John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, came preaching repentance under the Law of Moses. His message was harsh judgment, which he most certainly expected the Messiah to bring. He realized those of the Nation of Israel who were unrighteous would be treated at least as bad as Gentiles who rejected the Law. Because his was an accurate view of the Law, John had harsh words for the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders who sought to use his popularity to enhance their positions. Matthew shows how Jesus points out the distinction between Jewish traditions and the Word of God.
After sending His Disciples on their mission, He left to take part on His own. Word of Jesus' miraculous signs came to John the Baptist, who was still in prison. This was not quite what John had told everyone to expect, with references to an ax laid at the root of the tree. Jesus answered by quoting Isaiah's prophecies of the Messiah, matched by what the disciples themselves could see in His miracles. Of course, He bore no grudge to his cousin for not understanding, but encouraged him to reconsider what the Messiah must be and do.
Turning back to the crowd He had been blessing, Jesus queried their understanding of John's place in revelation. Was John someone easily shaken by winds of fashion? Should he have identified with the Jewish leadership? No, he was the last great prophet of the Old Testament, predicted by Malachi, the last book there. John was indeed the herald of the Messiah. No one under the Law of Moses held a higher office before the Lord. Yet anyone entering the Kingdom of Heaven under the New Covenant would be greater than John.
Matthew writes in Greek the words Jesus spoke in Aramaic, the common language of Hebrew people in His day. We can't be sure what word He used in verse 12, but the English translation "violence" is surely a mistake. It carries connotations Jesus did not mean, for He was describing the transition between the Old and New Covenants, and how completely the Talmudic teachings were wrong. The Jewish traditions had sealed up all hope of redemption by asserting only those whom God made wealthy were in His favor, and only the wealthy Pharisees at that. When John made it clear wealthy Pharisees were excluded, it became obvious their teaching was false. John said it was repentance, turning to Jehovah with a zeal for His Word. Thus, it was this exuberant zeal Jesus referred to, a zeal all the more evident in response to His teachings.
John's preaching laid the ground for a clear vision of purity and faith, a renewal of Elijah's ministry -- whose manner of dress John copied. Jesus' preaching showed these things were themselves gifts of God. John raised a very high standard of supreme commitment and asceticism. Jesus showed no man could achieve it; it was a matter of grace. The Jewish leadership, along with far too many other Jews, were like petulant children, who could not lower themselves to embrace either message. They rejected John as demon-possessed, and Jesus as immoral. Jesus reminded everyone the truth of what He taught was seen in the fruit of His harvest: Those rejected by everyone else were eagerly serving the Lord.
We have read how crowds followed Him all around Northern Galilee, and vast numbers were healed and delivered from demons. Yet these seldom included the comfortable classes, those who were heavily invested in the status quo. Aside from the rare person of importance, it was almost solely the poor and disenfranchised who turned to Jesus' teaching with that exuberant zeal. Everyone with a lesser response would be left empty. Thus, most of those living in the cities of Northern Galilee ended up worse off than pagan cities infamous for moral filth. Pride in their Jewish heritage would hardly open the gates of Heaven for them.
Jesus was seized by a moment of rejoicing in His Father's mysterious will. The paradox of God's wisdom was in choosing the outcasts, the poor benighted children who could never grow up to the Talmudic standard. These truths were committed to the Son, because the Father alone understood what was going on. He alone really knew Jesus. How wonderful it was someone so insignificant in the Jewish world should be the Messiah. Jesus became ever more confident in declaring Himself the Son of God, the one true Voice of Heaven on earth.
His Voice spoke how very accessible was the Lord. All those who had given up hope were extended an invitation to come and take up the yoke of holiness Jesus offered. This yoke was far easier than any previous teacher had shown, yet harder than anything the Pharisees could bear. The work of God was true rest, the shalom Israel could never keep under the Law.
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Ed Hurst
29 September 2007
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