DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
<
form action=&amp
;amp;amp;quot;https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; method=&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;p
ost&
quot; target=&am
p;amp;amp;quot;_top&
amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;input type=&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;hidden&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; name=&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;cmd&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; value=&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot
;_s-xclick&a
mp;amp;quot;&amp
;amp;amp;gt; &am
p;amp;amp;lt;input type=&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;hidden&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; name=&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;hosted_button_id&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; val
ue=&
quot;DKL7ADEKRVUBL&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;input type=&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;image&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; src=&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;https://www.payp
alobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; border=&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;0&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; nam
e=&q
uot;submit&a
mp;amp;quot; alt=&am
p;amp;amp;amp;quot;PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!
&quo
t;&g
t; &
lt;img alt=&
amp;amp;quot;&am
p;amp;amp;quot; border=&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;0&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; src=&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;https://www.paypalobjects.com
/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; width=&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;1&a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; height=&amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;1&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&am
p;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &a
mp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/form&
amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
HTML https://3169.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Christian Threads
*****************************************************
#Post#: 29626--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 17, 2021, 4:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Light of the world…
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on
a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it
under a basket,[b] but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light
for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light
shine[c] before men, so that they may see your good works and
give glory to your Father in heaven.
When I first began to look into the parable of the Light of the
World, I thought it would go one way and in fact, it went a
totally different direction from what I expected. So let’s
first touch base on what light in scripture means. The first
thing we want to talk about is that Jesus is the light. This is
the most important part of this parable and we will go into more
details about that in a moment. (John 8:12; John 1:4; John
12:46; John 5:26; Luke 2:32; Isaiah 42:6; I John 2:8; Acts
26:23; II Corinthians 4:6; John 1) When we follow Him, we are
walking in the light rather than the darkness. (John 8:12;
Romans 13:12) The problem is that man likes darkness more than
he likes light. (Job 24:13-16; John 3:19-21) As we follow
Christ, we become children of light and as such need to walk as
if we are. (Ephesians 5:8)
Light exposes what is hidden in darkness. (Luke 8:17; Matthew
10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2; Proverbs 20:27) Light also keeps us
from stumbling. (Job 12:25) Light is also a guide. (Psalm
43:3; Psalms 119:105) But light also gives us understanding to
those without experience.(Psalms 119; 130) Interestingly
enough, teaching can and is also a light. (Proverbs 6:23)
Light is so important to our world and to our walk with Christ
and can only be found in Christ.
So what then is Jesus telling the disciples in Matthew 5:14-16
when He calls them the light of the world? Well, first, He is
calling them His followers, those that are reflecting His light
to others. This is important because as we see in John 9:5,
Jesus was not always going to be here on this earth to shine the
light into the darkness thus showing men (both Jew and Gentile)
the way of salvation. Thus the disciples were to become the
sons of the light. (John 12:36) {again, where Jesus is directly
speaking to the disciples I do believe this teaching is for us
today as well}
Matthew 5:14-16 starts out by calling the disciples the light
of the world. As we just saw in John 9:5 it was an important job
that Jesus would not be able to continue to do on this earth, He
needed ambassadors to continue the work. (II Corinthians 5:20;
Colossians 1:24) If salvation was going to be made available
for all people, someone needed to show those in the darkness how
to live in the light. They became the city on the hill, the
picture of Zion yet to come. (Isaiah 62:1)
Then Jesus explains why His light is within the true believers,
why they are given the Holy Spirit. Because light is used to
give all men (and women) guidance, to keep them from stumbling,
and to reveal what is hidden in the darkness so that they too
can live in the light of Christ. The early church was a
persecuted church. They needed the power of the Holy Spirit to
live out the light that they had been given by Christ as sons of
God. So in order to live in the power of the Holy Spirit as a
light to the world, the disciples had to allow themselves to
live out the truth openly (II Corinthians 4:1-11) by renouncing
hidden things, give up dishonesty, to avoid walking in the
craftiness, not handle the word of God deceitfully, and to
manifest the truth in the sight of God. They live in open
display of the truth through knowledge of God’s glory in the
face of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by giving themselves over
to death, that they were able to show the light that brings
life. They were focused on the unseen rather than the seen, the
eternal rather than the temporal and in that, they became the
light to the world. They were to be the light to the house of
Israel as well as the Gentiles. In living in the light, they
were showing the good works of Christ that others might give
glory to God as well.
The light comes from our hearts, (Matthew 6:21-23) so they were
to proclaim this light not only in good works, not just in
enduring persecution but in how they lived what they taught,
with boldness. They needed to guard themselves from the
darkness that might be hidden. (Luke 11:34-36; II Corinthians
11:14) It was a life that was to be lived in boldness. (I
Corinthians 4:5) There is so much more we can talk about when
talking of the light, but let us touch on two last things,
Frist the fruit of the light is goodness, righteousness, and
truth, (Ephesians 5:9) it is also justice. (Isaiah 51:4)
Finally, let us talk about why living as a light to the world is
so important. Consider what Habakkuk 3:4 tells us about the
light of God. Habakkuk 3:4 (HCSB) His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand. This is where His power is
hidden. The power of God is hidden within the light of Christ.
A light that is available to all true believers.
#Post#: 29634--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest125 Date: May 18, 2021, 11:05 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for deciding to love me rather than argue. I think
that if you abide in love, we could have a good discussion- but
you'll have to resist the urge to take offense at everything I
say. It's not "IF" I wasn't trying to say the salt was the
law.... It's SINCE I didn't say that. You are correct in
saying that you objected to me saying the parable was ABOUT the
law. It is. -And that's what you objected to. It's about the
law and yes, those who follow the law and keep the law and
administer the law VERSUS those he was speaking to-- his
followers. If you miss the fact that he is casting a stark
contrast, you miss the whole point. -Kind of important.
[quote author=Lori Bolinger link=topic=1282.msg29554#msg29554
date=1621257057]
I objected to you saying that parable of the salt wasss about
the law when as I pointed out Jesus called the disciples salt
not the law and asked you to prove the salt was the law...if you
were not trying to say the salt was the law then all you had to
do was say I misunderstood what your point was...but you see, by
you ignoring my question about where you see Jesus calling the
law salt, you are the one who is asking for argument...but no
matter, I will take the blame even if it does NOT fit, it's
called love.
[/quote]
What Jesus is saying-- if you want to review those Beatitudes
again, is that the law just ain't good enough. It ain't tough
enough... doesn't go nearly far enough. He is instructing his
disciples (beyond the twelve-- all who claim to follow his
teachings) that following all the rules and regulations are fine
and good, but to what end? You can follow every jot and
tittle--- in modern vernacular- 'dot every i, and cross every t'
and keep every point of the law to the finest detail and it's
worth nothing, because you have a rotten, stinkin' attitude.
You can never sleep with another person, yet still be an
adulterer because you lust in your heart. You can never kill or
strike another person, but still be a murderer because you are
full of hate-- DESPITE keeping the law and all it's ordinances.
His point is the law is inadequate. The haughty Pharisees are
the proof--- they major in every minor point and fail where it
counts-- in their heart.
You (followers of mine) are the salt.... not them. So too you
followers of mine are the light... not them, he taught.
Elsewhere he called them blind guides leading the blind again in
contrast to those who have that spirit of God that the Father
gives- that holy spirit called the word of the Father within
them. As you quoted from Ps 119-- 'Thy word is the lamp unto my
feet and the light unto my path' and the word of the Father that
became flesh in him is the same word that becomes flesh in the
soil of every man (here is where the sower parable comes to
life) "I am the light" he said... "You are the light" he also
said.
#Post#: 29635--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 18, 2021, 11:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Mr E link=topic=1282.msg29634#msg29634
date=1621353909]
Thank you for deciding to love me rather than argue. I think
that if you abide in love, we could have a good discussion- but
you'll have to resist the urge to take offense at everything I
say. It's not "IF" I wasn't trying to say the salt was the
law.... It's SINCE I didn't say that. You are correct in
saying that you objected to me saying the parable was ABOUT the
law. It is. -And that's what you objected to. It's about the
law and yes, those who follow the law and keep the law and
administer the law VERSUS those he was speaking to-- his
followers. If you miss the fact that he is casting a stark
contrast, you miss the whole point. -Kind of important.[/quote]
sometimes, I worry that I am misunderstanding someone that
continues to insist on one thing when I have asked them to
clarify, like when I asked you to point out where salt was
referring to the law and you insisted on talking about the law
beyond the parameters of the OP...so when I can, I ask my
husband or son (whoever is available) to tell me what I missed
in the poster's post...this time I asked my husband and he
understood you the exact same way I did...he had no idea how
what you said related to what I said nor my asking you for
clarification...last time I checked, asking for clarification
was an act of love, meaning you were loved long before you even
attempted to love me in this situation...but no worries, I am
used to it from you. [quote]
[quote author=Lori Bolinger link=topic=1282.msg29554#msg29554
date=1621257057]
I objected to you saying that parable of the salt wasss about
the law when as I pointed out Jesus called the disciples salt
not the law and asked you to prove the salt was the law...if you
were not trying to say the salt was the law then all you had to
do was say I misunderstood what your point was...but you see, by
you ignoring my question about where you see Jesus calling the
law salt, you are the one who is asking for argument...but no
matter, I will take the blame even if it does NOT fit, it's
called love.
[/quote]
What Jesus is saying-- if you want to review those Beatitudes
again, is that the law just ain't good enough. It ain't tough
enough... doesn't go nearly far enough. He is instructing his
disciples (beyond the twelve-- all who claim to follow his
teachings) that following all the rules and regulations are fine
and good, but to what end? You can follow every jot and
tittle--- in modern vernacular- 'dot every i, and cross every t'
and keep every point of the law to the finest detail and it's
worth nothing, because you have a rotten, stinkin' attitude.
You can never sleep with another person, yet still be an
adulterer because you lust in your heart. [/quote] where does
the beatitudes talk about adultery? I think you are confusing
the law with the beatitudes which are talking about who is and
who is not blessed and it is upside down from the world's
understanding of who is blessed...but I will wait and see if you
Love me enough to clarify your assertions by showing me where in
the beatitudes it talks about adultery. [quote]You can never
kill or strike another person, but still be a murderer because
you are full of hate-- DESPITE keeping the law and all it's
ordinances. His point is the law is inadequate. The haughty
Pharisees are the proof--- they major in every minor point and
fail where it counts-- in their heart.[/quote] no contest on the
law, what I want to know is where in the beatitudes you are
seeing Jesus talking about adultery and murder, etc. [quote]
You (followers of mine) are the salt.... not them. So too you
followers of mine are the light... not them, he taught.
Elsewhere he called them blind guides leading the blind again in
contrast to those who have that spirit of God that the Father
gives- that holy spirit called the word of the Father within
them. As you quoted from Ps 119-- 'Thy word is the lamp unto my
feet and the light unto my path' and the word of the Father that
became flesh in him is the same word that becomes flesh in the
soil of every man (here is where the sower parable comes to
life) "I am the light" he said... "You are the light" he also
said.
[/quote]did you even read the study I did and what I said, cause
it sounds like you didn't Love me enough to read the OP before
going off on some tangents that make good fodder for arguments.
#Post#: 29636--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest125 Date: May 18, 2021, 12:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
This tells me that you don't want to study. You want to teach.
If you can read Matthew 5 and ask the questions you are asking,
you simply aren't qualified to teach.
21 “You have heard that 12 the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL
NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be 13
liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is
angry with his brother shall be 14 guilty before the court; and
whoever says to his brother, ‘15 You good-for-nothing,’ shall be
16 guilty before 17 the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You
fool,’ shall be 18 guilty enough to go into the 19 fiery hell.
23 “Therefore if you are presenting your 20 offering at the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something
against you, 24 leave your 21 offering there before the altar
and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
present your 22 offering. 25 “Make friends quickly with your
opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your
opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to
the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to
you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the
last 23 cent.
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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her
in his heart. 29 “If your right eye makes you 24 stumble, tear
it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you 25 to
lose one of the parts of your body, 26 than for your whole body
to be thrown into 27 hell. 30 “If your right hand makes you 28
stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for
you 29 to lose one of the parts of your body, 30 than for your
whole body to go into 31 hell.
31 “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER
A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who
32 divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes
her commit adultery; and whoever marries a 33 divorced woman
commits adultery.
#Post#: 29637--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 18, 2021, 12:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Mr E link=topic=1282.msg29636#msg29636
date=1621357984]
This tells me that you don't want to study. You want to teach.
If you can read Matthew 5 and ask the questions you are asking,
you simply aren't qualified to teach.
21 “You have heard that 12 the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL
NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be 13
liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is
angry with his brother shall be 14 guilty before the court; and
whoever says to his brother, ‘15 You good-for-nothing,’ shall be
16 guilty before 17 the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You
fool,’ shall be 18 guilty enough to go into the 19 fiery hell.
23 “Therefore if you are presenting your 20 offering at the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something
against you, 24 leave your 21 offering there before the altar
and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
present your 22 offering. 25 “Make friends quickly with your
opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your
opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to
the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to
you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the
last 23 cent.
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 lust for her has already committed adultery with her
in his heart. 29 “If your right eye makes you 24 stumble, tear
it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you 25 to
lose one of the parts of your body, 26 than for your whole body
to be thrown into 27 hell. 30 “If your right hand makes you 28
stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for
you 29 to lose one of the parts of your body, 30 than for your
whole body to go into 31 hell.
31 “It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER
A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; 32 but I say to you that everyone who
32 divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes
her commit adultery; and whoever marries a 33 divorced woman
commits adultery.
[/quote]so once again you condemn me because you cannot answer
the most basic questions from the passage...so sad, where is
your Love for me? Our study here ends at the moment of this
discussion with the parable of the salt of the earth...it begins
with the beatitudes which you claimed were teaching the law...I
asked you to show me where in the beatitudes it says anything
about adultery or murder, so let me quote the passage to the
point of this discussion and you highlight for me the part that
talks about the law.
Since I am anxious to learn all I can I am looking forward to
you showing me the law in this part of the passage which is all
that the first study dealt with
5 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after
He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then[a] He began to
teach them, saying:
The Beatitudes
3 “The poor in spirit are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Those who mourn are blessed,
for they will be comforted.
5 The gentle are blessed,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed,
for they will be filled.
7 The merciful are blessed,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 The pure in heart are blessed,
for they will see God.
9 The peacemakers are blessed,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed,
for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and
falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be
glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For
that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose
its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for
anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
#Post#: 29638--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest125 Date: May 18, 2021, 3:10 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Nah... not gonna play your silly game Lori. You can flip and
flop. You can cut and paste. You can mince, slice and dice...
but-
THE PASSAGE-- the whole chapter, the beginning, the salt, the
light, and everything that follows is given to highlight the
difference between those that follow his teaching and those that
follow those teachers of the law. This and every parable. "You
have been taught.... BUT I SAY...."
The things you've claimed I said, what? Five times now? -I
never said. I never said the beatitudes were the law. I never
said the law was the salt.
I said the PASSAGE-- the whole thing... is ABOUT the law. If
you can't see it you can't see it. And if you don't see it what
it's about, why do you presume to teach others about things you
don't see, much less understand? You don't see because you
won't look. You don't understand because you won't consider.
So it is.
#Post#: 29639--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 18, 2021, 3:45 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Mr E link=topic=1282.msg29638#msg29638
date=1621368648]
Nah... not gonna play your silly game Lori. You can flip and
flop. You can cut and paste. You can mince, slice and dice...
but-
THE PASSAGE-- the whole chapter, the beginning, the salt, the
light, and everything that follows is given to highlight the
difference between those that follow his teaching and those that
follow those teachers of the law. This and every parable. "You
have been taught.... BUT I SAY...."
The things you've claimed I said, what? Five times now? -I
never said. I never said the beatitudes were the law. I never
said the law was the salt.
I said the PASSAGE-- the whole thing... is ABOUT the law. If
you can't see it you can't see it. And if you don't see it what
it's about, why do you presume to teach others about things you
don't see, much less understand? You don't see because you
won't look. You don't understand because you won't consider.
So it is.
[/quote]It seems to me that many men on this and other forums do
not understand the difference between study and teaching. What
Lori has done here is study and share with very little
commentary (at the request of another poster). If you have a
problem with her studying then admit it. However, I suggest that
you reread Luke 10:38-42 where Jesus teaches Martha that
learning from Him is better and it will not be taken from her.
Too many men, in their pride desire to teach and presume that
others want to teach as well. Lori simply wants to learn from
Jesus and discuss with other believers His teaching. The entire
Sermon on the Mount is about the law this is true but Lori
states in her subject heading that she is studying parables of
Jesus bit by bit. One of the basics of Exegesis is to begin in
the pericope first and then move out to the broader context. If
you do it the other way around you can read theology into a
passage that is not discussed there but elsewhere. Just a hint
by the way. It is much better to ask a question directly that
you want to discuss rather than being obtuse about the intent of
your fishing expedition.
Brian Bolinger M.Div. Ashland Theological Seminary
Lori's Husband
#Post#: 29640--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest125 Date: May 18, 2021, 7:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
WONDERFUL!!!
The husband. Often mentioned, never before seen. Why don't you
grow a pair (if Lori would permit) and create a profile. I'd
LOVE to talk with you.
Are you saying Lori is akin to Mary, or Martha?
#Post#: 29691--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 19, 2021, 6:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Mr E link=topic=1282.msg29640#msg29640
date=1621385184]
WONDERFUL!!!
The husband. Often mentioned, never before seen. Why don't you
grow a pair (if Lori would permit) and create a profile. I'd
LOVE to talk with you.
Are you saying Lori is akin to Mary, or Martha?
[/quote]actually he was on the other forum for a while...he
doesn't have time and predicted you would make such stupid
claims simply because he is too busy to post...in fact, he often
rants about some of you all and not having time to deal with
such false teachers as you...personally, I wouldn't go that far
with you but then again, maybe he is onto something.
As to "growing a pair" he is more man than you will ever be
since he is determined to grow more and more like Christ and
less and less like the world that told you to make such a claim.
#Post#: 29693--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parables of Jesus bit by bit
By: guest24 Date: May 19, 2021, 1:10 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Moving forward instead of giving into the yeast of the
Pharisees...
The Law Fulfilled...
Matthew 5:17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I
assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest
letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until
all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of
the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be
called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and
teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the
kingdom of heaven.
As the salt of the earth, the disciples were taught to live
Christ but also to speak the gospel with compassion, grace,
mercy. In other words, to not only live Christ but to allow
their speech to reflect Christ because they were ambassadors for
Christ. As light, the theme was kind of continued. They are
the only Christ some people will see as the saying goes. They
need to make sure that their lives are reflecting the light of
Christ to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. From there,
Jesus begins to compare the need to live as an example of truth
to the law, especially the Scribes and Pharisees.
He begins by pointing out that He didn’t come to destroy the
law but rather to fulfill it. So many people want to do away
with the law, (which we will talk about in more detail in a
moment) while failing to understand that Jesus is commanding the
people who follow Him to fulfill the law as well. LOVE that is
what fulfills the law. We like to focus on the details of the
law when Love is what sums it all up so that we no longer have
to focus all our attention on being righteous and instead can
focus our attention on being like Christ. (Galatians 5:14;
Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:40; Romans 13:10; Galatians 6:2) When
we Love like Christ Loved, we are fulfilling the very law we try
to argue about.
Quick side note and anyone who knows much about me knows that
my studies are all flowing out of Biblical, agape Love therefore
I want to take a moment to insert the best definition we can
find for this Love. (the chapter on this definition is
available upon request, complete with scripture) Love is
putting another above self in an act of humility, creating a
covenant whose intent/purpose is reconciliation/restoration.
Thus when talking about Love fulfilling the law, this is the
Love we are talking about.
So, back to our study. Next, Jesus talks about the
preservation of the law. There are many people today that want
to remove parts of the Bible and they have all kinds of reasons,
some even sound righteous and noble, but at the end of the day,
if we believe what Jesus is teaching, the law/scripture will not
fade or be changed. (II Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 29:29; Romans
15:4; II Peter 1:20-21)
Thus we come to the conclusion that obedience is what makes us
great n the Kingdom of God...but there is a bit more to it than
that. This is why it is important to guard our hearts in Christ
Jesus. (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 12:34; Matthew 15:18-19) When
we guard our hearts, making sure they are right with God, we
have peace and that peace allows us to live out what we claim to
believe….in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (another
study another time) Philippians 4:7-9 tells us that we need to
be the reflection of Christ while the peace of God guards us.
So how do we acquire this peace? Through setting our minds on
God because this is a man that trusts God. (Isaiah 26:3) But
peace also comes through determination to not be afraid., (John
14:27) Peace comes when we allow the peace of Christ to rule
our lives. (Colossians 3:15) Allowing Christ to be Lord of our
lives is our calling. This is something we need to be diligent
about. It is diligence that is approved by God and looks like
humility, gentleness, patience, and Love. Living Christ is to
NOT argue or fight over words, to teach truth and to avoid empty
speech. (Ephesians 4:1-6; II Timothy 2:15; II Timothy 2:14-16)
The final admonition here is to NOT be like the Pharisees. To
give a few things that the Pharisees are or did that we are not
to do if we are the salt and light of the world are to not do
what they do, the Pharisees were hypocrites saying one thing but
living out something else. They put heavy loads on the
shoulders of the people with rituals and legalism. The
Pharisee’s attention seekers, observing others for the purpose
of setting traps or judging them. They sought attention, honor,
and power. The Pharisees were actively responsible for keeping
others out of the Kingdom, refusing to enter into the rest of
Christ and at the same time preventing others from entering.
They devoured widows with their demands, offered long showy
prayers, and make converts that resulted in them becoming more
worthless to the Kingdom than they were before. They were blind
guides leading the blind, they neglected justice, mercy, and
faith in their zeal to be thought of as enlightened. The
Pharisees were greedy and self-indulgent, they were dead inside
rather than alive. They were impure hypocrites that live
lawless lives. They were just like their forefathers who
murdered the prophets and in so doing, they shared in the sins
of their fathers. The Pharisees gave false testimony, plotted
destruction, and demanded signs. They tested Jesus and avoided
His teachings. They were legalistic, doubters who sought
excuses to judge, to reject Christ, and to argue. (Matthew 23;
Matthew 12:23-25; Matthew 12:14; Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1;
Matthew 22:15; Mark 7:3; Luke 5:21; Luke 6:7; Luke 7:30; John
8:3; John 11:57; Acts 23:7)
So by contrasting the way Jesus taught the people to live, as
salt and light, in Love and truth, with the legalism and evil
that is revealed by the law, Jesus teaching shows the beauty of
His purpose for coming and the calling He places on our lives
when we believe unto salvation.
*****************************************************
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page