Jesus Christ at the last supper:

Mat 26:29  "Mark My words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom." 

Kinda shoots in the foot the idea that alcohol is a no-no....

I also found it interesting that Judas was told that he would betray Christ--even asks, "Is it me?"  Yet, this doesn't stop him.

Christ knows that Judas will betray him, yet they continue with dinner.

How different than how we would receive news of the betrayl of a friend....

The Last Supper--John August Swanson

Matthew 25

"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom." -Matthew 25:1



Until this morning, I have never taken time to fully understand the historical custom behind this verse. It's actually a lovely symbolism:

"The whole imagery of the parable is drawn from Eastern marriage customs. The betrothal, which took place some time before the marriage, was a kind of solemn marriage contract, but preliminary to its final consummation. When the time for the celebration of the marriage came, the bridegroom came to the house of the bride and brought her by night to his own house. The virgin bridesmaids awaited his coming and attended the bride to the marriage feast." -People's New Testament

I think I much prefer it: the way that the bridesmaids are actively involved and waiting with the bride seems much better than them just standing up at the front of a church like so many statues. Also, so sweet how their are two parts to it--the preliminaries, but then the groom comes to seek his bride. How affirming it must have been for the bride to be surrounded by friends, awaiting the time when her husband would seek her out and bring her to his home. Rich in meaning, this imagery is less about "attending" a wedding or being a statutory piece of a ceremony, but being involved in its outworking in a beautiful way.

The Lord seeks to involve us too in His second coming in such a fashion. In the Middle East, the bridesmaids would look for the groom's arrival and when they would see him coming, they would go out with their lamps to greet and escort him. How encouraging to know that we are more than mere pawns, active participants in His grand plan. We are dignified by our role of watching for His arrival and going out to greet Him.

It's all an encouraging counterpoint to the horrible scenes and images that are so prevalent regarding the Second Coming. Yes, Earth and heaven must necessarily recede. However, the groom has come, and we are all on our way to the most amazing celebration beyond anything we could have guessed or fathomed.

A call to press on from Geneva Bible Translation Notes:

"We must desire strength from God's hand which may serve us as a torch while we walk through this darkness, to bring us to our desired end: otherwise, if we become slothful and negligent because we are weary of our pains and travail, we shall be kept from entering the doors."

Our walk on this earth can be terribly difficult and tenuous at times, but we must remember our purpose here--it's not to sleep or carry on with anything else. We are called to watch and wait upon the bridegroom's arrival and be ready to go to Him.

Ah the sweet loyalty of Christ to us:

The Bridegroom is our Lord Jesus Christ; he is so represented in the 45th Psalm, Solomon's Song, and often in the New Testament. It bespeaks his singular and superlative love to, and his faithful and inviolable covenant with, his spouse the church. -Matthew Henry

Love this from Matthew Henry too:

Joh 12:26 "Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me."

"We must follow him as honorary servants do their masters, Joh_12:26. Hold up the name, and hold forth the praise of the exalted Jesus; this is our business. (2.) Expectants of Christ, and of his second coming. As Christians, we profess, not only to believe and look for, but to love and long for, the appearing of Christ, and to act in our whole conversation with a regard to it. The second coming of Christ is the centre in which all the lines of our religion meet, and to which the whole of the divine life hath a constant reference and tendency." -MHenry



"The gospel is light, and they who receive it must not only be enlightened by it themselves, but must shine as lights, must hold it forth." Phi_2:15, Phi_2:16. Matthew Henry

I love light imagery in the Word. These verses in Philippians are worth looking up:

"Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless." -Philippians 2: 15-16

*************************

The second parable in this chapter is equally, if not more, haunting. Probably because I am the type of person who likes to be prepared and do a good job when given a task, it troubles me greatly to think of the fearful or lazy servant. He says it is out of fear, but of course, how can we read another's heart?




"Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' -Matthew 25:24-25

So was he an excuse maker, or was he truly troubled by the character of God and the successful execution of the task?

One encouraging bit from each is that the groom took a long time and the master was away for a long time. Admittedly, I sometimes wonder about His time table and wonder about His tarrying. These details confirm the need to wait it out and be faithful for the long haul; they acknowledge the length of the waiting.

"For the truth is, the more we do for God, the more we are indebted to him for making use of us, and enabling us, for his service." -Matthew Henry

Excellent point. And another:

"And it is observable that he who had but two talents, gave up his account as cheerfully as he who had five; for our comfort, in the day of account, will be according to our faithfulness, not according to our usefulness; our sincerity, not our success; according to the uprightness of our hearts, not according to the degree of our opportunities." -Matthew Henry

It is this willingess to give back what we have been given, to acknowledge the chain of opportunity as from the hand of God, that makes the difference here--not the quantity or degree of resources, but the willing or unwilling condition of the spirit to engage with what we DO have. Good food for thought.

These verses in particular are sobering:

"For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me." Matthew 25:35-36

Matthew 24--End Times

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.” We are not told what this sign will be. His First Advent was accompanied by a sign in heaven—the star. Perhaps a miracle star will also announce His Second Coming. Some believe the Son of Man is Himself the sign. Whatever is meant, it will be clear to all when it appears."  -Believer's Bible Commentary

Elena del Rivero's artwork of World Trade Center Debris

End Times

Honestly, this chapter and most end times prophecy distress me.  I don't like violent movies, cataclysmic disasters and the like.  Even the changing of the seasons leaves me slightly uneasy. Change doesn't come easy from where I stand.

So when Christ talks about the heavens and Earth passing away, I'd just rather be somewhere else.  I don't want to go there.  I can't even get through the stuff in my attic for sentimental attachment.  I still remember the images from 9/11 of the office documents floating in the breeze, how all of that paperwork was so immediately personal yet completely irrelevant.   For me, that image is so small yet poignant, and the end times so vast and combustible--all of the Earth thrown up in the air like those papers.  Mentally and emotionally, it's too much to take in.

Another sign

"And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens." -Matthew 24:30

The BBC points out that there will be another sign, kind of like the star at Christ's birth, that will be manifested at his Second Coming:

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven.” We are not told what this sign will be. His First Advent was accompanied by a sign in heaven—the star. Perhaps a miracle star will also announce His Second Coming. Some believe the Son of Man is Himself the sign. Whatever is meant, it will be clear to all when it appears." -BBC

12 Tribes Revisited

"All the tribes of the earth will mourn—no doubt because of their rejection of Him. But primarily the tribes of the land will mourn—the twelve tribes of Israel. “... then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zec_12:10). -BBC

The Jews generally puzzle me, I confess.  What to make of the Jewish state as it stands---Jews dispersed all throughout the world, so many seem to have little connection to the faith of their fathers.  Others are faithful to the forms of the Pentateuch but have a very liberal perspective on culture.  It's confusing to me.  I don't know what God is "up to" with the Jews. 

I don't mean any of that irreverently, as I respect their desire to seek God and their faith even though we have a drastically different view of God's plan as it is unfolding.  It's more that the God's relationship to the Jewish race is a mystery to me.  Honestly, I don't know why he bothers with any of us--Jew or Gentile.  But I am intrigued because He clearly has gone out of his way to single the Jews out, not because of anything in them, but because His purposes are grander than our understanding of them, and He seems to have a very specific role for them in history.   

An Uncomfortable Phrase

A comment from the People's New Testament on "weeping an gnashing,"  an image I've also found difficult to reconcile with the mercy of God:

"And shall cut him asunder. An ancient method of punishment which was practiced among the Israelites. See 1Sa_15:33, and 2Sa_12:31. The idea here is that very severe punishment shall be inflicted upon him, while weeping and gnashing of teeth would indicate a life of intense suffering. Indeed both these expressions must be regarded as metaphors, indicating nothing more clearly than a terrible and certain punishment."

Psalm 113

I love that the psalmist directs us to praise God for the numerous ways that He works His providential ways in the universe.  Praise is always a right decision, and there are so few things that can be said of.   Spurgeon's commentary sees praise as a form of duty, a rightful service:

"His service is perfect freedom, and those who fully enter into it discover in that service a thousand reasons for adoration. They are sure to praise God best who serve him best; indeed, service is praise. "

He views our works for the Lord as a form of praise---good to broaden our definition.  Praise is the same as worship, funny how "worship" has become a more common term these days and is typically associated with music specifically.

"These were not vain repetitions, for the theme is one which we ought to dwell upon; it should be deeply impressed upon the soul, and perseveringly kept prominent in the life." -Spurgeon

Psalm 111

The Constancy of God

There is something so soothing about psalms like Psalm 111.  It reminds me of the verse of Robert Browning: 

"God's in his Heaven
All's right with the world"

To ponder God's deeds, to know that everything He does is consistent and a part of His eternal unfolding plan, gives me a great sense of peace and confidence.  Verse 4 notes that:

"He causes us to remember His wonderful works."

Even in bringing His goodness to our minds, He is so faithful.  It reminds me also of Matthew 22 and the way he sent servants out to remind the wedding guests that the wedding feast was ready to begin.  Not only will He not harm us, He is actively pursuing us for good even when we are oblivious or hostile to His loving intentions.  What a God!  What a blessing! even when we are oblivious or even hostile to His designs.   What a God!  What a blessing!

 

Obedience

"All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom." Psalm 111:10

Good comment and turn of phrase from the Believer's Bible Commentary:

 "Only the man who reverences Him has started on the road to wisdom. The more we obey Him, the more light He gives us. "Obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge."

Matthew 23--Tell Us What You Really Think...

I don't have time to dig in here more this morning, but the issue is complicated.  Some prophecies have come true; some are still "out there" awaiting fulfillment, that piece is pretty straightforward.  But the question of whether there are still prophets today (a greatly abused term) and their role/authority is dicier.  One of the "gifts" given to the church is the gift of prophecy too---it all begs for more time and digging into the meaning of that word....

Jesus minces no words and holds back nothing in this chapter long rant to the crowd and his disciples about the evil hearts of the Pharisees.  The familiar images are here---cleaning the outside not the inside, whitewashing tombs, enjoying the "titles" of prestige but neglecting aspects of faith close to God's heart.

Matthew Henry leads in with this overview:

"In these verses we have eight woes levelled directly against the scribes and Pharisees by our Lord Jesus Christ, like so many claps of thunder, or flashes of lightning, from mount Sinai." -MH

It does definitely have an aggressive, Old Testament feel to the passage.  It's a lot to take in. 

One comment attacks the traditional structure of organized religion.  Christ suggests that we should organize ourselves differently:

 "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.  And don't let anyone call you 'Teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 
 The greatest among you must be a servant."  -Matthew 23:8-11

How does this relate to how our churches have structured themselves?  I would argue that pastors have too central of a role.

I am also intrigued by Christ's comment on the importance of  "justice, mercy, and faith" as a more important aspect of the law than tithing.  Justice, mercy, and faith sound beautiful and noble, but how does one practically get their arms around such grand concepts?

 "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." -Matthew 23:23

I'm confused by this comment as I don't think of the Jews as evangelical:

23:15  "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! 

Did the Jews work to convert Gentiles?  I thought they just turned away from them.

A comment from the Believer's Bible Commentary that's worth consideration:

"Natural man doesn't want to be the object of God's grace and doesn't want God to show grace to others."

We long to be self-sufficient and superior.

Prophets

In Matthew 23:34, Jesus states "Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city."   

The issue of prophets is confusing to me.  I was trying to explain this to Grace yesterday, and I realize that I've now contradicted myself to some extent.  At the time, I told her that the prophets were for a season, but here Christ is indicating that he would be sending prophets in the FUTURE.  

I think our discussion all began from Deuteronomy when Moses says that the people will know if the prophets are from God if their prophecies come true.  Grace was then wondering how you knew if some had not come true yet, and this engendered our entire discussion.  

Matthew 22--Riddles

Called or Chosen?

Chapter 22 is taken up entirely with these tense exchanges between Jesus and the Pharisees.  The cross is looming, just ahead.  Their conversation seems to anticipate this and become increasingly focused, increasingly intense.

This chapter is a difficult one, full of pithy statements to ponder such as:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."  -Matthew 22:14

I know he is speaking to the Jews here, but it causes me concern as a thinking Christian as well.  The Jews were called, but then not all of them chosen because they lost themselves in the trappings and rules, while forgetting the heart of it all.

 My salvation experience is now almost 20 years old now, and it's certainly lost some of its freshness along the way.   It's a much stronger, mature faith after 20 years.  It has shed some assumptions that were not vital.  It has been tested by deep sadness--the loss of my father, my mother, miscarriages, and just the general loss of idealism that characterizes youth.   After 20 years, I have a much deeper and wider faith, but I do pray that I haven't lost my way as the Jews had.  It seems easier to lose one's way than to find it.

For this reason, I am all the more thankful that He is the author and perfecter of our faith, that He chose us first.  Knowing the verses behind that statement are solid and unequivocal, I rest easier.  Maybe the whole ""chosen thing settles the deal for Christians.  At a fundamental level, each Christian was chosen from the very get-go.  Yet many, like the Jews, lose their way regardless.  So for me, the warning of that verse lingers.

Maybe I am not clear enough on the words themselves.  Here's the information from Strongs:

called:

klētos
klay-tos'
From the same as G2821; invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint: - called.

chosen

eklektos
ek-lek-tos'
From G1586; select; by implication favorite: - chosen, elect.

Called implies more of an inviting, and chosen suggests a selection.  We can all be invited to the Kingdom, but few elected, selected?  In some sense this makes the verse both easier and harder to take.  It runs into one of those seemingly illogical pockets of Christian thought--that Christ wishes all to be saved and yet not all are.  Another is that we are chosen, but somehow have free will.

In my head, the only way to deal with these seemingly irresolvable nuances is to believe that I am seeing just the tip of a much larger something.  It is as if I am attempting to examine a 3 dimensional object with just one or two dimensions.

Called, chosen, invited, elected, this salvation, the great hope that we build our lives upon can be a slippery thing to examine.  It is real enough in our hearts, but harder to pull apart and understand.

Beseeching

Matthew Henry points out the gracious nature of God in the parable of the Wedding Feast:

"The guests are called upon; for in the gospel there are not only gracious proposals made, but gracious persuasives. We persuade men, we beseech them in Christ's stead, 2Co_5:11, 2Co_5:20. See how much Christ's heart is set upon the happiness of poor souls! He not only provides for them, in consideration of their want, but sends to them, in consideration of their weakness and forgetfulness."  -Matthew Henry

"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences."  2 Corinthians 5:11

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." -2 Corinthians 5:20

Here's another beseeching:

1Co 4:13  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

Great summation by Matthew Henry:

"It is a kingdom prepared, ready to be revealed in the last time. Is all this ready; and shall we be unready?"

More M Henry to contemplate:

"The righteousness of saints, their real holiness and sanctification, and Christ, made Righteousness to them, is the clean linen, Rev_19:8. This man was not naked, or in rags; some raiment he had, but not a wedding garment. Those, and those only, who put on the Lord Jesus, that have a Christian temper of mind, and are adorned with Christian graces, who live by faith in Christ, and to whom he is all in all, have the wedding garment."

Distractions--"These lawful things..."

Mat 22:5  But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 

Another good application point from Matthew Henry here.  In any era, we can make excuses as to why we have to do this or that FIRST before we get to God's business.  But, especially in this era where electronic media and pressing schedules bombard our senses by the minute, we need to be careful not to loose ourselves in the "good" but not "best" things in life:

 "The country people have their farms to look after, about which there is always something or other to do; the town's people must tend their shops, and be constant upon the exchange; they must buy, and sell, and get gain. It is true, that both farmers and merchants must be diligent in their business but not so as to keep them from making religion their main business. Licitis perimus omnes - These lawful things undo us, when they are unlawfully managed, when we are so careful and troubled about many things as to neglect the one thing needful. Observe, Both the city and the country have their temptations, the merchandise in the one, and the farms in the other; so that, whatever we have of the world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ."  -Matthew Henry

Such a good message--it's easy to let so many little (and big things) slowly grow in the cracks of our lives until they grow so large as to require a significant piece of our attention.

Matthew 21--Fig Trees & Mountains

Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." -Matthew 21:21-22

"This is the only miracle in which Christ cursed rather than blessed—destroyed rather than restored life. This has been raised as a difficulty. Such criticism betrays an ignorance of the Person of Christ. He is God, the Sovereign of the universe. Some of His dealings are mysterious to us, but we must begin with the premise that they are always right. In this case, the Lord knew that the fig tree would never bear figs and He acted as a farmer would in removing a barren tree from his orchard."  -Believer's Bible Commentary

My own notes:

*fig tree represented Israel, was symbolic.  Should have bore pre-fruit, because it didn't it was a sign that it wouldn't bear fruit in season either.  This was symbolic of the Jews who were not only not bearing fruit, but openly hostile to Christ.

*claim about throwing the mountain into the sea and the power of prayer is always puzzling to me:

It's a puzzling promise to me, even with "context"

You can tell me all day long that you have to consider the context of what Jesus is saying here, but I cannot but help stack the high words of this promise up against the manipulative attempts of many Christians to "harness"  the power of God and His Spirit through too literal attempts to apply this verse.  I have no doubt that God invests His believers with power, but clearly there is a disconnect here between how we are trying to receive this verse and how He intended it.

Psalm 107--Taking it to Heart

 
He is behind these cycles.  We are within them.   He is eternal.  We are for a moment, at least our earthly life.  How He will reconcile all of this in eternity, outside the circles, is one of the things I enjoy thinking about and looking forward to.  He's got a twist to it all---something beyond our wildest dreams:

The Keeper of Circles

"Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD."  Psalm 107:43

I worry about our country--mostly I try to push such thoughts to the edges of my mind as the problems are so complex that I feel powerless to deeply understand the brokenness, much less do anything to address them.   But, I suspect that America is reaching a zenith of sorts.   

Psalm 107 touches upon God's hand in the sweep from prosperity to humility, and humility to prosperity.  Indeed, it is He who brings water to the deserts, brings nations down or allows them to rise.

"He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry, thirsty land" -Psalm 107:34

or the converse:


He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands, because of the wickedness of those who live there. -Psalm 107:35

We saw Lion King this spring.  Part of its success, I believe, is because it touches upon a truthful and enduring theme--"the circle of life."  Truly the Lord is the Master circle keeper.  He created the circles.  He is outside the circles.  He understands them.

Me?  I feel like I am at the mercy of the circles.   Some people look at these forces and mistake them for the creator Himself.  I would argue that You must differentiate.  For some reason, He has designed life this way. There is joy in the movement--the movement of seasons, from spring to summer, fall to winter.   I love looking forward to each new sweep of the landscape.  Likewise, it is intrinsically interesting to watch the unfolding of a life---the bright eyes of a baby fresh from the womb.   As parents, we gain much satisfaction watching those children then grow--physically, mentally, spiritually--it's all marvelous work.   We see these circles in business--the rising of an economy, the bustle of growth and commerce, then the fruit of materialism and self-absorption.   I think we are nearing a crest here---the fruits of 20th century labors are becoming over-ripe and rotten.   We are too fat physically and materialistically and too lean spiritually.   The Lord loves the poor, and He won't allow this hubris to continue indefinitely.   

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him."  -1 Corinthians 2:

Saying So

I'm intrigued by our active role, our participation in the praise and acknowledgement of God.  After all, He could make the rocks cry out, but he leaves it to us--we who are fickle and moody, inconsistent and vacillating constantly.  Yet, He chooses to trust us with His praise.

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; 


Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 

Matthew 20: Servant Leadership

"

"But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." -Matthew 20:25-28

Over and over again I feel like I am hitting upon the issue of authority in the Church.  Here again and in the preceding story of the Worker in the Vineyard  Jesus is clearly denouncing the idea of a hierarchy with the Church.  The authority of the church is supposed to be in contrast to worldly authority:

"But among you it will be different."

The operative leadership words here are servant and slave.  How many leaders do you know who model these qualities?  Inside the Church?  For me, it's very few.  Outside the Church?  Hardly any.


"Men prominent in the church should be the first to heed the admonition. Such priestly despotism as the absolute rule of the Catholic, Greek, and of some Protestant churches is at variance with this principle." -People's New Testament

I've witnessed some pretty uncorrectably leadership within the Church sadly.  I think part of this is our fault--we don't read our Bibles well enough to hold leadership accountable to the principles within.  The Biblical knowledge of so many Christians is so sparse that they become dependent upon their leaders to "feed" them with inspiring spiritual messages.  According to this, the main job of a leader within the Church is to serve, humbly.

Admittedly, the disciples and the Jews often remind me of myself---this desire for ordering and justice, for rankings and fairness.  In that sense, because God was NOT fair to us (He gave us grace when we deserved condemnation), it is our job to pass the mercy "buck," not to hoard it for ourselves, not to think that it is a deserved result of some work we have done.  It's all mercy.

The fairness streak in me (which I think is a good, God-given quality in the right proportions and with the right perspective) is grateful for this comment here on the 5pm workers:

"Because no man hath hired us. These persons were idle, because they had no opportunity to work. This point must not be lost sight of. There is no promise here for willful idleness." -The People's New Testament

This is a good point.  I find myself very frustrated with those who have been given privilege but squander it because they are lazy.  This case is different.  They did not work because of lack of opportunity not love of ease.

I like this point as well:

"Our duty in the vineyard is to go to work as soon as the Lord calls us, and to do what he tells us." -People's New Testatement

We are workers in the field, not judgers of the workers of the field.  It's significant.  The Lord calls us at different points.  The important thing is not how long we serve Him, but that we get busy about the serving as soon as we are called.  Anything else is beyond our realm.

James & John's mother saw the true lineup of Christ's earthly rule at this point:


"Ye know not what ye ask. An illustration, this of ignorant prayer. Within a month they saw the places on his right hand and left occupied by the two thieves in the crucifixion." -People's New Testament

Leadership in Christ's kingdom is not a head-swellling lavish title, but a call to suffering.

Zechariah 4:10--No Small Thing

I love the sentiment of respecting right beginnings---even though things start out small, if the gesture, if the quest, if the act is in honor of the Lord, if it is an act of love or righteousness, the Lord is pleased.

In the book of Zechariah, one of the main themes is for the prophet to encourage them to rebuild the temple. This is such an applicable image for much "smaller things" in our own lives that get broken down, pillaged, ruined.  It's hard to run against that wave of discouragement and begin anew.

But Zechariah notes:

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven..." (King James)


Zec 4:10  Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (New Living)

It's encouraging to me to remember that the Lord delights in the beginning of a work, not just the end:

"for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..."

We emphasize completion, the satisfying sweep of the pencil when we cross the item off the "to do" list and move on.  But, here it seems to suggest that the Lord's emphasis is different.  He delights in the day that when--going against our fears and reservations, and general inertia--we first write that item down, roll up our sleeves and make a beginning of the work.

Good to keep in my mind and heart.

Matthew 18: On Evil, Popes & Angels

Do No Evil

"Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes." -Matthew 18:7

My summary of this verse is that evil will always be present in this current world.

Point A: Evil is a real thing, not an abstract subjective principle.

Point B: Evil will be continually present because we live in a world of wheat and tares.

Point C: Your job?  Make sure that you are not a channel of that evil, "offense."

                      

Revisiting the Pope Issue

Is there an earthly head to the church? This question puzzled the disciples as evidenced in their question:

"About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" -Matthew 18:1

The transfiguration occurred one chapter prior, in Matthew 17 which singled out Peter, James, & John.  It's understandable that this would seem to single out these three as more important than the broader group.   Also, in Matthew 16, Christ made this grand statement to Peter:

"Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."  -Matthew 16:17

Logically, if the disciples understood this exchange the way that the Roman Catholic church does, they would come away with the conclusion that Peter is the head. However, the disciples' question indicates that they were not clear on this at all.

Adam Clarke's point here is astute:

"From this inquiry we may also learn, that the disciples had no notion of Peter’s supremacy; nor did they understand, as the Roman Catholics will have it, that Christ had constituted him their head, either by the conversation mentioned Mat_16:18, Mat_16:19, or by the act mentioned in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. Had they thought that any such superiority had been designed, their present question must have been extremely impertinent. Let this be observed."  -Adam Clarke

Guardian Angels

Matthew 18 teaches that there are angels who look after children:

"Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father."  Matthew 18:10

I wonder what it means about "always in the presence of My heavenly Father"?   Are some angels not?

We also get this interesting peek into the purpose of angels in Hebrew 1:14

"Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation."

It's good to firm up exactly what the Word says about angels as there are so many misconceptions in our culture.  Browsing the internet for an "accurate" angel image is a task in itself.  Who really knows what they look like, but our society's perception is far from the biblical facts that they are male and defenders.

First you have the typical feminine angel.   I think the feminists would call this one the "madonna" (as in Mary) type.  She's very maternal, motherly, soft, and gentle--sweet thought, kind of like a "fairy godmother," but not scriptural:

And we also like our "child" angels--again very romantic, feminine, harmless:

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Now, if they get so far as to realize that the Bible does require a male angel, they tend to sexualize the whole deal.  You get the "tortured" dark angel"

Or our "Fabio" angel...UGH!

Not sure what this says about our culture, but it ain't good and it's certainly not biblically sound.  I suspect that Gabriel, Michael, and the other angels have more significant things to do than develop their abs!

The Authority of the Earthly Church

Another tough passage:


 "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." -Matthew 18:18

How does Christ view the Church? Is He suggesting that the church on earth has judicial  influence in Heaven? Odd comment that needs more time from me to understand.

It also hearkens back to Matthew 16 and the "keys" conversation Christ had with Peter:

"And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." -Matthew 16:19

Not sure exactly what to make of it, but I suspect that the role of the Church here is grander than what the Church has been reduced to in this era.  I don't think the Lord was suggesting that the government and church should be one, but it's clear that there is a principle about the church having spiritual authority. 

Does the modern Church have spiritual authority? From my perspective, it's become a sort of fuzzy warm social club--no one wields these powerful terms or even understanding them.  The Church is busy about "good work" but authority?  Not sure about that!

Matthew 19--Divorce

Don't know why, but it just struck me this morning that the Pharisees were the lawyers of their day, the keeper of the law.  In Matthew 19, they bring the issue of divorce to Jesus as a means of trapping him.  I find the dialogue interesting in a number of regard, particularly as divorce is so common these days.  From this I can pull out:

1. God's plan is for this mysterious "unity" between man and woman.  His intent was ordained from the beginning before the fall and was not an "after thought."


Mat 19:6  Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together."

2. If you marry someone who is divorced for a reason other than martial unfaithfulness, you and that person commit adultery:


Mat 19:9  And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. [And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.]"

3. Better to not marry at all then to get into the mess of serial marriage:


Mat 19:10  Jesus' disciples then said to Him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry!"

However, what I find more intriguing is his statement after this:


Mat 19:11  "Not everyone can accept this statement," Jesus said. "Only those whom God helps.
Mat 19:12  Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can"

Whatever to make of the unuchs and not accepting this?  I can't imagine he's making an escape clause within it, but more just to say then you should avoid marriage entirely....

The original passage Jesus is referencing is this:

Deu 24:1  "Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes her a letter of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house.
Deu 24:2  When she leaves his house, she is free to marry another man.
Deu 24:3  But if the second husband also turns against her and divorces her, or if he dies,
Deu 24:4  the first husband may not marry her again, for she has been defiled. That would be detestable to the LORD. You must not bring guilt upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession.

Bizarre...men were permitted to divorce because they were displeased?  And then it sounds like if she remarries and the 2nd one doesn't like her, then she is even worse off---defiled?   Confused here.

Wesley's comment on Deuteronomy 24:1

"Some uncleanness - Some hateful thing, some distemper of body or quality of mind not observed before marriage: or some light carriage, as this phrase commonly signifies, but not amounting to adultery. Let him write - This is not a command as some of the Jews understood it, nor an allowance and approbation, but merely a permission of that practice for prevention of greater mischiefs, and this only until the time of reformation, till the coming of the Messiah when things were to return to their first institution and purest condition." -Wesley

Does Wesley mean until Jesus comes the 1st time or 2nd? It's muddy for me.


Here is the BBC commentary--which shows me the graciousness of God's love but doesn't help with the harshness of the Levitical law:


"A man could divorce his wife for uncleanness by writing her a certificate of divorce and giving it to her. She was then free to marry someone else. But if her second husband died or divorced her, the first husband was not allowed to marry her again. Jehovah gave Israel a certificate of divorce (Jer_3:1-8); yet in a future day He will take her to Himself again, having purged her of her unfaithfulness. Oh, the depths of the riches of the love of God; how low He stoops to love the unlovable!" -Believer's Bible Commentary


Here's another passage from Malachi that counterbalances this disregard for the wife a bit:


Mal 2:14  You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.
Mal 2:15  Didn't the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
Mal 2:16  "For I hate divorce!" says the LORD, the God of Israel. "To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, " says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife."

Leviticus 19--Tattoos

Musings on Tattoos and Head Coverings

I was chatting with some friends last night about tattoos. One friend definitely felt the Bible prohibited tattoos, and I was less sure. This morning, I dug up the passage in Leviticus. Just documenting my email ramblings:

Here's the passage, followed by my musings on the topic:

"But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the LORD your God. You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD. Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19:25-31

From just a brief search of Christian commentary on the issue, I think you could make an argument either way. The "for" allowing tattoo folks emphasize the larger context of this verse and argue this was a ceremonial law (like using mixed fibers or eating meat with blood in it) and that the prohibition is no longer relevant.

They emphasize that during this period of history, there was a need for the Israelites to differentiate and separate themselves from the customs of pagan nations. They argue that tattooing is no longer strongly tied to being a pagan (nor is rounding the corners of beards), so it is permissible.

The "against" position notes the other part of the verse is against "cutting," and they feel that that tattooing is another form of bodily mutilation. They emphasize that most of the prohibitions in this chapter are moral, NOT ceremonial, in nature.

It mainly boils down to the "ceremonial" vs. "moral" issue. Last year, I was reading 1 Corinthians 11 and found myself struggling with that passage about women covering their heads in church. My knee-jerk reaction is to dismiss that kind of literalism as no longer culturally relevant, but I stewed over that passage for weeks. Truthfully, I was getting scared because I was seriously thinking I might have to purchase a head covering and struggled with how bizarre I would feel! Anyway, the Lord finally resolved that one for me (as you can see, I am blissfully cover free ; )).

Having said that, I also think of how the prophets were instructed to do some pretty bizarre publicly humiliating things that differentiated themselves. And, I think we are a rather willful culture that generally shuns humility and bucks against personal restriction.

It is a tricky thing---the issue of what is "morally" modest does seem to change over time (women covering their heads, women wearing pants, skirt length, men with long hair, etc.)

What do I make of it all? Honestly, the waters are muddy for me. I dislike the legalism that has always infiltrated the church (from Pharisaical Jews of Christ's era, to the mystical high legalism of Catholicism, or the countrified "Southern Baptist" legalism of hair length and not mowing the lawn on Sunday). All seem to miss the bigger heart issues for the trappings of faith, and I think Christ's emphasis on the heart is very clear.

I am particular about modest dress for women, especially in church. I think immodest dress can be distracting, but then again, would a Victorian church member argue that showing an ankle in church is distracting? Would a woman of two generations ago insist upon women wearing hats and a skirt but not pants? It's hard to reconcile it all, but good food for thought in discussions with our children and other Christians.

Psalm 103

Such wonderful sentiments in this psalm and all true.  What makes it hard for me to hope in some of them is that they are not fulfilled yet.  He hasn't healed all diseases yet.  He hasn't redeem my soul from hell yet.

I am not sure how He renews my youth, as I am feeling rather old and discouraged with my energy level and ability lately.

I trust in these things, though I do not hold them in my hand---yet.


"O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins--every one. He heals your diseases--every one.
He redeems you from hell--saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy--a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness--beauty eternal. He renews your youth--you're always young in his presence.
GOD makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. -Psalm 103:2-6


"Memory is very treacherous about the best things; by a strange perversity, engendered by the fall, it treasures up the refuse of the past and permits priceless treasures to lie neglected, it is tenacious of grievances and holds benefits all too loosely. It needs spurring to its duty, though that duty ought to be its delight. Observe that he calls all that is within him to remember all the Lord's benefits. For our task our energies should be suitably called out. God's all cannot be praised with less than our all." -Spurgeon's Treasury of David


"As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins." -Psalm 103:11-12

"He is God, and not man, or our sins would soon drown his love; yet above the mountains of our sins the floods of his mercy rise." -Spurgeon

"As parents feel for their children, GOD feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud." -Psalm 103:13-14

Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,   But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. GOD's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children  as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said. -Psalm 103:15-18

"Observe how prominent is the personality of God in all this gracious teaching - “He made known.” He did not leave Moses to discover truth for himself, but became his instructor. What should we ever know if he did not make it known? God alone can reveal himself."  -Spurgeon

True--revelation is fully up to Him.  He chooses to reveal Himself to us.


"He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud."  -Psalm 103:14

Hard Sayings of Christ

We stress God's grace and forgiveness, His mercy.  But, here it is, Peter desired to protect the Lord...

"And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."  Matthew 16:22

and the Lord came back with...

"But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."  -Matthew 16:23-27

These are hard sayings.  Peter wished for Jesus to be safe and established.  We are told to put the health of our soul first.

Matthew 16

More Warnings about Religious Leadership

Interesting how much talk of the Pharisees and their actions dominates the discussion in Matthew.  I recall this from Mark but don't recall that being the case in Matthew.  Of course, it makes sense with the thought that this particular gospel is tailor-made for the Jews and that it would focus on these things.

Chapter 15 was dominated by the images of evil intertwined in the good...the parable of the wheat and tares, the mustard seed (with the "birds" nesting in the branches), the yeast.  Christ spends a lot of time of these "imposters" of the faith.  Now in Chapter 16, it begins with the Pharisees and Sadducees questioning him and again he replies with another enigmatic statement that highlights their "out-of-touch" nature:

"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. hAn evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed." -Matthew 16:1-4

For me, I am still puzzling over this loyalty God has to the Jews.  He chose them, gave them first priority.  Even in sending his son, Christ's ministry seems to be to the Jews first---as evidenced in the reluctant healing of the Canaanite woman, in the prior chapters.  This loyalty is interesting, and I believe tells us more about the nature of God than the nature of the Jews.  The Jews are no better, no worse, than all of us.  We all have tendencies to become callous, hard-hearted, self-serving, to get lost in our own traditions to the neglect of mercy.  Maintaining ritualism is easier than loving people.  With rituals, you don't have to engage your heart.

As if this litany of illustrations is not enough, Christ gets them into the boat and warns his disciples most directly:


"How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." -Matthew 16:11

Interesting comment on the Saducees perspective: "The leaven of the Sadducees was rationalism. The freethinkers of their day, they, like the liberals of today, had built a system of doubts and denials. They denied the existence of angels and spirits, the resurrection of the body, the immortality of the soul, and eternal punishment. This leaven of skepticism, if tolerated, will spread and permeate like yeast in meal." -BBC

Our culture is certainly full of this kind of literalness---science is viewed as supremely rational and, religion of all kinds, as wishful thinking.

On Feeding the Disciples After They Forgot the Food

Our physical and literal needs are a continual opportunity for us to trust the Lord.  We are readily distracted by them.

"When His disciples rejoined the Lord on the east side of the lake, they had forgotten to take food with them. Therefore when Jesus greeted them with a warning to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sad ducees, they thought He was saying, “Don't go to those Jewish leaders for food supplies!” Their preoccupation with food caused them to look for a literal, natural explanation where a spiritual lesson was intended.

If we put our limited resources at His disposal, He can multiply them in inverse proportion to their amount. “Little is much if God is in it.”-BBC

The people were given miracles, yet they wanted more.  The disciples had seen the Lord provide food for the masses, yet they continued to doubt and worry about physical provision.  It shows us that we can be blessed, yet we doubt.  We think that if the Lord would "provide" this one time, then we would trust and be confident in him, yet the truth is that we continually doubt, our default of doubt is the easiest route and we have to actively fight against it.

Peter, the Foundation of the Church

What to do with the below passage?  The Catholic Church uses it as the basis of their entire structure.



Mat 16:15  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16  Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Not sure if I fully buy this explanation, but it is attractive:

"We all know that more controversy has swirled around this verse than almost any other verse in the Gospel. The question is, “Who or what is the rock?” Part of the problem arises from the fact that the Greek words for Peter and for rock are similar, but the meanings are different. The first, petros, means a stone or loose rock; the second, petra, means rock, such as a rocky ledge. So what Jesus really said was “ ... you are Peter (stone), and on this rock I will build My church.” He did not say He would build His church on a stone but on a rock.

If Peter is not the rock, then what is? If we stick to the context, the obvious answer is that the rock is Peter's confession that Christ is the Son of the living God, the truth on which the church is founded. Eph_2:20 teaches that the church is built on Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Its statement that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets refers not to them, but to the foundation laid in their teachings concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is spoken of as a Rock in 1Co_10:4. In this connection, Morgan gives a helpful reminder:

Remember, He was talking to Jews. If we trace the figurative use of the word rock through Hebrew Scriptures, we find that it is never used symbolically of man, but always of God. So here at Caesarea Philippi, it is not upon Peter that the Church is built. Jesus did not trifle with figures of speech. He took up their old Hebrew illustration—rock, always the symbol of Deity—and said, “Upon God Himself —Christ, the Son of the living God—I will build my church.”-BBC

His Coming Death

Jesus was quite direct about his impending death.  You would think this would have inspired the disciples to react more steadfastly when later under the weight of this circumstance, but they all fled regardless.

Mat 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Christ the Dialectic Teacher

He asks questions to engage his disciples:


Mat 16:13  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

Mat 16:15  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 

His is no abstract impersonal theology---it demands a personal response from each individual.  It is not mere head knowledge, but intensely practical.

Psalm 102

This psalm has several images that remind me of the timeless nature of God:

" Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:

 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD." -Psalm 102:18-22

There is something so encouraging to me when I think upon the timeless nature of Him and His word.  Generations are united in our praise of Him.  The Bible, God's word, connects us across time that we might be inspired to praise him in an unbroken chain.


"Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end." -Psalm 102:25-27

Hard to grasp that the earth itself is ephemeral, that to Him our solid, seemingly slow changing structures can be gone in a moment.  This ephemeral nature of life is frustrating and unsettling to us.  For me, it prompts me to latch unto Him who is unchanging.