"An Irrational Commitment Not To Believe"

Note: in the printed version of the Matthew Part 2 reading guide, we somehow had some errors in the readings for today (10/4) and we omitted the reading for tomorrow entirely. The errors are fixed here.

—Andrew

Matthew 11:1-19

1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

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John the Baptist had said that when the Messiah came, he’d bring judgment (see 3:11-12). So, when Jesus came healing and teaching, John was confused. Jesus cites Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1 to show John that the scriptures foretold that the Messiah would bring judgment, yes, but also salvation.

“Jesus proceeds to give a further reason for the rejection of his message by the greater part of Israel: an irrational commitment not to believe (Mt. 11:16-19). The people reject John because of his asceticism and reject Jesus because of his lack of asceticism. When Jesus declares that ‘wisdom is justified by her deeds,’ he suggests that the ministries of John and Jesus produce the kind of wholeness and human flourishing that the Old Testament and Judaism insisted wisdom produced, even though the crowds in their irrationality fail to see it.” [emphasis added]

—David Bauer, The Gospel of the Son of God

Eternal Consequences In The Balance

Matthew 10:24-42

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter- in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me re- ceives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

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The entire purpose of this speech of Jesus is to strengthen their resolve to fulfill their mission faithfully. He doesn’t lie to them—their task will be difficult, and they should expect opposition. But, he wants them to understand that the reward will be worth it and that faithfulness to God outweighs any other consideration—there are eternal consequences in the balance.

A good reminder for us today, too.

The Twelve Disciples = A New Israel

MATTHEW 10:1-23

1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

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We’ve seen Jesus call 5 of the Twelve by name, and the other 7 are specifically mentioned now. Presumably these 7 responded to his call in the same way as the previous 5—with immediate obedience.

Jesus is Israel, and here he is reconstituting the 12 tribes. That’s why they are sent first to the Jews (and later, after the Resurrection—28:19-20—to the nations). What Jesus has been doing, he now sends the Twelve to do: heal, preach, exorcise, etc. And, like Jesus, they should expect opposition and difficulty.

Two quick thoughts:

1. Note how importance perseverance is for a disciple of Jesus (v.22). Don’t give up, don’t give in, live no lies, keep going.
2. Note how Jesus counsels his disciples to respect people’s choices—" And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town”—and to allow them to refuse the Good News. By all means reach out to others in love, but if the others have made their refusal clear, at some point you have to respect their choices and let them live with the consequences.

Let's Get To Work

Matthew 9:18-38

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

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Remember, the overarching theme of this 2nd Section of Matthew’s Gospel (4:17-16:20) is the Proclamation of Jesus the Messiah to Israel. Here we have, one after another, examples of Jesus proclaiming his identity by word and deed.

The great prophet Isaiah had foretold that when God came close to his people, wrongs would be righted:

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. -Isaiah 35:5-6a NIV

Here, Jesus is showing Israel who he is. Will they respond with faith?

The Pharisees admit that Jesus is doing remarkable works, but they claim it is because he is using demonic power to do so.

On the other hand, Jesus tells his disciples that many people will in fact respond in faith, that it will be a “plentiful harvest” as long as his disciples will put in the work.

I love the realism of Matthew:

1. On the one hand, the work of the Kingdom always encounters opposition—we should expect it;

2. On the other hand, the power of God is greater than the powers and principalities of the world, and many people will hear the Good News and respond with faith.

Be hopeful. Let’s get to work.

"To Follow Jesus Is To Find Life On A New Level"

MATTHEW 9:9-17

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

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The Pharisees focus on the failures of the people, but Jesus sees their need. He calls Matthew, and Matthew responds the way a disciple of Jesus should: with no excuses but with immediate obedience.

But, why would Jesus mix with sinful people? He tells the Pharisees that their focus on appropriate religious structure and ritual is misplaced, and that God is interested in the disposition of people’s hearts, not simply outwardly “correct” actions: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”

And then Jesus gives a brief parable to get them to think in a new way—now that God has come among his people, the old ways of thinking will need to be cast aside. I like how R.T. France sums up what’s happening here:

“Following Jesus is not like ‘discipleship’ as it was experienced in other pious circles at the time. It is characterized, at least for the present, by joy rather than solemnity, by feasting rather than fasting, and the two graphic sayings of vv.16-17 [the parable about the wineskins] indicate a fundament incompatibility between the dry formality of existing religious traditions and an exuberant vitality in the Jesus circle which cannot be confined within conventional forms. To follow Jesus is to find life on a new level.” —R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew

“To follow Jesus is to find life on a new level.”

Visible Proof of Invisible Authority

MATTHEW 9:1-8

1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

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The reason the scribes (religious leaders) think that Jesus is blaspheming is because only God is in the position to forgive sins. To demonstrate his authority over something “invisible” like a person’s sins, Jesus then heals the man visibly by word of command.

Jesus wants us to see that physical healing is connected to our relationship with God, a relationship that has been damaged because of our sin. Matthew told us in 1:21 that Jesus came to save his people from their sins, and we see him here bringing both physical and spiritual wholeness to a man in need of it.

Do You Actually Want To Be Different, Or Do You Just Want To Complain?

MATTHEW 8:28-34

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

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Do you actually want to change, or would you rather wallow in the filthy status quo?

Jesus performs an astounding miracle in this village, freeing these two men from filth and misery, and the villagers would prefer he leave than cause any more changes to the way things are.

You don't think that those villagers had parts of their lives that needed healing? But rather than begging Jesus to stay and work among them, their immediate response is to beg him to leave and never come back.

How true of human nature--so often we prefer the pain we know to the possibility of change.

Enough With The Lame Excuses

MATTHEW 8:18-27

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

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After Jesus calms the storm, the disciples are amazed and say to each other, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” [8:27 NIV]

Matthew is using dramatic irony here: we (the readers) know something that the disciples (the characters) don't: Jesus isn't an ordinary man at all, but the God of Israel himself, incarnate. Just as the Lord calmed the waters of chaos at the beginning (see Genesis 1) and parted the Red Sea during the Exodus, so here Jesus has those same powers—over entropy and chaos itself.

When someone like that asks you to follow him, providing lame excuses as to why you'd really like to follow him but it's just that you're so busy--that makes no sense at all.

Will there be danger and difficulty? Yes. But disciples of Jesus will also see the glory of God. In the end everything will be okay, and it will all have been worth it.

Let’s go.

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EXCURSUS: “THE SON OF MAN”

The term “Son of Man” is how Jesus refers to himself. (He never calls himself “Messiah” or “Christ,” though does affirm it when other people do.) The phrase comes from Daniel 7:13-14:

13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.

The phrase “Son of Man” in Hebrew is a way of saying, “the human one.” In Daniel’s vision, a human is taken up and enthroned in heaven next to God (“the Ancient of Days”) and given dominion over everything.

Why does Jesus use this term so frequently to refer to himself?

“It seems that the reason why Jesus found this title convenient is that, having no ready-made [title] in current usage, it could be applied across the whole range of his uniquely paradoxical mission of humiliation and vindication, of death and glory, which could not be fitted into any preexisting model. Like his parables, the title ‘Son of Man’ came with an air of enigma, challenging the hearer to think new thoughts rather than to slot Jesus into a ready-made pigeonhole.”

—R.T. France, The Gospel of Matthew

Jesus is Israel’s Messiah, but the term was loaded with ideas that were contrary to Jesus’s mission. So, he uses a term that he can provide meaning to until folks can come to truly understand what the Messiah was supposed to be.

Three Miracles Of Healing And Restoration

MATTHEW 8:1-17

8 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

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The overarching theme of this 2nd Section of Matthew’s Gospel (4:17- 16:20) is the Proclamation of Jesus the Messiah to Israel. Matthew has just shown us the teaching of Jesus the Messiah—and "the crowds were astonished at his teaching” (7:20)—and for the next few chapters he will show us that in addition to his teaching, Jesus also did great works of power that showed his authority over both the seen realm (healing the sick, calming the storm, etc.) and the unseen realm (casting out demons). Note that Jesus demonstrates his power simply by words of command.

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One of the most amazing things about the ministry of Jesus is that it is for everyone. Although Jesus was a Jew and his ministry was to the people of Israel, he made it clear that he was inviting anyone who would hear and respond into the eternal life of the Kingdom of God. For example, in today's passage after he heals the slave of a Roman centurion--a man who was a living embodiment of Roman oppression and pagan idolatry--Jesus says this:

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." [8:11 NIV]

Wow! Jesus is saying that there is nothing about a person's identity before he or she encounters Jesus that precludes that person from following after Jesus. If he is willing to follow Jesus, then even a Roman centurion can be his disciple.

But then Jesus says something troubling (as he always does):

"But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [8:12 NIV]

That part I don't like as much. In that specific context, Jesus is saying that just because you were born a Jew in Israel does not mean that are exempt from responding to Jesus. But, applied more broadly it means this: even religious people like me have to actually say yes and follow- -no one gets a free pass.

P.S. Peter was married! I love those little details the Gospel writers throw in from time to time.

The Entire Sermon On The Mount Explained (Be Warned - It's Long)

MATTHEW 7:13-29

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

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Be warned—today’s commentary is much longer than usual, but it’s important. I want to help you understand how in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 Jesus is giving his followers practical advice they can actually use to become the kind of people who survive life's storms.

Storms are inevitable in life. And what's worse is that they are also unforeseeable. In literal storms, millions and millions of random occurrences come together to produce the winds and the waves; life's storms are also the result of random interactions of complex systems. So, how do you prepare for something inevitable that's also completely unpredictable and random?

AMAZED AT WHAT HE HAD TO SAY

There's this really fascinating aside Matthew gives us after Jesus wraps up the Sermon on the Mount.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. [7:28-29]

Having just heard Jesus give this famous set of teaching, his hearers are amazed. What Jesus has been saying was so insightful and unusual and so obviously cut to the heart of the matter of everyday life that it was nothing short of astounding. And you know what? Nothing has changed in 2,000 years--these words are still AMAZING.

THE TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE
Let's begin at the end. Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount by saying that there are two options in life: the way that seems easy but actually ends in ruin, and the way that seems difficult and unpopular but actually results in blessing [7:13-14]. He expands on this by talking about how it's not what people say that matters, but what they actually do (and how to tell between the talkers and the doers) [7:15-23], and then he sums up the entire set of teachings with a little parable:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” [7:24-27 NIV]

In his conclusion, Jesus says that the difference between the people who are destroyed by life's storms and those who survive them is that the survivors actually do what Jesus said to do. But how do we actually do that? That's what he's been telling us in the previous 3 chapters of his famous sermon. In fact, the Sermon on the Mount is meant to be a How- To manual to becoming the kind of person who can weather any storm. And the first thing we have to understand is what Jesus meant when he talked about the "Kingdom".

WHAT THE KINGDOM IS
Here's how Matthew sums up the central message of Jesus:
"Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'” - Matthew 4:17 NIV

Another way of translating this might be:

“ HEY! Turn around and change your mind: living in the reality of God is now one of your options.”

— Matthew 4:17, the Andrew Forrest Version (in the style of Dallas Willard)

A kingdom is wherever a king's will is done; beyond that frontier, it's no longer that king's kingdom. King Charles reigns over the United Kingdom; he does not reign in France. Each of us has our own kingdom or queendom; where my will is done is my kingdom. So, my body is one part of my kingdom, for example: I command my finger to move, and it does; I command my mouth to speak, and it does. The kingdom of heaven is wherever God's will is done. The only place in the Creation where God's will is not done is here on earth, where God has permitted for a while his human creatures to exercise their own private kingships and queenships. This is why we pray in the Lord's Prayer "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it [already] is in heaven."

From the beginning, it was God's plan that men and women would exercise their free will and rule in his name over the earth [see Genesis 1:26];
it remains God's will that we would freely choose to align our kingdoms under his Kingdom.

So, the message of Jesus in 4:17 is that through him God's Kingdom is now available to anyone, anywhere, RIGHT NOW if they are willing to do what he says. Apprenticeship or discipleship to Jesus is learning to live your life in the reality of the Kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount which follows his announcement in 4:17, he provides some practical examples of what Kingdom life will look like.

THE INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
Jesus begins the Sermon by telling people that there is no spiritual condition that precludes them from learning to live in the Kingdom now: not the spiritually poor, not the mourning, not the meek, etc. [We call this section "The Beatitudes,” 5:3-12.]

Then, Jesus tells his followers that living in the Kingdom will make them distinct from people around them: it will be as if they are salt- -thereby bringing out the flavor in life—or light—thereby showing others how best to live. [5:13-16.]

To be clear, Jesus wants his followers to understand that he's not doing anything new, that this is ultimately what the Old Testament is all about, and that he's not come to abolish "the law and the prophets". [5:17-20.]

With those remarks out of the way, Jesus explains what it looks like to put his words into practice and live in the Kingdom. What he is going to do is take familiar situations that arise and give an example of what Kingdom living would look like in each of those situations.

Here’s the point: it would seem at first that going along with the conventional wisdom in each of the examples that follow would be the best course of action; actually Jesus wants us to understand that if you just do what everyone else is doing—“the wide and easy path” he references in Matthew 7:13—it will be the equivalent of building a foundation on sand. Instead, if you do what he says to do, as counterintuitive as it might seem, you’ll be building your life on bedrock.

A PRACTICAL PLAN FOR BECOMING A SURVIVOR

ANGER

Jesus begins his advice by talking about anger. He tells his hearers that though it is obvious that murder will mess up your life, the anger and contempt that are behind and underneath murder are also spiritually dangerous. So, rather than indulging in anger, Jesus tells his followers that they should actually seek reconciliation with people with whom they have bad blood. Living in the Kingdom is trying as hard as humanly possible to be reconciled with others. [5:21-26.]

Building on Sand: anger and contempt.
Building on Rock: seeking reconciliation.

LUST

Next, Jesus tells his followers that though it is obvious that adultery will mess up your life, what's really important is to rid your thoughts of lust. Lust is using someone else's image for your own gratification, which is evil because people were created in the image of God, and not for the purpose of pornography. Jesus says that Kingdom living, then, is about doing whatever it takes--he uses the hyperbolic image of cutting off your own hand!--to learn to see other people as God sees them, and not as objects of desire. [5:27-30.]

Building on Sand: indulging your thought life.
Building on Rock: disciplining your thought life.

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

People have been having marital problems since the Garden of Eden, and they had marital problems in Jesus's day, too. But Jesus tells his followers that marriage is not primarily a contract between two people for the purpose of meeting their emotional needs; rather it is a one-flesh union that involves a covenant before God. And so Kingdom living is about being reconciled with your spouse (remember reconciliation is an important Kingdom value) as far as is in your power. Now, if your spouse persists in adulterous behavior, reconciliation is clearly outside of your power, but Jesus tells his followers divorce is a last resort. [5:31-32.]

Building on Sand: leaving a marriage when it doesn’t fulfill your emotional needs.
Building on Rock: working towards reconciliation as far as is humanly possible.

MANIPULATION ("OATHS")

Then Jesus takes on a pervasive human behavior: that of trying to manipulate other people into doing what we want them to do. In his day there had developed this convoluted practice of swearing on the Temple in Jerusalem to convince people you were sincere. ("I swear on the Temple I didn't take your money!") We don't do that, but of course we try to use language (social media posts?) to get other people to do what we want them to do. In contrast, Jesus says that Kingdom living is much simpler: just say what you mean, and leave it at that. [5:33-37.]

Building on Sand: trying to manipulate others.
Building on Rock: saying what you mean, and leaving it at that.

VENGEANCE/RETALIATION/ENEMIES

You will have enemies; people will seek to do you harm. Though it seems natural to us to hit back and hate the people who hate us (the wide and easy path always seems "natural" to us at first), Kingdom living is about forgoing retaliation and instead seeking ways to bless the people who mistreat us, even to the extent of praying for God to bless them! Jesus makes the reason explicit: when you try to love the people who hate you, you are acting like God, who wants to bless all his children. So, Kingdom living is learning to act like God in the times of inevitable conflict we will encounter. [5:38-48.]

Building on Sand: vengeance and retaliation.
Building on Rock: seeking to bless those that hate us.

VIRTUE-SIGNALING (E.G. GIVING AND FASTING)

Jesus tells his followers next that they should be careful of trying to impress other people with how they help the poor or by doing "spiritual" things like fasting. Instead, those should be personal practices and a way of life that's more private than public. In other words, learning to live in the Kingdom is learning not to need to impress other people with how good you are. (Think of all the virtue- signaling on social media.) [6:1-4, 16-18.]

Building on Sand: virtue-signaling to impress others with your goodness. Building on Rock: doing the right thing because it’s right, not because people will see you do it.

PRAYER

Jesus tells his followers how to pray. Learning to live in the kingdom is to make prayer a habitual action ("When you pray, go in your room and shut the door....") and to use Jesus as a model for prayer. [6:5-15.]

Building on Sand: praying haphazardly.
Building on Rock: having a plan for habitual prayer.

MONEY/WEALTH

It seems that having more money will make you happier, but Jesus points out that which we all already know: more stuff won't necessarily make you happier. (If that were the case, then the people in Beverly Hills would be the happiest people on earth, but we know that isn't true.) Living in the Kingdom is learning to trust God more than our own stuff. [6:19-24.]

Building on Sand: thinking more stuff will make you happier.
Building on Rock: learning that trusting God actually makes you happy.

WORRY!

If there were ever a topic for practical pastoral advice, it would be worry! Jesus tells his hearers that worry, which seems so natural ("the wide and easy path") will actually be harmful. So, he tells his followers to focus only on the problems of that particular day (over which they actually have some measure of control), and leave the rest to God. [6:25-34.]

Building on Sand: getting worked up and worried over things you can't control.
Building on Rock: focusing on what you can control today, and working to trust God with everything else.

OTHER PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR AND HYPOCRISY

Jesus tells his followers that though discerning between good and bad, right and wrong has a place, focusing on other people's behavior and ignoring our own is foolish. Rather, Kingdom living is about turning most of your attention on your own shortcomings and working on those. [7:1-6.]

Building on Sand: judging other people by their actions and yourself by your intentions; getting all worked up over other people's hypocrisy.
Building on Rock: focusing on your own actions and shortcomings.

ASKING GOD FOR STUFF

Which brings us to the final bit of practical advice in the sermon: definitely ask God for stuff you need! Lots of folks think "I don't want to ask for the wrong thing; I'll just pray a generic prayer for God's will to be done." Instead, Jesus tells his hearers to ask boldly. [7:7-12.]

Building on Sand: refusing to ask and not persisting in prayer.
Building on Rock: asking and persisting in prayer.

TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE

All of the above is Jesus providing his hearers of examples of what Kingdom living looks like. Each topic he covers is a topic that each of us encounters all the time; doing what Jesus said is putting his principles into practice when you encounter anger, lust, worry, etc. Anyone can choose to participate, because Jesus came to bring the good news of the Kingdom to everyone. But, he concludes with telling his followers that hearing is not the point: actually practicing what he said is the point.

The people who actually do what he says will be the kind of people who, rather than going along with everyone else by taking "the wide and easy path" will be the kind of people who take the narrow, hard path that actually leads to life.

The people who do what he says will be able to survive any storm-- even death!--because they are learning to live the eternal life of the Kingdom RIGHT NOW.

If you want to learn how to survive life's storms, start doing what Jesus says. Go down the list, and begin to practice the Kingdom response or mindset. It works.

Storms in life will inevitably come; no one is exempt. Jesus says the only way to prepare is to start learning to live in the Kingdom now, and the Sermon on the Mount offers advice how to do just that.

What are you waiting for?

What Do You Need To Ask For Today?

MATTHEW 7:7-12

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

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When my daughter was a little girl, she contracted a sinus infection that caused one of her eyes to swell shut. (This happened over Christmas. Of course it did.) The doctor prescribed medicinal eye drops, which we were to apply to her little eyes several times a day. I don't know if it's easier to rope a calf than to apply eye drops to a squirmy toddler, but I'm certain it's more pleasant for both cowboy and calf. After dropping the clear little drops in her hair and her ears and her mouth and her nose, we decided on a different tack: bribery. "If you let me put the eyedrops in your eyes, we'll give you some 'choca.''' ("Choca" being her word for chocolate.) It worked. A drop was equal to a chocolate chip, and soon several times a day we were being asked for "I-jops" and "chocas", and dispensing a fair quantity of both.

And then her prescription ran its course, the infection went away, and we no longer needed the bribe. However, like many a corrupt Third World bureaucrat, my daughter had become hooked on the bribes, and would silently sidle up to me several times a day, climb into my lap, stick her face in mine, cock her head like a crow, and earnestly ask, "I-jops? Chocas?"

Weak father though I am, I was not about to give her medicine she didn't need, and so I politely turned down her requests. If it were good for her, I'd have refilled the prescription, but it wasn’t and I didn’t.

But you know what? I loved it that she asked me, and I hope she never stops asking me for things.

Jesus says that if human fathers like me delight in giving to our children, how much more will the one he calls our "Father in heaven" delight in giving to his children. Again, Jesus sees the world as a fundamentally good and safe place for those who trust God.

So, when he says in today's Gospel reading, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you,” he really means it.

What do you need to ask for today?

How would your life change if you woke up every morning feeling certain that God loves you and wants good things for you?

Take This Test To See If You Are A Hypocrite

MATTHEW 7:1-6

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

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TAKE THIS TEST TO SEE IF YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE

Are you breathing?
I'm sorry to tell you: you are a hypocrite.

Still not convinced?

Do you judge other people by their actions but yourself by your intentions?
Congratulations, you are definitely a hypocrite.

Still not persuaded? There is one final test.
Go look in the mirror. Only hypocrites can be seen in the mirror.

I kid. But seriously. When Jesus tells us not to judge, he doesn't mean that we should refrain from discerning between right and wrong, good and evil. (That’s why he tells us not to throw pearls to swine— in other words, exercise discernment about right and wrong.) What he means is that we should beware putting ourselves in the morally superior position of the Judge. We're not the Judge; we're the same as everybody else: we're all hypocrites.

Which means we all need mercy.

So, by all means discern between good and bad, right and wrong, and call out evil where you see it. But never forget that there is only one Judge, and you aren’t better than anyone else.

(And neither am I.)

The Connection Between Greed and Worry

MATTHEW 6:19-34

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Jesus sees the world as a fundamentally good and safe place for those who trust God. In his teaching here on material possessions, he explains that there is a connection between greed and worry, because both greed and worry are based on the idea that God can’t be trusted to provide enough of what we need. Either we hoard out of fear, or we live in fear for tomorrow. Both ways lead us away from life. In fact, a focus on those things will bring darkness to our interior lives (vv. 22-23)!

So, in light of Jesus’s teaching here, what if we literally starting doing what he said?

When he told his followers to "Consider the lilies," what if he really meant it?

And when he says, "Seek first the kingdom," what if he actually wants us to do it?

What if you spent time today looking at something beautiful and ordinary that God made?

What if you the first thing you did upon waking tomorrow was to spend time in quiet prayer and reflection before God?

What if this stuff actually works?

What if Jesus doesn’t want you to live with anxiety, and what if he’s telling you what to do to combat anxiety today?

Just do it.

P.S. Here is the video from last week’s Bible study, as well as the handout we distributed.

The Most Terrifying Verse In The Bible?

MATTHEW 6:1-18

6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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Jesus is teaching his disciples that the purpose of good works and works of piety is not to show off, but to glorify God and to be approved of by God. For example, he shows the disciples how to pray—not by showing off with lots of words, but with simple, concrete statements and requests. One of those requests includes one of the most terrifying verses in the entire Bible. As part of his teaching on prayer, Jesus says this:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [6:14-15 NIV]

The context is the closing part of what we call The Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." (The language is old-fashioned. What Jesus literally says is "debts," but the sense is more like "sins" or "wrongs,” etc. I personally like "trespasses," which always makes me think of someone deliberately transgressing on someone else's property.) I don't totally understand how this works, but Jesus clearly implies that there is some spiritual connection between our willingness to forgive others and our capacity to receive forgiveness from God.

Terrifying. Who do you need to forgive today? Don't wait.

What Kind Of Person Could Do This?

MATTHEW 5:21-48

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Read today's passage from the Sermon on the Mount and then ask yourself, "What kind of person would be able to do the things that Jesus is talking about?"

That's exactly the point.

The person who could do the things Jesus is talking about is one who is being transformed from the inside-out. God's desire with the Old Testament law was to point to the reality behind the law—a disposition of the heart. And so the purpose of God is to remake a person from the inside out so that he or she is actually capable of fulfilling the promise of the Sermon on the Mount. Courage, fidelity, peace, honesty, reconciliation--these are what result in a person who decides to follow Jesus and learn from him.

Are you willing? Do one practical thing today.

What Was The Point Of The Old Testament?

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Here we go! I’m praying for a full house, and lots of families and kids.

BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT | 6:30 PM | SANCTUARY LIVESTREAM: asburytulsa.online.church

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MATTHEW 5:13-20

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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Salt has two uses in the kitchen:

It enhances (brings out the flavor);
It preserves (keeps from rotting).

Jesus tells his followers that they are like salt: they are to make society better, and they are to keep society from going bad.

What about if the Church loses its saltiness, what if it loses what makes it distinct? Jesus says that then

"It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." [5:13b NIV]

We can all cite multiple examples over these last 2,000 years when the Church abandoned what made it distinct and went along with the wider culture--it's always disaster and ruin, both for the Church and the world. (Think of slavery in the New World, e.g.)

So, it is crucial that we stay salty and thereby have something to offer the world. But how? Here's one quick thought.

The Sermon on the Mount is a seamless garment, all woven together, and so I think part of the way that the Church keeps its saltiness is to pay attention to what Jesus says later on in today's passage:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." [5:17]

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and he is expressing God’s heart behind the Old Testament law. Jesus isn’t doing away with the Law but filling the law full of meaning. The law was always meant to show people the way to a flourishing life. So, the more we seek to understand the scriptures, the more we both experience life and the more we have to offer the world. I think one of the ways we can ensure our saltiness therefore is by doing exactly what we're doing: reading and poring over the Scriptures.

May God use his Word to make you salty today.

How To Have The Good Life Now [another long but important post]

TOMORROW IS OUR SEPTEMBER CHURCHWIDE BIBLE STUDY. 6:30-8:00 PM. Traveling to the Galapagos to swim with the turtles? Planning on climbing Kilimanjaro? Gotta get your hair did? Cancel your plans and be at Bible study instead. —AF

MATTHEW 5:1-12

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Remember our 2 keys to understanding Matthew:

1. The first key to understanding Matthew is to see everything about Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel as connected to and fulfilling the Old Testament story. In every passage, ask, “How does this information about Jesus relate to the Old Testament story?”

2. The second key is to see Matthew as an instruction manual for discipleship. It is meant to give readers what they need to know to become a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. In every passage ask, “Of all the things Matthew could have told us, why did he think that we needed to know this to be apprentices of Jesus?

The Sermon on the Mount is a great example to show how these two keys fit together and help us understand what we’re reading.

1. In the Old Testament, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments and the Law because the Lord wants to teach the Israelites how to live well. Here, we see Jesus is like a new Moses, and he’s teaching his followers (on a mountain) what it will take to live the good life. In fact, Jesus is doing more than what Moses did, because the words of Jesus fulfill the purpose of the Law (5:17-20).

2. As the rest of Matthew’s Gospel unfolds, we’ll see that Jesus will model the qualities he describes in the Sermon on the Mount; his teaching here is an invitation to enter into the life that he’s living—it’s an instruction manual for his disciples.

We will see that the Sermon on the Mount is a summary of life in the Kingdom of God; the rest of the Gospel gives us specific examples of what that life looks like.

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THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE BEATITUDES

The Sermon on the Mount begins with some strange statements about the good life. They are a summary of the subsequent teaching of Jesus, and a shorthand picture of his entire life. These statements are called “The Beatitudes” because of the way Jesus begins each statement saying “Blessed are....”

Jesus sees the world as a fundamentally good place for those who trust God, and he begins his teaching by telling his hearers that even difficult personal circumstances cannot keep them from experiencing the blessedness that comes from trusting God. It's always important to pay attention to context; the crowds Matthew mentions in 5:1 are described in the previous verses at the end of chapter 4 like this:

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan." [4:23-25]

Jesus has been proclaiming the kingship of God and telling people that it has arrived, and many of the people to whom he has been speaking are sick, broken, down-trodden, unimportant, etc. And it is to those people that Jesus says, "You are in the position to flourish— you are in the right spot for the good life." Why? Because Jesus has brought the Kingdom to them!

That insight has made all the difference to me. All of those people--the poor in spirit, the mourning, the ones who hunger for righteousness--all of those people find the answer in Jesus, who is ushering in the Kingdom—there is nothing that precludes them or anyone else from learning to live in the Kingdom right now.

And you know what? It's still the same today. Because of what will happen, you live now as if it’s already here, thereby bringing it further into reality.

So, even when really bad things happen—like being persecuted for doing the right thing—you can flourish because you know that God sees it and will vindicate you.

The Beatitudes are about how to have a flourishing life by living now in the truth and hope that those who trust Jesus and follow him will receive joy now and in the age to come, eternal life.

When you live with that trust and hope, you flourish.

IT BEGINS: What Is The Kingdom Of Heaven? [longer post that usual!]

NOTE: Oh man. This Wednesday is our next churchwide Bible study, and the only one we’ll have all month. 6:30-8:00 PM. The question we’ll be asking: Why does Israel refuse to recognize Jesus as Messiah? Why do they miss him? Have other plans this Wednesday? CANCEL THEM. I really want a full house of this one—it’s important. Whom can you invite to sit with you? —AF

P.S. If for some reason you can’t make it, the livestream will be available. But come on—in person is so much better!

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MATTHEW 4:17-25

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every
disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

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Today we begin Part 2 of Matthew’s Gospel and today’s commentary will be longer than usual so as to properly orient us toward what is to come. Part 2 is about The Proclamation of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. In word and deed Matthew will show us the true identity of Jesus, and this section of the Gospel culminates in Peter’s recognition and declaration of that identity in 16:16:

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Part 1 was about Preparation for Jesus as Israel’s Messiah, and we learned in the first sentence that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament story—he is Israel, as Israel was always supposed to be. Jesus is embodied Israel, but unlike the Old Testament Israel, Jesus will be faithful to the Lord even to the point of death. Preparation is over; Part 2 of Matthew’s Gospel is now about the Proclamation to Israel of Jesus’s identity. From Peter’s confession of Jesus’s true identity in 16:16 on, Matthew’s narrative will move in Part 3 toward the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

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Part 2 begins with a summary statement about everything that will follow:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [4:17]

Up to this point, Jesus hasn’t begun his ministry—rather, we’ve been told about the preparation for that ministry. Now, Jesus is ready to begin, and we learn the central message that Jesus came to proclaim, namely that God’s ultimate reality was close and that therefore everyone needed to change direction to participate in it.

The Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God are interchangeable terms, and they refer to the realm where God’s will is perfectly realized and God’s reign is perfectly acknowledged. “The kingship of God” might be another helpful way to think about it. In the opening pages of the Bible, the Kingdom of heaven is Eden, and in the closing pages of the Bible the Kingdom of heaven is the New Jerusalem that John the visionary sees in Revelation 21-22.

In the Bible, repentance means a change of direction by changing how you think and how you live.

Jesus’s message is that God’s ultimate reality—the Kingdom—is really close and that that fact requires a response!

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18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. [4:18-22]

Matthew’s Gospel has two important themes:

1. Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s story; and,

2. Jesus is calling everyone to become his disciples—i.e., his

   students or apprentices—so they can learn how to live in the reality of the kingship of God.

Here Matthew shows us what discipleship requires—immediate obedience. Jesus calls Andrew and Peter, James and John to follow him without preamble—just do it.

Twice, Matthew tells us that the brothers left their nets "immediately," i.e., when Jesus calls, they respond totally: they don't hedge their bets or halfway follow him. What's Matthew trying to tell us?

Either we follow Jesus, or we don't: there is no place for half-hearted discipleship.

Jesus says, "Follow me." In response, what do you need to "immediately" leave, drop, or do today?

P.S. Live out of town and want a Matthew Part 2 book? Email Sandie, and we’ll mail you one.

From Preparation to Proclamation

Look what came in the mail yesterday:

Our Matthew Part 2 books have arrived!

The only thing that could be better would be to see you at Bible study this coming Wednesday evening….

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MATTHEW 4:12-16

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned.”

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Note: Today concludes Part 1 of our Matthew reading plan, which was all about The Preparation for Jesus the Messiah. Part 2 begins on Monday, September 11 and will be about The Proclamation of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. Part 2 will run through the end of October. Pick up your Part 2 book this Sunday, and be sure to attend Bible study on Wednesday (9/13), 6:30-8:00 PM.

Get pumped!

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The preparations are complete for Jesus’s ministry to begin. John’s arrest by Herod (which Matthew doesn’t tell us about until chapter 14) means that the time is right for Jesus to launch his ministry in Israel, a ministry that will be about proclaiming the Kingdom and his role as Israel’s Messiah. He begins his ministry in Galilee, in the ancient area that was assigned to the Israelite tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali. And Matthew reminds us that the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had foretold a time when a brilliant hope would come upon the people of Israel, starting in the area of Galilee:

1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[e] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. —Isaiah 9:1-7

Once again, we see that God’s plan has been working toward Jesus all along.

In the same way, God is working history toward its goal even now.

Be hopeful today! It’s a good ending!

Cross Before Crown

Matthew 4:8-11

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

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The essence of the devil's testing of Jesus in the Wilderness in Matthew 4 is about suffering. The crucial question: is there a shortcut through suffering for Jesus?

Jesus and the devil are in agreement: Jesus will reign in the end. The question is, can he receive his glory without going through suffering? Look carefully and see that the temptations are all about a shortcut through suffering: food instead of fasting, safety instead of danger, the crown without the cross.

The temptation for Jesus to avoid suffering must have been nearly irresistible.

Nearly irresistible, but not ultimately so. Jesus resists. He knows that, for whatever reason, there is no shortcut through suffering in this life. For whatever reason, the cross comes before the crown.

I wish I could tell you that it is possible to live life without difficulty, but that would be a lie. The good news, though, is that there is nothing unusual about your difficulties--everyone has trials. The even better news is that God redeems all that he allows, and that our "present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

So, there's no shortcut through suffering. It's just one foot in front of the other. But, be hopeful: the Lord has something amazing planned at the end.

P.S. I preached about this topic last Sunday.

P.P.S. Let the countdown begin: churchwide Bible study next Wednesday, September 13. 6:30-8:00 PM. Whom are you inviting? We won’t have another Bible study until October—DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.

P.P.P.S. I’ve been reading one psalm a day, every day for the last several years. No matter what other reading plan I’m in, no matter what’s going on, I just stick with that simple rhythm. Today, I start over again with Psalm 1. Wanna join me? Here’s the schedule we’ll be following. And guess what? In 150 days, we’ll start over again. Let’s GO.