SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/17/2021 10:13 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Intro to Matthew 11:1-6
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
11:1-6
Message of the verses: “1 And it came
about that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples,
He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John in
prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples, 3 and
said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone
else?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John
what you hear and see: 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised
up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 6 “And blessed is he
who keeps from stumbling over Me.’”
John
MacArthur entitles this section from his commentary on Matthew “Overcoming
Doubt.” I want to begin with a quotation
from MacArthur’s commentary which gives us a brief review: “The first ten chapters of Matthew, are in
general, a series of testimonies that prove who Jesus is. He presents the testimony of history
(1:1-17), of the miraculous birth (1:18-25), of fulfilled prophecy (2:1-23), of
Christ’s forerunner (3:1-12), of God the Father (3:13-17), of Jesus’ power
(4:1-11), of His words (5:1-7:29), of His works (8:1-9:38), and of His
disciples (10:1-42). Matthew marshals
all that evidence in the courtroom, as it were, to testify that Jesus is the
Christ, the promised Messiah and Son of God.
“In
chapters 11-12 Matthew focuses on the reaction of various individuals and
groups to that evidence, organized into several general categories of
response. In each chapter there is a
series of negative responses followed by a positive appeal. Chapter 11 looks at the negative response of
doubt (vv. 1-15), criticism (16-19), and indifference (20-24), followed by a
positive appeal to faith (25-30), blasphemy (24-27), and curious fascination
(38-45), followed by another positive appeal to faith (45-60).
“In
the opening six verses of this section, Matthew first mentions Jesus’ brief
tour of ministering alone (v. 1; see 10:5) and then presents John’s negative
response of doubt (vv. 2-3) and Jesus’ response to that doubt (vv. 4-6).”
We
now have a very good review of what we have been studying for the last two plus
years and then a preview of what we will be looking at over the next few weeks
or maybe months if we include chapters 11-12.
I look forward in studying these different sections of Matthew chapters
11-12.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: The things, at least one of the things that I
have been enjoying about the study of Matthew is how much the Lord used Matthew
in bringing out things that help me to understand what went on during my Lord’s
walk on earth. Matthew went from a
dreaded tax-collector to a blessed apostle of Jesus Christ telling His story
while He was on earth.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Think on
these things: “15 For we do not have a
high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted
in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near
with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.”
11/17/2021 10:33 AM
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