Gospel of Matthew28 Oct
The position of the Gospel according to Matthew as the first of the four gospels in the New Testament reflects both the view that it was the first to be written, a view that goes back to the late second century A.D., and the esteem in which it was held by the church; no other was so frequently quoted in the noncanonical literature of earliest Christianity. Although the majority of scholars now reject the opinion about the time of its composition, the high estimation of this work remains. The reason for that becomes clear upon study of the way in which Matthew presents his story of Jesus, the demands of Christian discipleship, and the breaking-in of the new and final age through the ministry but particularly through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The gospel begins with a narrative prologue (Matthew 1:1-2:23), the first part of which is a genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham, the father of Israel (Matthew 1:1-17). Yet at the beginning of that genealogy Jesus is designated as “the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). The kingly ancestor who lived about a thousand years after Abraham is named first, for this is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the royal anointed one (Matthew 1:16). In the first of the episodes of the infancy narrative that follow the genealogy, the mystery of Jesus’ person is declared. He is conceived of a virgin by the power of the Spirit of God (Matthew 1:18-25). The first of the gospel’s fulfillment citations, whose purpose it is to show that he was the one to whom the prophecies of Israel were pointing, occurs here (Matthew 1:23): he shall be named Emmanuel, for in him God is with us.
59 Responses to “Gospel of Matthew”
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Matthew 4 talks about the temptation of Christ. Jesus being fully God – was wondering about – was it really temptation? James 1 tells us that God cannot be tempted by evil.
This is an incarnation problem. I suppose it’s the first in Matthew (though, not the first in Luke) – Jesus being 100% God and 100% Human become difficult to digest when we think of these categories being exclusive. – In Luke the Problem is that of knowledge. “Jesus grew in wisdom and in knowledge” – hardly something that could be said of someone who is all-knowing in character. The question is ‘what was up for grabs in the temptation?’ – either 1) The text is pretty straight-forward and yes – the redemption plan is threatened by temptation. or 2) The threat is an illusion. – I tend to just let the story of Matthew speak for itself. I don’t know that I can explain it except to acknowledge the obvious tension between full divinity and full humanity. But yeah, the tension is there.
I’m not meaning to cheat by agreeing with Sam, but I do. Hebrews informs us that Jesus was tempted…but without sin. And we want to know if the genuine possibility of sinning made the temptation “real” by our standards. Hebrews, which emphasizes the divinity of Christ, sure talks a lot about Jesus being like us and being able to identify with us.
There are aspects of Jesus experience that we cannot attribute to both his divinity or his humanity…temptation, death, but also omniscience. What we do know is that Jesus did not act as a conflicted person, though he has a divine nature and a human nature- which is more than i can say for most of us.
Pastors’ Steve and Sam, I have a question: Mat.8:28-34 speaks of 2 men possessed with demons coming out of the country of GADARENES. Jesus commands the demons to go into the swines.
Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39 record that Jesus entered the country of Gerasenes and meets one man possessed with demoms. My commentary says these were 2 seperate cities. I do not have a problem with this and I think the account is really recorded from the same city. Matthew records 2 demon possessed men where as Mark and Luke record one man. Is there something I am missing?
Simply, he appears to have a conversation with one man, even in the account with two men, so the other gospels record only the conversation with the one man.
The Lord’s Prayer-Mat.6:9-13 A perfect model the way we are to approach and petition God. (A truncated interpretation). Jesus uses a term of endearment. Our Father, or Abba, daddy, poppa. He could have used some of the other names of God such as, Almighty, Judge of the universe, The Lord, All Righteous one. As his children we can come to Our Father, Abba, Daddy. (Mat 18:3 And He said, verily I say unto you; except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven). We can enter boldly into the Throne room of God in time of need. (Heb 4:16 let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.)We can climb up into Abba’s lap and behold Him and worship and praise Him for who He is. Wow, what an invitation. There are key names of God who they knew as JEHOVAH just in the Old Testament which co-inside with the name of Jesus. To honor Him. These are the names and their meanings: Gen.22:14 JEHOVAH-Jireh “The Lord will provide or see to it”. This is the account of Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac. Exodus 15:26 Jehovah-Rophe “The Lord who heals”. Isaiah 11:10 JEHOVAH-nissi “The Lord is my banner” He is our banner a standard to look to and find our way home. Leviticus 20:8 JEHOVAH M’kaddesh “The Lord who sanctifies” We stand sanctified before our God as we partition Him to conform us into the likeness of Jesus. Judges 6:24 JEHOVAH-Shalom “The Lord is peace”. Psalm 23 JEHOVAH-Rohi “The Lord is my Sheppard”. Jer. 23:5-6 JEHOVAH-Tisidkenu “The Lord our Righteousness” we stand forgiven before Him in love. Eze.48:35 JEHOVAH-Shammah “The Lord is there” His presence is with you always. All of these OT names are summed up in the name of Jesus and there are NT scriptures to back each one up. So we can approach our Father and start to just praise and worship Him for who He is. Seek His face. Again, climb up as a little child into Abba’s lap and behold Him, partition Him with true honesty because He knows it all anyway. He will make the crooked way straight. Well we got through one verse Matt 6:9 but there is so much more within the next 4 verses. Why pray “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? There is a very important reason for that. Maybe the next reply I can share that part. The above is enough to digest for a while. With love and much prayer for my church family, Nicholas Varriale
That is the way to look at it, I suppose. The incarnation of Jesus involves a lot that we cannot fully understand and digest. Jesus did set aside some of His divine attributes while He was on earth such as His omnipresence and also His omniscience (eg. Mark 13:32 He didn’t know the “day or the hour” which only His Father knew). That is why He is God!
With reference to matthew 6..do not worry…I was very struck by Steve’s sermon a while ago when he said “do not worry about food and clothes….but instead think about and act on seeking God’s righteousness.” Maybe he even said “do worry” about these things.I felt at the time I should be more alert and less passive, more purposeful. Since then I have received clothes and Peter has done most of the cooking..but I do not feel very purposeful.
How is it that Jesus was astonished by the Centurion’s faith? What was so special about what he said/believed? Do I not have this kind of faith believing that God can remotely heal? Was it something in his heart that Jesus saw that is only implied but not detailed in verbage? I like that one person can have faith for another and stand in their stead and receive the miracle vicariously. I really like that!
I asked that to the Wednesday Night Group and they said:
1. As a gentile, a Roman, in leadership, it was pretty huge for him to humble himself and ask for the help of a Jew.
2. He understood Jesus authority and power much better than people around him.
3. Jesus is foreshadowing his rejection by the Jews and the acceptance of the gospel by the gentile world.
4. The centurion’s concern for a subordinate was impressive too.
There you have it from our discussion
Just reading this response now. So it really was more about the act of coming on behalf of his soldier, his humility, Jesus’ acceptance of a Gentile. Essentially faith without works is dead.
I thought the entire chapter was pretty amazing. From beginning to end Jesus demonstrates His authority. Authority over disease, all manner of sickness, nature and even the spiritual world. Truly ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to HIM. Mt. 28:18, Mt. 11:27, Jn.3:35 Call Him Lord of All.
That’s a great question Fay! I always thought that, now I know, or have a better idea.
Imagine how Jesus’ statement in Mt.8:10 must have stung the ears of His Jewish listeners, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Imagine, a gentile showing up God’s chosen people in the arena of faith? Interestingly, in Gn. 12, we see a gentile, Pharoah acting more righteously than Abraham who lied (half truth) about his wife being his sister. And again in Gn. 20, the gentile king Abimelech has to appeal to God for mercy and justice because Abimelech was deceived by Abraham. Perhaps more reminders that the Jews were God’s chosen people by sovereign grace, it was not because they were inherently more righteous or capable of faith than the gentiles. Same goes for us.
We see 4 miracles in Matthew 9. The paralytic, bleeding woman, dead girl, blind men. In each of these miracles Jesus places such great emphasis on faith and believing. “Jesus saw their faith”, “your faith has healed you”, “do you believe …”, “according to your faith will it be done”. Even when Jesus commended the centurion, it was about faith. Even in our OT reading today, Abram was credited righteousness because he believed God.
I was reading something by D A Carson (one of my professors at school) about Matthew 10. He writes:
Anyone with the slightest familiarity with history knows how frequently and chillingly these prophecies have been fulfilled. The fact that many in the West have for so long been largely exempt from the worst features of such persecution has let us lower our guard—even Christians may think that a hassle-free life is something that society owes us. But as the Judeo-Christian heritage of the West weakens, we may one day be caught up in realities that missions specialists know but that the rest of us sometimes ignore: the last century and a half have seen more converts, and more martyrs, than the first eighteen centuries combined.
What will stabilize us in such times? This chapter mentions several precious supports: the recognition that Jesus our Master was hated before us (10:24–25); assurance that in the end justice will be done and will be seen to be done (10:26–27); recognition that a proper fear of God reduces fear of human beings (10:28); quiet confidence in the sovereignty of God, even in these circumstances (10:29–31); encouraging recognition that those who do receive us receive Christ, and therefore receive God (10:40); Christ’s own promise that the rewards of eternity cannot fail (10:41–42).
In any case, a fundamental principle is at stake: This is the way Christians view things; indeed, it is bound up with being a Christian. “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (10:38–39).
I found encouragement from these insights.
Pastor Steve, would you mind elaborating on the passage….”Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. Thanks
Jesus is speaking about discipleship, what it means to be a follower of the Lord throughout matthew 10. He mentions the persecution they will encounter, and the trust in the Lord that they will need to have. He then says something hard, “I will bring a sword” meaning that there will be divisions over what people think of Jesus and what people do with his message.
Obviously it is not Jesus desire to have families in turmoil, otherwise he wouldn’t have preached the forgiveness, grace, and humility that he did. But sometimes persecution, and having to make a stand for Christ will happen in one’s own home.
So in vs 39, the one who tries to hold onto his life by compromise, or by living for themselves (since you have to look out for #1, you know!)…that person will end up loosing their life. I think this has both current and eternal implications.
BUT, if you entrust your life to Jesus, and live for his sake, he will give you life (both currently, and in eternity.)
We live surrounded by farms. Even now in “the dead of winter” the farmers are out fertilizing their fields. Some of them have already been plowed even though planting time is a few months away. The soil of our hearts must be continually prepared so that the seed of the Word will hold, grow and produce. Good soil is a must!
Every year when I am gardening there comes a point when I think about the weeds growing with the wheat.Letting them just all grow together seems a bad plan as the weeds take over.There is no spiritual point to this comment. Sorry !
Hi Jane. I appreciate your comment because it made me look over the passage several times. Jesus tells this story as a parable to compare it to the kingdom of heaven and not necessarily for farming instructions. Having said that, Matt 13:26 mentions that “when the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.” This verse is crucial because the weeds appeared late during the maturation of the wheat, actually just before complete maturation. I actually looked at a website for wheat growth and it mentioned that weed control should have been completed by now. So the fact that the weeds just appeared points to someone’s wicked deed. The same website said that mechanical injury at this point is possible even from application of fertilizers. So even in my non-horticultural mind, it makes perfect sense that you don’t pull the weed at this point of the wheat’s maturation.
The disciples also seemed puzzled by this parable and Jesus explains fully from verses 37-43.
P.S. : The website is http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0126.html.
Thanks. The timing point was interesting to me to refute a comment made by a professor when I was doing my biology degree ages ago..but somehow I had remembered it. I still enjoy starting a vegetable garden more than weeding it !
Hi Grace,
I was reading one of your earlier posts regarding the parable of the weeds among the wheat and I remembered something I had learned years ago. In the mideast, there is a weed called darnel which grows in wheat fields and looks just like wheat. In fact, it’s apparently called “false wheat” It’s very difficult to tell the real wheat from the darnel, until they begin to bare fruit. Then, the wheat will produce a golden ear while the darnel forms a black fruit. Perhaps Jesus was warning the disciples against prematurely judging other Christians lest they uproot the genuine along with the false. Ultimately the fruit is the best indication of a changed heart and God will make the final call.
Thanks.That is really interesting. I actually googled darnel and I think you are right. It was interesting to note that these darnels can also have poisonous aspect to them due to fungi growth on them. http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/tares.html and wickipedia and good descriptions about the darnnels. Jesus is right about the farming aspect as well as the spiritual implications of the story.
This past year I did not tend to my garden and of course the weeds came. I felt sad about it but still did not weed. I thought my garden was not as beautiful as it had been and was concerned the weeds would kill my plants and promised this summer not to let that happen. As I sit today and look out the window at my garden, I do not see any weeds. What I see is snow and my beautiful plants, still green and thriving. I think if you plant the seeds in good soil and establish a strong root system, the plants can survive living among the weeds. Because winter will inevitably come and the plants will survive and the weeds will be gone. And we can survive in this world full of sin because Jesus is our gardener, feeding us and caring for us, amongst the weeds.
Plants do not always survive winter or the weeds and as you look out your window at your garden from a distance you are seeing a macro, and not a micro, vision of the world. You may not notice plants some of which may have perished and that you have overlooked because you see the whole garden and not the individual plant. Even in the best soil with a strong root system, plants can be choked out by other plant’s strong roots. Remember also that God created weeds and they too are part of His plan. Faith is a wonderful thing, and God does hear our prayers, but the answer we receive may not be the one we seek. His plan for us may not be to survive despite our greatest efforts because that sacrifice may be part of greater good. But there again we have to take that as a matter of faith and trust in His wisdom and plan for us.
In Mt. 14:34-36 “And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.” Considering that Gennesaret was located only 2 miles or so from Capernaum where the woman with the hemorrhage was made well back in Mt. 9:20. (She only touched His garment and she was made well.) It would seem that her story had spread through Gennesaret so that the sick “implored that they might only touch the fringe of His garment”, to be made well. I love the constancy of scripture.
Why does Jesus continually refer Himself as the “Son of Man”?
That makes for a really interesting study – short answer – I tend to think that the Gospels mentioning the “son of man” 83 times is an apocalyptic title of Jesus. His audience would thought of passages like Daniel 7:13.
Matthew 15:5-6…is He talking about somebody using God as an excuse not to give something to their parents, or is He saying it’s a bad thing to literally give something to God that you were supposed to give to your parents? Aren’t we supposed to put God before even our family? I feel like I’m missing something obvious here.
I think it is the former…religious leaders were ignoring God’s command to honor their parents and using giving to God as an excuse. We are to give money and time to God, but not use God as an excuse to neglet our responsibilities.
Regarding Jennie’s question: yes I think he is saying do not use God as an excuse not to give something to your parents. By honoring your father and mother through your words and your deeds, we are giving something to God and putting God first. Agape = the unconditional, never-ending love of God flowing through and out of our lives. Honoring your father and mother IS honoring God. It is not taking a gift away from either one as the Pharisees and elders are teaching. Quite the opposite.
yeah – Jesus makes it sounds like they’re playing the “God-card” as a cop out, and an ironic excuse for breaking God’s law.
The key word in the passage seems to be “Tradition”. v.2 “break the tradition of the elders.” v.3 “why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” v.6 “Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” v.8&9 drive the point home:
‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.
Mark 7:1-13 will give us significantly more insight as to why Jesus was upset. In Mk. 7:8 Jesus says “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” and In Mk.7:13 He says:”Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
The money thing was just one example of a far greater problem that was keeping the Pharisees from experiencing the heart of God. Traditions can be a beautiful way of tying us to the past. But when traditions become more important than the Word of God and particularly the intent of God’s word, they beome a snare and trap that ultimately blind us to the will of God.
Jesus seems like such a **** buster! 17:17 O unbelieving and perverse generation how long shall I stay with you? (and so many other responses from Him) Is this his human side? It reminds me of how frustrated I get with my boys or with people who just don’t get it or don’t do the right thing. I want so much for them, to live successfully, to trust God, to obey….I hear myself in those words.
Fay, I’m not sure I would have put it quite like that, but yeah, I think Jesus was frustrated by the disciples lack of faith and I don’t think it’s limited to His “human side” as you put it. Throughout the O.T. God rebukes the Israelites for their disobedience and disobedience is in fact, a lack of faith. I’ve pondered if these people were particularly spiritually dull, or if all men at all times suffer from this same spiritual deficiency? Consider the Israelites coming out of Egypt after 10 great miracles, freezing at the edge of the sea concerned that God had abandoned them. Then again throughout their desert journey grumbling and complaining. Despite all they had seen and done, they still lacked faith. Unfortunately, I’m not sure we have anything on them.
I figured that someone would rebuke my comment! Jesus just seems particularly harsh relative to the disciples’ inability to cast out a demon. I don’t know if I would have the power to do that even if I did have faith to move a mountain. Having it counted against them as disobedience is rough stuff. I was reading the book of Matthew even before we started this reading and I really was “struck” by how Jesus was certainly not a push-over. I’m still in love with him though!!!
My take on Matt 17:17 is when Jesus said “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you?”, he wasn’t trying to bust chops. He meant he wasn’t going to be with them forever. In fact, he wasn’t going to be with them for very much longer. He wanted them to understand and believe that nothing was impossible for them to accomplish through faith. If they were to carry on when He was gone, they needed complete faith. It wasn’t enough to believe He was the son of God. They needed to believe that through God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, they had the power to move mountains or cast out demons. I’m not sure I think they were being disobedient. To me, disobedience is purposely doing something wrong.
John The baptist was not literally Elijah….even though Elijah came literally on the mount of transfiguration-but Jesus said Elijah had come and not been recognized. What should we interpret literally?
You are right. John B. was not Elijah in the flesh, but in the same way that Elisha had a double portion of the spirit of Elijah (2 kings 2:9-10) so also John had the Spirit working in him. That is why John can say in John 1 “I am not Elijah.” but Jesus can also say in Matt 11:7 and following that John was the one who was preparing the way, Elijah.
In this way we are not confused into thinking there is a reincarnation of Elijah, but rather that the role of Elijah was being fulfilled. What is interesting is that John was seeking to identify with Elijah by dressing like him. Compare these:
2 Kings 2:7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came up to meet you and spoke these words to you?”
8 They 1answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
Matthew 3:4 Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
thanks.
I love today’s chapter. I think Fay is right – Jesus was seriously tough. With the merciful he showed himself merciful, and with the hard-hearted he showed himself … hardcore? He knew who to speak softly to and who to rebuke. Strength with discernment.
But I’m hanging all my hope on this: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.’” I’ll take it – my heart’s been there for sure.
More than any other gospel the book of Matthew is about the kingdom of God. He is continually showing that the way people see the world, particularly the pharisees, is not the way God sees the world. A lot of times when Jesus answers a question in Matthew or asks a question in Matthew, or gives a message like the Sermon on the Mount he is trying to say the same thing every time: “Your way of thinking is upside down, and you will never get near to God through your laws and customs. You need to surrender to God.” We get thrown off when we take Jesus’ words in these situations and treat them like treatises on the subject Jesus happens to be talking about. There is very much a sense in which Jesus knew these religious people had no shot at salvation until their wills were broken, and a lot of times he was just holding up a mirror to self-righteous people. Matthew is written to the Jews, who for the most part were very religious but had completely lost touch with God to the point where they did not recognize their own Messiah.
When I was in school, I enjoyed wrestling with the meaning in readings and discussing with other “scholars” but sometimes when things just got too much I was tempted to read the Cliff Notes on a subject, just to give me a clue when I was clueless. I never did because the teachers always said they were too simplistic and could lead you astray. That is why I love Jesus’ response re: the Greatest Commandment in Matt 22 – no matter how bogged down we can get in trying to understand everything in the Bible, it all boils down to loving the Lord with all my heart and mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself. That is certainly simple to understand (though not necessarily as simple to practice!) Following Jesus’ “nutshell” statement of the entire Law will certainly never lead me astray, and just imagine if everyone lived that way!
Laura – Great comment.
As I read Matthew 23 and passages like it I am struck by how Jesus HATED dead religion. He didn’t see it as a mild fungus on the pure and true religion of “doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God” and “caring for the orphans and widows in their affliction and keeping oneself unspotted from the world”. He saw it as the antithesis of true Judaism/Christianity, the dead opposite. Legalism doesn’t hamper true faith, it DESTROYS it. Can you imagine if your marriage was all about perfectly keeping a neverending narrow minded set of strict rules? Your marriage would STINK. And we are the bride of Christ!! Our marriage to God should be a love relationship filled with grace, pleasure, and communication. Anyone teaching that Christianity is about rule keeping is the enemy of the gospel – Paul says the same thing in Galatians.
I was reading that though, and I mean – I love Jesus in contrast to religion because Jesus (in my mind at least) is more positive, less judgmental, less about rules, and all about grace and love… except that like for the past two days he been mostly negative and… giving rules. And I mean, sure they’re like rules against dead rules, but still more negative than I imagined him to be in my head.
In our sinful nature, rules are easier. Relationship requires truth in our inmost being. And many times honesty hurts, it’s humbling. Legalism is self-focused and prideful. I guess that is why faith is so emphasized by Christ. Faith requires that we come out of ourselves and rely and believe in a source other than ourselves. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. Heb. 11.
This is so insightful, Grace.
For today’s devo I was reading up on the Pharisees and how they were probably the most like us as Bible-believing conservatives. It is almost as if Jesus dismisses the liberals by not even engaging them very much. At least I hope that. But it does make me stop and think that if there is anyone who is likely to make the road too narrow, and the way too difficult and burdensome, it is going to be people like us.
So maybe a question for people to respond to…How do we make sure our walk with God is that “love relationship filled with grace, pleasure, and communication” instead of “dead rules?”
For me, it is asking God to use me in spite of me today, and that I might not be have to pray that tomorrow.
Stephen, long post ahead… =D
I’ve written several large responses, neither of which seems very useful. But at least you can be sure your post prompted several bouts of intense thought and typing… Hopefully this one will be more helpful.
I think, in partial answer to your question, we must be fiercely independent in our “joyful knowing” of Christ. Nothing between, as the hymn states. But I’ll add to the hymn – nothing at all. No pastor, no religion, no church, even. No pleasure more than the pleasure of His nearness, no joy more than the joy found in Him. The purity of heart He brings. If the only thing in mind is HIM and ME, nothing between, then we lose sight of the distractions, be they rules, or false teachers, or liberals, or conservatives. And those legalistic rules? They seem less and less important when I realize **rules are only there to enhance and enable intimacy with God.** Desire the intimacy, not the rules.
That’s what I want with Jesus – like an amazing marriage, to be clinging, cleaving, being one, locked in a passionate pursuit with no mind for anything else. Fascinated and drawn in by all that He is. I don’t have time to think about legalism or anger or covetousness when I’m consumed with Him. And when we fail (yes, we will) He’s not afraid of it. He uses it for our good so that the relationship can grow deeper.
To sum up: we fail because we see rules as existing for their own sake, rather than as a necessary part of relationship. In order to have a good marriage, there are rules – put the toilet seat down, clean up after yourself, etc, bring flowers home once in a while. Do they earn us anything? Not really, but they make our spouse happy, and they make the relationship run smoothly. They are us caring for the desires of another out of love for them.
Just like in marriage, we an succeed in relationship by rekindling our love – remember what you loved about God when you first met Him? Remember what you learned of Him as you grew together over the years? Remember that and run to Him. Sometimes recklessly, even. Like my 2-year-old son when I get home from work – of such is the kingdom of heaven.
My 2 cents. I wish I could say it better, or more completely. Please, someone else add more thoughts. This is a good trail to be on.
Great response thanks…I await others thoughts. Let me add to the mix. Do you think we personify the written word of God and see it as “existing for it’s own sake” rather than as a revelation of God? And can we become lovers of the Bible at the expense of loveing God?
Steve, I almost didn’t want to do this “read the Bible in a year” thing but Sam talked me into it!! Sort of… I know that when I’m on a reading schedule, I worry that it becomes a task-oriented activity. That said, yes I do think we become lovers of the Bible and forget that it is living and powerful, sharper than any double-edged sword – Why? It is alive because of the fact that Jesus IS The Word!! That is where activity such as meditation comes in. Time spent in allowing personal revelations to illuminate our hearts and minds.
Steve,
“…can we become lovers of the Bible at the expense of loving God?”
Absolutely.
Here’s what I observed in my years being exposed to people who seemed to worship the Bible – they didn’t really worship it. No, under the guise of worshiping the Bible, they worshiped their *opinions* about the Bible. Their sermons were about single verses cut out of context, with single words picked out and made to say something they don’t (as in the now-famous Steven Anderson – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo3o4nfiG7A). All under the cover of “expository preaching” (which is a great tool, if Christ is the focus).
I might also add – I’m no longer in that circle. I am involved now with a Vineyard church (where I don’t exactly fit either, but hey, I live in a rural area… few churches). So I’m out of the legalistic group, right? Nope. No longer does legalism use the guise of Bible worship – it finds other cover stories. But deep down it’s still teaching the commands of men as the doctrines of God. Legalism is a fleshly mindset that infects all denominations because it infects all humans to some degree. The way is straight and narrow, and few find it – even in the church, it seems.
There’s a Twitter account worth checking out for satirical thoughts on battling legalism: http://twitter.com/church_ladeez
Question on Matthew chap 25, the parable of the tenants. We all know the story – 3 tenants, each given different amounts of money in accordance to their abilities, first tenant made double, second tenant as well, third tenant buried his small amount and simply gave it back.
In verse 24 the tenant says ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed…’ then in verse 26 the Master answered ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money…’ Now, the question is that if the ‘servant’ in the story is supposed to represent us, and the ‘master’ is supposed to represent God, why would the servant say that the master reaped where he has not sown and gathered where he scattered no seed? Isn’t it US (the servants) who reap where we do not sow and gather where we have not set any seeds? I find it strange that the master in this parable more or less agrees with the servant, but why would the master agree to reaping where he does not sow? I mean, God IS the only one who does sow and the only one really ‘scatters seeds,’ right? Is there something I’m missing from this parable, because though the rest of it makes sense (considering the Master is really supposed to portray God and the servant portrays us), but this one aspect of the parable seems strange and out of place.
Sometimes the parables of Jesus can throw us for a loop. We often forget that parables are stories which are meant to be (thrown alongside = para) a moral teaching in order to make that teaching memorable. When we try to make complete and direct correlations between characters in a parable and characters in real life, we sometimes run into problems. In the parable of the talents, it’s easy to see God as the master and human beings as the servants. The problem arises when the third man accuses his master of being a hard man who reaps where he has not sown and so forth. Suddenly we recoil at the thought that God should fit that description. Furthermore, the master seems to agree with that description, so we are left in a quandary. In reality, the focus of the parable is not the description of the master, but the fact that the third servant is making excuses for his lack of productivity. Whether the master was a hard man or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that God, like the master will not accept excuses for unfaithfulness. Particularly when those excuses are born out of deceit. In the parable, the master does not necessarily condone the man’s opinion of himself. Rather he simply agrees to judge the servant’s actions by his assessment of the master’s character. It’s as if he said ‘Ok, so you claim that I am a hard man, well than common sense dictates that you should have acted accordingly by putting my money in a bank so that I could have earned interest on it. But since you didn’t, I don’t accept your excuse as genuine. No, I believe that you are a wicked and lazy servant.’ The parables on either side of this also help to set a context of preparation and faithful service to our Lord.
We run into a similar problem in the parable of the shrewd steward in Lk.16, where the master (presumably God) commends the dishonest steward for being shrewd and cheating. This does not suggest that God condones cheating but rather is simply meant to challenge Christians to be as wise and premeditated in their godly handling of people and money for the building of the kingdom as the children of the world are in covering their own behinds. Bottom line when reading a parable, don’t over think it unless Jesus explains it in depth as in Mt. 13.
Just a reminder about our postings. IF you are continuing discussion on Matthew, keep posting here, but if you are commenting on Mark, please click on that post and comment there. http://365revolutions.org/2010/01/25/gospel-of-mark/
Today’s reading – the parable of the soil types is the VBS story for today! How cool is that!
The only miracle recorded in all four gospels with the intent of specific dialogue, (Excluding His crucifixion and resurrection), is the feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Mat.14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Lk.9: 10-17, John 6:1-13. It so impressed the disciples seeing that Jesus said to them, “You feed them”, the miracle went through from Our Lord’s hand’s to the disciples hands. The feeding of the 4000 is recorded only in Mat.15:29-38, Mark 8:1-9 with 7 loaves and a few small fishes. But the disciples still didn’t get it. They kept asking the Lord, how are we going to feed so many people, even in the light of the feeding of the 5,000. Then in Mat.16:6 and Mark 8:15, the Lord tells them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. There response was, “it’s because we took no bread”. Then we see the frustration of The Lord Jesus in His response: (paraphrase), “Because we took no bread”? Don’t you remember the feeding of the 5000 and then the 4,000? Is your heart that hard? Beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees, He explains. Then in Mat.16:14-23, The Lord asks them, “Who do you say I am”? Peter replies, “Thou art the Christ, The Son of the living God”. Jesus bursts out with a blessing. He is rejoicing that the Father revealed this to Him. So Jesus then reveals what is about to happen to Him, explaining His execution and resurrection. Peter rebukes Him. Jesus turns Him around and says, “Get the behind Me Satan, you are an offence to Me and the purpose of God.” The Lord had to constantly be on guard from the enemies without and the “good intentions” from His disciples from within. Rightly did Isaiah prophecy, (Isaiah 53:1-12), He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. How lonely did Our Lord feel?
The reward for following Jesus: Mat. 19:27-30 Peter says to The Lord, “Behold we have forsaken all to follow you, what’s in it for us”? Jesus did not rebuke him for this seemly selfish request. Instead He inspires them with the reward they shall receive in this life and the life to come in verses 28-30: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.