Weak Faith: You Have to Start Somewhere (Summary Mat 14-17).

Thursday April 24, 2025

Main Idea: Matthew structures his gospel to present the Lord Messiah as a faithful teacher who progresses to the climax of His life, in the midst of a world that accepts and rejects Him.

Sub-idea: those who accept Him are weak in faith.  

Intro: We switch from teaching to narrative.

Matthew organizes his book as a chiasm. What is a chiasm?

From the Greek letter chi which this structure mimics.

Matthew as a chiasm. 

7 parables as a chiasm - point of the spear: understanding. 

Text: Mat 13:53-17:27

God gives a free- will; at least a choice.

The coming narrative: acceptance and rejection of Christ. 

One must see that this is the main issue with the human race.

Indeed Christ sets the stage of the age of the church on the foundation of this issue.

Those who reject Him and why. 

Nazareth – familiar (13:55f.). 

Herod - pagan love of world (14:6). 

Pharisees and scribes - love of their rituals and themselves and not God (15:2). 

Pharisees - imagine faith can be seen (want a sign from heaven (16:1)). Joh 3:8

Those who accept Him. 

Disciples, 15:15; 17:1 (private instruction; Peter’s rock statement 16:16). (Jew)

Syrophoenician woman, 15:21f. (Gentile: like Centurion)

Those who accept Him but have weak faith (almost all bels at the time)

Not enough food (14:17; 15:33).

Woman is a bother (15:23).

Forgot bread (16:7).

Unable to cast out demon (17:16). 

Spotlight on Peter since he would become the leader

Sinks (14:30).

Lacking in “understanding” (15:15-16).

Rebukes Christ’s sacrifice (16:22). 

Application: 

Little faith is nothing to be ashamed of if you see that following Christ is the ultimate treasure. 

You will always be surrounded by those who reject Christ, and often it will be inexplicable. 

We must faithfully teach and serve no matter what the response is.