"Matthew 4-8"
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In recent years you may have seen advertisements for a brand of celebrity-led online classes called "MasterClass." Their pitch? If you're going to take a course, why not learn from a world-renowned expert. Let Carlos Santana teach you to play guitar. Hire Serena Williams as your tennis instructor. Make Gordon Ramsay your cooking coach. You can see the appeal. But what if your aspirations run a bit higher than improving your backhand? What if you want a master class in living? Who qualifies as the master teacher of life?
In this week's reading, Matthew presents Jesus of Nazareth as the Great Instructor and invites you into a curriculum for total life training.
Introducing the Master Teacher
Last week we saw Jesus endorsed by angels (Matt. 1:20-21), wise men (Matt. 2:10-11), John the Baptist (Matt. 3:14), and God the Father (Matt. 3:16-17).
On Monday (Matt. 4), Matthew presents more credentials, as Jesus goes into the wilderness for testing, just as the children of Israel did. But unlike Israel, Jesus passes every test (Matt. 4:1-11). Matthew continues to present Jesus as the one who fulfills the Scriptures (Matt. 4:13-16; cf. Matt. 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23), as he calls followers (Matt. 4:18-22), doing mighty works and growing in fame (Matt. 4:23-25).
- What does Jesus call his first disciples to do (Matt. 4:19), and what might this mean for you as Christ's disciple?
Enrolling in the Master Class
On Tuesday (Matt. 5), we dive into the Sermon on the Mount — undoubtedly one of the most influential lessons by any teacher in history. The Lord begins by painting a strikingly different picture of a blessed life than what we might expect (Matt. 5:3-11). Then he relates his teaching to the Old Testament. Jesus did not come to invalidate God's Word in the "law and the prophets" — rather, he fulfills them (Matt. 5:17-18)! He offers six antitheses, setting what "you have heard" against what "I [Jesus] say to you" (Matt. 5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43).
On Wednesday (Matt. 6), Jesus cautions against hypocrisy in charitable giving (Matt. 6:2-4), praying (Matt. 6:5-15), and fasting (Matt. 5:16-18). He warns us to watch what we treasure (Matt. 6:19-24) and avoid worry by trusting God and prioritizing his righteousness (Matt. 6:25-34).
- What aspects of the Lord's prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) can you apply to your prayer life?
On Thursday (Matt. 7), the Lord teaches on judging others (Matt. 7:1-6), asking for what we need (Matt. 7:7-11), and the golden rule (Matt. 7:12). Then he wraps up the discourse by presenting our two choices — pictured as two roads (Matt. 7:13-14), two fruit trees (Matt. 7:15-20), and two houses (Matt. 7:24-27). How we respond to Jesus will determine how he responds to us (Matt. 7:21-23). Will we _do_ what Jesus says (Matt. 7:21, 24, 26)?
Watching the Master in Action
On Friday (Matt. 8), Jesus displays his authority again (Matt. 7:28-29), this time with his deeds! Each miracle shows us a little more about Jesus and his kingdom, from the way his touch cleanses the unclean (Matt. 8:1-4) at the chapter's start, to the way demons know his identity at the chapter's end (Matt. 8:28-34).
- What do you notice about the people Jesus meets in this chapter?
