Year 2, Week 31, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 31, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Matthew 11; Luke 7.

Today’s reading provides parallel accounts of various aspects of Jesus’ ministry. Matthew 11 is oriented around Jesus’ ministry of teaching and preaching: “When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities” (Matthew 11:1). Luke 7 adds multiple healing by Jesus: “After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him…And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well” (Luke 7:1-2,10). Luke even records Jesus raising someone from the dead: “Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her…And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother” (Luke 7:11-12,14b-15). Both chapters from today’s reading notes the inquiry from John the Baptist: “The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Luke 7:19-18). Matthew notes the same inquiry, but specifies that John had been imprisoned: “Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:2-3).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the things that Jesus had the disciples of John the Baptist report back to him as a response to his inquiry: “And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-5). Luke adds a preface, which itemizes some of what Jesus had been doing, before he records the same statement that Matthew recorded: “In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard…” (Luke 7:21-23). Jesus’ reply to the inquiry of John the Baptist roots His actions in the Messianic promises of Isaiah. The blind see and the deaf hear: “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see” (Isaiah 29:18); and: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5). The lame walk: “then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:6). The dead are raised: “our dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead” (Isaiah 26:19). Good news is preached to the poor: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1a). Perhaps as John the Baptist languished in prison, doubts began to fester in his heart. Therefore, Jesus’ reply directs John to consider the prophetic promises as they unfolded through Jesus’ ministry. Jesus encourages John to trust Him: “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (Matthew 11:6).

After Jesus gives the disciples of John an answer to report back to him, Jesus explains the important role of John: “As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?…What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:7,9-11, quoting Malachi 3:1). Drawing from promises given through Malachi, Jesus underscores John’s unique role. John was more than a prophet and greater than anyone else who has lived before him because all other prophets were only able to say that the promised salvation and Savior was coming in the future. John, however, uniquely points to Jesus himself and the arrival of the kingdom of God in Jesus. John testified to the very generation that Jesus, the Messiah, had come. Connecting further details from Malachi, in which he stated that the forerunner to the Messiah would be like an Elijah (see Malachi 4:5). Matthew records a further comment by Jesus concerning John: “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:13-15).

Because of the widespread rejection of John the Baptist’s ministry (see Luke 7:29-30) as well as Jesus’ ministry, Jesus pronounces a stern warning: “Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent” (Matthew 11:20). And yet Jesus explains that refusal to repent in light of His clear evidence that He was the Messiah, is because pride contributes to a blinding effect: “At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25). And yet, true wisdom, which is given to the humble, trust in Jesus: “Yet wisdom is justified by all her children” (Luke 7:35).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe