Week of 18 Pentecost B - October 4 - 10, 2009

Week of 18 Pentecost B - October 4 - 10, 2009

This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.

The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com

Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:

Daily Walk 2 Year B Weekly Lectionary

Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.

Podcast: Week of 18 Pentecost B

18 Pentecost - Sunday B
First Posted October 4, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Sunday B

Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- Personal Lament
Psalm 54:1-4, 6-7a -- Prayer for Deliverance
James 3:16-4:6 -- Divine Wisdom
Mark 9:30-37 -- True Greatness

Jeremiah was a prophet of the Lord in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the remnant of Israel after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians. Jeremiah’s warnings about the consequences of idolatry and disobedience of God’s Word were not appreciated or heeded by the leaders of Judah. Jeremiah was imprisoned until he was released by the Assyrians after the fall of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah’s personal cry for vindication and deliverance is also a messianic prophecy. The Prophet, Jeremiah, received wisdom and revelation from God. God made known to Jeremiah the plot against him. Jeremiah felt like a gentle lamb led to his slaughter. His enemies wanted to destroy Jeremiah and the fruit of his prophecy. They wanted to blot out Jeremiah’s name from remembrance. But Jeremiah committed his life and cause to the Lord, who he acknowledged and trusted to judge justly.

David, the great shepherd-king of Israel was forced to flee from his rival to the throne, King Saul, who sought to destroy David. David was God’s “anointed” King, but Saul refused to yield the throne to David. David had taken refuge among the Ziphites (in the region of the southern border of Judah with Edom: Joshua 15:21-24; or in the hill country of Judah: Joshua 15:48, 55), but the Ziphites had betrayed David’s presence to Saul (1 Sam. 23:19-20, 26; Ps. 54, ascription; v.1).

Psalm 54 is David’s prayer for deliverance from his enemies. David committed his life and cause to the Lord, and left vengeance and his vindication to the Lord. He knew that the Lord had heard his prayer for deliverance and could thank the Lord in confidence that he would be delivered from every trouble and would be vindicated, as he had in the past (1 John 5:14-15).

The author of the Letter of James was discipling Christian believers. He warned them not to continue in worldly ways such as jealousy and selfish ambition, or what the world falsely calls “wisdom.” Those worldly ways lead to evil. Instead, believers should seek the divine wisdom, by which the world was created, and which only God can give (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8). Divine wisdom is “pure (sinless), peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity” (James 3:17). Righteousness (doing what is right in God’s judgment; obeying God’s Word) is the fruit harvested from the “seed” of peace sown by peacemakers.

War and fighting are caused by human lust (selfish desire). People desire what they do not have, and covet what does not belong to them, leading to fighting, war, and murder to obtain. We do not have, because we do not ask God in obedient trust in God’s Word, and we ask and do not obtain, because we ask for the wrong things for the wrong reasons, to indulge our “worldly” human nature.

Christians must learn that worldly ways are in opposition to God’s ways. Seeking worldly approval and favor results in enmity with God. God yearns for our fellowship. God created us to be his people, and he mourns when we reject his love and his gifts. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace (unmerited favor) to the humble” (James 4:6b).

Jesus was trying to travel anonymously from town to town in Galilee, because he was trying to prepare his disciples for his crucifixion and death. Jesus told them that the “Son of man” (Jesus) would be killed and after three days would rise from the dead, but his disciples didn’t understand what he was saying, and were afraid to ask.

Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum (Jesus’ headquarters after his hometown, Nazareth, had rejected and ejected Jesus (Mark 6:1-6; Luke 4:16-30). On the way his disciples had been discussing among themselves who among them was greatest. Jesus knew what they had been discussing, so he gathered them and told them that whoever wanted to be first in the kingdom of God must be last and the servant of all. Jesus brought a child into their midst and said that whoever received a child in Jesus’ name receives Jesus, and also God the Father, who sent Jesus.

God’s Word is eternally true, and is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. Jeremiah’s personal lament was also messianic prophecy. Jeremiah was a humble and suffering servant, and Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment.

Before the first coming (advent) of Jesus Christ, personal fellowship with God was a rare occurrence. Jeremiah had a personal relationship with God, and so did David; and both were servants of the Lord who foreshadowed the Messiah, the ultimate “suffering servant” of the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment, embodiment and exemplification of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus came to become the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God to cleanse us from sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and to restore fellowship and eternal life with God which was lost by sin.

We were created by God to have eternal life and fellowship with our Creator (Genesis 1:26). God warned the first man (Adam) that disobedience of God’s Word would cause mankind to loose eternal life (Genesis 2:17). All have sinned and fallen short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus came to restore us to eternal life and fellowship with God (Romans 5:8; John 3:16). We are all terminally ill and spiritually dead until we accept Jesus Christ in faith (obedient trust). Jesus declared that one must be “born-again” (John 3;3, 5-8), in order to see the Kingdom of God, which is present now, and to see the fulfillment of the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God when we die physically.

Jesus came to purify us from sin so that we could receive the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). It is only by the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal fellowship with Jesus Christ and God the Father. 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).

Jeremiah was a humble and faithful servant of the Lord, who suffered abuse for the Word of God which he declared faithfully. God revealed his faithfulness and power to deliver Jeremiah from his enemies and vindicate him. David was a humble and faithful servant of the Lord, who trusted the Lord to deliver and vindicate him. Jesus is the ultimate humble and faithful servant of the Lord who suffered for the Gospel of eternal deliverance and vindication, and was vindicated and delivered from his enemies, including physical and spiritual death.

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)?

18 Pentecost- Monday B
First Posted October 11, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Monday B

Psalm 135:1-7, 13-14 -- Praise the Lord

Let us praise the Lord! Let all the servants of the Lord praise his name! Let all those who come to the house of the Lord praise the Lord, because he is good. Praise his name for his graciousness; for God has chosen Israel to be his own people and his possession.

The Psalmist testifies to God’s greatness above all other gods. The Lord does whatever he pleases, in heaven and on earth. The Lord controls all the forces of nature.

“Thy name, O Lord, endures through all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants” (Psalm 135:13-14).

God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. This lifetime is our only opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God our Father (our Creator). God wants to be found by us, and he wants to reveal that he is good and that his will is our very best interest.

Jesus Christ is the only way to God and eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus has always been God’s plan, from the very beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God’s Word, and his perfectly obedient servant.

Jesus came to show us how to be servants of the Lord and to make it possible for us to be forgiven for our sins (disobedience of God’s Word), to restore us to personal fellowship with the Lord, and to give us eternal life. We first learn about Jesus from reading the Bible, and from the testimony of his “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples who know and experience Jesus personally. As we seek Jesus he will reveal himself to us as we trust and obey his word (John 14:21).

Eternal life begins now! When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and begin to trust and obey him, he gives us his indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus can give (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). We will experience the goodness and faithfulness of his Word for ourselves. 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).

This world and this lifetime will come to an end, but God is eternal. Jesus was the perfect example of a servant of God, and Jesus’ resurrection is the evidence that there is existence beyond physical death. The fact that Jesus is alive eternally is personally attested to by every truly “born-again” Christian. Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that the Word of God is absolutely dependable and true and that God is able to vindicate and deliver his servants, even from physical death.

Jesus is the evidence of the mercy and compassion God has for us. God loves us and doesn’t want us to perish eternally (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). If we will trust and obey Jesus we will experience complete forgiveness and eternal life in fellowship with God, beginning now, and continuing forever.

It is not true that we can’t know for certain whether there is life after physical death, or where we will spend eternity. Only the spiritually “lost,” the spiritually “dead” who have never been reborn by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, don’t know where they’re headed.

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)?

18 Pentecost - Tuesday B
First Posted October 6, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Tuesday B

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 -- The Spirit of the Lord

In the wilderness the people of Israel rebelled because of the constant diet of manna. They craved meat and the variety of vegetables they had in Egypt. Moses was aware of their discontent and Moses complained to the Lord for the burden of responsibility for the people which the Lord had given him. Moses realized that he could not provide for the people himself. Moses asked God to take Moses’ life, so that Moses would not have to endure his own wretchedness.

The Lord told Moses to gather seventy elders and leaders from among the people and assemble at the tabernacle (portable temple). Moses told the people all that God had said, and gathered the seventy elders at the tabernacle.

The Lord came down upon the tabernacle in a cloud and took some of the spirit which was upon Moses and distributed it among the elders. When the spirit came upon the elders they began speaking and prophesying. Two men, Eldad and Medad, who had been appointed as elders had not gone to the tabernacle with the others, but had remained in the camp. They too were filled with the spirit, and began prophesying in the camp.

A young man came from the camp to Moses and told him that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp, and Joshua, son of Nun, a member of Moses’ staff, suggested that Moses should forbid Eldad and Medad to prophesy. Moses asked if Joshua was jealous for Moses’ sake, and said, “Would that all God’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his spirit upon them” (Numbers 11:29)!

The Lord showed great forbearance. He had delivered his people from slavery and death in Egypt. He tried to give them the Promised Land, but the people refused to go in and take it the first time, so they were wandering around in the wilderness until that generation died. Joshua was one of the twelve scouts who had scouted the Promised Land, and he and Caleb were the two scouts who gave a favorable report, urging the people to enter and claim it (Numbers 13:1-14:35).

Although Moses complained to God and blamed God, God gave Moses what Moses needed to help with the responsibility of spiritual leadership. Joshua felt his own leadership position threatened by Eldad and Medad who hadn’t even shown up at the tabernacle as ordered. In contrast Moses didn’t feel threatened; he was glad for the extra helpers, and his mission was to lead God’s people into obedient trust in God’s Word so that they could possess the Promised Land.

Jesus Christ is the “New Moses,” who came to came to lead us out of bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this world, through the wilderness of this lifetime, and into the eternal Promised Land of God’s heavenly kingdom. Jesus came to make it possible for each of us to receive a portion of God’s Holy Spirit, so that we could be helpers in Jesus’ mission. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey the Lord and to be guided by his Holy Spirit.

In the (nominal) Church today there are both types of leaders; those who use their position to create a personal “empire,” a “cult” of people to worship them, while others are spirit-filled, spirit-led disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, who are making “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples, teaching them to trust and obey Jesus. One must be a “born-again” disciple in order to make “born-again”

disciples. It is the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit which makes it possible for disciples to work together effectively to accomplish God’s purpose.

The congregation of Israel in the wilderness was the people of God because they happened to have been born into it. The Church is the “New Israel.” Some people today consider themselves Christians because they happen to have been born into the “Church.” Since Jesus’ resurrection and the first Pentecost, when the Church was born by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, Moses' prayer has been fulfilled, that all God’s people are filled with the Holy Spirit, and are to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim God’s Word.

But not all church “members” are “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. The promise of the anointing with the indwelling Holy Spirit must be claimed and received by obedient trust in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus 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 anointing with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is a discernible (and ongoing) event; one can know with certainty for oneself whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). 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)?

18 Pentecost - Wednesday B
First Posted October 7, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Wednesday B

James 4:7-12 (13-5:6) -- Godliness vs. Worldliness

“There is [only] one lawgiver and judge (the Lord); he [alone] is able to save and to destroy’ (James 4:12). Who do we think we are when we judge our neighbor?

Worldly people make plans for years in advance, when they do not know what tomorrow will bring. Human lives are like mist, which appears for a little time and then disappears, (in comparison with eternity). Instead, we should say that our plans are subject to God’s will. Our human plans are boasting and arrogance, and evil. Anyone who knows what is right and does not do it is sinning (disobeying God’s Word) and doing evil.

Those who are rich now ought to mourn for what is coming upon them. Your riches are as good as rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver will turn to rust, and the rust will testify against you, and consume your flesh like fire! You have laid up treasure (reward) for the last days (the Day of Judgment). The Lord knows the wages of those who worked for you, which you cheated them of. The wealthy have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure, “and have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous…; he does not resist you” (James 5:5b-6).

Commentary:

Who would dare say that today, particularly in America? It is the Word of God; but worldly people prefer to believe that wealth is a sign of righteousness and God’s favor.

The Lord God has created the resources of this creation to be shared by all, even by those who hate him and refuse to acknowledge him. In America, productivity of the workers has increased, and corporate profits and executives salaries and benefits have increased, and government has reduced taxes on the wealthy, but workers wages have not increased.

Businesses in America have sent jobs overseas, and have reduced health and retirement benefits of American workers. Many American capitalists no longer feel any responsibility to provide secure jobs with health and retirement benefits,* or any responsibility to pay for the government of the system from which they are profiting most.

Jesus warns us not to lay up treasure on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, but instead we should seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, and we will have the worldly physical resources we need as well (Matthew 6:19-21, 33).

A rich man came to Jesus and asked how to have eternal life, and Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and come and follow Jesus, Matthew 19:16, 21). But the rich man didn’t want to give away his possessions for eternal life with Jesus in Heaven (Matthew 19:22).

Jesus told his disciples that it will be hard for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom (Matthew 19:23). Why? Because they love their possessions more than they love the Lord (the definition of idolatry). Jesus asks, “For what will it profit a [person] if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life (soul; eternal life)? Or what shall a man give in return for his life” (Matthew 16:26).

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)?

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*see “The War Against Wages” by Paul Krugman, New York Times, 10/06/06

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/1405

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18 Pentecost - Thursday B
First Posted October 8, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Thursday B

Mark 9:38-50 -- Warnings of Hell

The Apostle John told Jesus that he had encountered a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name and had told him to stop because he was not one of the disciples following Jesus. Jesus told him not to forbid such, because no one can do a great deed in Jesus’ name and soon thereafter speak evil against Jesus. Anyone who is not opposing Jesus is for him. Anyone who does the slightest favor for a disciple because he is a disciple of Jesus will be rewarded.

But whoever causes one of the followers of Jesus to sin will suffer such a terrible punishment that it would have been better for him if he had been tied to a millstone and drowned in the sea. Jesus told them that if it were possible to avoid sinning by cutting off one’s hand or gouging out one’s eye, it would be better to suffer such physical disability now to avoid spending eternity in Hell, because the destruction and decay of Hell is eternal. “For everyone will be ‘salted’ with fire. (Mark 9:49). Salt is good, but if salt were to somehow lose it’s savor, how could it be restored to usefulness? Therefore, disciples must maintain their “saltiness,” and be at peace with one another.

Christ’s mission is to all people who are willing to trust and obey him; not just to a select chosen group. Christianity is the continuation of Christ’s mission to bring forgiveness, spiritual healing and eternal life. Anyone who joins in Christ’s mission is acceptable to him. False teachers and impostors will eventually be exposed and will ultimately fail.

Christianity isn’t a “franchise” to be granted to certain individuals. The exorcist in this text was healing people by faith in Jesus’ name. Discipleship is trusting and obeying Jesus, and acting on that faith. Obedient trust is the “mustard seed” of faith, with which the Lord causes spiritual growth to spiritual maturity. As we trust and obey Jesus we will experience the power of Jesus working through us by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and our faith will be increased.

In contrast to the unnamed Christian exorcist, some Jewish exorcists, including seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva, had begun to use the name of Jesus as a “magic word,” an incantation, to cast out demons. The seven sons of Sceva were overcome by the demon they were attempting to exorcise, because they did not have the power of Jesus working through them by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. The demon acknowledged the power of Jesus and Paul (by the indwelling Holy Spirit), which the seven did not possess. (Acts 19:13-17).

Apollos was a Jewish disciple of John the Baptist, who had come to Ephesus, and was teaching accurately from scripture the things of Jesus, but he had only known the water baptism of John, for repentance, and had not received baptism into Jesus, and the anointing with the Holy Spirit. Aquila and Priscilla were Christians who had been “discipled” by Paul (Acts 18:1-4). Instead of opposing Apollos, they took him aside and “discipled” him teaching him more accurately the Gospel of Jesus (Acts 18:26), and then helped him on his way and sent a letter commending him to the Christians at Achaia (Acts 18:27).

After Apollos left for Achaia, Paul passed through Ephesus and encountered some other disciples of John the Baptist, and he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. They replied that they hadn’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). Paul told them that the baptism of John was for repentance to prepare them to receive Jesus. Paul was able to lead them to Jesus and they received the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Some focus on what outward physical things Paul did to help them receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I personally feel that is like the sons of Sceva trying to emulate the exorcism of Jesus and Paul by appropriating the name of Jesus. I assert that it was the Holy Spirit of the risen Jesus, guiding, empowering and working through Paul, which led to the “re-birth” of those disciples of John the Baptist, and that Paul is the example of “born-again” disciples making “born-again” disciples, not of themselves, but of Jesus Christ.

Notice that Paul asked those disciples of John the Baptist whether they had received the Holy Spirit. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is a discernible (and ongoing) event. One is able to know with certainty for oneself whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit. They didn’t have to ask Paul to tell them; Paul asked them, and expected them to know, with out having to consult a theologian.

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)?

18 Pentecost - Friday B
First Posted October 9, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Friday B

2 Chronicles 1:7-12 -- Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Matthew 22:34-46 -- The Wisdom of Christ

Solomon, the son the great shepherd-king of Israel, David, acceded to the throne of his father, and God appeared to him that night and asked Solomon what he would ask God to do for him. Solomon acknowledged the love and faithfulness that the Lord had show to his father David, and asked that the promise of God to David be fulfilled (that the throne of David would be established forever; 1 Kings 8:25). Solomon acknowledged the great responsibility that had been given him to be king of a vast people. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule wisely over God’s people.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had not asked for wealth, possessions, honor, revenge against his enemies, or for long life, but had asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s people wisely, so God granted Solomon’s request, and also promised to give Solomon the things he hadn’t asked for as well. God promised to give Solomon honor, riches and possessions like none before or since.

The Sadducees (a legalistic sect of Judaism opposed to the Pharisees; they rejected resurrection of the dead, angels or spirits, and the traditions of the Jewish patriarchs) had tried to entrap Jesus with a legal question about marriage (Matthew 22:23- 33) and had been silenced by Jesus’ reply. When the Pharisees heard, they attempted the same strategy to debate Jesus. They sent a lawyer to ask Jesus which of the commandments is greatest. Jesus answered that the First Commandment, to love God with all ones heart, soul and mind was the greatest, and the second is like it (in greatness), to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. All the Law of Moses can be summarized and fulfilled in those two commandments (Matthew 22:36-40).

Jesus then asked the Pharisees a question about the Christ (Messiah; both mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew respectively). Jesus asked them whose son is the Christ. They replied that he was the son of David, so Jesus, quoting Psalm 110:1, asked them how, if he were David’s son, David, “inspired by the Spirit,” called him Lord; how could he be David’s son? None of the Pharisees could answer and they didn’t dare ask him any other questions.

Commentary:

Solomon asked God to give him the wisdom and knowledge he needed to govern God’s people wisely, and God gave it to him abundantly. God also generously gave him vast wealth, possessions and honor as well, so that Solomon became the symbol of wisdom and wealth throughout the world, even today.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son of David and heir to the throne of David to reign over God’s people forever (Matthew 1:1; 1:2-17). Jesus is the ultimate “good shepherd”-king (John 10: 11, 14). Many Jewish people had hailed him as the Son of David when Jesus entered Jerusalem the week of his crucifixion (21:1-9), and when he taught in the temple (21:12-16), but the religious leaders and authorities over the people, who were “experts” in scripture, did not recognize him, refused to accept him, and sought to destroy Jesus.

The Sadducees and Pharisees are examples of worldly wisdom. They had been formally educated in Judaism and the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament of the Bible). They thought they could outsmart Jesus. They “knew” a lot “about” God, but didn’t know God, and therefore didn’t recognize God’s Son.

Divine wisdom is the wisdom of God by which the world was created and is sustained (1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 2:1-8), not that which the world falsely calls “wisdom.” Jesus is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

God’s Word contains and imparts divine wisdom. The Word of God is a creative force. It has been given to us through God’s prophets inspired by God’s Spirit and recorded in the Bible. The world was created by the Word of God; God spoke and it was created (Genesis 1:3).

God’s Word is always fulfilled, and it is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The test of prophecy and God’s Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word, the embodiment of God’s Word and the example of God’s Word applied in human life (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9).

God’s Word, through Jesus Christ, can spiritually heal and cleanse sinners (We’ve all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and can give eternal life. Jesus is God’s only provision for forgiveness of our sins and for salvation from eternal death (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus has promised that if we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first (Matthew 6:33), God will also provide the physical resources that we need, as God did for Solomon, when Solomon put his responsibility to God to rule God’s people wisely before his personal desires.

God progressively reveals himself to us through his Creation, through the Bible, through Jesus Christ in his physical ministry, and ultimately to us personally and individually 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). The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of (the risen) Christ (Romans 8:9), opens our minds to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45; John 14:15-17). He is our Counselor who will teach Jesus’ disciples all things (John 14:25-26 RSV), and will guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

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)?

18 Pentecost - Saturday B
First Posted October 10, 2009
Podcast: 18 Pentecost Saturday B

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 -- Spiritual Maturity

Paul gave thanks to God for the Corinthian Christians, for the grace (unmerited favor) of God which had been given them in Jesus Christ, “that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:5) as the truth of Jesus Christ was confirmed among them by the evidence of the Holy Spirit among them; by their spiritual knowledge and eloquence, and the spiritual gifts which were not lacking among them. We await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, confident that he is able to sustain us guiltless at the Day of Christ’s return. God, who called us into fellowship with his Son, is abundantly faithful and able to do what he has promised in Jesus Christ.

Commentary:

Jesus is the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). Divine wisdom is the true wisdom of God by which the world was created and is sustained. It is unlike what the world falsely calls “wisdom.” God has made his wisdom available to us through his Word, inspired in his prophets by his Holy Spirit and recorded in the Bible, his Word, through his Son, Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” and ultimately through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the “Counselor,” the Spirit of Truth.

Jesus Christ is the living Word; the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God’s Word, revealed to us in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). The whole fullness of deity dwelt bodily in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype of the modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, just as we can be. Paul hadn’t known Jesus during Jesus’ physical ministry. Paul was converted by an encounter with the risen and ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-5), was “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10), until he received the Holy Spirit Acts (9:6-19). Paul’s conversion and rebirth was more rapid than most, because Paul was already well-educated and knowledgeable about the scriptures, and was very zealous for God; he just needed to be pointed in the right direction.

Paul was “discipling” the Corinthians; making “born-again” disciples, not of Paul, but of Jesus Christ, fulfilling the “Great Commission” which Jesus had given to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), to be carried out after they had been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; 2:1-13).

The presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit within born-again disciples is evident in what they do and say. It is the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17 RSV), who is the “Counselor,” the (Holy Spirit) the Spirit of Truth, who opens the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45), teaches them all things, and gives them gifts to accomplish what he leads them to do. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus within them, through whom they receive divine wisdom, and have personal fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ (John 14:23-24). 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)?