The delights and challenges of Matthew

After living by the Bridge for a couple of years, I recently took advantage of access to the southern pylon. I’ve walked the Harbour Bridge many times. I’ve spent hours in Bradfield Park, ‘sheltered’ by the Bridge.  But the new vantage point of the pylon, with the history explained, gave me a different appreciation. That ‘appreciation grows with different perspectives’ is, I suspect, why the ‘crave Sydney’ festival has announced their picnic on the Bridge in October.

In God’s kindness, he has inspired and preserved four accounts of Jesus’ life, death & resurrection. These four perspectives (the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) all look at the same truth. But from their vantage points, we get a different experience of our Lord. A read over Matthew brings us these particular delights and challenges (though this is not exhaustive):

a) Jesus is the Messianic King & Son of God.  From the opening line Matthew wants us to see Jesus as the rightful king of God’s people.  Only Matthew sets Jesus’ birth against the devious & false king Herod.  8 times Jesus is called ‘Son of David’ – though in 21:41-45 we see his even greater than David.  17 times Jesus is called ‘Christ’ (or Messiah – God’s chosen King – more than any other gospel).  The climactic final words explain how ‘all authority has been given to Jesus’ – not just over Israel.  Encountering Jesus in Matthew, you must place the crown to your life at his feet, & follow Him wherever he calls you (as Matthew himself did in 9:9).

b) Jesus’ fulfilment of God’s purposes.  Matthew casts the life of Jesus in terms of God’s greater plans & purposes.  Even Christ’s infancy is not accidental – event after event is surrounded by Old Testament quotes & their fulfilment.  His lead up to death is just as purposeful.  Matthew is the only account to have Jesus’ prayer in the garden repeated 3 times.  An encounter with Jesus in Matthew reminds us that God is in control of everything, & comforts us that his plan to save is not forgotten & can’t be thwarted.

c) The reality of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Kingdom is the experience of God’s reign.  It brings a genuine experience of joy & righteousness.  In Jesus’ arrival & public ministry, the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (spoken of 32 times, with another 14 variations) is truly experienced.  Though the Kingdom is also seen not yet be fully consummated, but at Christ’s death, only Matthew points to the rising of other saints & the coming kingdom.  Reading Matthew, we realise the importance of being a part of Christ’s heavenly kingdom – both a present reality & hope of what’s to come. For we are also struck by the consequences for those outside the kingdom (Matthew 25).

d) Major emphasis on teaching is found in Matthew.  5 major discourses take up 9 of 28 chapters, most famously the ‘sermon on the mount’.  Jesus is the ‘revealer of wisdom’ (& fascinatingly, it is the outsiders who call him ‘teacher’).  There is genuine content to living as part of his kingdom now.  Encountering Christ in Matthew, we have the opportunity to sit at Christ’s feet & learn from our maker & King.  We are pushed to consider how we live & what we live for.

e) Inclusion of the Gentiles.  While Matthew is a self-consciously Jewish book – it is certainly not just for Jews.  There is a strong criticism of the self-righteous Pharisees, who presumed on their place in God’s kingdom.  When Jesus is born, it is the magi from the east who come to worship.  The final great commission overturns10:5-6 command to not go near the gentiles – the exceptions (8:5-13; 15:21-28) are now the focus!  An encounter with Jesus in Matthew makes you realise that not just you – but all people & all nations are called to the kingdom.  All nations have to recognise his authority & follow him.

Why not read over Matthew this week and appreciate ‘the view’?

In Him,

Mark Smith