Matthew 22 - Resurrection into a Spiritual Kingdom

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:29-32.

When the Pharisees failed to entrap Jesus in His speech, the Sadducees tried in their own way. They did not believe in the resurrection, and yet they came with a hypothetical question regarding the resurrection. In their scenario, a woman who marries seven brothers in quick succession after their untimely deaths dies herself and is then resurrected with all of her husbands. They asked, "Which husband would she belong to in the resurrection?"

Jesus answered by informing them that they erred, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Can you imagine how insulting that was to these learned men of the Law? They probably smarted at being put in their place by such words, but Jesus was correct in His assessment. As He explained, in this new kingdom, people would not be given in marriage as in their earthly lives. Women would not be subject to their husbands with very little rights and privileges as was the practice in the Levitical/Mosaic system. As a new creation in Christ, all born again children of God become a new man in Christ without regard to gender, ethnicity, or religious background. Like the angels, new creations in Christ are only subject to God.

Jesus also challenged their beliefs regarding the resurrection, explaining that God is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, the God of the living and not the dead. God had always referred to Abraham as being alive and not dead, even though his soul had left his earthly body long ago. Death was and always has been an enemy of God. God has always spoken of and embraced the preciousness of life.

The multitudes marveled at Jesus' teaching while the Sadducees were silenced into submission.

Matthew 22 - Surviving these Evil Days

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. Matthew 22:19-22.  

Because the Pharisees could not kill Jesus in their own timing, they sought to discredit Him by entangling Him in His words. Anyone who has taught the Word for any length of time has come across modern-day Pharisees who desire to entangle us in our speech in order to discredit us as teachers, but more importantly, to discredit the truth of the Gospel.

The Pharisees came to Jesus with flattering words, a Roman coin in hand, and a question for which they believed there was no good answer; they showed Jesus the coin which bore Caesar's image and superscription and asked whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. (We saw earlier how they had come to the disciples earlier and asked for their temple tribute, which Jesus paid). Their desire now was to have Him speak insurrection against Rome, thereby giving them a reason to call Him a traitor and lawbreaker. Jesus, knowing their wicked motives, called them hypocrites, and instead asked them a question - "Who's image and superscription is on this coin?" Well, of course, they answered "Caesar's." Then came the answer - "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and what is God's to God."

This answer astonished them - they could not accuse Him of any wrongdoing with this reply. But what was He really saying to them? He was telling them that this kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly kingdom where He, the Messiah, would come as a vanquisher, set on putting the Roman Empire down and restoring the earthly kingdom that Solomon once had. No, this was a spiritual kingdom that would coexist with the evil, earthly kingdoms of the world. All men would have the opportunity to exercise their free will, believe in Messiah, be born again and enter into this glorious spiritual kingdom.

We see that this has been true for the past 2000 years. As the kingdom advances, nations are influenced by the Gospel, and in turn, physical manifestation of spiritual truth is manifested on the earth! The problem is that so much false doctrine has crept into the church over the years, mixing the truth of God's wonderful grace with law, legalism, works, and heretical teaching called dispensational or end-times theology. None of that is supported by the Word!

Matthew 22 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matthew 22:4-9.

Jesus continues His confrontation of the Pharisees' unbelief with the parable of the marriage supper of the lamb, which is described in chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation.

In this parable, a king makes a marriage for his son and sends his servants to invite those who were bidden (Israel) to come, but they would not. The king sent other servants to the remnant (the last days generation of Israel during the time of Jesus), but they rejected the invitation and killed the servants. The king was very angry and poured out his wrath on the remnant, sending his armies to destroy their city. We  know from history that this is exactly what God did in 70 AD. The Roman armies came and destroyed the city and literally dismantled the temple. That wicked generation who rejected their Messiah was destroyed and the kingdom was given over to those who would believe - mainly the Gentiles of the world.

What a tragedy! And yet, in the parable, a man improperly dressed tries to sneak into the marriage supper, obviously thinking that his lineal heritage and/or good deeds will get him a place at the table. But Jesus explained that the proper wedding garments are crucial; anyone found without the correct attire will be thrown outside, where there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. God calls this the second death, which is a horrible spiritual demise that continues forever in the lake of fire.

God was offering something so wonderful and beautiful for His people, but they wanted nothing to do with it. As Paul explains in Romans 9-11, they sought a righteousness of their own, based on works and not faith.

All of us who have been born again IN HIM are clothed with the robe of God's righteousness, and we have a place at the table of this marriage supper! Dig into this Bible and find out all you have inherited IN CHRIST as His bride, the wife of the lamb!

Matthew 21 - Jesus, the Rejected Cornerstone

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Matthew 21: 42-44. 

When the Pharisees were unable to tell Jesus whether John's baptism was from God or man, Jesus responded by telling them several parables which prophesied their doom in 70 AD. He told the story of a husbandman who had two sons, both of whom were asked to work in the father's vineyard. One initially rejected but then repented and did the work, while the other son agreed to work but then failed to honor his word. The Pharisees knew that the obedient son was the one who would enter the father's kingdom, but Jesus surprised them by saying that this son represented the publicans and harlots who repented and believed - not the Pharisees and leaders who took pride in their seemingly rightous acts . While these publicans and harlots were obvious sinners and clearly broke the law, they were willing to change from their wicked ways and follow Christ.

Another parable was even harsher in that it told of the landowner who rented out his vineyard, watchtower, and winepress to men who rejected and beat the landowner's servants, stoned and killed his other servants, and then eventually killed the owner's son, the heir. Jesus declared that the owner would destroy those wicked men and rent his land to others who would bring forth fruit in its season. Jesus went further by declaring that this event would be the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy (Psalms 118 and Isaiah 28:16) of the stone that the builders rejected becoming the chief cornerstone for this new building God was erecting (the church); that all men would come to that stone, either to stumble upon it and be humbled (repent) or be crushed by it (judged).

The Pharisees perceived Jesus was speaking of them and desired to lay hands on Him and kill Him. Ironically, they sought to fulfill the very evil deed that Jesus had just spoken of in the parable! They had hardened their hearts, blinded their eyes, stopped up their ears, and stiffened their necks. They would not believe, and there was nothing to be done about it.

How tragic! God desires that no one perish and be lost to Him. Pray that the father would use you to be that light in a dark place to help someone in your sphere of influence who is blind, deaf, and ignorant of God's wonderful salvation!

Matthew 21 - Withered at the Root!

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21: 19-22.

As Jesus prepared to enter the city of Jerusalem again, He did something very strange - He cursed a fig tree beside the road. The Bible says that He was hungry and desired to eat some of the fruit resting under the green leaves, and yet when He lifted the leaves, there was nothing there. And so He cursed the tree, declaring "No man eat from you ever again!" The tree dried up from its roots and died, astonishing the disciples.

Why would Jesus do this? It was another metaphorical, spiritual teaching that revealed a profound truth. The fig tree represented Israel, God's holy people who were to shine forth His truth to the whole world; they were the ones charged with spiritually feeding the nations around them. But sadly, like this tree, they had the green leaves, but underneath all the artifice and religious rituals, there was no fruit. None of their law keeping and religion could save people and set them free from the bondage of sin.

Jesus, acting as God, cursed that system at its root, because it bore no fruit and it never would. Sure, the system would linger for a time, just as a tree or plant will do when its root dies, but eventually destruction came. The temple system lingered from 30 AD to 70 AD, a full 40 years, before it was destroyed by the Roman armies. God judged it for its unfruitfulness and ushered in the New Covenant.

Jesus told His disciples that the things that are impossible with man are possible with God. He told them that they, likewise, could be able to speak to the mountain of persecution, oppression, and hindrance IN FAITH, and tell it to be removed, and it would come to pass as they believed. This entire teaching of the fig tree was a prophecy that the cursed temple system would be destroyed, but that before its final removal, the world/religious system would be vehemently opposed to the Gospel message. We know this is true historically, as many in Jesus' generation were martyred for their faith and suffered terrible persecutions from their fellow Jewish kinsmen and the Roman government (the Antichrist, Nero) before 70 AD.

Today, there are many Christians who suffer terribly for their faith in Jesus. But praise God, we can speak to those mountains that stand in the way of the kingdom, tell them to be removed, and they will be removed. It may take some time, but that mountain must go. All of us must stand firm and believe! Our heavenly father will show us exactly how to pray and reveal to us exactly what we are to do. He has not left us as orphans - we have His wonderful spirit living inside of us!

Matthew 21 - The Triumphal Entry

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:6-9

When Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He announced Himself as Messiah in a way that may seem very strange to us Americans living in our day and time. Instead of making some huge proclamation and stating, "I am Messiah, I am the Son of David, etc." He announced Himself in the proper Jewish way, in that He entered in fulfillment of prophecy. Israel had always been told that the true Messiah (and there were many false ones!) would come in fulfillment of what God had told the prophets of old. God always delivered His Word through the prophets and then manifestation of that Word would come later - sometimes thousands of years later, as is the case with the prophecies speaking of Jesus.

And so, as Jesus entered the city gates, He did so riding a donkey (a sign of peace), in fulfillment of Old Testament scripture. He was also proclaiming Himself as the promised Anointed One who the prophets of old said would be rejected by His people. Acting on behalf of God, He then did something that might seem strange at first, but it makes perfect sense - He went to God's house and examined what was going on there. Instead of finding a house of prayer, He saw sin, corruption, thievery, that the leaders of Israel had turned His house into a nasty, evil business! As any of us would do in seeing filth in our houses, He set out to clean His house - and if we would react with violence in seeing corruption in our houses, how much more a holy God!

Jesus took the spiritual authority He had as God in the flesh and declared judgment against that wicked generation who had forsaken their obligation to be God's representatives on the earth. They turned a blind eye to God's truth, hardened their hearts, stiffened their necks, and stopped up their ears, ignoring God's pleas for them to repent. Finally, His great patience ran out, and all was destroyed in 70AD!

Matthew 20 - The Last Shall be First!

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:11-16

Jesus' parable of the goodman of the house hiring workers to work the field at various times during the harvest period is a great explanation of how the kingdom of God is NOT like the hierarchical system we know here on earth. In this spiritual kingdom, anyone who desires to be great must be a servant to all. That flies in the face of what we are accustomed to here on this planet. Many people, even professing Christians, claim that their greatness requires others to serve and dote on them, to offer them money, gifts, special treatment and the like. There can be nothing further from the truth when it comes to God's kingdom.

Jesus is the prime example of the master, king, son, and heir being servant to all. Regardless of when one comes into the kingdom, he or she becomes a child of God with the FULL rights and authorities that come with that status - immediately! Those who have labored and done good works in this world under religious systems are upset when they hear this, because they believe their righteousness is a reward for all of their goodness. The reality is that there is no reward for goodness - only a reward for BELIEVING in the goodness that was done by Jesus on the cross.  This is a total paradigm shift from the norm under the Mosaic temple system of the Old Covenant!