Take Away - SOM 3

  I am still processing the Sermon on the Mount. I have gone through the 25 posts and edited them for clarity and to revisit them for myself. Now I want to look at the applications I should be making for myself.

SOM Part 3

Relationships are tough. It does not take much to get them headed in the wrong direction. It did not take long for Adam and Eve to damage their relationship with God. It was not unrepairable, but it would take some work. That work was finished on the cross, or was it? In some senses yes. We do not need to and cannot go above that which Jesus did for us on the cross. However, as we see in the New Testament again and again, there were issues that the apostles had to deal with as the church developed. Those issues continue to this day. Apparently, Jesus's death on the cross did not completely restore our relationship with God from that moment forward. 

As Jesus began His ministry, He wanted to set forth what a true relationship with God should look like. Did He start over? No. Did He do away with the law? No. He took what was there and went even farther with it. Today's verse has to do with mourning. Sorrow. Perhaps regret. I think all of those emotions are valid and present when we face death. We are sad, we will miss our loved on. We think of what it might be like to have just one more day with them, or had we known this would be their time, what we might have done differently. Regrets flood our mind. Jesus wants us to mourn? He wants us to be sad? To have regrets? This is going to help repair our relationship with God?

Yes, provided those emotions are dealt with in a healthy way. But what are we mourning here? I believe it is what we have done to God. We put away our pride and start thinking about the pain that our sin has caused to Him, us, others. Perhaps regret enters in as well. I believe it should. I believe that if we don't see the harm our sin causes, then we won't be as likely to distance ourselves from it. This is what brings repentance. A definition I once heard for repentance goes like this, to be so sorry for something I have done that I wouldn't do it again, even if I knew I wouldn't get caught. I ties in with all kinds of ideas, such as surrender, confession, denying self, etc. But it starts with repentance. It's not just about getting to go to heaven, it's not just about not going to hell. It is about relationship. Real relationship. 

So here is my take away. In order for me to have a relationship with God as it should be, I have to be honest about who I am and what I have done. I have to put aside my pride and see with open eyes. See who I am and see who God is. That should cause me to mourn. If I see the pain of what I have done, it should bring me sadness and regret. Not that I need to stay there. That would be unhealthy. That should drive me to repentance. 

Let the healing begin?

Sermon on the Mount - Part 23

Today I want to look at verses 21-23 of chapter 7, once again focusing on who Jesus was speaking to, and on the context of the entire message.

Matthew 7:21-23

(21)“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (23) And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

There are some interesting things going on in these verses. First, it appears Jesus is setting Himself up as the doorkeeper to heaven when He says "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, " and again when He says, "depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."  I wonder how each group in the crowd took these words. Surely this is not how the other leaders taught. Maybe that is part of the reason the crowds were astonished at the authority level in His teaching. 

Next, He reaffirms the theme that just calling Him Lord is not enough. You have to follow that up with action. It's not that the action saves you, but action is a result of true belief. If I really believed that something bad would happen to me if I walked out the front door, I would go out the back. Action follows belief. It is a result, and not a cause. I think about the many who answer altar calls of various types today, and walk away with the idea they are saved. As much as I know and believe it is grace and not works that saves us, saving grace does seem to carry with it a change of life that causes one to be sold out to Jesus. How many in the crowd that day thought that their calling Him Lord and doing all of the others things that they did to fill their religious obligations was what assured their salvation? They might say things like, "But Jesus, I prophesied for you, I healed the sick in your name, and did so much other neat and cool stuff, what do I get? Nothing? That hardly seems fair!" But it is not about their efforts, it is about accepting His effort, which takes us back to the whole idea of humility and all of the other behaviors listed in the beatitudes. These are the results of salvation, and not the cause of salvation. You can't manufacture these feelings, can you? Which begs the question, can we choose to be saved? I don't really want to get into that right now, nor do I even feel I know the answer without doubt. But I do believe it is something that deserves to be wrestled with honestly. If that is even possible.

I have heard people say that this is one of the scariest verses in the Bible, and I think that it can be. We should be concerned that all of our efforts might still be in vain. So I think about who Jesus is speaking to, and what He is trying to say. He is speaking to people who were obsessed with their works rather than His work for them. He is telling them, it is not about what you do, nor is there anything you can do to save yourself. Period. Yet when we see and understand what God has done for us through His grace and mercy, there must be some kind of response. We rely on grace, and we respond as imperfect beings to that grace. Didn't Paul address this idea in Romans 6:1-2? What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 

So we end up in this quandary,  to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must do the will of the Father (Vs 21), but we are not saved by our works, it is a gift! (Vs 22-23) So here is my conclusion: works are not the will of the Father. So what is? Faith in Jesus His Son is. But that faith, if merely to escape hell, is not faith in Jesus. (Real faith is accompanied by a change of life that is real and evident. James 1:22-25; James 2:14-17) James 2:18 says, Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 

My prayer for today is to have that kind of change in my life. Not the change of trying to get to heaven by my own effort, but the change that comes from knowing and understanding the effort that Christ has done for me.

Edited 2/14/2022

Sermon on the Mount - Part 4

 Today I want to look at verse 5. But I want to look at it in the context of the entire message of Jesus, as well as what I believe is His overall intention in the sermon. Remember, He is speaking to Jewish leaders and common Jews, and is not seeking to bring in a new religion, but rather to restore things to what they should have been from the very beginning.

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

It is a matter of disposition. He is saying that the blessed are the meek, the humble. Not only does this go along with so much of what He taught, it also goes against the prevailing religious culture.

Example 1: The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14) In this parable we have the leader and I note several issues. Both go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stands by himself. Why? Because he was too good to stand with sinners or even common people. Not only is he concerned with his desire to stay "clean,", but he thought of himself as better than those type of people, and he confirms this with his words. He prayer is to thank God for his status, and to thank God the he was not made like other men, even like this tax collector. He then lists his accomplishments, fasting and tithing. The tax collector also stands by himself, but not because of his ego or pride or status. It is because of his shame. He does not see himself as better than others, but rather as a sinner and it brings shame to him. It states that he would not even "lift up his eyes to heaven." Makes me believe that the Pharisee did just that, almost as if he could look God square in the eye, and not feel any remorse for himself or feel the true holiness of God. The tax collector, however, even beat his breast, and rather than site accomplishments, he pleads for mercy. Which prayer was answered? Not the Pharisee's, for he did not even ask for anything, he just lifted himself up in the presence of God. It was the tax collector who "went down to his house justified," according to Jesus. Not justified by what he had done, but justified by God because of his repentant attitude. 

Example 2: In the parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-11), Jesus talks about the attendees, and how they would come and sit, choosing the seats that we reserved for the honored guests. Imagine the embarrassment of being asked to leave your seat because that seat was actually reserved for someone of greater importance. Jesus tells them to choose the lowest seat. Now imagine the joy when the master of the feast comes in, notices your choice, and brings you up in front of all to a place of honor. By choosing the lowest seat, you can only move up! This is a story about attitude, the mindset we have when approaching God and others. Are we willing to be a servant? Are we willing to put others first, so that when we stand before God, He might reward our attitude, not for the actions themselves, but for the humble heart that brought them about.

So many other examples that could be given. But wasn't Jesus whole life about exemplifying this principle? Philippians 2:5-8 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Imagine intentionally leaving heaven to come to earth to be beaten, abused, and die on a cross for the sins of others. Mind blowing. This should be our mindset. Blessed are the meek.

I think this is a tough mindset. Sometimes, we can even get to a place where we become proud of our humility. We get to a place were we have surrendered so much that we think that now God owes us our reward. But the truly humble don't do it for the reward, they do it because like the tax collector, they recognize their sinful state and the true holiness of God. Equality with God is not something we can grasp, nor can we put God in a position where He owes us anything for any reason. Jesus knew this, and even though He Himself was perfect, He modeled it that we might believe it.

Edited 2/4/2022

Amos 3 - Look in the Mirror!

Amos - Chapter 3 

It is easy to focus on the faults of others. Let's again look at the current political situation. Both sides are hypocritical. Was there election fraud? Many believe so. They go so far as to say that God is working in such a way as to expose the corruption at just the right time. They keep saying that, waiting, hoping. If corruption exists, I too hope it will be exposed. Or do I?

Israel could point to the sins of Moab, and they were many and awful. But when God deals with what is going on, He doesn't just look at Moab, He also looks at Israel and what has been going on with them. How has Israel handled what it has been given during this time? Have they used a time of plenty to honor their God? Or has the plenty become their God? Prior to this election, what has been the climate of the churches in America? Have we used this time to help the "widows and orphans," (James 1:27) or has this time been used to build elaborate buildings, programs, and staff in order to increase our presence and popularity among ourselves? Have we honored God during times of plenty in the way the He would desire to be honored, or have we honored our own agendas in His name? 

Verse 11 is striking. "Therefore thus says the Lord God: An adversary shall surround the land and bring down your defenses from you, and your strongholds shall be plundered." Does this sound like God is just going to expose the corruption of Moab, without also dealing with the sins of Israel? 

Yet I do believe that there is a difference in how God deals and punishes Moab verses how God deals and punishes Israel. Moab's punishment is the end result, a direct consequence of their sins. There will ultimately be no relief from their punishment. For Israel, the punishment has a desired result, repentance. God desires that Israel look in the mirror and see their sins and turn back to God. 

I find verse 12 interesting, and wonder at its true interpretation. As I see it, the shepherd rescues a portion of the animal devoured by the lion. Does that mean that Jesus will redeem some, but not all of Israel? That in this time of trial, some will be overtaken and still refuse to repent, but those who do will find redemption? As I recall the words of Jesus, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13,14) It is also interesting to note that these verses are followed by a stern warning regarding false prophets.

I think the bottom line is this, look at yourself first! You may or may not be able to change the situation at the top, but you can definitely change your situation in regard to what you have put your faith and trust in, and how you deal with the circumstances you encounter as a result. It all starts with a hard look at what is in the mirror.

Real Change (Ephesians 4:17-24)

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 4:17-24

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

COMMENT

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity

We must no longer walk in ignorance. To do so indicates an alienation from God. Paul talks about the darkness that they live in, and of their understanding. Yes, this makes sense. When we think of talking to someone who does not have all the facts, or who has skewed facts or been lied to, yet they believe in their heart what they know to be true, it is almost if not completely impossible to convince them of the truth. Their beliefs constrain them to living in a way that is does not conform with reality, because they are living in a reality of their own. Even when presented with proof, these folks are hard to convince because this new truth conflicts with their perceived truth, and they do not want to entertain the reality that they might be wrong. So, in a sense, they surrender themselves to what they believe to be true. As the gentiles of Paul's time did this meant belief in idols and worshipping with temple prostitutes.

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness

But Jesus is more that just a means to salvation, He is our Savior in the here and now. The truth demands a response. Christians call it repentance. Not just turning your back on sin, but putting off your old self. Not one foot in heaven an one on earth, but two feet planted firmly in the gospel's life changing message, now and from this day forward.

Hosea 10

SCRIPTURE

Hosea 10

COMMENT

The more Israel prospered, the more altars they built, and not altars to the God of heaven. So how does that fit in to your prosperity gospel preaching? Haven't heard you use that text!

God will break down their altars. Does this speak to America too? Verses 3 and 4 tell me that could be true. 

Verse 10: When I please, I will discipline them, and nations shall be gathered against them when they are bound up for their double iniquity.

Do those words scare anyone else? Did they bother Israel? 

Verse 12: Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Time to seek the Lord. It is always that time.

Hosea 7

SCRIPTURE

Hosea 7

COMMENT

It sounds as if they are trying to put one over on God, that by proclaiming a repentance, but one that is not true, they can somehow fool God. But not only is God not fooled, but He has not forgotten their past. In some regards, it is almost as if even they believe their own lie. Or perhaps they just do not know God in a way that enables them to sincerely repent, and taking as many as possible along with them in their folly.

Vs. 10: The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this.

Vs. 13-14: Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me. They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.

God would restore them, if they had truly repented. This is a scary thought, because I believe it is possible to believe a lie, to deceive ourselves because of what we want to be true. I believe the Bible calls it having itching ears. 

Some want to hold God to a standard that they have no business holding Him to. They say He does not fulfill His promises because the responses are not as they would have them to be. But one thing they do not take into account, that God knows the heart. He knows if the repentance is sincere, or if it is just to somehow regain God's favor. God never promised us heaven on earth, in fact, just the opposite. We are told that times of heartache and suffering would come. He tells us to pick up our cross. But that does not sell in today's Christian marketplace. 

Hosea 5

SCRIPTURE

Hosea 5

COMMENT

Guilty. They are all guilty of sin, the priests, Israel, you, me, all! The line, "For the spirit of whoredom is within them, for they do not know the Lord." (Vs 4) is so full of condemnation. This is more than a simple mistake, it is flat out rebellion. Own it! (Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.")

Also, "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. (Vs 4) It's true. Outside of some divine intervention, salvation is out of reach!

God is the answer, but they tried other remedies. (Vs. 13) But to no avail. When will it end? When they acknowledge their guilt and seek God's face. When they truly repent of their behavior and attitudes. What will bring this about? Only their distress. Only God, in love, taking away His mercy so that they can see again, and not be blinded by the good things of God, which sometimes get in the way of truly seeing God. 

Hosea 4

 SCRIPTURE

Hosea 4

COMMENT

Understanding. The people of Israel were unfaithful. Not only unfaithful, but engaging in activities that violated God's standards. As a result, they would suffer. They destroyed themselves for a lack of knowledge. The priests were held to account, because they had forgotten the law of God.

There is a special accountability for leaders. I think of the leaders of today and the crap they spew from their lips in the name of God. Their lack of knowledge is appalling, and perhaps a reason that we are headed where I believe we may be headed as a country. You can blame the politicians all you want, but ultimately we are responsible for a generation that seeks pleasure, relief, and freedom from obligation. For a generation that does not know the meaning of individual responsibility or hard work. For a generation that wants what the government can give it, ignorant of the cost or who will ultimately pay for it. 

We have forsaken God because we do not know nor do we understand Him. We attribute love to Him, and then define that love by His gifts. When things are not as we desire, we just say that He does not exist. We have no understanding or knowledge of God or truth. The only truth we will accept is our own truth. Or the truth that is put out to garner our votes. We are the whores this chapter speaks of. That is a hard truth to accept. And yet, God loves us. He pursues is in His ways. If that means He must remove His mercy for a time, He will do that. Will it lead to our repentance?

Hosea 2:1-13

SCRIPTURE

Hosea 2:1-13

COMMENT

I am still thinking about the idea that mercy is a gift from God, and not something that we should expect because we deserve it or because He owes it to us. And that God will withhold His mercy if He needs to. He does this out of love. That is a hard one for me to accept. But I have to think about mom's letter.

My mother wrote a letter to her children, and put it in her safety deposit box. She wrote it when we were still children living in her home. We did not read it until after she passed. I was in my 40's at the time. In one part of it, she explained that she would have given us everything she owned if she thought it would be the right thing to do. But she know that it was not. she knew that such a gift would spoil us and end up being wasted. I believe she was right. So she withheld it. And I appreciate her for it. I truly believe that if she thought it was the right thing to do, she  would have done it. I also believe that if she had done that, I would have misused my portion, and might have even blamed her for wasting it. She chose to withhold, an act of love.

In this passage, I believe we see the abuse of God's mercy. Even today, some say that because God is merciful, I can do whatever I please and God will forgive me. God equates such an entitled attitude by equating it with being a whore. He removes His mercy because of this attitude. But not as purely a punishment, but also as an act of love, to lead them back to Him. 

In verse 7 she states, "I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now." The start of the journey home? She still has to endure the consequences of her actions. Repentance is more than a return to home because it is a better place than where we currently are. It appears this still needs to be discovered, as God's mercy has yet to return.

Romans 12:9-21

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

COMMENT

For someone who preaches against those who would have us live up to a law standard, Paul sure likes to tell people what to do. But look at what he is asking. Love, don't be lazy, rejoice, pray, be generous, etc. Perhaps he is not telling us what to do, but instead is sharing what a living sacrifice looks like. If repentance is more than just turning your back on sin, if it is turning your sights on God, then people who have spent their lives living for themselves need to hear this.

Jesus spent a lot of time telling people how to act as well. Look at the Beatitudes, in fact, the entire Sermon on the Mount. Jesus takes the law to the next level. Not only is adultery wrong, but to look at a woman lustfully is too. This is a standard no one can accomplish! It is also a standard that requires a change of heart.

Paul seems to echo this kind of thinking toward the end, where he talks about not repaying evil for evil, but overcoming evil with good. This is not a natural human tendency! It requires a change of heart and a change of thinking. It is why we need instruction on what it means to call ourselves Christians.

God's Kindness (Romans 2:4)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

COMMENT

God is love. I hear a lot of people say that, and I wholeheartedly agree. But love is not the only quality that God possesses. He is also holy, just, omnipotent, and omnipresent to name a few others. All of these qualities are in the God that we should be worshiping. So the same God that loves us, also requires our holiness.

When God is patient with us, why would that be? Many view that from our perspective, saying that because God loves us, He only wants the best for us. Again, I agree. But what is best for us? Is it a pain free life? Is it health and wealth? I don't think so. I think it is holiness, because without holiness no one will see God. When God is patient with us, according to this verse, it is to lead us to repentance, and repentance is hard! True repentance is to turn from a self-centered life to a life this is focused on God. It is a life that replaces its own goals with goals that focus on pleasing God. Not because God needs this, but because we do. God is almighty, and our sin, while breaking His heart, does not ruin His eternity. It breaks His heart because of what it does to us. If I die in my sins, God is still God. The creator of a vast universe, including a multitude of stars, planets, galaxies and more is not going to be belittled by a fleeting speck of dust not honoring Him.

Repentance. Not just turning away from sin, but turning to God. That is where God's kindness should lead us.

Gospel (Galatians 3:1-6)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 3:1-6
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

LANGUAGE

Vs 1  Foolish - not understanding, unwise, foolish
Vs 1  bewitched - to charm, to bewitch

COMMENT

So it appears that at least some (many?) of the Galatians just did not understand the gospel. I think this is true in the church today as well. We think we know it all. We think we have to do certain good things (while totally ignoring other things) to be saved. But this is not the gospel that was preached to them by Paul! Not only Paul, but many had seen the gospel lived out in the crucifixion of Jesus. And then there is the gift of the Spirit. They received the Holy Spirit, not by following a set of laws, but they received Him through faith. Did they think that would change over time? Here is this wonderful gift of faith, which you get to keep if you obey? No! Here is this wonderful gift of faith, and as you grow in it, you will grow in your obedience. It's called sanctification, and it comes through growing in faith and not through obedience.They had witnessed miracles. Did they think those miracles came because of their obedience? That quote about Abraham, it comes from the Old Testament. (Gen 15:6) It was Abraham's faith that earned his righteousness.

Yet this is what we want to believe, that somehow me and my obedience play a part in the process. I sometimes wonder way we think this way. I think it is just part of our human nature to think that we have to be a part of the process. It is why prosperity preachers are so popular. They even couch their version of works based Christianity into a version that turns faith into a work. "If you are not getting what you want from God, it is because you do not have enough faith!" As if mustard seed faith was not enough. As if we could believe, but not believe good enough. As if a woman could be a little bit pregnant.

This goes to be thoughts on repentance. We are told to repent of our sins and turn to Jesus. No. The repenting is to turn to Jesus, the sins then go away because we love Him and want to please Him. If we are going to say it at all, it should be that we turn (repent) to Jesus, then turn away from our sins. We turn not out of effort, but because they no longer appeal to us.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Behavior Change (Galatians 1:11-24)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 1:11-24

COMMENT

Paul claims that the gospel that he was preaching came directly from Jesus himself. But why believe him? I find at least two credible reasons. The first being, what did Paul have to gain in his conversion? Prior to the Damascus Road experience, Paul was on top of the world. A Jewish leader, perhaps in line to become High Priest someday. Educated, a Roman citizen, probably very well off. Conversion meant all of that would be gone, and that he would be shunned by the Jewish leaders as well as any family he had, a castoff, surrendering all possessions as well. (see Philippians 3:4-11)

The second reason is kind of mind blowing. Paul was a murderer of men, women, and children simply because they were Christians. He would now face that same fate from his former peers. I heard one preacher say it would be like seeing the conversion of Osama bin Ladin. Not only would his opponents mistrust him, but he would have to live in constant fear of retribution from his own peers. In fact, read verses 22-24. "And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me."  I have never met Osama, but I know of his deeds. Had he suddenly turned a 180, I think it would be cause for consideration of why.

Paul says in verse 15 that he was set apart before he was born. I don't think God had a plan B. I don't believe that God had someone else waiting in the wings if Paul had refused. You can debate whether or not Paul had a choice in the matter, but Paul was God's man, and he would get the job done. There was no understudy. Called by God's grace, it says that God was pleased to reveal his Son to Paul. Think about that for a moment. A murderous sinner who violently pursued those who loved God, and God was pleased to reveal Jesus to him. It brought God joy. How can you not love a God whose grace is so abundant?

It's NOT About You, Really! (Matthew 25:1-13)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 25:1-13
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

COMMENT

So very much like the last post from Matthew 23. Kind of like a part two, which I talked about at the end of the post. In chapter 23, Jesus is addressing the leadership. In this section, He is addressing the hearers with a definite message: DO NOT BE LIKE THEM!

We feel the need to worship, but sometimes the focus of that worship is misplaced, and we worship the messenger rather than the sender of the message. Some preachers exploit this, and have become multi-millionaires in the process. They sometimes preach prosperity, and other times they preach pain and suffering. But the thing they do not preach is the cross of Christ, and without that, their preaching is in vain. (1 Cor 1:17, 1 Cor 15:14)

Repentance. That is where the servant's heart comes from. It is not enough just to be a servant, there must also be the servant's heart. That is why the cross must be preached, for it is the basis for our actions. We offer our lives as living sacrifices in view of God's great mercy toward us. (Romans 12:1-2) DO NOT BE LIKE THEM, those who would ignore, or even worse, abuse the cross of Christ by making it about us and what we do or need. I think one of the teachings of Christ that we tend to not want to think about is the idea that the road to heaven is a narrow one. Many have chosen a path, but it is not the right or righteous path. My belief is that those on the wide path are not just those who don't want any part with God, but also those who seek to go to heaven, but are not taking the correct path to get there. Do we really believe that the path to God is about us and our own righteous deeds? Is it really a "try harder, do better" mentality that will get us to our goal? How did that work for the Jewish leaders? Read the book of Philippians, look at all that Paul was, and how he learned that is was meaningless, like dung, and the only thing that mattered was Christ, and Him crucified.

Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." Why does Paul press on? It is to earn salvation, or is it because of what Christ has already done? SO then, the life and deeds of Paul, his service, are not a means of achieving salvation, but rather a response to the salvation he has been granted. Praise God!

No Hesitation (Matthew 22:34-40)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

COMMENT

Ever notice how Jesus, when approached by someone with a question designed to trap or discredit Him, usually asks another question in return? Example: when asked if it is right to pay taxes, He asks to see a coin, and then asks, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" But in this case, there was no hesitation at giving a direct answer. What is the greatest commandment? Love God. Totally. Heart (emotions), soul (worship), mind (logic). Then Jesus answers a question they didn't ask, that the second greatest commandment is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. Now we can debate who is my neighbor, but didn't Jesus define that in the parable of the Good Samaritan? For those who are not familiar, He showed that our neighbor was anyone in need.

Sometimes, we over complicate things. Sometimes, we shouldn't. Here was a case where Jesus did not want to complicate things. I still say it goes to the idea of repentance. Turning away for living for self, and to living for God. It really isn't that complicated. It gets complicated when we feel we have to justify or excuse the things that maybe we are not ready to surrender.

Perhaps if we just viewed this question the way Jesus did, one that deserves a complete and direct response, we would all be better off.

The Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 22:1-14
And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ​‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

LANGUAGE

Vs 14  called - invited, appointed
Vs 14  chosen - select, favorite, chosen

COMMENT

Longer passage than usual, and a lot of things that could be focused on, but I want to deal with the main idea of repentance, a theme that I believe goes through all of the gospel of Matthew and Jesus's teachings.

Consider the first group, those who were invited to a wedding feast, but did not come. Why? As invitees, were they not acquainted with the groom's family, the king? But that did not matter to them. They just refused the invitation. The second time they were invited, they were shown all of the lavish preparations that had taken place, yet some went about their own business while others treated the messengers roughly, even killing some. It appears that their level of respect towards the king was zero.

But the wedding feast was ready! The king determined that those invited were not worthy. Why? Because by rejecting the offer, they were rejecting the king. A great feast had been prepared for them, and they snubbed it. Not worthy because they did not want to take time out of what they were doing and come. Not worthy because their level of respect for the king was zero. Perhaps they even hated and despised the king. So others were invited, both good and bad, and the feast went on as planned, just with different guests.

One man was spotted without a wedding garment. Being invited off the street to a wedding, of course the guests were not dressed for a wedding. No need, as custom dictated that appropriate wedding attire be provided. Yet one man decided that he was okay as is. Quite a slap in the face to the king, a complete lack of respect. How did he even manage to get in? The parable does not say, but it does say that once approached about his lack of wedding attire, the man had no response, he  was speechless. The king had him bound and thrown out to a place of punishment.

Then come the words that we do not want to hear, "For many are called, but few are chosen." Regardless of what you feel about predestination, these words indicate that the number of those who attain heaven is far smaller than the number of those who desire heaven. In the parable, only one man is singled out to leave. But how many others of those invited were not able to sneak in without wedding clothes? And he that did, must have tuck out like a sore thumb. What does this say about our easy-believe-ism of today? We tell people to say a prayer or even get baptized so that they can be saved. We hand them the wedding garments, but do they put them on? (Romans 13:14) Do they crucify themselves with Christ? Do they put on Jesus? Or do they just go back about their lives, tucking the wedding garment away in a closet, to be pulled out in case of emergency?

Who Is It? (Matthew 21:28-32)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 21:28-32
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

COMMENT

I believe the first step in understanding this parable is to consider the audience to whom it was spoken. Since Jesus had just been questioned about His authority by the chief priests and elders as to where He got His authority, I assume He is still speaking mainly to them, and then perhaps to the crowd as well.

I think the next step would be to determine who are the characters in the parable. Who is the first son, and who is the second? The second son gives his father lip service only. He says he will do as the father asks, but then does as he pleases. In Jesus's eyes, this would be the chief priests and elders. Jesus talks about how they have ears, but do not hear. In most of the parables that he tells, they are the bad examples, and one would find it difficult to see any change in that here. They honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. (see Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8,9) The first son is the one who actually does what the father has desires, although not at first. Again, if we look at the overall message that I believe Jesus is constantly coming back to, this is an issue of repentance. The first son must change his mindset for a reason. Perhaps, having had time to consider his actions in light of all that his father has done for him, he sees the error of his choice and changes his course. In other words, he repents. Therefore, it is not about the obedience in doing what his father has asked (sacrifice), but it is the change of heart (mercy) that matters. (Matthew 9:13) So when they (the Pharisees and leaders) stand in judgement, and those who they have preached against and despised (the sinners of the world) are granted salvation, they have no excuse, God's judgment is righteous.

That is going to be a harsh realization for many. Fortunately, there is still time to repent. That is the gospel.

What Do I Lack? (Matthew 19:16-22)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:16-22
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

LANGUAGE

Vs 16  good deed - ἀγαθός agathos; a primary word; “good” (in any sense, often as noun): — benefit, good(-s, things), well. Good, good thing, that which is good, the thing which is good, well, benefit, of good constitution or nature; useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable

COMMENT

First, a comment about something I read in a commentary once. What if this unidentified young man in the story was someday to become the apostle Paul?  It does make for an interesting thought while trying to understand this story.

So many interesting details are embedded in this story, but I want to focus on what I see as the main idea. I see the main idea as Jesus teaching true repentance. I see that idea in a lot of what Jesus teaches, starting with the Sermon on the Mount. What we seem to have here is a young man who is "perfect" in his observance of the law, and yet perhaps sees that that still might not be enough to secure his place in heaven for eternity. He is correct, but Jesus, knowing his understanding of religion, needs to guide him to a different way of thinking. The question the man asks is, "What good thing must I do to have eternal life?" I presume his thinking is that their is some tangible act that he can perform that will tip the scales of balance assuredly in his favor. Wouldn't we all want that? But rather than give him a direct answer, Jesus focuses on the phrase, "good deed." Another way to think about this, and perhaps with better understanding of what the man was truly asking is, "What distinguished act can I perform that will set me apart in the eyes of God (and therefore others as well) that will assure my salvation?" Jesus needs to address this idea of "good." Since even our righteous acts are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), Jesus makes it clear that only God is good in this sense. Then He goes on to say, "If you would enter life, keep the commandments."

What? Jesus advice here is to follow the law, to do the very thing this young man already believes? Understand, that Jesus is still trying to convince this man that this path is still a vain one. The man responds, asking Jesus, "Which ones?" Seems as though the young man understands the difficulty, if not the impossibility of keeping them all, so in effect he seems to be saying, "Which ones do I really have to keep, because no one could keep them all." So Jesus plays along, and gives him so to follow. Great, the man must be thinking, I am good here and have kept all these. But surely there is still something missing, so he asks his final question, "What do I still lack?" The answer Jesus gives is mind-blowing, not just for this man, but for about everyone who has heard it since. "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." What? Everything? That's too much, I can't... and he walks away in sorrow, because he had a lot of possessions.

Where was Jesus leading this man? I believe that He was leading him to an understanding that the law was not enough. That no matter what this man did, he would not appear perfect before God. But since this is also recorded in Scripture, what is He saying to us? Must I sell the house and car, take out the retirement plans and distribute them to the poor? I have heard some say, "Well, you just have to be willing to do that." Really? And I suppose I just have to be willing to pick up my cross and carry it? I think that line of reasoning just seeks to do the very thing the young man in the story is trying to do, justify our behavior, justify a lack of true perfection and obedience.

The truth of the matter is that no one can meet this level of perfection. I believe this is the truth that Jesus is trying to convey here. Notice Jesus does not just say give it all away, He also says "come, follow me." That is where the needs get met. That is where perfection is given. That is what I believe is the true main idea of this story, repentance. Not just the turning away from sin, but the turning to Jesus. You can't give away everything and live. For is you follow that logic to the extreme, you could not ever eat or even drink again. For if someone gave you some food or drink, you would be obligated to give that to someone else before meeting your own needs. But in repentance, we turn from what we have and depend on Jesus to provide. Maybe then we sell that house, or at least downsize so that others may be taken care of too. Or we trade for a cheaper car, or eat Ramen noodles instead of caviar and lobster. We take on a mind that is transformed, and it is no longer about us, it is about Jesus. In other words, we repent.

Repentance or Forgiveness? (Matthew 18:21-35)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 18:21-35

COMMENT

Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone. A perfect question in light of Jesus telling His disciples what they should do if a brother sins against them. Now Peter was a smart guy, and he knew that Jesus expected more than the norm. Rabbis thought three times was sufficient, Peter extends it to seven. Jesus takes it a little farther by saying seventy-seven (some versions say seventy times seven).

So what is Jesus getting at here? He seems to be making the point that there is no limit to how often we should forgive. Now sure, there will be some who will count, and at seventy-eight they are done. But I am confident that was not Jesus's intention. To make that clear, He tells a parable.

In the parable, a servant owed a debt he could not pay. The master was within the law when he ordered not only the man, but his entire family to be sold to recover the debt. The man pleaded for mercy, saying he would repay, even though the possibility of that was almost zero. Out of pity, the master not only releases him from being sold, but he forgives the debt. That is huge! The man owed 10 talents. In today's money, over 10 million dollars! Contrast that with his fellow servant who owed him what amounts to a few dollars. In anger over what he might have perceived as a part of the reason he could not pay his master, he ignores his fellow servants pleas and has him jailed.

But others witnessed this, others who surely must have known how this first servant was forgiven a debt of millions. So they did what probably many of us would have done, they went to the master and tattled on him. The master summoned the man, and because of his behavior he reinstated his debt and had him jailed until the debt was paid, a life sentence. Jesus goes on to say that this is how we will be treated if we do not forgive "from the heart."

Now would could bet legalistic here, and say that forgiveness itself is a requirement for salvation, but I don't think that is true. Jesus doesn't just call for forgiveness, He calls for forgiveness "from the heart." Forgiveness that is not given to appease God, but rather in praise of God and the salvation that He gives. This is repentance in my opinion. Repentance is not merely turning away from sin (legalism), it is a turning to God, a change of life that occurs because of the massive debt that Jesus has paid on our behalf. The kind of change that the master here expected of his servant who had been forgiven millions.

This passage, to me, is more about repentance than it is about forgiveness.