20 Pentecost - Sunday B

First Posted October 18, 2009

Genesis 2:18-24 -- Man and Wife

Psalm 128 -- The Blessed Family

Hebrews 2:9-11 (12-18) -- The Family of God

Mark 10:2-16 -- Breaking the Marriage Bond

Genesis:

God created woman to be a partner of man, to create a family in which to raise children. The rest of Creation was subjugated and given to mankind for our use. The image of God taking a rib from Adam to make Eve, describes the relationship God intended for man and wife to have. Each fits together and completes the other. There is no other relationship in this world which can take the place of the relationship of man and wife.

Psalm:

The Psalmist describes the family as a blessing from God to those who fear (have the appropriate respect for the power and authority of) God. The labor of those who fear the Lord will be productive and rewarded by God. Their families will be happy and contented, and their city and their land will prosper and have peace.

Hebrews:

Jesus, for whom and by whom all things were created, became a humble human being, suffered death for our sake and has been glorified and honored above all because he was willing to suffer for us. Jesus became spiritually mature and complete through suffering, and became the “Pioneer” (and author, and leader) leading the way for our salvation.

Jesus is the sanctifier (who cleanses and dedicates us to God’s service), and those who are sanctified (who trust and obey Jesus) have the same origin (in God our Father), so therefore he calls us his brothers (and sisters), as the scripture has said (quoting Ps 22:22; Isaiah 8:17-18).

“Since therefore the children (ourselves) share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus came and suffered and died for us because he cares about us, who are the descendants of Abraham (not just Jews, but all who are Abraham’s spiritual children by faith in God). Jesus had to become human and experience life in this world so that he could be “a merciful and faithful high priest” as our mediator with God, to make payment for our sins and thus reconcile us with God. Because Jesus has suffered and been tempted he is able to help us in our suffering and temptation.

Mark:

The Pharisees (a leading faction of legalistic Jews) tested Jesus by asking him a question about divorce. In reply Jesus asked them what Moses taught (since they considered themselves experts in the Law of Moses; i.e. scripture). They replied that Moses allowed divorce, and then Jesus said that Moses had allowed divorce because of their hard-heartedness. Jesus said, quoting Genesis 2:24, that God had made man and woman to leave their families and be joined to each other in marriage so that they become one in flesh. What God has joined together mankind should not tear apart.

Privately, his disciples asked Jesus about his teaching on divorce and Jesus declared that if one divorces one’s spouse and remarries, the person commits adultery.

People were bringing children to Jesus to be blessed by him, and his disciples rebuked them. Jesus rebuked his disciples and told them not to prevent children from coming to him because the kingdom of God belonged to such as them. Jesus declared that anyone who does not receive the kingdom in childlike innocence and obedience will not enter it. Jesus took the children in his arms and laid his hand upon them and blessed them.

Commentary:

God has intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. In order to provide us the freedom and opportunity to choose for ourselves whether to trust and obey God, and to learn from trial and error that God’s way is our very best interest, God designed Creation with the possibility of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and evil (what is wrong in God’s judgment). But God is not willing to tolerate disobedience forever; this Creation and his creatures have a limited lifetime.

This world was created to be a “garden” in which to grow children of God. God created a “very good” garden (Genesis 1:31), but mankind corrupted it by sin. God designed man and woman to fit perfectly together to form a family in which to protect and nurture children. The family is to be a garden in which to raise children of God. Mankind’s disobedience of God’s will destroys the “garden” which God intended.

Homosexuality is sinful disobedience of God’s will and purpose for Creation (and procreation).* Homosexuality is a moral choice and an error that humans choose to make (Romans 1:26-27). Divorce is another sin which destroys family and conflicts with God’s will, as does single-parenthood, and absentee-parenting where both spouses work.

In society today, particularly in America, the effects of sins against the family should be obvious to anyone who is not stone-deaf and –blind: children conceiving and birthing children; children murdering children and their parents. Gangs are the worldly “New Family.”

God wants us to be his children, not children of Satan. Jesus was God’s ‘first-born” and only “begotten” son. He is the heir of God’s entire estate. He is our oldest brother, who shows us how to live in obedient trust in God’s Word. We are God’s adopted children through obedient trust in Jesus Christ, and Jesus has promised to share his inheritance with us.

Christians are to have Christian families and raise Christian children. A Christian is a “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple of Jesus Christ. We have to be born-again disciples to make born-again disciples; we have to know what Jesus teaches in order to teach our children. Christians are to grow to spiritual maturity through testing as we live daily according to Jesus’ teaching and example.

The Church is to be the “Family of God” on earth. The elder brethren are to disciple the new believers through spiritual “birthing,” and teach them to trust and obey Jesus and to grow to spiritual maturity. We are to be an example of obedient trust in God’s Word.

Jesus came to demonstrate that there is life after physical death and that he can raise us from physical death to eternal life. We are freed from thinking that we have to indulge ourselves in this lifetime because that’s all there is.

Jesus is our “Sanctifier” and we are to be “the sanctified.” Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross cleanses us from all sin, provided that we trust and obey Jesus. As we trust and obey Jesus, we receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1;31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus, (John 14:15-17), who cleanses us from sin, disciples us to spiritual maturity, and guides, dedicates and empowers us to God’s service. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*See 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Romans 1:24-27; from two Greek words meaning “men bedding (or conceiving) with men” (Strong’s #730 & 2845; see Strong’s #733); i.e., “sodomites,” after the city of Sodom, destroyed by God for its homosexual practice (Genesis 19:4-5 (24-25); men who have unnatural sexual relations with men (and, by extension, women who have unnatural sexual relations with women). The KJV translates as: “men defiling themselves with men.”

20 Pentecost - Monday B

First Posted October 19, 2009

Psalm 90:12-17 -- Meaning  and Puropse in  Life

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Let us pray for and work for the Lord’s return. Let us begin each day seeking the Lord’s steadfast love so that we can have joy and gladness all our days. The Lord will restore us and replace the days and years of affliction and evil with joy and gladness. Let God’s power and works be manifested to his servants and their children. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us” and establish thou the work of our hands upon us (Psalm 90:17).

Commentary:

The meaning and purpose of this lifetime is to seek and come to knowledge of and fellowship with God (Acts 17:26-27), which is only possible through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). If we realize that, we will seek divine wisdom, by which the world was created and sustained; not what the world falsely calls “wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). Every believer should start his day seeking God’s loving guidance, so that we can enjoy life and be useful in God’s kingdom now in this lifetime.

The place to start finding divine knowledge is the Bible. As we read and apply the Bible in our lives daily, we will be “born again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the Holy Spirit as we trust and obey Jesus. The Holy Spirit will teach us everything we need to know, will remind us of God’s Word at the right time, and will give us divine wisdom and knowledge to testify when it is needed (John 14:25-26; Luke 21:15)

The Lord has promised to return to gather his disciples into his eternal kingdom and to punish with eternal death those who have rejected and refused to obey Jesus. His disciples experience suffering and evil now from the enemies of the Gospel, but the Lord is able and faithful to replace those days with joy and gladness, not just day for day, but for all eternity.

Christians are to pray and work for the Lord’s return. “Born-again” Christians have already experienced the Lord’s coming within them individually by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing process. We can invite the Lord to fill us, daily, so that we can experience his love and be guided and empowered by him daily. That “re-birth” is a foretaste of life with the Lord in his eternal kingdom in heaven.

The Lord is at work in this world, but we need to be spiritually alive to see his working, now and eternally. We need to teach our children and help them grow to spiritual maturity so that they can also experience the Lord’s power and love. We need to seek the Lord’s favor, on our families, on the Church and on our nation, not by “manipulation,” but by obedient trust (see Conditions for Answered Prayer; sidebar, top right).

We need to seek the Lord’s will for our lives and be guided by his Holy Spirit to complete Jesus’ mission of forgiveness and reconciliation to a lost and dying world. When we seek the Lord’s guidance and empowerment, we can be sure that what we’re doing with this lifetime will have eternal value. We can only accomplish that by the Holy Spirit.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost - Tuesday B

First Posted October 20, 2009

Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 -- Seeking What is Good

Bethel had been a place of worship, where Jacob had the dream of the ladder (Genesis 28:10-17), and where God had spoken with Jacob when he returned from Aram (Syria), and had changed his name to Israel (Genesis 35:9-15). But Bethel had become a place of idolatry during the divided monarchy. The Prophet Amos warned Israel to seek the Lord so that they could live, rather than being destroyed by God with fire for their idolatry. Israel had perverted justice so that it had become bitter poison, and had trampled upon righteousness.

Israel had become unwilling to hear the truth and accept reproof. Because Israel had prospered at the expense of the poor, God declared that they would not be allowed to enjoy the houses and vineyards they had built for themselves. The Lord knew all their sins; they afflicted the righteous, accepted bribes and perverted justice, and turned away the needy.

Amos warned Israel to seek good rather than evil, so that the Lord would be with them, as they claimed. Israel should hate evil and love what is good, and should practice justice, so that God might be gracious to the remnant of Israel.

Commentary:

America and the (nominal) “Church,” particularly in America, are in a very similar position today as that of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Amos. God’s Word warns us to seek the Lord so that we can live eternally in the “Promised Land” of his heavenly kingdom. In many ways America has perverted justice and trampled on righteousness. We don’t want to hear divine truth and we refuse to be reproved by God’s Word.

America has become rich by trampling on the poor. God warns that those who do such things will not live to enjoy their accumulated wealth. We urgently need to repent of evil and start doing what is good in God’s judgment, according to his Word.

The “Church” has allowed sin and idolatries among its members and leaders, and has failed to preach the entire Word of God. The Church has condoned and collaborated with secular authorities.

The Northern Kingdom refused to hear the prophets who proclaimed the warning of God’s impending judgment; they fulfilled the prophecy of Amos that they hated truth and the reproof of God’s Word. God removed his favor and protection from them, and they were destroyed by the Assyrians. The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist.

God’s Word is absolutely true and trustworthy. Israel had many opportunities to repent and return to obedient trust in God’s Word. God was ready to be gracious and have mercy on Israel, but they refused to repent until the day they were overthrown by the Assyrians.

God’s Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over again, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Just because it was fulfilled once by Israel thousands of years ago doesn’t mean that it cannot be fulfilled again upon us. God’s Word is unchanging; if we act like “Israelites” we can expect the same outcome. How are we doing? Are we willing to be reproved by God’s Word? Are we willing and seeking   to hear truth?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost - Wednesday B

Hebrews 3:1-6 -- Christ Superior to Moses

Christians are to be the holy (dedicated to God’s service) family of God who share a heavenly calling. Jesus is the apostle (messenger of the Gospel) and high priest of our confession (what we believe; our “faith”). Jesus and Moses were each faithful to God. But Jesus is worthy of greater honor than Moses as the builder of a house is greater than the house. Every house has a builder, but God is the builder of all things. Moses was faithful over God’s house as a servant, but Jesus is faithful as a son. We are the household of God if we treasure and hold fast to our hope with confidence.

Commentary:

God has always intended from the very beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. Jesus has been built into the “fabric” of Creation from the beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

The history of God’s dealing with Israel has been deliberately intended by God to be a “parable,” a metaphor for life in this Creation, as well as history. Moses was the forerunner and illustration of Christ which was fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the “New Moses” who leads the people of God out of bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this worldly culture, through the “sea” of baptism, through the spiritual wilderness of this world, through the “river” of physical death and into the “Promised Land” of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven.

Moses was a mediator of a Covenant of Law and sacrifice between God and God’s people. He declared God’s Word to the people, and he interceded for the people to God. Moses brought the people to the earthly “Promised Land.”

Jesus is the mediator of a New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor; free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of our sins and our restoration to fellowship with God and eternal life. Jesus is the ultimate apostle (messenger; of the Gospel). Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus declared God’s Word, and he is the great high priest who intercedes for us with God.  

Moses and the people were led through the wilderness by the Holy Spirit in the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21). Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, and Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; John 1:31-34; Acts 2:1-4). Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The Holy Spirit is intended to be our guide through the wilderness of this lifetime.

This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey God. Jesus is the only way to God; Jesus is divine truth in human form, and the only way to be “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to spiritual, eternal life (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost - Thursday B

First Posted October 22, 2009

Mark 10:17-27 (28-30) -- Real Wealth

A rich young man came up to Jesus as Jesus was traveling, and addressing Jesus as “good teacher,” asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him why he called Jesus “good” since only God is good. Jesus said that the man knew the commandments, and citing the ones concerning our relationship to other people, (and omitting the ones concerning our relationship with God) told the man that if he did those things he would have eternal life.

The man told Jesus that he had kept those commandments from his youth. Jesus loved the man and he told him that he lacked one thing; he should go and sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come and follow Jesus. At this, the man became sad and went away sorrowfully, because he had great possessions.

Jesus looked around and told his disciples that it will be extremely hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. The disciples were amazed at this, and Jesus said again, addressing them as children, that it is hard to enter the kingdom of God; that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.

The disciples were quite astonished and asked who, then, can be saved. Jesus replied that God is able to do what is impossible for humans; nothing is impossible for God. Peter said that the disciples had left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus replied that his disciples who leave houses and family to follow Jesus will receive many times more in this lifetime, although with persecutions, and in the coming age, eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first.

Commentary:

Jesus asked the rich man why he had addressed Jesus as “good.” The rich man needed to understand that Jesus was not just “good” in a worldly sense. Jesus is God in human flesh; the man needed to understand that, in order to be “saved” from eternal death. Jesus didn’t mention the commandments about the man’s obligation to love and serve God, but a person’s love for God is revealed his love of his fellow humans.

The man loved riches more than he loved God or his fellow humans. That one thing was what kept the man from following Jesus and receiving eternal life. The one thing which would cure his spiritual illness was to sell his riches and give to the poor, and then he would be free to follow Jesus. If he had trusted and obeyed Jesus’ teaching he would have become Jesus’ disciple and would have received eternal life. What would eternal life in heavenly paradise be worth?

God has given everything necessary for life in this world to all his people to share. Those who possesses great wealth while others lack basic necessities are disobeying God’s commandments to love others. Wealth is their “idol,” which they love more than God or their fellow humans. Their wealth testifies against them.

We think that we can accumulate enough resources to be secure, but the truth is that no amount of wealth can give us security; it always takes a little bit more. No amount of wealth can keep us from dying physically and from facing God’s judgment. Ultimately we can’t keep what we’ve accumulated in this world. The real security is in trusting and obeying the Lord. If we trust and obey him, the Lord will provide the physical things we need as well as the spiritual things which give us eternal life.

In order to follow Jesus we must give up what we think we want in order to do what the Lord wants. But when we put what we want “on the altar” to the Lord, we will discover that what he wants for us is better, and that he also gives us the physical, earthly things we need as well. We will also be “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), and we will have the absolute assurance of eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost - Friday B

First Posted October 23, 2009

Proverbs 2:1-9 -- The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15-21 -- Wise Men (and Women)

Proverbs:

Proverbs is a “textbook” of moral and religious instruction. It teaches that true wisdom is from God and not what the world falsely calls “wisdom.” Though probably not written by Solomon, it is ascribed to him, who is the archetype of divine wisdom given by God to man. The Bible is the Word and wisdom of God inspired by his Holy Spirit in those who wrote it.

The teacher addresses his student as son and urges him to be receptive and attentive, to treasure to the teacher’s instruction, and to be receptive to (divine) wisdom. Those who beg for wisdom and plead for understanding, who “search for it as for hidden treasure” (Proverbs 2:4), will “understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5).

God is the giver of (true) wisdom and his Word is knowledge and understanding, which he makes known to the righteous (those who do what is right in God’s judgment) and those who are motivated by integrity. God’s wisdom is the shield and guard of his saints (God’s chosen and consecrated people), and the promoter and preserver of justice. Those who give heed God’s Word will know righteousness, justice and equity and every good thing.

Ephesians:

Paul was “discipling” the Ephesian Christians. He urged believers to be careful about how they were living, not as unwise people but rather as wise, making the most of our time, because the times are evil. We are not to be foolish, but instead seek and know God’s will. We are not to waste the time in drunkenness and debauchery, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit, praising the Lord with one another with all our hearts, and giving thanks to God for everything through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are to cooperate with one another in reverence for Christ.

Commentary:

King Solomon is the example of one who sought true, divine wisdom from God, rather than worldly wealth and power, and he became known throughout the world and through all time for his wisdom. God also gave him wealth and power; and long life, provided that he trust and obey God’s Word (1 Kings 3:5-14).

Paul taught that Jesus is the power and wisdom of God, and that divine wisdom is true wisdom, unlike worldly “wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). God has given us true divine wisdom in his Word, the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word” of God (John 1:1-5, 14), by whom all things were created.

Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and illustration of God’s Word in human flesh. Jesus is the only one who gives the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The gift of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate revelation of God’s Word to us individually and personally.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) within us; the Spirit of Truth, whom the world does not know, who will lead Jesus’ “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples into all truth and will teach them all things (John 14:25-26). It is the Spirit of the risen Jesus who opens our minds to understand scripture (Luke 24:45), who gives his disciples a voice and wisdom which none will be able to refute (Luke 21:15).

Believers are to seek the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise of the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge of God’s will for us individually and personally. Christians are to learn to trust and obey all that Jesus taught so that we can be “born-again” to spiritual eternal life through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who gives us personal knowledge of and fellowship with the Lord. It is the indwelling Spirit of Christ within us who teaches, guides us to know, and empowers us to do God’s will. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

“The fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10 RSV).

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment and to judge the living and the dead, in both the physical and spiritual senses (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in paradise in God’s heavenly kingdom; those who have rejected Jesus and refused to obey him will receive eternal condemnation and destruction in Hell with all evil.

Are we making the most of the time we have been given in this life? Are we seeking God’s wisdom and God’s will? Are we seeking to learn, trust and obey Jesus’ teaching? Are we seeking the fulfillment of the promise of the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth? Are we truly worshiping and glorifying our Lord in everything we do? Are we proclaiming the Gospel to a lost and dying world?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?