Jesus Speaks to the Multitudes and His Disciples - Matthew 23:1

Matthew the apostle wrote, “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think you of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He said unto them, How then does David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse one of his book Matthew shared how Jesus, “spake … to the multitude, and to his disciples” where we read:

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples

The verse reads, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, ...” Matthew began with the words, “then spake” which means “at that time and moment uttered, declared and proclaimed” “Jesus” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “to the multitude” which means “to the large crowd”. Matthew shared how Jesus began to direct His words to the “crowd” around Him.

The verse continues, “... and to his disciples,”. Matthew added the words, “and to his” which means “and to Jesus'” “disciples” or “students, pupils and attendants”. Matthew shared how Jesus also directed His words toward His “students and attendants”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus moved His attention from the Pharisees to the “crowd” surrounding Him. Jesus silenced the “religious leaders” known as the Pharisees, so He began to speak to the people surrounding Him. He will give them instructions in the next verses, but suffice if for now to realize that Jesus cares for people, and He wants them to live with Him eternally. By believing and trusting in His Son Jesus, “salvation” and “everlasting life” is provided to all who listen to and “believe” Jesus Christ.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Matthew write how, “the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.