEACE.)
BUT THE SHIP IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA WAS TOSSED WITH WAVES AND THE WIND WAS UNFAVORABLE.
IN THE FOURTH WATCH OF THE NIGHT, JESUS WENT TO THEM, WALKING ON THE SEA. WHEN THE DISCIPLES SAW HIM WALKING ON THE SEA, THEY WERE TROUBLED, SAYING, IT IS A SPIRIT;” AND THEY CRIED OUT FOR FEAR.
BUT IMMEDIATELY JESUS SPOKE TO THEM SAYING, BE OF GOOD CHEER; IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID.”
AND PETER ANSWERED HIM SAYING, “LORD, IF IT BE YOU, BID ME COME TO YOU ON THE WATER.”
JESUS SAID, “COME.”
AND PETER WALKED ON THE WATER TOWARD HIM. BUT WHEN HE SAW THE WIND GUSTY HE WAS AFRAID; AND BEGAN TO SINK, CRYING, “LORD, SAVE ME.”
IMMEDIATELY JESUS STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND AND CAUGHT HIM, SAYING, “WHY DID YOU DOUBT?”
AND WHEN THEY CAME INTO THE SHIP THE WIND STOPPED. THEN THOSE WHO WERE IN THE SHIP SAID, “OF A TRUTH YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD.”
THEY CAME TO THE LAND OF GENNESARET. WHEN THE MEN OF THAT PLACE KNEW HIM, THEY SENT OUT INTO ALL THAT COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT, AND BROUGHT TO HIM ALL THE DISEASED. AND IMPLORED HIM THAT THEY MIGHT ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT; AND AS MANY AS TOUCHED IT WERE MADE PERFECTLY WHOLE.
SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 15 SYNOPSIS:
THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES WHICH WERE OF JERUSALEM CAME TO JESUS SAYING, “WHY DO YOUR DISCIPLES TRANSGRESS THE TRADITION OF THE ELDERS? FOR THEY DON’T WASH THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY EAT BREAD.”
HE ANSWERED, “WHY DO YOU ALSO TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD BY YOUR TRADITION? FOR GOD COMMANDED SAYING, HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER: AND HE THAT CURSES HIS FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM DIE THE DEATH. BUT YOU SAY, WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, IT IS A GIFT, BY WHATSOEVER YOU MIGHT BE PROFITED BY ME. AND HONOR NOT HIS FATHER OR HIS MOTHER, HE SHALL BE FREE. THUS HAVE YOU MADE THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD OF NONE EFFECT BY YOUR TRADITION.”
(COMMENTARY: THE PHARISEES OBVIOUSLY TAUGHT DISRESPECT OF PARENTS IN THEIR TRADITIONS. CHRIST WAS SAYING SINCE THEY TAUGHT THEIR THE JEWS THESE ATTITUDES, AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE IGNORANT OF THE LAW, THE CRIME WOULD BE ON THE PHARISEES HEADS, NOT THE PEOPLE.)
“YOU HYPOCRITES, WELL DID ISAIAH PROPHESY OF YOU SAYING, THIS PEOPLE DRAWS NEAR TO ME (GOD) WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. IN VAIN, THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.”
(COMMENTARY: SADLY, THEIR REBUKE FROM CHRIST ALSO APPLIES TO MANY OF THE RELIGIOUS TEACHERS OF THE LAST DAYS, CHRISTIAN INCLUDED! ANY STAID AND STOIC CHURCH LACKING SIGNS AND WONDERS OF THE HOLY GHOST SHOULD BE AVOIDED. )
JESUS CALLED THE MULTITUDE TOGETHER AND SAID, “HEAR, AND UNDERSTAND: IT IS NOT THAT WHICH GOES INTO THE MOUTH, WHICH DEFILES A MAN; BUT THAT WHICH COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH, THIS DEFILES A MAN.”
HIS DISCIPLES CAME AND SAID, “DO YOU KNOW THAT THE PHARISEES WERE OFFENDED, AFTER THEY HEARD THIS SAYING?”
HE ANSWERED, “EVERY PLANT, WHICH MY HEAVENLY FATHER HAS NOT PLANTED, SHALL BE ROOTED UP.”
(COMMENTARY: IN OTHER WORDS, GOD WILL REMOVE THE PHARISEES AND ANY RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF CHRISTIANITY.)
“LET THEM ALONE: THEY ARE BLIND LEADERS OF THE BLIND. AND IF THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND, BOTH SHALL FALL INTO THE DITCH.”
PETER ASKED CHRIST TO EXPLAIN~
JESUS SAID, “ARE YOU ALSO STILL WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING? DO YOU NOT YET UNDERSTAND, THAT WHATSOEVER ENTERS INTO THE MOUTH GOES INTO THE BELLY, AND IS CAST OUT INTO THE DRAUGHT? (BY WAY OF BELCHING OR EXCRETIONS FROM THE INTERNALS). BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH PROCEED OUT OF THE MOUTH COME FORTH FROM THE HEART; AND THEY DEFILE THE MAN. FOR OUT OF THE HEART PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS, MURDERS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, THEFTS, FALSE WITNESS, AND BLASPHEMIES: THESE ARE THE THINGS, WHICH DEFILE A MAN: BUT TO EAT WITH UNWASHED HANDS DOES NOT DEFILE A MAN.”
(COMMENTARY: EVERY MAN AND WOMAN MUST SEARCH THEIR HEART AND ROOT OUT IMPURITIES THEY HAVE COME TO EMBRACE. THE HEART MUST BE KEPT LIKE AN INNOCENT CHILD’S ALL THE DAYS OF LIFE.)
THEN JESUS WENT INTO THE COASTS OF TYRE AND SIDON.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STORY SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION ~
A WOMAN OF CANAAN (A GENTILE) CAME OUT OF THE SAME COASTS, AND CRIED TO HIM SAYING, “HAVE MERCY ON ME, O LORD, THOU SON OF DAVID; MY DAUGHTER IS GRIEVOUSLY VEXED WITH A DEVIL.”
BUT HE ANSWERED HER WITH NOT WORD.
HIS DISCIPLES CAME AND BESOUGHT HIM SAYING, “SEND HER AWAY; FOR SHE CRIES AFTER US.”
HE ANSWERED, “I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.”
(COMMENTARY: CHRIST’S MISSION WAS ORIGINALLY CENTERED ONLY ON THE LOST SHEEP OF ISRAEL.)
THEN SHE CAME AND WORSHIPED HIM SAYING, “LORD, HELP ME.”
BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, “IT IS NOT GOOD TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S (ISRAEL’S) BREAD, AND CAST IT TO THE DOGS? (GENTILES/ OTHER NATIONS)
AND SHE SAID, “TRUTH LORD: YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS, WHICH FALL FROM THEIR MASTER’S TABLE.”
JESUS ANSWERED, “O WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH: LET IT BE AS YOU WILL.” AND HER DAUGHTER WAS MADE WHOLE FROM THAT VERY HOUR.
JESUS DEPARTED FROM THERE AND CAME NEAR TO THE SEA OF GALILEE, WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN AND SAT DOWN.
GREAT MULTITUDES CAME WITH THOSE THAT WERE LAME, BLIND, DUMB, MAIMED AND MANY OTHERS. AND JESUS HEALED THEM.
THE MULTITUDES GLORIFIED THE GOD OF ISRAEL. THIS WENT ON FOR 3 DAYS.
AND JESUS ASKED THE DISCIPLES TO FEED THE MULTITUDE.
THEY SAID, “WHERE WOULD WE GET SO MUCH BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS?”
JESUS ASKED THEM HOW MANY LOAVES THEY HAD.
THEY SAID, “SEVEN AND A FEW LITTLE FISHES.”
JESUS COMMANDED THE MULTITUDE TO SIT DOWN ON THE GROUND. HE TOOK THE SEVEN LOAVES AND THE FISHES, AND GAVE THANKS AND BROKE THEM, GIVING THEM TO THE DISCIPLES TO GIVE TO THE MULTITUDE.
AND THEY ALL DID EAT, AND WERE FILLED. AND THEY TOOK UP SEVEN BASKETS THAT WERE LEFT OVER. AND THOSE THAT DID EAT WERE 4, OOO MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
THEN JESUS SENT THE MULTITUDE AWAY, AND WENT ON A SHIP BOUND FOR THE COAST OF MAGDALA.
NEXT . . . MORE SAINT MATTHEW.