Matthew 19-21

Matthew 19

Teaching on Divorce 

• Jesus leaves Galilee and enters Judea
• Pharisees: “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”
• This reflects two major rabbinic schools:
  • Hillel (permissive: almost any reason)
  • Shammai (restrictive: sexual immorality only)
• Jesus responds by going back to creation:
  • Genesis 1:27  male and female
  • Genesis 2:24  one flesh union
• He emphasizes:
  • marriage is God’s design
  • “What God has joined together, let not man separate”
• Pharisees press further about Moses allowing divorce (Deut 24:1)
• Jesus explains:
  • it was permitted because of hardness of heart
  • not God’s original intention
• Disciples react by saying marriage sounds difficult and Jesus responds:
  • not all can accept this
  • introduces idea of celibacy “for the kingdom”

People bring children for Jesus to lay hands on them and pray, despite disciples rebuking them. 

The Rich Young Ruler 

• A wealthy young man approaches Jesus asking: “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
• Jesus first points him to the commandments
  • The man claims he has kept them
• Jesus then exposes his heart:“Go, sell what you possess, give to the poor, and follow me”
  • The man leaves in sadness
• Jesus teaches:
  • difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom
  • “camel through the eye of a needle”
• Disciples: “Who then can be saved?”
  • “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”
• Peter asks about their reward and Jesus promises:
  • future restoration (“new world”)
  • thrones, inheritance, eternal life
  • “first will be last, last first”

Matthew 20

Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 

• A landowner hires workers throughout the day:
  • early morning, mid-day, late afternoon
• All agree to work; early workers expect more pay (working longer hours)
• BUT at the end of the day: everyone receives the same wage (a denarius)
• Early hour workers complain
• The landowner responds:
  • he is just (paid what was agreed)
  • he is generous (free to give more to others)

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus privately tells the twelve:

• He will be delivered to religious leaders
• condemned
• handed over to Gentiles
• mocked, flogged, crucified
• raised on the third day

The mother of James and John asks Jesus for positions of honor for her sons

• Jesus asks if they can “drink the cup” (suffering) and they say yes
• Jesus affirms they will suffer, but positions are determined by the Father
• Other disciples become upset. Jesus teaches:
  • Gentile rulers lord it over them
  • in the kingdom, greatness is based on servanthood
  • “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”

 Healing of Two Blind Men 

• As Jesus leaves Jericho, two blind men cry out: “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
• The crowd tries to silence them but they get louder
• Jesus touches their eyes
• They are healed and follow Him

Matthew 21

Triumphal Entry 

• Jesus approaches Jerusalem and sends disciples to retrieve a donkey and colt
• This fulfills prophecy:
  • Zech 9:9 a humble king on a donkey
• Crowds spread cloaks and branches on the road
• They shout: “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
  • הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא Hosian na – save now!

Cleansing the Temple 

• Jesus enters the temple courts and drives out:
  • money changers
  • sellers of animals
• He overturns tables and declares:
  • “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Isa 56:7)
  • “but you make it a den of robbers” (Jer 7:11)
• He heals the blind and lame in the temple

Fig Tree Cursed 

• Jesus, hungry, approaches a fig tree with leaves but no fruit
• He curses it and it immediately withers
• Jesus uses the moment to teach about:
  • faith can mountains 
  • pray in faith
• Fig tree can symbolize Israel (Hos 9:10)

Religious leaders question Jesus’ authority

• Jesus responds with a counter-question about John’s baptism “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
  • They know they can’t say “heaven” because they did not believe John, but they cannot say “man” for it will upset the crowd. They stay silent. 
• Jesus refuses to answer their question

Two Parables of Judgment

A. Two Sons 

• One son refuses to listen to father but then obeys
• Other agrees with father but does not act
• Religious leaders forced to admit obedience matters more than words

B. Tenants in the Vineyard 

• Landowner sends servants to collect fruit from his property but they are beaten/killed
• Finally sends his son and they kill him too
• Jesus asks what the owner will do? He will put them to death

Psalm 118: “…stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…”

• Israel’s leaders rejected God’s messengers and now His Son
• Kingdom will be given to others

Application

God calls us to keep our promises to one another, especially within the covenantal bonds of marriage. To follow Christ is not easy, as we see with the rich man who is unable to give up his possessions. Christ calls us into obedience, not just agreeing with Him.