Tag: Scripture

From the Old Testament to Matthew

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

The transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament is marked by a period of approximately 400 years of seeming divine silence. After the prophet Malachi, there were no prophetic voices or explicit divine messages recorded in scripture. However, this era was far from uneventful; it was a time of significant transformation and change for the Jewish people and the world stage. Understanding this period is crucial for properly interpreting the New Testament.

During these 400 years, often referred to as the Intertestamental Period, the world underwent considerable shifts. The dominant powers of the Old Testament, the Medo-Persian Empire and Egypt, gradually faded in prominence. World power shifted westward, from Asia to Europe, and from the Medo-Persian Empire to Greece. By the time the New Testament begins, Rome had risen to become the dominant world power.

In 480 BC, Xerxes of Persia was victorious against the Greeks at Thermopylae. However, his defeat at the Battle of Salamis marked the end of the East’s bid for world dominion. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great emerged from the West, leading the united Greek forces to victory over the Persians at Issus. In 332 BC, Alexander visited Jerusalem and, after being shown the prophecies of Daniel that spoke of him, he spared the city. Following Alexander’s death in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his four generals. Judea, located next to Egypt, came under the rule of the Ptolemaic dynasty. In 320 BC, Seleucus, the founder of the Seleucid kingdom in Syria, attempted to take over Judea, turning the small country into a buffer state between Syria and Egypt.

In 203 BC, Antiochus the Great took Jerusalem, bringing Judea under Syrian influence. In 170 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple in Jerusalem. In 166 BC, Mattathias, a priest of Judea, led a revolt against Syria, marking the beginning of the Maccabean period. This era was marked by immense suffering and heroism for the Jewish people. Judas Maccabeus, known as “the hammer,” organized the revolt. In 63 BC, Pompey of Rome took Jerusalem, placing the Jewish people under Roman rule, where they remained at the time of Jesus’ birth and throughout the New Testament period. In 40 BC, the Roman Senate appointed Herod as King of Judea, initiating the rule of a notoriously wicked family. In 37 BC, Herod took Jerusalem and killed Antigonus, the last of the Maccabean king-priests. In 31 BC, Caesar Augustus became emperor of Rome, and in 19 BC, the rebuilding of the Herodian Temple began. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in 4 BC.

During this period, several distinct parties emerged within Jewish society, none of which are mentioned in the Old Testament. The Pharisees were the dominant party, arising to defend Jewish traditions and practices against foreign influences. They were strict legalists, believed in the Old Testament, and were nationalistic in their politics, seeking to restore the kingdom to the line of David.

The Sadducees were composed of wealthy, socially minded individuals who sought to reject tradition. They were liberal in their theology, rejected the supernatural, and were closely akin to the Greek Epicureans, who believed in pursuing pleasure.

The scribes were professional expounders of the law, stemming from the days of Ezra. However, they became overly concerned with the letter of the law rather than its spirit. They possessed knowledge of the law but often failed to translate it into practical action.

The Herodians were political opportunists who sought to maintain the Herods in power.

This period also saw significant literary activity. The Old Testament was translated into Greek in Alexandria, Egypt, between 285 and 247 BC. This translation, known as the Septuagint, was used by Paul and quoted by Jesus. The Apocrypha of the Old Testament was also written during this era.

This period was marked by God’s silence, yet it was a time when He was preparing the world for the coming of Christ.

The four Gospels are directed to different groups of people. The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for the nation of Israel, a religious people. The Gospel of Mark was directed to the Romans, who were men of action and believed in law and order. The Gospel of Luke was written to the Greeks, the thinking people. The Gospel of John, while written for believers, was indirectly aimed at the Orient, where people were seeking deliverance.

The Gospel of Matthew, written by a publican named Matthew, was originally written in Hebrew for the nation of Israel. God prepared the nation for the coming of Christ.

The Gospel of Matthew is a key book because it connects the Old Testament prophecies and moves into the New Testament. Matthew mentions the church by name, unlike the other Gospel writers.

The Gospel presents the program of God, the kingdom of heaven. The term “kingdom of heaven” is specific to this Gospel, appearing 32 times, and the word “kingdom” appears 50 times. Understanding the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is essential for interpreting this Gospel and the Bible. The kingdom and the church are not the same, but the church is in the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is the reign of the heavens over the earth.

The theme of this Gospel is the Lord Jesus, who will establish the kingdom on earth. The three major discourses in Matthew concern the kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount presents the law of the kingdom, the mystery parables in Matthew 13 concern the kingdom, and the discourse in Matthew 24-25 looks forward to the establishment of the kingdom on earth.

The movement in the Gospel of Matthew includes the person of the king, the preparation of the king, the propaganda of the king, the program of the king, the passion of the king, and the power of the king.

Finding Fulfillment: Jesus as the Bread of Life

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JEFF TURNER

Life often leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled. We might chase after success, money, or relationships, thinking these will fill the void inside us. But even when we achieve these things, we can still feel a deep hunger for something more.

Jesus spoke about this emptiness and offered a solution. He called himself the “bread of life,” using a metaphor his listeners could easily understand. In those days, bread was essential for survival. By comparing himself to bread, Jesus was saying he’s just as crucial for our spiritual well-being.

Jesus challenged people to look beyond their physical needs and focus on what truly matters. He said, “Don’t work for food that spoils, but for food that lasts forever.” He wasn’t telling people to stop earning a living, but rather to prioritize their spiritual health alongside their physical needs. Jesus claimed he could provide a kind of spiritual nourishment that would satisfy people’s deepest longings.

The people listening to Jesus were skeptical. They wanted proof that he was as special as he claimed to be. Jesus responded by saying that believing in him was the most important thing they could do. He promised that anyone who comes to him would never be spiritually hungry or thirsty again.

This message is still relevant today. Many of us feel empty inside, even when our lives seem successful on the outside. Jesus offers a different path to fulfillment, one that doesn’t depend on material possessions or worldly achievements. He invites everyone to come to him, promising that he can satisfy our deepest needs in a way nothing else can.

The Book of Matthew

Does Matthew 10:24-23 apply to me or is it talking about someone else?

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Floyd Rogers – Texas Gospel Volunteer, Christian writer

Matthew 10:24-32

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Matthew records Jesus giving his apostles instructions as they get ready to preach to the lost children of the House of Israel.  Part of those instructions are recorded in Matthew 10:24-32.  Here we see Jesus telling his Apostles it will not be an easy road for them. Let’s take a close look at what else he said, and how we know his words have meaning for us today.

In verse 24, Jesus tells the apostles a, “…student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.” (Matt. 10:24 NIV) I believe Jesus is letting them know just how bad it’s going to get for them because in the next verse he says, “It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!”  It seems clear to me He’s telling them, if people accused Jesus of this, then the apostles can expect to be called the same, or even worse. This is what Jesus told his apostles, but how do we know these verses have meaning for us?

Jesus gave these instructions to his apostles as they were heading out to preach specifically to Jewish people. Our directive today is quite different; we are to preach to all. It is also true we are disciples, not apostles. A disciple is anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. An apostle is someone Jesus directly sent to preach. Jesus’ instructions here are clearly for his chosen apostles for a specific task. I think it’s reasonable to infer from these verses that we may face persecution, but we need to recognize that an inference from scripture is not scripture itself. I am not saying that no one today is persecuted; far from it.  My point is these verses are Jesus’ instructions to his apostles and they are told they WILL be persecuted. While we may experience persecution, we are not always going into places comparable to the places the apostles went. Today we do not always meet the kind of danger they faced. I would argue that it depends on where one goes to preach. In most countries today we are not likely to be handed over to the government for prosecution.

I think it’s important at this point to mention that the above text is from the New International Version, and it says a “student” is not above the teacher.  The NASB uses the word “disciple.” I think the word disciple, used in this context, tells us that the warning of persecution applies to us as disciples when we are in a similar situation; that is, when we present the Gospel to those who’s doctrine and authority are questioned by God’s Word. I hope my reasoning here shows just how much care we should use before saying “the Bible says” to assure we do not unknowingly add to it. This requires a close reading.

Jesus ended his set of instructions in verses 32-33 saying, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” I hope I don’t sound like I’m splitting hairs with this next question.   In this context, when Jesus says “Whoever,” does this mean to whoever the apostles spoke, or does this include anyone, including those to whom the apostles have not spoken? I think it is most likely talking about anyone who acknowledges, not just to whoever the apostles spoke, because of what we see in other scriptures. God demands acknowledgement. It doesn’t matter if we are speaking of Old or New Testament.  Proverbs tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” In New Testament books like Luke we see Jesus telling people, “…everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God; 9 but the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God.” Is it not clear that God demands confession before others?

Do his words apply to us?  I believe so. I also believe they should not be presented without context or we risk changing their meaning.  What are your thoughts?