The Five Discourses of Matthew

On Sundays I attempt to "rest" from our reading of New Testament chapters and maybe catch up on past readings or take a moment to summarize some topics we are reading at this time.  Since we are currently in The Gospel of Matthew, it might be good to look at the structure of the body of that book.

The Gospel of Matthew has five significant teaching passages, in which Jesus gives a series of talks on a particular theme.  These five passages are sometimes called the Five Discourses of Matthew.

Matthew makes no claim to put his recorded events in chronological order.  It is likely that Jesus spoke these teachings numerous times throughout his three year ministry, in various places and in different arrangements.

The most well-known and most significant discourse is the Sermon on the Mount, in chapters 5 to 7 of the gospel of Matthew. In this teaching passage, Jesus spells out citizenship in the kingdom of heaven.  Beginning with the Beatitudes, he inverts the standard understanding of power, emphasizing compassion, mercy, peacemaking and humility.  Part way through the sermon, he teaches the disciples to pray; that passage is now called The Lord's Prayer and now recited in thousands of churches every week.

In Matthew 10, Jesus gives instructions to his disciples on how they are to begin their ministry.  This is sometimes called the Missionary Discourse or the Little Commission (in contrast to the Great Commission.)

In Matthew 13, Jesus publicly teaches about the kingdom of heaven in a series of parables and then privately explains one of the parables to the disciples and presents several more.  These two sections, one public, one private, have been collectively called the Parabolic Discourse.  (As a mathematician I might think that a "parabolic discourse" has something to do with conic sections, but it does not ... sigh.)

In Matthew 18, Jesus gives several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, sometimes called the Discourse on the Church.

In Matthew 23-25, beginning on the Mount of Olives at the very end of his ministry, Jesus gives several teachings on the "end times".  This is the Olivet Discourse.

Tomorrow we return to Matthew, chapter 11, and a question raised by John, the Baptist.

Online resources on the gospel of Matthew

I try to celebrate Sundays by NOT moving on to new material but instead doing a little bit of review. If you have missed a day in reading through the Gospel of Matthew, this is a time to catch up. Meanwhile, I'll describe some nice web sources I have found on the Gospel of Matthew.

The Overview Bible project also has a nice summary of the Gospel of Matthew.

The Bible Gateway is a good place to begin a study.  Pick a chapter in which you are interested (such as Matthew 1) and then along the right side of the page, click on "Study This".  A variety of commentary options will appear, some old, some new, some free, some not.

On Wikipedia are chapter and verse studies for most of the New Testament! For example, here is Matthew 7, both chapter and links to verses.

There is a free audio of the Gospel of Matthew available here at librivox. The Gospel of Matthew read in the King James Version is on Youtube.  (Personally, I'm not a fan of the ancient King James Version – too many associations with church traditionalism and legalism for me – but you may enjoy it.)

Among the published commentaries one might purchase are these five recommended by Ligonier Ministries.  If English is not your first language – or even if it is! – there is a nice "EasyEnglish" commentary on Matthew here.

But, frankly, one should spend most of one's time on the original source, the Scriptures themselves. The commentaries are for the curious, after reading a bit in the original Bible chapters ... which we will try to do tomorrow!

The Blue Letter Bible has a study guide on Matthew.  It begins here.

Bob Utley, a pastor out of East Texas (where I'm located now) has a nice overview of various passages from the Bible.  Here is his introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.  Bob's accent meets the stereotype of the southern televangelist, but his understanding and communication of bible passages is much better than that.

On a different direction, here is the Wikipedia page on the Renaissance painting of Jesus calling the tax collector, Matthew, to be his follower.  The gospels were the source for much of medieval and Renaissance art.

While searching Youtube, I found a four hour (!!) adaptation of Matthew as film. Personally this is not for me (I'd rather read the whole book – in the KJV – than watch this very slow moving film!) but it shows the things one can try to do with Bible Study.

Tomorrow we return to Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount.

An Overview of Matthew's Gospel

Matthew, also called Levi, was a Jew and a tax collector (according to tradition) and therefore a tainted, compromised member of the Jewish community, a devious individual who made money by working for the Roman masters. His calling to follow Jesus is recorded all three Synoptic Gospels, in Matt 9: 9-13, and in Mark 2: 13-17, and also in Luke 5: 27-28. (In Mark and Luke, Matthew is identified by an alternate name, probably his birth name, Levi.)

Matthew's gospel is a letter written by a Jew, aimed at a Jewish audience.  The writer takes pains to record Jesus's lineage from the ancient king, David, and quotes various Old Testament passages to demonstrate Jesus's fulfillment of Messianic prophesies.

The account of Matthew is similar to that of Mark and Luke and so probably takes advantage of a common source for some details, most likely the gospel of Mark.

The Bible project has two short videos on Matthew, giving a nice overview.  They are both less than 10 minutes and are very well done!  Take a moment to watch these!
Overview of Matthew, Part 1
Overview of Matthew, Part 2

This overview divides the central core of the gospel of Matthew into 5 parts. Before these five sections is an introduction (Matthew 1-3) where Jesus is portrayed as the promised Jewish Messiah.

Then there are five sections, each with a discourse or teaching.  The five sections might be arranged to parallel the five Old Testament books of the Torah.

Here are the five parts, as suggested by the Bible Project.

1. Matthew 4-7, announcing the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Matthew 8-10, Jesus as healer of the new kingdom
3. Matthew 11-13, The people's response to the Messiah
4. Matthew 14-20, The reality of the servant Messiah
5. Matthew 21-25, The class of two kingdoms.

At the end, chapters 26-28, there is the celebration of the Passover, followed by trial, crucifixion and resurrection.

The summary of each of the 28 chapters of Matthew, as Twitter tweets, is available here.

II Peter 3, The Lord's Return

Peter has denounced recent false prophets who, like false prophets of old, teach for their own gain and glory, without concern for God or spiritual truth.

2 Peter 3: 1-2, Recall the prophets
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Presumably this letter follows the earlier letter of Peter, stimulated by concerns about the false teachings, most likely related to first century gnosticism.

2 Peter 3: 3-7, Where is the second coming?
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and  destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved  for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

One concern late in the first century was the fact that the apostles had taught that the return of Jesus was imminent.  So where was he?  Peter's answer is essentially that God has a plan and its timeline is a long one.  If the delay in Jesus's return was a question for the late first century, it is certainly one for today, two thousand years later!

2 Peter 3: 8-10, God's timing is different
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed  by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 

If a thousand years is a mere 'day' to God, argues Peter, then our own small perspective is very short and we do not see the even a small part of the great picture.

Peter suggests that God delays the Return so as to reach out to all mankind.  This is a missional statement for the early church.

2 Peter 3: 11-13, Live as part of the new heaven and earth!
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

See the revelation of John for more details on this new heaven and new earth!

Throughout the New Testament, the future kingdom is viewed as a truly physical kingdom, with a new universe replacing the current one.  It is not a kingdom of angels sitting on clouds up in 'heaven' but a re-creation, a renewal, by God.

2 Peter 3: 14-16, Patient living (& Paul)
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own  destruction.

Until Jesus returns, we are to live blameless, holy lives, presumably engaged in our world and community.

This mention of Paul's letters is unique and indicates that this letter is very late, that Paul's letters have widely circulated.  Peter then goes on to call Paul's letters "Scripture", equating them with the statements of the Old Testament prophets.

2 Peter 3: 17-18, Be alert and keep growing
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

The letter ends with a final reminder to the young church about error and the importance of growing in Jesus's grace.

I have found this letter a little strange in it view of heavens, hell, angels and false prophets.  It merits more study.  But now, tomorrow, we will move on to the gospel at the beginning of the New Testament, that of Matthew, written for his brother and sister Jews.

II Peter 2, False Prophets

In this passage Peter takes on the false prophets (Gnostics?) who have been denying Jesus's role as God and Savior.

2 Peter 2: 1-3, Warning about false prophets
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way  of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

The author is especially worried about "prophets" denying the sovereignty of Jesus.

2 Peter 2: 4-9, Judge and rescuer

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed  by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men  from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

The word translated here as "hell" is the word tartarus,  a word for the abyss in Greek mythology.

It is easy to miss the fact that this passage is one long "if-then" statement: if all these things happened to ancients then ... God will rescue the godly.  The passage is a promise more than a warning.

2 Peter 2: 10-11, Slanderous accusations
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.

I'm not quite sure of the background for this passage. The false prophets have freely slandered others... including "celestial beings"?  (I'd look at a commentary on this ... but I'm traveling this morning.  William Barclay's commentary links this to two popular Jewish stories relating angels -- I need to dig that up.)

2 Peter 2: 12-13, Beasts at our love feasts
But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand.  They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will  perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 

This might be a description of some gnostics who, claiming that the material universe, including their bodies, was irrelevant, might then consider themselves free to engage in any sensual activities they wished, "carousing" in their feasting and partying.  Some manuscripts call the feasts "love feasts", a term that appears in the letter of Jude.

C. S. Lewis, at the end of the seventh book in The Chronicles of Narnia, has intelligent talking beasts denying Aslan's kingship and as a result, changing back into mere brute beasts, losing the divine gift of speech and thought.

2 Peter 2: 14-17, Balaam and a donkey's speech
With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed--an accursed  brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey--a beast without speech--who spoke with a man's voice and restrained  the prophet's madness.

The word "adultery" need not refer to a sexual acts but a general watering down of morality and ethics.  Peter's words here are sharp and strong, equating this attitude with ancient examples of wickedness.  I am again reminded of C. S. Lewis's play with animal speech in Narnia.

2 Peter 2: 17-19, Slaves promising freedom
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered  him.

Again, Peter harshly condemns these false prophets as deliberate dishonest manipulators. While promising freedom from any ethical restraints, they are themselves slaves.

2 Peter 2: 20-22, Worse off at the end
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn  their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

The quote in verse 22 about a dog and its vomit is from Proverbs 26:11.

Peter, like the author of Hebrews, has the strongest condemnation for those who understand who Jesus is but then still turn their backs to that knowledge.

II Peter 1, Precious Promises

The "second" epistle of Peter is an interesting and unusual letter. Its authenticity was challenged in ancient times for a number of reasons, as its style and tone are different from that of the first letter. Some have suggested that Peter simply had a different amanuensis, that is, a different secretary who wrote the letter into Greek. 

2 Peter 1: 1-6, Power for life

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The writer identifies himself as Simon Peter, not just "Peter", and also identifies himself as an apostle. This is a strong statement. The writer emphasizes that Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), is all we need for life.

2 Peter 1: 7-9, The results of faith
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his  past sins.

We see a litany of good characteristics, a ladder where each rung is a good attribute based on a previous rung, all based on confirmation of Jesus as Savior.

2 Peter 1: 10-15, Some final teachings
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 

Peter anticipates soon leaving his "tent" behind but wants to remind his readers of the most important pillars of the faith, before he moves on from this life.  Some suspect Peter is preparing for martyrdom.

2 Peter 1: 16-18, Eyewitness to the Transfiguration
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you  about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 

The author of the letter was an eyewitness of Jesus, seeing his majesty, present at the transfiguration scene in which both Elijah and Moses appeared. The quotation in verse 17 is from the New Testament: Matt 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35.  (This is one of the few cases in which a New Testament letter quotes the New!)

2 Peter 1: 19-21, Following the Prophets
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God has a planned described in the prophets, guided by God, "carried along" by the Holy Spirit.

I Peter 5, Shepherds Under a Shepherd

Peter continues to give advice regarding persecution.

1 Peter 5: 1-5, Shepherds representing the one true Shepherd

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving  as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace  to the humble."

Peter makes an appeal to other elders as a fellow elder, not as an "apostle" or head of the church.

The quote in verse 5 is from Proverbs 3:34.

1 Peter 5: 6-7, Humble and dependent on God
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Humility and trust are important characteristics of followers of the Good Shepherd.

1 Peter 5: 8-9, Alert and ready
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

This is similar to a statement of James in James 4:7.

1 Peter 5: 10-11, Eternal glory, short suffering
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Everyone enduring persecution relies on promises like this, that their suffering is "short" and is part of an eternal plan, with God still active overall.

1 Peter 5: 1-5, Greetings and final blessing
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in  it.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

In verse 12 the Greek Silvanus is a variant of Silas.  Silas possibly wrote the letter under the guidance of Peter.  Mark is probably John Mark.

Where is Babylon?  Possibly Rome, the home of Nero, the one providing the current persecution? It is apparently clear to the readers but is not named here.

There are similar questions about "She" -- who is the woman described here? Two reasonable suggestions from two thousand years later: (1) This could be the church in Rome, since the church was identified by Paul as the bride of Christ or (2) this could be Peter's wife, who traveled with him. Either way, the readers of the letter don't need a description.