The Big Inning (22:15-46)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 59: The Big Inning)

In this section a Pharisee, a Sadducee, and an Expert all try to throw Jesus a curveball kind of question, but Jesus keeps hitting the pitches out of the park!

Pitch #1 (The Pharisee)
They hoped this question about Caesar would force Jesus to either side with Rome (thus alienating the people) or side with Rebellion (thus provoke the authorities). By answering as He did, Jesus managed to critique Caesar without causing confrontation while simultaneously calling for greater allegiance to God.

Pitch #2 (The Sadducee)
They hoped that by posing a hilarious hypothetical question that it would expose the ridiculous nature of the doctrine of resurrection. Jesus exposed the inconsistency and lack of faith present in the Sadducees. They were wrong about resurrection.

Pitch #3 (The Expert)
Impressed by Jesus’ previous answer, this man seems genuinely interested to hear an answer to a 3rd question. Jesus summarizes the entire Old Covenant with 2 quotes emphasizing love for God and love for people.

At this point, Jesus decides to throw them a curveball. The Jews all agreed that the Messiah would be from the line of David, but they didn’t quite understand that He would also be much greater than David was. This question leaves them speechless.

The Banquet (22:1-14)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 58: The Wedding Banquet)

1. God invites us to a time of celebration!
- A kings son! Rev. 19:6-9, bride metaphor

2. We may begin the celebration immediately!
- Future came into present (John 3:29, Matt 9:14-15)

3. An invitation from a King is like a command
- Cultural faux pax

4. Accepting the invitation takes more than words
- Takes more than verbal acceptance (Matt 7:24-27, 21:28-32)

5. Many reject the invitation

~ Some are self-employed (me stuff)

~ Some are pre-occupied (new stuff)

~ Some are already-taken (more important stuff)

6. Many accept the invitation

7. God wants the celebration to be crowded!
- Luke 14:22-23

8. All guests must abide by the dress code
- Warning for Gentiles to not make the same mistake
- Rev. 19:8

Isiah (Introduction)

The Book of Isaiah
Isaiah ministered at a time when the Assyrians were expanding and threatening both Israel and Judah (approximately 745-695 B.C.). Indeed, Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722. Isaiah served as a prophet, historian, poet, and statesman.

The Book of Isaiah is almost unanimously divided into 2 main sections:

I. Book of Judgment (1-39)
A. Against Israel (1-6)
B. Against Judah (7-12)
C. Against Nations (13-23)
D. Woes and Beyond (24-35)
E. Historical Interlude (36-39)
II. Book of Comfort (40-66)
A. Focus on Cyrus (40-48)
B. Focus on Messiah (49-57)
C. Focus on Messianic Age (58-66)

It is interesting to note, even though chapter divisions were added later, that the Book of Isaiah shares some common features with the Bible as a whole:
- Isaiah has 66 chapters, the Bible has 66 books
- Isaiah has 39 chapters in its first section, the OT has 39 books
- Isaiah has 27 chapters in its second section, the NT has 27 books/letters
- The 2nd section begins with John the Baptist and ends with New Heavens & Earth, so does the NT
- Isaiah 53 is the center of the second section and the most significant prophecy

Recent commentators tend to reject the idea that section 2 was written by Isaiah, but this rejection is largely based on prior assumptions that it would have been impossible for Isaiah to predict future events so accurately (for example, naming Cyrus 200+ years before his birth). Assuming a biblical worldview, however, such is not problematic. There is plenty of evidence for unified authorship. Tradition (Isaiah's authorship was unquestioned throughout history), Internal evidence (similar vocab/themes), and external evidence (dead sea scrolls count it as a unified document) all point to one source.

Isaiah

Introduction
1-4 The Problems & The Hope
5-6 The Song & The Call
7-8 The Sign of Immanuel
9-12 The Sign of the Remnant
13-23 Judgment of Nations
24-27 Remnant Realities
28-33 Where to Place Trust
34-39 Transitions
40-48 (Road from Exile)
49-57 (The Suffering Servant)
58-66 (Toward Restoration)

Suffering

THE PASSION
- The Suffering Savior -

Arrest
Accepts Cup (Matt 26:39, 42)
Deserted (Matt 26:56b)

Before Annas
Bound (John 18:12)
Struck (John 18:22)

Before Caiaphas
Spit on (Matt 26:67)
Blindfolded (Mark 14:65)
Mocked (Matt 26:68)
Struck/Slapped (Matt 26:67)
Beaten (Mark 16:65)
Insults (Luke 22:65)

Before Sanhedrin
Condemned (Matthew 27:1)
Bound (Matthew 27:2)

Before Pilate

Before Herod
Mocked (Luke 23:11)

Before Pilate
Flogged (Matt 27:26)

Soldiers
Stripped (Matt 27:28)
Thorns (Matt 27:28)
Mocked (Matt 27:28-29)
Spit on (Matt 27:30)
Struck (Matt 27:30
Disrobed (Matt 27:31)

Cross
Carried Cross (John 19:17)
Nailed to Cross (John 20:25)
Disrobed (Matt 27:36)
Mocked (Matt 27:37)
Insulted (Matt 27:39-44)
Forsaken (Matt 27:46)

Why was all this suffering part of Holy Week?
1. Reveals the terribleness of sin
2. Reveals the enormous love of God (John 15:13)
3. To demonstrate that God can sympathize with our suffering (Heb. 4:14-16)

Betrayal

The Betrayal
- The Story of Judas -

Background on Judas
Judas was selected by Jesus to be one of the 12 Apostles (Mark 3:13-19). His name suggests he was the only non-Galilean among the group. At an early point, Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him (John 6:70-71). Judas had a habit of stealing from the groups’ money bag, which he was put in charge of (John 12:4-6).

Was he ever a genuine believer?

Evidence for YES
~ He was among the crowd following Jesus (Mark 3:13)
~ He was sent by Jesus to preach (Mark 3:14, Acts 1:17)
~ He was sent by Jesus to do miracles (Mark 3:15)
~ He seems to have felt great regret (Matt 27:3-5)

Evidence for NO
~ He was corrupt prior to the betrayal (John 12:4-6)
~ He loved money (John 12:4-6, Matt 26:15)
~ He was led by Satan (Luke 22:3, John 13:27)
~ He didn’t turn to God after regret (Matt 27:3-5)

Why did he betray Jesus?

Option 1 He didn’t (Gospel of Judas)
Option 2 Satan (Luke 22:3-4, John 13:27)
Option 3 Fate (Matt 27:9-10, Acts 1:16, 20)
Option 4 Money (John 12:4-6, Matt 26:15)
Option 5 Disappointment/Impatience (Matt 27:3-5)

Proverbs 26-27

7 Habits of a Very Foolish Person


Doesn’t learn from his mistakes (26:11)


Doesn’t mind his own business (26:17)


Doesn’t know when to stop joking (26:18-19)


Doesn’t recognize that each day is a gift (27:1)


Doesn’t seek to learn from other people (27:17)


Doesn’t focus on his hearts condition (27:19)


Doesn’t know how to take a compliment (27:21)

The Wicked Tenants (21:33-46)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 57: The Wicked Tenants)

A. Jerusalem’s Celebration (Matt. 21:1-11)
B. Jesus’ Anger at Jerusalem (Matt. 21:12-17)
C. Condemns Fig Tree (Matt. 21:18-22)
D. Questioning Jesus (Matt. 21:23-27)
E. Parable of 2 Sons (Matt. 21:28-32)
F. Wicked Tenants (Matt. 21:33-46)
E. Parable of Wedding Feast (Matt. 22:1-14)
D. Questioning Jesus (Matt. 22:15-46)
C. Condemns Religious Leaders (Matt. 23:1-36)
B. Jesus’ Compassion for Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37-39)
A. Jerusalem’s Destruction (Matt. 24:1-35)

Landowner = Father
Vineyard = Israel
Tenants = Leaders
Servants = Prophets
Son = Jesus
Wretched End = AD 70
Other Tenants = Church

Lessons to be Learned
1. God gave Israel everything needed to succeed (33)
2. God gave Israel freedom to obey or disobey (33b)
3. God gave Israel time to turn back to Him (34-36)
4. God gave Israel His only Son to save them (37)
5. National Israel rejected God’s Son (38-39)
6. National Israel ran out of time (40-41)
7. National Israel lost its place as God’s chosen (42-45)
8. The Church (believing Jews & Gentiles) is now to be God’s fruit-bearing people (41)

St. Patrick's Day

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

1. St. Patrick (originally Maewyn Succat) was born in the late 4th century in Roman Britain. His grandfather was a priest, but like many people in Britain at that time, the young Patrick didn’t take his faith very seriously.

2. At 16, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders and spent the next 6 years serving as a herdsman for his master. During this time the seeds planted in him as a child emerged and he developed a deep relationship with God.

3. One night, while in prayer, Patrick heard a voice calling him to flee and that a means of deliverance had been prepared for him. Patrick found a ship and eventually was reunited with his family.

4. But after returning home, Patrick received a vision in which his former captors were calling for him to return to Ireland and shepherd them! Patrick obediently cashed in his inheritance and began training for ministry in Ireland.

5. Patrick played a pivotal role in establishing the Church in Ireland. He taught everything from literacy to leadership. Within 200 years of his arrival, Ireland was thoroughly Christianized.


Patrick in his own words...

'My confession…'
But I entreat those who believe in and fear God, whoever deigns to examine or receive this document composed by the obviously unlearned sinner Patrick in Ireland, that nobody shall ever ascribe to my ignorance any trivial thing that I achieved or may have expounded that was pleasing to God, but accept and truly believe that it would have been the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.

I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about 16 years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.

On finding God while herding…
But after I reached Ireland I used to pasture the flock each day and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the love of God, and my fear of him and faith increase, and my spirit was moved so that in a day (I said) from one up to 100 prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.


Guided by a voice, he escapes….
And it was there of course that one night in my sleep I heard a voice saying to me: 'You do well to fast: soon you will depart for your home country.' And again, a very short time later, there was a voice prophesying: 'Behold, your ship is ready.' And it was not close by, but, as it happened, 200 miles away, where I had never been nor knew any person. And shortly thereafter I turned about and fled from the man with whom I had been for six years, and I came, by the power of God who directed my route to advantage (and I was afraid of nothing), until I reached that ship.

Called back to Ireland by a dream…
And after a few years I was again in Britain with my kinsfolk, and they welcomed me as a son, and asked me, in faith, that after the great tribulations I had endured I should not go anywhere else away from them. And, of course, there, in a vision of the night, I saw a man whose name was Victoricus coming as if from Ireland with innumerable letters, and he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter: 'The Voice of the Irish', and as I was reading the beginning of the letter I seemed at that moment to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut which is near the western sea, and the were crying as if with one voice: 'We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.' And I was stung intensely in my heart so that I could read no more, and thus I awoke. Thanks be to God, because after so many years the Lord bestowed on them according to their cry.

Independence Day

INDEPENDENCE DAY

1. The colonists of the ‘New World’ believed they were entitled as British citizens to the rights established by the Magna Carta (1215) and the British Bill of Rights (1689). As these rights were removed, the colonists’ non-violent appeals to justice were dismissed. Militias began to form to confront British authority.
2. On July 2nd 1776, the Continental Congress voted for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. An explanatory ‘Declaration of Independence’ was prepared and approved on the “Fourth of July.”

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
~ John Adams in a letter to his wife on July 3rd 1776

3. Celebration of ‘Independence Day’ on July 4th began immediately (even as the war raged on) in much the same form as it takes today (as prescribed by Adams above). The 4th of July became an official federal holiday in 1870.
4. From an OT perspective, July 4th is parallel to the story of the Exodus for the Jewish people (Ex. 6:6). From a NT point of view, it is parallel to the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus (Luke 4:18, Gal. 5:1-13, 1 Peter 2:16)

Workers Paid Equally

Am I Envious that God is Generous?
Matthew 20:1-15

Seems like an odd question
But I've been thinking about this passage
And I'm convinced it is relevant

A Parable uses every day pictures to convey spiritual realities
- The landowner = Lord
- Hired men = God's covenant people
- Vineyard = The world
- Denarius (days wages) = The Promise
* This is a very typical 1st century scene (6am-6pm work day)

What do we learn from this parable?

1. God is on the move toward the lost (key word "went out")

Impressions from the parable
- God is on the move
- There's a sense of urgency
- He does not discriminate in his call

This truth in Scripture
- Abram (called to GO. Yes, he'll be blessed, but also BE a blessing to others)
- Egypt (God wanted THEM to know He was God too)
- Philistines (God wanted THEM to know He was God too (1 Sam. 5:1-4)
- Ninevites (God wanted THEM to know He was God too)
- Gentiles (God wanted all to know!)
* That's why we have parables like the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son

God Is On The Move!

2. The Found tend to develop bad attitudes
* These attitudes are revealed, in the parable, at 6pm (The end of the work day)

A. We forget that we were found (prolly b/c of time, it's natural)
B. We get prideful about our position (prolly b/c of our good works, it's natural)
C. We see God's targets as intrusions (prolly b/c of our comfort zones, it's natural)
* These are all natural human tendencies (don't you feel their frustration?).
** The Israelites in the OT, the disciples in the NT shared this syndrome
*** But we are called to live SUPER-natural lives

3. God wants to change our attitudes (the key is 8b)

A. We don't get a smaller piece of the pie just b/c more are included (13-14a)
B. We don't get to make the decision, God is the owner (14b-15a)
C. In this light, the question of 15b becomes more relevant to me
- This was Jonah's problem
- This was the problem for the Prodigals brother
- This was Peter's problem in the middle of Acts
- This is sometimes my problem
- Is this sometimes your problem?
- Is this sometimes our problem?

Are we angry that God is always on the move? Or will we join Him?

The Role of Rebuke

Samuel the Seer:
Part 4 The Role of Rebuke (Saul tends to take matters into his own hands)

Rebuke #1 13:7b-14
Rebukes Saul's failure to wait on the Lord

Rebuke #2 15:12-35
Rebukes Saul's failure to completely obey the Lord

Rebuke #3 28:1-19
Rebukes Saul's failure to accept the declaration of the Lord

References to Samuel later in Scripture
Psalm 99:6
Jeremiah 15:1
Acts 3:24, 13:21
Hebrews 11:32

The Circuit Riding Prophet

Samuel the Seer:
Part 3 The Circuit Riding Prophet

Successful Circuit (7:13-17)
Bethel/Gilgal/Mizpah (about 40 miles roundtrip)

Unsuccessful Succession (8:1-5a)
We don't know why his kids were bad (possible that his grandson "Heman" wrote some Psalms)

Cry for a King (8:5b-12:25)
1. B/c your sons are bad!
2. B/c other nations have them
3. B/c they wanted 1 central leader (9:20)
4. B/c they wanted someone to fight their battles for them (9:20)

What a king will do...
1. Take your kids for government service (8:11-13)
2. Take the best land for government use (8:14)
3. Take your money for government use (8:15-17)

You won't like it! (v. 18)

Samuel told to anoint Saul (9:15-10:16)
Saul's initial successes (10:17-11:15)
Samuel's farewell speech (12:1-25)
- His innocense 1-5
- Israel's history 6-11
- Israel's bad request 12-19 (since they already had a King!)
- Israel's only hope 20-25

Proverbs 22-23

MEN’S GROUP #290
-Becoming a Wise Guy 6-

FOUNDATIONS FOR A GOOD REPUTATION

1. Stay humble
22:2

2. Teach/Discipline your children
22:6, 22:15, 23:13-14
??? Is wickedness inherited, learned, or both?

3. Don’t make excuses
22:13

4. Restrain your materialism
23:4-5

5. Don’t waste time on idiots
23:9
??? What is Proverbs 26:4-5 all about?

6. Keep an eternal perspective
23:17-18

7. Always honor your parents
23:22

8. Be wary of wine
23:29-35

Passion Predictions

In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus made three direct passion predictions:

1st Prediction: Matt 16:21/Mark 8:31/Luke 9:22
2nd Prediction: Matt 17:22-23/Mark 9:31/Luke 9:44
3rd Prediction: Matt 20:17-19/Mark 10:33-34/Luke 18:31-33

By analyzing these predictions, we may be able to determine what aspects of that week were most significant to Jesus.

Jerusalem is mentioned 4x (1st Prediction Matt, 3rd Prediction All)
Betrayal is mentioned 5x (2nd Prediction All, 3rd Prediction Matt & Mark)
Suffering via Authorities is mentioned 6x (1st prediction All-Jewish, 3rd Prediction All-Roman)
Death is mentioned 8x (1st prediction All, 2nd Prediction Matt & Mark, 3rd Prediction All)
Resurrection is mentioned 8x (1st prediction All, 2nd Prediction Matt & Mark, 3rd Prediction All)

Thus, these 5 features will be the focus of our series

The Passion of Jesus

Below is a series that focuses on the final week of Jesus' ministry prior to His resurrection appearances.

Passion Predictions
Jerusalem
Betrayal
Suffering
Death
Resurrection

Veterans/Memorial Day

MEMORIAL & VETERANS DAY

What is the origin & history of Memorial Day?
1. The official birthplace is Waterloo, NY (1866) where the graves of union soldiers were decorated. “Decoration Day” was an attempt to honor the sacrifice of fallen soldiers from the Civil War.
2. The name of the day was changed to “Memorial Day” in 1967. The following year the date of observance was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May so as to create a 3-day weekend.
3. Memorial Day, today, is used to commemorate U.S. men and women who died in service to their country (often including rescue workers as well).

What is the origin & history of Veterans Day?
1. President Woodrow Wilson declared 11/19/1919 “Armistice Day” after WWI. It was made a legal holiday in 1938 as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace” and to honor WWI veterans.
2. In 1953 a shoe store owner in Kansas began a campaign to honor all U.S. veterans on Armistice Day. Congress approved of the campaign and signed the holiday into law in 1954 (and that same year changed the name to Veterans Day).
3. Veterans Day, today, is used to honor all U.S. men and women who have served their country via the military. For some years it was kept on the 4th Monday of October, it is now observed on November 11th.

Pacifism & Christianity

All Christians should be pacifists in some sense, but there is debate as to what extent. It seems to me that we should avoid to extreme positions.

Position 1: The Church and the Nation should go to war together (crusades)
Position 2: The Church should not go to war, but the nation sometimes should (just war)
Position 3: The Church and the Nation should refuse all war together (complete pacifism)

Position 1 is reprehensible as the Church has been called to 'fight' in a different way than the Kingdoms of this world. Position 3 is idealistic as there is a time and a place for evil to be confronted. Position 2 is a position of tension. It requires careful analysis on the part of the nation and much prayer on the part of the Church.


What traits are we honoring on these days?
Selflessness- Putting others first
Service- Hard-Work & Dedication
Sacrifice- Willingness to suffer/die
* these are very ‘Christian’ oriented values

Selfishness- Philippians 2:3
Service- Acts 20:35
Sacrifice- 1 Peter 2:19

Military Service is ‘typical’ of Christ
John 11:50-51
Romans 5:6-8

From Triumph to Temple (21:1-32)

From Triumph to Temple


Understanding the Symbols of Jesus’ Entrance

Jerusalem (v. 1) at passover (Egypt)

Donkey (v. 2-7) Zechariah 9:9-11

Branches (v. 8) Maccabean Revolt, Independance

Son of David (v. 9) 2 Samuel 7

Nazareth (v. 10-11) John 1:46


Understanding the Symbols of Jesus’ Anger

Overturning Tables (v. 12-13) Isaiah 56:7 (nations)
Jeremiah 7:9-11
Blind/Lame/Children (v. 14-17) Outsiders

Fig Tree (v. 18-19) Fruitless (Jer. 8:11-13)

Mountain (v. 20-22) Earthly Jerusalem

Authorities (v. 23-27) Jesus’ turns tables again!

Two Sons (v. 28-32) Movement to outsiders