— Matthew chapter 27

The religious leaders had no fear Jesus would rise from the dead. That was impossible. What they feared was His disciples stealing Jesus’ body and proclaiming His resurrection. “This deception will be worse than the first.”

The Roman Prefect assigned a guard to the priests with the rather sarcastic instruction, “Make the tomb as secure as you know how.” The priests put a seal on the tombstone enclosing the tomb and posted the guard at the tomb.

Guarding a dead man—cushy duty. What could happen?

— Matthew chapter 27

Four criminals are connected with the Cross. Two had been convicted. The two others confessed their guilt.

Betrayer
Jesus’ embrace of an unnamed woman’s public, costly anointing was the event Matthew connects with Judas’ decision to betray Jesus. Remember Judas had received miraculous power from Jesus, but later sold Him out.

How could one of Jesus' own apostles betray Him?

— Matthew chapter 25

A day or two before Jesus was arrested and subsequently crucified, He assured believers that He would return “in glory, and all the angels with Him. He will sit on His glorious throne and all the nations will be gathered before Him.”

Jesus claimed He would return—no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He shall return with glory and power—uncloaked. Angel armies shall accompany Him.

— Matthew chapter 24

A few days prior to being crucified, Jesus promised His disciples He would return … on clouds … with angels … in glory and power. Interestingly, Jesus said He didn’t know the date of His return. Only the Father knows.

I’ve always been fascinated by Bible prophecy. As a teenager, every summer I’d pray Jesus would return before school began. Today I’m approaching retirement. The apostle Peter wrote the Lord is not slow keeping His promise to return. “Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

— Matthew chapter 24

A few days prior to being crucified, Jesus told His disciple the Jerusalem temple would be destroyed. This prophesy shocked His disciples. The temple was the house of Yahweh. How could it be destroyed? The destruction of the temple seemed like the end of the world.

So later, privately, they asked Jesus, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

— Matthew chapter 23

In the expansive courtyard of the Jerusalem temple, Jesus condemned the temple rulers and religious leaders. He called them hypocrites, blind guides, children of hell, fools, and snakes.

Bible scholars suggest at least three goals propelled Jesus’ provocative teaching and insulting sarcasm.

— Matthew chapter 20

Peter Schmiechen writes in Saving Power that “Jesus gathered disciples, taught, did miracles, created a new covenant, was crucified and raised from the dead. Salvation results from these historic events.

“The crucifixion and resurrection are displays of power which, in and of themselves, are unintelligible. The meaning of neither event is self-evident—demonstrated by the apostles fear and confusion. Both the cross and the resurrection are terrifying and attractive. Both assume God was involved. Atonement theories attempt to make intelligible what was accomplished via the cross and resurrection.”

— Matthew chapter 19

By most every measure Christianity is in decline in America and Europe. Church attendance is down. Cathedrals are being re-purposed into architectural shrines—people come to gawk at what men created instead of worship the Creator.

Sociologists report the decline of Christianity in Europe accelerated after WW1. Comprehending that some 8,500,000 Christians had just been slaughtered by “Christian nations,” Europeans began to question the veracity of Christianity.

— Matthew chapter 18

Jesus repeatedly told His apostles that He was going to Jerusalem to die, then rise from the dead. This plan seemed beyond the apostles’ comprehension. They followed Jesus believing He was Messiah. Peter identified Jesus as Messiah. Jesus confirmed Peter’s claim.

A suffering Messiah was incomprehensible for 1st century Jews. They expected Messiah would be a warrior and their champion, a priest and their king. Messiah was supposed to be a “winner” who would expel the Roman occupation and purge the political priesthood.

— Matthew chapter 16

1st century religious leaders asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven demonstrating He had God’s approval and acted with divine authority. Those who seek a sign raise three problems.

First, they test God. Matthew recounts the religious leaders “tested” Jesus by asking for a sign. Shockingly, Matthew identified the religious leaders with the devil who “tested” Jesus in the wilderness. Question is: why did these religious leaders not join the crowds following Jesus? If they had they would have witnessed miracles. Other religious leaders in the crowds following Jesus saw miracles.

— Matthew chapter 13

Parable: literally, comparison. To compare things side-by-side; an instructive example, to convey a truth by use of comparison or analogy.

1st century Jews shared a common understanding of how their God would restore the kingdom of Israel. It was widely presumed Messiah would be a champion-warrior-king-priest similar to the ancient King David. Popular belief insisted Messiah would somehow drive out political priests from control of the temple, drive away the Roman occupation, and re-inaugurate the ancient empire of David and Solomon. Many believed that renewed empire would become the dominant religious and economic force in the world.

— Matthew chapter 8

Being a person of faith is culturally acceptable. As is being a spiritual person. Having faith or identifying as a spiritual person better aligns with Christianity than does materialism.

Gospel faith, however, is very specific. New Testament faith is faith in Jesus. The eighth chapter of Matthew provides readers seven encounters of what faith in Jesus looks like.