The Secret Codes in Matthew: Examining Israel’s Messiah, Part 4, by Kevin M. Williams
This is one Hebraic interpretation, yet, from the outset of our investigation into this gospel, the claim was made that Matthew was announcing to the people of Israel the arrival of her Messiah. If one will scratch beneath the surface, it appears that the Beatitudes are not merely a code for biblical living or a “philosophy of life.” The Beatitudes may also have been revelational to the talmidim as well as the multitude there on the mountain, that Yeshua was in fact, the Promised One.
A Messianic Jewish rabbi, now an Israeli citizen, opened my eyes to the possibility that each of theses “Blessed are” statements, may be a secret key unlocking the identity of the Messiah. Why would this idea, that Jesus is the Messiah, need to be kept a secret?
First, to come out and publicly proclaim himself as the Messiah was the quickest way to be discounted as a fraud. Better to let others reach that conclusion from a personal conviction. It was as true then as it is now, that the best form or advertising is word of mouth. People convicted in their hearts that Yeshua was the Messiah would talk about it, and word would spread from synagogue to synagogue.
Second, a public announcement that “I am the Messiah, the King of the Jews,” would mean a much quicker trip to a Roman crucifixion. Yeshua had a timetable, and being sent to the cross too early was not a part of that agenda.
Third, the Jewish people had in their minds what the Messiah was supposed to be—a conquering hero throwing off the yoke of evil Roman oppression and establishing Israel as the world’s political and spiritual capital. Yeshua, on the other hand, had a different set of priorities for His first visit, and he needed people to mentally re-evaluate their expectations in light of biblical prophecy.
As we proceed through Matthew’s account, we will find that time and again, Yeshua is either indirect in his announcement, allowing men and women to reach their own conclusions, or what he says could be taken one of two ways; Messianic or natural. When the first approach is applied, we have people reaching true conviction and repentance, not merely rallying around a potential hero for the sake of national independence, but coming into a right relationship with God. Where the latter approach is used, it disallows Yeshua’s detractors from bringing any incriminating evidence against Him in court. A prosecutor might say, “this man thinks he’s the messiah!” But in the Sanhedrin, the Temple Court, there would have to be witnesses who actually heard Jesus say these words. No witnesses, no trial—or at least, no honest trial.8
Category: Biblical Studies, Pneuma Review, Winter 2002
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