“The Day and the Hour”

(Matthew 24:36 – 25:13)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Purpose [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

September 13, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 24:36 – 25:13

24:36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son —except the Father alone. 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and starts to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.”

Introductory Comments:

We are continuing Jesus’ discussion of judgment, last things, and His return. Today’s passage is part of Jesus’ discussion on the Mount of Olives, which has come to be known as the Olivet Discourse. Today, we will wrap up chapter 24 and get into chapter 25. 

In this section of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus adds some more clarification to what His return will be like, and then He offers three parables to help us understand these truths. We’ll cover two of those parables this morning. 

Before we go any further, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us. 

(prayer)

Jesus has already spoken a lot about last things, offering clarification at times about particulars. Now He speaks specifically about the time when it will happen. 

It’s almost as if He’s anticipating the next question. We know how to anticipate questions sometimes, don’t we? We might say, “No, I don’t know what we’re having for dinner.” Or, “Yes, I finished my homework.” Or, “I’m still not sure what time your mother will be

“More about the Coming of the Son of Man”

(Matthew 24:29-35)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

September 6, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 24:29-35

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Introductory Comments:

Many times pastors spend hours and hours preparing a sermon, and part of that process is coming up with a clever title for the sermon. Well, after wracking my mind for quite some time and tapping into my creative powers, I’ve come up with this title for this sermon: “More about the Coming of the Son of Man.”

You see, we’re still in Matthew 24 and Jesus is still talking about signs, His return, and major events that comprise the future of our world. I initially had considered teaching this whole chapter but there was just too much heavy content. It would be the equivalent of sitting down and eating an entire cheesecake: it would be enjoyable but you may walk away wishing you had done it a bit slower. 

So, today we will pick it up in Matthew chapter 24 starting in verse 29.Before we go any further, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.

(prayer)

As a reminder, as we journey through this chapter of Matthew we need to remember that Jesus is speaking of things that probably apply to both the immediate future of His listeners (such as the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70) and to the far off future, even the future for us. 

You might ask, “How could this apply to two things at once?”Well, think of it this way: I’m preaching a sermon right now, but I’m also preaching a sermon series. The things that I’m saying today are part of both this sermon in Matthew 24:29-35 and the entire series that I’m preaching from the book of Matthew, called “God’s Fulfilled Promise.”

So, as we study this passage, remember the possibility of this dual meaning and application of what Jesus is saying. 

In today’s passage, Jesus narrows the focus of His discussion on future things. Today, He is talking more specifically about His return.Let’s read the passage and then look at two focuses of Jesus in this passage. 

Look in your Bibles at Matthew 24:29-35.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but

“Great Expectations”

(Matthew 24:9-28)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

August 30, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 24:9-28

9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.

23 “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.

Introductory Comments:

We’re entering the middle of a section of prophecy and predictions by Jesus concerning chaos and confusion. We’re picking up in Matthew 24 in the middle of what we call the Olivet Discourse, which was given by Jesus to His disciples on the Mount of Olives (hence the name “Olivet Discourse”).

The interpretations of the all of what Jesus meant in these teachings from the Mount of Olives is widely debated. As we go through this passage, I’ll provide for you particular interpretations on certain aspects. However, as I teach this I will do so with the approach that there were probably some truths that applied directly to Jesus’ audience that day, while some of these truths also apply to us today.  

Before we get into this passage, let’s pray together and ask God to teach us. 

(prayer)

You may remember from last week’s sermon that we learned that Jesus was teaching about judgment that comes from sin. The disciples had some questions that arose from what Jesus was saying concerning the temple. 

You may also remember that Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple, which we know would happen in A.D. 70. 

Jesus said that certain signs would come that were like labor pains pointing us to a time when things would happen in fulfillment. There would be warning signs to indicate that the destruction of the temple was near. Likewise, there will be warning signs, like labor pains, that point us to when Jesus will return and the world as we know it will end. 

This idea of Jesus pointing to something with both a lesser and greater meaning is an idea we see all throughout the Bible.

Just as the temple would be destroyed and great calamity would come. So, also, the world would experience greater destruction and calamity at a later date determined by God. 

Similarly, just as the power of Adam’s sin affected all of Creation, the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection would have a greater effect on Creation. 

Just as

“O Jerusalem!”

(Matthew 23:37-24:8)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

August 23, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 23:37-24:8

23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”

24:1 As Jesus left and was going out of the temple, his disciples came up and called his attention to its buildings. 2 He replied to them, “Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.”

3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. 6 You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these events are the beginning of labor pains.

Introductory Comments:

We’re continuing our series in the Gospel of Matthew called, “God’s Fulfilled Promise.” The last time we were in Matthew we covered a marathon 36 verses and we saw Jesus’ tone shift towards the religious leaders. 

In today’s passage, we’ll see Jesus’ tone shift again to a more somber tone. He’s going to open our eyes to two outcomes of sin in our world: sorrow and judgment.

Before we get into this passage, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us. 

(prayer)

When you lead an organization, team, classroom, or family you sometimes experience this situation where you want the organization to experience joy, fun, and positivity but you know that you have to deal with something that is more serious, somber, and perhaps negative because of something the organization has gone through. Perhaps you want to give your classroom a fun break but you can’t because they’re behind on their work due to their goofing off. Perhaps you want to take your kids to go get ice cream, but you don’t want to reinforce their bad behavior. Perhaps you want to buy new cars for your church members but they didn’t read their Bible enough this week. 

In any case, there are times when you have to face the difficult outcomes that result from that which has transpired. Well, this is one of those times for Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. 

In Matthew 23:37-24:8, we’re going to see Jesus speak about three specific realities concerning the presence of sin among the people of Israel and the realities are certainly present in our world as well.  

First, . . .

I. Jesus spoke of sorrow (23:37-39) [on screen]

Look at Matthew 23:37-39. 

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!”

We see from Jesus that there is sorrow that results from sin. Jesus is burdened towards the people of Israel because of their sin and the consequences it will bring in their lives. 

As Jesus speaks of this, He centers in on the city of Jerusalem which was the heart of the people of Israel. 

Jesus had just finished addressing the scribes and Pharisees in terms of their persecution of God’s chosen messenger

Faith and Practice – 2 Peter 1:3-9

Richard Jones, 8/16/20

PRACTICE makes permanent.  Experience doesn’t make you wiser, it only makes you older.  Evaluated experience – making sure what you’re practicing is what we could and should be practicing – makes you wiser.  Whatever has been your practice:  Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent.  If it’s not evaluated, it just creates a rut; it gets you off track and creates the illusion, for you and for others, of a track that is really a rut.  Evaluated practice makes better.

That’s how and why believers and followers of Jesus practice our faith – because we want to get better at being faithful.

As we renew our minds with the truth of God’s character, it becomes easier and more practical to verbalize our gratitude to God in prayer, and to others in praise of God.  As we do, it’s like putting stones into our ruts of faithless behavior – we literally get lifted up, and out of our ruts, as we praise Him!

If you just try to praise God as a knee-jerk reaction, in order to just feel better for the moment, it can feel like a rock in the middle of your track, and you could miss it being the stepping stone out of your rut and into the rewards God has for those who believe:  The promises of God, the power of God, and the presence of God.

In order to experience rewards in the present and in the future, we need to establish and stick to a routine.

Google defines a routine as a sequence of actions regularly followed; Merriam-Webster – a regular course of procedure; Dictionary.com – an unvarying and constantly repeated formula, as of speech or action; convenient or predictable response.

I want to show you a clip of convenient or predictable response that many consider a moment of greatness in football.  In fact, the official YouTube page of the NFL categorizes it like this: “New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. makes the greatest catch of 2014, and arguably of all time.” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxbz3DDQzHU

VIDEO 1 – “Odell Beckham Jr. Makes Catch of the Year! _ NFL”

This next video is from his practice just before the moment of greatness we just watched.

VIDEO 2 – “Odell Beckham Jr Practice”

This moment was great to us because it had already become routine to Odell.  Greatness isn’t achieved by luck, it’s achieved by discipline – consistency over time.

Spiritual greatness isn’t a new fad or book, it comes thru doing more of the same – hearing God day by day from His own words – words recorded thousands of years ago and preserved by Him ever since.

Thomas Edison was asked how he felt about the thousand failed attempts at inventing the light bulb.  He said those weren’t a thousand failed attempts, they were the thousand necessary steps to inventing the lightbulb.

Odell Beckam Jr didn’t make that catch randomly.  Thomas Edison didn’t invent the lightbulb randomly.  And you won’t fall in love with the God of the Bible randomly, either.

We all want our life to matter more.  This morning is all about how!!!  I want 2020 to end better than it began for you.  For many, that’s a pretty low bar.  But I want it to be a chapter in your life where everything got better, and that you can look back on and know why.

A routine of more of the same is the path toward reward.  If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.

Spiritual greatness is Godliness.  My job is as a COACH – leading you to do what you might not feel like doing in order to become what you’ve always dreamed of being!

Q: What if the truth was that if you are a believer, you lack nothing for getting there?  If you are spiritually starved, God never starved you – you starved you!  Cause you don’t know what you already possess!

2 Peter 1:3 – 3His [Jesus’] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

God’s glory and goodness draw

“WARNING: Religious Pretenders!”

(Matthew 23:1-36)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

August 9, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 23:1-36

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 You are not to be called instructors either, because you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.

15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as you are!

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’ 17 Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ 19 Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors’ sins!

33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 This is why I am sending you prophets, sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and

“The Messiah’s Sonship”

(Matthew 22:41-46)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

August 2, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 22:41-46

41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.”

43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’:

44 The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet’?

45 “If David calls him ‘Lord,’ how, then, can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore.

Introductory Comments:

I believe that an effective parent should hope and dream that their children surpass them in terms of true success and impact upon the world. In fact, it brings a parent joy when you finally start to see your child excel and develop in areas where you have been pouring into them for years. I don’t know when you really start to see the full impact of all the investment you’ve made in your children, but I see some hope after about ten years. I trust that will continue. Well, sometimes the children far outshine those who came before them. That’s certainly my hope for my boys. 

In today’s passage, we’re going to hear about King David of Israel. David was one of the greatest leaders that Israel ever saw. We know, also, that there were prophecies concerning one who would come after him who would be called the Son of David. While it’s true that David was a great king, we’re going to see that the Son of David far outshined David himself. 

As we prepare to study this passage, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. 

(prayer)

As most of you know, we’re continuing our series in Matthew. Today, we are concluding chapter 22. If you haven’t already, please find your way to Matthew 22:41-46. 

As you’ll remember, Jesus was continually questioned by the Pharisees and the other religious leaders of the day. 

Well, apparently Jesus was tired of being questioned by them. In today’s passage, Jesus decided to do the questioning. The question that He asks them is a dandy. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You like tough questions? I’ll show you a tough question!”

So, let’s look at the passage. Look at Matthew 22:41-46:

41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.”

43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’:

44 The Lord declared to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet’?

45 “If David calls him ‘Lord,’ how, then, can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore.

In this conversation, Jesus is questioning the Pharisees in order to make a point about who the Messiah is. The Pharisees easily take the bait and are completely unable to answer Jesus’ question. The wisdom and authority of Jesus are on display while the complete bewilderment of the Pharisees is on display. 

Jesus first asks a basic question that any young Jewish person with any amount of religious training would be able to answer. Look at verse 42. Jesus asks, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

This is not a hard question. Every Jewish person knew that the Messiah would be the Son of David. That is, He would be the descendant of David.

The Pharisees are correct this time. They say at the end of verse 42, “David’s.” Finally, the Pharisees get something right!

After the Pharisees answer the question directly, Jesus asks another question, this one more perplexing to the Pharisees. Look at verse 43: He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’”

Well, Jesus is referring to a specific passage. This is from

“The Great Question for the Church”

(Matthew 22:34-40) [on screen]

Series: “God’s Fulfilled Promise”

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

July 26, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 22:34-40

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 

37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Introduction

Sometimes when you’re a part of something important you learn that there is one crucial piece of advice, or one main thing, that you need to know. A friend of mine was in the Marine Corps and he told me that as they went through their basic training, or boot camp, the most important thing to remember was to not draw attention to yourself; just keep your head down and do what you were supposed to do.[show picture on screen]

This morning we are in Matthew 22:34-40.  Today, we’re going to hear from Jesus concerning the greatest commandment of God. 

The passage that we will look at this morning is very familiar to many Christians and probably familiar to most of us. This passage is famously known as the Great Commandment. 

As we know, the Pharisees and the religious leaders have been questioning Jesus over and over again. Now, they ask, “Which command in the law is the greatest?”

That’s a good question for us all: what’s the most important thing for us to do as followers of God?

Well, let’s see how Jesus answers the question. 

Let’s go ahead and read the passage. Look at Matthew 22:34-40:

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 

37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Let’s pause for a moment and go to the Lord in prayer as we explore this passage.

(prayer)

For those of you who have a great memory, you may remember that I’ve preached this sermon before. In fact, it’s been nearly three years. I last preached this passage on August 27, 2017, as I was preaching in view of a call to be pastor at this church. 

Well, here we go again. 

Let’s look into this question and the answer that Jesus provided. 

Let’s explore first . . . 

I. The Question (v. 36) [on screen]

The Pharisees let the Sadducees have a shot in last week’s passage and now they are at it again themselves. This question came from a Pharisee who was also an expert in the law.

Most likely these experts in the law would debate each other as to which of the Old Testament laws were most important. Perhaps they thought Jesus might bring clarity, or perhaps they wanted to test Him. We religious leaders like to debate things from time to time. 

Jesus didn’t seem to mind this question, no matter the intentions of the man asking the question.  In fact, we’ll see in just a moment that Jesus answers the question straightforwardly.

We read that this man respectfully addresses Jesus as “teacher” and asks Him the question in verse 36: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”

Let me just say, this question is pertinent for the church today. No matter why the man asked the question, we can benefit from the answer. 

Well, let’s look to see how Jesus answered the question.  First, we hear from Jesus . . . 

II. Answer #1: Love God (vv. 37-38) [on screen]

Look at verse 37.

“The Realities of the Resurrection”

(Matthew 22:23-33)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

July 19, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 22:23-33

23 That same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and questioned him: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second also, and the third, and so on to all seven. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.”

29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

Introductory Comments:

Linda Wolfe holds the Guinness World Record for the most marriages by a woman. As of 2009, she had been married 23 times. Her last marriage was to the man who held the record for the most marriages by a man. Glynn Wolfe had been married 29 times. That’s quite the accomplishment. By the way, I have an aunt named Linda Wolfe. She’s not that Linda Wolfe. 

Well, today’s sermon discusses the fictitious scenario of a woman who had been married seven times to seven brothers. 

In this passage, Jesus is questioned yet again by a religious group. Again, He provides a wise answer and provides helpful biblical truth for us today.

Before we dive into this passage, let’s go to God in prayer.

(prayer)

At this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is continuing to interact with religious leaders as He is getting nearer and nearer to the end of His time on the earth. 

In today’s passage, Jesus is interacting with another group, the Sadducees.

The Sadducees were sort of the religiously liberal group of their day. Among other things, they did not believe in the reality of the resurrection of the dead. In other words, they didn’t believe in an afterlife. They didn’t believe in the reality of heaven as we know it. 

Further, the Sadducees based most of their beliefs on the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Torah, or the law.

It becomes evident in this passage that the Sadducees seemed to be worse than the Pharisees at trying to trap Jesus. 

Let’s look at the passage and then discuss two truths that emerge from the text. Let’s read Matthew 22:23-33:

23 That same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and questioned him: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second also, and the third, and so on to all seven. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.”

29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 And when the crowds heard this, they w

“Multiple Loyalties”

(Matthew 22:15-22)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

July 12, 2020

The Passage

Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

21 “Caesar’s,” they said to him. Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Introductory Comments:

Many of you remember the Looney Tunes characters Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote (we have a picture to show the two of them). [show picture on screen]  Wile E. Coyote was always trying to trick and capture Road Runner. However, as you know he always failed. Time and time again, he failed.

Well, here we are again with the Jewish establishment trying to trick and trap Jesus. However, they fail time and time again. Spoiler alert: they will fail in today’s passage as well.They just don’t seem to learn their lesson. However, thankfully for us, we continue to learn helpful truths from God’s Word as we study these stories of the religious leaders’ failed attempts to trap Jesus. 

As we prepare to study today’s passage, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. 

(prayer)

Ok, here we are back in the Gospel of Matthew and Jesus is interacting with the religious leaders. 

In this circumstance, the Pharisees decide to send their disciples, rather than going themselves. They send their disciples along with the Herodians to try and trap Jesus.Now, a natural question arises: who are the Herodians?

We don’t know everything about the Herodians, but we do know that they were loyal to and supportive of the rule and reign of King Herod, hence the name, “Herodians.”

The Herodians were primarily politically motivated, whereas the Pharisees were primarily religiously motivated. 

Under normal circumstances, these two groups may not even get along. However, when it came to trying to trick Jesus, they seemed to get along just fine. 

So, let’s look at the passage and see two types of loyalties that emerge. Look at Matthew 22:15-22:

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

21 “Caesar’s,” they said to him. Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

In a moment, we’re going to discover two directives from this passage that will help us know God’s way for us. Before we do, let’s talk a little more about the passage. 

Notice in verse 16 that these folks are really trying to butter-up Jesus. 

They say, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality.”They’re basically saying, “We know that you care so much about t