Jesus was born like every other person on earth is. He grew and matured as everyone else so when he came to his home town teaching about the kingdom of God, they said in Matthew 13:54–55 “From where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles? 55 Is not this one the son of the carpenter?” They could not see him for who he was, the son of God. He was conceived differently so was without sin and he was anointed differently, with the Holy Spirit residing on Him so he had the wisdom and power of God. Wherever he went, he had compassion on the people teaching and healing and feeding them. And, wherever he went there were those religious people that tried to catch him breaking the law but every time he answered not only with correction but with the true intent of the law and exposed them as in Matthew 15:8–9 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me, 9 and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Like Treasure Hidden In a Field
From Where Did This Man Get This Wisdom
Matthew 13:53–58
Jesus was God taking on human form. He was born of a woman just as we all are. He grew up in a family as most of us have. The people in his home town had known him since he was a child so when he began to teach with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, they said in
Matthew 13:54–56 And he came to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, “From where did this man get this wisdom and these miracles? 55 Is not this one the son of the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? From where then did this man get all these things?”
They were trapped in their history with Jesus, they could not believe that he was more than that child that grew up down the street from them. Because of this, in
Matthew 13:58 And he did not perform many miracles in that place because of their unbelief.
He Wanted To Kill Him
He Withdrew From There To An Isolated Place
Matthew 14:13–21
Jesus had heard that John was beheaded and wanted to get away in
Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from there in a boat to an isolated place by himself. And when the crowds heard it, they followed him by land from the towns.
but the crowds followed him and were there waiting when his boat arrived in
Matthew 14:14 And as he got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.
even though he and the disciples were grieving the loss of John, he still had compassion on the people and the crowd was great and they ministered all day, so much so that the disciples finally came to him to send the crowd away in
Matthew 14:15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him saying, “The place is desolate and the hour is late. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages and purchase food for themselves.”
The disciples were speaking out of their fatigue, but Jesus saw a crowd hungry for the power of God so he responded in
Matthew 14:16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
Jesus pushed them beyond their past experience, and beyond their individual ability to this place where they could only trust in the power of God. Jesus asked what they had, and blessed it in
Matthew 14:17–18 And they said to him, “We do not have anything here except five loaves and two fish.” 18 So he said, “Bring them here to me.”
and it was more than enough in
Matthew 14:20 And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
They Saw Him Walking On The Sea
Matthew 14:22–33
All Those Who Touched It Were Cured
Teaching As Doctrines The Commandments of Men
Matthew 15:1–9
The religious people of the day, the Pharisees and the scribes came to Jesus quoting their writings, the rules of religion as they accused Jesus and his disciples of breaking them. But they are accusing Jesus who is anointed with, filled with the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that was with Moses as he wrote their law. So Jesus quotes what God says in
Matthew 15:4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother must certainly die.’
and then he contrasts this with their tradition which says in
Matthew 15:5–6 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or his mother, “Whatever benefit you would have received from me is a gift to God,” 6 need not honor his father,’ and you make void the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Then he tells it like it is, they are far from God in
Matthew 15:8–9 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me, 9 and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Study Verses
- Matthew 13:53–58 From Where Did This Man Get This Wisdom
- Matthew 14:13–21 He Withdrew From There To An Isolated Place
- Matthew 15:1–9 Teaching As Doctrines The Commandments of Men
Today’s Reading
- Matthew 13:44-58
- Matthew 14:1-36
- Matthew 15:1-9