Faithful on Fridays Blog

Chapters 27-28

Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry intrigues me because he intentionally focused on the religious leaders of his day: the Pharisees, Sadducees, and elders. Even when it came to Judas’ betrayal; it was all about the Pharisees pay off. The Old Testament records in that money gained by sin isn’t allowed in the temple treasury, therefore, when Judas tried to return it … he couldn’t. Only Matthew helps us connect the dots from the Old to the New Testaments even when they’re obscure; he didn’t miss it. 

When Pilate’s wife experienced a nightmarish dream only Matthew recorded it (27:19-25); how he knew we don’t know, but you can speculate. Consequently, Pilate ‘washed his hands’ of This Man, which may have caused Matthew to remember Dt. 21:6-7 or Ps. 26:6 as showing his perceived innocence. Pilate wasn’t a Jew, but the Jewish leaders certainly understood this action by the governor. 

When the sign was posted above Jesus’ head reading, This is Jesus, The King of the Jews, they were certifying that without a shadow of a doubt, This Man was (vs. 37) who He said He was. Again in verse 43 Matthew alone gives us insight into the Scriptures by referring to Ps. 22:7-8 pointing us to the coming Messiah. He wouldn’t ask His Father to deliver Him as they taunted, simply because He must fulfill Is. 53:10-11; it was the Father’s will for His Son to be our sin offering. 

This gospel substantiates my opinion of Matthew; unlike the character from The Chosen, he was hand-picked by God to write a unique account of Jesus’ life and may possibly have wanted to be one of those religious leaders. 

Another interesting detail about Matthew is his remembrance of earthquakes at Jesus’ death and again at His resurrection; the earth was responding to God.

In Chapter 28, he alone reports the guards’ encounter with the religious leaders (vs.9-15) and their fraud, not surprising, and the famous Great Commission. Uniquely, this charge given to the apostles, and now to us, shows our responsibility as Christians to operate in His authority, take seriously the assignment to not only share our faith, but to help people understand Jesus. Disciples are learners, they need teachers who’ve experienced His love and grace, but also value His Word. Matthew clearly believed the Old Testament Scriptures and personally knew the Word; that’s undoubtedly why his gospel is unique connecting the Old to the New. 

Matthew’s last words are a reminder that Jesus will always be with us, His power and authority is available to us, and remaining until His Return inaugurating the eternal Kingdom of heaven on earth. We’re living in the ‘already, but not yet’ time, waiting for That Day when the Kingdom will be finalized. 

History tells us Matthew, this ‘hidden figure’, preached the gospel in Ethiopia and was martyred for his faith about 30 years later, however, his writing remains a cornerstone of Christian teachings.