Jesus demonstrates that people often can not see the truth because of pride (he is one of us! he is no one!). He does not do deeds of power when there is this kind of unbelief.
Matthew 13:54-58 54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house." 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Do we ignore the corollary to Jesus' teaching that if we are not seeing his power in our lives, one reason might be because we are harboring the unbelief that comes from pride?
Note: A hometown boy has outstripped them - so they reject him. Their "lack of faith" was doubtless a source of profound grief and frustration for Jesus. Apparently there was no need to do miracles in order to convince them of the power given to him by God. They knew he had power from God, but it was offensive to them - because of their pride.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Disciples demonstrate to others the value of the Kingdom
Jesus teaches that in his Kingdom, scribes reveal the ancient (point toward the Messiah) and the new (the revelation of the Messiah) treasures. they bring it out of the storehouse for all to see.
Matthew 13:52 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are to demonstrate - bring out of our treasure chest - into the world - the truths of Jesus?
Note: Jesus has revealed himself in scripture. He was always there (old treasure), but now he is revealed (new treasure). This brings truth to light that the ancient prophets could never have understood in the way that we can. The teachers in the Kingdom bring this out... not just through words, but by bringing it out of the treasure and demonstrating it.
Matthew 13:52 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are to demonstrate - bring out of our treasure chest - into the world - the truths of Jesus?
Note: Jesus has revealed himself in scripture. He was always there (old treasure), but now he is revealed (new treasure). This brings truth to light that the ancient prophets could never have understood in the way that we can. The teachers in the Kingdom bring this out... not just through words, but by bringing it out of the treasure and demonstrating it.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
In the end, evil will be removed from the Kingdom
Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven will contain evil and righteous for a time, but that they will be seperated in the end.
Matthew 13:47-51 47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that not everyone who appears to be part of the Kingdom of God really is? And yet, his Kingdom will still be accomplished
Note: Wow this is harsh! The Kingdom of Heaven has standards of membership... righteous fish stay and evil fish go. Jesus doesn't say here what makes a fish good or bad. But it seems to be a warning to expect that some who claim to be part of the Kingdom are not really part of the longterm Kingdom.
Matthew 13:47-51 47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that not everyone who appears to be part of the Kingdom of God really is? And yet, his Kingdom will still be accomplished
Note: Wow this is harsh! The Kingdom of Heaven has standards of membership... righteous fish stay and evil fish go. Jesus doesn't say here what makes a fish good or bad. But it seems to be a warning to expect that some who claim to be part of the Kingdom are not really part of the longterm Kingdom.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Kingdom is of more value than anything else we have
Jesus teaches that when we understand the Kingdom's value, we will give up everything we have in exchange.
Matthew 13:45-46 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. "
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that when we understand the value of the Kingdom, we realize that all we have is of little value comparred to living out the Kingdom?
Note: The other side of this is... if we aren't willing to give up all we have for the Kingdom, then what is it that we are not understanding? We should probably see this as a challenge to return to Jesus' teachings and figure out what we are missing - why we aren't willing to give up everything.
Matthew 13:45-46 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. "
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that when we understand the value of the Kingdom, we realize that all we have is of little value comparred to living out the Kingdom?
Note: The other side of this is... if we aren't willing to give up all we have for the Kingdom, then what is it that we are not understanding? We should probably see this as a challenge to return to Jesus' teachings and figure out what we are missing - why we aren't willing to give up everything.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Kingdom is joyfully worth giving up everything we have.
Jesus teaches that his Kingdom is worth everything we have and when we understand this... we give up what we have with joy!
Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that kingdom living (following him) is worth everything we have?
Note: In Palestine, a land that was often ravaged by war, people were known to bury their treasures to hide them from enemies with the intention of returning for the treasure in safer times. Under rabbinic law, if you found a treasure in a field, it would belong to the field's owner - hence the need to buy the field rather than simply take the treasure. The point of this parable is that the value of the treasure is worth the purchase of the field even if it means giving up everything one has. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth giving up everything.
Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that kingdom living (following him) is worth everything we have?
Note: In Palestine, a land that was often ravaged by war, people were known to bury their treasures to hide them from enemies with the intention of returning for the treasure in safer times. Under rabbinic law, if you found a treasure in a field, it would belong to the field's owner - hence the need to buy the field rather than simply take the treasure. The point of this parable is that the value of the treasure is worth the purchase of the field even if it means giving up everything one has. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth giving up everything.
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Kingdom permeates its surroundings
Jesus teaches that his kingdom tranforms its surroundings.
Matthew 13:33 33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his Kingdom transforms the things it touches?
Note: In the previous post, the Kingdom grows from small mustard seed into a giant tree. Here the yeast permeates its surroundings transforming them. How can we permeate our world so that it is forever transformed?
Matthew 13:33 33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his Kingdom transforms the things it touches?
Note: In the previous post, the Kingdom grows from small mustard seed into a giant tree. Here the yeast permeates its surroundings transforming them. How can we permeate our world so that it is forever transformed?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The kingdom begins with small things
Jesus teaches that his great Kingdom will begin with small things.
Matthew 13:31-32 31 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is from small things... his Kingdom will become great.
Note: there is a basic connection between the small beginnings taking place under the ministry of Jesus and the kingdom in its future glory. Though the initial appearance of the kingdom (perhaps the little things we do that follow Jesus completely) may seem inconsequential, the tiny seed leads to the mature plant. Shane Claiborne puts it this way: "Do small things with Great Love."
Matthew 13:31-32 31 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is from small things... his Kingdom will become great.
Note: there is a basic connection between the small beginnings taking place under the ministry of Jesus and the kingdom in its future glory. Though the initial appearance of the kingdom (perhaps the little things we do that follow Jesus completely) may seem inconsequential, the tiny seed leads to the mature plant. Shane Claiborne puts it this way: "Do small things with Great Love."
Friday, March 26, 2010
Let the inauthentic grow alongside the authentic.
Jesus teaches that there are both authentic and inauthentic among his followers, but it is not our job to seperate them.
Matthew 13:24-30 24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to let the inauthentic to grow alongside the authentic?
Note: Some Christians - whole denominations - have ignored this parable. They believe they are called to purify the church. To make certain everyone there has the right beliefs, the right set of rules to follow, and that they are following them. They believe that God will punish them if they worship with those they percieve as inauthentic. They see themselves as God's judges and inforcers. Instead Jesus says to leave the inauthentic alone until harvest time. He says this for the good of the authentic that they won't be uprooted. It reminds me of that quote: "Our life with Christ is somehow bound up with our willingness to abide with those we think are sinful and those we think are stupid.” Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is freeing to think we don't have to judge. It is also hard to think that for our own good, God doesn't plan to rid us of all the weeds growing around us.
Matthew 13:36-43 And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Matthew 13:24-30 24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to let the inauthentic to grow alongside the authentic?
Note: Some Christians - whole denominations - have ignored this parable. They believe they are called to purify the church. To make certain everyone there has the right beliefs, the right set of rules to follow, and that they are following them. They believe that God will punish them if they worship with those they percieve as inauthentic. They see themselves as God's judges and inforcers. Instead Jesus says to leave the inauthentic alone until harvest time. He says this for the good of the authentic that they won't be uprooted. It reminds me of that quote: "Our life with Christ is somehow bound up with our willingness to abide with those we think are sinful and those we think are stupid.” Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is freeing to think we don't have to judge. It is also hard to think that for our own good, God doesn't plan to rid us of all the weeds growing around us.
Matthew 13:36-43 And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Hearing not enough... understanding is necessary.
Jesus teaches that both hearing and understanding is necessary for discipleship.
Matthew 13:23 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that not only do we need to hear, but we need to understand?
Note: Interesting that a yield of sixty or thirty are both considered "good".
Matthew 13:23 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that not only do we need to hear, but we need to understand?
Note: Interesting that a yield of sixty or thirty are both considered "good".
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Worries about worldly things including wealth snuff out life
Jesus teaches us not to let the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke out our relationship with God.
Matthew 13:22 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not to allow the cares of the world and the lure of wealth to choke out his word?
Note: When we don't let the message about the kingdom to control us, life will begin to have too many other commitments that slowly choke us. We will never mature and bear fruit. Worries about worldly things or devotion to wealth snuff out spiritual life.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
Matthew 13:22 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not to allow the cares of the world and the lure of wealth to choke out his word?
Note: When we don't let the message about the kingdom to control us, life will begin to have too many other commitments that slowly choke us. We will never mature and bear fruit. Worries about worldly things or devotion to wealth snuff out spiritual life.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Grow deep roots through continuous listening
Jesus teaches us to develop deep roots through on going listening to the word.
Matthew 13:20-21 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to keep listening to the word so our roots grow deep?
Note: Listening to the word and accepting it with joy is what brings us to Jesus, but we need to develop roots (keep listening! start doing!) in the word to sustain us through hard times which are certain.
Matthew 13:20-21 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to keep listening to the word so our roots grow deep?
Note: Listening to the word and accepting it with joy is what brings us to Jesus, but we need to develop roots (keep listening! start doing!) in the word to sustain us through hard times which are certain.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
We need to really hear his real message
Jesus teaches that we need to get his message right and let it transform us.
Matthew 13:18-23 18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to let his message transform us?
Note: The Christian life isn't just about hearing a message, but about hearing the real message of Jesus - understanding it and internalizing it. There is a lot of confusion in the world today about what Jesus taught. Most of us make up Jesus' teachings so they fit neatly in our world and don't rock it too badly. But Jesus' message will change everything if we are really open to it.
Matthew 13:18-23 18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to let his message transform us?
Note: The Christian life isn't just about hearing a message, but about hearing the real message of Jesus - understanding it and internalizing it. There is a lot of confusion in the world today about what Jesus taught. Most of us make up Jesus' teachings so they fit neatly in our world and don't rock it too badly. But Jesus' message will change everything if we are really open to it.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Listening generates good soil.
Jesus teaches that listening to his words (listening to him since he is The Word) generates good soil.
Matthew 13:1-9 :1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!"
Matthew 13:10-17 10 Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to listen to him?
Note: We don't have a lot of control over our relationship with God - even though most of us want to believe we do. But we can't control when the Holy Spirit will move in our lives or other's lives. We can't control when the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to us or when faith will come alive within us or others. But Jesus indicates here that we do have control over listening. And oddly, some how listening and faith go hand in hand. Romans 10:17: "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." And in Galatians, if we translated Paul's words literally, he actually says that we have"heard faith" when he talks about our transformation from death to life. Listening seems to make our soil good and ready for the seeds that will be planted - listening seem to enable faith so that when the seeds are planted, the ground can support them.
There are three things that each of us need in our lives to be good listeners... to have good soil where the seeds of the Holy Spirit will grow. We need to listen to scripture (preaching, personal Bible Study, etc), listen in prayer (the kind of prayer where we let God talk too), and we need to listen to God reveal himself in our brothers and sisters in Christ (fellowship with other Christians who hold us accountable to Christ's words).
Listening to the word of God and having solid soil go hand in hand. We can't control when and how the Holy Spirit will move in our lives, but we can listen so that the soil is ready when the seeds are planted.
Matthew 13:1-9 :1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!"
Matthew 13:10-17 10 Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to listen to him?
Note: We don't have a lot of control over our relationship with God - even though most of us want to believe we do. But we can't control when the Holy Spirit will move in our lives or other's lives. We can't control when the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth to us or when faith will come alive within us or others. But Jesus indicates here that we do have control over listening. And oddly, some how listening and faith go hand in hand. Romans 10:17: "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." And in Galatians, if we translated Paul's words literally, he actually says that we have"heard faith" when he talks about our transformation from death to life. Listening seems to make our soil good and ready for the seeds that will be planted - listening seem to enable faith so that when the seeds are planted, the ground can support them.
There are three things that each of us need in our lives to be good listeners... to have good soil where the seeds of the Holy Spirit will grow. We need to listen to scripture (preaching, personal Bible Study, etc), listen in prayer (the kind of prayer where we let God talk too), and we need to listen to God reveal himself in our brothers and sisters in Christ (fellowship with other Christians who hold us accountable to Christ's words).
Listening to the word of God and having solid soil go hand in hand. We can't control when and how the Holy Spirit will move in our lives, but we can listen so that the soil is ready when the seeds are planted.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Family values aren't based on genetics
Jesus teaches a new definition of family one that includes all of his followers.
Matthew 12:46-50 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that family values shouldn't be based on genetic ties?
Note: Jesus teaches several times in the gospels that when we choose to follow him, he becomes our brother. And all of his followers become our mothers, sisters, and brothers (we only have one father - and that is God). We are to have an even deeper relationship with followers of Jesus than we do with genetically related family members.
Being the pastor of a church that has many genetically related family members, these verses are particularly important for our church community to understand and internalize so that we do not become inwardly focused and so we extend our understanding of family to all of Jesus' followers. And so that we do not give preferential treatment to those genetically related to us - so our hearts are open wide to new comers welcoming them into our families.
Our culture - espeically the religious culture of the day - has taught that genetic family ties are what make our country strong. But that isn't exactly what Jesus taught. He not only redefined family to mean a spiritual family of his followers, but he teaches that it is this spiritual family that will make his kingdom strong - not the genetic one. In fact, he says the genetic family will often divide because of him (see Matthew 10 below).
Does that mean taking care of one's family is not important? Of course not, as it says in Paul's letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 5:8 "And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This verse is in a chapter where Paul has already talked about how the church is to care for all of the family of God - and now he reminds them to also care for their own family. Basically, we are not to let anyone go with out - whether they are genetically related to us or not. Jesus demonstrate great love and concern for his own mother as he hangs on the cross. In his last breaths, he demonstrates how this spiritual family shoud work as he asks John to take her into his family: John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Of course, the best of all worlds is that our blood relatives would be his followers too and we would all live out his kingdom teachings together. But he warns us that this will not be the case all of the time. Matthew 10:34-37 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37 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;" Jesus is telling us here that the old patriarcal social order is different from Kingdom living. Kingdom living has to do with following Jesus together (as brothers, sisters, and mothers), not falling back into an old accepted social order at home or in church.
Matthew 19:29-30 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Matthew 23:9 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven.
Matthew 12:46-50 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that family values shouldn't be based on genetic ties?
Note: Jesus teaches several times in the gospels that when we choose to follow him, he becomes our brother. And all of his followers become our mothers, sisters, and brothers (we only have one father - and that is God). We are to have an even deeper relationship with followers of Jesus than we do with genetically related family members.
Being the pastor of a church that has many genetically related family members, these verses are particularly important for our church community to understand and internalize so that we do not become inwardly focused and so we extend our understanding of family to all of Jesus' followers. And so that we do not give preferential treatment to those genetically related to us - so our hearts are open wide to new comers welcoming them into our families.
Our culture - espeically the religious culture of the day - has taught that genetic family ties are what make our country strong. But that isn't exactly what Jesus taught. He not only redefined family to mean a spiritual family of his followers, but he teaches that it is this spiritual family that will make his kingdom strong - not the genetic one. In fact, he says the genetic family will often divide because of him (see Matthew 10 below).
Does that mean taking care of one's family is not important? Of course not, as it says in Paul's letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 5:8 "And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." This verse is in a chapter where Paul has already talked about how the church is to care for all of the family of God - and now he reminds them to also care for their own family. Basically, we are not to let anyone go with out - whether they are genetically related to us or not. Jesus demonstrate great love and concern for his own mother as he hangs on the cross. In his last breaths, he demonstrates how this spiritual family shoud work as he asks John to take her into his family: John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Of course, the best of all worlds is that our blood relatives would be his followers too and we would all live out his kingdom teachings together. But he warns us that this will not be the case all of the time. Matthew 10:34-37 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37 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;" Jesus is telling us here that the old patriarcal social order is different from Kingdom living. Kingdom living has to do with following Jesus together (as brothers, sisters, and mothers), not falling back into an old accepted social order at home or in church.
Matthew 19:29-30 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Matthew 23:9 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Healing comes by filling up - not just cleaning up
Jesus teaches that the stuff he has cleaned from within us may potentially return. The implication is that we can fill the empty places with him, then the bad stuff won't come back.
Matthew 12:43-45 43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we aren't made whole just by cleaning up, but by filling up the empty places with him?
Note: One of the things Jesus did throughout his ministry was to free people of unclean spirits. Here he warns that while he may free them, that the unclean spirit may return with its friends making the person worse off than before. The implication is that the space left by the unclean spirit in our life needs to be filled by the prescence of God so that the unclean spirit doesn't return.
I think of this in terms of an alcoholic. An alcoholic might stop drinking for a while through the help of a friend or discipline. But there was some reason that alcoholic started drinking to begin with. If that core reason isn't dealt with, the drinking will start again - perhaps worse than before. But Jesus seems to be teaching that if the alcoholic can deal with the reason they begin to drink in the first place - and let God fill up the empty place the absence of alcohol has left, then they will be transformed by God's Spirit. And they will be able to overcome future attacks of alcoholism.
Another example... in working with an indigent population at my previous church, I often ministered to people who would come to us asking for help to find a job. Finding "a job" for them was easy - since they were entry level and uneducated. Fast food restaurants are always hiring. But keeping a job was very difficult for some of them. There was some reason they had never been able to keep a job. Walking along side them to figure out why they had problems keeping a job, dealing with that problem, and replacing it with the hope and love of Jesus is not for sissies. It sometimes means knocking on a front door, getting people out of bed, driving them to work. Meeting them afterwards and talking about how it’s going. Praying together. Teaching them of Jesus' power to fill the place in their heart that used to be filled with whatever has been holding them back. Being willing to get your heart broken while helping the person is an absolute necessity. Being willing to stay the course and not get impatient is an absolute necessity too.
The problem with many of the programs out there to help those addicted and afflicted and unable to stay clean is that the programs only offer "a shower" - a way to get cleaned up. They don't offer Jesus - or the Holy Spirit - who wants to fill the clean place (actually even clean it!) with their presence and transform the person so that the problem can't inhabit that space again. The church is uniquely qualified to do this. The problem is that the church is so rarely willing to do this. We see our community as a place for our friends and we quickly give up on people who disappoint us instead of committing to walk the whole journey with them.
Matthew 12:43-45 43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we aren't made whole just by cleaning up, but by filling up the empty places with him?
Note: One of the things Jesus did throughout his ministry was to free people of unclean spirits. Here he warns that while he may free them, that the unclean spirit may return with its friends making the person worse off than before. The implication is that the space left by the unclean spirit in our life needs to be filled by the prescence of God so that the unclean spirit doesn't return.
I think of this in terms of an alcoholic. An alcoholic might stop drinking for a while through the help of a friend or discipline. But there was some reason that alcoholic started drinking to begin with. If that core reason isn't dealt with, the drinking will start again - perhaps worse than before. But Jesus seems to be teaching that if the alcoholic can deal with the reason they begin to drink in the first place - and let God fill up the empty place the absence of alcohol has left, then they will be transformed by God's Spirit. And they will be able to overcome future attacks of alcoholism.
Another example... in working with an indigent population at my previous church, I often ministered to people who would come to us asking for help to find a job. Finding "a job" for them was easy - since they were entry level and uneducated. Fast food restaurants are always hiring. But keeping a job was very difficult for some of them. There was some reason they had never been able to keep a job. Walking along side them to figure out why they had problems keeping a job, dealing with that problem, and replacing it with the hope and love of Jesus is not for sissies. It sometimes means knocking on a front door, getting people out of bed, driving them to work. Meeting them afterwards and talking about how it’s going. Praying together. Teaching them of Jesus' power to fill the place in their heart that used to be filled with whatever has been holding them back. Being willing to get your heart broken while helping the person is an absolute necessity. Being willing to stay the course and not get impatient is an absolute necessity too.
The problem with many of the programs out there to help those addicted and afflicted and unable to stay clean is that the programs only offer "a shower" - a way to get cleaned up. They don't offer Jesus - or the Holy Spirit - who wants to fill the clean place (actually even clean it!) with their presence and transform the person so that the problem can't inhabit that space again. The church is uniquely qualified to do this. The problem is that the church is so rarely willing to do this. We see our community as a place for our friends and we quickly give up on people who disappoint us instead of committing to walk the whole journey with them.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Proof is Sufficient
Jesus teaches that the proof he has offered as to his identity has been sufficient... so soak it up.
Matthew 12:38-42 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the evidence of his identity is sufficient?
Note: The sign of Jonah was this: Jonah was a prototype of the Christ. He was sent by God to preach repentance and then he acted out a death and resurrection as he was eaten by a whale and then spit out. Jesus was saying... "you will have a sign too... I too am preaching repentance, I will die and be raised again." BUT the people Jonah preached to heard his message. Jesus is telling the Pharisees that they will not hear it. Likewise, the Queen of the South (Queen of Sheba) came to Solomon because he was wise - to get his advice. The Pharisee's should be coming to Jesus for the same reason. Again, Jesus is telling them they should be listening to him with the same intensity that the Queen of the South sought out and listened to Solomon.
Matthew 12:38-42 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41 The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the evidence of his identity is sufficient?
Note: The sign of Jonah was this: Jonah was a prototype of the Christ. He was sent by God to preach repentance and then he acted out a death and resurrection as he was eaten by a whale and then spit out. Jesus was saying... "you will have a sign too... I too am preaching repentance, I will die and be raised again." BUT the people Jonah preached to heard his message. Jesus is telling the Pharisees that they will not hear it. Likewise, the Queen of the South (Queen of Sheba) came to Solomon because he was wise - to get his advice. The Pharisee's should be coming to Jesus for the same reason. Again, Jesus is telling them they should be listening to him with the same intensity that the Queen of the South sought out and listened to Solomon.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Our words justify or condemn us
Jesus teaches that our words will either condemn us or justify us - even the careless (or insignificant) words are judged.
I have stayed with this scripture for the last few days. But tomorrow I move on.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our words are important because they will be used to judge us?
Note: Jesus draws this picture of our hearts being a treasure chest from which our words are drawn. Those with good treasure, speak good things. Even though the Pharisees were judging Jesus with their words, their words were actually judging them. Their words flowed from an evil treasure.
Last Sunday, during Sunday School, Steve taught that Jesus calls us to address personal attacks with love rather than with fists or put downs. I believe this is only possible when our hearts contain God's love as its treasure. Then from a heart which is full of God's love, we can address the wrongs against us with love instead of anger. The hardest part of doing this, however, is that our hearts are pretty broken and most of us have put up barriers to receiving God's love. We tend to store our own baggage where God's love is supposed to be. So when someone offends us, we go the treasure in our heart and pull out our baggage and throw it at the person instead of finding God's love in our hearts and addressing the wrong out of the abundance of love within us.
I felt this happen in my own life this week. Someone offended me by both attacking my character and telling me just how insignificant I am. The fit way for a follower of Christ to handle this situation is to go to one's heart, find it over flowing with God's love, and use that love to address the issue. My son, who majors in Peaces in Justice Studies and really is an expert on reconcilation, talked with me about the practicalities of how I could address this with the person given the deep hurt I felt. He said to wait until God filled my heart with love for the other person and - not until then - should I address it. Otherwise I would be addressing it from my own baggage - fear of being insignificant, fear of not being "good" enough for God to use in his service. He said it is not enough to act like I loved the person, but I must actually love them. I must actually be willing to put their good before my own.
So I prayed for God to clean my heart of old baggage - old fears - old lies of never being good enough - and replace it with his love. I have since felt God working within me doing just that. Soon I hope my words will over flow from this transforming heart and I will be ready to offer kind words to my offender.
I have stayed with this scripture for the last few days. But tomorrow I move on.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our words are important because they will be used to judge us?
Note: Jesus draws this picture of our hearts being a treasure chest from which our words are drawn. Those with good treasure, speak good things. Even though the Pharisees were judging Jesus with their words, their words were actually judging them. Their words flowed from an evil treasure.
Last Sunday, during Sunday School, Steve taught that Jesus calls us to address personal attacks with love rather than with fists or put downs. I believe this is only possible when our hearts contain God's love as its treasure. Then from a heart which is full of God's love, we can address the wrongs against us with love instead of anger. The hardest part of doing this, however, is that our hearts are pretty broken and most of us have put up barriers to receiving God's love. We tend to store our own baggage where God's love is supposed to be. So when someone offends us, we go the treasure in our heart and pull out our baggage and throw it at the person instead of finding God's love in our hearts and addressing the wrong out of the abundance of love within us.
I felt this happen in my own life this week. Someone offended me by both attacking my character and telling me just how insignificant I am. The fit way for a follower of Christ to handle this situation is to go to one's heart, find it over flowing with God's love, and use that love to address the issue. My son, who majors in Peaces in Justice Studies and really is an expert on reconcilation, talked with me about the practicalities of how I could address this with the person given the deep hurt I felt. He said to wait until God filled my heart with love for the other person and - not until then - should I address it. Otherwise I would be addressing it from my own baggage - fear of being insignificant, fear of not being "good" enough for God to use in his service. He said it is not enough to act like I loved the person, but I must actually love them. I must actually be willing to put their good before my own.
So I prayed for God to clean my heart of old baggage - old fears - old lies of never being good enough - and replace it with his love. I have since felt God working within me doing just that. Soon I hope my words will over flow from this transforming heart and I will be ready to offer kind words to my offender.
Neutrality and/or doublemindedness is impossible
Jesus teaches that being neutral (not taking sides) or being double minded (changing sides as convenient) is not possible when it comes to this cosmic battle between good and evil.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we must take sides in this cosmic battle between good and evil? That good can't be evil and evil can't be good.
Note: Verse 33 is hard to make sense of... because use of the word "make" is strange. How do we "make" the tree evil or good? Since Jesus is replying to accusations that his power comes from evil, I believe he is using the word "make" to say "choose sides". In other words, "You must accept the tree as either evil or good - it is not both." In still other words, "You must accept me as completely good with my power completely coming from God. It is not possible for me or you to be divided."
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we must take sides in this cosmic battle between good and evil? That good can't be evil and evil can't be good.
Note: Verse 33 is hard to make sense of... because use of the word "make" is strange. How do we "make" the tree evil or good? Since Jesus is replying to accusations that his power comes from evil, I believe he is using the word "make" to say "choose sides". In other words, "You must accept the tree as either evil or good - it is not both." In still other words, "You must accept me as completely good with my power completely coming from God. It is not possible for me or you to be divided."
Friday, February 26, 2010
Blasphemy against Holy Spirit unforgiveable
Jesus teaches that every sin will be forgiven except speaking against the Holy Spirit. He says this in response to the Pharisees saying his power is demonic.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are not to call the works of the Holy Spirit evil? How often do we tread close to this edge when we judge the works of those who belong to God?
Note: Often taken too lightly in our modern culture, is the fact that Jesus's work on the cross happened so that the Holy Spirit could indwell us. The cross and the resurrection were not ends in themselves... Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell all believers, has to happen too. Otherwise we are neither reconciled to God nor set aside to serve Christ. John the Baptist described Jesus' purpose as the "baptism of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit not only marks us as belonging to Jesus, but it gives us power to do the work of God.
I believe what Jesus is saying here is that if one "speaks against" the Holy Spirit, then one has not allowed the Holy Spirit to mark them and empower them for Jesus' mission. And hence, they have signed up to be on the dark side of a cosmic battle against God. Jesus does not leave room for neutrality here... one is either with him or against him.
The Pharisees have thoughtfully, willfully, and self-consciously attributed the work of the Spirit to the powers of evil. Jesus tells them this is unforgiveable. It appears they would rather see the poor man under the control of their religious rules than set free by Jesus.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are not to call the works of the Holy Spirit evil? How often do we tread close to this edge when we judge the works of those who belong to God?
Note: Often taken too lightly in our modern culture, is the fact that Jesus's work on the cross happened so that the Holy Spirit could indwell us. The cross and the resurrection were not ends in themselves... Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is sent to indwell all believers, has to happen too. Otherwise we are neither reconciled to God nor set aside to serve Christ. John the Baptist described Jesus' purpose as the "baptism of the Spirit." The Holy Spirit not only marks us as belonging to Jesus, but it gives us power to do the work of God.
I believe what Jesus is saying here is that if one "speaks against" the Holy Spirit, then one has not allowed the Holy Spirit to mark them and empower them for Jesus' mission. And hence, they have signed up to be on the dark side of a cosmic battle against God. Jesus does not leave room for neutrality here... one is either with him or against him.
The Pharisees have thoughtfully, willfully, and self-consciously attributed the work of the Spirit to the powers of evil. Jesus tells them this is unforgiveable. It appears they would rather see the poor man under the control of their religious rules than set free by Jesus.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Gather to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus teaches that those who are with him will gather and those who are against him scatter. This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to empower us to gather the Kingdom of God. Those who are against Jesus scatter the Kingdom with lies and chaos.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that those who are gathering for the Kingdom are for him. And those who are scattering are against him? Do we hang out with gatherers or scatterers?
Note: Jesus gathers here by casting out the demon and making the man whole. Interesting that to "gather," Jesus must first cast out. The Pharisees "scatter" by misrepresenting where Jesus gets his power from - they would rather the man remain unwhole than give up their control over him with their religious laws.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that those who are gathering for the Kingdom are for him. And those who are scattering are against him? Do we hang out with gatherers or scatterers?
Note: Jesus gathers here by casting out the demon and making the man whole. Interesting that to "gather," Jesus must first cast out. The Pharisees "scatter" by misrepresenting where Jesus gets his power from - they would rather the man remain unwhole than give up their control over him with their religious laws.
Works of Holy Spirit bring Kingdom of God
Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God has come to us. The sign of this happening is that the Spirit of God is casting out Satan's kingdom from the demoniac, but also from society.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that casting out evil through the works of the Spirit is part of "thy Kingdom come?"
Note: The kingdom of God and the works of the Spirit of God are tied together. The work of the Holy Spirit is done through Jesus in this story. But after Pentecost, the works of the Holy Spirit will be done through all of his followers. After Jesus ascends into heaven, this is how the Kingdom of God continues to enter the world... through the work of the Holy Spirit within believers.
I will stay with this scripture for the next few days.
Matthew 12:22-37 22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that casting out evil through the works of the Spirit is part of "thy Kingdom come?"
Note: The kingdom of God and the works of the Spirit of God are tied together. The work of the Holy Spirit is done through Jesus in this story. But after Pentecost, the works of the Holy Spirit will be done through all of his followers. After Jesus ascends into heaven, this is how the Kingdom of God continues to enter the world... through the work of the Holy Spirit within believers.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Loving Trumphs Following Religious Rules
Jesus teaches that love (doing good) trumps a bunch of religious rules every time.
Matthew 12:9-13 9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10 a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.
Imagine a bunch of religious people sitting around diligently trying to decide what people should and should not do on the Sabbath. Meanwhile, there are people outside their meeting needing their help... needing food, needing hope, needing love. Jesus said, "Get over your stupid religious rules and do good."
Likewise, I went to a meeting recently where instead of talking about where to use the talents and passion of interested people in the service of Jesus, they spent their time talking about who was good enough and who wasn't good enough to be used in Jesus' service. I wanted to say, "Let us get over our stupid religious rules and let these willing people do good."
So Jesus heals the hand - but he doesn't heal the hearts of the people with the stupid religious rules. Why not? This is where real change needs to happen in our world (espeically in the religion of Christianity) so we can get on with the business of doing good.
Matthew 12:9-13 9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10 a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath." 13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.
Imagine a bunch of religious people sitting around diligently trying to decide what people should and should not do on the Sabbath. Meanwhile, there are people outside their meeting needing their help... needing food, needing hope, needing love. Jesus said, "Get over your stupid religious rules and do good."
Likewise, I went to a meeting recently where instead of talking about where to use the talents and passion of interested people in the service of Jesus, they spent their time talking about who was good enough and who wasn't good enough to be used in Jesus' service. I wanted to say, "Let us get over our stupid religious rules and let these willing people do good."
So Jesus heals the hand - but he doesn't heal the hearts of the people with the stupid religious rules. Why not? This is where real change needs to happen in our world (espeically in the religion of Christianity) so we can get on with the business of doing good.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Offer Mercy not Judgement
Jesus teaches that his followers are not worried about following a long list of rules, but in following him.
Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." 3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are to follow him in offering mercy, rather than following a long list of rules that judge and condemn others?
Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." 3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are to follow him in offering mercy, rather than following a long list of rules that judge and condemn others?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Come to Jesus - Let him hold you in his arms
Jesus teaches us to let him gently take all our problems from us.
Matthew 11:28-30 28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to trust him to gently hold and love us?
Note: The Pharisees had a saying... "To be right with God, you must take on the Yoke of the Law" which was a long list of rules that they believed that they must follow to be right with God. Instead of focusing their lives on having a loving relationship with God and others, they focused their lives on which rules to follow and which rules to judge people by. But Jesus says something completely different! He says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Stop taking on the burden of being right with God... of following a list of rules - and instead just follow Jesus to a place of peace where you will be tenderly loved and where he will teach you to tenderly love God and others.
Mindy Smith sings a song called "Come to Jesus" that applies so much to this...
Matthew 11:28-30 28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to trust him to gently hold and love us?
Note: The Pharisees had a saying... "To be right with God, you must take on the Yoke of the Law" which was a long list of rules that they believed that they must follow to be right with God. Instead of focusing their lives on having a loving relationship with God and others, they focused their lives on which rules to follow and which rules to judge people by. But Jesus says something completely different! He says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Stop taking on the burden of being right with God... of following a list of rules - and instead just follow Jesus to a place of peace where you will be tenderly loved and where he will teach you to tenderly love God and others.
Mindy Smith sings a song called "Come to Jesus" that applies so much to this...
"Come To Jesus"
Oh, my baby, when you're older
Maybe then you'll understand
You have angels to dance around your shoulders
'Cause at times in life you need a helping hand
Oh, my baby, when you're prayin'
Leave your burden by my door
You have Jesus standing at your bedside
To keep you calm, keep you safe,
Away from harm
Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms
Oh, my baby, when you're cryin'
Never hide your face from me
'cause I have conquered hell and driven out the demons
I have come with a light to set you free
Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms
Oh, my baby, when you're dying
Believe the healing of His hand
Here in Heaven we will wait for your arrival
Here in Heaven you will finally understand
Here in Heaven we will wait for your arrival
Here in Heaven you will finally understand
Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms
Thursday, January 28, 2010
God's will is sovereign over our will
Jesus recognized God's Sovereignty
Matthew 11:25-26 25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God has sovereignty over our free will?
Note: Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority. The Father chooses whose eyes are opened to him. This is always hard for me to hear wanting our free will to completely control our destinies, but the Father has his ways and his timing. And as Jesus says, God's will is gracious to us. And so we can still trust God's love for all of humanity will relentlessly pursue each of us until we are reconciled into the arms of the trinity.
Matthew 11:25-26 25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God has sovereignty over our free will?
Note: Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority. The Father chooses whose eyes are opened to him. This is always hard for me to hear wanting our free will to completely control our destinies, but the Father has his ways and his timing. And as Jesus says, God's will is gracious to us. And so we can still trust God's love for all of humanity will relentlessly pursue each of us until we are reconciled into the arms of the trinity.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Miracles & Message demonstrate Messiah's authenticity
Jesus teaches that his miracles and his message are proof that he is the Messiah
Matthew 11:2-6 2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is the one sent to reconcile humanity to our creator?
Matthew 11:2-6 2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is the one sent to reconcile humanity to our creator?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Find real life in giving up self and following Jesus
Jesus teaches us to follow him by dying to self and in doing so find real life.
Matthew 10:38-39 38 whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in letting go of our own interests and following him completely, that we find our most meaningful and joyful life?
Note: "Taking up one's cross" means to let go of one's own interests and put the interest of Jesus and others first. This is not a call to live in gloom and denial, but to truly live for something --- to live out the Kingdom life that Jesus describes (love God and others by our actions not just our feelings).
Matthew 10:38-39 38 whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in letting go of our own interests and following him completely, that we find our most meaningful and joyful life?
Note: "Taking up one's cross" means to let go of one's own interests and put the interest of Jesus and others first. This is not a call to live in gloom and denial, but to truly live for something --- to live out the Kingdom life that Jesus describes (love God and others by our actions not just our feelings).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Jesus' family values: He comes before family
Jesus teaches that his Kingdom News will split up families. And that he is to come first.
Matthew 10:34-37 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37 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;
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to expect that families will be split over living out his Kingdom?
Note: Jesus teaches several times in the gospels that when we choose to follow him, he becomes our brother. And all of his followers become our mothers, sisters, and brothers (we only have one father - and that is God). We are to have an even deeper relationship with followers of Jesus than we do with genetically related family members. Of course, the best of all worlds is that our blood relatives would be his followers too and we would all live out his kingdom teachings together. But he warns us that this will not be the case all of the time. Jesus is telling us here that the old patriarcal social order is different from Kingdom living. Kingdom living has to do with following Jesus together (as brothers, sisters, and mothers), not falling back into an old accepted social order at home.
Matthew 12:46-50 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 19:29-30 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Matthew 23:9 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven.
John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Matthew 10:34-37 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37 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;
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to expect that families will be split over living out his Kingdom?
Note: Jesus teaches several times in the gospels that when we choose to follow him, he becomes our brother. And all of his followers become our mothers, sisters, and brothers (we only have one father - and that is God). We are to have an even deeper relationship with followers of Jesus than we do with genetically related family members. Of course, the best of all worlds is that our blood relatives would be his followers too and we would all live out his kingdom teachings together. But he warns us that this will not be the case all of the time. Jesus is telling us here that the old patriarcal social order is different from Kingdom living. Kingdom living has to do with following Jesus together (as brothers, sisters, and mothers), not falling back into an old accepted social order at home.
Matthew 12:46-50 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
Matthew 19:29-30 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Matthew 23:9 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven.
John 19:26-27 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
No such thing as an undercover follower of Jesus
Jesus teaches us that his followers will acknowledge (confess or profess) him publically.
Matthew 10:32-33 32 "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers will acknowledge him publically?
Matthew 10:32-33 32 "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers will acknowledge him publically?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Don't fear - God cares
Jesus taught that since God cares about the smallest matters, we can be free from fear.
Matthew 10:29-31 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching that God cares about even the details of our individual lives? If we believed this – how would it change how we live? The surrounding verses indicate that Jesus wants this knowledge to motivate those spreading the Kingdom News to live without fear.
Note: A God who bothers to count the hairs on our head is not limited to caring about the cosmic issues of the universe. Jesus is telling us that if God cares about the details, the small things, the sparrows, then he cares about us too – and everything that happens to us. Jesus doesn’t say we won’t ever have problems (the sparrows fall), but Jesus tells us that God’s concern (love) surrounds us in the midst of problems.
Matthew 10:29-31 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching that God cares about even the details of our individual lives? If we believed this – how would it change how we live? The surrounding verses indicate that Jesus wants this knowledge to motivate those spreading the Kingdom News to live without fear.
Note: A God who bothers to count the hairs on our head is not limited to caring about the cosmic issues of the universe. Jesus is telling us that if God cares about the details, the small things, the sparrows, then he cares about us too – and everything that happens to us. Jesus doesn’t say we won’t ever have problems (the sparrows fall), but Jesus tells us that God’s concern (love) surrounds us in the midst of problems.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Death is "not even" the final word
Jesus taught that we should not fear the end of our earthly existence - our souls continue.
Matthew 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching to live without fear of death?
Note: Shane Claiborne in “The Irresistible Revolution” warns his readers: "All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, just to arrive at death safely. But dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip, or dance, just don't tiptoe" and "Dance until they kill you, and then we'll dance some more."
Matthew 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Do we ignore Jesus’ teaching to live without fear of death?
Note: Shane Claiborne in “The Irresistible Revolution” warns his readers: "All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, just to arrive at death safely. But dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip, or dance, just don't tiptoe" and "Dance until they kill you, and then we'll dance some more."
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