Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia

EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.

VOLUME 3.

[CHAPTERS 15-21]

by

DR PETER MOSES

Revised by Dr John C McEwan

[BOOK 70-3]

REVISED Feast of Tabernacles 2013

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

Professor Simon Greenleaf was one of the most eminent lawyers of all time. His “Laws of Evidence” for many years were accepted by all States in the United States as the standard methodology for evaluating cases. He was teaching law at a university in the United States when one of his students asked Professor Greenleaf if he would apply his “Laws of Evidence” to evaluate an historical figure. When Greenleaf agreed to the project he asked the student who was to be the subject of the review. The student replied that the person to be examined would be Jesus Christ. Professor Greenleaf agreed to undertake the examination of Jesus Christ and as a result, when he had finished the review, Simon Greenleaf personally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

Professor Greenleaf then sent an open letter to all jurists in the United States jurists saying in part “I personally have investigated one called Jesus Christ. I have found the evidence concerning him to be historically accurate. I have also discovered that Jesus Christ is more than a human being, he is either God or nothing and having examined the evidence it is impossible to conclude other than he is God. Having concluded that he is God I have accepted him as my personal Saviour. I urge all members of the legal profession to use the “Laws of Evidence” to investigate the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and if you find that he is wrong expose him as a faker but if not consider him as your Saviour and Lord”

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

Salvation is available for all members of the human race.

Salvation is the most important undertaking in all of God's universe. The salvation of sinners is never on the basis of God's merely passing over or closing His eyes to sin. God saves sinners on a completely righteous basis consistent with the divine holiness of His character. This is called grace. It relies on God so man cannot work for salvation, neither can he deserve it. We need to realise that the creation of this vast unmeasured universe was far less an undertaking than the working out of God's plan to save sinners.

However the acceptance of God's salvation by the sinner is the most simple thing in all of life. One need not be rich, nor wise, nor educated. Age is no barrier nor the colour of one's skin. The reception of the enormous benefits of God's redemption is based upon the simplest of terms so that there is no one in all this wide universe who need be turned away.

How do I become a Christian?

There is but one simple step divided into three parts. First of all I have to recognise that I am a sinner (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4; John 5:24).

Secondly, realising that if I want a relationship with Almighty God who is perfect, and recognising that I am not perfect, I need to look to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour (I Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:6; John 3:16).

Thirdly, by the exercise of my own free will I personally receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, believing that He died personally for me and that He is what He claims to be in an individual, personal and living way (John 1:12; 3:36; Acts 16:31; 4:12).

The results of Salvation

The results of this are unbelievably wonderful:

My sins are taken away (John 1:29),

I possess eternal life now (I John 5:11,12),

I become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17),

The Holy Spirit takes up His residence in my life (I Corinthians 6:19),

And I will never perish (John 10:28-30).

This truthfully is life's greatest transaction. This is the goal of all people; this is the ultimate of our existence. We invite and exhort any reader who has not become a Christian by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to follow these simple instructions and be born again eternally into God's family (Matthew 11:28; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; 16:31).

© Evangelical Bible College of Western Australia 2004 - PO Box 163 Armadale Western Australia 6992

Many other Christian resources are available freely from our internet web site: www.ebcwa.org.au and www.newstartbibleministries.org.au for weekly messages.

For further information contact Dr Peter Moses at PO Box 163 Armadale WA 6992 or email Brian Huggett

We encourage you to freely copy and distribute these materials to your Pastor and friends. You only, need written permission from EBCWA if you intend using the materials in publications for resale. We encourage wide distribution freely!

NOTE: In this volume the text of the Gospel of Matthew is reviewed verse by verse but parallel texts are noted at the start of each section and the application and doctrines relate to the whole story by using material from the other gospels. For composite evaluation please see Harmony of the Gospels volumes.

CONTENTS

VERSES / SECTION / PAGE
CHAPTER 15
15:1-20 / REPROOF OF PHARISAIC TRADITIONS / 3
15:21-28 / DAUGHTER OF SYRO-PHOENICIAN HEALED / 14
15:29-31 / LAME, DEAF AND DUMB MAN HEALED / 25
15:32-39 / THE FEEDING OF THE 4,000 / 28
CHAPTER 16
16:1-4 / PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES REQUIRE ANOTHER SIGN / 32
16:5-12 / DISCIPLES WARNED AGAINST THE LEAVEN OF PHARISEES / 34
16:13-20 / PETER’S CONFESSION / 38
16:21-28 / CHRIST FORETELLS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION / 47
CHAPTER 17
17:1-13 / THE TRANSFIGURATION / 59
17:14-21 / HEALING OF THE DEMONIAC BOY / 70
17:22-23 / CHRIST AGAIN FORETELLS THE CRUCIFIXION / 74
17:24-27 / THE TRIBUTE MONEY / 78
CHAPTER 18
18:1-9 / THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM / 84
18:10-14 / PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP / 89
18:15-22 / SIN AND FORGIVENESS / 96
18:23-35 / PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT / 103
CHAPTER 19
19:1-12 / TEACHING ON MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE / 107
19:13-15 / CHRIST BLESSES LITTLE CHILDREN / 117
19:16-30 / THE RICH YOUNG RULER / 121
CHAPTER 20
20:1-16 / PARABLE OF THE LABOURER IN THE VINEYARD / 136
20:17-19 / THIRD PREDICTION OF DEATH AND RESURRECTION / 141
20:20-28 / AMBITION OF JAMES AND JOHN / 148
20:29-34 / HEALING OF BLIND BARTIMAEUS NEAR JERICHO / 160
CHAPTER 21
21:1-11 / TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM / 163
21:12-17 / THE SECOND TEMPLE CLEANSING / 168
21:18-22 / LESSON OF THE FIG TREE / 173
21:23-27 / THE SANHEDRIN DEMANDS JESUS' AUTHORITY / 176
21:28-32 / PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS / 179
21:33-46 / PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD / 183
DOCTRINES / 190

REPROOF OF PHARISAIC TRADITIONS

MATTHEW 15:1-20 [MARK 7:1-23] see HARMONY 74-11

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.

KEY WORDS

Came / Proserchomai / Come close to [Present Middle Indicative]
Scribes / Grammateus / Scribe, Town Clerk
Were of / Apo / From an ultimate source, ie from Jerusalem
Saying / Lego / Say [Present Active Participle]
Do thy / Sou / Thy
Disciples / Mathetes / Disciple
Transgress / Parabaino / Transgress, Violate [Present Active Indicative]
Tradition / Paradosis / Tradition, Jewish customs
Elders / Presbuteros / Elder
Wash / Nipto / Cleanse, Wash [Present Middle Indicative]
Hands / Cheir / Hand
Eat / Esthio / Eat [Present Active Subjunctive]
Bread / Artos / Bread
Answered / Apokrinomai / Answer [Aorist Passive Participle]
Said / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Do ye / Humeris / You
Transgress / Parabaino / Transgress, Violate [Present Active Indicative]
Commandment / Entole / Injunction, Commandment
God / Theos / God
Commanded / Entellomai / Command [Present Active Indicative]
Saying / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Honour / Timao / Honour, Revere [Present Active Imperative]
Father / Pater / Father
Mother / Meter / Mother
Curseth / Kakologeo / Speak evil of [Present Active Participle]
Let him die / Teleutao / Die [Present Active Imperative]
Death / Thanatos / Death
Say / Lego / Say [Present Active Indicative]
Say / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Subjunctive]
It is a Gift / Doron / Gift
Mightest be profited / Opheleo / Profit [Aorist Passive Subjunctive]
Shall be free / - / Not found in the original
Have made none effect / Akuroo / Annul [Aorist Active Indicative]
Hypocrites / Hupokrites / Hypocrite
Well / Kalos / Well, Good
Did Prophesy / Propheteuo / Prophesy [Aorist Active Indicative]
Saying / Lego / Say [Present Active Participle]
People / Laos / People
Draw nigh / Eggizo / Draw near
Mouth / Stoma / Mouth
Honoureth / Timao / Honour, Value [Present Active Indicative]
Lips / Cheilos / Lip
Heart / Kardia / Heart
Is / Apecho / Be distant [Present Active Indicative]
Far / Porrho / Distant
In vain / Maten / To no purpose, In vain
Do worship / Sebomai / Worship, Adore [Present Middle Indicative]
Teaching / Didasko / Teaching [Present Active Participle]
Doctrine / Didaskalia / Doctrine
Men / Anthropos / Man
Called / Proskaleomai / Summon, Call together [Aorist Middle Participle]
Multitude / Ochlos / Crowd
Said / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Hear / Akouo / Hear [Present Active Imperative]
Understand / Suniemi / Understand [Present Active Imperative]
Goeth into / Eiserchomai / Go into [Present Middle Participle]
Defileth / Koinoo / Defile, Pollute [Present Active Indicative]
Cometh out / Ekporeuomai / Come out [Present Middle Participle]
Defileth / Koinoo / Defile, Pollute [Present Active Indicative]
Came / Proserchomai / Come close [Aorist Active Participle]
Said / Lego / Say [Present Active Indicative]
Knowest / Eido / See, Perceive, Know [Perfect Active Indicative]
Were offended / Skandalizo / Offend, Scandalise [Aorist Passive Indicative]
Heard / Akouo / Hear [Aorist Active Participle]
Sayings / Logos / Word
Answered / Apokrinomai / Answer [Aorist Passive Participle]
Said / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Every / Pas / All
Plant / Phuteia / Plant, Shrub
Heavenly / Ouranios / Heavenly
Hath planted / Phuteuo / Plant [Aorist Active Indicative]
Shall be rooted up / Ekrizoo / Uproot [Future Passive Indicative]
Let alone / Aphiemi / Let alone [Aorist Active Imperative]
Be / Eimi / Keep on being [Present Active Indicative]
Blind / Tuphlos / Blind
Leaders / Hodegos / Leader
Lead / Hodegeo / Lead [Present Active Subjunctive]
Both / Amphoteros / Both
Shall fall / Pipto / Fall [Future Middle Indicative]
Ditch / Bothunos / Ditch, Cistern
Answered / Apokrinomai / Answer Aorist Passive Participle]
Said / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Declare / Phrazo / Declare, Expound [Aorist Active Imperative]
Parable / Parabole / Parable
Said / Epo / Say [Aorist Active Indicative]
Are / Eimi / Keep on being [Perfect Active Indicative]
Without understanding / Asunetos / Without understanding
Do not ye yet / Oupo / Not yet
Understand / Noieo / Understand [Present Active Indicative]
Entereth / Eisporeuomai / Enter in [Present Middle Participle]
Goeth / Choreo / Receive, Enter [Present Active Indicative]
Belly / Koilia / Abdomen, Belly
Is cast out / Ekballo / Eject, Cast out [Present Passive Indicative]
Draught / Aphedron / Draught, Toilet
Proceed out / Ekporeuomai / Proceed out [Present Middle Participle]
Come forth / Exerchomai / Come out [Present Middle Indicative]
Heart / Kardia / Heart
Defile / Koinoo / Defile, Pollute [Present Active Indicative]
Proceed / Exerchomai / Come out [Present Middle Indicative]
Evil / Poneros / Evil
Thoughts / Dialogismos / Thoughts, Imaginations
Murders / Phonos / Murder
Adulteries / Moicheia / Adultery
Fornications / Porneia / Idolatry, Fornication
Thefts / Klope / Stealing
False witness / Pseudomaturia / False witnesses
Blasphemies / Blasphemia / Blasphemy
Are / Eimi / Keep on being [Present Active Indicative]
Defile / Koinoo / Defile, Pollute [Present Active Participle]
Eat / Phago / Eat [Aorist Active Infinitive]
Unwashen / Aniptos / Unwashed
Defileth / Koinoo / Defile, Pollute [Present Active Indicative]

BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS