Week of 19 Pentecost - Odd
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Podcast Download: Week of 19 Pentecost - Odd
Sunday 19 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/24/05;
Podcast: Sunday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 4:8-37 -
The Son Restored to Life;
Acts 9:10-31 -
Paul’s Conversion;
Luke 3:7-18 -
John the Baptizer’s Preaching;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah, went
to Shunem (north of Jezreel) to the
home of a wealthy woman who had invited the prophet to eat with
her whenever he was in the area. The woman told her husband that
she knew that Elisha was a holy man of God who passed by
frequently, and she asked her husband to build a small furnished
upper chamber for Elisha to stay in whenever he wanted.
One day Elisha was
staying in the upper chamber with his servant, Gehazi, and had
his servant summon the woman. Elisha asked what he could do for
her to repay her for her hospitality, and suggested he could
speak to the king or the commander of the army on her behalf.
She said that she didn't need anything from the king or the
commander.
Elisha asked what else he could do for her and Gehazi mentioned that she had no son and her husband was old. So Elisha said to the woman that next year at that time she would have a son. The woman thought that was impossible and replied that she hoped that he, a man of God, would not be lying to her. But she did conceive and gave birth to a son the following year.
When the boy was
old enough, he went out to his father who was harvesting a field
with his reapers. The boy suddenly had a severe headache. The
father’s servant carried the child to his mother, and she held
him on her lap until he died around noon. She laid her dead
child on the bed in the upper guest room and then sent word to
her husband that she needed a servant and a donkey so that she
could go quickly to Elisha and return. The husband asked why she
wanted to go, since it wasn’t a Sabbath or religious festal day.
She assured him that it would be alright. She and her servant
set out for Mount Carmel where
Elisha was.
Elisha saw her
coming and sent Gehazi to meet her and ask if she and her family
were well. She replied that all were well. When they came to
Elisha she knelt and took hold of his feet (a gesture of
humility and supplication). Gehazi was going to rebuke her but
Elisha told him that she was just very distressed. The woman
said that she had not asked for a child and had asked not to be
deceived (she had been given great hope which now seemed lost).
Elisha sent Gehazi
with Elisha’s walking staff and instructions to lay it on the
child’s face, but the woman was unwilling to go back without
Elisha, so Elisha and the woman followed Gehazi. Gehazi did what
Elisha said, but the child did not revive, so he returned and
met Elisha and the woman on the way.
When Elisha entered
the house he saw the dead child lying on the bed in the upper
chamber. Elisha went in and closed the door and lay on top of
the child, mouth to mouth. The child’s body became warm but he
did not revive. Elisha got up and paced back and forth through
the house once, and then returned and lay on the child as
before. “The child sneezed seven times and…opened his eyes” (2
Kings 4:35b). Elisha called Gehazi and told him to fetch the
mother. When she came Elisha gave her back her son, and she fell
at Elisha’s feet bowing in gratitude.
Acts Paraphrase:
Saul
of
Tarsus
(who
later
became
the
apostle Paul) had been on his way to Damascus to arrest
Christians when he was confronted by the risen, ascended Jesus
and had been blinded. He obeyed Jesus’ instructions to enter Damascus
and await further instructions. For three days Saul had no food
or drink (Acts 9:1-9)
There was a Christian in Damascus named Ananias who received a vision of Jesus telling him to go to Straight Street to the house of Judas, where he would find Saul of Tarsus. The Lord had also given Saul a vision in which Ananias would come and lay hands on him and restore Saul’s sight. Ananias replied that Saul’s reputation for persecuting Christians was well-known. But the Lord told Ananias to go, because the Lord had chosen Saul to be the Lord’s instrument to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, kings and Jews. Saul would discover how much he would have to suffer for Jesus’ name.
Ananias did as the
Lord commanded, and told Saul that the Lord Jesus who had
confronted Saul on the road had sent Ananias to him so that Saul
could regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Saul’s vision was restored, he was baptized and then ate and was
strengthened.
Saul stayed with
Christians in Damascus
for several days and immediately began proclaiming in the
synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. Everyone was amazed
that the man who had been such a zealous persecutor of
Christians had been so radically changed. Saul grew strong in
his proclamation that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah; both mean
“anointed,” i.e. the Lord’s anointed; in Greek and Hebrew,
respectively)
After many days the
Christians in Damascus
learned that the Jews were plotting to kill Saul, watching for
Saul at the city gate. So the Christians lowered Saul over the
wall in a basket at night.
Saul went to Jerusalem
and attempted to join the Christians there, but they were afraid
of him because of his previous persecution of believers. But
Barnabas, an influential Christian in Jerusalem, knew of Saul’s
conversion, and vouched for him with the apostles. So Saul
fellowshipped with the Christians at Jerusalem and preached
boldly in Jesus’ name. Saul argued the Gospel with the
Hellenists (Jews who spoke Greek or lived like Gentiles).
Consequently the Hellenists plotted to kill Saul, but the plot
was found out and the Christians got Saul out of Jerusalem and brought him to Caesarea,
where he was sent by boat to Tarsus.
Luke Paraphrase:
John the Baptizer
preached to the multitudes that came to him, saying: “You brood
of vipers (snakes); who warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do no presume to
say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father;’ for I tell
you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to
Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the trees; every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire” (Luke 3:7b-9).
People asked John
what they should do and he told them to share what food and
clothing they had with people in need. Tax collectors were to
take no more than the required tax, and soldiers were told not
to rob anyone by violence or false accusation, and to be content
with their wages.
The people were
expecting the Messiah and so everyone wondered if John were the
Christ. But John said “I baptize you with water; but he who is
mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am
unworthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his
threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but
the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16b-17).
“So with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the
people” (Luke 3:18).
Commentary:
The woman of Shunem
trusted in the Word of God spoken by Elisha and that Word was
fulfilled. Samuel was another son born to a barren woman (1
Samuel 1:1-20); so was Isaac (Genesis 18:1-15); so was John the
Baptizer (Luke 1:5-25, 36-66); so was Jesus, except that Mary
was a virgin instead of an old, infertile woman (Matthew
1:18-25).
The Shunammite
woman’s hopes in God’s Word had been built up, but then those
hopes seemed to be taken away. But the woman didn’t waver in her
faith; she declared to her husband and to Elisha’s servant that
all was well. When troubles struck, she sought the man of God
instead of worldly alternatives.
She went to the prophet and asked him to intercede, not with the king or the commander of the army, but with God; not by Elisha’s servant but by Elisha himself. It turned out that persistent faith in God’s Word was victorious, although it took three tries. Although the child was obviously dead, the woman, the prophet and the servant believed that God could raise the child from the dead. They didn’t quit believing the first or second time.
Elisha is a
forerunner and illustration of the Christ. Jesus is the one who
intercedes for us to God. Jesus is the one to turn to in hard
times. Jesus is the one who can raise us from physical and
spiritual death to eternal life.
Paul (Saul) is the
prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,”
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple and apostle (one
who is sent; a messenger of the Gospel); an example of a person
raised to new, eternal life, by the gift of the indwelling Holy
Spirit.
Ananias is a
latter-day “Elisha;” an example of a “born-again” disciple and
apostle of Jesus Christ. Ananias was obedient to the Holy Spirit
of Christ, and went to Saul and healed his spiritual as well as
physical blindness and helped Saul to receive the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is okay, desirable and highly recommended, for disciples to pray back what we think the Lord is telling us to make sure we understand. Ananias did that and, once he was sure he’d heard right, he trusted the Lord instead of his own fears.
John the Baptizer
was the latter-day “Elijah” (Mark 1:6a; compare 2 Kings 1:7-8;
Matthew 17:10-13). He was the prophet of God who called God’s
people to repent and return to obedient trust in God in
preparation to receive the coming Messiah who he announced and
identified (Luke 3:1-6; John 1:31-34).
Jesus is the
Messiah, God’s anointed eternal king, who baptizes with the Holy
Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16). This prophecy was first
fulfilled on Pentecost (Acts Chapter 2:1-4). It continues to be
fulfilled as people claim and act upon the promise (John 14:21;
see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Christians will face fiery ordeals which will test their faith (1 Peter 4:12). The workmanship of Christian disciples will be tested by “fire” (the Lord’s judgment; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). In the Day of Judgment the unsaved will be sentenced to eternal destruction in the fires of Hell (Mark 9:43-48; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; 2 Peter 3:7).
The Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (note the Trinity; God
in three persons, or expressions; Romans 8:9), 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).
Only Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:33), only
to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
John the Baptizer’s
sermon is characterized as “good news” ("gospel" means “good
news;” Luke 3:18 RSV). It is good news because it contains the
promise of God to restore the penitent to new, true, spiritual,
eternal life. Most people today are unwilling to listen to such
exhortations (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Would you be willing to hear and
obey John’s exhortation to repentance and obedient trust in
God’s Word?
Monday 19 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/24/05;
Podcast: Monday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 5:1-19 -
Naaman the Leper;
1 Corinthians 4:8-21
- Rebuke and Admonition;
Matthew 5:21-26 -
Higher Righteousness;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Naaman had an illness and it was his wife’s
servant girl who knew where he could be healed. The servant was a
member of God’s people, but had been captured by Syria
and forced to live and work in the worldly kingdom. Naaman heeded
her testimony and went to seek healing from Elisha, God’s prophet.
The King of Israel
didn’t fulfill his responsibility as the King of God’s people; he
had turned away from obedient trust in the Lord and become an
idolater. But Elisha was guided by God’s Spirit, and called Naaman
to him.
When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house, he was
angered by the fact that Elisha had sent his faithful servant,
Gehazi, to speak to him rather than coming himself. Naaman also
expected some dramatic incantation and ritual to accompany his
healing.
When Gehazi told Naaman that all he needed to do was bathe in the Jordan River seven times, the condition for his healing didn’t meet Naaman’s expectations, and he nearly returned from his long journey without being cured. But his servants who accompanied him suggested that he should trust in Gehazi’s instructions and obey them.
Naaman did as he had been told and he was
healed. He returned to the prophet and now Naaman talked
face-to-face with Elisha. Naaman declared that he had come to know
that the Lord was the only true God, and committed to worship and
serve the Lord from then on. He offered Elisha his worldly
treasures, but Elisha would not accept them. Naaman knew that he
was still obligated to accompany his master, the King of Syria,
to worship the Syrian idol, but he asked for and received
forgiveness. Naaman asked for and was given two mule-loads of
Israeli soil to take with him to his home.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
The Corinthian Christians had been exalting
their spiritual wisdom and accomplishments because they didn’t
examine themselves impartially (1 Corinthians 3:18), and because
they didn’t realize how spiritually immature they were (1
Corinthians 3:1-4). Some considered themselves above Paul’s
teaching and correction. Paul asserts that spiritually mature
Christian disciples are persecuted by the world, treated like
captives of military conquest about to be executed.
The Corinthian Christians wanted to be seen by the world as wise and strong, but disciples who are following Jesus in obedient trust will be perceived as foolish and weak by the world. Disciples must be willing to suffer discomfort, depravation, and dishonor for the sake of the Gospel. They must support themselves rather than expecting the world’s support. In the face of these persecutions the disciple must return good for evil; “when reviled we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered we try to conciliate” (1 Corinthians 4:13). We must accept that worldly people will regard us as worthless. Paul’s own life testifies to these realities.
Paul wasn’t trying to hurt or embarrass the
Corinthian Christians, but to warn them, as a father with his
children. Paul considered himself their spiritual father because
he preached the Gospel through which they received “rebirth” (John
3:3, 5-8) and new life in Christ. But as their father, he wanted
them to follow his example and grow to spiritual maturity. Paul
sent Timothy, who is an example of a spiritual child of Paul’s who
had grown to spiritual maturity, to remind the Corinthian
congregation of Paul’s teaching (the scriptural, apostolic
Gospel).
Some of the people in the congregation were arrogant about their own spiritual knowledge and authority, thinking Paul wasn’t around to test their claims. Paul intended to come soon, if it was God’s will, and then all would see if these arrogant individuals could backup their claims; whether their “walk” matched their “talk.” “For the kingdom of God does not consist in [human] talk but in [God’s] power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). Paul asked the church to consider whether they would rather receive from Paul his power and authority to discipline, or his loving gentle encouragement.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus taught his disciples that true
righteousness is not just a matter of obeying the minimum
requirements of law. God commands us not to kill but the intent is
that we should not injure others in any way. We cannot honestly
worship God while we have unreconciled issues with others. We
should make an effort to be reconciled with those we have wronged
now before the Day of Judgment. Common worldly experience should
have taught us that it’s better to settle with an accuser out of
court. Once we’re before the judge, if we’re found guilty there
will be no escape from punishment.
Commentary:
Naaman’s cure is a parable about Christian
baptism. We are all sick with an illness of the flesh, like
spiritual leprosy. The only cure for it is in Jesus Christ. Like
the slave of Naaman’s wife, Christian disciples are all God’s
children, but away from the “Promised Land” of God’s Kingdom in
heaven, and forced to work and live in the present worldly
kingdom. Some of those who are leaders of God’s people are like
the king of northern Israel, and have
turned away from obedient trust in the Lord and become allies of
the worldly kingdom, and even adopted and promoted the worldly
religion. Elisha is a forerunner and illustration of Christ.
When someone realizes his spiritual sickness
and begins to seek the Lord, the Lord knows and will come to meet
him and bring him to his house. Our first contact is through a
faithful servant of the Lord, who tells us that to be healed we
must be baptized by water into Jesus Christ. The complete
cleansing of all sins through baptism in Christ is represented by
the seven baths in the Jordan River
(seven is a symbol of perfection; completeness).
Then one must return to the Lord’s house and commit to
trust and obey the Lord henceforth.
We must offer our worldly treasures to the Lord and he will return them to us; when Jesus is Lord of our possessions, then we are free to use them as he directs. The Lord makes allowances for our individual situations, and doesn’t demand from us what is not possible, and as we fail to trust and obey, worship, and serve him completely, he forgives us, as long as we are genuinely trying to do his will. The Lord gives his Holy Spirit (symbolized by the soil of the Promised Land) to his disciples who trust and obey him, to take the Lord with them, wherever they go while they’re in the worldly kingdom.
The King of Israel symbolizes unfaithful
servants of God, those who are anointed by God to be spiritual and
civic leaders of God’s people, but who have joined with worldly
rulers of this present world and have allowed Christian faith to
be corrupted by worldly influences. There are lots of false
prophets and false “Churches” today.
Naaman’s associates and traveling companions
were able to help Naaman to come to obedient trust in the Lord, by
timely and tactful suggestion that Naaman trust and obey what the
faithful servant had told him. Naaman accepted their correction,
instead of being angry with them.
Naaman had wanted healing the easy way, without
the bother and boring repetitive task of bathing in the Jordan
seven times, and so far from home. He wondered why not just once;
why not in a river closer to home? He was thinking of his great
effort to receive healing in coming to Elisha, rather than
trusting in God’s power and love to heal him.
Christians must be disciples of Jesus Christ; we must be willing examine ourselves impartially; we must be willing to accept correction and be willing to change our attitudes and lives. We must be willing to accept discomfort, deprivation and worldly dishonor.
The Corinthian Christians were like Naaman,
seeking the outward appearance of spiritual wisdom,
accomplishment, and worldly approval. They wanted spiritual
healing, but wanted it in worldly glory, rather than through
discipline and suffering.
Christians by definition are disciples of Jesus
Christ (Acts 11:26c). Paul was discipling the Christians at Corinth.
Paul was trying to warn them and guide them to spiritual maturity
by teaching and example. Some of the Corinthians were arrogant
about their outward appearance of spiritual maturity without
inward trust and obedience to God’s Word.
Jesus has promised that he is coming again to
judge everyone who has ever lived on earth (Matthew 25:31-46).
Paul was absent from the Corinthian congregation but was coming
again to judge whether they were living in obedience to what they
professed. Paul would give them either blessing or punishment
according to what they had done. So also, Jesus is coming to see
whether we have produced the fruit of obedient trust in the
Gospel. Jesus warns that it is not those who call themselves
Christians who are saved, but those who trust and obey Jesus
(Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46).
Jesus is God’s only plan for our forgiveness
and salvation from eternal death (see God’s Plan of Salvation,
sidebar, top right, home). Jesus warns that now is the time to
repent and turn to live in obedient trust in the Lord, before the
Day of Judgment. Take the opportunity to be reconciled with God
now while it is possible, because the Day of Judgment is coming
when it will be too late to be reconciled, and then you will have
to pay the full penalty.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
First Posted 09/26/05;
Podcast: Tuesday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 5:19-27 - Gehazi’s Sin;
1 Corinthians 5:1-8
- Church Discipline;
Matthew 5:27-37
- Jesus’ Teaching on Righteousness;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, had
come to Elisha, the prophet of the northern Kingdom of Israel
and was healed of leprosy. He offered Elisha a great amount of
gold, silver and fine clothes in payment for his healing but
Elisha would not accept anything. When Naaman left to return to Syria,
Gehazi thought of all the wealth Naaman had offered, and decided
to go after him to get something for himself.
Gehazi told Naaman that Elisha had just received a visit from two “sons of the prophets” (Elisha’s disciples), and asked Naaman for a talent of silver and two festal garments. Naaman was happy to give Gehazi twice as much silver as Gehazi had asked for, in addition to the two festal garments. Naaman sent two of his servants to carry the silver (a talent weighed 76 pounds) to Elisha’s house for Gehazi. Gehazi put the silver and garments in the house and then went to Elisha.
Elisha asked Gehazi where he had been, and
Gehazi denied being anywhere. But Elisha said, “Did I not go with
you in spirit when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?
Was it a time to accept money and garments…?” (2 Kings 5:26).
Elisha declared that for what he had done, Naaman’s sin would
cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever. Gehazi went from
Elisha’s presence a leper with skin white as snow.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Paul was discipling the Corinthian congregation
by letter, since he was not then able to be there in person, but
was hoping to, later. The Corinthian Church
had become careless about keeping God’s Word and had allowed some
immorality to spring up within the church. Paul had heard of a
case of flagrant immorality, which would have been unacceptable
even in the pagan culture of Corinth, which had a
reputation for great licentiousness at the time.
A man of the congregation was living with his father’s wife. (Both Roman and Jewish law forbade marriage between a man and his stepmother; Leviticus 18: 7-8.*) The congregation had been boasting in their spiritual maturity and righteousness when they should have been mourning that corruption and immorality within them.
Paul wrote, “for though absent in body I am
present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced
judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done
such a thing” (1 Corinthians 5:3-4). Paul ordered the congregation
to assemble and, in the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, to
excommunicate the guilty man, “to deliver this man to Satan for
the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5)
Paul rebuked the congregation for boasting of
their spiritual wisdom and maturity while tolerating sin within
the membership. Using a metaphor of the Passover and Feast of
Unleavened Bread, sin, like leaven, can corrupt the whole
congregation the way yeast affects the whole loaf. Leaven (yeast)
represents sin, malice and evil. Sin is to be searched out and
removed from the congregation so that the people can be the
“unleavened bread” of sincerity and truth.
Christ is the unblemished (sinless) Passover Lamb sacrificed for our sins so that we can be blameless, and be “passed over” by the destroying angel (Exodus 12:12-13). As a Jewish household must purge the leaven from the house, before they can celebrate Passover, so the Church must do likewise with sin, in order to celebrate the salvation we have in Jesus Christ.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus taught his disciples that it isn’t
sufficient to observe the minimum requirements of God’s Law, or to
have the outward appearance of righteousness, without inward
obedience. It’s not sufficient to abstain from actual murder or
adultery; we must avoid doing things that injure others, or that
lead to their injury.
Sin has eternally, spiritually deadly consequences. If one had to suffer the loss of an eye or a hand in order to avoid sinning, one would be better off with physical life with disability than eternal destruction in Hell. Divorce is permitted by God’s Word because of human sinfulness, but it is contrary to God’s will, and it causes injury to people that God’s command not to commit adultery was intended to prevent.
Christian disciples should refrain from using
the Lord’s name in any way except to pray, praise or thank him. We
should remember that our words and intentions are subject to his
will. Any oath we add is only an attempt to give our word more
credibility than it deserves. We should do what is right without
having to be bound by an oath to do it. Jesus warns that an oath
can be used to deceive. He reminds us that God knows all our
deeds; we cannot hide anything from him,
Commentary:
Elisha is a forerunner and illustration of the
Christ. Gehazi is an example of a servant of the Lord who
succumbed to worldly temptation. He used his position as a
representative of Elisha for personal material gain by deceiving
Naaman, telling him the money and clothes were to be used for the
disciples of the prophet. Elisha was filled with the Holy Spirit
and knew by the Spirit what Gehazi had done. Naaman had been
healed of his disease of sinful human flesh by obedience to God’s
Word; Gehazi had given into temptation to sin in his human flesh
and was condemned to die in his corrupt flesh.
Some of the members of the Corinthian
congregation boasted of their righteousness and spiritual maturity
while tolerating blatant immorality within the congregation. They
thought they could conceal their sin from Paul, but Paul was
filled with the Holy Spirit and knew and wrote by the guidance and
inspiration of the Spirit.
The guilty man and the congregation were both liable to eternal destruction as long as the unrepentant sinner was allowed to remain in the congregation, because sin would corrupt the whole body like yeast affects the loaf. The guilty man would never be brought to repentance and restoration as long as the congregation allowed him to continue within the congregation. Removing the guilty man from the protection of the church was the only hope of getting him to realize his “lost” condition and lead him to repentance.
The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are
intended by the Lord to be parables; metaphors of life in this
world. The symbolism of these celebrations is fulfilled in Jesus
Christ. Only through Jesus Christ can they be fully understood.
[The Passover feast evolved into the Lord’s Supper (the Eucharist;
Sacrament of the Altar; Holy Communion), which is the central
celebration of the Christian Church, aside from Baptism.]
The trouble with Judaism at the time of Jesus’
physical ministry was that they were outwardly obedient to God’s
Word, but were inwardly corrupt (Matthew 23:27). The Corinthian
congregation was having a similar problem, but Paul was holding
them accountable and insisting on reform. Jesus was calling for
Judaism to repent and return to obedient trust in God’s Word, but
the Jewish leaders refused to be reformed.
Judaism effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The curtain of the temple was supernaturally torn in two, from top to bottom, symbolizing that Jesus had opened a new way directly into God’s presence through him (Matthew 27:51). In 70 A. D., the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by the Romans; the people were scattered throughout the world and Israel ceased to exist as a nation, until Jews began to return following World War II. The temple has never been rebuilt.
The Old Covenant of Law of Judaism was dependant on the temple sacrificial system. At Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus became, once for all time and all people who accept, trust and obey him, the only sacrifice acceptable to God. Jesus instituted the New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor; free gift) to be received through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Church and America
(and other “Christian” nations) today are in a very similar
position today as Judaism and Israel in the time
of Jesus’ first advent (coming). America is the “New
Promised Land,” the “New Israel” and the Church is the “New
Jerusalem,” the “new People of God.” There are many instances of
congregations like the Corinthians today.
Is the Church making disciples or allowing members to remain spiritually immature with only the superficial appearance of obedience to God’s Word? Are our churches tolerating sin within their congregations? Jesus has promised to return on the Day of the Lord, to judge the physically and spiritually living and dead (John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:31-46; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home) like Paul was coming to the Corinthian congregation (1 Corinthians 4:21). Are we ready for Jesus’ Second Coming?
Is
Jesus
your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)?
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)?
*The
Oxford
Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May
and Bruce M. Metzger, 1 Corinthians 5:1n, p. 1382, New York,
Oxford University Press, 1962.
First Posted 09/27/05;
Podcast: Wednesday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 6:1-23 - Elisha’s Supernatural Ability;
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 - Immorality and Lawsuits;
Matthew 5:38-48 - Christian Conduct;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
The sons of the prophets were disciples (students) of the prophets, learning about God from them. They needed larger housing, and suggested to Elisha that they go to the Jordan River, where there were apparently many trees. They would each cut a log and build a dwelling there. Elisha gave them permission to go, but they asked him to accompany them.
As they were cutting logs, one disciple’s (iron) axe head fell into the river, and he was concerned because it had been borrowed. Elisha asked where it had fallen, and when he was shown, he threw a stick to land in the spot, and the iron head floated. The man was able to reach out and grab it.
On another occasion, Syria was sending raiding parties into Israel, and the king of Syria told his advisors and leaders where to camp. But Elisha knew, by the Holy Spirit, where they had decided to camp and sent word to the king of northern Israel. The king of Israel was able to send scouts out to spy on the enemy encampment, so that Israel was saved more than a couple times from Syrian raids.
The Syrian king was very upset that the king of Israel was receiving warning by someone, and asked his advisors to find out who. They replied that there was no traitor among them, but that Elisha had supernatural ability to know what the king of Syria was saying even in his bedroom. The king of Syria commanded his men to find out where Elisha was so that he could be captured, and was told that Elisha was in Dothan (about 10 miles northeast of Samaria). The king of Syria sent a great army including cavalry and chariots by night and surrounded the city.
In the morning, when Elisha awoke, he discovered that the city was surrounded by the Syrian army. His servant was in despair, but Elisha told him not to worry, because those who were for Israel were more than the forces of Syria. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open Elisha’s servant’s eyes to see the army of the Lord, and the servant saw that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire.
When the Syrians launched their attack, Elisha prayed for the Lord to strike the Syrians with blindness, and the Lord did as Elisha had prayed. Then Elisha went out to the Syrian army and told them they were at the wrong city, and offered to lead them to the man they sought.
He led them to Samaria, and as soon as they were inside the city their eyes were opened, and they found themselves captives of the king of Israel. The king of Israel asked Elisha if he should have them killed, but Elisha told him that they were to be treated as captives and not killed. Elisha told his king to feed the captives with bread and water and then release them. The king of Israel did as the prophet had said, and the Syrians returned to their land and stopped raiding Israel.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Paul had warned the Corinthian congregation previously not to associate [within the church] with immoral people including robbers, idolaters, or those who are greedy. But he didn’t mean to avoid those types of people in daily life in the secular world. We should leave those outside the Church to the Judgment of God, but we have a responsibility to judge those who are within the Church. Paul commanded that the wicked should be driven out of the Church.
Within the Church, disputes between members should be handled by the Church. Christians should never sue other Christians in civil court. Why would any Christian voluntarily subject himself to the judgment of the unrighteous? Saints [“born-again” Christians (John 3:3-5-8)] will participate in Christ’s final judgment of the world, so we are not incompetent to mediate disputes between church members. It is to our shame to that we allow matters within the church to be judged by the ungodly.
For Christian to sue Christian under any circumstances represents spiritual immaturity and spiritual failure. Christians unable to resolve their differences without resorting to civil adjudication have failed to trust and obey Jesus’ teachings. A genuine Christian should suffer wrong with forgiveness, rather than argue with our spiritual brethren, and should not wrong and defraud anyone, especially our spiritual brethren.
The unrighteous will not inherit the eternal kingdom of God. No one who is immoral, idolatrous, adulterous, homosexual,* a thief, robber, drunkard, or verbally abusive will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some “born-again” Christians used to also do these wicked things, but have been washed (by baptism), sanctified (purified and consecrated to God’s service, by the indwelling Holy Spirit), and justified (judged “not guilty,” by Jesus’ blood on the Cross) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew Paraphrase:
In the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:1-7:28), which is an example of Jesus’ teachings, he said that the Old Covenant of Law required an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 21:23-24). But Jesus taught that his followers were not to resist an evil person. If someone strikes us on the cheek we should, instead of striking him back, offer the other cheek. If someone robs us of our coat, we should offer our shirt also, instead of retaliating. “If any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:41). Disciples are to give to those who beg and lend to those who would borrow.
According to the Old Covenant of Law one is to love their neighbor and hate their enemy, but Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, because God also blesses good and evil alike with sun, and the just and unjust alike with rain (and all the blessings of Creation and temporal life).
Any one, even tax collectors (hated for collaborating with the Roman occupying government), sinners (those who do not obey God’s Word) and Gentiles (heathens; pagans), will love those who love them and welcome those who welcome them, so don’t expect any special reward for that. Children of God must be perfect (free from sin and evil), even as our heavenly Father is perfect.
Commentary:
God’s Word is eternal; God’s will in the day of Elisha, in the day of Jesus’ first advent (coming), and today, is the same; to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves (Matthew 7:12; the “Golden Rule”). The king of Israel sought God’s Word for dealing with their enemy, who had been captured, and Elisha told him to feed them bread and water and then release them. The king of Israel did as the prophet had said, and the result was peace with the Syrians.
The enemies of God are spiritually blind. By the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can lead them to Jesus Christ, the eternal King of “Israel” (God’s people), and offer them freedom from captivity to sin and the ruler of the world, Satan; they must choose for themselves whether to continue being enemies of God and God’s people, or to pursue peace.
Paul was guided and informed by the same Holy Spirit who had guided and informed Elisha. Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission which the risen Jesus gave to his disciples; Paul was making disciples and teaching them to obey all Jesus’ teachings (Matthew 28:19-20).
The fact that the Corinthian congregation was divided over worldly matters indicated that they had not grown spiritually mature; they were not applying Jesus’ teachings in their daily lives. Paul pointed out that if they had followed Jesus’ teachings, they would have suffered wrong with forgiveness, and would not wrong, defraud or argue with a fellow Christian.
Paul was “discipling” the Corinthian Christians, teaching them to obey what Jesus had taught his disciples: to love their enemies and to pray for their persecutors. What we are doing, whether in secret or openly, is not hidden from God. Those who continue willfully to do things which are contrary to God’s Word are not saved, even if they are church members and/or profess to believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Church members who do such things should be removed from membership (1 Corinthians 5:2-8).
Jesus' teaching on turning the other cheek and praying for our enemies does NOT mean that churches are obligated to tolerate unrepentant sinners as members. Jesus’ point is that his followers should emulate him. He didn’t tolerate sin; he forgave sin and told the sinner to go and sin no more. He threw the vendors and moneychangers out of the temple, because they were “robbers,” greedily using religious practice to enrich themselves (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
* "Homosexuals" used here (1
Corinthians 6:9 RSV note j) is a translation from two words in
Greek meaning “effeminate sodomite” (Strong’s #3120). Sodom, from
which we get “sodomite,” was the city of rampant homosexuality
destroyed by God (Genesis 18:16-19:28). It’s pretty hard to argue
that “homosexuals” (and lesbians) is not an accurate
translation.
Thursday 19 Pentecost - Odd
First posted 09/28/05;
Podcast: Thursday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 9:1-16 - Jehu Anointed King;
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
- Warning Against Licentiousness;
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
- Worship with Sincerity;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Elisha, the prophet, called one of his
disciples (a “son of the prophets”), and told him to take a flask
of oil and go to Ramoth-gilead (east of Jezreel and the Jordan
River), where he was to find Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat (former
king of the southern Kingdom of Judah).
The disciple was to take Jehu into an inner room and privately
anoint his head with oil and declare that the Lord had anointed
him king of the northern Kingdom of Israel. As soon as
the disciple had anointed Jehu he was to flee.
The disciple followed Elisha’s instructions and
found Jehu in a meeting of the commanders of the army of Israel
in Ramoth-gilead. He took Jehu aside privately and anointed him
king of Israel
in the name of the Lord. The disciple told Jehu to destroy the
dynasty of Ahab, all his male heirs and servants, and that Jezebel
was to be destroyed in punishment for blood of the prophets and
all the Lord’s servants, for which she had been responsible.
Ahab’s dynasty was to be completely destroyed as the dynasties of
Jeroboam (first king of northern Israel)
and Baasha (the third king of northern Israel) had been.
The son of the prophets told Jehu that Jezebel’s body would not be
buried, and would be eaten by dogs. Then the disciple went out and
fled.
Jehu came out to the military council, and they
asked what the “lunatic” disciple had wanted. Jehu tried to pass
it off lightly, but they insisted on the truth, so Jehu told them
that he had been anointed king of Israel in the
Lord’s name. Those present in the council immediately put their
garments on the steps and they blew a trumpet and proclaimed Jehu
king of Israel.
The reigning King of
Israel was Joram (Jehoram), son of
Ahab. Joram was in Jezreel recovering from wounds he received
in battle against Syria. Jehu told his commanders to keep Jehu’s
anointing a secret until Joram had
been deposed, and then Jehu headed
for Jezreel.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
In the first century A.D., Corinth had a reputation as a
very licentious city. Members of the Corinthian church were being
influenced by the licentious worldly society around them. Paul,
the apostle, was refuting some of these worldly attitudes. Some of
the Corinthian Christians claimed that since they were freed from
the Old Covenant of Law, that they could do anything they pleased.
But Paul taught that although all things are lawful, not all
things are beneficial. Christians are not to allow themselves to
be enslaved by anything. Some were saying that food and sex were
natural parts of human life, and that their indulgence was
natural. But Paul refuted this attitude; our bodies are meant for
the Lord, not for selfish indulgence or immorality.
Our bodies are members of Christ. God’s Word
declares that one becomes united in the flesh with a sexual
partner (Genesis 2:24). But a “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8)
Christian is united in one Spirit with the Lord. Christians must
shun immorality. “Every other sin which a [person] commits is
outside the body, but the immoral [person] sins against his own
body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). A born-again Christian’s body is a
temple of the Holy Spirit within us, which we have received from
God. Furthermore, we have been redeemed, ransomed from eternal
condemnation by Jesus, who paid with his blood for our forgiveness
and salvation, so our bodies no longer belong to us; they belong
to the Lord.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus teaches that worship of God must be with
sincerity and honesty. Those who act pious for worldly recognition
will not receive any benefit from God in heaven. True disciples of
Jesus do not call attention to their offerings. Those who give
ostentatiously to be praised by men will receive only that. God
knows all our inner thoughts and attitudes, so we should give
privately, as if our left hand doesn’t know what our right hand is
doing. Our giving should be to please the Lord, and the Lord will
know and reward us.
The same thing is true of our prayers; those
who pray ostentatiously to impress other people will receive only
that. The Lord is not impressed with flowery oratory. Jesus told
his disciples to pray privately; to go into their room and close
the door so that they can pray to God the Father privately, and he
will reward us. God already knows what we need before we ask.
Similarly, when we fast, we should do so
privately, rather than calling attention to our fasting to receive
worldly praise. We should conduct ourselves as though we are not
fasting, so that only God and we know we are fasting, and God will
reward us.
Commentary:
Elisha’s disciple, a “prophet-in-training,”
carried out God’s Word, God’s anointing of Jehu in private. Jehu
didn’t need any public declaration or ritual to become king of Israel;
he just had to trust and obey God’s Word through Elisha via
Elisha’s disciple. The military leaders of Israel wanted to
know the truth, God’s Word, and when Jehu told them, they trusted
and obeyed, acknowledging Jehu as the Lord’s anointed King of
Israel.
The Corinthian congregation was being
influenced by the sinful secular culture around them. Paul was
discipling them, teaching them to follow Jesus’ example and
teachings instead of worldly values. Instead of living to gratify
our fleshly desires and have worldly popularity, we are to deny
the desires of the flesh and live to serve and please the Lord.
We need to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us of unrighteousness so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must not allow worldly things to enslave us; instead, we are to be free to be guided by the Holy Spirit. When we worship the Lord, give offerings, pray or fast, if we do so for worldly approval we are being influenced and enslaved by the world. Instead we must learn to serve and please the Lord sincerely and honestly.
Elisha is a forerunner and illustration of
Christ and Elisha's disciple is an example of a Christian disciple
who trusts and obeys Jesus, without seeking public attention. Just
as some things in political life are best done in private, in our
religious life it is important to have a private, personal
relationship with our Lord which is not influenced by the
attitudes or reactions of other people. We should guard against
adopting the worldly values of the culture around us, and we
should not let our values be modified by our concern about what
the world will think. We need to go aside so that we can pray and
worship God sincerely in private without being influenced by the
reactions of people around us.
The problem Paul was addressing in the Church
at Corinth
is the same problem which needs to be addressed in the Church in
the world today. In many congregations and denominations today the
same libertine values are being advocated. The false teaching of
“Cheap Grace”* is the teaching that salvation is the free gift of
God in Jesus Christ (true), without the requirement of
discipleship or obedience to Jesus’ teaching (false; compare
Ephesians 2:8-10; see False Teachings, sidebar, top right, home).
Also, in many congregations today faith is not understood to be
obedient trust, but mistakenly instead, like "wishing;" that
whatever we believe is true, if we believe hard enough, and that
doctrine can be decided by majority vote.
Is
Jesus
your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple
(John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)?
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: The Cost of
Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan
Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6
Friday 19 Pentecost - Odd
First posted 09/29/05;
Podcast: Friday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 9:17-37 - Death
of Joram, Ahaziah, and Jezebel;
1 Corinthians 7:1-9
- Directions Concerning Marriage;
Matthew 6:7-15 -
The Lord’s Prayer;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Jehu had been privately anointed king of
northern Israel
by the disciple of Elisha, the prophet (2 Kings 9:1-10), in
fulfillment of God’s Word to Elijah at Mount Horeb
(Sinai; 1 Kings 19:15-16). Jehu and his army went to Jezreel
because King Joram of northern Israel (son of Ahab
and Jezebel) was being treated there for wounds received in battle
at Ramoth-gilead, and King Ahaziah of Judah (grandson of Ahab and
Jezebel) was visiting him.
The watchman at Jezreel announced that a
company of men was approaching, and Joram ordered a horseman to
ride out to meet them and determine their intentions. The horseman
went and asked Joram if his purpose was peaceful, but Jehu
replied, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and ride
behind me” (2 Kings 18b).
The watchman reported that the horseman had joined the approaching company, so Joram sent out another horseman; Jehu told him the same thing he’d told the first one, and the second messenger also joined Jehu’s men. The watchman reported that the second messenger was also staying with the approaching group. The watchman recognized Jehu because Jehu drove his chariot furiously.
Joram ordered chariots made ready, and he and
Ahaziah each went out in separate chariots, and met Jehu at the
property of Naboth. Joram asked if Jehu came in peace, and Jehu
asked how there could be peace as long as the harlotries and
sorceries of Joram’s mother, Jezebel, continued. Joram turned his
chariot around and warned Ahaziah to flee. Jehu shot an arrow
between the shoulders of the fleeing Joram and he died. Jehu
commanded that Joram’s body be cast onto Naboth’s property, in
fulfillment of God’s Word through Elijah (1 Kings 21:17-24).
King Ahaziah of Judah fled from
Jehu, south to Beth-haggan, but they pursued and shot him with an
arrow at Ibleam (near Beth-haggan). Ahaziah was badly wounded, and
fled to Megiddo
where he died. His body was taken to Jerusalem and buried in his
ancestral tomb.
When Jezebel heard Jehu was coming to Jezreel
she put on her makeup and looked out her window. When Jehu entered
the gate she asked if his purpose was peaceful, calling him a
murderer like Zimri, who had been a brutal assassin. Jehu called
out asking who of Jezebel’s attendants was on Jehu’s side, and two
or three eunuchs appeared at the window. Jehu told them to throw
Jezebel down, and they did. Her blood spattered and she was
trampled by Jehu’s horses.
Jehu went in and ate dinner, and afterward told
his men to bury Jezebel, but they couldn’t find anything left of
her but her skull, feet and the palms of her hands. They came back
and told Jehu, who declared that this was the fulfillment of God’s
Word to Elijah that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs in the street
in Jezreel (1 Kings 21:23).
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
The Corinthian Christians had asked Paul for
instructions concerning marriage. Paul replied, “It is well for a
man not to touch a woman” (1 Corinthians 7:1). In order to avoid
temptation to immorality people should get married. In the
marriage relationship each belongs to the other, and should be
available to the other and respond to the needs of the other,
except for a short period of abstinence if mutually agreeable as a
spiritual fasting with prayer.
These were suggestions, rather than commands. Paul felt that celibacy suited him well, but acknowledged that it was not required or more desirable for Christian disciples. Paul suggested that the unmarried and widowed remain single unless they are unable to resist sexual temptation. Sexual expression is only acceptable within marriage.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus taught his disciples to have a private
personal relationship with the Lord, in sincerity and honesty, not
influenced by or intended to influence other people. Disciples are
not to pray publicly so as to attract attention to themselves.
Instead we are to go into a private room where we can be alone in
fellowship with the Lord. The Lord already knows our innermost
thoughts and will reward our sincere and honest prayers.
We don’t need eloquent oratory or fancy words,
empty phrases or repetition to pray effectively. Jesus gave his
disciples an example, which we call the Lord’s Prayer. We address
God as our Father, and acknowledge that his name is holy and that
we hope to uphold that holiness in our lives. We acknowledge that
his kingdom is coming, individually in us, and ultimately on earth
as it is in heaven, and we pray to help bring it to fulfillment.
We pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is done in heaven,
and that we personally will know and do his will. We acknowledge
that the Lord is the source of everything, and we ask him to
supply everything we need, daily, one day at a time. We ask the
Lord to forgive our sins, and we commit to forgiving others. We
ask the Lord to lead us so that we won’t fall into temptation, and
to deliver us from evil.
Commentary:
King Joram had continued in the disobedience of
God’s Word and the idolatry which his parents had practiced. King
Ahaziah had cooperated and allied himself with Joram. Jehu was the
Lord’s anointed king, whom the Lord had chosen and designated King
of northern Israel.
Jehu was coming to Jezreel to carry out the Lord’s judgment on
Joram and Jezebel, and to establish his kingdom.
The watchman alerted Jezreel to Jehu’s coming.
The mounted messengers had to choose whether to remain loyal to
the wicked worldly rulers or join the Lord’s anointed and follow
him. The wicked rulers attempted to flee, but were not able. God’s
Word condemned them and his Word was fulfilled.
Jezebel, the heathen wife of Ahab and mother of Joram, had gained great influence in the northern kingdom by marriage to Ahab. Ahab had been seduced by her physical beauty and sexuality, and had been led into apostasy and idolatry by her. Her name today has become synonymous with seduction and idolatry.
Jezebel put on her makeup when she heard Jehu
was coming, trying to exploit her physical assets to deflect
Jehu’s fulfillment of God’s Word against her, but she wasn’t able
to escape God’s judgment, and God’s Word was fulfilled.
Paul was discipling the Corinthian Christians.
He was teaching them how to live in obedience to Jesus’ words and
example. Celibacy is not better or “more righteous” than marriage.
Marriage reduces sexual temptation outside of marriage, but may
lead to sin in other areas. Love for a spouse or children can
become idolatrous if it interferes with our love and obedience to
God.
Wife and family can also lead us to place too much importance on worldly concerns such as home, food, clothes, shelter, and job. It may seem easier to trust God to supply our daily needs for ourselves alone than when we have a family to support, but God is able to do much more than we can begin to imagine. Monogamous heterosexual marriage is the only acceptable context for sexual expression; it doesn’t guarantee freedom from sexual temptation, but it does provide an acceptable outlet for gratification.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray by giving
them an example. A Christian disciple acknowledges that God is the
sovereign Lord and that God’s kingdom is coming. We commit
ourselves to work for the coming of his kingdom, personally and
universally; we commit to do his will personally and to advocate
obedience to God’s will universally. We acknowledge him as the
source of everything we need, and we ask him to deliver us from
sin, temptation and evil.
Jehu is a demonstration and illustration of the
Christ, God’s anointed eternal king (Christ and Messiah each mean
“anointed” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). Jesus is going to
return to execute God’s judgment upon the wicked worldly rulers
and the “Jezebels” of this world. The apostles, the prophets of
God, are the “watchmen” who announce the approaching Second Coming
(Second Advent) of Jesus Christ.
Only through Jesus Christ can we have peace
with God. Only Jesus can restore the fellowship with God which we
broke through sin (Genesis 3:1-24; Acts 4:12; John 14:6). If we
want to have eternal peace we must join the company of followers
of Jesus Christ.
Jesus will return to this world like Jehu
coming to Jezreel (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 1:11). The enemies of
Christ will not be able to flee. God’s Word will be fulfilled. If
we have not been saved by God’s Word through obedient trust in
Jesus Christ we will be condemned to eternal destruction and death
by it.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Saturday 19 Pentecost - Odd
First posted 09/30/05;
Podcast: Saturday 19 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 11:1-20a -
Usurpation and Death of Athaliah;
1 Corinthians 7:10-24
- Marriage and Family Problems;
Matthew 6:19-24 -
Treasure in Heaven;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Jehu was the Lord’s anointed king of the
northern Kingdom of Israel,
commissioned by the Lord to destroy the dynasty of Ahab, who had
led Israel
into disobedience of God’s Word and idolatry. Jehu killed Joram
(Jehoram), king of northern Israel,
the son of Ahab and Jezebel, and Ahaziah, king of the southern Kingdom of Judah, the grandson of
Ahab and Jezebel. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah and
daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, heard that her son Ahaziah was dead,
she had all the royal family killed (to eliminate rivals) and she
seized the throne.
Jehosheba was the daughter of King Joram,
half-sister of Ahaziah, and wife of Jehoiada, a priest. She
secretly rescued Joash, the son of Ahaziah and hid him in the
house of the Lord for six years while Athaliah reigned as Queen of
Judah.
In the seventh year Jehoiada summoned the temple guards and swore
them to secrecy before revealing Joash, the surviving heir to the
throne.
For the coming Sabbath, Jehoiada assigned one third of the temple guards to guard the Palace, and the rest to surround and guard King Joash and the temple, with orders to kill anyone who tried to approach the king. The guards were armed with the spears and shields which had been King David’s, which were stored in the temple.
On the Sabbath, with armed guards surrounding
him in the temple, Jehoiada brought out Joash, and crowned him and
“gave him the testimony” (2 Kings 12:12) which may have been an
armlet signifying kingship, or perhaps a book or document.
Jehoiada anointed him and the guards and congregation exclaimed,
“Long live the king” (2 Kings 12:12).
Athaliah heard the celebration and went into the temple to see what was happening (she was not there on the Sabbath because she was a worshiper of Baal, the Canaanite idol). She saw Joash standing by the pillar (one of two free-standing pillars of bronze called “Jachin” and “Boaz” meaning “God establishes” and “He comes with power”*) apparently where the King stood, according to custom.
Athaliah tore her robes and exclaimed that the
coronation was treason. Jehoiada ordered the guards to seize
Athaliah and take her outside, through the horses’ entrance to the
palace and kill her. Jehoiada didn’t want her killed in the
temple.
Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, King
Joash, and the people, that all would be the Lord’s people. Then
all the people went to the temple of Baal
and tore it down and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal. Then the
guards brought King Joash into the palace and seated him on the
throne. Jerusalem
was peaceful after Athaliah had been killed.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
The Corinthian Christians had asked Paul for
instructions on marriage and family relations. Paul wrote that, in
accordance with Jesus’ teachings, married Christians should not
divorce. If married Christians did divorce they should remain
single or else be reconciled with their spouses.
Paul offered as a personal suggestion, not by
any specific teaching of Jesus, that any Christian married to an
unbeliever should continue in that marriage as long as the
unbelieving spouse is willing. Children of such marriage are not
made unclean by the unbelieving parent. But if the unbelieving
spouse desires divorce, the Christian partner should accept the
divorce; they are not obligated to remain married to an
unbeliever. (In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul warns believers not to
enter into marriage with unbelievers.) The Lord desires us to live
in peace (not demanding us to continue in a marriage which results
in frequent strife). No one can be sure that an unbelieving spouse
can be converted.
Each believer should live the life assigned to
him by the Lord, continuing the life each had when called to
faith. (This assumes that the existing situation is not illegal or
immoral. It is not to imply that conversion doesn’t require
repentance and turning from sin.) Those who were uncircumcised
should not seek circumcision, and those who were circumcised
should not wish to undo their circumcision. Physical circumcision
has no spiritual value in itself; what matters is obedience to
God’s will.
Believers should remain in whatever state they were when called to faith. Those who are under obligation to the ungodly should free themselves if possible. Our obligation is to trust and obey the Lord. By Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus purchased our freedom from slavery to sin, physical death and the things and rulers of this world. Believers should not allow themselves to submit to domination by any worldly person or thing.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus taught his
disciples not to accumulate material things or to desire worldly
glory. Every material possession and worldly value passes away;
none of those things is eternal, and trusting in them is false
security. If we value those worldly things we will be unable to
focus on spiritual things and life in the Spirit, which is
eternally important.
Righteousness is like light. As our eyes
recognize and receive light, filling and enlightening our lives,
so we must learn to see and do what is righteous. If we don’t
learn and practice righteousness, our lives will be filled with
sin and spiritual ignorance leading to eternal darkness and
spiritual death.
“No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
No one can serve the kingdom of God
and the kingdom of this world. We must choose whether to serve the
Lord or ourselves.
Commentary:
Athaliah is an example of worldly people who
want to rule over this world and try to seize power contrary to
God’s will. She was a worshiper of the worldly religion, idolatry.
She tried to destroy the members of the royal family, the princes
and princesses of the king. The Lord preserved his anointed king
through his faithful servants, hiding him in the temple until it
was safe for him to take the throne.
The faithful priest, Jehoiada, led the people
to a covenant relationship with the Lord’s anointed king, and a
spiritual revival. The temple of the idol was torn down and the
wicked worldly usurper was destroyed. The result was that God’s
people were able to live in peace.
God hid Jesus, his anointed eternal king, in
Egypt, from Herod the Great, the wicked worldly ruler who
attempted to wipe out his rivals by killing all the male children
in the region of Bethlehem under two years of age (Mathew 2:13,
16).
Paul was discipling the Corinthian Christians,
leading them to trust and obey Jesus’ teachings so that they could
live in the peace God intended for us. Jesus is the only source of
true peace (John 14:27). Jesus is the only way to have
forgiveness, salvation and peace with God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6;
see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Christians
are to covenant with God to be his obedient, trusting people, to
enthrone Jesus as the Lord of their lives, and avoid and remove
any thing or person that attempts to usurp Jesus’ sovereignty,
including our own self-will.
Jesus warned his disciples that we cannot serve
both the worldly kingdom and the heavenly kingdom. We must make a
choice. It is tempting to think that we should accumulate worldly
necessities first, before pursuing spiritual things, but that is a
deception. If we wait until our worldly needs are satisfied we
will never reach a point when we can pursue what is spiritual and
eternal. The way to make sure our worldly needs are provided for
is to pursue personal fellowship with the Lord first and most
importantly.
We’re in need of revival today. Wicked worldly
rulers have, in many instances, usurped the thrones of our secular
and even our religious institutions. We must covenant with God to
crown and enthrone Jesus Christ, God’s anointed eternal king, on
the throne of our lives and our world. We
need to tear down the idolatries which have sprung up and polluted
our lives, our churches and our land, and we must depose the
usurpers of God’s kingdom.
*The Oxford Annotated Bible,
Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M.
Metzger, 1 Kings 715-22 note, p. 424, New York, Oxford University
Press, 1962.
