Matthew 16: God's Chosen People

Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.

Isaiah 49:15 (NKJV)

For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His special treasure.

Psalm 135:4 (NKJV)

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2 (NKJV)

Matthew 16 is revelatory! It centers around God's chosen people: their past mistakes and future promises.

It lays bare the undercover danger in puffed-up religious hypocrisy, and it redefines the criteria that followers of His Son must possess.

Because in the days of Jesus, the Man, Israel was ruled by Roman warlords. They were powerful and idolatrous. Toward other faiths, they were indifferent, if laws were obeyed and taxes were paid. Cruelty was an ever-present threat.

But even worse than Rome's brutal rulers were the Jewish spiritual leaders. By them, God's chosen people were confused.

Sadducees, Pharisees, and smaller sects made their own rules and fought among themselves. They misinterpreted the heart of God.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Jewish sects in the days of Christ were few in comparison to churches today. We have thousands of denominations, with different rules and expectations. 

  • In Christ’s day, factions fought for influence, each fully convinced their way was God’s way.

  • Today, factions fight to prove themselves right, still fully convinced their way is His way.

But according to the One (they forget), a divided house is destined to fall.** Our King’s last prayer in the Book of John was a passionate plea for unity.*** 

Tragically, the opposite happened, and we’re wise to consider the reasons.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: 

God had called YOU for such a time as this:

  • A time you must rise above division, confusion, arrogance, and derision.

  • A time to redefine the King’s glory in the same way He modeled as a Man

  • A time to stand and be counted worthy, as those called, chosen, and faithful… to Him.

Matthew 16: God's Chosen People (Part 1)

* Short article: Who were the Sadducees and the Pharisees?https://www.gotquestions.org/Sadducees-Pharisees.html

** 'If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand' (Mark 3:25).

*** John 17:20-26: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A20-26&version=NKJV

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban