This is an incredible chapter because we see Jesus step into the role of the prophet. Prophecying that the temple is going to be destroyed and teaching about the tough times that are ahead for human beings.
24:9-14 - This is a pretty important passage for us to understand, because Jesus gives it to us straight. As believers we are going to go through hard times. We are going to be persecuted. We are going to be hated. We are going to live in a world that gets more and more lawless, and a world where we see false teachers springing up everywhere. But, if we endure these hard times and hold true to our faith (Faith is really the only path to sanity in a world like this anyway!), our lives will be a testimony to all nations! It is good for us to go through rough stuff, because when we do, and when we stay true to our faith...other people will know that our faith is different. Other people will be led to know God by our perseverance.
24:27 - Jesus says that false teachers and fake messiahs will rise up in our world, and some people will buy into their garbage...they will say look over at this little corner of the world - that's the savior...look over here, I know it's hard to tell, but he's the messiah. Don't buy into the lies...when Jesus returns it will be as plain as lightning striking across a pitch black sky...you will know. You will know.
24:30 - It seems strange that the tribes of earth would mourn when they see Jesus return. Why are they mourning? Shouldn't they be shouting with joy and praising him. I believe this is referring very specifically to the "tribes of earth"...the people who have made the earth truly their home...the people who have totally bought in to the lies of the world. They will mourn because they will no that they were wrong - they will fear Jesus because he is not what they chose...the dark cannot stand the light. The members of the kingdom of heaven (Believers) will rejoice and will taken into the arms of their savior, but it doesn't bode well for the tribes of earth.
24:42-51 - Do you want to know how serious Jesus is about us spreading the gospel? Read through this passage a couple times! Check out verse s 50 and 51! WOW - it's time to start living like we don't have much time. Every day should be lived as if it is our last, because we don't know. I know it is cliche, but seriously, if Jesus came back tomorrow would you have given his message to all the people you wanted to? It begs the question - if we don't live like he's coming back, do we really believe it? Harsh...but something to think about.
*There is some really intense stuff in this chapter - if you have any questions, leave them in a comment (Not that I am the authority on understanding every aspect of the bible, but I give it a shot).
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Matthew Chapter 23 - February 13, 2008
As we read through these "7 woes" it is really easy to look down on the Pharisees and teachers of the law and imagine how much better we would have reacted to Jesus had we been there, but before we go there...let's check out verse 30. The Pharisees liked to say the same thing! They liked to sit around, look at the OT, see how their ancestors treated the prophets, and talk about how much better they would react to the message of the prophets. Hmm...that sounds familiar...where have I heard that before? As you read through the "7 woes" ask yourself where in your life you are walking dangerously close to being somebody Jesus would say, "WOE" to.
23:8 - This is something I need to remind myself of from time to time. I may be a professional minister, but we are all ministers. We are all brothers in Christ that are following in the footsteps of the one and only rabbi. I am a student and will be a student for my entire life, and I am journeying together with fellow Christians to try and be as much like Jesus as possible. This is something I need to remember when I start worrying about my effectiveness...it's not about me.
23:13 - Woe to those who not only refuse to understand live out and understand the kingdom of heaven, but they also slam the door in the face of people who are trying to get there. Do I ever refuse to step into the purpose and life that God has called me to live? Do I ever allow my hypocrisy to get in the way of other's faith?
23:15 - Woe to those who do whatever it takes to make a disciple and then turn that person into twice the child of hell they are! Uh...wow...intense. Imagine how ticked off the Pharisees must have been upon hearing this. Imagine how ticked off Jesus must have been when he saw the twisted, hypocritical message the Pharisees were cramming down people's throats. What is the message we are living out for the people we come in contact with? Does it draw people to God, or lead them away?
23:16-22 - Woe to those who put more emphasis on man-made religious stuff then on the God who created everything. People in the modern Christian Church would never get caught up in anything like that...oh, wait...my bad - we do it constantly.
23:23 - The Pharisees were so obsessed with doing everything perfectly down to the letter of the law that they would tithe even on their spices, yet they failed to treated real live people with justice and mercy. Do you see anything wrong with that picture? Do you ever get so caught up in going through the religious process of Christianity that you fail to truly "love others" you come in contact with?
23:25 - Woe to those who look good on the outside (I.E. - perfect, smiling church mask and "Sunday best"), and are corrupt on the inside. How could it possibly be good for me to be more worried about people's impression of me then who I really am on the inside?
The sixth woe is another one about the inside being filthy and the outside being clean, and the seventh woe was referred to in the opening paragraph (23:30).
23:8 - This is something I need to remind myself of from time to time. I may be a professional minister, but we are all ministers. We are all brothers in Christ that are following in the footsteps of the one and only rabbi. I am a student and will be a student for my entire life, and I am journeying together with fellow Christians to try and be as much like Jesus as possible. This is something I need to remember when I start worrying about my effectiveness...it's not about me.
23:13 - Woe to those who not only refuse to understand live out and understand the kingdom of heaven, but they also slam the door in the face of people who are trying to get there. Do I ever refuse to step into the purpose and life that God has called me to live? Do I ever allow my hypocrisy to get in the way of other's faith?
23:15 - Woe to those who do whatever it takes to make a disciple and then turn that person into twice the child of hell they are! Uh...wow...intense. Imagine how ticked off the Pharisees must have been upon hearing this. Imagine how ticked off Jesus must have been when he saw the twisted, hypocritical message the Pharisees were cramming down people's throats. What is the message we are living out for the people we come in contact with? Does it draw people to God, or lead them away?
23:16-22 - Woe to those who put more emphasis on man-made religious stuff then on the God who created everything. People in the modern Christian Church would never get caught up in anything like that...oh, wait...my bad - we do it constantly.
23:23 - The Pharisees were so obsessed with doing everything perfectly down to the letter of the law that they would tithe even on their spices, yet they failed to treated real live people with justice and mercy. Do you see anything wrong with that picture? Do you ever get so caught up in going through the religious process of Christianity that you fail to truly "love others" you come in contact with?
23:25 - Woe to those who look good on the outside (I.E. - perfect, smiling church mask and "Sunday best"), and are corrupt on the inside. How could it possibly be good for me to be more worried about people's impression of me then who I really am on the inside?
The sixth woe is another one about the inside being filthy and the outside being clean, and the seventh woe was referred to in the opening paragraph (23:30).
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Matthew Chapter 22 - February 12, 2008
22:5 - Does this sound familiar to anyone else - people too caught up in their own day to day exsistence that they don't have time to enter into the realm of God? We are being invited everyday to step into the party of all eternity and over and over we turn it down for mundane crap that leaves us empty and wondering why we have no joy. Gee...what could the problem be?
22:11-14 - I know this sounds a little scary, but it is an awesome passage. This is one of the many invitations that Jesus is making to Gentiles like me. When God's people chose to ingore the kingdom of heaven party, everybody else got invited. The good the bad the ugly - all of us. YAY! But it is also a stark reminder...all are invited, but only those dressed in the bright white clothes of righteousness (Washed clean by the blood of Jesus) are allowed to stay.
22:15-22 - If he says, "pay the taxes" the Jews will hate him because they hate their Roman oppressors. If he says, "don't pay the taxes" the Romans will kill him for leading a rebellion. It is the perfect hyper-political trap to catch Jesus...but Jesus is Jesus, he goes his own way. He says - Whose money is that anyway (Holds up a coin with Ceasar's face on it)? Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's...we've got bigger things to do then worry about a tiny hunk of metal. Don't we all.
22:23-33 - What started out a couple chapters back as the triumphant entry into the city, has turned into a "how-can-we-trap-Jesus-fest." The Sadducees take their shot with a jumbled hypothetical question about marriage in the after-life (These guys don't even believe in an after life - sheesh!). Jesus says, you guys don't get it...we will be beyond all the physical stuff...we will have spiritiual bodies like the angels. We will be fully and completely connected with God and will not need the physical partners we had in this life. Secondly - I love when Jesus quotes the OT scripture, God is the God of Abrham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn't say - I was the God of them...He said, I AM the God of these guys. Death is not the end...it is the beginning of true life when saved by Christ. Our God is the God of the living!
22:36-40 - Love God, Love people - pretty simple (Except for the fact that we have proved over and over that we are terrible at it!). Who says Christianity has tons of rules...we just have the two! Now let's get to work.
22:46 - Great message for us here...again Jesus is confronted and again Jesus silences his enemies with scripture. Just as he destroyed the arguments of Satan in the wilderness through the words of God...he destroys the arguments of the Pharisees with the bible. That is our weapon in the spiritual war we fight. If we do not keep scripture in our minds and heart we will be unable to fight back.
22:11-14 - I know this sounds a little scary, but it is an awesome passage. This is one of the many invitations that Jesus is making to Gentiles like me. When God's people chose to ingore the kingdom of heaven party, everybody else got invited. The good the bad the ugly - all of us. YAY! But it is also a stark reminder...all are invited, but only those dressed in the bright white clothes of righteousness (Washed clean by the blood of Jesus) are allowed to stay.
22:15-22 - If he says, "pay the taxes" the Jews will hate him because they hate their Roman oppressors. If he says, "don't pay the taxes" the Romans will kill him for leading a rebellion. It is the perfect hyper-political trap to catch Jesus...but Jesus is Jesus, he goes his own way. He says - Whose money is that anyway (Holds up a coin with Ceasar's face on it)? Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's...we've got bigger things to do then worry about a tiny hunk of metal. Don't we all.
22:23-33 - What started out a couple chapters back as the triumphant entry into the city, has turned into a "how-can-we-trap-Jesus-fest." The Sadducees take their shot with a jumbled hypothetical question about marriage in the after-life (These guys don't even believe in an after life - sheesh!). Jesus says, you guys don't get it...we will be beyond all the physical stuff...we will have spiritiual bodies like the angels. We will be fully and completely connected with God and will not need the physical partners we had in this life. Secondly - I love when Jesus quotes the OT scripture, God is the God of Abrham, Isaac, and Jacob. He didn't say - I was the God of them...He said, I AM the God of these guys. Death is not the end...it is the beginning of true life when saved by Christ. Our God is the God of the living!
22:36-40 - Love God, Love people - pretty simple (Except for the fact that we have proved over and over that we are terrible at it!). Who says Christianity has tons of rules...we just have the two! Now let's get to work.
22:46 - Great message for us here...again Jesus is confronted and again Jesus silences his enemies with scripture. Just as he destroyed the arguments of Satan in the wilderness through the words of God...he destroys the arguments of the Pharisees with the bible. That is our weapon in the spiritual war we fight. If we do not keep scripture in our minds and heart we will be unable to fight back.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Matthew 20 and 21 - February 11, 2008
Matthew 20:1-16 - This has always been a great reminder for me to quit whining about what other people are doing and live the life that I was called to live. As a Christian, I have access to the kingdom of heaven lived out here on earth...I am connected to true living. Everyone else is living out a form of hell on earth, and if they discover Christ and give their lives to Him after "living it up" for a few years - I should be excited for them. I shouldn't be jealous that they got to waste more of their life before coming to Christ. The workers in the fields that had been there all day knew the wage they were going to get...they worked hard and accomplished the task they had been hired to do and they got paid for it. Why are they whining! All day long they had known that they would be able to feed their families that week. The workers who were doing nothing all day, had no idea where their money was going to come from...they were probably worried throughout the day because no solution to their problems was in sight. That is not fun...that is not good. It is better to be the worker who was working hard and worry free because he had been hired early. It is better to go through this life connected to the way of Christ - than to live separated from Christ until the very end.
Matthew 20:20-28 - Even at this point the disciples were very focused on their place of honor and power in the kingdom. Jesus asks if they really think they can drink from his cup. The sons of Zebedee immediately say that they can drink from his cup, but they don't understand the kind of cup that Jesus drinks from. A cup of sacrifice. A cup of God first no matter how hard the task. A cup of service. A cup of humility. A cup of forgiveness. A very heavy cup...God, please grant me the strength to pick it up.
Matthew 21:1-17 - The people wanted a revolutionary leader...they praised him...the cheered him...they honored him as he came into Jerusalem - and they got what they wanted...they got the revolutionary, he just didn't lead the kind of revolution they wanted him to lead. They wanted a warrior to fight against the Roman oppression, but what they got was a warrior fighting against religious oppression. Jesus stormed into the temple and drove the oppressors out. Sometimes I think we say we want Jesus to be exactly what we want him to be and do exactly what we want him to do, when we need to be asking what do I need to change to get in line with the revolutionary message of Jesus Christ?
Matthew 21:19, 21:33-44 - It is pretty clear that God is going to deal harshly with those who do not produce good fruit. This has nothing to do with our good deeds saving us...it has to do with living out your faith. If you believe in the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ, then you should believe in the message that came with Jesus Christ and live it out.
Matthew 20:20-28 - Even at this point the disciples were very focused on their place of honor and power in the kingdom. Jesus asks if they really think they can drink from his cup. The sons of Zebedee immediately say that they can drink from his cup, but they don't understand the kind of cup that Jesus drinks from. A cup of sacrifice. A cup of God first no matter how hard the task. A cup of service. A cup of humility. A cup of forgiveness. A very heavy cup...God, please grant me the strength to pick it up.
Matthew 21:1-17 - The people wanted a revolutionary leader...they praised him...the cheered him...they honored him as he came into Jerusalem - and they got what they wanted...they got the revolutionary, he just didn't lead the kind of revolution they wanted him to lead. They wanted a warrior to fight against the Roman oppression, but what they got was a warrior fighting against religious oppression. Jesus stormed into the temple and drove the oppressors out. Sometimes I think we say we want Jesus to be exactly what we want him to be and do exactly what we want him to do, when we need to be asking what do I need to change to get in line with the revolutionary message of Jesus Christ?
Matthew 21:19, 21:33-44 - It is pretty clear that God is going to deal harshly with those who do not produce good fruit. This has nothing to do with our good deeds saving us...it has to do with living out your faith. If you believe in the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ, then you should believe in the message that came with Jesus Christ and live it out.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Missed chapter
I will be doing 2 chapters on Monday. I was traveling on Friday...don't worry I still love Jesus.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Matthew Chapter 19 - February 7, 2008
19:5ff - God's plan is that one man and one woman should become one flesh in marriage. Jesus says that they are no longer two, but they have become one completely. They are one entity that cannot (Or should not) be torn apart. I think that maybe instead of trying to broaden the rules of marriage and divorce to make splitting up more socially acceptable and reasonable...Christians should take the spiritual act of marriage more seriously and understand how meaningful it is to make a vow of unity before God. Instead of always thinking in the back of our minds that we can get out of a marriage if we need to...we should be thinking, can I commit myself to this person before God forever? If more people truly asked this question and understood fully the seriousness of the vows they were making, maybe there would be less people marrying into toxic/destructive relationships. When Jesus talks of how important the marriage vow is, his disciples say, "If God is so serious about this, isn't it better just to not get married?" I think it would be better for people to not marry and focus in on God as apposed to getting into doomed relationships because that is "what you do." I'm am definitely NOT advocating living together instead of getting married...I'm saying, maybe more people should not get married and not get into serious relationships if they can't stay true to what they are going to vow before God. Maybe we should have more spiritual eunuchs in this world (Spoken boldly from the man who is happily married...uh yeah...that's awkward).
19:16ff ("ff" by the way, means and following, referring to the verses that come after...I know you probably already know that, but I'm just throwing it out there because I use that a lot) The thing that we have to see here is what the rich young man wants. He wants to work his way into heaven. He comes to Jesus feeling confident, because he is really good at following the OT law and he tells Jesus that. He has probably come up to get a pat on the back with Jesus saying, "You have done a great job, you are going to get into heaven because you have followed all these rules." But that isn't what he gets is it? No, Jesus knows exactly what this guy struggles with and hits him in the face with it, "Yeah, go sell all your stuff, give it away and come follow me." The man is heartbroken because he loves his stuff...he is greedy. Jesus proves to us again that no one is good. And that is the point. No one is good. No one can save themselves. Can a camel go through the eye of a sewing needle - HECK NO! Can a man because he is rich get in heaven - NO! The disciples cry out, "WHO CAN BE SAVED?" No one by their own power...only through the power of God and the sacrifice of Jesus can we be saved. Rich/poor, good/bad, young/old, ugly/pretty - salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. We have to remember to humble ourselves daily and understand that we are the recipients of a love offering that can never be repaid in full...let those truths define the way that you live your life. Oh yeah...and it would probably be a good idea not to worship stuff either.
19:16ff ("ff" by the way, means and following, referring to the verses that come after...I know you probably already know that, but I'm just throwing it out there because I use that a lot) The thing that we have to see here is what the rich young man wants. He wants to work his way into heaven. He comes to Jesus feeling confident, because he is really good at following the OT law and he tells Jesus that. He has probably come up to get a pat on the back with Jesus saying, "You have done a great job, you are going to get into heaven because you have followed all these rules." But that isn't what he gets is it? No, Jesus knows exactly what this guy struggles with and hits him in the face with it, "Yeah, go sell all your stuff, give it away and come follow me." The man is heartbroken because he loves his stuff...he is greedy. Jesus proves to us again that no one is good. And that is the point. No one is good. No one can save themselves. Can a camel go through the eye of a sewing needle - HECK NO! Can a man because he is rich get in heaven - NO! The disciples cry out, "WHO CAN BE SAVED?" No one by their own power...only through the power of God and the sacrifice of Jesus can we be saved. Rich/poor, good/bad, young/old, ugly/pretty - salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. We have to remember to humble ourselves daily and understand that we are the recipients of a love offering that can never be repaid in full...let those truths define the way that you live your life. Oh yeah...and it would probably be a good idea not to worship stuff either.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Matthew Chapter 18 - February 6, 2008
18:3-4 - I often look at my boys, Dane and Aidan, and envy their innocence. They are totally worry free and they completely trust Mandy and I to meet their every need. They are free to find the joy of every aspect of life. I believe to humble myself as a child, I must see myself for what I truly am...utterly weak and helpless and in need of my Father's love and protection. May I chose to put my life completely into the hands of God, so that I can begin to truly live.
18:18ff - I think this ties back directly to what Jesus was talking about in chapter 16 when he blesses Peter. This does not mean that we are all given these incredible God-powers that allow us to bind and loose anything we want here on earth (That would mean we could limit God - and that is impossible). I believe that he is describing the power that we are able to tap into when we plug into God's plan...we will have the power to bind and loose because it is things that God has already bound and loosed that we are adhereing to and living out.
18:20 - I have heard this verse used flippantly about, uh...a mil...no, a billion times in churches over the years, and I think there needs to be some clarification. There are three important words that we have to understand here - "IN MY NAME." This doesn't mean that God is automatically behind anything any Christians say or do, when thy claim to be gathering in His name. Like everything else Jesus talks about in the gosepls, this is not about the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law. To truly be gathered in His name means that the people gathered are truly seeking His will with a humble heart and they are chasing after His spirit and His kingdom as they gather together. This does not mean: we say we are gathered for Him, and then try to push through the the agendas of our own selfishness and egos. I would say that most of the time I have heard this verse used, the latter was the case. Hopefully wherever we gather, we are trying to always seek first His kingdom and not our own.
18:32ff - How many times have we been in the shoes of this servant? Forgiven for countless cimes against the creator of the universe and then unforgiving with the trivial sins that flawed people have made against us. It doesn't make us seem very appreciative of the grace of God when we live ungraciously.
18:18ff - I think this ties back directly to what Jesus was talking about in chapter 16 when he blesses Peter. This does not mean that we are all given these incredible God-powers that allow us to bind and loose anything we want here on earth (That would mean we could limit God - and that is impossible). I believe that he is describing the power that we are able to tap into when we plug into God's plan...we will have the power to bind and loose because it is things that God has already bound and loosed that we are adhereing to and living out.
18:20 - I have heard this verse used flippantly about, uh...a mil...no, a billion times in churches over the years, and I think there needs to be some clarification. There are three important words that we have to understand here - "IN MY NAME." This doesn't mean that God is automatically behind anything any Christians say or do, when thy claim to be gathering in His name. Like everything else Jesus talks about in the gosepls, this is not about the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law. To truly be gathered in His name means that the people gathered are truly seeking His will with a humble heart and they are chasing after His spirit and His kingdom as they gather together. This does not mean: we say we are gathered for Him, and then try to push through the the agendas of our own selfishness and egos. I would say that most of the time I have heard this verse used, the latter was the case. Hopefully wherever we gather, we are trying to always seek first His kingdom and not our own.
18:32ff - How many times have we been in the shoes of this servant? Forgiven for countless cimes against the creator of the universe and then unforgiving with the trivial sins that flawed people have made against us. It doesn't make us seem very appreciative of the grace of God when we live ungraciously.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Matthew Chapter 17 - February 5, 2008
17:1-13 - I think the transfiguration of Jesus makes a really strong point for us to live our lives by. In verse 4, Peter sees Moses and Elijah and Jesus together and he wants to pitch tents right then and there. He is saying, "This is awesome! We can all stay here and just talk and hang out and never leave this mountain - this is what it is all about!" It is kinda like going to an incredible youth conference or worship service and feeling totally connected to God and never wanting to leave. But Jesus knows that he has got a job to do and he is going to do it...look at verse 12 - he knows that he is headed towards suffering and he still walks off the mountain. We need to understand that God brings us to the top of the mountain, so that we can go back down ready for anything that comes our way. We don't go to conferences or great quiet times or retreats to stay there forever...we go to get pumped up and then go back out and do our job - live out the message of Christ.
17:19ff - The disciples couldn't cast out the demon...why? Maybe as the demon was throwing the boy into the fir and attempting to drown him in water, they got freaked out. Maybe it seemed like to huge a task for the lowly disciples. Jesus is upset because he knows that if they had trusted in God's strength and forgotten about their own weaknesses, they could have healed the boy. Sadly enough, I fail to trust God in much smaller things...forget demon possessed boys, I get scared sometimes when I simply don't know what to say to someone who questions my faith! What do we give up on because we decide it is much too big for our faith? What would Jesus say to us?
17:25 - Do the king's of earth tax their sons? No, they tax others so that their sons can be free. The king of the universe caused His son to pay our debt in blood so that we could be free. I love our God.
17:19ff - The disciples couldn't cast out the demon...why? Maybe as the demon was throwing the boy into the fir and attempting to drown him in water, they got freaked out. Maybe it seemed like to huge a task for the lowly disciples. Jesus is upset because he knows that if they had trusted in God's strength and forgotten about their own weaknesses, they could have healed the boy. Sadly enough, I fail to trust God in much smaller things...forget demon possessed boys, I get scared sometimes when I simply don't know what to say to someone who questions my faith! What do we give up on because we decide it is much too big for our faith? What would Jesus say to us?
17:25 - Do the king's of earth tax their sons? No, they tax others so that their sons can be free. The king of the universe caused His son to pay our debt in blood so that we could be free. I love our God.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Matthew Chapter 16 - February 4, 2008
16:1-4 - The reason that Jesus refuses to give the Pharisees and teachers of the Law the sign they are looking for, is because of their motivation in asking for the sign. In verse one, the word from the Greek defined as "test" is the same word that is used about Satan when he tempted Jesus in the desert. The Pharisees have come before Jesus out of the same motivation as Satan...to trap and destroy Jesus. These men have already seen Jesus miraculously heal people and interpret the law like no man ever before him...they would have seen the signs they were looking for if they had a heart focused on truth and faith. There are many times that we miss the signs of God at work in this world, because we look through a lens of selfishness or distractedness or whininess. We will see God at work when we faithfully trust that God is at work.
P.S. - The sign of Jonah is a reference to Jesus returning from the dead. Jonah appeared to the people in Nineveh after being "dead" in the belly of a great fish. Jesus knows that he will be going into the tomb and will rise again...and even after the sign of his resurrection, the Pharisees and teachers of the law will still not believe.
16:17-18 - These are some of the most disputed verses in all of scripture! One of the reasons that they are so disputed is because many Protestant Christians don't want to sound anything like the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has taken this passage on Peter being the rock the church will be built on and turned it into a hierarchical church system that places Peter as the original Pope. To combat this, many Protestants have looked for any other possible explanation. Maybe Jesus is referring to himself when he talks about the rock. Maybe they were at a place with a rock formation and Jesus is making the point the church starts here and now with this group of men. Or maybe...just maybe...he means that he is going to begin the building of his church with Peter! Peter was the one who spoke for the disciples in verse 16 about who Jesus was...Peter is always an outspoken leader int he group...Peter preaches the sermon in Acts chapter 2 after the Holy Spirit has come that basically begins the Christian Church. I believe the rock Jesus referred to is Peter, and I don't think it has anything to do with Popes or hierarchies or anything like that...I just think that Jesus is saying Peter will be the early church leader that spearheads the Christ-following movement.
16:19-20 - So what does all that freaky stuff about binding and loosing things on earth carrying over into heaven mean? Does that mean Peter is being given the power to make the rules about who gets in and who doesn't get in in heaven? I don't think so. What I believe is that Jesus is continuing on with the ideas he started in verse 17 and 18. Peter is going to be given the keys to start the Christian church...the Holy Spirit...when the Spirit comes into Peter and he preaches the gospel and thousands become Christians, he has opened the gates of heaven through the power of the message of Christ. Jesus paid the price and conquered death and sent his Spirit to dwell within us so that we can open the gates of heaven to all those who hear our message and see our lives. So this passage has nothing to do with Peter or any of us having some mysterious power over God to make Him do whatever we want...it means that God has already paid the price and worked His plan and we can connect people to His Way by preaching His truth and living that Way.
P.S. - The sign of Jonah is a reference to Jesus returning from the dead. Jonah appeared to the people in Nineveh after being "dead" in the belly of a great fish. Jesus knows that he will be going into the tomb and will rise again...and even after the sign of his resurrection, the Pharisees and teachers of the law will still not believe.
16:17-18 - These are some of the most disputed verses in all of scripture! One of the reasons that they are so disputed is because many Protestant Christians don't want to sound anything like the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has taken this passage on Peter being the rock the church will be built on and turned it into a hierarchical church system that places Peter as the original Pope. To combat this, many Protestants have looked for any other possible explanation. Maybe Jesus is referring to himself when he talks about the rock. Maybe they were at a place with a rock formation and Jesus is making the point the church starts here and now with this group of men. Or maybe...just maybe...he means that he is going to begin the building of his church with Peter! Peter was the one who spoke for the disciples in verse 16 about who Jesus was...Peter is always an outspoken leader int he group...Peter preaches the sermon in Acts chapter 2 after the Holy Spirit has come that basically begins the Christian Church. I believe the rock Jesus referred to is Peter, and I don't think it has anything to do with Popes or hierarchies or anything like that...I just think that Jesus is saying Peter will be the early church leader that spearheads the Christ-following movement.
16:19-20 - So what does all that freaky stuff about binding and loosing things on earth carrying over into heaven mean? Does that mean Peter is being given the power to make the rules about who gets in and who doesn't get in in heaven? I don't think so. What I believe is that Jesus is continuing on with the ideas he started in verse 17 and 18. Peter is going to be given the keys to start the Christian church...the Holy Spirit...when the Spirit comes into Peter and he preaches the gospel and thousands become Christians, he has opened the gates of heaven through the power of the message of Christ. Jesus paid the price and conquered death and sent his Spirit to dwell within us so that we can open the gates of heaven to all those who hear our message and see our lives. So this passage has nothing to do with Peter or any of us having some mysterious power over God to make Him do whatever we want...it means that God has already paid the price and worked His plan and we can connect people to His Way by preaching His truth and living that Way.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Matthew Chapter 15 - February 1, 2008
This should be called the "Are you still so dull chapter, " because nobody seems to be getting the big picture here...
Pharisees - these "devout," "followers" of God again try to destroy Jesus ministry...this time for not washing hands before meals. Jesus calls them out for their own hypocrisy - they like to give away the money they should be helping their parents out with and say, "It's okay Mom, I know you're straving, but we're giving it to God" - and then Jesus gives another mini-sermon about where being truly unclean comes from. The Pharisees are worried about washing their hands and making their lives look good from the outside, while they are sin filled on the inside (See chapter 12 and the unclean spirits). Being truly unclean is about the words and actions they pour out of a corrupt soul. Good lesson for us to remember.
Disciples - They have been following Jesus around, they have heard all his teaching, and they get the behind the scenes stuff that we never see (Farting around the campfire with Jesus and what-not...don't look shocked, if Jesus was 100% man and 100% God, then that 100% man part probably farted a bunch and thought it was funny!) yet they never seem to get what he is talking about. "Hey Jesus, what do you mean by that, what comes out of your mouth makes you unclean stuff?" So Jesus explains it to them. Then they want Jesus to heal the Canaanite woman just to get her away from them, and Jesus says, "Guys, come on, you know I came to save Israel (This to me, shows his incredible focus on the path he had to walk...if he started healing all the Canaanites and Romans and everybody else...maybe they go back and tell their people and mobs come to Jesus trying to save him and overthrow the Romans...Jesus knows what he has come to do and he knows the people that are going to start the kingdom of God revolution - the Jews)!" Then a short time after he has just fed the 5,000, the disciples are confused about how they could possibly get enough food for 4,000 people...uh, DUH! Are you still so dull? It is always comforting to me that Jesus followers were a lot of screw ups like me...and he treated them graciously and used them powerfully anyway.
I feel at home in the "Are you still so dull" chapter, because there are so many times I have asked myself that same question. Are you still so dull, Brandon? After seing God move powerfully in your life, you can still doubt and fear and whine and turn to destructive habits? Unfortunately, I do. But fortunately I follow a savior who has an inexplicable, unquenchable love for me. May the "dull" moments be fewer and further in between as I come to know him more.
P.S. - The unrelenting faith of the Canaanite woman rocks! I think sh is another example of someone who completely impresses Jesus with her faith.
Pharisees - these "devout," "followers" of God again try to destroy Jesus ministry...this time for not washing hands before meals. Jesus calls them out for their own hypocrisy - they like to give away the money they should be helping their parents out with and say, "It's okay Mom, I know you're straving, but we're giving it to God" - and then Jesus gives another mini-sermon about where being truly unclean comes from. The Pharisees are worried about washing their hands and making their lives look good from the outside, while they are sin filled on the inside (See chapter 12 and the unclean spirits). Being truly unclean is about the words and actions they pour out of a corrupt soul. Good lesson for us to remember.
Disciples - They have been following Jesus around, they have heard all his teaching, and they get the behind the scenes stuff that we never see (Farting around the campfire with Jesus and what-not...don't look shocked, if Jesus was 100% man and 100% God, then that 100% man part probably farted a bunch and thought it was funny!) yet they never seem to get what he is talking about. "Hey Jesus, what do you mean by that, what comes out of your mouth makes you unclean stuff?" So Jesus explains it to them. Then they want Jesus to heal the Canaanite woman just to get her away from them, and Jesus says, "Guys, come on, you know I came to save Israel (This to me, shows his incredible focus on the path he had to walk...if he started healing all the Canaanites and Romans and everybody else...maybe they go back and tell their people and mobs come to Jesus trying to save him and overthrow the Romans...Jesus knows what he has come to do and he knows the people that are going to start the kingdom of God revolution - the Jews)!" Then a short time after he has just fed the 5,000, the disciples are confused about how they could possibly get enough food for 4,000 people...uh, DUH! Are you still so dull? It is always comforting to me that Jesus followers were a lot of screw ups like me...and he treated them graciously and used them powerfully anyway.
I feel at home in the "Are you still so dull" chapter, because there are so many times I have asked myself that same question. Are you still so dull, Brandon? After seing God move powerfully in your life, you can still doubt and fear and whine and turn to destructive habits? Unfortunately, I do. But fortunately I follow a savior who has an inexplicable, unquenchable love for me. May the "dull" moments be fewer and further in between as I come to know him more.
P.S. - The unrelenting faith of the Canaanite woman rocks! I think sh is another example of someone who completely impresses Jesus with her faith.
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