Tag: teach

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Mark: Healing on the Sabbath

Read: Mark 3:1-7

God is serious about the Sabbath, the fourth commandment for those with a checklist. Working from home for nearly 20 years has tainted my personal understanding of Sabbath, something I need to figure out how to fix.

In this passage, Jesus challenges the Pharisees to look beyond the stone tablets, but some are hell bent on missing He who was heaven sent:

Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Mark 3:2

First of all, “some of them” knew that Jesus could heal the man. That alone causes me to pause. It’s not like they were whispering amongst themselves, wondering if He could heal the man, they were wondering if He would.

Secondly, who is “the man with the shriveled hand?” I’m confident that he is not a stranger, someone on a business trip that wandered by the synagogue to catch up on his daily prayer time. No, this man was known by the people, likely an outcast because his “defect” made him just a little less of a man that those standing to accuse Jesus. He came to the synagogue knowing he’d be judged and seen as unworthy–yet he came. I’m not sure I would willingly go to a place where the leaders would look down on me as less than worthy.

Lastly, Jesus knows their thoughts. He could have waited a few minutes and suggested they meet around the corner, at a friend’s house, or anywhere other than right in front of those looking for a reason to fight, but that’s not how our Savior acts:

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Mark 3:3

The stage is set. Time to learn from the Master. Just before this event, Jesus told the Pharisees:

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

They didn’t get it. They are so focused on their laws that they lost sight of what The Law was created for. Jesus, knowing their hearts, demonstrates His greater compassion for the man who came to the location where people were supposed to find God, the synagogue, the meeting place to learn and share. As we see time and time again, Jesus goes to these places to speak truth, but find stubborn hearts instead.

Here’s the scary part:

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts… Mark 3:5

Anger and distressed.

The last thing in the world I ever want is to have Jesus look at me in anger or be distressed by my stubborn heart! Just glancing through the Old Testament, things did not go well for those who angered God!

The main lesson we draw from this story is to look at the greater meaning of The Law, the rules by which we live. If we miss this lesson, we risk acting like these leaders in the story, a reality that plays out far too often.

Sadly, I’ve seen this before in modern churches. I remember having lunch with the senior pastor of a church where “some of them” decided he was making poor financial churches. They met amongst themselves to stir up dissention and eventually left the church. In the process, my friend lost his position and relocated. Sad. What’s sadder still is this is not unusual.

Lord, help us to learn from the Pharisees that You show us in scripture. Teach us to avoid being so holy that we can’t even see. Help us to help each other and not become “some of them.” Allow us to see the 500-pound gorilla in the room and have the audacity to call it out! None of us wants to be a Pharisee.

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Mark: Dinner with Sinners

Read: Mark 2:13-17

When was the last time you had dinner with sinners? When have I intentionally invited those who are regarded as sinful, shunned by the church, into my home to share a meal? Seriously. Consider the text:

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Mark 2:15-16

This is not a narrative about feeding the homeless, though that’s a good thing to do, instead we see Jesus rubbing shoulders with those who were rejected by the Pharisees, the proverbial well-to-do people in society, business leaders, those with disposable income, titles, prestige, and all the trappings of a successful earthly life.

Jesus, knowing He will only be walking on earth for 1,200 days (or so), chose to invest one evening with this group. I suspect it was way more than one occasion–probably a common occurrence.

My rough calculations suggest I’ve had over 12,000 dinners as an adult. I know that our concept of dinner is much different than that of 2,000 years ago, but still, how many of those were intentionally set with successful people outside of the church? Honestly, I wonder if I know how to make friends with someone outside of church because I spend so much time inside the church.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

In our modern society it takes about 10 years to become a medical doctor. Imagine becoming a physician that avoids patients. In an instant the Spirit of God can fill a life, change a person for eternity, no need for 10 years of school! In that same instant we can reach out and share the love of Christ around a dinner table, a cup of coffee, or _____ (fill in the blank).

I’m personally challenged by these few verses because I’m sure this happened frequently for John Mark and the disciples. Jesus, friend of sinners, ate with those who were far from God, who were eternally sick, though physically fine.

Lord, open my eyes to those who are far from You, those who are ill, but don’t know it. Show me how to have a relationship with them that will change their lives for eternity–for their benefit and for your glory!

 

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Mark: Jesus’ Galilean Ministry — Heals a Paralyzed Man

Read: Mark 2:1-12

As Jesus continues to minister in the area in and around Galilee many are healed, amazed, in awe, and filled with wonder. At the same time, questions begin to arise, accusations raised, authority is challenged. From a high-level perspective it’s great to see Jesus wading into the throngs of people, moving without restraint, breaking social rules without a concern–not for the sake of being noticed, rather, Jesus demonstrates his love and compassion for all kinds of people. We should learn from this example.

My plan was to fly through these two chapters, but I’m stuck, the stories are too compelling. I guess I’ll just leave the overview here as a kind of outline for the next few days and see where that goes!

Overview:

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

Trouble begins when Jesus does something amazing. As a kid, reenacting the scene where Jesus heals a paralyzed man that was dropped down from the roof of a house was a lot of fun. I remember in later years how difficult it was to actually lift someone with four ropes on the corners of a stretcher — try it, it’s not easy — let alone carrying all of these parts to a roof and safely lowering the guy to the ground. There are so many parts to this story to focus on!

The huge crowd gathers to hear teaching like never before. They were hungry to learn from Jesus when this guy gets dropped down from the roof. When I think about the event, I have to smile. We get caught up on Sunday morning with any minor distraction, yet here’s this group ripping a hole in the roof, dirt falling, pieces of material had to be dropping around Jesus as they lowered him. Some people were no doubt offended that this distraction was preventing them from hearing. After all, the world revolves around each of us, right?

Jesus waits for the crowd to calm down, then without hesitation, the man is healed. The man. Not the baby, or little child. This guy is known in the community, he’s the crippled dude that’s been overlooked by many. Before their very eyes:

He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:12

Mind blown. This is the real thing, yet immediately the teachers of the law are confused. The main problem I have with their reaction is there lack of desire to learn anything from Jesus. Their questions are not meant to find understanding, they are meant to criticize.

How many times do we hear a message and immediately switch into critical high-gear? Are we trying to learn? Or are we trying to gather evidence to defend our position? I know these are loaded questions. I’m guilty as much as anyone. So here’s my simple prayer:

Lord, help me to listen better,
to learn more and
to do everything surrounded by love.

Not too profound. The day the paralyzed man was healed, my guess is that there were five new believers in Christ, four that lowered him plus the man himself. I don’t know if they started a house church that week or if they helped to lead others to Jesus, but I suspect they did something! Isn’t this the driving theme in Mark’s Gospel? Do. Something.

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Mark: Jesus’ Ministry Begins

Read: Mark 1

John Mark wastes no time in getting into the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The NIV Study Bible notes summarizes his perspective like this:

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes more what Jesus did than what he said. Mark moves quickly from one episode in Jesus’ life and ministry to another.

No joke! In the first 13 verses we read about John the Baptist preparing the way, baptizing Jesus, then the passing reference to His wilderness experience. It’s as if John Mark wanted us to read the other Gospel accounts for more details–his focus was on action!

Take a few minutes to watch The Bible Project’s overview of the Gospel of Mark here:  https://thebibleproject.com/all-videos/?category=&q=mark

Jesus begins to speak into the ultimate Good News:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15

Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry begins with calling the disciples to follow Him, then rebuking an evil spirit while teaching in a synagogue. The people are overwhelmed at His actions:

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

The time for complacency is over. No more frozen-chosen. Mark uses strong words of action in his account of Jesus ministry. In the passage above, Jesus speaks “sternly,” the spirit acts “violently,” and departs with a “shriek.” I’m reading the NIV, but the language is strong in whatever translation you prefer.

Jesus goes on to heal many, but it’s interesting that He starts with Peter’s mother-in-law:

So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. Mark 1:31

Did you catch that? I missed it at first. Peter’s mother-in-law, i.e., Peter is married. Paul uses this as a teaching point for the Corinthians:

Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 1 Corinthians 9:5

At any rate, they are eyewitnesses to the miraculous healing touch of Jesus, in many ways. Jesus goes on to heal many (“the whole town”) and his earthly, physical body grows tired, so He seeks a solitary place to go and pray. This alone is a wonder and a great example for us to consider.  The disciples are so excited they seek out Jesus:

and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:37-39

Many were healed and though Jesus asked them to keep quiet the news spread quickly and to the point where he “could no longer enter a town openly.” Makes sense to me!

John Mark was close to Simon Peter. Their lives were radically changed by Jesus. Though their personalities were quite different, there is no doubt that from this point on they were living on mission for the Gospel. How about us? Have we been radically moved? We know the rest of the story, how can we keep it to ourselves?

Lord, I pray we are all compelled to act, to spread the news of Jesus by reading the hyper-fast pace of Mark’s Gospel.

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The Rest of the Story: Jesus Has Risen

Read: Matthew 28

The last chapter of Matthew includes the key that separates us from all other religions: Jesus’ resurrection. No doubt, this is this pivot point in time for human existence.

The guards were scared to death, took their bribes from the chief priests and disappeared.

Mary and Mary were the first to discover the empty tomb and Matthew is unafraid to suggest that these women were the ones to carry the great news back to the disciples.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:5-6

Jesus doesn’t dwell on the event, after all, He told people, especially His disciples, this was the way it was going to happen. Instead, Matthew reports briefly on the resurrection and focuses on what we are to do with this information, how we should respond:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The phrasing here is significant to me. All authority has been conferred to Jesus–anything is possible at this point, there are no limits, no boundaries, no holding back. He could say, “mount your horses men, let’s take on the world!” With a whisper, the voice that calmed the sea could eliminate Roman rule and demand peace throughout the land. Literally anything.

The Savior of the world leaves us with clear direction: Go and make disciples.

He didn’t say go and plant churches, though that can be an effective method for discipleship.

He didn’t say go and write books, preach amazing sermons, or compose songs that melt hearts of stone, but when Christ is honored in these methods, these can be important elements of reaching the least, the lost and the lonely.

Jesus was pretty clear: Go and make disciples.

How we do that will be different for each individual, but it is not optional. Lord, help us to know how we can do our part of your great commission, how we go into this world, where we can be most effective for your kingdom here on earth. Remind us daily that this simple command is the gas in our tank, the drive in our engine, the reason for our brief appearance on earth in human flesh.

Thank you Lord for making it clear and concise. Let’s lock arms and go into the world!

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Matthew: Jesus’ Trial, Crucifixion and Burial

Read: Matthew 27

Not the end of the story.

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. Matthew 27:1-2

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Matthew 27:24

Pilate played his part, ignored his wife’s admonition, and  washed his hands. “All the chief priests and the elders of the people” got their way. All. Sad. Completely deceived.

Jesus, now in the hands of Pilate’s soldiers, was treated with the utmost disrespect. From their perspective, this was just another man to execute. Like the priests and elders, the soldiers were lost in their world, out of touch with humanity. I know it’s horrible to compare priests with brutal soldiers, but both are representatives of systems contrived by humans for their own purpose, their own selfish desires.

Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Matthew 27:37

Priests, elders, soldiers — complete disrespect. Then the people, those wandering by to see the latest execution by crucifixion joined to add their voices, mocking Jesus.

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. Matthew 27:41

The torture of crucifixion is not something to dwell on, though many have explained the agonizing, painfully slow process that always ends in death, one way or another. The soldiers knew the process, but this time something was different. When Jesus breathed his last, a series of events took place that defied explanation.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

Crucifixion complete, the centurion speaks in past tense. I wonder if this centurion was aware of the rest of the story. Surely he would have heard from the company of guards, but that’s the next chapter, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Pilate released Jesus’ body to Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, probably one that Pilate was quick to appease.  Joseph provided burial clothes and a tomb for the body of Jesus.

The Jewish leaders were concerned that Jesus’ disciples, interestingly absent, would steal the body and assert he had risen as he predicted, so they pulled yet another puppet string on Pilate the governor:

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Matthew 27:65-66

As Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story” is yet to come. For today, I ponder the pitiful state of people at that time, lost in their selfishness. They couldn’t see the extent of their depravity–the deceiver had done his job well. Can we see ourselves? Are we like the elders?

It’s easy to say I’m not like the soldiers, but I’m reluctant to shout I’m not like the Jewish leaders. Raised in Christian tradition, I have been assimilated into the fold. So the challenge, my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not be normal. We don’t walk in the footsteps of those who blindly follow protocol, but we’re not rebellious for the sake of rebelling.

The featured image on this post is truly strange. The photographer captured what appears to be a common site in Nepal, these Holy men of Pashupati. Grown men that are part of a ritualistic religious group we would be quick to disassociate ourselves with. I could have chosen a photo from the Vatican or NAMB, but this one was so extreme I thought it conveyed the point that men who appear wise in their own eyes look foolish to God.

Lord, my prayer is for clear vision this morning, to truly see what is before me. Help us to not be so caught up in our earthly systems that we miss the piece of heaven that is in front of us.

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Matthew: The Olivet Discourse, Part 2

Read: Matthew 25

The last of Matthew’s record of Jesus’ teaching through parables includes three lessons:

  1. The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
  2. The Parable of the Bags of Gold: Matthew 25:14-30
  3. The Sheep and the Goats: Matthew 25:31-46

The first exhorts us to be prepared, the second to be prudent and the third invites us to love the world as Jesus did.

Parable of the Ten Virgins (Bridesmaids)

For some reason, the use of the term “virgins” in the title of the first parable trips me up. I don’t think I’m alone in that category as the NLT translates the Greek as “bridesmaids” based on the context of the term. The Greek is clearly “virgin,” but the context is better aligned with those in the wedding party. My aversion to “virgin” is the connotation of exploiting young girls, something we’ve become keenly aware of these days through news of human trafficking. Talk about a rabbit trail!

The point of the story seems plain and pretty straightforward — be prepared, don’t be a fool and delay the decision to follow Christ.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

It’s interesting that Jesus uses weddings, feasts, and large gatherings in his parables. We see lots of celebrations, not just the dull, dreary work in the field type of people. The event is special, not an ordinary day — we need to be prepared every day because we don’t know when that day will come. Maybe today will be that day for someone!

Parable of the Bags of Gold or Three Servants

Once again, the NLT provides a slightly different emphasis on this parable. Is the main point about bags of gold or the people? Hmmm. I tend to think the point of this story has less to do with money and much more to do with stewardship (with an emphasis on the steward). In the parable, as the master prepares to go away on a long trip, he calls three of trusted servants and gives them a task.

To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. Matthew 25:15

Each according to his ability. The master knows his servants well and uses this discernment when he apportions each with that which they can handle. I’m pretty confident I’m not a 5-bag level guy, but I hope and pray that I’m not a 1-bag servant!

My friend Nabeel Qureshi died a few days ago at the young age of 34. His earthly body was ravaged by stomach cancer. Incredibly sad. Nabeel was a 5-bag servant, or perhaps a 10-bagger! His short life on earth had a profound impact on the kingdom, literally thousands of Muslims have come to know Jesus as their Lord through Nabeel’s testimony. When I met him in 2012, he wasn’t thinking about writing books to become a Christian superstar, but so many encouraged him to stop and record his thoughts so we could learn from his keen insight. Please read, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, when you get a chance. His story of faith is wrapped up in this well-written, significant book.

While I know I’m just a 2-bag guy, I pray that I will in fact use them to support those with 3, 4 or 5 bags! I’m incredibly thankful for that which has been given to me and continue to look for ways to gain two more bags!

Sheep and Goats — The Final Judgment

Over the last year, I’ve been working with Greg Wiens on a project with World Vision that centers on this section of Scripture. We’ve read and discussed it over and over again as we built the Mission Gap Assessment. Basically, we ask individuals to evaluate how they prioritize serving “the least of these” versus “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28). The emphasis is to encourage both–you can’t do one without the other. [Link]

The foundation of both is simply, love. If we hear Jesus’ words from the previous chapter and love God, love ourselves and love others, there is no doubt which side of the fence we will fall on that day of final judgment. Perhaps we’re victims of capitalistic marketing that has inundated our culture for the last fifty+ years, but it’s not all about me! I actually don’t need a bigger house, better car, newer wardrobe, etc. While there are things I actually need, they should not be influenced by marketers desires to add to their sales figures.

When I focus on loving God with everything I have, the rest falls into place. Sad to admit that last sentence begins with “When.” Seems like there is a need for constant reminders about who God is and why He is most deserving above all else. Isn’t this why we gather on Sunday? The weekly reminder is not a box to check, it’s designed to help me remember that loving God is not a task, it’s a privilege and it’s meant to be shared with others.

Another point of the story of sheep and goats is simply this: I am not the judge. Thank goodness! My role is to love others completely. That’s not easy to do, but the more I focus on being patient and kind to everyone, the more I become like Jesus commanded.

All over the charts this morning. The clock says I need to post this and get to work, but I’m lost in thoughts of how to do the things that are covered in this chapter. How can I be vigilantly prudent while loving everyone? What does that look like? Ah, the journey. I’m really thankful to have friends to run with on this path!

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Matthew: The Olivet Discourse, Part 1

Read: Matthew 24

If you have a red letter Bible, or like me, you have “red letter” turned on, chapters 24 & 25 are nearly all red (initially I thought I would cover both chapters). The words of Jesus are carefully transcribed here as part of the last discourse in Matthew’s gospel account. The prophetic voice of Jesus himself addresses the end of time with an emphasis on preparation, on doing, more than observing and talking. It’s time to get out of our comfort zone and into our calling zone. Lord, help us to hear that call clearly!

As I was reading chapter 24 and highlighting verses, a funny thing happened: the verses I picked were 10 verses apart: 14, 24, 34 and 44. Weirdness. Not contrived, just fell that way.

Jesus’ prophecy about the end of time comes with clear warnings:

  • And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
  • For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. Matthew 24:24-25
  • Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:34
  • So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

Reading this in September of 2017 is radically different than sitting in the room with Jesus when the words were spoken. Ted Dekker’s recent books (A.D. 30 & A.D. 33) help me to appreciate what it must have felt like to be in that room and how difficult it must have been to understand what Yeshua was saying.

Back up a few verses and grab a glass of context, this is a private conversation for the world to hear:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3

The rare, non-red letters in this chapter describe how Jesus delivered this discourse. It’s absolutely amazing! We only read the important words, but I wonder how many times the disciples raised their hands, scratched their heads, or simply said, “wait, stop, pause, say that again!” This wasn’t a sermon from the pulpit given during the hour of power, this was a conversation where Jesus sat down with his chosen few and painted a picture of what was to be. I truly believe there was a lot of interactive discussion at the time and I further believe Jesus repeated the words so many times so that Matthew, Mark and Luke were able to take notes and provide their perspective on the discourse.

Imagine the first time these fishermen, plus others, heard this statement:

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

The whole world. All nations. That had to be something which needed some clarification. No one was checking to upgrade their MailChimp account or update their Facebook status with the hopes of going viral. Jesus is sitting there with them saying the entire world will hear this gospel that they are hearing for the first time. As we read in the previous chapters, the Pharisees and Sadducees are not the ones who will convey this message; rather, it’s these handful that answered the call. All will hear as a result.

But don’t be deceived, it won’t happen without the Tempter himself trying to screw things up:

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. Matthew 24:24-25

Jesus is speaking in prophetic terms and clearly wants to tell all of us to be aware of false teachers. For the disciples, this provided incredible insight into how they should live out their days. John invests a lot of time reminding us this world will not accept us and Paul would later write about being in the world, but not of the world (Romans 12:2).

When the end comes, it will come with a fury.

Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Matthew 24:34

In one generation God will bring about the end of time as we know it. Will this be the generation? This year? Next year? In our lifetime? Don’t be too quick to say no.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

Stop expecting to be the only one that gets the secret message! Instead, be prepared! I’m sure we agree that the type of readiness that Jesus is describing as “be ready,” is a very active state of spreading the good news of the Gospel, but how we go about this business is multifaceted and tied directly to our Spiritual Gifts and personal wiring. The better we understand our calling, the better we will be at serving the body of Christ. However, let’s not get so inwardly focused that we are outwardly useless! This post is already too long, you’re probably not even reading at this point! The next chapter gives us some great words of wisdom to help in the preparation.

We’ve been given the Bible to continue this conversation. When we meet and talk about life, the ups and downs, joy and sorrow, if we’re deeply considering the words in the Bible, these kinds of thoughts just naturally arise — this is a good thing! We should discuss things like, what did he mean by ‘this generation’ and how can we be prepared and act at the same time? We can only do this if we make time in our busy schedules to sit and chat about things beyond football.

Lord, help us to get excited about the journey that is before us, the mission of your church, the Gospel for all nations, for all people, and especially to understand our role in the process.

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Matthew: Jesus and the Religious Leaders

Read: Matthew 22-23

Following the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus continues to challenge the Jewish leadership by exposing their inability to grasp the fundamental truth that was literally standing right in front of their faces. The reading today includes a wide array of topics presented by Matthew as keys to revealing significant problems with the religious right.

Here’s the roadmap for this morning:

Jesus’ response to paying taxes is one we often quote, and it’s probably a favorite of the IRS, but notice verse 16:

They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. Matthew 22:16

The Pharisees tried to trip up Jesus by including the Herodians in the confrontation to create a legal reason for disbanding the disciples. The Herodians, as in, Herod who had John beheaded on a whim. They commune with those who are despised by the people as an oppressive authority and judge Jesus and his disciples who reach out to the least, the lost and the lonely. The Pharisees are hell-bent on getting their way, as we’ll read today, and that’s not a play on words. Jesus doesn’t miss a beat as he sends them off scratching their heads.

Next we read about an encounter with the Sadducees, the group that doesn’t believe in the resurrection. This is their moment on stage with Jesus, so what do they ask? They ask a question to try and gain support for their position on resurrection by creating a ridiculous scenario. Jesus hears their pinpointed question and provides a broad response:

You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29

Those who devote their full attention to the Scriptures are lost, they don’t understand at all. Jesus sends them away searching their scrolls to find the basis of his response, but they will not be satisfied because they don’t see the big picture. Lost in the details and checklists, they have no chance at understanding the “why” behind the story.

Time for the Pharisees to step up to the microphone:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:26-40

I can’t help but provide the entire quote here, these words are so important for us to soak in. All the Law hands on these fundamental thoughts. Every time we read the Bible, sing a worship song, pray for another, we need to remember that we are bound to love first. Love God with all we have. Love our neighbors, those caught up in this life like we are. Love ourselves. Obviously, we could write about this for days!

Matthew’s not done and the Pharisees, somewhat surprisingly, are still around so Jesus asks them a question:

What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he? Matthew 22:42

Jesus gives them a puzzle to solve that they cannot possibly comprehend from their perspective and sends them off (for the day):

No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:46

You see, it’s not that the religious leaders misinterpret the Law, the simply don’t understand the underlying principles for which the Law was created — they missed the point. As a result, they are lost in their piety:

So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. Matthew 23:3

When we talk about servant leadership, serving to lead, we are drawn to this passage because we know in our hearts:

The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12

The motivational speech is to humble ourselves, not dance in the end zone.

Just in case anyone is wondering about Jesus’ position on the Pharisees:

  1. Woe: You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
  2. Woe: you make a new convert twice as much a child of hell as you are.
  3. Woe: You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
  4. Woe: You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
  5. Woe: Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
  6. Woe: You look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
  7. Woe: you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33

Seven woes. The leaders are completely lost.

Before we begin to gloat over our non-denominational deliverance from Pharisaical thinking or our superior understanding of Calvinism or Arminianism, let’s pause and reflect. While it’s important to be able to articulate theological, dogmatic distinctions, solid expository teaching of the Bible, and appropriate hermeneutics, I pray that we will not lose sight of our savior’s words: Love God and Love Others. Lord, help us to embrace love for the entire world.

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Matthew: Passion Week Begins

Read: Matthew 21

As much as I’d like to cruise through the book of Matthew, I simply can’t! There is so much to consider even in this single chapter of Matthew. As Hurricane Irma knocks out power and disrupts the lives of so many in Florida (in particular), I pray we can slow down and listen to the quiet voice and learn.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was significant and worth pausing to consider:

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:10-11

He was certainly well known and far from hidden as Passion Week begins. Crowds of people honored Him as He came into the holy city of Jerusalem. Matthew’s careful wording of this verse is interesting:

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. Matthew 21:15

The religious leaders saw wonderful things He was doing and even the children were participating in His triumphal entry. Their response: indignation. Their concern was all about Jesus’ credentials:

“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” Matthew 21:23

Where did you go to Seminary? Do you have your doctorate? Is it honorary or real? Who was on your dissertation committee? The list goes on and on. Anything to dispel credibility compared to their own.

We tend to do the same thing today, even if we don’t admit it. The first thing we do is surround ourselves with those of like mind. This makes sense for building friendships, but not necessarily for building the kingdom. When we all think alike, it’s easy to conclude that our thoughts are always right and here’s where we start to slide down the slippery slope we see the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

I’m not suggesting we surround ourselves with contrarians or people who just want to argue, but to be an effective voice for Christ, we need to be representative of all kinds of people. Something to consider when building a team that is designed to reach beyond our own understanding and knowledge.

Parable of the Tenants: Matthew 21:33-46

This amazing parable directly convicts the religious aristocracy of the day. They might be dim, but they’re not stupid:

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. Matthew 21:45-46

They identified with the horrible people in the parable…so they looked for a way to arrest him? Lord, do we sense guilt when we hear a word against us and become defensive? I pray we will not become so pious, that we would learn lessons from these remarkable words and humble ourselves before you.

 

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