Great Handling

By Matt

1. "Are you starting to get a handle on all this?" (Matthew 13:51) - I think this is pretty similar to the "Are you really listening?" question, Jesus is highlighting the importance of what he just said. And it is very important because he's going through the tricky yet important business of detailing what the Kingdom is like. Maybe not what it is (perhaps we're not really capable of getting that), but we can get the impression that it's rather important by reading his preceding statements.
2. "Faint-heart, what got into you?" (Matthew 14:31) - This is Jesus chiding Peter for losing faith in the midst of a stroll on the sea. While I think that Jesus was directing this question at Peter along the lines of, "Why did you lose heart?", maybe it's possible that he was asking Peter what prompted him to try something so crazy in the first place. Maybe Jesus was even a little impressed with Peter's faith to step out of the boat. I realize that most people cluck their tongues at Peter's goof here, but it's a pretty amazing thing that he actually even tried. That might be the mustard seed kind of faith that Christ is looking for after all.
3. "Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God's commands?" (Matthew 15:3) - Ziiiiiing! This question is Jesus throwing one right back in the phaces of the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?" and that's how he responded. This is just the start of Jesus' more sensible approach to how we ought to live our life. The Law is a good guide, to a point, but it's the greatest commandments, to love God and our neighbors, that really determine whether what we do is wrong or right. This is Jesus cutting clean through to the heart of the deal and giving them whatfor. Go, Jesus.