Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 23 April 2023
God's View of Marriage and Singleness
Scripture References: Matthew 19:1-12, Psalms 16:1-11, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25
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CloseOne of the statements I keep returning to in my mind and heart in Matthew is the statement of God as Jesus is revealed as truly divine: ‘This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him!’ (Matthew 17:5). The realization of who Jesus truly is should drive His disciples’ to ‘listen to Him’ – to hear and obey. Too often we hear Jesus – then we argue with Jesus. We debate His words. We look for loopholes. We lament their ‘rigidity’ or their ‘uncompromising’ and ‘high’ nature. We listen – and then we argue, wriggle, lament, or moan. Yet, this is God-in-the-flesh. His words are true and good and wise and gentle and for the benefit of broken image-bearers-of-God. So, when the Pharisees come to trap Jesus in questions about marriage (and divorce), Jesus’ words are not to be debated, but first listened to, understood, then applied. This is the same man who knows sinners and the broken, sups with them, and offers them rest. His words are for their good!
Scripture References: Matthew 19:1-12, Psalms 16:1-11, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25
Related Topics: Matthew | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Jesus is returning to Jerusalem for the second day. Jesus is hungry – he is human. Jesus sees fig tree – but, despite its leaves, it has no fruit. Jesus curses the fig tree. Jesus is God, taking on the divine role of pronouncing judgement. This brief episode is a living example of the judgement brought by the king of God’s people returning to his mob: they have become independent, insiders not aligned with the desire of God for the outsider. They are unfruitful, and they are judged. God’s mob, however, have true fruitfulness when they recognise the authority of the king, and completely and totally depend upon him. Such dependency will change the world, because of the one they depend upon!
Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. As Matthew prepares us for His entry into Jerusalem, he helps us confront Jesus’ authority, and the way in which it restores the concern of God for the outsider, and confronts the insider. This is the start of the Passover week. Jerusalem is a roiling maelstrom of religious and political fervour. And Matthew organises the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem around displays of His authority, rooted in recognition of His ‘old power’ – four Old Testament quotations structure the passage. As we come face-to-face with Jesus’ authority, three truths stand out. First, Jesus’ authority is extensive and all-encompassing. Second, Jesus’ authority is for the outsider, and rooted in God’s deep commitment to bring the outsider inside His kingdom. And, third, Jesus authority confronts the insider, and urges them to repentance. Come and meet Jesus, the King, in all His authority, as He enters Jerusalem!
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
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