Matthew 18:21-35
The key word and theme in this passage is forgive. It begins with Peter asking a question about how many times he should forgive. Jesus tells a parable to demonstrate the importance of forgiveness. The subject of this passage is: why should I offer infinite forgiveness to others? The complement is: because God, in Christ, has offered infinite forgiveness to me.
This passage continues the flow of thought from Jesus' teaching in the previous sections: don't cause a humble one to stumble because they are very important to God. If a brother or sister causes the stumbling or is stumbling themselves, go and try to restore them. Then Peter wants to know how often he has to forgive his brother or sister for causing him to stumble. Jesus tells him that his forgiveness must be infinite.
Jesus uses some word/number play to make his point. First, in response to Peter's generous offer to forgive his brother seven times, Jesus tells him he must forgive him seventy-seven times. Obviously this is not meant to be a literal number. Probably Jesus is saying to Peter that he must forgive many more times. For those that attach meaning to numbers, it could mean a double completion since seven often represents completion in Scripture.
The second significant use of numbers is the contrast between the two debts in the story. The servant goes after a fellow-servant who owes him 100 days' wages. This is not an insignificant amount. However, it pales in comparison to the 10 000 bags of gold that he owed his master. The point is that no matter how great the offense that I am faced with, it pales in comparison to my offense against God.
This picture of God causes me to bow before him in worship. What forgiveness! What mercy! I, who owed so much more than I could ever repay in a thousand eternities, have been forgiven by God. My debt has been entirely canceled. My trespass has been forgiven. It leaves me speechless. My responsibility is to extend the same mercy and forgiveness to the people around me. I am terrible for keeping record of debts or wrongs. How much more free would I be if I could just let that all go?
Showing posts with label Matthew 18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew 18. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
what we do on earth echoes in eternity
Matthew 18:18-20
There is a key comparison between what happens on earth and what happens in heaven. Jesus is making it clear that he has given a large amount of authourity to his disciples. The question is, does this apply to the whole church, to just the leaders of the church or to just the apostles? The previous verses would apply to the whole church and there is no indication that Jesus has changed the focus of his words so it would seem that Jesus has given authourity to the Church (and the local expression of it, as seen by verse 20) to act and speak on his behalf.
This is a huge responsibility! I think these verses make a good argument for membership in a local church. I know that anyone who has put their faith in Christ is a member of the Church but most local churches have adopted membership as a mechanism for recognizing those who have truly put their faith in Christ. I know that there is a pragmatic side to this as well since a membership process is necessary to be recognized as a non-profit organization by the government. I also know that membership is not really mentioned in the Bible, at least in terms of how we define it in the local church today. However, I don't think membership processes are necessarily ruled out. These verses provide all the authourity for the church to organize itself as long as that organization does not end up being anti-biblical. Through out history, even in the New Testament, we see the church organizing itself in pragmatic ways to meet the challenges of the times in ways that were not explicitly mentioned previously in Scripture or in the recorded words of Jesus. For example, deacons, elders, councils, etc.
So, since this church has chosen to organize itself around a formalized membership process, the members of this church are the ones with authourity to act and speak on behalf of the local church and therefore members are the ones who are given the authourity that Jesus speaks of in these verses. The members of this local church have delegated some of their authourity to elders and pastors. This means that the members hold the authourity to recognize these gifts in individuals and affirm them in ministry. This means that the members not only act on behalf of the church but they act on behalf of Christ. The decisions they make in regards to the church are affirmed in heaven.
There is a key comparison between what happens on earth and what happens in heaven. Jesus is making it clear that he has given a large amount of authourity to his disciples. The question is, does this apply to the whole church, to just the leaders of the church or to just the apostles? The previous verses would apply to the whole church and there is no indication that Jesus has changed the focus of his words so it would seem that Jesus has given authourity to the Church (and the local expression of it, as seen by verse 20) to act and speak on his behalf.
This is a huge responsibility! I think these verses make a good argument for membership in a local church. I know that anyone who has put their faith in Christ is a member of the Church but most local churches have adopted membership as a mechanism for recognizing those who have truly put their faith in Christ. I know that there is a pragmatic side to this as well since a membership process is necessary to be recognized as a non-profit organization by the government. I also know that membership is not really mentioned in the Bible, at least in terms of how we define it in the local church today. However, I don't think membership processes are necessarily ruled out. These verses provide all the authourity for the church to organize itself as long as that organization does not end up being anti-biblical. Through out history, even in the New Testament, we see the church organizing itself in pragmatic ways to meet the challenges of the times in ways that were not explicitly mentioned previously in Scripture or in the recorded words of Jesus. For example, deacons, elders, councils, etc.
So, since this church has chosen to organize itself around a formalized membership process, the members of this church are the ones with authourity to act and speak on behalf of the local church and therefore members are the ones who are given the authourity that Jesus speaks of in these verses. The members of this local church have delegated some of their authourity to elders and pastors. This means that the members hold the authourity to recognize these gifts in individuals and affirm them in ministry. This means that the members not only act on behalf of the church but they act on behalf of Christ. The decisions they make in regards to the church are affirmed in heaven.
Monday, June 8, 2009
restoration process
Matthew 18:15-17
The key word in this passage is listen. It is repeated three times. Jesus is teaching his disciples what to do when another disciple sins. In the immediate context it is likely that Jesus is specifically referencing the sin of individualism and causing a humbled one to stumble. This is reinforced by the assumed response of the offender - they don't listen.
The process Jesus lays out is for one person who notices the sin to point out the fault to the other disciple in private. If the offending disciple does not listen, the one who noticed the sin should take one or two others along. If the offending disciple still does not listen, the one who noticed the sin should inform the faith community. If the offending disciple still does not listen, the church is to treat them like a pagan or tax collector.
There are two things that convict me. The first is that I skip the first step in the process entirely. I am too much of a politician and I want to know that people will back me up if I go and confront someone so I reveal the offense to a few others before I go to the offender. This is gossip! I must stop doing this! I must grow a pair and stop being afraid of confrontation that I know is, for the most part, motivated by love. Most of the time I truly want the best for the person I need to confront.
Second is how the church is supposed to treat the unrepentant offender. I think I've read this so long as, "Cast that person out and have nothing to do with them." I think what Jesus is saying is, "If they do not listen to the church, they are likely not truly my disciple. You must speak the truth in love to them in the same way that you would speak truth in love to anyone who is not yet my disciple. You must pursue them like the shepherd pursues the lost sheep. You must lead them to repentance and to true faith." In the context of the shepherd of 100 sheep who loses one, this reading makes the most sense. This is why I love doing devo's this way - I am more consistent which allows me to see things in context better which gives me a better and fuller understanding of the Word. Thanks for doing this with me!
The key word in this passage is listen. It is repeated three times. Jesus is teaching his disciples what to do when another disciple sins. In the immediate context it is likely that Jesus is specifically referencing the sin of individualism and causing a humbled one to stumble. This is reinforced by the assumed response of the offender - they don't listen.
The process Jesus lays out is for one person who notices the sin to point out the fault to the other disciple in private. If the offending disciple does not listen, the one who noticed the sin should take one or two others along. If the offending disciple still does not listen, the one who noticed the sin should inform the faith community. If the offending disciple still does not listen, the church is to treat them like a pagan or tax collector.
There are two things that convict me. The first is that I skip the first step in the process entirely. I am too much of a politician and I want to know that people will back me up if I go and confront someone so I reveal the offense to a few others before I go to the offender. This is gossip! I must stop doing this! I must grow a pair and stop being afraid of confrontation that I know is, for the most part, motivated by love. Most of the time I truly want the best for the person I need to confront.
Second is how the church is supposed to treat the unrepentant offender. I think I've read this so long as, "Cast that person out and have nothing to do with them." I think what Jesus is saying is, "If they do not listen to the church, they are likely not truly my disciple. You must speak the truth in love to them in the same way that you would speak truth in love to anyone who is not yet my disciple. You must pursue them like the shepherd pursues the lost sheep. You must lead them to repentance and to true faith." In the context of the shepherd of 100 sheep who loses one, this reading makes the most sense. This is why I love doing devo's this way - I am more consistent which allows me to see things in context better which gives me a better and fuller understanding of the Word. Thanks for doing this with me!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
one vs. ninety-nine
Matthew 18:10-14
Jesus comes full circle here. He started by talking about taking the position of a little child in regards to humility. He promised that he would look after those who took that position, taking action against those who caused his humble ones to stumble. He warned his disciples to make sure that it was not their own hand, foot or eye that was causing the stumbling in their own life or in someone else. Now he sums it all up by saying, "Make sure that you do not look down on one of my humble ones." Again, I have to think that the argument the disciples were having about who was the greatest in the kingdom would be ringing in their ears at this point. By taking the position as the most important, they were looking down on their fellow disciples and causing them to stumble.
Jesus drives the point home with a parable about a shepherd who has one hundred sheep but loses one. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to fend for themselves and goes after the one who is lost. Jesus is teaching his disciples that the humble ones are that important to the Father. He will leave the proud, the self-sufficient, the crowd to fend for themselves while he goes after the humble one who is lost. This parallels Jesus' teaching in other places: the first will be last and the last will be first. The proud will become low and the humble will be exalted.
So, if I am to have the heart of Jesus in this matter I must first become humble and then I must serve the humble ones. Finally, I must leave the place of comfort and safety and pursue other humble ones, wherever they may be lost... even in jr. high youth ministry.
Jesus comes full circle here. He started by talking about taking the position of a little child in regards to humility. He promised that he would look after those who took that position, taking action against those who caused his humble ones to stumble. He warned his disciples to make sure that it was not their own hand, foot or eye that was causing the stumbling in their own life or in someone else. Now he sums it all up by saying, "Make sure that you do not look down on one of my humble ones." Again, I have to think that the argument the disciples were having about who was the greatest in the kingdom would be ringing in their ears at this point. By taking the position as the most important, they were looking down on their fellow disciples and causing them to stumble.
Jesus drives the point home with a parable about a shepherd who has one hundred sheep but loses one. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to fend for themselves and goes after the one who is lost. Jesus is teaching his disciples that the humble ones are that important to the Father. He will leave the proud, the self-sufficient, the crowd to fend for themselves while he goes after the humble one who is lost. This parallels Jesus' teaching in other places: the first will be last and the last will be first. The proud will become low and the humble will be exalted.
So, if I am to have the heart of Jesus in this matter I must first become humble and then I must serve the humble ones. Finally, I must leave the place of comfort and safety and pursue other humble ones, wherever they may be lost... even in jr. high youth ministry.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
stumbling blocks or stepping stones
Matthew 18:6-9
The key words in this section are stumble, woe, hand, foot, eye, fire. Jesus uses repetition to help emphasize his point: "if your hand/foot/eye causes you to stumble, cut it off/gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled/maimed/with one eye than to be whole and be thrown into fire."
Jesus is continuing his thought from v. 5 where he says that whoever welcomes someone who has become like a little child, welcomes Jesus. Here, he gives the reverse: it would be better for someone to go and drown themselves than to cause someone to stumble. The disciples must have really liked these words. They must have received a lot of confidence from them. But then Jesus turns the question on them: you or a part of your body may be the source of the stumbling. I think that the disciples must have thought back to their argument about who was the greatest in the kingdom. I think Jesus is helping them to realize that by making that argument, not only are they not becoming like a little child, they are causing those who are becoming like little children to stumble by stirring up with in them pride, ambition, frustration and discord.
I find it interesting that Jesus tells his disciples to fight against causing stumbling (whether to themselves or to someone else) with the same intensity that he told his audience to fight against lust. So, the question for me is am I being a stepping stone, leading people to Jesus, or am I being a stumbling block? I can be a stumbling block by doing things that I know are wrong and leading others to do the same but I can also be a stumbling block by flaunting my liberty. When I do things that are not sinful but that cause others to stumble, I am guilty of the sin of pride and individualism. I am guilty of being a stumbling block. The truth is that, if I lived in isolation, I could do some of these things without any worry or guilty conscience but I do not live in isolation. I live in community. I am responsible for the well-being of my brothers and sisters; not just for my own personal well-being.
The key words in this section are stumble, woe, hand, foot, eye, fire. Jesus uses repetition to help emphasize his point: "if your hand/foot/eye causes you to stumble, cut it off/gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled/maimed/with one eye than to be whole and be thrown into fire."
Jesus is continuing his thought from v. 5 where he says that whoever welcomes someone who has become like a little child, welcomes Jesus. Here, he gives the reverse: it would be better for someone to go and drown themselves than to cause someone to stumble. The disciples must have really liked these words. They must have received a lot of confidence from them. But then Jesus turns the question on them: you or a part of your body may be the source of the stumbling. I think that the disciples must have thought back to their argument about who was the greatest in the kingdom. I think Jesus is helping them to realize that by making that argument, not only are they not becoming like a little child, they are causing those who are becoming like little children to stumble by stirring up with in them pride, ambition, frustration and discord.
I find it interesting that Jesus tells his disciples to fight against causing stumbling (whether to themselves or to someone else) with the same intensity that he told his audience to fight against lust. So, the question for me is am I being a stepping stone, leading people to Jesus, or am I being a stumbling block? I can be a stumbling block by doing things that I know are wrong and leading others to do the same but I can also be a stumbling block by flaunting my liberty. When I do things that are not sinful but that cause others to stumble, I am guilty of the sin of pride and individualism. I am guilty of being a stumbling block. The truth is that, if I lived in isolation, I could do some of these things without any worry or guilty conscience but I do not live in isolation. I live in community. I am responsible for the well-being of my brothers and sisters; not just for my own personal well-being.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
like a child
Matthew 18:1-5
The key words in this passage are: kingdom of heaven and child. The disciples bring up an old topic of conversation: who is the greatest in the kingdom? Jesus responds with a living illustration. He calls a young child and sets him down among the disciples. He tells them that unless they become like this child, they won't even get into the kingdom. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself like a child.
Anticipating the objection that becoming like a child will open them up to all kinds of abuse and persecution, Jesus assures them that whoever welcomes one of his child-like followers is welcoming Jesus and implies that whoever rejects one of his child-like followers is rejecting Jesus and will face all the consequences that go along with that rejection. Jesus will expand on this in the next section.
Obviously Jesus is not advocating childishness or immaturity but child-likeness. In this passage, Jesus is specifically referring to humility. Humility is something that I definitely struggle with. I am constantly thinking of myself and comparing myself with others which is the opposite of humility. Humility is recognizing that my only hope for entering the kingdom is Jesus.
The key words in this passage are: kingdom of heaven and child. The disciples bring up an old topic of conversation: who is the greatest in the kingdom? Jesus responds with a living illustration. He calls a young child and sets him down among the disciples. He tells them that unless they become like this child, they won't even get into the kingdom. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself like a child.
Anticipating the objection that becoming like a child will open them up to all kinds of abuse and persecution, Jesus assures them that whoever welcomes one of his child-like followers is welcoming Jesus and implies that whoever rejects one of his child-like followers is rejecting Jesus and will face all the consequences that go along with that rejection. Jesus will expand on this in the next section.
Obviously Jesus is not advocating childishness or immaturity but child-likeness. In this passage, Jesus is specifically referring to humility. Humility is something that I definitely struggle with. I am constantly thinking of myself and comparing myself with others which is the opposite of humility. Humility is recognizing that my only hope for entering the kingdom is Jesus.
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