As we walk this journey, I must point out that we will not try to cover every topic covered in Matthew, but concentrate on text that specifically has Jesus sharing His, and our, relationship with the Father.
Jesus’ ministry really begins when he approaches John the Baptist and requests that He too be baptized, 3:14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he (John) permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
This event demonstrates the separate beings existing at the same time; Jesus the son of God, the spirit of God (the Holy Spirit), and the Father. With the descension of the spirit of God coming to Jesus, it is apparent that it was necessary for Jesus to have the spirit of God with Him as he commenced His ministry, which was enabled by His baptism by John.
Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was then approached by “the tempter” in His hunger. 4:3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Jesus was further tempted, and eventually replied; “Go Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
Chapter 5, often called the “Beatitudes” is well worth reading, and will not be quoted here. Here he demonstrates that worship is not just kneeling and praying, but in every action that you take from day to day; even the way in which you think is an act of worship, or lack of worship.
6:7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that thy will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 Pray then, in this way: 10 ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors, 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen’. 14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
I believe it necessary to point out that as the Son of God, Jesus does NOT imply that He is the one who forgives, but His Father (our Father). Even Jesus, when He prayed, He would begin His prayer with “Father.”
The “Lords Prayer” is presented here as a template only, not necessarily to be repeated over and over. As He said earlier “do not use meaningless repetition.”
In chapter 7, Jesus continues discuss how we worship in our deeds and actions, but He says; 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father, who is in heaven will enter.”
He then adds, 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand”
As Jesus is preparing the disciples to leave him in chapter 10, He gave them specific instructions that they are to follow, but He warns that they my be arrested for His sake. 10:19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but is is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
I believe that there are two key elements to this statement. 1) That the Spirit of God must be in them, and that it is likely that they too were baptized in order to have the Spirit of God in them, 2) Jesus shares that, because the Spirit of God is in them, that God is their Father also!
In conclusion to His instructions, Jesus states: 10:40 He who receives you, receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me (My Father). 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
In this passage, Jesus basically declares Himself as a prophet and as the Son of God, He is also righteous.
After denouncing the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent, He said; 11:25 “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does any know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
Jesus declares His relationship to those that do His Father’s will. 12:48 “…Who is my mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward his disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father, who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
In chapter 18, Jesus again declares His relationship to His Father; 18:19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
In this He clarifies that it is not Jesus that fulfills the prayer, but His Father, our Father, that does the fulfilling, as long as it is asked in Jesus’ name!
Eventually, Jesus came to Gethsemane to pray, 26:39 “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus repeated this prayer twice more before His final return to the sleeping disciples. His desire was not to be sacrificed, but He knew what was at stake if He was not. He knew that His Father’s will must be followed, or His mission and His ministry would be a failure and this was unacceptable!
It becomes clear in these passages, that Jesus’ ministry was never to glorify Himself in any way, but to glorify His Father and that we can seek His Father as Our Father in Jesus’ name.
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