Matthew 20:17-28 NIV
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Then the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You donʼt know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death is victory, slavery is greatness; these are the upside down values of the kingdom of God. The world doesn't think of life this way. Jesus' horrific torture and death upon a Roman crucifixion stake is utter humiliation to the world. And to make yourself a lowly servant is to debase yourself. But Jesus is willingly heading to Jerusalem and His destiny to die upon the cross. He tells His disciples that to become a slave to others elevates your status in the kingdom. Those who are last in this world are first in the next.
Jesus reminds the disciples yet again that He will die in Jerusalem, but rise again on the third day. The mother of James and John asked Jesus to promise them the favored places of power when Jesus takes His throne, one to sit at His right and the other upon His left. Clearly she and her sons had not understood kingdom values. They're still thinking in the way of the world.
Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking for. He asked if they could drink from the same cup as He, meaning His cross. They said they could. Jesus affirmed that they would indeed die for the sake of the gospel. According to tradition all but one the Twelve Apostles died for their proclamation of the gospel. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred. In 42 A.D., he was arrested and, at Herod Agrippa's command, beheaded. John, the youngest Apostle, was the only one not martyred. However, in the year 95, according to catholicism.org, he was taken prisoner at Ephesus and sent to trial in Rome. Sentenced to death, he was boiled in oil before the Latin gate. He was miraculously preserved from the burning, yet he he did feel the pain. The miracle moved the emperor to nullify the death sentence and to send him in exile to the island of Patmos. He was later freed and died at Ephesus in the year 100 when he was eighty-eight years old.
Both men would later suffer terribly for the sake of the gospel, but now they are dreaming of political power with Jesus as their king. Jesus told them it wasn't in His authority to give them the privilege to sit at His right and left hand. Those places were reserved already for those God the Father had chosen. Ironically, those were the two thieves that hung at His right and left at Calvary.
The other apostles were angry with James and John for trying to get high places in the government of God's messiah. So Jesus had to pull them all aside and take the opportunity to teach them. He told them that they are behaving like gentiles, for their rulers are little more than bullies, lording it over their people. The Christian is not that way. We are to be servant leaders.
Jesus told them,
...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
Matthew 20:26-27 NIV
He basically said, "I didn't come to this earth to be served like a pagan ruler. I came to serve and give my life as a ransom to set the world free." So in the same way we should not seek to be served, but rather look for opportunities to serve those in need.
I'm not a good example of service. There was a time when I might have been, but I'm too busy with my own agenda, my own earthly concerns to seek out the lost and the hurting and offer them help and hope. Most days I turn away and avoid the news. I notice the beggars at the intersections on my way home from work and I turn my eyes away, thinking that I have my own problems. I don't need to get involved in theirs. I doubt I'm alone in this.
I doubt many of us are looking for places of power in the kingdom of God, because we don't think of the church as the kingdom. But there are plenty who think their opinion should be heeded by their hired pastor, rather than accept his or her anointed leadership. We assume that our longevity, our support, and volunteering should give us the pastor's ear and influence over him or her. So when the music on Sundays doesn't please us, we complain. When the message challenges us, we send nasty anonymous notes and letters. Do you see the parallels to James and John?
But then there are those saints in the church who demand nothing. They are happy to serve quietly and do not seek any thanks or public recognition. There are those who give generously and no one knows they practically carry the congregation financially, while the rest of us enjoy the privileges they have sponsored.
As you think upon your journey with Jesus, would you be needing a sit down lesson on kingdom values? Or would Jesus point to your example, like that of little children, and say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these?
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Matthew 20:1-16
Matthew 20:1-16 NIV
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didnʼt you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Donʼt I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have a belief that treasure in heaven is based on good works. The more good works you do, the greater your treasure. Entrance to heaven is not based on good works, but in faith in God's mercy through Jesus Christ. We cannot do enough to earn our way into heaven. Christ has done all that is required. We only need to believe and trust in Him as our savior and friend. But works are important. Works that have a divine impact are the very result of faith. We were made for good works.
For we are Godʼs handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
And according to scripture we will be judged by our works.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV
Jesus' parable flies in the face of my belief if read as a depiction of heaven. It would lead me to believe that all believers receive the same reward when we enter eternity. Yet that doesn't line up with other passages where varying levels of reward are discussed. What follows are several passages illustrating my point. Skim through a few.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:2-4 NIV
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...
Matthew 5:11-12 NIV
Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophetʼs reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous personʼs reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Matthew 10:41-42 NIV
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fatherʼs glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16:26-27 NIV
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30 NIV
And probably most convincing of all, that there are varying levels of reward in the new age in the kingdom of heaven, is Paul's writing in his first letter to the Corinthians.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each personʼs work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV
I will admit that it could be argued that all of these passages have less to do with afterlife rewards and more to do with our quality of life now through the spiritual rewards that come from following Christ and becoming like Him in heart and mind. Jesus beckons His disciples to store up treasures in heaven. You decide what you believe.
Having stated my case about believing there are varying degrees of heavenly reward based on what we've done in this life, let's look at this parable from a different angle. I think this parable is less about reward, and more about God's mercy and generosity.
The late comers are given the same pay as those who worked all day from the landowner. This seemed unfair to the early workers. When they complained the landowner asked if they were jealous because of his generosity. They worked for the agreed to customary wages for a dayworker.
I certainly think it's unfair to pay the men who worked one hour a day's wage, but this parable is a metaphor pointing to the inclusion of gentiles into God's people. The Christians Jews struggled with this notion for a time. It could also point to the Jews who have abandoned law keeping righteousness and lived sinful lives. At Jesus' preaching they repented and came to faith, seeking forgiveness. It's never too late to come in from the dark and walk with Christ into the light of life. No matter when you respond to God's claim on your life, there is an abundance of God's love and mercy for you.
Whatever my reward, I don't think I'll be dissatisfied in heaven. I don't think I'll be unhappy with my lot. I've done some good. I've done some evil. I've neglected helping others and chosen to serve the needs of my family and my own comfort. God is just and I trust in His righteousness and His mercy through Christ. I doubt I'll be first in the kingdom because of my American tendencies toward luxuries and entertainment, but I don't think I'll be last in line either. And I hope I won't be jealous of the reward others receive. What's important is to help each other on the journey to be welcomed at the gates of paradise.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didnʼt you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Donʼt I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have a belief that treasure in heaven is based on good works. The more good works you do, the greater your treasure. Entrance to heaven is not based on good works, but in faith in God's mercy through Jesus Christ. We cannot do enough to earn our way into heaven. Christ has done all that is required. We only need to believe and trust in Him as our savior and friend. But works are important. Works that have a divine impact are the very result of faith. We were made for good works.
For we are Godʼs handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
And according to scripture we will be judged by our works.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV
Jesus' parable flies in the face of my belief if read as a depiction of heaven. It would lead me to believe that all believers receive the same reward when we enter eternity. Yet that doesn't line up with other passages where varying levels of reward are discussed. What follows are several passages illustrating my point. Skim through a few.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:2-4 NIV
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...
Matthew 5:11-12 NIV
Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophetʼs reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous personʼs reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Matthew 10:41-42 NIV
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fatherʼs glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16:26-27 NIV
But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30 NIV
And probably most convincing of all, that there are varying levels of reward in the new age in the kingdom of heaven, is Paul's writing in his first letter to the Corinthians.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each personʼs work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV
I will admit that it could be argued that all of these passages have less to do with afterlife rewards and more to do with our quality of life now through the spiritual rewards that come from following Christ and becoming like Him in heart and mind. Jesus beckons His disciples to store up treasures in heaven. You decide what you believe.
Having stated my case about believing there are varying degrees of heavenly reward based on what we've done in this life, let's look at this parable from a different angle. I think this parable is less about reward, and more about God's mercy and generosity.
The late comers are given the same pay as those who worked all day from the landowner. This seemed unfair to the early workers. When they complained the landowner asked if they were jealous because of his generosity. They worked for the agreed to customary wages for a dayworker.
I certainly think it's unfair to pay the men who worked one hour a day's wage, but this parable is a metaphor pointing to the inclusion of gentiles into God's people. The Christians Jews struggled with this notion for a time. It could also point to the Jews who have abandoned law keeping righteousness and lived sinful lives. At Jesus' preaching they repented and came to faith, seeking forgiveness. It's never too late to come in from the dark and walk with Christ into the light of life. No matter when you respond to God's claim on your life, there is an abundance of God's love and mercy for you.
Whatever my reward, I don't think I'll be dissatisfied in heaven. I don't think I'll be unhappy with my lot. I've done some good. I've done some evil. I've neglected helping others and chosen to serve the needs of my family and my own comfort. God is just and I trust in His righteousness and His mercy through Christ. I doubt I'll be first in the kingdom because of my American tendencies toward luxuries and entertainment, but I don't think I'll be last in line either. And I hope I won't be jealous of the reward others receive. What's important is to help each other on the journey to be welcomed at the gates of paradise.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Matthew 19:16-30
Matthew 19:16-30 NIV
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied.
I love that! There's only one who is good, God alone. Compared to the perfect love of God there is no one who is good. There is no one who can claim righteousness.
The rich young man thinks perhaps he is good enough to gain eternal life. He wants to know what he must do. He approached Jesus and Jesus told him to keep the law of Moses and he would enter life.
This instructs us on how Jesus defined goodness. Goodness is not defined by our ideas, but by God's will and character revealed in the scriptures, specifically the Law of Moses. Oftentimes we may think to ourselves, "I'm a good person", and in general that's true. People are basically good. But compared to God, we are evil. The Law exposes our sinful inclinations when we are told thou shalt not.
Paul wrote,
I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.
Romans 7:7-8 NIV
None of us are blameless before God. We're part of a corrupt and fallen world. We fall short of God's glory.
Jesus tells the rich man keeping the Law will give him life. Notice how Jesus lists the commandments.
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Matthew 19:18-19 NIV
What's present are the commands that can be outwardly observed. But what's missing are the commands having to do with devotion to God, like have no other gods, make no idols, don't take the Lord's name in vain, and remember the Sabbath.
The young man says he's kept the Law since he was a boy. He asks what he still lacks. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow Him. The man couldn't do it. I don't think I could either. That's the point. Earthly wealth had become an idol, a god which had his heart. His heart was divided between devotion to God and his wealth.
The disciples were amazed for Jesus told them it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. They thought if the rich man, who was obviously blessed by God with wealth, couldn't get into the kingdom, then who could? Jesus told them that it was impossible for humans, but with God all things are possible.
Peter, the outspoken friend of Jesus, exclaimed that they (the apostles) had left everything behind (families, businesses and homes) to follow Him. Jesus promised that they would get 100 times over what they'd sacrificed for Him. They will inherit eternal life.
The church will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, which means the church will govern the kingdom under the lordship of Christ. The twelve tribes represent the whole people of God, the Jews. The early church thought of itself as true Israel.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a personʼs praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 2:28-29 NIV
The payoff for following Christ and fully committing all one's resources to that end means that one will be entrusted with more, including leadership in the new age. The church is setting the pace for human living and society by practicing love.
I'm not much for afterlife fantasies. Don't get me wrong because I do believe in an afterlife. Following Christ, however, doesn't have to have a payoff like a place of power in the future era, the completion of all things. It will be enough to be welcomed by my God. I have to wonder if Jesus' talk of the future was about the new heaven and earth, or about a time in human history when the gospel has truly transformed this world with love. Those hungry for power will not accomplish this impossible mission. Only the humble servants who are so full of God's love have that capacity. They can give it all away, and know they are the richest of people. For they have already entered into that future through faith. They are the change they want to see. They will be first in the age to come because they began their journey in earnest here and now. They are leading the way through the narrow gate that leads to life.
May we all find our way with God's help to enter through the impossible gate, the eye of the needle into the kingdom of God.
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied.
I love that! There's only one who is good, God alone. Compared to the perfect love of God there is no one who is good. There is no one who can claim righteousness.
The rich young man thinks perhaps he is good enough to gain eternal life. He wants to know what he must do. He approached Jesus and Jesus told him to keep the law of Moses and he would enter life.
This instructs us on how Jesus defined goodness. Goodness is not defined by our ideas, but by God's will and character revealed in the scriptures, specifically the Law of Moses. Oftentimes we may think to ourselves, "I'm a good person", and in general that's true. People are basically good. But compared to God, we are evil. The Law exposes our sinful inclinations when we are told thou shalt not.
Paul wrote,
I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.
Romans 7:7-8 NIV
None of us are blameless before God. We're part of a corrupt and fallen world. We fall short of God's glory.
Jesus tells the rich man keeping the Law will give him life. Notice how Jesus lists the commandments.
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Matthew 19:18-19 NIV
What's present are the commands that can be outwardly observed. But what's missing are the commands having to do with devotion to God, like have no other gods, make no idols, don't take the Lord's name in vain, and remember the Sabbath.
The young man says he's kept the Law since he was a boy. He asks what he still lacks. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow Him. The man couldn't do it. I don't think I could either. That's the point. Earthly wealth had become an idol, a god which had his heart. His heart was divided between devotion to God and his wealth.
The disciples were amazed for Jesus told them it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. They thought if the rich man, who was obviously blessed by God with wealth, couldn't get into the kingdom, then who could? Jesus told them that it was impossible for humans, but with God all things are possible.
Peter, the outspoken friend of Jesus, exclaimed that they (the apostles) had left everything behind (families, businesses and homes) to follow Him. Jesus promised that they would get 100 times over what they'd sacrificed for Him. They will inherit eternal life.
The church will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, which means the church will govern the kingdom under the lordship of Christ. The twelve tribes represent the whole people of God, the Jews. The early church thought of itself as true Israel.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a personʼs praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 2:28-29 NIV
The payoff for following Christ and fully committing all one's resources to that end means that one will be entrusted with more, including leadership in the new age. The church is setting the pace for human living and society by practicing love.
I'm not much for afterlife fantasies. Don't get me wrong because I do believe in an afterlife. Following Christ, however, doesn't have to have a payoff like a place of power in the future era, the completion of all things. It will be enough to be welcomed by my God. I have to wonder if Jesus' talk of the future was about the new heaven and earth, or about a time in human history when the gospel has truly transformed this world with love. Those hungry for power will not accomplish this impossible mission. Only the humble servants who are so full of God's love have that capacity. They can give it all away, and know they are the richest of people. For they have already entered into that future through faith. They are the change they want to see. They will be first in the age to come because they began their journey in earnest here and now. They are leading the way through the narrow gate that leads to life.
May we all find our way with God's help to enter through the impossible gate, the eye of the needle into the kingdom of God.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Matthew 19:13-15
Matthew 19:13-15 NIV
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We want our children to have the best, don't we? We put them in front of coaches, teachers and music instructors who have good reputations. We take them to reputable physicians and other health professionals. We involve them in notable community organizations to grow them and prepare them to become active and contributing members of society. We want the best for our children to give them the opportunity to reach their potential.
Parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. They wanted this prophet, this man of God, this Son of David, their messiah to lay hands on them. They wanted the same hands to touch their children that raised a dead girl to life, made the lame walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. They wanted their children to be touched by the hand of God who, through Jesus, was making Israel new.
The disciples shooed them away. They felt that Jesus was too busy and perhaps too important to be bothered with little children. They had already shown a tendency toward thinking of themselves too highly when they dreamt of positions of political power with Jesus on the throne. Jesus reminded them that if they want to be great in God's Kingdom, they must humble themselves like little children and serve others. The one who is last in this life will be first in eternity.
Jesus corrected His disciples beckoning the children to come to Him. He told His disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these children.
What are the characteristics of children that made them the example for us all? I've often thought of this and have settled on three characteristics, like a typical preacher. (Three point sermon and a prayer!) Children are utterly dependant on their parents for care and guidance. They are inquisitive and filled with wonder as they discover the world. They trust willingly and without reservation until they feel unsafe.
Children depend on their parents for food, shelter, clothing, direction, education, and all manner of things. For infants and toddlers, parents are their whole world. What would it be like if we related to God in the same way? What if we admitted to ourselves that we are utterly dependant upon our heavenly Father?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 NIV
Children experience the world with wondrous curiosity. They touch, taste, and try new things as they grow. Everything is a wonder for a little child. Adults lose that sense of wonder and we become blind to the beauty and goodness all around us. The world causes us pain and we learn over time to live guarded, protecting ourselves from further pain. We get focused on family, career, etc., and we don't notice the God moments happening everywhere. The newscasters spin scandal and tragedy and controversy in a 24 hour schedule. We have to force ourselves to look on the bright side. But children have no jaded perspectives, no prejudice and no preconceived notions. They are open to discovery and ready to be amazed! Oh how I wish I could instill that childlike wonder in my heart again! How I wish I could give that to my adult children who are already feeling the burdens of life's daily grind and challenges!
Children trust without reservation parents and other adults in their lives like grandparents, teachers, coaches and instructors. Until their safety is threatened, until they are misled, children trust. They are more open to friendship with other children regardless of race, gender, nationality or religion. But it's not long before the influence of their peer group begins to fill them with prejudices about others at their school. It's not long before they turn to obeying their need to belong to the crowd, instead of their parents. And the brokenness of this world eventually causes children pain and they learn to fear. Trust is broken.
I honestly don't know how I can change and become like a little child again. I don't know how my heart can find wonder, trust and the joy that follows. Perhaps I first need to recognize my utter need for God. Then perhaps I could trust God to restore me to a childlike faith, filled with joy and wonder at all His good works.
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We want our children to have the best, don't we? We put them in front of coaches, teachers and music instructors who have good reputations. We take them to reputable physicians and other health professionals. We involve them in notable community organizations to grow them and prepare them to become active and contributing members of society. We want the best for our children to give them the opportunity to reach their potential.
Parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. They wanted this prophet, this man of God, this Son of David, their messiah to lay hands on them. They wanted the same hands to touch their children that raised a dead girl to life, made the lame walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. They wanted their children to be touched by the hand of God who, through Jesus, was making Israel new.
The disciples shooed them away. They felt that Jesus was too busy and perhaps too important to be bothered with little children. They had already shown a tendency toward thinking of themselves too highly when they dreamt of positions of political power with Jesus on the throne. Jesus reminded them that if they want to be great in God's Kingdom, they must humble themselves like little children and serve others. The one who is last in this life will be first in eternity.
Jesus corrected His disciples beckoning the children to come to Him. He told His disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these children.
What are the characteristics of children that made them the example for us all? I've often thought of this and have settled on three characteristics, like a typical preacher. (Three point sermon and a prayer!) Children are utterly dependant on their parents for care and guidance. They are inquisitive and filled with wonder as they discover the world. They trust willingly and without reservation until they feel unsafe.
Children depend on their parents for food, shelter, clothing, direction, education, and all manner of things. For infants and toddlers, parents are their whole world. What would it be like if we related to God in the same way? What if we admitted to ourselves that we are utterly dependant upon our heavenly Father?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 NIV
Children experience the world with wondrous curiosity. They touch, taste, and try new things as they grow. Everything is a wonder for a little child. Adults lose that sense of wonder and we become blind to the beauty and goodness all around us. The world causes us pain and we learn over time to live guarded, protecting ourselves from further pain. We get focused on family, career, etc., and we don't notice the God moments happening everywhere. The newscasters spin scandal and tragedy and controversy in a 24 hour schedule. We have to force ourselves to look on the bright side. But children have no jaded perspectives, no prejudice and no preconceived notions. They are open to discovery and ready to be amazed! Oh how I wish I could instill that childlike wonder in my heart again! How I wish I could give that to my adult children who are already feeling the burdens of life's daily grind and challenges!
Children trust without reservation parents and other adults in their lives like grandparents, teachers, coaches and instructors. Until their safety is threatened, until they are misled, children trust. They are more open to friendship with other children regardless of race, gender, nationality or religion. But it's not long before the influence of their peer group begins to fill them with prejudices about others at their school. It's not long before they turn to obeying their need to belong to the crowd, instead of their parents. And the brokenness of this world eventually causes children pain and they learn to fear. Trust is broken.
I honestly don't know how I can change and become like a little child again. I don't know how my heart can find wonder, trust and the joy that follows. Perhaps I first need to recognize my utter need for God. Then perhaps I could trust God to restore me to a childlike faith, filled with joy and wonder at all His good works.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Matthew 19:1-12
Matthew 19:1-12 NIV
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Havenʼt you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew 19 begins with a conversation about divorce and remarriage. It's not a popular topic to preach from the pulpit. In doing so the preacher will be poking painful places in the hearts of many in the congregation. Some stats show that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce.
There are many reasons for divorce. Some dissolve their marriages after the tragic loss of a child. Some divorce over fiscal difficulties. Some divorce because they fight all the time. Others divorce because they've grown apart and find there's not much they share other than an address.
Jesus was put to the test by the Pharisees as to whether it was lawful to divorce. In other words, according to the covenant through Moses, does God think divorce is right or wrong. Jesus referred to Genesis 1:27 & 2:24.
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
Jesus said what God joined together no one should tear apart. The Pharisees challenged Him because the Law of Moses specifically gives men the option to divorce their wives should they be unhappy with them.
If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NIV
By reading the entire passage you can see that the certificate of divorce is not the actual law, but the remarriage to a formerly scorned wife who had been with another man is the issue. The mention of the certificate of divorce seems almost matter of fact.
Just as it is in the church today, so it was in Jesus' day in the Jewish faith. The scriptures are interpreted differently by different groups. Some felt a man could divorce his wife for any action that may cause him displeasure, like burning his breakfast. But another school of thought embraced the idea that only when a wife sleeps with another man, should a husband divorce. Jesus embraced the latter.
Some have interpreted Jesus' teaching here to mean that if a man divorces his wife in order to marry another woman, He commits adultery. Jesus felt that our hard heartedness is the reason Moses conceded to divorce, but it's not what God intended for us.
Today we talk a lot about marriage, about how it is only between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of same sex unions. But there is little said about the divorce rate and adultery with remarriage while your former spouse still lives. For myself, this is one of the great hypocrisies of the church today.
The apostles were alarmed by what Jesus had to say.
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Matthew 19:10 NIV
The apostle Paul believed the return of Christ would happen soon within his lifetime. He felt investing in marriage relationships was a distraction. It is better to be chaste and completely unhindered in order to serve the Lord.
"I wish that all of you were as I am (That is celibate). But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband."
1 Corinthians 7:7, 32-34 NIV
Jesus understood people in the same way. Not everyone has the gifts and graces to live a chaste life. We are sexual beings. It's a natural thing to desire sexual relations with an intimate companion. It's unnatural to deny our sexual drive. In the church there are some who have the grace to turn their energies toward an intimate relationship with God. Some mystics, both men and women, have considered God to be their lover. Therefore they are free from concerns around sex. But not everyone can do this. Not everyone hears that kind of claim on their lives from God. So Jesus, just like Moses, concedes. Those who can keep God's command should, but He acknowledged that there will be those who cannot. Jesus gives no warning if one should choose to divorce and remarry. He merely acknowledges that staying together is best.
Jesus uses the eunuch as an example. Some are born without the ability to carry out the sexual function. Some are castrated by others and turned into eunuchs. Slaves, especially those who watch over the harem, were castrated by their masters as a matter of course. Castration was meant to make a male slave more submissive. There are also some who choose the life of service and become eunuchs by their own hand.
Today, this scripture speaks anew to many in the church who hear Jesus speaking to our moral controversy over homosexuality. The eunuch was asexual either by birth, made that way by others, or by choice. In the same way lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals report a similar experience. There are some born that way. DNA has presupposed them to same sex orientation. Some were made that way by nature of what others have done to them. Some choose an alternative lifestyle.
According to Psychology Today, there's no convincing evidence to prove that a sexually molested boy will become a gay man, but it is recognized that such abuse will cause the boy to question his sexual orientation and, if gay, may hate his sexuality because He feels the sexual abuse caused his difference. I've talked to more than one lesbian woman who confided in me that because of what men had done to them in childhood, whether sexual, physical, or emotional abuses, they can never feel safe around men. They could never lie down with a man and feel safe. It would feel like more abuse and too traumatic.
There are some who just find the alternative sexual life to be more fulfilling than heterosexuality. They choose to be different as a means of self expression and self actualization. In some ways to be gay is an act of justice in their eyes. It's a way to say to the world, "I'm going to be true to my own self and no one will dictate to me how to live or who to love."
This world is made up of all sorts. Some can choose the holy customs of Jewish-Christian-Muslim faith. But not all of us can. I appreciate the acknowledgement on Jesus' part that people are differently gifted. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate those around us who live differently but love no less. Christian morals are not something everyone can embrace, but all people can embrace their need for love and acceptance, which God gives freely through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is love and we ought to love one another.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Havenʼt you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matthew 19 begins with a conversation about divorce and remarriage. It's not a popular topic to preach from the pulpit. In doing so the preacher will be poking painful places in the hearts of many in the congregation. Some stats show that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce.
There are many reasons for divorce. Some dissolve their marriages after the tragic loss of a child. Some divorce over fiscal difficulties. Some divorce because they fight all the time. Others divorce because they've grown apart and find there's not much they share other than an address.
Jesus was put to the test by the Pharisees as to whether it was lawful to divorce. In other words, according to the covenant through Moses, does God think divorce is right or wrong. Jesus referred to Genesis 1:27 & 2:24.
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."
Jesus said what God joined together no one should tear apart. The Pharisees challenged Him because the Law of Moses specifically gives men the option to divorce their wives should they be unhappy with them.
If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NIV
By reading the entire passage you can see that the certificate of divorce is not the actual law, but the remarriage to a formerly scorned wife who had been with another man is the issue. The mention of the certificate of divorce seems almost matter of fact.
Just as it is in the church today, so it was in Jesus' day in the Jewish faith. The scriptures are interpreted differently by different groups. Some felt a man could divorce his wife for any action that may cause him displeasure, like burning his breakfast. But another school of thought embraced the idea that only when a wife sleeps with another man, should a husband divorce. Jesus embraced the latter.
Some have interpreted Jesus' teaching here to mean that if a man divorces his wife in order to marry another woman, He commits adultery. Jesus felt that our hard heartedness is the reason Moses conceded to divorce, but it's not what God intended for us.
Today we talk a lot about marriage, about how it is only between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of same sex unions. But there is little said about the divorce rate and adultery with remarriage while your former spouse still lives. For myself, this is one of the great hypocrisies of the church today.
The apostles were alarmed by what Jesus had to say.
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Matthew 19:10 NIV
The apostle Paul believed the return of Christ would happen soon within his lifetime. He felt investing in marriage relationships was a distraction. It is better to be chaste and completely unhindered in order to serve the Lord.
"I wish that all of you were as I am (That is celibate). But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband."
1 Corinthians 7:7, 32-34 NIV
Jesus understood people in the same way. Not everyone has the gifts and graces to live a chaste life. We are sexual beings. It's a natural thing to desire sexual relations with an intimate companion. It's unnatural to deny our sexual drive. In the church there are some who have the grace to turn their energies toward an intimate relationship with God. Some mystics, both men and women, have considered God to be their lover. Therefore they are free from concerns around sex. But not everyone can do this. Not everyone hears that kind of claim on their lives from God. So Jesus, just like Moses, concedes. Those who can keep God's command should, but He acknowledged that there will be those who cannot. Jesus gives no warning if one should choose to divorce and remarry. He merely acknowledges that staying together is best.
Jesus uses the eunuch as an example. Some are born without the ability to carry out the sexual function. Some are castrated by others and turned into eunuchs. Slaves, especially those who watch over the harem, were castrated by their masters as a matter of course. Castration was meant to make a male slave more submissive. There are also some who choose the life of service and become eunuchs by their own hand.
Today, this scripture speaks anew to many in the church who hear Jesus speaking to our moral controversy over homosexuality. The eunuch was asexual either by birth, made that way by others, or by choice. In the same way lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals report a similar experience. There are some born that way. DNA has presupposed them to same sex orientation. Some were made that way by nature of what others have done to them. Some choose an alternative lifestyle.
According to Psychology Today, there's no convincing evidence to prove that a sexually molested boy will become a gay man, but it is recognized that such abuse will cause the boy to question his sexual orientation and, if gay, may hate his sexuality because He feels the sexual abuse caused his difference. I've talked to more than one lesbian woman who confided in me that because of what men had done to them in childhood, whether sexual, physical, or emotional abuses, they can never feel safe around men. They could never lie down with a man and feel safe. It would feel like more abuse and too traumatic.
There are some who just find the alternative sexual life to be more fulfilling than heterosexuality. They choose to be different as a means of self expression and self actualization. In some ways to be gay is an act of justice in their eyes. It's a way to say to the world, "I'm going to be true to my own self and no one will dictate to me how to live or who to love."
This world is made up of all sorts. Some can choose the holy customs of Jewish-Christian-Muslim faith. But not all of us can. I appreciate the acknowledgement on Jesus' part that people are differently gifted. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate those around us who live differently but love no less. Christian morals are not something everyone can embrace, but all people can embrace their need for love and acceptance, which God gives freely through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is love and we ought to love one another.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35 NIV
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servantʼs master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldnʼt you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You won't find the parable of The Unmerciful Servant on a list of Jesus' most beloved parables. The parable of the Good Samaritan, the parable of The Sower, the parable of the Mustard Seed; these are popular. This parable, however, is a tough one because Jesus ends His teaching with a painfully sobering warning. That warning is that we must forgive from our hearts or else suffer God's wrath.
After having taught that the church should confront sin in its membership and shun those who refuse to repent and change their sinful ways, He turns to the topic of mercy and forgiveness. Peter asked Him how many times should he forgive when someone sins against him. Jesus told Peter not 7 times, but 7 x 70.
The number seven represents completeness or fullness in the Bible. The number ten is also a complete number. It is the sum of 3 and 7. Three has to do with God. So generally I think of the number 10 representing the complete work of God, like the 10 commandments. To forgive 7 x 70 is a way of saying forgive completely, with God's help forgive fully.
Then Jesus tells the Parable of The Unmerciful Servant to press the point. A king had several servants to whom he had entrusted money. When settling accounts he found one servant who owed a substantial sum. The actual figure is 10,000 talents which in today's money is worth about $2.25 billion. The idea here is that the servant owed a debt he could never repay.
The master decided to sell off the servant, his wife and children, and all his possessions in order to pay the debt. The servant begged for mercy and the master forgave his debt. Wow! That is mercy.
The servant, however, found another servant who owed him 100 denarii, worth only about $15,000, the annual salary of a day laborer. Yet he could not forgive the servant when he pleaded for mercy. You can see the huge difference between the first servant's debt and the second one's. He threw the poor man in jail until he paid his debt.
When the master heard about this servants harsh behavior, having shown him incredible mercy, he had him thrown in prison and tortured until he could pay his unpayable debt.
Then Jesus warns that unless we forgive others from the heart we will experience much suffering like that of the tortured, imprisoned, unmerciful servant.
Interpreting this difficult teaching is like a tightrope walk. One false move and you slip either into hellfire and damnation or extreme whitewashing. Let's be clear though. Jesus didn't have a problem talking about hell. He warns of being cast out where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth at several places in Matthew's gospel.
His warning is stern. If we take God's incredible mercy shown to us in the cross, and our hearts are not made merciful and loving, then we've missed the salvation offered there. We remain lost in sin. And where there is no salvation, then there is only the prospect of continued imprisonment in our sinful state. While Jesus said that God will treat you like the master treated the unmerciful servant if you don't forgive, I believe that God is simply letting us suffer the consequences of our resentments. Bitterness and resentment is a killer. It's a self imposed prison of our own making.
The liver is central to the body's health function. All blood is circulated through the liver and food is converted to usuable nutrients. Emotionally we carry negative emotions like resentment, anger, frustration, and gall in our liver. Health studies suggest that cancer and resentment are associated. I like to say that unforgiveness is like eating rat poison and expecting the rat to die. We are only harming ourselves when we hang on to resentment.
But letting go and fully forgiving is a lot more difficult than we may realize. It's not a simple thing to find peace when we've been treated unjustly or abused. That is why it takes God's help. God's amazing grace is fully sufficient to deliver us from our inner torture. It takes continual prayer and undying hope.
I wish I were free of all my resentments, but I'm not. I'm still trapped in prison and tortured over the debt I think some people owe me. And the interesting thing is that since I find it difficult to forgive others fully, I am unable to forgive myself most of all!
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24-25a NIV
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Mathew 18:15-22
Mathew 18:15-22 NIV
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.(or seven time seventy)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Church discipline is a subject that doesn't get much discussion in my circles. We are trapped in a polite paradigm and it would be impolite to point out someone's sin, so we don't. Some think that to do so would be judgemental. After all didn't Jesus command us not to judge others? Yet here is Jesus telling His disciples to point out another's sin. Some versions say when a brother sins against you point out their sin, but others leave "against you" out. The latter leaves open the possibility of playing policemen watching for sinful behavior among our brothers and sisters in the church family. That sort of legalism is not what Jesus is encouraging. Rather when sin is obvious or causing division in the church, it must be dealt with for the sake of the health of the body.
We all sin. We sin when we don't do the things we know we should do, which are called sins of omission. We sin when we do the things we know we shouldn't do. Those are called sins of commission. And then there are sins that we didn't know were wrong. Those are sins of ignorance. Have we got all our sins covered under these categories? Well...no. Sins as actions are one area of sin but sin as a sphere of influence, a power at work in our flesh, is another. We were born into sin. The effects of sin are felt at our deepest core. Fear, faithlessness, gossip, greed, lust, impatience, resentment, angry outbursts, etc. These are the works of the flesh.
Here's one of many lists in the New Testament speaking of sins of the flesh.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
Jesus taught His disciples to confront sin and gave them a very sensible and compassionate way to deal with it in the church. Let me be clear that this teaching is not for non-Christians. You wouldn't confront a person who is not part of your church community about their sins. That's just a bad idea. They never signed up for repentance. But baptized Christians have died to sin and been raised with Christ as a new creation.
The death he (Jesus) died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:10-14
As Christians we all are on a journey toward Christlikeness or holiness. Just as a coach tells his players how to improve their game, fellow Christians ought to be supporting one another in achieving growth in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore pointing out a brother or sister's sin within the church is a healthy means to strengthen one another in faith.
But what does the church do when a member does not wish to pursue holiness along with the rest? If a teammate isn't pulling his weight on the team, the coach benches him and often teammates will prod him to step up. There's a way to correct people that is constructive, and there are ways that shame and do more harm than good. Jesus' way is compassionate and gives every opportunity for erring members to repent.
First you speak to the person who is sinning in private about it. Here's an example from Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each otherʼs burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
There's a real sense of care and humility in this instruction. Confronting another's sin should be done gently and with loving concern, not brutally shaming the person. Remember that you are a sinner too. Point sin out in the way you want your sin pointed out. If you don't want your sins pointed out, then perhaps you shouldn't approach anyone else about their sin.
If the person refuses to listen to godly correction, then get a couple other church members to join you. This isn't ganging up on a person. It's a persistent pursuit to address an ongoing problem that is destructive to the sinner's life, for sin separates us from God who is life, and it's unhealthy for the church.
If they still do not repent and change their ways, then a more official meeting should be held with the leaders of your congregation. If they still don't repent after being confronted by church leadership then it's obvious they don't value the vision and mission of the church. Therefore a separation is in order. They are to be shown the door out.
That sounds mean, but it's intended to improve the health of the church body. When we have a fever we take antibiotics to remove the germs from our body so that we might heal. In the same way a rebellious sinner endangers the health of the body of Christ. Such a person should be excommunicated. Jesus offers the practice of shunning, a common practice in Jewish communities.
"Treat them like you would a pagan our tax collector." In other words ignore them. Have nothing to do with them.
Paul dealt with a case of incest in the church at Corinth.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his fatherʼs wife. And you are proud! Shouldnʼt you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. You must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 5, 11 NIV
The purpose of shunning, or handing a sinner over to Satan, is to let the sinner deal with the consequences of his sin without the support of the church family. He is to go his own way and the church will no longer associate with Him as a part of the family. This is done in the hope that the rebellious sinner will come you their senses and repent.
Jesus tells the disciples the kind of authority He is entrusting to the church. He said that if we bind anything or loose anything on earth, it will be the same in heaven. I'm really not sure what He means, but it's clear that Jesus trusts the Church to make decisions that have divine authority behind them. If we ask for it in Jesus' name, it will be done. If two or three in the church agree on a course of action in reproving a sinner, Jesus is there also in the corrective action. Christ's divine presence validates and empowers the church to pursue its mission to bring God's good and righteous government upon the earth through holy communities.
Then Peter asks how many times are we to forgive. Since we're talking about casting rebellious sinners from the church, should we not also speak of reconciling?
Again Paul spoke about a man who had been excommunicated and encouraged reconciliation after an appropriate time.
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NIV
Just as the church has a process for confronting sin, we also have procedures from reentry. Offer grace if the person wants to resume fellowship. And always forgive. Jesus answered Peter that we are to forgive not 7 times, but 7 x 70! His point is not to keep track and stop forgiving after 490 times, but to always forgive. Be generous with God's love and mercy, just as God is generous with you.
The purpose of church discipline is to improve the Christian's spiritual health and the health of the body of Christ. The purpose of reconciliation is to share the abundant grace given us in the cross of Jesus Christ who said as He hung there dying, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."
Praise God that He did.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.(or seven time seventy)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Church discipline is a subject that doesn't get much discussion in my circles. We are trapped in a polite paradigm and it would be impolite to point out someone's sin, so we don't. Some think that to do so would be judgemental. After all didn't Jesus command us not to judge others? Yet here is Jesus telling His disciples to point out another's sin. Some versions say when a brother sins against you point out their sin, but others leave "against you" out. The latter leaves open the possibility of playing policemen watching for sinful behavior among our brothers and sisters in the church family. That sort of legalism is not what Jesus is encouraging. Rather when sin is obvious or causing division in the church, it must be dealt with for the sake of the health of the body.
We all sin. We sin when we don't do the things we know we should do, which are called sins of omission. We sin when we do the things we know we shouldn't do. Those are called sins of commission. And then there are sins that we didn't know were wrong. Those are sins of ignorance. Have we got all our sins covered under these categories? Well...no. Sins as actions are one area of sin but sin as a sphere of influence, a power at work in our flesh, is another. We were born into sin. The effects of sin are felt at our deepest core. Fear, faithlessness, gossip, greed, lust, impatience, resentment, angry outbursts, etc. These are the works of the flesh.
Here's one of many lists in the New Testament speaking of sins of the flesh.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
Jesus taught His disciples to confront sin and gave them a very sensible and compassionate way to deal with it in the church. Let me be clear that this teaching is not for non-Christians. You wouldn't confront a person who is not part of your church community about their sins. That's just a bad idea. They never signed up for repentance. But baptized Christians have died to sin and been raised with Christ as a new creation.
The death he (Jesus) died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:10-14
As Christians we all are on a journey toward Christlikeness or holiness. Just as a coach tells his players how to improve their game, fellow Christians ought to be supporting one another in achieving growth in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore pointing out a brother or sister's sin within the church is a healthy means to strengthen one another in faith.
But what does the church do when a member does not wish to pursue holiness along with the rest? If a teammate isn't pulling his weight on the team, the coach benches him and often teammates will prod him to step up. There's a way to correct people that is constructive, and there are ways that shame and do more harm than good. Jesus' way is compassionate and gives every opportunity for erring members to repent.
First you speak to the person who is sinning in private about it. Here's an example from Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each otherʼs burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 NIV
There's a real sense of care and humility in this instruction. Confronting another's sin should be done gently and with loving concern, not brutally shaming the person. Remember that you are a sinner too. Point sin out in the way you want your sin pointed out. If you don't want your sins pointed out, then perhaps you shouldn't approach anyone else about their sin.
If the person refuses to listen to godly correction, then get a couple other church members to join you. This isn't ganging up on a person. It's a persistent pursuit to address an ongoing problem that is destructive to the sinner's life, for sin separates us from God who is life, and it's unhealthy for the church.
If they still do not repent and change their ways, then a more official meeting should be held with the leaders of your congregation. If they still don't repent after being confronted by church leadership then it's obvious they don't value the vision and mission of the church. Therefore a separation is in order. They are to be shown the door out.
That sounds mean, but it's intended to improve the health of the church body. When we have a fever we take antibiotics to remove the germs from our body so that we might heal. In the same way a rebellious sinner endangers the health of the body of Christ. Such a person should be excommunicated. Jesus offers the practice of shunning, a common practice in Jewish communities.
"Treat them like you would a pagan our tax collector." In other words ignore them. Have nothing to do with them.
Paul dealt with a case of incest in the church at Corinth.
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his fatherʼs wife. And you are proud! Shouldnʼt you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. You must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 5, 11 NIV
The purpose of shunning, or handing a sinner over to Satan, is to let the sinner deal with the consequences of his sin without the support of the church family. He is to go his own way and the church will no longer associate with Him as a part of the family. This is done in the hope that the rebellious sinner will come you their senses and repent.
Jesus tells the disciples the kind of authority He is entrusting to the church. He said that if we bind anything or loose anything on earth, it will be the same in heaven. I'm really not sure what He means, but it's clear that Jesus trusts the Church to make decisions that have divine authority behind them. If we ask for it in Jesus' name, it will be done. If two or three in the church agree on a course of action in reproving a sinner, Jesus is there also in the corrective action. Christ's divine presence validates and empowers the church to pursue its mission to bring God's good and righteous government upon the earth through holy communities.
Then Peter asks how many times are we to forgive. Since we're talking about casting rebellious sinners from the church, should we not also speak of reconciling?
Again Paul spoke about a man who had been excommunicated and encouraged reconciliation after an appropriate time.
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NIV
Just as the church has a process for confronting sin, we also have procedures from reentry. Offer grace if the person wants to resume fellowship. And always forgive. Jesus answered Peter that we are to forgive not 7 times, but 7 x 70! His point is not to keep track and stop forgiving after 490 times, but to always forgive. Be generous with God's love and mercy, just as God is generous with you.
The purpose of church discipline is to improve the Christian's spiritual health and the health of the body of Christ. The purpose of reconciliation is to share the abundant grace given us in the cross of Jesus Christ who said as He hung there dying, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."
Praise God that He did.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Matthew 18:6, 10, 12-14
Matthew 18:6, 10, 12-14 NIV
If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus continues teaching the disciples after they had inquired about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He told them that they must change and humble themselves like children to enter the kingdom. In the teaching that followed Jesus refers to little ones-those who believe in Him. We might presume that Jesus is talking about children since He had previously mentioned youngsters, but as I read the teaching it becomes apparent that Jesus is talking about new believers.
The Greek word mikros can be translated as young in age, but there are other valid translations.
Little Ones "mikros":
>of time: short, brief, a little while, how little!
>small in rank or influence
In the church there are new converts who need nurture just like little children. Sadly our churches are all too often focused only on Sunday programming and these short timers are left to fend for themselves without a guide. I recently was saddened to hear how one convert was exposed to deplorable behavior by members of the church under the influence of alcohol. As a result this little one left the church!
The newly converted are wide open and filled with childlike curiosity. As such Jesus says their angels always look upon the face of God in heaven. This talk of angels is hard to grasp. You've probably heard of guardian angels, but this concept is not universally believed. The Jews of Jesus' day thought of powers influencing and controlling life. There are principalities, authorities, rulers and powers of this world. Some are under the power of demons, some under righteous angels. In such a worldview each person has a spiritual emanation representing themselves before God, and God to them.
So basically my interpretation is that the newly converted are closer to God in a childlike innocence. They are vulnerable; longing for and seeking their heavenly Father. This state is tender and doesn't last, just like childhood. Their faith needs nurturing and support from the spiritually mature. Woe to the one who leads them astray.
Jesus warns the church about looking down upon the lesser among us, whether in economic and social standing or spiritual children. To abuse and mislead these little ones is a travesty. The consequences are severe, but God doesn't want to lose a single soul to Satan. He seeks us out like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep.
I'm encouraged by Jesus teaching. While He condemns my sins for leading others away from Him, He still loves me. Though I have gone astray, away from the safety of God's flock, He calls out to me. He finds my lost soul and brings me home. And He seeks out those little ones who've been led astray and brings them home too.
I'm thankful for the word of God. It tells me the truth about my sin and the greater truth of God's saving love through Jesus Christ.
If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus continues teaching the disciples after they had inquired about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He told them that they must change and humble themselves like children to enter the kingdom. In the teaching that followed Jesus refers to little ones-those who believe in Him. We might presume that Jesus is talking about children since He had previously mentioned youngsters, but as I read the teaching it becomes apparent that Jesus is talking about new believers.
The Greek word mikros can be translated as young in age, but there are other valid translations.
Little Ones "mikros":
>of time: short, brief, a little while, how little!
>small in rank or influence
In the church there are new converts who need nurture just like little children. Sadly our churches are all too often focused only on Sunday programming and these short timers are left to fend for themselves without a guide. I recently was saddened to hear how one convert was exposed to deplorable behavior by members of the church under the influence of alcohol. As a result this little one left the church!
The newly converted are wide open and filled with childlike curiosity. As such Jesus says their angels always look upon the face of God in heaven. This talk of angels is hard to grasp. You've probably heard of guardian angels, but this concept is not universally believed. The Jews of Jesus' day thought of powers influencing and controlling life. There are principalities, authorities, rulers and powers of this world. Some are under the power of demons, some under righteous angels. In such a worldview each person has a spiritual emanation representing themselves before God, and God to them.
So basically my interpretation is that the newly converted are closer to God in a childlike innocence. They are vulnerable; longing for and seeking their heavenly Father. This state is tender and doesn't last, just like childhood. Their faith needs nurturing and support from the spiritually mature. Woe to the one who leads them astray.
Jesus warns the church about looking down upon the lesser among us, whether in economic and social standing or spiritual children. To abuse and mislead these little ones is a travesty. The consequences are severe, but God doesn't want to lose a single soul to Satan. He seeks us out like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep.
I'm encouraged by Jesus teaching. While He condemns my sins for leading others away from Him, He still loves me. Though I have gone astray, away from the safety of God's flock, He calls out to me. He finds my lost soul and brings me home. And He seeks out those little ones who've been led astray and brings them home too.
I'm thankful for the word of God. It tells me the truth about my sin and the greater truth of God's saving love through Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Matthew 18:1-9
Matthew 18:1-9 NIV
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unless you change..."; those are words we don't want to hear. I love the old joke that asks how many Methodists does it take to change a light bulb. The answer?
"Change???!!!"
The humor of course is that nobody likes change. Change is uncomfortable. It requires more effort, more attentiveness. We are creatures of habit and change upsets our routines. As a result we feel awkward and cautious, perhaps annoyed and frustrated. Change is rarely something we seek.
But we do seek changes. If we are given a health warning we make changes to our lifestyle, diet and exercise habits. If we get bored with our location, we move to a new town. If we feel our career needs a change we go on a job hunt seeking new employment and better opportunity.
Jesus tells His disciples that if they want to be great in the kingdom of heaven they must change. The question is, "How badly do they want to be great?" Are they willing to change in order to be great in God's eyes?
Of course God sees all His human creatures for their potential, and it is great. We are made in God's image! But we are, at the same time, in bondage to sin and fall short of God's glory. Classically speaking, it's impossible to save ourselves from this fallen and corrupt status. That's why we need a savior.
Often we think of salvation as admission into heaven after we die. Salvation is not simply your eternal address. Salvation means change. Salvation means transformation. The New Testament is full of transformation language. I think of transformation as a result of salvation and part of the journey of salvation to our ultimate goal, which is becoming like Jesus.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29 NIV
It is our divine destiny to be conformed to the image of Jesus, that is to change to become like Him.
Jesus told His disciples that they must change and become like little children or they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. His point is that we humble ourselves before Christ and before one another. The very question about who will be great in the kingdom reveals that the disciples are dreaming of positions of power when Jesus takes the throne. But Jesus uses the moment to teach that that if you want to be great in God's government, make yourself a servant to others. Welcome the lowly, the vulnerable, the needy and helpless. By doing so you welcome Christ into your life.
Having understood that the sins of pride, greed, and coveting were at work in His disciples, Jesus then warned them about what they set their eyes upon and what they do with their hands. Using prophetic rhetoric intended to shock and elicit a response, He told them if their eye causes them to sin, pluck it out. If their hand causes them to sin, cut it off. It's best to enter life maimed than to go to Hell in one piece.
Disturbing as this is, it does make a memorable impression, one not soon forgotten. Jesus' teaching is not to be understood literally, but poetically. The point is that we should remove from our lives those things that tempt us to sin. It's better to do without some things in this life in order to make a change for the better, eternal life.
He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unless you change..."; those are words we don't want to hear. I love the old joke that asks how many Methodists does it take to change a light bulb. The answer?
"Change???!!!"
The humor of course is that nobody likes change. Change is uncomfortable. It requires more effort, more attentiveness. We are creatures of habit and change upsets our routines. As a result we feel awkward and cautious, perhaps annoyed and frustrated. Change is rarely something we seek.
But we do seek changes. If we are given a health warning we make changes to our lifestyle, diet and exercise habits. If we get bored with our location, we move to a new town. If we feel our career needs a change we go on a job hunt seeking new employment and better opportunity.
Jesus tells His disciples that if they want to be great in the kingdom of heaven they must change. The question is, "How badly do they want to be great?" Are they willing to change in order to be great in God's eyes?
Of course God sees all His human creatures for their potential, and it is great. We are made in God's image! But we are, at the same time, in bondage to sin and fall short of God's glory. Classically speaking, it's impossible to save ourselves from this fallen and corrupt status. That's why we need a savior.
Often we think of salvation as admission into heaven after we die. Salvation is not simply your eternal address. Salvation means change. Salvation means transformation. The New Testament is full of transformation language. I think of transformation as a result of salvation and part of the journey of salvation to our ultimate goal, which is becoming like Jesus.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29 NIV
It is our divine destiny to be conformed to the image of Jesus, that is to change to become like Him.
Jesus told His disciples that they must change and become like little children or they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. His point is that we humble ourselves before Christ and before one another. The very question about who will be great in the kingdom reveals that the disciples are dreaming of positions of power when Jesus takes the throne. But Jesus uses the moment to teach that that if you want to be great in God's government, make yourself a servant to others. Welcome the lowly, the vulnerable, the needy and helpless. By doing so you welcome Christ into your life.
Having understood that the sins of pride, greed, and coveting were at work in His disciples, Jesus then warned them about what they set their eyes upon and what they do with their hands. Using prophetic rhetoric intended to shock and elicit a response, He told them if their eye causes them to sin, pluck it out. If their hand causes them to sin, cut it off. It's best to enter life maimed than to go to Hell in one piece.
Disturbing as this is, it does make a memorable impression, one not soon forgotten. Jesus' teaching is not to be understood literally, but poetically. The point is that we should remove from our lives those things that tempt us to sin. It's better to do without some things in this life in order to make a change for the better, eternal life.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Matthew 17:22-27
Matthew 17:22-27 NIV
When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesnʼt your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me tell you how it will be.
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
Cuz I'm the taxman
Yeah in the taxman
The words above were penned by George Harrison of The Beatles. Frustrated with the amount of money the government was taking from his income as a performer and recording artist, he wrote Taxman in 1966 for the Revolver album. Americans can identify with his pain every pay stub, and every April 15th when we must submit our annual tax returns.
Jesus lived when the majority of people lived at a simple sustenance level. Their tax burden from the Roman Empire was overwhelming. It was a corrupt system where Roman officials sold rights to collect taxes to local Jewish civilians. Their bribe got them a lucrative position in which they could charge any amount they saw fit, as long as Rome got their required amount. Tax collectors grew rich off of their countrymen and Rome got their taxes. You can understand with such a system an additional tax required by the temple only added to the burden.
The temple tax was established by the law of Moses in which every man was to give 1/2 shekel annually, which amounted about $5.00 of today's money. Later in Jesus' time 2 drachmas was worth less than $1.50. It doesn't seem like much, but added onto Rome's many taxes, income, sales, harvest, export and import taxes, etc., it was just another painful reminder of their oppression.
The Israelites were initially to live in a theocracy in which God was king. The people were to live according to God's will made known in the covenant, the Law of Moses. But as time went on they moved away from their loose confederacy of tribes toward a nation ruled by an anointed king. They approached Samuel, prophet and the last of Israel's judges, to anoint for them a king. Samuel consulted the Lord and gave Israel this warning.
He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
1 Samuel 8:10-18 NIV
It is known that the chief priests and other upper echelon temple officials lived quite comfortably. The temple tax was a reminder each year of this inequity. While the temple tax had become a bit of a pariah with many, some gladly gave out of their love for God and support of God's throne on earth, that is the temple. So it was with those collecting the temple tax. They were surprised that Jesus, a holy man, had not paid the temple tax. Perhaps these collectors too were trying to discredit Jesus publicly, like the religious leaders had done so numerous times. Or perhaps they were shocked Jesus hadn't shown visible support of the temple.
Peter affirmed to these men that Jesus did indeed support the temple by paying His annual tax. Peter went to Jesus, but Jesus already knew the conversation had happened. This is Matthew's way of reminding us that Jesus is divine. He had a sixth sense, so to speak, and knew that Peter had been approached about the temple tax.
Jesus asked Peter if earthly kings require their own children to pay taxes. Of course the royal family does not pay taxes. They benefit from them. Jesus then reasoned that the children of God, the divine King, are also exempt.
That's interesting. For the King of the Universe had established the temple tax. Why would Jesus say Israelites were exempt, or does He mean only the church is exempt? There is a sense in the Law, and in interpretation, that giving was to be voluntary, not a legal obligation. Perhaps He felt the church needn't regard this tax as an obligation.
More to the point, Jesus knows the temple's end is near. The temple and it's leadership had become corrupt. The tax wasn't about glorifying God, but about keeping the religious authorities well funded. You may remember that Jesus cursed a fig tree for not bearing fruit, as a means of pointing to the fruitless ministry of the temple. (Mat 21:18-19)
Even though Jesus felt that His followers needn't pay the temple tax, as children of God, He did not think offending the temple officials was wise. So He instructed Peter to go fishing and grab the first fish out of his net. In its mouth Peter would find a four drachma coin which would pay Jesus and Peter's obligation.
Why is this story in the gospel? The temple tax certainly was something the early church wrestled with, but how do we apply the wisdom revealed here? The story reveals that we are God's children. We are royalty as far as Jesus is concerned. That ought to make you feel very good. That knowledge ought to boost your self-esteem.
In addition we learn that God provides for His children. The four drachma coin miraculously was found in the fish's mouth. The fish often symbolizes the church, so one might presume that the charity of the church, an expression of God's mercy, can be counted on to help those who are short on their financial obligations. I don't think that is Jesus' intent here. Rather it is that God, the King of the Universe, provides for His children.
Finally, we see that some battles, while just, are not worth engaging. Would you really take the IRS to task over $1.50 discrepancy? It's better not to offend. This doesn't mean that Jesus thinks we should roll over for everyone expecting something from us. Rather we should be generous wherever possible, especially with the authorities.
The early church was under intense scrutiny as a new and misunderstood religious sect. The apostles' letters give frequent attention to peaceful and obedient behavior with state authorities. Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans,
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
Romans 13:1-2 NIV
Therefore pay your taxes. American Christians benefit from the many privileges of American citizenship. We should pay our taxes and not look for ways to cheat or shirk our responsibility. While we may disagree with our government's expenditures on military enterprises, we nonetheless should choose not to offend. Address dissatisfaction in the voting booth.
You are God's children. You are royalty. God provides. So be at peace and be a peacemaker. By cooperating with appointed authorities you will set an example pleasing to God and beneficial to society.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Matthew 17:14-20
Matthew 17:14-20 NIV
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldnʼt we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm going to offer an interpretation of this passage that is unique to what I've usually thought when reading this story. I've usually read this story from the perspective of Jesus and His disciples. He has just come down from an amazing foretaste of the kingdom of heaven on the Mount of Transfiguration, but now Jesus is faced with a demon possessed young man whose father pleads for his healing. Jesus is clearly frustrated by the way He responds. "How much longer will I have to put up with you", He exclaims in the face of perversity and unbelief. Is it the demon that frustrated Jesus, the young man or the disciples? Is it all of them?
But today I'm reading this passage from the perspective of the father who intercedes for his son. The Greek literally says that his son is moon struck, which is a way of saying his son is crazy. Older translations like the King James Version use the word lunatic to describe the young man's condition. The NIV uses the word "seizures" to describe the result of the young man's moon struck condition. Others call it epilepsy. I appreciate the translators' attempt at making this ancient phrase apply to what we know of epilepsy, but it's reading ourselves into the text. Nobody in the first century knew of a condition called epilepsy and it certainly is not related to demonic possession. The Greek phrase literally means to fall prostate. It's the same word used to describe the apostles' behavior when they heard the voice of God from the cloud the surrounding them on the Mount of Transfiguration.
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
Matthew 17:6 NIV
The similarities in the Greek phrases are there, but they are also distinct from one another. The apostles literally fall prostate to their faces. The Greek phrase is "ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον". The young man falls prostate towards the fire and water. The Greek phrase is "πίπτει εἰς". The Greek preposition eis can be translated to mean to, into, towards, unto, for and among.
I haven't studied Greek, so I'm only going on the interlinear dictionaries and their definitions for Greek words. I may be making more out of this than I should. I ought to follow traditional interpretations, but here's what I'm thinking. The young man worships fire and water. He falls down before them in worship. Pagan worship often involves venerating the powers within nature. The pentagram symbolizes the worship of the five elements, earth, wind, fire, water and spirit. The ancients were known to worship elements like fire and water, or astrological bodies like the sun and moon. Might Matthew be speaking metaphorically using the young man as a representative of the entire perverse and unbelieving generation?
At face value the young man falls into the fire and into the water. Why an epileptic would fall into fire and water is beyond me. Why would the father provide this detail? Why wouldn't he say that his son falls rigidly to the ground? That's how I'd describe epilepsy. I suppose that if the young man is out on a boat fishing he might fall into water during a seizure. If cooking around an open fire he might fall into it. But the detail is too specific and Jesus' frustration is too overblown, at least from my perspective.
What if the father is interceding for his son who's turned to pagan worship? The bible claims that those who worship idols worship demons. The apostle Paul wrote, "...the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons."
1 Corinthians 10:20 NIV
If Jesus is responding to the fact that this young man has fallen under the influence of demons through his worship of the powers within nature, then Jesus' response makes more sense to me.
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
Matthew 17:17 NIV
Regardless of whether I'm correct I'm my interpretation or not, what happens next is the point of the story. The disciples could not drive out this demon and help the young man. Jesus told them that they could not drive the demon out because they lacked faith. The disciples are part of this unbelieving generation. Jesus told them if their faith was like a mustard seed, starting out tiny but growing into the largest of all the plants in the garden, then they could move mountains. "Nothing will be impossible for you."
I can't help but think of Yoda training Luke Skywalker on Dantooine. Luke's x-wing fighter is sunk in the swamp. The Jedi master raises the spacecraft from the bog with the power of the force and the young Skywalker exclaims in amazement, "I don't believe it!" Yoda flatly replies, "That is why you fail." Luke could not lift his fighter from the swamp with the force because He thought it was impossible.
How often have I thought it was impossible to reach someone who's turned away from God and turned toward New Age religions or atheism? Rather than intercede with a love like the father in Matthew's story, I gave up on them. The word of God calls me out of unbelief and into growing my faith by embracing the impossible.
Jesus had just descended from the Mount of Transfiguration down into the perverse and unbelieving. He told His disciples if they had faith they could tell this mountain to move from here to there. Did Jesus mean the mountain upon which He just experienced the transforming presence of God? If we have faith we can send the transforming power of God into any perverse and unbelieving city, neighborhood or person. And we can cast the demon out and replace it with God's love. That is if we believe that with God nothing is impossible.
The father's compassion for his wayward son was rewarded. Jesus healed the young man and cast the demon out. Do you have compassion for those in your life who are into things that enslave them? Do you feel inadequate to help them? Perhaps they don't want your help or your God. That needn't stop you from praying in faith for God to free them from their suffering. All you need is a desire to grow like a mustard seed in your faith in God's ability to do the impossible.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Matthew 16:28-17:13
Matthew 16:28-17:13 NIV
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Donʼt be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Donʼt tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever had a premonition where you experienced a bit of the future before it happened? Previews at the movie theater are like that. You experience a bit of a movie you haven't seen. If you are attracted to the preview you are likely to go see the film in the future. That's sort of what's happening in this story of the transfiguration of Jesus. The disciples witness a taste of the future kingdom of heaven.
What has always amazed me about this story is the fact that the disciples recognize Moses and Elijah. These men lived centuries before the time of Jesus. Moses lived between 1526 and 1406 BC. Elijah was a prophet who served the Lord in northern Israel during the reign of King Ahab. (863-851 BC)
I can look at a US dollar bill and see the face of George Washington, first president off the United States of America. I only know what he looks like because he sat for a portrait painting. What we know of George Washington's face is an artist's approximation. The disciples had no such imagery to know these men by sight. So how did they know it was Moses and Elijah?
That's the amazing thing this story brings to light. The disciples are getting a foretaste of heaven. They know Moses and Elijah because in heaven we will have the mind of God. We will be one with God and know all that God knows. We will know one another with such great intimacy that love will reign always and forever! Fear, hate and jealousy will vanish. We will love one another perfectly, just as God loves us. We will know every soul in heaven as if we were bosom buddies! For God knows every hair on your head. God knows all His children intimately, at depths no human could ever know. But in heaven, when the veil is lifted, we will know all things.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 NIV
Peter is so stricken by the sight of Jesus talking to heroes of his faith that he blurts out something about building shelters for each of them. On the surface this seems like a kind idea, but there's deeper symbolism.
The booths or shelters were a practice of the Jews at harvest. During the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles the Jews remember how God, during the exodus from Egypt, provided for the freed Hebrew slaves in the wilderness. They celebrate that God is faithful to bless the land with produce and grain. Over time the shelters' meaning took on more advanced ideas. For instance Moses descended from Mt Sinai with a new set of stone tablets containing the law and instructions on how to build the tabernacle, God's shelter among His people. Torah reading cycles end at the Festival of Booths, so there is a celebration of the Word of God as part of God's many provisions. Prophetically speaking, the Festival of Ingathering (harvest), another name for this festival, looks forward with hope to the Messiah and the gathering of His people from the from the four corners of the earth.
Moses represents law and word. Elijah represents prophecy and the restoration of Israel under the Messiah, for Elijah was said to come and herald the Messiah's arrival. For Peter to suggest three booths might be a way of compartmentalizing these three parts of Judaism. There are those who adhere to law, others who are passionate about justice and the reign of God, but in Christ they are bound up together as one. That is why the voice of God from heaven beckons, "Listen to Him". Jesus gave us the golden rule which illustrates the union of law and the spirit of prophecy in Christianity.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 NIV
The apostles were awestruck and fell face down in worship and holy reverence. Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not to fear. The touch of Christ turns fear into courage and death into life. The Greek word translated as "get up" is the same word used to describe resurrection. It's the same word used in Matthew 17:10, when Jesus urged them not to divulge to anyone what they witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration until He was raised from the dead.
The secrecy is unexplained. We have to guess as to Jesus' motivation. I'll assume He didn't want any undue attention. The crowds were difficult to manage as it is. There may be practical reasons for keeping the experience a secret. I suspect more than anything that Jesus needs time to prepare His disciples to lead the church after His death and resurrection. Perhaps He felt His transfiguration which they witnessed should be something special given only to His closest companions.
The conversation turned to Elijah, which Jesus confirmed had already come to herald the Messiah, in the person John the Baptist. (Malachi 4:5-6) Jesus once again reminded the apostles that He must die, just as John did. The apostles understood, but had they really?
There are books written on the theological and ontological, even cosmological significance of the transfiguration of Jesus. But for me it's fairly simple. Jesus promised that some would see the Son of Man come into His kingdom. The transfiguration is one example, a foretaste of the kingdom, not only for Jesus, but for Peter, James and John. Jesus' crucifixion is His coronation and crowning as king of His kingdom. The ascension was His exaltation, taking the throne and serving as the supreme authority in heaven and earth under the Father's commission. Yes, these three apostles witnessed Jesus coming into His kingdom! But the journey there is through the cross.
It was hard for them to grasp the reason for the cross. The suffering of the Messiah was prophesied. The atoning sacrifice opened the way into His kingdom for all who believe. For through Him we have received our foretaste of the kingdom, that is the Holy Spirit, a guarantee of our eternal home.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance...
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17 ESV
Glory be to God!
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Donʼt be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Donʼt tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever had a premonition where you experienced a bit of the future before it happened? Previews at the movie theater are like that. You experience a bit of a movie you haven't seen. If you are attracted to the preview you are likely to go see the film in the future. That's sort of what's happening in this story of the transfiguration of Jesus. The disciples witness a taste of the future kingdom of heaven.
What has always amazed me about this story is the fact that the disciples recognize Moses and Elijah. These men lived centuries before the time of Jesus. Moses lived between 1526 and 1406 BC. Elijah was a prophet who served the Lord in northern Israel during the reign of King Ahab. (863-851 BC)
I can look at a US dollar bill and see the face of George Washington, first president off the United States of America. I only know what he looks like because he sat for a portrait painting. What we know of George Washington's face is an artist's approximation. The disciples had no such imagery to know these men by sight. So how did they know it was Moses and Elijah?
That's the amazing thing this story brings to light. The disciples are getting a foretaste of heaven. They know Moses and Elijah because in heaven we will have the mind of God. We will be one with God and know all that God knows. We will know one another with such great intimacy that love will reign always and forever! Fear, hate and jealousy will vanish. We will love one another perfectly, just as God loves us. We will know every soul in heaven as if we were bosom buddies! For God knows every hair on your head. God knows all His children intimately, at depths no human could ever know. But in heaven, when the veil is lifted, we will know all things.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 NIV
Peter is so stricken by the sight of Jesus talking to heroes of his faith that he blurts out something about building shelters for each of them. On the surface this seems like a kind idea, but there's deeper symbolism.
The booths or shelters were a practice of the Jews at harvest. During the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles the Jews remember how God, during the exodus from Egypt, provided for the freed Hebrew slaves in the wilderness. They celebrate that God is faithful to bless the land with produce and grain. Over time the shelters' meaning took on more advanced ideas. For instance Moses descended from Mt Sinai with a new set of stone tablets containing the law and instructions on how to build the tabernacle, God's shelter among His people. Torah reading cycles end at the Festival of Booths, so there is a celebration of the Word of God as part of God's many provisions. Prophetically speaking, the Festival of Ingathering (harvest), another name for this festival, looks forward with hope to the Messiah and the gathering of His people from the from the four corners of the earth.
Moses represents law and word. Elijah represents prophecy and the restoration of Israel under the Messiah, for Elijah was said to come and herald the Messiah's arrival. For Peter to suggest three booths might be a way of compartmentalizing these three parts of Judaism. There are those who adhere to law, others who are passionate about justice and the reign of God, but in Christ they are bound up together as one. That is why the voice of God from heaven beckons, "Listen to Him". Jesus gave us the golden rule which illustrates the union of law and the spirit of prophecy in Christianity.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 NIV
The apostles were awestruck and fell face down in worship and holy reverence. Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not to fear. The touch of Christ turns fear into courage and death into life. The Greek word translated as "get up" is the same word used to describe resurrection. It's the same word used in Matthew 17:10, when Jesus urged them not to divulge to anyone what they witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration until He was raised from the dead.
The secrecy is unexplained. We have to guess as to Jesus' motivation. I'll assume He didn't want any undue attention. The crowds were difficult to manage as it is. There may be practical reasons for keeping the experience a secret. I suspect more than anything that Jesus needs time to prepare His disciples to lead the church after His death and resurrection. Perhaps He felt His transfiguration which they witnessed should be something special given only to His closest companions.
The conversation turned to Elijah, which Jesus confirmed had already come to herald the Messiah, in the person John the Baptist. (Malachi 4:5-6) Jesus once again reminded the apostles that He must die, just as John did. The apostles understood, but had they really?
There are books written on the theological and ontological, even cosmological significance of the transfiguration of Jesus. But for me it's fairly simple. Jesus promised that some would see the Son of Man come into His kingdom. The transfiguration is one example, a foretaste of the kingdom, not only for Jesus, but for Peter, James and John. Jesus' crucifixion is His coronation and crowning as king of His kingdom. The ascension was His exaltation, taking the throne and serving as the supreme authority in heaven and earth under the Father's commission. Yes, these three apostles witnessed Jesus coming into His kingdom! But the journey there is through the cross.
It was hard for them to grasp the reason for the cross. The suffering of the Messiah was prophesied. The atoning sacrifice opened the way into His kingdom for all who believe. For through Him we have received our foretaste of the kingdom, that is the Holy Spirit, a guarantee of our eternal home.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance...
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17 ESV
Glory be to God!
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