Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 26-27 ESV; Ch. 28 NET

Podcast Introduction

This Gospel Saturday, and we will complete the book of Matthew by reading ch 26-28 I’m calling todays episode, “Final Orders.”

Comments on Matthew 26-28

Thoughts on Matthew 26

Have you ever made a promise to God? Have you ever been so much in love with Him that you just knew you would always be right in the center of His will?

Or let’s dial it back a notch or fifty. Have you ever made a promise to your spouse, your significant other, or even just a friend? And have you ever failed to deliver on that promise? When you break a promise made to a human being, that’s one thing. Ideally you apologize, they forgive you, and you move forward.

But when you make a promise to God, that’s big, right?

In verse 33, Peter says to Jesus, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

Peter was one who often spoke from his heart. I think he really believed what he said, because emotionally, at that moment he could not imagine forsaking Jesus. But guess what. Emotions ebb and flow. And when we speak or make commitments based on emotions, we are going to be making promises we cannot keep, which is what Peter did here.

So let’s get back to you and me now. I know I’ve made promises that over time I ended up breaking. Promises to people, and promises to God. How about you? Sometimes the broken promises to people create broken relationships.

What about broken promises to God? What happened when Peter broke his promise to never fall away? First, when he realized what he had done, it broke his heart. And later, as we shall see in subsequent chapters, Jesus forgave Peter and Peter went on to become one of the early church’s leaders, as Jesus said he would.

So when I break a promise to God, as soon as I realize it, I’m on my knees confessing and asking forgiveness. And just as He saw Peter’s remorse and then forgave him, God sees my broken heart and forgives me.

Listen. God is not surprised by our failures. Do you think that Jesus was surprised by Peter’s failure? Of course not. As a matter of fact, as soon as Peter made his promise, Jesus said, “Actually Peter, you not only are going to fall away, but you will deny me three times tonight!”

So if Jesus knew that Peter was going to fail then, do you think He knew that Peter was going to break that same promise a few nights earlier, when He said that Peter was blessed because God had revealed to him that Jesus was the Son of the Living God? Of course Jesus knew.

If you are busy beating yourself up because you have failed, stop it. God can still use you. You didn’t throw a monkey wrench in God’s plans. He will forgive you if you ask Him, and He will accomplish His plan in your life. I promise. But more that that, He promises. And He never breaks a promise.

Thoughts on Matthew 27

Of course, it is never fun to read about the suffering of Jesus. But in a way, we have to love the narrative because without Him going through the agony, we would have to bear our own sins. This is the absolute pinnacle of grace…receiving a gift that we do not deserve. I deserve to die for my own sins, and you for yours. But Jesus says,”No. I died for you. I bore your sins that day. The price is paid. It is finished.”

The gift that cost Him everything. My goodness, how can I refuse it? How could I join those Roman soldiers and spit on Him and mock him by refusing His gift? I cannot. With gratitude and with love I humbly receive it, thankful for His infinite love for me, sinful, broken me.

My friend, I hope you have met Jesus. I hope that you have received His gift. This terrible death you heard about today was for you, too. If you have not yet accepted His gift to you of salvation, now is the time. You don’t know if you will have tomorrow. All you have is now. Tell Jesus that you accept His gift, that you know that you are a sinner and because of His gift you will turn from sin and turn to Him, believing that He died for you, paying the sacrifice that cleanses you from all your past and future failures. Do it now.

But have you ever really caught what Matthew 27 52 and 53 said? Have you given these two verses any thought? Here they are again: 52The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Ok, so I have to admit that the first images that come to my mind when I read these verses was heavily influenced by our culture’s fascination with zombies and the TV show “Walking Dead”. So sue me. My brain is not 100% spiritual. I admit to being influenced by the media. I am in the world, but I am not of it.

Of course, the risen saints were nothing like zombies. We are told very little about them, but I’m quite sure that they looked exactly like they looked when they were alive the first time. Otherwise, what good would it have done for them to go into the holy city and have them appear to many people?

So let’s take a closer look at what happened here. Just after Jesus died, scripture says that the curtain of the temple was was torn in two, from top to bottom, and there was a great earthquake. Rocks were split, and the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs *after his resurrection* they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Notice the timing there. *After* Jesus’ resurrection, they went into the city. So in keeping with prophecy, Jesus was the first to be resurrected, and then these saints. Jesus conquered the grave, not only for himself, but for all who put their trust in him.

As I studied this event, I found that there are different opinions about who these people were. Note that these are only opinions, because we aren’t told, but it is interesting to think about. Some think that it was the ancient patriarchs. Others think that they were believers from that time period…those that had seen Jesus but had died before he did. We don’t know.

Also, some think that after these saints went into the city and showed themselves they returned to their tombs. Others, that they were resurrected in the same type of body that Jesus did, to die no more, and when Jesus was taken up to heaven, they went with him.

That we have such a small amount of information tells us that God wants us to focus on the resurrected Christ. That we are given only this short mention tells us that the resurrection they experienced awaits us as well, that it was not only for Jesus. That death is not the end, but only the beginning of a brand new life. There is indeed life after death. Death is nothing to fear if we have put our trust in him!

The Great Commission

And what an important charge Jesus left with his disciples, and us. We each share the responsibility to make disciples. The translation there really could be paraphrased, “As you go about your lives, tell others so that they will want to follow me too. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Tell them what I told you, and teach them to obey me. Keep in mind that I am always with you, right up to the end of this age.”

So, as you live your life, don’t make it a secret that you are a believer in Jesus. Tell others about Jesus, as the Holy Spirit leads you. In today’s climate, this is a very politically incorrect thing to do, but man’s politics don’t change God’s Word. We have the answer for what ails the world. We should proclaim the truth with boldness. Amen?

White Elephant Link From James Cooper

Here

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S2E077-Matthew 26-28: Final Orders