Featured Bible Study - The Gospel according to Matthew

KJV - Goslpel of Matthew - Chapter 7

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 7

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

7:1 This text does not prohibit all types of judgments (v. 16), such as moral, spiritual, and ethical judgment that must be made with discernment (Matt. 7:6, cf. John 7:24; 1 Cor. 2 :15; 5:9; 2 Cor. 11:4; Phil. 3:2; 1 |||042 3JO 4:1).
The prohibition referred to in the passage consists of doing it in a spirit of bitterness, hostility, harshness and revenge. Jesus is focusing on the area of motivations.
Only God knows the intentions of the heart, that's why he judges them.

7:6 Dogs and pigs is a metaphor that describes people who reject the gospel.
In Judaism these animals were considered unclean (Prov. 26:11; 2 Pet. 2:22) and did not appreciate what was valuable.
Pigs ate the vilest and dogs were scavengers.
You should not correct those who do not want to listen, nor give to those who do not want to receive what God offers.

7:12 The teaching in the "golden rule" is not original to Jesus; Versions already existed in rabbinical literature and in some Eastern religions.
In all cases it is used in a negative sense, like Rabbi Hillel's version: "Whatever is hateful to yourself, do not do to others."
Jesus expresses it in a positive, meaningful, and rewarding way by summarizing the ethical essence of the OT.

7:21, 22 The faith that says and does not do is hypocritical.
Biblically, faith and obedience are two sides of the same coin; both are inclusive, not exclusive.
Saving faith will never fail to produce the fruit of good works.
Showmanship and sensationalism put their trust in good deeds.
True spirituality places its trust in the lordship of Jesus.

CULTURAL NOTES

7:24-27 The rabbis debated over what was more important: listening or keeping the law?
Most thought that hearing was more important, because one could fulfill the law without hearing it.
But they insisted that both aspects were important.
The idea of being judged for hearing and not obeying was familiar to them (Eze. 33:32).
Jesus emphasizes that the important thing is to do and not just listen.


7:29 Scribes (grammateis) translates the Hebrew soferin, which refers to a professional group of linguists and interpreters of the Law.
They originated in the time of the Babylonian captivity, in the time of the priest and scribe Ezra (458-445 BC)
Little by little they gained importance and patented the orality method.


ETHICAL ARTICLE

7:12 Loving God and loving one's neighbor as oneself is a summary of OT orthodoxy (Matt. 22:37-40):
Acting toward others in the same way and to the extent that we would like to be treated (“the golden rule”), summarizes the orthopraxy of the OT.
Conventional wisdom has defined this in negative terms:
don't do to another what you don't want done to you.
Ethics like the theology of the kingdom is simple but transcendent.
If we only knew how to consider the options, rights and privileges of others, we would enjoy a more meaningful, rewarding and respectable social communion.
The ethical translation of love is to privilege the dignity of the neighbor. As has been said, “respect for the rights of others is peace”.

 

KJV - Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 8


1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 8

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

8:6 Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry during their twenty years in the army.
Many had illegal concubines, a situation that the army ignored, and that was suitable for them.
Centurions were frequently transferred and were unlikely to have a 'formal family'.
That is why they had faithful servants, since due to their hierarchy they received better salaries.
This was the centurion's great concern for his servant who was probably his only family.


8:11, 12 Jewish nationalism and rabbinic teachings had patented the falsehood that only Jews will be saved because they are Jews.
Jesus' revolutionary statement was that Gentiles are also included in the kingdom of God.
Imagining Gentiles at the table of the patriarchs of Israel was blasphemy within Judaism.
The children of the kingdom are the unbelieving Jews who rejected the grace of God and who will therefore suffer eternal damnation.

8:16, 17 The cases of demonic possession that Jesus dealt with involved control of the body of his victims, coming to speak through them (Mark 5:5-9), causing them disorders (John 10:20), violence (Luke 8:29) or muteness (Mark 9:17-22).
The total healing of believers will occur in the consummation of the kingdom, meanwhile we live under the grace of God.

ARCHEOLOGICAL NOTE

8:14 Archaeologists found traces of what is believed to be this house in a location near the synagogue.
Adult children were expected to care for their elderly parents.
It is implied that Pedro's father-in-law had died and that Pedro and his wife had taken in the widowed mother.
Care of the extended family by the Jews was common at that time.

MISSIOLOGICAL ARTICLE

8:14 Developing intimate personal relationships is a pastoral strategy for mission.
Jesus had close friends, his disciples, but among them there was a special group (Peter, John and James) that appeared several times with the Lord in strategic situations that were very decisive for the mission.
One of those circumstances was the crisis of Pedro's mother-in-law, who had a strong fever, according to Lucas; prostrate, says Mateo.
Having a fever at that time was deadly.
Jesus healed her and in her response she began to serve him.
As a corollary, many others came to enjoy the messianic blessing of comprehensive health.
The believer must relate to as many people as possible, and he can develop more intimate relationships with those who share his new identity and purpose in Christ.

CULTURAL NOTES

8:20 Son of Man was Jesus' favorite title to identify himself.
It is a messianic title from Daniel 7:13, 14, and is used in the Gospels at least eighty-three times.
Apart from tangentially communicating Christ's humanity in balance with his divinity, the emphasis is on his eternal glory (Matt. 24:27; Acts 1:11; 7:56; Rev. 9:1-19). ).
Of the evangelists, it is Luke who uses this term the most.

8:22 It was the basic responsibility of the oldest son, in both Greek and Jewish culture, to bury his father.
There were two “burials”:
The first was immediately after death;
the second was done after a year, when the meat had disintegrated.
The son reburied his father, putting her bones in a box placed in a hole in the wall of a tomb.
Failure to do so was dishonorable (Tobias 4:3, 4).
Here, he probably refers to this “second burial”.

8:24 The Sea of Galilee is about two hundred and ten meters below sea level.
To the north is Mount Hermon, 2,804 meters high; from May to October strong winds blow through the surrounding narrow gorges of that valley, causing extremely sudden and violent storms.
In the incident recounted here, Jesus gave a masterly display of both his divinity (controlling a storm) and his humanity (sleeping soundly).

8:29 At the time of Jesus there was an awakening of demonic activity by the presence of the Christ.
The demons recognized, in contrast to the Jews themselves, the deity of Jesus, that the time is divinely appointed for the judgment and that Jesus is their judge.

8:33, 34 The gentile settlers of Decapolis considered the miracle workers as magicians or sorcerers, in addition to the economic damage, this was one more factor to keep Jesus away from their territories.

 

KJV - Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 9

9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 9

CULTURAL NOTES

9:9 Capernaum was a coastal city, and a very strategic customs post where taxes were collected for Rome.
Mateo would be one of the most hated publicans for his abuses.
The impressive thing is that he narrates it himself, in a true gesture of humility.
Mateo makes a single mention of himself in his writing, and in it he highlights the conversion of a tax collector (thief and traitor) to a disciple of the King.

9:10 In the East people did not sit at the table but reclined (anakeimai).
They leaned on a low table on cushions placed on the floor and their feet went backwards.
They generally leaned on the left side, to eat with the right hand. The table was the place of greatest intimacy and social communion in Jewish culture; food was usually served from a common plate.

9:17 The Greek uses two different terms for new. The former emphasizes “novelty” (neon), the new wine; and the second, highlights the idea of "newly manufactured" (kainos), the new skins.
The skins were bags made with animal skin, and were used to store the wine.
The new wine was poured into a new skin; the fermentation of the wine required the dilation of the leather.
Jesus specified that Pharisaic ritual practices, such as fasting, were not part of the new order.

NOTE: I don't agree with the las paragraph, Jesus was clear, they were not fasting because he was with them, but later, after his ascension, the believers will fast.

9:23 Jewish funerals included the use of instruments and the paid service of mourners, professional mourners who mourned the dead (2 Chron. 35:25).
The mourners were women who were paid to mourn while reciting the name of the deceased and other recently deceased relatives.
The more uproar the greater the dignity of the dead was considered.
This explains why they went from crying to mocking very drastically and without major complications.

TEXTUAL NOTES

9:21 The Greek verb sozo means both to heal and to save.
It generally expresses that the benefits received from the Lord never refer to a single dimension of the person.
But it also served to focus on the healing of the body, and that is precisely the intention of the woman in this text: healing. Although the Lord will not only do that, but honoring her faith, very daring by the way, he will save her completely (Luke 7:50).


HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

9:36 Jesus “quivered in his bowels” at the sight of the crowds scattered and “exploded.”
Jesus considered the people as sheep without a shepherd, as the ripe harvest awaiting evangelization.
But, at the same time, he points out that this work is shared between a God who calls and sends the reapers and a community that cries out for workers, confirms them and prepares them.

 

KJV - Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 10

1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 10

TEXTUAL NOTES

10:1-4 Apostle is a representative of the risen Lord, sent by him, eyewitness of his resurrection and bearer of portentous signs. Matthew self-identifies as the publican.

10:32, 33 The Greek word confess (homologeo) means to say the same as or to agree with, in this case God.
Here it means to agree with God that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
Denying Jesus does not refer to a specific moment of weakness (like Peter's), but to adopt a lifestyle whereby a person decides not to appear associated with Christ.


CULTURAL NOTES

10:9, 10 Traveling light was typical of groups like the peasants who used to have only one cloak; the Cynics who were itinerant philosophers who propagated their doctrines in exchange for money; radical prophets like Elijah and John the Baptist who lived in complete austerity.
The idea of the mandate is to be totally consecrated to the mission, free from commitment and worry about the materiality of the world.


HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

10:23 This is a text with a clear eschatological meaning that goes far beyond the mission of the twelve, since it focuses on a future mission to the world.
The persecutions described here more seem to correspond to the period of the great tribulation, where God will deal severely with his people Israel, and which will precede the second coming of the Son of Man in his glory, as described by Matthew (24:29, 30).

10:34 There is no contradiction in this text.
There is no division more remarkable and inevitable than that marked by the sanctity of the kingdom and the consubstantial sinfulness of the human heart.
Jesus uses irony as a rhetorical device to emphasize that despite being the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9: 6; Eph. 2:14), his message has become decisive in dividing humanity.
Christ was honest, he forewarned us of the privilege of suffering for faith.


10:38 Taking up the cross has nothing to do with an attitude of pious doom in which the believer tries to stoically and resignedly endure the trials of life.
Tests like problems are not sought, they are expected.
It means assuming a lifestyle that causes harsh opposition from the world, the flesh and Satan, and that is permanent as indicated by the verbs used that are in the present continuous.


GENERAL ARTICLE

The Twelve
The number twelve symbolizes the administration or government of God, that is why twelve is also a symbol of the people of God.
It is a concept analogous to that of the OT, with the twelve tribes of Israel.
While it is true that the Lord Jesus ministered to the multitudes by preaching, teaching, and healing, it is no less true that he focused pastorally, strategically, and disciplingly on the twelve.
However, it is significant to note in the Gospels that of the twelve, eleven were actually his followers, for Judas does not count in that remnant, rather he is identified as the deserter (Matt. 10:4).

Of the eleven who were actually true followers, three became Jesus' closest disciples: Peter,
James, and John. It can be clearly seen in the Gospel account that on at least three specific occasions the Lord chose them for special missions, and on two other occasions they are protagonists of a group apart from the twelve.
Jesus had close friends whom he consistently turned to for emotional and spiritual support.
Even among the three, John the beloved disciple seemed to be the closest.
Regarding the identity of the twelve, it was a very heterogeneous group.
People with medium or very little education, artisans, and belonging to the most common of Jewish society, based mostly in the despised Galilee.

The most prominent among the twelve, judging by the book of Acts, are precisely the three closest to Jesus: Peter, the great preacher and leader of the church, who also wrote two epistles in the NT; James the great martyr of the church (Acts 12:2) and first apostle to die; and John the last apostle on earth, and writer of five NT books.
In these last two, the sons of Zebedee, Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled that they would partake of his cup, that is, of a tragic death because of the gospel (Matt. 20: 20-23).

 

KJV - Goslpel of Matthew - Chapter 11

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 11

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

11:3 John questions because he has a conflict of interpretation, not faith.
In his prophetic mind, and according to his message, the ministry of Jesus just doesn't fit.
He has the same conflict as the OT prophets, who prophesied but had no idea how and when it would come to pass.
Jesus explains to John by performing miracles, alluding to messianic prophecies such as Isaiah 26:19; 35:5, 6; 61:1, 2.

11:11a Jesus' intention is not to make comparisons between people, but rather a contrast between situations.
Despite the unparalleled greatness of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah, he, as the friend of the groom, accompanied him to the "bridal chamber", but did not enter it, since he was not the "kinsman redeemer", and because at the end of accounts, he himself is part of the "bride" attired.

11:14 John is the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5 (Matt. 17:12, 13).
The Jews knew that Elijah had not died (2 Kings 2:11).
This does not imply that John was the reincarnation of Elijah.
John himself denied that he was Elijah (cf., John 1:21).
What it means is that John came in the style, spirit, and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).


CULTURAL NOTES

11:11b This expression uplifts Jesus' disciples rather than downplaying John.
Calling John the elder was a Jewish form of exaltation that could be applied to multiple people, as the rabbis did to Joseph and Moses.

11:12, 13 Biazetai (suffers violence) can be translated in two ways.
Passively it would be understood that the kingdom suffers violence because of the belligerence of the people against John and Jesus.
In the middle voice it would be: "the kingdom vigorously breaks through, and the vigorous eagerly snatch it."
The first translation offers a natural tone, but due to the context, the second option is the most accredited, since the kingdom does not admit cowardice, but courage and radical determination.

11:17 Jesus jokingly uses the simile of a very popular Jewish children's game to highlight the lack of response of those people to the message of the kingdom, in whatever form it is presented.
The children pretended to celebrate weddings and funerals, disappointed with other children who do not want to play anything and who are always sad and moody.

11:23 Hades is the word used in the LXX to translate Sheol, the place or world of the dead, into Hebrew.
The Jews perceived the full existence together with the body, not separately.
In such a way that Sheol has more the meaning as a state or condition of the dead (shadows) than a place of rest.
In him there is no life, which is only possible in the very presence of God (Ps. 16:10, 11).


TEXTUAL NOTES

11:14; 13:9, 43 Some manuscripts have added the expression "to hear," presumably to harmonize the phrase elsewhere (Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16, etc.).


MISSIOLOGICAL ARTICLE

11:25 The most transcendent decision of the human being is to accept or reject the invitation: Come to me…
Jesus was aware of his messianic identity, his eternal authority and his redemptive purpose.
His invitation is universal to those who are burdened.
Christ is God's provided rest for man.
The challenge of his invitation is to bear his yoke, which does not remove the load, but it does make it lighter.
The result is to internalize the essential character of Jesus: to be humble, to live our insignificance before God with gratitude and holiness and to be meek, not reactive but tolerant and proactive.
Humility does not eliminate the dignity of creatures and children of God, and meekness is not synonymous with weakness or passivity.

 

KJV Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 12

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

16 And charged them that they should not make him known:

17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 12

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

12:28 The kingdom of God has already arrived and demands childlike submission and absolute obedience.
The kingdom has become historic in the person, message and work of Jesus, and now it is dynamic through the intervention of his Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, this dynamism leads to the expectation of full compliance.

12:31 The Holy Spirit is the one who makes it possible to receive salvation in Christ, convincing the human being and the world of sin, justice and judgment (John 3:36; 16:7-11).
He who rejects the ministration of the Holy Spirit closes for himself the only door of eternal forgiveness.
Therefore, the unpardonable sin is the rejection of the testimony of the Holy Spirit about Jesus as Lord and Savior; it is also consciously, verbally and systematically attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:22).

12:40 The people cynically asked for a sign (semeion) from Jesus. The Lord for his part, historicized Jonah and filled his permanence in the sea monster with a new meaning; he defined that incident as foreshadowing his own death, burial, and resurrection on the third day.

12:43-45 This passage presents a rhetorical parody of Israel's spiritual situation.
Having opted for moralism and legalism to the detriment of obedience to the Lord, they had been exposed to the full intervention of the devil who did not allow the light of the gospel to shine on them.
Jesus implies that Judaic legalism had resulted in a condition worse than that which existed among the Jews before the law was given.

12:50 Here the Lord Jesus transcends spiritual (regenerate) parentage over all kinds of natural (genetic) relationships.
It does not mean a contempt for his historical and human family, but rather a precision of the identity and essential quality of true citizenship in the kingdom of God (Luke 11:27, 28).
Later Jesus will show the most tender love and pastoral concern for Mary, his mother (John 19:25-27).

ETHICAL ARTICLE
12:42 The church is not synonymous with the kingdom, although it is the agent and historical scene of the kingdom of God, to proclaim that it is "here and now", it is "already and not yet".
Therefore, a believer is a missionary or a hypocrite, in a world in which a third of the people have not even heard the name of Jesus.
The kingdom of God is extended throughout the world by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the obedience of the church in evangelism.
The kingdom of God is the government of God and priority in God's sovereign and eternal agenda, because it seeks to enthrone Jesus as Lord (Kurios) and man as a slave (doulos) to enjoy an absolute monarchy full of grace, mercy and true.

 

God bless you!
NOTE: I'm really sorry brothers and sisters that it took a couple of weeks for me to return to the study. I had to train a new collegue at work and it took some time, I still need to finish his training but with less intensity so I hope to continue from now on in a daily basis.
May the grace of the Lord by with you!

 

KJV Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 13

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 13

HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

13:1ss. From here until the cross, Israel is contemplated by the evangelist Matthew as the one that rejects the Messiah.
This implies several changes in the ministry of Jesus: The teaching method (parables).
Miracles cease to have the purpose of being signs for Israel, to be particular blessings.
The focus shifts from the large crowds to his own disciples.
The teaching focuses on his death and the mission of the church.

13:3 This verse is an outline of the kingdom program in light of the rejection of the Messiah who was not revealed in the OT; This is why we speak of the mysteries of the kingdom.
The term mystery appears in the OT only in the Aramaic version of Daniel 2:18, 19; 27-30, 47; 4:9, where the LXX translates root as musterion.
In the NT it refers to a plan hidden in the heart of God that is only now revealed (Rom. 16:25, 26; Eph. 3:3; Col. 1:26).

13:44 The difference between this parable and the next one is that in this one you find, with surprise, something that you were not looking for; On the other hand, in the next one, the search is intentional and is crowned with success.
In both cases, it is something that is worth parting with everything else in order to achieve it.


CULTURAL NOTES

13:25-27 The basic element in the Palestinian diet, and in ancient times in general, was bread, for this reason wheat was essential.
The tares were much like the wheat in its early stages; it could only be distinguished when the ear of wheat appeared.
he reapers cut the wheat just below the ear, leaving the shorter tares to remove at another time.

13:47 The type of net was one that the fishermen left for some time in the water, with floats at one end and weights at the other to keep it on the bottom.
Then, when taking it to the beach, it dragged all kinds of fish and shellfish, which the fishermen carefully classified.

13:55b Jesus was the firstborn (Luke 2:7) of at least seven brothers.
The Gospels of Matthew and Mark highlight the names of the men (Mark 6:3): James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.
In Jewish culture, female daughters were not counted, however, the use of the plural denotes that there were at least two sisters; Tradition even affirms that they were called Lisia and Lidia.


TEXTUAL NOTES

13:55a Catholic authors wishing to perpetuate the doctrine of "Mary always virgin", argue that brother in Hebrew and Aramaic has a broad meaning.
But the Biblical hagiographers had precise Greek terms for each family relationship, such as: brother (adelphos; Matt. 12:46; 13:55); nephew (anepsios; Col. 4:10); relative (sungenes; Mark 6:4; Luke 1:58; 2:44).


ARTICLES

Article - Parables of the Kingdom
The parable is a figure of language that consists of using known elements to communicate unknown truths.
It is a simple story that reveals a profound truth.
It was the Lord's favorite method of helping his followers move from the natural to the spiritual in their understanding of the kingdom of God.
Some reasons can be glimpsed in the use that Jesus himself made of parables:

First, to go from the simplest to the most complex; from seed to fruit; from the immanent to the transcendent.
The disciples themselves did not understand the full message of Jesus until long after his resurrection.

Second, to transcend the wisdom of God.
The parables are designed to give light to the simple and darken the rebellious.
They offer an accurate portrait of the character and nature of God and his kingdom.

Third, to provide a historical overview of God's redemptive project regarding conversion, justification, sanctification, and glorification.

And fourth, the parables reveal the true spirituality of God.
Understanding the parables is a matter of true harmony with the Spirit of God.
It is not an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual one.

In addition, the parables of Jesus are part of the paradoxical revelation of God, they are given to reveal and hide, because while those who understand are edified, those who do not understand are humiliated in their banal mind.
Not all parables refer to the same truth, however each parable has only one truth to communicate.
Discovering that substantial truth is the task of the believer.
In the parables the details are not so important, although they are part of the whole picture, but the central truth that Jesus wanted to communicate.
The purpose of a parable is to lead the listener from understanding to application in life.


MISIONOLOGICAL ARTICLE
13:18 The classic parable of the sower graphically illustrates the typical human reactions to the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom.
First, frivolity: next to the road, who barely hear the superficiality and with disinterest and thus allow the devil to snatch the seed.
Second, sensuality: Pedregales, which receives the message with joy, but since convictions are based on the ephemeral nature of emotions, the message is easily lost.
Third, carnality: thorns, because although they have understood the gospel and are aware of its importance, they minimize it in the face of hedonism and the materiality of the world.
Finally, spirituality: good soil, characteristic of those who hear, understand and produce the fruit of the seed.
This is the only attitude that produces the fruit of the kingdom: life.

 

KJV Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 14

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 14


CULTURAL NOTES

14:3 Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great, and married Philip, her father's brother.
What precipitated the arrest of John the Baptist was that Herod Antipas (Herodia's uncle) convinced her to abandon her husband to marry her.
Thus they committed incest and violated the law (Lev. 18:16).
John condemned the immoral and illegal act (v. 4).
In retaliation Herod imprisoned him and later had him assassinated (Mark 6:14-29).

14:5, 6 At this time the Jews did not normally celebrate birthdays.
Flavio Josefo declares, for example, that the celebrations for the name day were prohibited.
Apart from the fact that most Jews considered such a fact to be a Gentile practice, however, the aristocracy evidenced considerable Greek influence.
In Herod's fortress Macaerus, men and women ate in separate halls, so Herodias would not have seen Herod's behavior toward Salome.

14:6 Salome was the daughter of Herodia and Philip (Antipas' stepdaughter and niece).
According to Flavius Josephus, a 1st-century Jewish historian, she also married another son (her father's brother, and her mother's uncle) of Herod the Great, thus adding to the list of incest in the Jewish royal family.

14:9 Oath promises were considered sacred and inviolable in Jewish culture, especially when made by a ruling monarch.
Herod had a great reputation for being a traitor and a liar, so what he cared about most was the public shame he was doomed to if he didn't keep his promise.
However, Herod's oath was worthless, because as a vassal of Rome, he had no authority to commit any territory.

14:32 This is the first mention by Matthew of an act of worship of Jesus as true God by the Jews.
Although it is significant and suggestive that the Apostle first records the worship of the Gentiles when even Jesus was a babe (Matt. 2:2 cf. Matt. 2:11).


TEXTUAL NOTES

14:27 Jesus' answer I am is the one corresponding to the Hebrew tetragrammaton (YHWH ), which is the sacred name of God that the Jews never pronounce.
Possibly this expression is a direct allusion to God's revelation of himself to Moses (Ex. 3:14).

 

KJV Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 15

1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

 

Study Bible - "Mundo Hispano" (Hispanic World)
Editorial: Mundo Hispano (Hispanic World)
Baptist Publishing House

Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 15


CULTURAL NOTES

15:2 Tradition of the elders refers to a body of extrabiblical laws; some had existed in oral form since the Babylonian captivity.
Later they were recorded in writing giving rise to the Mishnah (end of the 2nd century BC). It had contradictions and additions to the Law of Moses.


HERMENEUTICAL NOTES

15:4-7 Honoring parents was one of the noble values in Judaism.
But the rabbis created a deceptive subterfuge to avoid his care.
The deception consisted in declaring that they had offered to God the budgeted money to help them.
Thus, they shielded themselves from God, and ended up making him an accomplice in his deceit.

15:11 Jesus contrasts ceremonial and moral pollution.
According to the old covenant, people could become unclean by eating unclean things, but they could also become morally and spiritually contaminated by saying, doing, or attempting sinful things (James 3:6).
Jesus differentiates between the temporary ceremonial requirements of the law and its inviolable and immutable moral principles.
Ceremonial corruption was easily resolved, but moral/spiritual conflict only through regeneration in Christ.

15:13 The only meaning of the phrase will be uprooted is eminently eschatological (Matt. 13:19, 38).
It refers to the doctrine that does not come from God, such as those developed by Jewish traditionalism, and that will be exposed, judged and eliminated when the Lord Jesus comes again.

15:21-28 This passage is used as a hinge.
It serves as the conclusion of the section and illustrates Matthew's argument, since in the Jewish mind giving importance to a Canaanite woman was a real offense.
This is the heart of the third narrative.

15:38 The concepts of food, dinner, communion in Matthew are suggestive in an eschatological and soteriological sense.
Jesus concluded his Galilean ministry by feeding five thousand (Matt. 14:13-21); he ends his ministry in the Gentile regions by feeding four thousand.
Later he ends his ministry in Jerusalem with a meal for the twelve disciples/apostles, symbolizing all mankind (Matt. 26:17-19; 26-30, cf. 28:19, 20).


MISSIOLOGICAL ARTICLE
15:21-28 A Canaanite woman acknowledges Jesus as Lord (Kurios); the son of David (Messiah).
She appeals to the mercy of the one who can sympathize with human weaknesses.
Jesus ironically tests the woman by mentioning her priority: Israel.
The humility of the woman is evident when she prostrates herself as only she does before God.
Jesus replicates his irony by recalling the pejorative treatment that the Jews gave to the Gentiles: dogs.
She rebuts that even with everything and being puppies, she only wants mercy (crumbs).
The fruit of brokenness, humility and Christological confession, have only one reason: saving faith.
How ironic, the Jews did not recognize the messianism of Jesus, those who did were the humble and despised foreigners!

 

KJV Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 16

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.