Following the previous passage concerning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees over Jesus’ disciples and the piety of washing hands, today’s passage continues the theme into a parable. The crowds present at this encounter with the religious elite needed clarification from our LORD on what the greater spiritual point was. Just as a refresher, the Pharisees were more concerned about pious appearances than the true Spirit of the Mosaic Law. They took the concept of washing much further than God’s Law intended. Rather than cleaning the inner man, the soul, the Pharisees took the commands of cleanliness to an unintended end. Wherever they went, these ‘blind’ leaders wanted to be seen as obedient to the Mosaic Law. They washed their hands, not for sanitation, but for religious piety.

Now in verses 10-20, Jesus addresses the greater spiritual truth of the cleanliness of the soul. What is the TRUE nature of cleanliness in the gospel? What is the true aspect of cleansing the soul of sin? And how does one avoid polluting the soul? Jesus gives glorious wisdom in this passage.

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed!!

The final chapter of Matthew’s gospel is the most important truth for the Christian faith. This chapter begins with the narrative of the resurrection of our LORD and the response to its revelation to the Roman guards and to the two Mary’s. Both of these witnesses reacted in fear of the supernatural event. But only the disciples of Jesus, both these women and the twelve to come later, would respond with the mix of fear AND joy. This fearful joy leads to the final scene of Jesus with his eleven disciples and all other witnesses who are commissioned by the Risen Savior to:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:19-20]

On this Lord’s Day, this Resurrection Sunday, walk with me through these passages in Matthew 28 to see the impact of our LORD’s resurrection upon HIS followers and upon HIS church.

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem marks Jesus’ last week before his crucifixion and resurrection. It is marked with layers of royal imagery and disappointed expectation.

This event is recounted in all four gospels, but Matthew’s account alone references two animals brought to Jesus, a donkey and a colt, as a more direct citation of Zechariah’s prophecy [Zech 9:9 /

Matt 21:5]. Yet what we will see in this story is the divine orchestration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The Old Testament references reassert the kingly image, not just from the prophet Zechariah but also from the history of the Kings of Israel. These connections between the two testaments point to the divine hand of God guiding all of human history to this final week of Jesus’ life. This week of passion, this week of suffering, death, and resurrection is the pivotal week of all human history. This is the week of salvation, the week when God the Father ushers in the restoration of his fallen creation through the blood of His Son, Jesus.

Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees 'from Jerusalem' in this text. They charge Jesus of breaking the 'tradition of the elders' and Jesus reveals that they break God's great command to honor mother and father by caring for them in their golden years. The hypocritical know-it-alls actually did not know the true meaning of God's Law since they did not practice it with pure hearts. Jesus demanded that pure worship, not the focus of washing hands, conformed to the spirit and truth of God the Father. In other words, Jesus expects that we bring our experience of worship into conformity with what is true about God the Father, true about Jesus the Son, and to let our spirits to be authentically awakened and moved by that truth.

This podcast feed hosts the public teaching ministry of Dr. Bryant K. Owens. I am an independent scholar exploring Christian Studies in today’s secular world. I believe that thoughtful Christianity can bring meaningful change in our churches, classrooms, homes, and communities. With years of experience as both a pastor and educator, I am passionate about the historical Christian worldview and the classical, Socratic approach to learning. My work draws from theology, philosophy, ethics, and the humanities, always with a heart for making faith thoughtful and life-giving.

https://bryantowens.substack.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbryantowens/

Jesus taught his 12 disciples many things that would prepare them to carry on the ministry of the gospel after Jesus departed. In this passage, Jesus commands all events to occur from sending his 12 disciples in the boat to go across the Sea of Galilee to sending away the great crowd of 5,000 and more, to the high winds and waves that the disciples fought. Jesus does this to show HIS 12 to depend upon HIM in all circumstances. The broken condition of the world, God's creation, the struggle that these 12 fought headstrong, is the result of human sin and rebellion. The winds and waves distracted the 12 disciples from Jesus who is always nearby. Jesus Christ is always visible if our eyes are willing to see Him. His voice is always audible if we are willing to listen. The first distraction that will blind us and deafen us to HIS presence and to his voice. Jesus teaches us to look for him, to hear from him. When we cannot see our LORD, he can see us.

This text records the single greatest miracle that Jesus performed in his ministry. The feeding of the 5,000 is recorded in all four of the gospels. No other miracle of Jesus is testified in all of the gospels. This account of Jesus and His disciples feeding 5,000 is the only miracle of all of Jesus' miracles recorded in all four gospels. This IS important. This miracle is located at the climax of Jesus' ministry in all of the gospel accounts.

A feast occurs in the wilderness. As the dark sin of all souls wanders in the wilderness, Jesus offers his broken body to reconcile fallen humanity in the graces of the Father in Heaven.

This scene in Matthe 14 of the death of John the Baptist shows us that the gospel will always face persecution from evil. This text reveals to us that there is a guilt that evil will face when those who conduct evil come against the gospel. But the servants of the Kingdom of God will be glorified in Christ as they endure even martyrdom.

This passage tells us more about the insecurities of the evil mind of Herod Antipas than anything else. The insecurities of this evil mind in relation to the glorious truth of the gospel whos us that the evil mind will seek to hide his sin in the face of illuminating truth. Jesus reminds Peter, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail again it." [Matt 16:8]

As the Russian military invades Ukraine this week, the secular world could only express sympathy by saying, "Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people." But how does the Church respond to the events of this past week? How does the church, full of God's people, respond to horrors of war? We do not merely keep the suffering of innocents in our thoughts WE PRAY. We call upon God to intervene on behalf of the innocents who suffer today from the destruction of combat and war. We pray for the leaders of our nation and other nations who must decide how to navigate the troubling waters of War.

War is not a necessary thing but is an inevitable thing.

The Church has responded to war in three main ways in its history.

1. Pacifism

2. Just War Theory

3. Crusade

As the Russian military invades Ukraine this week, the secular world could only express sympathy by saying, "Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people." But how does the Church respond to the events of this past week? How does the church, full of God's people, respond to horrors of war? We do not merely keep the suffering of innocents in our 'thoughts' ... WE PRAY. We call upon God to intervene on behalf of the innocents who suffer today from the destruction of combat and war. We pray for the leaders of our nation and other nations who must decide how to navigate the troubling waters of War.

War is not a necessary thing but is an inevitable thing.

The Church has responded to war in three main ways in its history.

1. Pacifism

2. Just War Theory

3. Crusade