The Book of Matthew - Part 20

The lesson taught on December 15, 2024 was part 20 of “The Book of Matthew” study. We are finishing Matthew 9 and moving into Matthew 10 but first Wayne recaps what we learned from the last lesson, particularly in regards to the “pleroma” or fullness. The use of fullness in the New Testament are here: Matt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21; 8:20; Jn. 1:16; Rom. 11:12, 25; 13:10; 15:29; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10, 23; 3:19; 4:13; Col. 1:19; 2:9. We have a specific fullness that was given to us called “The Mystery” through the apostle Paul. We reviewed the ones that a bold because they were given during the mystery calling which was the pinnacle of God’s revelation to us. The metaphor of “sleep” is used to describe the death of a believer and when they awake we are in our resurrection body. We quickly reviewed the Greek words looking at “dumb” and “demon” and how in Matthew, Jesus had kicked the devil out and the results were the deaf and blind could speak and see. In today’s lesson, the emphasis was to relate the gospel of the kingdom was contextually in line with prophecy in Isaiah 35:4-6 with Matthew 9:35-38 KJV. We are given an example of Right Division by the Lord reading Isaiah 61:1,2 but he stopped reading Isaiah at a conjunction in the middle of verse 2! We see this in Luke 4:18-20 KJV. Verse 20 shows the Lord practicing Right Division because at the time, that prophecy had been fulfilled! If he read further, that had not happened yet. Then in Matthew 10:1-6 KJV, the Lord identified his twelve disciples and gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. In Matthew 10:5-6 Jesus told them to go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is the gospel of the kingdom. This will be expounded upon in the next lesson.

The scripture reading was from Isaiah 35:1-10 KJV “1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”