Matthew (Written)

Monday, 17 March 2025

Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Matthew 8:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And another – of His disciples – said to Him, ‘Lord, You permit me first to go and inter my father’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the scribe that the Son of Man has nowhere to recline His head. Next, He is again approached. Matthew records that, beginning with, “And another – of His disciples.”

The word translated as another, héteros, signifies another, but distinct in kind. This is in contrast to the Greek word állos which signifies another of the same kind. In other words, this appears to confirm that the scribe of the previous verse was not a disciple.

Rather, he was just an opportunist looking to ingratiate himself to Jesus in order to somehow profit off of His ministry. Of this person now, it says that he “said to Him, ‘Lord, You permit me first.’”

The word epitrepó, to permit, is introduced here. It literally means “to upon turn.” In other words, it is an expression to be used in a figurative sense to mean permit, yield, allow, etc.

If one thinks of a wheel turning, one might say, “As the wheel turns, I want to do this.” It would indicate an interval of time being permitted for him to do the requested thing. In this case, this upon turning is “to go and inter my father.”

Another new word is used, thaptó, to inter. Saying “bury” is something that we generally do, and so it is what we think of. However, it says in translations of 1 Corinthians 15:4, using this same word, that Jesus was buried. That is technically not correct. He was entombed or interred.

This was a common form of disposing of a body in Israel. It would be placed in a tomb, allowed to decay, and then the bones would be collected and placed in an ossuary. This can be seen in the passage about Lazarus –

“Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’
⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ ⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’” John 11:38-44

This is also why it was pointed out that no one had been laid in the tomb where Jesus was interred before –

“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.” Luke 23:52, 53

The tombs were reused after the bones had been removed and placed in an ossuary. The disciple is saying to Jesus that he would follow Him, but he first had to tend to his father’s internment. The probable meaning is that his father was old and would need to be buried upon his death. He was asking for a chance to see him off before following him.

What precipitated this was that Jesus was going to go to the other side of the sea with His disciples. Not knowing how long this would be, based on what He said to the scribe, he didn’t want to abandon his father at the time of his passing.

The reason this is the likely scenario is that when a person died, the culture insisted on an immediate internment. A delay of twenty-four or fewer hours would not call for such a response. Rather, the unknown date of an elderly person’s passing could ostensibly go on for years.

Life application: In 1965, a lawyer named André-François Raffray signed a contract to buy the house of Jeanne Calment. At the time Jeanne was 90. André-François figured it wouldn’t be long until she punched her ticket, and so he agreed to pay 2500 francs a month until she died. This is about $500 in today’s dollars.

Raffray didn’t expect her to live to be 123 years old. In fact, he died in 1995 at 77 while Jeanne Calment, the seemingly Everlasting Bunny, was still a spry 120. She lived three more years while Raffray’s family continued to pay her the monthly agreed upon amount.

In all, the over-eager Raffray (and his family after him) paid Jeanne Calment a total of 918,000 francs. This was nearly double the amount that the apartment was worth.

Remembering this lesson, we need to not get ourselves into things without any set end to them lest we lose our shirts in the process. Eternity is forever. Be set in where you will go when you go. Invest in Jesus, the only true guarantee of eternal life in the presence of God. Do it today!

O God, we invest in a lot of things in this life. Many of them turn out to be bad decisions filled with loss. But even when they are successes, they will eventually fade away. Nothing is sure except that we are set to die and then face the judgment. May our judgment for salvation wisely be settled now by calling on Jesus! Amen.

Sunday, 16 March 2025

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows, and the birds of the sky encampings, and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus was approached by a scribe who told Him he would follow Him wherever He went. In response to that, it next says, “And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows.”

In these words, the alópéx is introduced. It is a burrowing animal and is figuratively used when speaking of a cunning person. The main typological idea of a fox in the Old Testament is one who trips others up. In the New Testament, the fox will only be seen again in a comparable passage in Luke 9:58 and one more time when speaking of Herod in Luke 13:32.

The reason for Jesus’ words is not yet apparent, but His words concerning the fox tell us that they have phóleos, burrows, where they can go. It is another new word found only here and in Luke 9:58 under the same context. It signifies a lair for animals in the form of a hole, thus a burrow. In such a place, foxes can secret themselves away. Jesus next continues with, “and the birds of the sky encampings.”

This is a third new word, kataskénósis, it is derived from kata, down against, and skénoó, a tent or tabernacle. As such, it literally means an encamping. It is also found only here and in Luke 9:58. Birds, like foxes, have a place to go where they can dwell with their own. However, the verse continues with, “and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline.”

This is a fourth new word, klinó. It is a primary verb meaning to slant or slope. As such, and because He is referring to a place to settle in, the word recline exactly fits the thought. When the day of labor is ended, a person reclines to eat and then further reclines to sleep.

The meaning is that, unlike the very basic necessities for the animals and birds, meaning a place to be with their own and to settle themselves for the needs of life, Jesus was without them. Instead, He was an itinerant traveler, not knowing where He would find rest from day to day.

This is also the first of thirty times in Matthew that the term Son of Man will be used when referring to Jesus. In total, it will be used about one hundred times in the New Testament. It refers to His human nature, having been born of a woman. Elsewhere, which began in Matthew 4:3, He is called the Son of God. This refers to His deity, having been conceived of God the Holy Spirit.

The point of Jesus’ words to this man is that He knew the scribe had not understood the purpose and goal of the ministry. Rather, he saw the crowds, figured he could gain from being with Jesus, and said he, too, would follow. Jesus knew what the scribe thought he would gain and spoke His words in a manner that would reveal His understanding of the man’s intent. There was no room for opportunists in a ministry that had no rooms booked for the night.

Life application: In Genesis 1, it says that God created everything to reproduce after its own kind. Apples produce more apples. Cows produce more cows. People produce more people. It is a fact that was set at the beginning, and it continues to be a fact today. To understand what God in Christ has done, a simple rule of interpretation based on Genesis 1 reveals the truth of the matter –

Jesus was born of a human female. Human females reproduce more humans. Jesus is a human. Thus, He is a Son of man, fully human.

Jesus was conceived of God’s Holy Spirit indicating that God is the Father of Jesus. As the Child bears the nature of the Father, Jesus is the Son of God.

The point of Genesis 1 telling us about the reproduction of all kinds continuing as the same kind is something we all understand, but the reason for telling this truth is to alert us to the fact in a purposeful way. It is also true that ice floats and that hydrogen explodes, but there is no need to tell us these things. They have no bearing on what is being detailed in Scripture.

But when we are given the truth about the nature of all living things, we should ask, “Why did God tell us this? We know it is true, so why bother?” The answer is that in proper theology, one plus one will always equal two. The doctrine of aberrant cults will quite often claim Jesus was not really a human or Jesus was not really God. But the pattern was set and it is without exception.

This is what God in Christ has done. To teach anything else about the nature of Jesus Christ than being fully God and fully human is heretical. It will lead to a false gospel, and it will lead to condemnation for those who fail to accept what God has done. Be careful to learn how to add. One plus one equals two.

O God, You have done it! You united with Your creation, coming in the Person of Jesus to restore us to You. Salvation is of the Lord. We give You all praise, honor, and glory for what You have done. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

Saturday, 15 March 2025

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Matthew 8:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having come, one scribe, he said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever, if You may go’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus saw many crowds around Him and commanded that He and the disciples depart to the other side. Having said that, Matthew next records, “And having come, one scribe.”

Nothing is said of who this is. It simply notes that he is one of the scribes. It is surmised, and likely so, that this person saw Jesus’ miracles and was impressed enough to follow Him. But the reasoning behind the decision appears to be for personal gain. It was just noted that there were “many crowds.”

Crowds consist of people. Many crowds mean lots of people. Where lots of people gather, money is usually abundant, even among the poor. Like with selling insurance, a little from each quickly adds to a big bank account. It is the rule of multiplication.

Jesus, on the other hand, wasn’t there for “many crowds.” Instead, He was there to accomplish the will of the Father, regardless of the gain He could receive. The scribes were already in a position to have wealth. He says nothing of giving up his current status. Instead, it next says that “he said to Him, ‘I will follow You wherever, if You may go.’”

Jesus is set to go to the other side. The scribe may have assumed He was going to increase the number of people he could encounter over there, thus increasing his possible income as well. This is all speculation, but Jesus’ answer to him in the coming verse appears to suggest it is a correct line of reasoning.

Life application: In the church today, like in the church throughout history, there is often the idea of gathering wealth through multiplication. It is normal for a pastor or preacher to want to increase the size and scope of his ministry. This should be expected because he is putting forth a message that he, hopefully, believes is true and is worth getting out to the masses.

However, a ministry can get quickly derailed from that original purpose by receiving exactly what it was looking for. By increasing in size, there is also a need for more space to meet. In making more space, which costs more money, there is then the need to make more in order to pay for the things it has taken on in the form of liabilities.

And so, more people are needed to help pay those incurred liabilities. As such, a ministry expands, gets a certain number of people to give, sees the money coming in, and then wants to expand again. One way this has been handled, which then takes the pressure off the local church, is to form denominations.

The RCC, for example, keeps the original structure of instruction but now places all the liabilities (and ultimate profits) under one main umbrella. That main body can now control the direction of all other churches under it. As more money is needed, it begins to assimilate aberrant teachings into it because it needs to keep the revenue stream going.

This is known as syncretism, the uniting of different beliefs, cultures, schools of thought, etc., as if each belief is acceptable within the larger umbrella. This is the RCC in a nutshell. It has innumerable false teachings at various levels and in various cultures that may not flow up or over, but they keep the local churches happy.

Sometimes, these aberrant teachings get an audience, and the entire church begins to accept them into their religious thinking. Having happy and content worshippers, regardless of the truth, is profitable. Therefore, a general state of apostasy begins to take over.

It has been seen in innumerable denominations over the past centuries. Today’s major denominations have doctrines that are completely at odds with the original teachings that established them. And the reason for this is almost always the same, money. Compromising for the sake of money, along with fame and power, is a hallmark of churches that expand too much or too quickly.

Be on guard concerning where you go and who you listen to. Subtle changes concerning doctrine within churches or denominations may not seem to be a big deal, but within a span of time, the people in the pews have been stewed into a state of complacency that they didn’t even realize had come about.

Only the wise will look around and say, “Things have changed, we need to move out of here before we are stewed along with everyone else.” How do you think abortion has become acceptable within so many denominations? What about homosexuality?

These denominations would never have tolerated such things when they started. But now, they permeate almost all churches within their scope of authority. In some cases, every single church has bowed the knee to such terrible changes in doctrine.

Glorious God Almighty, help us to be set in our doctrine early on. And we know that will not take place unless we are aware of what is proper. And we cannot do that unless we know Your word. Therefore, O God, give us the hunger, desire, and time necessary to know Your precious word. Amen.

Friday, 14 March 2025

And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Matthew 8:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having seen many crowds around Him, He ordered to depart to the other side” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus and His actions were shown by Matthew to be the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the healing of the people. With that thought complete, he next records, “And Jesus, having seen many crowds around Him.”

Some later manuscripts have the words in the singular, “And Jesus, having seen a great crowd around Him” (BLB). Either way, the thought is understood. He and His disciples were hemmed in by the thronging masses. They had worked tirelessly, but as noted by the words, the crowds continued to come. Therefore, it next says, “He ordered to depart to the other side.”

Here the word, keleuó, to urge on, is introduced. Strong’s defines its meaning as “to incite by word.” Thus, it gives the sense of commanding, ordering, bidding, instructing, encouraging, etc. Anything that will impel others to get up and accomplish a task is what is suggested.

They are currently located in Capernaum. It is in the very northwest area of the Sea of Galilee. From there, Jesus is instructing them to go to the eastern shore of the sea. One gets the sense that they need a break, as hinted by the statement about the many crowds.

Jesus and His disciples need to redirect things, and so taking a boat will hopefully provide them with the needed separation from those who are currently surrounding them. To walk would allow the crowds to follow them without providing any separation and relief.

Life application: Although it doesn’t explicitly say that Jesus needed rest, it can be deduced from the words concerning the crowds. During the trip, many things will come about, however, that are necessary inclusions in His life to fill up the narrative concerning His messiahship.

Once the trip across the sea is complete, Luke 8:40 says, “So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.” The crowds were there when they departed, and they anticipated His return.

It is not unlike our current state. Jesus fulfilled His messianic ministry, died in fulfillment of the law, and rose again, and then He finished His time here and ascended to heaven. We have been assured He will return for us. Are we eagerly awaiting that day?

The crowds anticipated His coming, knowing He would return. If we can fix our minds on the fact that Jesus is also returning, many of the things that disturb us from day to day will not matter, or they will find their proper place.

There were surely people left sick and troubled with various afflictions in the many crowds, but they knew Jesus would return and they would have their chance to find relief. In the church, there are all kinds of afflictions, griefs, troubles, and personal disasters. But Jesus is coming!

Don’t lose sight of the great and enduring promise we possess. This life is temporary, and it is woe-filled. For some, there are greater woes than others. But for each of us, there should be the eager anticipation that our day of uniting with the Lord will come. So be of good cheer as we wait for it.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Glorious God, we have lots of troubles in this life. They are sufficient to fill our days with greater hope that the promises of Jesus’ return will end them and that we will be in Your presence forever. We know the time is set, but if we can speed it along with our pleas, then we will gladly do so! Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, 13 March 2025

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“That it might be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ‘Himself, our infirmities – He took, and these diseases – He bore’” (CG).

In the previous verse, the people came to Jesus in the evening time. At that time, it says that He cast out the spirits and healed all who were brought to Him. Now Matthew states of this, “That it might be fulfilled.”

Matthew again ties the events of Jesus’ ministry to the words of prophecy. He is clearly and unambiguously saying by this that Jesus is the anticipated Messiah of Israel. Understanding that, he next records, “the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet.”

In other words, the Lord is said to be the ultimate Giver of the oracles of God. He spoke through His prophets, Isaiah in this case. This is a confirmation of the words of Peter –

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

Isaiah didn’t just write things that happened to come true, as if anyone could have fulfilled them in some aspect at some point in time. Rather, the words are breathed out by God the Holy Spirit through chosen prophets. From that point, they anticipated a particular moment when they would be fulfilled. Each prophecy has its own time and aspect of fulfillment.

In saying that Jesus is the One to fulfill these words of Isaiah, Matthew is thus saying that He is the Messiah promised by God. Understanding this, Matthew records his next words, “saying, ‘Himself, our infirmities – He took, and these diseases – He bore.’”

It is a quote from the Hebrew manuscript of Isaiah 53 –

“He is despised, and left of men, A man of pains, and acquainted with sickness, And as one hiding the face from us, He is despised, and we esteemed him not.
⁴ Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them, And we — we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3, 4 (YLT)

Of this healing, the Pulpit Commentary says –

“He did not perform miracles by magic (as is commonly asserted of him in the Talmud; cf. Laible, ‘Jesus Christ in Talmud,’ p. 44: Berlin, 1891),nor by the power of God exerted as it were externally on his behalf, nor by his own inherent Divine power, but by himself bearing the sicknesses that he removed. He wrought his miracles at his own expense, and that expense the greatest. The thought is far-reaching, and implies both that he bore the ultimate cause of sickness, the sin of the world (John 1:29), and also that each miracle of healing meant for him a fresh realization of what bearing the sin of the world included. In other words, the passage in Isaiah, as interpreted by St. Matthew, refers, not only to the Passion as such, but also to Christ’s suffering an earnest and a foretaste of it at each miracle.”

Jesus was willing to take on not only the sin of the world but also to taste the consequences of it with each healing. He understood the effects of sin in an absolute sense by the time He went to the cross to eradicate it forever for those who would come to Him by faith for healing.

Life application: Consider what God has done. He united with humanity in the womb of a virgin. He was born under the Law of Moses, the law that He had given to Israel. He felt the pains of walking long distances, losing family members through death, experiencing hunger and tiredness, etc. He also came to understand the effect of sin on humanity: demon-possessings, broken bones, illnesses, plagues of leprosy, fevers, etc.

Each of these would be intimately understood by Him before He went to the cross so that when He went, He would know that His atoning death would bring those who believed in Him to a point of spiritual perfection through sinlessness that they would, at the time of regeneration, allow them to be like Him. He knew this would come about so that when He went to the cross, Hebrews 12 says –

“…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Having experienced the temptations of things the world of sin offers, which includes the consequences of sin in humanity, He willingly accepted the cross, and He looked past the shameful trial He would endure. Instead, He looked to the joy that lay on the other side of the ordeal and prevailed over this world. God did this for each of us so that the joy set before Him includes each person redeemed through His atoning sacrifice. Thank God for Jesus Christ.

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1, 2

Lord God, what can we say? You have done it all, and we are the recipients of the greatness of it. Forever and ever, we shall hail Your exalted name through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, O God, great things You have done. Amen.