Before Week Three offer your reflections on one of the following passages: Matt 5:17-20; Matt 6:24-34; Matt 7:15-23.
In one or two paragraphs prepare a response and reflection by leaving a comment to this post. When preparing your reflection make sure to consider the surrounding literary context. Meaning, if I am writing about Matt 1:21 it is necessary to understand the meaning of this passage by reading all of chapter 1 (and even chapter 2).
Further, each week use this blog as a means to respond to other peoples reflection.
6 comments:
Matthew 5:17-20
This is a section that helps the reader to understand from Jesus own lips that He came to fulfill not just what the Prophets said, but also the Law. Previously, when John the Baptist tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized by him, Jesus' answer was "in order to fulfill all righteousness," part of righteousness meant fulfilling the Law.
Just think how shocked the people were when they heard Jesus proclaim that they had to have righteousness that exceeded that of the Pharisees and scribes, whom outwardly had the appearance of fulfilling the very letter of the Law. Jesus was making an important stand and claimed here that the Law told of Him and that the Prophets told of Him. He fulfilled all (the Law and the Prophets)of the Old Testament, which at the time of this letter was probably all that they had and at the time of Jesus speaking was all they had.
The part that strikes me today is that Jesus placed a great importance on the Law and it should be taught with a fear of God. Jesus fulfilled the Law so that we are not under the penalty of the Law, but that does not negate its importance and that it should be taught rightly and not relaxed in order to satisfy people who want to feel nice and fuzzy, even when being disobedient to the Law. It also targets those who think that they are keeping the Law and are not. Jesus is ultimately the way into the kingdom of heaven, because he fulfilled the Law.
In response to Matt 6:24-34...
I LOVE these verses, and appreciate that verse 24 was included in the response chunk. Verse 24 is in the section titled "lay up treasures in heaven," while the remaining verses are part of the "do not be anxious" section.
Point #1: I find the section headings (added by the editors, not the author) to be rather frustrating at times, as they tend to (at least for me, as a reader) make sequential verses seem distinct, rather than cohesive. For example, the first word in v. 25, "therefore," suggests that the verses to follow are a logical continuance...but the heading in between makes the flow feel less fluid.
Point #2: The connection between the verses is crucial to understand. In worrying about provision (what we will eat, wear, drink), our minds focus in on the things of this world and what we need, how we will get it, how we can get MORE of it, how we can get MORE of it than our neighbor, etc. And in all of our focus on acquiring and maintaining our earthly "treasures," we lose sight of the treasures we ALREADY have waiting for us in eternity. We serve our stuff, rather than our stuff serving us, we bend over backwards to get and maintain it. Whatever we think about most, that becomes our idol, our god; too often, we make idols out of stuff and worrying about stuff, rather than giving ourselves whole-heartedly to God's mission (loving Him, loving others, and spreading the news of reconciliation).
Point #3: I find it interesting that in this section, Matthew breaks from his standard, inoffensive word choice, "kingdom of heaven," and instead opts for "kingdom of God." Any insights on why that might be? Matthew does this a few times in the book...Is there something strategic about using those words here?
Matthew 7: 20-23 – Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. "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. 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?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
The fruit that Jesus will be looking at is who we are – not what we do. The outward acts that we perform – even in the name of Jesus are secondary to who we are. When you look at the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23a - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) they are inward attributes – not outward attributes – they are who a person is – not what they do. The inward attributes can produce outward manifestations (e.g. acts of kindness) but the outward acts come from the inward attributes or fruit. The way that we develop/gain the fruit of the spirit is through a relationship with Jesus – to sit as his feet and learn from him. One of the things that these verses say is that the bracelets and other stuff that were popular a few years ago with the letters WWJD (What would Jesus do?) is the wrong question. Jesus is saying in these verses that we can do what Jesus did and even do it in his name – and still not KNOW him. The right letters, if this is even a valid concept, would be WWJB (What would Jesus be?). Jesus is telling us that we need to BE in a relationship with Him – we need to deny our self (which is a whole different discussion – but suffice it to say the self we need to deny is our ego self – we have to be in a place where my life is not about me – just as Jesus pointed to his Father in heaven – we need to point to Jesus, take up our cross (die to our own life) and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Jesus doesn’t want us to know about him (head knowledge) but Jesus wants us to KNOW him (heart knowledge). When our being is in Jesus – the doing flows from our being and it is effortless and egoless and we touch people and we don’t even know sometimes that we are touching people. Jesus touched multitudes of people – while he was being with his father in heaven – we have that same possibility right in front of us.
This is a very sobering warning for the church. The things that Jesus is calling out as acts of lawlessness are things that Jesus himself did – but he did not do those things for himself (John 5:19)– he did those things because he saw his Father in heaven doing those things and to point to his father. We can do many things in the name of Jesus and never KNOW Jesus.
Luk 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
The one thing necessary – is to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his teaching – to be with him – to have a relationship with him – to follow him. When we KNOW Jesus – we will KNOW (in our hearts) that our life is not about us – our life is about Jesus – and on that day – we will KNOW (in our hearts) the Lord’s voice and he will KNOW us.
Matt 6:24-34.
No one can serve two masters, in this case vs. 24 refers to God and mammon ,as the two masters.The Amplified bible decsribes mammon as deceitful riches,money, possesions and whatever is trusted in.I think this means we can't trust in money and God at the same time. We can have money and possesions, but our trust is in God, and that He will provide for us. Years ago my husband had a pretty good paying job. When he lost it, I was suprised at how much I had relied on his income instead of God to meet our needs.These days I am the main bread winner, and my main job has a variable income. It has really helped me to rely on God to provide. It's fun to see how He brings in more work when we need the money, and less work when I need a rest. He's in charge and I love it!!
God does not want us to worry about how our material needs will be met, as He is fully able to meet all of our needs (vs 25-32).
He wants us to put our energy into seeking His kingdom and pursuing His righteousness. He promises that if we do this He will provide for all the physical and material needs we have ( vs. 33 ).When we are worrying, it is difficult to hear from God and recieve the peace and rest He wants to give us. That's what I think vs. 27 is telling us, that the worry won't make us better or increase our life span, but... knowing God better will do both of these things.
Vs. 34 warns us not to worry about tommorrow, beacuse today has enough to think about. I can't count the amount of things I worried about concerning the future that were completely resolved by the time tommorrow came!!
Matthew 5:17-20
This section of verses had been difficult for me. However, taken in context after the beatitudes and in light of the fact that Jesus wanted more than external actions, but a heart change, it makes sense.
Does this mean that I have to keep the whole law? I don't think so. But I don't really have to think about it. I think what Jesus is talking about is that our righteousness has to come from our hearts and right things, as "love is the fulfillment of the law". When walking in love, we will naturally do the things that the law requires, if not in exact letter in spirit. Romans speaks of this 2:14-15a "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts".
I apologize for responding to your comments late. I have not had
internet at home since we moved. Overall, fantastic statements and
insight. Keep reading Matthew within the context of the entire
biblical story.
Nathaniel: Good job on connecting this verse with trying to understand
the Law. I am curious if my perspective on the Law being a means of
God protecting Israel changed or enhanced your thinking? One question
that I did not address is, "what is the righteousness of Christ?" Is
it faith in Christ; Christ himself; the grace of Christ? What do you
think?
Heidi: LOVE point one. In this case the "editor" is a modern
development. The entire Bible tells the story of Jesus. Therefore your
observation that headings (and verses?) break the story up is true.
Point two is well taken. Being on mission with God is the challenge of
the materialist American church.
Debbie: When our lives connect with the meaning of a passage,
Scripture becomes so clear. All cultures of every generation have
struggled to trust in God over their money and stuff. Thanks for
coming to class and I hope to see you next week. Thanks for your
thoughts.
Christine: Excellent job of looking to other portions of Scripture
that help make sense of this difficult passage. Often times Scripture
is able to interpret Itself. This proves the divine element which God
put together His Word.
Dan: Great detail with which you handled this text. You say "The one thing necessary – is to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his teaching – to be with him – to have a relationship with him – to follow him. When we KNOW Jesus – we will KNOW (in our hearts) that our life is not about us – our life is about Jesus – and on that day – we will KNOW (in our hearts) the Lord’s voice and he will KNOW us."
Perhaps this is a "chicken or egg" statement but it seems to me that for one to know Jesus you begin with his Word where revelation exists and continues to exist through us. Regardless where one starts your point is very well taken and a testimony to your mature thinking.
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