Matthew 14: Son of God (1)
Pray Psalm 19.12-14.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Sing Psalm 19.12-14.
St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Who, LORD, can know his errors? O keep sin far from me!
Let evil rule not in my soul that I may blameless be.
O let my thoughts, let all my words, before Your glorious sight
be pleasing to You, gracious LORD, acceptable and right
Read and meditate on Matthew 14.1-5.
Meditate on the word lawful. How many ways can you consider it?
Prepare.
1. Why was John put in prison?
2. Why did Herod keep him there, and not execute him?
Meditate.
Let’s review what we have learned about John the Baptist. First, he preached a message of repentance from sin and unto good works, in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. This begs the question: How did John define sin? Second, he captured the respect of all the people, who “counted him as a prophet.” Third, Jesus said that of those born of women—including Abraham, Moses, David, and all the prophets—none was greater than John the Baptist. He was accounted at least as great as the greatest saints of the Old Testament.
So why was John in prison? Because he held the pagan king, Herod, accountable to God’s Law. Herod was not a Jew; he was of Edomite descent. Puppet kings like Herod acknowledged only one law—the law of survival.
But that did not deter John from holding Herod accountable to the Law of God. He upbraided the king because he had taken his brother’s wife for himself, in clear violation of the Law of God (cf. Lev. 18.16; 20.21). John understood that, from the very beginning, God intended the wisdom and beauty and love encoded in His Law to guide not only His people, but all the nations of the world (cf. Deut. 4.5-8; Mic. 4.1-5).
The world may not like the Law of God—perhaps even some Christians don’t like it—but those who would be great in the Kingdom take their cues not from the world of men, but from that Law (Matt. 5.17-19).
Herod’s folly is evident in his not being willing to be held accountable to God and His Law. Where the Law of God is concerned, where do we stand? With Herod, or with John and Jesus?
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God made the world and everything in it. He knows how it works.
He had given the world the instruction manual to follow “for best results”.
In England, folks drive on the left side of the road. That works fine for them there.
But when they come to America they’d best learn how to drive on the right “for best results”.
God’s Law, meant for everyone’s benefit, was given specifically for God’s people to follow;
because for us, it is our “life” (Deut. 32.47).
For us, the Law of God goes beyond the guidance of an owner’s manual; to matters of the heart.
“Therefore be careful to observe them;
for this is your wisdom and your understanding
in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say,
‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
For what great nation is there that has God so near to it,
as the LORD our God is to us,
for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And
what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments
as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself,
lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and
lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And
teach them to your children and your grandchildren…
that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and
that they may teach their children” (Deut. 5.6-9, 10).
And about that multitude?
Look at the power they had for both good and evil (of course, evil at Jesus’ trial).
But, in this case it was for good, because Herod wanted to put John the Baptist to death because he had confronted him with the law of God, but didn’t, because “he feared the multitude” who considered John to be a prophet (Matt. 14.4, 5).
What kind of “multitude”, I wonder, does the Church present today?
Is there a multitude of us standing together on the Law of God, holding great sway over our leaders?
Does our leadership quake in their boots because we are against immorality? Abortion? Lying? Murder? Sabbath breaking? Covetousness? Envy? Disrespect of parents? Or, Stealing?
Do we present a united front on absolute love for God, His Law, and our life now, in His Kingdom?
Does anyone even know or care that we exist? I think, sadly, No.
We have so marginalized “Christianity” by putting all our hope in political answers that we have effectively silenced ourselves. We have joined the wrong team. We are cheering for the wrong side. We are no longer people of the Word, we are wonder wusses of the world.
But, “If My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7.14).
People now ready to be a multitude of power—people of the Kingdom of heaven—
standing in and for the Law of God, for the good of the Church and of the world.
Reflect.
1. Why do you think there is so little emphasis on obeying God’s Law in churches today?
2. Fill in the blanks: We do not keep the Law to ____ saved, but because ____ ______ saved. Explain.
3. Paul wrote that the commandments of God are holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7.12). Should this alone be reason enough to obey them? Why or why not?
John the Baptist, who had come in the spirit and power of Elijah, with the same authority whereby the latter had rebuked Ahab and Jezebel, upbraided Herod and Herodias because they had entered into an unlawful marriage. He did so because it is not lawful to take the wife of one’s own living brother. John preferred to incur the king’s anger rather than, through fawning, be unmindful of God’s commandments. Jerome (347-420), Commentary on Matthew 2.14.4
Pray Psalm 19.7-11.
Ask the Lord to line your path and direct your steps today according to the perfect, sure, wise, right, pure, and righteous Law of the Lord.
Sing Psalm 19.7-11.
St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
The Law of God is perfect, His testimony sure;
the simple man God’s wisdom learns, the soul receives its cure.
God’s Word is right, and His command is pure, and truth imparts;
He makes our eyes to understand; with joy He fills our hearts.
The fear of God is cleansing, forever shall it last.
His judgments all are true and just, by righteousness held fast.
O seek them more than gold most fine, than honey find them sweet;
be warned by every word and line; be blessed with joy complete.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast begins a new series of readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column continues our examination of the hope for the church, especially struggling churches. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).
