Grace Presbyterian Church, Montclair, New Jersey

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Pastor's Pulse

by Paul Leggett, Pastor

Jesus - The Ultimate Authority

November 2009

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’.” – Matthew 28:18

Starting this month we will begin a study of the Gospel of Matthew.  Matthew is probably not the first gospel written but it is the first in the New Testament.  The reason for this is that Matthew, more than the other three gospels, draws heavily on the Old Testament.  In fact Matthew’s gospel can be divided into five parts, which may symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah.  Jesus in Matthew is not only the new Moses, prophesied in the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), he is the new law, the fulfilled law (Matthew 5:17).  To use the language of John, Jesus does not only speak the word of God, he is the Word of God (John 1:1-14).

Everything in Matthew points toward the final revelation of Christ where he states that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him.  Jesus having ultimate authority in all things is the chief reference point for all our lives.  Jesus, with this authority, expects things from us.  He tells his disciples that their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).  By this Christ means that living under his authority will not be a matter of rules and regulations.  Jesus in fulfilling the law goes beyond a written code of conduct.  Jesus’ ministry is about the heart.  The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) are about attitudes not actions.  The attitudes will lead to actions but the actions are not described in detail.  Jesus’ disciples are to be poor in spirit, mournful, merciful, peacemakers, hungering and thirsting for righteousness (or justice).

Everything Jesus says in this gospel is ultimately about the heart.  When the disciples witness the rich young ruler’s turning away from Jesus because of his wealth, they cry out in despair, “Then who can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25).  The issue, however, is not about wealth.  It is about the heart’s surrender to Jesus.  If the demand to sell all you have and give to the poor is a literal, binding requirement then we are all lost.  Jesus assures the disciples, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”  In other words, don’t look to the literal demands and the requirements.  Look to God.

What does this gospel say to us when our hearts are weary or discouraged?  The answer is to give everything over to Jesus because all authority is in his hands, “Come to me, all you who that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Matthew reminds us that we are not to worry (Matthew 6:24-33).  Jesus is in charge of everything. 

We are facing transition in our church, uncertain economic times, challenges in our personal lives and in our society.  We will find this gospel brings peace to our hearts.  Jesus is the authority over everything.  We will be calling this series, which begins on November 22, “The Promise of Discipleship.”

Bible studies in the Pastoral Epistles continue at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays through November 8.  Starting in January the Sunday evening Bible study will focus on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew’s gospel.