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.
Showing posts with label Cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cross. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2020
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Who Do You Love? Matthew 10:34-39
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 10:34-39
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
LANGUAGE
Vs 34 peace - (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity: — one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Vs 34 sword - a knife, figuratively, war, judicial punishment: — sword.
Vs 36 enemy - hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): — enemy, foe.
Vs 37 loves - phileō; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling
Vs 38 worthy - deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise): — due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.
Vs 39 lose - to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: — destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
COMMENT
I think this section of Scripture is often overlooked. And for good reason, it seems to ask a lot from us, and today, that is not a popular thought. We want the comfy Jesus. The feels good Jesus. The Jesus who is ONLY full of love and compassion. This Scripture leads me to believe that picture is not a complete picture of Jesus.
This section begins with a statement that Jesus did not come to bring peace to the earth. That word translated peace can also be implied to mean prosperity. I actually find this to be a better translation, because of how our minds see things. Jesus, getting ready to leave His disciples, tells them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27-28) Same Greek word. But notice He qualifies it by saying, "my peace," and not the peace (or prosperity) of the world. Ephesians 2:14 tells us, "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace." Again, same Greek word. Jesus did not come to bring the peace or prosperity that most of the world chases after. His peace is different, in that it rests on our faith in an eternal God and the Son he sent. This is the interpretation that best connects with His Sermon on the Mount, as well as many of His other teachings.
Jesus came to bring a sword. Many times the word sword indicates judgement, and I believe that may be the case here. I do not believe that Jesus intentionally came to tear families apart, but that He know that many times this would be the result. Perhaps you have not experienced that, but many have. In some cultures, to confess Christ is to get an instant rejection from family, thus forcing some to forfeit the peace that the know. Even within "Christian" households, a radical acceptance or devotion to Jesus may be frowned upon, causing a person to think twice about what it really means to be a Christian.
Many families are tight knit groups. I find it interesting that the word "love" here is not the Greek "agape," but rather the Greek "phileo." Agape being a stronger, more committed love and Phileo being a friendship (think Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love). Jesus calls His disciples "friends" (Greek: philo) in John 15:15. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. The bond that friends have is different than the bond that a husband/wife or other relatives might have. Jesus seems to be saying that if our friendship is not the utmost among all of your friendships, it is not worthy of the type of friendship this relationship needs. He is not telling us to hate our families. But He does know that our friendship with Him might cause a strain on some relationships. This is where I see the idea of judgement coming in. Not that Jesus needs to judge us in this, but we can judge ourselves as to whether or not truly He is our friend.
To take up our cross is not a pretty picture. Have you seen, "The Passion of the Christ?" That is a choice we must make. Not a choice to just accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, but a choice to actually mean those words. It is as if the choice were to accept Him as Lord OR Savior. Yes, I'll take Savior please, but I still want to be lord of my own life. That is not an option. Lord means master, and if Jesus is not both your Lord and your Savior, that's a problem.
Jesus concludes saying, "Whoever finds his life will lose it." That word lose carries with it the idea of destruction. So He is effectively saying, "Whoever is their own lord will destroy their life." Looking at the big picture, where eternity is concerned, this is without a doubt, the truth.
Matthew 10:34-39
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
LANGUAGE
Vs 34 peace - (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity: — one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Vs 34 sword - a knife, figuratively, war, judicial punishment: — sword.
Vs 36 enemy - hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan): — enemy, foe.
Vs 37 loves - phileō; to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling
Vs 38 worthy - deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise): — due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.
Vs 39 lose - to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: — destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
COMMENT
I think this section of Scripture is often overlooked. And for good reason, it seems to ask a lot from us, and today, that is not a popular thought. We want the comfy Jesus. The feels good Jesus. The Jesus who is ONLY full of love and compassion. This Scripture leads me to believe that picture is not a complete picture of Jesus.
This section begins with a statement that Jesus did not come to bring peace to the earth. That word translated peace can also be implied to mean prosperity. I actually find this to be a better translation, because of how our minds see things. Jesus, getting ready to leave His disciples, tells them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27-28) Same Greek word. But notice He qualifies it by saying, "my peace," and not the peace (or prosperity) of the world. Ephesians 2:14 tells us, "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace." Again, same Greek word. Jesus did not come to bring the peace or prosperity that most of the world chases after. His peace is different, in that it rests on our faith in an eternal God and the Son he sent. This is the interpretation that best connects with His Sermon on the Mount, as well as many of His other teachings.
Jesus came to bring a sword. Many times the word sword indicates judgement, and I believe that may be the case here. I do not believe that Jesus intentionally came to tear families apart, but that He know that many times this would be the result. Perhaps you have not experienced that, but many have. In some cultures, to confess Christ is to get an instant rejection from family, thus forcing some to forfeit the peace that the know. Even within "Christian" households, a radical acceptance or devotion to Jesus may be frowned upon, causing a person to think twice about what it really means to be a Christian.
Many families are tight knit groups. I find it interesting that the word "love" here is not the Greek "agape," but rather the Greek "phileo." Agape being a stronger, more committed love and Phileo being a friendship (think Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love). Jesus calls His disciples "friends" (Greek: philo) in John 15:15. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. The bond that friends have is different than the bond that a husband/wife or other relatives might have. Jesus seems to be saying that if our friendship is not the utmost among all of your friendships, it is not worthy of the type of friendship this relationship needs. He is not telling us to hate our families. But He does know that our friendship with Him might cause a strain on some relationships. This is where I see the idea of judgement coming in. Not that Jesus needs to judge us in this, but we can judge ourselves as to whether or not truly He is our friend.
To take up our cross is not a pretty picture. Have you seen, "The Passion of the Christ?" That is a choice we must make. Not a choice to just accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, but a choice to actually mean those words. It is as if the choice were to accept Him as Lord OR Savior. Yes, I'll take Savior please, but I still want to be lord of my own life. That is not an option. Lord means master, and if Jesus is not both your Lord and your Savior, that's a problem.
Jesus concludes saying, "Whoever finds his life will lose it." That word lose carries with it the idea of destruction. So He is effectively saying, "Whoever is their own lord will destroy their life." Looking at the big picture, where eternity is concerned, this is without a doubt, the truth.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
I'll have an order of Christianity, hold the cross.
Post found here.
I read a post I had written before, it speaks of the fact that Satan offered Jesus a shortcut to achieve his mission, one that would bypass the cross. A legitimate temptation for Jesus, who while fully God, was also fully man. No cross means no suffering. What a deal!
But Jesus said, "No deal!"
He knew that to eliminate the cross was to fail. Can we think any less?
How did he do it? How did he overcome that immediate temptation and press on? Satan was not aware of one important thing about Jesus. He saw the cross as joy. "Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
How could the cross be a joy? Was it because he was going to be so happy he gave me salvation? I don't think so. I think it was because Jesus was not focused on himself (or me for that matter), but on his Father and the mission God gave him. Jesus relished in doing the work of God, no matter the cost.
We too, are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. (Matt 10:38; 16:24 for starters) If we look at the cross, that is very unappealing. If we look at ourselves, it is still unappealing. But if we look to Jesus, if we understand that our cross is not ever going to be as big a burden as his. Even in death, we do not have to suffer the consequence of the sin of the world. I can and should take up my cross because I am focused on God the Father, and God the Son. I can bear my cross, because God has promised to see me through.
Try as you might, if you do not have the cross, you do not have Christianity.
I read a post I had written before, it speaks of the fact that Satan offered Jesus a shortcut to achieve his mission, one that would bypass the cross. A legitimate temptation for Jesus, who while fully God, was also fully man. No cross means no suffering. What a deal!
But Jesus said, "No deal!"
He knew that to eliminate the cross was to fail. Can we think any less?
How did he do it? How did he overcome that immediate temptation and press on? Satan was not aware of one important thing about Jesus. He saw the cross as joy. "Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
How could the cross be a joy? Was it because he was going to be so happy he gave me salvation? I don't think so. I think it was because Jesus was not focused on himself (or me for that matter), but on his Father and the mission God gave him. Jesus relished in doing the work of God, no matter the cost.
We too, are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. (Matt 10:38; 16:24 for starters) If we look at the cross, that is very unappealing. If we look at ourselves, it is still unappealing. But if we look to Jesus, if we understand that our cross is not ever going to be as big a burden as his. Even in death, we do not have to suffer the consequence of the sin of the world. I can and should take up my cross because I am focused on God the Father, and God the Son. I can bear my cross, because God has promised to see me through.
Try as you might, if you do not have the cross, you do not have Christianity.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Hurry up, company is coming!
"Paul regularly picks up on this theme. Familiar to suffering himself, Paul was always joyful not because of his circumstances but because of the gospel's promise that after we suffer for a little while we will share in Christ's resurrection glory."
Michael Horton. Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church (pp. 95-96). Kindle Edition.
This whole Christianity thing would be so much better if it weren't for that bloody cross. At least that is what many think. It's like when you know company is coming over and you don't have much time to clean, so things start getting stuffed in places that they don't belong so we give the appearance of being neater than we really are.
We shouldn't have to clean up Christ to make him look better. If the God of the universe was willing to be naked on a cross, battered and bruised, then I think he can handle it if people know about that today.
Jesus said our burden is light. That is because he did all the hard stuff. He went to Calvary and endured God's wrath so that we wouldn't have to. If you take away the cross, then all that is left is us trying to be better so that we can earn God's favor. Are we really ready to take on the wrath of God ourselves? I'll take the cross instead.
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