Matthew (Written)

Sunday, 7 September 2025

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Matthew 13:1

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 in that day, Jesus, having departed from the house, He sat by the sea” (CG).

In the previous verse, Chapter 12 finished with Jesus saying that whoever does the will of His Father in heaven is His brother and sister and mother. Chapter 13 now begins with, “And in that day.”

Such words as this will have various meanings based on the context. For example, the Lord may say, “In that day, I will rescue Israel.” Or we may read of the “Day of the Lord.” Such days actually reflect past or future events or extended periods of time. The same terminology is used in English as well.

However, there is no need to assume anything other than a literal rendering of the word here. Therefore, it is either referring to the previous verses or to something coming in the verses ahead. The most obvious and likely meaning is the day on which He had already been speaking. That this is likely is seen in the next words, where it says, “Jesus, having departed from the house.”

Jesus was specifically noted as being inside based on the words of Matthew 12:46 –

“While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.”

Noting His mother and brothers were outside means that He was inside. Now, having departed from that house, it next says, “He sat by the sea.”

This is the Sea of Galilee. The narrative is preparing to enter into more words from Jesus by introducing the location and circumstances.

Life application: Because Jesus was in a house, only a certain number of people could hear His words. That is clearly evidenced by the fact that His mother and brothers wanted to speak with Him. He was engaging the scribes and Pharisees in one setting. Even though His words are recorded now for all to know what went on in the house, at the time, what He said was not heard by the people.

However, Jesus’ heading out and sitting by the sea is a purposeful decision to allow His coming words to be heard and considered by many more people. As you read the gospels, think about what is going on in the surrounding context.

Jesus walks in various locations at various times. If the name of the location is given, it is certain that particular information is being provided to understand a greater picture. It is as if His very movements are forming a picture for us to consider.

Likewise, when He says something, it is quite possible that His words are fulfilling other pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures. For example, Jesus said, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).

In that sentence, Jesus equates Himself to the manna given to Israel in the wilderness. That is explained more fully in the surrounding words. But Jesus also noted that He comes down from heaven. In Hebrew, the word yarad, to descend, is used. It is where the name Jordan, or in Hebrew yarden, is derived.

In studying the uses of yarden in the Old Testament, amazing pictures of Christ, the Descender, will be seen. The very topography of the land of Israel is noted in Scripture to tell us greater stories of Jesus, His work, and how it applies to His people.

But typology can be manipulated. It is easy to “make anything say anything” and claim that is what the Bible is saying. So be careful as you read the word and make conclusions about things you read. Also, be careful about how people present typology.

Something may sound right, but be completely wrong. There must be a reasonable connection to what is being said, and the typological representations must be consistently used. If they are properly searched out and presented, truly amazing stories of God’s redemptive plans will shine through.

Consider what God is telling you, both on the surface and how it points to Jesus. This is what Jesus told us would be the case as we read this precious word –

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39

Lord God, what an intricate and amazing word You have given us. There are many levels of information being conveyed to us all at the same time. Your word is a marvel and a delight for our minds to consider, wonder at, and rejoice in. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.

Saturday, 6 September 2025

For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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).

To read the translation of Chapter 12 on YouTube (Click here), or at Rumble (Click here).

“For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,’ he – he is – My brother and sister and mother” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus extended His hand toward the disciples and exclaimed, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” In order to explain that, He next says, “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens.’”

Jesus sets the parameters for whom He is referring from the previous verse, explaining what He meant. But what is the “determination of My Father” that He is referring to? The answer to the thought is found in John 6 –

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’
²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:26

This explains what Jesus is referring to. Jesus is not (by a long shot) telling His hearers that they must observe the Law of Moses. That is what Jesus came to fulfill. He is not telling us that He is kin to the stock of Israel and that we must bless them to receive a blessing, even if His literal descent is from Israel. He does not say that those who have big churches full of wealthy congregants are His family.

The famous, beautiful, athletic, politically connected, royalty, etc., are excluded without believing in Jesus. Cutting out all categories of people, Jesus identifies those whom He is referring to as those doing “the ‘determination of’” His Father. To exactingly identify them, He next closes out Matthew 12, emphatically saying, “he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”

Genealogy is excluded. This is why Paul says –

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

Paul further says –

“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:20, 21

It is true that at the time of Jesus’ ministry, those of Israel who were under the law were expected to observe the law. Nobody should dispute that. But Jesus’ words in John 6, as explained by Paul and the other apostles in the epistles, tell us that we are to have faith in the works of the Son. His works include sinless perfection in His life before the law, His death in fulfillment of it, and His resurrection, which proved that it was so. Belief in this is what God expects of His people. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Life application: To cut out much of the theological error that rushes your way from the pulpit, computer, TV screen, etc., remember what God is doing in the world as explained in Scripture. God has a plan of redemption set forth to restore humanity to Himself.

That plan of redemption is based on the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan, centered on His Son, is often co-opted by those who want to control others in various ways. At the time of the early church, it was Judaizers coming in and trusting in the flesh, boasting over those they circumcised.

As the church developed, various cults and sects have arisen to pull people away from the gospel. Eventually, the church became such a large and powerful entity that it exalted itself and its doctrines above the simple gospel. Because of this, the reformation occurred.

In America, a nation that allows freedom of religion, people took advantage of others by proclaiming aberrant ideas through a manipulation of Scripture. Sometimes, there is the exalting of a particular version of Scripture, not Jesus, who is the focus of that Scripture, as a supposed necessary condition for salvation.

Today, unconditionally supporting Israel, a nation that has rejected Jesus at this point, is said to be a necessary condition for receiving God’s blessing. In fact, this false teaching is explicitly taught by many supposed Jesus-centered ministries. It is Jesus, not a person, Bible version, nation, or denomination, who brings salvation.

When should believers support a church? The answer is when that church proclaims the gospel. When should believers exalt a people group or nation? The answer is when that nation exalts Jesus Christ. Israel, as a nation, has not yet done this. But unlike other nations, they are explicitly prophesied as someday doing so. For this reason, prayers for them should be raised to God that His will be done in this rebellious group of people.

At the same time, we should be willing to evangelize and pray for all people, telling them about the saving message of Jesus Christ. This alone will bring people to a right relationship with God.

“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, ⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:8-11

Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Help us to have our priorities right, clearly thinking through what it means to be in a right standing before You. Your word tells us what it is! It is through faith in Him and what He has done. Yes, thank You for this simple gospel. Amen.

Matthew 12 (CGT)

12 In that time, Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields, and His disciples, they hungered, and they began to pluck kernels and eat. ² And the Pharisees, having seen, they said to Him, “You behold! Your disciples, they do what it permits not to do in Sabbath.” ³ And He said to them, “Not you read what he did, David, when he hungered, he and those with him? ⁴ How he entered into the house of God and the bread ‘the before-setting’ they ate, which not it is being permitted him to eat, nor those with him, if not the priests only? ⁵ Or not you read in the law that, the Sabbaths, the priests in the temple the Sabbath profane, and they are guiltless? ⁶ And I say to you that the temple – greater, it is here. ⁷ And if you had known what it is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ not you condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For Lord, He is – even of the Sabbath – the Son of Man.”

⁹ And having departed thence, He went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ And, you behold! Man, he is, having a withered hand. And they queried Him, saying, ‘If it permits, the Sabbaths, to cure?’ That they should accuse Him.

¹¹ And He said to them, “What man, he will be from you, who he will have one sheep, and if this, it should fall into a pit on the Sabbaths, not he will seize it and he will raise it? ¹² Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep! So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good.” ¹³ Then He says to the man, ‘You outstretch your hand.’ And he outstretched it, and it reconstituted, healthy as the other. ¹⁴ And the Pharisees, they took counsel against Him, having gone out, how they might kill Him.

¹⁵ And Jesus, having known, He withdrew thence. And they followed Him, great crowds. And He cured them all. ¹⁶ And He admonished them that not they should make Him apparent. ¹⁷ That it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken’ through Isaiah the prophet, saying:

¹⁸ “You behold! My Servant whom I chose,
My beloved in whom it approved, My soul,
I will place My Spirit upon Him,
And judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim.
¹⁹ Not He will wrangle, nor He will clamor,
Nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice.
²⁰ A reed, being battered, not He will break,
And flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish,
Until if He ejects judgment into victory.
²¹ And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope.”

²² Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,’ blind and mute, and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see. ²³ And they were astounded, all the crowds. And they said, “Not any, this, He is the Son of David?”

²⁴ And the Pharisees, having heard, they said, “This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.” ²⁵ And Jesus, having known their thoughts, He said to them, “Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates, and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand. ²⁶ And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself. How then, it will stand, his kingdom? ²⁷ And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject? Through this they, they will be your judges. ²⁸ And if in God’s Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God’s kingdom.’ ²⁹ Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods through-seize, if not first he should bind the strong? And then, his house he will through-seize. ³⁰ The ‘not being with Me,’ he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,’ he scatters.

³¹ Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men, but the ‘Spirit blasphemy’ not it will be forgiven men. ³² And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming.

³³ Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good, or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten. For from the fruit, the tree – it is known. ³⁴ Viper’s offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the surplus of the heart, the mouth, it speaks.

³⁵ The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil. ³⁶ And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men, they will render a word about it in judgment day. ³⁷ For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned.”

³⁸ Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.” ³⁹ And having answered, He said to them, “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet. ⁴⁰ For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker’s belly three days and three nights, thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth’s heart three days and three nights. ⁴¹ Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah’s greater is here! ⁴² Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And you behold! Solomon’s greater is here.

⁴³ And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.’ And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,’ having been swept and having been arranged. ⁴⁵ Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”

⁴⁶ And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers had stood without seeking to speak to Him. ⁴⁷ And, he said, someone to Him, “You behold! Your mother and Your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.” ⁴⁸ And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him’, “Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And having extended His hand to His disciples, He said, “You behold! My mother and My brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,’ he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”

Friday, 5 September 2025

And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Matthew 12:49

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 extended His hand to His disciples, He said, ‘You behold! My mother and My brothers’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus rhetorically questioned who His mother and His brothers are. Having so questioned, He immediately provides the response, “And having extended His hand to His disciples.”

One can see Matthew, along with the others, observing His actions and probably feeling overwhelmed by the coming words. Noting that He extended His hand provides a warm and graphic gesture described by eyewitness testimony. Upon extending His hand, “He said, ‘You behold! My mother and My brothers.’”

The words do not exclude Mary and His brothers. They simply make a point that trying to pin down a family relationship based on blood or genealogy as an exceptional excuse to either a right-standing with the Lord or some type of added holiness based on near kinship is an invalid proposition.

Rather, those who are considered nearest of all to the Redeemer are those who will be described in the next verse. When thinking this through, one can see that the cult of Mary, which has so grotesquely permeated the Roman Catholic Church, is completely excluded by Jesus’ words in this verse. It is an aberrant teaching that completely misdirects people from what God intends for us to focus on.

Life application: The church has gone through much misdirection, many redirections, and constant ups and downs since its inception. There have always been groups, sects, cults, and aberrant offshoots that claim to be the true way in relation to what Christ offers. For example, the Roman Catholic Church claims to be the true church. Baptism in it supposedly leads to a right relationship with God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that they alone are following the proper path that was restored after eons of apostasy. The same is true with Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism, the Church of Christ, and on and on and on (and on). So many supposedly lay claim to the truth as if they alone possess what the Savior offers freely to the whole world.

An example of this, and one that both started with the early church and that has also arisen in modern times, is refuted by Jesus’ words in this and the surrounding verses. It is the cult of the Judaizer, which today is most prominently known as Hebrew Roots.

Everything Jewish is exalted. Being Jewish implies a special connection to the Messiah. People who fit this condition are exalted, not because they have any special qualifications, abilities, or biblical understanding, but simply because they are Jewish.

So much is this the case that some teachers claim to be of Jewish descent even though they don’t have any genealogical ties to the Jewish people. However, they know that by making the claim, people will follow their teachings, cling to them as if they have a special connection to the Messiah, and fawn over them as if they were rock stars.

People in Israel hear about how profitable it is to be a Christian teacher or singer and work feverishly to establish themselves as sound, responsible, Messiah-loving servants. Unfortunately, innumerable people are duped by such people because they have failed to know Scripture.

They get sucked into law observance in various degrees and spend their lives trying to measure up to impossible standards set by theological quacks when the avenue to salvation has already been paved by Jesus. It is through faith in Him and what He has done that leads the lost soul back to God. Nothing else will do.

If someone has Jewish blood, speaks Hebrew, or was born in Israel, Jesus would say, “So what!” if their teaching is unsound. He expects us to follow Scripture because Scripture reveals Him to us. Don’t waste your time following such people. Read your Bible and follow Jesus!

Lord God, help us to think properly about our standing with You. The gospels have been recorded to show us that Jesus is the Messiah, that He fulfilled the prophecies that speak of His coming, and that He fulfilled the law that stood against the people. In His fulfillment of it, restoration through what He has done is available. May we remember this and cling to JESUS! Amen.

Thursday, 4 September 2025

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” Matthew 12:48

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 answering, He said to the ‘telling Him’, ‘Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus was told that His mother and brothers were outside seeking to speak with Him. Matthew next records, “And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him’, ‘Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?’”

The words seem curiously distant, as if Jesus is removing Himself from the family relationship He was born into. This is not the case. It needs to be remembered who He has been speaking to. Earlier, it said –

“And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’
²⁴ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’” Matthew 12:23, 24

Since then, He has been speaking to them concerning their accusation, carefully refuting it. It said in verse 46, “While He was still talking to the multitudes…” This tells us that it has been an ongoing speech. The scribes and Pharisees had accused Jesus not only of not being the Messiah (the Son of David), but that He was in league with the devil.

Therefore, in being presented with the note of His mother and brothers coming to speak to Him, He is taking the opportunity to further refute the accusation of the Pharisees. That will be seen in verse 12:50 as the chapter closes out.

Life application: Various charges against both Jesus and Mary have been made because of the words in these final verses of the chapter. Some may accuse Jesus of not living in accordance with the command to honor His mother according to the law. Such an accusation is unfounded. The gospels bear witness to His concern for her, even to His dying words on the cross.

Likewise, there are those who take Jesus’ words to extremes, not even hinted at concerning Mary. Without addressing their inane comments directly due to their ridiculous nature, the reason for their words comes back to contempt for Roman Catholicism’s inexcusable fixation on Mary in other ways.

Because of RCC doctrine, and in order to start a tit for tat war of words, Mary as a person is purposefully diminished and disparaged. This intentional poking serves no purpose except to stir up animosity between parties. If there was any substance to what they were saying, they would include the brothers of Jesus in their comments as well.

The words Jesus conveys, when properly understood, are exactly how the Savior of the world would be expected to respond. They form another strong contradiction to the accusations of the scribes and Pharisees. They also support the notion that those who are in a right standing with God are not those who trust in their own merits, like these accusers. Rather, they will reveal those who are favored by the Messiah in the redemptive process that God has set forth.

Lord God, thank You for the wisdom that is carefully revealed in Your word that can, if we analyze it properly, impart that wisdom to us as well. May we carefully consider Scripture as Your word, intended to build us up in the knowledge of who You are and what You are doing in the world as You guide us back to Yourself. Amen.

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” Matthew 12:47

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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, he said, someone to Him, ‘You behold! Your mother and your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus’ mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Now, it says, “And, he said, someone to Him, ‘You behold! Your mother and your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.’”

This verse is lacking in several ancient texts. Some claim it is an insertion to bridge the thoughts of verse 12:46 and 12:48. The main contents are close to those of the previous verse, but this verse more poignantly ties the brothers with Mary.

In other words, it would be easier to say that verse 12:46 could refer to Mary and some other close relatives who are not necessarily sons of Mary. However, when someone speaks to Jesus of Mary and the brothers in the same breath, it heavily implies that they are of the same intimate family.

As such, it seems likely that rather than being an inserted bridge, the words belong in the text and were dropped out for some unstated reason. The “perpetual virginity of Mary” was introduced into Christian lore early on, being found in the late second-century text known as the Protoevangelium of James, a book never canonized.

This early distraction from the admonition to seek Jesus as the point and purpose of Scripture soon blossomed and has become a source of real apostasy within the church.

Life application: Mary is mentioned only a few times in Scripture. When she is, it is always in relation to the Person of Jesus, even if He is not directly mentioned. The last time she is mentioned is in Acts 1:14, noting her among the other believers. Even then, she is called “the mother of Jesus.”

Someone had to be the mother of Jesus in order for Jesus to be incarnated. Mary was selected because she fit the ancient prophecies about Jesus. For example, she was a virgin, she was betrothed to Joseph, whose registry was Bethlehem, and who later returned to Nazareth, etc. Each of these things was necessary to bring about the fulfillment of prophecies that refer to Jesus. Mary’s role in them, though necessary, was incidental to this fact.

When evaluating Scripture, we are to search for Jesus. Studying the Bible to find clues about the “other world,” as many do, is mentally exciting but ultimately a waste of time. And yet, it is studies, videos, and TV shows about this type of thing that enraptures many. It brings fame and a lot of money, but it serves no purpose in glorifying God.

If one is not looking for Jesus, what He has done, or how it bears on the lives of His people, that time in the Bible was not properly focused. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know about things that are mentioned concerning side issues, but that those things should not be our main line of focus.

Teachings about wealth, abundant life, being prosperous, etc., are self-centered. Teachings about extra-worldly encounters with angels or UFOs, or the different levels of heaven, are misguided or even entirely incorrect. Those who constantly pursue end times prophecy have an unsound fixation that misdirects their thoughts away from Jesus.

The list of such things goes on and on. Why is this? It is because what should be man’s highest desire and goal, that of intimately knowing and fellowshipping with God, is not our normal priority. We should actively remind ourselves from day to day to change that and seek the Lord first in all things. In doing this, our priorities will be properly aligned.

Lord God, may our greatest desire be a close relationship with You. May our hearts seek You through Your word, searching for Jesus who has made the bridge back to You possible. Open our eyes as we read Your word, revealing Him and His greatness as we are drawn into Your very presence through Him. Amen.