Division IV
(Matthew 13:54 – 19:1)
13:54-17:27 Narrative: Disciple Acknowledgment and Healing Miracles
13:54-58 Nazareth Rejects Jesus
His Own Country
Jesus’ own country would be Nazareth.
Craftsman's Son
The Greek word, τέκτων=tektōn, or the Latin, faber, usually means a worker in wood, a craftsman, a master in any art.
Some have said that Joseph was a stonemason, since tektōn can imply any type of craftsman, that Nazareth was so close to Sepphoris where work was available, because trees were not abundant and that houses were made of stones.
However, in Justin Martyr’s, Dialogue With Trypho, written around 160 A.D. he uses the word tektōn for carpenter with the explanation of Jesus, “He was in the habit of working as a carpenter when among men, making ploughs and yokes…” *
* http://khazarzar.skeptik.net/books/justinus/tryphong.htm
* http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-dialoguetrypho.html
James, Joses, Simon, and Judas
James, Joses, Simon, and Judas are named as the brethren of the Lord.
From Scripture, we know that James the Less and Joses were sons of Mary of Cleopas, and James the Less was also the son of Alphaeus.
According to Papias, these were the sons of Mary of Cleopas, the daughter of Joseph, who was married to Alphaeus.*
Years later, when Joseph married young Mary, these four brothers became Jesus’ nephews through their grandfather, Joseph. However, Mary was a close relative to Joseph, making these four brothers some sort of cousins removed to Jesus.
Sounds complicated, because it is!
James
James (the Less or Just) of Alphaeus and Mary of Cleopas was one of the twelve apostles. He became the first bishop of Jerusalem and wrote the Epistle of James.* Leading the church Council of Jerusalem in 50 or 51 AD, he helped decide in favor concerning the Gentile followers. He was martyred in Jerusalem in 62 AD.
He should not be confused with James (the Great), another apostle and a son of Zebedee.
* Galatians 1:19
Joses
Simon
Simon of Jerusalem was one of the 70 apostles. After the martyrdom of James his brother, Simon was chosen as bishop of Jerusalem. In 63 AD, he was arrested by Procurator L. Albinus, but released. Before the Jewish War of 66-73 AD, Simon led most of the Christians across the Jordan to Pella. Because he was a descendant of King David and a Christian, he was tortured and crucified by the Romans somewhere between 99-102 AD, dying when he was around 100 years old.
He should not be confused with Simon Peter, another apostle.
Judas
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 13:54-58
54 and having come to his own country, He was teaching them in their synagogue, so as they were astonished and saying, ‘From where to this man this wisdom and the mighty powers?
55 ‘is not this the craftsman’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 ‘and his sisters, are they not all with us? Therefore, from where to this man are all these things?’
57 and they were stumbled at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not unhonored except in his own
country, and in his own house:”
58 and He did not there many mighty powers, because of their faithlessness.
14:1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded
Tetrarch
Tetrarch means ruler of four provinces. When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided into four parts. His son, Herod Antipas, received the provinces of Galilee and Perea.
Herod Antipas
After Herod Antipas divorced his first wife Phaesalis, he married Herodias. Phaesalis was the daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea (Petra), and Herod’s action against Phaesalis caused war with King Aretas IV.
Also, Herodias was Herod’s half-brother’s wife, and such a marriage was considered detestable.
Birthday-feast
The location of the birthday-feast was located at the Macherus fortress in Perea, in modern Jordan. *
Birthdays were not celebrated by Jews and early Christians because of the pagan roots. **
* Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 18.5.2 18.118
** Josephus, Against Apion 2.26
Dispatched
To dispatch soldiers was for the purpose of beheading John the Baptist.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 14:1-12
1 At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report of Jesus,
2 and said to his young servants, “This is John the Baptist, he did rise from the dead; and on account of this the mighty powers are operating in Him.”
3 For Herod having laid hold on John, bound him and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother.
4 For John was saying to him, “It is not allowed for thee to have her,” [1]
5 and willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him. [2]
6 But the birthday-feast of Herod being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod,
7 wherefore with an oath he granted to give her whatever if she might ask.
8 And she having been lead on by her mother, `Give me, she declares, here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.
9 And the king was grieved, but on account of the oaths and of those reclining at table, he commanded it to be given;
10 and having dispatched, he beheaded John in the prison,
11 and his head was brought on a platter, and was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples having come, took up the body, and buried it, and having come, reported it to Jesus.
14:13-21 Five Loaves and Two Fishes
Desolate Place
Jesus had probably sailed to the northern side of the Sea of Galilee.
Central Theme: Five
The number five represents grace.
Here, Jesus is represented by five loaves and two fishes.
Blessed, Having Broken, Gave
After He took the five loaves and two fishes, Jesus blessed, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to pass around.
A κόφινος=kophinos is a small hand basket.
κόφινος - basket
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 14:13-21
13 And Jesus having heard, withdrew from there in a boat into a desolate place by Himself, and the multitudes having heard followed Him on foot from the cities.
14 And Jesus having come forth, saw a great multitude, and felt compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15 and of late in the day having come on, his disciples came to Him, saying, “The place is desolate, and the hour already is gone by. Release the multitudes that, having gone away into the villages, they may buy food for themselves.”
16 And Jesus said to them, “They have no need to go
away; ye give them to eat.” [3]
17 But they say to Him, “We have none here except five loaves and two fishes.”
18 And He said, “Bring ye them here to me.”
19 And having commanded the multitudes to recline on the grass, and having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the Heaven, He blessed, and having broken, He gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes,
20 And they all ate and were filled, and they took up that which abounding of the broken fragments twelve baskets full;
21 and those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and young children.
[3] 2 Kings 4:42-43
14:22-33 Jesus, the I AM, Walking on Water
Fourth Watch
Matthew is referring to the Roman Night Watch. The fourth watch is 3 to sunrise.
Central Theme: I AM
ἐγώ εἰμί = egō eimi, and can mean I AM or just expresses emphasis. In Matthew, is used three times to express the great I AM. This is the first time that reference to the great I AM is used.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 14:22-33
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to embark into the boat, and to go before Him to the other side, till of which He should loose away the multitudes;
23 and having loosed away the multitudes, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray, but of late in the day having come on, He was there alone.
24 But the boat was already in the midst of the sea, tormented by the waves, for the wind was opposing.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went away to them, walking about upon the sea,
26 and the disciples having seen Him walking about upon the sea, were troubled saying that, “It is a phantasm,” and they cried out from the fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spoke to them, saying,
“Cheer up, I AM, be not afraid.” [4]
28 But Peter answering him said, “Lord, if it is Thou, order me to come to Thee upon the waters;”
29 And He said, “Come;” and having stepped down from the boat, Peter walked about upon the waters to come unto Jesus;
30 but looking on the mighty wind, he was afraid, and having begun to be thrown into the sea, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And straightway Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, laid hold of him, and says to him, “O little faith! for why did thou doubt?”
32 and of them having embarked into the boat the wind abated.
33 And those in the boat having come, worshipped Him, saying, “Truly, Thou are the Son of God.”
[4] Exodus 3:14
14:34-36 Gennesaret
Gennesaret
Jesus and his disciples had probably been on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee before his disciples sailed across to Gennesaret.
Tzitzit
Recovered
The word recovered is διασώζω=diasōzō and literally means to preserve through a danger. Notice the root word is sozo, which is to save.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 14:34-36
34 And having gone across, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
35 and having recognized Him, the men of that place sent away to all that country round about, and they brought to Him all being ill,
36 and were calling on Him that they might only touch the Tzitzit of his cloak, and as many as did touch were recovered.
15:1-20 What Defiles a Man
From Jerusalem
Although Jesus was living in Galilee under the political jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. Jerusalem was an important religious center for Judaism.
Tradition of the Elders
The tradition of the elders or the oral law, which came about after the Babylonian exile, held as much importance as the written Law with the scribes and Pharisees. The oral law later developed into the Mishnah after 70 AD.
Central Theme: Defilement
What enters the mouth does not spiritually defile a man, but what proceeds from his mouth.
Latrine
A latrine is a public toilet place.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 15:1-20
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees come from Jerusalem unto Jesus, saying,
2 “Wherefore do Thy disciples pass over the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands whenever they should eat bread.”
3 But He answering said to them, “Wherefore also do ye pass over the command of God because of the your tradition?
4 “for God commanded, saying, ‘Honor thy father
and mother;’[5] and, ‘he speaking ill of father or mother must end in death;’[6]
5 “but ye say, “Whoever would say to the father or
the mother, A gift is whatever thou should benefit by me;
6 “‘and no, he should not honor his father or his
mother,’ and ye make invalid the command of God on account of your tradition.
7 “Hypocrites! Isaiah well prophesied concerning you,
saying,
8 “This people comes near to Me with their mouth,
and honors Me with the lips, but their heart keeps apart afar from Me;
9 “but in vain do they honor Me with pious awe,
teaching teachings, orders of men.”[7]
10 And having called to Himself the multitude, He said to them, “Hear and understand:
11 not that which is coming into the mouth
defiles the man, but that which is going forth from the mouth, this defiles the man.”
12 Then his disciples having come to Him said, “Have Thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?”
13 And he answering said, “Every plant which my
heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted out; [8]
14 “Leave them alone, they are blind guides of blind;
and if blind may guide blind, both shall fall into a hole.”
15 And Peter answering said to Him, “Show us this parable.”
16 And Jesus said, “Are ye also yet without
understanding?
17 “Do ye not think that all that is going into the
mouth moves on into the belly, and is cast out into the latrine?
18 “but those which going forth from the mouth does
come forth from the heart, and these defile the man;
19 “for out of the heart come forth evil balancing
of accounts, murders, adulteries, prostitutions, thefts, false witnesses, slanders:
20 “these are the things defiling the man; but to eat
with unwashed hands does not defile the man.’
15:21-28 The Canaanite Woman Worships Him
Tyre and Sidon
Tyre and Sidon are in the Roman province of Syria. Why was Jesus there? Maybe Jesus was resting from the ministry in Galilee, or maybe his purpose was for this woman’s daughter to be healed.
Canaanite
Traditionally, the Canaanite people had been enemies of the Israelites.
Central Theme: Worship
Worship must be a key of faith.
Little Dogs
The word dog was a derogatory word for a Gentile or a non-Jew. Jesus appears to be taking on the typical Jewish attitude towards Gentiles. Or is He testing her faith? Will she become offended, or will she keep pursuing her desire of her daughter being healed?
Yes, Lord
Although she agrees that Jesus’ mission is to the lost sheep of Israel, she recognizes that others can reap the blessings, too! She had a lot of spiritual insight!
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 15:21-28
21 And Jesus having come forth from there, withdrew to the parts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from those borders having come forth, was crying aloud to Him, saying, “Show mercy upon me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is evilly demon-possessed.”
23 And He did not answer her a word; and his disciples having come, were asking Him, saying, “Loose from her, for she cries aloud behind us;”
24 But He answering said, “I was not sent away, except
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 And having come, she was worshiping Him, saying, `Lord, help me;’
26 But He answering said, “It is not good to take the
bread of the children, and to cast to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, for even the little dogs do eat of the crumbs which are falling from their lords’ table.”
28 Then answering, Jesus said to her, “O woman,
great is thy faith, be it to thee as thou wish;’ and her daughter was healed from that hour.”
15:29-39 Seven Loaves and a Few Little Fishes
Along the Sea of Galilee
Jesus returns to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee ministering to the Gentile crowd.
Cast
The word cast means to throw. However, if you remember the four disciples fishing, casting their nets into the waters. Now, those needing healing are being cast at the feet of Jesus!
Central Theme: Seven
The number seven represents completion and holiness. The Menorah has seven lamps.
Here, Jesus is represented by seven loaves and a few little fishes.
Having Given Thanks, Broke, and Gave
After He received the seven loaves and the fishes, Jesus gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to pass around.
Having Given Thanks
εὐχαριστέω = eucharisteō is the Greek word for giving thanks. This is the first use of the word in the New Testament.
σπυρίδας - basket
A σπυρίς=spuris is a large basket. If the Apostle Paul was lowered in this kind of basket, they were large baskets.
Magdala
This is the only time in the Gospels that Magdala, a city on the Galilee, is mentioned.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 15:29-39
29 And Jesus having passed over from there, came along the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, He was sitting there,
30 and great multitudes came to Him, having with them lame, blind, mute, crippled, and many others, and they cast them along the feet of Jesus, and He healed them,
31 so as the multitudes marveled looking on: mute ones speaking, crippled sound, lame walking about, and blind looking on; [9] and they magnified the God of Israel.
32 And Jesus having called to Himself his disciples, said, “I feel compassion towards the multitude, because they already continue three days with Me, and they do not have what they should eat; and to loose them hungry, I am not willing, lest ever they should faint in the way.”
33 And his disciples say to Him, “From where to us in a wilderness, so many loaves so as to fill so great a multitude?”
34 And Jesus says to them, “How many loaves
have ye?” and they said, “Seven, and a few little fishes.”
35 And He commanded the multitudes to recline upon the ground,
36 and having received the seven loaves and the fishes, having given thanks, He broke, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
37 And they all ate, and were filled, and they took up the abounding of the fragments, seven large baskets full,
38 and those eating were four thousand men, apart from women and young children.
39 And having loosed from the multitudes, He embarked into the boat, and came to the borders of Magdala.
[9] Isaiah 35:6
16:1-12 Leaven of the Pharisees
A Sign
There was nothing wrong in asking for a sign for authentication, but the Pharisee and Sadducees were asking out of skepticism.
Fiery Red
πυῤῥάζω=purrhazō means fiery red. The most beautiful sunset I have ever seen was driving from the Jordan Valley toward Jerusalem. The sky was lit with fingers of fiery red.
Jonah the Prophet
Jonah, a prophet, was sent by God to Nineveh, a non-Israelite city, to proclaim their destruction. Well, Jonah decided to depart in the other direction. He ended up being swallowed up by some kind of huge fish. For three days and nights, he was in the belly of this sea monster. After Jonah repented, the huge fish vomited him out on to shore. Jonah went to Ninevah and proclaimed God’s message. The people of Ninevah repented.
O Little Faith
Not only did the disciples fail to understand the spiritual problem of the religious leaders, but they lacked the understanding that Jesus could provide the needed bread.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 16:1-4
1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees having come, tempting, questioned Him, to show forth to them a sign from the heaven.
2 And He answering said to them, “Late in the day
having come on, ye say, fair weather, for the sky is fiery red,
3 “and early in the day, winter today, for the sky
is fiery red, being gloomy; Hypocrites, indeed, ye know to distinguish the face of the sky, but the signs of the proper times ye are not able!
4 “An evil and adulterous generation seek a sign, and
a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.”
And having left them; He went away.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 16:5-12
5 And his disciples having come to the other side, forgot to take bread-loaves.
6 But Jesus said to them, “Discern and take heed of the
leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
7 But they were considering among themselves, saying, “Because we took no bread.”
8 And Jesus having known, said to them, “Why
consider ye among yourselves, O little faith, because ye took no bread?
9 “Do ye not yet think, nor remember the five
bread-loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took?
10 “nor the seven bread-loaves of the four thousand,
and how many large baskets ye took?
11 “How do ye not think that I did not speak to
you concerning bread to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”
12 Then they understood that He did not say to take heed of the leaven of the bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
16:13-20 On this Petra I will build my Assembly
Caesarea Philippi
Center of cultic worship of the Greek god, Pan.
Central Theme: Thou Are the Christ
While many struggled with whom Christ might be, Peter identified Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Petros and Petra
πέτρος=petros means a stone, like a small rock.
πέτρα=petra means a rock, like a large rock.
While Peter is a small rock, Jesus Christ is the large rock. Although Peter was one of the three leaders of the early church and was the first bishop of Rome, Jesus Christ is the head of the Assembly or Church.
Gates of Hades
Gates of Hades refers to death. His Assembly or Church would not die.
Bind and Loose
Bind is to forbid.
Loose is to permit.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 16:13-20
13 Whereas Jesus, having come into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, was asking his disciples, saying, “Who do men say Me to be, the Son of Man?”
14 And they said, “Some indeed John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15 He says to them, “And ye, whom do ye say Me to be?”
16 And Simon Peter answering said, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 And Jesus answering said to him, “Happy are thou,
Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal it to thee, but my Father who is in the Heavens.
18 “And I also say to thee, that thou are a petros;
on this petra I will build my assembly,
and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;
19 “and I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of
the Heavens, and if whatever thou may bind on the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and if whatever thou may loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.”
20 Then He gave express orders to his disciples that they should say to no one that He is Jesus the Christ.
16:21-28 Take Up the Cross
From Then
From then begins the 2nd phase of Jesus’ ministry (16:21-26:15), which focuses on giving his disciples instruction about his true Messianic mission.
The 1st phast of Jesus’ ministry (4:17-16:20) begins with open preaching to the Galilean multitudes.
Elders, Chief Priests, and Scribes
The Sanhedrin, the highest court in Israel, would be composed of the elders, chief priests, and scribes.
First Prediction of His Death
Jesus begins to predict his 0wn death to his disciples.
Raised on the Third Day
Jesus had already referred to Bar-Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days. He is giving his disciples a little more information.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 16:21-23
21 From then Jesus began to show to his disciples that there is a need for Him to go away to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders, and chief priests,
and scribes, and to be condemned to death, and to be raised on the third day.[10]
22 And having taken Him besides, Peter began to censure Him, saying, “Be gracious to Thyself, Lord; no, this shall not be to Thee.”
23 But He having turned, said to Peter, “Withdraw thee
after Me, Satan! thou are a stumbling-block to Me, for thou are not minded of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 16:24-28
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any one wishes
to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me,
25 “for if whoever may wish to save his life, shall lose
it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake shall find it,
26 “for what will a man be profited if he should gain
the whole world, but should suffer loss of his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 “For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory
of his Father, with his angels, and then he will give
back to each, according to his actions. [11]
28 “Amen I say to you, there are some of those
standing here who should not taste of death till
they may see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” [12]
17:1-13 Transfiguration
High Mount
Although traditionally Mount Tabor, which was occupied at the time, one of the mountains of Hermon would be more likely especially since they were near Caesarea Philippi.
Transfigured
μεταμορφόω=metamorphoō means to transform or to be transfigured.
Bright Cloud
The cloud is a sign of God’s presence (Exodus 24:15-17, 40:34-38, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3).
Central Theme: The Beloved
These words, “this is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have been well pleased”, are the same words spoken from Heaven when John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
Elijah
The spirit of Elijah rested on John the Baptist.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 17:1-13
1 And after six days Jesus takes up Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brings them up to a high mount by themselves,
2 and He was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his cloak become white as the light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 And Peter answering said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good to us to be here; if Thou wish, we will make here three tents: for Thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he is yet speaking, behold a bright
cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the
Beloved, in whom I have been well pleased: hear Him.” [13]
6 And the disciples having heard, fell upon their face, and were exceedingly afraid.
7 And Jesus having come to them, touched them, and said, “Rise, and be not afraid.”
8 And having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.
9 And as they are coming down from the mount, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Ye must tell no one the
vision, till the Son of Man should rise out of the dead.”
10 And his disciples inquired of Him, saying, “Why therefore do the scribes say that Elijah ought to come first?”
11 And Jesus answering said to them, “Elijah indeed
comes first, and shall restore all things, [14]
12 “but I say to you that Elijah did already come, and
they did not recognize him, but did to him as much as they purposed, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.”
13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them concerning John the Baptist.
17:14-21 Jesus Heals A Lunatic
Lunatic & A Demon
Although the boy had a mental condition, he was alsp possessed by a demon. The disciples were trying to heal the boy’s physical condition, but his spiritual condition kept the disciples from healing him.
Jesus was able to heal the lunatic because he addressed the spiritual problem first.
Faithlessness or Faith
Jesus is condemning faithlessness as opposed to having a small amount of faith.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 17:14-21
14 And of them having come unto the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying,
15 “Lord, show mercy upon my son, for he is lunatic, and suffers evilly, for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water,
16 “and I brought him to Thy disciples, and they were not able to heal him.”
17 And Jesus answering said, “O generation, faithless
and distorted, till when shall I be with you? till when shall I bear you up? bring him here to Me.”
18 And Jesus censored him, and the demon came out of him, and the young boy was healed from that hour.
19 Then the disciples having come to Jesus in private, said, “Wherefore were we not able to cast it out?”
20 And Jesus said to them, “On account of your
faithlessness; for amen I say to you, if ye should have faith as a grain of mustard, ye shall say to this mount, Pass over to there, and it shall pass over, and nothing shall be impossible for you,
21 “but this kind does not go forth except in prayer
and a fast.”
17:22-23 Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Second Prediction of His Death
The third day is two days later after Jesus died. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death and resurrection.
Jesus again predicts his 0wn death to his disciples.
On the Third Day
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 17:22-23
22 Whereas of them dwelling in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into
the hands of men,
23 “and they shall condemn Him to death, and on the
third day he shall be raised up.” And they were exceedingly grieved.
17:24-27 The Sons Are Free
Didrachma
The didrachma was worth two drachms, or half a shekel for the temple treasury in Jerusalem.
1/2 shekel = 0.36 troy ounces = 270.53 USD (2019)
Collected at the temple or by collectors a month early from Passover, this was not a mandatory tax. Religious leaders were exempted, the Essenes paid once in a lifetime, and the rest of the population saw this yearly tax as a religious and patriotic duty. Being a rabbi, Jesus would have been exempt.
However, Jesus was implying that the sons should be free from any tax.
The temple tax was based on Exodus 30:11-16, in which a one-time census was taken, the atonement money was received from the men, and this money was used for the service of the tabernacle.
Central Theme: Sons are Free
As Kingdom children, the sons should be free from taxation.
Stater
A stater was worth two drachms, about 450.89 USD (2019).
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 17:24-27
24 Whereas of them having come to Capernaum, those receiving the didrachma came to Peter, and said, “Does Your teacher not pay the didrachma?”
25a He says, “Yes.”
25b And when he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do thou think, Simon? the kings
of the earth, from whom do they receive a toll or census-tax? from their sons or from the strangers?”
26 Peter says to Him, “From the strangers.” Jesus declared to him, “Consequently, the sons are
free;”
27 “But, that we may not cause them to stumble,
having gone to the sea, cast a fish-hook, and the fish having come up first thou take up, and having opened its mouth, thou shall find a stater, that having taken, give to them for me and thee.”
18:1-19:1 Teaching: Discourse on the Church
18:1-5 The Greater in the Kingdom of the Heavens
First Priority of the Church:
humbleness
True humbleness is the first priority of the Church.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 18:1-6
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who, consequently, is greater in the Kingdom of the Heavens?”
2 And Jesus having called to Himself a young child, sets it in the midst of them,
3 and said, “Amen I say to you, except ye should
be turned and should become as the young children, ye should not go into the Kingdom of the Heavens;
4 “Whoever therefore should humble himself
as this young child, he is the greater in the Kingdom of the Heavens.
5 “And whoever if he should greet with the right hand
one young child such as this in the power of my name, he greets Me with the right hand.”
18:6-9 Stumbling-Blocks
Second Priority of the Church:
avoid being a stumbling-block
Do not become a stumbling block!
Millstone
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 18:6-9
6 “Whereas, whoever may cause one of these little
ones faithing in Me to stumble, it is expedient for him
that a millstone for an ass should be hung upon his neck, and he should be thrown in the open sea.
7 “Woe to the world from the
stumbling-blocks! for it is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, except woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block comes!
8 “But if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to stumble,
cut it off and cast from thee; it is good for thee to go into life lame or crippled, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the fire eternal.
9 “And if thine eye causes thee to stumble, remove it
and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of the fire.”
18:10-14 Parable of the Sheep That Strayed
Third Priority of the Church:
restoration of sheep
Seek the one that has strayed and rejoice when he is found!
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 18:10-14
10 “Take heed ye should not despise one of these
little ones, for I say to you that their angels in the Heavens continually look on the face of my Father
who is in the Heavens,
11 “for the Son of Man came to save that which was
lost.
12 “What think ye? if there should be to any man
a hundred sheep, and one of them should stray, indeed does he not having left the ninety-nine on the mountains, to seek that which is straying?
13 “and if he should happen to find it, amen I
say to you, that he rejoices for it more than for the ninety-nine not having strayed;
14 “so it is not the wish before your Father who is in
the Heavens, that one of these little ones may perish.”
18:15-20 Binding and Loosing
Fourth Priority of the Church:
binding and loosing
Binding and loosing on earth is another responsibility of the Church.
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 18:15-20
15 “Whereas, if thy brother should sin in regards to
thee, go and reprove him, between thee and him alone, if he may hear thee, thou did gain thy brother;
16 “but if he may not hear, take with thee yet one or
two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
17 “And if he should not hear them, say it to the
assembly, and if also he may not hear the assembly, let him be to thee just as the foreigner and the publican.
18 “Amen, I say to you, Whatsoever ye should
bind on the earth shall be having been bound in the Heavens, and whatsoever ye should loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the Heavens. 19 “Again, I say to you, that if two of you should agree
on the earth concerning any matter, that if they should ask, it shall be done to them from my Father who is in the Heavens,
20 “for where there are two or three gathered
together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
18:21-35 John Introducing His Disciples to Jesus
Fifth Priority of the Church:
forgiveness
If God forgives us, we ought to forgive one another. To forgive is to set free.
Seventy Times Seven
Seventy times seven equals four hundred and ninety. From 458 BC when Artaxerxes issued the decree to rebuild the temple became the start of the four hundred ninety years mentioned in Daniel 9:24 until the crucifixion of Jesus in AD 33, when Jesus atoned for all past, present, and future sins. Thus, forgiveness is part of redemption.
https://wyomingsprings.wordpress.com
/2010/11/03/seventy-times-seven/
10,000 Talents
If 1 talent = 100 denarii, then 10,000 talents = 1 million denarii. The first bondman had owed 10,000 times more to the king than did the second bondman to his fellow bondman. Yet the first bondman was unwilling to forgive his fell0w bondman.
Denarius
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 18:21-35
21 Then Peter having come to him, said, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin in regards to me, and I will release him, till seven times?”
22 Jesus says to him, “I do not say to thee till seven
times, but till seventy times seven.
23 “On account of this was the Kingdom of the heavens
like to a man, a king, who wished to balance accounts with his bondmen,
24 “and he having begun to balance, one was brought
to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents,
25 “and he having nothing to pay, his lord
commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all as much as he had, and to render
what is due.
26 “Therefore the bondman having fallen down,
was prostrating himself, saying, ‘lord, be long suffering with me, and I will pay thee all;’
27 “but the lord of that bondman having felt compassion did release him, and set him free from the loan. 28 “But that bondman having gone out, found one of his fellow-bondmen who was of service to him a hundred denarii, and having laid hold of him, he was choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what thou are in service.’
29 “Therefore, his fellow-bondman, having fallen
down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, ‘Be long
suffering with me, and I will pay thou all;’
30 “and he was not willing, but having gone away, he
cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was in service.
31 “But his fellow-bondmen having seen the things
having happened, were grieved exceedingly, and having come, made quite clear to their lord all the things having happened;
32 “then having called to him, his lord says to him,
‘Evil bondman! I set thee free all that debt, since thou called upon me,
33 “‘was there not a need for thee also to have
shown mercy upon thy fellow-bondman, as I also showed mercy upon thee?’
34 “And having been angry, his lord delivered him up
to the tormentors, till he should pay all which was of service to him;
35 “so also my Heavenly Father will do to you, if ye
should not set free each one of his brother their trespasses from your hearts.”
19:1 Conclusion of the Discourses
Parallel Closing
Although this verse serve as a closing passage, it parallels the opening of the Discourses on the Church (see Matthew 18:1)
Scripture Reading - BPV
Mt. 19:1
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus completed these words, he removed from Galilee, and came to the borders of Judea, beyond the Jordan.