January 22

Genesis 23; Matthew 22

Genesis 23

Ready:
Moses writes now following his description of the near sacrifice of Isaac which was counter to logic and turned out to be a huge foreshadowing of the work God would do in substituting Christ as a sacrifice to redeem us and to give us new life.  He picks up after Abraham and Isaac, uninjured, return to camp and are informed of some births that Abraham had been unaware of.

Reading thoughts:
So Sarah was 90 when God promised to return in about a year and find her with Son so I take it that Isaac was about 36 years old here when Sarah died.  I notice that Abraham is highly respected by the Hittites in the land and this is one of the people groups who God says will turn over their land to Abraham’s offspring.  There is an extended dialogue between Abraham and this council of some sort that seems to be meeting.  It sounds like he went to this meeting of the people of the Hittites and sole before them.  He showed them respect and asked for the right to purchase a place to bury his wife outside of his camp that was now at Beersheba where he has a covenant with King Abimelech to dwell.

Key Verses:

“4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.”” (Genesis 23:4–6, ESV)

I see the theme as- Abraham’s sadness at the passing of Sarah and the first establishment of Jewish land rights in Canaan.

Rumination thoughts:
    My only thoughts in this chapter really are that Abraham acts in faith to establish a land holding in Canaan at the passing of his wife the mother of Isaac through whom this entire land will come to belong.  I see that he has a good standing with the people there and that he offers them respect.  It turns out that Abraham himself and others after him will also be buried in this location.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Abraham trusts God for the future but knows that the time is not now to take the entire land of Canaan.  The implication is that there is an example of trusting God by investing effort and resources into what I believe to be his plan for me according to his purposes and how I understand the scripture.  I do not take anything in this example to be negative (since I know I need to understand narrative as descriptive and not necessarily prescriptive).  The significance for me is that I should invest in what I know to be God’s will and I should put forward my effort to do his work with patience and with trust that in his time he will bless me.  Certainly this can be harder for me because God did not come to me and tell me his plan…but none the less I know where I can invest in myself and in the world vs in God and his likely intentions for me in this life.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 22

Ready:
We saw Jesus enter Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week that culminates with his resurrection.  Jesus has cleansed the temple and established his Messianic authority and set the Pharisees back as being opposed to the kingdom of God.

Reading thoughts:
I see Matthew narrating how Jesus concludes his denunciation of the Pharisees and then faces a few challenges by them perhaps as a backlash to his affront.  In answer to their challenges, Jesus teaches on owing allegiance and devotion to the one whose image we bear.  Jesus then confronts a heretical teaching that there is no resurrection by appealing to the fact that God describes himself as the God of the patriarchs and the implied fact is that they (the patriarchs) are alive and not dead even centuries after their death.  The greatest commandment comes in as the central theme to unite this chapter and lead into the identity of Christ so that the Pharisees might know that to not love him is to fail at the greatest commandment.

Key Verses:

“2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.” (Matthew 22:2–3, ESV)

“8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’” (Matthew 22:8–9, ESV)

“21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”” (Matthew 22:21, ESV)

“30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”” (Matthew 22:30–32, ESV)

“36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36–39, ESV)

“45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:45–46, ESV)

I see the theme as- Recognize your bridegroom and love him above all, coming prepared to the wedding celebration dressed in his own righteousness having loved God and loved others well and having paid appropriate devotion in this life to each (God and others) according to the authority established by God.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-10.  Jesus again gives an example of the kingdom to teach us the revelation of God.  He uses a theoretical wedding that is not necessarily tie to the wedding supper of the lamb mentioned in Revelation 19:6-10 although correlations can be found.  There is certainly a general sense of the marriage between the Lord and his people.  Although Jesus has been denouncing the Pharisees and any who are not recognizing his coming as the Messiah the fact is that Israel is the bride of Christ in the New Jerusalem (heaven) and the nations are welcomed in to join her company through the gates that are open only to those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life and are therefore clean and true, purchased by the blood of the Lamb as an inheritance of sheep that were not of the sheepfold of Abraham by the flesh (Rev 21:9-27, John 10:14-16, Psalm 74:2, 1 Cor 6:19-20).  This parable is acknowledged by many to be difficult and is taken in a few ways.  Most simply it is clear that there is a marriage and there is an original group that ignores the invitation followed by another group who mostly accepts the invitation but some do not come prepared as thought they misunderstand what it is they are invited to.  There is a judgement upon those who ignore the invitation and it is clear that although both good and bad are invited (compared horizontally against one another) once they come in they are dressed appropriately (righteousness of Christ).  It seems that perhaps the guest who is rejected may represent the group that Jesus rejects saying that he never knew them (Matt 7:21-23).  It could be that these presume that they are belonging there but yet do not come prepared in any sense and bear only their own works and their own righteousness.  This can be compared to the pilgrim who comes to the gate of the Celestial City in Pilgrim’s Progress having not entered by the gate and having not received a letter of admittance.  This one is likewise bound and carried off to hell rather than being granted admittance.  I would not take this wedding to be heaven itself and it is probably too much to try to place this theoretical wedding party into some exact representation of an actual place or time in the future.
    v11-14.  Now that the room is prepared and the guests are present and all should be right and ready the king enters for what seems to be an inspection.  His attention is quickly upon a man who has not come in prepared for the event and is unclean.  Without having any answer for himself and having no perception of how one becomes worthy of presence at this wedding (by the free gift of grace trusting in the person and work of Christ as my justification with God and acting in the obedience of faith by devoting my life to him, enjoying the process of sanctification by his Spirit whereby I am molded into the likeness of Christ day by day until the future bodily redemption when I am presented to Christ complete and glorified).  This reminds me of Romans 10:1-4 where Paul says that the Jews are zealous for God but not according to knowledge and that they yet need salvation that is found only in Christ because he is the very righteousness of God to be had by all who trust in him and not in their own efforts.  SPOILER ALERT- Included here is the concept of election that we will not all agree on but I suggest it is pervasive in the Bible (However, I don’t look down upon other views that are Biblically grounded).  For this reason, or others, some will take verses 11-14 to be a completely separate parable.  None the less, here is presented a distinction between what some call (and others reject) the "general call” (gospel message given to the ends of the earth) and the "effective call” (internal call of Christ upon a soul that unstoppably turns the heart to see the beauty of Christ) by the terms “called” versus “chosen” in verse 14.  It seems that the guest in verses 11-13 was not chosen to be there (effective call) despite his decision to come along in response to the general call (zeal for God without knowledge…a knowledge that comes only by the Spirit of God shining into my heart).  Don’t take this passage or me as saying that God turns away any that truly call upon him... for this guest clearly did not know the truth.  A "call upon God" without a trust founded upon the person of Christ (true identity as the Son of God come in human flesh) and work (subsitutionary atonement- died in my place to make mercy and reconciliation a just action for God- and then rose bodily from the dead to give me new life and to be my sole mediator and advocate in heaven) apart from any of my own merit (works) is not saving faith.  This is also not to say that a perfect knowledge of how salvation works (or big vocabulary) is required but clearly the hope needs to be rightly placed or as Paul indicates, it does not save.
    v15-22.  Here the Pharisees and Herodians seek to trap Jesus and they talk him up as being a great truth speaking teacher who is not swayed by opinions of men and so they will now try to force him to give an answer that will upset the crowd (opinions of men) by telling them that they must pay the outrageous taxes of the emperor or alternatively the Pharisees could show Jesus to be leading an insurrection against the emperor.  Seem pretty witty and indeed is likely the best they can do.  But the truth is that all governing authorities are instituted by God (Rom 13) and we are to subject ourselves to them and yet it is God to whom we owe our ultimate devotion as we are his creatures.  Jesus masterfully answers with the truth (go figure).  He uses a coin to teach them that there is some authority here given to the emperor to which we are called to submit but that there is a greater authority from heaven to which we owe not only a tax, but our entire being.  We are made in the likeness of God and as the coin is thus the property of the emperor so our soul is the property of God.  Give God your supreme devotion and love and give Caesar his coin, Jesus says.  Completely stumped and in disbelief that they were just so thoroughly routed, they leave defeated yet again.
    v23-33.  Now a second class of Jews come and give a go at trapping Jesus.  These now try to show that the concept of a resurrection from the dead is absurd because of the moral dilemma created by the very law of God that says a man is to marry the widow of his brother.  Jesus dismantles the argument first by explaining a yet unknown reality that in heaven there will be no marriage as we know it but we will be like the angels who do not marry.  The idea here matches with the concept that human marriage exists as a shadow of our marriage to Christ and it serves a purpose therein that is lost when we are joined to Christ as the bride in heaven.  The real substance supersedes the usefulness of the shadow and makes it void (Eph 5:31-32, Hos 2:19-20).
    v34-40.  The law of God is here summed up after the pattern of the two tables (responsibility toward God / responsibility toward man).  The collective group of Jews wanted to get Jesus to speak against the law since they perceived he was coming with salvation by a different way than following the law.  But his answer gets to the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law as they knew it.  This is a huge teaching and relates to the law being spiritual (Rom 7:14) and true circumcision being of the heart, by the Spirit of God (Rom 2:28-29) and how God is looking upon our heart and not merely our actions.  Since the person and work of Jesus are a complete fulfillment of the law and the prophets (Rom 8:4, 10:4) he does not have any message against the law.  He merely came to do what the law was powerless to do (Rom 8:3-4).
    v41-46.  Matthew concludes with the account of Jesus then turning the tables and asking them a question.  Truth itself looks them in the face and gives them a shattering reality check.  Jesus refers to a passage of the Old Testament that would be very familiar to the Jews as speaking about the Messiah in Psalm 110.  It is rather plain here and in Isaiah that the Messiah is himself divine and not just a human to come and “save” Israel.  But the big thing is how Jesus makes it clear to them that King David call the Messiah Lord.  The Hebrew word used is a term divine in nature and so this human Messiah they were expecting is here shown to be greater than David and before David and divine.  They also know Jesus has been claiming to be this Messiah.  Having known this Psalm and never likely drawn that correct conclusion they had no answer and concluded that there was simply no way to out think Jesus.  I take this as a wrap on the chapter (though he keeps teaching by addressing the crowd next in chapter 23) and buttoning up to whom the devotion is owed and who is the bridegroom and to whom is the real marriage and by whom is the resurrection power of God to rest upon.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
Quickly- I owe the complete devotion of my life to Christ (the Son of God who died in my place), to whom I am truly betrothed, and I am to trust in him alone to give me new life now (Rom 8:11, 6:4) and in a resurrection of my body (Rom 8:23).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 21

Genesis 22; Matthew 21

Genesis 22

Ready:
The last chapter covered the birth of Isaac and the sending off of Hagar and Ishmael.  Now Abraham and Sarah are settled and their promised child is weaned and life seems to be just as they expected.

Reading thoughts:
I see the story of Abraham obeying the command of God to sacrifice his Son as a burnt offering to the Lord and God interrupting to provide a substitute offering.  In the end God declares that he has sworn against himself that he will keep this covenant to bless him, multiply his offspring, and grant them the land of their enemies, and that all the nations of the earth will be blessed.  He does this, however, tied distinctively to this action of obedience.  He does this tied to the sacrifice of a son against a clear alternative to withhold the son since it is the only son and he is deeply loved.  God says “because you have obeyed my voice”.  Abraham heard God, trusted God, and acted upon it with the obedience of faith.  Hebrew 11:17-19 says that Abraham was tested and that he believed God would resurrect Isaac because Abraham trusted that God would indeed bring a nation from this boy even though he didn’t understand why then he would need to sacrifice him.

Key Verses:

“1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”” (Genesis 22:1–2, ESV)

“7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:7–8, ESV)

“10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”” (Genesis 22:10–11, ESV)

“12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:12–13, ESV)

“16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,” (Genesis 22:16, ESV)

I see the theme as- God tests Abraham and in doing he also reveals to him how it is that God will swear an everlasting covenant by the obedience and the sacrifice of his own Son in place of his people.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  Immediately Moses tells us that this was a test.  Interesting that God tests Abraham.  Certainly God knew his heart and knew the certainty that Abraham was to obey but perhaps the test was more for a revealing to Abraham and to us.  Tests show what something is made of and if it is true.  Tests give us confidence in something.  Perhaps God wanted to give Abraham confidence.
    v2.  Ouch!  God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  The son that they have waited 25 years for God to give them.  The son that God has promised to bring a nation from and a multitude that cannot really be counted.  The son who will bring the promised offspring to crush the head of the serpent.  Sacrifice this son?  How does that accomplish the purpose?  How can giving up life gain life?  How can obeying God in this case result in the purpose of God being fulfilled?  What is God thinking?  Why have you brought me through all of this to now tell me to kill the boy?
    v3.  He didn’t flinch.  Obviously the record doesn’t indicate everything but there is no mention by Moses here that Abraham asked a single question or had any hesitation.  Off they went.
    v4-8.  So they head off and Abraham prophetically (albeit unknowingly) tells Isaac that God will provide a sacrifice for the offering when Isaac inquires why they did not bring a lamb.
    v9-11.  Here it is.  Abraham goes through with it, no doubt painfully and with tears and who knows what kind of interaction occurred between him and Isaac as he tied him to the altar.  How can this be?  How can God want this promised offspring to be sacrificed when he is the one that all the promises of God are supposed to come through?  Abraham believes the God must intend to resurrect him and so he reaches for the knife, having made the mental and emotional decision to go ahead with the the sacrifice.
    v12-14.  But God stops him in the moment that Abraham made the final commitment to carry it out.  He says “seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son”…compare this to Rom 8:3 and 32.  Then Abraham spots a substitute in the bushes, provided by God.  He sacrifices the substitute in place of Isaac.  This is as plain of a foreshadowing as can be made to show us how Jesus is the sacrifice that is made in substitution for us.  God reveals the plan of a substitutionary atonement to Abraham like he did to Adam when he clothed him in animal skin (killing an animal instead of Adam himself).  So this test did more than just prove Abraham lives out the obedience of faith.  It has taught him and us more of how God will accomplish our salvation.
    v15-18.  Here God speaks again and announces that it is by his own name or again himself that he has sworn that he will keep the covenant he had already given to Abraham and he ties it to this act of obedient sacrifice of the only son.  So I see at least two things being necessary here.  1.  Obedience of faith (trust in God to do precisely as he says that leads to action) that is true when tested to the extreme and 2. A substitute sacrifice actually being made by a greater father of a greater Son in order to bring about the promise that God has made to Adam and to Noah and to Abraham.  Remembering the already-not yet paradigm presented in chapter 17 it seems that this sacrifice of the Son is the very thing that makes the obedience of faith possible as Jesus is called the founder and perfecter of our faith in Hebrews 12:2 (even Abraham’s I suggest).  This verse in Hebrews says how he founded and perfected our faith…go read it.
    v19-24.  Then Abraham and Isaac return and Abraham seems to get filled in on some details regarding his brother Nahor, who it seems Abraham has been out of touch with since he just ow learns of not only Nahor's children but also a grandchild (unless the narrator is not trying to give chronology to us and is merely letting us know some future details- which is quite possible).

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God expects Abraham to have and to demonstrate obedience of faith in the most extreme circumstances.  The implication today is that God expects this kind of faith from me and this can only come by the power of God through the cross of Christ and ultimately by his Spirit gifting me this kind of faith.  This takes a circumcised heart by the Spirit of God (Deut 30:6, Jer 31:31-33, Ezek 36:26-27, Eph 2:8-9).  So this asking of Abraham to sacrifice his son was something special in the big story of God revealing his plan of salvation to mankind and I should consider that today I must comply with God’s revealed will in his Word and I am told to test any spirit to be sure that I am not ever listening to something other than the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1-3).  So I should never go jump off a bridge or do something clearly against the Word of God because I felt a “sense” or heard a “voice” that tells me to act against what I know God has said…just like Jesus in the desert.  The significance for me today is that I am to trust God and I am to trust primarily in the sacrifice of Jesus to accomplish my salvation and to be my standing with God.  I am to step forward in faith that because of Christ and his work I am right with God and he is at work in me.  I have the power to live with the obedience of faith in all aspects of my life because of Jesus and his Spirit that dwells in me!
    2.  A sacrifice was necessary but God was pleased to offer it himself and he has swore to deliver us on his name and it is a unilateral covenant that even secures our obedience (already- not yet).  The implication is that God determined that Abraham would pass this test when he passed through the broken carcasses in chapter 15 by himself.  “By myself I have sworn”.  Abraham was walking forward in faith but it was God who secured this.  The significance for me is that I have a dance of obedience of faith to engage in and I can do it knowing that Jesus is praying for and has died for the securing of my faith (Rom 8:34, Luke 21:31-32).  I can see the manifesting of Jesus in my life when I walk in this victory (John 14:21) that is mine for the taking, guaranteed by the blood of the lamb (Heb 6:17, Rom 4:16).  I have responsibility but he empowers and sets his name upon the guarantee that I will fulfill this responsibility (1 Thess 5:23-24)!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 21

Ready:
I pick up after Jesus told the parable of the Vineyard and I realize I left out the last paragraph about him healing two blind men.

Reading thoughts:
Here I see right away that he is drawing near Jerusalem and he stops at the Mount of Olives.  The ministry of Jesus lasted three years and this point marks the beginning of the last week of his life (before the cross).  I see Jesus enter Jerusalem as prophesied and many people are crying out for him to save them with “hosannah!” and they recognize him as the Son of David (promised heir…the Messiah).   Jesus cleanses the temple next (although Matthew is likely following a thematic description and not chronological).  Then Jesus curses the fig tree, returns a question for a question to the Pharisees who want to know on what authority he removes people from the temple or teaches in the temple.  Then Jesus teaches about true faith that includes repentance and Matthew finishes the chapter with Jesus teaching a devastating parable of the tenants that completely obliterates the Pharisees and no doubt pushes them harder toward their determination to kill him.  In this chapter Jesus clearly intends to present himself as the Messiah and there is no holding back…the time has come to go to the cross!  This triumphal entry at the beginning of this chapter occurs on what we call Palm Sunday and it marks what is called Passion Week (or Holy Week), which culminates with his resurrection the following Sunday.  Page 1866 in the ESV Study Bible gives a good timeline of events for Holy Week that harmonizes the gospel accounts into one.

Key Verses:

“8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”” (Matthew 21:8–9, ESV)

“13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”” (Matthew 21:13, ESV)

“15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”” (Matthew 21:15–16, ESV)

“15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”” (Matthew 21:15–16, ESV)

I see the theme as- Jesus enters the City of David claiming his authority as the Messiah and sets himself against any that will not surrender in true faith to the Son of God.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-11.  Jesus fulfills prophecy and enters the City as was promised by God about 400-500 years earlier by Zechariah (Zech 9:9).  The crowds are praising him and asking that he save them but in only five days the crowd will shout “Let him be crucified!” (Matt 27:22-23).  Little did they know that they were saying the same thing, for it was only in this death that the Jews or anyone else would ever be saved from the wrath of God.  Jesus came to conquer through suffering.
    v12-17.  Here Jesus clears the temple and shows that the house of God is a place of worship and is to be honored.  He also shows that he welcomes the lame, the blind, and the children.  The proud teachers and religious leaders are not the ones he came for.  He came to reveal the truth to a people who will rely upon him and who will trust him and who understand their need for him.  Of course many Jews followed Jesus (like the disciples) but the Pharisees are set apart as the religious establishment that did not accept Jesus.  Here Jesus lets the children worship him and declare him as the Christ and the Pharisees simply ask him “Do you hear what they are saying?”.  Of course he does…maybe the Pharisees should listen a little harder themselves.  Then Jesus leaves and spends the night in Bethany (outside of Jerusalem).
    v18-22.  Returning to the Jerusalem Matthew records a compressed account of his withering of the fig tree.  He works a miracle that is also interpreted by many to be a judgement upon this unbelieving generation of Israel.  He teaches them about faith in this lesson and tells that that pray offered in faith is answered.  There are, of course, other teachings on prayer that help us to take this in context and know that we must have right motives (kingdom motives) (James 4:3), and that we must be praying with faith that is in the right thing (namely Jesus and his work on the cross- John 16:23-24) and this faith is only true when it evidences itself in obedience (repentance- Matt 21:28-32, James 2:26, 1 John 2:3-6).  Jesus says that it will be done if we have faith and if we do not doubt.  I certainly do not take this to be not doubting in that the request will be granted but in not doubting in the authority of the name of Jesus.  So he doesn’t mean really really believe that the mountain will be thrown into the ocean.  He means really really believe that Jesus can do whatever he wills and he always does what glorifies the Father in Heaven.  This unwavering belief that God can do what he says is the faith that saved Abraham (Rom 4:20-22).  Do not doubt the identity or authority of the one in whom’s name you pray.  I think this is why this passage comes right before the next one…
    v23-27.  Here Jesus declares (without saying it) that he exercises the authority of heaven when he acts to rule over the things that happen in the temple.  The Pharisees are scared to answer his question and he knows they would not believe that his authority is from heaven so he does not waste the breath in them and prefers to point out to them their own cowardice.
    v28-32.  Here Jesus clearly teaches that ultimate repentance and action is the marker of faith and not an empty confession.  This speaks volumes to us if we rely on a prayer or an event in our past as our evidence to our conscience that we are “saved”.  J.D. Grear wrote a book called Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart and he tackles this concept by asking the reader to not look backward to a ceremony of prayer of anything else that they have done but to only look back to the cross of Christ.  We should consider the present day if we want to know if we have saving faith.  Are we currently showing trust and repentance?  This is the question, not did I get baptized or did I pray the right prayer?  If I look at my life and can’t say that I am living in trust and repentance…then I just need to repent of that failure and ask God for strength and will to do it.  Who knows exactly when I was saved…and who cares.
    v33-44.  This is a big long story to make the point that the Jews have been stiff-necked and they have killed prophet after prophet and even now they will kill the Son of God himself in their unbelief and for this reason the Gentiles will receive the Kingdom “first” to relate it to yesterday’s discussion.  But we know in the end this rejection is actually going to turn around and be the source of Israel’s salvation (Rom 11).
    v45-46.  The chief priests (the "Sanhedrin" or Jewish council) and the Pharisees heard these parables of the two sons and of the tenants and they knew what Jesus was saying.  They heard this on Tuesday and on Wednesday the council would settle on a plan to kill this supposed Messiah (Matt 26:3-5).

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
No time!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 20

Genesis 21; Matthew 20

Genesis 21

Ready:
Yesterday I read about Sarah being protected from Abimelech and how God has ensured that his purpose in Isaac being born to Sarah and Abraham precisely when he said is accomplished and this even included interrupting the will of this King who set out to lay with Sarah.  Let me see the beauty of the king in this story and may you renew my mind Lord.

Reading thoughts:
I see Isaac born and Hagar put out into the wilderness with Ishmael and then Abraham enters into a covenant with Abimelech due to the distrust that came from Abraham’s dishonesty.

I see the theme here to be- A promise fulfilled and sole devotion to the promised offspring is required.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  It took divine intervention for Sarah’s womb to bear a child and so here it is documented that the Lord visited her and gave her capability where there had been none.  This birth was in the keeping of a promise and is far different than the birth of Ishmael 15 years earlier when Sarah was 75.  Now she was 90 was no longer menstruating.  That is, until the Lord visited her.
    v2-3.  The conception of the child was none the less by Abraham and was a natural course so would have transpired months prior to the birth account listed here.  It is unclear then if God came upon her womb prior to the King Abimelech account and this was part of the protection given to her or if this occurred after and is here just compressed in time for us.
    v4-7.  Sarah’s laughter of unbelief is here turned to a laughter of joy in the God who keeps covenant.  Sarah laughs now at the ridiculous nature of what God has accomplished with her body.
    v8-14.  Here Sarah perceives a bitterness and a problem that she sets out to remove.  Her desire seems to be to protect Isaac from what would be a certain battle over birthright and blessings and since she knows that Isaac is the promised child she asks Abraham to put out Hagar and Ishmael before there comes a great conflict in the future.  Abraham is initially taken back and does not want such a thing but God comforts him and advises him to heed his wife’s request.  It seems that Sarah must have had a proper instinct and that God was pleased to further protect Isaac and to make clear that the hope of Israel was solely upon Isaac.  God promises Abraham that he will indeed bless Ishmael and that he will father a nation and that Abraham need not worry about his welfare.  Trusting God, like usual, Abraham acts upon the request of his wife and puts the two out of the camp to live apart from the Israelites forever.
    v15-21.  Here the woman and her 15 yo child wander and end up in a bad way.  It seems that they are close to death with a lack of water and that God intervenes due to the prayers of the young boy.  God shows them a well and blesses them with provision to sustain them.  This Ishmael grows up and takes an Egyptian for a wife.  Modern Muslims claim this Ishmael as their patriarch who they say settled in Mecca.  Many have doubt and it is difficult to support this with Biblical history but so goes the modern claim of the Muslims that Ishmael is the Arab patriarch.
    v22-34.  Here is an account of Abraham dealing with Abimelech who wants an agreement of honey dealings between the two of them.  This highlights both Abimelech’s perception that Abraham is blessed by God and also that Abraham is not always completely honest.  They come to an agreement regarding this and they make a covenant that secures Abraham’s peaceful dwelling in the land and his enjoyment of the provision of God in the well over which they disputed.  

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God overcame physical inability in Sarah to bring life that he had promised.  One implication for today is that all things are possible for God and though we do not usually have announcement of his plan, we can trust that God is capable of things that seem impossible in our lives.  The significance for me is that I need not be afraid of asking the impossible from God when I perceive that the request if in keeping with his revealed character and promises (John 14:14).
    2.  God keeps his promises exactly as he makes them and the covenant blessings from Gen 12 come specifically through the Isaac.  The implication today is that God’s promises should not be skewed to fit my need but I should see them exactly as they were intended.  The significance for me is that I need to use caution when claiming a promise that I see in the Bible because sometimes they were meant only for a specific person or for a specific time and to twist it into applying to me might not be right just as it was not right for Hagar and Ishmael.  Yet Jesus is indeed the “yes” and “amen” to all the promises of God (2 Cor 1:20) and we do receive the blessing of Abraham as children by faith (Gal 3:5-9, Rom 9:8).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 20

Ready:
Jesus had been teaching on our need to be as children who humbly and submissively depend upon him for all things and here he picks up right were he had concluded a lesson about the first being last and the last first.  The chapter division here is very arbitrary and does not present a break in the teaching at all.

Reading thoughts:
I see Jesus teaching along the train of thought of humility and of the blessings to be received in the kingdom by those who gives up what the world offers to gain what God offers.  He teaches a parable about a vineyard and how the wages are paid out in full even for the time that the laborers were only idle and had not yet even been called into service.  I also see Jesus correlating this teaching to his death and resurrection and to a suffering that cannot be carried by the disciples illustrated in his response to the mother of James and John.

Key Verses:

“4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’” (Matthew 20:4, ESV)

“7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’” (Matthew 20:7–8, ESV)

“10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,” (Matthew 20:10–11, ESV)

“13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.” (Matthew 20:13–14, ESV)


“15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”” (Matthew 20:15–16, ESV)

“18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”” (Matthew 20:18–19, ESV)

“22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”” (Matthew 20:22, ESV)

“26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:26–28, ESV)

I see the theme as- Eternal life comes as a gift of mercy owed to none while the wrath of God is owed to all and will be paid in full to a measure that cannot ever be paid by man lest he is ransomed by the Son of God who received full payment on behalf of his sheep.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  Jesus begins a teaching using a parable here in response to the question by Peter in the last chapter where he asked something to the effect of “If the rich man were to receive rewards in heaven when he gives away all he owns then what are we going to receive who have given up all we own?”  Acknowledging the place of the apostles in judging the tribes of Israel he then explains that there will be rewards to all who come unto him and that the better than any reward given is eternal life itself, which comes as the gift of God (Rom 6.23).  Concluding the last chapter then with the reference that many who are first will be last and the last first there is here a transition to explain what he meant by that response.  You see Peter was immediately about comparing rewards and wanting to know what he was “earning”.  Jesus here will explain how earning works in contrast to gift receiving.  He begins by telling them that this parable is a description of the kingdom of heaven.  The parable begins early in the morning with a master who has charge over a vineyard and he is about the business of calling laborers to work his harvest.  Sound familiar?
    v2- He reaches an agreement with the laborers (sound like a covenant?) regarding what will be owed to them in the course of the day and then they are sent out about the work.  I take this to be Israel given the law by Moses as a covenant that establishes that the payment of sin is death and the blessing of obedience is life.  He made clear above that eternal life is inherited and not earned (Matt 19:29 and also Rom 6:23).  So there are clear expectations of labor and of payment for this labor.
    v3-7.  During the course of the day the owner went out and called more laborers at various hours and there is no mention of an agreement with these men except that he tells them they will be paid whatever is right (in the eyes of the master is implied).  I take this to be the Gentiles who do not have a covenant law with God but that are still under sin and are accountable for wages just the same.  God announces to them that he will give just wages to all.  The workers he brings in seem to be just waiting around and doing nothing when he finds them and they are only useful to the vineyard from the time he calls them.  Claiming that they are still standing around because no one has hired them the master tells them to go to the vineyard and work.  I take this to represent believers who are called into faith at different points in history and in their lives.  Particularly in this case with the context I take this to be all of the Gentiles where it was the Jews who were “first” and these Gentiles are “last” to join the workforce and doing so without a specific "agreement”.  (Although John Calvin takes this whole concept more generally- maybe I am just dumb!)  Anyhow, Paul says that all are accountable to God because of the law, not just the Jews (Rom 3:19).  If this is the case then the idle men who were waiting around have been accountable to the master (God) the whole time.
    v8.  Now evening comes.  Evening is often used to refer to judgement and here is to be a reckoning for the wages due to each worker.  I take the bringing in of the last laborer before evening to be the promise that Israel has been hardened and would remain that way until the last of the Gentiles comes in (Rom 11:25).
    v9-10.  Here both the original laborers working under contract and the newly invited laborers who just finished even showing up are all paid the amount that was agreed to in the contract with the first laborers!  Is this justice?  Praise God that he does not deal with us according to justice in view of our labor.  God deals with his children only according to mercy.  What the master gives to all is a full measure of mercy because they were all accountable to him from the dawn of the day and he offers them mercy in full instead of payment for their labor.  Full payment, as agreed is levied, but not to them.  This will come below.
    v11-12.  So now the original group grumbles (like in the desert) because they perceive that they have earned something.  See Paul’s description on why Israel did not succeed in reaching the law that would have lead to righteousness in Rom 9:3–32.  The original group perceived that they were earning something from the master when they did not understand that they owed him their very life.  This agreement for wages was to show them that what God gives is not earned but a free gift of mercy.  The first group is mad…they are jealous.  They have been working all day long.  See Rom 10:19-21 and Rom 11:13-14.  They have endured this whole time in the scorching heat.  See who endures in Rom 9:22-24.  But Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for recognizing the scorching heat but not recognizing the coming of his mercy (Luke 12:55-56)!
    v13-14.  Here the master calls them friend and he tells them that he has done them no wrong.  The master story teller and the author of life is now weaving for the disciples and for us the mystery of this parable.  It is not their endurance that earns God’s mercy on the day of judgment but it is the blood of Jesus.  The master calls them friend these laborers who he just met today I believe to make the connection to Jesus in laying down his life for his friends (John 15:13) and the fulfillment of the law is to do your neighbor no wrong (Rom 13:10) and Jesus is our fulfillment of the law (Rom 8:3-4).  The master explains to them that this is what we agreed to…full payment for your wages which I put upon my Son and you are therefore the recipient of my free gift of eternal life.  Do you not recognize that this is what I had covenanted to do?  Do you not read your Bibles?  Did you think that you could drink this cup of the wages you are truly owed?  I choose these other workers to receive by gift as well and this is not concern of yours.  They did not choose me as you did not.  I choose and I give freely.
    v15.  The master rhetorically asks them if he cannot do what he pleases with what is his and I hear Jesus referring at least to Rom 9:20-23 and 1 Cor 6:19-20 and Rom 14:7-9.  He owns us and we are his.  His wrath is his and his mercy is his. He asks them if they begrudge his generosity and I hear Rom 2:4-5 and Rom 10:12.
    v16.  Jesus concludes the parable closing again with “so [this is how I mean that] the last will be first and the first last”.  I can take this to be that the Jews will come into the kingdom last, once the Gentiles are all brought in.  This of course excludes those that Paul refers to as the elect who do enter the kingdom based on the obedience of faith along the way.  The idea being that the remaining nation of Israel will not convert until the last of the Gentiles come in.  I could also take this to mean that it is the servant who will be most honored and the blessings do not depend upon order in which someone enters the race but merely the choice of God to use them and bless them.  I don’t know which sense is truly meant.
    v17-19.  The fact that Matthew follows this up immediately with the Jesus describing his death and resurrection it seems apparent that he indeed was speaking above about the wages being paid in full by Christ rather than referring to rewards as Peter was inquiring.  I take Jesus answering peter’s question about "what rewards are we earning” with something like “You do not understand.  You do not want justice, believe me.  You want mercy.  You do not want to be judged upon your works, but mine only.  You will not be given what you deserve and this is eternal life!  You will be given mercy only.  I am making the way for this in Jerusalem…watch for it.
    v20-28.  Now a proud mom gets involved here and Jesus, reading her heart no doubt simply says “What do you want?”.  She wants to know if her sons can be given honor like Jesus and sit next to him when he takes his throne.  Oh, gotcha…no big deal.  Jesus tells her that she is clueless as to what she is asking.  Conquering is through suffering.  Greatness comes by humble service.  Authority in heaven is given only by the Father and he loves those who lay down their life.  Furthermore, he asks the rhetorical question regarding whether they can make the payment that is owed.  Can they receive the wage of wrath that is owed to them…or better…the wages owed to all the sheep?  Jesus concedes his argument that he knows they cannot perceive and grants them that they will suffer for the name of Christ, but not like Jesus.  He explains then a conclusion and the key to the parable of the vineyard.  He explains that greatness comes from service and Israel is about a great service to the world right now (Rom 11:11-12, 15).  In daily life we must not seek honor but seek to honor others.  There are multiple dimensions to this teaching.  Jesus concludes with the key that Jesus came to serve (the one with the name above all names) and he came to offer his life as a ransom for many.  This conclusion makes sense of the master of the vineyard calling the laborers friends and saying that he has done them no wrong…indeed he has done them the greatest good!  He has received the wage that was due to them!  He redeemed them with his own blood and now they are his inheritance.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    Quickly- In the end whether Jesus was specifically speaking of Jews and Gentiles when he speaks of first and last does not change the main point I take which is that we are to look not for what we earn but for the free gift of mercy that comes by the blood of the one who receives our true wages on our behalf.  Instead of wages we receive from the riches of the mercies of God in Christ.  Let us not ask with Peter “what are we earning?” but “what are the riches you freely lavish upon us?”.  And let us understand that chronology does not establish anything in the kingdom…so look behind you…there may be someone far greater behind you…maybe even in a cradle…or a manger.  And let’s not think less of new comers or the thief on the cross.  Full payment is made and all is mercy!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 19

Genesis 20; Matthew 19

Genesis 20

Ready:
Coming off of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah but the bugger picture Lord is that Abraham has assumed a role of mediating the covenant for your people and he is serving as intercessor.  Abraham foreshadows the role of Christ as prophet, priest, and king.  You display your righteous judgement and your loving mercy together here Lord and you drag Lot our of the City by the hand when he sinfully and apathetically lingers.  Lead me Lord by the hand and show me the lessons to take from your Word today.

Reading thoughts:
I see Abraham making the same error again and this time it is worse because his wife has been promised to bear his long awaited offspring within the year! She is supposed to have his baby within 12 months and pregnancy lasts 9 months.  How in the heck does Abraham figure to go ahead and let the King take his wife now?  This is not a high point in the life of Abraham but hopefully in his error he still held out the hope that God will keep his promise despite Abraham’s folly…and indeed he does.  I see God intervene in an amazing way in that he does so through the very will of this King Abimelech.  God protects the womb of Sarah, which may already be carrying young Isaac.  The story also includes Abraham praying for and God healing the family of Abimelech of their barrenness and the patriarch and his wife are sent to live wherever they would choose with gifts and provision from the king.

Key Verses:

“2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.” (Genesis 20:2, ESV)

“5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.” (Genesis 20:5–6, ESV)

“14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.” (Genesis 20:14, ESV)

“17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.” (Genesis 20:17–18, ESV)

I see the them as- God protects his promise and displays his sovereign power over the will of man.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1.  For some reason Abraham leaves the oaks of Mamre and decides to spend time in Gerar.
    v2.  Here Abraham blows it again and the timing is terrible.  He certainly knows that Sarah may be with child at this time and that if not she will be very soon and yet he is seemingly content to allow her to be taken off by the king.  Interesting that this even happens because there is no clear indication here that the king had more than one wife by practice and I also recall that Sarah is 90 years old.  Now it was said that she was very beautiful but yet she is well past child bearing age and yet this king, as Pharaoh did, sees something in her that is compelling.
    v3-7.  This is an interaction between God and Abimelech in a dream where he is confronted concerning his actions and we learn that Abimelech had intention to sleep with Sarah because he admits that his actions were in the integrity of his heart with a defense of his lacking the true information that she was married.  This can only mean that yes he intended to sleep with her but he was surely not aware of the great sin that this would have been toward Abraham (certainly his sin against his wife would remain).  We also learn that God agreed with this integrity but is silent regarding the king’s assertion of his innocent hands.  So God may agree here that he did not know she was married but he does not give him approval that this means he was innocent.  Certainly he would be guilty of adultery to begin with because he himself was married (there is no written law against adultery yet but God made it clear in Genesis…then repeated in Matthew 19 that his description of man and wife becoming one flesh establishes that adultery and is sin).  So God concedes to he king that this whole scenario exists without the king knowing the degree of sin involved, but then God announces something amazing.  He explains what has already occurred before this dream began.  Before God approaches Abimelech in the dream he had already moved his heart to cause him to refrain from touching Sarah.  SPOILER ALERT- (I am going to present what I believe the Bible teaches here but there is more than one take on this so take no offense is you disagree…but you shouldn’t- he he).  We see here God interrupting what was the intention and inclination of this man in taking Sarah and God seems to have given an alternative preference to Abimelech that the king takes to be his own will, indeed it was at that point.   Perhaps we see here what Jonathan Edwards (preacher in the 1700s) taught about the free will of man.  This being that man’s will is not autonomous (wholly independent and free from manipulation by external influence) but is actually influenced by many things and this includes the influence of God upon it to cause a previously impossible preference (such as a preference for God in a wholly corrupt and spiritually dead person who is a slave to sin).  This influence upon the preference of the will being accomplished by the Holy Spirit’s quickening of the heart in spiritual birth (regeneration or being “born again") that would overcome the enslavement of the will that had been corrupted and sold into sin since birth due to original sin in the garden (John 8:34, Rom 5:18-19, Rom 6:6 &17, Eph 2:1-3).  So perhaps the free will of man is not really so free until it is set free by the Spirit of God in new birth and now seeing for the first time the goodness of God and perceiving the knowledge of the promised offspring the heart is enlightened and freed (Eph 1:16-21, Eph 2:4-5, 2 Cor 4:5-6) to choose the previously imperceptible (1 Cor 2:14, 2 Cor 4:4) hope of the glorious riches of belonging to God.  Back to the story at hand…So God kept Abimelech from touching Sarah and this carries an implication that God can interrupt the evil intentions of man to protect his children.  The context here is protecting the specific performance of what he has declared in the birth of Isaac but there is clearly no censure in God against interrupting the will of man.  This is good news regarding how to interpret Rom 8:28!  So maybe I don’t need to carry a gun after-all!  Interesting here that God tells Abimelech that he will die and so will all his house if Sarah is not released and if Abraham does not pray for him.
    v8-13.  Here Abimelech believes God and takes action.  He advises his household of the dilemma and they follow the instructions of God.  Abimelech has a discussion with Abraham an expresses his displeasure that Abraham contributed to this scenario by lying about the identity of Sarah.  Abraham gives his logic and though he is in the wrong it does not appear to be challenged by Abimelech, who knows that he needs Abraham to pray for him yet.
    v14-16.  Here Abimelech shows his obedience to the Lord and he gives honor to the prophet of God and he declares the honor of Sarah being intact and he offers to allow the couple to dwell anywhere in his land as he gives them gifts and provision to take as well.
    v17-18.  This is interesting to consider.  Here Abraham prays for Abimelech and he is healed, along with the women of his house who had been made barren by God.  Two things are unclear.  What illness did Abimelech have and when did the women go barren?  Did all this illness and barrenness happen since the night with Sarah or did it begin before Abraham and Sarah arrived?  Maybe the king took Sarah because he sensed he was dying and had no heir and his wife and servants were barren?  Maybe he and his wife were destitute and they saw Sarah as a way to save his lineage?  But here Moses records that the barrenness was because of Sarah.  So in this version (sick and barren before Abraham arrives) then God worked the circumstances to bring Abimelech to the inclination of taking Sarah in order to teach us and Abraham about his sovereignty and his protection.  OR…maybe there was more time than is evident between the dream and the sending off of Abraham and Sarah that allowed for the King to perceive his illness by God and the barrenness of his household.  I dunno?

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  God intends to deliver his promises and he will keep his covenant against all threats and in spite of the faithlessness of his people.  The implication for today is that I know God works right on through my sin and my bad choices and the actions of others to still deliver me to the intended destination.  The significance to my life is that I can have peace and I can trust God to work his mighty will in my life.  I can rejoice and rest in his promise.  Paul warns me in Romans 6 and in Titus, however, that God’s grace is not to give me license to sin but quite the contrary…the saving grace of God trains me in godliness.
    2.  God can and does influence the will of man.  The implication for today is that God does not limit his power to stop evil actions of men.  Though he may not at all times choose to restrain certain actions of men I can trust that he is able.  The significance for my life is that I can pray that he indeed intercede for me and that he would not only influence my will according to his mighty plan but that he guide others as well.  I can know that God is serious when he tells me in Romand 8:28 that he works all things together for my good!  So if I am in a car wreck there is a mystery no doubt but somewhere in the big picture this was what was needed for me that I did not and would have never known if it were not for the Spirit of God being at work (Rom 8:26-27 is the preface to verse 28!).  Another implication is that he may influence the will of men to turn to God.  The significance of this in my life is that there is a reason for me to pray for unbelievers.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 19

Ready:
I pick up after Jesus taught about humility and sin and forgiveness.

Reading thoughts:
I see that there is a change of setting and that Jesus is entering into a different teaching now in a different area.  I see Jesus teaching on the permanence of marriage and on the type of person who is part of the kingdom and of what it takes for a rich man to inherit eternal life.

Key Verses:

“3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?”” (Matthew 19:3, ESV)

“6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”” (Matthew 19:6, ESV)

“9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”” (Matthew 19:9, ESV)

“14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:14, ESV)

“16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”” (Matthew 19:16, ESV)

“21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:21–22, ESV)

“23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:23, ESV)

“29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:29–30, ESV)

I take the theme as- Those who belong to the kingdom of heaven are those who follow Jesus with humility and dependance- those who remain a faithful bride to him over all the other offerings of the world and despite all challenges.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  Jesus is now in Judea and he is performing miracles before a large crowd.  This attracts the attention of the Pharisees.
    v3-6.  Here they test Jesus and it is unclear if they are trying to trap him in some error or what but they pose a question to him about divorce.  They are wondering if it is lawful to divorce and Jesus takes the conversation back to the invocation of marriage in the Garden of Eden.  He essentially describes marriage and expects the answer to be plain.  I can almost hear the pause at the end of verse 5 where he finishes describing marriage.  A pregnant pause and then “…so they are no longer two but one flesh.” and maybe another pause…”What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate”.  Jesus tells it like it is.  Marriage involves a union between the man and woman that is made by God and it is through the consummation of their love and commitment to each other.  It is later explained (Eph 5:32) that this statement about being one flesh is speaking also of the church being one flesh with Christ.  There is a mystery in this union that represents how a believer becomes united to Christ.  So the permanence and the significance of the marital union is profound.  Jesus also started off his response by asking them if they have read their Bibles!  Clearly marriage, as our union with Christ, is meant to be permanent.
    v7-9.  He answers their next question about Moses approving of some divorces by issuing divorce certificates but Jesus clarifies that this is only for the case of adultery (let no man separate) and then is further allowed only because of the hard hearts.  This could be the hard heart of one spouse who runs off with another person abandoning the marriage or maybe the hard heart of the spouse who should yet remain with his husband or wife in spite of the adultery that occurred and was subsequently repented of.  This is what Jesus does…he remains.  See Ezekiel 16 and the book of Hosea.  God is faithful to his unilateral covenant.  In marriage God does not hold man to a unilateral covenant but he plainly desires that each husband would consider it such.  The nature of the union created by God is such that the covenant is not broken by a legal divorce but only when adultery occurs.  This mean that a divorce for something other than Biblically justifiable reasons leave the two as one flesh and this union is broken by adultery when either party remarries or otherwise is joined to another person.  So there is a teaching here about divorce and remarriage that is significant for the Christian.  Paul adds to the discussion in 1 Cor 7 with the topic of an unbeliever being married to a believer and the situations that can occur there.
    v10-12.  The discussion goes into a tangent with the disciples wondering if it is best to just not get married in the first place.  Jesus suggests that for some people this is indeed the case but that is only for the one who sees it that way and is able to live without intimacy with the opposite sex.
    v13-15.  Now out of nowhere is an encounter with little children that seems from left field.  Trying to consider the nature of scripture and the reasons that this is placed here I connect all of this passage (chapter) together and see this as the hinge point.  I see Jesus here describe the person who belongs to the kingdom of heaven…people that are like little children desiring to honor Jesus and who recognize their need for his intercession for them.  This is a picture of humility, surrender, and dependence.  This is what the husband should look like.  In the next passage, this is what the rich man should look like.
    v16.  Here Jesus is approached by a man asking how he might acquire eternal life.  Right off the bat I get the sense that he wants to acquire this eternal life as another possession to put in his coffer.  How do I get this thing that I hear is greater even than all my other possessions?
    v17.  Jesus begins straight off by going to the heart.  Let us remember that standing before Jesus is standing before the author of life and he knows the heart and mind and history and future and all that is the person who stands before him and it is the will of Jesus that holds this person in existence for the next moment…and the next (Col 1:16-17).  So Jesus knows that this man considers himself to be good (when he is not) and he knows that this man does not perceive Jesus correctly.  The man called Jesus a teacher (slight understatement).  Jesus goes after the man’s thought that there are deeds that are good that a man can do.  Jesus points out that there is only one who can do good…him.  He then gives him the terrible news that the only way for one to be “good”, as the man wrongly thinks that eternal life is to be earned by this goodness, is to keep the law of God.  This is terrible news because there is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10-19).  There is not one who keeps the law of God but Jesus.
    v18-20.  The man is delusional and believes that he keeps the law of God but to be sure he wants to know which commandments Jesus speaks of.  Jesus goes along with the man and he chooses to only cite from the second table of the 10 commandments.  However, Jesus leaves out the last commandment…thou shalt not covet.  The man hears this and is mistakenly encouraged because in his blindness he figures that he has kept each of the commandments that Jesus describes.  Maybe Jesus left out coveting because he was not giving an exhaustive listing or maybe it was on purpose here.  I take it that Jesus was reading this man’s heart and he knew the very thing that would keep this man from following him would be his coveting heart that wants and wants more and more of all that he sees.  So in absence of the most controlling sin in his life the man entertains the thought that he has indeed kept these commandments and says so now what?  What else am I missing here?
    v21-22.  Here Jesus blows up his world and he blows up mine and yours.  Jesus unties the shadow around this mans head that blinds him to his diseased heart.  Jesus opens up the man and exposes to him the very thing that enslaves him and that will keep him from following Jesus…which is the answer to his question.  What does one need to do to inherit eternal life?  Answer- Follow Jesus.  But this takes being like a child and being like a dishonored husband who stays with his rebellious bride and this takes putting God ahead of all else in my life.  This takes losing my life to gain it.  Following Jesus is not less than dying to the world and to selfishness and to pride and to rights and to independence and to lust and to greed.  Jesus diagnosed this man to be a covetous idolator who valued his riches too much to choose God over it.
    v23-30.  Now the lesson to the disciples.  He does not here tell them that this means that everyone must sell all they own and give it away.  What he tells them is that it is a very difficult thing for a rich person to make that decision to value God above all they own and to devote their lives no longer to the acquiring or more wealth and instead to the ministry of reconciliation (making others glad in God).  Are conversions maybe easier in third world countries than on the OC?  Yep.  Not impossible, though!  Jesus makes it plain that the thing that makes it possible is not the will of the man (thinking of our lesson in Genesis 19) but the will of God to show mercy (Rom 9:16).  What makes it possible for someone who is rich to become a follower of Jesus is the mercy of God changing their desires and their will.  Maybe this person does then sell all they own…or maybe they would be willing to if they sensed it to be the call.  Maybe they devote their riches to the cause of Christ and they keep shoveling in the money in order to give most of it away in missions or mercy upon the afflicted or evangelism or whatever.  Maybe they find contentment in little and devote the rest to the work of God.  I think I see Francis Chan and David Platt peeking in the window.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  Don’t divorce.  The implication for today is that marriage is seen by God as representing the covenant he has with his bride (the church) and marriage is intended to me permanent.  The significance for me is that I can model the heart of God in my marriage and I can model the heart of God to the world in how I am committed to my wife.
    2.  Be like a child and seek Jesus so you can honor him and receive from him.  The implication for today is that those in the Kingdom are humble, dependent people who seek Jesus.  The significance for me is that I will be living this way if I know Jesus…if Jesus knows me…if I am following him.  I can ask him for more of him and less of me.
    3.  Be prepared to give up all if you want to follow Jesus.  The implication for today is that Jesus could call me to give up something…anything…everything. The significance for my life is that I need to live with such a detachment to the things of this world (1 John 2:15) that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).  My life needs to be so hidden in Christ that my eyes are on the things above (Col 3:2-3) and my hope so in the unseen (Rom 8:24-25) that this is not a problem whatsoever.  Let us be on mission in this world…not vacation (John 17:18).

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 18

Genesis 19; Matthew 18

Genesis 19

Ready:
I left off with Abraham interceding on behalf of the righteous who may be at Sodom and I learn that God does not intend to condemn the righteous or to judge the righteous unjustly but he favored mercy upon the wicked even before injustice upon the righteous who fear him.  I saw that Abraham was to command the people of God to do righteousness and justice as a condition of the covenant.  Lord teach me and show me more of your amazing epic and let me see how the story weaves your Son into its fabric.

Reading thoughts:
I see God dealing mercifully with Lot in this chapter on behalf of Abraham’s request.  Lot seems to be halfhearted in his desire for rescue and though he protects the men (angels) who visited, he did so offering his poor daughters up like a deadbeat father.  The angels had to take him by near force and they led him and his wife and his daughters out by hand.  His son ins laws remained unconvinced of the urgency to leave Sodom and Gomorrah are utterly destroyed due to their wickedness and Lot’s wife is lost due to her looking back upon what must have been her love- she lacked the obedience of faith.  I see Lot’s daughters whom he was so willing to give up in the danger at Sodom trick their dad into laying with them and they both bear children that become peoples whom God uses against the Israelites years in the future.

Key Verses:

“3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.” (Genesis 19:3, ESV)

“4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”” (Genesis 19:4–5, ESV)

“13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”” (Genesis 19:13, ESV)

“16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”” (Genesis 19:16–17, ESV)

“29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.” (Genesis 19:29, ESV)

I see the theme as- God is righteous and just yet he deals mercifully with Lot whom deserves it not.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-3.  Here it is clear that Lot is not in a good way.  Lot fully understands the wickedness of this city and yet he is pleased to live there with his wife and family.  Lot knows the danger that face these visitors and he immediately intercedes to protect them.  There is no indication that Lot knew they came for him but it sounds like Lot simply noticed strangers entered the city and he knew this was a problem.  So at least it seems that he has a sense of mercy himself in not wanting the men to be abused.
    v4-5.  The complete wickedness of the city is made clear here when every male in the entire city comes to rape the men and demands that Lot release them for such.  I would imagine that this includes Lot’s son-in-laws who are betrothed to his daughters because they were not in the house that night.
    v6-9.  Lot tries to convince the men to leave but he offers his daughters to be raped by the whole town!  Lot is very ill and does not seem to have much backbone.
    v10-13.  Here the angels intercede to protect the daughters and to stop the confrontation by blinding the men of the City.  They inform Lot that they are about to destroy the City.  Here that make it clear that they are messengers of the Lord and that they have come to destroy the City.
    v14.  Lot seems to immediately believe them and he goes to bring out his son-in-laws with this warning but they don’t heed him.
    v15-16.  Lot seems to grow apathetic about the warning himself since the next morning he sleeps in and the angels have to wake him and urge him to get going.  He still wastes time and they literally force him and his family to leave taking them by the hand in the mercy of God.  I note that them overcoming his apathy and his unwillingness was the mercy of God here.  He seemed incapable to make this choice to leave the City even though he knew how wicked it was but it took the pulling of the Lord in mercy to save him.
    v17-22.  I don’t know what to do with Lot here but to know that I am probably a dummy in many of the same ways.  He can’t just listen and do as he is instructed but he has to meddle with the clear direction of the Lord.
    v23-29.  God indeed destroys Sodom and Gomorrah and this will be an event that is referenced throughout the Bible as a warning and as evidence of the judgement of God and of the wickedness of man.  Lot’s wife is lost perhaps due to her longing for the City still and she perishes due to her disobedience.  Abraham sees the evidence of the City being destroyed and knows that there were less than 10 righteous…it would seem that there were none.  Yet in mercy God saves Lot and his daughters.
    v30-38.  Here some enemies of the Israelites are born due to the sin of Lot’s daughters in wanting to extend the line of their father who has retreated to a place apart from others and where he would have no wife to give him any boys.  The prophet Zephaniah declares that the Moabites and the Ammonites will become like Sodom and Gomorrah…a plundered wasteland.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear Moses teaching that the Lord is faithful to do as he says he will do and that he dealt with Lot and his family not according to his iniquity but according to the Lord’s mercy.  The implication is that God may give mercy to the stiff-necked because he does not do it for their sake but for his own glory in keeping a promise that Abraham will be a blessing.  The significance for me is that I can trust God to deliver me in spite of my sin and my messed up thinking because it is not something in me that merits his action.  

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 18

Ready:
Jesus has transfigured and revealed something amazing to three of the disciples.  The faith of the other nine has fallen into question in their absence and Jesus teaches them that trusting in him and his authority is necessary.  Jesus explained his coming suffering and he demonstrated his authority over the creation as well as a desire to not stumble anyone who may think he needs to pay the temple tax.

Reading thoughts:
I see Jesus teaching about humility and dependence and about our responsibility toward others in not causing them to sin and in forgiving them and our responsibility for ourselves to take extreme measures in caution to protect ourselves from becoming enslaved by sin.

Key Verses:

“3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3–4, ESV)

“7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matthew 18:7, ESV)

“8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.” (Matthew 18:8, ESV)

“21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV)

“32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’” (Matthew 18:32–33, ESV)

I see the theme here as- Humble yourself before the Lord and before man and give mercy to the measure you have received it.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-4.  Here Jesus comes against the vain chatter of the disciples who want to know who is to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  They may be recovering from the three being selected to go up the mountain with Jesus and now they want to settle this festering wound.  Jesus explains that the only way to even be in the kingdom is to come dependent and humble and so their question would seem to condemn them.  Knowing that some will become great men of God and accomplish much for the kingdom he adds that the one who humbles himself like a child will be great.  So our gifts and use in the kingdom may differ but we each have opportunity to humble ourselves and to rely not on ourselves but upon the Lord.
    v5-6.  There is great danger in leading people astray.  This is a strong warning for those who would be employed in industries that tempt and lure away would be disciples and that enslave people to the world and to the flesh.  There will likely be great payment made by those who operate the wicked system of this world that lusts after consumerism and sex and power.  This leads immediately into the next paragraph.
    v7-9.  Here Jesus makes clear that there is a purpose of God in temptations as seen by the Spirit leading Jesus into the desert to be tempted.  yet although God uses the evil of temptations and even sin itself to ultimately accomplish his will, he definitely holds those doing the tempting accountable for their wickedness.  He also holds accountable the sinner who falls to the temptation and he makes is clear here that we are to take great care and go to extremes in order to avoid sin.  Jesus speaks with exaggeration here to make this point and does not call us to mutilate our bodies since this will clearly not stop us from sinning anyhow.  The point is to get serious about sin.  The point is to kill sin where it stands and to avoid it like the plague.  We are to be like the righteous man in psalm 1.
    v10-14.  Perhaps here now before we go and despise the one who does fall to temptation and we get arrogant and begin to wish ill upon them then let me consider this passage.  Before I let myself despise the one who falls into sin I need to consider that the angels rally and fight for this one and the good shepherd will go for this one and if he indeed is one of his pasture then his voice will be heard and the sheep return.  Let me not despise but let me pray for the speedy return of the lost sheep.  Interesting the in this parable the shepherd rejoices more over the one who returns than the one who never fell.  It seems maybe that God is more glorified in our conquering of sin and death than that we would have still been in the garden backed and clueless to the depth of his mercy and grace.  Perhaps he is more glorified in mankind whom he rescues than in the angels who remain faithful from the beginning.  This also leads all into the next paragraph.
    v15-20.  Here the goal is not despising and disowning but restoration.  This description of church discipline is about restoring the lost sheep, not destroying him.  The church is given authority to discipline and to put a member out of fellowship as if an offending unbeliever but this is to allow opportunity for them to be guided back by the good shepherd since they are refusing the guidance of the earthly shepherd.  This is the alternative to simply accepting sinful behavior and rebellion within the body of Christ.  We are called to be holy.  Perhaps this excommunication is a statement to God and his angels that this sheep is lost O Lord and we loose him now unto the world that you would guide him back again by your mighty hand.
    v21-22.  Here is a teaching by Jesus that I take to be a reference back to Lamech (from the line of Cain) who boasted of his vengeance of seventy-seven times that he took into his hands in murderous rage.  Jesus responds to the question of how many times do I forgive my brother with this reference and I believe his point is to suggest that such a question is like the attitude of Lamech that would take vengeance into his own hands.  What is the opposite of forgiving?  What do you do if you don’t forgive?  I think Jesus is making the point that his children do not consider not forgiving- ever.  I thank God that his grace abounds!  This point is then expressed differently in a parable…
    v23-35.  Here Jesus teaches a parable that shows a master who is owed an incredible sum of money by someone he has full charge and authority over.  This servant owes more to this master than can ever possibly be earned in many lifetimes (about 200,000 years wages).  I think the point is that the servant owed an infinite and un-payable debt.  The master has pity on his servant who expresses submission and the entire debt is forgiven!  Then this servant who was just forgiven of his completely infinite and un-payable debt goes off and holds someone under him accountable for a ridiculously smaller debt with no mercy and he offers no forgiveness.  The master makes the point in verse 32-33 that the forgiveness given unto him should have translated into a heart that forgives the same of others.  Since this heart change was not present the master re-instituted the debt and the unforgiving servant was delivered to jail presumably for the rest of his life and beyond.  The message here is not very hidden and it is clear that if we have been transformed by the grace and mercy of God then we will be people that extend this kind of mercy to others.  We are commanded to forgive as God has forgiven us (Col 3:12-13. Matt 6:14-15).

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message of humble surrender and reliance upon God.  The implication today is that this same is required.  Significance for me is that I need to not seek self-exaltation but I must humble myself and know that it is by relying upon God that I have any standing with him.
    2.  I hear the message that it is grievous to lead people into sin.  The implication remains today and the significance for me is that I want nothing to do with tempting others by my actions or my associations or my statements or anything else.
    3.  I hear Jesus teach that we are to take drastic measures to guard against sin.  The implication is that sin should not be taken lightly and that steps to guard against temptation should be a regular part of a Christian’s life.  The significance is that I cannot ignore or disregard what I would put before my eyes on TV or a movie screen or on the computer.  I cannot disregard what I would expose myself to in where I spend time or in what I do for recreation.  If I know there is a place or an activity that leads me into heavy temptation then I am an idiot for continuing to do that without radically protecting myself in some manner.  I know of men who will unplug and carry the TV from their hotel room down to the front desk for safe keeping during their stay!
    4.  I hear the teaching that Christians are to love the lost sheep and pray for their return and they are to take effort to help this along through church discipline if needed and then the church may need to remove them from fellowship and loose them to the devil (1 Cor 5:4-5) for destruction that they may be saved.  The implication today is that unrepentant sin is not to be tolerated within the church and there is to be accountability and we are to remove the evil person from among us (1 Cor 5:11-13).  The significance for me is that I should not close my eyes but I should love enough to confront brothers who are unrepentant and who need some guidance.  I should be willing to build them up and to help them.  I should seek to restore them and if a couple brothers need to take the lost sheep before the church for more help then so be it.
    5.  I hear the teaching that forgiveness is not optional.  The implication remains and the significance for me is that I must seek the Lord and his strength and I must understand well how much I have been forgiven so that passing this mercy down the line comes quickly to me.  Regular reflection upon my sin and what the Lord has suffered on my account may help in this.  Seeing God and seeing myself properly and understanding the nature of mercy and forgiveness and the wrath and utter destruction I would face without the mercy of God upon this undeserving worm may help.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Soli Deo Gloria!

January 17

Genesis 18; Matthew 17

Genesis 18

Ready:
Lord lead me through your story and let me see the beauty of the King as I search and consider what you are revealing here.  Cause me to hunger for your truth and may you revive my soul with it.  I pickup now after Abraham has circumcised his family, including the foreigners who belonged to the house by purchase.  Isaac has now been explicitly promised to Sarah within the year.

Reading thoughts:
I see Abraham meet with three men and one of them seems to be God.  This is likely a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus (theophany) since it does not indicate that it was the angel of the Lord.  Abraham extends a welcome of hospitality and he is allowed to prepare a meal and arrangements for the four of them.  This visit seems to be in follow-up to Abraham’s faithful circumcision that creates the distinct people of God and there is a simple reiteration of the promise to bear a son by Sarah and Sarah laughs here at the prospect since she is barren and quite old and no longer has any evidence of being able to conceive.  God does not seem overly bothered by her laughter but he does point it out and correct her by making sure that they know the truth that there is noting that is too hard for him to accomplish.   He next moves on to what must be the second reason for their coming by revealing to Abraham what was to come of Sodom.  A discussion among the three results in God sharing with Abraham his intention to investigate the spiritual state of Sodom with an implied intention to judge them.  No comes the quite infamous conversation where Abraham makes a case for mercy upon a city based upon some righteous remnant remaining there.  He goes back over and again and there is a reduction in the number of righteous needed for God to pass over the city and relent from its destruction.

Key Verses:

“14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”” (Genesis 18:14, ESV)

“19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”” (Genesis 18:19, ESV)

“32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”” (Genesis 18:32, ESV)

I see the theme here as- God dwells with the newly established people of God by eating with Abraham, sharing secrets with him regarding his dealings with mankind and teaching him that he may have a voice before the king because Abraham will be the commander of the people of God for the sake of righteousness and justice.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-2.  The Lord appears again here to Abraham but this time there are two angels with him (see Gen 19:1).  This is something different than the previous meeting between God and Abraham.
    v3-5.  Here Abraham offers to make arrangements for them to stay and eat and they give him approval to make preparations.  This is very different and it appears that there will be a meal shared with Abraham.  Abraham also appears to wash their feet in preparation for the meal.
    v6-8.  Here we see what is likely Jesus and a couple of angels having a meal with Abraham standing under an Oak tree.  Very interesting that they take a meal together and that it is standing under a tree.  It could be that Abraham served them and did not eat but either way he was excessively hospitable and treated his guests with the honor due to them.  The meal surely indicates a new degree of communion between God and Abraham that I would imagine is directly related to the circumcision.
    v9-15.  Here there is a reiteration of the promise to bear Isaac by Sarah and there is a clarification that Sarah no longer menstruates and the impossibility of the natural occurrence of bearing a child is clear- so clear that Sarah laughs at the prospect.  God points out that Sarah should not be laughing because there is nothing too hard for the Lord.  Abraham also laughed in chapter 17 when Isaac’s birth was promised but it appears Sarah’s laughter may have been a bit more in disbelief than Abraham’s laughter, which was likely in enjoyment of the impossibility of what God was about to do.  Sarah even lies to God in denying her laughter from fear.  Interesting that there is no dealing with her sin here and that it seems to be barely considered.  Zechariah was made mute due to his disbelief when an angel told him that his wife would give birth to John the Baptist, yet Sarah seems to skate with the exception of a stern acknowledgment of her sin.  Perhaps we see in Sarah a common reaction that God tolerates here to give us come comfort in the instances where we too behave like her?
    v16-21.  Now the story turns and there is a new focus.  The three are going to head to Sodom and it appears that God is investigating the state of corruption there to determine how it shall be judged.  This is quite the insider’s view of the inner working of God as he deals with mankind here!  The Lord makes it plain that the reason he is letting Abraham in on this and perhaps the whole purpose of their visit to him was to let him know that in fathering the nation of Israel and in becoming a blessing to the nations of the world (Rom 11:12) he is to command his children and all his household (foreigners who belong to him are included) to “keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.  It is further stated that doing this is a condition of the covenant!  So Abraham is essentially advised here that he is expected to command that his family keep the way of the Lord if he will receive the blessings promised by God.  Recalling that the covenant will indeed by kept at the cost of God’s harm and recalling that God told him in chapter 17 that it was already a done deal, we know that Abraham will be successful at this endeavor…at least with the elect remnant (which are the true offspring of promise).
    v22-33.  Abraham here is making himself a mediator and intercessor for the people of earth here and his voice is heard by the Lord.  This is a priestly service that Abraham serves here.  We now see in this chapter a revelation that Abraham is carrying the offices of patriarch of the people of God (king) and commanding messenger of God (prophet) and mediator between God and man (priest).  These are three important offices of Christ that are foreshadowed here.  In this account there is no means to take away sins revealed and Abraham can only plead the merits of the very righteousness of the people of Sodom…which doesn’t exist, unfortunately.  Abraham is one of a very few people who bear the only true righteousness of God and this was by faith that God is true and that he is sending a promised offspring.  Abraham quite bodily intercedes and offers to God a request that he defends with the very character of God.  This is striking that Abraham seems to imply that God would be doing wrong to condemn the righteous for the wickedness of others.  This is not contested by God and it seems established that he would not and will not cause condemnation of judgement due to one person to fall on another (Ezekiel 18:20).  Abraham is most likely worried for Lot and he mediates and agreement that God will spare the entire city on behalf of 10 righteous, if they can be found.  Here is a principle also implied that God, while he will not punish the innocent, will indeed spare the wicked for the sake of the innocent…at least on the earth.  This is already a fulfilling of the promise that all families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:3) in Abraham and it is a common grace that brings rain upon the wicked as well as the righteous (Matt 5:45).  In Abraham’s negotiating with God he offers no appeasement for the wrath of God but merely looks for mercy, which we learn later is based upon the finished work of Christ (Rom 3:20-26).  

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
    1.  I hear the message that God has a special relationship with his people that is intimate and where he reveals himself to them.  An implication is that even today God desires to be in communication with me and to share with me a view of his dealings with man.  The significance for me is that I should seek to commune with God and to know him and to seek out a right view of the world.
    2.  I hear the message that God allows human mediators to petition him and he gives attention to our pleas.  The implication is that today God will listen to our prayers and he will grant approval based upon the merit of our request and its alignment with his intentions and the upholding of his attributes.  The significance is that I should make intercession for my family and for others and I should keep in mind that he hears and desires to have this relationship where I intercede on the behalf of others with a compassionate heart.
    3.  I hear the message that a human mediator is flawed and does not make perfect intercession and does not know the mind of God.  The implication is that there is a better mediator who does know the mind of God and this is Jesus.  By extension this can also be said to be the Holy Spirit indwelling the believers (Rom 8:34, Heb 9, Rom 8:26-27).  The significance for me is that I do not rely on an earthly priest or intercessor but I rely of Jesus and on the Holy Spirit himself as I come before the Father with my petitions and even when I don't.

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”

Matthew 17

Ready:
I left off with Jesus informing his disciples, and me, that it takes death and forfeit of the world to follow Christ.  I can live unto the world and the things I see or I can live unto Christ and hope in the things unseen.  I am called to lose my life that I may save it and so I head into the next chapter.

Reading thoughts:
Jesus continues to reveal his identity as the divine/human Messiah by showing a glimpse of his glorified form to three apostles and by demonstrating power beyond what the disciples bear in dealing with demons and by demonstrating his power of the fish of the sea and the myriad of circumstances that it would take to put a shekel in the mouth of this fish.  Jesus describes his coming death in humble submission despite the fact that he actually has all authority and that all of creation owes him honor and praise.

Key Verses:

“1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” (Matthew 17:1–3, ESV)

“5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.” (Matthew 17:5–6, ESV)

“20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”” (Matthew 17:20, ESV)

“27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”” (Matthew 17:27, ESV)

I see the theme as- Jesus’ identity and authority is declared by God himself and this supreme power and authority is displayed to contrast with the humility that Jesus puts upon himself for the good of others.

Rumination thoughts:
    v1-8.  Here Jesus selects his three closest disciples and they ascended a mountain together alone.  The nine others were left to themselves and it could be that like Aaron in the wilderness while Moses went up to meet with God that things got a little out of sorts in the absence of the leader.  Back to the description at hand- Matthew (who was down below at this point) tells us that these three saw Jesus “transfigured” before their eyes and it seems that Jesus gave them a glimpse of a glorified form of himself that clearly highlights his divinity nature.  Then Moses and Elijah show up!  What’s up with Moses and Elijah popping in?  Moses died and Elijah was caught up in the sky.  Moses is the primary prophet of God who delivers the law and Elijah was a mighty prophet who was declared to be a forerunner of the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:4-5).  So it appears that there is a display here of the ways in which God used to communicate to his people and the new way God communicates with his people through his incarnate Word, which is Jesus.  A voice that scares the three disciples comes from Heaven and announces as much to them.  I take the message from God to be 1. his declaration of the divine nature of Jesus, 2. his declaration that he is pleased with the perfectly righteous obedience of the human nature of Jesus and 3. he declares that Jesus is to be heeded henceforth as speaking with the authority of God in a more profound way than the law and the prophets (standing there to bear witness) ever could.  Here is the clearest illustration if the transition from the OT to the NT that I have seen in Matthew.  See Hebrews 1:1-2 for a clear statement regarding what is shown here at the transfiguration.  Also remember Jesus’ description in Matthew 11:12-19 about the law and the prophets concluding with John the Baptist.
    v9-13.  Recognizing the significance and wondering about the meaning of the prophesy by Malachi that Elijah must come Jesus explains that John the Baptist was the one Malachi was speaking of and he came fulfilling this prophecy that one would come in the spirit of Elijah.
    v14-21/21.  Here is a rather sad tale of Jesus and the three coming down the mountain to find that the nine left behind are failing at the task of maintaining their faith.  There are people seeking help with a demon possession and Jesus laments that lack of faith on the part of the nine disciples (including the narrator here).  It seems in his reference to the mustard seed that Jesus is telling them that a lack of complete reliance upon God to do a work with their faith as he raises up a strong tree from the simple planting of a seed.  Man is powerless to grow a seed but only God can do it and similarly only God can exorcise a demon but if these nine disciples were beginning to trust in themselves rather than rely solely on God in faith then this could explain their failure. Some suggest that they may have been distraught over being left behind when Jesus chose the three to go up the mountain and this is somewhat validated because soon after this the disciples end up in a discussion on who will be the greatest in the kingdom.
    v22-23.  Jesus here gives a straightforward statement of his coming death and resurrection but it distresses the disciples who do not yet understand that this is necessary.
    v24-27.  Here there is an irony that the creator is being asked to pay a temple tax and Jesus chooses to comply, although it is not required of him, because he does not want the issue to become a source of stumbling for others who question it.  This illustrates what Paul teaches in Romans 14.  However, the way Jesus goes about removing what would be the stumbling block exhibits for the disciples the very reason that he is not required to pay this temple tax.  This is because he is the very Son of God to whom this temple is devoted and it is all of creation that owes him honor and praise and devotion.  He demonstrates his divinity in the way he orchestrates the delivery of his temple tax payment by a fish carrying a coin.

Meaning, Implications, and Significance
No time!

Response:
“Private”

Reaction:
“Private”