Peanut Gallery The Book of Matthew

[SpiritPsalmist]

Walking on the Water
Matt 14:22-33
(See also Mrk 6:45-52, Jn 6:15-21)
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So all the crowd has been fed and Yeshua tells his disciples to use the boat to return to the other side of the lake. It's been an exausting day, he sends the crowd home then walks up the mountain to spend some time in prayer. He was there until evening.

In the meantime, the disciples were in the boat some distance from the shore. (See note on scripture link) See here for further idea of how far a stadia is.

They were far enough out to drown if the boat was overcome by the wind. It says the time is the "fourth watch" which in Roman time is between 3 - 6 A.M. Then the disciples see Yeshau walking on the water coming toward the boat.

It says they were disturbed, thinking it was a ghost. I've always wondered why they would think that. Here are some interesting thoughts to a blog where the writer tackles the subject: Jesus on the water: Did the disciples fear ghosts?

In their fear Yeshua spoke to them and told them they mucst be courageous, claimed "I AM", and ordered them to stop being afraid. Then Peter calls out that "if it's you Lord, call me to come to you". Yeshua said, "you must now come". Peter immediately got out and walked on the water toward Yeshua, realized what he was doing and what was happening around him, became fearful by what he saw and began to sink.

As he sank he cried out to Yeshua to rescue him and immediately Yeshua reached out his hand, took hold of Peter and said, "Little faith, why did you doubt?".

When they got back in the boat the wind stopped and those in the boat paid homage to him saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God".

• To pay homage is to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground or deck of the boat as in this case. Pay Homage is the translation of the Greek word Proskuneo, which is frequently translated worship. The meaning is to get on one knee and touch the forehead to the ground at the feet of someone of royal rank. Y'shua was frequently greeted this way. Often it is not clear whether to translate it pay homage or worship, so here the standard was to use pay homage if it was a greeting, whether to Y'shua or someone else. ~One New Man Bible~

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Healing of the Sick at Gennesaret
Matt 14:34-36
(See also Mark 6:53-56)
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After their stormy sea ride, the disciples and Yeshua finely come to shore in Gennesaret.

• Gennesaret is a plain on the northwest side of the lake of Galilee, near Capernaum. The plain is very fertiel, about three miles long by one mile wide and is named in Mk 6:53 ~One New Man Bible~

Appairently there were other people around where they landed because as soon as the men in the area recognized Yeshua set out telling everyone in the neighboring region and the people began pouring out bringing all who were sick.

• The Tree of Life Bible uses the word "evil" versus "sick". The One New Man Bible also uses the word "evil", it explains: The Greek word kakosliterally means evil, but is used to refer to any affliction, blindness, deafness, paralysis, disease, etc., from the latin.

In verse 36 the people are begging him just to be able to touch what many Bibles translate as the "hem of his garment". It was not "hem" as many in the non Jewish culture think though, it was his tsitsit of his prayer shawl.

• Tsitsits are the corner fringe of a prayer shawl. We find the prayer shawl being given in Num 15:37-41. The fringes, called tsisit in Hebrew, were placed on the corners of the outer garment, which was larger than the current prayer shawls and looked like a poncho with tsisit. This was like a sheet with a hole in the middle for the head. The front piece was tied behind the back, then the back was lapped over and tied in the front. This is the seamless garment in Jn 19:23. Recent archacologi al digs have found a number of these from Biblical times. This garment served as a blanket as stated in Exod. 22:26.

• The garment now made to these specifications is the talit, also spelled tallit, called a prayer shawl in English. The purpose fo it is for everyone, including the wearer, to look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD. This list of 613 commandments includes the promises of God, so in Y'shua's day people would see all the power of God in that fringe, called tsitsitin Hebrew, when the prayer shawl was worn by an anointed man of God. That is why the woman with the bloody issue reached for the fringe in Matt. 9:20 and Lk 8:44 and why many sought to touch the tsitsit of His talit in Matt 14:36 and Mk 6:56. We know this is the tsisit because the Jewish translators who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek used the Greek work kraspedon for tsitsit and kraspedon is used in the Gospels where tsitsit would be appropriate. ~One New Man Bible~

Verse 36 further states that "they who touched it were rescued.

• The word used here is diasodzo, meaning, "brought safely through."

As I read this portion I am just in awe at the compassion that Yeshua had for the people was so that he basically, he worked off very little sleep. He'd spent all day the day before healing all those who came to him. Then, in the evening fed over 5000 people from 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Then, he walked up a mountain and spent time with his Father until the wee hours of the morning, met his disciples in the middle of a raging sea (it does not say how he arrived there other than walking), then spent the next day healing all who came to him too.

He must have become tired, yet he continued on. Such love.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Tradition of the Elders
Matt 15:1-20
(see also Mrk 7:1-23)
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Now we come on a situation where the scribes and Pharisees were questioning Yeshua. They were concerned about the disciples not keeping the traditions of the elders in regards to the washing of their hands before they ate. Yeshua responded with "Why are you breaking the commandments of God because of your traditions"? He continues with "God said to honor your father and mother, (Ex 20:12) yet (I'm paraphrasing) you teach the people that the money you have put aside to help your parents should be given to us instead and it's ok for you to tell them that the money has been given to God and you don't have to help your parents". The elders were makeing traditions that supposedly over-ruled the word of God. Yeshua called them hypocrites and applied Isaiah's prophecy in Is 29:13 to them:

• "This people honors Me with their lips but their hears are far distant away from Me; and they are worshipping Me in vain teaching teachings that are commandments of me."

In other words, "Men cannot change God's laws no matter who they say they are". God's laws are God's laws, they have not been changed. However, there are some "traditions" (all churches have them in some form or another) that are being practiced that we are being told have been over-ridden and that God's laws are no longer in place, but according to God's word, those are lies. If God said it, it's still applicable.

So moving on

Yeshua summons the crowd and he says, (paraphrased) "You must understand, it's not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, it's what comes out of him that does. Many people in the church use this verse to show that it undoes the food laws that God set forth but it does not.

• Eating food forbidden in scripture will not cause you to lose your eternal life, but we now know a diet excessive in the forbidden foods will shorten your life span on earth, as will ignoring Act 15:20 and warnings in the Hebrew Scriptures, and by overeating. ~One New Man Bible~

God said certain creatures were unclean. It is my personal thought that it's not saying that it will make, "You" unclean but that "It" is unclean. It's not food. We should not ingest it into our bodies. It's bad for us. We may not understand the reasoning of God for His instructions, but they are for our good and not our harm. Here are some other thoughs from a Messianic teaching. I found it interesting.

So, after hearing Yeshua call the Pharisees hypocrites and applied that prophet Isaiahs words to them, the disciples pull Yeshua aside and tell him the pharisees were offended by what he said. Yeshua responded with "Every plant my Father did not plant will be uprooted. You must leave them them: they are blind guides, of blind: and if blind would guide blind, both will fall into a pit." This is where the statement "blind leading the blind comes from." This is why it's important for us to study on our own. Yes, we can learn from others, but if we are not searching on our own, what someone else told us might be wrong, then we are teaching someone else wrong, and so on and so on. When you find you have been wrong, repent, and move on. Do what you can to rectify the wrongness, but for heavens sake don't just continue being wrong just because of tradition.

Peter then asks Yeshua to explain the parable. Yeshua responded with, (paraphrased) "Do you still not understand? Everything we physically eat eventually makes it's way through and out the body into the toilet. But the things that come out of your mouth (see Mt 12:34, Prov 4:23, Prov 10:11, Ps 14:1) are from the heart. These things defile the person. Out of the heart come every evil thing, evil thoughts, murder, adulteries, immoralities, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. These things are what defiles the person. To eat with unwashed hands though does not defile the person.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Canaanite Woman's Faith
Matt 15:21-28
(See also Mrk 7:24-30)

Now we see Yeshua in a discussion with someone that causes some confusion for some. When reading it at face value he seems to be quite rude to the woman, which is not charistic for Yeshua towards someone crying out for mercy. According to the New Man Bible, "Asking for mercy was an idiom for asking for forgiveness. The people understood that sickness was caused by sin".

This is not to say that everyone that is sick has sinned. As in the situation with the man in the born blind and the disciples asked Yeshua if he or his parents had sinned and Yeshua replied, "Neither, it is so that the works of God might be displayed in him." In this case however, because the daughter of the woman was demon possessed, I believe there was either the sin of the daughter or the sin of the mother that brought it on. The mother is the one asking for mercy, therefore, I believe it was quite likely her who was responsible. Just my opinion though. I have no proof either way. I am open to the thoughts of others.

I personally don't think Yeshua views the woman as a dog. I think he's pointing out that according traditional Jewish thought toward the Canaanite's she is not deserving of mercy. Why? Who were the Canaanite's?

• They were a wicked, idolatrous people descended from Noah’s grandson Canaan, who was a son of Ham (Genesis 9:18). Canaan was cursed because of his and his father’s sin against Noah (Genesis 9:20–25). In some passages, Canaanites specifically refers to the people of the lowlands and plains of Canaan (Joshua 11:3); in other passages, Canaanites is used more broadly to refer to all the inhabitants of the land, including the Hivites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Amorites, Hittites, and Perizzites (see Judges 1:9–10). ~Got Questions~

As Yeshua passed through the area this woman began following them and crying out for him to "have mercy". He initially did not answer her, seemingly ignoring her request. The disciples immediately approached him telling him he must take heed to her request, send her away (by meeting her request) because she was creating quite a stir behind them, following them and crying out.

Finely, Yeshua stopped and spoke to her saying, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel."

Who were the lost sheep of Israel?

• They were the sinners, tax-collectors, harlots, and backslidden among the Jewish people—the “secular Jews” of the day who had abandoned Torah and the religion of their fathers. For Yeshua “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). ~Jewish Voice~

So Yeshua was telling her that his ministry was to the Jewish people who had strayed from Torah, not a wicked nation who was known for their wickedness and being a lure to drawing the sheep away. The Canaanites were considered excessively wicked and were despised by the Jews.

According to the womans responces, she was fully aware of how the Canaanites were viewed by the Jews. She did not defend herself though. She fully accepted the derogitory title and submitted to it. When Yeshua said that it was not good that his message be given to the "dogs (those who despised it), her response was totally submissive...she was willing to crawl under the lowness of the meal table (the tables were low and diners sat on the floor to eat, only puppies would be able to get underneath) to get any crumbs that were dropped. Such faith. Faith that Yeshua was impressed by.

Her daughter was healed instantly.

This reminds me of the scripture in Mic 6:8 He has told you, humanity, what is good, and what Adonai is seeking from you: Only to practice justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

This woman had not been a follower of Yeshua until he came walking past her town. She knew who he was though and threw herself at his feet begging for his mercy. He seemingly cast her away but it made her throw herself even lower. She did not come up with excuses, she freely admitted what her place in that society was, and by doing so, Yeshua was moved to action. Her need was met.

How about when the Holy Spirit reveals our inner man to us? Do we come up with excuses as to why we are the way we are? Do we fall into sulking because of who we are or are we able to freely admit our failures and throw ourselves on The Father's mercy and allow Him to meet our need? Someting to think about.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Healing of Many People
Matt 15:29-31

Here again, I am struck by the fact that Yeshua could barely have moments to himself. After his encounter with the Canaanite women he leaves and walks to the lake of Galilee. We don't know which mountain, but he started climbing one. I believe it was to get away from the throngs of people that were constantly following him. Even here though, they came.

We don't know which mountain, but here is a picture of the area where it could have happened:

It says that he went up on the mountain and he was sitting there, probably conversing with The Father and I believe he watched as the immense crowds came up the mountain. I think if it were me, I would be trying to find a place to hide, but not Yeshua. It does not say where the disciples were but I can just imagine them trying to do crowd control. LOL

An immense crowd, having with them the lame, blind, deformed, deaf, and many others When they reached him they began to just lay the sick at his feet and he healed them. He loved. And they gave glory to the God of Israel.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Feeding of the Four Thousand
Matt 15:32-39
(see also Mark 8:1-10)

It does not really say, but this event seems to take place right after Yeshua has healed all the people that came to him while he was on the mountain. They had been there for three days. Men, women, and children camping out in the wilderness for three days, waiting for their chance to get to him and be healed. Some of them had totally ran out of food. How had they carried the food they had initially brought, if any? What did they sleep on? What covered them as they slept? Did they have wagons, barrels, etc, that they carried everything with in order to meet the needs of the families? Were there donkeys loaded up with their stuff? So many questions.

So Yeshua looks out on them and says (paraphrased), "I do not want to send them away without feeding them. They might become ill on the way back to their homes because they have no food". We see his compassion again, his concern for their well-being and his desire to not send them home hungry. He did not have the attitude of "They should have come more prepared" or "I've already spent three days with these people healing them, let them fend for themselves what they will eat". He had compassion and wanted to make sure they were not sent away hungry.

His disciples, apparently not remembering the other mass feeding said, "from where do we get enough food in the wilderness to feed all these people?" Yeshua asks them, "How much food do you have?" They replied, "Seven loaves, and a few fish".

Yeshua tells the crowd to recline on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the few fish, and after he gave thanks (The Feeding of the Five Thousand for what that prayer likely was) he broke them into pieces which he gave to the disciples and they gave it out to the people...all 4000 plus. Think of how many hours that must have taken.

After they are all fed and fully satisfied Yeshua dismisses them and send them home. The left overs gathered were seven hampers full. According to the One New Man Bible, "The hamper was large, being used in Act 9:25 to describe Paul's being lowered through the Damascus city wall". That's a good amount of food left over. It does not say what they did with it, but I'm pretty sure none of it went to waste.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Demand for a Sign
Matt 16:1-4
(See also Mrk 8:11-13, Lke12:54-56)

See teaching thread for the teaching.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
Matt 16:5-12
(See also Mrk 8:14-21)

See teaching in teaching thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Peter's Declaration about Yeshua
Matt 16:13-20
(See also Mrk 8:27-30, Lke 9:18-21)

See teaching thread for teaching.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Yeshua Fortells His Death and Resurrection
Matt 16:21-28
(see also Mrk 8:31-9:1, Lke9:22-27)

See teaching in teaching thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Transfiguration of Yeshua
Matt 17:1-13
(See also Mrk 9:2-8, Lke 9:28-36)

See teaching in Teaching Thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Healing of a Boy with a Demon
Matt 17:14-21
(See also Mrk 9:14-29, Lke 9:37-43a)

Teaching may be found in teaching thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Yeshua again Fortells His Death and Resurrection
Matt. 17:22-23
(See also Mrk 9:30-32, Lke 9:43-45)

You may read the teaching in the teaching thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Payment of the Temple Tax
Matt 17:24-27

You may read the teaching in the Teaching Thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Greatest in the Kingdom
Matt 18:1-5
(See also Mrk 9:33-37, Lke 9:46-48)

You may read the teaching in the Teaching Thread.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Temptation To Sin
Matt 18:6-9
(See also Mrk 9:42-48 and Lke 17:1-2)

Read teaching here

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Matt 18:10-14
(See also Lke 15:3-7)

Teaching may be found here.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

A Brother Who Sins
Matt 18:15-20
(See also Luk 17:3)

See teaching here

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Matt 18:21-35

You may find the teaching here

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Teaching About Divorce
Matt 19:1-12
(See also Mark10:1-12)

You may find the teaching here