Going Up to Jerusalem - Matthew 20:17

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen”, and in chapter twenty and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus began to go, “up to Jerusalem” where we read:

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,

The verse reads, “And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and Jesus” or “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “going up” which means “ascending” “to Jerusalem” or “toward Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “took twelve disciples” which refers to “received and drew” “apart” or “separate and away from others” “in the way” which means “on the road or course of conduct”. Matthew shared how Jesus drew aside His “twelve disciples” as they traveled toward Jerusalem.

The verse goes on to say, “... and said unto them,” Matthew continued with the words, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which means “to the twelve disciples”. Matthew wrote how Jesus began to give His “twelve disciples” another instruction concerning Himself and God's plan.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus separated Himself and His disciples from the crowds again to instruct them while they traveled toward Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem sits at a higher elevation than any other place around it, so all who travel to the city “go up” to it. Jesus desires to “draw aside” every person who will yield their lives to Him in faith, and when they turn from their sinful ways, He has much to say to them as they listen.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus said, “the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes”, 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.