Commuter Bible NT

Today, Jesus teaches on a difficult topic, and that is the topic of divorce. The Pharisees were often associated with the Hillel school of thought, which advocated for very liberal divorce proceedings which were so petty that even something like burning your husband’s dinner could be valid grounds for separation. Jesus confronts this teaching by pointing back to the garden of Eden as the design of marriage, then by saying that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of their sinful hearts, not because it was God’s design for them. We’ll also see how Jesus addresses a young man with great wealth who wants to be counted as righteous. This leads into a discussion about the relationship between one’s riches and one’s status in the kingdom of heaven.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.
All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.
Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible
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Matthew chapter 18 is almost entirely comprised of Jesus speaking and teaching, with just two questions posed by his followers. Those questions are, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” and “How many times shall I forgive my brother or sister?” In answering the question of who is the greatest, Jesus brings in a child and says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. He then tells the parable of the lost sheep, and gives instruction on how to restore a brother who refuses to repent. On the questions of forgiveness, Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant, wherein the man who is forgiven much by his master short-sightedly demands equity from his neighbor who owes him very little. As such, that man stands condemned.

:::
Christian Standard Bible translation.
All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.
Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible
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Today, Jesus takes the three disciples with whom he has a closer relationship up on a high mountain, and there, he is miraculously transfigured before them. This change in his physical appearance, accompanied by an auditory testament to his identity, is in some ways a “sign from heaven” which the Pharisees and Sadducees had requested in our last reading. Jesus did not reveal this vision to those men because they wanted proof in order to have faith; Jesus instead reveals his deity to his disciples who already have faith and have confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. After this, Jesus begins to tell his disciples that he will delivered over into the hands of sinners to die.

:::
Christian Standard Bible translation.
All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.
Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible
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The Pharisees and the Sadducees were often at odds with each other concerning doctrine and philosophy, but they had a common link in their skepticism about Jesus. Today they ask Jesus to display his power with a sign from heaven. Christ has already performed numerous miracles, but these men have been blind to the truth; they can’t read the signs of the times. Later, Peter makes what is often called “the good confession,” which is that Jesus is not John the Baptist resurrected or Elijah, but the Messiah. Jesus says that he will build his church on this confession, but those who follow him will have to take up their cross in order to do so.

:::
Christian Standard Bible translation.
All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.
Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible
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The Pharisees and scribes liked to add traditions to the Law that were extrabiblical, meaning that we were found outside of Scripture. When they try to accuse Christ’s disciples of wrongdoing, Jesus turns the tables and shows them the way their traditions actually serve to violate God’s law, rather than fulfill it. He then teaches the crowd that it is not what enters a person’s mouth that makes them unclean, but what comes out of their mouth that makes them unclean. Later, a woman who isn’t Jewish approaches Jesus for help, asking him to heal her daughter. Surprised by her faith, Jesus grants her request. Miraculous signs continue where ever Jesus goes, attesting to his power and authority.

:::
Christian Standard Bible translation.
All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.
Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible
facebook.com/commuterbible
instagram.com/commuter_bible
twitter.com/CommuterPod
patreon.com/commuterbible
admin@commuterbible.org