3-7-21 (Week 3, Day 7, Year 21)
PROVERBS 5-6
PROVERBS 5:1-23 THE DANGERS OF THE STRANGE WOMAN. A WARNING AGAINST COMMITTING ADULTERY. “A sinner is trapped by his own evil acts.” The wisdom of a good and long marriage is given: “May the wife you married when you were young make you happy.”
PROVERBS 6: 1-19 WARNING WARNINGS AGAINST FOOLISH ACTS. There is a list of seven things the LORD hates. There are many lists in the PROVERBS. The list is haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, wicked plans, evil doing, lying, and sowing discord.
PROVERBS 6: 20-35 THE PERILS OF ADULTERY. A WARNING AGAINST COMMITTING ADULTERY.
MATTHEW 21
MATTHEW 21: 1-11 JESUS’ ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM. This is the identification of Jesus as the king of Israel. The entrance is a reenactment of Zechariah 9:9. Jesus consciously shows his kingship by riding a donkey in a gate of Jerusalem. The cry of the people is a Messianic identity for Jesus. Hosanna means “save now” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD” is a quotation from Psalm 118:26. Jesus is recognized as a Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. The reader’s acknowledgment of Jesus is the purpose of the revelation of the first “Palm” Sunday.
MATTHEW 21: 12-17 JESUS’ CONFRONTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE. JESUS CLEARS OUT THE TEMPLE. Jesus shows his displeasure by overturning the tables and trade in the temple because it is to be a house of prayer (Jeremiah 7). Jesus represents this by healing the sick. Matthew is seeking to show Jesus outranks the temple. As followers of Jesus we worship God as Jesus’ Father not the temple.
MATTHEW 21: 18-22 THE FIG TREE DRIES UP. The Fig tree represents the Hebrew people who failed to produce fruit. The LORD had called them to be a light to the nations. Matthew uses the withering of the fig tree to show God judges God’s people as being unfruitful. Also the withering shows the miracle power of prayer. Note the connection at Matthew 21:21 of faith and doubt. Faith overcomes doubt.
MATTHEW 21:23-MATTHEW 22:46 DISPUTES IN THE TEMPLE.
“The next eight units fall naturally into two groups. In the first group, Jesus’s authority is challenged and he responds with three parables. In the second group, there are three attempts by various antagonists to entrap Jesus, followed by a passage in which Jesus silences them by posing a question they cannot answer. This is followed by the Messiah’s valedictory address (Matthew 23).” This statement from MATTHEW by Douglas Hare, Page 244.
MATTHEW 21: 23-27 THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS IS QUESTIONED. Jesus answers with a riddle about baptism, which we cannot answer either. The Jewish Leaders seek to trap Jesus by desiring him the answer an authority question. The Leaders have answered the question for themselves and now seek to discredit Jesus in the temple. Jesus’ authority comes from God, Satan, or only himself. Modern readers also need to answer the question: Is Jesus from God or only speaking for himself? The question Jesus asks about John’s baptism passes judgment upon the motive of the Leaders. Jesus uses three parables to pronounce judgment upon the Leaders. The first is the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). The second is the parable of the Wicked Servants (Matthew 21:33-46). The third is the parable of the King’s Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14).
MATTHEW 21: 28-32 TAX COLLECTORS. PROSTITUTES, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE STORY OF THE TWO SONS- The first judgment parable is about the attitude of work by two sons. This parable occurs only in the Gospel of Matthew. The work in the vineyard is as gift and the first son rejects the work but repents and goes to work. The second son accepts the invitation but does not work. The second son represents the Jewish Religious Leaders. The first son represents the sinners. The judgment is upon the Jewish Leaders.
MATTHEW 21: 33-46 THE PARABLE OF THE WICKED TENANTS. THE STORY OF THE RENTERS. The result of Jesus’ words was a conspiracy to get rid of him. The wicked tenants will be replaced by new tenants. If the vineyard is the gift of the Kingdom then who are the new tenants? The vineyard or Kingdom has been given to a new nation, the Church, which contains both Jews and Gentiles who trust in Jesus’ authority.
GENESIS 41-42
GENESIS 41: 1-57 JOSEPH’S ELEVATION- PHAROAH HAS TWO DREAMS. JOSEPH IS PUT IN CHARGE OF EGYPT. A worldwide famine brought many foreign people into Egypt seeking grain. It is highly significant that Joseph is now risen to the place of his dreams.
GENESIS 42: 1-38 JOSEPH’S BROTHERS FIRST JOURNEY TO EGYPT. JOSEPH’S BROTHERS GO DOWN TO EGYPT. The brothers do not recognize Joseph, but he does them. He accuses them of being spies. He requests to see Benjamin and jails Simeon until other nine return. The brothers return to Canaan and find silver (payment) for grain in the bags of grain. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt to save Simeon.
ACTS 21
ACTS 21: 1-16 JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. PAUL CONTINUES HIS JOURNEY.
ACTS 21: 17-26 PAUL’S CONFORMITY TO JUDAISM. PAUL ARRIVES IN JERUSALEM.
ACTS 21: 27-40 UPROAR IN THE TEMPLE AND ROMAN CUSTODY. PAUL IS ARRESTED. PAUL REQUESTS TO SPEAK TO THE CROWD.
In THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES by Ernst Haenchen, the twenty-first chapter of ACTS is divided differently.
ACTS 21:1-14 THE JOUNEY FROM MILETIS TO CAESAREA.
There is a negative prediction several times of Paul’s fate in Jerusalem: 1) the disciples in Tyre (the Church); 2) Philip in Caesarea (one of the seven deacons) with his daughters; 3) Agabus, as Judean prophet; and 4) Paul’s companions including Luke. Paul insists that even if he dies in Jerusalem, he will do the will of God.
ACTS 21:15-26 THE RECEPTION IN JERUSALEM
There is difficulty with Paul’s action to purify five men including Paul. Paul does this to gain respect for his mission to the Gentiles from the Jerusalem Church Leaders. Another difficulty is the acceptance or refusal of the collection. Luke simply does not mention it. The conflict between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians again underlies Paul’s visit to Jerusalem.
ACTS 21: 27-36 PAUL’S ARREST
The controversy hinges on Paul’s teaching concerning the Law’s requirements. Paul is accused and beaten and would have been killed like Stephen if the Romans had not arrested him.
ACTS 21:37-40
This is an introduction into the speech in ACTS 22:1-21. Paul will go to Rome now because he appeals to Caesar. Paul must convince the Romans he is not a political threat.