God’s Mission in Matthew

1. God’s Mission in Matthew 1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

2. God’s Mission in Matthew 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

3. God’s Mission in Matthew This is the second encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees in which they ask for a sign: Mt. 12.39ff The problem with these two groups is that they refuse to ‘see’ Jesus’ mission as God’s mission

4. God’s Mission in Matthew vv. 1-4 • They request that Jesus give them a sign, something that authenticates his work • Matthew describes their request as a ‘test’. This term is the same term used to describe the temptation of Jesus by Satan in Mt. 4.1-11

5. God’s Mission in Matthew Vv 1-4 As in Mt. 12.39ff, Jesus rejects the request by saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

6. God’s Mission in Matthew • The request for a sign comes after these miracles: • general healing of the sick • casting out demons • healing the paralyzed • healing the blind • healing lepers • heals a man unable to speak • raises a girl from the dead • heals a man with a withered hand • feeds 5,000 • feeds 4,000

7. God’s Mission in Matthew • Their request for a sign demonstrates their refusal to answer Jesus’ call to repentance and faith (4.17: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”) • They will be given ‘the sign of Jonah’: • Jesus, like Jonah will be delivered from the prospect of death • In the resurrection, sin and death are conquered, the ultimate ‘sign’ of authentication

8. God’s Mission in Matthew 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among

9. God’s Mission in Matthew yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread?

10. God’s Mission in Matthew Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

11. God’s Mission in Matthew • vv 5, 7: the disciples are concerned about their material need: bread • vv 8-10: Jesus dismisses their concern, reminding them of the 5,000 and 4,000 fed with such a small amount • v 6: “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” • vv. 11-12: they failed to grasp his teaching and miracles because they are only concerned with actual bread.

12. God’s Mission in Matthew It is interesting that Jesus pairs the Pharisees and Sadducees together: • Pharisees: advocated vigorous adherence to the law as a personal decision to demonstrate one’s Jewish and religious identity. This often resulted in a legalistic rigidity (although not always). • Sadducees: cultural elites and wealthy Jews who did not want to upset the status quo with Rome. They disliked anyone who might upset their social advantages under Roman rule, and tended toward cultural conformity.

13. God’s Mission in Matthew Both the Pharisees and Sadducees opposed Jesus’ teaching because they refused to believe, to have faith, to trust God’s work in his Son, Jesus. They were rejecting the gospel of God’s grace. Why? They wanted religion on their own terms rather than as a response of faith to God’s revelation.

14. God’s Mission in Matthew Are we like that? Do some of us want to practice religion because we like the structure of the ‘rules’? Do some of us want to practice religion because it gives us a cultural identity?

15. God’s Mission in Matthew The right response to Jesus’ call in the gospel is to believe, to trust that Jesus’ victory over sin and death is the promise of God by which we are reconciled to God This is not on our terms, but on God’s terms: ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.’ (Eph. 2.8)