Matthew 8:20

Sunday, 16 March 2025

 

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20

 

“And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows, and the birds of the sky encampings, and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus was approached by a scribe who told Him he would follow Him wherever He went. In response to that, it next says, “And, Jesus, He says to him, ‘The foxes, they have burrows.”

 

In these words, the alópéx is introduced. It is a burrowing animal and is figuratively used when speaking of a cunning person. The main typological idea of a fox in the Old Testament is one who trips others up. In the New Testament, the fox will only be seen again in a comparable passage in Luke 9:58 and one more time when speaking of Herod in Luke 13:32.

 

The reason for Jesus’ words is not yet apparent, but His words concerning the fox tell us that they have phóleos, burrows, where they can go. It is another new word found only here and in Luke 9:58 under the same context. It signifies a lair for animals in the form of a hole, thus a burrow. In such a place, foxes can secret themselves away. Jesus next continues with, “and the birds of the sky encampings.”

 

This is a third new word, kataskénósis, it is derived from kata, down against, and skénoó, a tent or tabernacle. As such, it literally means an encamping. It is also found only here and in Luke 9:58. Birds, like foxes, have a place to go where they can dwell with their own. However, the verse continues with, “and the Son of Man, He has not where the head He might recline.”

 

This is a fourth new word, klinó. It is a primary verb meaning to slant or slope. As such, and because He is referring to a place to settle in, the word recline exactly fits the thought. When the day of labor is ended, a person reclines to eat and then further reclines to sleep.

 

The meaning is that, unlike the very basic necessities for the animals and birds, meaning a place to be with their own and to settle themselves for the needs of life, Jesus was without them. Instead, He was an itinerant traveler, not knowing where He would find rest from day to day.

 

This is also the first of thirty times in Matthew that the term Son of Man will be used when referring to Jesus. In total, it will be used about one hundred times in the New Testament. It refers to His human nature, having been born of a woman. Elsewhere, which began in Matthew 4:3, He is called the Son of God. This refers to His deity, having been conceived of God the Holy Spirit.

 

The point of Jesus’ words to this man is that He knew the scribe had not understood the purpose and goal of the ministry. Rather, he saw the crowds, figured he could gain from being with Jesus, and said he, too, would follow. Jesus knew what the scribe thought he would gain and spoke His words in a manner that would reveal His understanding of the man’s intent. There was no room for opportunists in a ministry that had no rooms booked for the night.

 

Life application: In Genesis 1, it says that God created everything to reproduce after its own kind. Apples produce more apples. Cows produce more cows. People produce more people. It is a fact that was set at the beginning, and it continues to be a fact today. To understand what God in Christ has done, a simple rule of interpretation based on Genesis 1 reveals the truth of the matter –

 

Jesus was born of a human female. Human females reproduce more humans. Jesus is a human. Thus, He is a Son of man, fully human.

 

Jesus was conceived of God’s Holy Spirit indicating that God is the Father of Jesus. As the Child bears the nature of the Father, Jesus is the Son of God.

 

The point of Genesis 1 telling us about the reproduction of all kinds continuing as the same kind is something we all understand, but the reason for telling this truth is to alert us to the fact in a purposeful way. It is also true that ice floats and that hydrogen explodes, but there is no need to tell us these things. They have no bearing on what is being detailed in Scripture.

 

But when we are given the truth about the nature of all living things, we should ask, “Why did God tell us this? We know it is true, so why bother?” The answer is that in proper theology, one plus one will always equal two. The doctrine of aberrant cults will quite often claim Jesus was not really a human or Jesus was not really God. But the pattern was set and it is without exception.

 

This is what God in Christ has done. To teach anything else about the nature of Jesus Christ than being fully God and fully human is heretical. It will lead to a false gospel, and it will lead to condemnation for those who fail to accept what God has done. Be careful to learn how to add. One plus one equals two.

 

O God, You have done it! You united with Your creation, coming in the Person of Jesus to restore us to You. Salvation is of the Lord. We give You all praise, honor, and glory for what You have done. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.