Source: https://feastuponthewordblog.org/2007/04/16/matthew-1521-179/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 13:11:36+00:00

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Here are my notes for lesson #13.
Tamar and Rehab (in the Matthean geneology of Jesus) were Canaanite women.
v. 27 The woman does not argue the point (her seeming secondary status). She is desperate; her need is urgent. She states a theme of this section: even dogs get crumbs . . . or . . . Jesus has so much power he will have more than enough left over from what Israel does not need or want.
What do we learn? ALL – Jew and Gentile, male and female, can approach Jesus in faith.
Jesus has compassion on all.
How does this story help us to approach God in faith?
What do these verses illustrate?
1. v. 29-31 Jesus heals all the sick who are brought to him.
2. v. 32 Jesus acts out of compassion for their need (even though they have not asked him for food).
3. v. 33-38 Jesus provides for these people.
How does this story help us to expect good things from God?
The Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign. Is wanting a sign always wrong? Why is the demand for a sign wrong in this case? (See Matthew 16:1, Ex. 17:7, Ps. 78:18-20).
Other examples show God favoring those who ask for a sign as an assurance: Gen. 15:6, 8, Judges 6:17, 36, 39; 2 Kings 20:8, Isaiah 7:11-14.
Asking for a sign is not wrong in itself. However, sometimes people ask for signs mockingly, as a reason to disbelieve. Matthew 4:3, 6; 12:38; 27:40, 42-44.
v. 4 The sign of Jonah: Matthew 12:41 “the preaching of Jonas” brought repentance.
v. 5-12 What is the yeast (leaven) of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? See v. 12.
What is the continuing symbol Jesus is using? bread.
v. 19 What are the keys?
This climactic revelation occurs in pagan territory (where they worship Pan), 25 miles and 1,700 feet uphill from the Lake of Galilee, at the source of the Jordan River.
Augustine/Origin/Tertullian – early church fathers – all believed the “rock” was Christ. The rock became Peter in reaction against the reformers (Luther, etc).
What do we believe the “Rock” is?
12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Who do we believe the rock is?
Peter is rebuked by Jesus. Why?
Peter has overstepped his bounds as a disciple.
An explanation of what true discipleship is.
The life of a disciple is worth any price that the disciple must pay.
17:2 transfigured: changed in form, in appearance, in clothing. But more than mere radiance or the appearance of Moses and Elijah: something that has to do with revealed truth, with the revealed nature of God.
Joseph Smith refers to this as an endowment of power (TPJS, p. 263, 265) and also refers to the transfiguration as the transfiguration of the whole world (TPJS, p. 13).
17:3 Moses and Elias (Elijah). Both Moses and Elijah met with God on Sinai (Elijah according to tradition).
Read Bible Dictionary last paragraph: Elijah, p. 664 (was the last prophet to hold the Melchezidek Priesthood before Jesus).
Christ gives us the power to stand in the presence of God: Alma 36: 10, 13, 18, 23 (p. 298-99) When does this happen? After we are endowed with power.
This entry was posted on April 16, 2007 at 6:08 pm	and is filed under Lessons:Sun. School, On studying, On teaching. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
That’s a very good explanation—the best I’ve heard. The usual explanation is that Jesus didn’t want the disciples’ preaching creating more opposition to him, which would possibly precipitate an early execution (or assassination), or at least make it that much more difficult to move about Judea. I think that’s also a good explanation, but what I like about yours is that it points out a big problem in interpreting doctrine: if you don’t have the whole picture then you will really mess up the parts. Suppose Matthew had been writing his Gospel all along—like a daily blog. I imagine it would be wildly different and focus on many different (“wrong”?) things.
The identification of the woman as Canaanite is interesting because at the time of Jesus I don’t think there were any Canaanites, by the way. So the fact that Tamar and Rahab were also Canaanite women may actually have some significance in the identification in Matthew 15.
BrianJ #1: Thanks for drawing my attention to this, great point.
Cheryl, I seldom read your lesson notes without thinking I should stop posting mine and let people depend on yours. You provide excellent materials for preparing a lesson. Thanks.
This was the most astounding compliment I have received in some time. Thank you.
Of course, you do realize that I sometimes lift your notes and fit them into mine, yes? So don’t even think of quitting.

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