Matthew 14 – 16
Today’s reading starts off with one of the more twisted stories on the death of John the Baptist. He was in prison for chastising Herod for what I can only assume is having an affair with his brother’s wife, Herodias. Her daughter danced before Herod and “pleased” him, which prompted the promise that ended with John the Baptist’s beheading. This was against Herod’s best judgment, but he allowed his privates to run his life.
Jesus feed 5000 in chapter 14 and then 4000 in chapter 15 and both times the disciples question his ability to do this. I often wonder why they questioned this the second time, they had more bread and less people! Plus they saw this happen before. My question is are they really that forgetful?
Verse 15:7 caught my eye as Jesus was rebuking the Pharisees for twisting the law of honoring your father AND mother:
You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
Then he quotes Isaiah 29:13, which interestingly we talked about yesterday. The “gist” of the scripture is how we often say one thing and do another. This reminds me of a famous “father” quote that fathers have used for generations to their children; “Do as I SAY, not as I DO!”
Verses 15:10-20 go into the food laws and how what goes in a person is digested and expelled and does not defile the eater. Peter and his vision in Acts 10 of eating unclean food, which says it’s ok to eat these foods. The point being the legalism behind the food laws created a man made “sin”. Verse 18 really holds the key to what Jesus was saying:
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
See what comes out of one’s mouth really shows what is in your heart. Yes, you can follow the law to the letter, but unless your heart is there your words will display what is really the underling motive. The Pharisees thought so highly of themselves they consider their world holier than God’s by changing the meaning of one of the 10 commandments.
It amazes me how many people watch these miracles and hears the words of Jesus, yet many still do not believe. Verse 16:4 Jesus says the “sign” that will make people believe:
An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
This took some thinking about, but the “sign of Jonah” Jesus is talking about is when he was swallowed by the giant fish for three days and spat out before Nineveh. I really like the story of Jonah and never really saw it from this perspective. Jesus is foretelling his death and resurrection, which is symbolized in Jonah’s time in the fish. Everyone thought he was gone, yet he returned to finish his business!
The final verse I want to explore is 16:26:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
This digs deep at my heart since I focus so much on money and purging debt. Unfortunately if I had followed biblical financial principles of sharing 10% with the needy, saving 10% and living off the rest while not getting in debt, I would not be in the position I am today. This is the most important lesion my parents taught me that I can give you children; spend less than you make and keep doing it.
But where this scripture digs deep for me is my focus more often than naught gets dragged to finances and less to God. God does not want us to be destitute, but He does not want our attention or focus removed from him.