Daily Lectionary | Exodus 16 & Matthew 17:24-Matthew 18:14
Exodus 16
Summary
The congregation of Israel comes to Rephidim and sets up camp. They have just witnessed Moses turning the bitter water sweet after grumbling. Now they grumble again about lack of water! And once more they must learn to trust the Lord as the giver and sustainer of life. Moses is God’s servant, so their quarreling with Moses is really quarreling with God. The people are ready to execute Moses by stoning him. Moses will not be their scapegoat, however.
The Lord tells Moses to gather the elders and to take up his rod. The elders and the rod are symbols of authority and judgment. But the people of Israel will not be judged for their rebellion. The Lord will take judgment on himself and thus provide water for the people. The Lord commands Moses to strike the rock so that water will come out of it. But the Lord stands before the rock in the form of his glory cloud. The rod passes through the Lord! On the cross, Jesus will bear the rod of judgment that is due his people. And from his side water will flow out to give life to the world.
Moses calls Joshua to gather fighting men to oppose the Amalekites. The Amalekites will be a problem for Israel all the way until the time of Haman in the book of Esther. This fight in Exodus 17 is the beginning of a long-term struggle: “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.” Hands lifted up are symbolic of prayer, and Moses receives support from Aaron and Hur as he intercedes for the battle. Prayer is warfare. The church engages in battle and ultimately prevails by praying.
Reflection
Consider the way the Lord uses water in the book of Exodus to demonstrate his power and provision. How does water continue to be an important symbol in this regard in the rest of Scripture?
Matthew 17:24-18:14
Summary
In this next section of Matthew, the theme of stumbling or causing offense comes up. A question is put to Peter about Jesus paying the temple tax. Jesus does indeed pay the temple tax but is under no obligation to do so. He does this “in order not to give offense.”
Peter retrieves a coin from the mouth of a fish in the sea. The sea is associated with Gentiles, and Peter is called to be a fisher of men. The wealth of the nations is meant to be drawn into the temple as it was under Solomon. A new temple, however, is being constructed—one not made with hands. The nations will be drawn into the new temple Jesus is forming as the old temple gives way and is finally destroyed. For now, Jesus strategically plays by the rules of the old temple, but he also implies that he and his disciples, the true sons of the temple, are free of such a tax.
The next offense or cause of stumbling Jesus addresses is causing “little ones who believe in him” to sin. In response to a question about who’s the greatest in the kingdom, Jesus puts forward children as the example. Entering the kingdom of heaven means being new birth (Jn. 3) and becoming like little children. The disciples (or anyone else) must not create a barrier for little ones to believe.
Being a stumbling block to sin calls forth woes from Jesus: “woe to the one by whom the temptation comes” (Matt. 18:7). And the warning goes to individuals also not give into temptation. Jesus repeats from his earlier sermon in Matthew 5 on the drastic measures one must take to avoid sin. Jesus doesn’t soft-pedal this warning: “It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire” (Matt. 18:9).
Reflection
What are stumbling blocks we might put before others that could hinder their belief in Jesus? What stumbling blocks do you face in your fight against sin?
It’s common to say that fear of judgment iis not a proper motivator in following Christ. What does this passage have to say to that understanding?