• historical narrative: declaration from God about God
• no failing of promises (21:43-45)
• human leadership transition: from Moses to Joshua

• context: following the incomparable Moses (Deut. 34:10-12)
• content: Yahweh’s gift of land (Gen. 12:6-7)

• in the midst of threatening circumstances (Ex. 3:12)
• basis of instruction: be strong and bold

• being careful to do… (Psa. 1)
• stress on the urgency of obedience

• Because of His unfailing promises and unceasing presence, go boldly into God’s future for you.
• three specific applications: sever, claim and confirm…
• “Abide with Me” (H. Lyte)

• Matthew’s Spirit-inspired quest to show the significance of the death of Jesus
• transition from people around the cross to the Person on the cross

• sign of judgment and OT connections (Amos 8:9, Ex. 10:21-23)

• statement and Psa. 22:1
• isolation and silence followed by responses of misunderstanding, pity and ridicule

• sovereign volunteer (Isa. 53:10-12) and an accomplished mission (Jn. 19:30)

• the issue of access (Heb. 10:19-25)
• testimony of the Father’s delight (Isa. 29:6, Ezek. 37:12-13, Dan. 12:2)

• rebuke of religious unbelief

• “Because of His role as your forsaken substitute, submit yourself fully to Jesus.”
• “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed” (Watts)

• preceded by prediction of betrayal and followed by prediction of denial
• mysterious harmony of divine sovereignty and human responsibility
• within the walls of Jerusalem on the night of Passover
• intentional linkage pointing to a greater exodus (Ex. 12:15)
• disciples with the taste of the Passover lamb in their mouths

• bread and its explanation
• cup and its explanation
• centrality of sacrifice for sins (Ex. 24:8)
• certainty of accomplishment
• feasting by faith (1 Cor. 11:17-34)
• reversing the curse (Isa. 53:11)

• when the Savior sang
• The Hallel psalms: 113-118

• Because Jesus is merciful and sovereign, feast by faith at His table of grace.
• “What is certain is that Jesus bids us commemorate, not His birth, nor His life, nor His miracles, but His death.” (Carson)
• “We’ll gather soon where angels sing, We’ll see the glory of our Lord and coming King, Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait, Come take the bread, Come drink the cup, Come share the Lord.” (Leech, “Come Share the Lord”)

• preceded by questioning of the Pharisees and Sadducees: taxes (15-22), resurrection (23-33) and commandment (34-40)
• followed shortly by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

• Jesus poses the question of identity to Pharisees
• Pharisees provide a correct but incomplete answer

• reference to David speaking in the Spirit and appeal to Psalm 110:1
• How is Messiah both David’s son and David’s Lord?

• not only but also…
• scriptural testimony: Matt. 1:1; 9:27, Acts 2:32-36, Rom. 1:3-4

• exposure of superficial understanding of Scripture
• end of questions and a foretaste of Psalm 110:1

• Because Jesus is David’s divine Lord, stop debating about Him and devote yourself to Him.
• words of application: reduction, confusion and correction
• “Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love…” (“Rejoice, the Lord is King,” Wesley)

• after three parables; the last is the wedding feast (22:1-14)
• escalating tension and exchanges with religious leaders; this account is followed by the attempt of the Sadducees

• their objective
• shared opposition as a binding force
• effusive flattery
• trick question

• malice of opponents
• excoriating rebuke
• an ancient NIL question
• timeless principle regarding what is “due” to God

• amazed but unchanged
• absence of submission

• Because Jesus is the Lord of all who owns all, surrender completely to Him now.
• Pray for a tender heart: “Lord, make my heart willing, responsive, and easily governed by Your Word.” (Isaac Watts, commenting on Psalm 119:33-40)

◦ “When God ordains the journey, He arranges the baggage.”
◦ God is sovereign over every detail of our lives.
◦ “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted”. Job 42:2

◦ Our sovereign God always fulfills his plan.
◦ “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter…the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:1-3

• preceded by Triumphal Entry, Cleansing of Temple, Cursing of Fig Tree (21:1-20)

• deliberate confrontation by chief priests and elders
• credential check as Jesus is teaching in the temple
• the “what” and “who” behind “these things”
• Jesus responds with a question about John the Baptist
• caught on the horns of a dilemma
• exposure of incompetence

• castigation of those who’ve heard John the Baptist
• put on your “thinking caps” about two sons
• promise, performance and the will of the Father
• priority of tax collectors and prostitutes
• religious refusal to submit to ultimate authority

• Because the question of authority is settled, submit to Jesus completely.
• “Our response to Jesus’ authority is a spiritual diagnostic.” (L. Duncan)
• “In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river.” (F. Crosby, “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross”)

• 19:13-15: children come to Jesus, 19:16-30: rich young man, 19:30/20:16: repetition

• early: “along with dawn” (about 6:00 a.m.)
• agreement to wage: denarius

• 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 5:00
• agreement to wage: whatever is right…

• when evening came…
• beginning with the last up to the first
• 11th hour workers receive a denarius
• grumbling of those hired first

• doing you no wrong
• begrudge my generosity?

• When you rest in God’s authority and integrity, you rejoice in His grace to the undeserving.
• Recognize God’s authority. Rely on His integrity. Rejoice in His grace. “Grace So Amazing”

• immediately preceded by Jesus receiving the little children (19:13-15)
• question about salvation
• corrective question and clarifying answer
• question about lack and a challenging response
• a grieving departure

• difficulty for the rich and illustration of impossibility
• astonished response of the disciples
• a gaze and a “truth bomb”
• Peter pipes up and the promise of uncountable blessings
• 19:30 and 20:16: surprise, surprise, surprise!

• Because King Jesus is the key to kingdom entrance, depend on him like a little child.
• Reject self-reliance and merit-rationale.
• “Be Thou My Vision,” (M. Byrne)

• Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:17-19
• the four Gospels confirm: empty tomb, announcement of resurrection, disciples meet risen Lord

• after Sabbath at “dawn’s early light”
• women at the tomb, quaking ground (Ex. 19:18), angelic descent (Rev. 1:14), stunned guards
• use of “behold” (six times in Matthew 28)

• encouragement: do not be afraid…
• invitation: come, see…
• instruction: go and tell…going before you…
• from frightened bewilderment to joyful fulfilment
• worship at the feet of the risen Jesus

• Because the risen Jesus is Lord of all, treasure Him now and trust His absolute authority.
• “You cannot have an Easter faith without an Easter fact…The resurrection is God’s ‘amen’ to Christ’s statement ‘It is finished.’” (S. Lewis Johnson)
• “The only resurrection that counts for anything is the resurrection of the body.” (J. Boice) (1 Cor. 15:20)
• “Well may the Accuser roar of ills that I have done. I know them all and thousands more. Jehovah knoweth none.” (S. Gandy, “His Be the Victor’s Name”)
• “Lead us, we pray Thee, to the grave that is empty, into the garden of resurrection where we may meet our risen Lord. May we never again live as if Thou were dead.” (P. Marshall)