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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 249

Ministering in the Face of Danger

Text: Matthew 19 : 1 - 12

Jesus had already foretold His own future! He prepared His disciples to accept as the will of God the sufferings that He must endure. Yes, He would die at the hands of wicked people in Jerusalem itself (Cf. Matthew 16:21). There was absolutely no fear in the heart of Jesus. He proved that when He continued to minister as normal in Judea itself.

“Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings,
that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea
beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes followed Him, and
He healed them there.”
MATTHEW 19:1-2

No one in the crowd could imagine that very soon, Jesus would die in Jerusalem! Only His closest disciples knew that their Master, in choosing to minister in Judea, was heading for certain death! The strength that was obviously in Jesus must have been truly formidable! Nothing seemed to have fazed Him at all!

Jesus saw the multitudes and His compassion was stirred. Thus He ministered to all who came to Him! He knew only too well, that His public ministry would end soon. Thus He must minister all He could. Matthew recorded that Jesus departed from Galilee for the last time!

YET ANOTHER TEST

The test questions that Jesus’ enemies came up with became increasingly trickier and tougher. The enemies must have considered things very carefully before they approached Jesus. They still harboured the dream that they could catch Jesus out one day.

“The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him,
‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?'”
MATTHEW 19:3

1. A common problem

The Pharisees surfaced a problem that prevailed in the Roman Empire at that time. It was a problem that also affected Israel. It was the question of divorce.

2. A human problem rather than a theological problem?

The Pharisees had been defeated many times by Jesus when they brought up theological issues! They gave grudging respect to the obviously superior knowledge of Jesus with reference to the Scriptures. A new angle had to be found. The issue of divorce was brought up. In their mind, this issue was more of a human problem than a theological one. How would Jesus answer their question? Would He make reference to the Scriptures as He did in the past?

SURPRISED BY JESUS AGAIN!

The Pharisees must have been taken aback by the way Jesus once again made reference to the Scriptures!

“And He answered and said to them,
‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning
made them male and female, and said,
‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.'”
MATTHEW 19:4-6

1. Reference to the Scriptures all the time!

Jesus’ constant reference to the Scriptures must have stood out to the Pharisees, even if they did not seem to know them very well!

2. Reference to the Book of Genesis

Jesus sought to answer the question of the Pharisees in far greater depth than they would have preferred.

a) The Pharisees only wanted an opinion from Jesus concerning divorce

If Jesus had only done that, then the Pharisees knew that they would have a chance to pounce on a point or two that could be used against Him.

b) Jesus chose to give a full answer instead

Jesus knew that the Pharisees were out to trick Him into saying something that could be used against Him. The wisest course of action would be to deal with any and every question in depth.

c) Tracing Things Back to the Original Plan of God

i) There was every reason to appeal to the Scriptures!

ii) The Scriptures were authoritative.

iii) They were highly instructive.

iv) They were meant to be obeyed!

v) With these thoughts in mind, Jesus sought to apply the Scriptures at every turn!

3. Deeper Underlying Problems

Instead of discussing the issue of divorce immediately, Jesus sought to engage the Pharisees in the discussion of their understanding of the teachings of the Scripture concerning marriage! Had they not read the Scriptures? Why were they so caught up with divorce? Should they not deal with other, deeper, issues?

Knowledge of God and His will, obedience to that revealed will of God etc should be their main concerns, rather than to find a quick solution to marital problems! Jesus had to raise up these issues first to set things in proper Biblical perspective.