Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
Peace is an elusive thing. We all want it. We understand that life is better with it. So, if we want it and life is better with it, as my dad says... what is the hold up? Peace (or lack of it) in this world has a lot to do with self-interest. We want peace on our terms, so we negotiate with the enemy to tip the scales to our advantage. We might give up something unimportant in order to obtain what is important. Is this what Jesus is speaking of here? Is His idea of peace a negotiated settlement that leaves each side with something that they can claim as a victory? Is he calling on us to spend our lives negotiating peace settlements?
The New Testament term for peace is eirene and the Old Testament word is shalom. These terms do not carry the concept of an absence of conflict; it means much more that that. These words contain the idea of desiring positive good for others. In other words, it is the abandonment of self-interest and the active work for the benefit of the other person. This is no negotiated settlement and certainly is not the victory over an enemy that leaves them without defense. This peace is harmonious cooperation aimed at the welfare of all.
Jesus isn't saying here that those that love peace will be blessed. He isn't saying that blessing come to those that hope for peace, nor to those that avoid conflict. He is calling on His disciples to face their differences, their conflicts and overcome them. Barclay puts it this way... What this beatitude demands is not the passive acceptance of things because we are afraid of the trouble of doing anything about them, but the active facing of things, and the making of peace, even when the way to peace is through struggle.
He is calling on His followers to promote peace; peace with God and their fellow man. God is the ultimate peacemaker, having sent His Son to bring people back into a peaceful relationship with Him. (Romans 5:1-11; Ephesians 2:11-22) He is the God of peace. (Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5: 23) If we are to follow Him, be His disciples, then we too must be busy bringing His peace to a world in conflict. Nothing else will do. Mankind has spent their entire history doing battle with each other over lands, wealth, race and religion. Only God has the solution to the problem. Only His kind of peace will ever break down the boundaries that separate us and cause conflict.
I love that He tells us that if we are this kind of people, peacemakers, then we will be called His children. In other words, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If God, our Father is bust making peace, we will be too. Like father, like sons and daughters. Imagine for a moment ... standing before Him on that Day and hearing Him say, "you are a peacemaker, you are my son... you are my daughter". Let's get busy making peace... between mankind and God and between each other. He promises true happiness to those that live just such lives.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
More on Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
This weekend, I was fortunate to see a documentary that I think every parent and teen needs to see. It is called "Virgin Tales" and was shown on Showtime. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on this. The documentary follows a family in Colorado Springs. The father and mother are totally involved in their children's lives from a spiritual standpoint. They love and teach them in ways that made me uncomfortable. Why? I have spent some time analyzing what it was that bothered me and have landed on these thoughts...
A little background first... the daughters in this family have decided to remain virgins until marriage and even withhold their first kiss until the "I dos" are said. The sons have taken the same vow. The family has many "ceremonies" that they keep to mark significant times of maturity in the lives of their children. To a non-religious person, I would imagine that this little film offers much to be concerned about. (check out the website associated with this documentary for some comments - http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/virgin-daughters/) But for the Christian parent that takes their role seriously, this film will offer opportunities for some serious thought and reflection.
Ok, on to my reactions... First, I think watching these people make right choices made me feel badly about some of my choices that I made as a teenager and as a parent. I already had many regrets for the way I treated young ladies and have sought to give apologies and seek forgiveness for my actions when the opportunity presented itself. So, seeing young ladies and gentlemen choose to learn about love and trust and withhold fulfilling their desires made me regret that I had not done a better job myself. Secondly, seeing the parents so actively involved in their children's lives, made me think of things that I wish I had done a better job of. So, when I boiled down my uncomfortable feelings, most had to do with guilt that I felt and regrets that I had.
If I am to be completely honest, I found much to commend this family for and wondered what our nation would be like if more parents took the responsibility to form the lives of their children more seriously. One scene in particular stands out in my mind... the youngest son decides that he wants to "bless" his family and speaks to his sisters about what they mean to him and then he tells his father that he is his hero and then turns to his mother and with tears in his eyes (and mine) how much he loves her and thanks them for pouring their love into his life. I am telling you that if you can watch that and not consider the mistakes you have made as a parent, you are being intellectually dishonest!
Sure, some of it made me uncomfortable. I am still considering whether that is my problem or theirs. The dancing around the cross at the Purity Ball made me cringe. Watching the older daughter wrestle with the fact that she had passed the age of her sisters when they were married, yet God had not brought her man into her life. Hearing the youngest son tell his older brother that he had decided to go to West Point so that he could see his enemy eye to eye, all made me squirm a little. But at least they were making conscious decisions and considering the consequences of their choices.
If you have an opportunity to watch this little thought provoking film, let me know how it impacts you. I am sure there will be some discomfort, but think about what it is that is causing that feeling. If all we ever encounter are things that we agree with, there will be no growth and maybe some arrogance. Like me, I am sure you want your children to have happy, healthy relationships and lives that honor their Maker. The question is... what are we doing to help that become real? I know I missed many opportunities and have regrets to deal with. Bring on the thoughts....
This weekend, I was fortunate to see a documentary that I think every parent and teen needs to see. It is called "Virgin Tales" and was shown on Showtime. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on this. The documentary follows a family in Colorado Springs. The father and mother are totally involved in their children's lives from a spiritual standpoint. They love and teach them in ways that made me uncomfortable. Why? I have spent some time analyzing what it was that bothered me and have landed on these thoughts...
A little background first... the daughters in this family have decided to remain virgins until marriage and even withhold their first kiss until the "I dos" are said. The sons have taken the same vow. The family has many "ceremonies" that they keep to mark significant times of maturity in the lives of their children. To a non-religious person, I would imagine that this little film offers much to be concerned about. (check out the website associated with this documentary for some comments - http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/virgin-daughters/) But for the Christian parent that takes their role seriously, this film will offer opportunities for some serious thought and reflection.
Ok, on to my reactions... First, I think watching these people make right choices made me feel badly about some of my choices that I made as a teenager and as a parent. I already had many regrets for the way I treated young ladies and have sought to give apologies and seek forgiveness for my actions when the opportunity presented itself. So, seeing young ladies and gentlemen choose to learn about love and trust and withhold fulfilling their desires made me regret that I had not done a better job myself. Secondly, seeing the parents so actively involved in their children's lives, made me think of things that I wish I had done a better job of. So, when I boiled down my uncomfortable feelings, most had to do with guilt that I felt and regrets that I had.
If I am to be completely honest, I found much to commend this family for and wondered what our nation would be like if more parents took the responsibility to form the lives of their children more seriously. One scene in particular stands out in my mind... the youngest son decides that he wants to "bless" his family and speaks to his sisters about what they mean to him and then he tells his father that he is his hero and then turns to his mother and with tears in his eyes (and mine) how much he loves her and thanks them for pouring their love into his life. I am telling you that if you can watch that and not consider the mistakes you have made as a parent, you are being intellectually dishonest!
Sure, some of it made me uncomfortable. I am still considering whether that is my problem or theirs. The dancing around the cross at the Purity Ball made me cringe. Watching the older daughter wrestle with the fact that she had passed the age of her sisters when they were married, yet God had not brought her man into her life. Hearing the youngest son tell his older brother that he had decided to go to West Point so that he could see his enemy eye to eye, all made me squirm a little. But at least they were making conscious decisions and considering the consequences of their choices.
If you have an opportunity to watch this little thought provoking film, let me know how it impacts you. I am sure there will be some discomfort, but think about what it is that is causing that feeling. If all we ever encounter are things that we agree with, there will be no growth and maybe some arrogance. Like me, I am sure you want your children to have happy, healthy relationships and lives that honor their Maker. The question is... what are we doing to help that become real? I know I missed many opportunities and have regrets to deal with. Bring on the thoughts....
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
A Pure Heart
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." - Jesus (Matthew 5: 8)
In today's world, purity is something that is almost scoffed at. (unless you are talking about food and beverage) The idea of purity is that nothing is present that isn't supposed to be. Pure gold is just the element gold. Pure water is just two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom, nothing else. Pure means unmixed with any other matter. So when we discuss purity of heart, the idea is that only the right things, the things that God intended to be present are found in our lives. Let's dig in a bit and see if we can find what Jesus is speaking into our lives in this "simple" little beatitude.
First things first... if those that are pure in heart will see God, the implication is that the impure in heart will not see Him. That said, it becomes very important for us to understand this purity. The goal of every religious pursuit, from Jew to Christian, from Buddhist to Muslim, from Hindu to Baha'i, is to see God. Everyone involved in religion hopes to see God. Jesus gives us a foundational statement to build upon if we hope to one day see Him. He says that purity of heart is essential. Sure the Bible teaches other things on the subject of essentials, but something about purity is at the root of it all.
It is important for us to understand that Jesus is speaking of the core of man, who we are inside when he speaks of the heart. This is spiritual lingo here. He is saying that God will grant happiness to those whose inner person is pure and also that just such a person will see his Maker. The "heart" is the key to the whole person. What we say, what we think, how we act and react flow from our hearts. The Proverb writer puts it this way... Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.(4:23) Jesus says this about the heart... For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (Matthew 15:19) Everything about a person, whether good or bad originates in their heart. Nothing ever accidentally slipped out, it started in the heart of the person and found it's way to the surface.
So, how do we get there from here... pure of heart from impure of heart. It must be understood that this is an inside-out operation. Jesus blasted the religious elite of his day when he examined their rituals and found them to be outward actions that didn't flow from pure hearts...“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23: 25-28) He didn't cut them any slack for their evil hearts; in His eyes they were hypocrites. Inside they were one way and outside they were another.
What Jesus wants is a conversion of the heart. It was one way, now it is another. But how does this happen? Paul tells us in Romans 12:2...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. The transformation of the heart comes about by the renewing of the mind. Ok, great. But how does that happen. First, the decision must be made to follow Jesus. When a person comes to understand their lostness, their separation from God, they will respond to the good news of what Jesus did for them and make the decision to follow Him. Once that decision is made, we are immersed into Christ in baptism and our past sins are removed. (Acts 2: 37-4, Acts 22:16) Then our direction in life is changed... we now follow Him!
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (Col 3: 1-8)
You want to see God? A heart transplant is required and He does the surgery. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses (Col 2: 11-13). Pure at heart... this requires us to make a decision to follow and trust Him to produce the result. He is able if we are willing! ...and you will see Him!
Wise or Foolish?
In today's world, purity is something that is almost scoffed at. (unless you are talking about food and beverage) The idea of purity is that nothing is present that isn't supposed to be. Pure gold is just the element gold. Pure water is just two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom, nothing else. Pure means unmixed with any other matter. So when we discuss purity of heart, the idea is that only the right things, the things that God intended to be present are found in our lives. Let's dig in a bit and see if we can find what Jesus is speaking into our lives in this "simple" little beatitude.
First things first... if those that are pure in heart will see God, the implication is that the impure in heart will not see Him. That said, it becomes very important for us to understand this purity. The goal of every religious pursuit, from Jew to Christian, from Buddhist to Muslim, from Hindu to Baha'i, is to see God. Everyone involved in religion hopes to see God. Jesus gives us a foundational statement to build upon if we hope to one day see Him. He says that purity of heart is essential. Sure the Bible teaches other things on the subject of essentials, but something about purity is at the root of it all.
It is important for us to understand that Jesus is speaking of the core of man, who we are inside when he speaks of the heart. This is spiritual lingo here. He is saying that God will grant happiness to those whose inner person is pure and also that just such a person will see his Maker. The "heart" is the key to the whole person. What we say, what we think, how we act and react flow from our hearts. The Proverb writer puts it this way... Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.(4:23) Jesus says this about the heart... For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (Matthew 15:19) Everything about a person, whether good or bad originates in their heart. Nothing ever accidentally slipped out, it started in the heart of the person and found it's way to the surface.
So, how do we get there from here... pure of heart from impure of heart. It must be understood that this is an inside-out operation. Jesus blasted the religious elite of his day when he examined their rituals and found them to be outward actions that didn't flow from pure hearts...“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23: 25-28) He didn't cut them any slack for their evil hearts; in His eyes they were hypocrites. Inside they were one way and outside they were another.
What Jesus wants is a conversion of the heart. It was one way, now it is another. But how does this happen? Paul tells us in Romans 12:2...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. The transformation of the heart comes about by the renewing of the mind. Ok, great. But how does that happen. First, the decision must be made to follow Jesus. When a person comes to understand their lostness, their separation from God, they will respond to the good news of what Jesus did for them and make the decision to follow Him. Once that decision is made, we are immersed into Christ in baptism and our past sins are removed. (Acts 2: 37-4, Acts 22:16) Then our direction in life is changed... we now follow Him!
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (Col 3: 1-8)
You want to see God? A heart transplant is required and He does the surgery. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses (Col 2: 11-13). Pure at heart... this requires us to make a decision to follow and trust Him to produce the result. He is able if we are willing! ...and you will see Him!
Wise or Foolish?
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Blessed are the merciful!
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." - Jesus (Matthew 5:7)
Webster's Dictionary defines "mercy" in the following terms - "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment" and "a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion". That is pretty good, but the Greek word used here (eleemon) carries with it more than what our word "mercy" might communicate. "Sympathetic" (Blessed are the sympathetic) could also be used, but it still comes up short. So, since one word leaves us wanting, let's try a thought... sympathy that is felt for someone and drives us to actions toward that person. The idea here is that we will "do" something based upon the feelings that we have. It is empathy! It is not just a feeling, but it requires positive action to be taken to aid the person.
This concept of "mercy" went against the culture and the religious teaching of Jesus' day. The Romans despised pity and they considered mercy to be a sign of weakness. They considered it to be the worst of all human frailties. They glorified manliness, and to them mercy demonstrated a lack of it! The religious leaders of Jesus day were devoid of mercy. They were self-righteous, arrogant and judgmental. In their minds, suffering was God's judgment against an individual, so why show mercy if God didn't? (see Luke 13:1-5) But Jesus stood to call people back to God's view of mercy, His desire for how one person was to treat another in their time of need.
Mercy is certainly one of God's great characteristics. Jesus identified mercy as one of the "weightier provisions of the Law" - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23) This beatitude reflects the heart of God seen in Proverb 14:21 - He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Jesus promises those that show "mercy" shall receive "mercy". I don't know about you, but I am going to need God's mercy. I recon that if giving mercy in turn gets mercy, the opposite must also be true - withhold mercy and mercy shall be withheld from you. In fact, we have that teaching a little later on in 6:15 - but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses and in James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Our expression of mercy to others is directly proportional to the love we feel for our fellow man. In the same way, God's mercy towards us is an expression of His love for us. He gives us what we need, rather than what we deserve. Mercy and grace are so closely related that I have a hard time separating them. Haddon Robinson put it like this, "grace is God's reaction to our sinfulness; mercy is his reaction to our misery". John MacArthur says this, Mercy deals with symptoms, grace with the curse. Mercy offers relief from punishment; grace offers pardon for the crime. Mercy eliminates the pain; grace cures the disease".
Whatever the details, we are called on to be mercy givers! Our pity, our sympathy must drive us to action. And, our actions must be such that pain is relieved, needs are met and people are told of the life changing, soul saving love of Christ. That is mercy - Giving what we have been blessed with to help those in need of a blessing. Let's get busy demonstrating mercy!
Webster's Dictionary defines "mercy" in the following terms - "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment" and "a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion". That is pretty good, but the Greek word used here (eleemon) carries with it more than what our word "mercy" might communicate. "Sympathetic" (Blessed are the sympathetic) could also be used, but it still comes up short. So, since one word leaves us wanting, let's try a thought... sympathy that is felt for someone and drives us to actions toward that person. The idea here is that we will "do" something based upon the feelings that we have. It is empathy! It is not just a feeling, but it requires positive action to be taken to aid the person.
This concept of "mercy" went against the culture and the religious teaching of Jesus' day. The Romans despised pity and they considered mercy to be a sign of weakness. They considered it to be the worst of all human frailties. They glorified manliness, and to them mercy demonstrated a lack of it! The religious leaders of Jesus day were devoid of mercy. They were self-righteous, arrogant and judgmental. In their minds, suffering was God's judgment against an individual, so why show mercy if God didn't? (see Luke 13:1-5) But Jesus stood to call people back to God's view of mercy, His desire for how one person was to treat another in their time of need.
Mercy is certainly one of God's great characteristics. Jesus identified mercy as one of the "weightier provisions of the Law" - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23) This beatitude reflects the heart of God seen in Proverb 14:21 - He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Jesus promises those that show "mercy" shall receive "mercy". I don't know about you, but I am going to need God's mercy. I recon that if giving mercy in turn gets mercy, the opposite must also be true - withhold mercy and mercy shall be withheld from you. In fact, we have that teaching a little later on in 6:15 - but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses and in James 2:13 - For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Our expression of mercy to others is directly proportional to the love we feel for our fellow man. In the same way, God's mercy towards us is an expression of His love for us. He gives us what we need, rather than what we deserve. Mercy and grace are so closely related that I have a hard time separating them. Haddon Robinson put it like this, "grace is God's reaction to our sinfulness; mercy is his reaction to our misery". John MacArthur says this, Mercy deals with symptoms, grace with the curse. Mercy offers relief from punishment; grace offers pardon for the crime. Mercy eliminates the pain; grace cures the disease".
Whatever the details, we are called on to be mercy givers! Our pity, our sympathy must drive us to action. And, our actions must be such that pain is relieved, needs are met and people are told of the life changing, soul saving love of Christ. That is mercy - Giving what we have been blessed with to help those in need of a blessing. Let's get busy demonstrating mercy!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Hunger and Thirst...
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
- Jesus (Matthew 5:6)
Hunger and thirst - we have a hard time understanding what Jesus is discussing here. Sure we have felt hunger at noon and thirst when we are out mowing the yard... but we knew that just inside the doors of our homes was food and drink. Maybe you have fasted for a day or two, maybe more, but you always knew that food was waiting at the end of the fast. So, when we say, "I'm hungry" it probably means that we haven't had food since our last meal a few hours ago. Or, when we say, "I'm thirsty" we mean that our cup is empty and we need a refill. That is not the picture here.
Jesus is making a comparison that his listeners could understand. They knew hunger. They understood thirst. Now he connected those feelings with the desire for righteousness. When we are thirsty, we "need" a drink! When our stomachs are growling, only food will provide satisfaction. He tells them (and us), "you want to happy, you want God's blessing, you want to be satisfied... have the same desire for living rightly as you do for food or drink".
The Old Testament is full of such imagery...
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1,2)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. (Is 55:1,2)
So, what does Jesus mean by "righteousness" (dikaiosune)? The word is used for justice, moral uprightness or right-standing before God. Jesus is calling us to live with the essential desire for these things. Certainly all of us, on the right occasion seek justice. When we are confronted with something morally wrong, we might speak out against it. And, every now and then we might focus our lives on right-living. But, Jesus calls His followers to a daily, no that doesn't cover it... He calls his disciples to lives that demonstrate those things as the core of who they are. If we are to be His people, we must passionately seek those things! We must crave them!
What's the outcome of a life lived that way? Satisfaction. You want a life filled with satisfaction? Live with at hunger for righteousness. Live with a thirst for justice. Crave right-living. Jesus says that when we live like that, our desires will be satisfied; God will meet the need. In John 6, Jesus puts it like this... Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. The only true solution to our deep hunger and thirst is the Christ. We try to fill that void with things or people, but that will never work. Righteousness is not a supplement, it is a necessity!
Are you starving? Are you bone-dry? You don't go to the desert to find food and water! Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well... "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) Anything other than life in Him will leave you thirsty. He is able to meet all of our needs. Satisfaction is guaranteed!
Casting Crowns did a little song called "The Well". Maybe your life has been filled with failure. Maybe your search for satisfaction has left you thirsty and hungry. Check out their song and let me know what you think. Leave it all behind and come to the well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k
- Jesus (Matthew 5:6)
Hunger and thirst - we have a hard time understanding what Jesus is discussing here. Sure we have felt hunger at noon and thirst when we are out mowing the yard... but we knew that just inside the doors of our homes was food and drink. Maybe you have fasted for a day or two, maybe more, but you always knew that food was waiting at the end of the fast. So, when we say, "I'm hungry" it probably means that we haven't had food since our last meal a few hours ago. Or, when we say, "I'm thirsty" we mean that our cup is empty and we need a refill. That is not the picture here.
Jesus is making a comparison that his listeners could understand. They knew hunger. They understood thirst. Now he connected those feelings with the desire for righteousness. When we are thirsty, we "need" a drink! When our stomachs are growling, only food will provide satisfaction. He tells them (and us), "you want to happy, you want God's blessing, you want to be satisfied... have the same desire for living rightly as you do for food or drink".
The Old Testament is full of such imagery...
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1,2)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. (Is 55:1,2)
So, what does Jesus mean by "righteousness" (dikaiosune)? The word is used for justice, moral uprightness or right-standing before God. Jesus is calling us to live with the essential desire for these things. Certainly all of us, on the right occasion seek justice. When we are confronted with something morally wrong, we might speak out against it. And, every now and then we might focus our lives on right-living. But, Jesus calls His followers to a daily, no that doesn't cover it... He calls his disciples to lives that demonstrate those things as the core of who they are. If we are to be His people, we must passionately seek those things! We must crave them!
What's the outcome of a life lived that way? Satisfaction. You want a life filled with satisfaction? Live with at hunger for righteousness. Live with a thirst for justice. Crave right-living. Jesus says that when we live like that, our desires will be satisfied; God will meet the need. In John 6, Jesus puts it like this... Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. The only true solution to our deep hunger and thirst is the Christ. We try to fill that void with things or people, but that will never work. Righteousness is not a supplement, it is a necessity!
Are you starving? Are you bone-dry? You don't go to the desert to find food and water! Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well... "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) Anything other than life in Him will leave you thirsty. He is able to meet all of our needs. Satisfaction is guaranteed!
Casting Crowns did a little song called "The Well". Maybe your life has been filled with failure. Maybe your search for satisfaction has left you thirsty and hungry. Check out their song and let me know what you think. Leave it all behind and come to the well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5unzXXC0k
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Blessed Are The Gentle
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
I like that word... gentle. It sounds very calming, very peaceful. Meek on the other hand sounds a lot like weak. I know it isn't, but it sure sounds like it. What did Jesus have in mind when He spoke these words? I have heard more than my share of preachers thoughts on this verse in my lifetime, so what I have to say will be colored by 40 years of background noise.
I know Jesus isn't calling for His disciples to be weak. So, that is off the table immediately. But what does He want to see in us? What was He like in this area that He is calling us to imitate? The Greek word used here is "praus". William Barclay in his "A New Testament Wordbook" says this about "praus", there is gentleness behind praus but behind the gentleness there is strength of steel... it is strength under control." Praus represented one of the great ethics of the Greek culture and never had as its' meaning anything to do with weakness.
Barclay felt that if we were to use one English word to translate the meaning, gentleness comes the closest to communicating the concept. He gave us a paraphrase that he felt did the passage justice:
O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct and impulse and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled, who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is king among kings.
History demonstrates that it is just such people, people who have the gift of self-control, who have their passions, instincts and impulses under discipline that live lives that impact this world. We must be angry at the right things at the right times. We must be focused on the injustices of this world instead of concerned about our personal insults. Jesus calls on us to elevate our lives in service to Him and others in this way. What a difference people like this make on the lives of those they impact.
Moses and Jesus are both described as "praus". "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) Would anyone ever call Moses weak? Seriously. He confronted an emperor with only a stick. He called an entire nation to follow him. He lead the nation of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus said of himself, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt 11:29) Jesus, weak... give me a break! He confronted the religious establishment. He faced down the devil with nothing but a few Bible verses. He stood before a ruler and told him that any power he had was from Him. He endured the scourging and the cross for you and me. Weak... I think not.
So, what can we say about this gentleness that is strong as steel? Both of these men lived humble lives of sacrificial service to God and their fellow man. Jesus says that it is that type of person who will inherit the earth. James McGill wrote, Regardless of who holds the civil titles to the properties of the earth, this is our father's world, and the meek are his children and heirs. Mark quotes Jesus in his telling of the gospel, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life." (10:29-30) The meek, the gentle are the ones that know best how to live this life and receive the blessings that God has promised, both here and now and hereafter. Sound live weakness to you...
Wise or foolish?
I like that word... gentle. It sounds very calming, very peaceful. Meek on the other hand sounds a lot like weak. I know it isn't, but it sure sounds like it. What did Jesus have in mind when He spoke these words? I have heard more than my share of preachers thoughts on this verse in my lifetime, so what I have to say will be colored by 40 years of background noise.
I know Jesus isn't calling for His disciples to be weak. So, that is off the table immediately. But what does He want to see in us? What was He like in this area that He is calling us to imitate? The Greek word used here is "praus". William Barclay in his "A New Testament Wordbook" says this about "praus", there is gentleness behind praus but behind the gentleness there is strength of steel... it is strength under control." Praus represented one of the great ethics of the Greek culture and never had as its' meaning anything to do with weakness.
Barclay felt that if we were to use one English word to translate the meaning, gentleness comes the closest to communicating the concept. He gave us a paraphrase that he felt did the passage justice:
O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct and impulse and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled, who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is king among kings.
History demonstrates that it is just such people, people who have the gift of self-control, who have their passions, instincts and impulses under discipline that live lives that impact this world. We must be angry at the right things at the right times. We must be focused on the injustices of this world instead of concerned about our personal insults. Jesus calls on us to elevate our lives in service to Him and others in this way. What a difference people like this make on the lives of those they impact.
Moses and Jesus are both described as "praus". "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) Would anyone ever call Moses weak? Seriously. He confronted an emperor with only a stick. He called an entire nation to follow him. He lead the nation of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years. Jesus said of himself, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt 11:29) Jesus, weak... give me a break! He confronted the religious establishment. He faced down the devil with nothing but a few Bible verses. He stood before a ruler and told him that any power he had was from Him. He endured the scourging and the cross for you and me. Weak... I think not.
So, what can we say about this gentleness that is strong as steel? Both of these men lived humble lives of sacrificial service to God and their fellow man. Jesus says that it is that type of person who will inherit the earth. James McGill wrote, Regardless of who holds the civil titles to the properties of the earth, this is our father's world, and the meek are his children and heirs. Mark quotes Jesus in his telling of the gospel, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life." (10:29-30) The meek, the gentle are the ones that know best how to live this life and receive the blessings that God has promised, both here and now and hereafter. Sound live weakness to you...
Wise or foolish?
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Those Who Mourn
(Matthew 5:4)
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted".
I have never been very good at giving comfort to those who mourn. Maybe it is because I am not so well acquainted with mourning. I have lived my 53 years with very little to mourn about. I still have both of my parents. My siblings are all alive. Their families are all still around. All in all, I have been blessed to have those that I hold closest to me live long, healthy lives. I have lost friends and church family and when those times come, I am more focused on caring for their families than I am on examining my own personal feelings. But the day will come...
In this "beatitude", Jesus tells us that mourners will be comforted. Ok, I guess that is good news, but is that really what Jesus is telling us or is there a deeper meaning to this short verse. Is He talking about the loss of a loved one and the feeling that follow? Let's consider... the Greek word in view here is "pentheo". In the Greek vocabulary there is no other word that conveys the severity of sorrow or grief that "pentheo". It is used of those that have lost a loved one and cannot be consoled. This type of grief is accompanied by lamentation and weeping. We are talking about intense, overwhelming sorrow that will not leave a person.
Considering the setting and the topic being discussed, it is doubtful that Jesus is discussing the loss of a loved one. Rather, what is in view here is the mourning that occurs when someone recognizes their sinfulness and the sinfulness of others. In the Old Testament, people mourned over the sins of their nation and the judgment that was to come against them. Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem. (Jer 9:1, 18; 13:17; 14:17) Jesus mourned the rebelliousness of Jerusalem as He looked at her. ( Lk 19: 41-44) Paul grieved over his fellow Jews who rejected Jesus. (Rom 9:1-3)
Our own sins will cause us to mourn if we are trying to live rightly. David gives us a great example of how our own sinfulness should affect our lives in Psalm 51:1-4 and 7-12. When we come to understand that our sins break God's heart, we will arrive at the type of mourning that Jesus is calling us to. Paul gives us this encouragement in 2 Cor 7:10...For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Godly grief... Godly mourning produces the kind of feelings that motivate us to seek God's help in our struggle to live Godly lives. He says that it produces a repentance that leads to salvation.
You want comfort in your mourning? Confront your sinfulness. Lay it all out for Him to see. Look on it with the understanding... it is those sins that sent His Son to die on the cross. Let that settle in... I am responsible for the death of the Son of God. (and you also) Now, mourn it. Mourn the results of your sins and then turn to Him for comfort. Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation. Ultimate comfort will only come at His return, but while we are here we need to know that God is in the sin forgiving business. He sent His Son for that very purpose. Then, we can look forward to the day that the God of all comfort will wipe away every tear. (Revelation 7:17)
Wise or Foolish?
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted".
I have never been very good at giving comfort to those who mourn. Maybe it is because I am not so well acquainted with mourning. I have lived my 53 years with very little to mourn about. I still have both of my parents. My siblings are all alive. Their families are all still around. All in all, I have been blessed to have those that I hold closest to me live long, healthy lives. I have lost friends and church family and when those times come, I am more focused on caring for their families than I am on examining my own personal feelings. But the day will come...
In this "beatitude", Jesus tells us that mourners will be comforted. Ok, I guess that is good news, but is that really what Jesus is telling us or is there a deeper meaning to this short verse. Is He talking about the loss of a loved one and the feeling that follow? Let's consider... the Greek word in view here is "pentheo". In the Greek vocabulary there is no other word that conveys the severity of sorrow or grief that "pentheo". It is used of those that have lost a loved one and cannot be consoled. This type of grief is accompanied by lamentation and weeping. We are talking about intense, overwhelming sorrow that will not leave a person.
Considering the setting and the topic being discussed, it is doubtful that Jesus is discussing the loss of a loved one. Rather, what is in view here is the mourning that occurs when someone recognizes their sinfulness and the sinfulness of others. In the Old Testament, people mourned over the sins of their nation and the judgment that was to come against them. Jeremiah wept over Jerusalem. (Jer 9:1, 18; 13:17; 14:17) Jesus mourned the rebelliousness of Jerusalem as He looked at her. ( Lk 19: 41-44) Paul grieved over his fellow Jews who rejected Jesus. (Rom 9:1-3)
Our own sins will cause us to mourn if we are trying to live rightly. David gives us a great example of how our own sinfulness should affect our lives in Psalm 51:1-4 and 7-12. When we come to understand that our sins break God's heart, we will arrive at the type of mourning that Jesus is calling us to. Paul gives us this encouragement in 2 Cor 7:10...For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Godly grief... Godly mourning produces the kind of feelings that motivate us to seek God's help in our struggle to live Godly lives. He says that it produces a repentance that leads to salvation.
You want comfort in your mourning? Confront your sinfulness. Lay it all out for Him to see. Look on it with the understanding... it is those sins that sent His Son to die on the cross. Let that settle in... I am responsible for the death of the Son of God. (and you also) Now, mourn it. Mourn the results of your sins and then turn to Him for comfort. Godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation. Ultimate comfort will only come at His return, but while we are here we need to know that God is in the sin forgiving business. He sent His Son for that very purpose. Then, we can look forward to the day that the God of all comfort will wipe away every tear. (Revelation 7:17)
Wise or Foolish?
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Makarios... Blessed
(Matthew 5: 1-3)
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai in order to establish the old covenant... Jesus reveals the new Law on the mountain in preparation for the new covenant. And while quoting the Law of Moses is beneficial, we no longer live under it; now the Law of Love (so beautifully presented by the Christ in these three chapters of Matthew) is our new "Ten" commandments. May we determine to learn and put into action this new ethic as we follow Him.
The sermon begins with the "beatitudes". The word comes from the Latin word beatitudo, which is the Latin rendering of the Greek word makarios. The original word, makarios carries with it the idea of "happy", "fortunate" or "blessed". I prefer blessed. And the reason I prefer blessed is that it better communicates that the "happiness" or "fortune" comes from an outside source. James tells us in his little book that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change". (1:17) So, for me, the idea "that living out God's plan for my life will produce happiness" is the outpouring of God's good and perfect gift from above. I am thankful that God is still in the blessing business and it seems to me that God is making some promises to us in these "makarios", beatitudes.
So, the stage is set, the crowds have gathered and Jesus sits down and begins to speak...
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Poor in spirit"... interesting way to start the sermon. Why would Jesus start a discourse on the proper way to live our lives with the idea that in some way we need to be "poor in spirit"? What did those gathered hear when Jesus said these words? The Greek word used here (ptochos) is used to describe someone who is destitute and fully dependent on others. They have nothing of their own. Their next meal must come from the generosity of someone else. I know it is difficult for us to understand this concept as we are so far from that type of existence. But they were not! They understood very clearly what it was like to have nothing. So, Jesus begins with "poor in spirit" to call them to recognize their need for His teaching and to center their thoughts on that need as he begins His sermon.
Jesus tacks on "in spirit" to an idea of dependence. When you recognize that you are insufficient, then you begin to look for someone or something that is sufficient. Jesus is calling them (and us) to recognize that those that are sufficient within themselves, spiritually speaking will never turn to Him. They think they have the answers. They think their lives are good enough. They think that God owes them. You get the idea? Jesus is telling us that being poor in spirit is the opposite of being filled with pride and self-righteousness.
He says that if we come to Him with spiritually broken hearts, we will find healing. Isaiah puts it this way...
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
You want to possess the kingdom of heaven? Jesus says we must recognize our brokenness, our need for someone to fix up our lives. I know a man right now that is dealing with the results of alcohol and drug abuse. He is about to lose the ones he loves and because of this, he realizes that he is busted. His life is broken. He thought he had it all. Great job. Beautiful wife. Outstanding kids. But without the Christ, it is all illusion. It's smoke and mirrors. Jesus says to this man (and everyone), recognize your need, your dependence on Me, bring me your broken life and I will give you the kingdom of heaven.
The New Living Translation puts it like this... "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." I don't usually love the NLT, but right here, right now I think they got it just right! Spiritually poor... recognize that God is all sufficient and come to Him with empty hands and He will fill you up, both here and now and hereafter! May God richly bless us as we come to Him for spiritual welfare.
Wise or foolish?
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai in order to establish the old covenant... Jesus reveals the new Law on the mountain in preparation for the new covenant. And while quoting the Law of Moses is beneficial, we no longer live under it; now the Law of Love (so beautifully presented by the Christ in these three chapters of Matthew) is our new "Ten" commandments. May we determine to learn and put into action this new ethic as we follow Him.
The sermon begins with the "beatitudes". The word comes from the Latin word beatitudo, which is the Latin rendering of the Greek word makarios. The original word, makarios carries with it the idea of "happy", "fortunate" or "blessed". I prefer blessed. And the reason I prefer blessed is that it better communicates that the "happiness" or "fortune" comes from an outside source. James tells us in his little book that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change". (1:17) So, for me, the idea "that living out God's plan for my life will produce happiness" is the outpouring of God's good and perfect gift from above. I am thankful that God is still in the blessing business and it seems to me that God is making some promises to us in these "makarios", beatitudes.
So, the stage is set, the crowds have gathered and Jesus sits down and begins to speak...
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Poor in spirit"... interesting way to start the sermon. Why would Jesus start a discourse on the proper way to live our lives with the idea that in some way we need to be "poor in spirit"? What did those gathered hear when Jesus said these words? The Greek word used here (ptochos) is used to describe someone who is destitute and fully dependent on others. They have nothing of their own. Their next meal must come from the generosity of someone else. I know it is difficult for us to understand this concept as we are so far from that type of existence. But they were not! They understood very clearly what it was like to have nothing. So, Jesus begins with "poor in spirit" to call them to recognize their need for His teaching and to center their thoughts on that need as he begins His sermon.
Jesus tacks on "in spirit" to an idea of dependence. When you recognize that you are insufficient, then you begin to look for someone or something that is sufficient. Jesus is calling them (and us) to recognize that those that are sufficient within themselves, spiritually speaking will never turn to Him. They think they have the answers. They think their lives are good enough. They think that God owes them. You get the idea? Jesus is telling us that being poor in spirit is the opposite of being filled with pride and self-righteousness.
He says that if we come to Him with spiritually broken hearts, we will find healing. Isaiah puts it this way...
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
You want to possess the kingdom of heaven? Jesus says we must recognize our brokenness, our need for someone to fix up our lives. I know a man right now that is dealing with the results of alcohol and drug abuse. He is about to lose the ones he loves and because of this, he realizes that he is busted. His life is broken. He thought he had it all. Great job. Beautiful wife. Outstanding kids. But without the Christ, it is all illusion. It's smoke and mirrors. Jesus says to this man (and everyone), recognize your need, your dependence on Me, bring me your broken life and I will give you the kingdom of heaven.
The New Living Translation puts it like this... "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." I don't usually love the NLT, but right here, right now I think they got it just right! Spiritually poor... recognize that God is all sufficient and come to Him with empty hands and He will fill you up, both here and now and hereafter! May God richly bless us as we come to Him for spiritual welfare.
Wise or foolish?
Monday, July 15, 2013
Introduction to The Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5-7)
It has been called the greatest moral teaching ever given. Thomas Jefferson called it "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered." Harry Truman said, "I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount." Mohandas K. Gandhi replied this way when asked about the solution to the issues between India and Great Britain, "When your country and mine shall get together on the teachings laid down by Christ in this Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our countries but those of the whole world." Mankind recognizes that this sermon is different. What is it about these three chapters in Matthew that people see as the answers to the questions that face us as individuals and to a greater extent... the entire world? Let's dig in and think on this together.
In the third chapter of Matthew, John the baptizer comes on the scene and preaches that the kingdom of Heaven is near. His purpose was to "prepare" the way for Jesus. He went about preaching that the Kingdom was coming shortly and that the King was already here. John was commissioned by God to herald the coming of His Kingdom and the sending of His Son. John tells the Jews that they were no longer to depend on their ancestry. While having Abraham as their father was a great thing, in this new Kingdom they were to repent of their sins and be immersed in water for forgiveness. People came from all around to hear his preaching and be baptized by him. All the while, John is pointing to the One that would come after him "whose sandals he is not fit to carry".
Jesus comes to John at the end of chapter 3 to be immersed by him. John reacts much like I do when I read these verses... “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus tells him that it is to fulfill all righteousness. I have read many commentators on this and I am still not satisfied. So, let me take a stab at it myself. Jesus comes to John and says that He needs to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Obviously, Jesus need not submit to a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins because he had no sin! So why does he do it?
First, I believe He does it to show His obedience to the Law. He tells us that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. John, as a prophet of God had made baptism a new command and Jesus kept the command to fulfill the Law. Secondly, in His baptism Jesus' identity was declared to the world. After His immersion, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and God declared that He was his son and that He was well pleased. I don't believe that it is any coincidence that at our baptism, we become sinless, the Holy Spirit is given and God claims us as His children. (Acts 2:38ff) Think about it! Jesus came declaring the Kingdom was near and demonstrated the entry requirements for us himself. (Matt 22:18ff)
In Chapter 4, Jesus begins His ministry and calls disciples to follow Him. He proves His divinity by His miracles and people begin to answer His call. It is this setting that we begin the Sermon on the Mount. When He sees the crowds that are following Him, He walks up the side of a hill, sits down and presents the "new law" of the Kingdom. Matthew gives us the text of the sermon in chapters 5-7. (remember Matthew didn't place the breaks, we did) Let's take a moment to let this sink in...
The Creator of the universe, sits on the side of hill that He formed with His hands, under the sun and sky that he made and talks to the crown of His creation about how they were to conduct their lives. I cannot imagine the emotion that He felt as He began to tell them the greatest call to action ever given. I am sure He is thinking back to the fall of man and the efforts He had made to reach out to bring people back to Him. Over and over, He had called them back to Him and over and over they had gone astray. Genesis to Matthew is filled with the story of God's reaching out and man's rejection. Now, God sits on a hill and calls mankind to live out His will for their lives. And the story begins again...
Blessed is... more on that next time.
It has been called the greatest moral teaching ever given. Thomas Jefferson called it "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered." Harry Truman said, "I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount." Mohandas K. Gandhi replied this way when asked about the solution to the issues between India and Great Britain, "When your country and mine shall get together on the teachings laid down by Christ in this Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our countries but those of the whole world." Mankind recognizes that this sermon is different. What is it about these three chapters in Matthew that people see as the answers to the questions that face us as individuals and to a greater extent... the entire world? Let's dig in and think on this together.
In the third chapter of Matthew, John the baptizer comes on the scene and preaches that the kingdom of Heaven is near. His purpose was to "prepare" the way for Jesus. He went about preaching that the Kingdom was coming shortly and that the King was already here. John was commissioned by God to herald the coming of His Kingdom and the sending of His Son. John tells the Jews that they were no longer to depend on their ancestry. While having Abraham as their father was a great thing, in this new Kingdom they were to repent of their sins and be immersed in water for forgiveness. People came from all around to hear his preaching and be baptized by him. All the while, John is pointing to the One that would come after him "whose sandals he is not fit to carry".
Jesus comes to John at the end of chapter 3 to be immersed by him. John reacts much like I do when I read these verses... “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus tells him that it is to fulfill all righteousness. I have read many commentators on this and I am still not satisfied. So, let me take a stab at it myself. Jesus comes to John and says that He needs to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Obviously, Jesus need not submit to a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins because he had no sin! So why does he do it?
First, I believe He does it to show His obedience to the Law. He tells us that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. John, as a prophet of God had made baptism a new command and Jesus kept the command to fulfill the Law. Secondly, in His baptism Jesus' identity was declared to the world. After His immersion, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and God declared that He was his son and that He was well pleased. I don't believe that it is any coincidence that at our baptism, we become sinless, the Holy Spirit is given and God claims us as His children. (Acts 2:38ff) Think about it! Jesus came declaring the Kingdom was near and demonstrated the entry requirements for us himself. (Matt 22:18ff)
In Chapter 4, Jesus begins His ministry and calls disciples to follow Him. He proves His divinity by His miracles and people begin to answer His call. It is this setting that we begin the Sermon on the Mount. When He sees the crowds that are following Him, He walks up the side of a hill, sits down and presents the "new law" of the Kingdom. Matthew gives us the text of the sermon in chapters 5-7. (remember Matthew didn't place the breaks, we did) Let's take a moment to let this sink in...
The Creator of the universe, sits on the side of hill that He formed with His hands, under the sun and sky that he made and talks to the crown of His creation about how they were to conduct their lives. I cannot imagine the emotion that He felt as He began to tell them the greatest call to action ever given. I am sure He is thinking back to the fall of man and the efforts He had made to reach out to bring people back to Him. Over and over, He had called them back to Him and over and over they had gone astray. Genesis to Matthew is filled with the story of God's reaching out and man's rejection. Now, God sits on a hill and calls mankind to live out His will for their lives. And the story begins again...
Blessed is... more on that next time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)