Words of Comfort to Weary Souls (Matt 4:12- 5:12) :: By Donald Whitchard
Isaiah 40:1-5, 42:1-4; Matthew 4:12-25; 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-49
Summary: Jesus’ public ministry got underway after His time in the wilderness. He had overcome the temptations of the devil and was now ready to change the world.
Matthew 4:12-28:
Jesus had just returned from the desert when He heard that John the Baptist had been cast into prison by the order of Herod Antipas for speaking out against Herod’s adulterous relationship with the wife of his brother Philip. The LORD went on to the region of Galilee, moving from Nazareth to Capernaum, located on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. This was to be His ministry “headquarters,” and it was here that He began preaching repentance and preparing for the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15).
Sometime later, while walking on the seashore, Jesus came across two brothers, Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen, in the process of casting their nets in the shallows. He said to them, ‘Follow Me.’ He would teach them to “fish for men.” At His command, they left their nets and obeyed Him. As they were continuing their walk along the shore, they came across Zebedee and his sons John and James, who were also fishermen. Jesus issued the same command to them. The two brothers left their boats without hesitation.
All of these men knew one another, and it is possible that Jesus, being a carpenter, had either built or repaired their boats for them at one time. The Holy Spirit was upon these men, opening their eyes to the promise of God found in the Lord Jesus. It was the personality and authority of the LORD that drew these men to Him. They became the first witnesses of Jesus’ work in Galilee as He went to the synagogues to preach and teach about the kingdom of God. His fame began to spread across the region. He demonstrated His Divine power and authority by healing the people of their diseases, drawing crowds from around Judea.
Matthew 5:1-12:
While on a mountaintop, Jesus looked at the vast crowds, many of whom were mere onlookers, while others were genuinely hungry for the things of God. Their ancestors had been citizens of a powerful nation under the rule of good King David. They were heirs to a history filled with the accomplishments of godly rulers like Asa, Jehosaphat, Uzziah, and Josiah. There were also years of abandonment and desecration of the sacred by kings such as Ahaz, Manasseh, and Jehoiachin. Israel had gone over a period of four hundred years from a people holy unto the LORD to a nearly forgotten remnant of exiles under seventy years of Babylonian rule. Under the edict of the Persian emperors, the people of Israel returned to the land, totally purged of idolatry, and focused on God.
As time progressed, the post-exilic generation’s religious leaders became the spokesmen for God and the Law of Moses. These religious leaders, who would become known as the Pharisees, devised regulations and rules governing behavior that at first was a guide for the people but ended up becoming a quagmire of tradition, rituals, and observations that totaled up to 613 commandments, with definitions of purity, works, and worship. It turned into religion devoid of any personal relationship with the LORD. Teaching the Word of God had turned into a series of rabbinic interpretations and traditions of other rabbinical teachings concerning the Scriptures.
Little wonder that when the Lord Jesus taught to either crowds or his inner circle, He did so with the authority that was His as God and Author of the Holy Word. He presented His teachings on a level that could be easily understood by anyone, and He encouraged the people to think carefully about what He said to them. As He presented what would be known as “the Beatitudes” (vv.1-12), He wanted His people to recognize that true power, blessing, and holiness begin with a humble heart open to what God wants to say to them.
V.3 – The “poor in spirit” know that they have very little to offer God except faith and trust in Him. They are the people who know that without God’s grace and mercy, they truly have nothing.
V.4 – Those “who mourn” are the ones sorrowful for their spiritual condition. They mourn for the unrepentant and the scope of wickedness with its consequences. They also mourn for the loss of a love. Jesus promised them that they would be given comfort (Philippians 4:6-7). His work would mirror what He taught.
V.5 – Blessings are promised to the “meek,” which refers to the gentleness of conduct and life, good manners, a loving attitude, and reliance on God alone for their needs as well as their salvation. Theirs is a life of gratitude and contentment.
V.6 – This blessing refers to those who desire to see a righteous attitude both in themselves and others, genuinely desiring that the LORD would be glorified in all things. Again, the Lord Jesus demonstrated this by His work and life.
V.7- Those who practice mercy receive it in return. These people reflect the mercy bestowed upon us when we give our lives to Christ and surrender to His Lordship.
V.8 – The “pure in heart” live to serve and glorify the LORD. They yearn for God’s righteousness to continually dwell within them. They will receive the reward of seeing the LORD face to face in glory.
V.9 – The “peacemakers” strive for tranquility and peace among one another. They are willing to forebear and forgive one another. John Walvoord writes in his commentary on Matthew that “those who work for SHALOM, reconciling others to God and each other, will be called “sons of God” in the sense that they reflect the very character of God.
The Beatitudes conclude with verses 10-12, focusing on the blessings for those willing to “stay the course” in spite of opposition. Those who persevere under persecution will possess the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were to experience persecution, false accusations, and other troubles, yet rejoice anyway. They would face the same troubles that the prophets of old faced, yet in the end, would receive great reward (Matthew 25:21).
Let us remember that if we are serious about serving the LORD in these last days, we too are inheritors of the promises given by the Lord Jesus, not only to those who heard Him personally but for all who would follow Him throughout the centuries in spite of troubles, persecutions, and even death. Let us remain faithful to Him and get busy in the business of sharing the Gospel and making true followers of Jesus in the process.
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