Jesus teaches obedience by example
Obedience is a complicated thing. Someone can give you a list of rules and tell you to keep them. And that is one kind of obedience. You don't need to know why a rule exists and you don't need to put much thought into it... you just need to do what it says. This is childlike obedience - trusting that the rule giver has your best interests at heart and following them. This is as far as the Pharisees ever got in their relationship with God.
But there is a whole other kind of obedience... the kind that can't be covered by a list of rules. It is more like following than obeying. It requires a partnership with the rule giver. It comes from knowing the will of the person you are following - knowing their desires, their plans, their character - and then representing that with all that you are. This is the kind of obedience we see in Jesus as he is about to be captured and put to death (and it is the kind of obedience he wants from us too)...
Matthew 26:31-46 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." 39 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." 43
Jesus knows the mind and heart and will of the Father. He knows God's plan is for Jesus to be rejected by "God's people", tortured, and to die a horrific death. Naturally, he doesn't want to go through with it. He asks God to come up with some other plan - another plan that will reconcile humanity to a place where they can be in relationship with God. And God says "No!" God says NO to Jesus. Has God ever said no to something you have asked for? to healing? to a need? to changing a situation? Jesus hears God say no. And instead of running from the pain that is to come. Jesus says, "Your will be done."
Most of us really don't know God's will for us. We aren't walking close enough to God to know. Most of us are pretty good at following a list of rules that we think God wants us to follow, but we aren't really walking close enough to God to know God's will for our lives. But Jesus did - and we can too by asking, seeking, knocking. The first step to obedience is knowing the desires, plans, character of God - and then participating in God's mission.
Jesus knows God's plan. He asks God to change it. God says no. Jesus says, "Your will be done."
Do we ignore Jesus' example of obedience? Are we willing to walk close enough to God to know his will for us? Are we willing to do God's will even when we don't like it?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Worship, Remember, Look Forward, and be Nurtured by Christ
Jesus teaches the disciples a new way to worship, to remember, to look forward to, and to be nurtured by him.
Matthew 26:26-30 26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
This new ritual that Jesus taught his disciples is still practiced today. We know it by the names of Eucharist, The Lord's Supper, or Communion. Christians believe different things about it. Some believe the bread and wine turn into the actual body and blood of Christ. Others believe it is just symbolic. And there are those who believe things in between those extremes. Whatever one believes, Jesus was teaching this new ritual to the disciples as a way to worship, to remember, to look forward to celebrating it again with him one day, and to be nourished by him. Matthew records that the blood represents the new covenant that will begin with the death of Christ when his blood is poured out - a covenant where our sins are forgiven and makes possible our reunion with Christ.
Do we ignore Jesus' example of practicing communion?
Matthew 26:26-30 26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
This new ritual that Jesus taught his disciples is still practiced today. We know it by the names of Eucharist, The Lord's Supper, or Communion. Christians believe different things about it. Some believe the bread and wine turn into the actual body and blood of Christ. Others believe it is just symbolic. And there are those who believe things in between those extremes. Whatever one believes, Jesus was teaching this new ritual to the disciples as a way to worship, to remember, to look forward to celebrating it again with him one day, and to be nourished by him. Matthew records that the blood represents the new covenant that will begin with the death of Christ when his blood is poured out - a covenant where our sins are forgiven and makes possible our reunion with Christ.
Do we ignore Jesus' example of practicing communion?
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Worship is even more important than the poor
Jesus teaches that there is an even more important thing for his followers to do than meet the needs of the poor. Really? For many of us who embrace the social justice aspects of the Old Testament and Gospels, these are shocking words out of Jesus' mouth!
Matthew 26:6-13 6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
I like that the disciples become indignant. Here they are portrayed as social activists whose goal is to help the poor. And practically speaking - in their minds - the expensive perfume should not be wasted on Jesus (who just happens to be the creator and sustainer of the universe). It should be sold so that the needs of the poor can be met. So these disciples become angry with the woman! Maybe they are even mad at Jesus too.
But this woman - seemingly impractical and sentimental - pours the expensive perfume on Jesus' head. It is a tender scene - we watch on as she worships Jesus - the creator and sustainer of the universe. If you are like me, you are a bit jealous of this woman. I want to be the one to stand next to Jesus - God wrapped in flesh - look into his eyes and tenderly pour perfume on his head. I want to express my love for him like she did. If given the chance, would I take my expensive perfume and chance an encounter with arrogant disciples and go to him? She is an example to us of what worshiping God is like. It takes courage to buck the arrogant authorities, wisdom to set right priorities, and real love for Jesus. She gets to worship Jesus - not from far away in a church pew, but up close and personal. To be close enough to watch him breath, feel the warmth from his body, and even touch him. She worships Jesus.
And Jesus is touched. My guess is that this is not just a random act by an impractical, sentimental woman. My guess is that, unlike the disciples, she has internalized the words of Jesus in the verses just prior to these: "the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified," (Matthew 26:2). She knows that she can't stop his approaching pain, but she can demonstrate her love for him now. And she does.
As she moves away from Jesus, the disciples attack her. Accuse her of waste. But Jesus defends her. And promises that her great love for Jesus - her desire to be close to him - to worship him - will never be forgotten. Her story has been told and retold for more than 2000 years.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that worshiping him is even more important than giving to the poor?
Matthew 26:6-13 6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
I like that the disciples become indignant. Here they are portrayed as social activists whose goal is to help the poor. And practically speaking - in their minds - the expensive perfume should not be wasted on Jesus (who just happens to be the creator and sustainer of the universe). It should be sold so that the needs of the poor can be met. So these disciples become angry with the woman! Maybe they are even mad at Jesus too.
But this woman - seemingly impractical and sentimental - pours the expensive perfume on Jesus' head. It is a tender scene - we watch on as she worships Jesus - the creator and sustainer of the universe. If you are like me, you are a bit jealous of this woman. I want to be the one to stand next to Jesus - God wrapped in flesh - look into his eyes and tenderly pour perfume on his head. I want to express my love for him like she did. If given the chance, would I take my expensive perfume and chance an encounter with arrogant disciples and go to him? She is an example to us of what worshiping God is like. It takes courage to buck the arrogant authorities, wisdom to set right priorities, and real love for Jesus. She gets to worship Jesus - not from far away in a church pew, but up close and personal. To be close enough to watch him breath, feel the warmth from his body, and even touch him. She worships Jesus.
And Jesus is touched. My guess is that this is not just a random act by an impractical, sentimental woman. My guess is that, unlike the disciples, she has internalized the words of Jesus in the verses just prior to these: "the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified," (Matthew 26:2). She knows that she can't stop his approaching pain, but she can demonstrate her love for him now. And she does.
As she moves away from Jesus, the disciples attack her. Accuse her of waste. But Jesus defends her. And promises that her great love for Jesus - her desire to be close to him - to worship him - will never be forgotten. Her story has been told and retold for more than 2000 years.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that worshiping him is even more important than giving to the poor?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Jesus' followers can be identified by the care they give each other.
Jesus teaches that those who inherit his kingdom treat the most insignificant members of his family as they would treat Jesus himself. Great news - right? But there is bad news too... those who don't treat others like Jesus teaches, they are sent into eternal punishment.
Jesus divides his true followers from his fake followers - not along lines of theology and not along lines of successful rule keeping - but along the lines of how they treat the other members of his family.
Matthew 25:31-46 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
There is some scholarly disagreement over the underlined segment in verse 40 above: "who are members of my family" . Many say Jesus was including the entire human race in the directive to treat others with great love. But many read "who are members of my family" in verse 40 to mean that in this case, Jesus is saying he will judge us on how we treat other followers of Jesus - not on how we treat the entire human race. It is true, that Jesus defines his family earlier in Matthew 12:46-50 as "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus also says that the world will identify his followers by their love for each other. So... I agree with the latter interpretation that here Jesus is saying that within the earthly church's membership rolls his true followers can be identified by how they treat each other. And those who are not his true followers mistreat and neglect and fail to take care of other followers of Jesus. As a shepherd would look at his flock and be able to separate the goat from the sheep by their characteristics, Jesus will use the determining characteristic of how his supposed followers have treated each other in order to separate the true follower from the fake ones.
Does that mean we shouldn't care for those who are not followers of Jesus? Of course not! We can join together as Jesus' family and by sharing resources treat them even better than we treat each other. There are plenty of places and examples where Jesus has taught and demonstrated the kind of love and abundance to non-followers. It just isn't what Jesus is going to use to separate true from fake followers - at least not according to Matthew's gospel.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers can be identified by the care they offer each other? Do we recognize that we are to be servants to each other... that this is an identifying mark of whether we are really part of Jesus' family or not? Think of the least of Jesus' followers - how have you loved them?
Jesus divides his true followers from his fake followers - not along lines of theology and not along lines of successful rule keeping - but along the lines of how they treat the other members of his family.
Matthew 25:31-46 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
There is some scholarly disagreement over the underlined segment in verse 40 above: "who are members of my family" . Many say Jesus was including the entire human race in the directive to treat others with great love. But many read "who are members of my family" in verse 40 to mean that in this case, Jesus is saying he will judge us on how we treat other followers of Jesus - not on how we treat the entire human race. It is true, that Jesus defines his family earlier in Matthew 12:46-50 as "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus also says that the world will identify his followers by their love for each other. So... I agree with the latter interpretation that here Jesus is saying that within the earthly church's membership rolls his true followers can be identified by how they treat each other. And those who are not his true followers mistreat and neglect and fail to take care of other followers of Jesus. As a shepherd would look at his flock and be able to separate the goat from the sheep by their characteristics, Jesus will use the determining characteristic of how his supposed followers have treated each other in order to separate the true follower from the fake ones.
Does that mean we shouldn't care for those who are not followers of Jesus? Of course not! We can join together as Jesus' family and by sharing resources treat them even better than we treat each other. There are plenty of places and examples where Jesus has taught and demonstrated the kind of love and abundance to non-followers. It just isn't what Jesus is going to use to separate true from fake followers - at least not according to Matthew's gospel.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his followers can be identified by the care they offer each other? Do we recognize that we are to be servants to each other... that this is an identifying mark of whether we are really part of Jesus' family or not? Think of the least of Jesus' followers - how have you loved them?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Improve on God's gifts
Jesus teaches us to improve on what God has given us.
Our culture puts a great value on "belief"... it says if you believe in Jesus, you are as good as signed, sealed, and delivered into the Kingdom of God. We have come to see "belief" as different from following Jesus. So these examples that Jesus gives now are bound to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus expects his followers to improve on what he has given us while we wait for his return. The reward is two fold... more responsibility and sharing in God's joy. The result of not improving upon what God has given us is... well, rather harsh....
Matthew 25:14-30 14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five coins, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five coins went off at once and traded with them, and made five more coins. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two coins made two more coins. 18 But the one who had received the one coin went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five coins came forward, bringing five more coins, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five coins; see, I have made five more coins.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two coins also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two coins; see, I have made two more coins.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one coin also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your coin in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the coin from him, and give it to the one with the ten coins. 29 For to all 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. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The master sees the first two servants as trustworthy, not because these two servants accepted, believed in, were thankful for, or kept safe the things that the master gave them, but because the servants multiplied the gifts. What gifts (money, knowledge of the gospel, friends, students, talents, skills, education, love, joy, etc) has God given us that we need to multiply? Do we ignore this story by first not acknowledging that what we have is from God and secondly not seeking ways to improve upon it for him?
Well, that is the upbeat side of the story. There's a third servant who not only doesn't improve upon the gift the master gives him, but attacks the master! The servant judges the master by accusing the master of exploiting the labor of others! The servant exposes himself as someone who has never really loved the master - never been on his side - never wanted to work for him - never wanted to follow him. We know the servant is wrong in his judgement - the master knows it too and points out to the servant that if he really believed this, he would have at least given the gift to someone else to use. The third servant is unwilling to take responsibility for his shortcomings and tries to blame the master making up lies about him. The result is that the servant is thrown into outer darkness. And worst of all, Jesus calls him "worthless."
I really wish Jesus wouldn't say those kind of things. But this is the reality of what the gospel writers heard him say.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are expected to improve on what God has given us?
Our culture puts a great value on "belief"... it says if you believe in Jesus, you are as good as signed, sealed, and delivered into the Kingdom of God. We have come to see "belief" as different from following Jesus. So these examples that Jesus gives now are bound to make us feel uncomfortable. Jesus expects his followers to improve on what he has given us while we wait for his return. The reward is two fold... more responsibility and sharing in God's joy. The result of not improving upon what God has given us is... well, rather harsh....
Matthew 25:14-30 14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five coins, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five coins went off at once and traded with them, and made five more coins. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two coins made two more coins. 18 But the one who had received the one coin went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five coins came forward, bringing five more coins, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five coins; see, I have made five more coins.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two coins also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two coins; see, I have made two more coins.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one coin also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your coin in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the coin from him, and give it to the one with the ten coins. 29 For to all 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. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The master sees the first two servants as trustworthy, not because these two servants accepted, believed in, were thankful for, or kept safe the things that the master gave them, but because the servants multiplied the gifts. What gifts (money, knowledge of the gospel, friends, students, talents, skills, education, love, joy, etc) has God given us that we need to multiply? Do we ignore this story by first not acknowledging that what we have is from God and secondly not seeking ways to improve upon it for him?
Well, that is the upbeat side of the story. There's a third servant who not only doesn't improve upon the gift the master gives him, but attacks the master! The servant judges the master by accusing the master of exploiting the labor of others! The servant exposes himself as someone who has never really loved the master - never been on his side - never wanted to work for him - never wanted to follow him. We know the servant is wrong in his judgement - the master knows it too and points out to the servant that if he really believed this, he would have at least given the gift to someone else to use. The third servant is unwilling to take responsibility for his shortcomings and tries to blame the master making up lies about him. The result is that the servant is thrown into outer darkness. And worst of all, Jesus calls him "worthless."
I really wish Jesus wouldn't say those kind of things. But this is the reality of what the gospel writers heard him say.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are expected to improve on what God has given us?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The End: Being claimed by Jesus takes personal preparation.
Jesus teaches us that knowing him is coupled with wisdom. And this wisdom takes preparation which is related to our relationship with Jesus.
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Through out scripture the Messiah, Jesus, is called the bridegroom and his church is called his bride. Here we see a picture of Jesus returning to unite with his church, but 1/2 of those claiming to be his church, aren't. They never were, he says that he never even knew them.
An interesting thing to consider is why the wise women don't share their oil with the ones who have not brought any extra? Why don't the wise women bring enough for the foolish women too? Haven't we been taught to bear other's burdens? This is very different from Jesus' teachings about life in the Kingdom where sharing is key to community.
Perhaps Jesus is making a point that - preparedness can't be transferred or shared. Preparedness is personal - it is coupled to our relationship with Jesus. He says, "he never knew" those who were unprepared. Do we become prepared by entering a relationship with Jesus - by accepting his invitation to "follow me"? Being a member of the church enables us to be in the community of believers and is the only way to live out our Christian lives, but it is our personal relationship with the bridegroom that matters in this story - it prepares us with wisdom - it informs us to bring extra oil.
The wise women brought extra oil to keep their lights lit. They were prepared to wait because they knew Jesus. Are we prepared to wait? What does being prepared to wait mean to our daily lives in the here and now? Are we followers of Jesus?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that being prepared is personal?
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Through out scripture the Messiah, Jesus, is called the bridegroom and his church is called his bride. Here we see a picture of Jesus returning to unite with his church, but 1/2 of those claiming to be his church, aren't. They never were, he says that he never even knew them.
An interesting thing to consider is why the wise women don't share their oil with the ones who have not brought any extra? Why don't the wise women bring enough for the foolish women too? Haven't we been taught to bear other's burdens? This is very different from Jesus' teachings about life in the Kingdom where sharing is key to community.
Perhaps Jesus is making a point that - preparedness can't be transferred or shared. Preparedness is personal - it is coupled to our relationship with Jesus. He says, "he never knew" those who were unprepared. Do we become prepared by entering a relationship with Jesus - by accepting his invitation to "follow me"? Being a member of the church enables us to be in the community of believers and is the only way to live out our Christian lives, but it is our personal relationship with the bridegroom that matters in this story - it prepares us with wisdom - it informs us to bring extra oil.
The wise women brought extra oil to keep their lights lit. They were prepared to wait because they knew Jesus. Are we prepared to wait? What does being prepared to wait mean to our daily lives in the here and now? Are we followers of Jesus?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that being prepared is personal?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The End: Be ready - keep following the teachings of Jesus
Jesus teaches that since we don't know when the end begins, we should focus on being ready - continuing to live as Jesus taught.
Matthew 24:42-51 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming...
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Okay, I want to ignore the part about "cutting the 'servant gone bad' into pieces." Interesting thing for Jesus to say. Do you think he means it? He makes a strong point that his followers shouldn't grow weary of following him. It especially makes God very upset if we start abusing our position and hurting others. I think God knew that would be our tendency. Things get rough for those following the teaching of Jesus... they take it out on each other and others... they take his name in vain... they use God for their own gain. Jesus is saying that God won't put up with that.
As I watched the political ads this week, politician after politician touted their "god fearing" character. I hope they really do have that character. Because if they are just claiming to follow Jesus in order to get the vote... if they don't really plan to follow Jesus' teachings - even the hard ones - while in office... well, that's not so good.
Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to stray?
Matthew 24:42-51 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming...
"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.
48 But if that wicked slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. 51 He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Okay, I want to ignore the part about "cutting the 'servant gone bad' into pieces." Interesting thing for Jesus to say. Do you think he means it? He makes a strong point that his followers shouldn't grow weary of following him. It especially makes God very upset if we start abusing our position and hurting others. I think God knew that would be our tendency. Things get rough for those following the teaching of Jesus... they take it out on each other and others... they take his name in vain... they use God for their own gain. Jesus is saying that God won't put up with that.
As I watched the political ads this week, politician after politician touted their "god fearing" character. I hope they really do have that character. Because if they are just claiming to follow Jesus in order to get the vote... if they don't really plan to follow Jesus' teachings - even the hard ones - while in office... well, that's not so good.
Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to stray?
Monday, November 1, 2010
The End: Jesus' return will not be covert
Jesus teaches us not to be fooled... that when he returns it will not be covert. His return will be unmistakable.
Matthew 24:22-28 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'-- do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Most of us are so caught up in the activities of our lives that we aren't very concerned about the Messiah's return. We are even less concerned about how we will identify him when he returns. Yet, Jesus wants us to be watching and aware. This awareness somehow changes our daily living to know that this life is not all there is... that Jesus' death and resurrection were not the end... that there is more to come. And we are players in this cosmic event.
One thing that my mind holds onto here is Jesus' words: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." It would seem "the elect" - those hidden in Christ - those who are Jesus' followers - will not be led astray. Sounds like it will be a struggle, but Christ will not lose any that the Father has given him: "No one will snatch them out of my hand" John 10:28. So not only do Jesus' followers need to be mindful of their place in history, but they can rest that their souls are safe in Jesus' hands.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is returning, that it will not be covert, and that his follower's souls are protected? How does that knowledge change how you live this day? Will you take new risks? Will you invite others into this safe, protected place? Will you have a sense of protection despite extreme danger?
Matthew 24:22-28 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'-- do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Most of us are so caught up in the activities of our lives that we aren't very concerned about the Messiah's return. We are even less concerned about how we will identify him when he returns. Yet, Jesus wants us to be watching and aware. This awareness somehow changes our daily living to know that this life is not all there is... that Jesus' death and resurrection were not the end... that there is more to come. And we are players in this cosmic event.
One thing that my mind holds onto here is Jesus' words: "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect." It would seem "the elect" - those hidden in Christ - those who are Jesus' followers - will not be led astray. Sounds like it will be a struggle, but Christ will not lose any that the Father has given him: "No one will snatch them out of my hand" John 10:28. So not only do Jesus' followers need to be mindful of their place in history, but they can rest that their souls are safe in Jesus' hands.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he is returning, that it will not be covert, and that his follower's souls are protected? How does that knowledge change how you live this day? Will you take new risks? Will you invite others into this safe, protected place? Will you have a sense of protection despite extreme danger?
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The End: Flee when you see the sign. Meanwhile Pray.
Jesus teaches that in the end, there will be a sign and then his followers should flee into the mountains. Meanwhile, pray for good weather.
Okay. This is weird stuff. In most of Matthew, Jesus teaches his followers about living a radical life in his community. He gives practical instructions that we can apply to our every day lives. But now his disciples have asked him to explain what is going to happen in the end times. From their question in verse 3 "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" their expectations have been set that Jesus is going away (his death and resurrection), but he is coming back at the end of the age. Jesus has just gotten done warning that his followers will suffer, some will be led astray, Pharisee-ism will increase, but to endure. Now he tells them what the sign will be when the end has begun and what to do...
Matthew 24:15-21 15 "So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; 18 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
There is a sign that we should not ignore: "a desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place" or in other translations... "the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place" or "the abomination of the desolation ... standing in the holy place." Jesus refers us to the prophet Daniel to understand what this means. Yet, there is much disagreement among scholars over what it does mean: a powerful human figure? armies? weapons? something demonic? I can't pretend that I understand. The prophet Daniel speaks in visions of creatures and happenings that I haven't been able to wrap my mind around.
But when we see it... we are to flee into the mountains... to a safe place... to avoid the worst suffering the world has ever known.
Weird stuff. And meanwhile, we are supposed to pray for good weather and that it won't happen on the Sabbath? I am pretty sure most of us have ignored Jesus pretty successfully on this matter.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that when we see the sign, we are to immediately flee to safety? Are we praying for good weather and timing? Or is this stuff so weird that it is better to just ignore that Jesus said it? Can we follow a Messiah who points us to a prophet who sees creatures with many heads and eyes... who seems to have been a mad man? Or do we heed Jesus' instruction, pray, and watch for the sign?
Okay. This is weird stuff. In most of Matthew, Jesus teaches his followers about living a radical life in his community. He gives practical instructions that we can apply to our every day lives. But now his disciples have asked him to explain what is going to happen in the end times. From their question in verse 3 "what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" their expectations have been set that Jesus is going away (his death and resurrection), but he is coming back at the end of the age. Jesus has just gotten done warning that his followers will suffer, some will be led astray, Pharisee-ism will increase, but to endure. Now he tells them what the sign will be when the end has begun and what to do...
Matthew 24:15-21 15 "So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17 the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; 18 the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
There is a sign that we should not ignore: "a desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place" or in other translations... "the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place" or "the abomination of the desolation ... standing in the holy place." Jesus refers us to the prophet Daniel to understand what this means. Yet, there is much disagreement among scholars over what it does mean: a powerful human figure? armies? weapons? something demonic? I can't pretend that I understand. The prophet Daniel speaks in visions of creatures and happenings that I haven't been able to wrap my mind around.
But when we see it... we are to flee into the mountains... to a safe place... to avoid the worst suffering the world has ever known.
Weird stuff. And meanwhile, we are supposed to pray for good weather and that it won't happen on the Sabbath? I am pretty sure most of us have ignored Jesus pretty successfully on this matter.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that when we see the sign, we are to immediately flee to safety? Are we praying for good weather and timing? Or is this stuff so weird that it is better to just ignore that Jesus said it? Can we follow a Messiah who points us to a prophet who sees creatures with many heads and eyes... who seems to have been a mad man? Or do we heed Jesus' instruction, pray, and watch for the sign?
Friday, October 29, 2010
The End: Endure
Jesus teaches that, in the end, those who endure will not only be saved, but they will be busy meanwhile. Enduring is not hiding out until the hardship passes... there's work to do...
Matthew 24:9-14 9 "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Enduring matters. Not only will those enduring be saved, but they will be doing purposeful work meanwhile: proclaiming the news of the kingdom out of a warm heart full of love. By definition, those who endure will have proclaimed the gospel despite torture, betrayal, hate, - even after watching others die and "the church" move away from following Christ.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that enduring matters? Is the church teaching Jesus' followers to not only proclaim the kingdom (do we even know what the kingdom is?), but to endure despite extreme hardships by living out of a heart of love?
Matthew 24:9-14 9 "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Enduring matters. Not only will those enduring be saved, but they will be doing purposeful work meanwhile: proclaiming the news of the kingdom out of a warm heart full of love. By definition, those who endure will have proclaimed the gospel despite torture, betrayal, hate, - even after watching others die and "the church" move away from following Christ.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that enduring matters? Is the church teaching Jesus' followers to not only proclaim the kingdom (do we even know what the kingdom is?), but to endure despite extreme hardships by living out of a heart of love?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The End: Pharisee-ism increases
Jesus predicts Pharisee-ism will increase as the end approaches...
Matthew 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.
Lawlessness will increase. In Chapter 23 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus has just called the Pharisees, who had more laws and followed them more precisely than any other people in history, "lawless". They were following the law with their actions, but their hearts were not in relationship with God. The result is that their love (their hearts) have grown cold replacing a relationship with God with a relationship with the law. Instead of submitting their lives to God, they tried to control God by following God's law (they thought their law keeping would force God to bless them).
BUT Jesus called the Pharisees "lawless." Strict laws - and strict enforcement - is not the answer to humanity's problems. It only makes "love grow cold." Pharisee-ism is true lawlessness. Instead, it is our hearts - a relationship with us that transforms our hearts - that God wants. Obedience is not an issue when our hearts have been transformed by God.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that Pharisee-ism will increase? What is going on in the Christian community today? Are we pointing people toward a relationship with Christ or are we just like the Pharisees pointing people to the right rules and right theology and maybe even the right political party to follow?
Matthew 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.
Lawlessness will increase. In Chapter 23 of Matthew's gospel, Jesus has just called the Pharisees, who had more laws and followed them more precisely than any other people in history, "lawless". They were following the law with their actions, but their hearts were not in relationship with God. The result is that their love (their hearts) have grown cold replacing a relationship with God with a relationship with the law. Instead of submitting their lives to God, they tried to control God by following God's law (they thought their law keeping would force God to bless them).
BUT Jesus called the Pharisees "lawless." Strict laws - and strict enforcement - is not the answer to humanity's problems. It only makes "love grow cold." Pharisee-ism is true lawlessness. Instead, it is our hearts - a relationship with us that transforms our hearts - that God wants. Obedience is not an issue when our hearts have been transformed by God.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that Pharisee-ism will increase? What is going on in the Christian community today? Are we pointing people toward a relationship with Christ or are we just like the Pharisees pointing people to the right rules and right theology and maybe even the right political party to follow?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The End: His followers will suffer
Jesus warns what will happen to his followers as the end approaches. Is this what we have signed up for?
Matthew 24:9-10 9 "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
Many people sign up to follow Jesus because they think it has benefits... Jesus lists some here:
Matthew 24:9-10 9 "Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.
Many people sign up to follow Jesus because they think it has benefits... Jesus lists some here:
- You will be hated (by everyone!) because of Jesus
- You will be tortured and put to death
- Those you think are part of my community (your supporters and friends) will fall away, betray you, and hate you.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The End: Don't be led astray
Jesus warns us not to be led astray.
The disciples want to know when Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the temple will take place...
Matthew 24:3-8 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs....
Jesus names several possible ways for us to be led astray:
The disciples want to know when Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the temple will take place...
Matthew 24:3-8 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs....
Jesus names several possible ways for us to be led astray:
- By allegiance to a false Messiah
- By thinking wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes signify the end
- By becoming alarmed instead of knowing "this must take place"
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rejecting Jesus destroys the community and place of worship
Jesus teaches the temple will be destroyed... he will be destroyed...
In Chapter 23, the destruction of the nation and the temple, which was the worldwide center of Jewish worship and pride, will be a result of not just the murder of the prophets, but of Christ's murder.
Matthew 24:1-2 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
The fate of the nation and the temple hinge upon what they do with the message delivered by the prophets and with Christ himself. If they accept it, they will take part in God's mission on earth. But they have already killed the prophets. Now all that is left is to kill the son of God. Jesus not only predicts his own death here, but he also (once again) predicts the fate of those who reject the message of the prophets and who reject Jesus.
Matthew 21:33-46 33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Their fate is in the process of being sealed. Jesus will be murdered shortly. Their place of worship and their community will be destroyed.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the community and place of worship of those who rejected the message of the prophets and who rejected Jesus himself, will be destroyed? What God has given them, will be taken away and given to a community of people who will take part in God's mission.
Although Jesus was speaking specifically to the 1st century situation, his message applies to the church today. Does the church embrace the message of the prophets? Does it follow Jesus? Does it embrace the teachings of Jesus? Or have we achieved the same religiousity of the 1st century Pharisees following the right rules, the right list of good works, and the right theology, but rejecting Jesus - recreating him and his teachings in our own images?
In Chapter 23, the destruction of the nation and the temple, which was the worldwide center of Jewish worship and pride, will be a result of not just the murder of the prophets, but of Christ's murder.
Matthew 24:1-2 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
The fate of the nation and the temple hinge upon what they do with the message delivered by the prophets and with Christ himself. If they accept it, they will take part in God's mission on earth. But they have already killed the prophets. Now all that is left is to kill the son of God. Jesus not only predicts his own death here, but he also (once again) predicts the fate of those who reject the message of the prophets and who reject Jesus.
Matthew 21:33-46 33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Their fate is in the process of being sealed. Jesus will be murdered shortly. Their place of worship and their community will be destroyed.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that the community and place of worship of those who rejected the message of the prophets and who rejected Jesus himself, will be destroyed? What God has given them, will be taken away and given to a community of people who will take part in God's mission.
Although Jesus was speaking specifically to the 1st century situation, his message applies to the church today. Does the church embrace the message of the prophets? Does it follow Jesus? Does it embrace the teachings of Jesus? Or have we achieved the same religiousity of the 1st century Pharisees following the right rules, the right list of good works, and the right theology, but rejecting Jesus - recreating him and his teachings in our own images?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Be Willing.
Jesus teaches that those who ignore and silence the prophets will be left desolate. And yet, he also teaches that there is hope...
Matthew 23: 37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
The entire community will certainly pay for what has been done to the prophets - the entire community will be left desolate. But in the midst of Jesus' terrible prediction, we see a beautiful picture of our creator. He desires to bring us together like a mother hen gathers her babies under her wings. All that is required of us is a willingness to let him. Followers of Jesus have the desire for Jesus to gather us under his wings.
Jesus leaves them (and us) with this hope... we can cry out, "Blessed is the one (Jesus) who comes in the name of the Lord" and begin to follow him.
Do we ignore Jesus teaching to be willing?
Matthew 23: 37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
The entire community will certainly pay for what has been done to the prophets - the entire community will be left desolate. But in the midst of Jesus' terrible prediction, we see a beautiful picture of our creator. He desires to bring us together like a mother hen gathers her babies under her wings. All that is required of us is a willingness to let him. Followers of Jesus have the desire for Jesus to gather us under his wings.
Jesus leaves them (and us) with this hope... we can cry out, "Blessed is the one (Jesus) who comes in the name of the Lord" and begin to follow him.
Do we ignore Jesus teaching to be willing?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Woe #7: Don't silence the prophets sent to you
Jesus warns that the religious leaders of the day are no different from their ancestors who murdered the prophets sent to teach them. In just a few days, these religious leaders will have Christ murdered. Yet, they operate thinking that they are different from their mothers and fathers. But in reality, they are the same as their parents. What prophets do our churches silence today instead of listening to them?
Matthew 23:29-3929 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
Do we ignore Jesus' warning to listen to the prophets he has sent to us?
Matthew 23:29-3929 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, 35 so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
Do we ignore Jesus' warning to listen to the prophets he has sent to us?
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Woe #6: Don't just look beautiful
Jesus warns against looking good, but being dead and filthy.
Matthew 23:27-28 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. 28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
These religious people were great at being religious. They studied and memorized scripture. They followed their religious rules without fail. They evangelized and did good deeds. They appeared to be beautiful monuments - like tombs cleaned up and whitewashed before the Passover Celebration, but inside they were dead and source of disease to others.
Even with all their rule following, Jesus calls them "lawless."
Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to put on a good appearance when inside we are dead and disease ridden?
If following Jesus is not about following all the trappings of religion - then what is it about? Jesus describes it here as having clean hearts. But how are our hearts transformed from death and filth to beauty? The Pharisees were "good" people - I can guarantee we probably aren't as "good". And all their trying added up to nothing but death and filth. I'd be getting ahead of the gospel, but Jesus has a plan for transforming our hearts...
Matthew 23:27-28 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. 28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
These religious people were great at being religious. They studied and memorized scripture. They followed their religious rules without fail. They evangelized and did good deeds. They appeared to be beautiful monuments - like tombs cleaned up and whitewashed before the Passover Celebration, but inside they were dead and source of disease to others.
Even with all their rule following, Jesus calls them "lawless."
Do we ignore Jesus' warning not to put on a good appearance when inside we are dead and disease ridden?
If following Jesus is not about following all the trappings of religion - then what is it about? Jesus describes it here as having clean hearts. But how are our hearts transformed from death and filth to beauty? The Pharisees were "good" people - I can guarantee we probably aren't as "good". And all their trying added up to nothing but death and filth. I'd be getting ahead of the gospel, but Jesus has a plan for transforming our hearts...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Woe #5: The heart is what matters.
Jesus teaches that it isn't our outsides (what rules we keep - what theology we believe - what good works we do) that make us clean (right with God). It is what is inside of us - our hearts - that must be cleaned before any of the rest matters.
Matthew 23:25-26 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
I believe this is what Christians struggle with most. It looks different in every culture and every decade, but it is the same problem when you boil it all down. Most claiming to be followers of Christ are very much like the Pharisees - preoccupied with religion and how it can be used to control God. They believed that if they followed the right rules, did the right good deeds, believed the right theology, then God would be forced to bless them. And they were better at religion than any other people have ever been. But it wasn't good enough. Jesus says that their hearts were greedy and self-indulgent. This is pretty much the state of many Christian lives today. There's a huge interest in getting a ticket to heaven, but not many are very concerned with letting go of greed and self-indulgence so that we can follow Jesus. In fact, most would like to know the minimum required so they can get on with living their lives their own way. We miss that following Jesus is about giving up ourselves and being a servant.
It is so easy to come up with a list of rules of rules to follow, a stated theology to force everyone to agree with, and even a list of good deeds to do. But Jesus says none of these things matter if our hearts aren't clean.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is what is in our hearts that matter - not so much all the religious stuff? And what's your plan for cleaning your heart? I'd be getting ahead of the gospel... but Jesus has a plan. And he is leading his followers to the place where they will be made clean...
Matthew 23:25-26 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.
I believe this is what Christians struggle with most. It looks different in every culture and every decade, but it is the same problem when you boil it all down. Most claiming to be followers of Christ are very much like the Pharisees - preoccupied with religion and how it can be used to control God. They believed that if they followed the right rules, did the right good deeds, believed the right theology, then God would be forced to bless them. And they were better at religion than any other people have ever been. But it wasn't good enough. Jesus says that their hearts were greedy and self-indulgent. This is pretty much the state of many Christian lives today. There's a huge interest in getting a ticket to heaven, but not many are very concerned with letting go of greed and self-indulgence so that we can follow Jesus. In fact, most would like to know the minimum required so they can get on with living their lives their own way. We miss that following Jesus is about giving up ourselves and being a servant.
It is so easy to come up with a list of rules of rules to follow, a stated theology to force everyone to agree with, and even a list of good deeds to do. But Jesus says none of these things matter if our hearts aren't clean.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that it is what is in our hearts that matter - not so much all the religious stuff? And what's your plan for cleaning your heart? I'd be getting ahead of the gospel... but Jesus has a plan. And he is leading his followers to the place where they will be made clean...
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Woe #4: Prioritize things that matter most
Jesus warns his follower's to discern what is important (practicing justice, mercy, and faithfulness) over what is not as important (tithing insignificant items).
Matthew 23:23-24 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
The point of tithing mint, dill, and cummin was to provide the priests and the poor with the abundance of God. While it is good for the priests and the poor to have mint, dill, and cummin (herbs used for flavoring and medicine), they aren't absolutely essential to their well being. Even their medicinal value was for comfort not life saving measures. The point is that Jesus doesn't want the Pharisees to feel good about tithing these insignificant things while failing to live lives that seek justice, mercy, and faith (better translated faithfulness).
"How is God calling me to practice justice*, mercy, and faithfulness in my life today?"
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to prioritize things that matter most: Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness?
* One interesting thing about justice... it has many meanings: being fair, addressing wrongs that have been committed, living in a way that does not take advantage of others, rescuing those who are disadvantaged, etc. It is closely tied to living in right relationships. Proverbs 2 says that it is only through our knowledge of God's character that we can know how to live justly in every situation. It says we have to actively seek God in order to understand justice.
Matthew 23:23-24 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
The point of tithing mint, dill, and cummin was to provide the priests and the poor with the abundance of God. While it is good for the priests and the poor to have mint, dill, and cummin (herbs used for flavoring and medicine), they aren't absolutely essential to their well being. Even their medicinal value was for comfort not life saving measures. The point is that Jesus doesn't want the Pharisees to feel good about tithing these insignificant things while failing to live lives that seek justice, mercy, and faith (better translated faithfulness).
"How is God calling me to practice justice*, mercy, and faithfulness in my life today?"
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to prioritize things that matter most: Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness?
* One interesting thing about justice... it has many meanings: being fair, addressing wrongs that have been committed, living in a way that does not take advantage of others, rescuing those who are disadvantaged, etc. It is closely tied to living in right relationships. Proverbs 2 says that it is only through our knowledge of God's character that we can know how to live justly in every situation. It says we have to actively seek God in order to understand justice.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Woe #3: Don't make false promises
Jesus teaches us that our words - especially promises and commitments - are to always be trustworthy.
Matthew 23:16-22 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.' 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; 22 and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
The Jewish leaders had come up with a complex scheme of which promises were binding and which were not. This was convenient if you didn't really want to make a promise. You'd just swear on something that wasn't binding and then when you didn't keep your promise, no harm done! But this wasn't to be the way Jesus' followers lived...
Matthew 5:33-37 33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Jesus' followers were to have no need to take special oaths, because they always kept their word. Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his follower's words are always trustworthy?
Matthew 23:16-22 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.' 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; 22 and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
The Jewish leaders had come up with a complex scheme of which promises were binding and which were not. This was convenient if you didn't really want to make a promise. You'd just swear on something that wasn't binding and then when you didn't keep your promise, no harm done! But this wasn't to be the way Jesus' followers lived...
Matthew 5:33-37 33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Jesus' followers were to have no need to take special oaths, because they always kept their word. Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that his follower's words are always trustworthy?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Woe #2: Rule following - not Christ following - creates Children of Hell
Jesus warns the religious people of his day about preaching the wrong message.
Matthew 23:15 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
The scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was talking to were dedicated, hardworking evangelists. But what were they evangelizing? What was their message? Pharisee-ism was a message of rule following - not Christ following. And those who substitute a list of rules for a relationship with Christ, well, Jesus calls them children of hell. And he says their converts are even more so.
Again, this message applies as much to those claiming to be the church today as it did to the religious people then. What rules do we insist must be followed before we can share Jesus' message? Do we preach a list of rules (or even a list of good works) instead of Jesus' message?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that preaching "rule following" instead of "Christ following" creates children of hell?
Matthew 23:15 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
The scribes and Pharisees that Jesus was talking to were dedicated, hardworking evangelists. But what were they evangelizing? What was their message? Pharisee-ism was a message of rule following - not Christ following. And those who substitute a list of rules for a relationship with Christ, well, Jesus calls them children of hell. And he says their converts are even more so.
Again, this message applies as much to those claiming to be the church today as it did to the religious people then. What rules do we insist must be followed before we can share Jesus' message? Do we preach a list of rules (or even a list of good works) instead of Jesus' message?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that preaching "rule following" instead of "Christ following" creates children of hell?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Woe #1: Don't put up roadblocks
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not put up roadblocks?
Matthew 23:13 13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.
These religious leaders were not embracing Jesus as the Messiah - therefore they were not "going in themselves." And not only were they not part of the Messiah's community, but they were keeping others from following the Messiah too.
This is the beginning of seven woes or warnings that Jesus gives the religious community who claimed to worship God. These woes still relate strongly to those claiming to be the church today. We claim to be the community of God (just as the scribes and Pharisees claimed). But are our churches the community of the Messiah? Have we embraced Jesus' teachings? Jesus said that outsiders would know us by our love for each other. And that all would have an open invitation to join us. Does this sound like your church?
Are our churches based on Jesus' teachings or do they reflect something completely different? Do outsiders know us by our love for each other? By our servant's hearts? Are we the community of God? If not, we are certainly putting up road blocks to others finding Jesus.
Have we embraced the Messiah or are we ignoring Jesus' teaching not to put up roadblocks?
Matthew 23:13 13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.
These religious leaders were not embracing Jesus as the Messiah - therefore they were not "going in themselves." And not only were they not part of the Messiah's community, but they were keeping others from following the Messiah too.
This is the beginning of seven woes or warnings that Jesus gives the religious community who claimed to worship God. These woes still relate strongly to those claiming to be the church today. We claim to be the community of God (just as the scribes and Pharisees claimed). But are our churches the community of the Messiah? Have we embraced Jesus' teachings? Jesus said that outsiders would know us by our love for each other. And that all would have an open invitation to join us. Does this sound like your church?
Are our churches based on Jesus' teachings or do they reflect something completely different? Do outsiders know us by our love for each other? By our servant's hearts? Are we the community of God? If not, we are certainly putting up road blocks to others finding Jesus.
Have we embraced the Messiah or are we ignoring Jesus' teaching not to put up roadblocks?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The humble will be exalted.
Jesus teaches that the humble will be exalted. And those that exalt themselves will be humbled.
Matthew 23:11-12 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
BUT what is humility? It is one of those words that has different meanings in our culture from what it means in these verses. Being humble isn't looking down upon yourself - believing you are worthless, or that others are better than you, or that others deserve more than you. And it certainly isn't being or acting like you are shy. It isn't pretending that you are something you aren't.
We can look to Jesus' example and see that humility has to do with service. Jesus' humility was not holding back waiting for someone better or more qualified to come along, it wasn't groveling, it wasn't going along with other's ideas denying the things he knew to be truth, it wasn't denying his authority... but his humility came out of knowing who he was (one with the highest God given authority) and then willingly giving himself for others:
For us, humility is knowing who we are in Christ - dearly beloved brothers and sisters each with talents and skills given by and to be used for God. We are each valuable. Knowing this truth - believing it about ourselves - is the first step in humility! The second step is then using these skills not for ourselves, but for the well being of others.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that humility - knowing who we are and willingly giving ourselves for others - is what following Jesus requires of us?
Matthew 23:11-12 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
BUT what is humility? It is one of those words that has different meanings in our culture from what it means in these verses. Being humble isn't looking down upon yourself - believing you are worthless, or that others are better than you, or that others deserve more than you. And it certainly isn't being or acting like you are shy. It isn't pretending that you are something you aren't.
We can look to Jesus' example and see that humility has to do with service. Jesus' humility was not holding back waiting for someone better or more qualified to come along, it wasn't groveling, it wasn't going along with other's ideas denying the things he knew to be truth, it wasn't denying his authority... but his humility came out of knowing who he was (one with the highest God given authority) and then willingly giving himself for others:
Matthew 20:26-28 26 ...Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
For us, humility is knowing who we are in Christ - dearly beloved brothers and sisters each with talents and skills given by and to be used for God. We are each valuable. Knowing this truth - believing it about ourselves - is the first step in humility! The second step is then using these skills not for ourselves, but for the well being of others.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that humility - knowing who we are and willingly giving ourselves for others - is what following Jesus requires of us?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
We are all students with one father and one instructor
Jesus teaches that we are all students with one instructor (the Messiah) and one father (God). God desires a direct relationship with each of us... where he teaches us as the ultimate instructor and nurtures us as the ultimate father.
I think the difficulty is two fold.
First, we so often don't want this relationship... it is time consuming to be available to God for nurture and instruction. When was the last time you sat and listened for God to speak? We'd rather be spoon fed by someone else who has boiled down all this God-business into a list of rules to follow or a theology to espouse. But God wants a relationship directly with us.
Secondly, it is hard to buck the cultural norms. If we don't agree with the best teachers, don't follow our genetic father's faith, we tend to be unwelcomed or worse - put out or ostracized. But once again Jesus tears down the cultural norms... telling the esteemed instructors and powerful genetic fathers that they do not hold the keys to knowing God. But that God interfaces directly with individuals.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach... 6 They love... to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are all students with one father and one instructor? Do we own our relationship with God or do we rely on someone else - a teacher, preacher, or parent - to be the go between?
I think the difficulty is two fold.
First, we so often don't want this relationship... it is time consuming to be available to God for nurture and instruction. When was the last time you sat and listened for God to speak? We'd rather be spoon fed by someone else who has boiled down all this God-business into a list of rules to follow or a theology to espouse. But God wants a relationship directly with us.
Secondly, it is hard to buck the cultural norms. If we don't agree with the best teachers, don't follow our genetic father's faith, we tend to be unwelcomed or worse - put out or ostracized. But once again Jesus tears down the cultural norms... telling the esteemed instructors and powerful genetic fathers that they do not hold the keys to knowing God. But that God interfaces directly with individuals.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach... 6 They love... to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that we are all students with one father and one instructor? Do we own our relationship with God or do we rely on someone else - a teacher, preacher, or parent - to be the go between?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Do good things but with a servant's attitude
Jesus teaches that we should do good things - but with a servant's attitude - not so that we can be seen and appreciated by others.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to do good things with a servant's attitude - not so that we will get noticed and praised? How does this apply to our jobs? our businesses? our relationships? sports? How do we teach our children to be servants seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus rather than being the greatest?
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching to do good things with a servant's attitude - not so that we will get noticed and praised? How does this apply to our jobs? our businesses? our relationships? sports? How do we teach our children to be servants seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus rather than being the greatest?
Friday, October 8, 2010
Carry other's burdens
Jesus teaches that in the Messiah's community, we carry other's burdens.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community we carry other's burdens? What would it look like to teach our children to carry another's burden? How about in sports or scholastic competitions? What would it look like if our businesses carried the burden of its competitors? How about in politics? In public policy? What if love meant carrying the burdens of our enemies? Absurd? Absolutely. But Jesus instructs his followers to participating in a kingdom that looks pretty absurd to the world. Are we willing to follow him or is he just too absurd?
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community we carry other's burdens? What would it look like to teach our children to carry another's burden? How about in sports or scholastic competitions? What would it look like if our businesses carried the burden of its competitors? How about in politics? In public policy? What if love meant carrying the burdens of our enemies? Absurd? Absolutely. But Jesus instructs his followers to participating in a kingdom that looks pretty absurd to the world. Are we willing to follow him or is he just too absurd?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Theology matches Behavior
Jesus teaches that in his community, theology matches behavior - a servant's behavior.
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Most of us live like the Pharisees lived... we go through life claiming to follow God, but not even remotely doing it. We fool ourselves into thinking we are right with God. But we don't consider that following Jesus means that we willingly and actively carry other's burdens; we do good without seeking an award for it; we don't seek honor for ourselves; but serve others; we listen to how God is speaking to others instead of having all the answers ourselves; we prioritize our relationship with God above even family. Following Jesus means putting other's well being ahead of our own. This isn't the Jesus most of us have signed up to follow - is it? Where's the benefit?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our theology should match our behavior - a servant's behavior?
Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Most of us live like the Pharisees lived... we go through life claiming to follow God, but not even remotely doing it. We fool ourselves into thinking we are right with God. But we don't consider that following Jesus means that we willingly and actively carry other's burdens; we do good without seeking an award for it; we don't seek honor for ourselves; but serve others; we listen to how God is speaking to others instead of having all the answers ourselves; we prioritize our relationship with God above even family. Following Jesus means putting other's well being ahead of our own. This isn't the Jesus most of us have signed up to follow - is it? Where's the benefit?
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our theology should match our behavior - a servant's behavior?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Human and Divine
Jesus claims a dual paternity: he is both human and divine.
Jesus has claimed earlier in Matthew to be the Messiah that was predicted in the Old Testament. One of the identifying markers of the Messiah was that he would come from the lineage of King David. Jesus' family line - through both his mother and Joseph - were well documented back to King David and his lineage was never disputed even by the Jewish authorities.
But many of the 1st century Jews were mistaken in thinking that the Messiah, would be an ordinary human who would overthrow the Roman government and give the Jews back their land. But here, Jesus points out that the Messiah is not an ordinary human being. The Messiah has a strange dual paternity that the Spirit had revealed to King David centuries earlier. King David writes that the Messiah is both a descendant of King David and King David's Lord (someone King David submitted to). Jesus' question is "How is this possible?" A father does not submit to his son. Nor does a dead man submit to anyone - unless that someone is God.
Matthew 22:41-46 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Jesus wants the Pharisees to take their version of the Messiah out of the box they have placed him in and see the truth. Jesus' claims to be the Messiah and his audacity to call God, "Father" are legitimate. He wants them to pick up on this.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he was both human and divine? How does this teaching change the way we live? How does it change our desire to follow Jesus? He is either crazy or he was who he said he was.
Jesus has claimed earlier in Matthew to be the Messiah that was predicted in the Old Testament. One of the identifying markers of the Messiah was that he would come from the lineage of King David. Jesus' family line - through both his mother and Joseph - were well documented back to King David and his lineage was never disputed even by the Jewish authorities.
But many of the 1st century Jews were mistaken in thinking that the Messiah, would be an ordinary human who would overthrow the Roman government and give the Jews back their land. But here, Jesus points out that the Messiah is not an ordinary human being. The Messiah has a strange dual paternity that the Spirit had revealed to King David centuries earlier. King David writes that the Messiah is both a descendant of King David and King David's Lord (someone King David submitted to). Jesus' question is "How is this possible?" A father does not submit to his son. Nor does a dead man submit to anyone - unless that someone is God.
Matthew 22:41-46 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet" '? 45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Jesus wants the Pharisees to take their version of the Messiah out of the box they have placed him in and see the truth. Jesus' claims to be the Messiah and his audacity to call God, "Father" are legitimate. He wants them to pick up on this.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that he was both human and divine? How does this teaching change the way we live? How does it change our desire to follow Jesus? He is either crazy or he was who he said he was.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Love God and Others: Action or Feeling?
Jesus teaches us the greatest commandments: Love God and others.
Matthew 22:34-40 34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
But when does this commandment really apply to us?
Do we love God even when God's plans are different from our plans? When God allows us or those we love to go through grief or pain or hardship? Are we committed to God only for what God can do for us? Or are we on board with God's purposes and plans for us? Even the tough ones? Jesus says to love God with all we are... our heart, our soul, our mind. Loving God means we have given up ourselves for God!
Does loving others apply when "others" aren't our political persuasion? Or when they are in authority over us? Or when they aren't loveable? What about when "others" hurt us? What about in times of war - our enemies - do we have to love them? How far does this love go? Jesus says to love others as ourselves. Loving others means we go all out for the other!
But is love just a feeling or is it an action word? Can I love someone who is being bullied and not protect them? Can I love someone who is going down the wrong path and not tell them? Can I love Jesus and not follow him even to the difficult places?
These verses have been taught with all kinds of qualifications attached. But Jesus didn't attach any. Love is not something easy or natural. And if it is just a feeling, it is worthless. Love is an action word.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our top priority is to love God and others? Do we understand love as Jesus did or do we water it down to fit our own agendas?1 John 3:14-1814 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
Matthew 22:34-40 34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
But when does this commandment really apply to us?
Do we love God even when God's plans are different from our plans? When God allows us or those we love to go through grief or pain or hardship? Are we committed to God only for what God can do for us? Or are we on board with God's purposes and plans for us? Even the tough ones? Jesus says to love God with all we are... our heart, our soul, our mind. Loving God means we have given up ourselves for God!
Does loving others apply when "others" aren't our political persuasion? Or when they are in authority over us? Or when they aren't loveable? What about when "others" hurt us? What about in times of war - our enemies - do we have to love them? How far does this love go? Jesus says to love others as ourselves. Loving others means we go all out for the other!
But is love just a feeling or is it an action word? Can I love someone who is being bullied and not protect them? Can I love someone who is going down the wrong path and not tell them? Can I love Jesus and not follow him even to the difficult places?
These verses have been taught with all kinds of qualifications attached. But Jesus didn't attach any. Love is not something easy or natural. And if it is just a feeling, it is worthless. Love is an action word.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that our top priority is to love God and others? Do we understand love as Jesus did or do we water it down to fit our own agendas?1 John 3:14-1814 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Life after death
Jesus teaches several things about death... there is a resurrection of the dead, marriage is not part of the next life, and (although not exactly about death) angels exist.
If you think of the Sadducees as a Jewish denomination, they were the denomination that believed both the soul and the body died when the body died. They also denied the existence of angels. The "denomination" dissolved early in the first century.
Matthew 22:23-33 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Do we ignore Jesus' teachings about death? How does what we believe about death affect how we live?
If you think of the Sadducees as a Jewish denomination, they were the denomination that believed both the soul and the body died when the body died. They also denied the existence of angels. The "denomination" dissolved early in the first century.
Matthew 22:23-33 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Do we ignore Jesus' teachings about death? How does what we believe about death affect how we live?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Answers found in scripture and the power of God
Jesus teaches us to find answers in scripture and in the power of God
Jewish "denominations" in Jesus' time believed different things about death. Some believed that the soul did not die with the body, but would be resurrected. Others believed that death was really the end of both the soul and the body. Some believed in angels and some didn't. In the text today, it seems someone very crafty wants to use these theological disagreements to further raise the tension surrounding Jesus' teachings.
Matthew 22:23-33 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Jesus points them to scripture and to the power of God for the answers to their questions. Apparently had they understood scripture to be an authoritative witness and God's power to be unlimited, they wouldn't have been confused. But they were using their own logic to reason what God might be like.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that an understanding of scripture and trust in the power of God gives us answers we can not gain through rational thought?
Jewish "denominations" in Jesus' time believed different things about death. Some believed that the soul did not die with the body, but would be resurrected. Others believed that death was really the end of both the soul and the body. Some believed in angels and some didn't. In the text today, it seems someone very crafty wants to use these theological disagreements to further raise the tension surrounding Jesus' teachings.
Matthew 22:23-33 23 The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Jesus points them to scripture and to the power of God for the answers to their questions. Apparently had they understood scripture to be an authoritative witness and God's power to be unlimited, they wouldn't have been confused. But they were using their own logic to reason what God might be like.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that an understanding of scripture and trust in the power of God gives us answers we can not gain through rational thought?
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