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“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others” Matthew 23:23.
Jesus was perhaps the greatest victim of this type of behavior but also benefitted from it. I submit two negative examples and one positive.
The Jews would not deliver Jesus into the home of the Roman Pontius Pilate because to enter the home of a Gentile would make them violate Law and become “unclean” and in so doing not be able to participate in the Jewish Passover rite.
Never mind that they were also filthy and unclean for murdering an innocent man… Jesus Christ.
The Jews would not leave Jesus’ dead body on the Cross overnight because in doing so it would violate Jewish Law which stated that the Land would be cursed if a dead man were left dead and hung on a cross over night (Perhaps especially on the Passover)
Never mind that the Land and people would be cursed for murdering the Son of God.
Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus Christ and in handling Jesus dead body became “unclean” (according to the Law) and would not have been able to participate in the holiest of day in Judea… The Passover.
The first two instances involved God’s people who were careful to observe the most insignificant parts of the Law (by comparison) while violating two of the most significant parts of it… murder and Blasphemy.
Even though Joseph of Arimathea became unclean for handling a dead body he will forever be remembered and honored for taking care of Jesus’ dead but precious body. And even if the cost was not being able to participate in one Passover celebration the cost was worth the price.
Mark 6 records the account of Jesus feeding the 5000. The disciples recognized the hunger of the 5000 but their solution was not to help them but asked for Jesus to send them away... they didn't even ask Jesus to help them.
Jesus instructed the disciples to feed the 5000 themselves.
Again the disciples, understanding only they own abilities, said that they did not have enough money to buy bread for 5000 people. Whereupon Jesus fed the whole multitude and had plenty of food leftover for them to take home with them.
The scene shifts immediately to the disciples following Jesus instruction to row a boat across the sea while he stayed behind.
The text says that the disciples were fighting a head wind and waves driven by the wind and it was night. But then here comes Jesus taking a stroll walking on the water intending to pass them by as they struggled with the boat.
The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost and were terrified. Imagine fighting the sea in a small boat and failing at it. Worried about drowning and then they see a ghost. Jesus intended to just walk on by them but in their terror of the ghost they “cried out”.
Of course it wasn’t a ghost, it was Jesus and when he stepped over the side of the boat and got in the boat with them. The wind died and went away and all was calm. They were astounded and rightly so.
And then the inimical words recorded by Mark…
“They did not understand about the loaves”
Like in the feeding of the 5000 the disciples looked at their own abilities and flew the white flag… they gave up and Jesus bailed them out.
In the boat they were struggling against waves and wind. The boat was taking on water. Their solution was to paddle the boat harder and they were failing.
If they had “understood about the loaves” they would have put the paddles down and bowed their heads in prayer because after all the likelihood is that God sent the wind to test them. If God can send the wind he can also quiet the wind.
Faith is at its best when we quit relying upon ourselves and turn our troubles over to God.
There’s a great mystery pronounced and defined by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. Namely that the Gentiles/Greeks are fellow heirs with Israel.
Let me suggest that their is another component to that great mystery. Namely that God shared his deity with us in giving us The Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Something that he did not do with Israel generally in the Old Testament.
But also God gives us instructions on how to act or behave like God. Namely by loving our fellow man like Jesus loves us (John 13:34)… the New Command.
That is a much higher form of love than “loving our fellow man like we love ourselves” e.g. the second greatest command identified by Jesus.
So God not only shared his deity with us but he showed us how to act like deity. That was the great mystery that was revealed to the spiritual world in Ephesians 3:10.
And that my friends is the greatest of the many blessings that he gave us.
A concept is taught in 1 Corinthians 14 that when the church comes together it is for the purpose of being built up. A second concept is taught that in our worship we sometimes have visitors in attendance and we need to make a good impression on them with our worship.
The Corinthian church was failing in both those instances because Christians were speaking the inspired gift of speaking in the languages of “Men and Angels” and no one could understand those languages (since there was no one to interpret) and the attending visitors thought the confusing speech in the assembly was “madness”… failure in worship for members and visitors.
Last Sunday I visited a church and the song leader led four songs I had never heard of before and could not sing. And apparently half the congregation had never heard of those songs either. And they were not simple songs… they were complex. I was not “built up” and as a visitor I was unimpressed with the service. Failure in worship.
Song Leaders are Worship Leaders and should choose and prepare songs that inspire and cause the congregation to be built up. Song/Worship Leaders should also understand that we are offering worship (in song) that inspires our visitors.
Song Leaders also need to understand that most of the congregation has no training in music and cannot read music.
Historically Parkway has been known as having some of the best if not the best singing in the area. I hope that continues.
I’m not asking for Olympic style singing but I also don’t want our singing to sound like the Special Olympics.
Song Leaders you have a very important job to build up the congregation not only with the songs you select but also with the appropriate energy you lead those songs with. It’s not that hard.
Malachi 3:6-12
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it”
The people of Israel were not tithing like they were supposed to so God put them under a curse.
Then God proposed a test. He said start tithing like you are supposed to and then see what I will do for you.
Interesting… a test. Could the same thing work today?
- are we attending like we should?
- are we giving a financial offering like we should?
- How is our participation at church?
- Are we making any sacrifices to God at all in our abilities? our time?
- Are we respecting our parents?
- Are with being the kind of spouses we should be?
- Are we good employees/employers?
The list goes on and on. Accept God’s test and according to his promises he will open up the flood gates of Heaven for you.
Maybe the problems in our lives are because of us.
What do you have to lose? Give it a try.
Nehemiah 8:8
“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read”
The reading of God’s word and teaching others from it can be done with “clarity” and “meaning” which implies that it can also be done with obscurity and ambiguity.
Of course the details are not specified but here are some of my thoughts.
When reading to others don’t sound like a mindless drone but rather add some emotions and expressive body language. Vary the tone as you read. Use some dramatic pauses.
Also when reading to others take some time to explain what words mean. Illustrate what you’re reading with stories and anecdotes. Use some figurative language (similes and metaphors)
The key to reading for others is so that you can hold their attention so that they can understand.
Years ago I was in a private Bible study with someone who knew nothing about the Bible. One of the readings contained the word “manna”. Afterwards the readers thought I was talking about a Manta Ray. Obscure and ambiguous. I failed.
In the middle school class I recognize that the prepared material uses words that my students have absolutely no comprehension of what those words mean so I substitute with words they do understand. Know your audience.
If I’m listening to someone who just drones on and on I get distracted and start yawning or think its time for a bathroom break.
Be good smart readers of the word and respect your listeners. Make God proud.
Malachi 2:13-16, states that God with holds blessings from those who do not keep their marriage vows and resort to divorce.
“You weep and wail because God no longer pays attention to your offerings…”
That also implies that those who are faithful to their marriage vows are blessed and receive blessings and joy and honor and all good things. He pays attention to you and enriches your lives together.
God states in these verses that He himself witnessed the wedding vows and that in that vowing God makes them “one” And the making them “one” was so they could have “godly offspring”
God concludes the section by saying he hates divorce and by implication he loves marriage.
In our day and time many young men and women live together and even produce offspring with no wedding vows… they are not married.
What are the implications of that?
- no blessings associated with marriage and vows to each other.
- the offspring, sans marriage vows, are not “godly offspring”
I suppose every marriage has rocky spots from time to time. Don’t take the shortcut of divorce as a solution to hard times because the times will just get harder for you. Work out your problems and stay true to your vows and God will be happy with you.
The ones who live together and produce ungodly offspring without marriage (you are not “one”) don’t even begin to realize how much better their lives would be if they invited God into the relationship. If nothing else do it for your children because they are innocent and deserve better.
Live and walk by faith and you won’t be sorry.
